Central Tibetan in Switzerland


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Tibet lies between China and India with extensive mountain ranges. Tibet is called "the Roof of the World" and "the land of the snow." Over the centuries, Tibet has been occupied by nomadic tribes, the various clans of which were unified by the warrior-king of Yarlung and later by Mongolian conquerors, and then by Chinese rulers until the rise of the Dalai Lamas.
For centuries the Chinese have claimed Tibet as an unalienable part of China, despite the Tibetans being culturally, historically, linguistically, and religiously distinct from Chinese. In the 1950s, Communist China invaded and annexed Tibet. The brutality of the Chinese military along with persecution in various forms, caused thousands of Tibetans to flee to India and surrounding nations, from where many Tibetans found their way to countries of Western Europe including Switzerland.
In 1963 the Red Cross aided the first Tibetans to flee to Switzerland. A small number of Tibetan children were adopted by Swiss families. These were the first non-European refugees to arrive in Switzerland. The largest Tibetan community in Europe is in Switzerland.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Tibetan expats in Switzerland observe all major cultural, traditional, political, and religious holidays and events together with all supporters of Tibet and friends of the Tibetan community. They pass on awareness of Tibetan culture and identity to the younger generation through a monthly get-together.
The Tibetan community in Switzerland strives to increase awareness and knowledge of Tibet within and outside the Tibetan community, socio-politically, religiously and culturally.
The expat Tibetans in Switzerland meet in each other's homes to maintain closeness with each other and to enjoy their traditional dishes and culture. They also arrange sorts of activities such as football matches where both boys and girls participate. To keep ties to their roots, the community members support each other with donations and charitable contributions to arrange for prayers, gatherings conferences, mother tongue classes for Tibetan children, etc.
Tibetans in Switzerland protest human rights violations experienced in Tibet. They resent the Swiss government “assigning” them Chinese nationality when they arrive. Tibet was conquered by China’s Red Army in 1950, and Tibet has been a “province” of China ever since. Tibetans try to keep the Swiss government from coming closer to China because they fear this opens the door for China to send informants to Switzerland to spy on them.
Every year, the community gathers to celebrate the day the Fourteenth Dalai Lama received the Noble Peace Prize. They also celebrate his birthday. Events always begin with Buddhist prayer time followed by traditional Tibetan song and dance. Tibetan youth showcase their theatrical arts and ring dances. Since Tibetan culture is strongly influenced by Buddhism, most of their handicraft and art display Buddhist motifs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tibetan Buddhist religion is the life-blood of the Tibetan people. Tibetan Buddhism blended with the powerful shamanistic religion of bon, which is a mixture of magic, divination, demon worship and sacrifices. The patron saint of Tibet is Chenrezig, whose image has up to 11 heads and from 2 to 1,000 arms.
Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lamas are manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are realized beings, inspired by the wish to attain complete enlightenment, who have vowed to be reborn in the world to help all living beings.
His holiness Dalai Lama is currently the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibetans. The Tibetans also believe that Panchen Lama, recognized by Dalai Lama, as the reincarnation of the second highest of the religious leader, has been kidnapped the Chinese communist regime with no news about his whereabouts.
The new generation of Tibetans that has been born in Europe is Buddhist in name only. These youth often worship money more than they worship Buddha.


What Are Their Needs?

They are a people who have faced oppression and injustice. They need the ability to forgive their enemies and adapt to their new lives in Switzerland.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Tibetan people in Switzerland, and for their hearts to be ready to receive the only savior, Jesus Christ.
Pray that the expat Tibetans will have a thirst for truth to find out the true meaning of the cross.
Pray for European Christian Mission (ECM), as they plant churches and demonstrate the message of the gospel through social action projects and compassion ministries.


Scripture Prayers for the Tibetan, Central in Switzerland.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tibet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Swiss
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/swiss-diaspora_tibetan-refugees-unhappy-with-chinese-nationality/43019492
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/lawsuit_tibetan-activist-sues-swiss-authorities/43107950
https://www.tibetsun.com/news/1964/06/27/tibetans-in-switzerland
https://www.tibetswiss.ch/news-detail/celebration-of-88th-birthday-of-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-in-switzerland.html
https://www.chinasource.org/resource-library/blog-entries/from-the-forbidden-city-to-nyc/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tibetan
People Name in Country Tibetan, Central
Natural Name Central Tibetan
Pronunciation ti-BEH-ten
Alternate Names Bhokha; Bhote; Dalai; Dbus; Dbustsang; Lhasa; Lhasa Tibetan; Llasa; Phoke; Pohbetian; Tebilian; Tibate; Tseku; U; Wei; Weizang; Zang; टिबेटन
Population this Country 8,100
Population all Countries 1,127,000
Total Countries 14
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15468
ROP3 Code 110033
Country Switzerland
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Switzerland
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Map of Tibetan, Central in Switzerland
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
98.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.01 %)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
1.60 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.39 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tibetan, Central (8,100 speakers)
Language Code bod   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tibetan, Central (8,100 speakers)
Language Code bod   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tibetan, Central

Primary Language:  Tibetan, Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1862-1991)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1885-1973)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1948-2023)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tibetan, Central Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tibetan Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tibetan, Central YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: gSungRab - Tibetan Bible General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tibetan, Central YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source szyj351 - Pixabay 
Map Source People Group location: Tibetan Association of Switzerland. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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