HH: No...no...my own rebirth you mean? Whether I like it or not (laughter) as a Buddhist believer, my re-birth always takes place. In my own case, of course, there is some voluntary...or deliberate [aspect of rebirth]. You see, my one most favorite prayer is: "So long as space remains and suffering of sentient beings is there, I will remain in order to serve." It is that sentence which gives me inner strength.

You see time does not matter. Eons and eons...limitless eons...don't matter so long as in your life...there is some fulfillment...some purpose. And the purpose means helping others, supporting, serving others.

Many Tibetans inside Tibet physically and mentally undergo very much that is difficult. I cannot do much, but in their minds, they feel, "Oh, the Dalai Lama is still there," so there is some kind of consolation...some usefulness.

Now regarding the institution of the Dalai Lama, whether that institution should remain or not is not my business, not my concern. The people of Tibet, they have the right. If they want to keep it--OK--it will remain. If for them it's not relevant--all right--it will cease.

YO: Your Holiness, I've been hearing from Tibetans that you and the Tibetan government-in-exile are encouraging Tibetan refugees to return to Tibet. Do you believe that if they return that they won't be in danger or have...?

HH: Of course... oh, danger! Recently, I think since the summer of last year, the Chinese "stepped up" their control, made more tight controls... so those Tibetans who study here [in exile], sometimes when they return, some of them are arrested, but then after a few months, generally they are released.

So, some danger is always there .... but of those who recently come from Tibet there are those young ones who join our schools to study for several years, and monks, who join our monasteries here. In principle these we encourage to eventually return to Tibet and serve there.