© DIIR, 2004

Guidelines for Development in Tibet

Future Tibet - A Vision

As neighbours, the Tibetan and Chinese peoples have for centuries interacted, traded, and influenced each other. Relations were at times good, at other times conflictual. Good relation between the two peoples is necessary and can be mutually beneficial. In reality, for the major part of our long history we were mutually supportive. In future also, if we achieve genuine self-rule or autonomy, Tibetans will nurture cordial relations with the Chinese so that the two peoples can co-exist in a spirit of mutual support and fraternity. This is the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way policy-a very humane concept transcending political considerations.

In the Five Point Peace Plan, His Holiness has proposed Tibet as a Zone of Ahimsa (a Hindi term to mean peace and non-violence), where the entire Tibetan Plateau would be demilitarised and transformed into the world’s largest natural park or biosphere. His Holiness has stressed on adoption of a policy of sustainable development whereby natural resources would be directed towards the active promotion of peace and environmental protection. Organisations dedicated to the furtherance of peace and the protection of all forms of life would find a hospitable home in Tibet.

The following two quotes by His Holiness would sum up the broad vision for a Future Tibet:

Today, more than ever before, life must be characterised by a sense of universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.
   ...The success or failure of humanity in the future depends primarily upon the will and determination of the present generation. If we ourselves do not utilise our faculties of will and human intelligence, no one else can guarantee our future and that of the next generation...

Hence, we believe in the vision of Tibet as:

A zone of peace, based on the principles of non violence, compassion and protection of the natural environment, deriving its inspiration from the Buddhist principles of compassion, justice and equality, where Tibetans, especially those living in Tibet, bear the main responsibility in shaping Tibet’s future. Future Tibet will strive for balance and harmony-both a balance between human and human, and between human and the environment-realising the fact that everything is interconnected. This vision incorporates an attitude of sharing, harmony and co-operation between the people, instead of competition.

In regard to development for Future Tibet, we would avoid the two extremes of capitalism and socialism. Since both systems are equally unsuitable for the well-being of human society in general, and for the betterment of Tibetan society in particular, Tibet will formulate a unique economic system to suit its own needs. Although there is no appropriate existing model of an economic system which could be adopted by Tibet in the future, the nearest existing model is the "Gross National Happiness" concept already in practice in Bhutan.

Impermanence and the innate valuelessness of wealth, the fact that wealth or material progress is for the people and not vice-versa, coupled with "needs" being distinguished from "wants", will form the central point of the future economy of Tibet. Hence, Tibet’s future economic system will be based on the values outlined in the following section on underlying principles for the Guidelines.