Will leave for Leh on month-long visit today
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14:Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama today said more and more people in China are beginning to realize that he is not seeking “independence” but meaningful autonomy and preservation of the Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Advocating resolution to all disputes through dialogue, he asserted that all human beings are equal and they need to rise above the narrow-minded approach of “my nation, my ideology” which is the main trigger for fights among people.
The Dalai Lama arrived here to a warm welcome by his followers who turned up in large numbers despite heavy rains. This was his first visit outside Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh in the last two years. He will leave for Leh tomorrow.
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The Dalai Lama will be in Leh for over a month. On his arrival in Leh tomorrow morning, he will be accorded a grand reception after which he will have a week’s rest. His further programmes in Leh will depend on advise of his medical team.
“Some Chinese hardliners consider me a separatist and a reactionary and always criticize me. But now, more Chinese are realising that the Dalai Lama is not seeking independence and only wishing China (to give) meaningful autonomy (to Tibet) and (ensure) preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture,” the 87-year-old spiritual leader told reporters.
Asked about China’s objection to his visit, the Dalai Lama said, “This is usual. The Chinese people are not objecting… More and more Chinese are showing interest in Tibetan Buddhism. Some of their scholars are realising that Tibetan Buddhism is very scientific. Things are changing.”
The Dalai Lama, whose real name is Tenzin Gyatso, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and is feted worldwide for his advocacy of independence for Tibet and other causes.
The spiritual leader’s visit to Ladakh, where he is likely to spend over a month, is being eagerly awaited by the Buddhists in the Union Territory.
“I am leaving for Ladakh tomorrow (Friday) to take part in some programme. The weather did not cooperate,” the Dalai Lama said.
However, schedule of the Tibetan spiritual leader hasn’t been finalized so far. The Buddhist leaders said the visits of Dalai Lama to different places in Leh will be finalized only after consultations with his medical teams.
The Dalai Lama expressed displeasure over the prevailing crisis in Sri Lanka.
“My main message to the people is that we all are brothers and sisters and there is no point in fighting… The fight is triggered by narrow-mindedness when they start thinking (things) like ‘my nation, my ideology’,” he said.
Humanity demands that “we live together, whether we like it or not. There might be some problems like in a family which can be solved through talks,” The Dalai Lama added
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