Dalai Lama to retire from political life

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: Guardian

The Dalai Lama will say today he will retire from political life within days.

In a speech posted on the internet and due to be delivered in the next hour in Dharamasala, the northern Indian hilltown of Dharamasala, where the Tibetan community in India is principally based, the veteran Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader said that he would ask the Tibetan parliament in exile to make the necessary constitutional changes to relieve him of his "formal authority" as head of the Tibetan community outside China.

The assembly, which meets early next week, is expected to approve his request. Though long-anticipated, the move away from the limelight by one of the world's best known political figures signals a dramatic change.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/10/dalai-lama-retires-from-political-life-tibet

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Edited: better link

[WheelWalker]

1. Blessings, Tenzin Gyatso.

[urbuddha]

2. Actually, the Kalon Tripa [a group of people] have been handling the political sector for many years

In the land encircled by Snow Mountains
You are the source of all happiness and good
All powerful Chenrezig, Tenzin Gyatso
Please remain until samsara ends.

[Lost Jaguar]

3. Double plus good.

His Holiness has contemplated this action for some time. Now perhaps he can spend more time in his own practice.

[PatSeg]

4. Dalai Lama plans to quit as Tibet political leader

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The Dalai Lama said on Thursday he would step down as Tibet's political leader, a move seen as transforming the government-in-exile into a more assertive and democratic body in the face of Chinese pressure.

By devolving his powers, the Dalai Lama would give the prime minister greater clout as the region seeks autonomy from China. Tibetans will vote for a new prime minister this month, with the elections seen as ushering in a generation of younger, secular leaders and strengthening the movement's global standing.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/us-india-dalailama-idUSTRE7290UK20110310

[Drale]

5. The entire Tibetan government is based on reincarnation

how do you step down from something you where born into? I see what he's going for, but I think he's going to get more push back from the people of Tibet then he thinks and its not going to make him any more welcome back because China is still going to see him as a threat.

[RoccoR5955]

6. He's stepping down from PRIME MINISTER, not his religious position.

RTFA!

[PatSeg]

7. Apparently he is stepping down as political leader,

not spiritual leader.

"As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power," the Dalai Lama said in his annual speech marking 52 years since he fled Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese.

I think as he is getting older, he's worried about what will happen after his death. Finding and installing the next Dalai Lama could many years and the exiled government could fall apart in the meantime without a leader.

[Glorfindel]

8. I think China is totally missing the boat in this case

The Dalai Lama ensconsed in Lhasa would be an enormous tourist draw, a combination of the British Royal Family and the Vatican. The revenues would be huge. So what if Tibet is "autonomous"? I can't understand their reasoning at all.

[PatSeg]

9. Arrogance

They can't admit they're wrong.

[abqmufc]

10. US government and Native Americans....no difference.

Why does any government control people? Power.