GREATER NOIDA, Dec 1:
Tibetans are not insisting on independence as any confrontation with China cannot solve the issue and autonomy for the region will be mutually beneficial for both sides, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said today.
“We are not seeking independence for mutual benefit. (If) we insist independence, this results in confrontation but confrontation cannot solve problems,” he said at a special public address here.
Stressing that Tibet’s autonomy would be mutually beneficial to Tibetans and the Chinese, the 78-year-old Dalai Lama said he was “not seeking a separation”. He, however, said people of Tibet should have “full sovereignty about their culture, environment, and language.”
“Previously, there have been talks with the Chinese leadership but with no concrete results. Tibetans who are culturally highly developed, are also one of the pure living traditions of Buddhism and sovereignty will be mutually beneficial,” he said.
“Over two years, thousands of articles in China have expressed support for the Tibetan movement. Violence was past century’s mistake, and costs both sides. Whether we like it or not, we have to live together,” the Dalai Lama said.
The spiritual leader also said the Chinese have accused Tibetans of being separtists and called him a “demon”.
Calling himself a “refugee”, a “homeless” person and the longest guest of India, he expressed gratitude towards the Indian Government and said he feels both psychologically and emotionally close to the country.
Emphasising that violence has never been able to shape a better world, the Dalai Lama said that Government of India, the US and the European Union have stood in full support of the “free Tibet movement”.
The spiritual leader said events of violence like that in Israel-Palestine, the Shia-Sunni conflict or the conflict between Muslims and Buddhists in Burma have not created a better world, adding that “religious intolerance has made people hypocrites”.
Addressing dignitaries and students from India and Bhutan, the Dalai Lama called India a living example of promoting a sense of compassion and responsibilities through secular means.
“For thousands of years, India has been tolerant to multiple religions, however, there have been clashes due to political reasons but the Indian understanding of secularism means respecting all religions and no preference to one particular religion. For thousands of years, India has been a home to all major religions,” he said.
Calling for a need to create a world full of compassion and responsibility through secular means, the Dalai Lama further said if religious harmony can be central to India, it can be restored the world over.
“Violence and wars are created by humans. Much of our problems are created by us. We only think about us, not caring about others. People want to exploit others. These destructive human values reflect the self-centred attitude,” he said. (PTI)
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