"The Tibetan
national flag is intimately connected with the authentic history and royal
lineages of Tibet which are thousands of years old. Furthermore, in the
Tibetan Royal year 820 or in the seventh century of the Christian era, at
the time of the Tibetan religious King Song-tzan Gampo the Great extensive
land of Tibet was divided into large and small districts known as "g?-kyi
tong-de" and "yung-g'i mi-de". From these large and small districts, an
army of 2,860,000 men was chosen and stationed along the borders of Tibet,
and the subjects thus lived in safety. The bravery and heroism of the
Tibetan people at that time in conquering and ruling even the adjacent
empire of China is well-known in world history.
"At
that time, it is recorded that the regiment of Yi-ru ti had a military flag with
a pair of snow-lions facing each other; that Y?-ru m? had a snow-lion with a
bright upper border; that of Tzang Ru-iao, had a snow-lion standing upright,
springing towards the sky; and the flag of ?-ru t? had a white flame against a
red background, and so forth. In this way. the regiments of each area had its
own individual military standard. Continuing with that tradition up to the
beginning of the twentieth century, various regiments within the Tibetan army
have had military flags with either a pair of snow-lions facing each other, or a
snow-lion springing upwards and so forth.
"In the latter part of this period, during the
rule of His Holiness the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama, this eminent spiritual and
temporal ruler of Tibet enacted many modifications in administrative policies in
accordance with international customs. Based on the formats of previous Tibetan
military flags, His Holiness improved upon them and designed the present, modern
national flag. With an official proclamation, He declared that this would be the
uniform, standard flag to be adopted by all Tibetan military defence
establishments. Since the time of that proclamation, all Tibetan regiments have
likewise adopted this flag as their standard.
"The colour scheme of the Tibetan national flag
gives a clear indication of all aspects of Tibet in its symbolism such as the
geographic features of the religious. snowy land of Tibet, the customs and
traditions of Tibetan society, the political administration of the Tibetan
government and so forth.
"History attests to the fact that Tibet is one
of the most ancient nations of the world. Therefore, in all the three regions of
Tibet, irrespective of caste and creed, this national flag inherited from our
ancestors is universally accepted as a common, peerless treasure and even today
still continues to be highly respected and esteemed as in the past."
Quoted from "Tibetan National Flag" Copyright 1980 Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
An Explanation of the Symbolism of the National Flag of Tibet
- In the centre stands a magnificent thickly snow
clad mountain, which represents the great nation of Tibet, widely known as
the Land Surrounded by Snow Mountains.
- Across the dark blue sky six red bands spread
representing the original ancestors of the Tibetan people: the six tribes
called Se, Mu, Dong, Tong, Dru and Ra which in
turn gave the [twelve] descendants. The combination of six red bands
(for the tribes) and six dark blue bands for the sky represents the
incessant enactment of the virtuous deeds of protection of the spiritual
teachings and secular life by the black and red guardian protector
deities with which Tibet has had connection for a very long time.
- At the tip
of the snow mountain, the sun with its rays brilliantly shining in all
directions represents the equal enjoyment of freedom, spiritual and
material happiness and prosperity by all beings in the land of Tibet.
- On the
slopes of the mountain there proudly stand a pair of snow lions blazing
with the manes of fearlessness, which represent the country's victorious
accomplishment of a unified spiritual and secular life.
- The
beautiful and radiant three coloured jewel held aloft represents the
ever-present reverence respectfully held by the Tibetan people towards
the Three Supreme Jewels (the Buddhist objects of refuge: Buddha, Dharma
and Sangha).
- The two
coloured swirling jewel held between the two lions represents the
peoples' guarding and cherishing the self discipline of correct ethical
behaviour, principally represented by the practices of the ten exalted
virtues and the 16 humane modes of conduct.
- Lastly, the surrounding border of yellow adorning
the perimeter represents the spread and flourishing in all directions
and times of the purified gold like teachings of the Buddha.
The Dalai Lama
A Brief Biography of the Dalai Lama
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet was born in 1935, soon after
the 13th Dalai Lama passed away. He was the fourth son of a poor peasant
family in Takster village, Amdo province, eastern Tibet.
The line of Dalai Lamas*, spiritual and temporal rulers of Tibet since
the 13th century, is a succession of incarnations. A Dalai Lama is not
appointed or elected; he is born to the position. Each Dalai Lama is a
reincarnation of the previous one. Tibetans regard the Dalai Lamas as the
human embodiment of Avalokiteshvara (in Tibetan, Chenrezig), the deity
of compassion, who chooses to return to the world to serve humanity. Before
each Dalai Lama dies, he leaves signs to indicate where he will take his
next rebirth.
In accordance with tradition, search parties were sent to find the successor
to the thirteenth Dalai Lama. Two years later, following the various signs
and portents, a government party was led to Takster, where they found the
infant Lhamo Thondup. After a series of tests, the child (later named Tenzin
Gyatso) was recognized as the 14th incarnation of the Dalai Lama
But by then the Chinese had control of Amdo. The local leader demanded
a huge ransom before he would release the child. After two years of negotiations,
the young Dalai Lama and his entourage were allowed to leave Amdo and travel
to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, where he was officially installed in the
Potala palace.
EDUCATION
The Dalai Lama's education as a Buddhist monk began in earnest when
he was six. After eighteen years of intense study, he graduated with the
equivalent of a Ph.D in Buddhist metaphysics. It was granted after a three-month
oral examination in public before thousands of monks and scholars.
