DALAI LAMA: Encouraging a Compassionate World
THE DALAI LAMA: Then ‘58– ’59, things become out of control. Then there is no other option except escape. So in 1959, in March, I left. 17th of March I left. Then reach India– April 1959.
LARRY KING: And you’ve never been back?
THE DALAI LAMA: No. So some of the Chinese…there are many Buddhist now China. Now, Chinese Buddhists today say over 400 million Buddhist population now in China. I met a number of them. You see, many of these Chinese Buddhists really very, very eager to learn more from Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
LARRY KING: Do you see any chance of China and Tibet ever do you ever see Tibet getting autonomy?
THE DALAI LAMA: I believe, you see now, the new president Xi Jinping, he publicly sort of expresses Buddhism as a very important part of Chinese culture.
LARRY KING: So you’re hopeful?
THE DALAI LAMA: Yes. So then the present, the sort of policy is actually, very harmful for the unity of that country and also the image of China. Very harmful, this of sort of narrow-minded thinking.
LARRY KING: But the Chinese, they’re posting warnings not to celebrate your birthday.
THE DALAI LAMA: Oh yes. The hardliner. I think that’s quite logical from their viewpoint. Some of their officials describe me as a demon. So they should discourage it. The birthday of the demon. (LAUGH)
LARRY KING: What are they afraid of? What is China afraid of?
THE DALAI LAMA: I think truth. Truth. I stand; no matter how difficult it is always my own matter of principle. Truth, honest, transparent, and not seeking independence or separation. Within People’s Republic of China, we seek meaningful autonomy. For preservation of Tibetan identity, Tibetan language, Tibetan rich cultural heritage like that.
LARRY KING: So you’re optimistic?
THE DALAI LAMA: Basically, yes. I sometimes sort of describe our problem, our struggle a struggle between power of gun and power of truth. For short term, power of gun is more decisive, more effective. But long term, power of truth is much stronger.
