Shen Yun

On Friday evening, soon after work, I hopped in my friend's hybrid new car to head toward Baltimore to see a Chinese traditional arts perfermance. This is unplanned and last minute decision on my part to break the monotonous daily routine for some fresh adventures and to charter a new territory. And I couldnt be merrier watching this fabulous authentic Chinese traditional dance and music show, by a troove of highly talented Chinese professionals artists.

The 30-40 miles of ride from D.C to Baltimore was fun and hilarious.  My friend's carefree handling of cell phone to set the nagivation while driving on high way prompted me to give him a lecture on the risk of multitasking with driving. While he accepts the danger of his unwarranted behaviour, he is little addicted to his smartphone, either it is playing a song and showing a picture or finding the direction.

To enable him focus on the road, we  chatted. Our lady friend who might be well beyond her middle age was jovial, and personal  and compassionate. She didnt want to leave any homeless guy approaching at the traffic light be ignored, and indeed on several occassions dish out a dollar for each with much sense of sympathy and sorry for them. The alms she gives appear to be more to accommolate her merits than to help the reciever of her generosity.

our conversations hovered around the virtues of contentment, the reality of life and the belief in Karma for unexepected turn of event in life, such as firing from work etc and thankfully we spared politics in our discourse. Either because of genertional gap or for some other reasons,  I find it interesting to glean from their talks, their passion in pastime.  Both appeared to be movie buffs.

 Their favourite past time is to turn to TV channels or youtube to listen songs, and sermons and watch movies. I almost felt that I was not in their league. But that didnt turn out to be true, because we all have a penchant for  Chinese tradition, culture and the language. That is why, our excitment for the show we are going was palpable.

it was thanks to our friend L's connection that secured us  free tickets for the show. Understandablly the two us took care of the parking fees and coffes before the performance. Boasting to showcase 5000 years of Chinese tradition in one night, Shenyun was indeed spectacular, and a feast for the eyes and ears. A show trail can be see at this link,
 http://www.shenyun.com/promo/shen-yun-video.php?utm_source=se&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=videos

Shenyun performing arts is an endevaour of Falung Gon to perserve the rich Chinese tradtion and customs, and besides to send a clear message via twin goals of raising awarnes and sensitizing the viewers on  the red Chinese government's brutality agasint their practitionars.

The show was mindblowing. A mastery of the finest performing arts, and a talents of the artists are superior. Through a combination of onstage performance and background digitalized screen, through syncronized aimation . The viewers are awed throughout by the agility and precision of the spotless  performance.  Each show is based on a Chinese lengendary tale, or a folklore with didantic lessons.

When I watch something nowadays, I am far more critical than I used to be. For me now interpretation is as important as entertainment. So whether it is a sole performance or a stage act,  the message and actions are designed to  conveyed virtues of Funlong practice and  deify and denigrate, slight the authoritarins.    For them, the fight with the red communist China is a matter of life or death. They minced no words on this.

Interestely through- out the show there was only one show of red colour in the form of  red dragon, that too was destroyed by the mythical Nata character, signifying good triumphing agasint evil. The lyrics of the sole are in praise of Funlong practice. The physical stamina and strength and fitiness of the performers are indications of the result of Fulung pratice, then the audience got it.

I find the their show in conveying the message to the audience are very effective. it is powerful with high potential to impact all viewers.  Media and performing arts are two chosen vehicle to advance their issues and criticize the Chinese communist party. They are doing it very effectively by pouring a mass amount resources on them.    With their similarities in the struggle for freedom for both Tibetan and Chinese people.   Tibetan people should be so proud to have a their charismatic and undisputed leader the Dalai Lama, whose words and wisdom surpases all other vial means of struggle.





 







 

Party With Purpose

The New Year Eve party organized by the Tibetan Sunday School parents was a "resounding" success, so claimed by the organizing committee. if the party was deemed to be a success, it could be because of the turn out, the show items, and the food.

