2019 Pacem in Terris Award to the Dalai Lama. His successor will be Indian

The Bishop of Davenport personally presented the award to the Tibetan spiritual leader in Dharamshala. The award states: " Your leadership to promote

Mar 20, 2019

By Kunpen Rinpoche
The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has been awarded the "Pacem in Terris - Peace and freedom" prize. The recognition came from the Catholic Interracial Council of Davenport (Iowa, USA), in which 11 religious organizations collaborate.

The award was presented to the Dalai Lama by Msgr. Thomas Zinkula, bishop of Davenport in Dharamshala on March 4th (see photo). "He has been promoter of inner peace and peace in the world throughout his life," the bishop said.

The motivation for the award states: " The coalition recognizes your vision and your commitment to human rights, world peace and the nonviolent resolution of conflict. It is clear from your words and deeds that you are a person who is deeply rooted in the spirit of peace. Your leadership to promote respect for the dignity and culture of the Tibetan people fills all oppressed people with hope that peace can overcome injustice.”

Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, fled from Lhasa in 1959, during a Tibetan revolt against Chinese military rule, finding refuge in India. Although he has tried many times to dialogue with Beijing, to safeguard the autonomy of Tibetan religion and culture, threatened by a "cultural genocide", the Communist Party has always branded him as a "dangerous separatist" who wants Tibet's independence .

In the desire to be able to return to Tibet, in 2011 he gave up his political office to remain only spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. But the Chinese Communist Party continues to consider him a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

Commenting on the "great honor" linked to the award, the 83-year-old spiritual leader said: "All human beings are children of God, the Father. We are truly brothers and sisters, because all human beings share the same nature. This is why we must love one another, respect one another. Today's world really needs this message of peace ".

One of the greatest concerns of the Chinese Communist Party is that it dominate the succession of the XIV Dalai Lama. By tradition, the successor, male or female, is recognized as a reincarnation of the previous spiritual leader when he is deceased. In 1995, Beijing imprisoned Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Panchen Lama (the second highest Tibetan Buddhist office) recognized by the Dalai and imposed a Panchen Lama chosen by the Party, Gyaincain Norbu.

Beijing has already established that any "reincarnation of a lama", in order to be true, needs Party approval.

Perhaps this is why, in recent days, the Dalai Lama has declared that his future reincarnation could emerge in India and not in China. Speaking to Reuters, he commented: "In the future, it is likely that you will see two Dalai Lamas, one from here [India], in a free country, and one chosen by the Chinese, which no one will trust, and no one will respect" . And he added: "China is a great nation, an ancient nation - but it has a political system that is totalitarian, without freedom".--Asia News

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