The Struggle for Religious Freedom in Tibet

Produced by the International Campaign for Tibet, Devotion and Defiance examines the new wave of Communist Party crackdowns on Buddhism in Tibet, and the Tibetan people's struggle for religious freedom.

Tibet's monastic tradition began more than 1200 years ago. The teachings focused on the Buddhist path for enlightenment and compassion for all living beings. The monasteries had a sophisticated training system involving medicine, mathematics, religion and the arts. Buddhism shaped the world view of the vast majority of Tibetans.

In 1959, this ended when the Chinese government began a massive campaign to shut down the monasteries. In 1965, the Communist government told the Tibetans that the "backward" Buddhist beliefs were superstitious as must be shelved.

The forced abandonment of Buddhism devastated the Tibetan people. In the 1980s, a limited amount of Buddhism was permitted and some of the 6000 monasteries that had been destroyed were reconstructed. The Chinese Communist Party did not expect the enthusiasm and resurgence of Buddhism in Tibet. It introduced "patriotic education" in the monasteries which asserts, in part, that Tibet was always a part of China. Nuns and monks are forced to sign a document declaring their opposition to the Dalai Lama and professing loyalty to the Communist Party. Refusal to sign could mean expulsion from the monastery or imprisonment.

The torture and abuse of detained nuns and monks are severe in Tibet, according to the U.S. State Department's annual human rights reports. Detainees are severely beaten and shocked with electric prongs. Forms of torture include exposure to extremes of heat and cold, hanging by extremities, sleep deprivation, and electric shock to the genitals.

China is realizing that religion cannot be suppressed, so it is monitoring and managing the Tibetan religious beliefs and leaders, especially the reincarnations of Buddhist figures. China is announcing its own versions of reincarnated and living Buddhas in Tibet, who they are molding from a young age.

To understand more about the movement for Tibetan independence, the demonstrations, the history of Tibet, and human rights violations taking place in Tibet, visit the International Campaign for Tibet.

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One Response to “The Struggle for Religious Freedom in Tibet”

1. Work From Home Blogger says:

   May 1, 2009 at 7:10 am

   The struggle for religious beliefs have been going on for centuries. In this new age it's really not difficult to see this will never end because of these differences. Nice said post!