This is an English translation of South Korean news. Source: Buddhist Newspaper
(From left) Rev. Mu Gwan, Rev. Ju-Kyeong, Representative Dr. Arya and Geshe Namkha.
By — BT NEWSDESK
Seoul: Dr. Arya Tsewang Gyalpo, Representative of Tibet House Japan and East Asia, met with Rev. Ju – Kyeong, Chairman of the Central Council of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Central Council, and the members of the Council at Seoul on November 2. Representative thanked Rev. Ju-Kyeong and the members for their concern and attention to the issue of human rights abuses in Tibet. Tibet House Japan is the liaison office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is responsible for coordinating exchanges between Tibet and other countries in East Asia.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Central Committee and the Chairmen of the Standing and Special Committees expressed strong regret and called for an apology for comments made by members of the Democratic Party of Korea who visited Tibet in June, referring to human rights abuses in Tibet as “old news”. Shortly after the statement was released, the members of the parliamentary group issued a statement saying that they were “sorry to the Buddhists who are heartbroken over the Tibetan issue” and apologized.
“The Tibetan issue is still a serious one, and the comments made by some of the lawmakers have caused a lot of criticism,” said Arya Tsewang Gyalpo, Tibet House Japan’s representative in Korea for the first time. “It has become an issue in South Korea since the statement was released, and I would like to express my gratitude in person to all those who expressed concern for Tibet.”
“Although we are living in an era of material abundance, Buddhist teachings are more necessary than ever for world peace and harmony,” he said, asking for continued attention to the Chinese government’s repression of human rights in Tibet.
Rev. Master Ju – Kyeong presents a gift to Dr. Arya.
Arya Tsewang Gyalpo is the former head of the Tibetan Policy Research Institute, the official think tank of the Tibetan government-in-exile, and has served as the representative of Tibet for Japan and East Asia Office since May 2020.
“There are problems, such as wars, caused by leaders with dogmatic ideas,” said Rev. Ju, Chairman of the Central Buddhist Conference, expressing sympathy.
“Many people want to bring H.H. the Dalai Lama to Korea, and we are thinking about it. We are praying and hoping that the Dalai Lama will visit Korea once in a while,” he said, adding, “In the future, Korean Buddhism will consider Tibetan Buddhism as one root like a brother and pray together.”
“Tibet is not a distant country for Koreans because there is a common bond of Buddhism,” he said, adding, “If there is an opportunity, I would like to introduce Korean Buddhism through a temple stay. Let’s continue to have a good relationship with Tibetan Buddhism so that the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism can be shared,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Rev. Mu Gwan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Central Buddhist Association, and Rev. Seol Do, Secretary General, with Geshe Tenzin Namkha, Director of the Tibet House Labsum Shedrupling, serving as interpreter.
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