Tibet was an independent nation for more than 2000 years with its own government, civil services and legal system, complete with an army and police force. Tibet had never been “part” of China and in 1904 the British invaded Tibet resulting in a peace treaty recognizing Tibet as an independent nation.

As the 13th Dalai Lama aged he saw things happening the concerned him and before he died he warned the nation to be watchful of the communism in China. In 1950 when the 14th Dalai Lama was only 15 years old, the warning turned to reality and Communist China came for Tibet.

Since 1959, 150,00 Tibetans have fled into exile to escape communist rule. Hundreds died traveling through the Himalayas from exhaustion and the harsh conditions not to mention the attacks from the Chinese military. Thousands continue to escape to India to avoid persecution. Many were found by nomads and taken to Indian military bases for treatment for frostbite, mal nourishment, and exhaustion. People lost limbs, and some never recovered from the sickness and medical issues they encountered on the long journey to escape. There are about 50 Tibetan settlements in Northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The 14th Dalai Lama escaped to Dharamsala, in India, and I was lucky enough to travel there to see his temple and monastery. In exile a Tibetan administration and parliament was established and is the voice of the people in and out of Tibet. They have built monasteries, and welfare departments to help Tibetans survive in exile and preserve the rich deep identity that China intends to wipe away.

Tibet under China’s rule:

When China occupied Tibet its main objective was to forcibly assimilate Tibetans into Chinese culture and systematically wipe away all Tibetan culture and identity. They destroyed the most treasured symbols of Tibetan history and essentially wiped out three quarters of their historical monasteries and scriptures. China actively denies the Tibetan history and has made huge population transfers to dilute the heritage and make Tibetans the minority in Tibet.

The Chinese people that were transferred now own most businesses and many Tibetans remain unemployed since those business owners give Chinese workers priority. The Chinese government is marginalizing Tibetans keeping them in economic poverty.

They are ignoring the fragile environment and implementing projects that are causing massive pollution issues for the land and they are over mining causing environmental destruction.

Tibet has been under martial law since the peaceful protests in 2008 and human rights violations are rampant in the Tibet under the control of China. Peaceful protesters are often killed, or beaten and imprisoned for years. They are interrogated and tortured and forced to denounce their religion and the Dalia Lama.

Currently Tibetans suffer from intimidation, torture, and oppression from the Chinese government. Anyone who expresses thoughts of freedom are arrested, tortured and given long prison sentences for disturbing the national stability. Any resistance to the “patriotic reeducation” is cause for imprisonment.

Tibet was once an independent nation with its own government, economic system, civil service and deep rich culture. It is currently under stack and the Tibetan people are at risk of being simply a group in the history books. The Dalai Lama has three commitments in his life. As I walked through the museum in Dharamsala, I was able to see evidence of his work as he gives his life to these 3 commitments. He is always on the move and always doing great things to try to bring the whole world together.

1. As a human being, finding ways to promote human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self discipline. All human beings are the same we all want to gain happiness and avid suffering. Even those who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of human values as a source of happiness in their lives. The Dalai Lama refers to these human values as secular ethics.

2. As a religious practitioner, finding ways to promote religious harmony and understanding among the major religious traditions of the world. There are ideological and philosophical differences, but all have the potential to create a great human being. Therefore it is important to respect all religions and value each other’s perspective. The Dalai Lama says the one truth and one religion are valuable on an individual level, but for a community at large, several truths and several religions are necessary.

3. As a Tibetan holding the title Dalai Lama, he is entrusted by the Tibetan people to continue to preserve the Buddhist culture and strive for an independent Tibet as their independent spokesman in exile.