|
The Failure of The Dalai Lama
James L. Secor  There are Buddhists the world over, though perhaps in the minority, who believe that to be a Buddhist is to be an engaged Buddhist; that there is no other way.
What is an "engaged Buddhist"? A Buddhist who is directly involved in the injustices of the world and is vociferous about it, not mincing words as to what is right and what is not. An engaged Buddhist takes a stand. An engaged Buddhist is an activist. Thus, an engaged Buddhist--a proper Buddhist--would name names of perpetrators of evil and no good. There is, after all, no leeway for dissembling in Buddhism, no wishy- washy ethical prevarication, America's favorite pastime. Indeed, for anyone holding a strong point of view, n uncompromising vision and belief, to not articulate (practice) that point of view is to be a traitor to "the cause"--and to yourself. To not speak directly to the sins of the world is to make worthless your ethic. And yet what do we see, what do we hear when Nobel laureates get together with the Dalai Lama in speaking out against George W. Bush and the state of the world that he has promulgated? What we see, what we hear is absolutely nothing from the Dalai Lama--outside of spineless platitudes and mealy-mouthed, vague statements about peace and love and. . .oh, you know the litany. But this should not be amazing coming from a man who is so wrapped up in the superstitious political system that generates him that he cannot think. The reincarnation of The Buddha? Chosen on the impending death of the reigning Dalai Lama by following the stars until the followers see the star stop over the chosen house with the chosen child. No incense. No myrrh. No gold. Just child abduction. But, then, who'd not want their child as the next Buddha? Well. . .anyone in their right mainstream mind, for all the Buddha did was thwart mainstream thinking; Shakyamuni was a rebel and family (dynasty) wrecker. Jeez--parents want their children to be successful, not despised, cast-off rebels who call into question all and every belief people live by! What else can we expect from a man who is the latest in a line of theocratic dictators who had their rise to power supported by the Ming and Qing Dynasties leaders, paying tribute to China for the privilege of ruling. The other sect of Tibetan Buddhism is alive, mind you, but certainly out of favor. . .politically and godily. With the help of the Chinese army, the Yellow hats, vowed to peace and non-violence, successfully overthrew the Red hats in their bid for power (an illusion, an attachment in Buddhist teaching); with the advent of Mao, it all came back on them. With the advent of Mao, Tibet became an independent nation, breaking more than 1,000 years of involvement with China and China's ruling dynasties. What else can we expect from a theocratic dictator who lived in egregious luxury with slaves at his beck and call while his charges, his population, his flock who depended on him for everything good and wonderful, lived in destitute poverty, aided in their belief in their bare subsistence life as their fault (karma--as Katrina was New Orleans' fault) by doctrines that teach they are nothing and will continue be recycled via reincarnation if they don't get their shit together. It's often not possible for near-slaves, peasants, poor working class people to "get their shit together," they are too damned busy trying to exist, simply exist. This kind of karma teaching--the Yellow hats were known as Karma sect--is a perversion of the original concept. This kind of karma is a noun, solid like a rock; the original karma was a verb, it could move and change. The Dalai Lama holds sway by way of fear: if you don't do this, if you don't think like this you will go to hell and revisit your life ad infinitim. What else can be expected from a man who ran away from his engagement and has lived off of pity and "understanding," touring the world espousing what amounts to nothing at all. Platitudes and slogans and the same old same old that floats. Lauded as a hero, it is the monks who stayed behind and fought for their beliefs who are the real heroes. The escapees were the ruling hegemony, the theocratic aristocracy who had not the guts to support their flock, only wishing to maintain their high way of life, even in exile. Shakyamuni Buddha was after newness, breaking the old traditional accepted way of thinking and looking at the world. The Dalai Lama is the latest in a long line of Buddha reincarnations: 1700 of them. The Dalai Lama is interested in keeping the same old same old alive because if he doesn't he ceases to enjoy the kind of life he's enjoying. The Dalai Lama is a coward; the Buddha was not. The Dalai Lama, unlike the other Nobelites, would not denounce the evil ones because to do so would mean he'd have to take a stance and possibly give up the freedom he has in visiting America, land of opportunity for religionists, and living in adoration in France. The Dalai Lama is a fine politician and a fine politician says and does nothing that will adversely effect his position. The Dalai Lama practices Political Correctness to a fault. I have read the Dalai Lama's works: he says nothing. Dainin Katagiri roshi wrote a book, You Have To Say Something, in which he maintain that breaking the silence of Zen is not out of line with the teachings of Zen. There is an urge that cannot be denied, what might fit with Liu Xie's belief, found in his Wenxin Diaolong, that language is the natural expression of humanness. However, the Dalai Lama should practice total and unequivocal silence since he has nothing to say anyway. He but muddies the water, like Basho's frog: the mind is a clear pool, you can see all the way to the bottom; then the frog, the attitudes and attachments of life, jump in obscuring things, disturbing the peace, the true mind, and you can't see properly any more. What a disappointment this man is. What a waste of time. Other Buddhists, other engaged religionists, should let the fire of their tongues lash out and burn his privileged, never-have-suffered ass. The Dalai Lama is an insult to true Buddhists and a blight to Buddhist doctrine, and he gave glaring evidence of it in company with Nobel laureates who had no fear and have actually done something in/with their lives. ======================  Jimsecor is a freelance writer who has travelled extensively overseas, especially Japan and China. He has published in all genre and produced several plays over the years and has taught theatre, writing and literature.
Recommend this article...
 Quote this article on your site | Views: 1673
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4
Tags: James Secor James L. Secor Buddhism and the World
|
Commentary 
