Dalai Lama Optimistic About Tibet Autonomy

Kolkata, West Bengal, india, 10 January 2010 (IBNS)- Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said he was optimistic about the eventual autonomy of Tibet despite the ongoing high-handedness of the Chinese authorities and human rights violations to crush the movement.

“Tibetan spirit is very strong and basically I think things are really changing. I have a strong feeling that over a billion people in China have the right to know the reality,” he said, expressing hope while criticizing the Chinese authorities.

According to media reports, a filmmaker of Tibet has been jailed for six years by the Chinese authorities for making a documentary on the situation in Tibet with footage of people praising the Dalai Lama.

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks during a lecture titled "Art of Happiness" in Kolkata January 10, 2010. (Reuters)

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, whose recent trip to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, renewed tensions between India and China, said India is showing the world the true spiritual path.

He was speaking on The Art of Happiness at an award function organized by the Ladies Study Group Charitable Trust. He handed over an award to city-based NGO Disha for their work among the underprivileged children on the educational front.

At his humorous and candid best, the Dalai Lama said it is more important to build hospitals and schools than temples if spiritual goals were to be pursued in right earnest.

“Teachings of Buddha is more important than the statues of Buddha,” he said.

“I think Indians should value their treasure of over 1000 years and not neglect it. I go everywhere as an ambassador of India to spread its message of religious harmony,” he said.

He said India’s ideals of ahimsa (non-violence) and karuna (compassion and kindness) is what the world needs to pursue happiness.

“India is our guru (teacher) and we are chelas (followers),” he said.
He said happiness comes from the heart, from within and not through money, power or even knowledge.

“Buddha says ultimate happiness is within yourself,” he said.

He asked all to fight the forces of hatred and jealousy and urged all to work for the poor.