By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, August 21: Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje led a prayer session yesterday for Tsewang Norbu, the 29-year old monk who set himself ablaze protesting China’s rule over Tibet Monday last.
Observing the Buddhist ritual of ‘Duntsik’ (weekly prayers), local Tibetans led by monks and nuns earlier today performed the first Duntsik prayers for Tsewang Norbu at Tsug-la Khang, the main temple. The mass prayer session was organised by 11 Dharamshala based organisations.
The prayer session at Gyutoe Monastery yesterday was held at the behest of the monks of the monastery.
Speaking to Phayul, the monastery’s head disciplinary said that they were deeply saddened by the loss of life in Tibet.
“Yet we are greatly inspired by Tsewang Norbu and we pay homage to his sacrifice for the protection of Tibetan Buddhism and freedom of all Tibetans,” the head disciplinary said.
Ven. Sonam Paljor, the monastery’s ‘Changzoe’ added that through the prayers, the monastery sends a message to Tsewang Norbu’s family that the entire monks of the Gyuto Monastery shares the family’s pain and trauma.
Along with monks at the monastery, around 20 Chinese and Taiwanese devotees also attended the prayer session.
Being asked, one of the Chinese devotees without giving her name said that China’s policy towards Tibetans in Tibet needs to be changed.
“Tsewang Norbu’s sacrifice is a clear indication that Tibetans in Tibet are against the Chinese government’s religious control in Tibet,” the lady said.
The situation in Tawu, eastern Tibet where Tsewang Norbu immolated himself is being described as tense with heavy security surveillance in the region.
In an email sent to Phayul August 20, Tenzin Jigdal of the Students for a Free Tibet, India said that the monks at the Nyitso monastery, where Tsewang Norbu studied, were being regularly interrogated by Chinese police.
“All schools, restaurants and cafés in the area remain shut down. A convoy of eight military vehicles with armed personnel patrol the town,” Jigdal wrote.
