林中斌 部落格 / Blog Chong-Pin Lin

On March 11, 2011, exactly a week before the meeting, Dalai Lama surprised the world by announcing that he would retire as the political head of the Tibetan government in exile and let the next elected prime minister take over. That somewhat added to the historical weight of our meeting from 13:30 to 15:00 on Friday March 18, 2011
             Back in January 2011 when Professor Su Chiahong (Figure 1) of Fooin University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan arranged a March 18 meeting with Dalai Lama, he had no idea of what transformation was forthcoming regarding the Tibetan government in exile located on the foothill of Himalayas in northern India. On that subject, Professor Su is Taiwan’s leading expert with the publication of an award-winning book entitled Democracy in Exile.

 As Professor Su invited me to join him on the trip, I accepted the gracious offer with much appreciation and asked my wife Alice to come along.

Our meeting with Dalai Lama was scheduled to last half an hour. It turned out to be one hour and half.

After Professor Su interviewed His Holiness on his recent political decision, the parliamentary election to be held in two days, and prospects of the government in exile, my conversation with Dalai Lama in English began (Figure 2). It was recorded by Professor Su, and later transcribed on paper by Mr. Gesang[1][1] at Taipei’s Tibetan Religious Foundation. I reviewed and polished the sometimes broken and ungrammatical conversational English by November 29, 2011.  Ms. Eli Huang, my former assistant at Tamkang Unversity’s Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies finished the Chinese translation on January 18, 2012. Ms. Lisa Yu, a proactive practitioner versed in Buddhist vocabulary, verified the Tibetan Buddhist terms contained therein.

The terms Mr. Gesang used in referring to the participants in the conversation are retained to project the live atmosphere of the occasion from the perspective of a bystander who is now virtually ready to witness the exchanges that are going to unfold as follows.

His Holiness: So now I think you already know that Tibetan community here these days is quite busy because of the election. Is it the first time for you to come to India?

Dr. Lin: It is the first time for me and the second time for my wife Alice.

His Holiness: You (turning to Professor Su), I think before...how many times?

Prof. Su: Five times

His Holiness: Yes, you have also visited Mainland China quite often. Very good, very good.

His Holiness: Can you go to China? (turning to Dr. Lin)

Dr. Lin: Yes, now I can, after a long hiatus of 14 years[2][1].

Dr. Lin: There is something new developing. Taiwan used to rely on economic capabilities. In fact, Beijing has learned from Taipei on economic development. But now I see a trend for Taiwan to play the role of a catalyst with the strengths of its society, rather than with its past economic experience. It is because on the scale of economy, Taiwan cannot compare with China. However, the strength of Taiwan these days lies in its society, and its culture. Let me give you some examples. Ten to fifteen years ago, when I was in the government, I asked the same question to the visitors from China -- most of them being intellectuals – “what has impressed you the most?” They gave me the same answer : “freedom”.  Sometimes, they said, “I have to tell you privately”. Nonetheless, the answer was the same.  Nowadays, I have asked them the same question. They have answered with more contents. They would say: “The people in Taiwan are kind, or the life style is very enjoyable, so on and so forth.”

Therefore, my aspiration is for Taiwan to influence China gradually as a catalyst -- catalyst is a term in chemistry, which is an agent in a chemical process , small in amount but huge in effect -- through Taiwan’s society. I think that is something new. It is going to happen because Taiwan, which I have to admit, is no comparison with China in terms of military capabilities, international influence, and now even in terms of economic power. But society is our strength. Our society is so interesting and refined. Many foreigners have been impressed by Taiwan’s society. For instance, the wife of the former French Representative or the unofficial French ambassador to Taiwan, Mme. Mariko Poimboeuf, after two years spent in Taiwan--only two year of staying in Taiwan--wrote a book “Taiwan, Une Bonne Surprise！”(台灣，一個驚喜！)[3][2]. The book, when I read it, I felt ashamed. I didn't know there were so many beautiful aspects of Taiwan.  It's not the only case. There are many such cases.

