By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 21: The head of the Sakya Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, His Eminence Sakya Trizin, has expressed his concerns over the manhandling of a member of Tibetan parliament representing Sakya by protesters demanding seat for Jhonang tradition outside the Tibetan parliament last Thursday.
The head of Sakya tradition said though there will be no change in his stance of supporting Jhonang tradition’s recognition as a separate tradition he was appalled by the turn of events last Thursday when Sakya MP Gazi Geshe Tseringpo was allegedly manhandled outside the parliament by Jhonang followers.
The letter sent from Darjeeling, where Sakya Ghongma Rinpoche currently is on a visit, states, “As you know, since the start of the discussion of whether to give equal rights to Jhonang as other major traditions I have expressed my support both in writing and verbally. It is a known fact that I have expressed my support during the religious conference in Dharamsala also and there will be no change in that.”
Sakya Ghongma Rinpoche has urged the Kashag to be mindful of the possibilities of the issue giving a way to disharmony among major religious traditions if not handled well. “The recent actions on the part of Jhonang followers towards Sakya representative has left me concerned and if it continues I fear it might lead to disharmony among various traditions,” reads the letter which have been copied to Gaden Phodrang and the Tibetan Parlaiment in Exile.
Following the decision of parliament to drop Jhonang amendment on September 18, nine people have started a hunger strike to protest the parliament’s decision, while the rest continued with the protest.
With their agitation turning ugly with manhandling of a Tibetan MP, many parliamentarians believe that Jhonang followers have made it harder, if not possible, for them to gain any support in the future sessions.
The exile government officially recognized the 11th century Jhonang tradition as the fifth living Buddhist tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in April 2010. The tradition was confirmed as a separate school at the Buddhist Conference led by the Dalai Lama on September 2011.
