The Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s address on receiving the US Congressional Gold Medal
His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in US Capitol Rotunda/ICT
Washington, D.C: President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Byrd, my fellow Laureate Elie Wiesel, Honorable Members of Congress, Brothers and Sisters.
It is a great honor for me to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition will bring tremendous joy and encouragement to the Tibetan people, for whom I have a special responsibility. Their welfare is my constant motivation and I always consider myself as their free spokesperson. I believe that this award also sends a powerful message to those many individuals who are dedicated to promoting peace, understanding and harmony.

On a personal note, I am deeply touched that this great honor has been given to me, a Buddhist monk born of a simple family from the remote Amdo region of Tibet. As a child I grew up under the loving care of my mother, a truly compassionate woman. And after my arrival in Lhasa at the age of four, all the people around me, my teachers and even the housekeepers, taught me what it means to be kind, honest, and caring. It is in such an environment that I grew up. Later my formal education in Buddhist thought exposed me to concepts such as interdependence and the human potential for infinite compassion. It is these that gave me a profound recognition of the importance of universal responsibility, nonviolence, and inter-religious understanding. Today, it is a conviction in these values that gives me the powerful motivation to promote basic human values. Even in my own struggle for the rights and greater freedom of the Tibetan people, these values continue to guide my commitment to pursuing a nonviolent path.
His Holiness with President Bush and Speaker Nancy Pelosi
I have had the honor to be in this hall once before when I visited your country in 1991. Many of the faces that welcomed me then, I can see today, which gives me great joy. Many have retired and some are sadly no longer with us. However, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize their kindness and contribution. Our American friends have stood with us in the most critical of times and under most intense pressure.

Mr. President, thank you for your strong support, and for the warm friendship that Mrs. Bush and you have extended to me personally. I am deeply grateful to you for your sympathy and support for Tibet, and your firm stand on religious freedom and the cause of democracy. Madam Speaker, you have not only extended an unwavering support to me and the just cause of the Tibetan people, you have also worked hard to promote the cause of democracy, freedom and the respect for human rights in other parts of the world. For this, I would like to offer my special thanks.

The consistency of American support for Tibet has not gone unnoticed in China. Where this has caused some tension in the US-China relations, I feel a sense of regret. Today, I wish to share with you all my sincere hope that the future of Tibet and China will move beyond mistrust to a relationship based on mutual respect, trust and recognition of common interests.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama holds his Congressional Gold Medal
Today we watch China as it rapidly moves forward. Economic liberalization has led to wealth, modernization and great power. I believe that today’s economic success of both India and China, the two most populated nations with long history of rich culture, is most deserving. With their new-found status, both of these two countries are poised to play important leading role on the world stage. In order to fulfill this role, I believe it is vital for China to have transparency, rule of law and freedom of information. Much of the world is waiting to see how China’s concepts of “harmonious society” and “peaceful rise” would unfold. Today’s China, being a state of many nationalities, a key factor here would be how it ensures the harmony and unity of its various peoples. For this, the equality and the rights of these nationalities to maintain their distinct identities are crucial.

With respect to my own homeland Tibet, today many people, both from inside and outside, feel deeply concerned about the consequences of the rapid changes taking place. Every year, the Chinese population inside Tibet is increasing at an alarming rate. And, if we are to judge by the example of the population of Lhasa, there is a real danger that the Tibetans will be reduced to an insignificant minority in their own homeland. This rapid increase in population is also posing serious threat to Tibet’s fragile environment. Being the source of many of Asia’s great rivers, any substantial disturbance in Tibet’s ecology will impact the lives of hundreds of millions. Furthermore, being situated between India and China, the peaceful resolution of the Tibet problem also has important implications for lasting peace and friendly relation between these two great neighbors.

On the future of Tibet, let me take this opportunity to restate categorically that I am not seeking independence. I am seeking a meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people within the People’s Republic of China. If the real concern of the Chinese leadership is the unity and stability of PRC, I have fully addressed their concerns. I have chosen to adopt this position because I believe, given the obvious benefits especially in economic development, this would be in the best interest of the Tibetan people. Furthermore, I have no intention of using any agreement on autonomy as a stepping stone for Tibet’s independence.

