To: Tibetan Parliament in Exile CTA,
Gangchen Kyisong,
Distt Kangra, Dharamsala
HP 176215
+91 1892 222481
tibetanparliament@tibet.net
tpieadmin@tibet.net

Cc: jonangwellbeing.intl@gmail.com; tibetanparliament@tibet.net; religion@tibet.net; tsjc@tibet.net; kadrung@tibet.net; ohhdl@dalailama.com; tpieadmin@tibet.net

Dear Honorable Members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile,

For the welfare and spiritual benefit of the Tibetan (and non-Tibetan) people, I am writing to strongly urge the members of the Tibetan Parliament to officially recognize the Jonang tradition as a formal religious organization within Tibetan Buddhism.  I request that Parliament amend its charter and include Jonang as an official sect, giving them equal weight alongside the Bon, Nyigma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug traditions and preferably ordering the traditions in accordance to how they are founded.

The Jonang tradition has been vital to Tibetan Buddhism since the early 13th century.  It is the only lineage that contains the entire Kalachakra Completion Stage practices and it cannot be denied that Jonang has contributed significantly to the philosophical, spiritual, and cultural heritage of the Tibetan people.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of formal recognition of Jonang by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Jonang is not promoted equally like the other Tibetan Buddhist sects. As a result, the massive collection of teachings and practices stands in real danger of being lost forever.

As an engaged supporter and advocate of religious diversity, I urge Parliament to take action to change its position and amend its charter effective immediately. This recognition is not merely a domestic issue. It has garnered significant interest from scholars, practitioners, and advocates worldwide. The lack of official recognition and equal rights within Tibetan Buddhism has created unnecessary confusion and uncertainty in the Tibetan Parliament in Exile’s commitment to religious diversity and inclusion. 

Official recognition of Jonang will allow Parliament to clear any doubt of its commitment to the preservation of all authentic Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Therefore, this is an URGENT plea from the international community that the Tibetan Parliament in Exile officially and formally vote to amend its charter recognizing Jonang, fixing this deeply significant omission, an action that has long since been overdue. As the members of Parliament is fully aware, several governments including China, in addition to Buddhist organizations in Tibet have already recognized Jonang officially.

By formally amending this charter, Parliament can secure its position as a champion of equality, justice together with spiritual and cultural diversity. The entire global community awaits your decisive action in fixing this long-standing disparity.

#RecognizeJonang