Inauguration of Sherab Kyetsel Ling Institute www.dalailama.com

Tokyo, Japan - This morning the sky was overcast, but, being a Sunday, the roads were relatively clear as His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove out of Tokyo to Ishihara in Chiba Prefecture. He was to inaugurate a new Buddhist centre, the Sherab Kyetsel Ling Institute. Mongolian and Tibetan musicians played in greeting as he arrived and he was offered the traditional Tibetan welcome of ‘chema changpu’. He watered a newly planted sapling in the garden before taking his seat in the house, where he was offered a mandala and the threefold representation of the Buddha’s body, speech and mind.

Members of Sherab Kyetsel Ling Institute waiting for Holiness the Dalai Lama to arrive to offer the traditional Tibetan welcome of ‘chema changpu’ in Chiba, Japan on November 18, 2018. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Stepping outside again, His Holiness was escorted to a temple in the form of a Mongolian tent, a ‘gur’. He undid a knotted plait of ‘katags’ and pushed open the doors to signify its inauguration and was joined by other monks in reciting verses of auspiciousness. Inside he lit a butter lamp before a gleaming statue of the Buddha. Once His Holiness was seated, four young schoolgirls stepped forward, smiling, to offer him silk scarves.

“I’ve never given a teaching in a felt tent like this before,” His Holiness announced, “but I have a feeling that when the 3rd Dalai Lama went to Mongolia to spread the teachings of the Buddha and Je Tsongkhapa he would have done and much later the 13th Dalai Lama would have done too.

“In the past, there were strong connections between Tibet and Mongolia and boundaries were unclear. Buddhism first arrived in Mongolia via the Silk Road and was reinforced when Drogön Chögyal Phagpa became the teacher of Kubilai Khan and his descendants. Later, the 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, was invited to teach in Mongolia, where he received the title Dalai from Altan Khan.

“My birthplace was near Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai where most of the students were Mongolian. When I was studying in Lhasa, I had 17 debating assistants selected from the colleges of Drepung, Ganden and Sera Monasteries. Among them the best, and for me the most influential, was Ngodup Tsognyi who came from the Abak region of Inner Mongolia.”

His Holiness asked for a show of hands to see how many people in attendance were from Inner Mongolia—about 12—and how many were from Outer Mongolia—about 15. Since most of the rest of the audience were Japanese, what His Holiness had to say was thoroughly translated into Japanese.

“The 13th Dalai Lama went to Mongolia in 1904 and could speak Mongolian well. Ngodup Tsognyi told me that when he received Bhikshu ordination from him, there is a part of the ceremony that involves pulling up the pleats of the lower robe. He didn’t know what to do and at that point his Tibetan was not good enough to understand the instructions so the 13th Dalai Lama explained to him in Mongolian.

“At one time there were thousands of Mongolian students in Drepung Gomang and Sera Je Monasteries. They were all students of philosophy; none of them were involved in menial disciplinary or administrative roles. In 1959, the Abbot of Gomang was Sogpo Lekden and the Abbot of Gyumey was Sesshin Ka. Among other scholars was the Vinaya Abbot Thubten Nyima. Even at that point there were still many Mongolian scholars among us. One of my companions for the Lharampa Geshe exam was Sogpo Yeshi. Another Mongolian, Ngawang Gendun was reputed for his mastery of the classic texts, but Sogpo Yeshi was renowned for his ability to explain them.

“These were the last Mongolian scholars to have come to Tibet. Between 1936 and 1939 the Great Repression took place in Mongolia at the instance of Choibalsan. At least 18,000 monks were killed, while others were forced to disrobe and some were recruited into the army. This was the situation Gyen Ngawang Lekden and Thubten Nyima fled. They wore fleece gowns inside out and hid among the sheep during the day and moved on at night.

“Sogpo Lobsang was ultimately able to escape to India. He was known for playing mah-jong with the Lhasa aristocrats. It’s said that when the Mongolian students in the great monasteries were hard up, Sogpo Lobsang would go into Lhasa to play mah-jong and bring them back his winnings.

“During the 13th Dalai Lama’s time there was another Mongolian scholar, Kalkha Denba, who used to lie down with a page of text, read it repeatedly and deeply ponder what it meant. Phurba Chok, the 13th’s tutor told him, “I’ve heard you’re an emanation of Manjushri”, to which he replied, “O no, I’m not, I’m his neighbour”. Unfortunately, the Great Repression put an end to the stream of Mongolian scholars coming to Tibet.

