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A Tibetan Fathers letter to his children on his sacrifice for Peace and Freedom in Tibet

inside, finding it unbearable, are resorting to self-immolations, which is a way of sacrificing ones own life for the wellbeing of others. I call it the Flame of Peace and Compassion. There is not guarantee that this flame could turn into a Flame of Hatred. If that happens, there would be an inexorable cycle of blood-bath between the Chinese and Tibetans. In order to prevent such an eventuality, I have initiated this campaign for peace.

Tseten Dorje, Dhompo Kyid and Lhamo Kyid, begins their peace march to Tibet from Dharamsala on 10th March Lingtsa Tseten Dorje, a young writer based in Israel, who writes under the pseudonyms Migyur gangs-phrug Sha-khrag rus-gsum, bod lha-klu-gnyan gsum. Moved by the deteriorating situation in Tibet and the spate of self-immolations taking place in recent times, he has vowed to undertake a peace march from Dharamsala to Lhasa, carrying the following Five-point demands: (a). Allow HH the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet unconditionally, (b) release the young Panchen Choekyi Gyaltshan and other political prisoners unconditionally, (c) Freedom for Tibetans to use their own language, (d) freedom of culture and way of life for Tibetans in their own country, and (e) withdraw all the Chinese soldiers who are currently perpetrating the torture in Tibetan areas. Tseten summarizes his motivation for the peace march as, I believe that truth and non-violence will prevail eventually. Tibetan Buddhist culture which is of benefit to all sentient beings is at the risk of destruction at the hands of an evil Government. Tibetans

Jampal Yeshe. Delhi March 26th 2012

Donate to the Peace March to Tibet Any amount big or small will go a long way in sustaining their march and raising awareness about the situation in Tibet Thank You.

through a dangerous stage. The time now is 21:22 PM. My darling daughter Tharma Tsho, its been an hour since you fell asleep. And your younger brother Khawai Lhasey has fallen asleep in Moms lap. Your Mom and Grandma are engrossed in some TV program. And I, your Dad, whilst begging you, brother and sister, for forgiveness from the core of my heart write this short letter. Viewed from the perspective of a dutiful father in the conventional sense of the world, I admit my guilt for making such an inconsiderate decision affecting you both. Its truly a dereliction of my duty towards you as a father. Nevertheless, the origin of my nationality is Tibet and I can say that the very driving motivation for originally coming into exile in India, was also for the cause of the Tibetan nationality.

Accompanied by his mother Dompo Kyid (age 53) and younger sister Lhamo Kyid (Age 18) a Grade IX student at TCV Suja School, the trip set off on the peace march to Tibet from Dharamsala on the 10th of March on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the Uprising in Lhasa in 1959. Resolved to continue the march at the risk of his life, he has legally divorced his wife and entrusted his two children to his wife, and the following is a translation of the letter he wrote to his two infant children: Letter to my darling son and daughter By bod lha-klu-gnyan gsum
Here, at the village of Ramot in the suburb of Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, I would like you, my darling son and daughter, to know that I write this to you after resolving to go out as a messenger at this critical time when our Tibetan nationality is passing

In the intervening period, due to a number of factors, despite numerous opportunities to launch a campaign appropriate for my ability and circumstances, until now, I didnt face a situation like today, when there is no choice but to resolve to take action. Besides, there wasnt until now, such an opportune time to start a campaign for our national struggle. I believe now is the right time. Today, Ive resolved to honor and embrace my duty as a Tibetan to protect the Tibetan nationality, by returning to India with a Five-point Demand for peace and non-violence, and carry on walking in the direction of Tibet, risking my life as a testimony of my resolve, until Tibetans gain freedom . So, Tharmo Tsho, at the age of two and seven months, although you cannot speak Tibetan you can understand most of what I, you Dad, say to you. This has given your Dad enormous joy and peace of mind.

