Smash Temples, Build Schools

At eighty-nine, the Dalai Lama has once again made global headlines—this time with a striking declaration in his new book, Voice for the Voiceless, denouncing the Chinese government’s ongoing attempts to dictate the terms of his next reincarnation. The irony of an officially atheist regime meddling in matters of deep spiritual significance is glaring enough. But even more troubling is the broader context: more than seven decades of systematic repression of Tibetan Buddhism under Communist rule. Yet this repression is only one part of a much larger, often overlooked narrative. The sustained assault on Buddhism by Communist regimes—within Tibet and far beyond—remains one of the most underreported tragedies of the modern era. The release of the Dalai Lama’s book offers a timely opportunity to revisit this grim history, take stock of its global dimensions, and reflect on its enduring significance.