Author: Audrey Ronning Topping
Publication: Earth Times News Service
Date: February 2001
The Dalai Lama has offered some
unique advice to leading members of the world media: "Journalists should
have a long nose, an elephant's nose, so you can sniff all around, above
and below. You should investigate with a sincere motivation. You should
investigate everyone, even me!"
The Tibetan Pontiff, clad in the
traditional saffron robes of a Tibetan monk, smiled and charmed the largest
audience of any program attended by 500 editors, media executives and leading
journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organizations and
news agencies from over 100 countries. They had come to this ancient city
to attend the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress and 50th
General Assembly from January 26-29, 2001.
His Holiness had been invited to
give the keynote speech at the closing ceremony. His subject: Freedom of
the Press. He spoke in English with a distinctive Indo Tibetan accent,
punctuating his low voice with high giggles. After the Dalai Lama informed
us that he had nothing much to say about freedom of the press he added;
"They say that Tibet is mysterious but I hope my talk today won't be too
mysterious." He adjusted his robe over one shoulder leaving one arm bare,
laughed and continued to dispense advice without notes.
"My opinion is that freedom of the
press is important for two reasons. First, individual problems and those
of a nation both happen because of the lack of knowledge of reality. There
is a great need for education to show the true reality. Second, because
of over population the world has become smaller. Each nation heavily depends
on other nations, but in our minds we still have a large gap between reality
and obsession. To reduce this gap we need clear awareness. Humanity is
the key. Each nation needs humanity. Only then can we get better. The rich
and poor share the same land. The gap is wrong. If the poor are not satisfied
there is conflict. I feel that every part of the globe is a part of me.
For this I feel grateful."
He paused to beam a beatific smile
to his rapt listeners.
"Freedom of the press is very important.
You should take care in those countries with no freedom. There is great
risk for you. Journalists should have a long nose, an elephant's nose so
you can sniff all around, above and below. Clever people say much. Government
people speak on many levels. The public should know. You should investigate
with a sincere motivation. You should investigate everyone, even me!"
He threw up his arms in a gesture
of surrender and laughed. Then he pointed and waved joyfully to a few people,
seated in the audience, that he recognized, even me! Which proved he had
a memory like an elephant.
"You should promote human values
such as non-violence and compassion", he continued as if talking about
anything that happened to come into mind. "Any act out of compassion is
non violent. We cannot judge others on the surface. We must face conflicts.
Therefore we need peaceful respect for other points of view. Compromise
is important. We can't ignore other people's interests. Taking care of
others is the same as taking care of yourselves. We must also be aware
and take care of the environment.
"There are many different philosophies
in the world but they all have the same message: love, compassion, contentment,
and humanity. One philosophy won't do. You must increase mutual respect
to achieve harmony.
"How to contribute? If you propagate
your own views you will clash with the other side. It is safer to keep
ones own traditions quietly and have respect for other people and nations.
Inside Tibet they trust me so therefore I have a moral obligation to respond
and help as much as I can. There is almost an extinction of the Tibetan
culture. I am trying to achieve a high degree of autonomy. I am trying
to find autonomy because it is the best guarantee for Tibetan culture.
The Chinese government should give us autonomy. It is the best way to have
genuine stability and unity. In spite of the negative attitude of the Chinese
I am committed to this. Tibetan supporters are not pro Tibetan but pro
justice".
The 14th Dalai Lama, meaning Ocean
of Wisdom, was born in 1935 in North eastern Tibet, allegedly at the precise
moment the 13th Dalai Lama died. After oracles and astronomers confirmed
that the babe was a reincarnated living Buddha bearing the signs of Chenresik,
the Buddha of Compassion, he was brought to Lhasa with his family and enthroned,
at the age of five, by his Regents. He was invested with full powers at
15, shortly before the Chinese Communists occupied Tibet in 1950. Ten years
later, after an unsuccessful uprising by the Tibetan people against the
Chinese in 1959, he fled the country along with 80,000 followers. The refugees
journeyed 875 miles through the snow covered imalayas to India where
they were given political asylum. The Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1989 for leading the non-violent campaign to end Chinese rule
in Tibet. He has written a number of books on Tibetan Buddhism and an autobiography.
He now resides in Dharmsala, India, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
After his short speech he offered
to answer questions from the audience.
Q: "What is required to get freedom?"
DL: "The Chinese don't have clear
ideas. There is too much suspicion and fear. My people are not at all happy.
The real situation is much too distorted. The Chinese leadership is still
not clear. They need to be educated on a government level about the real
situation in Tibet. Some of them know but will not admit it. But things
are changing in China on a government level. In 10 or 15 years things will
be better. Tibetans do not want a civil war but our new guests did not
have a proper invitation. China has to go along with the global trend so
therefore China is in the process of change so therefore I am optimistic."
Q: "Have you had any conversation
between your staff and the Chinese?"
DL: "No. But some organizations
and individuals in Tibet and the USA have. I prefer education. There has
been environmental damage by mines and deforestation in rural areas. After
Tiananmen, China became much harder and resorted to force. There was no
progress."
Q: "Do you pray for the Chinese
as individual human beings?"
DL: "Certainly. I am not against
the communist ideal. I am a socialist. I call myself half-a-Marxist. It
has some good aspects. But they must combine them with human compassion
not hate. We must never lose our compassion or respect."
Q: "I am from Burma. Will you please
pray for our leader in bondage?"
DL: "I always pray for her."
Q: "What is meant by autonomy in
Tibet?"
DL: " We want the right of self-government.
