Hello Dalai
An Open Letter to the Dalai Lama
One of the most famous quotes from the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is "I am a simple Buddhist Monk – no more no less." How do you address such an extraordinary disconnect? The Dalai Lama was in adopted into theocratic royalty and raised as such. He had an entire country under his feet and now presides over a "government in exile." He has never had to worry about health care or rent and it is impossible for him to lose his job. He will never wind up in Tent City. He has more privilege than you or I could imagine. What’s wrong with this picture?
Many of my otherwise intelligent friends have been dazzled by the glamour of this whole thing. I wound up in an argument and was challenged to write an "Open Letter To The Dalai Lama." So here it is.
Dear Tenzin Gyatso,
There are some serious allegations that you need to address. Since you are coming to my town soon and will no doubt stay in the best accommodations and will be hosted by all of the highest dignitaries, given a key to the city, featured on the front pages of the papers, featured on all TV news programs, and so on, I think you owe it to us to be clear on these things.
1. Old Tibet was a feudal theocracy under the tight control of you and your monks. Your former privilege is legendary. Is this what you would like to see reinstated?
2. In the old country punishments for legal infractions included the gouging out of eyes and the severing of limbs. How do you see this form of justice operating in today’s world?
3. The monks routinely took nine year old boys into the monasteries for ritual sex and other exploitations. We call this child abuse. What do you call it?
4. Ritual drums were made of human skulls. Do they sound better than wooden or clay drums?
5. When the old order was overthrown people found the remains of children who had been buried alive in the foundations of the monasteries. That’s why they blown up. Was this over reacting?
6. What is the difference between you and other deposed monarchs?
7. Do you still get money from the CIA?
There’s more but this will do for a start. To my knowledge you have never addressed any of this in public and I can’t for the life of me understand why so many people think you’re so wonderful. Perhaps you will enlighten me.
Seven questions, we will wait for seven answers.
One of the most famous quotes from the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is "I am a simple Buddhist Monk – no more no less." How do you address such an extraordinary disconnect? The Dalai Lama was in adopted into theocratic royalty and raised as such. He had an entire country under his feet and now presides over a "government in exile." He has never had to worry about health care or rent and it is impossible for him to lose his job. He will never wind up in Tent City. He has more privilege than you or I could imagine. What’s wrong with this picture?
Many of my otherwise intelligent friends have been dazzled by the glamour of this whole thing. I wound up in an argument and was challenged to write an "Open Letter To The Dalai Lama." So here it is.
Dear Tenzin Gyatso,
There are some serious allegations that you need to address. Since you are coming to my town soon and will no doubt stay in the best accommodations and will be hosted by all of the highest dignitaries, given a key to the city, featured on the front pages of the papers, featured on all TV news programs, and so on, I think you owe it to us to be clear on these things.
1. Old Tibet was a feudal theocracy under the tight control of you and your monks. Your former privilege is legendary. Is this what you would like to see reinstated?
2. In the old country punishments for legal infractions included the gouging out of eyes and the severing of limbs. How do you see this form of justice operating in today’s world?
3. The monks routinely took nine year old boys into the monasteries for ritual sex and other exploitations. We call this child abuse. What do you call it?
4. Ritual drums were made of human skulls. Do they sound better than wooden or clay drums?
5. When the old order was overthrown people found the remains of children who had been buried alive in the foundations of the monasteries. That’s why they blown up. Was this over reacting?
6. What is the difference between you and other deposed monarchs?
7. Do you still get money from the CIA?
There’s more but this will do for a start. To my knowledge you have never addressed any of this in public and I can’t for the life of me understand why so many people think you’re so wonderful. Perhaps you will enlighten me.
Seven questions, we will wait for seven answers.
posted by Jim Page at 9:40 AM
3 Comments:
Bravo Jim...
May you be given the seven responses you request...
In my opinion...you should be given a one to one interview...and a chance to challenge your viewpoint. You deserve this.
As I am sure you are aware...answers are not always in black and white...
I salute your spirit...
However, there is no institution that has not had to deal with such criticisms...
This is a man who is probably one of the leading proponents of non-violence in our time.
I was in attendance at a meeting in Christchurch Catherdral in Vancouver about 25 years ago and I was in tears along with about 200 others...
baba
Hi Jim,
I think you could also ask the Pope most of your questions....
Or any (spiritual) Leader of any Religion / Government / Town, whatever you want.
I remember alot of people beeing burried alive back in the old days when they /seemed/ to be dead for example.
I remember the church castrating boys for their voices.
I also remember the church to molest children not only in the past, but also in present.
Just my 0.2$.
Regards,
Ullrich Franke
I have known Baba for years and he can say anything he wants. I would love an audience but that’s not going to happen and we all know that. And besides, he’s a professional politician, kissing babies, loving everybody. He’s too smooth to ever give a real answer.
The truth is, none of the Dalai Lovers I have spoken with have any idea what Tibet was like before liberation. No idea at all, and yet they support this guy. Even the “official” pro Tibet sites – government in exile, etc – show no history. Isn’t that strange?
Tibet was a slave society. A feudal theocracy. The monks were the ruling class and Dalai was the head of them. Once you get that part straight the rest of it falls into place. Mutilations, public floggings, ritual sex with 9 year olds, etc.
It’s really pretty simple. This is all about whether or not it was right to change the system in the old south here in America. As cute as some of those plantation owners were – with their churches and their sermons about love and peace, with their poetry and their morals – they owned millions of human beings and we pretty much all agree that it was the right thing to do free those people and to change that system.
Old Dixie, Old Tibet. A shared experience on the road of humanity.
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