Comments on: Defending the Dalai Lama http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Brodnin Wind http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-35764 Brodnin Wind Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:35:56 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-35764 Consider this: There are three main forms of teaching in every school of thought. This reality applies to the Gelukpa Order of Buddhism. The first is the most general and simplistic, intended for the masses: educated and uneducated. (in this case, it was to this that the Daila Lama was speaking that night in Ottawa). The second is reserved for the scholars, those who study thought and attempt to understand inner meaning. The third is reserved for the practitioners of esoteric methods; they are those in the process of self-observation and development who have already understood a vast array of ancient knowledge systems concerning the universe and man. Personality is what he acquire, essence is what we inherit. Consider this:

There are three main forms of teaching in every school of thought. This reality applies to the Gelukpa Order of Buddhism.

The first is the most general and simplistic, intended for the masses: educated and uneducated. (in this case, it was to this that the Daila Lama was speaking that night in Ottawa).

The second is reserved for the scholars, those who study thought and attempt to understand inner meaning.

The third is reserved for the practitioners of esoteric methods; they are those in the process of self-observation and development who have already understood a vast array of ancient knowledge systems concerning the universe and man.

Personality is what he acquire, essence is what we inherit.

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]]> By: Dan http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-26054 Dan Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:37:22 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-26054 Great article, Gardner would do well to familarise himself this Buddhist concepts a bit more. Sure you don't have to be Buddhist to go see the Dalai Lama, and many aren't, but it will give you a new perspective if you understand where he is coming from. If enlightenment is attainable to most of us and given that we are simple creatures it would make sense that answers will be found in simplicity rather than the confused complex minds of pop intellectuals. Great article, Gardner would do well to familarise himself this Buddhist concepts a bit more. Sure you don’t have to be Buddhist to go see the Dalai Lama, and many aren’t, but it will give you a new perspective if you understand where he is coming from. If enlightenment is attainable to most of us and given that we are simple creatures it would make sense that answers will be found in simplicity rather than the confused complex minds of pop intellectuals.

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]]> By: Eva http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-24842 Eva Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:14:22 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-24842 I think one of the (many) problems with Gardner's piece is that he is apparently completely oblivious to the reasons why the Dalai Lama spends his years trekking around the globe and making speeches in arenas. It's not just because he wants to share his messages (the ones Gardner is criticizing as trite) with people - it also has an awful lot to do with keeping Tibet on people's minds, and refusing to let the world forget about his country and his people. He is, I'm sure, savvy enough to know that "playing Oprah" as Gardner would have it, is one sure way to make everyone remember the occupation. And incidentally, since when was an arena in Indiana an appropriate setting for some deeper discourse? I'm sure the man has more to say - but mass gatherings are hardly the place for complex arguments. Besides, even if we all do know that war is bad and should be avoided (and, uh, evidently we don't ALL know this), it never hurts to be reminded. I think one of the (many) problems with Gardner’s piece is that he is apparently completely oblivious to the reasons why the Dalai Lama spends his years trekking around the globe and making speeches in arenas. It’s not just because he wants to share his messages (the ones Gardner is criticizing as trite) with people – it also has an awful lot to do with keeping Tibet on people’s minds, and refusing to let the world forget about his country and his people. He is, I’m sure, savvy enough to know that “playing Oprah” as Gardner would have it, is one sure way to make everyone remember the occupation.

And incidentally, since when was an arena in Indiana an appropriate setting for some deeper discourse? I’m sure the man has more to say – but mass gatherings are hardly the place for complex arguments. Besides, even if we all do know that war is bad and should be avoided (and, uh, evidently we don’t ALL know this), it never hurts to be reminded.

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]]> By: Emily Hansen http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-24731 Emily Hansen Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:16:16 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-24731 I believe that Mr. Harbeke has a point here. I spent the entire five years of my degree being forced to read Foucault, and beneath the "sophisticated" intellectual babble, I found some simple truths, which did not require as much complicated language as the whole process entailed. The purpose of life IS to be happy, and that's not an unsophisticated thought, it's just real- many people think that but how many believe it? Proof that the Big D has an important role to play, besides surviving exhile living to tell, and helping to further the Tibetan cuase. Mr. Gardner could give the guy a break. In our difficult world, people need to be reminded how much simpler life could be. Maybe Mr. Gardner won't buy his book, any maybe some critique of the saccarine-sweet self-help industry would be justified, but picking on the Dalai Llama? Come on! I believe that Mr. Harbeke has a point here. I spent the entire five years of my degree being forced to read Foucault, and beneath the “sophisticated” intellectual babble, I found some simple truths, which did not require as much complicated language as the whole process entailed.

The purpose of life IS to be happy, and that’s not an unsophisticated thought, it’s just real- many people think that but how many believe it? Proof that the Big D has an important role to play, besides surviving exhile living to tell, and helping to further the Tibetan cuase. Mr. Gardner could give the guy a break. In our difficult world, people need to be reminded how much simpler life could be.

Maybe Mr. Gardner won’t buy his book, any maybe some critique of the saccarine-sweet self-help industry would be justified, but picking on the Dalai Llama? Come on!

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]]> By: Kango Suz http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-24611 Kango Suz Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:17:20 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-24611 Thank you so much for your thoughtful post about Mr. Gardner's review of the Dali Lama's speech. I especially enjoyed your insights into why he doesn't understand the love that people have for the Dali Lama. Thank you so much for your thoughtful post about Mr. Gardner’s review of the Dali Lama’s speech. I especially enjoyed your insights into why he doesn’t understand the love that people have for the Dali Lama.

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]]> By: Passenger http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-24412 Passenger Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:58:33 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-24412 This post reveals more than just a one-person perception. If you think about it, we are expecting to be entertained all the time and if it’s not what we are used to – it’s not good. As for Mr. Gardner he's just a tourist, not a traveler. How good of advice can you get from someone who knows a country by watching it through a window? Straight to the point, Mr. Harbecke! This post reveals more than just a one-person perception. If you think about it, we are expecting to be entertained all the time and if it’s not what we are used to – it’s not good.

As for Mr. Gardner he’s just a tourist, not a traveler. How good of advice can you get from someone who knows a country by watching it through a window?
Straight to the point, Mr. Harbecke!

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]]> By: Joshua Berman http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/comment-page-1/#comment-24321 Joshua Berman Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:03:38 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/11/12/defending-the-dalai-lama/#comment-24321 Very well said, I especially agree with the passive-vs.-active roles of those involved. Thank you for this thoughtful post. Very well said, I especially agree with the passive-vs.-active roles of those involved. Thank you for this thoughtful post.

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