In 1958 he took preliminary examinations at each of the three monastic
universities, Drepung, Sera and Ganden. The final examination was held
in 1959 at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. That morning, the young scholar
was examined by 30 scholars of logic. In the afternoon, he debated Buddhist
philosophy with 15 scholars, and in the evening, 35 more scholars tested
his knowledge of the canon of monastic discipline and metaphysics.
The Dalai Lama passed with honours, attaining the highest academic degree
of Geshe Lharampa, while under intense political pressure from the Chinese
to capitulate to their demands to take over Tibet.
* "Dalai" is a Mongolian word meaning "ocean",
and "Lama" is a Tibetan term corresponding to the Indian word
"guru" or teacher.
POLITICAL CAREER
A regent was appointed during the Dalai Lama's minority, but in 1950,
at just 16 years old, he was forced to assume full political power. The
crisis was precipitated by the Chinese communist invasion. Much of the
country was occupied and armed Chinese garrisons were established. With
the Tibetan army no match for the invading forces, the Dalai Lama's only
option was to negotiate.
In 1954 he was invited to Beijing where he and his party met Chairman
Mao, Chou En Lai and other Chinese leaders intent on convincing them they
would be better off under Chinese rule.
In 1956 His Holiness visited India, where he met Nehru but won little
support for the Tibetan cause.
In 1959 the Tibetans rebelled, the Chinese crushed the uprising and
the Dalai Lama was forced to flee across the Himalayas to neighbouring
India.
His Holiness immediately established a democratic government-in-exile
dedicated to work for the freedom of Tibet and the welfare of Tibetan refugees.
With the help of the Indian Government, he set up schools, including English,
Hindi and western-style education, along with Tibetan language and culture.
Then came handicraft factories, hospitals, orphanages, monasteries and
cultural institutions -- the foundation for a new Tibetan society. There
are now 53 Tibetan refugee settlements in India.
In the early days of exile the Dalai Lama found it difficult to rally
international political support for his people. However three UN General
Assembly resolutions were passed in 1959, 1961 and 1965 condemning China
for "violations of the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people".
Then in August 1991, after the violent repression of political demonstrations
in Lhasa, the United Nations again passed a resolution criticising Chinese
policies in Tibet and calling on the Chinese "to fully respect the
fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people." Recently a
number of governments, including the United States, Germany and France,
have spoken out against continued Chinese repression in Tibet.
In the last decade, at the invitation of groups and governments, the
Dalai Lama has travelled the world, seeking support for the Tibetan cause
and sharing his belief in kindness and compassion as the ultimate solution
to personal and political conflict.
Since his first visit to the West in 1973, he has met many world leaders,
among them the Presidents of the United States, France and Germany, the
Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, members
of European royalty, including Prince Charles and the King of Norway, and
civic and religious leaders, including His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
The Dalai Lama has addressed the United States Congress, the European
Parliament, and innumerable University, inter-faith and civic gatherings.
In September this year he will be the keynote speaker at a major environmental
conference in Sydney.
TRIBUTES TO THE DALAI LAMA
US Congressman Mel Levine:
"His Holiness has become over the past 30 years a symbol of
peace and a leading international spokesperson for the cause of non-violent
social change. His spiritual and political leadership of Tibetans has been
the principal force for the preservation of the Tibetan culture and way
of life." (Congressional Record, July 1989)
Petra Kelly, author and MP, Germany:
"The Dalai Lama's one of the very few individuals or male leaders
who is soft, and feminist-thinking and also ecological and decentralized
in his thinking. There are very few male leaders like that in the world.
I think this Dalai Lama is probably the most political and the most effective
in bringing across that non-violence is the only solution in the atomic
age."
Thomas Merton, Christian monk and writer:
"The Dalai Lama is a most impressive person. He is strong and
alert, bigger than I had expected ... a very solid, energetic, generous
and warm person, very capably trying to handle enormous problems -- none
of which he mentioned directly. There was not a word of politics. The whole
conversation was about religions and philosophy and especially ways of
meditation." (From his Asian Journal, after meeting the
Dalai Lama in 1968)
Rabbi Irving Greenberg:
"The Dalai Lama taught us a lot about Buddhism, even more about
menschlichkeit [being human], and most of all about Judaism. As all true
dialogue accomplishes, this encounter with the Dalai Lama opened us to
the other faith's integrity. Equally valuable, the encounter reminded us
of neglected aspects of ourselves, of elements in Judaism that are overlooked
until they are reflected back to us in the mirror of the Other."
Degrees and Awards
The Dalai Lama has received honorary degrees from:
Melbourne University, Melbourne, Australia
Benares Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Carrol College, Waukesha, Wisconsin U.S.A.
The University of Oriental Studies, Los Angeles, USA
Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, USA
Universite de Paris, Nanterre, France
Among the awards received by His Holiness are:
1989 Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, Norway
1989 Prix de Memoire, Paris, France
Humanitarian Award, World Management Congress, New York
Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award, New York
Dr Leopold Lucas Prize, University of Tubingen, Germany
Bi-annual Award for the Foundation for Freedom and Human Rights, Berne,
Switzerland
Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, Human Behavioural Foundation,
New York
Lincoln Award, Research Institute of America
Peace Medal, Asian Buddhist Council for Peace, Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Ramon Magsaysay Award, Manila, the Philippines
Palketta Award, Norway