In 1992 I decided on the date of my return I would give all authority to
local elected government. Not a single Tibetan wants to restore the old
system. No one.
The Chinese think I am trying to
restore the old feudal system. I'm not. In another 20 years there will
suddenly come a time to elect a leader in self government. We have already
made it clear that our future should be a secular state, a democracy with
socialist ideas.
I think our environment is very
delicate. It is high and dry. Damage takes a long time to restore. We need
technology to minimize environmental damage. The Chinese are not taking
care of our environment."
Although most of the audience had
come to listen to the words of one of the world's most eminent spiritual
leaders others came to question him about a controversial editorial in
The Hindustan Times headed "Dalai Lama's Mistake" that was published the
previous morning. The editorial cautioned the Dalai Lama from encouraging
the Hindu extremists in their grievances against Christians and Muslims
because of his attitude on conversion.
"Perhaps unwittingly," stated the
editorial, "the Dalai Lama has entered a controversial field which can
become even more complicated as a result. By arguing that 'conversion is
outdated' and has a 'negative effect', he may have been voicing his own
considered opinion. But since the subject has acquired a political dimension
in India, it is necessary to weigh ones words very carefully when saying
anything in this context, especially if the person is someone as wisely
respected as the Tibetan Pontiff. Not unexpectedly therefore, his words
have been promptly seized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhai
to reiterate the Sangh parivar's familiar grievance against Islam and Christianity.
"It is this very danger of the Dalai
Lama's views being exploited to condemn Islam and Christianity as 'aggressive'
of which the Tibetan spiritual leader should have been aware. Not only
has the VHP criticized Islam and Christianity for waging a 'religious war
against us', but it has also called for a 'common platform to counter the
aggression' of these two religions. Clearly this wasn't something the Dalai
Lama had in mind, for while saying that 'it's not proper to change religion',
he also said that his 'main interest is to promote human values and religious
harmony'. Yet, the end result may be the exact opposite not only because
of the Sangh parivar's deliberate misinterpretation but also because of
a few among the Buddhist like the priest of a Varanisi monastery who has
lauded the formation of a 'joint front of Hindus and Buddhists to fight
Islamic aggression'.
"All this will be music to the ears
of the hardliners in the saffron camp who have stepped up their campaign
against Christianity in addition to their usual diatribes against Muslims.
Any suggestion therefore, of a combined effort by two 'indigenous' religions
against the 'alien' ones will be disastrous for social and religious harmony."
One questioner, who said he represented
the sinners, referred to the editorial and asked the Dalai Lama to clarify
what he had said about conversion.
"Any religion is a human emotion,"
he said, "It doesn't burst out suddenly like water therefore to change
religion isn't easy. It is safer to keep ones own religion and traditions
and not convert to Buddhism. I say it is better to stay what you are born
into. It is your basic thinking. In my 45 years of experience I have seen
that some converts later find it difficult. Therefore I believe that if
conversion is forced it is out of date. At the same time if one analyses
and finds another faith more compatible and suitable, it is their individual
right to do so."
The problem of Islamic extremists
was discussed at an earlier session called "Tensions and conflicts in the
Indian Sub-Continent" moderated by David Greenway of the Boston Globe.
I.A. Rehman, director of Pakistan
Human Rights Commission warned against the rise of the Jihad (Holy War)
in Pakistan. "This is a great destabilizing factor which threatens democracy
and civil societies everywhere in the region." He added that the Indian
Sub-Continent had missed opportunities for peace "because it pays some
people to have wars and atom bombs. We don't have resources to educate
our children but we keep the conflict going. We in Pakistan are faced with
some who believe they are religious reincarnations.
We have kept Asia backwards. We
have to approach the problem with responsibility. Not create wars between
Gods".
Rehman was critical of the roles
played by the India and Pakistan media during the Kargil conflict. "There
were reports of mothers expressing pride at the lives laid down by their
sons. This promoted war as a means of conflict resolution. The pen should
be used to promote peace, not war", he said. "The media in Pakistan is
not up to the mark. We owe something to the future. War is not noble. Are
we using tanks to make peace or war? We can't live in the 13th century
and say we are marching gloriously into the 21st century".
Former Prime Minister of India I.K.
Gujral agreed that " The main factor of concern is terrorism. The new element
of Jihad, is a bad factor that threatens the entire civilization, especially
in Pakistan".
A Catholic reporter said he was
disturbed about the intolerance in India.
"The Christians feels targeted.
There have been instance of churches burned, Christians murdered and Nuns
raped. When I asked why they said that Catholics were trying to convert
people but this is not true. We feel vulnerable."
Former Foreign Secretary J.N. Dixit
replied: "The Indian press including the Hindu extremists are highly critical
of this. It is against the Indian value system. We can't deny it but there
is great criticism of these tragedies."
The Prime Minister was asked about
the status of the Dalai Lama: "You say you are against separatism and yet
you have the Dalai Lama here. How does that affect your relations with
China?"
"The Dalai Lama is a revered international
figure. In 1955 we recognized Tibetan refugees and the Dalai Lama as a
spiritual leader. He escaped China and sought refuge. We give it to anyone.
It does not mean we have political activity against China. He has never
said anything against China from Indian soil."
When the Dalai Lama was leaving
the IPI convention hall at the Taj Palace Hotel, he broke from his security
guards to shake hands and reach out to touch members of his audience as
if he was a politician running for president. He got my vote.
The IPI was founded 50 years ago
in New York by a small group of newspaper editors from 15 countries who
recognized the need for a truly international press freedom organization.
