Chinese monks’ group condemns self-immolations

Beijing, Jan 16 (IANS) Monks and scholars from the Buddhist Association of China Wednesday denounced self-immolations and the incitement behind such acts, saying they violate Buddhist doctrines.

Responding to the recent deaths of Tibetans in the western provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan, the association said benevolence was the fundamental tenet of Buddhism, Xinhua reported.

“Buddhism is a religion that respects life and opposes killing or suicide,” said association president Chuan Yin at a seminar in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan.

He said that inducing, encouraging or praising suicides were as deplorable as murder.

Both self-immolation and instigating others into doing so breached Buddhist tenets, according to association vice president Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima.

The seminar was attended by monks from the Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan schools of Buddhism.

The Chinese government has accused the Dalai Lama and his followers of supporting and masterminding a spate of self-immolations in Tibetan populated areas in west China.

IANS 2013-01-16 21:12:04