FREE TIBET

On my journey, there is a lot of talk about “karma” and the idea of what “you put out is what you receive”. I believe in the idea of karma and have had a multitude of personal experiences to prove that there is truth to it but being here in Dharamsala, I am little bit baffled by the concept. What on earth could the Tibetan people have done to deserve the treatment that they are receiving in their own country??

(Just a warning: some of the information below is a little disturbing.)

I attended a lecture the other night that was given by a Tibetan Refugee who was held captive in Tibet for 7 years by the Chinese government. Senge took part in a peaceful protest in 1994 with four close friends. He was 21 years old. His intention was to simply express his desire for freedom for his people. When the Chinese police showed up, Senge and his friends did not fight back despite the beatings that were given to them. The fact that they were carrying a Tibetan flag was enough reason for them to be brought to a detention center where they were held captive for 3 months. There they were fed two meals per day; breakfast consisted of a small bowl of soup riddled with flies and steamed dough (which was typically frozen) was handed out for dinner. Guards took the detainees blood once a day. When Senge asked why they were taking blood, he was told that it was payment for their food.

Beatings took place on a regular basis. Senge and his friends were tied up, taken outside and beaten with iron poles and tortured with electric prods. Their hands were placed under chair legs and guards would sit on them for hours on end. They were forced to stand outside naked in the freezing cold. Water was poured on them and their feet would freeze into the ground.

When they were finally brought to court in Lhasa, they were not allowed to hire an attorney and were sentenced to 6 years in prison. Senge received an additional 2 years because he was the one who actually was carrying the Tibetan Flag on the day that they were captured. Their ages: 19, 20, 16 and 21 years old.

The torture that they endured in prison was a lot worse than the detention center; it was physical and emotional. They are forced to change their minds on where they stand on issues about Tibet, when they refused they were beaten for days. A political prisoner that Senge was friends with asked to receive basic medical attention for a wound that he had received during a bad beating. The Chinese guards were so enraged that they beat him more, shot him and then used electric prods in his wound. The prisoner died due to lack of medical attention. Monks were regularly beaten as well.

When Senge was released from prison in 2002, he tried to find a job but it was impossible even though he was supposed to have basic rights like all other Chinese citizens. Despite his freedom, his life was miserable. His basic rights were stripped away forever (as part of his sentence). As long as he chose to live in Tibet; he could not go to school, temples or monasteries and could never attend celebrations and gatherings for the Tibetan people. So in 2005, Senge walked for 20 days with 25 other Tibetans through Mount Everest in the freezing cold to come to India. They could only walk in the evenings to avoid being caught. One of his companion’s fingers froze and had to be amputated so Senge had to care for his friends’ baby and ended up having to carry him for the entire length of his journey.

In 2008 (just last year!!!!), Chinese police raided his home where his mother and sister were still living and found some books that were written by the Dalai Lama, which were actually Senge’s books. For this reason alone, his 59 year old mother and sister were imprisoned. His mother was sentenced to 3 months and his sister received 6. Senge feels guilty every single day because the books belonged to him. He thinks about going back to Tibet to confess this to the Chinese authorities so that they will give his family back their basic rights but he knows that if he does, he will most likely be killed. He never calls his family back home because he fears for their safety if he does.

The Chinese government does not allow photos of the Dalai Lama in Tibet but claim that they allow basic rights to Tibetan people. Have you ever read a book written by His Holiness? I have. Several. He encourages love, peace and equality. There is nothing negative about anything that the Dalai Lama stands for. I have been living with the Tibetan people here in McLeod Ganj for almost a month. They are some of the kindest, most generous and loving people that I have ever met despite the hardship that they have endured.

During the lecture I began to feel helpless and frustrated. What can I do to help?? Senge assured me that there is something that I can do and so can you. There are several petitions online that apparently do help the Tibetan people’s plight for freedom. All they are looking to get back are their fundamental human rights in Tibet: Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. If there is anything that we can do to help and doesn’t take more than a little time on the internet, why not help?? That is our duty as people who ARE free. I urge you to get involved and spread the word to everyone you know.

