Guwahati: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Sunday said ‘ non-violent way is the most practical way to resolve the Tibetan issue’ and emphasized on the need to respect the history that mentions about the existence of three ancient empires –the Chinese, the Tibetan and the Mongoloid in the region.
He said victory should not be for one but mutual and added that this 21st century should be a century of dialogue. “People are clamouring for peace in many parts of the world and it can be achieved only through non-violent peaceful dialogue for solution of problems,” he said while making his first public oration here.
Dalai Lama during the course of his speech on the topic : ‘A human approach to peace and individual’ said that he had found the new Chinese government led by the new President more realistic and hoped that he would develop policies based on truth and reality. “He is seeking truth from facts,” Dalai Lama said while referring to the Chinese President.
The Tibetan leader pointed out that there were plethora problems plaguing the globe and one should try to solve local problems by remaining concerned about the global context so that one can solve local problems through humane way.
“The reality today is that the whole world has become a small blue planet which has no physical barriers when observed from the space. So we need deep sense of concern for well being of the entire humanity and the health of the planet,” he commented.
He pointed out that United States is a big country and had a good motive of restoring democracy and liberty in some troubled corners of the world but the method adopted by it (use of force) to achieve the goal was unrealistic as had been proved in handling crises in Iraq and Afghanistan. “So time has come for us to adopt only non-violent means to solve all local, national and global problems.”
He lauded the European nations for taking a ‘mature decision, to adopt the concept of European Union which has led to solution to many a problems among various nations within the continent.
He prescribed for similar ‘pan African’ model for solution of problems in African continent.“If we give too much stress on we and they that leads to exploitation, bullying, cheating and violence. Self-centered attitude is a human nature, but this leads to more anxiety, distrust, fear and anger,” he said.
Dalai Lama misses Lhasa, the Tibetan culture, people
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama misses Lhasa, the Tibetan culture and people, their gentility and generosity and a compassionate society but “not much” his sprawling Potala Palace.
When asked does he miss his sprawling Potala Palace in Lhasa that he escaped from to India during the 1959 Tibetan Uprising? “Not much…no proper bathrooms there,” said the Dalai Lama with his characteristic laughter in reply to a question of school student at the First LBS Founders’ Commemorative Lecture on ‘‘A Human Approach to Peace and the Individual’ here.
“Now I think after 54 years I am used to a certain lifestyle. Bathroom very easy…no shower very difficult”, he continued in the lighter vein.
However, on a serious note, the 14th Dalai Lama said, “I miss the Tibetan culture and people, their gentility and generosity. I miss the compassionate Tibetan society”. “Many Chinese want to visit Tibet as they have a very good impression. I miss Lhasa. The cold and dry climate there are positive factors. There is a lot of rain in Dharamshala (in Himachal Pradesh). I miss here a particular flower Delphinium which grows well in Lhasa,” the spiritual leader added.
Potala Palace measuring 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until his escaped to India via Khenzimani Pass in Arunachal Pradesh followed by 80,000 Tibetans.
The 13 stories of buildings contain over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – 117 metres on top of Marpo Ri, the Red Hill, rising more than 300 metres in total above the valley floor, according to historical records.
The Palace named after Mount Potalaka and constructed by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645 is now a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (with inputs from PTI)