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“I have been meeting Chinese scholars, students, and various representatives of organisations in the last many years and there is a growing understanding of the Tibetan issue and a growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism among the mainland Chinese,” the Dalai Lama said earlier today in Bodh Gaya.

“I have heard that there are around three million Buddhists in China and that the number is increasing,” the 76-year old Tibetan leader who devolved all his political authority to the elected Tibetan leadership last year said.

“There are some Chinese leaders, who, without realising the importance of the Buddha Dharma and without proper knowledge of the Tibetan history look down at the Tibetan issue.”

Purposely walking down from his seat to the side where his Chinese disciples were seated, the Tibetan spiritual leader noted that China, with its largest population in the world, would do a great service to the entire humanity if they focused of nurturing love and compassion by practicing the teachings of Lord Buddha.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to peoples from the Himalayan Regions during the Kalachakra for World Peace in Bodh Gaya, India, on January 3, 2012. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

“The 1.3 billion Chinese people have every right to know the facts and with your ancient tradition and wisdom, every Chinese has the capacity to analyse what is wrong and what is right,” the Dalai Lama said.

Consoling the Tibetans from Tibet present in the audience, the Tibetan leader encouraged them to be “happy” and to “espouse the Tibetan spirit” in the face of Chinese brutality.

“The problem is big, it’s not a small one. But be happy and focus on children’s education,” the Dalai Lama, who has been in exile since 1959 said.

“To achieve a greater goal, one has to be patient. It takes time.”

After the special audience, when asked how the Chinese view the Dalai Lama’s Middle-way Approach for a negotiated settlement with the Chinese government, Shan Shi Chu, a Chinese from mainland China admitted to Phayul that she doesn’t know much about “politics”. However, the Chinese pilgrim said she felt “great” to see the Dalai Lama in person.

Signaling that there are thousands of Chinese longing to see the Dalai Lama, Chu reveled, ‘I was waiting for this chance for a very, very long time”.