By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 11: The Tibetans spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Saturday blessed the 10th Founding Anniversary of Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen School at the Sambhota Model School in Gangchen Kyishong on Saturday.
His Holiness congratulated the school for their impressive performance in the recent time. He also thanked all the teachers and staff members for their continuous hard work at the gathering, which was attended by Speaker Penpa Tsering, Education Minister (Kalon) Ngodup Tsering along with other ministers and senior members of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Emphasizing the importance of Tibetan language and its preservation, His Holiness said, “Tibetan language can go shoulder to shoulder with the modern science in explaining and comprehending the complex scientific and psychological aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, we should take pride in its richness and uniqueness.”
Despite failure in the political sphere, His Holiness said the Tibetan language has been ‘a great help’ in sustaining of our culture and tradition in exile.
While addressing the importance of modern education, the Dalai Lama recalled former Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for his great support and financial assistance from the Indian government in setting up separate Tibetan schools in India.
Assessing the current troubled scenario around the world, he said, “It is clear that modern education alone is not enough in creating a peaceful society. The modern education has failed to address the endless man-made problems despite great advancement in technology and science. Even religion, a source of love and compassion, is now becoming the cause of conflicts and bloodshed. Therefore, the fusion of the traditional and modern education is needed for the betterment of mankind.”
Samdhong Rinpoche, during whose tenure the school was established in 2005, said that the BEP was not a policy created entirely by him. “There are lots of misunderstandings in our society that I was one who conceived the policy. It is true that the policy was announced during our Kashag (cabinet) but I should not be credited for it.”
It is a school based on a holistic approach of learning through the Basic Education (BEP) for Tibetans in exiles, he added.
The students of the school demonstrated the Tibetan monastic debate (Tak-tse) and performed traditional dances to celebrate the occasion.
