Tibet Oral History Project: Interview with Wangdak Tashi on 4/7/2017

The interpreter's English translation provided during this interview is potentially incomplete and/or inaccurate. If you are not fluent in Tibetan, please refer to the interview transcript for the complete and correct English translation. Read the interview transcript in English at tibetoralhistor...
** This interview about life in Tibet was conducted by the Tibet Oral History Project. This non-profit organization aims to preserve the history and culture of the Tibetan people by interviewing elderly Tibetan refugees about life in Tibet before and after the Chinese invasion. Learn more at www.TibetOralHi....
** Interview Summary: Wangdak Tashi was born in Tsangyue in Kham Province to a wealthy, ruling class family. As a child he collected shells from the lake, rode horses and studied Buddhist scriptures. His family owned thousands of yaks and eight families worked as servants, who grazed the animals. For this reason, his family was targeted by the invading Chinese and their animals and possession were confiscated. His father, grandfather and uncles were arrested and publicly executed. Under the Chinese occupation Wangdak Tashi witnessed the destruction of monasteries, the mining of precious minerals, and the killing of wild animals. His region was organized into a commune system and he was forced to graze animals. After his father’s murder, he escaped with his mother. He then joined a branch of the Chushi Gangdrug [Defend Tibet Volunteer Force] in Marpothang, which had 11,000 members, including monks and women. Wangdak Tashi fought Chinese troops with weapons dropped from American planes, but bombs from enemy planes eventually forced them to flee to the Northern Plateau. Later he was captured and imprisoned for eight years. He was subjected to torture, hard labor and sterilization. After learning that he was to be executed, Wangdak Tashi escaped to Ladakh, India. Inspired by news about the death of his mother and other family members, he began practicing chod, a special Buddhist practice to benefit the living and the dead.

[@doll_choden99]

Thank you so much for sharing those unparalleled strength of Tibetans in exile.🙏.

[@nyimadhumdul9273]

He is a sincere true story teller. All Tibetans should hear this story. Thank you

[@ttiger7446]

❤️

[@drukpachoegon]

Very clear and intelligent translator. Translator is superb eloquence, good in English as well as superb in Tibetan language. Good for you trsnslayor.

[@tenzingangdon295]

Such an inspiring and sad story ... I cried alot and feel for those people and I pray all the Tibetans around the world to be blessed by Guru rinpoche

[@beingfrank40]

What a treasure and a blessing!

[@chojornorbu1322]

Lama Wangdak Tashi's life story is amazing...is beyond word & beyond this word...in the Tibet Oral History Project each & every story of the Tibetans is sooooo sad, insane, inhumane, deceptive, cruelty etc unbelievable we human in the world can accept...has happen to Tibet...I wish & pray not to happen to the whole world in near future...

[@stephenclarke3990]

And while all these awful things were happening in Tibet, the world did nothing. What a shame Tibet wasn't rich in oil ❗Then we may have seen something very different from world powers. No one can imagine seeing your father tortured, degraded & subsequently burnt alive. May all those left alive find true peace & happiness. 🙏🏼🌈🙏🏼

[@stephenclarke3990]

@@johninman7545 I studied the Occult for just over 15 years, the O.T.O.. so I wasn't a pagan by any means. Having said that all this talk of Buddhist masters kinda linked to pagan sources doesn't make any sense to me at all. I simply cant understand it. Sorry. I am a Buddhist Ngakpa, and knew Chagdud Rinpoche, I used to do his Cho practice. Anyway all I want to say is, from my experiences you cant mix two paths, ie, pagan and Buddhist, for a start they have nothing to do with each other, and will lead to "bastardised " philosophies, which will only confuse you. Again from experience, one of the highest thought of philosophies in Buddhism is that of Lineage and Samaya to ones Root Lama. Again, theres nothing like this in "paganism". Well as I sad earlier I wasn't a pagan, however I know a few. Anyway take care, and thanks for the comment.

[@johninman7545]

Who was mixing? I've noticed over the years that people in Vajrayana Buddhism are rather shrill and forward and even impolite to one another in debate and such. The Greeks didn't think of themselves as Pagans . Pagan in Latin means of the people. The Omphalos was an idea that probably went back to Anatolia in the 6,000 BCE . It was general throughout the region. No comments about the world Karma. The idea is that Tibet being destroyed and harmed harmes the world. I don't mix Dharmas I don't worship non Buddhist Devas..I deleted my post. Enough? Chagdud Tulku Tromge complained at Losar that people come out of three years retreat with more pride than when they went in. Ngnodro ×2 I'm always hearing about how to practice. Don't do this nor that

[@stephenclarke3990]

@@johninman7545 It seems as though you're very angry.😫 All I will say is, just as there is a latin translation for just about every word in the English language, the commonly accepted, Dictionary explanation, doesn't use the "latin translation". I think you're just trying to be clever, and as you fail miserably, you attempt to turn everything to suit your strange thought process. Take a chill pill and have a lie down.

