Prague, Oct 19 (CTK) – The Tibetan Dalai Lama thanked Czechs for their support for Tibet, which is important for the Tibetan people and the ideal of a non-violent solution to the Tibetan question, he said in a lecture he delivered in Prague on Wednesday.
The Dalai Lama is now on a visit to the Czech Republic where he attended the international conference Forum 2000 in Prague, founded by his friend, former Czech president Vaclav Havel.
China was angered by the visit.
On Monday, President Milos Zeman, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and the heads of the upper and lower houses of parliament, Milan Stech and Jan Hamacek (all three Social Democrats, CSSD), issued a statement stressing that the one-China policy, pursued by the Czech government, did not change with Tibetan Dalai Lama’s visit.
The Dalai Lama stressed that five years ago, he gave up political posts and now he was only working for the protection of Tibetan culture and the environment.
The Dalai Lama pointed out that roughly 1,000 people supporting Tibet had come to welcome him to the Hradcanske namesti square in Prague on Monday.
He said he was very grateful and highly esteemed this.
This is important not only for six million Tibetans, but for the whole world, for the ideal of non-violence, the Dalai Lama said.
The Dalai Lama said a non-violent solution to the situation in Tibet, dominated by China, was the only possible option.
He said he was not trying to change the political arrangement in China and that he had given up Tibetan political posts in 2011.
The Dalai Lama said he noticed the protests by the Chinese diplomacy when he met representatives of the countries he visited.
He said this was a routine affair.
The Dalai Lama said he believed if he had non-public meetings with those criticising him, he would perhaps find out that they had a different view.
The people who grew up in totalitarian regimes have developed the ability to think one thing and to say something different, he added.
He said he had the feeling that the Czechs, too, had developed something similar.
The Dalai Lama pointed out former president Vaclav Havel, a friend of his.
He said whenever he came to the Czech Republic, he missed him and he felt that Havel was no longer here.
The Dalai Lama said he believed he was helping maintain Havel’s legacy alive.
He said in his lecture people should not be overwhelmed by property.
Money is important, but it is more important to achieve internal quiet, he added.
He repeated his earlier statement that people should show more empathy and love as this was a natural human quality.
Many people showed interest in the lecture. They were queuing outside the Lucerna palace where he was to speak half an hour before it.
