Tokyo, Japan, 7 November 2011 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the last leg of his 10-ten day visit to Japan was met by a group of Japanese Lawmakers at his hotel this morning. The group headed by the former Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe greeted His Holiness the Dalai Lama and expressed gratitude for visiting the earthquake, tsunami and radiation affected regions, and for his encouraging and condolence message to the grief stricken people in the region. The lawmakers also expressed their support for His Holiness middle path approach to solve the Tibet issue and expressed their concern about the deteriorating situation in Tibet.
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama talks
with former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Japan, on
November 7, 2011. Photo/Kimimasa Mayama |
Next, His Holiness explained the two important missions of his life: promotion of human value and religious harmony. "Human beings are intelligent beings capable of making positive contribution to the society, but this intelligent should be guided by right motivation based on moral ethics and values. This has nothing to do with religion. With good foundation of human values and ethics, our intelligence could be directed to making this planet a better place to live. As a common citizen of this world, I would like to work for the promotion of human values.
| His Holiness meets with members of
the press on the last day of his ten day visit to Japan in Tokyo on
November 7, 2011. Photo/Kimimasa Mayama |
Major questions from the journalists revolved around the repetitive self-immolation incidents occurring in Tibet. His Holiness clarified that He has fully devolved his political authority to the popularly elected leader of Tibetan people this March, and that Dalai Lama's institution now is spiritual only. "But this does not mean that I have resigned from Dalai Lama. The institution has reverted back to what it was during First to Fourth Dalai Lama in early history. I am committed to democracy. Personally, I feel that these self-immolation incidents should be viewed deeply from political, religious and philosophical point of view. Even after sixty years of Chinese rule, these incidents show the real situation in Tibet. These are desperate acts by people seeking justice and freedom. Chinese leaderships should take this seriously and try to solve the people's grievances. They should accept the reality, reality is that there is human rights problem in Tibet, religious and cultural oppression is going on, and there is environmental destruction in Tibet. Is this liberation or occupation? Instead of my accepting my words, media people should visit Tibet and investigate the truth." said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama waves to well-wishers as he leaves Tokyo on his way to Mongolia on November 7, 2011. Photo/Kimimasa/Mayama |