Dalai Lama – 'I am a supporter of globalization'

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: welt online

WELT ONLINE: What, in your opinion, is the root cause of the financial crisis?

Dalai Lama: Greed and gambling. Many people and companies only have one goal: money, money, and more money. Greed is ok when you let others profit from it, but greed for oneself is bad, it makes you ill. The egotistical ambition to always want to earn more money harms both the company and the individual himself. That is the biggest weakness of many managers – the financial crisis has proven this.

WELT ONLINE: So it’s ok for someone to earn a lot as long as they share?

Dalai Lama: Wealth is not necessarily a bad thing when it has been earned in an honest manner and neither other individuals nor the environment suffered for it. As Buddhists we recognize that wealth is a basic prerequisite for a happy life. But a billionaire also only has ten fingers. He can fit three or four rings on each finger, but that would look weird. The satisfaction many millionaires who don’t share their wealth have in their heads is fictitious and not real. Rich people should help reduce poverty.

WELT ONLINE: Some managers earn 10, 20 or even 30 million euros per year. You really don’t have a problem with this?

Dalai Lama: Just like in the music industry or sports there are exceptions. They can earn as much as they want, as long as it remains transparent and traceable why they earn so much money. Unfortunately there are only few such people. It is, however, unacceptable if a chief executive continues to increase his wealth while the company is sliding into bankruptcy, the shareholders lose their savings and the employees lose their jobs or don’t earn enough to afford a decent standard of living.



Read more: http://www.welt.de/international/article4133061/Dalai-Lama-I-am-a-supporter-of-globalization.html

[Romulox]

1. The genocide of the Tibetan people? Another face of globalization.

The Dalai Lama sounds like a profoundly dim man (or one who thoroughly profits from his status as a celebrity-in-exile.)

[ananda]

2. While the Dalai Lama may very well be..

.. a nice, spiritual person, I have always thought
he lost his way with celebrity-itis.

[RandomThoughts]

3. I agree with much of what he said, it makes sense.

It is not about how much money you make, it is when a person puts making that money over the teachings of honesty, justice, kindness, and love.

In the same way, speaking about globalization has to look at its purpose and its authority. If it is for the good of most people, and done through a representative form, then globalization has some basis to exist. Since in my belief most people are more good then bad, and anything that includes what people think and feel, will trend to more justice and compassion.

Although some globalization is for the worse means of profit for a few without thought of what is best for all in society.

In that globalization is not the question, but the form and goal that it used in globalization. Something I think the Dalai Lama seemed to explain by his comments.

[SkyDaddy7]

4. I totally agree!

Well said!!!:toast: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[LatteLibertine]

5. I think he's spot on about greed and gambling

[InvisibleTouch]

6. Theoretically speaking, money is a form of energy...

...and energy should flow. When it's hoarded/clogged-up, that's when problems start, both for the individual and for the world at large, just like he said. Clogged energy results in health problems, among other things; hoarded money results in a sickness of the mind that can never get enough.

And I agree, wealth in itself isn't a bad thing. There are people with lots of money who use it to do a lot of good in the world. I know there are a lot of projects and charities on my list for when I win the lottery! :)

[mitchum]

7. Assholey man sucking up to the wealthy segment of his fan base

another charlatan