A BRIEF SUMMARY OF PROPAGANDA MATERIALS FOR PATRIOTIC EDUCATION IN TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES
September 20, 1997LESSON ONE:
THE MAIN POINTS CONCERNING THE PROPAGATION OF PATRIOTIC EDUCATION IN TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES AND THE STRENGTHENING OF SUPERVISION OVER THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW
On the basis of the directive of the Central Committee of the CCP and the decision of the provincial party committee, the propagation of patriotic education was commenced in the second half of this year in all Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the province with the aim of safeguarding the unity of the motherland, opposing splittism, and strengthening supervision of the monasteries. This is a primary responsibility in our province's religious work and represents a practical application of the movement of Loving the Nation and Loving Religion among Tibetan Buddhists. If this work is carried out successfully it will be of tremendous significance, not only in blocking the infiltration and destruction by foreign and domestic splittist forces, safeguarding the unity of the motherland, increasing the solidarity of nationalities, maintaining social stability, and increasing the pace of economic development, but also in leading Tibetan Buddhism into harmony with socialist society.
There are four major directions in propagating patriotic education. The first direction is education aimed at bringing unity to the Motherland and resisting nationality splittists. We need to make the broad mass of monks and nuns knowledgeable, through education, about the fact that Tibet is an integral part of China, and the roots of the Tibetan nationality are found within the great family of nationalities of the Motherland, and to make them familiar with the natural historical development and progress of the Tibet region and other Tibetan areas which has occurred within the Motherland. Then the patriotic stand of the broad mass of monks and nuns will be strengthened and their willingness to safeguard the unity of the Motherland reinforced, and they will resolutely resist nationality splittists.
The second direction is education aimed at bringing religion into harmony with socialist society. We need to educate the broad mass of monks and nuns so that they know that this is the basis for the existence of religion within socialist society. If members of the clergy respect the leadership of the party and the socialist path, and continue Loving the Nation and Loving Religion and acting for unity and progress, then henceforth they may attain their legal rights and the respect of the people and achieve the status that religion needs.
The third direction is education on socialist democracy and law. We need to educate the broad mass of monks and nuns so that they are knowledgeable about our country's constitutional laws and legal practices and the need for religion to act within the constraints of specific policies and laws.
The fourth direction is education on nationality unity and nationality religious policy. We need to educate the broad mass of monks and nuns so that they know that if there is nationality unity, then social stability can be safeguarded, and there can be economic development and nationality progress. The broad mass of monks and nuns should be educated on the Party's nationality religion policy, and the broad mass of clergy members should raise their level of self-discipline in accord with policy and consciously act to safeguard nationality unity.
The majority of Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns in our province respect the Party's leadership, respect the socialist path, support law and order, and, because their ideas are firm, have racked up diligent accomplishments in safeguarding nationality unity and the unification of the country. Generally speaking, this is very good. However, in recent years the Dalai clique has been doing whatever it can to sneak in and sabotage our country. In addition, due to our inadequate surveillance work and weak propaganda and education work, some matters requiring immediate work have come up, even among Tibetan Buddhists in our own province.
First, the Dalai clique has been using religion to sneak in and promote splittist activities. With whatever means are at their disposal they raise the splittist cry for "Tibetan Independence," stirring up people's minds and sabotaging the unification of the Motherland and the unity of nationalities. A handful of monks and nuns have been taken in by the Dalai clique. Unable to clearly recognize some issues that have no truth in them and other important issues of basic political principles, they lack correct political direction. They even believe and follow the Dalai clique and carry out splittists activities. In some monasteries there have been instances in which the "Snow Lion" flag has been hung up and displayed.
Second, the feudal religious privilege is once more raising its head and interfering in administration and law, even to the point of dominating the basic structures in some areas. In such places people pay no heed to the basic administrative authorities and instead listen to lamas and incarnations. The mining of minerals and the harvesting of crops are all done according to what lamas and incarnations say. As a result, opportunities have sometimes been delayed and the people's production and livelihood have suffered great losses. In some places, members of the clergy have interfered in legal administration with talk of "blood money" and claims for "blood money." In some places, members of the clergy have obstructed and interfered with the local elections.
Third, the management of some monasteries has been in turmoil. Vows and rules have been lax and bad religious practices have developed. In some monasteries, the Democratic Management Committees are powerless and inattentive, and cannot exert the energy that is called for. Some members of the clergy only like expanding their monasteries and putting on large religious ceremonies, thereby increasing the heavy economic burden on the masses of religious believers.
Document received from Tibet Information Network, London, February 1999. (http://www.tibetinfo.net/)