Some scientists believe climate change is the cause of unprecedented melting of the North Pole, and that effects these very uncertain weather patterns. I think we should listen to those scientists and experts.

In most cases, my visits to the West are for promotion of human values and religious harmony.

If I had remained in Lhasa, even without the Chinese occupation, I would probably have carried the ceremonial role in some orthodox way.

I feel exhausted if I teach too long.

I became the Dalai Lama not on a voluntary basis.

I want to be just a pure spiritual leader.

It is difficult to violently suppressed people in the long run, as the example of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries has shown.

I always believe the rule by king or official leader is outdated. Now we must catch up with the modern world.

Chinese people themselves, they really want change.

I consider myself as a free spokesman for the people.

I always tell people that religious institutions and political institutions should be separate. So while I'm telling people this, IS myself continue with them combined. Hypocrisy!

I have done one thing that I think is a contribution: I helped Buddhist science and modern science combine. No other Buddhist has done that. Other lamas, I don't think they ever pay attention to modern science. Since my childhood, I have a keen interest.

Many Tibetans sacrifice their lives.

Wherever I go meeting the public... spreading a message of human values, spreading a message of harmony, is the most important thing.

Number of people have said to me, after hearing your thinking, their mind becomes much more happier.

As long as I am alive, I am fully committed to amity between Tibetans and Chinese. Otherwise there is no use. 

I think the self-burning itself on practice of non-violence. These people, you see, they easily use bomb explosive, more casualty people. But they didn't do that. Only sacrifice their own life. So this also is part of practice of non-violence.

Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?

I felt we must separate political responsibility. The Dalai Lama should not carry that burden. So that is my selfish reason - to protect the old Dalai Lama tradition. It is safer without political involvement.

Computers make me totally blank out.

My main hope is eventually, in modern education field, introduce education about warm-heartedness, not based on religion, but based on common experience and a common sort of sense, and then scientific finding.

If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it's not religion, but you can train through education.

The Dalai Lama is just a temporal leader of Tibet.

My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility. 

There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt.

Religion, any religion, no matter what sort of wonderful religion, never be universal. So now education is universal, so we have to sort of find ways and means through education system, from kindergarten up to university level, to make awareness these good things, the values, inner values.

There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt. And, of course, there are Christian monks and nuns who already use Buddhist methods in order to develop their devotion, compassion, and ability to forgive.

If some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that's totally nonsense.

The Tibetan people will need to determine who the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is.

I think really, China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich culture.