I set the intention of running the Jemez Mountain 50k trail marathon last October. I had recently returned from a series of devastating mudslides in Ladakh, India where over 1,000 people lost their lives. I came back in a difficult place, needing some time to heal and reconnect with friends and family. I also came back keenly aware of the preciousness of this life, and with a renewed sense of what is possible for the human being, how much brilliant potential we carry around with us every day. The heart of the yogic traditions and practice that I’ve studied for years is the systematic and total transformation of the human individual. If there’s one thing my time in India last year taught me, it’s that this transformation is not a lofty ideal — it is a real, tangible, thing. After years of somewhat non-committal practice in which the transformation of myself remained a ‘nice idea’, I felt it was time to put all the concepts into actual practice and, more importantly, I felt a clear path to do so.

From the beginning, when I set the intention of running this race — the first race of its kind that I’ve ever run — I set goals. Personal goals, fundraising goals for my beloved charity, Students for a Free Tibet, and, of course…. the ultimate goal.

My personal goal was always to finish the race top ten in my age group. For my first ultra, I decided this would be a good measure of success. I’d never been much of a runner before — though I did grow up hiking and backpacking on the trails of New Mexico — but I knew something of my physical and spiritual potential from my yoga practice, and wanted to deeply challenge myself — not just to finish the race, but to finish strong, stronger than would be expected from a first time marathoner.

The fundraising goal was one I felt achievable — $5,000 in pledges for Students for a Free Tibet.

And of course, the ultimate goal…. winning the race. What if, I asked myself as I began to log some fairly impressive training times, what if by some miracle I could actually win. Although I knew from the start that there were professional trail runners competing in this ultra, and that it was by all counts a very difficult course, I let myself dream of winning, for motivation and inspiration, if nothing else.

In the Tibet movement, we have always had a very one-pointed and somewhat lofty goal — freedom for an entire nation. It is easy sometimes to look at the current situation in Tibet and feel discouraged, to feel that the task is too daunting and that our efforts — since they have not yet resulted in freedom — are falling short of our goal. But our work along the way pays off daily in deeply significant victories. In a sense, we are still at the beginning of the race… and as in any race of significant length, its important that we pace ourselves, that we stop and replenish, that we recognize and celebrate our victories along the way, and that we not overlook the value and significance of each of those little victories. Each of them deeply matter, and each of them move us toward the goal. Our path to freedom is a long one — and although there is a lot of urgency in the Tibet situation, I would like to also suggest that its OK that it is a long path, because that actually works in our favor. We will outlast them. If we are steadfast in our conviction of the rightness of our cause and we pace ourselves for a nice, long ultra run, we will eventually win. They will lag, and we will outlast them.

On race day, I kept a good pace at the back of the leader pack for the first 10 miles to the base of Caballo Peak. I climbed the 2,000 steep vertical feet to the top slowly, still shaking off the cobwebs from the lack of sleep the night before. I had decided that the descent down Caballo would be the first time I would open it up and risk a little real speed. Downhills are my strength — something about having the steep trails of New Mexico in my childhood blood — and after a 10 mile warmup I wanted to start attacking the course a little more. I paused a minute in the gorgeous sunny meadow at the top and popped in my headphones for the first time to give me some extra juice for the run down. One of the race staff made a comment about the other racers she’d seen running with headphones on.

“Yeah,” I grinned. “But I bet they’re not listening to bagpipes.”

I tore down the mountain full speed, flying past racer after racer on the descent. If I could keep this pace on the downhills and keep my energy levels up on the uphills I knew I stood a good chance of breaking the top 20. I screamed around a corner at top velocity, felt my left foot slide out from under me on loose Jemez pebbles, went airborne for a long second in which i registered that there was nowhere I was going to land but on a bed of sharp rocks, and then slammed down hard.

I got up immediately. Both knees and elbows were bruised and bleeding, my left hand was completely numb and immovable, and a lot of the skin of my right forearm was missing. It all hurt like hell, but nothing felt like more than surface scratches and bruises. Until I started to run again and felt a stabbing pain in my right knee. It had landed squarely on a rock and — while there was no twisting or structural damage — it was badly bruised and hurt every time i stepped or moved or tried to bend that leg.

