New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Wednesday spoke at the Global Buddhist Conference, but scrupulously avoided commenting on the postponement of the India-China boundary talks that was triggered by his participation in the conclave.
A scheduled press conference to be addressed by the spiritual leader was also abruptly called off. The decision to cancel the press conference was taken in view of the latest diplomatic row between India and China.
In a development that may irritate China, a new international Buddhist body headquartered in New Delhi was formed amid Beijing’s attempts to project itself as the real Buddhist nucleus of the world.
‘It’s a political question. No comments,’ the Tibetan leader, who has been living in India since 1959 after fleeing from China, said when asked by TV news channels to comment on Chinese objections to his participation at the four-day Global Buddhist Conference that ended in the evening.
In his valedictory address, the Dalai Lama focused primarily on the importance of Buddhist values of compassion and harmonious living in a world beset by stress and violence.
India has pledged to China that it won’t allow the Dalai Lama to indulge in any political activities on the Indian soil.
The boundary talks between special representatives of India and China, scheduled for Nov 28-29, was postponed last week over differences over the Dalai Lama’s participation in the Buddhist conference in New Delhi.
China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a ‘separatist’ and a persona non grata, objected to the Tibetan leader’s participation in the conference and indirectly accused India of providing a platform to him. India, however, refused to blink and reiterated its oft-stated position that the Dalai Lama was a spiritual leader and an honoured guest and was, therefore, free to speak on spiritual matters in a free democracy.
The differences eventually led to the postponement of the boundary talks.
In his speech, the Dalai Lama spoke about ‘bloodshed, violence and divisions’ in the 21st century and stressed the need for every human being to be happy.
‘In order to make this 21st century a peaceful century, we have to think of things that cannot be achieved through declarations. Peace can come through inner peace,’ he said.
The four-day Global Buddhist Congregation in the capital hosted by the Asoka Mission ended with the constitution of a new international Buddhist body to complement worldwide efforts to carry forward the faith – and preserve Buddhist relics in India and Nepal.
A resolution adopted by the congregation said the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will serve as a common platform for Buddhists worldwide, headquartered in New Delhi, wherein Buddhists traditions will be well represented.
The move is likely to be resented by the Chinese leadership which is keen to manipulate the international Buddhist community to have its way on the selection of the Dalai Lama’s new incarnation before he dies. Beijing was understood to be opposing the new body, which has been in the works for some time, despite the fact that it was in India the Buddha attained enlightenment.
The resolution said the ‘body will operate under the over-arching themes of collective wisdom, united voice and universal responsibility’. The confederation will ‘not compete with the work of existing Buddhist organisations.’
A representative working committee with 40 members has been formed to prepare a draft constitution of the IBC and convene the first general conference to ratify it, the resolution said.