Turn out:
The party was held at a familiar location. The last time I recall of such a well attended audience in that hall was one of the first Tibetan wedding event I went. The good draw of people was largely because of the prior ticket sales. Any event to be successful, it must be well planned and executed. The New Year Eve party was planned well ahead by a team of organizing committee lead by the Sunday School president, Mr. Lhundup.
Through the division of labour, the required task of the party was evenly assigned. Though I could not take part in the preparatory meeting , but my share of the work was to prepare food and sell tickets. Which I have done dutifully.Flyers are put out on facebook to advertise the New Year bash. Tickets are printed, the parents are tasked to sell minimum 10 tickets. The ticket selling in advance, has many advantages. Those purchasing tickets are compelled to attend, otherwise the money goes to donation for the parents association.Having the tickets in advance, served an incentive to attend.

As the turn out was good, so was the item shows one after another. My little daughter took part in the Tibetan alphabet sing  song with a group. Dressed in her sparking Tibetan chupa, she really looks beautiful.
The praise and applause heaped on Kunsal by friends and acquaintance  was above my ability to count. When at the stage,she was standing in front, because of being the smallest child. As the background music blared, the first grade students sang along the music, and it sounds interesting and melodic. Twitching her head and swaying her torso, Kunsal assumed a serious facial countenance. Do kid never smile at a party night?

Among other entertainments show, one of the girl's Indian dance was spectacular. The students in four different section put on variety show.  One most memorable show of the night, was obviously stole by flutes played by two adult students. it was beautiful and fantastic showcase of their  talent. While for the students, who stand up on the stage to announce or dance, have received positive reaction from the audience. For some it could be the night of a life changing experience and moment. 

Thanks to the enthusiastic responses of the organizing committees and the students, the audience turn out was far better than anything I could  think of. The hall's capacity has almost fully filled.

Not only the regular Capital Areas Tibetans are the sole attendants, they are many new faces in the crowd. Those include, many injis. Parents came with their little ones. and the children played joyfully in the hall.

As the entertainment draw to a close, the super prepared by the parents was sumptuous. it was amazing that the home prepared food serve the entire people in the hall. The food was plenty, and delicious. That have done the work of taking care of party-goers appetite. A stroll down to the end of hall, you reach to a bar counter, where party revelers boozing.    


Ms. Tenzin Yangchen, a local Tibetan amateur photographer has captured all glamor and glittering of the new year celebration party. Through her lens, the cheerful well -clad party-goers are shot. The well decorated hall looks superb in the snaps.  Some of our friends shot several pictures of me and my wife and other friends, turn out fabulous. Those become  a facebook favourit photos..

When this Sunday, the organizing committee accounted the party event.  They have a positive balance sheet, to the profit of over a thousand dollar. So was the New year party as resounding success. I bet it was in its own term.  This demonstrated the power of coming together hand in hand and the beauty of community building.    

sleeping.

His face radiates with smile and he walks gently with a air of confidence and calmness. Khenpo Sordhagal appeared at the George Washington University to give a talk on the topic "The Tibetan code of Happiness".

 Khenpo is  one of the closest disciples of Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok, a renowned
Tibetan Buddhist master, who has founded a massive Buddhist learning centres, known as Lhanrang Gam, a great learning Centre. After Kenchen Jigme passed away, his students continued to lead the institute. The reputation and good works of two disciples, including the one appeared was astounding.

Out of curiosity and also out of interest to learn more, I went to the talk. Tibetan and Chinese audience have filled in the hall. 

Khenpo spoke in Tibetan, and another American woman who speaks fluent Tibetan was his translator.

Khenpo's talk focused on the topic of happiness and even when one of the audience asked a question that hinges on political issue in Tibet, he prefers not to dwell on those issue.