[@stephenclarke3990]

@@johninman7545 Btw...You very obviously don't understand Vajrayana at all, I do wonder about Buddhism in general. In fact, who is your teacher ❓

[@johninman7545]

@@stephenclarke3990 what a reply..it's not my or your or anyone to enquire thus. Master Hsun Wa of the City Of Ten Thousand Buddhias said" Watch closely your own mind and do not discuss the faults of others. Unity in substance is Great Compassion" and "The Dharma is one without sides whereas debate has two side. How angry? Everyone on line has opinions. Emogies are.I don't know what. Who's my teacher? Everyone.

[@lhatsolhatso5602]

Very nice to hear true stories of our precious elders people 🙏

[@chemidee8604]

Thank you so much for doing and sharing such valuable work

[@tohproject]

You're welcome. We have a lot more interviews on our channel: kzbin.infovideos

[@samsamdup7119]

Very moving story!! Great hero!!!

[@emiliacole9074]

Love his humour the story about Maotsetung being looked after Russian called Lenin being a girl in summer and a boy in winter.All this told with straight face!

[@lobsangtsering5989]

😂. Yartsa Gunbu.

[@Jahtso]

I think there should be subtitles ON TOP of the translator being present. I understood a good 90% of what the teacher said - the translator is good, but a few details here and there are lost because she has to retell so many details. With subtitles to compliment the translator, we won't miss any details at all.

[@tashinyingjey]

Supper

[@lakeynorbu2155]

Translater voice is so sweet

[@chojornorbu1322]

Tibet Oral History Project should make HOLLY WOOD MOVIE...it has everything for movie

[@namgyaldorjee5400]

Never translated that shameless pig girl (maotseto)was fucked by many people's and transform to male quickly.this news spread all over the world.

[@tenzinlhunpo7375]

I appreciated for the interview, but in future try to focus better interpreter. So that every single words is translated properly in-front of the world for the better understanding.

[@johnnytawon780]

Yes.... Some interpreter don't understand Kham common language....

[@sonamwangmonam]

THIS GIRL INTERPRETER I GUESS THE BEST.

[@bornHimalayan]

Translator is very good. What's her name?

[@RaginYak]

Wish there was translation into English. Would have helped a lot.

[@TseringBawa]

🙏🙏🙏

[@shatupkhenrab6143]

He is real hero

[@soulochanaluz1156]

Infinite Love ❤

[@shatupkhenrab6143]

Can you tell me he’s movie 🎥 name ???

[@labsangchoedak509]

You are our tibetan Hero

[@shatupkhenrab6143]

Were he live today???

[@rajutashi1821]

Welcome to this interview but it is too late. This interview should have been taken at least for decades ahead where the first generation who had experienced real situation during the time of invasion where all gone two decades ago. currently, older generation were then early twenties and experienced less of the real ancient Tibet. However, they have some true memories and story being told to them by elders.

[@nhungtran-uo2ud]

May the almighty Buddha and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva take care of these unfortunate people 🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭

[@aigodolma]

Very thankful to share this kind of interview, but questions are not so good. Lots of repeat words. Especially Tibetan translator is really poor to understand his history.

[@woserwele1]

Kham golok ???????what does his mean ?

[@sichodorjee650]

Golok is between Amdo and kham,so they wish to be in both community

[@silverdesk100]

출처: jejupoonggyoung.tistory.com/1074 [어제를 향하여 세상에 봄이 차오르는 오늘]

[@sylvielopez2686]

Tank you very much , merci beaucoup d'avoir pris en considération toute ses personnes qui ont tant soufferts de la barbarie des gouvernements successifs chinois, ont assiste à une tragédie qui depuis plus de 60 ans reste toujours impunis , cette barbarie qui ont fait tant de victimes fait à un peuple qui vivaient en harmonie, plus de 1 million de Tibétains ont été massacrés , le témoignage est poignant ont ne peux plus fermer les yeux envers tout un peuple et rester dans l'ignorance, car cela s'appelle un génocide, assimilation, emprisonnements arbitraires, destructions de plus de 6.000 monastères qui faisaient partis et de la fierté du peuple tibétain, privatisation des droits humains, de leurs langues, , de toute une culture ancestrale . Cette barbarie doit cesser ! Merci à tous , le cœur serré.

[@andreebesseau6995]

😢😢😢❤

[@gyurmedtashi8477]

Gong mi Mag is not nationalists army. They were Chinese emperor's army. Nationalist couldn't conquer any part of Tibet.

[@ricgrag1037]

In this translation lot of important messages are not interpreted by this translator.