am leaving you. In particular, the reason why I have no choice but to set off on this journey without continuing to teach you Tibetan language is because, in our Tibetan community, there are many like me who like to talk but few who take action. Therefore, there is no choice but for me to take the initiative and lead by example of matching ones words with action. Perhaps, even though it is possible for my point of view to be misjudged, I trust myself. The Tibetan people are imbued with wisdom and intelligence, dignity and courage. These being my faith, when you siblings grow up, I believe that, you will comprehend the deeper motivation and purpose of your Dads decision and course of action. My darling daughter Tharma Tsho, as you grow up and find that there is no one that you can call out as Dad, your Mom is bound to explain to you a tale of why I had to forsake you all like this today. At that time, whatever your Mom tells you, is bound to be nothing but the truth. And since your Mom will be caring after you siblings and help you take your place in society, I hope and trust that you and Khawai Lhasey will not only look after your kind Mom but also become activists against anyone who tramples on and disrespects human rights. At the same time, as your Dad, I do feel the remorse of guilt for having to abandon you like this for the sake of serving as a messenger of the Tibetan nationality. If, through serendipitous coincidence the just cause of Tibet prevails and I happen to be still alive, bear in mind my darling Tharmo Tsho and Khawai Lhasey that I shall definitely do something worthwhile for you and all sentient beings. My darling Khawai Lhasey, you are no more than six months, and leave alone calling aloud the word Dad, you dont recognize who your Dad is. At this stage of your life, I Like all beings, when you grow up in time and realize there is none to address and point out as Dad, you are bound to ask your Mom where I have gone. At that time, I hope that when your Mom explains to you that I had gone away leaving you for the sake of freedom and peace for the Tibetan nationality, I suppose you will be at an age when you would not fully comprehend what a nationality might be or what freedom entails. Nevertheless, when you grow up and mature, you might feel enraged at a Dad who couldnt spend time with you beyond your six months of infancy or perhaps, you might feel proud. In any case, my hope and prayer is that when you mature, you will uphold the dignity and value of being human and as such work for peace and freedom wherever there is a catastrophic denial of freedom and peace, Now, if even if I write a lot of things here (in Tibetan language) irrespective of whether or not you two will grow up to be able to read this letter yourselves, bear in mind that from today onwards, legally, I have entrusted to your care, nurture and upbringing entirely to your Mom. So, please look after your loving and kind Mom with love and affection. Although there are endless things to talk and write about, my final wish and prayer is that you two will grow up healthy and without hardship. With unadulterated love and affection for you both from the depth of my heart, Your Dad, Lingtsang Tseten Dorje. Dated 28th February 2012 For further information contact:
tibetsolidarityuk@gmail.com or call 07927 376 532. Translation: T D Gonkatsang

The following interview appeared in Tibet Post March 7, 2012


Tsetan Dorjee was born in 1977 in Labrang, a town in the Amdo region of Tibet. In his youth, he studied for three years at primary school before becoming a monk in 1993 at the Labrang Tashi Kyil monastery.

His hope is that China and the world will meet his demands and empathize with the plight of the Tibetan people. www.thetibetpost.com In the video the Tibetan Buddhist nun Palden Choetso, (35) stands in the road in Dawu, Ganzi prefecture in Sichuan province, southwest China.

Lingtsa Tseten Dorje March 2012 Three years later he journeyed to Karnataka to join the Dripong Gomang monastery and in 1997 Tseten returned to Tibet. He returned again to India in 1998 and joined TTS, a school in the valley below Dharamsala. In 2008, Tsetan met and married an Israeli girl, Gangkar Lhatso, and they returned to Israel where they had two children. He has written four books in Tibetan. Q: When you discussed your plans with your wife, did she support you? A: "No, it was difficult for her at first because she has a country, she has a home and cannot completely understand the position of someone who has lost their country and their home. If we only think about our family situation then we cannot struggle for our country. Finally, she agreed with my struggle and took legal custody of our children so that I might pursue my cause".

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