“In 1979, when relations between the Soviet Union and China had lapsed, I was able to go to Mongolia for the first time. At that time there was no religious freedom outside, but monks at Gandenthegchinlen Monastery were free to practise inside. They made a Long Life Offering to me and when it came to the mandala offering they chanted with such passion that they and I were in tears. These elderly monks had risked their lives to protect their monastery. Eventually, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, religious freedom was restored.

“During another visit, I gave the monastery a painting of the 17 Masters of Nalanda. When I last went there I couldn’t see it anywhere and asked where it was. It turned out they’d hidden it away, still rolled up, with the collection of texts. I urged them to display it on my seat when I wasn’t there to remind them to study.”

His Holiness explained that there had been custom in Tibet of venerating a set of Indian masters known as the ‘Six Ornaments and the Two Supreme Ones’. It occurred to him that there were key names missing from the list, authors of seminal texts still keenly studied today. To the original eight masters: Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Gunaprabha and Shakyaprabha, he added nine more: Buddhapalita, Bhavaviveka, Chandrakirti, Shantideva, Shantarakshita, Kamalashila, Arya Vimuktisena, Haribhadra and Atisha. He composed a praise and invocation to them entitled ‘Illuminating the Threefold Faith’ and commissioned a new thangka painting to illustrate it.

He added that it was customary in Tibet to study the five major sciences— craftsmanship, logic, grammar, medicine, and 'inner science' or Buddhism, as well as the five minor sciences—synonyms, mathematics and astrology, drama and the performing arts, poetry and composition. Key among these skills was the use of logic. In India logic enabled Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike to debate each other’s points of view, much as today it’s their use of reason and logic that allows Tibetan Buddhist scholars to engage in discussions with scientists. If they relied instead on scriptural authority to bolster their case there would be no common ground on which to communicate.

His Holiness clarified that the masters of Nalanda examined Buddhist scriptures in the light of logic and identified which could be taken literally and which were provisional and in need of interpretation. In general, the Buddha explained that there is no single, autonomous, independent self. However, there were occasions when, talking to people who were unable to accept or follow such an argument immediately, he seems to have spoken as if there were such a self.

The first turning of the wheel of dharma took place in public and is recorded in a commonly accepted account. It dealt with the fundamental teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Vinaya, or monastic discipline. The second turning of the wheel, the perfection of wisdom teachings, was given to a select rather than a public gathering. In the works of Nagarjuna and the Five Treatises of Maitreya we find arguments asserting that they were indeed the teachings of the Buddha.

These teachings are described in terms of scriptural instructions and the realizations that come from acquaintance with them. Therefore, His Holiness stressed, it is through study, reflection and meditation on the import of such teachings that they will be kept alive. The ultimate goal is enlightenment and Nagarjuna makes clear in his Precious Garland how it is to be reached.

If you and the world wish to attain
Unparalleled enlightenment,
Its roots are the altruistic aspiration to enlightenment
Firm like the monarch of mountains,
Compassion reaching to all quarters,
And wisdom not relying on duality.

Turning to Geshe Langri Tangpa’s ‘Eight Verses for Training the Mind’, copies of which had been distributed to the audience, His Holiness explained, “Tibetans showed some interest in Buddhism in 7th century, but took the Nalanda Tradition very seriously after Shantarakshita introduced it in 8th century. This was the early dissemination. Following the assassination of Tri Ralpachen in 9th century, Lang Darma eliminated Buddhism to such an extent that no monks remained in Central Tibet. The country fragmented.

“In Ngari, western Tibet, a descendant of Tibet’s royal lineage, Lha Lama Yeshe Ö thought of inviting Atisha, the most reputed Indian scholar of the time, to his kingdom. He was obstructed by the Ladakhi king’s interference. Nevertheless, his nephew, Chang Chub Ö was ultimately able to bring Atisha to Tibet. Dromtonpa was Atisha’s main Tibetan disciple and his three disciples, Potowa, Phuchungwa and Chengawa each preserved a collection of Atisha’s teachings. Potowa maintained the lineage of scriptural tradition which focussed on six texts: ‘The Compendium of Training' and ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life' by Shantideva; the ‘Bodhisattva Grounds' by Asanga and the ‘Ornament for Mahayana Sutras' by Maitreya; Aryasura's ‘Garland of Birth Stories' and the ‘Collected Sayings of the Buddha'.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at the inauguration of Sherab Kyetsel Ling Institute in Chiba, Japan on November 18, 2018. Photo by Tenzin Jigme
“Chengawa took care of the oral transmission or stages of the path lineage which dealt with the stages of the spiritual path from that of a beginner up to enlightenment. The lineage of pith instructions that Phuchungwa looked after consisted of short pithy teachings that a disciple could easily put into practice.

