The Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the 1989 Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama won worldwide praise and applause, with exception of China. The CommitteeÕs citation read, "The Committee wants to emphasize the fact that the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people." On 10 December 1989, His Holiness accepted the prize on the behalf of oppressed everywhere and all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace and the people of Tibet. In his remarks he said, "The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated. Our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of hatred." He also had a message of encouragement for the student-led democracy movement in China. "In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force in June this year. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping in many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nations."
A Simple Buddhist monk
His Holiness often says, "I am just a simple Buddhist monk - no more, nor less." His Holiness follows the life of Buddhist monk. Living in a small cottage in Dharamsala, he rises at 4 A.M. to meditate, pursues an ongoing schedule of administrative meetings, private audiences and religious teachings and ceremonies. He concludes each day with further prayer before retiring. In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often cites a favorite verse, found in the writings of the renowned eighth century Buddhist saint Shantideva:
For as long as space enduresAnd for as long as living beings remain,Until then may I too abideTo dispel the misery of the world.
Tributes to Dalai Lama
US Congressman Mel Levine:
"His Holiness has become over the past 30 years a symbol of peace and a leading international spokesperson for the cause of non-violent social change. His spiritual and political leadership of Tibetans has been the principal force for the preservation of the Tibetan culture and way of life." (Congressional Record, July 1989)
Petra Kelly, author and MP, Germany:
"The Dalai Lama's one of the very few individuals or male leaders who is soft, and feminist-thinking and also ecological and decentralized in his thinking. There are very few male leaders like that in the world. I think this Dalai Lama is probably the most political and the most effective in bringing across that non-violence is the only solution in the atomic age."
Thomas Merton, Christian monk and writer:
"The Dalai Lama is a most impressive person. He is strong and alert, bigger than I had expected ... a very solid, energetic, generous and warm person, very capably trying to handle enormous problems -- none of which he mentioned directly. There was not a word of politics. The whole conversation was about religions and philosophy and especially ways of meditation." (From his Asian Journal, after meeting the Dalai Lama in 1968)
Rabbi Irving Greenberg:
"The Dalai Lama taught us a lot about Buddhism, even more about menschlichkeit [being human], and most of all about Judaism. As all true dialogue accomplishes, this encounter with the Dalai Lama opened us to the other faith's integrity. Equally valuable, the encounter reminded us of neglected aspects of ourselves, of elements in Judaism that are overlooked until they are reflected back to us in the mirror of the Other."