International Campaign for Tibet

Dalai Lama shares wisdom on dissent, death and politicians

June 14, 2013

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama joins us in Sydney to share his thoughts on Tibetan autonomy, the lack of a meeting with the Australian Prime Minister, and the ever-invasive presence of technology in our lives.

Transcript
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: In the past three years, more than a hundred Tibetans are reported to have set themselves on fire - so-called self-immolation - to protest continuing Chinese rule and brutality. It's a disturbing trend in a country that's long embraced non-violent protest against China.

The country's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has always advocated a peaceful approach to resisting oppression. But, as China's power grows and the Dalai Lama ages - he's now 78 - there are questions about whether his influence is waning.

Even though the Dalai Lama is regularly in Australia, including this week, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard has never agreed to meet him and earlier this year 7.30 reported that Sydney University had cancelled plans to host an event with the religious leader on campus for fear of upsetting China.

The Dalai Lama joined the program in Sydney today.

Your Holiness, thank you for your time.

Continue »