All Comments (47)

REDWAVE- i think one might also take into account that he is a celibate monk after all.

Actually, all of Buddhist orthodoxy says homosexual behavior is to be avoided. So you can say the Dalai Lama thinks homosexuality is wrong, but just as if you had said the Pope thinks divorce is wrong, there is much more there in terms of culture and precedent than merely the beliefs of a prelate.

The Dalai Lama is a product of his culture, as is Buddhism entirely, and it is a different culture than our own. This being the case, we must pick and choose what is apposite. The Dalai Lama offers much of that!

Looking for the perfect person or path to follow, you will never find the way.

I have always been supportive of the Dalai Lama and the plight of the people of Tibet. However, I was disappointed when I read in one of his many books that he thinks homosexuality is wrong, as well as oral sex, because it is dirty. I think many people would be surprised to read this and see how close-minded he really is. I think because of the celebrity support and sound bite nature of our society, many do not truly understand how their "heros" may share some of the beliefs of those they consider villains. Love is love. As soon as you start judging such expressions, you become less and less a source of an inspiration for human rights and freedom.

Americans are such a conundrum. You are so easily led by what appears to be "good" or kind-hearted like the Dalai Lama who might or might not be truly good. And then, you are so easy to go to war and bomb weak countries at the say so of your leader because certain people of that wmall country want to kill Americans. Bush could use the Dalai as another one of his props as a do-gooder just as he uses troops and newly-minted American heroes who fought and died in Iraq and Afghanistan. If I were the Dalai, I would be very careful about being used for propaganda either by America or supporters. After Bush & his politicization of everything in society, it is better to be cynical and skeptical.

It's nice to see a leader, religious or otherwise speaking in terms of hope. It's nice to see and hear someone allow him or herself to be positive and hopeful about the future of the world. I'm no Buddhist but I think this guy is 100% correct when he speaks about how if the people of world were to think of themselves as brothers and sisters, we all really would have a better world.

In our politicized and polarized society it is important for us to here a message of compassion and collaboration. Based on the many hateful and out of place messages on this forum I'd say this country has allot of healing to do.

I think of the Dali Lama as a "philosophical educator"; something the United States LACKS ENTIRELY!!! Buddhism has been around for thousands more years than any other religion. I think the strength of the Buddhist philosophy is its foundation in LOGIC. Now, because the US is such a powerful nation, if we could get OUR leaders to use logic first the world can be a better place almost instantly.

I thank the Dali Lama for having the courage and conviction to come the United States with his message of tolerance and compassion. The Dali Lamas message is the opposite of, "divide and conquer".

When it comes to religious leaders, even more than political leaders, it seems we think we need to agree with everything they do and say, or disagree with everything they do or say. One or the other. This is not true. The fact is, most leaders, the Dalai Lama included I think, wouldn't tell you that you need to agree with them. They'd probably just ask for others to listen, with an OPEN mind, and decide what they think. It's not that complicated, really.

When it comes to religious leaders, even more than political leaders, it seems we think we need to agree with everything they do and say, or disagree with everything they do or say. One or the other. This is not true. The fact is, most leaders, the Dalai Lama included I think, wouldn't tell you that you need to agree with them. They'd probably just ask for others to listen, with an OPEN mind, and decide what they think. It's not that complicated, really.

As for the anti-DL diatribers above, nobody's buying it, so give it a rest.

you're right smcm '10

i saw him speaking when he recieved the congression gold medal of honor and he started by stating that lathough he started learning english many years ago- his english was poor-

he also prefaced by saying he wrote his speech in tibetan, it was translated into english, and he would give the english translation.

which he did, despite a few missed pronouns here and there-

as i watched it with captions, this is a pretty good reocrd.

but it doesnt convey the personal 'shout outs' he gave, or the sense of criticism and displeasure at some of the points made

the same people who picked out his commendation of america seemed to have missed these-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Then, American lifestyle, I think, always consume, consume... It’s not only morally wrong but practically also is a sort of problem."

On Burma:

"Then I think in 1972, when Bangladesh crisis happened, then is East Pakistan. The American government, at that time, we got the impression, a little bit tilted towards Pakistan...

America supporting military dictator, military junta, it’s sad.

(on bush) Some of his policy, you see, I have some reservation. But as a person, very nice person. I love him.

"So I – of course now, this is none my business, I think your business.

