The culture of Tibet has been found to exert an universal appeal on the minds of men. These answers indicating a fuller and more meaningful life are found expressed in Tibet's ancient books and manuscripts, in her arts and sciences, in the tradition and ethos she represents, in the unwritten transmission of knowledge and wisdom she has preserved, and above all, in the daily habits and thought processes of the Tibetan people. For the Tibetan, the Buddha Dharma means everything. To the extent this is made manifest, their culture is synonymous with the Buddha Dharma. Remove Buddhism and there is nothing left of Tibetan culture.
Cultural life is spiritual life.
Thus, if the Tibetans as an ethnic entity are to survive, and if Tibetans are to aid in humanity's search for the means towards a more secure, peaceful and balanced life, then these timeless values which have sustained Tibetans through centuries of worldly strife-must continue. This naturally implies measures for their preservation and promotion. We Tibetans admit that while living in the fortress of isolation, no contribution could be made by us to the advancement of the material civilisations of mankind. Industrially and technologically, we remained backward. Life itself can be described as a momentary conflux of energy arising, developing and passing away into space and time.