H.H. the Dalai Lama Urges Tibetans Worldwide to Strengthen Efforts to Protect Tibetan Language

On March 11, 2026, His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a formal statement on the protection of the Tibetan language and culture, calling upon Tibetan society — especially the younger generation — to attach renewed importance to the preservation and continuation of their mother tongue, religious traditions, and cultural heritage.

The statement was issued in response to the adoption of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress on March 12, 2026, which further institutionalizes restrictions on the linguistic, religious, and cultural spaces of ethnic minorities, including prioritizing Mandarin Chinese and constraining deeper aspects of cultural life.

“The deeper meaning of these teachings can be understood only in Tibetan; it cannot be fully conveyed in other languages. Therefore, everyone must pay special attention to the Tibetan language.”

The statement traces the significance of the Tibetan language from the seventh century, when the scholar Thonmi Sambhota created the Tibetan writing system under King Songtsen Gampo, through the eighth century, when the abbot Shantarakshita declared:

“The Tibetan language is the manifested speech of bodhisattvas; therefore, it is suitable for the Dharma.”— Shantarakshita, as quoted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

His Holiness highlighted that the essence of Tibetan identity is expressed not merely through appearance but through customs, arts, and living traditions — including Tibetan opera, cham dances, medicine, astrology, songs, music, craftsmanship, painting, and woodcarving. He emphasized that these forms “must be cherished and preserved, so that both ancient and modern expressions may each remain in their proper form, without becoming mixed and diluted to the point of losing their original character.”

His Holiness warned that without vigilance, Tibetans living in India and Nepal will increasingly rely on Hindi or Nepali, Tibetans in western countries will increasingly rely on English, and Tibetans in Tibet will increasingly rely on Chinese. He wrote: “Most regrettable of all would be if Tibetans, among themselves, no longer spoke Tibetan and instead had to rely on foreign languages to communicate. There could be nothing more shameful or more tragic than that.”

The statement concluded with an earnest appeal to all Tibetans to cultivate a deep sense of responsibility toward Tibetan religion, culture, and language.

These words speak directly to the mission of Terma Heritage Foundation. Every program we undertake — from digital language tools to performing arts preservation, from sacred audio restoration to children’s educational resources — exists to ensure that the Tibetan language and the traditions it carries remain accessible, usable, and alive.

Original Statement

The original statement in Tibetan, issued under the official seal of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.