"Sometimes you may gain or you may lose temporary gain, but long run these principles are very, very important. And anyway, America is the most powerful democratic country. Then, next to India, most populated democratic country. I think these two countries have, I think, great important role to serve humanity, to bring humanity more happier, more equal, more peaceful. That’s ideal.

id say he just takes a long view of things

HH the Dalai Lama almost always speaks to English-speaking audiences in Tibetan, but I was told (though I wasn't able to listen to any of the talks) that he spoke in English while making these particular remarks. I doubt the Washington Post would allow a translation as broken as this to stand as the only record of the Dalai Lama's words.

Despite the fact that much of the passage is in semi-broken English, I believe that his dignity, calm, and compassion shine through his grammatical errors. I'm in awe of his pure love for humanity.

Ommmmmmmmmmmmm

Auuuuuuummmmmm

Who did the translation of the Dalai Lama's remarks? Was it a person or a computer? I think it is better to have a translation by someone who actually knows the English language. This man is too important to subject him to such an awful translation. Just look at the very first sentence: "In India where I live, the climate not more than 40 years, the pattern are changing."
I can figure out what the Dalai Lama meant, but this kind of English does not provide the diginity which is his by right.

I have a sense that if someone needs to randomly capitalize and post stream-of-consciousness gibberish and is unable/unwilling to write clear and complete sentences, they probably aren't making nearly as much a contribution to this discussion as s/he could be. Not to mention attempting to tie H.H. to Nazism (without any citations or evidence).

The Realist stated my view perfectly on another thread, so I hope s/he doesn't object to my copying that post here:

"Personally I have enormous respect for the Dalai Lama, not because he has a fancy title, but because compared to other religious leaders, what he says tends to be useful and to make sense. When other religious leaders are preaching obscure dogmatic nonsense and bigotry, the Dalai Lama is preaching love, compassion and understanding.

The biggest difference between the Dalai Lama and other religious leaders is that the Dalai Lama would agree that he is not above criticism, and he does not claim any divine authority. He has earnt my respect, not demanded it.

Though I'm not a believer, and I'm not a Buddhist, I think if there were a lot more people like the Dalai Lama in the world, we wouldn't have all of the problems we have in the world today."

Gandhi - Born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. His last name is spelled - GANDHI - not as Ghadni or Ghandi or any other variation you may care to make up. I think the man of peace deserves at least this much respect (by getting his spelling correct).

I know not everyone can pronounce his full name. But please, get off your high horses and learn to respect people who have proven through their deeds that they are much much better than you.

You can call me *nal, or stupid or whatever. I dont care. But I do care when someone butchers a good man's name just because they are too lazy to learn how to spell.

Gandhi - Born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. His last name is spelled - GANDHI - not as Ghadni or Ghandi or any other variation you may care to make up. I think the man of peace deserves at least this much respect (by getting his spelling correct).

I know not everyone can pronounce his full name. But please, get off your high horses and learn to respect people who have proven through their deeds that they are much much better than you.

You can call me *nal, or stupid or whatever. I dont care. But I do care when someone butchers a good man's name just because they are too lazy to learn how to spell.

Anyone who has known His Holiness The Dalai Lama personally or read his thoughts would know that he is not being playing politics when he expresses compassion for all. He lives the Buddhist principles to the highest degree, walks his talk and lives what he preaches. Anyone may go to Dharamsala in India and visit him and his people there, to verify that. (Although I have not been in Dharamsala myself, I spent two days in the company of a team from Dharamsala - his late personal physician, Dr Tenzin Choedrak, and the team Dr Choedrak travelled with. I felt so blessed to share their company!)

We live in an interdependent global village now. HH The Dalai Lama is pointing to a fact that we need to pay urgent attention to - not to fight about religions, but look for dialogue and co-operation and make a genuine attempt to learn from the other and work harmoniously with all for the benefit of all human beings.

My own understanding of religions from personal experience is that the convergence of religions come at the level of mystics. All religions are a way to God but the paths are distinct, like the fingers on the hand that converge in the palm. Buddhism has a special appeal because there is no god image to cause divisions, so anyone from any religion may learn the Buddhist principles to deal with suffering in this world, while retaining their core religious beliefs. Shankaracharya has been blamed for integrating Buddhist thought into Hinduism to reconvert Indian Buddhists back to Hinduism. Many Catholic priests have successfully integrated Buddhist principles with their Christian beliefs. It is well known that Tibetan Buddhists are geniuses when it comes to the study of the mind since many have devoted much time to the study with scientific vigor.

