NEWS

Dalai Lama Calls for Peaceful Dialogue as Protests Rage on in Hong Kong

By Craig Lewis | | Buddhistdoor Global

As ongoing public protests in Hong Kong lead to ever more violent clashes between demonstrators and police forces, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has voiced concern, urging all parties to reach a resolution through dialogue for the sake of a more peaceful society. In a televised interview from his official residence in Dharamsala, in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the Tibetan spiritual leader emphasized the urgent need for non-violent expressions of opposition to authoritianism and totalitarianism. “When [former Chinese head of state] Deng Xiaoping created one country, two systems, it was realistic; wonderful. But now, in recent weeks, there have been very [many] disturbances, so I feel some worries,” His Holiness said in an interview with Taiwan’s Hakka Television. (YouTube) “It’s better, I think if everywhere there is peace—it’s the best way . . . very important,” the Dalai Lama said. “Any problem we can resolve through talks, not through some negative [actions] under the influence of anger—[there is] no use. There have been too many disturbances [caused by the disputes]. But I cannot do anything, only pray [for them].” (YouTube) During the same interview, the octogenarian Nobel Peace Prize laureate also offered praise for democracy and religious freedom in Taiwan, urging the Taiwanese not to become demoralized, but to continue to use non-violent, peaceful means to overcome totalitarianism.