During a two-day dialogue with youth leaders at his home in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, organized by the United States Institute of Peace, the Dalai Lama made these remarks (USIP).
On Thursday, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama, stated that he would prefer to pass away among the genuine and loving people of India, a free and open democracy, rather than among the “artificial” officials of China.
These comments were made by him during a dialogue with youth leaders that took place over the course of two days at his residence in Dharamshala, which is located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, as part of an interaction organized by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
“I assured Manmohan Singh, who served as the prime minister of India before I did, that I have another fifteen to twenty years of life in me. When the time comes for me to pass away, I would rather do so in India. People who aren’t pretending to be anything other than themselves can be found all around India.
If I were to die in the presence of Chinese officials, that would be too artificial. I would much rather pass away in this democratic and free country.”
In a video that was shared on Facebook, he elaborated on this idea by saying that “at the time of death…one must be surrounded by trusted friends who really show you genuine feelings.”
The Dalai Lama’s spiritual teaching
The Dalai Lama, who is revered all over the world for his enlightened spiritual teachings as well as his wise political views, is generally regarded with suspicion by the Chinese authorities. This is because of his political views. He is frequently regarded as both a controversial figure and a separatist figure by the Chinese authorities.
When China began its occupation of Tibet in a manner that was contrary to international law in the 1950s, the Tibetan Spiritual Leader was forced to seek refuge in India. The Dalai Lama made efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the issue of Tibet by advocating for a middle-ground negotiation with China.
The position that the Indian government has taken regarding the Dalai Lama has been unambiguous and unchanging. The people of India hold him in the highest esteem due to his position as a revered religious leader. In India, all restrictions on his ability to carry out his religious activities have been lifted.
After an absence of more than three years, the Dalai Lama traveled to New Delhi just last month. After staying in Ladakh for a whole month, he made his way back to the nation’s capital.
The Dalai Lama is a revered figure who promotes democratic ideals and free expression not only in his own country but also on a global scale. As a result of Chinese aggression, the Dalai Lama was forced to resign his position as the spiritual leader of more than seven million Tibetan Buddhists and spent the last several decades living in exile.
