I consider myself as a free spokesman for the people.

Chinese people themselves, they really want change.

As a Buddhist monk my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.

Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human 'brain' with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human 'heart' with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.

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

I describe myself as a simple Buddhist monk. No more, no less.