Dalai Lama favours separation of politics and religion

Thursday, August 11, 2011

PTI

New Delhi-- With Harvard scholar Lobsang Sangay succeeding him as the political head of Tibetans, the Dalai Lama today said he always believed political and religious institutions must be separated from each other.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (c), Indian Union Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid (l) and Chairman National Commission for Minorities Wajahat Habibullah (r) attend the fourth annual Lecture on Minorities in New Delhi on August 10, 2011. (Photo/AFP/Getty Images/Raveendran)

The 76-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader said that he always said that religious and political institutions should function separately but was himself discharging both the roles as the situation necessitated it.

“Now I feel I am committed to what I have been saying all these years,” he said addressing the fourth annual lecture of National Commission for Minorities here.

The Dalai Lama said that he had served as political head of the Tibetan government for 60 years during tough times and now had the right to claim retirement from this responsibility being a senior Buddhist monk.

The spiritual leader, who described himself as a “son of India”, expressed concern over corruption in the country saying it was a “disgrace” especially as India is a religious country.

“This is not criticism but I am concerned. Corruption by religious minded persons is really disgrace. When I hear of immense corruption in China, I think OK because they are non-believers, they believe in power and money.

“But look at India. This nation is more or less a religious minded nation. Every Indian worships in the morning but in the mean time is this corruption. I say there is no third way. Either remain believer, God fearing or if you really want corruption, then carry corruption as a non-believer,” he said, adding, “Corruption by religious minded people is really a disgrace.”

Asked why the Tibetans needed to elect a Prime Minister of the government-in-exile if they are only seeking autonomy within China, the Dalai Lama made it clear that they have “never formally used” the terms like “exile government” or Prime Minister.

Replying to another question, he said that thousands of exiled Tibetans are in India and a central organisation is needed to give them education and to carry their voice.

Sangay, who succeeded the Dalai Lama as political head was sworn in on Monday at a function in Dharamshala presided by the Dalai Lama and attended by 5,000 Tibetans, including community leaders settled outside Tibet and India.

Asked whether the incident of beating of Tibetan Lamas during a prayer meeting in Nepal some time back pointed out to the growing Chinese influence in that country, he said, “Spiritually Nepal and Tibet are brothers and sisters” before adding that a question on politics should be directed to Sangay.

Noting that the world belongs to humanity and countries belong to people not the leaders, he said, “China belongs to the Chinese people not to the Communist Party.”

The Tibetan spiritual leader said he can now focus more on promotion of inner values and harmony of various religions as he has resigned from his political responsibilities.

The Dalai Lama also urged Indians to take a pro-active role in spreading the message of religious harmony across the world.

“As a messenger and a ‘chela’ (disciple) of India, I am quite active in promoting the message of India. Now my boss must also get active in promoting it. Otherwise people will say this is Dalai Lama’s creation. It’s time India must promote its message of religious harmony,” he said.

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi also attended the function along with NCM Chairman Wajahat Habibullah.