Therefore, I think when Hu Jintao made a decision to allow massive tourists from China to visit Taiwan, he probably had thought about this already. That was to educate his own people by sending them to Taiwan. That is my guess. To illustrate this point, let us consider the case of General Li Jijun (李際均) the former commander of the 38th Group Army in the late 80's. He came to Taiwan two years ago in November. Upon his departure, a friend of mine who is a journalist asked the General what had impressed him the most. The General answered with understatement, I think. He said that the calibre and the quality of the citizens here were very good. He didn't say in comparison to whom. I think what he had in mind was the citizens on Mainland China. Therefore, catalytic forces are already in operation.

His Holiness: Very good, good news, encouraging.

Dr. Lin: I have three questions, if I may. One concerns the future of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing. The second concerns some rather unusual phenomena which I have had for 35 years when I pray. The third concerns Karma, good and bad, and how they manifest in one’s future life. The first one is this: Two thousand years ago, the city we call Rome today was the power center of an empire which repressed and persecuted the Christians. Two thousand years later, it has become the capital of Christianity. Will Beijing become the center of Tibetan Buddhism?

 I ask this question with two observations if you allow me. Dr. Xi Jinping (習近平) who everybody believes will be the successor to Hu Jintao. According to Wikileaks, the former US ambassador stationed in Beijing cabled back to the State Department in Washington with following observation. He said Dr. Xi, when serving in the localities, was enthralled (very interested) about Qigong, Buddhism and the supernatural phenomena. When I read this, I could not believe my eyes. Then, I remembered what happened on April 13th to 16th, 2006. China with a ruling party which was predicated on an ideology of atheism and materialism held the First International Buddhist Conference in Hangzhou. I asked around what had happened behind the scene. They told me it was the then party Secretary of Zhejiang province Xi Jinping, who had fought for this opportunity to make it possible. So, in my mind, the two things became linked. Afterwards, I did more investigation and I learned that the wife of Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan(彭麗媛) a famous singer and a one-star General, has a spiritual master, and she is into meditation and Buddhism.

His Holiness: That I know. I have heard that Xi Jinping’s wife openly states , “I am a Buddhist.” So you see: some of my friends and one friend in particular told me previously that the family members of (Chinese Communist) Party leaders dare to admit that they are Buddhists or believers in Buddhism. That before was impossible. Nowadays, there is more sort of openness, so that even Xi Jinping’s wife would  proudly say, “I am a Buddhist.”

Dr. Lin: And Li Peng (the former Chinese Premier) is another one who is now interested in Buddhism.  You mentioned him back in July 2007 in Washington D.C. where you gave a speech. You jokingly said when one gets old one gets interested in religion. You said that the former bodyguard of Li Peng told you this. Later on, I learned in addition that the daughter of Li Peng, Li Xiaoling, accepted as her Guru, Geshe Khotse Tsulkhrim Rinpoche, with a graduate degree from the philosophy department at Peking University. How did I know this? A friend of mine came back from Beijing and told me she was a good friend of Li Xiaoling[4][3]. She also took this Rinpoche as her master. So it seems to me that Buddhism works through the daughter to the father. Therefore, we have Xi Jinping , and Li Peng among Beijing’s top leaders, serving and retired, who are interested in Buddhism. Then I heard a story:  Petol (Bachu)Rinpoche in Tibet received a lady from Beijing a few years ago. When the lady left there was box. When opened , it was found to contain one million US dollars. From whom? Mrs.Hu Jintao! This was told to a friend of mine by Namkha Rinpoche from Switzerland who was visiting Taiwan at the time.

In addition, the Hungarian Representative or the unofficial ambassador to Taipei told me during a banquet in the fall of 2007 that Mrs. Wen Jiabao was very sympathetic to Buddhism. So the stories of Chinese Communist elites inclined toward Buddhism become more and more.

Therefore, I pose a question: More than two thousand years ago, Rome as the center of Roman Empire persecuted the Christians. Later, Rome became the center of Christianity and has remained as such today. Do you think Beijing that has persecuted Buddhists will become the future center of Buddhism or even Tibetan Buddhism?

His Holiness: Now, firstly on the global level. I usually tell people: In the last three or four thousand years, if people wanted certain things, they wanted them only through prayers. And for a few thousand years, you see, things went like that. Then, around the last two to three hundred years, science and technology developed. Those things which you want could be immediately produced by machines with knowledge of science. So, naturally humanity as a whole has trended more interest toward machines rather than prayers.

