Dalai Lama: Bin Laden Was “Not Born Violent”

The spiritual leader speaks out about global violence and Chinese conflicts

The Dalai Lama said Sunday that violence around the world could be stopped by addressing the "destructive emotion" behind violent acts -- and that even terrorists like Osama bin Laden were not born with hatred in their blood. 

"I don't think anybody says, 'I want violence,'" the Dalai Lama told Fareed Zakaria on CNN's "GPS." 

"Even bin Laden was not born violent. Out of hatred, out of anger, out of frustration, violence comes," he said. "Ultimately violence comes from emotion."

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader for 70 years, said that Chinese/Tibetan conflicts could be solved through discussion between the two nations, and that he has "failed" so far in pursuing a compromise.

"We want to bring a better situation out of a closer understanding with the Chinese government," he said.

Tibet doesn't want a full separation from China -- instead, the Tibetans are asking for a cultural "autonomy" that wouldn't necessarily mean a political split from the Chinese Communist system, said the Dalai Lama, who called himself a "Marxist" and "Socialist."

"We are not seeking separation," His Holiness told interviewer Fareed Zakaria on the program.

The Chinese, who've seen Tibet's attempt to establish a legitimate, recognized government as a form of secession, are slowly seeking to extinguish the Tibetan people and culture, he said, but allies across the globe are showing support for the Tibetan people.

"In Europe and North America, I think many people are showing genuine concern," said the Dalai Lama, who said people worldwide would protect Tibet from total occupation.

"The world would not let that happen," he said.

He also spoke about his dedication to the Tibetan people -- who he called his "bosses."

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama ascended as the Tibetan spiritual leader when he was four years old and has ruled since.

He fled to India in 1959 after a Tibetan uprising was violently suppressed by Chinese troops, and he remains there in exile today.

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