Immediately, I knew that this was going to badly effect my finishing time. I knew that there were still 20 miles left to run. And I knew that with every single step of that 20 long miles I was going to feel that knee screaming at me.

I kept going. To me, looking back on Saturday, this was the defining spiritual breakthrough of this run — not some amazing finishing time, not “winning” which of course was never going to happen on my first ultra — the fact that I kept going. And in keeping going, I learned a lot about myself over the next 20 miles. And I learned a tiny little bit about what we call pain.

In a couple of the pre-race writeups and interviews I referred to drawing on a small amount of the immense strength and courage of Tibetan political prisoners I’d worked with. People like Ngawang Sangdrol, whose steadfastness and perseverance in the face of extreme suffering had been a great inspiration to me. As I labored up the next hill (there’s an immediate 1,200 foot climb after the Caballo descent), shedding all my expectations of a top 10 or top 20 finish, I put my words into action. I visualized the former prisoners I had worked with and I asked them for strength.

As my knee kept telling me in no uncertain terms to immediately stop what I was doing, I repeated to myself — whatever this is, this is not pain. Ngawang Sangdrol — SHE suffered pain. This is nothing. Its not pain. In fact its not even you…. I remembered the Vipassana insight meditation I had practiced, in which you go deep into a sensation, strip away all the external labeling of it, and just dive into what the actual sensation is. And time and time again, as I dove into it, I found it wasn’t as dire as my mind made it out to be. In fact, it was hardly anything at all.

This is your spirit running, I told myself. Your spirit is so much vaster than that little body on the trail. That tiny voice crying out to you from your body, that’s not even you.

Over the hours, as the pain continued and the number of miles I’d logged began to physically wear on me and each step required me to access deeper and deeper reservoirs of determination and strength, I found that I could use all these deep emotions that I have around Tibet and the Tibetan cause to propel me forward. My deep-seated anger at the Chinese government for all they’ve done to the Tibetan people rose to the surface.

However, I quickly discovered that the baser emotions of anger, frustration, rage, and a desire to defeat or to destroy only got me so far. They served as short term fuel. They gave me a quick burst and just as quickly dissipated. What I needed to get me through was far deeper. Serenity. Acceptance. Peace.

I would imagine, that if you asked political prisoners like Sangdrol what kept them going for all those years, it wasn’t anger. In fact, I imagine the angriest of prisoners were probably the first to break. If someone like Sangdrol can be motivated by something far deeper than anger, why can’t we?

At mile 22, I found that peace. Or rather, it found me. I stopped fighting. I got out of the way. And everything shifted.

I crested a ridge and came into an open meadow as the soundtrack from Gladiator kicked in :) and suddenly the pain stopped being pain. It just became the way things were. I accepted it for exactly what it was. And that acceptance gave me strength.

I’m sure you could find a scientific explanation for it involving endorphins and serotonin and the body’s natural pain killers kicking in. But it was more than that. It was something that over the last year I have experienced quite a bit. One of the most important and vital experiences for the human being, and one that gets lost all to frequently in our culture of individual achievement, in which we expect ourselves to forge our way forward with no outside assistance — it was Grace.

There is a place where human effort ends and grace begins. There is a place where we let go and let ourselves be carried by currents far greater and stronger than we are. And in that letting go, we are carried to places more profound than we could have ever gotten through our own effort alone.

In relation to our work for Tibet, I would like to offer the idea that our own effort can only carry us so far. If we rely solely on our effort, we will exhaust ourselves. There are things — most things, in fact — that happen outside of us. Outside our small spheres of control, outside the Chinese government’s tiny manipulations. The gears that are at work in the turning of this world are so much vaster than our minute lives.

Grace is available to us, and will continue to come if we are open to it.

