By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 12: Around 4,700 Tibetans from seven different villages in Sichuan Province on October 8 pledged to refrain from non-virtuous deeds at a ceremony held at a local monastery. They pledged not to engage in activities that fly in the face of their religious beliefs.
Residents from Chukra, Soktsang, Ka Barma, Ponkya, Dokok, Goser and Tsangwa of Thangkor town, Dzoege County and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture gathered at Soktsang Monastery for the ceremony which was called at the request of senior religious leaders as well as officials from local organizations and governments.
“At the gathering the members vowed not to steal, gamble, kill, get involved in scuffles, carry swords or loot,” a Tibetan source from Tibet told RFA.
Yongdrub, Head of the Communist Party and Mayor of Thangkor town, and Ape Tsering, Head of the town’s police station, were present, he added.
“The gathering also included members of the local business community,” said another source.
He also added that the villagers pledged to adhere to several rules, including a requirement that thieves pay owners the value of their property and a fine equal to 30 percent of the value to the local government.
The source confirmed that those who do not comply with the terms of their vows will be handed over to the police and be subject to punishment according to the law. In addition, the family members of the perpetrators will be excluded from religious services at local monasteries for five years.
He also said that Buddhist monasteries in Tibetan-populated regions of China have frequently become the focus of efforts to promote not only religion but also Tibetan national and cultural values.
Many say that despite constant suppression of Chinese authorities, such gatherings of Tibetans in huge numbers are proclamation of the Tibetan people’s cultural identity.
Over 700 Buddhist monks converged on September 25 to observe a seven-day long of religious teachings under a ‘subdued atmosphere’ in Ragya monastery in Golog prefecture.
Over 200,000 devotees including Tibetans gathered at Kumbum monastery in Qinghai province on September 17 for a four-day period of advanced Buddhist rituals and teachings.