Now, in the latter part of the 20th century, people began to realize that there are limitations of material values. You can be billionaire but have a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety, jealousy and the like. These destroy our inner peace. So now, for those who have become aware, including medical scientists for prevention, the peace of mind is very important. Then, for those who study pure science, such as the brain specialists, when they develop deeper knowledge about brain activities, and neuron activities, they have found that thought and brain movements are very closely linked. So, they began to become interested in the questions what is mind, and what is thought. (Many have found) that the best information about mind and about thought comes from Buddhism.

In the last 30 years, I have had some serious discussions with scientists. Nowadays, (discussions like that take place) almost annually in America, in Europe, and in India. Interests about Buddhist psychology or Buddhist inner science now have been rapidly growing among scientists. Once Einstein expressed that in the future if any religion can go comparable to science,  that will be Buddhism. Now, that has become quite true. Many scientists think, you know, when you see something about religion comes, they usually keep a distance. But now Buddhism is something exceptional in their mind. So that is (what I would say on the) global level.

 Now, China for thousands of years, (has been) a Buddhist country basically. I was told that Chairman Mao's mother was a Buddhist, and Chiang Kaishek’s mother was also a Buddhist. So, in many ways, I feel that in the Chinese mind Buddhism is not alien. Now, as for the communism, or other aspects of Marxism and Leninism, Communists have created some kind of dream, classless society. To them, communism is beautiful, sort of like heaven ( or utopia). That (aspiration has) completely failed. And millions of people sacrificed for that kind of socialism, but by now that kind of socialism has failed. They have been compelled to follow capitalism. Symmetry! So, people naturally do not (feel) much attraction toward Marxism, or Leninism.

And, (let us take for example) Chairman Mao. I think, in the 50's and 60's, many people, I think, considered him almost like a God. Now, that also is no longer there. Therefore, as you have already mentioned, even among top leaders of Communist Party, deep inside as human beings, when they face some problems, some difficulties as a human being, they have become familiar on Buddha Dharma. So, some kind of trend, or Christianity, or God, (has risen which) is quite natural.

Now, one American University carried surveys on how many Buddhists (there are) in Mainland China. According to this study, (the number was) about one hundred million. One Chinese University also carried surveys on the same question. According to them, (the number was) around three hundred million Buddhists, and among them many intellectuals and students pursuing higher degrees. That phenomenon, I think, exists in India also. Among the younger generations here, the interest about spirituality including Buddhism is now growing.

Therefore, it is very possible that (the Chinese Communists) had closed the society, closed everything, (put) control at every level for (keeping the) state secret, once they have gone open, rapidly changes come to human thinking. Therefore, due to the sheer Buddhist number in China, it will become the top and most important Buddhist country (in the world). There is no question on that.

Regarding the Tibetan Buddhism case.  According to many scholars and also practitioners (修行者) including some Japanese Buddhists, since we have become very close friends, and have cultivated friendship, they have admitted the following. Generally, Japanese are difficult to accept their own drawbacks. But some of these Japanese scholars, Religion leaders (Abbots) once told me, “we also recite the heart sutra (心經) but without knowing the meaning”. They asked me as they wanted more explanation from me. Then, as far as the Buddhist epistemology (logic因明學) is concerned, there is something I have noticed in Chinese Buddhist literature. Those important original texts have not been translated into Chinese. Of course, others like Lon Su Fu Sa’s (Nagarjuna Bodhisattva龍樹菩薩 ）texts have already been there, thousand-year-old translation. But this special Buddhist logic text has not been translated into Chinese. It is only in Tibetan. (So are) other texts in Tibetan such as those on debate(辯經).  Therefore, (in China) the interest among Buddhists about Tibetan Buddhism is also increasing.

 I have just recently met some Thai reporters. They asked me, “What is the reason you have for conducting dialogues with scientists?”  We do not just recite some prayers, not that way, but (we also have a) lot of discussions on explanations about the mind, the system of the whole emotion, and how to tackle it. Therefore, I usually divide Buddhism in three parts: Buddhist science, and Buddhist philosophy, and Buddhist religion. Buddhist religion is for Buddhists, but Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist science are universal academic subjects.  So, in these two fields, Buddhist science and Buddhist philosophy, we have now dialogues with modern scientists. Not on Buddhist Religion. We are not talking about next life, or heaven, or other such things. We talk with scientists about mind, about matters and about time. These are Buddhist science. So, other Buddhists, like Theravada Buddhist, in the Pali tradition, even within the so-called Mahayana Sanskrit tradition, only Tibetans have more materials. Therefore, once People's Republic of China becomes an important Buddhist country, then I think, Tibetan Buddhism can play an important role.

