Karma calls for end to self-immolation

[Sky Dancer]

Tibet’s exiled Karmapa Lama, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is calling for an end to the recent rash of self-immolation protests happening in Tibet. Making the plea on the grounds that Buddhism teaches the preciousness of life, the Karmapa Lama did express understanding for why some Tibetans are taking such measures. He writes, “The situation is unbearably difficult, but in difficult situations we need greater courage and determination.”

“In Buddhist teaching, life is precious. To achieve anything worthwhile we need to preserve our lives. We Tibetans are few in number, so every Tibetan life is of value to the cause of Tibet.”

Buddhist News

I have been aware of self-immolation in other Buddhist countries, but not in Tibet.

 

[Mr. H.]

Wise words from a wise person.

Yeah there have been 2 or 3 such acts recently. The hopeless frustration of Tibet is coming to a head.

 

[Sky Dancer]

Wise words from a wise person.

Yeah there have been 2 or 3 such acts recently. The hopeless frustration of Tibet is coming to a head.

It's very sad. The Tibetans are not like this.

 

[Sky Dancer]

Responses to protest are basically of two kinds. The first sees protests as a stratagem or plot to damage the government. The Chinese government's handling of the self-immolations by Tibetans this year has so far been of this type, denouncing them as "terrorism in disguise" and "connected to overseas Tibet independence forces".

It responded in a similar way to protests that spread across the Tibetan plateau three years ago, and to violent protests by Uighurs in north-west China in 2009, in each case accusing exile leaders of fomenting them.

The second approach is a policy failure model, seeing protests as a response to excessive pressures placed on people by a government.
BBC News - Viewpoint: Are Tibet burnings plot or policy failure?

 

[Avatar4321]

I can't imagine what would drive someone to self-immolation. But it is a practice we need to stop. I think that is almost universal in thought.

 

[Mr. H.]

Responses to protest are basically of two kinds. The first sees protests as a stratagem or plot to damage the government. The Chinese government's handling of the self-immolations by Tibetans this year has so far been of this type, denouncing them as "terrorism in disguise" and "connected to overseas Tibet independence forces".

It responded in a similar way to protests that spread across the Tibetan plateau three years ago, and to violent protests by Uighurs in north-west China in 2009, in each case accusing exile leaders of fomenting them.

The second approach is a policy failure model, seeing protests as a response to excessive pressures placed on people by a government.
BBC News - Viewpoint: Are Tibet burnings plot or policy failure?

And the third response- the response of the world nation...

non-existent.