Received this question on a forum:
The Dali Lama has been speaking in Seattle for the past week about compassion, while attempting to avoid politics, but the Tibetan situation has pervaded the events despite any efforts.
How is the Tibetan situation regarded over there? –I assume that most of the Chinese don’t advocate their political liberation, but what have you witnessed regarding Tibet’s cultural freedom –if anything at all?
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Chinese here feel strongly that religion and government should be separated. The Dalai Lama is both a religious and government leader which causes the problem.
Interesting – a couple weeks ago I saw a show in government tv that gave a blow by blow case to show that the Dalai Lama’s have been heading terrorist groups since the 1950’s – complete with scans of documents. It was very cheezy, and very “big brother”.
The subject came up last week at dinner with Chinese friends – asked what we thought – my boss said “We love the Dalai Lama. Have church and government together would be bad for the United States, but for the Dalai Lama it works.”
I quickly commented how beautiful the view was and everyone dropped the subject. It was getting heated on both sides.
Staying away from the topics of politics and religion at meal time is good advice no matter what country you’re in.
What are my personal views? Don’t expect to see me at a rally – I’m in China to do art, not disrupt. But personally the Dalai Lama has been more inspirational to me over the years than the Popes. Don’t know if that comment says more about the Dalai Lama or the Popes.
And even though his last name is Lama, he only has one head. I checked on Wikipedia. I’m smart like that.