#His holiness the 14th dalai lama quotes how to#
#His holiness the 14th dalai lama quotes free#

No one else except me can decide to end something started by the fifth Dalai Lama and my decision is final. So when the present Dalai Lama is in such a position, it would be a matter of great pride if the 400-year-old rule of Dalai Lama as both the spiritual and temporal authority gracefully comes to an end.

#His holiness the 14th dalai lama quotes how to#

They are not asking me to come to preach on Buddhism as such, but to teach how to promote inner happiness and Buddhist science to which many people take interest and love to listen. Moreover, I receive many invitations from different schools and universities around the world. Personally, I have been working for the promotion of moral values and religious harmony in the world. So like them I will continue to take spiritual responsibilities for the remaining part of my life. Particularly, the third Dalai Lama received the honorific title of an ecumenical master with yellow hat. So now is the right time to end the dual system of governance established during the fifth Dalai Lama and retain the kind of unanimity and recognition gained by the first four Dalai Lamas in the spiritual domain. I can talk a little about the great deal of accomplishments that I have made for the Tibetan cause, as the Tibetan people both in and outside Tibet put faith and trust in me and there are also many people around the world who consider the Dalai Lama as someone they recognise, trust and love. This should change and now seems to be the time to do it. Some kind of a vestige of the dual system will remain if I am vested with the political authority in the Charter. The leadership democratically elected by the Tibetan people should take over the complete political responsibilities of Tibet. Nobody except me can make this decision and I have made the final decision.

As I am the fourteenth in line of that institution, it is most appropriate if I on own initiative, happily and with pride, end the dual authority of the Dalai Lama. Since the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the Dalai Lamas have assumed both spiritual and temporal rule over Tibet. But if the change comes under the pressure of another person then it will be a disgrace to the former Dalai Lamas. But now as we are in the 21st century, sooner or later the time for change is imminent. The system has brought many benefits since then. It started during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama under different circumstances and the influence of the Mongol chieftain Gushri Khan. The Dalai Lama as the spiritual and temporal authority of Tibet did not begin during the period of the first four Dalai Lamas. Therefore, it is not at all good if the Dalai Lama keeps on holding ultimate power. So the system of one-man rule is not good. But to hold power at the barrel of the gun rather than through elections is immoral and outdated as well. If the leaders are selected through elections, it would be a matter of real pride. So fulfilling the people's aspirations must come through democratic elections. The government of the People's Republic (of China) is meant to work for the people's welfare. This shows that they have more enemies inside rather than outside, which is a matter of shame. It was mentioned in a recent Chinese government's document that it is allocating more budget to maintain internal stability than national defense. To the contrary, China under the authoritarian rule is always facing problems.

#His holiness the 14th dalai lama quotes free#

This is because of democracy, the rule of law, free expression and media.

For example in India, besides its huge population and diverse languages, religions and culture, but on the whole it remains very stable. We have to follow the trend of the free world which is that of democracy. The rule by kings and religious figures is outdated. Since then ten years have passed and the day will come for us when we have to follow a meaningful democratic system.

Since then I described myself as in semi-retired position. Since the direct election of Kalon Tripa, the system of the institution of Gaden Phodrang of the Dalai Lama as both the spiritual and temporal authority has ended.

The Tibetans in exile say вЂњour democracy is a gift from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.вЂќ Ten years ago, the system of electing Kalon Tripa through democratic elections was introduced rather than nomination of the candidate by the Dalai Lama, which was not correct. After coming into exile, I have made sincere efforts to establish a democratic system of governance in the last more than 30 years.