What should we pay attention to when going to Tibet and how to get along well with Tibetans?

Tibet is a very desirable place. Many friends say that you should pay attention to many things when you go to Tibet, otherwise there will be some conflicts with the locals. So this small series will tell you what you need to pay attention to when going to Tibet.

What should we pay attention to when going to Tibet and how to get along well with Tibetans? The mysterious Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is full of temptation and charm for us mainlanders. Why do so many people have to overcome many difficulties to embark on this road? One of the important reasons is that Tibet is a pure land, full of spiritual qualities that we modern people pursue. There we can find the realm of sincerity, faith and purity that we modern people lack. They are sublime, elusive and charming.

But some people have gone to Tibet and don't know how to get along with Tibetans. They also encountered some unpleasant things and found that Tibetans were rude and difficult to communicate with.

A friend told me such a thing.

Six of them went to a scenic spot in Tibet. They rented a business car with a local driver. The scenic spot is far away, and the driver is very enthusiastic, singing and joking all the way. They talked loudly in the car, saying that the scenic spots were overcharged, what protection fees and transportation fees were charged, Tibetans could not live in poverty, and we Han people became rich. Just as they were chatting happily, the Tibetan driver let them off and said, "I don't make money here. Go, we Tibetans don't welcome you." They were cheated at that time. I don't know why. The driver said, "That's how our scenic spot charges. This is beyond my control. I don't rely on you! " Just now, the friendly driver said he wanted to change his face, but they couldn't say anything and didn't want to increase the fare. In this way, these people were left on the desolate road by the driver and finally picked up by the locals.

This kind of thing can't happen in our mainland. As long as you pay, the driver won't care what you say. But Tibetans are different. Their national consciousness is very strong. They love their land and have a sense of national pride, but they are also a little single-minded.

So how do you get along with Tibetans?

I have been to Tibetan areas four times and have lived in Tibetan homes many times. I feel that most Tibetans are civilized and friendly. They are always polite and defenseless to strangers. When you are in trouble, help enthusiastically. But after all, they are different from us, with different cultures and religious beliefs and different ways of dealing with people. We use rules and contracts, and they may solve problems with human feelings. There are many customs and taboos that we should know and pay attention to.

The first is to respect their cultural and religious beliefs.

Tibetans believe in Buddhism, which is an important part of their lives. You can learn about their religious culture and observe their religious culture, but you can't judge their behavior, or even say that others are superstitious and backward.

In Lhasa, we saw many Tibetans turn scrolls around Jokhang Temple in the morning, which was very pious. A man said: can you transfer money and houses like this every day? I wasted my time. He thought Tibetans didn't understand, but many people gave him a dirty look and motioned for him to shut up.

You can worship with sincerity. In the temple, the Lama will tell you what to do. You can also ask, no matter where you go, you must get permission from others first, and don't watch the intrusion.

Generally don't go to the celestial burial ceremony with curiosity. Treat the dead with respect and understand that they are as solemn as the funeral ceremony of the Han people. The seemingly horrible and cruel way to deal with the dead actually puts people in the same position as all living things, and also makes people return to nature.

Respect and accept their lifestyle and habits.

Don't think that we live in a big city, and money is nobility. Tibetans are noble at heart, which has nothing to do with wealth.

Even strangers, they will invite you as a guest, be treated as a guest, be polite, and bring you the bowl with both hands when eating. The family can't eat until the guests have finished eating. Although I was not used to the taste of food, I finished it face to face. If I don't want to eat, I can open my hand with my palm up, just like the hand we invited, indicating that I don't want to eat. Otherwise, people will always persuade you to continue eating. They are most afraid that you will despise them and refuse to accept their warm hospitality.

Tibetans are so enthusiastic. A friend of mine teaches in Tibet. Every year in the Tibetan New Year, students come to propose a toast to him. If you don't drink a bowl of highland barley wine, you will always sing and get drunk every time. Isn't it funny that he hides secretly after every Chinese New Year?

When I was traveling with Tibetans in the mountains of Aden, the girl told me that Tibetans believe that everything is alive, so they don't harm anything, and they don't pollute nature. Generally, I don't bathe and swim in the holy lake, and I never fish and eat. The fish in the lake grow all year round and become very good. Never climb those sacred snow-capped mountains named after them.

When Tibetans pull tourists on horseback, tourists throw toilet paper, and Tibetans have to pick it up and put it in their garbage bags, which is why the natural environment there is so well protected.

If you have something to say, you must say it in advance and be straightforward.

Tibetans are not good at doing business, and they are honest, frank and generous. Whether staying in a hotel or buying things by car, you should talk about the price in person before deciding. Generally speaking, they don't want to bargain repeatedly, so don't be embarrassed. If you can make a deal, you can make a deal. If it's inappropriate, forget it, and you don't have to talk to them repeatedly, which will arouse their disgust. Once they make a promise, they will certainly do it.

Treat Tibetans equally and don't think you are the savior.

Are Tibetans poor? Do you need our help? I talked to a Tibetan friend who is engaged in tourism. He said he hated our tourists condescending to help Tibetans, as if they were charity givers. Tibetans are not as poor as we thought. They donated most of the money from selling yaks to temples. They are not greedy for material comforts.

We can donate clothes and stationery to them, but we'd better give them less money. It is not good for them to form this habit, especially for children, and it is easy to form the bad habit of laziness.

With the development of Tibetan tourism culture and the entry of a large number of foreigners, commercialization is impacting this mysterious plateau, bringing many changes to young people, and people are beginning to pursue the richness of material life. Tibetans are not what we think. The more remote Tibetan areas, the more kind and simple people are. If we want to know more about Tibetan customs, we don't just go to Potala Palace and see Namco. Only by understanding Tibetans and integrating them into their lives can we really understand them.