Dharamshala: As Tibetan schools observe Parents Day each year on 5 March in honour of the birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s mother, Gyalyum Chenmo Dekyi Tsering, Education Kalon (Minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra shared a heartfelt message highlighting the vital responsibility of parents in nurturing and guiding Tibetan children with care, wisdom, and cultural pride.
Reiterating key points from her previous Parents Day messages, Education Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra expressed hope that parents are sincerely putting these guidances into practice.
The Kalon urged every parent to feel grateful for the opportunities and facilities their children enjoy today, made possible through the benevolent and visionary leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Parents were also encouraged to acquaint their children with His Holiness’ invaluable contributions and to remain deeply appreciative of His benevolence.
The message outlined seven key areas of emphasis for the parents:
- Properly support children’s needs while guiding them to use available facilities responsibly and avoid reckless behaviour.
- Encourage children to be harmonious, respectful, affectionate, and compassionate toward others, and to refrain from any form of bullying.
- Carefully distinguish between naughty and problematic students so that guidance can be appropriate and effective.
- Demonstrate good behaviour as parents, rather than relying solely on verbal advice.
- Cultivate the habit of reading in children from an early age.
- Collaborate with teachers and school administrators to foster children’s holistic development and enhance their maturity and understanding.
- Nurture children with strong values, good ethics, sound morals, and a well-rounded education.
In conclusion, the Education Kalon emphasised that Tibetan is the only language uniquely capable of conveying the subtle meanings of Buddhist texts. Hence, she urged both children and elders to study it and use it in daily communication, keeping it free from foreign words to promote the preservation of Tibetan language.
The message concluded with prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all upholders of Buddhist teachings, and the fulfilment of their noble commitments.
Read the full message in Tibetan below.
ParentsDay-Message