Tibet

Hello! We've just left Mcleod Ganj in the Himalayas - home of the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan government in exile. It's been a brilliant 6 days of mountain hikes and other activities, but we thought we'd share in a separate post a little of what we've learnt about Tibet.

Neither of us expected to be as affected as we have been by the Tibetan story of the last 60 years - mainly because we didn't know much about it before coming here. This blog isn't the place to re-tell that story in full but if you're interested we'd urge you to find out more.

Tibet is currently part of the People's Republic of China and has been since Chinese troops invaded in 1950. Before 1950, Tibet was an independent state led by the Dalai Lama.

The story since 1950 is very complex and is viewed differently from multiple perspectives. From exile, the Dalai Lama has watched his nation suffer; physically, culturally and spiritually under Chinese rule. Whilst China says it has liberated and modernised Tibet. Whilst no story is completely one-sided, the Dalai Lama has not stopped approaching the situation from a peaceful, non-violent perspective. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his Five Point Plan for Peace. The international community has obviously listened but no action has been taken towards a solution. Perhaps unsurprising in a 21st century where the international power balance is tipping away from the West.

Most Tibetan refugees escape their country via dangerous Himalayan mountain passes, enduring 3 months of freezing conditions to make their way to India. 80,000 Tibetan refugees now live in Mcleod Ganj and nearby. The mountains surrounding the town are strewn with colourful Buddhist prayer flags rippling in the wind.

Every hill-top and street is strewn with the beautiful prayer flags

The monkeys love them

and so do we!

And walking the streets and paths we have come across many Tibetan monks and nuns dressed in maroon robes - some of the happiest and smiliest people you will ever come across! We met this nun on our way back from a hike, she invited us to her centre for a meditation class the next morning. More on that to follow...

Matt and a lovely nun (stood on a huge rock!)

Visiting the temples in the Dalai Lama's compound was a truly magical experience - filling us both wth a sense of calm from the thousands of flickering candles, resonating chants and peaceful statues.

Tibetan Buddhist Monks chanting and playing with mesmerising shapes in the air

Buddha loves cookies. 

Previously, our perception of the Tibetan cause had been coloured by those in our society who are it's biggest supporters; often those at the margins (mostly 'hippies' and undergraduates) whose views aren't taken seriously by the mainstream.

We both hope that this is a cause we can help in the future and that raising some awareness through this post, we have made a very small start.