I wish HH The Dalai Lama a long and healthy life! I do wish fervently that his vision and effort to work out peace and reconciliation with China for Tibetan autonomy, will come true in his lifetime. The Nobel Peace Prize, and now the recognition in the US is well deserved! India is lucky to have him, although I share The Dalai Lama's grief about being forced to live in exile in India for nearly half a century.

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

Yonkers, New York
22 October 2007

I am struck by the Dalai Lama's assertion that one day our sun will die--(which is that point in time when its store of hydrogen and helium run out)--and of course, sucking into it practically all of the planets as well as much of the debris now orbiting it!

All living things on planet earth, meaning all fauna and flora, will die as a matter of course when Earth, some 5 billion earth years into the future, will be swallowed by our sun going through its "death" throes.

A religious personage, the Dalai Lama's statement is quite striking, actually shocking, because one would expect him not to utter a scientific truth, but instead to dwell on transcendence and on an afterlife.

The scientific truth is that all matter in our Universe is subject to a Natural Law of Cycles: birth, growth, adolescence, maturity, decline and death.

Even as I write these lines, stars (like our sun) are being created out of stellar dust. From birth those stars move irresistibly through the linear cycle of growth, adolescence, maturity, decline and death.

As with our solar system, so it will be with galaxies, and with clusters of galaxies.

That's just the way the cosmic ball bounces.
MarPatalinjug@aol.com

thank you konchog

Dalai Lama spoke wisdom. The kind of wisdom that we need. However, in the process of delivering his wisdom, he mis-spoke about Islam. That Islam is a about Love and peace. I just would like to know when did this happen? When was Islam delivered love and peace? Islam is always about sword, violence, rape, injustice and about chaos. How come such a learned intellect can mis spoke such a fundamental truth about History? Islamic history is all about violence, nothing but violence and chaos.

The Dalai Lama speaks a bit of English, but he normally relies on a translator when discussing anything of any complexity at all. He's given so many lucid and even brilliant talks that it seems kind of a shame that the one thing that "On Faith" selects to print is something like this where he's just touching on a few passing subjects in his own broken English.

For example, when he "commends" American power, he simply means that American power is important to world stability and that it should be used responsibly and not recklessly, as he's said a number of times in other contexts. If he'd been speaking through a translator instead of trying to express himself in a non-native language, the nuance wouldn't have been lost as it has been here.

this isnt edited, when the dalai lama speaks to americans or english speaking people, his speech i sin tibet, then translated into english- but he reads his own words himself.

i find it impossible to find any criticism of his words or being in amy way.

he is right- conflict is always about competing interests.

he suspects always the best in people because it is in him
peace

There's a challenge for the WAPOST on faith elite. Give us an unedited submission by Dalai Lama, no questions, just discourse. If his holiness feels response to this forum is in the interests of mankind, should we be so fortunate.

Sooooo..... Wherever this ill-edited transcription of what HHDL said came from.... Doesn't really change much for most, I see.

He was trying to be nice to Bush, get it?

That's not particularly easy. :)

If the 2nd coming came tomorrow, screams of 'crucify him' will reverberate a 2000 year echo. Some of these comments do not bear in mind that Dalai Lama, if not enlightened, has seen visions of it. 'The whole galaxy and solar system is moving...the velocity is changing...consume, consume-think more...rich and poor...is very sad.'
You will vibrate with his words, or fall away from his level of wisdom. Why his holiness likes Bush is not mine to question.

Mr. "Truth": you exhale hatred through every single word you write. You also display tremendous ignorance: how can one claim that googling up the internet is evidence of anything? Do you have an idea of how many people write whatever they wish and post it for others to read?

sammer muhammad:

It's absolutely wonderful that Muslims like Christians await the return of Jesus to claim His throne, kingdom of God, earth. Have you decided who will run the kingdom of God while we wait for Jesus? You have many Christians with an eye on that highly profitable prize. Democracies are so counter to the kingdom of God, don't you think?

And, wasn't it was really big of Mr Bush to include mosques in his 9-11-2001 statement, "go to your churches, temples, synagogues and mosques and pray"? You're not sore about mosques coming last on his list are you?

We are not fighting over 'religion.'

It is only in very recent times, where anything but religion was controlling on this planet. Tibet is surely a perfect example of this.

European plutocracies [the Vatican perhaps excepted] have all vanished, at least at a formal level, over the last several hundred years. This point was made to President Clinton in his official journey to China -- making China thus appear to be the 'liberator' and 'the good guy.' Now that China and Tibet were traditional historical adversaries, rather than Tibet being a former legitimate vassal state of China is hard to ignore.

