Talk about Tibet "Hometown Is Better"

 Many Tibetans residing overseas have returned to visit. When they left, Tibet was a land filled with misery and no tall buildings. But when they returned, they found a world of happiness and a land plied with bustling motor vehicles. Seeing all these developments, the overseas Tibetans all came to the same conclusion: "Our hometown is better."

　　Buying Our Way From Nepal to India

　　Years ago we paid a visit to our uncle Lama Sanggyi in India. We left the Gonggar Airport in Lhasa and reached Kathmandu in Nepal in just a few hours. We stayed with Lama Qoizha, ready to go through the procedures for our visit to India. Unfortunately, Nepal provides no visas for visits to India. As a result, we put on Buddhist kasayas and took a coach heading for India. When we reached the first mountain pass, Nepalese police pulled us down from the coach and stretched out their hands for money. We produced 7,000 Nepalese Rupees (equivalent to 1,150 yuan, or RMB). With our money in their hands, they let us go. That was the first place where we were forced to pay, but not the last. Along the way, we experienced the same event eight times. Altogether, we paid 14,000 Nepalese Rupees, and finally arrived in Darbhanga, India, the city where our uncle Lama Sanggyi lives. Uncle Lama Sangyi fled Tibet in 1959 and never came back home. A few years ago, we paid him a visit in Darbhanga, India. His eyes filled with tears when he saw us. For many days, he brought us together and we talked and talked. Our uncle listened to whatever we told him with great zest: we talked about freedom of religious belief, highways traveled even by private trucks and cars, telephones, TV sets, refrigerators and other durables at home... "I thought you would have to sit behind bars because I fled Tibet," said our uncle, who was over 80 at the time."I am glad to see you have joined the CPC and are government employees. "Most of the Tibetans residing in this country are economically pinched. You should not say too much about the better life in Tibet while you are here. Otherwise, people would suffer if they found out." Half a year later when we had to say good-bye to our uncle, he cried and cried. Groping under his bed, he brought out a paper bag. From it he produced Rupees equivalent to 20,000 RMB. "Take these back home," he said sadly. "Oh, no. You need it. We have more than enough back at home," we told him. Uncle Lama Sanggyi saw us off to Nepal. He had friends there, but we still paid 3,000 Indian Rupees for a smooth passage. As the flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa was temporarily suspended because of weather, we took a coach heading for Zam, Tibet. We pressed ahead with the journey in the teeth of the snowstorm and with almost no food in our stomachs. When we came across a Nepalese family, we spent 40 Nepalese Rupees for two bowls of milk tea. Oh, they were really tasty! It took us two days to reach Zam and in total we spent 4,200 Nepalese Rupees to ensure a seamless trip.

　　"Nepal and India Are Not Paradise"

　　In 1997 I went to visit my uncle, who is a lama in India. There, I witnessed the life our compatriots led, and felt deeply that India was far from a paradise for exiled Tibetans. I visited my friends, who reside in Nepal and India, and chatted with them day and night. According to them, they lead a life that "is not good." Out of their ties to Tibetan Buddhism, they bound themselves closely to the 14th Dalai Lama. "If we go back to Tibet, we will be accused of betraying Tibet," they said. "We'll be put into jail perhaps for the rest of our lives." Because of the tight control of the "Tibetan government in exile," many had to stay where they were, and, as a result, are ignorant of changes that took place in Tibet during China's reform and opening up period. From my conversations with them, I found the people residing there are composed of the following groups: l People who fled Tibet during the chaotic "cultural revolution" (1966-76). They experienced the chaos gripping all of China during that period, and still suffer from lingering nightmares. They have no idea of the freedom of religious belief the Tibetans now enjoy. l Those who went to Nepal or India to worship Buddha or study in the last decade or more, but didn't return, as well as those who fled Tibet because they broke the law. They intended to go back, but had no money for their return. During my visits to eight Indian cities, I came across many beggars, and even swindlers. When I took taxis, they would come over and I would have to give them money. Now that I am back home, I really find life peaceful here. My hometown is better, that's for sure.

　　I Am Sorry for What I Did in the Past

　　I was born in Hurkagyia Village, Damei Township, Xiahe County, Gansu Province in 1917. In 1955 I went to Lhasa for a pilgrimage and four years later followed the 14th Dalai Lama to India. I didn't return to Tibet until 1989, when I settled in Labrang, Xiahe County, Gansu Province. In 1950 I moved from Hurkagyia Village to settle in Rasoima Village, serving as the village head and doing some chores for Jamyang, butler of the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe County. Cashing in on the State effort to purchase silver, I netted huge profits from this business. However, I violated the State regulations with regard to the silver business, and went as a pilgrim to Lhasa in 1955. There, I plunged into the razor business and made more ludicrous profits from this business. In the fall of 1957, I joined the "Four rivers and six mountain ranges," an organization which expanded from less than 50 in the beginning to several thousands, including 1,000 Amdo people. Its goal was an armed rebellion. I served as a platoon leader, and was charged with combatting PLA troops in the area around Lhasa. We fought the PLA several times, and suffered heavy losses. On the eve of the Spring Festival in 1959, we returned to Qamdo. In May that year, we were told the 14th Dalai Lama had left Lhasa for India, and were ordered to rush to the Yarlung River Cannon. In the autumn of 1960, I received training, sponsored by the Americans, and was often sent to spy at the Sino-Nepalese border. I retired in 1964 and settled in Dharamshala, India. Sleeping in my bed, I missed my relatives and hometown in Tibet. I was told of changes that took place in my hometown in 1981, and took my family back eight years later. My wife was killed in a car accident on the third day after our return home. I was depressed after this sudden accident, but was encouraged to go on with my future life by the lenient State policy regarding people like me. I am sick now, and have no idea as to how long I will be in this world. I often remember my previous actions, and repent for what I did to Tibet and to the motherland. To redeem myself I put on the Buddhist kasaya, reciting sutras every day as a lama with the Labrang Monastery. I pray for a better life for the Tibetans and for prosperity of the motherland. I wish more people like me would come back to live in this big family.

Source

zt.tibet.cn