The old Buddhist doctrine of the middle way tells us of the path that Buddha took to reach ultimate enlightenment, what buddhists call Nirvana. When young Siddharta undertook his journey through the forests populated with ascetics and renouncers, looking for a solution to the suffering all human beings are subjected to, and on the verge of falling down exhausted by the torments he witnessed, suddenly, at the edge of a river, he overheard a zither musician say to his pupil "if the string is too loose it will not play, but if the string is too tight it will snap; the string must be just tight enough to bring music and harmony." This is where the young prince truly began his journey towards becoming the prophet and archetype called Buddha.
Hence, it is not strange that the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has tried to resolve the difficulties that Tibet is suffering in the same way for more than fifty years. It is a situation praised by some, generally officials: the government, clergy and external support from the West; and criticized by others: the younger ones and certain sectors who see total independence (Rangzen in Tibetan) as the only solution regarding China, due to the already worn-out dialogue with Chinese authorities.
""...the Chinese intrusion in Tibet can be viewed as a foreign assault under international laws and our strength will have an international size. But if we change our point of view looking to comply with China, this status will be radically different. Like the Chinese say, we will be an internal issue and we will not have the right to look for international commitment and support" comments the poet Lhasang Tsering, one of the oldest supporters of Rangzen.