Bushism and Buddhism: Dalai Lama discusses

[Bhaisahab]

<SNIP>

Would you advise Bush to find a way of leaving Iraq to the Iraqis?

Actually, after that unbelievable event happened, September 11, I wrote a letter the very next day to President Bush. While I expressed my sadness and condolences, I also wrote about the counter measures for such a terrible tragedy—I believe non-violence is the most effective countermeasure and that’s what I wrote about.


It’s tough to teach non-violence to Bush, even for the Dalai Lama.

Of course, he and the White House take full responsibility. I am an outsider and an outsider may not fully understand the reality he faces. Just like the Tibetan problem, which I know, but an outsider may sometimes not understand. So you can’t blame everything on President Bush, poor Bush!


Well, at least there is somebody you can blame all the problems of the world on right now. (both laugh).

You know there is a Buddhist concept—interdependency, interconnectedness. I think it’s very important to keep that in mind. If you look only at one event, then it’s very easy to say: ‘This is wrong’ or ‘This is right’. But if you look at things from a wider angle, then the picture may be different. These are very complicated matters. I blame these negative events on our past negligence about our inner values. I think the reality of the 20th century and now of the 21st century, the reality of the whole planet, is something very different. Everything is interdependent, that is the reality. But we are still using old concepts to deal with it—there’s ‘we’ and there’s ‘they’.


But that is how Bush looks at the world—you are either with us or you are against us.

I think that is too simple.

=================================================================
full interview here: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=80666

Its long, but it is candid and you get to know many things about the Dalai Lama

[upi402]

1. There are many paths up the mountain

And I wish Bush would find just one of them.

[McKenzie]

2. Thank you for this article - Buddhism interests me. n/t

[Hardrada]

4. My thanks too.

I have been reading up on Buddhism but should now study it systematically. It is great to find a religion which is both non-theist and pacifist.

[WiseButAngrySara]

3. Thanks so much for the link. I love the Dalai. A very good man. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Thanks for this. He is on my desktop dispensing calming reminders from

the expression on his face in my favorite photo of him (image may take a few extra seconds to display):

http://www.pacificvillage.org.nyud.net:8090/villagevoices/int4/Dalai_Lama.jpg

[shenmue]

6. I'm surprised...

he can feel sorry for B***.

But then, you'd expect he would.

[rawtribe]

7. Taoist Farmer

A very old Chinese Taoist story describes a farmer in a poor country village. His neighbors considered him very well-to-do. He owned a horse which he used for plowing and for transportation. One day his horse ran away. All his neighbors exclaimed how terrible this was, but the farmer simply said "Maybe."

A few days later the horse returned and brought two wild horses with it. The neighbors all rejoiced at his good fortune, but the farmer just said "Maybe."

The next day the farmer's son tried to ride one of the wild horses. The horse threw him and the son broke his leg. The neighbors all offered their sympathy for his misfortune, but the farmer again said "Maybe."

The next week conscription officers came to the village to take young men for the army. They rejected the farmer's son because of his broken leg. When the neighbors told him how lucky he was, the farmer replied "Maybe."

:freak: