July 24, 2006
Tuva: Tibetan Monks Against High Crime Rates
For many years on, the Buddhist republic of Tuva has one of the highest crime rates in Russia. Prison authorities think that religion is the only way to change minds and hearts of these people Although nobody has verified statistics of ethnic population in Tibet - now when the countrys been occupied by China for almost 40 years - we are still talking roughly about 6 million Tibetans.
A very small nation, we say, very crucial for the preservation of the world treasure that is Tibetan Buddhism. If we can save these people, we go on, their life style and beliefs, their songs and dances, the whole world would benefit greatly, when the time will come to leave aside our futile attempts to find happiness in material growth and turn to inconceivable richness of human mind
This belief and deep trust are as much as left to 300 thousand people of the Russian Republic of Tuva after their lamas had been killed and monasteries destroyed in the 1940-s. As Russia becomes increasingly sensitive to long outdated claims of its Chinese neighbour, there is nobody to tell these people that their human lives are precious.
Left like this, they tend to return to their ancient habits as widespread among them now, as they were among Tibetans and Mongolians before these nations accepted peaceful ways of Buddhism. As many centuries ago, they again resort to violence.
Endless are awful stories shared by local people with Tibetan monks from Gyudmed Tantric monastery invited to perform powerful tantric rituals that used to be part of the nations once rich spiritual life. While in other Russian regions people mostly ask prayers for their sick relatives, success in business and peaceful family life, here in Tuva they beg the monks to protect their children from being murdered. There is no family in Tuva, - says an Asian looking woman with the Russian name of Tatiana, that wouldnt lose a brother, or a son, or an uncle. This happens so often, that its already a part of our life.
For many years on, the Buddhist republic of Tuva has one of the highest crime rates in Russia, with the number of murders committed in the republic being two times higher than Russias average. When asked why, Tuvinians usually blame it on poverty and social problems. But those of them who happen to visit India come back amazed. These people are not rich at all, - they say at home, - but even after dark you can go anywhere without fear of being killed. There must be some other reason then. An obvious one is the lack of spiritual guidance.
We were all happy, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama came to Tuva in 1992, says Tatiana, we thought, our ordeals will come to an end. His Holiness would come often and teach our children to be peaceful, wise and generous. But now we are in 2006, and still the weapons sold to China are more important to Russia than the moral standards of their own people.
They say, you should do something about high crime rates in your republic, but at the same time dont let His Holiness come and talk to our people. Why they dont want to see that these things are connected?, she asks.
In Buddhism, this is called Time of Degeneration. The Buddha is here, on this Earth, but neither Tibetans, no Tuvinians are allowed to see him and get his teachings. This Dark Age policy results in prostitutes in Lhasa amd murderers in Tuva.
Sometimes I feel ashamed to say that Im from a Buddhist republic, said Ayan who lost his beloved daughter and a son-in-law, awful pictures of their desecrated bodies still come up very vividly in his mind. "Buddhist republic with the highest crime rates, isnt it a nonsense? If people never heard about karma and preciousness of human life, what can we possibly expect from them?
Prisons in Tuva are full of heroes who tried to prove their point with a knife in the hand. Criminals sent here get increasingly younger every year, much to the surprise of the oldtimers who feel quite uneasy to find children as their cellmates. The newcomers, they complain, have no limits whatsoever. Before, no criminal in Tuva would touch old people, women or children. Now, they come to rob even old and destitutes.
Prison authorities think that religion is the only way to change minds and hearts of these people confused by collapsed communist ideology and burgeoning market-oriented economy. They are currently building a small Buddhist temple within its confines which they proudly show to the visiting Tibetan monks from Gyudmed. This is their second visit to the prison organised by the Tuva government and Spiritual Department concerned with the situation. Last year Lobsang Tsering addressed a group volunteers who came to listen to his talk and get transmission of six-syllable mantra of compassion. This time their visit brought together an entire prison.