[@tohproject]

Unfortunately, during the interview process we are only able to do a brief translation to assist the interviewer. We have added a note to all our videos explaining that the written transcripts are the most accurate translation for the interviews because these are based word-for-word on the statements of the interviewee and not the interpreter.

[@lobsangmonlam1870]

Did America and Russia support to Tibetan army is that true ?

[@pancakes6119]

The CIA trained Tibetan army but failed. CIA paid Dalai Lama. Russia always want a piece of Tibet.

[@karmadawa1699]

😀

[@jigold22571]

🌈🔥🌈

[@ajmalali1747]

English translator is not good enough. She is not translating as it is...

[@jcjc4979]

Ha ha ha, Wangdak Tashi, the man looks like one of those depict in 500 years old ancient Thanka painting, magically just became life and exposed this highly kept secret of Mao Tse Tung, that which he is not supposed to reveal until all nine knot breaks loose that holds the Dorjee on top of his head. And I think the secret of Mao was passed to him by one of his yak. ( I would pay 100 dollar just to see an expression on interviewer face when he told Mao story)

[@palsangpo796]

She is not bad translation , but other guy translation so poor

[@5bigorange]

She ain’t translating proper, infect more then 30 percent what he said she ain’t translated.

[@tohproject]

The purpose of the interpreter was to provide a brief, summary interpretation in order to allow the interview to proceed; it was not his/her job to do a precise, full translation between English and Tibetan. We have added a note to all our videos explaining that the written transcripts are the most accurate English translation for the interviews because these are based word-for-word on the statements of the interviewee and not the interpreter.

[@RaginYak]

@@tohproject Well said 👍

[@johnjessie3083]

Yo! What kind of sucks his necklace 😂😂

[@johnnytawon780]

I am from ba shisung.... Her interpretation is good but not better.... Guess she don't understand Kham language....

[@khoiloithoi7559]

དངོས་གནས་དཔའ་བོ་རེད་

[@tenzinchoedon2116]

དཔའ༌བོ༌ཁྱེད༌ལ༌ཡི༌རང༌བསྔགས༌བརྗོད༌ཡོ།

[@Choezin199]

སྐབས་འདིར་གཡག་ཅེས་པ་ནོར་སྦྱིའི་མིང་དུ་བོས་པ་ལས་གཡག་ཁོ་ན་སྟོག་བརྒྱད་ཡོད་ཅེས་པ་ནི་ངོ་མཚར་དགོས་པ་ཞིག་རེད། འདི་ནི་དབྱིན་སྐད་དུ་ནོར་སྤྱིའི་མིང་དུ་Yakཞེས་པ་དང་འདྲ། བོད་སྐད་ལྟར་ན་འབྲི་དང་གཡག་སོགས་མིང་མང་དུ་ཡོད

[@gutsikkyamo8426]

I’m so appreciative but his story is bit off the charts. He is saying that he is inherently purer determined by China with someone that Chinese would not likely do. I’m not saying he is making that up but I’m doubtful

[@johninman7545]

Many western historians confirm his history..Chagdud Tulku Tromge has much to say about the loss of Tibet of the time and now a world cultural treasure

[@johninman7545]

Obviously there's a lot fable mixed with historical narration

[@bodyig]

སྐུ་ཞབས་ལ་ཁམས་མགོ་ལོག་གི་ཡིན་གསུངས་སོང་། ཧ་ཧ་

[@khoiloithoi7559]

ཁམས་མགོ་ལོག་ནས་མིན་པ་ཁྱོད་ལ་རྒྱུ་མཚན་གང་ཡོད་ཀྱག་ཚར་རང་རེད་འདུག

[@lobsangchomphle3053]

This is just a tale......

[@losangsamten1307]

😂

[@tashiyang8917]

Don’t show his face and he has to stay in Tibet and he will be have a big problem and old people they don’t know

[@sonamchoephel2585]

Poorly interpreted.

[@tenzinchoeying246]

What is he saying, Mao was girl when he was born is it joke, and he wear yogi clothe and talking about killing Chinese to young people, for those word i am not sure about his story,

[@sonamwangmonam]

i even can kill million of CCP no matter i am buddhist or what any doubt ?

[@dinosaurdrew7431]

@@sonamwangmonam try me big boy. I bet you can’t even kill the mice under your bed. Mommy Mommy helppppp.

[@jingmeynamgyal807]

Translator was very very baf

[@yvelinestashitsang7657]

Hahahaha hahahahaha

[@khoiloithoi7559]

Fuck u

[@tashitenzin8188]

old man liar to much

[@khoiloithoi7559]

U r liar what u do fr tibet fuck u

[@palsangpo796]

How to you know he liar

[@dorjghising9879]

@@khoiloithoi7559 if u following path u should like that instead