Michael Palin at the Potala Palace - BBC

[Buddhistboy97]

I'm Tibetan and I am angry because I feel like china stole Tibet, it's really the government fault. Now most of family members who are in Tibet are in prison getting beaten by Chinese soldiers! It just makes me sick!

[everlastingbio]

@Buddhistboy97 you mother-fucker lier. I'm Tibetan too, but I'm also Chinese

[Buddhistboy97]

@everlastingbio exactly, 50/50 for you then.

[andymac6263]

Chinese should be ashamed, hopefully, history will re-dress the balance. hopefully.

[poppylights]

I was so hoping to get to Lhasa during my last trip to China, but it's still so hard for the single, unaccompanied visitor to travel there.

[chewmaley]

the teachings of Dharma teach us that ,this temple is empty of inherent existence as are all things. form is emptiness, emptiness is form. emptiness is not other than form, form is not other than emptiness. to fully realize what this statement means is very important.

[Bournetolive]

@chewmaley

Aye, as someone who subscribes to some Chinese Mahayana Buddhist teachings, I agree with you. Buddhism is gentle and selfless because it was born on the gentle plains of India, where food was plenty and the weather pleasant. When it came to Tibet, Tibet's harsh climate and poor soil transformed it into a religion of material exploitation, whether or not that was intentional on the TIbetans part. If Buddhism is right, then it has failed to take into account regional conditions.

[airblade124]

Im half tibetan half nepalese.. I was born in Lhasa.. I dont want the chinese to ruin my hometown.. :(

[meezerlover]

@airblade124 I'm so sorry....but I think it has already happened....:-(

[airblade124]

@meezerlover Yh, I know. :(

[mintyoreo]

@airblade124 Have Faith.

[h5liu]

@airblade124 I'm Chinese, but I'm sorry for what has happened to your country, I'm only 13 however you might want to read "Seven Years in Tibet"

[Bournetolive]

@h5liu

Son, as a fellow Chinese person, you must realize that China was built on iron/bronze and blood since Huangdi defeated Chiyou and wrestled the Central Plains into the control of the Huaxia (our ancestors). This happened in 2000 BC and it has happened ever since. All these places you hear about - Canton, Hong Kong, Shanghai - they were all conquered and their people assimilated. It is our destiny to do so, and Tibet is our latest project in this regard.

[thups2007]

@Bournetolive wow! you call kiling 1 millions Tibetans a project...?

[Bournetolive]

@thups2007

The 1 million figure has not been disproven, but it has also not been proven. Even if it is proven, the cause of death for the victims may vary from case to case, not all of which can be blamed on China's actions. Until the Chinese archives are opened (and they exist) like what happened with the USSR's archives, we will never know for sure. So I would take these figures with a large grain of salt.

[Bournetolive]

@h5liu

This time, we have the aid of technology to control and assimilate Tibet which our ancestors did not have before, and thus, we are are doing what they were unable to do before the West and their human rights bubbly crap came along.

[Bournetolive]

@airblade124

It won't be ruined - it will be developed so that Tibetans, Chinese, Hui Muslims, etc. can live with modern amenities and enjoy more opportunities. Tibetans won't just have to choose pastoral nomad or monk as occupations anymore. Now, they can open businesses, become scholars, go into government, etc.

[aa64126]

Potala Palace and it's surroundings is one place in the world I wish had remained as it was a century ago. At least 5 miles radius around Potala Palace should have been left untouched.

[tyruk]

This is like something out of a fantasy novel whose major influence was oriental imperialism.

I didn't know buildings like this still existed...unbelievable.

[Clempath]

Tibet isn't just spiritual for Buddhists, its spiritual for people of all faiths I believe. I think that's why it seems so alluring and mystical.

[tyruk]

That's great. But, with no disrespect intended, you completely missed my point; I was speaking purely from an architectural standpoint.

[Clempath]

Now I feel foolish! Sorry!

[kingrichard91]

we shouldnt blame it directly towards china, it's the communist party that is the puppet master of all this treachery. The nationalists of china didnt even harm the tibetans, so the ccp are the ones to blame.

