Dalai Lama: No More ‘Wolf in Monk’s Robes’?

New York Times ^ | 6/27 | By DIDI KIRSTEN TATLOW

[nickcarraway]

Updated Is a little bit of fresh air blowing in Tibet after more than two decades of rigid policies by Beijing, and recently, around 120 self-immolations by Tibetans protesting those policies?

Maybe. (An ongoing, rare visit to Tibet by the United States ambassador to China, Gary Locke, is also piquing interest.)

Here are some startling comments about a possible loosening of policy, from Tsering Namgyal, a writer and journalist based in New York, writing in Asia Sentinel earlier this week (Mr. Namgyal was citing the Tibetan language website Khabda.org.)

“In an abrupt and unexpected reversal of policy, Chinese government officials have told monks in some Tibetan areas that they are now free to ‘worship’ the Dalai Lama as a ‘religious leader,’” Mr. Namgyal wrote.

The policy is being described as an “experiment,” Mr. Namgyal wrote. Some monks have been told they can stop criticizing the Dalai Lama, as they have often been required to in the past, and can stop describing him as “a wolf in a monk’s robe,” said Mr. Namgyal, referring to an announcement apparently made at a meeting on June 14 in a Buddhist school in Qinghai province, at the appointment of a new Communist Party secretary. The meeting was attended by high-ranking ethnic Tibetan and Chinese officials, said Mr. Namgyal.

[Perdogg]

big hitter, the Lama.

[dfwgator]

Gunga galunga...gunga — gunga galunga.

[yarddog]

I never kept up with the Dalai Lama but did sort of wonder why the media always seemed to literally worship him.

Recently I heard him say that he was a Communist. I would never have known that if he had not said it himself.

[Vince Ferrer]

China is afraid of revolution, and is trying to placate the masses. Howwver, historically this only fuels the resolve for more demands.

[nickcarraway]

He said that gay marriage etc. is wrong and also abortion.

[yarddog]

Well I agree with him on that but will always be wary of anyone who is a Communist.

[TigersEye]

The ChiComs are such kind masters. Perhaps they will also rescind their ban on Tibetans reincarnating. /s

[nickcarraway]

I don’t think he is really a communist. I think someone just said communists are people who are nice and help people, or something. Mao acted nice when he visited him in the 50s, but at the end of the trip, he looked at the Dalai Lama, and said, “religion is poison.”