So you must now 'win from within,' since China is not going anywhere quickly -- apparently.

you are talking to the wrong people go tell the islamics that - they are the ones with a cult of death that demands world conquest or death to those who will not convet to islam.

you are talking to the wrong people go tell the islamics that - they are the ones with a cult of death that demands world conquest or death to those who will not convet to islam.

Harry Theriault was a Federal prisoner incarcerated for various offenses who founded his own prison-based religious order, the Church of the New Song---conveniently acronymed CONS---but which he also called the “Eclatarian” faith. He claimed that while housed in the lockdown facility in Marion, Illinois he experienced visions of a force known as “Eclat” who instructed him to found the new religious order. He acquired a Doctor of Divinity certificate through mail order, and appointed a friend and fellow inmate as the First Revelation Minister. Theriault appointed himself the "Bishop of Tellus." He and his First Minister proceeded to file a series of First Amendment actions against the Bureau of Prisons and the chaplaincy service for failing to provide them with the means and opportunity to practice their faith---a faith which coincidentally required a substantially improved diet, free access to open meeting facilities for all believers and the freedom to conduct seminars designed to "destroy the prison system, the people in the prison system, the people in the parole system, the people in government in general, the judiciary," et. cetera. As word of the new faith spread through the Federal prison system, new believers were added to the suit. This process was facilitated by Theriault’s own travels through the prison system; at various times he was held in at least three different states due to his threats of mass violence and murder, destruction of prison property and assaults against correctional officials. In spite of Theriault’s own testimony that the Eclatarian faith began as a "game", the U.S. District Court in Georgia ordered the Bureau to allow him to have access to a chapel or auditorium to hold services. Before this could be accomplished Theriault was soon back in solitary confinement for destroying his cell and assaulting a correctional supervisor. Prison officials were held in contempt for failing to provide services, and the District Court ordered Theriault’s release from disciplinary segregation. He was transferred to a Federal penitentiary in Texas. Once there, he filed again in Texas Federal court for access to the prison chapel. The petition, now expanded to include 166 prisoners, was quickly dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals but Theriault had nine others pending at various stages of litigation. Eventually the Church of the New Song was excluded from First Amendment protection on the grounds that this amendment was not intended to protect "so-called religions which...are obviously shams and absurdities and whose members are patently devoid of religious sincerity."

Dear TRUTH,

It would be a strange holy man indeed who would not talk to sinners. Even the Pope manages that much, and he is more an exalted church man than a holy man. Holiness is not to judge that this one or this thing is good that other is evil, as in the Christian framework. Holiness in the Buddhist framework is to see that we are a single entity beyond either good or evil, and to make suggestions for the health and happiness of that entity. I find that spirit very much whenever I encounter the words of the Dalai Lama.

Let us contrast your words, which are filled with hatred.

Re: Bgone
In the muslem tradition, Jesus does come down and claim his kingdom for muslems and all who believe in God and his prophets. So, really, your statement asking for Jesus to come down before Allah/ God is kind of the same thing to us muslems.
Holy Dalia Lama:
You are a genius and a man of great intelligence. I wish we had more leaders like you and of your intelligence. The leaders of the world today are all ignorant money hungry devils. Please continue your efforts to bring peace to Tibet and other nations. As a Palestinian, I feel with your peoples struggle to fight against apartheid and persecution by a superpower that can do no wrong due to their strength. Your people and ours will prevail for our people in the end. ( mandela)

JOZEVZ, live it up kid. WW3 is under way.

ann, Dalai Lama said it. The pope patented it. And it makes us all feel real good. Now if we could only get about a hundred million Catholics, 900 million protestants and a billion Muslims to do it. What you ask? Yall behave yo selves now ya heah.

China is the only safe place left on earth and our illustrious leaders want to turn it over to the Dalai Lama. Of course, as Nero fiddled while Rome burned Bush holds the evangelical line.

Good luck to one and all.

WOW!

I continue to be inspired by the Dalai Lama's clear vision of compassion and insight into the events of this world. Reading his comments during his visit to our county instills a deep sense of calm within my being inwhich I inspire to bring into my everyday life in hopes to be a beneficial presence among the suffering of this life.

I continue to be inspired by the Dalai Lama's clear vision of compassion and insight into the events of this world. Reading his comments durning his visit to our county instills a deep sense of calm within my being inwhich I inspire to bring into my everyday life in hopes to be a beneficial presence among the suffering of this life.

Truth:

You sound soo Chinese, if not mouthing the chinese proganda.

