Since then ten years have passed and the day will come for us when we
have to follow a meaningful democratic system. The rule by kings and
religious figures is outdated. We have to follow the trend of the free
world which is that of democracy. For example in India, besides its huge
population and diverse languages, religions and culture, but on the
whole it remains very stable. This is because of democracy, the rule of
law, free expression and media.  To the contrary, China under the
authoritarian rule is always facing problems. It was mentioned in a
recent Chinese government’s document that it is allocating more budget
to maintain internal stability than national defense. This shows that
they have more enemies inside rather than outside, which is a matter of
shame.  

The government of the People’s Republic (of China) is meant to work for
the people’s welfare. So fulfilling the people’s aspirations must come
through democratic elections. If the leaders are selected through
elections, it would be a matter of real pride. But to hold power at the
barrel of the gun rather than through elections is immoral and outdated
as well. So the system of one-man rule is not good. Therefore, it is not
at all good if the Dalai Lama keeps on holding ultimate power. The
Dalai Lama as the spiritual and temporal authority of Tibet did not
begin during the period of the first four Dalai Lamas. It started during
the time of the fifth Dalai Lama under different circumstances and the
influence of the Mongol chieftain Gushri Khan. The system has brought
many benefits since then. But now as we are in the 21st century, sooner
or later the time for change is imminent. But if the change comes under
the pressure of another person then it will be a disgrace to the former
Dalai Lamas. Since the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the
Dalai Lamas have assumed both spiritual and temporal rule over Tibet. As
I am the fourteenth in line of that institution, it is most appropriate
if I on own initiative, happily and with pride, end the dual authority
of the Dalai Lama. Nobody except me can make this decision and I have
made the final decision. The leadership democratically elected by the
Tibetan people should take over the complete political responsibilities
of Tibet. Some kind of a vestige of the dual system will remain if I am
vested with the political authority in the Charter. This should change
and now seems to be the time to do it.

I can talk a little about the great deal of accomplishments that I have
made for the Tibetan cause, as the Tibetan people both in and outside
Tibet put faith and trust in me and there are also many people around
the world who consider the Dalai Lama as someone they recognise, trust
and love.  So now is the right time to end the dual system of governance
established during the fifth Dalai Lama and retain the kind of
unanimity and recognition gained by the first four Dalai Lamas in the
spiritual domain. Particularly, the third Dalai Lama received the
honorific title of an ecumenical master with yellow hat. So like them I
will continue to take spiritual responsibilities for the remaining part
of my life.

Personally, I have been working for the promotion of moral values and
religious harmony in the world. These are proving quite beneficial.
Moreover, I receive many invitations from different schools and
universities around the world. They are not asking me to come to preach
on Buddhism as such, but to teach how to promote inner happiness and
Buddhist science to which many people take interest and love to listen.
So when the present Dalai Lama is in such a position, it would be a
matter of great pride if the 400-year-old rule of Dalai Lama as both the
spiritual and temporal authority gracefully comes to an end. No one
else except me can decide to end something started by the fifth Dalai
Lama and my decision is final.

Recently, I received telephone calls from Tibetans inside Tibet saying
they are extremely worried and feel abandoned as I am retiring. There is
absolutely no need to worry. After taking retirement, I will continue
to lead Tibet in spiritual affairs like the first four Dalai Lamas. Like
the second Dalai Lama Gedun Gyatso, who founded the Gaden Phodrang
institution and led Tibet spiritually with unanimous mandate, I will
also retain that kind of spiritual leadership for the rest of my life.
Perhaps if I bring no disgrace on the people and make good efforts in
the future, I will continue to lead spiritually.

In the long run this decision will make our exile administration
stronger and efficient. Where else, if we compare our community in exile
with the authoritarian communist regime in China, we have actually
become a modernized society. This is our glorious achievement. Tibetans
inside Tibet should be proud of this achievement. You all should
understand and realise that I am not discouraged and I have not given up
on the cause of Tibet.