What does this mean in relation to our daily work for Tibet? It doesn’t mean at all that we should let up in our effort — certainly it was a great deal of effort that took me across the finish line and that effort is a necessary aspect of our work. It means in addition to effort, we bring in all the other qualities necessary to running a good, long race. We pace ourselves. We replenish. We ask for help. We let go of doubt and cynicism. We remember the ideals that we are working for involve peace and compassion and we see how that is reflected in our word, our deed, and our lives. And we draw from the immense spiritual resource that the Tibetan culture has to offer us.

In the end, I did not, of course, win the race :) But I did finish top ten in my age group. Together, we raised about $12,000 for SFT. And most importantly for me, I had a moment where I experienced some pretty deep adversity, I immediately readjusted expectations, and I kept going.

These experiences aren’t remarkable — they are what dedicated trail runners go through, all across the world, every time they run. And there’s nothing particularly remarkable about my finishing time. As of today, there are just over three dozen people in the world that have run the Jemez Mountain 50k faster than me. And I can tell you with full conviction that this will be true for exactly 364 more days, so I hope they enjoy it while they can.

;)

Until next time,

Josh

As His Holiness exited with his entourage, he stopped to speak with a few of us. I held out a khata (traditional greeting scarf) and as I greeted him, he held my hands and said, “Don’t give up; you all must continue your work. Never lose hope, because change is definitely coming.”

He went on to say that in light of the increasing pace of change in China, it is important to work with the Chinese people – writers, intellectuals, artists, the opinion-makers of society.

The previous day, I had spoken at a conference bringing together Chinese dissidents, Tibetan activists, Mongolians, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese to discuss opportunities and develop strategies for advancing our respective struggles for freedom, democracy, and human rights.

I explained to His Holiness that our global network was engaging in strategic Chinese outreach by connecting with key democracy advocates, writers, artists, students, lawyers and intellectuals. He assured me our efforts will make a difference and that change is imminent.

In that moment, I felt the immensity of the work ahead of us, but also had the distinct feeling that victory was inevitable.

With your help we can bring about freedom in Tibet. Please donate today to support SFT’s work.

http://sft.convio.net/site/Donation2?df_id=1345&1345.donation=form1

As we build new and strategic alliances, we must continue to challenge China’s abuses in Tibet at every turn. I was reminded of this minutes after His Holiness left, when I joined Lobsang, the official videographer for the award ceremony.

Lobsang is from Ngaba, the county in Amdo, Tibet that is under attack by Chinese security forces. His 15-year-old cousin, Norbu, was shot dead by China’s armed police on March 16th, 2008 for taking part in a peaceful protest for Tibetan freedom.

Three years after the day Norbu was shot, Phuntsok Jarutsang, a 20-year-old monk, lit himself on fire in an act of protest against China’s repression, and troops have since laid siege on Kirti monastery.

Right now, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, are meeting with Chinese officials in Washington, DC. Urge the U.S. Administration to raise Tibet and human rights during this week’s U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue.

Together, we can ensure that one day soon, people like Lobsang – and all Tibetans – are united with their families and homeland.

Please support SFT today: http://sft.convio.net/site/Donation2?df_id=1345&1345.donation=form1

Thank you for all you do for Tibet,

Tenzin Dorjee (Tendor)
Executive Director

Video: Meeting with Indian MPs to highlight the situation in Ngaba

Meeting with Indian MPs to highlight the situation in Ngaba: Day 2

Chinese troops descended on Kiri Monastery in the days following the self-immolation of a 20-year-old monk, Phuntsok Jarutsang on March 16th, 2011 and continue to beat, detain and intimidate the monks and any Tibetan who dares to protest their repressive actions. Two elderly Tibetans died after being beaten by police for trying to stop the arrest of 300 monks at the monastery on the evening of April 21st.

Tibetans and their supporters worldwide are demanding world government’s immediately condemn China’s actions and call for a withdrawal of troops from the region and for international observers to be allowed into Ngaba.

