Tibetan staff mess turns veggie for one year
Monday, 9 April 2007, 12:38 p.m.
Dharamshala:The Staff Mess here at the hub of the Central Tibetan Administration has struck non-vegetarian foods off its menu for one year, i.e. from 11 April until 2 February 2008.
A public notice issued last Friday also declared that the Mess would refrain from engaging in the business of buying and selling of non-vegetarian supplies.
The initiative is based on a directive from the Kashag Secretariat, which in turn is said to have been acting on the suggestions put up by a great many of civil servants, given the particular significance of this year.
Earlier, the Kashag’s statement on the 48th Tibetan National Uprising Day underlined that the year 2007 is both auspicious and ominous, particularly for His Holiness the Dalai Lama as His Holiness completes six full circles of 12 zodiac signs.
Thus, apart from a long life offering presented to His Holiness on 14 March, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said that a series of prayers would be performed in order to preclude any untoward hurdles.
Kalon Tripa also urged the Tibetans in and outside Tibet to perform meritorious acts and pray for the longevity of His Holiness.
When asked about turning vegetarian, head of the Staff Mess, Machen Gendun, said that “This is indeed a noble initiative to enhance the collective merit, and dedicating it to the longevity of His Holiness.”
Mr. Gendun further added that people must adhere to it conscientiously, at least during the given period. “The whole exercise would be meaningless, if people resort to having vegetarian lunch at the mess, but a non-veg dinner at home.”