I have conveyed these thoughts to successive Chinese leaders. In particular, following the renewal of direct contact with the Chinese government in 2002, I have explained these in detail through my envoys. Despite all this, Beijing continues to allege that my “hidden agenda” is separation and restoration of Tibet’s old socio-political system. Such a notion is unfounded and untrue.

Even in my youth, when I was compelled to take on the full responsibility of governance, I began to initiate fundamental changes in Tibet. Unfortunately, these were interrupted because of the political upheavals that took place. Nevertheless, following our arrival in India as refugees, we have democratized our political system and adopted a democratic charter that sets guidelines for our exile administration. Even our political leadership is now directly chosen by the people on a five-year term basis. Moreover, we have been able to preserve and practice most of the important aspects of our culture and spirituality in exile. This is due largely to the kindness of India and its people. Another major concern of the Chinese government is its lack of legitimacy in Tibet. While I cannot rewrite the past, a mutually agreeable solution could bring legitimacy, and I am certainly prepared to use my position and influence among the Tibetan people to bring consensus on this question. So I would also like to restate here that I have no hidden agenda. My decision not to accept any political office in a future Tibet is final.

The Chinese authorities assert that I harbor hostility towards China and that I actively seek to undermine China’s welfare. This is totally untrue. I have always encouraged world leaders to engage with China; I have supported China’s entry into WTO and the awarding of summer Olympics to Beijing. I chose to do so with the hope that China would become a more open, tolerant and responsible country

A major obstacle in our ongoing dialogue has been the conflicting perspectives on the current situation inside Tibet. So in order to have a common understanding of the real situation, my envoys in their sixth meeting with their Chinese counterparts suggested that we be given an opportunity to send study groups to look at the actual reality on the ground, in the spirit of “seeking truth from facts.” This could help both sides to move beyond each other’s contentions.

The time has come for our dialogue with the Chinese leadership to progress towards the successful implementation of a meaningful autonomy for Tibet, as guaranteed in the Chinese constitution and detailed in the Chinese State Council “White Paper on Regional Ethnic Autonomy of Tibet.” Let me take this opportunity to once again appeal to the Chinese leadership to recognize the grave problems in Tibet, the genuine grievances and deep resentments of the Tibetan people inside Tibet, and to have the courage and wisdom to address these problems realistically in the spirit of reconciliation. To you, my American friends, I appeal to you to make every effort to seek ways to help convince the Chinese leadership of my sincerity and help make our dialogue process move forward.

Since you have recognized my efforts to promote peace, understanding and nonviolence, I would like to respectfully share a few related thoughts. I believe this is precisely the time that the United States must increase its support to those efforts that help bring greater peace, understanding and harmony between peoples and cultures. As a champion of democracy and freedom, you must continue to ensure the success of those endeavors aimed at safeguarding basic human rights in the world. Another area where we need US leadership is environment. As we all know, today our earth is definitely warming up and many scientists tell us that our own action is to a large part responsible. So each one of us must, in whatever way we can, use our talents and resources to make a difference so that we can pass on to our future generations a planet that is at least safe to live on.

Many of world’s problems are ultimately rooted in inequality and injustice, whether economic, political or social. Ultimately, this is a question of the wellbeing of all of us. Whether it is the suffering of poverty in one part of the world, or whether it is the denial of freedom and basic human rights in another part, we should never perceive these events in total isolation. Eventually their repercussions will be felt everywhere. I would like to appeal to you to take a leadership role in an effective international action in addressing these problems, including the huge economic imbalance. I believe the time has now come to address all these global issues from the perspective of the oneness of humanity, and from a profound understanding of the deeply inter-connected nature of our today’s world. In conclusion, on behalf of six million Tibetan people, I wish to take this opportunity to recognize from the depth of my heart the support extended to us by the American people and their government. Your continued support is critical. I thank you once again for the high honor that you have bestowed on me today. Thank you.


