Dalai Lama

From RationalWiki
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Reverted edits by 98.234.94.80 (talk) to last revision by PowderSmokeAndLeather)
m ({{religion}})
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Dalai_Lama_at_WhiteHouse_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Tenzin Gyatzo. We're still waiting to see his expert flying abilities.<ref>Watch the "Simple Simpson" ''Simpsons'' episode, then come back here.</ref>]]
+
{{religion}}
 
+
[[File:Dalai_Lama_at_WhiteHouse_(cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Tenzin Gyatzo. We're still waiting to see his expert flying abilities.<ref>Watch the "Simple Simpson" ''Simpsons'' episode, then come back here.</ref>]]
 
{{cquote|If [[science]] proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change.|||Tenzin Gyatzo<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/opinion/12dalai.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www ''The New York Times'': Our Faith in Science] 12 November 2005</ref>}}
 
{{cquote|If [[science]] proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change.|||Tenzin Gyatzo<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/opinion/12dalai.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www ''The New York Times'': Our Faith in Science] 12 November 2005</ref>}}
  
The '''Dalai Lama''' is the head of one branch of the [[Tibet]]an school of [[Buddhism]], although he is often thought of by outsiders as the head of all Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has, over the centuries, gained sufficient status to be accepted as ruler of Tibet.  
+
The '''Dalai Lama''' is the head of one branch of the [[Tibet|Tibetan]] school of [[Buddhism]], although he is often thought of by outsiders as the head of all Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has, over the centuries, gained sufficient status to be accepted as ruler of Tibet.
  
Traditionally the office has been held by a single man [[reincarnation|reincarnating]] over and over again into the same [[job]]. The current holder of the job, Tenzin Gyatso, is in exile from [[China|Chinese]] occupation of his country, and has sometimes talked of being the last Dalai Lama. Since he believes in reincarnation, he apparently does not want to come back as Dalai Lama, so either he is dissatisfied with his job or thinks further Dalai Lamas would be unhelpful. This comment could also refer to the expectation that his succession is going to spark a major clash between the Chinese authorities and the exile Tibetans, as both sides are likely to pick different candidates in a bid to advance their particular agendas.
+
Traditionally the office has been held by a single man [[reincarnation|reincarnating]] over and over again into the same [[job]]. The current holder of the job, Tenzin Gyatso, is in exile from [[China|Chinese]] occupation of his country, and has sometimes talked of being the last Dalai Lama. This statement could imply that he doesn't want to come back as Dalai Lama, either because he is dissatisfied with his job or because he thinks that further Dalai Lamas would be unhelpful. This comment could also refer to the expectation that his succession is going to spark a major clash between the Chinese authorities and the exile Tibetans, as both sides are likely to pick different candidates in a bid to advance their particular agendas.
  
The current Dalai Lama has become a worldwide celebrity, particularly on the [[human rights]] circuit. He is (mostly) a believer in [[pacifism]].<ref>He did once say that violence was acceptable if otherwise, the last Buddhist in the world was going to be killed.</ref> Moreover, he constantly agitates for greater autonomy for Tibet, though he has not called for complete independence in a long time. He has also written books on subjects ranging from [[politics]] to [[neuroscience]]. His political views are generally internationalist, center-[[left wing|left]] and social progressive, although he's not exactly comfortable with [[homosexuality]], at least as far as Buddhists are concerned.<ref>Religionfacts: [http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/buddhism.htm Homosexuality and Buddhism]</ref> He's not a big fan of [[capitalism]] either.<ref>L.A. Times: [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/25/local/me-dalai25 Dalai Lama discusses global economy at UC Santa Barbara]</ref> Or the notion that the moon isn't a source of light {{fact}}. He has argued vociferously against [[religious]] pluralism<ref>See his "Buddhism and other religions", collected in ''Philosophy of religion: Selected readings'' (2009). M. Peterson, ed. Oxford University Press.</ref> despite generally advocating [[tolerance]] towards "false" religions. Intriguingly, he has made comments recently that mankind needs to find "ethics beyond religion" which suggests a certain open-mindedness to secularism rare in religious leaders. He remains a difficult figure to fit into any single category, and such is often looked upon by authoritarians as something of a nuisance, thus earning him a modicum of respect among opponents of such tyrants.
+
The current Dalai Lama has become a worldwide celebrity, particularly on the [[human rights]] circuit. He is (mostly) a believer in [[pacifism]].<ref>He did once say that violence was acceptable if otherwise, the last Buddhist in the world was going to be killed.</ref> Moreover, he constantly agitates for greater autonomy for Tibet, though he has not called for complete independence in a long time. He has also written books on subjects ranging from [[politics]] to [[neuroscience]]. His political views are generally internationalist, center-[[left wing|left]] and social progressive, although he's not exactly comfortable with [[homosexuality]], at least as far as Buddhists are concerned.<ref>Religionfacts: [http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/buddhism.htm Homosexuality and Buddhism]</ref> He's not a big fan of [[capitalism]] either.<ref>L.A. Times: [http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/25/local/me-dalai25 Dalai Lama discusses global economy at UC Santa Barbara]</ref> Or the notion that the moon isn't a source of light {{fact}}. He has argued vociferously against [[religious]] pluralism<ref>See his "Buddhism and other religions", collected in ''Philosophy of religion: Selected readings'' (2009). M. Peterson, ed. Oxford University Press.</ref> despite generally advocating [[tolerance]] towards "false" religions. Intriguingly, he has made comments recently that mankind needs to find "ethics beyond religion" which suggests a certain open-mindedness to secularism rare in religious leaders. He remains a difficult figure to fit into any single category, and such is often looked upon by authoritarians as something of a nuisance, thus earning him a modicum of respect among opponents of such tyrants.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Line 22: Line 22:
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
  