Dr. Lin: Let me add one short story, then I am going to switch to my second question. My short story is about a scientist who is an engineer for the Jan-20 fighter which just came on display when US Defense Secretary Robert Gate went to China[5][4]. This fighter was a stealth fighter. The scientist’s name is Gao Ge (高歌). He has been working with the space industry in China affiliated with People's Liberation Army. He wrote a very interesting book which on the surface was a science fiction about the intelligent beings on a planet 450 thousand light years away. The civilization is very similar to what we have here (but much more advanced). Then, as I turned to the end of the book, it appeared to me more than a science fiction. Gao Ge was communicating with the scientists of that planet. At the very end of the book, he said something about the future, and then he mentioned Buddha and “emptiness”[6][5]. So, this is very interesting because I have heard from others that the space industry contains a lots of people, who are into this kind of so called “unscientific topics”: qigong, exploration of the consciousness and etc. That is another reason why I think in the future Buddhism, science, and China would all work together.

His Holiness: True, I think when human beings become more educated, the economy becomes improved, and more prosperity will follow. Naturally, their sort of main concern (will change, and the) day-to-days life becomes less a concern. Then, the intellectual level and the true scientific research will be continuously, you see, improving or developing. So, certain genuine scientist, well respected scientist, began to feel the possibility of next life. He may not tell (others ) publicly, but he personally will have little doubt when he studies more about the sub-consciousness at the time of sleep, deep sleep and during fainting. You see, (during) the dreamless deep sleep, there is even more subtle consciousness, and different level of consciousness. The so-called sixth mind (that is about Cittamātra （mind only 唯識宗）  philosophy in Buddhist school of thought). Some say eight minds, and some say six minds. I am a believer of six minds only, not eight minds. Because of I am a believer, or practitioner of Madhyamika（中道義/中觀派）philosophy, which Lon Si Fu Sa（Nagarjuna Bodhisattva龍樹菩薩 ）advocates. Only six minds not eight minds. Eight minds is what Wu Dzu Fu Sa （Asanga, 無著菩薩) accepts. I consider that Lon Su Fu Sa's brain is sharper than Wu Dzu Fu Sa’s. Anyway, we have explained different levels of consciousness, and continuation of consciousness. After it becomes familiar, some of these scientists now began to question: Oh, (perhaps there is) the possibility of the next life.

 
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/alicenotes-2011/article?mid=87&prev=90&next=80

http://album.blog.yam.com/CPLin&folder=8367327

His Holiness: Completely burned but still remained like that?

Dr. Lin: Yes. The date marked here is January the 3rd, 1980.  I prayed for them and they got out of troubles and distress. The incense flower was formed the night before they called me to say that they were now safe. The incense flower stayed with me until 1995, that is without falling from 1980 to 1995. In 1995, I returned to Taiwan. At the time before my departure from D.C., I had to destroy it. I do not know what “incense flowers” represent. For instance, this was another one formed on October 18th 1992(Figure 4).

His Holiness: The incense was of the same ordinary material? Usually such things do not happen, but they so happened only in your case?

His Holiness:  Superstitious!  I don't know what they represent.

Of course, according to Buddhist belief, there is sufficient explanation for the phenomena much wider then what our five senses or organs can see or can touch. There are mysterious forms of life. I think I can share with you some experiences regardless whether you believe them or not. Since my childhood, whenever some important matters came, and I asked people what their opinions were. Still, I could not get a clear answer which then constituted some kind of dilemma for me. I would usually carry out some investigations through mysterious ways and prayers, since age 16 when I got the responsibility for all important matters. I returned from Yuting to Lhasa after a 17-point agreement was signed. Then in 1954, I went to China. In 1956, I came to India and returned. In 1959, I made the final decision (to leave Lhasa). Each time, I followed the practice of carrying out these investigations. Even for my latest decision on retiring from the government duty, I made it after having followed through such investigations. For more than the last 60 years, what such investigations indicated to me have been very reliable. Why is the practice so reliable? Scientifically we cannot explain.

