In a recent controversy brought into the light of public, a traditionally used remark that is discriminatory towards Bonpos, the followers of native Tibetan religion, in Men-Tsee-Khang annual calendar, the institute has informed that it will stop using them. The issue was raised by many Tibetans on the social media after it was brought into light.
The annual traditional Tibetan lunar calendar published by Men-Tsee-Khang or the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute in Dharamshala advises people to avoid visiting Bonpo families. It did not go well with many people as it was raised as a discrimination against the Bonpos. While many discussed the issue on the social media, many raised complains with the institute demanding to end the continuation of such traditional followed racial remarks.
Tibetan medical and astro institute on Tuesday issued a public notice to resolve the public grievance. In the Tibetan notice issued by the institute, it explained that the remark published in their annual calendar is an excerpt from an text by Desi Rinpoche in the long past. Since the remark is hurt the sentiments of many Bonpo followers, the instituted assures to stop using them.
With the prevalence of Indian origin Buddhism in Tibet since the reign of the 38th emperor of Tibet, Choegyal Trisong Detsen, Bonpos suffered a huge blow as they suffered discrimination such as the one mention in this remark. In India, the head quarter of the Bonpos, Menri Monastery is based in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.