His holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Democracy Service Medal on February 19, 2010. This is a summary of the lively Q&A session moderated by NED Vice-Chair Judy Shelton that followed.
In what sense is democracy universal, and why is non-violence so important?
A free, participatory government is implicitly linked with respect and equality. Democracy requires you to listen to other people and respect different viewpoints. [The Dalai Lama described the process of assigning tasks in the Buddhist monastic system, in which no single monk has authority.] Every task, which must be carried out by a group of monks, starts by with individual monks being asked if they will accept the assignment. After the monk says, “yes, I am willing” [or refuses], the sangha, or community, must give its consent – and must give it three times. Only then does the task legitimately belong to that monk. In this way Buddhism contains the lessons of democracy Buddha himself never gave authority to a single Buddhist monk – it’s a very democratic system. And it has no concepts about different classes. In the mid-1950s, the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong said that he considered Buddha an ancient revolutionary – Buddha had opposed India’s caste system, and had started his own system of teaching.
Non-violence does not mean remaining silent or indifferent.
People must find common ground through talk, through understanding, which means dialogue. That’s the basis of non-violence. Non-violence does not mean remaining silent or indifferent. Non-violence means people must heavily engage over problems, but without using force.
When did you first realize that Tibet had to take the path of democracy and modernization and that these do not threaten traditional Tibetan values?
We gained a better knowledge of democracy after we came to India. The real Buddhist tradition, as I mentioned earlier, is very democratic. The Nalanda tradition, particularly, says we must remain skeptical and carry out investigation, investigation through experiment – when things become clear, then you execute.
Buddha himself said that his followers should not execute his teachings out of faith, out of devotion, but rather out of their own experiment and investigation. So it is very scientific. We must come to the root, the real Nalanda tradition. I often, when I give some teaching, I often prefer the text written by those real-life and authentic great masters of Nalanda institutions. I think if we go back to the source, I think it’s very scientific, and a very democratic principle. So, there are no contradictions between democracy and traditional Tibetan values.
Which country will have greater influence in the years ahead: democratic India or communist China?
I think the United States. [Laughter] Say the question again? What do you mean? Between China and India? Oh. Between these two?
Then, of course I think – recently, the Indian PM – sometimes I describe him as a saintly Prime Minister. Very nice… His face also looks like a saint’s. So he expressed, on the economic field, the idea that India is a little behind the rest of the world – but India is a democracy: transparent and free information, open society and independent judiciary.
These are much lacking in the PRC, unfortunately. The hardliner communist leadership, they do not see the holistic picture needed in order to bring about a genuinely happy society. In order to be a happy society, money is important, no question, but at the same time the other values, such as individual freedom, free information, independent judiciary, like here in the United States, are necessary. My close friend President Clinton, there was once a little bit of a problem, but under the law, even the President is held accountable. And once the Indian PM Narasimha Rao, again, he once had to go to court. So there is equality.
But in China, you can’t imagine the leader to go to court. The court is the Party’s, and his, court. Army – Party’s, and his, army. But the name, the names are very beautiful: People’s Army; People’s Party; People’s Republic. When we were in Peking many years ago, our hotel, where most of the officials lived, was called “People’s Hotel”. But actually, no people, no public, only officials. Only Party members.
And then in the early 1950s, for example, when I was in Peking about six months – At that time, those Party members were really dedicated people. They didn’t care about their personal comfort. They had full belief, faith in Marxism ideology. Very strong belief. So there was a clear sort of vision through socialism to reach a classless society of Communism. And it was a worldwide movement – a beautiful vision, so attractive.
At that time, I also expressed a wish to join Chinese Communist party. I still believe that, as far as my socioeconomic theory is concerned, I consider myself still Marxist. Sometimes I feel my brain is more red than those Chinese leaders’. They don’t care about Marxist socialism, but capitalism – just money, money, money.
Now, today, new Party recruits have no such faith, no such enthusiasm or determination. They are simply trying to get opportunity, power, money. So, today’s communists in China are really corrupted. I think very few of the people, and very few of the intellectuals, support it. Sometimes I say that now the time has come: the Communist party should retire with grace.
Chinese officials, of course, are furious about that. But actually I have plenty of reasons. There is no longer any popular support, no solid ideology. Today’s Chinese Communist Part is a Communist Party without a communist ideology. It is really wonderful. Recently, I met a Nobel laureate; I cannot mention his name, but he is a socialist. In the past he was very sympathetic toward communist China. Recently, I saw him and asked, is China now really socialist? And without hesitation, he said “No, not socialist. Capitalist, authoritarian.” He mentioned that. In the 21st century, people have better educations, there is better evidence about different values – how can such a system remain? Sooner or later, for any political party, it is impossible to remain in power forever. That is certain.
The Chinese communist party I think did some – many wrong things, but at the same time they also made a lot of contributions for a stronger China. So now, with that, gracefully retire! With, I think, some high pension rates. Very good!
Your Holiness, do you ever have a bad day?
When I was young, officially, they described me as a reincarnation of Avalokiteśvara. But in school, they regarded me simply as one young stupid student. So my tutor always kept a whip. Now, it is unthinkable – whip for our Avalokiteśvara’s reincarnation!? But they accepted the reality of just a young student. So at that time – my immediate elder brother and myself, both of us monks and studying together – my teacher kept two whips, one yellow and one ordinary whip. So that yellow whip was supposed to be for that holy student, Dalai Lama. But if that yellow, holy whip was used, I don’t think there was any holy pain! I don’t think. Just the pain… Therefore out of fear I carried on with my studies.
When I was young, officially, they described me as a reincarnation of Avalokiteśvara. But in school, they regarded me simply as one young stupid student.
But sometimes I would play too much and forget to study – then I was very much afraid – oh, now my tutor may use that holy whip! Then gradually, of course, my studies became much more difficult, but in the meantime my common sense also grew, as did my Buddhist knowledge of the law of causality and also seeing everything as interrelated, interconnected. These concepts are very helpful to developing a holistic view of life.
It is possible to face even worst difficulties in life if you take a holistic view. When you are facing difficulties, then analyze the situation. If there is a way to overcome them, then there is no need worry. Make an effort! But if there is no possibility to overcome them, then there is no use in worrying too much. This is a very realistic view, very scientific. So, whenever I have problems, I always look at them from a holistic view and then think: if something can be done to avoid them, or if I can overcome them, I will try my best. But if something is impossible – well, then, okay. We have a strong belief, or concept, called the law of karma. If due to your own karma, nothing can be done – then okay.
Even though the Dalai Lama had a very tight travel schedule, he stayed a little longer to offer some advice…
I want to share with my American friends. I think sometimes you have too much excitement. When positive things happen, you are too much overexcited. If something goes wrong, there is too much complaint. Don’t do that!
Of course, intellectual level, we must know right and wrong and good and bad. But at an emotional level, a deeper level, I think you must try to keep calm. So, when difficult things come, grasp them at an intellectual level, but realize that it should not reach deeper into your mind’s emotion. We all have the same capacity, same potential. Only some people place too much reliance on external things. That makes them much too sensitive. If you focus on inner values, inner resources, then you become more realistic.
Infinite compassionate is really very helpful. Dedicate your own body, speech and mind for the well-being of every being, including your enemy. Everybody has the capacity, and everyone comes from a mother, a mother’s womb. And everybody survived with mother’s milk. So, we have the same potential to develop human compassion.
