I consider myself as a son of India: Dalai Lama

Addressing a gathering at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, the Dalai Lama expressed his bewilderment over how some Indians were corrupt despite being religious. "I can understand that in China, they don't care much about moral principles and run only after power and money. But in India, people pray and make offerings to God in the morning and then step out and indulge in corruption. How can this happen? Either believe in God and live a principled life. Or worship money, be corrupt and exploit," he said.

The Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, introduces His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Kolkata, India, on December 1, 2011. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

Pointing out how India has a history of an ancient and sophisticated civilization compared with that of Greece and China, the Dalai Lama said Indians have traditionally been gurus and Tibetans chelas (disciples). "When I see some part of my guru being corrupt, as a chela I feel ashamed," he lamented.

Though the Tibetan spiritual leader did not make a reference to the movement launched by Team Anna and their insistence on a Jan Lok Pal bill, he said a better community could not be created by law and Parliament."Don't blame a few politicians for the ill that plagues the society. They are from done through individual actions. In order to act, one requires will power that can come through truth and conviction," he said. 

Urging students to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, the spiritual leader felt real transformation of India needed to start from rural areas instead of cities. "Please build this nation in a balanced way with a long term and holistic vision," the Dalai Lama said. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his talk on "A Human Approach to World Peace" at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, in Kolkata, India, on December 1, 2011. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

Recounting a recent interaction with Delhi University pro vice-chancellor, he said the latter was keen to start a course on moral ethics and felt other institutions needed to think on similar lines and teach the subject in a secular manner. "Indian gurus must take active role in promoting Ahimsa (non-violence) and religious harmony, first within the country and then outside. They must share ancient Indian teachings of Ahimsa and tolerance with rest of the world," he said, adding that not just people of different religion, even nonbelievers deserved respect. 

"I belong to 20th century. My generation is ready to say goodbye. Despite many positive developments, it was primary the century of war, nuclear weapon, untold misery and suffering. It is on the shoulders of the young generation of the 21st century that the responsibility of creating a new and healthy society rests," the Dalai Lama added. "A better world will not be achieved through prayers. It has to be done through individual actions. In order to act, one requires will power that can come through truth and conviction," he said.

Responding to a question, the Dalai Lama said Chinese officials sometimes behave childishly. "I look at people, including the Chinese, at a fundamental level in which everyone is human. These are no differences, from the way we are born to the way we die. But at times, the Chinese government calls me a demon. I may be a demon but not that bad a demon," he said, drawing laughter from the audience. 

Describing himself as a son of India, the spiritual leader said he owed his existence to the country in which he had sought exile in 1959. "All particles in my mind contain thoughts from Nalanda. And it is Indian dal and chapati that has built this body. I am mentally and physically a son of India," he said. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting sisters from the Missionaries of Charity during his visit to Kolkata, India, on December 1, 2011. Photo/Tenzin Taklha/OHHDL

Criticizing the Chinese government for its paranoia over people who speak a different language, like Tibetans do, he pointed to India's existence despite its diversity. "I often tell Chinese friends to look at India to get rid of the fear that plurality will lead to secession. India has so many languages and dialects, yet remains strongly united because there is the freedom of speech and rule of law," he said. 

Apart from support from all over the world for an autonomous territory within China, the Dalai Lama claimed thousands of articles in Chinese published over the past couple of years had also recognized his stand as the ideal one to resolve the issue.

The Dalai Lama receives Dayawati Modi Award

December 3rd 2011

New Delhi, India, 3 December 2011 (phayul.com) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and Education 2011 in the Indian capital New Delhi, Friday December 2nd, for his “contribution towards universal peace, tolerance and social justice”. "It is our honour to confer the award on His Holiness the Dalai Lama in recognition of his lifetime contribution towards universal peace, tolerance and social justice," Dayawati Modi Foundation president Satish Kumar Modi said.

His Holiness expresses his sadness and concern over the recent flooding in Bangkok

November 19th 2011

Dharamsala, HP, India, 18 November 2011 - In a letter to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his sadness and concern about loss of many lives and damage to property caused by the recent unprecedented floods in and around Bangkok.

His Holiness offered his condolences to the families that have lost loved ones and prayers for the deceased and others affected by the devastating floods.

As a token of sympathy and concern, a donation is being made from The Dalai Lama Trust to support relief work.

Tibetan Exiles Elect Scholar as New Prime Minister

By JIM YARDLEY

Published: April 27, 2011

NEW DELHI — Tibet’s exiled government announced the election of a Harvard legal scholar as its new prime minister on Wednesday, a choice signaling a generational shift within the Tibetan movement as the Dalai Lama moves to relinquish political power.  

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, has pursued a “middle way” strategy in which he seeks “genuine autonomy” for Tibet under Chinese rule, though many younger Tibetans want outright independence. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Sangay can emerge as an independent political force capable of rallying Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.

Last month, the Dalai Lama, 75, announced his desire to relinquish his role as political leader of the exile government. For years he has pushed to strengthen the democratic structure of the Tibetan movement, partly to build institutions capable of guiding the movement after his death. His “retirement” last month seemed timed to lend greater legitimacy to the new prime minister.

“A new generation born in exile has been elected,” said Thubten Samphel, a government spokesman. “It indicates that democracy has taken firm roots. These democratic structures will hold our community together for years to come.”

Mr. Samphel added that the Dalai Lama intended to fulfill his pledge to step away from his political role. “He will relinquish all his remaining links with the administration,” he said.

The Dalai Lama and many older Tibetan exiles were born inside Tibet and fled in 1959, after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. But Mr. Sangay is part of the younger generation born outside Tibet, many of whom are eager for a more confrontational approach with China.

Mukesh Gupta/Reuters

Lobsang Sangay, a senior fellow at Harvard Law School, was elected prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile. He will probably take his post this fall in Dharamsala, India.

According to his campaign Web site, Mr. Sangay was born in 1968 in a Tibetan refugee settlement in Darjeeling, India, the son of parents who fled Tibet in 1959. He attended the prestigious Delhi University in New Delhi, where he joined the local branch of the Tibetan Youth Congress, a student group that promotes Tibetan independence rather than the more moderate autonomy sought by the Dalai Lama.

Mr. Sangay has since embraced the Dalai Lama’s approach, though some analysts wonder whether he will try to change tack, even subtly. In 1995, Mr. Sangay moved to the United States as a Fulbright scholar and received graduate degrees at Harvard, where he is a senior fellow at Harvard Law School.

During the campaign, Mr. Sangay traveled to numerous countries to solicit votes and made stops at Tibetan refugee settlements across India. He will replace the current prime minister, Samdhong Rinpoche, whose five-year term is expected to end in August.

In his victory statement, Mr. Sangay framed his election as a mandate not only from exiled Tibetans but also from those still living inside Tibet under Chinese rule.

“Tibetans inside Tibet followed the elections closely,” he wrote, “and I heard accounts of Tibetans lighting butter lamps, praying and celebrating by bursting firecrackers.”

Khen Rinpoche to hold teaching in Nevada City- May 29th.