His assertion  that Tibetans in many parts of the Tibet were happy and content, despite of their limited resources and development. It was contended by an audience that comparing to Tibet's physical development today , is far better than in several decades back, but yet comparatively the Tibetan are unhappy, and what is the reason for that.
Khenpo sensed that he has ruffled the feather of the Tibetan sentiment, and it was a little awkward and uneasy moment, where he suggested that the audience are not only Tibetans there are Chinese as well, which the translator has cleverly by passed. It is totally understandable, that the Khenpo can not jeopardize his career and the works he does back home, by  transgressing the purposed Chinese cautiou or warnings.
I wanted to ask him one questions, but didnt get the chance.
My questions goes like this.  Since Khenpo talked on the importance of avoiding attachment toward others as a way of obtaining happiness. I wonder if it is also way of abandoning attachement toward oneself, when people put themselves on fire, and by that way, is it right to say is a way of attaining happiness?

Khenpo has done a lots works in translating classic Tibetan scripture into Chinese, and he appears to have travelled and taught in several well known  universities in China.

Later on, i learned from a colleague, that several Tibetans have private audience with the Khenpo later in the evening at his residence. I am not sure what has transpired at the time, the most important is that the Tibetans in the U.S is so keen to interact with Khenpo.




 

Demolish

A Tibetan woman self-immolated in protest against Chinese government’s confiscation of some Tibetan people’s houses in Kham Sheshul, Jekundo. And another Tibetan warn to self -immolate for the Chinese eviction.

The Chinese government have started the so called yushul reconstruction in July 2012, resulting the eviction of Tibetan residents living in Rishonggon and Tibetan residents living behind the Yushul teachering training Centre. The Chinese solider have bulldozed the Tibetan residential houses and temporary tent  and beaten arrested those who resisted to give way for the demolish works.

Those Tibetan residential house built now in the site of  in Jykundo Rishonggon and behind Yushul teaching training institute were initially a empty lot  and belong to people as their farm land before the earth quake struck Yushul.  After math of the  earthquake, the Chinese government have marked the place, and informed that those lot will be used by government for growing grass and no construction of houses are allowed on those lot. But owing to the earth, many Tibetan residents were left with no place to live, so they have set up tents for temporary shelter and also built houses on those lots by selling off their own houses.  But now despite of those lots are used for people’s housing, the Chinese investigated the official permission of the building houses, and have evicted people from their houses consequently.

As a result of the evictions from their houses and confiscation of the people’s farmland , a Tibetan woman self-immolated in protest around a week ago. The woman is the daughter in law of Mr Ngodup from Drongden Seden unit.  But at the time the fire on her body was quickly put off, therefore her physical condition is not life threatening.

A father of 10 children, and his name Gonggey has warned the authorities that he would self-immolate in protest against the forceful confiscation of his land. And the man has also arranged prayers in the local monasteries as witnessed by other after his self-immolation.

After 4 years the earthquake in Jykundo, the Chinese government’s reconstruction has began in fullswing. But there was a stark contrast between the rebuilding for Chinese local official and residential housing for the local ordinary Tibetan. The Chinese official rebuilt residential houses are more spacious and with superior construction quality and more stable. While the local residential houses require renovation within one and half years of their built.  

To a different sources.

Prior to the Jykundo earth quake, many Tibetan bought land and build their houses in the Yushul town.  But after the earthquake, despite of the demolish of their houses as a result , the Chinese refused  to rebuild those  houses for them.  But many Tibetan individuals rebuilt their own houses on their own land through their own spending. But now the Chinese have forced to demolish those houses saying that these Tibetans do not have their household registration in Jykundo township and hence the Chinese government do not accept that those estate belongs to these Tibetans. And this government takeover of the land started on April 2. 2013.  

Challenges & Opportunities.

What Questions are asked :

Why Canadian government welcome the Dalai Lama so warmly by risking their relationship with China is one of the question raised at a public talk by Representative Lobsang Nyndak la on Tuesday afternoon at George Washington University. Another Chinese students asked that in order for Tibet China to inter into a dialogue, there needs to have a pressure on China, so what pressure Tibet has on China ? And also how can exile Tibetan administration reach out to those hyper Chinese nationalist students who are completely brainwashed by Chinese propaganda , were some of the questions put to Representative Lobsang Nyndak at his talk. The senior Tibetan civil servant and former minister fielded  such and other interesting questions with patience and understanding show of understanding and sensitivity to the best of his ability. Another questions is that Tibet used to be a theocratic society, when did the idea of democratization come to take its root?
During the election of Syikong Lobsang Sangay, all across the world, were any government provided logistic support?  What is the merit of having the recent  new political party called Tibetan National Congress? such questions and others have enriched the talk and generated profound discussions.

