Nobel Peace Prize winner
- Thread starter Snoopy
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Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
…celebrated his 72nd birthday on 6 July. In a world of leaders too greasy to behold here is one at least who lives and extols a virtuous and compassionate life.
Happy birthday to the Dalai Lama!
s.
Here, here, happy birthday Dalai Lama.
What an incredible man.
LeoSalinas22
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i am sorry to anyone who gets offended, but what is so great about this dude? if he is so great, then why is the world still in such a bad state? i mean, i know i can easily look him up on the net, but i want to know what this guy has contributed to mankind from your point of view. i mean from what i understand, he is human just like the rest of us, no?
No offence, but he is only one person amongst 8 billion others. If people have free will, then he cannot really wave a magic wand and put the world “to rights” can he? (as no-one else can).
Yes he is, I believe, just a human like the rest of us, not perfect, just a humble monk. But he has helped to…........(easily looking on Wiki…)....
… promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
Since 1967, the Dalai Lama has initiated a series of tours in forty-six nations. He has frequently engaged on religious dialogue. He met with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in 1973. Later on, he met with Pope John Paul II in 1980 and also later in 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 2003. In 1990 he met in Dharamsala with a delegation of Jewish teachers for an extensive interfaith dialogue. He has since visited Israel three times, and met in 2006 with the Chief Rabbi of Israel. In 2006, he met privately with Pope Benedict XVI. He has also met the Archbishop of Canterbury, the late Dr. Robert Runcie, and with other leaders of the Anglican Church in London. He has also met with senior Eastern Orthodox Church, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, and Sikh officials.
The Dalai Lama endorsed the founding of the Dalai Lama Foundation in order to promote peace and ethics worldwide. The Dalai Lama is not believed to be directly involved with this foundation. He has also stated his belief that modern scientific findings take precedence over ancient religions
On April 18, 2005, TIME Magazine placed Tenzin Gyatso on its list of the world's 100 most influential people.
On June 22, 2006, the Parliament of Canada voted unanimously to make Tenzin Gyatso an honorary citizen of Canada. This marks the third time in history that the Government of Canada has bestowed this honour, the others being Raoul Wallenberg posthumously in 1985 and Nelson Mandela in 2001.
In September 2006, the United States Congress awarded the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award which may be bestowed by the Legislative Branch of the United States government. The decoration is awarded to any individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States of America. Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, George Washington, Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King, Jr, Mother Teresa and Robert F. Kennedy.
s.
LeoSalinas22
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hey snoopy,
thank you so much for your response. i really apreciate it, ok?
correct me if i am wrong, but don't we all do that here on this forum? the only difference is that this guy is accepting the honor and glory of man.
thank you so much for your response. i really apreciate it, ok?
i know, i know.
correct me if i am wrong, but don't we all do that here on this forum? the only difference is that this guy is accepting the honor and glory of man.
lol! i am sorry once again. he had "extensive interfaith dialogue"? again we do that here all day long.
and the world is still the same. nothing has changed.
uhhhgggh....duuuuuh!
here is this man, accepting awards, accepting honor and glory from men. if he is so humble, then why is he accepting this. it is like he is taking credit for all the "wisdom" he was given. it is all "me, me, me" and never the other way around. our eyes are focused on this man when our eyes should be gazing at ourselves. this dude is just like the rest of us. he puts his pants on one leg at a time, you know? i am sorry, but i am not impressed with this guy. thanks for your response, though, snoop. i understand why this world has such a need to find hope in something or someone. we truly are desperate to find the light, no?
Hi Leo,
I’m not sure if we all do these things you say. But even if we do, we’re just another bunch of posters on a website; he’s trying to promote tolerance, dialogue and compassion in the “real world,” IMO.
I don't associate him with "glory" but of course you are free to!
He's changed attitudes around the world over many years I think; but then everyone of us is constantly changing stuff; some more than others perhaps.
Not all "religious" leaders would say scientific advances should take precedence over ancient texts would they?
Yes in many ways he is like the rest of us. Like those that would like peace in the world and try to do something about it. As opposed to nothing. Or worse, being a part of the problem.
s.
I’m not sure if we all do these things you say. But even if we do, we’re just another bunch of posters on a website; he’s trying to promote tolerance, dialogue and compassion in the “real world,” IMO.
I don't associate him with "glory" but of course you are free to!
He's changed attitudes around the world over many years I think; but then everyone of us is constantly changing stuff; some more than others perhaps.
Not all "religious" leaders would say scientific advances should take precedence over ancient texts would they?
