Tom Grunfeld, a distinguished Tibetologist and professor from the
State University of New York, said Friday that the Dalai Lama's
creation of a "virtual Tibet" is totally different from the real
one.
The Dalai Lama's description of Tibet under his serfdom rule as
"Shangri-La" has led to an American infatuation with Tibet, which
is a fad that will soon fade and become inconsequential in history,
he said.
Grunfeld made the remarks yesterday at the 2001 Beijing Forum on
Tibetology, and his view was supported by many Chinese and foreign
Tibetologists.
The author of The Making of Modern Tibet, Grunfeld pointed
out the Dalai Lama has succeeded "in nurturing and increasing
interest and fascination with himself, his cause and Tibetan
Buddhism in Europe, Australia, Canada and, especially, the United
States."
This fascination has led to an infatuation with a Tibet that is a
gentle and peaceful land where non-violence predominates and where
monks are all-knowing; yet the fascination is not with the real
Tibet but a fantasy version, he said.
Fascination with the virtual Tibet has "propelled Hollywood movies,
rock concerts, and celebrities practicing Buddhism, which have all
combined to make the Dalai Lama a household word," Grunfeld said.
"A dose of the real Tibet would leave them deeply
disillusioned."
America's most prominent China-bashers support the Dalai Lama "only
because he is useful in the campaign against China," Grunfeld said.
Grunfeld has been to China 16 times and traveled to Tibet for field
research.
A
unified, stable and developing China is in line with the ultimate
interests of the American people, he added.
Professor Xirao Nima from the Central University for Nationalities
said that a clear distinction should be drawn between popular
culture and the academic study of Tibetology researchers.
(Xinhua News Agency 07/29/2001)