The Dalai Lama and Vice President Annette Lu (
On the second day of a 10-day visit to Taiwan, the Tibetan spiritual leader, accused by Beijing of visiting the island to collaborate with "Taiwan independence forces," led the first of a series of public sermons to the faithful.
Asked by a listener if he would be willing to spread the Dharma, or Buddhist law, in officially atheist China, the Dalai Lama said it would first require some enlightenment on Beijing's part.
"Everywhere, if there are some people who are really eager to learn from the Dharma, then it is our duty, responsibility to explain," the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said.
"So in the future, of course, when the sort of political situation -- or I think the way of thinking in the minds of the government of the People's Republic of China -- is becoming more open, more realistic, then of course everything will be easy."
While the Dalai Lama has said he was on a purely spiritual journey, China's state-run Xinhua news agency said his meeting with members of the ruling DPP government showed a political agenda.
"The Dalai's second Taiwan trip will certainly be a political visit for collaborating with Taiwan independence forces to separate the motherland," Xinhua said. "With such a political backdrop, how could Dalai's trip be a pure `religious tour?'"
Lu, whom China has branded "scum of the nation" for describing Taiwan and China as "close neighbors but distant relatives," thanked the Dalai Lama for braving China's disapproval and showing concern for Taiwan.
"Tibetan compatriots have faced all kinds of oppression from the Chinese Communist Party, but he still has the heart and compassion to come to Taiwan, because he knows we have many difficulties as well," she said in an address ahead of an inter-faith prayer meeting attended by the Dalai Lama.
"Don't forget, 90 nautical miles away, on the coast of the Chinese mainland, 300 missiles have already been deployed, and 50 more will be added every year," she said.
"With so many religious leaders here, we hope to use Buddhist compassion to pray that all people with power will be humble, work hard, love the people, be peaceful and treat all life with kindness," Lu said.
Aside from Lu's appearance, the meeting's focus was more spiritual than political.
Followers held hands in prayer or waved Tibet's snow lion flag as the exiled spiritual leader addressed them from a five-tier stage decorated with a large tapestry of the Buddha.
Sitting on a throne with his legs crossed, the Dalai Lama told the crowd in a packed stadium that real happiness comes from "a sense of satisfaction in the heart," not from physical comfort.
Earlier yesterday, lining up outside the stadium in suburban Linkou, exiled Tibetan nun Karma Yangchen Nyije called China's criticism "an insult to Buddhism."
"Words can't describe my feelings towards him," said the 73-year-old nun. "Our joy came from the heart. I can't help crying upon seeing him."
The Dalai Lama fled his Himalayan homeland after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. More than 120,000 refugees followed him to India, where his government-in-exile is based in the northern city of Dharamsala.
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