Yes in many ways he is like the rest of us. Like those that would like peace in the world and try to do something about it. As opposed to nothing. Or worse, being a part of the problem.
s.
LeoSalinas22
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i respect your opinion completely snoopy. i have no issues there, my friend. but lets clear one thing up before i close.
so i will bow out in the most humble manner possible and say, "see you on the threads and vaya con Dios."
you and i may not associate him with "glory or honor", but whole countries and men of power do. and they are very influential, to say the least.I don't associate him with "glory" but of course you are free to!
so i will bow out in the most humble manner possible and say, "see you on the threads and vaya con Dios."
Snoopy said:
I'll let ya know...but you should be aware that they can be both a blessing and a curse. For example, toolbars can pop up randomly and drive one a bit crazy....
And then there's the times when they don't show up for various reasons, and that makes one's posts look very strange, too! One of these days, I figure they might all just disappear for good, and then my legacy will be affected, and I'll never get another freelance, peanut-paying editing job.
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Hope you are still reading this thread Leo. Of course the Dalai Lama is just a person, as was Mother Teresa and Ghandi but they are all people I seriously admire. The Dalai Lama sits there with his childish little laugh and expresses his desires for peace and tolerance. In the midst of a world in chaos every now and again a person emerges, usually a very humble person, that can make great nations stop and listen. For me, that is someone to be admired. Just by refusing to eat Ghandi managed to bring peace back to his nation and not once did he raise his fist. I think this goes to show us that people like the Dalai Lama are very important to the world as symbols of peace.
T
Tao_Equus
Guest
For me the Nobel Peace Prize has been a farcical lie ever since it was awarded to Henry Kissinger, divisor of "operation menu" the carpet bombing of neutral Cambodia during the Vietnam War that murdered over a million innocent Cambodians.
TE
TE
Looking at the list it does seem a rather, ahem, eclectic mixture of recipients and maybe notable exceptions. Particularly it seems, Gandhi. Maybe the Committee didn't want to give the Prize to an insurgent.
s.
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Vajradhara
One of Many
Namaste Leo,
Thank you for the post.
a fair question. i would submit that there is nothing great about anybody except by way of comparison to another and such methods are not very useful to determine the content of ones being, in my view.
nevertheless, from a political stand point, he is the leader of the Tibetan government in Exile though if Tibet regains its independence he's insisted that there will be democratic elections for the next head of state.
from a religious point of view, he is the head of one of the Vajrayana lineages of Buddha Dharma as found in Tibet. in this aspect he holds a very important position to beings whom put that practice into action.
Buddhism does not share many of the same views regarding things that one may find in other religions or philosophical points of view... one such being that there is any sort of magic being that can "make everything better", as it were. that the world is in a "bad" state is, i submit, ones point of view.
i suppose that it sort of depends. in a biological sense, that is correct. in a religious context, however, that is not correct. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is considered an embodiment of Chenrezig (Tib.)/Avelokiteshavara (Skt.) an analog would be somewhat akin to a Pope in the Christian tradition... in the narrow sense that Dalai Lamas hold a speical place within the religious hierarchy and are ascribed with certain exclusive abilities.
in any event, one need not give this aspect any consideration in the discussion regarding wishing His Holiness the Dalai Lama a happy birth day
metta,
~v
Thank you for the post.
a fair question. i would submit that there is nothing great about anybody except by way of comparison to another and such methods are not very useful to determine the content of ones being, in my view.
nevertheless, from a political stand point, he is the leader of the Tibetan government in Exile though if Tibet regains its independence he's insisted that there will be democratic elections for the next head of state.
from a religious point of view, he is the head of one of the Vajrayana lineages of Buddha Dharma as found in Tibet. in this aspect he holds a very important position to beings whom put that practice into action.
Buddhism does not share many of the same views regarding things that one may find in other religions or philosophical points of view... one such being that there is any sort of magic being that can "make everything better", as it were. that the world is in a "bad" state is, i submit, ones point of view.
i suppose that it sort of depends. in a biological sense, that is correct. in a religious context, however, that is not correct. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is considered an embodiment of Chenrezig (Tib.)/Avelokiteshavara (Skt.) an analog would be somewhat akin to a Pope in the Christian tradition... in the narrow sense that Dalai Lamas hold a speical place within the religious hierarchy and are ascribed with certain exclusive abilities.
in any event, one need not give this aspect any consideration in the discussion regarding wishing His Holiness the Dalai Lama a happy birth day
metta,
~v
"The Dalai Lama has been awarded a Congressional Gold Medal - the top US civilian honour - in a move that has infuriated China."
BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Tibet leader awarded top US medal
Good!
s.
BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Tibet leader awarded top US medal
Good!
s.
Pathless
Fiercely Interdependent
Is it good, or is it politics?
Good politics...yet again the Dalai Lama is getting played a pawn in a game of international intrigue and control.Is it good, or is it politics?
But I believe he believes pawns are necessary and powerful albeit expendable...and that he feels that is ok too.
seattlegal
Mercuræn Buddhist
I found this in today's Washington Post. I hope ya'll don't mind me posting the whole thing, instead of just a link...
My Vision of a Compassionate Future
By The Dalai Lama
Sunday, October 21, 2007; Page B01
Brute force can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom. The thousands of people who marched in the cities of Eastern Europe in recent decades, the unwavering determination of the people in my homeland of Tibet and the recent demonstrations in Burma are powerful reminders of this truth. Freedom is the very source of creativity and human development. It is not enough, as communist systems assumed, to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. If we have these things but lack the precious air of liberty to sustain our deeper nature, we remain only half human.
In the past, oppressed peoples often resorted to violence in their struggle to be free. But visionaries such as Mahatma Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. have shown us that successful changes can be brought about nonviolently. I believe that, at the basic human level, most of us wish to be peaceful. Deep down, we desire constructive, fruitful growth and dislike destruction.
Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with the roots of violence, particularly those that exist within each of us. We need to embrace "inner disarmament," reducing our own emotions of suspicion, hatred and hostility toward our brothers and sisters.
Furthermore, we must reexamine how we relate to the very question of the use of violence in today's profoundly interconnected world. One may sometimes feel that one can solve a problem quickly with force, but such success is often achieved at the expense of the rights and welfare of others. One problem may have been solved, but the seed of another is planted, thus opening a new chapter in a cycle of violence and counter-violence.
From the Velvet Revolution in the former Czechoslovakia to the popular pro-democracy movement in the Philippines, the world has seen how a nonviolent approach can lead to positive political changes. But the genuine practice of nonviolence is still at an experimental stage. If this experiment succeeds, it can open the way to a far more peaceful world. We need to embrace a more realistic approach to dealing with human conflicts, an approach that is in tune with a new reality of heavy interdependence in which the old concepts of "we" and "they" are no longer relevant. The very idea of total victory for one's own side and the total defeat of one's enemy is untenable. In violent conflicts, the innocent are often the first casualties, as the war in Iraq and Sudan's Darfur crisis painfully remind us. Today, the only viable solution to human conflicts will come through dialogue and reconciliation based on the spirit of compromise.
Many of the problems we confront today are our own creation. I believe that one of the root causes of these manmade problems is the inability of humans to control their agitated minds and hearts -- an area in which the teachings of the world's great religions have much to offer.
A scientist from Chile once told me that it is inappropriate for a scientist to be attached to his particular field of study, because that would undermine his objectivity. I am a Buddhist practitioner, but if I mix up my devotion for Buddhism with an attachment to it, my mind will be biased toward it. A biased mind never sees the complete picture, and any action that results will not be in tune with reality. If religious practitioners can heed this scientist's advice and refrain from being attached to their own faith traditions, it could prevent the growth of fundamentalism. It also could enable such followers to genuinely respect faith traditions other than their own. I often say that while one can adhere to the principle of "one truth, one religion" at the level of one's personal faith, we should embrace at the same time the principle of "many truths, many religions" in the context of wider society. I see no contradiction between these two.
I do not mean to suggest that religion is indispensable to a sound ethical way of life, or for that matter to genuine happiness. In the end, whether one is a believer or a nonbeliever, what matters is that one be a good, kind and warmhearted person. A deep sense of caring for others, based on a profound sense of interconnection, is the essence of the teachings of all great religions of the world. In my travels, I always consider my foremost mission to be the promotion of basic human qualities of goodness -- the need for and appreciation of the value of love, our natural capacity for compassion and the need for genuine fellow feeling. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people.
When I first saw a photograph of Earth taken from outer space, it powerfully brought home to me how small and fragile the planet is and how petty our squabbles are. Amid our perceived differences, we tend to forget how the world's different religions, ideologies and political systems were meant to serve humans, not destroy them. When I traveled to the former Soviet Union in the late 1970s, I encountered widespread paranoia, even among ordinary people who feared that the West hated them so much that it was ready to invade their country. Of course, I knew this was mere projection.
