His Holiness Turns 70
Photo: Prem Sood |
Dharamshala 7 July 2005: Braving a rainy, inclement weather, thousands of faithful thronged the Tsuglakhang as His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his deep appreciation for the whole gamut of meritorious deeds, including long life offerings, mass prayers and saving animals from butchery, performed by diverse groups of people across the globe for his longevity and pledged to reciprocate their prayers.
Speaking at the official ceremony yesterday at the main cathedral here, celebrating the occasion of his 70th birthday, His Holiness reiterated what he considers his three main obligations, as a human being, spread values of kind-hearted, as a religious person, promote inter-religious harmony and understanding, and his obligation towards the Tibetan people, which he emphasized saying that he remains steadfast in his unequivocal commitment to a genuine democracy.
His Holiness said that even during his tumultuous adolescence years in pre-1959 Tibet, he initiated numerous reforms to correct aspects of Tibetan society and later, the process resumed in exile with the introduction of a series of democratic reforms in the Tibetan polity culminating in the direct election in 2001 of Kalon Tripa, head of the highest executive body of the Central Tibetan Administration.
“The induction of a directly elected political leader was a huge achievement”, His Holiness said, adding, “the future political leaders of the Tibetan people should also be democratically elected.”
With the advent of a democratically elected political leader, His Holiness said his political responsibilities should gradually be divested and this, instead of an outright renunciation or abandonment on his part, should be judged as based on sound logic and rationale, which will compel greater responsibility among the Tibetan people.
“Besides, I have already reiterated many times that once Tibetans inside and outside Tibet are united, I will not assume any political responsibility.”
Prior to His Holiness’ address, Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, expressing his deep respect and gratitude, said that His Holiness has transformed the Tibetan struggle into a non-violent and the exile Tibetan polity a genuinely democratic, adding that the ongoing sustained talks with the Chinese leadership is a fruition of his efforts to seek a mutually beneficial common ground with China.
Although the representatives of His Holiness were able to narrow down the difference of perceptions on the basic issue of Tibet problem during the fourth round of talks with the representatives of the Chinese government held recently in Berne, Switzerland, Kalon Tripa said that the fate of future talks hinges upon the international atmosphere and appealed to the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet and the Tibet Support Groups to refrain from any such activities that may hamper the dialogue process.
Reiterating Tibetan people’s deep appreciation and gratitude to His Holiness, the chairman of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, Pema Jungney, said the best birthday gift we could present His Holiness would be to make his message of internal unity and cooperation a reality, and not to fall prey to external machinations.