llama? >> oh, yes. >> his candid word on the leaders. >> i like president bush. >> which one? >> the younger one. his policies may not be -- but as a person, human being, very nice person. i love him. >> his unexpected views on women. >> do you ever feel temptations when you see a woman? >> yeah. sometimes. this is very nice. >> as a humorous side of the dalai lama, you may have never seen before. >> i love your accent, british accent. >> thank you, your holiness. i like your accent. >> this is piers morgan tonight. a big story tonight, the dalai lama spiritual leader in exile one of the world's most visible and honored holy men, a nobel prize peace winner and in the united states. it's my pleasure to interview his holiness, dalai lama. >> your holiness, how are you? >> fine. >> you're at the mayo clinic, had your regular check-up, everything healthy? >> everything good. >> the last seven years annually i got checked here and my physical condition remain more-or-less same. >> that's good. you are probably the most famous person i have ever interviewed. >> no? >> do you like being that famous? >> no, no. i always describe myself as a monk, no more, no less. i am one of 7 billion human beings. basically, we are the same. you britisher or -- >> i am british, yes. >> i am tibetan. basically, your emotion, my emotion, your mind, my mind, your physical --of course, there's difference, the size of nose. but basically, same physical. i always look that way. we are the same. we are same. >> do you think that fame is a corrupting force in the modern world, celebrity? >> think it depends on the attitude, towards popularity or good name. if you too much attach, then sometimes you become hindrance to realize one's own weakness. sometimes as a people. originally, very nice person, like many people. at the beginning, truly dedicated people. but then eventually power spoils it. so then sometimes become arrogant. so more practice want the dalai lama -- you see, he mentioned if you are becoming -- if you find more and more people respect you, then you must attend to yourself the lowest person. so that's very very important. it doesn't matter other people say it. first of all, in my own case, some people say god king, nonsense. some people say living buddha, nonsense. the other side, some people say, me, demon. that also nonsense. i'm simply a human being. >> when i was very young, kids of my age, when i was 8 or 9 years old, they wanted to be an astronaut or, you know, a scientist or something like that. today's children, many of them, in all the surveys, want to be celebrities. they don't care how they get there, they just want to be celebrities. many people think that is damaging to modern society, that is the new aspiration for young people. >> that word celebrity? >> celebrity. >> celebrity. they're famous. i think -- may i say so, most case, sports or singers or some nonsense, that part, that kind, one category that way. so another, i think, really, scientists genuinely carry research, analyze, finding some new things. so i prefer this one, really, thinking. not just external or something. >> so you like famous people who are famous because they have done something serious, scientific? >> yes. >> intelligent, rather than perhaps more transitory, vac cuous. >> if you like, einstein. and some other -- these are really -- found some new things useful. sometimes too much emotion. then sometimes this new finding destructive. that is sad. but the founder of these new things are great, not bad mistake, not their fault. >> we're here to discuss the world peace summit that you've been asked to speak at. do you think the world is a more peaceful place now than it was when you first became dalai lama? >> oh, yes. the fundamental level, i think in today's world, much better. at least with disappearing the berlin wall and eventually, big change happen. at least the two blocks, both have nuclear weapon ready to shoot each other. that kind of danger is now no longer. and some violence. that is sad, but compared during that period was danger, i think today, i think much better. then i think it important, i think although the world peace is something almost become a profession, peace, peace, peace. even some people who really making every preparation for war, but they use the world peace, peace, peace. >> when you see the arab spring uprising through the middle east, and you see so many countries having young people who are better educated, who are no longer prepared to put up with virtual dictatorships and they rise up, are you supportive of their actions? do you think that is good for their world they do this? >> yes, in principle, i support, of course. obviously. i always telling, expressing, world belongs to humanity, not this leader or that leader or king or kings or religious leaders. the world belongs to humanity. and then each country essentially belongs to their own people. so in america i often express america belongs to american, around 300 million american people not the republican party or democratic party. >> do you think sometimes the politicians forget that? >> i don't think generally politicians come from democracy country, i think not that thinking. but sometimes a little bit short-sighted. they are mainly looking for their next vote. that's true. >> that is a drawback. otherwise, i don't think, i don't think. so therefore, the best way to govern the country by the people is democracy. there's no question. no question. therefore, i -- my own case, i the dalai lama actually formally ended almost four centuries old tibetan tradition, alone head of the political or spiritual. that i now ended because you see, i very much impressed the system. >> you actually, you overthrew yourself? >> oh, yes. voluntarily. happily, proudly. i have one secret. the day i formally ended it, that night, i had an unusually deep sleep. >> is that right? >> i was really happy. >> all