India, China battle it out over Buddhism

Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
The sudden decision of India and China to drop the meeting of their special representatives only a day before it was scheduled in Beijing has brought a cold war on Buddhism out in the open.

China decided to drop the meeting as New Delhi reportedly turned down its demand to keep the Dalai Lama away from a four-day Global Buddhist Congregation that began in New Delhi Sunday. This glitch automatically puts off the later defence secretary level annual dialogue of Dec 8-9.

Both sides have publicly downplayed the issue but there is far more behind the scene than what meets the public eye.

The Chinese leadership is determined to make China the supreme Buddhist power. The sudden love affair with Buddhism arises more from anxieties related to the Tibetan spiritual ruler Dalai Lama, than a change in heart on religion.

China's Communist rulers are focused at building up enough credibility in the international Buddhist community to have their way on the selection of the Dalai Lama's new incarnation before he dies. The Chinese believe that a friendly Dalai Lama will solve their Tibet knot that has found frequent expression through public uprisings and self-immolation sprees since 1951.

It was the unexpected Tibetan uprising of 1989 that made Chinese leaders realise that a Tibetan generation who had never seen the Dalai Lama and who grew on daily staple of Communist propaganda was to blame. Following a serious review at the third 'Tibet Work Forum' in 1991, China adopted a new policy in Tibet which accepts religion as a tool of winning hearts.

As part of this strategy, Chinese Communists have selected at least two top ranking lama incarnations of Karma Pa and Panchen Lama in 1993 and 1995 respectively. Gedhun Choeky Nyima, the six-year-old who was recognized by the Dalia Lama as the 'real' Panchen Lama, still remains under Chinese custody 18 years later.

While Chinese candidate Giancin Norbu has yet to be accepted by Tibetan masses, the Karma Pa escaped to India to join the Dalia Lama on the eve of New Year of 2000.

To the supporters of the Dalai Lama, the selection of these two senior incarnate lamas are dress rehearsals for China to impose a baby of its own choice as the Dalai Lama once the incumbent is no more.

Leaving behind Mao's distaste for religion, Beijing hosted the first World Buddhist Forum in 2006 in Zhejian province and the second in March 2009 in Wuxi. The latter attracted over 1,700 delegates from 50 countries. In both meetings, Giancin Norbu was paraded as the senior most representative of Buddhism in the world.

This aggressive marketing by China as the real Buddhist powerhouse of the world has not gone down well with India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. New Delhi too has launched its own Buddhist conferences in Singapore, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. There will be similar shows in Nepal and Vietnam.

While the current posturing by New Delhi and Beijing over border dialogue shows where their real concerns lie, the new religious theatre is bound to lead to new fireworks.

India, China battle it out over Buddhism
 

Tolaha

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
2,158
Likes
1,416
CCP describes the current Dalai Lama as something on the lines of the devil. Also, It insists on being the absolute authority in the selection of his reincarnation.

These 2 thoughts are contradictory in nature. How does CCP justify this contradiction to the Chinese public?
 
Last edited:

Mad Indian

Proud Bigot
Senior Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
12,835
Likes
7,762
Country flag
The Chicoms are good for nothing it seems. First they stole manufacturing goods and other intellectual properties from the west. Now they are trying to steal the Spirutual property of the Tibetans and India by trying to bring Buddhism under them. :laugh::laugh:

Whats worse, this is stupidly ironic in that a state which states that there is no religion is wanting to select a New Dalai lama and wanting to project itself as the Buddhist center:frusty::frusty:.

But hey on the bright side, it proves one thing though- The Chicoms have no shame:taunt1::taunt1::taunt1:
 

civfanatic

Retired
Ambassador
Joined
Sep 8, 2009
Messages
4,562
Likes
2,570
Well according to some Chinese, Buddhism came from "Nepal" and not India :notsure:
 

amoy

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
5,982
Likes
1,849
"India, China battle it out over Buddhism" is but a fiction, if u really see what China's Buddhism is about for yourself. Many Chinese claim they're kinda "Buddhist", visiting a temple from time to time, burning incense, and making a wish :namaste: , like everyone more or less "Confucist" or "Taoist", as everyday life is pervaded with such rituals or habits...