“Transmission of the texts in the lineage of scriptural tradition was lost in Central Tibet. I received the transmission of Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ from Khunu Lama Rinpoché, who had received it in Kham. Since then I have revived the remaining texts in the collection and encouraged their study.

“The first seven verses of the ‘Eight Verses for Training the Mind’ deal with how to develop compassion and the awakening mind of bodhichitta. The final verse deals with wisdom. The text begins with a reflection on the kindness of sentient beings. For example, the disciplinary structure of the three higher trainings---ethics can only be undertaken in relation to other beings.

“The second verse focuses on the need for humility. Despondency is not implied because humility in helping others requires courage. The third verse recommends implementing antidotes to the destructive emotions—watch your mind. The fourth commends patience. The fifth, sixth and seventh verses recommend offering the victory to others, seeing enemies as spiritual friends and the meditative practice of giving and taking. The final verse refers to seeing everything as like an illusion.”

The occasion was concluded with a robust and moving musical performance related to the mantra ‘Om mani padme hung’ by Tenzin Chögyal singing and playing a ‘dramnyen’ and Mongolians playing drums, the ‘morin khuur’ and singing.

His Holiness shared lunch with the guests and organizers before driving back to Tokyo. Tomorrow, he will be speaking at Reitaku University.

US-Mongolia 'Third Neighbor Trade Act' On The Way www.thediplomat.com

Mongolia is utilizing its third-neighbor foreign policy to its highest potential by expanding bilateral economic relations with countries around the world without provoking too much conflict with the two giant geopolitical powers, and the country’s only neighbors, Russia and China.

In 2017, Mongolia and the United States celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the past 31 years, since 1987, the two countries have expanded ties from the economy to culture to the military, and are now working toward a bilateral trade act that may present a win-win situation for both the United States and Mongolia.

On July 26, 2018, Representative Ted Yoho and nine other members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a trade bill between the United States and Mongolia. The proposed Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act seeks to promote Mongolia-U.S. trade by authorizing duty-free treatment for certain imports, like cashmere and textile materials. The Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act would play a crucial role in Mongolia’s overall economic development, increasing exports-led businesses as well as diversifying its markets. Following the legislative proposal, on July 30, 2018, Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga expressed his full support for the trade act and gratitude to the sponsors.

One notable example of how the act could help Mongolia’s economy is in regards to exporting high-end cashmere and other final textile products. Mongolia is the second largest producer of cashmere behind China. While China is Mongolia’s main purchaser of cashmere and textiles, the final product on the global market is labeled as made in China. “In 2017, only 1,100 tons out of total of 9,400 tons raw cashmere, which is almost 50 percent of world cashmere, is processed within the country while the rest of 8,300 tons is exported mainly to China in raw [form] without adding value,” Battulga said. The act, if passed, would allow Mongolia to produce a final product and export it to the United States duty-free, skipping the Chinese middleman.

Relatedly, the act could boost economic trilateralism between Mongolia, the United States, and Japan, with which Mongolia signed an economic strategic partnership agreement in 2015.

The proposed Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act is viewed as an opportunity and a positive shift in bilateral relations for both the United States and Mongolia. As the act moves through the U.S. legislative process, it has garnered 12 additional supporters in the House.

On October 23, 2018, Mongolian National Security Council Secretary Gansukh Amarjargal visited the U.S. State Department East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau (EAP) to discuss deeper cooperation between the two countries on “leveraging our shared democratic values to further strengthen economic and political ties.” Following the high-level meeting, the U.S. State Department EAP Bureau tweeted, “Mongolia is a key Indo-Pacific partner.”

From a geopolitical standpoint, the United States is strengthening its Asia-Pacific presence and is seeking democratic countries with which to expand cooperation. Mongolia’s active position in the region is timely, efficient, and economically beneficial; it allows the implementation of Mongolia’s foreign policy objectives at a grander scale. Gansukh has said that the government of Mongolia is very hopeful for the Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act.