Lobsang Nyidak's talk focused on the challenges Tibetan exile facing as they have embraced democracy. He began the speech with the hisotrical handover of political power by the Dalai Lama to elected leadership, which he said is intended for the long term goal of Tibetan exiles. He dwelt that the Dalai Lama devolving  of complete political authority  to the elected political leadership is a huge challenge, and it is also an opportunity for Tibetan in exile.

The other interesting challenges that he mentioned are:
1. Recognition of the exile Tibetan political leader Sikyong by the international communities , while Tibetans inside and outside have fully embraced him as their political leader with much admiration and hope.
2. The continuation and protection of the Dalai Lama institute, in the face China's likely intervention for next Dalai lama pick.
3. Strengthening the democratic governance of the exile establishment.

It was an interesting and well thought topic and Lobsang Nyndak la provide much insights on some of the pressing issues that exile Tibetan dispora facing today.

The interaction and reaction of the Chinese students was another plus points, as Central Tibetan Administration also attempt to reach out to the Chinese people.  The speaker has to walk on a tight rope, when addressing such an composition of audiences of Chinese and Tibetan by not offending the sentiment of both.  And Mr. Nyndal dealt the issue very deftly and diplomatically.

Chinese Reactions

The reactions of ordinary Chinese on Tibetan self immolations. Lobsang Choephel spoke to a number of mainlander Chinese on their views of the Tibetan self-immolations. The followings are response :

A Chinese woman from Jili said "The oppression on Tibetans and the proscution of one race against another race for the elimination of their culture  is unacceptable on this world. We believe the Tibetans have choice and right to livelihood in Tibet. Whatever race is oppressing the rights of another race is unacceptable."

A Chinese male in Gangzhu said " Tibetans who self immolate for the cause Tibetan people and race, for those I wholeheartedly support and I pray for them. I wish them succeed and may their aspirations be fulfilled"

A Chinese woman called Lui Peng said " I wish such act of self-immolations will not repeated in the future, we all need to be careful.".

An elderly Chinese in Sheyang said "This act of self-immolation should not occur in the history of mankind, This is a bad consequence of history that has seen so much bloodshed. Hence such thing is unexpected in the annal of our history".

Another Chinese woman Gonzhen Yang  said "Challenging the Chinese communist dictator is a not easy task, you live in a constant fear of resk to your life. For a slightest transgression , you could be arrested and your life at risk. Therefore the majority of the people keep quiet for fear of their life".

Another Chinese from Hihou said "China's policy on Tibet resulted the dealth of many local people, it is a policy of bully on the Tibetans.[self-immolation] incidents is a expression of suffering in Tibet, i believe they have  right to express their mind, as well as right to fulfil their aspirations".

A Chinese in inner Mogolia said that "Owing to Chinese censorship of news, Tibetans incident of self-immolations is not that very well known to the mogolians. We are more or less kept under dark on the issue of Tibetan people's self-immolation. Therefore it is not that appropriate for me to comment on this issue. But life is very precious, and I want to know clearly why Tibetans set themselves on fire".


A Chinese woman in Bejing said "if the Tibetans have a choice, and then it is best not for Tibetans to put themselves on fire.  It is  best that if they dont have to self -immolate, that is the best thing. But I am not the person to be affected by such incident, so it is difficult to comment on such issue. I think self-immolation is a desperate attempt to draw attention where all other avenues probably nonexist. But when people hear such incident, the first impression is that the person has no regard of life. Such an extreme step of taking once own life through self-immolation is not warranted. But I am not that person who set on fire, so it is difficult to comment on it".
 A Chinese in Qinghai, where most of the self-immolation occured, is very scared of talking on self-immolation "Everyone is scared of talking about the self-immolations, I am also very afraid to talk about it. If what I say is not toing the officials lines and the relevant officials are displeased, then they have the power and money, and I will be at their mercy. Our society doesnt have a system that protects the poor and helpless people.So we are always at the recieveing end of official ire/ wrath. So I am scared to talk about this".