the responsibility had gone. >> let's take a short break. >> the democracy system is the best system. so these movement in principle, very good. i would like to take this opportunity, now they achieved, basic goal, now time come they must be united all forces no matter your political thinking or something. they must work something. that's very very important, mainly thinking about the economy condition and education are most important. that, i would like to say, i mean, i would like to take this opportunity. >> let's take a short break, your highness. when we come back, i want to pick you up on that same point. i want to ask you about china and america and the forthcoming presidential election. there are a lot of warning lights and sounds vying for your attention. so we invented a warning you can feel. introducing the all-new cadillac xts. available with a patented safety alert seat. when there's danger you might not see, you're warned by a pulse in the seat. it's technology you won't find in a mercedes e-class. the all-new cadillac xts has arrived, and it's bringing the future forward. britta olsen is my patient. i spend long hours with her checking her heart rate, administering her medication, and just making her comfortable. one night britta told me about a tradition in denmark, "when a person dies," she said, "someone must open the window so the soul can depart." i smiled and squeezed her hand. 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[ flo speaking japanese ] [ shouting in japanese ] we work wherever you work. now, that's progressive. call or click today. i'm with his holiness, dalai lama. china has become in your lifetime one of the great two super powers of the world and may now economically in the next 10, 15 years, become the number one super power in the world. what do you think of modern china and how it's changed in the time you have been dalai lama? >> big change. in china, most populated nation. and also long history. i think really china, chinese, i think really a long history of civilization, rich culture. i wouldn't argue the richness of their food. however, in modern china, a lot of ups and downs. but i have full faith chinese people, they're hard working, realistic. so the last i think 50 years, i think they already tested different experience. i think modern china, they got sort of troubled experience during the revolution. so after the revolution, seems they opened their eye. so things are changing, i feel very realistic person. somehow, he's communist, life-long communist dedicated person, so he very much keep the political power. now, that also now changing. now, president prime minister often on several occasions, including one, i think his meeting with cnn, he mentioned china needs political reform. he seems to -- >> are you pleased when you hear that? >> oh, yes. as i mentioned earlier, my fundamental belief is china belongs to the chinese people, not communist party. >> is china's power -- >> things are changing. >> is china's new power good for tibeter dangerous for tibet? because the rest of the world may become so fearful offending the chinese they stop talking about tibet. >> yes. some feel that's right. but somehow it's a tibet issue. very much just the issue. also a more ral -- moral issue. and chinese sharing a sense over solidarity with us. many parts of the world knows something about tibet and the current situation, i think very sympathetic. they have very much concern and the political feed, introducing a business company. yes, indeed, a little bit cautious. >> how did you feel when president obama delayed his meeting with you when he became president because the chinese objected and he met with them first. did that offend you? >> no. >> did you understand why he did that. >> actually, he said something sent to me explaining the reason. so better. first, his meeting. i think without some point with chinese complaining. so better. >> you understood that? >> yes. then, soon after he returned, he want to see me. >> he gave you a 17 minute meeting, which is the longest time, i believe, any american president has ever spent with you in one meeting. what did he say to you, president obama? did he give you assurances he is going to help you? >> he inquired about tibet. i also explained what the current situation and hard thinking, and he show sort of genuine commitment to tibetan issue. >> does he share your vision, which is for a tibet has shared power between tibet and china? does he share that vision? >> yes. the middle approach, not seeking separation for all the interests, i find these things. of course, he already knows. then after our meeting, the white house formally, clearly it's mentioned, very very good. very good meeting. and that also -- sorry -- meeting the previous, the bush and clinton and the senior, the father of mr. bush, the father that i met was very nice. very nice, all very nice. >> since the start of 2011, activists say over 30 tibetans have self-immo lated, obviously, a very serious escallation in the number of people take their lives in this way. as their holy leader what do you think about this? what do you say to people thinking about doing the same thing? why are more people doing this now? >> of course, it's extremely sad. very sad. this is not something new. in china itself, during the revolution, one important chinese monasteries about himself and then also, you see, it happens. there are several cases there. these are one way they believe non-violence. and then the kings are desperate, they sacrifice their own life. so very sad. so now not solution, express we are very sad. we must think, what causes this desperate situation? >> what do you think it is? >> that's obvious. i offer you italian on chinese. now time come the chinese government must take seriously and then they must follow the policies and minority, they must follow the policy, sticking to the facts. their