Wednesday, March 10, 1999 Published at 00:45 GMT
Tibetans keep their faith
The Tibetan people have faith in the Dalai Lama's leadership
By BBC News Online's Joanna Ross
On 10 March 1959 the Tibetan people rose up in arms against the communist Chinese occupation of their country.
Since 1959 the Chinese have been doing their utmost to crush the Dalai Lama's influence in Tibet, most recently through a policy of promoting atheism. But in the Dalai Lama's home in exile, in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, the people refuse to give up faith.
But for the new arrivals it is a reminder of much bigger mountains - the ones they walked across on the journey from their homeland.
Pasang made the journey across the highest mountains in the world because he wants to see the Dalai Lama. He's 17-years old, with scruffy, spiky hair and a boyish face, and he's filled with passion and frustration.
'Faith is in our hearts'
The main pastimes for young people in Tibet, he says, are drinking, gambling and prostitution. But, he believes, even if you are the worst of sinners once you see the Dalai Lama you will be cleansed and from then on you will be a kinder person, because the Dalai Lama is the human embodiment of the God of compassion.
Under the Chinese policy of patriotic re-education, Tibetan monks and nuns are ordered to denounce the Dalai Lama and pledge their unity to the motherland.
Tenzin Gelek, who crossed the mountains with Pasang, was a monk but when the work-team visited his monastery he refused to follow the order. As we chat in the crowded hall of the reception centre his excitement at the prospect of seeing his leader is tangible.
For many these seemingly simple gestures are worth all the risks on a three week journey over the Himalayan mountains. As some, after receiving their blessing, will then make the journey back to Tibet, the Dalai Lama sometimes gives them a talk.
'The Chinese will never leave'
Lately he's been telling his devotees that it's all right to denounce him if they're asked to by the Chinese, he knows the truth. Tenzin says he would find this very hard to do, but if its the wish of His Holiness, he might.
Tenzin butted in - I'm so worried about what'll happen when His Holiness dies, what'll become of us? I'm going to join the army and fight the Chinese - Pasang declared. No said Tenzin violence isn't the answer.
Last year the number of new refugees like Pasang and Tenzin doubled on the year before.
After four decades the faith of the Tibetans hasn't been dimmed, despite the best efforts of the Chinese. I wonder how this battle of the Tibetan hearts and minds will be waged over the next 40 years.
I wonder if the death of the Dalai Lama will give the Chinese the chance to succeed or if the stubborn determination of young people will be passed on to the next generation, just as it has been since 1959