Author: garyrh
If the answer is yes or no how has any cause been furthered speculating what the Dalai Lama may or may not believe. If you get him in a different context the answers would likely be different. He maybe making allowances for the masses popular view on enlightenment. He might have considered the consequences of saying I am enlightened while attempting to change the masses model of enlightenment.
That said, he may not hold the views of DhO, just like many Budhist traditions do not. In so far as the Dalai Lama's relevance to the "mushroom factor" he is the keeper of a particular tradition not any more than that.
It is fair enough to ask any question but to answer this one the divisiveness is for little gain.
Obviously just my opinion