Shyamal Sinha

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi told to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting here that came against the backdrop of China putting on hold India’s move to get Azhar, the brain behind the Pathankot attack, banned by the UN.

The bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit to be held tomorrow saw Xi disclosing that a second round of dialogue between the two countries will be held soon on India’s bid for membership of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in which New Delhi hopes “differences” will be narrowed down. Xi said the dialogue would be helpful.

On the issue of terrorism, Modi told Xi that “Both India and China are victims of terrorism and the region was suffering from the menace. The Prime Minister said no country is immune from terrorism and on this issue, we cannot afford to have any differences,” MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters after the meeting.

“In particular, India and China must increase their coordination in context of UN 1267 committee and  look for common ground,” he said. India has been upset with China when it put on technical hold New Delhi’s move to designate Azhar as a global terrorist by UN. Recently, China extended the hold by few months.

Swarup said both sides recognised that terrorism as a “key issue” with Xi asserting that the two sides should strengthen the security dialogue and partnership. “Both India and China have been victims of terrorism which was a  scourge afflicting the entire region,” Indian Ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale quoted Modi as saying while referring to terror incidents in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Swarup said India was in dialogue with China on enforcing a UN ban on Azhar. “We expect China will see logic in it.” The Prime Minister said India and China must increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism and look for a common ground and a long-term road to tackle the menace.

Xi said India and China must step up counter-terrorism efforts and strengthen security dialogue and partnership. It was announced that Yang Jiechi will meet his Indian counterpart NSA Ajit Doval soon.

Asked whether China has been provided with any evidence in the pursuit of obtaining China’s support on the Azhar issue, Swarup said “no evidence”. He said Indian side has not spared any effort to convey that to Chinese and it hopes that they “see logic”.

To another question, he said China condemns all forms of terrorism and a counter-terrorism dialogue has taken place with it. “This will be discussed in the next round and our expectation is that China will take all steps… (to check the menace).”

Replying to questions whether China has softened on its stand on India’s NSG membership, Swarup said, “This shows there is dialogue, a good strategic dialogue. Of course this will narrow differences.” Asked whether China reiterated the position that membership of the NSG was by consensus among parties, he replied “no”.

Last month, a Chinese delegation led by Director General of Department of Arms Control Wang Qun had visited India for talks on the issue with Indian officials. In the June Plenary of NSG in Seoul, despite strong American support, China stonewalled India’s bid to get entry into the group on the grounds that it was a not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Swarup said Chinese leader clearly acknowledged increasing threat of terrorism and condemned all forms and manifestations of terrorism. President Xi said terrorism and violent extremism were on the increase and alluded to the threat from ISIL while pitching for stepped up bilateral counter-terrorism efforts, Swarup told reporters.

Xi also said the two sides must maintain strategic dialogue on the counter-terrorism. The two leaders also noted the upcoming visit by Chinese State Councillor Yang who will hold talks with National Security Advisor Doval where the dialogue will continue.

India and China held their first high level dialogue on counter-terrorism and security in September. “The Chinese side is very well aware of our concerns, need for us to ensure that globally notified terrorists are designated by the UN. There is a close coordination between India and China on this issue and that particular dialogue will continue,” Swarup said.

He also said that there was a brief discussion on the NSG issue. On the economic side, both leaders noted the progress made in sector with Xi talking about various to address the trade deficit in favour of China.

By Shyamal Sinha

By Shyamal Sinha

By Shyamal Sinha

His Holiness the Karmapa meets postgraduate psychology students in Dharamsala on 29 September. From kagyuoffice.org

Karmapa means “the one who carries out buddha-activity” or “the embodiment of all the activities of the buddhas”

His Holiness Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa last week received 20 postgraduate psychology students in Dharamsala, northern India, who will attend a special program of meetings with His Holiness over 11 days. During the course of the program, the students and the Karmapa will discuss and examine how Buddhism and modern psychology approach and understand the various human emotions.

The Karmapa’s meetings with the students from India’s Ambedkar University Delhi, who represent a broad cross-section of religions and backgrounds from across India, including the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, and Sikh communities, will feature discussions, presentations, and Q+A sessions on a range of topics proposed by the students themselves that encompass jealousy and envy, love and attachment, greed, desire and contentment, guilt and shame, stress and anxiety, faith and hope, and fear, terror and courage.

“This is the first time that I have had the opportunity to hold such a long series of meetings with an Indian student group,” said His Holiness to the students during their initial meeting with him on 29 September. “For me this is a wonderful occasion because I can enter into a world that I cannot usually experience, and explore social issues and contexts I am not so familiar with. So for me this is a great opportunity, and I want to express how happy I am to have this time together with you.” (Karmapa)

Considered the third most important figure within Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, the Gyalwang Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest lineage of the Kagyu, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being Gelug, Nyingma, and Sakya.

Examining how Buddhism and modern psychology approach and understand human emotions. from kagyuoffice.org

Over the course of their time with His Holiness, the students have been tasked with preparing presentations on modern psychology’s understanding of human emotions, outlining the ways in which each emotion can be defined and viewed. The presentations must also address how these emotions are perceived within their own communities, highlighting that although they form part of the universal human experience, gender as well as religious, social, and cultural background all play a role in how these same emotions are expressed, valued, and experienced by individuals and communities.

The program was organized and sponsored at the Karmapa’s request by the Kun Kyong Charitable Trust, which the His Holiness established in 2013 to promote education, women, the environment, health, and welfare. Over the past five years, the Karmapa has sought out opportunities to interact with university students and young professionals from various countries on a range of topics, including identity, leadership, and gender issues. These interactions, including the ongoing meetings with the Ambedkar University students, reflect the Karmapa’s conviction that Buddhist teachings can serve as a resource for non-Buddhists to find new ways to address matters of universal concern in the 21st century.

The institution of the Karmapa is the oldest tulku lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, dating back to the first Gyalwa Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110–93), and predating the Dalai Lama lineage by more than two decades. Due to a dispute within the Karma Kagyu school over the recognition process, the identity of the 17th Karmapa is a matter of some controversy. The majority of Tibetan Buddhists recognize Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the incarnation of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, although an influential minority recognizes Trinley Thaye Dorje. The movements of Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who is based in the town of Sidhbari in Dharamsala after fleeing Tibet at the age of 14.
As a scholar and meditation master, as well as painter, poet, songwriter and playwright, the Gyalwang Karmapa embodies a wide range of the activities that Karmapas have engaged in over the centuries. As an environmental activist, computer enthusiast and world spiritual leader whose teachings are often webcast live, the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa has brought the Karmapa lineage’s activities fully into the 21st century.