[[Category:Asian history]]
+
[[Category:Asian history]][[Category:Buddhism]][[Category:Religious leaders]][[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Buddhism]]
+
[[category:Religious leaders]]
+

Revision as of 19:50, 16 June 2013

One of many articles on

Religion

Icon religion.svg
The main players
Critics
Supporting actors
Tenzin Gyatzo. We're still waiting to see his expert flying abilities.[1]
If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change.
—Tenzin Gyatzo[2]

The Dalai Lama is the head of one branch of the Tibetan school of Buddhism, although he is often thought of by outsiders as the head of all Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has, over the centuries, gained sufficient status to be accepted as ruler of Tibet.

Traditionally the office has been held by a single man reincarnating over and over again into the same job. The current holder of the job, Tenzin Gyatso, is in exile from Chinese occupation of his country, and has sometimes talked of being the last Dalai Lama. This statement could imply that he doesn't want to come back as Dalai Lama, either because he is dissatisfied with his job or because he thinks that further Dalai Lamas would be unhelpful. This comment could also refer to the expectation that his succession is going to spark a major clash between the Chinese authorities and the exile Tibetans, as both sides are likely to pick different candidates in a bid to advance their particular agendas.

The current Dalai Lama has become a worldwide celebrity, particularly on the human rights circuit. He is (mostly) a believer in pacifism.[3] Moreover, he constantly agitates for greater autonomy for Tibet, though he has not called for complete independence in a long time. He has also written books on subjects ranging from politics to neuroscience. His political views are generally internationalist, center-left and social progressive, although he's not exactly comfortable with homosexuality, at least as far as Buddhists are concerned.[4] He's not a big fan of capitalism either.[5] Or the notion that the moon isn't a source of light[citation needed]. He has argued vociferously against religious pluralism[6] despite generally advocating tolerance towards "false" religions. Intriguingly, he has made comments recently that mankind needs to find "ethics beyond religion" which suggests a certain open-mindedness to secularism rare in religious leaders. He remains a difficult figure to fit into any single category, and such is often looked upon by authoritarians as something of a nuisance, thus earning him a modicum of respect among opponents of such tyrants.

History

The first Dalai Lama, Gendun Drup, died in 1474. It was not until the fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682), that the current system of successive incarnations was recognised.

In September 2007 the Chinese government said the selection of the next Dalai Lama must be approved by the government, presumably because the Communist Party has some sort of insight into which person the shade of the current Dalai Lama will alight in the next incarnation. The Dalai Lama has stated that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation is usually born in the region where the previous Dalai Lama spent most of his life - in other words, the next reincarnation will be born in India.

In March of 2008, people across Tibet (and in neighboring Gansu and Sichuan provinces) rioted against the Chinese regime. Despite the Dalai Lama's urging of peace on both sides and for an end to the violence, the Chinese regime blamed the whole thing squarely on him.

Dorje Shugden Controversy

In March 1996, the Dalai Lama "banned" a deity called Dorje Shugden, who he said was an "evil spirit." Since then, Dolygal (Shugden practioneers) have been thrown out of monasteries, refused entry to stores, and even received death threats.

Footnotes

  1. Watch the "Simple Simpson" Simpsons episode, then come back here.
  2. The New York Times: Our Faith in Science 12 November 2005
  3. He did once say that violence was acceptable if otherwise, the last Buddhist in the world was going to be killed.
  4. Religionfacts: Homosexuality and Buddhism
  5. L.A. Times: Dalai Lama discusses global economy at UC Santa Barbara
  6. See his "Buddhism and other religions", collected in Philosophy of religion: Selected readings (2009). M. Peterson, ed. Oxford University Press.
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Community
Tools
support