Written by Laurence Brahm - Published by Review Asia on 08/01/2008

Amid so much human suffering and economic losses, China needs Buddha’s blessings before the Olympics. Surely, that is one thing the Dalai Lama himself can do.

In late July, the Dalai Lama’s envoys, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, engaged in the seventh round of talks with ministerial-level counterparts in Beijing. These talks – and what may transpire over the coming weeks before the Olympics – represent a rare, if not the last, opportunity to surmount a decades-long stalemate and move onto a more positive epoch.

A breakthrough on the Tibet question is awaited and badly needed now more than ever, if only to assure the survival of Buddhism in China, Tibetan culture and to clean up Beijing’s human rights image after getting excessive media exposure in this Olympic year. Such breakthrough could happen within a few weeks if it is really the intention of both sides. After all, Buddhists say everything begins with intention.

As a signal of positive intention, on June 4 this year, the Dalai Lama led prayers in Dharamsala for the Sichuan earthquake victims. An official statement by the Kashag, or Tibetan government in exile, issued that day stated:

“For the wellbeing of all sentient beings, and particularly for the enormous suffering caused to over 15 million people by a natural disaster that hit the Sichuan Province of the People’s Republic of China on 12 May 2008, the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration is organizing – through its department of Religion and Culture – a grand prayer congregation today at the Thekchen Cheling monastery, led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama… Through this grand prayer ceremony, the Kashag prays for all the quake victims, including those who died in the recent earthquake and their families as well as for the speedy recovery of all those injured during the disaster… The Kashag is appreciative of the great rescue and relief efforts undertaken by millions of people.”

Not only was the prayer ceremony led by the Dalai Lama himself. Of particular importance was the attendance of Samdong Rimpoche, prime minister of the government-in-exile, and of all cabinet ministers, staff and officials accompanied by thousands of Tibetans. It was a clear expression of both the Dalai Lama and the government-in-exile of their sincere condolences for the earthquake victims and China’s difficulties in this time. In addition, all monasteries and nunneries in India followed with prayers, an unprecedented outpouring of compassion for earthquake victims and China organized by the Dalai Lama and the Kashag. The event sent a clear and unequivocal message of intention, the one that Beijing should be waiting for.

For some time now, Beijing has been accusing the Dalai Lama of not having sincere intentions, citing his failure to control the riots in Tibet and overseas protests against China, particularly during the Olympic torch relay. Actually, the Dalai Lama’s status as a spiritual instead of political leader has practical limitations. Diverse non-government organizations within the Tibetan exile community incubated in India’s freethinking democracy say and do what they want. Aside from moral persuasion, there is not much the Dalai Lama can do to control them. But the prayers are something he could deliver.

At the same time, the Dalai Lama’s envoys are asking for improvements in conditions in Tibet after they have deteriorated following the March demonstrations that turned into riots. Specifically, they are asking for the resumption of normal travel to Tibet, the cessation of criticism of the Dalai Lama during political education sessions in Tibetan monasteries, and the release of innocent prisoners – or fair trial for those that cannot be released.

In this stalemate situation, a thawing is needed for a breakthrough. The unprecedented massive prayers for the Sichuan earthquake victims could just help break the ice. The timing of these prayers was uncanny, as this year’s Sagadawa Festival – representing Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and nirvana – fell on June 4 according to the Tibetan calendar, an obviously politically sensitive coincidence. Holding prayers on this day had a calming effect. The last thing that either side wanted was an untoward incident that could stoke the still smoldering pyre of discontent over the Tibetan issue. By leading these prayers and calling all Tibetans to join him, the Dalai Lama effectively prevented an escalation.

On that same day the Tibetan government-in-exile issued a statement clarifying the Dalai Lama’s position on three issues for which China had been seeking re-clarification: his support of the Olympics, adherence to non-violent expression, and not seeking separation or independence. The document, which compiled and cited public statements of the Dalai Lama on these issues consistently over recent years, was intended to clarify each stance beyond a doubt, signed by Rinpoche himself, underscoring that these views were held by the government-in-exile as well.

Beijing has repeatedly cited demands for “greater autonomy” as the reason for previous talks stagnating. In a recent interview with Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper, Rinpoche clarified that “general autonomy means sincere implementation of the constitutional provisions of the national which are granted for all the minority nationalities.”

He added: “We are demanding only for the sincere implementation of the autonomy provision in the constitution… His Holiness [the Dalai Lama] is very happy to send his various representatives to various Tibetan areas: number one, to ask them not to protest, and number two, to ask them to address [issues] within the constitutional framework of the People’s Republic of China.”

Beijing could not have received a better olive branch a mere month before the Olympics, when it needs it most. The offering means the negotiation teams should be able to move on to other issues and construct a new platform for the future.

Those issues should seek to place common points over and above differences at this critical juncture. Otherwise, the knot cannot be untied. Remember the time when Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong decided to meet then US president Richard Nixon? One handshake and all that anti-imperialist and reciprocal reds-under-the-beds rhetoric disappeared from both sides. If China’s propaganda machinery can stop demonizing the Dalai Lama, then Tibetans might feel better about their future and this, in itself, will do much more than anything that the People’s Armed Police can do in assuring and ensuring that stability by winning the people’s hearts and minds.

Failure to do these things and achieve some form of breakthrough may lead to further frustrations among Tibetans on both sides of the Himalayas. Predictably, one can expect further outbursts of protest again in the run-up to the Olympics. The results could be equally disastrous for both sides. And this is not what China – or the Dalai Lama for that matter – needs or wants.

What both sides should be discussing is a potential meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and the Dalai Lama, who could repeat once and for all his already public statements on his support for the Olympics, non-violence, and not seeking separation or independence. The Dalai Lama has already agreed to send representatives to Tibetan areas to further emphasize these points at the grassroots and assure stability in the run-up to the games and, more importantly, beyond China’s coming out party this year. This decades-long impasse should be broken now – or it never will be.

Hu has more to gain than lose by meeting the Dalai Lama. There is a kind of chicken-and-egg conundrum here. If the Dalai Lama is not being criticized in Tibetan monasteries, monks and nuns will be calm, which means the Tibetan people feel better, assuring the stability that China needs for its Olympics and long-term stability. If Hu does not meet the Dalai Lama, the more radical groups among the Tibetan exile community will protest throughout the Olympics, potentially setting off more demonstrations within Tibetan areas. Either way, it will be a public relations disaster, so immunization is better than overdue cures.

In this year of calamity, nobody wants more disasters. With so much suffering under the media limelight, China needs Buddha’s blessings before the Olympics. Surely, that is one thing the Dalai Lama himself can do.

Laurence Brahm is a global activist, international mediator, political columnist and author. He is the leading advocate of a fresh development paradigm - The Himalayan Consensus - an innovative approach to development.

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