Kacoo:

""I think your economy power and also military power, I think American spirit, I think really great, and you can promote that. And I commend it. I think that’s very, very important."

"I hope he's just not another puppet despot that is seeking to have the Pentagon install him into power."

That's hardly what this appears to be saying: this piece was clearly dictated, and I think you're connecting two different thoughts. Just recently, he's been trying to negotiate with China for some cultural autonomy for the people of Tibet, while cooperating with China on other counts... though I don't know how much I expect out of China on this count.

JOZEVZ, are you sure about Mit. Mit is Tim spelled backwards. Ya know what that means?

Have you given Ron Paul a really close look? He's going to solve all the problems by ending all those entitlements like SS, (has more than one meaning) medicare, income tax, and much more. He may be going to outlaw the government altogether, pass the "last" bill on the hill. Now we're getting somewhere, a candidate that's so honest he's running on an "impeach me" platform.

McCain has become a Baptist, reasons unknown, and says the war has been poorly managed. So there you have the one candidate who has the greatest possible insight combined with the ability to grossly understate the situation.

And how about Thompson? He's not acting. Honest. He's really that inept. Fits perfectly well with the country club crowd. Wait until they find out the bank holding their millions insured to one hundred grand has gone BK. Homeric! Biblical even, "cursing and gnashing of teeth."

The only candidate that can beat Hillary is old "balance the budget" Bill and he's not qualified, on morals grounds, I think.

"What this country needs is a good 5 cent cigar." What! Tobacco is outlawed? Not by the evangelicals.

Will Jesus please come on down and claim the kingdom of God before Allah takes over. What do you mean the Dalai Lama is the republicans choice for that? What happened to Billy, the pope and Pat Robertson?

Intelligent, thinking, and sane people of this world understand that the Dalai Lama is a great soul! This is demonstrated by him being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Gold Medal. Don't forget, the Tibetan people are still suffering under Chinese rule and the situation is becoming worse. A reality that the Chinese government is fighting hard to hide from the outside world!

Intelligent, thinking, and sane people of this world understand that the Dalai Lama is a great soul! This is demonstrated by him being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Gold Medal. Don't forget, the Tibetan people are still suffering under Chinese rule and the situation is becoming worse. A reality that the Chinese government is fighting hard to hide from the outside world!

The Dalai Lama is perhaps the worst fraud perpetrated upon the world this century. I live in America and am appalled by all the adoration toward this fraud. He has strong ties to Nazis, convicted terrorists, convicted Nazi war criminals and convicted mass murderers. He used to take millions to raise an army to fight the Chinese (" a man of peace", indeed!). He supports nuclear testing and the war in Iraq. He was un-democratically appointed and ran a medieval Tibet with slaves and brutality. The evidence of this can be easily seen on the internet by just googling: Dalai Lama, Hitler.

Can someone tell me what is so holy about this fool they call the Dalai Lama?

The Dalai Lama is perhaps the worst fraud perpetrated upon the world this century. I live in America and am appalled by all the adoration toward this fraud. He has strong ties to Nazis, convicted terrorists, convicted Nazi war criminals and convicted mass murderers. He used to take millions to raise an army to fight the Chinese (" a man of peace", indeed!). He supports nuclear testing and the war in Iraq. He was un-democratically appointed and ran a medieval Tibet with slaves and brutality. The evidence of this can be easily seen on the internet by just googling: Dalai Lama, Hitler.

Can someone tell me what is so holy about this fool they call the Dalai Lama?

Has anyone asked the president which gave him the biggest thrill his audience with the Dalai Lama or kneeling before the pope? Don't tell me his all time big thrill was Pat Robertson's visit to the white house. Did Pat stoop to letting the president use his "cell phone to God"? I suppose the situation is pretty bad alright.

Western nations have taken the material to its extreme,as within an short period,severe damage done to the planet,that it be unable to sustain human life.The result there being little doubt, all having vacate mother earth for period till it heals as renews itself,only then resume our spiritual development.It not that humanity has not made progress,it having made great progress, in material as spiritual development. yet much learning,as yet to be done,which but critical if our home journey end in attaining enlightenment.

I think the Dalai Lama is a liitle bit goofy nut.

Tenzin Gyatso is quoted above as saying he likes America's military power.

"I think your economy power and also military power, I think American spirit, I think really great, and you can promote that. And I commend it. I think that’s very, very important."

I hope he's just not another puppet despot that is seeking to have the Pentagon install him into power.

Why can't he renounce violence like Ghandi and set an example of peace?