February 3, 2014
GUWAHATI: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that Tibet is not seeking independence from China.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that Tibet is not seeking independence from China.
February 3, 2014
GUWAHATI: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that Tibet is not seeking independence from China.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that Tibet is not seeking independence from China.
While calling for peace, he blamed communist hardliners at the helm in China for attempting to obliterate Tibet's cultural and historical legacy.
"A non-violence method cannot have one-side victory and one-side defeat. Then confrontation will come leading to violence. With this belief we (Tibet) are not seeking independence from the Peoples Republic of China," he said delivering the First Lawyers' Book Stall Founders' Commemorative Lecture here.
While inaugurating the first edition of the Festival of Tibet later Dalai Lama said that the hardliners were leaving no stone unturned to restrict people from learning about Tibet's rich cultural history and heritage. Also present at the inauguration of the event was Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi who said that he was a firm believer of Buddha.
"Tibet is one ancient nation that is dying and its people are in danger. Chinese hardliners are putting restrictions on people who would like to learn about Tibetan Buddhism. These very hardliners are omitting Buddhist signs and concepts from books and putting restrictions on Tibetan language as well," the Dalai Lama said.
"But despite strict restrictions more and more Chinese people are taking interest in Tibet and its legacy. Their number can be put at around 400 million and it is fast increasing. Tibetan culture is about compassion and it is important we create awareness about the place through such festivals," he added.
Citing the example of one of his mentors who spent 18 years in a Chinese gulag to highlight the spirit of human endurance and compassion, the 78-year-old Nobel laureate also stressed on the importance of holding on to humanitarian value in the present times.
Hordes of devotees from neighbouring Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and other places came to meet the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso at the fest.
"I have never come across a leader who is so humble. Of late we have been witnessing a lot of violence. It is time that we put aside hatred and usher in peace. We need to spread his message of peace and harmony in Assam and the world," Gogoi said.
"However, despite strict restrictions, more and more Chinese people are taking interest in Tibet and its legacy. Their number can be put at around 400 million and it is fast increasing. Tibetan culture is about compassion and it is important we create awareness about the place through such festivals," he added.
Citing the example of one of his mentors, who spent 18 years in a Chinese gulag to highlight the spirit of human endurance and compassion, the 78-year-old nobel laureate also stressed on the importance of holding on to humanitarian value in the present times.
Considered a living incarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, hordes of devotees from neighboring Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and other places came to meet the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso at the fest.
"I have never come across a leader who is so humble. Of late, we have been witnessing a lot of violence. It is time that we put aside hatred and usher in peace. We need to spread his message of peace and harmony in Assam and the world," said Tarun Gogoi.
Courtesy: PTI