During a discussion with former U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Dr. Jonathan Addleton, he told The Diplomat that, “In my view, the approval of this act would be a positive step, both for Mongolia and the United States. Appropriately focused on animal fiber products, it involves duty-free access for an item that does not compete directly with any U.S. products while also contributing significantly towards the diversification of Mongolia’s economy and exports.”

If this act were to be passed, it would help solve Mongolia’s export dilemma, address the U.S.-China trade deficit, and expand Mongolia’s economic positioning in the region as well as globally.

By: Bolor Lkhaajav

Bolor Lkhaajav has an M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies at the University of San Francisco.

China's fight against smog makes palladium 2018's best metal www.mining.com

Palladium prices are shattering record highs, and investors are betting that tight supplies mean the bull run is just getting started.

The metal, used in pollution-control devices in cars, has jumped almost 9 percent this year in New York, the best performance among major metals. Demand is roaring thanks to China, which is on a mission to reduce smog emissions. Tougher pollution standards mean carmakers are using more of the commodity in catalytic converters. We’ve been dealing with supply deficits going on eight years, and that’s expected to continue. Supply’s certainly been an issue on the mining front as well as the draw-down of existing stockpiles

Global palladium production is falling short of the robust demand, and market forecasters including Citigroup Inc. are projecting further price gains ahead. Hedge funds are also wagering on an extended rally, with the biggest positive bet on the metal since early March.

“The market has a very positive fundamental outlook,” said Maxwell Gold, director of investment strategy at Aberdeen Standard Investments, which oversees $730 billion. “We’ve been dealing with supply deficits going on eight years, and that’s expected to continue. Supply’s certainly been an issue on the mining front as well as the draw-down of existing stockpiles.”

Palladium is a thinly traded market. Much like sister-metal platinum, its production is extremely concentrated, with Russia and South Africa collectively producing about three quarters of the world’s mined supplies.

Auto Demand
Almost 70 percent of palladium demand comes from the auto industry, according to researcher CPM Group. Car sales have stayed relatively strong in most places, helping to insulate prices from the hand-wringing over global growth that’s dragged down many industrial commodities.

Supplies are so constrained that users have turned to exchange-trade products to borrow the material they need. This has pushed palladium holdings in ETFs to the lowest since 2009 as manufacturers seek supplies above ground, said Gold.

Hedge funds are adding to their bullish outlook. In the week ended Nov. 13, money managers increased their net-long position, the difference between bets on a price increase and wagers on a decline, for a second straight week to 12,837 futures and options, according to data from the Commodity Futures and Trading Commission published Friday. That’s the most since March 6.

Palladium futures in New York jumped 5.2 percent in the week ended Friday to $1,154.60 an ounce.

Substitution Threat
One threat to demand: substitution. Historically, palladium has usually been cheaper than platinum, and therefore was used as a popular alternative since the two metals share many of the same chemical properties. But the recent rally has reversed the price relationship, and now palladium suffers the threat of substitution from platinum.

Still, manufacturers need 18 to 24 months for such changes to take place, so that probably won’t be an issue in the immediate future, Suki Cooper, a precious metal analyst with Standard Chartered Bank in New York, said by telephone.

In terms of substitution, “many manufacturers have indicated that it’s not something that can be switched easily or quickly, even though is economically possible,” she said. “The longer-term outlook remains positive and price risks are skewed to the upside.”

(By Marvin G. Perez)

Millennium Challenge Corporation presents GMS licenses www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Previously, the second Compact agreement between the Government of Mongolia and US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was authenticated, with Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo signing MCC USD 350 million compact.

Mongolia calls for global attention on climate change www.news.mn

Dramatic temperature changes and extreme weather events in Mongolia have been blamed for the deaths of thousands of livestock in recent years and is believed to be forcing hundreds of families each year to abandon their traditional nomadic farming ways. As world leaders prepare for the UN climate conference in Poland next month, Mongolians are pleading for international action.

