Tawang:
"Be 21st Century Buddhists" - the message that the Dalai Lama preached on Monday in Tawang, with thousands gathered to see him. A message that was received with gratitude by overjoyed followers who couldn't believe they'd seen and heard their spiritual leader.
"This young generation don't understand much, so on one level its peace, togetherness and everyone being happy. That is 21st Century Buddhism," says Urgen, an Environmental Activist in the audience.
But the politics of the Dalai Lama's visit continues to overshadow the event. On Sunday, the Dalai Lama said that China has no reason to insist that his trip to Arunachal Pradesh is a political one. Slamming China's claim to Tawang, he had also described it as an integral part of India.
Now, a leading Chinese analyst has told the Global Times that India may make use of the Dalai Lama's trip to push for an early solution to the boundary dispute. "The Dalai Lama went to 'southern Tibet' at this critical moment probably because of pressure from India. This may foment anti-China sentiment among people living in the region...When the conflict gets sharper and sharper, the Chinese government will have to face it and solve it," said Hu Shisheng at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
India denies the charge that it prompted the Dalai Lama's trip, or influenced its timing. "The Dalai Lama is free to travel anywhere in India. I have not heard the suggestion come from us, as we do not deal with the spiritual travels of spiritual leaders. He has to visit his flock as he sees fit," states Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs.