World Needs Tibet’s Compassionate and Non-Violent Culture: His Holiness Monday, 24 November 2008, 12:24 p.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at a press conference in Dharamsala, India, on Sunday, 23 November 2008.

“The
Tibetan culture is a compassionate and non-violent culture and the
world must save this beautiful culture,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama
told reporters on Sunday, a day after the historic summit of Tibetans
in exile ended with a call to “stand firm on Middle Way Approach to
resolve the issue of Tibet”.His Holiness also expressed concern over the rapidly shrinking glaciers on the Tibetan plateau.”The
preservation of Tibetan ecology is not only the interest and concern of
six million Tibetan people, it also concerns the lives of billions of
people living in the whole of Asia, who depend on rivers originating
from the Tibetan plateau,” His Holiness said.Underlining the
need to keep genuine friendship based on trust between China and India,
His Holiness said in order to develop brotherly relationship between
the two most populous nations, it is essential to find a solution to
resolve the Tibetan issue, His Holiness said.His Holiness said
he would remain steadfast in fulfilling his first two commitments – of
promoting human values and religious harmony – until his death. “I will
not take complete retirement from carrying out these two commitments”,
His Holiness added.On his commitment on Tibet, His Holiness
said he would remain fully committed to lead the Tibetan people, until
they return to Tibet and achieve a certain degree of freedom. Emphasising
Tibetan people’s full commitment to the promotion of democracy, His
Holiness said he has devolved most of his administrative
responsibilities to Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the
democratically elected head of Tibetans-in-exile. However, His
Holiness said it is up to the Tibetan people to decide on whether they
need the institution of Dalai Lama to continue or not.His Holiness said Tibetan and Chinese peoples share common interest for a more open and democratic society.A
Chinese delegation representing the Federation for a Democratic China
based in Australia, who received audience of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama on Saturday, were also present at the press conference.The
Chinese delegation expressed their deepest respect for His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and their sympathy for the Tibetan people. “We wish
to gain a deeper and more personal understanding of the suffering and
grief of exile Tibetans, and to listen to the voices and cries of those
who desperately continuing their fight for a free Tibet which will
protect and nurture Tibetan culture and religion,” the delegation said.Expressing
their firm opposition to the blind nationalism and Han chauvinism, the
Chinese delegation said: “A democratic political system and
federalisation of China are imperative in order to guarantee the equal
and harmonious co-existence of different nationalities within one body
politic.”The hopes and aspirations of the different ethnic
nationalities will only be respected, addressed, consulted when China
becomes democracy,” they added.Before meeting with the press, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed to the delegates of the special meeting on Tibet.His
Holiness underlined the need for the Tibetans in exile to develop
innovative ideas and make progress in specialization, particularly in
education and diplomatic fields.Cautioning the Tibetans not to
get overwhelmed by complacency and negligence taking into consideration
the importance of next twenty years, His Holiness said Tibetans must
make real progress in order to fulfill the expectations and hopes of
the Tibetan people living inside Tibet.His Holiness said the
Tibetan people should maintain friendly relations with the Chinese
people, while emphasising that reaching out to ordinary Chinese people
is more important than making contacts with the Chinese leadership.His
Holiness said he has “unshakable faith in the Chinese people”, though
his faith in the present Chinese leadership is getting thinner and
thinner.