I wake up feeling grateful for my freedom every single day. I will never take it for granted. Ever.

Here are some petitions that you can sign and forward:

http://www.petitiononline.com/indtib35/petition.html

http://tibetanuprising.org/2008/03/19/online-actions-for-tibet/

Get involved!

Sending you love and light from Dharamsala!

xoxo

Taking Care of Babies - Rogpa

I have a whole new level of respect for child care workers and parents everywhere. When I signed up to volunteer at the baby center at Rogpa, I did not really know what I was getting myself into. I just thought it would be great fun to play with some children for a few hours and brighten their day. When I initially met with the manager of the organization, he showed me an orientation video that gave me slight pause (I did not think about the “changing the nappys/ diapers" or cleaning the potties aspect of the commitment) but I was still excited.

I arrived at Rogpa in the afternoon at 12:45 pm. When I walked in to the baby care center, my heart was filled with love upon seeing 42 napping babies all perfectly lined up on mats on the floor. The manager directed me to my locker, put a green smock on over my clothes and introduced me to five beautiful Tibetan Women who work in the center and two volunteers, one from Israel and one from Korea, none of whom speak any English. Within minutes, one by one, babies began to awaken and chaos began to ensue. Direction, in the form of pointing fingers, to pick babies up and place them on potties, began amidst cries for attention and affection. “Oh boy, here we go”, I thought.

The center consists of four very small rooms. The largest room is the play room which also acts as the napping, feeding and toilet area. Although the walls are painted with vibrant murals, they are also covered with what appears to be black mold and water damage. The floors are padded fake wood which is coming apart (the children are reprimanded for curiously pulling the floor up, which frustrates me). A smaller room is used for some of the younger babies who need a little more special attention. The other two rooms consist of a storage area/ kitchen and a “laundry” area.

All of the children have colds so handkerchiefs are hung around their necks and I am instructed to keep their noses clean. After all of the babies have awoken and are changed (which takes a good hour), playtime begins. Toys are tossed into the middle of the room and some babies frantically run around joyfully playing. A few of the babies do not appear to be having a good time, so I make it my mission to cheer them up. The next thing I know, I have four children wanting my full attention (I have always dreamed about being a mother but now am pretty sure that my limit would be two, three at the most. I had a hard time maintaining my energy for 6 hours, I cannot even imagine a lifetime of commitment at this point.).

Feeding time was beyond chaotic. Six babies were sat in front of me, on the floor, followed by six bowls and six wet hand towels. High chairs would have been dreamy but not a reality. Ever tried feeding a couple of toddlers? OK, now imagine six! Tossing, spilling and spitting up food...all over me. A suggestion of a change of clothes would have been great. Yet another lesson has been learned.

After feeding is changing time and then play time once again. The end of the day consists of reading (the children love that I can read English, since all of the books are in English even though they only speak Tibetan...strange) and singing time. I haven't sung a full on nursery rhyme in years but can do a mean "itsy bitsy spider", complete with hand motions which I repeat over and over to the babies delight.

The parents arrived at 6 pm and the room is filled with love, warm embraces and gratitude. After sitting down to catch my breath, I head down to the main office to meet with the manager. As soon I walk in he says "hard work, huh?" Um, yeah. The understatement of the year. I decide that a daily commitment in the baby center is not for me but that I will commit to outings to the temple and waterfall on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The next day I signed up to work in the factory to help with crafts. I will be working there every morning, from 9 am to 1 pm for the duration of my time in McLeod Ganj. All of the proceeds from the sale of the items that we create go directly to the maintenance of the baby center (including staff salaries and food) and help for the Tibetan families who have had to make India their home. I am thrilled that I am (finally) able to put my embroidery skills to some great use and absolutely love the experience of working with the Tibetan women who will surely become lifelong friends.

To make a donation to Rogpa, please visit their website: http://www.tibetrogpa.org/

Sending you love and light from McLeod Ganj.

xoxo