Dalai Lama: 'We are not anti-Chinese'

NBC News' Ann Curry talked today with the Dalai Lama upon his arrival into Seattle for a five-day conference.  The interview aired this evening on "Nightly News" and will continue Monday on "Today." Below is the full transcript

ANN CURRY:

You've come to America to encourage compassion, and yet it seems, you come as you are suffering, Tibet is suffering. 

In the recent hours you have been troubled, yes?

DALAI LAMA:

Yes.  Yes.

ANN CURRY:

Tell me why? What is the burden for you, to see what you are seeing?

DALAI LAMA:

Now, reason be it, after 10th of March-- I had for-- the same experience-- that was-- 10th-- after 10th of March in 1959.  It was a week in Lhasa.  A lot of sort of anxiety-- a lot of fear.

ANN CURRY:

You felt anxiety--

DALAI LAMA:

At that time, at that time.

ANN CURRY:

--and fear?

DALAI LAMA:

Uh-huh (AFFIRM).  So, similar experience now, this time also, after 10th of March.  Afternoon, 10th of March, I received information.  People in certain area of Lhasa, now moving for demonstrations.  As soon as I heard this and that information, then I-- felt, oh, now, our people-- are going to suffer.  That's a definite.  So, then eventually, not only in Lhasa area, but entire Tibetan sort of area.  That means-- beside autonomous region of Tibet, but other four Chinese provinces. My own-- birthplace, Qinghai, and Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan.  Actually, in these four Chinese provinces, around 4 million Tibetans usually exi-- live in this area.  So, almost now entire Tibetan population now expressed their deep resentment and angering those student in Peking (PH). They also-- expressed that way.  So, sorry, and anyway, I really, eh, uh, feel uh of course, fear, much anxiety, anguish.  And the also feeling of helplessness.  Only pray.

ANN CURRY:

Helpless?

DALAI LAMA:

Uh-huh (AFFIRM).

ANN CURRY:

China says you're not helpless.  China blames you for it. (LAUGHTER) It calls you, "A wolf in monk's clothes.  A devil with a human face.  A terrorist."  Are you a terrorist?

DALAI LAMA:

(LAUGHTER) You should judge. (LAUGHS) Is sometimes you see uh the wolf with Buddhist robe during Cultural Revolution, now these words is used.  So, now again, you see they use these uh also they-- these old words.  Okay, doesn't matter.  But one thing I really consider is-- (SNIFF) uh because of official propaganda, millions of innocent Chinese in mainland China, who have no sort of, I would call access to know through sort of third information or some more, I think realistic information. uh they're only relying, they have to rely on their own, how to say, government sources. So, if those innocent Chinese, very sincere Chinese brothers, sisters-- millions of these people really feel-- how-- is something uh demon.  (LAUGHS) Then I feel really sad.  But otherwise no problem.  Whatever you call me-- people call me-- I'm still a human being. (LAUGHTER) I'm still a simple Buddhist monk, and that's all.  No problem. And in fact, as a Buddhist practitioner, this is-- now, this is real sort of test period that I sincerely practicing, sort of Buddhist teaching.  Teaching of compassion, tolerance, and these things.  If because of such sort of circumstances, if I lose my temper, heated. Then that means I'm not really sincere Buddhist practitioner. So, these are for practitioners, (UNINTEL PHRASE) Golden Period.

ANN CURRY:

A Golden Period?

DALAI LAMA:

Uh-huh (AFFIRM).

ANN CURRY:

Is this a period in which you are, as the Chinese government says, did you or your government encourage any of these protests in Tibet, in London, in Paris--

DALAI LAMA:

No.

ANN CURRY:

--in San Francisco?

DALAI LAMA:

No.

ANN CURRY:

And elsewhere?

DALAI LAMA:

In fact uh soon after crises happen.  I express now, of course the expression of uh  defeating is the freedom of expression or speech.  However, we must carry these strictly non-violence.  If people indulge violence, and violence become out of control, then my option is, my choice is, I resign.

