TAWANG: Following the first day of teachings at Yiga Choeling ground in Tawang monastery today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to over 50 members of the press and media.
Addressing the reporters, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed appreciation over the important role press play in educating masses about the world. However, His Holiness reminded the press about the even more important role of an objective reporting devoid of biases or preconceived notions to provide truthful information.
His Holiness further spoke about his three main commitments, which include promotion of human values, promotion of religious harmony and finally, the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist Culture and Tibet’s fragile environment.
Emphasising the growing need for secular ethics in the world, His Holiness spoke about a curriculum based on the power of secular ethics being prepared by the Tata school of Social Science and Research. His Holiness informed that a conference on the subject is also forthcoming soon, indicating that the conference will focus strictly on secular ethics through one’s own experience, common sense and scientific findings.
Responding to questions on the issue of the next Dalai Lama, His Holiness said that whether the institution of Dalai Lama remains or not should be determined by the general Tibetan Public.
His Holiness explained that the involvement of the erstwhile Qing emperors in the selection process of the Dalai Lama is somewhat legitimate, because they were Buddhists and also due to the priest-patron relation existent between Tibet and China at that point of time.
However, His Holiness clearly stated that the current Chinese regime has no role in the choosing of the next Dalai Lama; firstly because they are communists and secondly because they do not believe in the concept of religion.
“To participate in the reincarnation process of the next Dalai Lama, they should first express a strong belief in religion and then have faith in the concept of rebirth. They should then search for the reincarnation of Mao, Deng Xiaoping, and then finally the Dalai Lama,” His Holiness asserted.
A reporter further asked His Holiness about the possibility of the 14th Dalai Lama as the last Dalai Lama. His Holiness reiterated his response and asserted that the people of Tibet will determine the continuity of the institution of the Dalai Lama institution. “If the majority of Tibetans feel that the Dalai Lama institution is no longer needed, then the institution should be discontinued,” His Holiness emphasised.
However, His Holiness clarified that, at present, there is a lot of respect for the Dalai Lama in many parts of the world including Mongolia, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh among others. Therefore, His Holiness also hinted at the possibility of convening a conference to discuss the issue of the next Dalai Lama before the end of this year.