[ChinaKillsNuns]

Some people know that 6254 monasteries in Tibet were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. But how many people are aware that Tibetan culture is still being destroyed? Please watch

The Destruction of Serthar Buddhist Institute in Tibet

and see for yourself.

[iamlumin]

Tibet will become wide open once the Chinese have finished renaming all the streets, bulldozed most of the TIbetan footprint, and killed or imprisoned anyone who dares say that Tibet was never a part of China. Once detained you must sign a document saying that you agree with the Chinese version of Tibetan history. What a joke!

[rajbodepudi]

Wonderful! Keep making them and distribute them globally. China fears the public opinion of the world

[rajbodepudi]

Let us fight against Chinese imperialism in Tibet. Let the entire world unite to free Tibet from the Chinese yoke

[rajbodepudi]

Tibet is a symbol of human adeventure in spirituality

[mizofan]

I admire a lot about Chinese civilisation and achievements (love some Tang dynasty poems, Song dynasty paintings, and China has incredible scenery etc), but imperialist exploitation of Tibet is not among them. It's also hypocritical of many Western nations (e.g England, the US) condemning China for having similar faults. Anyway, Palin is one of life's good guys.

[liscraudjo]

If Tibet still exists, Michael Palin wouldn't know how's inside either.

[nzgav]

Please read the comments made by iamlumin. He has an extremely good knowledge of Tibet.

[nzgav]

Tibetans are subject to arbitrary arrest and detention

Torture still prevails in Chinese prisons and detention centres

Enforced disappearances, where a person is taken into custody and the details of their detention are not disclosed, continue to occur.

The 11-year-old 11th Panchen Lama has been missing since his status was announced in 1995.

Today, it appears the Chinese are using Tibet as a dumping ground for their, and foreign, nuclear waste.

tibet(.)net

(Central Tibetan Administration)

[teamaster113]

Lets not forget if it wasn't for CHINA, most of tibet would have been destroyed buy their own people.

[kettlepuss]

You are ignorant if you really think that!!!!! If it wasn't for China it wouldn't smell like poop in Lhasa

[iamlumin]

Ya, now it smells worst than poop!

[ChinaKillsNuns]

The 6254 monasteries that were the living repositories of over a millennia of higher Tibetan civilisation were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.

[HumanRightsVideosT]

The destruction of the monasteries began well before the cultural revolution and most had been wrecked before the cultural revolution began.

In 1956 the communists bombed ancient monasteries at Chatreng and Litang, killing thousands of monks and civilians massed there for protection.

[iamlumin]

Tibet is gone! Ruined by Chinese. Oh yes fragments of Tibetan culture will linger and some Tibetan people will hang on for awhile but in the end Chinese, through deception, lies, force, any means necessary have taken Tibet, it's lumber, water, uranium, even take credit for their beautiful culture and history. It's one of the greatest tragedies in the history of humanity and it continues today. People always look away until it's happening to them personally.

[kettlepuss]

You are SO right! I traveled for 6 weeks in Tibet and I agree with your description entirely. Very tragic and sad! So shortly after utter brutality, Lhasa is now a cheery tourist destination for middle class Han Chinese who seem to love the sheer exploitation of Tibetan culture for the sake of tourism. They treat it as Disneyland, dressing in "Tibetan" costumes to get their picture taken in front of the Potala and such. Reminds me of how we treated some indigenous people in the USA, in a sense!

[iamlumin]

Ya, thanks for agreeing. The arrogant, materialistic Han-Chinese who have invaded spite on Tibet and ancient Tibetan culture. Pointing to what happened in the US centuries ago does not justify or allow anyone to genuinely rationalize China's invasion, occupation, exploitation and oppression of a peaceful neighbor.

[Bournetolive]

@iamlumin

Of course it doesn't - US did all its killing and genociding when there was no international human rights movement. Unfortunately, China didn't have the luck of doing that then - it has to do it now, and human rights activists have fell upon this opportunity to demonize a country and its people like vultures on a rotting carcass. This won't change no matter how kindly China treats Tibetans, so no matter how loud you talk, we won't give a damn.

[Bournetolive]

@kettlepuss

China will not let Tibet go - if Russia has the will to fight to keep tiny Chechnya, and India will do the same to keep its part of Kashmir, then China will not let any of its territory go. If we do, we would disgrace Huangdi, who shed so much blood in order to bequeath the Yellow River valley to his descendants and give them the opportunity to develop a powerful and respected culture.

