16 July 2014
The Spiritual Leader of Tibet, The Dalai Lama on Tuesday called for a “realistic” approach” to resolve the Tibet issue, warning that viewing the dispute solely through the prism of history would aggravate the situation.
Citing the turmoil between Israel and Palestine as an example, He said the Middle East conflict had dragged on because both sides had used historical context to support their territorial claims..
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to RFA reporter at Choglamsar in Leh, Ladakh. (Photo RFA)
The Dalai Lama said Beijing and Tibetans should make efforts to bring their disputes to an end through compromise and consideration of their mutual interests..
“Political changes should be seen from a realistic angle, not only through the prism of history; "Doing that would only cause conflict.", said the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan service of Radio Free Asia, in an interview in the Himalayan village of Choglamsar in Leh, the district capital of Ladakh, of Indian-administered Kashmir.
"For example, Palestinians and Israeli Jews both cry for a territory of the past. Addressing the issue based on historical records has only aggravated the Middle East conflict since 1948.”, said.
Example
“Chinese authorities and Tibetans should consider the Middle East crisis as an example to understand the ‘reality’ of the situation", said.
“Also on the Tibetan question, we need to think about the mutual interests of both (Tibet and Beijing) Instead of chasing an 'I win', you lose', which is not appropriate and will not help resolve the situation.”, said the Dalai Lama.
The leader of 79 years, who lives in exile in India where he fled after a failed uprising against Chinese occupation, in 1959, It has been the face and symbol of the Tibetan struggle for freedom, for more than five decades.
He has been searching for “genuine” autonomy” for Tibet based on his Middle Way approach, that does not talk about separation from China.
The dialogue between Beijing and envoys of the Dalai Lama since 2002, to consider the prospects for “genuine” autonomy” ran aground on 2010 without any progress, after nine formal rounds of discussion and one informal meeting.
Beijing has rejected calls for a resumption of dialogue.
Live up to the slogan
The Dalai Lama said Beijing should live up to its slogan “brotherhood of nationalities”, giving equal treatment to all groups in China for mutual benefit.
“From a historical point of view, Tibetans and Chinese have a unique relationship. From that perspective, “We should think about mutual benefit.”, He added.
“The official political announcements of the Chinese government usually refer to the brotherhood of nationalities. If this is true, and nationalities are truly equal, then China and Tibet can benefit each other” said the Dalai Lama who was in Ladakh to confer the Kalachakra, a Buddhist process that empowers disciples to attain enlightenment.
Asked if he still wanted to achieve his long-cherished goal of conducting a Kalachakra ceremony in China, He said Buddhism had been growing rapidly in the world's most populous nation.
Buddhism in China
He then referred to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to France recently., in which Xi said Buddhism had played a significant role in China's culture.
“For a leader of the Chinese Communist Party, to say such a thing is a matter of astonishment, a new language, a new statement, said the Dalai Lama.
Xi had said in his speech at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Last March, that after Buddhism was introduced to China, The religion had an extensive period of development integrated with indigenous Confucianism and Taoism and “finally developed into Buddhism with Chinese characteristics.”.
“This had a great impact on religious belief, philosophy, to literature, the art, the protocol and customs of the Chinese people” Xi said.-
