Political situation in China not stable, but interest in Buddhism growing: Dalai Lama

Criticising the lack of freedom in China, the Dalai Lama said that the political situation in the country was not stable due to which it was difficult to teach Buddhism.

“In China, the political situation is not stable, but interest in Buddhism is growing. I have received many messages inviting me to visit China, but I feel it would be difficult to teach about Buddhism in a country where there is no freedom. I feel it’s more effective to teach about Buddhism in India,” said the Dalai Lama while addressing a congregation in Ladakh on Saturday, the day when he reached the cold desert region.

“You people of the Himalayan region share a religion and culture with us, especially our language and literature. I have done all I can to revive and strengthen the bonds between us” he said.

Praising the support India offered to the exiled spiritual leader and his followers who came to India in 1959, the Dalai Lama talked about the destruction the Chinese authorities have wrought upon the traditions of studying the great treatises in Tibet. He stressed the importance of scholars from the Himalayan region working to keep these traditions of study alive.

He recalled how the chaos in Tibet in 1959 meant he couldn’t stay and had to flee. Since then, he said, the Government of India has been immensely supportive of and has extended tremendous assistance to Tibetans. He reiterated how great learning traditions that could not continue in Tibet have been re-established in centres of learning in India.

“The precious traditions that we can learn and implement in daily life,” he continued, “have declined in Tibet. Those who fled to India have had the responsibility of preserving these traditions. In Tibet many experienced harsh Chinese treatment, so here in the freedom of India we must do whatever we can to preserve these precious traditions”.

He further said, “In the past we had great practitioners who familiarised themselves with these transformative traditions. This is now very difficult to do in Tibet, which is why it is so important that you people of the trans-Himalayan belt should uphold these traditions”.

J & K