ASPEN, Colo.—The Dalai Lama said Saturday he’s not a “demon” and not a threat to China if Chinese leaders grant Tibet autonomy.
He also said the Chinese government has lost its way from its communist roots and has become a nation of rich and poor.
“It’s the Communist Party without being led by communist ideology,” he told an overflow crowd in Aspen attending a symposium sponsored by The Aspen Institute think tank.
The Dalai Lama said Chinese leaders have attempted to focus attention on him instead of the Tibetan people who are suffering as a result of a recent crackdown in Tibet.
“I’m a Buddhist monk, I’m a practitioner. Some Chinese leaders called me a demon or wolf in a monk’s robe. The truth is, I’m a simple Buddhist monk,” he said.
He said if Chinese leaders want to target him, “It doesn’t matter. Now one demon creates more demons,” he said.
The Dalai Lama said he wants to tell the Chinese people the truth about what is going on in Tibet, but his message is being blocked.
“I always think about the Chinese people, but now the Chinese government has closed that possibility,” he said.
The Dalai Lama said war is obsolete because both sides get hurt. He said the 21st Century should be one of dialogue instead of bloodshed.
Taking off his shoes and crossing his legs in an overstuffed chair, the Dalai Lama frequently chuckled and said he’s not a “little Buddha.”
“I’m just a human being, nothing special,” he said.
He also drew laughter when a member of the audience asked him what could be done about the “cantankerous” rich people in Aspen.
“I don’t know. It’s your responsibility, not my responsibility,” he said.
The Dalai Lama said the rich have a duty to help the poor with their education, training and other needs, “not just give them money.”
On Friday, he met with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who called on China to release Tibetan prisoners and account for persons who “disappeared” during the recent Tibetan uprising.
The Dalai Lama praised McCain for his concern, but he emphasized he wasn’t endorsing McCain’s presidential bid.
The Dalai Lama is seeking support from world leaders for upcoming talks with China once the Olympics are over. He says he wants autonomy, not independence, for Tibet.
China claims Tibet has been its territory for centuries.