From the Buddhist point of view, there are different forms of life. For example, we believe that Buddha Shakyamuni is still there. His physical appearance or his body is no longer there, but he exists in a different form. I was told the following story which might be several years ago. In the previous generation, a Thai Monk, highly developed spiritually, had an experience one day when he actually saw Buddha Shakyamuni with some ahrahats(羅漢). Since then, he firmly believed that Buddha’s spirit was still there.

Then, one of his disciples (whose name I don’t know) told people that his teacher actually saw Buddha. Usually that is what the Theravāda (南傳上座部佛教)school of thought would say.  The Vaibhashika （毘婆沙宗）chool of thought would say that, after Buddha passed away, his spirit would be no longer there. But the Madhyamika(中觀派)philosophy would say that Buddha’s spirit still remains there. Given that there are so many ways of thinking, after the vision that his teacher had, he now believes that Buddha’s spirit remains. One time, he made a pilgrimage to one Chinese Buddhist temple. In front of one Kuan-Yin (Avalokiteśvara觀音) statue, he bowed down and saw one white light coming from that Kuan-Yin statue to his head. A friend of mine showed me the photo. In the photo, the monk remains like that, and the white light directly here (above his head). So, these are mysterious things. From the Buddhist view point, of course, if you accept the mysterious level of phenomena, these things do happen.

Dr. Lin: What do they represent?  A certain deity? Certain Buddha in certain form? Or one type of form means certain message?

His Holiness: Yes, that we need further investigation. Generally, such unexpected phenomenon outside of our normal experience is beyond explanation, but it happened. So there must be causes. The Buddhist basic belief, or the Buddhist philosophy is a law of causality, kind of no-creator-law of causality. There are many causes. Your own karmic factor also was involved, or perhaps some mysterious form of life (was involved). Sometimes, it involves even a sort of Kuan-Yin blessings. That could also be possible. And goddess Tara, and Buddha himself. So, what particular significance it represents? That I don’t know.

Sometimes, I noticed the same (Buddha or Buddhisatva) statue smiling one day, and a little bit serious another day. That has happened. One strange experience I want to share with you. Fatima[1][6] – I had a pilgrimage to go there. One Virgin Mary statue like this size was there. And some of my Christian friends and myself sat down to take some silent mediation. Then, after our meditation ended, we were about to leave. I turned back to look at the little Virgin Mary statue only to find the statue smiling! I am a Buddhist not a Christian.

Dr. Lin: I have to tell you another story related to this. I was studying at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. at the time (1981). My friend Carlos Ayala[2][7] is a devoted Catholic. He was about to return to Caracas, Venezuela as he had finished his studies. So,  I had him over for dinner one evening at my apartment .  He saw some of the “incense flowers” on my altar.  He asked me: “Chong-Pin, what are you planting?”  I said to him: “Carlos, they are not plants, but what I called “incense followers. They come to me sometimes when I pray.” So he got interested. He then said: “Can I try them?”  I said: “Certainly, Carlos. Let me give you 3 incense sticks.”

A year and half later, he got married. And our friends came up with funds to send me as the representative of them to attend the wedding in Caracas.  In the morning before the evening wedding, Carlos who was supposed to be with the bride according to the custom nonetheless took me to his office. He told me: “Yesterday evening at the welcome party after your arrival, there were too many people so that I could not tell you this. Remember that you gave me 3 incense sticks? One time, I had some difficulties. I prayed to Virgin Mary after having lit the first stick. The ash fell. Then, I lit the second stick. It came.”  I asked him if it was like a willow branch. He said: “Yes”. I told him that it was a symbol of Kuan-Yin Buddhisatava, or the Goddess of Mercy. Oh, how interesting! So Carlos told me: “Chong-Pin, I have no doubt in my mind that they ( Virgin Mary and Kuan-Yin) are the same thing!” And, Carlos is a Catholic.

