12-hour symbolic fast on 30th August 2008

The Tibetan Solidarity Committee has requested all Tibetans, Tibet Support Groups, and peace-loving people of the world to observe a 12-hour symbolic fast and prayers on 30th August 2008 for world peace and to purify negative actions of all beings, particularly of Tibetan and Chinese people, and, to accumulate and multiply our collective good karma.

All Dharma Centres, Students, and friends are strongly encouraged to take part in the activities. Letters specifically requesting FPMT Centres and Students to take part have been received from Venerable Samdhong Rinpoche the Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and the Dalai Lama’s representative in Australia : Mr Atisha.

We ask you to participate in the fasting and prayers wherever you are, if you can the entire day, a few hours, or even 10 minutes. Any and all involvement is hugely beneficial.

The following information provides details and supporting documentation for observing the Fasting and Prayer Services.

Personal Request from Samdhong Rinpoche

Dear Friends,
You might have seen the Appeal issued by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee to request all Tibetans, Tibet Support Groups and peace-loving people of the world to observe a 12-hour symbolic fasting and prayer on 30th August 2008 for world peace and, particularly, for the departed souls of the Tibetan people in recent months in Tibet. The appeal also re-commits ourselves to the path of non-violence. The objectives and how to observe the fasting are mentioned in detail in the appeal. If you have not received the appeal as yet, please visit our official website http://www.tibet.net/ and http://www.stoptibetcrisis.org/.

 We consider this as extremely important non-violent action taken by Tibetans under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a very critical period for Tibet , particularly the post-Olympic period. I personally request you and your organization to kindly participate in this fast and prayer and encourage many other people to join us in this effort to reduce our own defilements and to create wisdom and compassion in the minds of the oppressor. I believe you will cooperate us in this non-violent action. With my warm personal greetings,

Your sincerely,
Samdhong Rinpoche
KALON TRIPA

Aims of the Fasting and Prayer Service

Any merit generated by our actions on August 30 will be dedicated to:

• Purify negative actions of all beings, particularly of Tibetan and Chinese people, and, to accumulate and multiply our collective good karma. As a result, this will:
• Bring long, healthy life to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and help his activities to prosper and benefit all sentient beings.
• Ease all the conflicts, diseases, sufferings, and natural calamities in the world, so that all beings shall live in peace and harmony.
• Cleanse the negative actions of all those Tibetans who have died fighting for their political cause in the aftermath of March protest in Tibet this year and help them reborn in higher realm and eventually get freed from vicious Samsaric cycle. And, instantaneously relieve those Tibetan who are still enduring atrocities under the brutal Chinese oppression from their sufferings, and for the truth of Tibetan issue to prevail soon.
• Finally get all those people in the world in general and Tibetans in particular, who have been victims of forced oppression and violence and deprived of their religious freedom and freedom of conscience and expression, be freed and enjoy state of well-being and freedom. And, dismantle all the hatred in the hearts of oppressors and guide them with discerning wisdom, and
• Earnestly remind and appeal to all the human beings to effectively counter the acts of oppression, violence and injustice with non-violent and peaceful means, borne out of compassion and loving kindness to our oppressors.

Duration of the Fasting and Prayer Service

• On the auspicious day of 30th August 2008 and the last day of the 6th Month in the Tibetan Calendar, the Fasting and Prayer Service shall be observed in one's respective area from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. for 12 hours.
• In specific area of special cases, if the above timing is inconvenient they can modify the timeline, suppose, from 0800 hrs to 2000 hrs but the idea is to observe 12 hours long fast and prayer on that day.
• Those who are old and infirm, patients and children who cannot participate in a 12-hour fast can join in for 10 minutes or half an hour or up to one hour, according to their disposition. Please be sensible, if you begin to feel unwell during the day stop fasting.

How to Observe the Fast

During the period of observing the fast, one is allowed to drink hot or cold water (plain water). Drinking tea, milk, fruit juice, and other energy drinks is not allowed, nor is eating, chewing, or munching any edibles. However, daily medical prescriptions are allows; one can take them as per their daily routine.

Programme of the Prayer Service

• In the monastic assemblies of four great traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, and Bon, as well as in other smaller monasteries and nunneries, apart from performing one's own traditional pujas and activities unique to them, all should recite as many as possible the Prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Guru Prayers, Dhen-pai Nga-dra, Dhen-stik Mon-lam (Prayer of Truth), Prayer of 21 Taras, Six-syllable Mani mantra and invocation prayers of deities Palden Lhamo and Nechung.
• Those Tibet supporters and others who are non-Tibetan and who do not recite Tibetan prayers can observe silent fast or they can recite prayers and hymns of their respective faiths.
• At intervals, official statements may be read out and speech on introduction of this fast campaign should be invited. But raising slogans and aggressive speeches should be avoided.
• To make offerings and prayers to any place of worship nearby your fast observing site.

How to Assemble

• In monasteries and in nunneries, all the monks or nuns should assemble together for mass in their respective Prayer Halls or Monastery Assembly Halls.
• Dharma and Retreat Centres should assemble as many people as possible in their prayer halls.
• In schools, all the students and staff should gather in the school auditorium/hall to observe the fast.
• In Tibetan settlements, people may assemble in community halls or any other facilities available in the area.
• Hospitals and Old Age Homes that have difficulty assembling with masses can gather on their own in their respective premises.
• Scattered Tibetan community who don't have specific meeting place can observe by themselves at home or together with their neighbours.
• Tibet Support Groups can observe fast by gathering at convenient location or at specific place where large participation is possible.
• Those Tibetans, Tibetan supporters and justice and peace loving people of the world, who cannot go and join the masses to observe fast and prayer service, can observe it at their own home.