We, the Non-denominational Coalition of Buddhist Priests and Laypersons Praying
for Peace in Tibet, would like to express our sincere condolences for the victims of earthquake in Yushu (Tibetan:kyigudo), China. In addition, we wish to do whatever possible to help save the lives of those still buried in debris and those who are sick or injured and facing difficult conditions.
At this time, we strongly request the Chinese Central Government to admit the visit of His Holiness The Dalai Lama to the earthquake stricken area. Please refer to the attached two letters. The first one is a letter that the disaster area victims sent to President Hu and Premier Wen. The second is a letter from His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who strongly wishes to visit the sufferers at the disaster stricken area. We Buddhists, having the same compassion that looks beyond nationality, race and gender, consider His Holiness’s request quite natural and reasonable.
Permission for the visit depends on a decision by the Chinese Central Government. We also believe the wisdom of Chinese people all over the world because of China’s great history, and the fact that the Chinese Government has emphasized the importance of harmony between the many nations and races within China. If the Chinese Government were to assent to this request, it will definitely mark a historic turning point and shed the light of change in a gloomy world pre-occupied with money and military power.
We are announcing this appeal not only to the Japanese Government, but also to the Chinese embassy in Japan, the Chinese Government, the Chinese people, and people throughout the world. We are convinced that it is our mission as Buddhists, as those in Tibet and Burma have selflessly demonstrated under great adversity, to address and try to correct issues of a moral and ethical nature.
Therefore we strongly request Buddhists in Japan, Asia, all over the world, as well as Tibetans and other religious peoples to help to work towards furthering the request of His Holiness The Dalai Lama to visit the disaster stricken area in Tibet.
“Change in the world depends on the heart of each person.”
So, we would like to ask everyone to please help this
project and sign the petition below.
Finally we would like to ask Prime Minister Hatoyama, whose political principles are riendship and love, to help protect lives and request of the leaders of the Chinese government that they allow His Holiness
The Dalai Lama to visit the calamity stricken area in Tibet.
Chairman of the Super Sangha 22 April 2010
(AKA the Non-denominational Coalition of Buddhist Priests and Laypersons Praying for Peace in Tibet (Japan))
Please see the letter from Tibetans in the quake zone to President Hu and Premier Wen that requests a visit from the Dalai Lama (published on April 16th, 2010) as well as the statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the 17th of April, 2010 (below).
If you would like to sign the petition, please send your name, organization’s name or sect, and nationality to info@supersamgha.jp , using “Yushu Earthquake Appeal by Super Sangha” as the subject.
◇ ◇ ◇
Letter from Tibetans in quake zone to President Hu and Premier Wen requesting a visit by the Dalai Lama
2010 April 16
Dear President Hu and Premier Wen,
Wish you both good health. During the initial hours of the natural disaster, we appreciate your government’s immediate relief efforts through soldiers and all round support from different sections of the society and we, the victims of this calamity, thank you for the same.
But we are a deeply religious community having a strong faith in the teachings of Buddha. Since many generations, we have a deep faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Today, as we are suffering from a great physical and mental anguish, we really need His Holiness to visit the quake affected area to pray for the departed souls and to provide solace to the broken hearts. Today, we request you, president Hu and premier Wen, to find the compassion in your hearts and fulfill this desire of us quake victims. We, the quake victims numbering more than 100,000, implore you from our hearts to temporarily set aside your government’s political differences with the Dalai Lama and kindly consider our request.
With this invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we have no other objective apart from fulfilling our religious aspirations of praying for the departed souls and the survivors of the disaster.
In this hour of distress, His Holiness’ visit to offer prayers and condolences in person is the only way to heal our wounded hearts. There is no other better way.
◇ ◇ ◇
Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Eager to Visit Earthquake Affected Area as I mentioned briefly soon after I heard the news, I was deeply saddened by the effects of the devastating earthquake in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Tibetan:Kyigudo) of Qinghai Province which resulted in the tragic loss of many lives, a great number of injured and severe loss of property. Because of the physical distance between us, at present I am unable to comfort those directly affected, but I would like them to know I am praying for them.
I commend the monastic community, young people and many other individuals from nearby areas for their good neighborly support and assistance to the families of those who have lost everything. May your exemplary compassion continue to grow. This kind of voluntary work in the service of others really puts the bodhisattva aspiration into practice.
I also applaud the Chinese authorities for visiting the affected areas, especially Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who has not only personally offered comfort to the affected communities, but has also overseen the relief work. I am very appreciative too that the media have been free to report on the tragedy and its aftermath.
In 2008, when a similar earthquake struck Sichuan, Chinese central and local government leaders and auxiliary authorities took great pains to provide relief, allow free access to the media, as well as clearing the way for international relief agencies to provide assistance as required. I applauded these positive moves then and appeal for such ease of access on this occasion too.
The Tibetan community in exile would like to offer whatever support and assistance it can towards the relief work. We hope to be able to do this through the proper and appropriate channels as soon as possible.
When Sichuan was rocked by an earthquake two years ago, I wished to visit the affected areas to pray and comfort the people there, but I was unable to do so. However, when Taiwan was struck by a typhoon last year, I was able to visit the affected families and pray with them for those who had perished in that disaster. In providing some solace to the people concerned, I was happy to be able to do something useful.
This time the location of the earthquake, Kyigudo (Chinese: Yushu), lies in Qinghai Province, which happens to be where both the late Panchen Lama and I were born. To fulfill the wishes of many of the people there, I am eager to go there myself to offer them comfort.
In conclusion, I appeal to governments, international aid organizations and other agencies to extend whatever assistance they can to enable the families of those devastated by this tragedy to rebuild their lives. At the same time, I also call on the survivors of this catastrophe to recognize what has happened as the workings of karma and to transform this adversity into something positive, keeping their hopes up and meeting setbacks with courage as they struggle to restore what they have lost. Once again, I pray for those who have lost their lives as well as for the well being of those who have survived.
DALAI LAMA, 17 April 2010
http://www.tibet.net/en/index.php