TAKE ACTION: 10 Ways You Can Help Stop the Crackdown in Ngaba

Update on the Indian Parliament Lobby Effort:

In light of the recent crackdown in Ngaba, eastern Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) – India has spearheaded an Indian Parliamentarian Lobby Effort. Yesterday and today we delivered appeal letters to Members of both houses of Parliament urging the Indian Government to press Beijing to immediately:

1. End the violent crackdown and repressive “patriotic re-education” campaign in Ngaba and withdraw troops from Kirti monastery and surrounding areas.

2. Unconditionally release all Tibetans arrested or imprisoned in Ngaba.

3. Allow an international and independent fact-finding mission to visit Kirti monastery in Ngaba, along with members of the foreign media.

4. Respect the right of Kirti monks to freely practice their religion and respect their right to movement.

“The situation in Ngaba is deteriorating as Chinese authorities continue their blatant violation of Tibetans’ human rights,” said Tenzin Choedon, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet – India. “Everyone we have met in the Indian Government is concerned about the dire situation in Ngaba and has expressed their solidarity with the Tibetan people.”

Over the course of 2 days, SFT – India’s delegation has met with senior parliamentarians from both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha including:

Shri Mohan Singh:
National Spokesperson of Samajwadi party
Hon’ Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.
Mr. C.M. Chang: IAS (Rtd.)
Nagaland People’s Front
Hon’ Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.

Chaudhary Ajit Singh:
President of Rashtriya Lok Dal
Hon’ Member of Parliament, Lok Sabya
former Union Minister of India

Shri Satyavrat Chaturvedi:
Hon’ Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Former  minister in Madhya Pradesh Government
Former General Secretary and National Spokesperson of Congress

Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh:
Rashtriya Janata Dal
Hon’ Member of Parliament
Lok Sabha and former Union Minister of India.
Shri Raghuvansh raised Tibet’s independence during the last Parliament session in March, 2011.

“In the coming days, we will continue to visit people of influence here in New Delhi and appeal for their help in demanding the Chinese government end the military siege in Ngaba and release all those unjustly arrested,” said Tenzin Jigdal, Project Director of Students for a Free Tibet – India. “We also call on governments’ around the world to intervene before more innocent Tibetan lives are lost.”

SFT – India’s delegation will meet with Indian Parliamentarians in the coming days with the support of the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Center. We will also be delivering appeal letters to various foreign missions in New Delhi.

When we were out there in the icy rain marching and protesting, we had no idea our chants and messages would be heard loud and clear by President Obama, the First Lady, and Hu Jintao himself. As the Chinese President’s motorcade pulled up to the White House for the official state dinner – above the noise of the press cameras clicking – our chants were audible and impossible to ignore. “Hu Jintao Failed Leader” “President Obama Speak for Tibet” and “Free Tibet” are the messages heard by Hu Jintao that night.

In that moment, any doubt that I’d ever had about the purpose of street protests was wiped out of my mind. It became clear to me why we do what we do; our street protests make a difference. We shamed China’s leader and reminded our President that Tibet and the issues of human rights will continue to haunt them until concrete actions are taken to change the situation in Tibet.

Within a month’s time, I was back in our nation’s capital. I’d exchanged my worn winter garb for a suit for the 3^rd annual Tibet Lobby Day 2011. What better way to follow up on the protests from January than with meetings with our political representatives? Check out photos from Global Tibet Lobby Day 2011.

We took our activism from the streets of D.C. to the halls of Capitol Hill – and this time we advocated for Tibet as constituents of American politics.

More than a hundred Tibetans and Tibet supporters took time off work and school to be part of the third annual Tibet Lobby Day. SFT’s young leaders from California, Kentucky, Utah, New York, Virginia, DC, Maryland, New Hampshire, Florida, Maine, Wisconsin and Massachusetts made their presence felt and their voices heard in the halls of political power.

In advance of Lobby Day, SFT held a 2-day training at American University to prepare. Over 25 participants attended workshops on Public Speaking, Teaching Tibet, Media & Messaging and we were lucky to get the lowdown on Understanding Why We Lobby with International Campaign for Tibet’s (ICT) president Mary Beth Markey.