"The population of (Tibetan capital) Lhasa used to be 50,000 to 60,000. Now it is 300,000, of which 200,000 are Chinese," he said, adding that Tibetans were being deprived of an opportunity to learn their native language and monasteries were being politicized under what he called a "cultural genocide."
USA TODAY BEIJING - Government officials on Tuesday downplayed the embarrassing disclosure that China is creating profiles on the 28000 foreign journalists expected to cover next year's Olympics.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama... Is the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, at the hamlet of Taktser in north-eastern Tibet. At the age of two the child named Lhamo Dhondup was recognized as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.
Dalai Lama is a Mongolian title meaning "Ocean of Wisdom" and the Dalai Lamas are manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Chenrezig. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth to serve humanity.

His Holiness began his monastic education at the age of six. At 23 he sat for his final examination in the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959. He passed with honours and was awarded the Lharampa degree, the highest level geshe degree (a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy).

In 1950 His Holiness the Dalai Lama was called upon to assume full political power after China's invasion of Tibet in 1949. In 1954 he went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping. But finally, in 1959, with the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape into exile. Since then he has been living in Dharamsala, north India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
Since the Chinese invasion, His Holiness has appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet. Three resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly, in 1959, 1961 and 1965.

In 1963 His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented a draft democratic constitution for Tibet, following this with a number of reforms. However, in May 1990, the radical reforms called for by His Holiness saw the realization of a truly democratic government for the exile Tibetan community. The Tibetan Cabinet (Kashag), which till then had been appointed by him was dissolved along with the Tenth Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (Tibetan parliament in exile). In the same year, exile Tibetans on the Indian sub-continent and in more than 33 other countries elected 46 members to the expanded Eleventh Tibetan parliament on a Ôone man one vote' basis. The parliament, in its turn, elected new members of the cabinet.

The new democratic constitution promulgated as a result of this reform was named "The Charter of Tibetans in Exile". The charter enshrines freedom of speech, belief, assembly and movement. It also provides detailed guidelines on the functioning of the Tibetan government with respect to those living in exile.

In 1992 His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued guidelines for the constitution of a future, free Tibet. In it, he announced that when Tibet becomes free the immediate task will be to set up an interim government whose first responsibility will be to elect a constitutional assembly to frame and adopt Tibet's democratic constitution. On that day His Holiness will transfer all his historical and political authority to the Interim President and live as a ordinary citizen. His Holiness also stated that Tibet comprising of the three traditional provinces Ð U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham Ð will be a federal and democracy.

In 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution to the worsening situation in Tibet. He envisaged that Tibet will become a sanctuary Ð a zone of peace at the heart of Asia where all sentient beings can exist in harmony and the environment can restore and thrive. China has so far failed to respond positively to the various peace proposals put forward by His Holiness.
In His address to members of the United States Congress on 21 September 1987, His Holiness proposed the following peace plan, which contains five basic components:

Transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace Abandonment of China's population transfer policy which threatens the very existence of the Tibetan people Respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms Restoration and protection of Tibet's natural environment and the abandonment of China's use of Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and Chinese people.

Revered By Tibetans
Every Tibetan has a deep and inexpressible connection with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. To the Tibetans, His Holiness symbolizes Tibet in its entirety: the beauty of the land, the purity of its rivers and lakes, the sanctity of its skies, the solidity of its mountains and the strength of its people.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man of peace. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems.

His Holiness has traveled to more than 52 countries and met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists.

From 1959 to 1999 His Holiness has received over 57 honorary doctorates, awards, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 50 books.

His Holiness describes himself as a "simple Buddhist monk". In his lectures and tours around the world, his simplicity and compassionate nature visibly touches everyone who meets him. His messages are of love, compassion and forgiveness.


