A middle path, which is neither complete surrender nor extreme violence, is what Thurman, the first westerner to be personally ordained by the Dalai Lama in 1965, had to offer as an answer to the ongoing crisis between Tibet and China.

On Sunday, Thurman, a long time friend of the Dalai Lama and an expert in Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University, stressed on a dialogue between the Chinese government and Tibetans to put an end to the crisis.

Author of Inner Revolution, an international bestseller, Thurman, who is also the co-founder and president of Tibet House in New York, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture in the US, suggested a constructive dialogue between China and Tibet that would not require Tibet’s complete surrender to China nor use of extreme means by Tibetans to reclaim full sovereign independence from China.

“Dalai Lama is loved around the world and he is realistically offering things to China. He is not against anyone… There could be peace and it could be worked out for everyone,” he said, delivering a lecture at the India International Centre.

Referring to India’s persistent stand for a peaceful dialogue even after the Samjhauta Express bomb blasts, Thurman said this was the way to go. “Once nations say we will check violence but not let violence derail talks, terrorists will go jobless,” he said.

Referring to the Chinese viewpoint that it has always owned Tibet, he said: “Cultural genocide has continued for more than 50 years because Tibetan culture proves that they are not part of China.”

Ruling out extreme solutions for the crisis between the two nations, Thurman added: “The Dalai Lama is principled in his adherence to non-violence due to his Buddhist faith, and so he cannot go for the violent option. And he is determined to preserve the freedom of Tibetan Buddhism in its homeland. He cannot acquiesce to the surrender of the Tibetan national identity. China has to meet the Dalai Lama face to face (for a dialogue).”