Tashi Phuntsok in Szeklerland: Paying respect to Kőrösi Csoma Sándor for everything he has done for the people in Tibet
Kőrösi Csoma Sándor opened a road to Tibet, to the forbidden land. His perseverance, sense purpose and sacrifice inspire me every day in my work - said Tashi Phuntsok in Csomakőrös, where he joined a commemorative event on Saturday, 8th of April, during the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Days.
Tashi Phuntsok, the representative of the Dalai Lama in the European Union, and his co-worker, Rigzin Choedon Genkhang arrived to Transylvania at the invitation of RMDSZ MEP Csaba Sógor. On Friday they visited Kolozsvár and travelled to Szeklerland on Saturday.
On Saturday morning they opened the exhibition about the life and work of the Dalai Lama together with mayor of Kovászna/Covasna, József Gyerő. Tashi Phuntsok expressed gratitude for the interest the Hungarians in Szeklerland showed towards the issues of Tibet, and as a symbol of their sincere appreciation, he handed the mayor a traditional white scarf. The representative of the Dalai Lama travelled from Kovászna to Csomakőrös/Chiuruș, where he attended the service of the Reformed Church, and the commemorating event thereafter. He then attended the opening of the Csoma memorial home.
-We arrived here today wearing traditional Tibetan clothes, thinking that if Kőrösi Csoma Sándor would see us, if he’d know we are here in his home town remembering him, he would be glad to see people clothed the way he has seen so many Tibetans every day for so many years. This is a way for us to express our gratitude for everything that he has done for our people -said Tashi Phuntsok at the Reformed Church in Csomakőrös, adding: the knowledge that Kőrösi Csoma Sándor shared with the world about Tibet was valuable, because at that time one rarely got to visit the area surrounded by the high Himalayan mountains. "Today, the mountains are not an obstacle, today a system puts obstacles in the road towards Tibet. I urge the Hungarians of Romania to be proud of their predecessor, and to share his curiosity. I urge them to learn about Tibet and about the situation of human rights there" – he pointed out.
It speaks about the greatness of the Dalai Lama, that he puts values such as peace, tolerance, understanding, forgiveness, modesty or self-discipline before even the issue of Tibet. Secondly he promotes religious harmony and understanding among the world's traditions, and only thirdly he speaks for the people of Tibet. He undertook to be the voice of the people in Tibet in their struggle for justice, until a mutually beneficial solution is found.
RMDSZ MEP Csaba Sógor said during the commemorative ceremony: the question of people in Tibet raises human rights issues that cannot be ignored. "As a Hungarian from Romania I can relate to and understand the situation of the Tibetan people, even though we have not experienced such tragedies as they have. In the European Parliament, when we deal with Tibet, and the mission of the Dalai Lama, we are a bit selfish as we try to fight for our own issues as well” - he stressed. The MEP pointed out that it is important for us that the ambassador of the Dalai Lama visited the Hungarian community in Romania and thanked us for our support of their cause, because the way they have fought for their rights continuously for decades, peacefully, via dialogue, is an example our community ought to follow.
During the closing of the ceremony this year’s Kőrösi Csoma Sándor award has been given to architect Irimiás Balázs. He initiated the preservation and restoration of the room in Zangla, India, where Kőrösi Csoma Sándor once lived, and has worked on the project with several hundred volunteers. Csaba Sógor praised the architect’s work during the event.