ADB Opens a New Wastewater Treatment Plant in Arvaikheer, Mongolia www.agenparl.eu

ARVAIKHEER, MONGOLIA (16 November 2018) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Uvurkhangai Provincial Government of Mongolia today inaugurated a new wastewater treatment plant in the provincial capital Arvaikheer. The state-of-the-art plant was built under additional financing for the ADB-funded Southeast Gobi Urban and Border Town Development Project, and will ensure safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment for over 28,000 residents.
“The new plant replaces an inefficient treatment system that was built more than 30 years ago,” said Uvurkhangai Provincial Governor Mr. Ganbold Gonchoo. “It is designed to meet current and future demand for the next 25 years and will play a significant role in the economic development and improved livability of Arvaikheer city. It is also an important milestone in the strategic partnership on urban development between ADB and the province.”
“The new plant is the first of ten similar facilities to be built in Mongolia with ADB support,” said ADB Country Director for Mongolia Mrs. Yolanda Fernandez Lommen. “It will facilitate the town’s ongoing growth and development and will ensure that domestic and commercial wastewater will no longer be discharged into the local river basin.”
The plant was opened ten months ahead of plan and has an operating capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day. It features integrated fixed-film activated sludge technology designed by Mongolian engineers and produces high quality effluent through effective and energy-efficient treatment processes. The plant will reduce odor and adhere to strict environmental conditions and national effluent standards.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in cofinancing.

China to boost cooperation with India, Mongolia: defense minister www.globaltimes.cn

State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe met with Indian Defense Secretary Sanjay Mitra and State Secretary of the Mongolin Ministry of Defense Khalzankhuu Batbileg in Beijing Thursday.

Death on Mongolia’s ‘Coal Road’ www.news.mn

Kh.Sugar, director of the Citizens’ Representative Assembly has held a press conference regarding the dangerous situation on the main coal transportation route to China.

Mongolia shaken by widening loan scandal www.asia.nikkei.com

ULAANBAATAR -- Braving subzero temperatures, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Mongolia's State Palace on Wednesday to demand prosecutions of officials caught in a widening loan scandal.

"I'm here to fight against the crooks who stole from the people, and I will fight until they face justice," said Munkhtsetseg Ulzii-togtokh, a shopkeeper in her 60s.

Her anger stems from years spent fruitlessly trying to expand her business with a government loan -- the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund extends loans with an interest rate of around 3% versus typical business bank rates of up to 20%.

The rage at Mongolia's biggest political demonstration of the year is over allegations that three members of Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh's cabinet have benefited by getting the low-interest loans for business controlled by them or their family members. More than a dozen lawmakers and police officials have also been implicated.

The head of the fund has been arrested, and the state auditor and the minister overseeing the fund -- himself an alleged beneficiary -- have both been ousted. Others are under investigation.

The aspersions are tainting the premiership of Khurelsukh, who took office just last year after a separate scandal over officials getting favorable deals led to the ousting of his predecessor.

The Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced Wednesday that its more than 3,500 member companies would withhold tax payments until the lending scandal is resolved. The chamber is also demanding a constitutional amendment to public oversight of government finances.

"Over the past two years, the crisis in the Mongolian economy has been overwhelming," the chamber said in a statement. "Meantime, high-ranking officials are taking advantage of funds meant to support businesses and are using their power and privilege to benefit themselves."

Julian Dierkes, who heads the program on Inner Asia in the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs of the University of British Columbia, said the demonstrations could get much bigger.

"If officials and organizations neglect the deep-seated public frustration over corruption, we might expect massive protests for calling changes," Dierkes wrote in a blog post earlier this month.

In financial distress after years of slumping commodity prices, Mongolia last year began a $5.5 billion bailout program with the International Monetary Fund. At the same time, the country's politicians have sought to avoid becoming overly dependent on neighboring China for support and trade.

The loan scandal is sharpening a constitutional standoff between Khurelsukh and his Mongolian People's Party government and President Khaltmaagiin Battulga of the opposition Democratic Party.

Battulga, who has been pushing for the country to shift away from parliamentary government, late last month sought the dissolution of the legislature -- a demand rejected last week by a parliament dominated by the People's Party.

Khurelsukh has demanded that lawmakers who received SME Fund loans apologize and repay the money. The People's Party, however, has been split by the scandal, with some lawmakers calling for a no-confidence vote against their own cabinet.

"SME embezzlement is a result of too many businessmen holding political powers and making our society dirtier and more corrupted," said Tserendash Tsolmon, a senior politician and former minister.

"Powerful politicians like Khurelsukh must fight to declare justice at any cost," the lawmaker said. "I think its better for the MPP to provide political stability. It is not good for Mongolia in case of foreign investment when we have unstable governance, and cabinets changed in every one year or two."

Mongolia’s unemployment falls by 2.2 percent www.news.mn

According to the National Statistic Office of Mongolia, the number of people aged 15 and above, who are in work reached 1.3 million in the first 10 months of 2018; a total of 721.1 thousand of them are men and 610.2 thousand are women.