Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday said more and more people in China are beginning to realize that h♔e is not seeking "independence" but meaningful autonomy and preservation of the Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said some Chinese hardlinersꦚ consider him a separatist and always criticize him, while he added that more Chinese are realising that he is not seeking independence and only wishing China to give meaningful autonomy to Tibet.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday said more and more people in China are beginning to realize that h♔e is not seeking "independence" but meaningful autonomy and preservation of the Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Advocating resolution to all disputes through dialogue, he asserted that✃ all human beings are equal and they need to rise above the🎐 narrow-minded approach of "my nation, my ideology" which is the main trigger for fights among people.
The Dalai Lama arrived in Jammu to a warm welcome by his followers who turned up in large numbers despite heavy rains. This was his first visit outside Dharamshala ওin Himachal Pradesh in the last two years. He is likely to visit Ladakh on Friday.
"Some Chinese hardliners considꩲer me a separatist and a reactionary and always criticize me. But now, more Chinese are realising that the Dalai Lama is not seeking independence and only wishing China (to give) meaningful autonomy (to Tibet) and (ensure) preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture,” the 87-year-old spiritual leader told reporters.
Asked about China's objection to his visit, the Dalai Lama said, "This is usual. The Chinese people are not objecting... more and more Chin🔴ese are showing interest in Tibetan Buddhism. Some of their scholars are realising that Tibet൲an Buddhism is very scientific. Things are changing."
The Dalai Lama, whose real name is Tenzin Gyatso, received th🤡e Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and is feted worldwide for his advocacy of independence for Tibet and other causes.
Earlier this month, Beijing criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greeting the Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday, saying India should stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs. However, India rejected China's 🦄criticism and asserted that it is a consistent policy to treat the Dalai Lama as an honoured gueꦆst of the country.
The spiritual leader's visit to Ladakh, where he is likely to spend over a month, is expected to rile China further as it comes amid t💮he lingering military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at several friction points in eastern Ladakh.
"I am leaving for Laꦑdakh tomorrow (Friday) to take part in some programme. The weather did not cooperate," the Dal𓃲ai Lama said.
He expressed displeasure over the preva🐓iling cri♛sis in Sri Lanka.
"My main message to the people is that we all are brothers and sisters and there is no point in fighting... the fight is triggered by narrow-mindedness when they 𝓰start thinking (things) like 🐼'my nation, my ideology'," he said.
Humanity demands that &🤪quot;we live together, whether we like it or not. There might be some problems like in a family which can be solved through talks," the Dalai Lama added.
(With PTI inputs)