Osaka: Super Samgha, an Association of Japanese sangha members and laypeople supporting peace in Tibet, organized a Tibet event to pray for Tibet and to share the life and contributions of H.H. the Dalai Lama through photo exhibitions and the documentary film “Never Forget Tibet” at the Konkokyo Osaka Center in Osaka City.
Rev. Ryoshin Onishi, General Secretary of the Association, welcomed the members and general public and briefed them on the schedule of the event. A group of monks led by Rev. Shodo Ueda started the prayer rituals before the thangka of Avalokiteshvara, Buddha of compassion. The prayer was dedicated to all the people who lost their lives and who are still suffering under the communist regime. It was also to pray for world peace and the victory of good over evil.
Rev. Shodo Ueda, Chairman of the Association, expressed solidarity with the Tibetans who are struggling hard to keep the teaching of Buddha dharma intact and pure. He appreciated H.H. the Dalai Lama’s approach to world peace and the message of compassion and non-violence, and advised the gathering to follow the path of love and compassion.
A former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmaker, Sugita Mio, attended the event briefly. She greeted the audience and thanked the organisers for the invitation. She expressed her solidarity with the Tibetan people and conveyed that such events will greatly help many to understand the Tibet issue better. She informed the audience that she supports Tibet and has been a member of the Japan Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet.
A documentary movie “Never Forget Tibet, The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story” by Martineze and Rani Singh was screened to have the audience get a glimpse of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s life in Tibet, Chinese occupation, exile life, and his struggle for a global community without war and violence. Tibet House Japan supported the event with photo exhibitions of H.H. the Dalai Lama displaying the major events of His Holiness’ life and his commitments for world peace.
Representative Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Liaison Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama was invited as the guest speaker at the event. Representative Arya thanked the Monk Association for the Tibet event and for inviting him to speak. He also thanked the members for their support during the 9th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet held last June at the Japan Parliament building in Tokyo. He briefed the audience on the four commitments of H.H. the Dalai Lama and how these connect to world peace and stability. He explained to them about the CCP’s continued interference in Tibetan religious matters, including the selection of the reincarnation of H.H. the Dalai Lama and other high Tibetan Lamas. He informed them of the CCP’s dreadful policy behind the colonial boarding schools in Tibet.
Rev. Riten Tanaka, Vice Chairman of the Association, made a presentation on his journey to Tibet twenty years ago. He talked of the kind and peaceful nature of the Tibetan people and the clear and azure sky under which they lived. He shared his visits to the Tibetan monasteries, including Sera, where Ekai Kawaguchi and Tokan Tada studied Tibetan Buddhism in the early 20th century.
Rev. Yoshinobu Miyake, a Shinto priest and scholar and Chairman of the Board of International Shinto Studies Association, gave the word of thanks and expressed his pleasure to be associated with the Association’s activities to promote world peace and H.H. the Dalai Lama’s message of peace and compassion. He talked about the need of religious freedom. He informed the audience that he met His Holiness several times and how His Holiness fondly touched his beard.
Tselha, who accompanied Representative Arya, took charge of the photo exhibitions and distributed the Japanese translation of reports by the Tibet Justice Centre, International Tibet Network, and Tibet Action Institute on the CCP’s interference in the selection of religious leaders and Chinese colonial boarding schools. A booklet of poems by H.H. the Dalai Lama on the importance of trees and Tibet House’s pamphlets and monthly bulletin were distributed to the audience.
The audience appreciated the movie screening and the photo exhibitions. Some said they learnt many things about the work of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, especially the four commitments. They requested the organisers to have more such events.
– Report filed by Office Of Tibet, Japan
