Photostory
By Misty Volaski

Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of Tibet and spiritual advisor to the Dalai Lama, speaks in a voice just above a whisper, yet his message has echoed across world since his election by exiled Tibetans in 2001.

That message - to eventually free Tibet from Chinese oppression by non-violent means - was delivered in two speeches at Oak Grove School last weekend.

Rinpoche, a friend of the school's late founder, J. Krishnamurti, spoke of how violence only begets violence, a lesson learned from Krishnamurti. "He was of the most outstanding philosophers and spiritual teachers of the 20th century."

The Ojai Valley News was granted a one-on-one interview with Rinpoche last Saturday. There, he talked of the importance of non-violence and compassion towards our fellow man, and how the world's leaders today often overlook this and opt for a violent solution such as war.

"No conflict can be resolved through violence," he said. "The U.S.A. is thinking they are fighting terrorism. But they are doing so through violence. This is basically wrong. Violence cannot put an end to terrorism. It only continues the cycle."

At the age of four, Rinpoche entered a monastery in the southeastern Tibet. At the age of five, he was recognized as a reincarnation of the fourth Samdhong Rinpoche, and was given the opportunity for an education. He fled Tibet in 1959 because of Chinese oppression, and was commissioned by the Dalai Lama in 1960 to go to Dharamsala, India to work for Tibetans in exile. In 1971, he was hired as a professor at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies - a place "set up as an alternative to the Buddhist students who used to go to Tibet" for higher education and enlightenment, said Rinpoche.

In 2001, the Dalai Lama changed the ways in which his cabinet members were elected in order to give Tibetans more freedom of choice. Rinpoche was the winner, with over 80 percent of Tibet's voters choosing him as their prime minister. Under the new system, Rinpoche could choose his own cabinet members, which first had to be approved by parliament.

Today, Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama are leading the way towards a free Tibet, one that is "not a separate but for a genuine autonomy from China," Rinpoche said.

Though many of Tibet's resident youths are growing increasingly frustrated with their government's non-violent course of action, Rinpoche noted that there are several reasons why a violent course of action would be fruitless in the long run. China's army more than dwarfs the entire population of Tibet, and an actual war with China would not only be way too expensive for Tibet but also would hinder international support. Tibet's non-violent protest against China has brought much sympathy and support to their cause and has put more pressure on China now than ever before.

"Non-violence is the only process that can bring a sustainable result, and while violence may bring some result, it will not be sustainable," Rinpoche said. He added that Tibet and its elected officials as well as the Dalai Lama himself want to be consistent and use the traditional Buddhist techniques of achieving change.

"It will resolve sooner or later," Rinpoche said of the Chinese conflict. "Neither side can achieve anything through violence. Integration and stability (are needed). You cannot achieve anything through repression. But this process takes a lot of time."

Rinpoche added that this decade will be one of much change for Tibet. Already, Rinpoche and several other officials from the Tibetan government-in-exile have met with Chinese officials, and more talks and negotiations are planned to take place.

"Violence produces counter-violence," Rinpoche said. "The whole of history shows this. It is quite obvious that violence cannot resolve this issue."

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

Back to the news