Before the 90th anniversary of the Dalai Lama on July 6, American legislators introduced bipartite resolutions into the two chambers of the US Congress to honor the Tibetan spiritual leader and designate the birthday as “a day of compassion”.
The resolution – presented in the American House of Representatives on Friday and the Senate on Tuesday – reaffirms that only the Dalai Lama itself should determine its successor and that any attempt at Beijing to select or named would be an “invalid interference” and a violation of religious freedoms.
China has sought greater control over Tibetan Buddhism since invading the independent country of Himalayas in 1950 and forcing the Dalai Lama to exile in India in 1959. In 2007, Beijing announced that it would supervise the recognition of all reincarnated Tibetan lamas, including the next Dalai Lama.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-eargon), who co-introduced the resolution of the Senate with Todd Young (R-Indiana), underlined the broader issues. “While the Chinese government continues to ignore the rights of Tibet under international law, we send the message that we must protect these fundamental freedoms,” said Merkley.
In the House, representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) presented a similar resolution recognizing the “exceptional contributions of Dalai Lama to peace, non-violence, human rights and religious understanding”.
“Although he has faced the persecution, oppression and violence unspeakable in the hands of the CCP, his holiness the Dalai Lama maintained inner peace and continues to preach compassion – inspiring not only his own people, but the whole world,” said McCaul. The CCP refers to the Chinese Communist Party.
Last year, McCaul led a delegation from the Bipartite congress in Dharamsala, India, where he presented to the Dalai Lama a copy framed by an American bill, which was then signed in law, in support of the right of the Tibetan people to self -determination.
“The inhabitants of Tibet have an inalienable right to self-determination, and our resolution reaffirms the commitment of the United States to Tibetans by supporting their fundamental human rights, their religious freedom, their culture and their language,” said Merkley.
In recent years, China has sought to control the reincarnation process of Tibetan religious leaders in an apparent attempt to appoint the successor to the Dalai Lama.
But in his new book entitled “Voice for the Voiceless”, the Dalai Lama said that his successor was born in the “free world”, which he described as outside China.
“The new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama – that is to say to be the voice of universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people – will continue,” said Dalai Lama in the book.
The last resolution reiterates that the selection and installation of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders are in the authority of the Tibetan Buddhist community.
“I am proud to stay with the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet in their struggle for freedom and peace against the continuing aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The PCC status quo – both in Tibet and elsewhere – is not acceptable, “said Young.
The resolution is co-produced by a group of Bipartisan legislators, including representatives Joe Wilson (RS.C.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-ill.), And Young Kim (R-Calif.), And Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Curtis (R-UT) and Dan Sullivan (RKK).
The two resolutions were approved by the committee, then passed by each room before the passage.
Written by Tenzin Pema. Edited by Mat Pennington.