The Dalai Lama smiled and clasped the hands of former president Lee Teng-hui (
Lee bowed deeply when he greeted the Tibetan spiritual leader at the retired president's think tank in suburban Taipei. The two posed for photos briefly before sending the media away and continuing their meeting in private.
China was furious when the Dalai Lama visited Taiwan for the first time in 1997 and met with Lee, branded a "troublemaker" and "splittist" by Beijing. But yesterday's visit was low-key and did not draw immediate criticism from China.
PHOTO: AP
Lee flashed his famous lopsided grin as the Dalai Lama told him how "very, very eager" people in Taiwan are about studying Buddhism. Thousands have shown up for the Tibetan religious leader's daily lectures during his 10-day trip.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese control. China accuses him of being a separatist, though he insists he favors greater Tibetan autonomy, not independence.
Lee is nicknamed "Mr Democracy" because he presided over sweeping democratic reforms, including the first direct presidential election in 1996, which he won handily.
China suspects that Lee supports Taiwan independence -- an accusation the president says is false.
Since retiring last year after 12 years in office, Lee has kept a low profile, though many believe he still exerts much influence behind the scenes.
After his meeting with Lee, the Dalai Lama spoke at a gathering of over 100 influential public figures including business and social leaders organized by Nita Ing (殷琪), chairwoman of Taiwan High Speed Railway Corp and founder of the Hau Ran Foundation (浩然基金會).
During an address to the group, the Tibetan spiritual leader spoke about the widening gap between the rich and the poor as one of the most "serious" issues facing the world.
"The huge gap between the rich and the poor is not only morally wrong, but practically problematic," the Tibetan leader said during a speech on "Universal Responsibility."
Since this is such a serious issue, the affluent ones have the vested interest to help the less fortunate ones, he said.
He also told the gathering yesterday that the tremendous material prosperity in the developed world has not made those societies necessarily happier. "Materially they are very strong, but mentally they are very weak," he told the grouping.
Educational reform is key to creating a better world, he said. To this end, a special movement is needed to reform the modern education system, which lays great emphasis on material development but lacks focus on spiritual development, he said.
"Most of the problems [in the world] are caused by a lack of human affection," he said, adding that those "human values" must be stressed in the education of the younger generation.
The Dalai Lama said yesterday that he will continue to promote these values until his death.
"I will continue to spread the message even if I am in a wheelchair," he said.
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