| While most of the world is familiar with the Dalai Lama | | | | lack of progress. |
| in regards to his position within Tibetan Buddhism, the | | | | In June 2007, envoys from the Dalai Lama once again |
| Dalai Lama and China are also issues that make this | | | | entered China with hopes to settle some of the issues |
| man famous. | | | | between the country and the Dalai Lama - who insists |
| The current Dalai Lama, who is the 14th in succession | | | | that he does not want independence for Tibet, rather |
| to hold this position, has been in exile from his home | | | | he just wants more autonomy and power over the |
| country of Tibet for many years. In 1949, the People's | | | | region's own decisions. China still views the Dalai Lama |
| Republic of China invaded the nearby small country of | | | | as a separatist even with his protests of not wanting |
| Tibet, and claimed the country for their own. Tibet | | | | independence. China also states that they have greatly |
| fought back, and unfortunately, was not able to get rid | | | | improved the quality of life in the Tibetan region since |
| of the invading Chinese. In 1959, the Dalai Lama, along | | | | the exile of the Dalai Lama. |
| with 100,000 other Buddhist Tibetans, were forced into | | | | Spiritual leaders have warned China that if the issue of |
| exile after a failed attempt to remove Communist | | | | Tibet's independence, or at least a lessening of the |
| power. This community now lives in Dharamsala, India. | | | | strict rules on the region, is not resolved during this |
| Relations between the Dalai Lama and China have | | | | Dalai Lama's lifetime, there will be dire consequences. |
| always been tense - with the Communist power of | | | | The idea of the Dalai Lama dying while in exile and not |
| China being against Buddhism as well as religion in | | | | within his homeland of Tibet would mean a |
| general. Dating back to 1979, Chinese leaders have | | | | radicalization of exiled Tibetan youth who are already |
| invited the Dalai Lama to speak with them in | | | | searching for a way to make an impact. |
| closed-door talks - but only about "anything but | | | | While the Dalai Lama is known for compassion, as is |
| independence" for Tibet. As independence is what | | | | the religion of Buddhism, it is hard to believe that |
| most Tibetans hope for, this left little to be said | | | | compassion will change the relationship between the |
| between the Dalai Lama and China. Even so, the Dalai | | | | Dalai Lama and China. More political talks will need to |
| Lama's envoys made 15 separate trips to China up | | | | take place in order to come to an agreement. |
| until the year 1994, when talks were suspended due to | | | | |