The purpose and goal of Lobby Day extends beyond the “asks” we bring up with our Members of Congress. We meet with our political representatives to thank them for their support and to encourage greater political and programmatic support for the Tibetan people. At the same time we are fostering invaluable relationships with our nation’s decision makers and building the voice and presence of Tibetan-Americans as a critical constituent base. Most importantly, we are empowering our next generation of young leaders to assert themselves in the struggle for Tibet’s freedom.

I can remember my first year lobbying in 2009. I was a bundle of nerves and three years on I still felt that rush of nervous energy as I climbed the stairs of the Senate building. But one thing I’ve learned ­– and reminded myself in that moment – is that I have agency. Unlike my fellow countrymen and women in Tibet, I am free to speak up and I have a responsibility to share the dreams and desire of my people for freedom – wherever and whenever I can; whether in the streets or in the offices of my elected leaders.

If you are a Lobby Day veteran, I encourage you to participate next year and the year after. It might make not make a difference today, or tomorrow, but when a decisive moment for Tibet’s future comes – and we know it will – our friends in the U.S. Congress can help tip the balance in favor of freedom. And for those of you who haven’t taken the blue pill, I strongly urge you to give it a try and challenge yourselves to experience this next level of outreach and advocacy for our cause. You’d be surprised how great you’ll feel!

Tibetans and supporters rally in New York on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising.

Click here to view more photos from NY on the SFT Flickr.

For Immediate Release:
March 10th, 2011

Contact: Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director, +1 646-724-0748
Kate Woznow, Deputy Director, +1 917-601-0069
Tenzin Dolkar, USA Director, +1 917-664-5530

GLOBAL PROTESTS MARK TIBETAN UPRISING DAY AS CHINESE FORCES CLAMPDOWN IN TIBET
New Generation of Tibetans Lead Nonviolent Resistance Movement in Tibet

New York – Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters in dozens of countries will take to the streets today, March 10th, to commemorate the 1959 National Uprising when tens of thousands of Tibetans rose up to demand an end to China’s occupation. Chinese forces intensified security measures in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital in advance of the sensitive anniversary, barring foreign visitors and conducting late-night raids on hotels. In spite of China’s military stranglehold on their nation, a new generation of Tibetans is embracing nonviolent resistance tactics that defy Beijing’s authority, strengthen Tibetan identity, and inspire hope.

“50 years on, an entirely new generation of Tibetans – in Tibet and in exile – is rising up,” said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. “Young Tibetans are taking leadership of our movement by engaging in bold political acts and expressing their desire for freedom through music, literature, and social media; this generation is determined to finish what began a half century ago.”

A homegrown grassroots movement has gained momentum in Tibet in the past year, as a growing number of Tibetans engage in simple yet powerful actions – speaking only in Tibetan, eating in Tibetan-owned restaurants – particularly on Wednesdays, a day believed to be auspicious for the Dalai Lama (1). Well-known Tibetan musicians and intellectuals have also been boldly asserting their political views, prompting Chinese authorities to ban popular songs and detain more than 60 Tibetan cultural figures.

“The recent uprisings in the Arab world, along with the growing dissent in China itself, has further galvanized a new generation of Tibetans committed to taking nonviolent action to end Chinese rule,” said Tenzin Dolkar, Students for a Free Tibet’s USA Director. “The Chinese government has tried – and failed – to crush the Tibetan spirit. As we see people around the world rising up for freedom and democracy, we know it is only a matter of time before change comes to Tibet and China.”

In advance of the sensitive anniversary, the Chinese government has heightened security measures in Tibet in an attempt to deter Tibetans from engaging in any form of dissent. Three years ago today, Tibetan monks marching for the release of fellow monks were violently stopped by Chinese forces, sparking the largest and most widespread demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet since 1959. Chinese troops have been permanently stationed throughout Tibet since.

