---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because my main concern is the Tibetan…"
description: "\"Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude the 4 m..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg"
---

#  Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture…

![“Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude the 4 million Tibetans in our two eastern provinces of Amdo and Kham.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg)

> “Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude the 4 million Tibetans in our two eastern provinces of Amdo and Kham.”

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He prioritizes cultural preservation over political separation, rejecting exclusive self‑rule that would marginalize millions.

**In simple terms:** Culture matters more than borders.

Key Takeaway

Protect cultural heritage for all Tibetans.

Themes

culture politics inclusion identity

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- community organizing
- education programs
- human rights advocacy

Key Concepts

autonomy ethnic rights regional unity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can cultural preservation be achieved without full political independence?
- What inclusive models exist for diverse regions?

A Different Perspective

Balancing cultural goals with political realities can be complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lama/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-independence/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Tibet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tibet/) [Tibetan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tibetan/)

## Related quotes

> [“What has since happened in Tibet is hardly to be believed. More than 1.2 million Tibetans lost their lives and of about six thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/what-has-since-happened-in-tibet-is-hardly-to-be-believed-more-than-1/)

[Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/)

> [Death and dying provide a meeting-point between the Tibetan Buddhist and modern scientific traditions. I believe both have a great deal to contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/death-and-dying-provide-a-meeting-point-between-the-tibetan-buddhist/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [We need a sense of the oneness of the 7 billion human beings alive today. When I meet people, I don't think about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-need-a-sense-of-the-oneness-of-the-7-billion-human-beings-alive/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [My mother was a Tibetan Buddhist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-mark/my-mother-was-a-tibetan-buddhist/)

[Amber Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-mark/)

> [One of the happier ironies of recent history is that even as Tibet is being wiped off the map in Tibet itself, here it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/one-of-the-happier-ironies-of-recent-history-is-that-even-as-tibet-is/)

[Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/)

> [The Tibetan Buddhist realization is that mind does not have any particular qualities or attributes of its own. It's clear - clear light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-tibetan-buddhist-realization-is-that-mind-does-not-have-any/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Western Tibetan Buddhists are always looking out there at the distant snow peaks and they lose the flowers along the path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/western-tibetan-buddhists-are-always-looking-out-there-at-the-distant/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [Science is reaching the conclusions that we had been taught through the Tibetan Buddhist experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelek-rimpoche/science-is-reaching-the-conclusions-that-we-had-been-taught-through/)

[Gelek Rimpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelek-rimpoche/)

> [There are many graphic artists who have interpreted The Ancient One as a Tibetan Buddhist Lama, we're kind of shifting that a bit. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/there-are-many-graphic-artists-who-have-interpreted-the-ancient-one/)

[Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/)

## More by Dalai Lama

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [We can change society, change humanity by changing ourselves as individuals. By cultivating inner values, we can change our own lives and those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-can-change-society-change-humanity-by-changing-ourselves-as/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [I don't want to convert people to Buddhism — all major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-don-t-want-to-convert-people-to-buddhism-all-major-religions-when/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [There is no way to escape death, it is just like trying to escape by four great mountains touching sky. There is no escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-is-no-way-to-escape-death-it-is-just-like-trying-to-escape-by/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [We live within the environment. So that directly relates with our survival, our life. So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

[Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

## More Buddhism quotes

> [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/)

[Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/)

> [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/)

[Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/)

> [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/)

[Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/)

> [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/)

[Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/)

[Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/)

> [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/)

[Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/)

> [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

[Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude the 4 million Tibetans in our two eastern provinces of Amdo and Kham.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dalai Lama"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-buddhist-culture-not-just/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buddhism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-buddhist-culture-not-just/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/dalai-lama-89_buddhism_because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-b_1287364.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek…” — Dalai Lama",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dalai Lama",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Because my main concern is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-buddhist-culture-not-just/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-buddhist-culture-not-just/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
