World Tibet Network News Thursday, May 28, 1998

By VIBHUTI PATEL Earth Times News Service 17 May 1998

Like many people, last year I went to see "Kundun," Martin Scorsese's moving film about the Dalai Lama's early life. I had seen "Seven Years in Tibet," Hollywood's other film about the Dalai Lama's childhood, in spite of Brad Pitt and the negative reviews. In fact, long before it became trendy I had experienced "Lhasa Chic."

I'd experimented with Tibetan medicine, tried Tibetan food and enjoyed mandalas and tangka art. Decades ago, my curiosity about the mountain kingdom was piqued when my father introduced me to "Lost Horizon," a Frank Capra film based on a book that popularized the Shangri-La myth. But, through all these exposures to the country's mystique, I had not had an opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama, the man who symbolizes Tibet more than any other.

He is often on TV and his smiling face stares out from newspapers and magazines, but I had never seen him in person. That is, until now. A few days ago I was invited to an exclusive power breakfast with His Holiness in midtown Manhattan.

The God-King of Tibet arrived at the appointed hour, like any politician or head of state, with an entourage of secret service men, aides and experts. In his customary maroon and yellow monk's robes he looked familiar and, over a cup of tea, he talked about . . . Tibet, of course--what else? He did not really say much that he has not said before and yet he mesmerized an intimate gathering of jaded and cynical journalists whose job it was to check him out.

It was not just his very ordinariness that was disarming, it was the lack of guile, of political double-speak. The appeal was what in common parlance would simply be called his sincerity. And that is what makes him unique--this is not how politicians or diplomats speak.

We have got so accustomed in recent times to spinmeisters with their constant eye on opinion polls that we are caught off guard when we hear an official speak from the heart. As the Dalai Lama referred to Tibet's tragedy and reiterated what he wants for his country, it became clear that his demands were minimal and selfless. He asks not for total independence but only for limited self-rule, which is necessary to save Tibetan culture and religion. What he expects from the West is that the problem of Tibet will be addressed effectively in discussions with China. Not begrudging the United States's special relationship with China, he points out that only in the context of such a relationship can the thorny question of Tibet be raised.

His seeming lack of anger, bitterness, rancor and harsh words is amazing when one considers what the Chinese have done in Tibet. I marveled at this result of living a spiritual life. And when Tibet is freed, the Dalai Lama insists, it will have a democratic government and he will not be a part of it. He cannot belong to any one party since he represents all Tibetans. His Holiness will then choose to be no more than a simple Buddhist monk. He passingly alluded to "spiritual practices" and "preparing for the end."

On this visit to the United States, the Dalai Lama has repeatedly been asked about the recent controversy over Dorje Shugden, a popular but violent ancient Tibetan deity, that has divided the Tibetan community. Since His Holiness has banned Dorje Shugden worship, he has been accused of denying religious freedom to his followers. His explanation? He himself had venerated this "evil spirit" for many years "in my ignorance," he said. But seeing that some of his followers were more attracted to this "negative spirit worship" than to the Buddha himself, that it divided Tibetans along sectarian lines, and that this is a deity inimical to Tibetan government, His Holiness saw "my mistake" and spoke out against Dorje Shugden -not the least because he considers it his mission to bring the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism together.

Hearing the Dalai Lama, I was strongly reminded of Mahatma Gandhi, this century's other spiritual freedom fighter. Gandhi fought the British tirelessly all his life and yet he wanted no part in the government-no official position--when independence was won. Evocative of Gandhi, too, are the Dalai Lama's humility, simplicity and self-deprecation. They are striking by virtue of their rarity in the political arena. And, as Gandhi represented all his countrymen and tried to reconcile their animosities, he too had come under fire from his own.

In the wake of the Dorje Shugden affair, His Holiness has been dubbed "the Teflon Lama," but he is more than that. Like Gandhi, it is his genuine warmth, his bubbling good humor, his humanism and his refusal to proselytize that endear him in the final analysis. I have always considered myself privileged to have met Gandhi when I was just a toddler. Now I am doubly blessed. I have shaken hands with the Dalai Lama.