Dalai Lama's reincarnation lies in hands of Tibetans, claims Sikyong

Dharamsala, June 23

Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration, addressing the 8th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet that started in Washington, said, “The issue of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation lies in the hands of the spiritual leader and the Tibetans.”

He reiterated that Tibet was never a part of China which reverberated in the findings of researchers like Michael van Walt van Praag, Professor Lau Han Shiang and others. He said the Dalai Lama led Tibetans unanimously adopted middle way approach as a viable solution for resolving the Sino-Tibet conflict based on the ground realities.

Sikyong said he was hopeful that parliamentarians present at the conference would take the message of Tibet being not a part of China back to their countries.

Given Chinese President Xi Jinping’s policy of eradicating Tibetan identities, as was seen in the recent reports of the establishment of colonial boarding schools in Tibet, Sikyong said unquestioned China would never be eager to come to the negotiation table.

He urged the participants to question China’s iron grip rule in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama addressed the inauguration of the 8th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet in a short video.

He said “Today, many people belonging to different groups of supporters of the Tibetans’ cause are gathering in Washington. I would like to thank you all. On the one hand, the cause of Tibet is about truth, on the other hand, it involves an understanding of the workings of the mind with a view to cultivating compassion and inner peace. Therefore, it is not just a matter of politics, but also pertains to the cultivation of peace of mind based not on faith, but on reason.”

The Dalai Lama said, “We Tibetans can set an example to others. If we can extend our culture and values more widely, I am sure it will benefit many people. I want to be clear I am not urging anyone to propagate the Buddhism, but I am talking about developing a kind heart.”