The Week India – July 14, 2019

JULY 14, 2019 • THE WEEK 33

Tibetan language and not in Chinese.
Among the Buddhist countries, only
Tibet and Mongolia have the tradi-
tion of learning from these Nalanda
masters.

Are Buddhism and science com-
patible?
Buddha asked his followers not to
accept his teachings simply out of
devotion or faith, but after thorough
investigation. While science also
propagates research, investigation
and experiment, it has its limitation.
But Buddhist teachings have no
limitation. It inculcates [in us] three
diff erent learnings—understanding
the obvious through our sensorial
experience, the second by refl ec-
tion and inference, and the third by
resorting to testimony. So there is a
lot of common ground with modern
science.

Can modern science coexist with
traditional learning?
Nearly 40 years ago, I started discus-
sions with modern scientists and no-
ticed that science is something use-

ful. I felt that it should be introduced

in our monastic institutions. Th ere

were sceptics who felt that learning

science was dangerous, especially in

English. But now they feel that many

useful things are learnt from modern

science and [vice versa]. Th e wider

knowledge provided by the Nalanda

tradition provides greater under-

standing of subjects like physics and

psychology.

Will there be a 15th Dalai Lama,

your reincarnation?

I can only be concerned about this

life; the next is not my concern. What

is important are the teachings, the

institution of the Dalai Lama comes

after that. If reincarnation was so

important, then why did the Buddha

not have a reincarnation? All these

Nalanda masters’ reincarnations

should have been there. However,

despite [there being no reincarna-

tions], even after thousands of years,

their teachings are still relevant. So

we should give more importance to

the teachings. Sometimes, I also feel

the lama institution has some con-

nection with the feudal system and is

not relevant today.

Why do you say it is feudal?

If we take the example of some coun-

tries, their kings sometimes carry

twin responsibilities. Political and re-

ligious. Th eir king is the fi nal authori-

ty on religion. So I feel it is something

like the feudal system. But it is up

to the will of the people. Tomorrow

if one child expresses convincingly

about past life, then people may

realise that this is a reincarnation of

a particular person, but there is no

certain institution for it. If you inves-

tigate, there are some lamas who are

not properly qualifi ed, but they take

the name of the higher lama. Since

the reincarnation system started in

Tibet, there have been many good

reincarnated lamas who served Bud-

dha dharma, but sometimes there

have also been cases where someone

recognised as a reincarnation turned

out to be a disgrace, which is very

sad. Th e guru may sometimes give

teachings of a very dignifi ed nature

but if you investigate deeper, he may

be looking to gain something.

Is Tibet the fi nal frontier of Bud-

dhism?

Buddhist history is the real holder

of Buddha dharma. In Tibet, the big

monastic institutions have done rig-

orous study, and I think like Nalanda,

they really hold Buddha dharma,

which is why the Drepung Monastery

in Tibet is called the second Nalanda

university. In Tibet, we have com-

plete knowledge of Buddha dharma

because of these institutions, and

not because of an individual lama

who carries on a funny way of life

(laughs).

Will the people of Tibet ever get

freedom?

Once I was in Manipur and someone

mentioned to me that Manipur wants

independence. Should the Union of

India dissolve east India and grant

WAITING FOR A GLIMPSE

People outside the Dalai Lama’s

Temple in Mcleodganj