Editor’s note: This article, translated from dwnews.com, claims that relations between Beijing and the Dalai Lama are improving and the Dalai Lama will possibly make a visit back to Tibet, as well as make a pilgrimage to Wutai Mountain. The article mentions the Dalai Lama’s connection to Xi Jinping’s late father as well as Beijing’s ‘open attitude’ towards the issue as indicative of reconciliation after a 55 year rift. None of these statements have been confirmed by the Dalai Lama or his aide. 

The road home for the 14th Dalai Lama is not as long and distant as it was before. According to sources familiar with the matter, communication has recently improved between the Dalai Lama and Beijing. The Dalai Lama has expressed a strong desire to return home and Beijing has shown an open attitude towards the issue. Both sides have agreed that the Dalai Lama should return home. The exact details of how he will travel should be confirmed in the near future. In his trip home, the Dalai Lama will make a pilgrimage to Wutai Mountain and be received by high ranking members of the Chinese Communist Party.

Wu Yingjie, the Deputy Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region has previously stated that, “In light of the Dalai Lama’s return, Beijing has been working with a representative of the Dalai Lama to begin negotiations,” and that, “the Dalai Lama and those around him must accept that Tibet is a part of China and give up separatist activities. If this is the case, then all Tibetans can return to Tibet.” Wu Yingjie said that negotiations “have gone smoothly.” In an interview on September 2, the Dalai Lama was optimistic when speaking about the issue. He was asked in the interview whether or not he believed that he would be able to return to Tibet in his lifetime. The Dalai Lama said in response that, “it is quite clear that the situation is changing.”

Photo: Baidu

Xi Jinping’s Tibet Connection

At the present time, there are still issues that must be addressed. Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and CPC Politburo Standing Committee member, and CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping specifically have both voiced their concerns on the issue. Yu Zhengsheng has previously traveled to Tibet on several occasions in order to show the CPC that Chinese rule over Tibet has been in place and solidly established for a long time.

According to sources, when Xi Jinping attended the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 2011, he told Tibetan officials in private that he, “understood supporting Tibet and did not understood ruling Tibet.” Observers have already noted that the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party has already begun moving away from traditional “leftist,” thinking on the Tibet issue and that the Party seems to be becoming more open and pragmatic on the topic. It is said that in the negotiation process with the Dalai Lama, senior Chinese communist officials have not ruled out the possibly of directly communicating with the Dalai Lama through letters instead of using envoys and special representatives.

Ever since Xi Jinping first became the general secretary of the CPC, the Dalai Lama has repeatedly voiced his feelings of benevolence and goodwill towards Xi. The Dalai Lama has also brought up his friendship with Xi Jinping’s father, Xi Zhongxun. In the early 50s, Xi Zhongxun served as the Secretary General of the State Council and worked with Tibetan affairs among other issues. His views towards the Dalai Lama were more moderate than many others and he strongly advocated the protection of minorities including Tibetans and Hui. The Dalai Lama allegedly gave Xi Zhongxun an expensive watch when he visited Beijing. Although the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, Xi Zhongxun still wore his watch in 1980. Many now believe that Xi Jinping’s attitudes towards Tibet have been deeply affected by his father’s way of thinking and the Dalai Lama’s past dealings with his father. 

A Pilgrimage and a Political Tour

What would come from the Dalai Lama’s return home? There has been no exact information on this, but it seems that he would return as a religious figure and his period of time at home would not involve political issues. His return home would mainly involve of a tour of various large mainland cities and then a pilgrimage to Wutai Mountain, his long cherished wish. In this, his wish could become possible. This could be the path that would eventually bring the Dalai Lama home to Tibet.

During this period of time, the Dalai Lama would receive high ranking members of the Chinese Communist Party. Politburo Standing Committee members would accompany the Dalai Lama on various legs of his trip. A previous and still apt news headline summed the situation up nicely: “Walking the Line between a Buddhist Monk and a Politician, the Dalai Lama Transforms Three Times.” Many say that creating a space for the Dalai Lama such as this in China is not impossible and that we may see the answer in the near future.

The Dalai Lama has repeatedly stated publicly that his, “desire to make a pilgrimage to Wutai Mountain has not changed,” and that he is, “looking forward to it.” In late August, the Dalai Lama spoke of his desire to go to Wutai Mountain in an interview in Germany. He said, “In 1954, I spoke about my desire to worship at the mountain to the Chinese government…my desire to go to Wutai Mountain has not changed. In 2005, I made a formal proposal to the Chinese government but nothing has come out of it yet. Xi Jinping, China’s new leader, has specifically mentioned the fact that, ‘in the future revival of Chinese culture, Buddhism has a large role.’ This is the new message.”

A Symbolic Mountain

Wutai Mountain is, in fact, an important symbol of Buddhist coexistence between Han Chinese and Tibetans. The Tibetan Buddhist origins of Wutai Mountain are profound. Tsongkhapa, Tibetan religious leader and founder of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism, is enshrined in Guanyin Cave (also known as Qi Xian Temple). The 6th Dalai Lama mediated at the cave for many years and the 13th Dalai Lama also made a pilgrimage to Wutai Mountain. Guanyin Cave has a marked place where the Dalai Lama sat and meditated. The 14th Dalai Lama, as the reincarnation of the past Dalai Lamas, wishes to continue this historical tradition and make a pilgrimage to Wutai Mountain. This may actually be able to happen in the current political climate, and it is the best way for the Dalai Lama to return home. It should be noted that Wutai Mountain is also a place to make sacrificial offerings to Manjushri. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Chinese emperor is a reincarnation or an embodiment of Manjushri. In this, the sacred mountain connects the two cultures. 

Source: dwnews.com

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Keywords: Dalai Lama returning to China Dalai Lama Beijing relations