Dharamsala, October 25 – In his first reaction to the recent protests by Tibetan in Tibet over change of medium of instruction into Chinese in Tibetan schools, the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said Saturday that the Tibetan language is vital for the survival of Tibetan Buddhist culture which has a strong following in China.
The Tibetan leader who was in Toronto as part of his North American tour said, “China is historically a Buddhist country and the preservation of the Tibetan Buddhist culture was also in the interest of the millions of Chinese who are looking for spiritual sustenance”.
His Holiness said China might want to learn from the Indian experience where preservation and promotion of the linguistic diversity is being done without that being seen as a danger of separation.
His Holiness told the media about his meetings with Chairman Mao and other Chinese leaders in 1954-55. The Tibetan leader said he was very impressed with their idealism that he wanted to join the Chinese Communist Party.
Talking about the censorship and suppression of information in China today the Tibetan leader said that 1.3 billion Chinese have a right to know the reality and the Chinese people have the capability to judge right and wrong.
His Holiness reiterated his position of not seeking separation from China but a genuine autonomy within the People’s Republic of China.
His Holiness said he had a moral responsibility to resolve the Tibet issue being a Tibetan and the Dalai Lama.
Later in the day, His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Center in Toronto. The guests included Senator Consiglio DiNino, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and leader of opposition Michael Grant Ignatieff, other MPs and city councilors, Toronto Mayor David Miller, as well as friends and supporters of the Center.
Senator DiNino conveyed the greetings of the Canadian Prime Minister and said that the dream of the Tibetan community for the centre was now becoming a reality.
In his remarks, His Holiness expressed his gratitude to the Canadian Government, federal, provincial and local, for supporting the Tibetan people for a long time. Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche thanked the people and the government of Canada on the exile Tibetan government’s behalf.
His Holiness met with representatives of various faiths in the Toronto area.
His Holiness told the Tibetan community that preserving the traditional Tibetan values of goodness that have endeared the Tibetan people to the rest of the world was very important aspect of Tibetan people.
Thereafter, His Holiness addressed the participants of a dialogue between members of the Chinese and Tibetan communities under the theme “Compassion and Respect.” Ms. Gloria Fung and Mr. Norbu Tsering made initial remarks on behalf of the Chinese and Tibetan communities. His Holiness said he supported President Hu Jintao’s proposal for harmonious society but added that this would come about only through trust and equality.
The Tibetan community on Sunday offered Tenshug (long life offering) to His Holiness who gave teachings on the eight verses of Training the Mind by Geshe Langri Thangpa.
On Friday, the Tibetan leader spoke to around 15000 people at the Rogers Centre on “Human Approaches to World Peace”. He said that warm heartedness, which is the basis of all moral ethics and all major religious traditions, should be practiced by all.
(Based on reports sent by Bhuchung K Tsering)