policy must be realistic. they must exit reality. so then once they know the reality, and then process a policy, according to that reality, that's the policy. >> many of the tibetans who are taking their lives are doing so because they want a free tibet. that implies that they want separation from china. that's not what you want. >> no. >> you don't think that's achievable. better to have a shared power. what do you say to these young tibetans, desperate for a free tibet chasing separation? do you think it's time they were told? >> some say yes. there have been a purpose. some people say that means independence, but many tibetan say feed. if they really want me back, really trust me, automatically, they will agree, my view. it is quite contradictions. they want dalai lama but they do not want dalai lama's idea. it is a contradictions. >> that is a big problem, isn't it? >> no, no. of course, to some people, right from the beginning. always say, we want complete independence but majority of the people not only here but also inside tibet. a few of the kids, they say, i had few occasion, their views. even within tibet. you cannot do but from pocketbooks, most of the people, particularly more educated, more so realistic, they all fully support. >> do you believe the new chinese leadership are getting close to doing some kind of deal with tibet or not? do you believe they are thinking the right way? >> now, firstly, you see, they have policies regarding their own people. there are indication. these are indication they're more moderate. more realistic. they seems upper hand, again upper hand but still too early to say. once the chinese leaders, communist leaders, they're really thinking, very easily can solve also the issue of the people and also in mongolia and china. i think they are. expressing one point to the chinese people have every right to know the reality. once people knows the reality, the chinese people also have the ability to judge what is right and wrong. therefore, the censorship is immoral. chinese people should know the reality. censorship is very very subtle. >> if the sensor ship goes, and the reality comes out, there is more chance of a deal? >> certainly. 100%. >> let's take a short break. i will come back and talk to you about america. i want you to tell the american people what you think about modern america and how to keep america great. you have seen america for six decades, seven decades now? i'm interested in your vote. 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[whoosh, clang] you need lifelock, the only identity theft protection company that now monitors bank accounts for takeover fraud. lifelock: relentlessly protecting your identity. call 1-800-lifelock or go to lifelock.com today. i'm back again with the dalai lama. your holiness, talk to me about america. what does america mean to you? >> oh, of course, the greatest democratic country. and i think a country because of the democracy, the freedom, freedom of thought, freedom of speech, i think a lot of innovation. you see, develop in this country. and then as a human being, american most straightforward very easily can talk. not like british. >> not like the british? your holiness, no need for that. >> english a little bit -- what's the -- >> polite is the word you're looking for. reserved. >> but one might sort of experience first-time visit europe and then london, europe and then london, england, london. so once a reception. after my talk, one english gentleman, sort of dignified person approached me. then started kneeling then expressed to me he really admire you often say i don't know. so then i -- i felt english person seems difficult find to say i don't know. >> that is true. that is true. you'd never hear me say that. let's get back to modern america. clearly going through big problems at the moment. big economic problems. also examining itself as a country about its values. the american dream and how that has changed. many people out of work now losing their homes and so on. what do you think of what has happened to america and how can it get itself back on track again? >> as i mentioned before, actually i asked the president, and he assured me, america, the fundamentalness of the economic condition is sound. so i often, you see, expressing when i give some public talk that in any case, america must succeed. democratic country. very powerful democratic country. it is not only american interest, but interest for the free world. so i think american lifestyle maybe i think should sort of -- should be more realistic and think there are some obstacles. there is no guarantee to further sort of go like that. that, i think, and then after all there on global level 7 billion human being. some are rich. some are poor. and big sort of gap, rich and poor. >> do too many americans chase money as a beacon of success, do you think? >> huh? >> do too many americans see money as a form of success? is it a false dream having a lot of money? >> not only america, but also europe. also asia. money is the top most important value of our life. this is, i think, wrong. this is wrong. money or physical -- the material facility can provide only physical comfort. true physical comfort. some kind of mental sort of satisfaction is actually false. delusion. so the real peace of mind must come through sort of inner mental strength. not money. not physical comfort. so that, i think, modern world, not only america, but modern world, even china and russia, now, you see, they -- much of the talk involves money. >> who are the most impressive world leaders that you've ever met in your life? who have that heart element to them. who understand this. >> well, i think leaders have to act according to voters' wish. >> who has impressed you? somebody like nelson mandela? i mean, which people that you've ever met have really impressed you? >> i think nelson mandela, i think one of the sort o