His Holiness: Now, I have learned that the Virgin Mary statue in Fatima that smiled at me which may be a blessing of Kuan-Yin. (Ha! Ha!) It is possible, from a Buddhist viewpoint, (there is a good reason)[3][8] that Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary, and all those great spiritual masters, would have millions of people following through the centuries. One ordinary person cannot have that kind of spiritual power.  I believe that there are different forms of manifestations of Buddha, and Budhisavista. That I believe

Dr. Lin: My third question is about Karma.  Suppose that a governor is sent to a province where the society is in disorder. Many people get killed by gangsters. So, the governor uses very strict punishments for the criminals: cutting the nose off, cutting the ears off. As a result of that, the society becomes orderly, peaceful, and calm. Many people’s lives are saved as a result. But the governor has committed bad Karma. Of course, he also has committed good Karma. What will happen to him when he comes back to the next life? Are good Karma and bad Karma calculated by addition and subtraction so that he gets the net Karma returning to him? Or, he gets returns from both the good Karma and bad Karma separately?

His Holiness: Cutting the ears and noses off is physical actions, resulting in physical Karma. Karma means action. Every action, be it physical action, or verbal action, essentially can be either positive or negative. It entirely depends on the motivation. Motivation is in the sense of concerns for the wellbeing (of others), of the interest over the longer term, and for the larger community. It can be a very sincere motivation even for (punishing) the criminal people, out of compassion, and out of a sense of concern that there is no other way to stop their wrong doings except by applying some punishment onto them. Then, out of a sense of concern, a sense of compassion — Karuna—(慈悲心), his or her action (though involving violence[4][9]) is a positive karma because the motivation is good. On the other hand, the negative emotions, the negative sort of motivations, cheating someone, harming someone even with a nice smile, even with praising words, or while offering gifts, these actions -- verbal actions and physical actions – may look nice and positive.  But because of the wrong motivations, and bad motivations, all these actions are negative.

To illustrate this point, there is a story. In one previous life of Buddha Shakyamuni, he was the head of a merchant troupe. Among his helpers or workers, there was a person who was always thinking of killing the other members to get their possessions. The head of the merchant troupe warned him not to do that. He did not listen. Finally, the head of the merchant troupe calculated if I killed him, that not only would save the lives of the rest of the crew, but also would save him from committing the sin to kill these people. The head of the merchant troupe then decided: I get the sin of killing one person but I save many lives as well as saving the potential killer from committing the sin of killing many people. Out of that motivation, the head of the merchant troupe killed the potential killer. Actually that Karma becomes a very positive Karma.

So, motivation is the key factor. If the motivation is a mixture, then the positive Karma may produce human life for the person involved in the next incarnation (instead of becoming an animal or entering hell[5][10]), while the negative Karma would influence the person in the form of a missing ear or some physical disabilities such as difficulties concerning eyesight or the like.  Different Karma (action) produces different result depending on how you see the Karma from the positive or negative angle. We cannot judge only by the appearance of the action itself, be it physical action or verbal action. The mental action is the key factor.

Dr. Lin: In the Buddhist text[6][11] there was this boy (Norsang 散財童子) so I read. One time this boy went to a kingdom he heard about the cruelty of this king but when he saw the king, the king took his hand, treated him very nicely, and showed to him the wonderful palace. And the king said to the boy: “See all the wonderful life I enjoy? It is because of my good Karma in the past. Now I have to use very strict measures to punish the criminals. I know that in the future I will get bad Karma returning to me. I totally accept that and I have no complaints.” So, apparently according to the text, the killing, and the cutting of noses will come back to this king in his future life. He knows it and he accepts it, although his motivation is good.

His Holiness: Yes, the same basically positive motivation. So the communist action of killing many landlords and other such harsh actions if done with sincere motivations is good Karma.

POSTSCRIPT

 Chong-Pin Lin January 31, 2012
 

Two things are worth mentioning: what stand out to me in Dalai’s comments, and the identical patterns in incense flowers formed before and during my trip to Dharamshala.

DALAI’S COMMENTS

As I combed through the English transcription word by word in late 2011 while reminiscing what happened during our dialogue, three things struck me.

1.      Chinese Communists’ Good Karma: Toward the end of our conversation, Dalai Lama said, “So the communist action of killing many landlords and other such harsh actions if done with sincere motivations is good Karma.” I at the time thought he was joking, and I laughed loudly. As I listened attentively to the recording several times, I heard few laughter from him who was often easily given to bursts of hearty laughter. In other words, Dalai Lama was at least half serious. He probably meant what he said.

