The Dalai Lama no doubt draws crowd like a rock star.
The celebrity monk, during his 75-minute lecture avoided any discussions on the recent crackdown on the Tibetan monks in Lhasa by the Chinese government. Instead, he talked about peace and love, giggled quite often and called out to the people to look inwards in a not-so-perfect English. For most westerners, he was also quite "accented"
Over 5,000 people gathered to hear the monk tell them how to be happy. Funny though considering America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and many would think if you can buy a house or a car and have a ranch or a holiday home, you would find happiness.
But seems the chase never ends. And American dream is busted for many. And then they turn to the east for spiritual guidance on how to be happy because the obvious did not work so well.
So they came, drawn by the promise of happiness at last, expecting a tiny monk whose country has been robbed him and can lay no claim to any material possessions, to help them find contentment, resolve their inner conflict and turn toward simplicity.
The Dalai Lama did not say anything different from what we, as Hindus, have been familiar with from the very begining. He did not offer any keys. Just a simple logical answer that has eluded the west for long. Capitalism and free market only breeds more desire, the never-ending desire to own, to add and to consume. It makes humans compete with each other, taking away the simplicity of relationships.
The long-standing argument against socialism is it kills the motivation, the incentive to strive for more. But it's not true.
Socialism is more human, more nurturing and more personal. The gap between the rich and the poor is appalling and is unfair because the resources of the world belong to all and not just to those with muscle power.
The Dalai Lama has often called himself a Marxist monk and has favored an ethical distribution of wealth.
On Tuesday, he repeated the same message that Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism stand for. To attain inner peace, shun the external delights because greed brings suffering.
He also talked about Indian Constitution's interpretation of secularism, which does not separate religion from state but promotes equality for all religions and faiths and calls for no discrimination on the part of the state. That's unlike the west where state and religion are separate. To me, religion is at the root of all political beliefs and as such you can't separate the two. To understand and to make for an state where all have equality, one has to look at the two that have always been intertwined, entangled and will always remain so.
As usual, he avoided speaking directly on Tibet but he alluded to the issues though like the importance of culture, of allowing for equality of all religions and traditions.
When he was asked about the future of Tibet after he is dead, he said he will watch from heaven. Because, he is a reincarnation, maybe he believes another Dalai Lama will carry on the struggle for Tibetan people.
Many feel the struggle for Tibet will end after his death and it is a only a matter of time.
He clarified yet again he did not want separation for Tibet but only autonomy as outlined in the constitution so that Tibetans can practice their culture and religious beliefs.
"Whle world knows we don't want separation," he said.
For many Dalai Lama is a spiritual guru who can lead them to contentment, but he is also a political figure and as such courts controversy. There were protests outside the university. While one group addressed the political side of him, the other called him a hyocrite asking him to allow for religious freedom. The Dalai Lama banned the worship of Dorje Shugden years ago.
To me, as a politcal leader and spiritual leader of the Tibetans, he needs to consolidate his position. Another sect that worships a protective deity, may undermine his own stature.
About the protests, one more thing. At least the Chinese students are organizing. They did it through phone and emails and facebook but maybe in the future they will unite to protest the regime that has been blamed for many human rights violations.
This time, they were patriotic and were against the media distortion of China.
The future will bring about many changes though. I am hopeful.
8 comments:
Interesting you comment on Dorje Shugden worship undermining the Dalai Lama. In fact it is his ban on Dorje Shugden practice that is undermining him. The Dalai Lama used to practice Dorje Shugden, as did his root guru and his root guru before him. So now that he think that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit instead of a Buddha (which is how his root guru and many others view Dorje Shugden) it leaves a big question. IF the Dalai Lama really is a Buddha then why did he pray to an evil spirit in the first place? That would take some explaining....
Yes, I am aware of the fact that Dalai Lama worshipped Dorje Shugden but later he stopped doing it after his teacher advised him against it. He banned the worship saying it was not good for the future of Tibet.
However, one could think, as with any political leadership, the other side is always suppressed to not allow for a split in the followers. Dissent is not the favorite thing for leaders be it Dalai Lama or Hugo Chavez.
I am not undermining the Dalai Lama. As a reporter, it is my job to report both sides.
My sympathies are with the Dalai Lama who has lost his homeland and has been living in exile ever since. And I do admire him for his leadership.
But those apart, nobody is perfect. and power does corrupt.
Just to Clarify, the Dalai Lama's teacher, Trijang Rinpoche, never advised him against worshiping Dorje Shugden. In fact, it is said that Trijang Rinpoche in particular was 'very disappointed' that the Dalai Lama abandoned his practice of Dorje Shugden.
Yes, Rinpoche never advised him on that. It was his oracle Nechung who said the deity would bring harm to him and Tibet.
At the Colgate lecture, a Dalai Lama representative met with Kelsang Pema, a Buddhist nun at the forefront of these protests, and said the Dalai Lama will look into the abuses against the Shugden believers. So, maybe things will improve.
The group had earlier said the would launch a series of aggressive protests everywhere Dalai Lama would go if the discrimination does not end.
good information on Dorje Shugden is available at these Web sites
http://www.tibet.com/dholgyal/CTA-book/chapter-5-3.html
www.dorjeshugden.org
Dear Chinki,
Thank you so much for doing your homework and accurately reporting the reasons why the Western Shugden Society is demonstrating against the Dalai Lama. I've read a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding in other media reports.
Your comments all come from the NKT - they are behind the Western Shugden Society (WSS). They organised the same protests against the Dalai Lama in 1996. They received a lot of very bad publicity as a result. Maybe this is why they hide behind the WSS.
The pure lineage argument is not as simple as the NKT present it. The NKT do not call themselves Tibetan Buddhists. They are not affected by the Dalai Lama's request.
Check out the NKT and Shugden on wikipedia. Dig deeper - there's lots under the carpet.
Behind this mysterious "Western Shugden Society" (WSS) is the british-based New Kadampa Tradition (NKT), which is faced since years with cult allegations.
Since the press seems to like more to quote the unsubstantial claims of their press speaker and close disciple of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Kelsang Pema, instead of investigating this issue in a neutral manner, I have set up an own website and article about the background of the protesters.
see:
http://info-buddhism.com/Western_Shugden_Society_unlocked.html
and http://info-buddhism.com
I hope this helps to balance the inaccurate information which the New Kadampa Tradition via Western Shugden Society and their Press speaker Kelsang Pema spreads now world wide.
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