Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - Prior to presiding over Sikyong (President) Penpa Tsering’s swearing-in as President of the Central Tibetan Administration for the second time this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with dignitaries and invited guests. They included two Indian MPs — Tapir Gao and Sujeet Kumar, an MP from Chile — Luia Mala Valenzuela, an MP from El Salvador — Jose Francisco Lira Alvarado, a delegation from the UK consisting of Chris Law (Scottish MP), Chairman of the All-party Parliamentary Group for Tibet in the UK and his wife Kristy Doig, Wera Hobhouse (MP) and her husband, William Hobhouse, Kerry McCarthy (MP), Alicia Kearns (MP), and two advisors to the US Ambassador to India — Brand Kroeger and Isaiah Wartman.
His Holiness walked from the gate to his residence through the temple courtyard and took his seat on the veranda below the temple.
First of all, a group of Tibetan students led the singing of the Tibetan and Indian national anthems. Four monks from Namgyal Monastery then chanted prayers invoking the blessings of the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Tea and rice were served while a Tashi Shölpa dance was performed.
Students from the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) sang and danced, evoking the people, and the way they dressed, from the three provinces of Tibet. “We are the people of Tibet, the people of Chenrezig,” the song went, “let us unite.” Finally, in pairs the dancers exchanged katas, silk scarves, as a gesture of friendship.
The Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Yeshi Wangmo, offered His Holiness a kata and representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha. She then read the lines of the oath for taking responsibility as Sikyong and Penpa Tsering repeated them after her. She then read the lines of the pledge of truth which he again duly repeated after her. She offered him a kata and he sat down to sign the oaths of office. The Honourable Sikyong then prostrated before His Holiness and offered him representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.
While TCV students played flutes and drums the outgoing Kalöns (Ministers) and former Kalöns offered katas to Penpa Tsering. He was then invited to make an inaugural address. He began by saluting His Holiness: “Champion of peace, symbol of the Tibetan people, emanation of Avalokiteshvara, I am immensely grateful that on this occasion of swearing-in of the 17th Kashag His Holiness kindly agreed to preside over the ceremony.
“I greet the guests and dignitaries who have come from far away to be with us today, the staff of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and members of monastic and lay-communities.
“When I took part in the 2021 election for Sikyong, I pledged that I would not engage in any word or deed that would create a rift with others. I did the same in the recent election and was re-elected. I would like to thank everyone who gave their help. During the time of the 16th Kashag, with regard to Tibetan politics, administration and achieving the welfare of our people, we have done our best. Whatever we could do was thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“People in Tibet are completely devoted to His Holiness, and they are our inspiration for whatever we are able to do in exile. I’d like to thank everyone who has given their help. The 17th Kashag will also follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and instructions. We will work according to our principles of unity, truth and unbiased administration.
“With regard to the Chinese administration we may wonder how our approach will bear fruit, but we are determined to engage in dialogue with China. We will do our best, using whatever means we can to achieve our goal.
“Under Chinese rule the situation in Tibet has become quite critical. The Chinese communists are using all kinds of devious means to disrupt the Tibetan community. We will resist their efforts. To maintain the struggle for Tibet we will use e-governance, for which a firm foundation is required. We intend to use technology, digital tools and AI. We will create a communication strategy to provide information wherever it is needed to fulfil Tibetan aspirations.
“We will maintain harmonious relations to preserve our unity. We will also take care of the vulnerable in our community providing them with health care and insurance. The CTA and the Tibetan people in exile need to be self-sufficient. We will do our best to achieve our goal. I’d like to invite everyone here to join us in this venture.
“The 17th Kashag will follow His Holiness’s vision while carrying out our work. Those of us who are Tibetans in exile should not forget that we are exiles. We should do our best and have the determination to carry on our struggle. Although Chinese communists are trying hard to destroy our Tibetan identity we will not be discouraged from our efforts to preserve our culture, language and traditions.
“I would like to thank the Government and people of India, the USA and all other countries and peoples who have given us their support. We pray that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will live long and that observance of his four commitments may flourish throughout the world. May we Tibetans inside and outside Tibet come together soon. This is my deepest prayer.”
Young students of Yongling School performed a charming dance called E-ma-ho, followed by a spirited performance by children of Gangkyi Petön School. After watching with evident pleasure, His Holiness prepared to return to his residence. Driving at a pedestrian pace in an electric golf-cart, he smiled and waved at people on either side of the courtyard as he went.