2.      Tibetan Buddhism’s role in the future China: Dalai Lama did not directly answer my first question, “Will Beijing become the center of Tibetan Buddhism? He only said, “once People's Republic of China becomes an important Buddhist country,…Tibetan Buddhism can play an important role.” His words gave me the impression at the time that some Buddhist texts were translated in Chinese but not in Tibetan while others were translated in Tibetan but not Chinese. His assistant later told me that Buddhist texts translated in Tibetan but not in Chinese were more than the Buddhist texts translated in Chinese but not Tibetan. In other words, Dalai’s answer to my first question was measured and tactful but truthful to his knowledge.

3.       Dalai’s humor, honesty, and modesty: To my second question concerning what I called “incense flowers”, he asked questions to make sure he understood what I was describing, then gave his first response as most people who tend to be skeptical would, “Superstitious!” That shows his humor. He then followed by sharing some mysterious experience in his life with the concluding statement, “From the Buddhist view point, of course, if you accept the mysterious level of phenomena, these things do happen”. That shows his honesty. Upon my further query, “What do they represent?” He said, “We need further investigation…….What particular significance it represents?  I don’t know.” That shows his modesty.

IDENTICAL INCENSE FLOWERS

        In the morning of March 14 before Alice and I took off for India, an incense flower was formed during my daily prayer (Figure 7). The pattern is a circle with the end sticking out.

       During my morning prayer on March 20, the same pattern of incense flower was

formed in the room at Pema Thang Guest House where we were staying in Dharamshala (Figure 8).  On the altar was the statuette of Buddha Shakyamuni, which Dalai Lama gave me as a gift two days before (Figure 9).

        The photograph of incense flower at Pema Thang Guest House (Figure 7) was taken from an angle higher than the photograph taken on March 14 (Figure 6). If the two photos had been taken from the same angle, the identical patterns would be obvious.
 Identical patterns of incense flowers have occurred sometimes in my experience. However, it was rare, if not unprecedented, that such a distinct form came one after another.
As Dalai Lama would probably say, “It is one of the mysterious things that do happen, and that science cannot explain. What particular significance it represents? That I don’t know.”
 

---

[1] Chong-Pin Lin served in Taiwan government 1996-2004, after which he observed a three –year moratorium for traveling to Mainland China imposed by Taipei government as a rule. Beijing issued a traveling visa in 2009, ending a total of 14 years hiatus of no visit across the Taiwan Straits.

[2] Mariko Poimboeuf (滿里子)，Taiwan, Une Bonne Surprise！ (台灣，一個驚喜！)（台北：天下雜誌股份有限公司 2008年12月）

[3] Personal communication on January 8, 2008 with a professor C from the Shih Hsin University in Taipei. Geshe Khotse Tsulkhrim Rinpoche is the editor-compiler of the large-scale compilation project: The Grand Collection of Quintessence of the Tibetan Ten Sciences published in 2006.

[4] Upon further investigation, I have found that the Chinese engineer made important contribution to the design of Jan-8, not Jan-20 fighter. Chong-Pin Lin October 24, 2011

[5] “再見了，親愛的讀者！不必寫結尾，因為本來就沒有開始。天下萬事皆有其道，神是道，道法自然，如來。” 高歌，《藍星科技暢想》（A Science Fiction of Fantasy Planet）（北京：航空工業出版社，2008）
 

[6] Fatima is a now sacred place in Portugal where Virgin Mary showed herself to three young shepherds on the 13^th day of six consecutive months starting on May 13^th, 1917. Several predictions that were made later have come true.

[7] Carlos Ayala of Venezuela has become an internationally renowned human rights lawyer who has fought for the underprivileged, including the Latin American Indians.

[8] Chong-Pin Lin inserts the words in parenthesis to complete the semantics of the sentence.

[9] Chong-Pin Lin inserts the words in parenthesis for clarification

[10] Chong-Pin Lin inserts the words in parenthesis for clarification

[11] 《大方廣佛華嚴經》節錄， 海濤選輯，《政治經點選輯》(台北：中華印經協會，2004年8月) 頁70-76