A talk on features of Democracy, and our responsibilities

As requested jointly by Tibetan Children’s Village Schools (TCV Schools) and The Committee for Introduction to Buddhism Public Class, Dharamshala, this afternoon (1 June 2016) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk on the requested theme of “The responsibilities and future direction of deeds of the Tibetan public and the administration heads, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary year since His Holiness the Dalai Lama bestowed to Tibetans the rights of the democratic system, subsequent to voluntary devolvement, in 2011, of political powers.”

Rinpoche emphasised the importance of honesty and transparency, and pointed out the difference between artificial and genuine democratic systems, and delineated three misconceptions as regards Democracy: (1) the democratic system has its source in the West; contrary to that, it had long existed in India; (2) the democratic system is a modern system; it is rather a traditional system; (3) His Holiness the Dalai Lama has the new thought of implementing a democratic system of administration when arriving in India; in actuality, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had already thought of such a direction already while in Tibet, as evidenced by setting up of “Reform Office.”

Of the modern threefold slogan of Democracy—Liberty, Equality and Fraternity—Rinpoche explained how when India’s Constitution was drafted there was the feature of “Justice” added to the three, and how far wider these principles would be applied, to include all beings, from Buddhist perspective.

Besides many inspiring insights, Rinpoche described how ‘a partyless Democracy’ would be the best democratic system, where there is no factionalism into a political party interest at the negligence and dispensing of national interest; how greatly it would benefit the unity in our society if advertisement/campaigning and personal funding are outlawed in the election process.

Rinpoche thereafter answered questions from the students.

Organised jointly by Tibetan Children’s Village Schools (TCV Schools) and the Committee for Introduction to Buddhism Public Class, Dharamshala, and meant mainly for Tibetan youths and public, the talk was in conjunction with the present series of teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Tsuklagkhang Temple, Dharamshala.