“The Tibetan people’s struggle for freedom has long enjoyed the support of the global community and we urge our government leaders to follow suit by pressing China to commit to a just and lasting resolution for Tibet,” said Kate Woznow, Deputy Director of Students for a Free Tibet.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters in at least 100 cities worldwide today, including in the USA, Poland, UK, France, Germany, Canada, India, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, are demonstrating their support for the Tibetan freedom struggle through rallies, marches, candle light vigils, and government lobbying initiatives.

Note to Editor:

1) More information about the nonviolent resistance movement in Tibet can be found at http://www.Lhakar.org a website launched on March 9, 2011 by a diverse coalition of Tibetan writers, artists, and activists.

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As we welcome the Tibetan New Year, we celebrate the spirit and resilience of a new generation bringing new hope for freedom to the Tibetan people.

All of us at Students for a Free Tibet wish you and your loved ones a Happy Losar.

As we work hard to speed up the winds of change blowing from the Arab world, we hope this year will bring an end to the suffering and oppression in Tibet.

Losar Tashi Delek,

Tendor, Kate, TenDolkar, Mary-Kate, Stefanie, Tentsetan and all of us at SFT HQ

Read & share Losar related blog posts below:

One Tibet, Many Tibetan New Years: Tibetan Bloggers Call for Unity
http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2011/03/one-tibet-many-tibetan-new-years.html

Tsampa Eaters and Sweet Tea Drinkers: Tibetan Identity Assertion Through Food
http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2011/02/updated-tsampa-eaters-and-sweet-tea.html

In Defense of Tibetan Cooking (Part I)
http://www.jamyangnorbu.com/blog/2011/02/07/in-defence-of-tibetan-cooking-part-i/

Tibet Lobby Day 2011 is far from over. National Tibet lobby events are coming up in Sydney, Australia; London, UK; and New Delhi. Stay tuned for more updates on how we’re building global political support to help bring an end to China’s occupation of Tibet.

Tibet has no freedom I sing. And I'll sing it throughout my life. For which even if I am killed. I have no regrets. – Lyrics from Tashi Dhondup's "No Regrets"

Tashi Dhondup, a popular Tibetan musician is free!

We’re excited to share with you news that Tashi Dhondup has been released after serving most of his 15-month prison sentence.

He was detained at gunpoint in December 2009 and accused of “composing subversive songs” following the release of his popular album “Torture without Trace”.

Tashi Dhondup is part of a growing wave of Tibetan writers, musicians, and intellectuals who are boldly defying Chinese authorities by openly expressing their loyalty to the Dalai Lama and desire for freedom.

Radio Free Asia has reported that he has safely returned to his home county of Yuglan, in eastern Tibet, and was warmly received along the way by locals with scarves and greetings. Read more about his release.

A new translation of Tashi Dhondup’s song “Waiting with Hope” is now available on the Tibetan blog High Peaks Pure Earth.
Join us in celebrating his release by viewing and sharing this video:

The price for defying Chinese rule is steep. There are more than 800 known political prisoners in Tibet today. In spite of the risks, Tibetans across Tibet continue to resist against all odds.

Your actions do help! Please keep the pressure on the Chinese government to release Tibetan prisoners of conscience.

SFT has highlighted the works of Tashi Dhondup, and those by many other detained Tibetan writers and artists, as part of the Renaissance Series, a monthly event aimed at amplifying the songs, poems, and writings banned in Tibet.

Join us in calling on China to release Norzin Wangmo, a female cadre and writer from Ngaba, in eastern Tibet.

Following the widespread protests in 2008, she was sentenced to 5 years in prison for speaking on the phone and on the Internet about Chinese government abuses in Tibet.

Take Action: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5485

The Chinese government’s harsh reaction to Norzin Wangmo’s actions demonstrate how threatened it is by the growing resistance movement inside Tibet. As we watch the revolution unfolding in Egypt, the Chinese censors are working double time. Hu Jintao knows that freedom is contagious and that no dictatorship lasts forever.

Through our collective efforts, we can support and encourage Tibetans, Chinese, Uyghurs, Mongolians and everyone who is fighting for their freedom.

Thank you for standing with Tibet.