[Bournetolive]

@iamlumin

The Chinese have been doing it since Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) defeated Chi-You circa 2000 BC and expelled the Hmong (Miao in Chinese) people to the south. The Hmong today live in autonomous counties and prefectures, and many are in SE Asia as well. All empires are built on iron and blood - conflicts arise when people don't see each other as humans, but as separate tribes and groups that have nothing in common.

[auntbecky]

@iamlumin Tibet will never be gone dear.

[iamlumin]

Maybe the Potala could have been maintained with some of the money made from the over 50 billions dollars worth of lumber taken from Tibetan forests or perhaps from uranium deposits. Chinese have ruined great culture, multi-level genocide in progress turning Lhasa into hellhole with brothels and tacky shops and restaurants, etc. A real tragedy in progress. Ethnic cleansing, the whole works. World looks away until it's at their door.

[divinedreamer86]

The Chinese took this away from the Tibetans to make a profit off it and now it's just this tourist attraction. The Dalai Lama can't even live in his own palace!

[leaderwolf2]

You shut up! this palace is maintained by Beijing government! without the funds to repair this palace, it would already collapsed!

[jedimassforce]

wosnt the old potala palace destroyed by the chinease

[143682]

Beautiful ! China get out of Tibet. It is not your and it will never be yours. China's gift to humanity- cultural revolution, starvation of it's own citizens and let us not forget -- the total destruction of environment in their own country and anywhere where they go.

[jedimassforce]

i hate china because it take over tibet

[zaction]

I was in Lhasa a couple of months ago. We walked up what seemed like 4 million stairs to enter the palace. Unreal! Tibet is a gorgeous place. Very very clean and beautiful. No smog like mainland China. The altitude is rough to get used to for the first few days then becomes easy to deal with.

[porridge098]

maddy is in my boot.. i have no arms too

[SazzyV]

Please check The Tibetan Photo Project and click over to see videos. also TibetanPhotoProject dot com

[TibetanPhotoProject]

Please check our Tibetan Videos from the exile community. On Youtube and TibetanPhotoProject dot com

[rjshmo]

Death too Jewish created Communism!!

[FooFightersKid]

chicken pasta

[AupaPeps]

"treated its own peoples like slaves" sale fils de pute peut etre que les paysans de chine sont mieu traité hein conar!)

[jeannieandjordan]

Tibet was a theocracy and feudal society that treated its own people like slaves. People must stop being nostaligic for a time that was dark and unenlightened. Tibet is now a better place to live for the common Tibetan people and Dalai Lama should just face himself and admit that he is no "God King", that he is a common human being and he doesn't have any divine rights. The Potala Palace belongs to Tibetan people, belongs to all people of the human race.

[savetheyeti]

dude what are you tlking about. oh well, it's their country. did you know how many poor monks were massacred. how many ancient priceless gemss ruined. i am from a country bordering tibet. i don't anything about the horror, u don't know about horror in genral . think before you speak your opinion from your cozy little american home. u don't know any pain at all. only pain you faced was probably moving houses

[savetheyeti]

did you know china(atheist country) is already interfering in the picking of the panchen lama and is trying to pick a dalai lama.

[AupaPeps]

tu dois etre un putin de "communiste" chinois qui ne pensent qu'au fric et qui exploitent et massacre les tibetain on a du te faire un lavage de cerveau en chine mao aux chiottes et toi je te chie dessu pour ceux qui ne savent pas trop ce qu'il se passe regardez kundun tres beau film et vous allez avoir la meme reaction que moi (pardon pour la vulgarité mais cet enculé m'a enragée

[rjshmo]

Shut up yo atheist Communist!

[SoldierCyfix]

true

[12354blahbla]

wtf they put the masonic symbol at the end?

[agacooker]

thats odd

[annsafron07]

The palace belongs to the past, as a museum. The real palace and throne of Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama is the world itself. Time to bring that wisdom and light to every one on the planet

[WEKKE69]

Give this palace to the one it belongs.

This is and must be back the Dalai Lama's home