Posted on 01/16/2010 6:46:41 AM PST by cold start
Vadodara: His Holiness the Dalai Lama is known for his wisdom and witty remarks so no one was surprised when he declared on Friday that he cannot say that Buddhism is the best religion.
Speaking at International Convention on Buddhism in Vadodara, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet said, “We cannot say that one religion is best. I am a Buddhist but I can’t say Buddhism is the best religion. It depends on a person’s perception that what is best for him.”
He further added that, “We should respect all religions. India is a secular country where all the religions are equally respected.”
In a very witty remark, Dalai Lama said, “Mr Modi (Mahabodhi Society of India Patron Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi) told me that Indians consider me a fellow Indian. I must tell you, I am India’s son. My knowledge and my wisdom come from India and I am really proud of it.”
Adding another tongue in cheek remark, Dalai Lama said, “Though I have Tibetan parents so my flesh and blood is Tibetan. But, as a matter of fact, spiritually I am an Indian and physically I am a Tibetan.”
Praising India’s unique culture and communal harmony, Dalai Lama said, “India is unique because it follows a culture of non-violence accepted across religions coexisting in the country. There is not much difference in the cultures of Buddhists and Muslims in India as they both follow the tradition of truth and non-violence.”
He went on to add that, “Indians are ‘Guru’ and we (Tibetans) are ‘Chelas’ because Buddhism originated from India. So, when I travel to different parts of the world, I introduce myself as an Indian messenger. I propagate ‘Ahimsa’ so now my guru India, should start promoting non-violence again.
Continuing his refreshingly witty speech, Dalai Lama further added, “Chinese are the senior students of Buddhism while Tibetans are the junior students. So, whenever I give teachings to Chinese Buddhists, I jokingly tell them that the knowledge of ‘junior students’ is not bad.”
Launching a veiled attack on the Chinese atrocities in Tibet, Dalai Lama said, “The condition of Tibet is in turmoil. I want the heritage of Tibet to be given back to India as it is the only place where they will be in safe hands.”
Dalai Lama was at his spiritual best at the function. Speaking about the importance of satisfaction in life, he said, “I had a friend who was very rich but he was not happy. This shows that money and power don’t necessarily guarantee happiness. One should seek inner peace. This inner peace and spirituality can be achieved through love, compassion and affection.
He also advocated the idea of ‘Vasudhaev Kutumbkam’, saying, “The recently concluded Coopenhagen Summit was like a ray of hope for the world affected badly by global warming. The reason for the failure of the summit was that all the world leaders considered their national interest more important than the global interest. This is a wrong approach.”
The very idea of the “best religion” is very foreign to a Buddhist way of thought. Humility is not just a Christian virtue. His statement reflects an admirable level of humility.
Not when there are so many better reasons. /s ;^)
Some FReepers would do well to listen to the Dali Lama and stop worrying about who’s Christian and who’s not.
So does this mean that on my deathbed, I won’t receive total consciousness?
Yah, but what horse puckey! The Muslims in the mountains of Pakistan do not follow non-violence, nor do the muslim terrorists in India. Or the Hindu terrorists. Indians have far more political and religious violence than we do in the USA.
Not when there are so many better reasons.>>>>>>>>>>>>><p.
Yes, some beings can only be helped by destroyiog them. A sad but true fact. There are myriads of better reasons, and I am prepared to use every one of them if I have to.LOL.
Yes, some beings can only be helped by destroyiog them. A sad but true fact. There are myriads of better reasons, and I am prepared to use every one of them if I have to.LOL.
Atheism, with it premise of "if it feels good, do it", is far more intrusive and pervasive (not to mention pernicious) in our daily lives than Christian principles and beliefs.
But when you listen to Jesus it is a major issue. His command to his believers was to go and tell the whole world of his good news, that God himself paid for their sins and all they need to do is believe to receive eternal life.
Caring that others will miss out on that terrific gift is not a bad thing.
So does this mean that on my deathbed, I won’t receive total consciousness?
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No, you’ve still got that going for you. He didn’t stiff you.
So does this mean that on my deathbed, I won’t receive total consciousness?
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No, you’ve still got that going for you. He didn’t stiff you.
If you can’t say your religion is best, then why be a member of it, much less leader?
Whenever I think of Buddhism, I remember two things.
The first is a classic Chinese picture. It shows three men standing next to a barrel of vinegar, and represents the three great philosophies of China: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Each of the three has dipped their finger into the vinegar, then tasted it.
The Confucian does not approve of the vinegar, because its sour bitterness is at odds with what he thinks is the order of the universe.
The Buddhist looks sad, because the sour bitterness of the vinegar reminds him of the suffering involved in life, with escape only in nothingness.
But the Taoist has a happy, almost silly grin on his face, because sour and bitter is how vinegar is supposed to be, so all is well.
The other thing I think of is the story of a delegation of four Buddhist monks who were conducting unofficial diplomacy with the US government. Three were the diplomats, and a very senior, elderly monk was brought along as a courtesy.
They had just arrived at LAX, and were walking down the concourse to get their luggage, when they were seen by a young Mexican girl who was at the airport with her mother. Without any hesitation, the young Mexican girl walked up to the monks, turned to the eldest one, and, in English, started berating him.
She loudly shouted at him that he was a worthless, good for nothing layabout, who never did his homework, was always tardy to class, and spent all his time daydreaming.
All the monks were puzzled, then suddenly the old monk acted terrified, and began to frantically apologize and protest that it wasn’t his fault, and he swore to do better in the future, and please don’t hit me.
Then the penny dropped that the little girl was acting just like his teacher had when he was just a novice monk, and had reincarnated in the little girl. The old monk was convinced beyond any doubt, even though he had to sit down for a while with the shakes.
So the delegation sought out the girl’s mother and explained the situation to her. After lengthy negotiations, the mother agreed that for some months of the year, the girl could travel to Nepal, for the purpose of taking a senior academic post, as long as she kept up her American schoolwork.
A picture was taken of the girl in Nepal, seated on a tall chair and wearing elaborate robes many sizes too large for her, but with a stern and authoritarian expression on her face, as a group of novice monks, looking rather sheepish, groveled on the floor in front of her.
What would really be a breath of fresh air? To hear that the Dalai Lama had come to Christ and renounced Buddhism as a false religion.
That would turn peaceful, non-judgmental Buddhism on its ear!
But no such luck...
This may indeed be true of the religion as established by Gautama and more or less practiced in various places still today.
It's hardly true of Tibetan Buddhism, which has many thousands of deities, ascended Buddhas, demons, heavens and hells, etc. This is largely because it is a fusion of the indigenous Tibetan "pagan" religion, Bon, and the imported Buddhism.
It may be true they don't believe in God, in a monotheistic sense, but they certainly have more than enough gods. The more Buddhist-influenced believers consider these to be forces, influences or metaphors, much as the more "advanced" Hindus do, while those more influenced by Bon tend to view them more as actual entities with real existence.
In fact, in some senses, the Dalai Lama is himself considered a god, a reincarnation of the God of Compassion.
That’s it! Leave no tern unstoned. LOL
By what process does one choose their religion? How were you able to determine that your religion was the best when you were making your choice? This is very interesting to me.
I know two Chinese immigrants who are both Buddhist and Christian! They say there are many like them. They also say that both work quite well together.
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