Buddhist Ethics in Contemporary Tibet
In recent years, Buddhist ethics are being marshalled in novel ways as a means to unify Tibetans and articulate a vision of ethnic identity and progress in line with Buddhist values. This chapter traces several contemporary strands of ethical mobilization, both on the Tibetan plateau and in the diaspora, with a keen interest in the formation of ethical Buddhist subjects. This chapter contrasts a new set of ten Buddhist virtues in eastern Tibet, articulated by cleric-scholars at Larung Buddhist Academy in 2008, with other incidents and movements, such as the fur-burnings of 2006, the Lhakar or ‘White Wednesday’ boycotts and pledges underway since 2009, the tragic wave of self-immolations that have escalated since 2011, and a distinct articulation of nonviolence with the ‘amulet for peace’ introduced in 2012.