Dalai Lama's brother dies in US

Source: One News New Zealand

The Dalai Lama's brother, a Buddhist monk-turned-CIA translator who helped train Tibetan resistance fighters in a guerrilla war against Chinese rule, has died at his US home.

He was 86.

The death of Taktser Rinpoche marked more than the passing of a major figure from the heyday of the Tibetan independence movement because it comes amid growing concern about the Dalai Lama's health, and the diminishing possibility of any negotiated settlement of the Tibet issue.

"His death is likely to add a much-needed sense of urgency and seriousness to the dialogue process between China and the exiles," said Robbie Barnett, a Tibet expert at Columbia University in New York.

Taktser Rinpoche, who had been ill for several years, died in his home in Indiana on Friday, the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet said in an emailed statement.

A family member confirmed the death.

China and envoys of the Dalai Lama last held talks in Beijing in July, after being delayed by three weeks in the wake of China's deadliest earthquake in three decades.

Read more: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425822/2061729

maybe the Chinese were right to crush Tibet ?

but they still did not deserve the violence that befell upon them.

Maybe they're on to something

The only answer that will work in the long run is that neither China nor a US-backed theocracy have any business running the country.

was born into a feudal society. As he grew older, he saw the problems with the system and started working on modernizing Tibet.
Then Mao invaded and started modernizing Tibet with communism and ethnic cleansing. Any chance for his Holiness to effect change
was lost under the treads of chinese tanks.

So he and his brother eventually fled the country in order to save a small fraction of their cultural identity. Later, his brother did work with the CIA but that was as a translator, not a military instructor.

Can you blame anyone, (even a Buddhist monk)for taking arms against an enemy invader and fighting to regain your country?

So eventually, his brother came to America, got an education and settled into the academic life at Indiana University. Established the Tibetan cultural center and worked tirelessly to educate and enlighten people to what was going on back in Tibet.

Our prayers and sympathy go out to his holiness and our best wishes for his continued health.

I hope he lives long enough to see the collapse of communist ideology in China, that would be Sweet!!

Nothing human is perfect, even Tibet--to think so is a fantasy. However, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was not some damned CIA-selected and propped-up dictator, but is the spiritual head of a long and culturally rich tradition. The West is fortunate -- incredibly so -- that teachers from this branch of Buddhism have come here. The people of Tibet are being wiped out by the Han Chinese, and deserve our attention and support, not our ignorant scorn.

Condolences to the family on the death of the Dalai Lama's brother. May he have a fortunate rebirth.

Hekate

Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum.

(note: rebirth is not the same as reincarnation, he technically will not be back - because of impermanence he/we are not the same person)

My thoughts are with His Holiness on this day.