Comments on: The Secret To The Dalai Lama’s Popularity http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:02:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mick http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95765 mick Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:16:42 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95765 When I first read about Buddhism - there seemed to be such an emphaisis on suffering - the 4 noble truths - however on meeting teachers and having teachings - happiness is not at all negated - only the way we normally try to get it - most teachers are great examples of happy sane beings - in fact I heard it said that - you have to be happy to get enlightened - there is a famous buddhist quote - there is no path to happiness - happiness is the path - good luck on the search When I first read about Buddhism – there seemed to be such an emphaisis on suffering – the 4 noble truths – however on meeting teachers and having teachings – happiness is not at all negated – only the way we normally try to get it – most teachers are great examples of happy sane beings – in fact I heard it said that – you have to be happy to get enlightened – there is a famous buddhist quote – there is no path to happiness – happiness is the path – good luck on the search

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]]> By: Bhaskar Banerji http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95376 Bhaskar Banerji Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:27:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95376 FYI...I once had a dream visitation where this distinguished Tibetan lama came to me and told me - "your goal in this life is to be a happy person!" FYI…I once had a dream visitation where this distinguished Tibetan lama came to me and told me – “your goal in this life is to be a happy person!”

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]]> By: Turner http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95365 Turner Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:31:26 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95365 The key aspect of Buddhism is that it doesn't try to answer all the questions people seek the answers to in the Bible, the Koran, other holy books. Buddhists have their own opinions regarding the nature and origins of the universe, but they have NOTHING to do with Buddhism. Even the Buddha refused to answer a list of age old questions one skeptic presented to him (probably out of the suspicion his words would be interpreted as gospel... no pun intended). Buddhism is about finding peace by learning to focus on the present: who cares if the universe was designed? The Dalai Lama is coming to New Zealand Dec 5th for a public audience and a Dhamma talk. I have tickets! The key aspect of Buddhism is that it doesn’t try to answer all the questions people seek the answers to in the Bible, the Koran, other holy books. Buddhists have their own opinions regarding the nature and origins of the universe, but they have NOTHING to do with Buddhism. Even the Buddha refused to answer a list of age old questions one skeptic presented to him (probably out of the suspicion his words would be interpreted as gospel… no pun intended). Buddhism is about finding peace by learning to focus on the present: who cares if the universe was designed?

The Dalai Lama is coming to New Zealand Dec 5th for a public audience and a Dhamma talk. I have tickets!

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]]> By: christine http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95362 christine Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:59:13 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95362 I agree with Debi's point, along with the fact that people seem to be searching for a less-restrictive belief system, one which is interconnected but doesn't necessarily say "believe this." My problem with Buddhism as I've sometimes encountered it is that it does in fact say believe this, and many Buddhists due, in fact, worship the Buddha (even though that's not the way it's supposed to be). And I still grapple with the fact that you aren't supposed to be happy when it comes to Buddhism - I get that the higher you go, the lower you go, and the ultimate goal is to be unattached so as to experience equanimity, but it often feels as if condemns being happy, in a way. Not sure if this is just the human expression of Buddhism, though. I agree with Debi’s point, along with the fact that people seem to be searching for a less-restrictive belief system, one which is interconnected but doesn’t necessarily say “believe this.” My problem with Buddhism as I’ve sometimes encountered it is that it does in fact say believe this, and many Buddhists due, in fact, worship the Buddha (even though that’s not the way it’s supposed to be).

And I still grapple with the fact that you aren’t supposed to be happy when it comes to Buddhism – I get that the higher you go, the lower you go, and the ultimate goal is to be unattached so as to experience equanimity, but it often feels as if condemns being happy, in a way. Not sure if this is just the human expression of Buddhism, though.

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]]> By: Marc Latham http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95361 Marc Latham Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:32:22 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95361 I met the lama of the Junbesi monastery in Nepal last month and he was very similar to the Dalai Lama I've seen in interviews on TV: humble, open and intelligent. I asked if he'd achieved enlightenment and he said it was a long journey, and didn't try and sell it by saying he'd seen anything special or something. I met the lama of the Junbesi monastery in Nepal last month and he was very similar to the Dalai Lama I’ve seen in interviews on TV: humble, open and intelligent.

I asked if he’d achieved enlightenment and he said it was a long journey, and didn’t try and sell it by saying he’d seen anything special or something.

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]]> By: Debi http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95353 Debi Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:20:17 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95353 I'm a great fan of the Dali Lama, but the fact that he's exiled also raises his celebrity status. I’m a great fan of the Dali Lama, but the fact that he’s exiled also raises his celebrity status.

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]]> By: Jean-Francois http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95328 Jean-Francois Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:56:06 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95328 I've seent the Dalai Lama a few times. Once in Auroville in a pleasant outdoor setting and he was indeed charming and candid as you would imagine him to be. The last time was in Montreal a few weeks ago where there were 15,000 people. He wasn't so charming then. His speech was sloppy and anything but substantial and he visibly couldn't wait to get the hell out of out of there. Maybe I should write about it :) I’ve seent the Dalai Lama a few times. Once in Auroville in a pleasant outdoor setting and he was indeed charming and candid as you would imagine him to be. The last time was in Montreal a few weeks ago where there were 15,000 people. He wasn’t so charming then. His speech was sloppy and anything but substantial and he visibly couldn’t wait to get the hell out of out of there. Maybe I should write about it :)

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]]> By: LEC http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95312 LEC Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:29:30 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95312 It's his perceived humility. People are attracted to humility; they think it's "peaceful". It’s his perceived humility. People are attracted to humility; they think it’s “peaceful”.

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]]> By: Nancy http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95309 Nancy Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:10:00 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95309 I echo Abbie: what appeals to me about Buddhism is the quest for peace and wisdom, not an assertion to be the "right" religion in the world. The Dalai Lama will continue to be popular as his simple message rings all the more true in this modern, empirical world. I echo Abbie: what appeals to me about Buddhism is the quest for peace and wisdom, not an assertion to be the “right” religion in the world. The Dalai Lama will continue to be popular as his simple message rings all the more true in this modern, empirical world.

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]]> By: Abbie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/11/06/the-secret-to-the-dalai-lamas-popularity/comment-page-1/#comment-95308 Abbie Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:34:42 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=6570#comment-95308 That's what attracts me to Buddhism - that it's not technically a "religion" and doesn't try to be. To me, Buddhism is more of a way of living/being, and the Dalai Lama embodies the principles of Buddhism without looking down upon or pushing it upon anyone else. That’s what attracts me to Buddhism – that it’s not technically a “religion” and doesn’t try to be. To me, Buddhism is more of a way of living/being, and the Dalai Lama embodies the principles of Buddhism without looking down upon or pushing it upon anyone else.

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