Today, more than ever, we need to make this fundamental recognition of the basic oneness of humanity the foundation of our perspective on the world and its challenges. From the dangerous rate of global warming to the widening gap between rich and poor, from the rise of global terrorism to regional conflicts, we need a fundamental shift in our attitudes and our consciousness -- a wider, more holistic outlook.
As a society, we need to shift our basic attitude about how we educate our younger generation. Something is fundamentally lacking in our modern education when it comes to educating the human heart. As people begin to explore this important question, it is my hope that we will be able to redress the current imbalance between the development of our brains and the development of our hearts.
To promote greater compassion, we must pay special attention to the role of women. Given that mothers carry the fetus for months within their own bodies, from a biological point of view women in general may possess greater sensitivity of heart and capacity for empathy. My first teacher of love and compassion was my own mother, who provided me with maximum love. I do not mean to reinforce in any way the traditional view that a woman's place is confined to the home. I believe that the time has come for women to take more active roles in all domains of human society, in an age in which education and the capacities of the mind, not physical strength, define leadership. This could help create a more equitable and compassionate society.
In general, I feel optimistic about the future. As late as the 1950s and '60s, people believed that war was an inevitable condition of mankind and that conflicts must be solved through the use of force. Today, despite ongoing conflicts and the threat of terrorism, most people are genuinely concerned about world peace, far less interested in propounding ideology and far more committed to coexistence.
The rapid changes in our attitude toward the Earth are also a source of hope. Until recently, we thoughtlessly consumed its resources as if there were no end to them. Now not only individuals but also governments are seeking a new ecological order. I often joke that the moon and stars look beautiful, but if any of us tried to live on them, we would be miserable. This blue planet of ours is the most delightful habitat we know. Its life is our life, its future our future. Now Mother Nature is telling us to cooperate. In the face of such global problems as the greenhouse effect and the deterioration of the ozone layer, individual organizations and single nations are helpless. Our mother is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility.
The 20th century became a century of bloodshed; despite its faltering start, the 21st century could become one of dialogue, one in which compassion, the seed of nonviolence, will be able to flourish. But good wishes are not enough. We must seriously address the urgent question of the proliferation of weapons and make worldwide efforts toward greater external disarmament.
Large human movements spring from individual human initiatives. If you feel that you cannot have much of an effect, the next person may also become discouraged, and a great opportunity will have been lost. On the other hand, each of us can inspire others simply by working to develop our own altruistic motivations -- and engaging the world with a compassion-tempered heart and mind.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. Since 1959, he has been living in Dharamsala, in northern India, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile.
My Vision of a Compassionate Future
By The Dalai Lama
Sunday, October 21, 2007; Page B01
Brute force can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom. The thousands of people who marched in the cities of Eastern Europe in recent decades, the unwavering determination of the people in my homeland of Tibet and the recent demonstrations in Burma are powerful reminders of this truth. Freedom is the very source of creativity and human development. It is not enough, as communist systems assumed, to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. If we have these things but lack the precious air of liberty to sustain our deeper nature, we remain only half human.
In the past, oppressed peoples often resorted to violence in their struggle to be free. But visionaries such as Mahatma Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. have shown us that successful changes can be brought about nonviolently. I believe that, at the basic human level, most of us wish to be peaceful. Deep down, we desire constructive, fruitful growth and dislike destruction.
Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with the roots of violence, particularly those that exist within each of us. We need to embrace "inner disarmament," reducing our own emotions of suspicion, hatred and hostility toward our brothers and sisters.
Furthermore, we must reexamine how we relate to the very question of the use of violence in today's profoundly interconnected world. One may sometimes feel that one can solve a problem quickly with force, but such success is often achieved at the expense of the rights and welfare of others. One problem may have been solved, but the seed of another is planted, thus opening a new chapter in a cycle of violence and counter-violence.
From the Velvet Revolution in the former Czechoslovakia to the popular pro-democracy movement in the Philippines, the world has seen how a nonviolent approach can lead to positive political changes. But the genuine practice of nonviolence is still at an experimental stage. If this experiment succeeds, it can open the way to a far more peaceful world. We need to embrace a more realistic approach to dealing with human conflicts, an approach that is in tune with a new reality of heavy interdependence in which the old concepts of "we" and "they" are no longer relevant. The very idea of total victory for one's own side and the total defeat of one's enemy is untenable. In violent conflicts, the innocent are often the first casualties, as the war in Iraq and Sudan's Darfur crisis painfully remind us. Today, the only viable solution to human conflicts will come through dialogue and reconciliation based on the spirit of compromise.
