Toulouse, France, 14 August 2011 - His Holiness the
Dalai Lama said he has been impressed with Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang
Sangay's views on education, praising his policy to generate 10,000
professionally trained Tibetans within the next decade.
Speaking to representatives of French TV during lunch break on the
second day of teaching in Toulouse, His Holiness said that he had been
very impressed by the new Prime Minister and was especially appreciative
of his views on education. His Holiness praised highly the new policy,
which aims to have, within the next decade, 10,000 professionally
trained Tibetans.
Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay has underscored that education would
be the administration's number one priority. "It is the beacon that will
light the future of Tibet. We will strive to reach 10,000 professionals
among 150,000 in exile and appeal to Tibetans inside Tibet to reach
100,000 in the next two decades," Dr Sangay has said in his inaugural
speech on assuming the political leadership.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during the second day of teachings in Toulouse, France, on 14 August 2011.
Photo/Igor Yanchoglov |
When asked if he had noticed any difference in the
functioning of the Tibetan administration since the change, His Holiness
replied that it was too soon to say. He said that the Tibetan policy
towards the PRC remains essentially the same: “We are always ready for
dialogue.”
In answer to the question whether any new political
steps were planned for the near future, His Holiness said that he did
not know: everything depends on China. “The whole world knows,” His
Holiness said, “that there is a Tibetan problem. The Chinese officials
simply deny this, but they are hiding from the truth. Discontent is
everywhere, not only in Tibet but also among the other cultural
minorities.”
His Holiness went on to say that at the recent
celebrations in Lhasa to mark the Chinese annexation of Tibet, a high
official from the Chinese government was present. But the police and
secret services were everywhere; all tourists were made to leave the
country; and the Tibetan people, apart from the selected “Tibetan
public”, were told to remain in their homes.
His Holiness also pointed out that, at the recent National People's
Congress meeting in China, it had emerged that the budget for internal
security was actually higher than the defence budget. “Of all the member
states of the United Nations,” His Holiness said, “this is surely a
unique case.” The Chinese officials, he said, are masters in the art of
hypocrisy, and yet this cannot last forever.
Back in 1980, the then Chinese Party Secretary Hu Yaobang admitted
in Lhasa that Chinese policy in Tibet had been a mistake and that the
Tibetans should enjoy a meaningful autonomy. “So there is room for
hope,” His Holiness said, referring to the recent suggestion by the
Chinese Prime Minister that the PRC should gradually move towards a more
western style democracy.
His Holiness was asked whether his withdrawal from political power would
impact negatively on world support for the Tibetan cause. His Holiness
replied that he did not think so. Many people, he said, support the
unique Tibetan cultural heritage and non-violent struggle of the Tibetan
people.
On being asked for his feelings about his handing over of political
power, he said that he was relaxed and happy and glad to be able to
implement what he had always believed: that political power and
religious authority should be kept separate. He said that the night
after his announcement, he had slept particularly well!
“And thanks to the separation of the political and religious
powers,” His Holiness said, “I believe I have made things easier and
given greater liberty to the next Dalai Lama.”
His Holiness went on to say that he has three fundamental
commitments. The first is the promotion of basic human values and the
achievement of full human potential. From this point of view, he said,
he regards himself as a simple human being and believes strongly in the
equality of all humanity. This is the truth, he said. The problem is
that we get stuck with secondary notions of nationality or religious
adherence, which can lead to division and distrust and consequently to
violence.
His second commitment, as a Buddhist practitioner, is to religious
harmony. All the great religious traditions, His Holiness said, teach
the same basic human values of kindness, forgiveness, patience and so
on. These are things that we must all work for.
His Holiness’ third commitment is to the Tibetan people. Hitherto,
he said, this had involved political authority. But now that this had
been completely handed over to the elected government, he said, he has
more time for his first two commitments.
His Holiness started the day with his teaching on the Middle Stages
of Meditation. In his introduction, he traced the origins of all the
four schools of Tibetan Buddhism back to the great Indian university of
Nalanda and emphasised the importance in Buddhism of study and deep
understanding as a means of transforming the mind. His Holiness
concluded the morning’s teaching by bestowing the Bodhisattva vows.
His Holiness concluded the teaching around 1600 hrs amidst heartfelt
applause preceded by a thanksgiving mandala offering. The event was
extensively covered by French press and media.