His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Nobel Prize acceptance speech
University Aula, Oslo, 10 December 1989


Your Majesty, Members of the Nobel Committee, Brothers and Sisters.
I am very happy to be here with you today to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. I feel honored, humbled and deeply moved that you should give this important prize to a simple monk from Tibet I am no one special. But I believe the prize is a recognition of the true value of altruism, love, compassion and non-violence which I try to practice, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and the great sages of India and Tibet

I accept the prize with profound gratitude on behalf of the oppressed everywhere and for all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace. I accept it as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of non-violent action for change Mahatma Gandhi whose life taught and inspired me. And, of course, I accept it on behalf of the six million Tibetan people, my brave countrymen and women inside Tibet, who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. They confront a calculated and systematic strategy aimed at the destruction of their national and cultural identities. The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated.

No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and is concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature. The great changes that are taking place everywhere in the world, from Eastern Europe to Africa are a clear indication of this.

In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force in June this year. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation.

Last week a number of Tibetans were once again sentenced to prison terms of upto nineteen years at a mass show trial, possibly intended to frighten the population before today's event. Their only 'crime" was the expression of the widespread desire of Tibetans for the restoration of their beloved country's independence.

The suffering of our people during the past forty years of occupation is well documented. Ours has been a long struggle. We know our cause is just Because violence can only breed more violence and suffering, our struggle must remain non-violent and free of hatred. We are trying to end the suffering of our people, not to inflict suffering upon others.

It is with this in mind that I proposed negotiations between Tibet and China on numerous occasions. In 1987, I made specific proposals in a Five-Point plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. This included the conversion of the entire Tibetan plateau into a Zone of Ahimsa, a sanctuary of peace and non-violence where human beings and nature can live in peace and harmony.

last year, I elaborated on that plan in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament I believe the ideas I expressed on those occasions are both realistic. and reasonable although they have been criticised by some of my people as being too conciliatory. Unfortunately, China's leaders have not responded positively to the suggestions we have made, which included important concessions. If this continues we will be compelled to reconsider our position.

Any relationship between Tibet and China will have to be based on the principle of equality, respect, trust and mutual benefit. It will also have to be based on the principle which the wise rulers of Tibet and of China laid down in a treaty as early as 823 AD, carved on the pillar which still stands today in front of the Jokhang, Tibet's holiest shrine, in Lhasa, that "Tibetans will live happily in the great land of Tibet, and the Chinese will live happily in the great land of China".

As a Buddhist monk, my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share. Although I have found my own Buddhist religion helpful in generating love and compassion, even for those we consider our enemies, I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.

With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment.

I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same.

As we enter the final decade of this century I am optimistic that the ancient values that have sustained mankind are today reaffirming themselves to prepare us for a kinder, happier twenty-first century.

I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human under-standing and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings.

Thank you.

Concerned about possible interference by China in a future selection process, the Dalai Lama has suggested that he may break with tradition and appoint his own successor.

The first round of revelations came during His Holiness’s visit to Japan last week. The Dalai Lama told reporters that he is considering appointing a successor within his lifetime and most likely a member of the exiled Tibetan community.
In the past, following the death of a Dalai Lama, senior Tibetan Buddhist officials have identified a successor using a variety of traditional divination techniques. The present Dalai Lama was identified in such a manner at the age of two, living in a rural village in Amdo (the northern of the three provinces that comprised historic Tibet).

But the Dalai Lama said last week that he fears China’s interference in this process and is considering whether his successor should be picked by him, or elected by high-ranking Buddhist monks.
“If the Tibetan people want to keep the Dalai Lama system, one of the possibilities I have been considering with my aides is to select the next Dalai Lama while I’m alive.” Despite vehement and unrelenting efforts by China to undermine support for him, the vast majority of Tibetans both in exile and inside the Tibet Autonomous Region remain loyal to the Dalai Lama.

Tibetans are understandably concerned over what will happen when the 72-year-old 14th Dalai Lama dies and fear that China will attempt to further cement its control over Tibet by appointing their own Dalai Lama, one more amenable to China’s policies
When in 1995 the Dalai Lama appointed the 11th Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism, China kidnapped the boy, then six years old, and selected a replacement loyal to Chinese rule. Despite persistent pleas from Tibetans and the international community, twelve years on Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, has still not been seen.

In later comments last week the Dalai Lama introduced the idea of holding a referendum among all Tibetans, inside and outside of Tibet, before he dies, to decide whether a new system of leadership would better serve the struggle for meaningful autonomy.