When I speak to Chinese people whose residence is further away from Tibet area , they are more sympathetic to the Tibetan issues. They express the Chinese policy on Tibet are wronged, but the closer the Chinese residents to the Tibet area, they are scared to talk about self-immolations.

Interviewed conducted by Lobsang Choephel.
 

Experiental Learning Activities

I have been asked to write my observation of the Experiential Learning Activity conducted in my public speaking class by my good friend Dherindra Nablo belatedly. As I said at end of the 2 and half hours session last week , the activity have met my expectations of students interaction and involvement in appplying critical thinking theories to practice. And I believe the exercise exceedly achieved students learning goal by challenging their traditional way of thinking and teaching them to read between the lines and percieve things in a broad perspective  and at the same time it  was intellectually stimulating. If the strength of an activity is assessed based on their ability to engage the studentsby making it  interesting it to them and help the students to think. Then  I would give my hightest mark for it.  In the followings, I share my observation of the activity based on three broad areas: 1. The revelevancy of the activity to students learning, 2. The facilitator of activity, 3. The outcome of the exercise.


RELEVANCY

The Activity topic picked for that particular exercise was an excellent choice. It relates to students current learning of certain communication concepts and principles. We have been teaching  numerious communication principles such critical thinking,listening, perspective taking. The exerice was a demonstration of the theories we discussed in action. This helps students to think critically and one of the important lesson from the exercise is that "one of biggest problem of human communication is the assumption that our communication are always correct". As the activity unfold, the students original impression and perspection of the things they see in the picture are distorted or untrue. The exercise have kept the students on their feed thoroughout the session, which itself is a success, as usually it is not an easy to have the student's undivided attention on the topic. The activity is relevant to students of all major from its educative worthiness.


FACILATITOR

Mr. Dhirendra would do a very effective instructor. It reflected from his conduct of the exercise in my class. He is thoroughly prepared and the activity is well organized and systematic. With good organization of exercise, comes greater comprehension on the part of teacher and also for the students to make sense out of it. The speed at which he facilitated the activity was appropriate. His explanations of the directions of the activity was clear and meaningful. The students are allowed plenty of time to interact and ask questions. Mr. Dhirendra gave equal opportunity and allowed everyone to share their opinions and views on the topic. He was encouraging in his comments /feedback to students reactions to the activity. He was friendly and at the same authoritative when need arises. His encouragement of participation from all students in the exercise lead to a wider and more inclusive intereaction. His directions on the activity reflects clarity of thoughts and his explanations of the concepts related to the exercise reflects intellectual scholarships.
The facilatitor has fully accomplished his responsiblity as an instructor.  While commending on his s strength, it is also desireable to point out some of the minor glitches during the conducation of the exercise. Such as giving specific instructions on the expectation of the exercise. And also regulating the students when they get off the track. The debriefing part of of the story needs to be articulated.

STUDENTS OUTCOME

The best assesment of class activity is based on students outcome. I have witnessed that the students have learnt a great deal from it. As stated in  their eassy , students said that they find it interesting and engaging.  As the saying goes, it is easier to say than do it. The communication theories and activity taught in class would be useless, if students have no way to apply it.  But giving the spirited participation by the students, I am pretty certain that it has generated much needed critical thinking and improved their learning skills.

So over all, the exercise was worthwhile to try on students who are studying critical thinking and who needs some interesting and engaging class activity. One of the best measurement of education, is the students ability to think for themselve. and The Vulture and Boy case study generated plenty of interesting debate and discussion. Which might be the outcome of the such learning activity.