If China looks to Lama, like Karmapa or Panchen or Dalai as "solutions", that's quite silly (as been proven). In fact historically those Lamas owed their prominence among numerous sects to Yuan (Mongols) or Qing (Manchu) who propped them up for reign over Tibet. But once Qing Dynasty, who also claimed themselves Buddhist, felt threatened , it deposed 2 Dalai Lamas in history. And during ROC era Panchen Lama in exile firmly supported a grand China. In PRC's nego. with Lhasa, Beijing insisted Panchen who was ousted from Tibet shall be allowed to return to Tibet, which Dalai's Gaxag was strongly resistant to.

Beijing shall get out of the outdated thinking, such as using Lama's religious clout for rule or taking advantage of their factional rivalry. Instead, Beijing shall have Lamas be dedicated to their "spiritual spheres" while fading out of politics. Most recently a correct move has been made to knit monasteries/nunneries into social security network so that monks/nuns are also entitled to medicare and pensions. Other measures may include prohibiting under-aged children becoming monks, and compulsory bilingual schooling.

To God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar.
 
Last edited:

no smoking

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
5,000
Likes
2,302
Country flag
When can our indian friends understand that religion is never a significant part of chinese political world. In most of chinese eyes, Dalai is a political leader more than a religious leader.

There is no god in traditional chinese culture. If ancient chinese didn't give much respect to so called "GOD", why would they respect these god spokesmen?

I just wonder: is there anyone dare to say the same word as ancient chinese--"kill the god if he is in the way"!!!
 
Last edited:

Ray

The Chairman
Professional
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
43,132
Likes
23,834
Many Chinese claim they're kinda "Buddhist", visiting a temple from time to time, burning incense, and making a wish , like everyone more or less "Confucist" or "Taoist", as everyday life is pervaded with such rituals or habits...
Prince Shridartha was born in Nepal.

He achieved Nirvana at Bodh Gaya.

Therefore, it is in Budh Gaya that he found Nirvana and spiritual enlightenment.
 

Ray

The Chairman
Professional
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
43,132
Likes
23,834
When can our indian friends understand that religion is never a significant part of chinese political world. In most of chinese eyes, Dalai is a political leader more than a religious leader.

There is no god in traditional chinese culture. If ancient chinese didn't give much respect to so called "GOD", why would they respect these god spokesmen?

I just wonder: is there anyone dare to say the same word as ancient chinese--"kill the god if he is in the way"!!!
One has to understand that in many parts of the world religion and State was one.

It is not just confined to Tibet,

There was also the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope.

The modern day manifestation is the Vatican, which has the Pope as the Head and has the trapping of a country by itself!
 

no smoking

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
5,000
Likes
2,302
Country flag
One has to understand that in many parts of the world religion and State was one.

It is not just confined to Tibet,

There was also the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope.

The modern day manifestation is the Vatican, which has the Pope as the Head and has the trapping of a country by itself!
Well, Ray, chinese was far beyond that. There was no chinese ruler recevied their title from any religion leader. They don't need it and their people don't require this kind of confirmation. Who think that CCP may turn to Buddhism for "solution" is just a guy without any knowledge of China.

A
 

aerokan

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
1,024
Likes
817
Country flag
When can our indian friends understand that religion is never a significant part of chinese political world. In most of chinese eyes, Dalai is a political leader more than a religious leader.

There is no god in traditional chinese culture. If ancient chinese didn't give much respect to so called "GOD", why would they respect these god spokesmen?

I just wonder: is there anyone dare to say the same word as ancient chinese--"kill the god if he is in the way"!!!

I understand u my chinese friend. I agree with u that chinese culture don't have a god. That is the reason why i believe tibet is NOT a part of China. Nobody asked Chinese to respect the 'GOD' or some spokesperson. Just leave them effing alone without labelling them as terrorists and let them live peacefully.. I just wonder if chinese will ever get the capability to let different ideas persist !!
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top