As Tibet experts including Kate Saunders (International Campaign for Tibet) and Robert Barnett (Director of Tibetan Studies at Columbia University) noted, these suggestions and the logic behind them represent the forward thinking, pragmatic approach now characteristic of the Dalai Lama and his envoys.

For Barnett, these comments were a ‘thinly-veiled warning’ that the Dalai Lama is about to make broader appeals to Tibetan Buddhists living in India, Mongolia and China, a warning that will be of great concern to Chinese authorities. China can repress and stifle dissent inside Tibet while it slowly chips away at the fabric of traditional Tibetan society through re-education, forced resettlement and population transfer. But they are powerless to halt the growing international calls from exiled Tibetans and their supporters for a resolution to the Tibet situation.

Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (OHHDL), known in Tibetan as Kuger Yigtsang, is the personal office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It provides secretarial assistance to His Holiness and broadly speaking, is responsible for all matters related to His Holiness and acts on His behalf.
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Among OHHDL's major responsibilities are:
Organization of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's schedule, including appointments and His travels within India and to different parts of the world;
Handling all diplomatic, governmental and personal correspondence, on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Acting as the liaison between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and officials of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
When His Holiness is in Dharamsala, His schedule includes His daily religious practice as well as handlings matters relating to the Central Tibetan Administration that needs His attention. This includes meetings with members of the Kashag (Cabinet) as well as senior Tibetan governmental officials. In addition to these, His Holiness takes the time to meet with as many people as possible.
Although in the initial years His Holiness had a flexible and relaxed schedule, with increased travel programs throughout the world since the mid-eighties the workload at OHHDL has also increased tremendously.

Meetings with His Holiness are generally divided into three categories: a) public audiences; b) private audiences; and c) media interviews.

Public Audiences
When His Holiness is in Dharamsala, OHHDL organizes opportunities for public audiences at regular intervals. The date and timing of these meetings are decided as the situation permits and are normally done at short notice, two or three days before the actual audience.

During public audiences, individuals have the opportunity of greeting His Holiness in a receiving line. Given the nature of the meeting, individuals are not permitted to bring any articles, including bags, cameras or books, with them.

The Tibetan Branch Security Office [Tel: (01892) 21560] located in McLeod Ganj (near Hotel Tibet) coordinates requests for the public audience. People attending these public audiences need to register in person at the Tibetan Branch Security Office. Foreign tourists need to bring their passports at the time of registration. The registration forms then need to be brought to the venue at the time of the audience for identification purposes.

Private Audiences
Requests for private audiences are carefully screened and studied. Applicants are asked to provide detailed information on themselves as well as the specific reasons why they want to see His Holiness. Private audiences are usually scheduled three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In general requests for individual meetings need to be made far in advance. We will be unable to entertain requests made at short notice.

Media Interviews

His Holiness also takes the opportunity to interact with members of the media. As there are many requests for private audiences we try to limit media interviews to one during an audience day. Members of the media need to submit their requests far in advance to provide time for their review by the Special Review Committee and if approved for scheduling.

Teachings
His Holiness gives several major Buddhist teachings throughout the year, both in India and abroad. For the latest schedule of His Holiness' public teachings, we recommend that you to visit the official site of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: www.dalailama.com

Invitations
His Holiness the Dalai Lama tries to accommodate as many requests as possible for His participation in events throughout the world. These include invitations for various religious, social, cultural and political events. For those individuals or organizations outside of India who wish to invite His Holiness we encourage them to send their invitations through the office of the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (also known as the Office of Tibet) in their region. Since the representative offices are responsible for organizing the visits of His Holiness in their area, they would be in a position to provide more information about the feasibility of the requests. Upon acceptance of the invitations, OHHDL coordinates with the representative office the schedule of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His trip.
Contact Address
Secretary
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Thekchen Choeling
P.O. McLeod Ganj - 176219
Dharamshala, H.P.
India
Tel: +91-1892-221343, 221879
Fax: +91-1892-221813
Email: ohhdl@dalailama.com