DNA | By Claude Arpi
29 November 2012
The Dalai Lama is in town. I had to travel to Bangalore when I heard that the Dalai Lama would be in town for 2 days. Immediately, I thought I should try to have his darshan; The easiest way was to attend his lecture on “science and religion.”” organized at Christ University.
In recent years, every time I have attended a public talk by the Tibetan leader, I have been surprised by its immense popularity; some observers have spoken of a “pop star”. It is not a correct definition, since it lacks the “cult of the ego”” of pop stars; on the contrary, he remains a “simple monk”.
When he arrived at the place, despite the security measures of the University staff and the police, the crowd went crazy. The photographers were the worst; I always marvel at their security personnel for remaining calm in the melee..
The Auditorium of 2000 seats that were filled to the brim, She suddenly became silent when he began to speak.. The Tibetan leader began with a small survey. He asked how many in the auditorium were under 20 years; very few hands were raised. Then, in between 20 and 25, and most hands went up. He continued, ¿above 60? A few honorable teachers, They recognized its antiquity. So, He raised his hand to indicate that he had more than 70. A couple of senior faculty members and the vice-chancellor admitted to being in the latter category.. He started laughing and said: “the world does not belong to us, because we belong to the last century; most of the problems present (particularly cited environmental issues) They have been created during the last century by us “the old people”; It is up to you now to rectify these dilemmas. Continuous: “the century 21 belongs to you, It is your duty to change the world; do not think that your voice alone cannot do anything; “You must and can do it.”.
Once again he cited environmental pollution, corruption, violence, hate and social inequality as the main issues to “change”.
He insisted that change can happen only through love, compassion and understanding of “others”. He told an anecdote to the audience: one day, A Cuban refugee came to see me and told me that she was a Christian and every day she prayed for Fidel Castro to leave this world.; but in his prayer, She asked the Lord to find a place for the top leader in Paradise.. It was the right way, explained the Dalai Lama “you should even pray that the life of your enemy ends peacefully”.
I thought to myself that it would be a good way to resolve the Tibetan question, if all the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party were sent to Paradise. But with my less compassionate mind, I immediately thought that leaders like Jiang Zemin or Li Peng, would certainly continue to pull some strings from their Paradise (Marxist).
The students were enthralled. Finally there was someone who spoke to their latent idealism and high aspirations for a better world.; and this, in simple words.
The ever-growing popularity of the Tibetan leader in India and abroad raises the question of the situation in his homeland. One can't stop thinking: ¿What would happen if the Dalai Lama were allowed to return to Tibet? (even for a short visit)? One still has in mind the scenes when 3 research delegations from Dharamsala visited Tibet in 1979-80.
Huge crowds gathered wherever they went, even in the most remote nomadic areas; They surrounded the delegates to have a close darshan of the envoys of the “living god.”” (or more exactly, the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion); The hair of the poor delegates was pulled to be kept as a relic, their showers (Tibetan traditional clothing) torn; The local nomads ate the dust from the wheels of the vehicles of those sent as prasad. Considering that the majority of 85 Tibetans who have immolated themselves, They left notes before their fatal gesture asking for the return of their leader, one can imagine what would happen in Tibet.
At the same time, The Dalai Lama is the only leader who can stop Tibet from burning and China from disintegrating.. ¿How many in the politburo realize this?? Maybe, the next president Xi Jinping does it; but ¿He will be able to take the “middle path” with his colleagues.” of reconciliation? ¿Some still think about using more force to repress the “restless minorities”? but ¿the force has worked since 1959? ¿There is a realistic solution?
Yeah, Xi Jinping, whose father Xi Zhongxun knew the Dalai Lama well in the 1970s. 1950 and early sixties, should personally meet the Tibetan leader at a Chinese foreign embassy (India) and have a preliminary discussion with the Dalai Lama to prepare a roadmap to stop the immolations and carry out genuine reconciliation between Tibet and China.
¿Will Xi Jr. have the courage to take this step?? ¿It will be allowed by his new politburo? ¿What other chance does China have??
Like the Cuban refugee, let's pray to God (oh and Buda) to support a win-win solution. It's not an easy task, not even for God.-
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Known as Phuntso
Liaison Officer for Latin America
TIBET OFFICE
New York, The
Email: phuntso@igc.org