ANN CURRY:

You resign as Dalai Lama?

DALAI LAMA:

uh, Dalai Lama I don't know. (LAUGHTER)

ANN CURRY:

Resign as what?

DALAI LAMA:

Resign from responsibility of our struggle. As early as-- '87, '88 I remember, is-- one of my close friend, Jonathan Mirsky.  I think, London Observer, sort of correspondent.  He, at that time, ask, "If things become more violent, then what do you do?"  And I immediately responded, "If the violence become out of control uh there is no other choice except, resign."  I told.  So, this once more I repeated this. And it makes uh  seems to some effect, some Tibetan.  Uh then (pause) then also uh I appeal Chinese community all over the world, and particularly in mainland China.  We are not anti-Chinese.  We always respect and admire this Chinese civilization and Chinese people.  And, as a Tibetan, almost 2,000 years we live side by side. Occasionally, some unfortunate event also there.  But most cases we live happily.  So, therefore, and also, as a Buddhist monk, I always consider our Chinese Buddhist brothers, sisters as a elder student of uh Buddha.  We are younger. Whenever I give some teaching to our Chinese brother, sisters, I always firstly, sharing my respect.  I'm junior, or younger student.  Or, occasionally, I also make joke.  Maybe as I knowledge is concerned, junior student may be little better. (LAUGHTER) So.  So, emotionally, also you see, they very close.  I always admire.  And then, in-- as a matter of fact, some people from China-- most populated nation.

ANN CURRY:

Yes.

DALAI LAMA:

So, we must respect.  We must accept that reality.  Some kind of negative feeling towards them is useless, unjust.  And then, also, they, what say they, what what call they uh Olympic Game. Right from the beginning, I support that ancient nation, most public nation, now, really deserve to host for this uh world famous Olympic game.  And then after now this well, what do you want to call uh Olympic to, tore-- torch.

ANN CURRY:

Torch.

DALAI LAMA:

After some uh unpleasant, sort of event in happened in England and Paris, I sent a message to Tibetan in San Francisco area, please don't uh create any violent things.  I sent a message.

ANN CURRY:

Is your message that the protests stop?  Or, that the violence stop?

DALAI LAMA:

Violence.  Violence--

ANN CURRY:

So, you are supporting the protests?

DALAI LAMA:

The protest?  Firstly, I myself, fully committed about democracy, the right of expression, the freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of thought, among Tibetan.  Those Tibetan who directly criticize me, I respect their expression. (PAUSE) It is part of practice of criticism.  And part of, part of democracy.  So, therefore, see, I cannot say, "Shut up." (CHUCKLES) Even as a critizi, criticism towards me, or criticism of do-- criticism about Buddhism now among Tibetan.  Now, we can't stop these things.

ANN CURRY:

There is a strong feeling though, in China, specifically from its President Hu, who says you are fanning and masterminding the unrest in Tibet.  And that you are trying to sabotage the Olympics.  Do you want the world to boycott the Olympic--

DALAI LAMA:

No.

ANN CURRY:

--Games, to support your--

DALAI LAMA:

No.

ANN CURRY:

--efforts in Tibet?

DALAI LAMA:

No.

ANN CURRY:

Do you wish the President of the United States, and other world leaders might consider not attending the open ceremonies in support of your efforts in Tibet?

DALAI LAMA:

That's up to them.

ANN CURRY:

Do you wish they would?

DALAI LAMA:

I wish, basically, their world event, game event should be uh should take place smoothly.  Uh but whether you see individual leader, go down or not,  that also up to them. (LAUGHS) That individual right.

ANN CURRY:

Would it please you if world leaders say, "We care about Tibet, so we want to make a statement, and not attend the opening ceremonies"?  Would it please you?  Would it be important?

DALAI LAMA:

I heard there is some leaders already decided not to go there.

ANN CURRY:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain.

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