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Dalai Lama - Politics and Religion

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By Patty Inglish, MS


With President Bush (public domain)
With President Bush (public domain)

A Lifelong Calling and Mission

The Dalai Lama of Tibet works with a mission to increase the recognition of human rights around the world, for every human being. In addition, he seeks religious harmony and understanding along world religions; he wishes people to focus on the similarities of the religions, most of which want peace.

He wishes also that traditions of religions be respected by other religions, believing himself that multiple religions are necessary in a world of peoples.

His third life's purpose, as it were, is to establish recognition of human rights and freedoms in Tibet.

In March of 1959, the Dalai Lama was invited by some Chinese Officials to join them at an entertainment event. He was then sent a list of conditions for the event, including not having any Tibetan military personnel with him.

After performing religious questionings as per tradition, the Dalai Lama disguised himself as a foot-soldier on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day in the West, interestingly) and fled Tibet in order to thwart a capture and possible execution.


Ongoing Political Conflict

The Dalai Lama of Tibet has long criticized China politically for its stances of "unimaginable and gross' human rights violations" against Tibet and its peoples.

The Dalai Lama was exiled and fled to India and Pakistan in 1949 after unsuccessfully standing against Chinese invasion of Tibet. Some political analysts conclude that the Dalai Lama increases his political criticism of China in order to help bring down the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Forty-nine years after his exile, the Dalai Lama has upgraded his verbal attacks, severely scolded China in speeches in Dharamsala, India and elsewhere: "For nearly six decades, Tibetans have had to live in a state of constant fear under Chinese repression."

On the other hand, Chinese officials maintain that the Dalai Lama wishes to destroy the success of August 2008 Beijing Summer Games in retaliation for his defeat in Tibet and exile to India and Pakistan. Some officials claim that the Dalai Lama is the head of a coalition of conspiracies perpetrated in an attempt to prevent the Summer Games form occurring. However, no particulars or details have been given. While the Dalai Lama maintains that he no longer wants independence for Tibet, he seeks a larger religious and political independence for the country. However, some Chinese officials claim that he wants both to provide independence from China for Tibet and to ruin the Beijing Olympics in a bid to gain sympathy for his political and religious cause.


"An Open Heart." Compassion.

Dalai Lama at the White House

Dalai Lama Speaks at Woodstock

Tibetan Culture. Tribute to the Dalai Lama.

Underground Movie: Tears of Tibet

David Bowie: Seven Years in Tibet

Dalai Lama - Politics and Religion in the News

  • The Dalai Lama visit: New Delhi's message to TawangBusiness Standard India16 hours ago

    The ongoing visit of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, to the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh has been speciously played out in the media as a three-sided event between New Delhi, Beijing and the Tibetan government in exile.

  • China cautions Obama over Dalai LamaPhayul19 hours ago

    Dharamsala, November 13 – China has cautioned US President Barack Obama who began his first Asia trip in Japan over his planned meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang compared slavery in the US with “serfdom in Tibet” saying Obama should treat the Tibetan leader as a former as “a former head of a slave state.”

  • Dalai Lama asks people to live in harmonyPress Trust of India23 hours ago

    Bomdila (Arunachal Pradesh), Nov 13 (PTI) Emphasising the need to maintain tranquillity in order to usher in development, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today asked people to live in peace and harmony.

  • China denounces proposed Dalai Lama visit to TaiwanMail and Guardian29 hours ago

    The map will replace this text. If any users do not have Flash Player 8 (or above), they'll see this message. China promptly denounced a proposed trip to Taiwan by the Dalai Lama on Thursday, saying any such visit by a man Beijing brands a separatist threatened to "sabotage" improving relations.

Comments

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stephhicks68 profile image

stephhicks68  says:
2 years ago

Very interesting. I read this yesterday when you first posted it. But it definitely merits a second read. Nice work, Patty!

Zsuzsy Bee profile image

Zsuzsy Bee  says:
2 years ago

Great Hub Patty! The Dalai Lama's teachings have been an inspiration for me it seems like forever. It's my life long secret wish to travel to Nepal and get closer and to experience some of his teachings upclose.

Great HUB as always regards Zsuzsy

Angela Harris profile image

Angela Harris  says:
2 years ago

I really enjoyed this. The Dalai Lama is a real inspiration. He reminds me so much of Ghandi.

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
2 years ago

Thank you all for the lovely comments. I enjoy it very much when each of you visit my Hubs. I am always blessed by each of your comments.

People who have visited both the Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II have stated that when they approached either gentleman, they felt as if they were standing at the portal to heaven and the eternal. I believe it.

goldenmala  says:
15 months ago

Below is a link to a documentary about the Dalai Lama that give rise to questions about his mixing of politics and religion. Is the Dalai Lama a religious dictator?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sOm-uQH9Y

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
15 months ago

Thanks for another perspective, goldenmala; now people who read this will have more information upon which to make up their own minds.

tonyL  says:
15 months ago

2500 years ago Gautama Sakyamuni Buddha gave up his luxurious and powerful princely position inorder to pursue the ultimate truth. He had remained impoverish and steadfast to this ideal - a sacrifice that had enabled him to achieve great pure enlightenment.

gautama gave up "politics" so to speak but dalai lama seems to indulge and embroil himself.so what is dalai lama really up to - enlightenment or mudslinging?apparently i have just made a post on my site about this issue on DL. feel free to visit : tllow.wordpress.com

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
15 months ago

Thanks for the additional information, tonyL.

Dirk  says:
5 months ago

is the Dalai Lama a democrat?

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