I am a native of the land of snows. All the six million Tibetans from
the land of snows carry the common responsibility of the Tibetan cause. 
As for me, I am also one  Tibetan from the Amdo region of Tibet, so
until my death I have the responsibility of the Tibetan cause.

While I am still healthy and present amidst you all, you should take
full responsibility of the Tibetan affairs. And if some problem arises
that necessitates my help, then of course, I am still here. I have not
given up and neither am I disheartened. The democratic system that we
have followed till now can take full responsibility and after
considering the many requirements and reasons, I am asking the
democratic system to take full responsibility. All of you present here
and all of the Tibetans in Tibet should not get disheartened. There is
no reason to worry.

Just yesterday, I met a Chinese scholar who told me that he was
conducting a research on the Tibetan electoral process and had also come
here five years ago. He told me that this time around, Tibetans were
very actively participating and fully utilizing their democratic rights.
He praised the advancements that the Tibetan democratic system had
made. So these developments represent our growing political awareness
and the strides that we have taken in our democratic process. And so the
decision to devolve my power is also a part of advancing
democratization process.

Those of you from Tibet when you return and if there are people to whom
you can confide then tell this to them. This may also be broadcast on
the radio as well. I have made this decision to retire after giving
thorough thought over it for years and years and for the ultimate
benefit of Tibet. There is no reason at all for you to be disheartened.

On the other hand, Ganden Phodrang is not being shut down. Ganden
Phodrang is the institution of the Dalai Lamas and as long as I live, I
will need a small institution. So, this Ganden Phodrang will still
remain. What is happening is that Ganden Phodrang is relinquishing its
political responsibilities.

And then, regarding the future reincarnations, of course there is no
hurry as of now. But after 20 or 30 years when I am near my end, then
depending mainly on the wishes of the Tibetan people and also the people
of the Himalayan regions and other Buddhists who are connected to the
Dalai Lamas, if they so wish then the 15th, 16th and 17th Dalai Lamas
and so forth, will come. So Ganden Phodrang will still remain intact.
Political changes are bound to come but such a move will lend stability.
Ganden Phodrang reverting back to its role and responsibility as being
the spiritual head as during the times of the second, third and fourth
Dalai Lamas have great significance and reason.  

In the long run, if you think about it, then this change and decision I
am making has great benefits for the Tibetans. In my letter to the
Tibetan Parliament, I suggested that the title of Ganden Phodrang Shung
will have to be changed. Ganden Phodrang will remain but it will not
take any political responsibilities as we are now a democratic
establishment.

The Tibetan word ‘shung’ may not necessarily translate in English as
government. We don’t use the English word ‘government’ as such to
describe our exile administration. At one instance during a press
conference in Delhi, Rinpoche was also there, a journalist addressed
Samdhong Rinpoche as the Prime Minister of the exile government. So, I
instantly clarified that we don’t use these titles like Tibetan ‘Prime
Minister’ or the Tibetan ‘Government-in-exile’. We call our
administration the Central Tibetan Administration. Of course there are
Tibetans in exile and we need an organization to look after them. This
is the direct responsibility of the administration. Generally, the few
of us in exile, being Tibetans, have the responsibility to articulate
the aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet and to tell the world of
the real situation inside Tibet.  We have never called our
administration the Tibetan exile government. Calling the administration
the Ganden Phodrang Shung is another case in matter. So, the precise
title is the Central Tibetan Administration whose leaders are all
democratically elected.

To be true, this provides the leaders of the Tibetan autonomous areas in
Tibet a reason to think. Those of us in exile, though remaining as
refugees in alien countries, have carried out a genuine electoral
process. If those leaders are really capable and confident, then let the
Tibetans inside Tibet democratically elect their own leaders. Whatever
the case maybe in the rest of China, if we could emulate the exile
system in Tibet itself then it would be very good.

So, the many political changes that I have made are based on sound
reasons and of immediate and ultimate benefit for all of us. In fact,
these changes will make our administration more stable and excel its
development. So, there is no reason to get disheartened.

This is what I wish to explain to you.