Many of the problems we confront today are our own creation. I believe that one of the root causes of these manmade problems is the inability of humans to control their agitated minds and hearts -- an area in which the teachings of the world's great religions have much to offer.
A scientist from Chile once told me that it is inappropriate for a scientist to be attached to his particular field of study, because that would undermine his objectivity. I am a Buddhist practitioner, but if I mix up my devotion for Buddhism with an attachment to it, my mind will be biased toward it. A biased mind never sees the complete picture, and any action that results will not be in tune with reality. If religious practitioners can heed this scientist's advice and refrain from being attached to their own faith traditions, it could prevent the growth of fundamentalism. It also could enable such followers to genuinely respect faith traditions other than their own. I often say that while one can adhere to the principle of "one truth, one religion" at the level of one's personal faith, we should embrace at the same time the principle of "many truths, many religions" in the context of wider society. I see no contradiction between these two.
I do not mean to suggest that religion is indispensable to a sound ethical way of life, or for that matter to genuine happiness. In the end, whether one is a believer or a nonbeliever, what matters is that one be a good, kind and warmhearted person. A deep sense of caring for others, based on a profound sense of interconnection, is the essence of the teachings of all great religions of the world. In my travels, I always consider my foremost mission to be the promotion of basic human qualities of goodness -- the need for and appreciation of the value of love, our natural capacity for compassion and the need for genuine fellow feeling. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people.
When I first saw a photograph of Earth taken from outer space, it powerfully brought home to me how small and fragile the planet is and how petty our squabbles are. Amid our perceived differences, we tend to forget how the world's different religions, ideologies and political systems were meant to serve humans, not destroy them. When I traveled to the former Soviet Union in the late 1970s, I encountered widespread paranoia, even among ordinary people who feared that the West hated them so much that it was ready to invade their country. Of course, I knew this was mere projection.
Today, more than ever, we need to make this fundamental recognition of the basic oneness of humanity the foundation of our perspective on the world and its challenges. From the dangerous rate of global warming to the widening gap between rich and poor, from the rise of global terrorism to regional conflicts, we need a fundamental shift in our attitudes and our consciousness -- a wider, more holistic outlook.
As a society, we need to shift our basic attitude about how we educate our younger generation. Something is fundamentally lacking in our modern education when it comes to educating the human heart. As people begin to explore this important question, it is my hope that we will be able to redress the current imbalance between the development of our brains and the development of our hearts.
To promote greater compassion, we must pay special attention to the role of women. Given that mothers carry the fetus for months within their own bodies, from a biological point of view women in general may possess greater sensitivity of heart and capacity for empathy. My first teacher of love and compassion was my own mother, who provided me with maximum love. I do not mean to reinforce in any way the traditional view that a woman's place is confined to the home. I believe that the time has come for women to take more active roles in all domains of human society, in an age in which education and the capacities of the mind, not physical strength, define leadership. This could help create a more equitable and compassionate society.
In general, I feel optimistic about the future. As late as the 1950s and '60s, people believed that war was an inevitable condition of mankind and that conflicts must be solved through the use of force. Today, despite ongoing conflicts and the threat of terrorism, most people are genuinely concerned about world peace, far less interested in propounding ideology and far more committed to coexistence.
The rapid changes in our attitude toward the Earth are also a source of hope. Until recently, we thoughtlessly consumed its resources as if there were no end to them. Now not only individuals but also governments are seeking a new ecological order. I often joke that the moon and stars look beautiful, but if any of us tried to live on them, we would be miserable. This blue planet of ours is the most delightful habitat we know. Its life is our life, its future our future. Now Mother Nature is telling us to cooperate. In the face of such global problems as the greenhouse effect and the deterioration of the ozone layer, individual organizations and single nations are helpless. Our mother is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility.
The 20th century became a century of bloodshed; despite its faltering start, the 21st century could become one of dialogue, one in which compassion, the seed of nonviolence, will be able to flourish. But good wishes are not enough. We must seriously address the urgent question of the proliferation of weapons and make worldwide efforts toward greater external disarmament.
Large human movements spring from individual human initiatives. If you feel that you cannot have much of an effect, the next person may also become discouraged, and a great opportunity will have been lost. On the other hand, each of us can inspire others simply by working to develop our own altruistic motivations -- and engaging the world with a compassion-tempered heart and mind.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. Since 1959, he has been living in Dharamsala, in northern India, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile.