while chastity offered a better life and “more freedom"

Well, freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose, I guess. Non-attachment does lead to peace of mind, and if you’re a real loser then it’s the only path you have. Well, there’s that whole Jesus/heaven thing too.

The Dalai Lama sucks. I hate the Dalai Lama, almost as much as I hate Mother Teresa. Everyone thinks he’s just this peaceable smiley guy, but he’s a homophobic asstwit who wants people to give up sex so that, instead of them having wives, families, jobs, and satisfying lives, he can lord power over them and make them grow his vegetables in some cave.

It’s not that I think he wants vegetables, but I do think he’s as vain and celebrity-obsessed as any starlet or Kim Jong Il for that matter.

Oh LP. Disregarding your hate comments which I hope are hyperbole…

he’s a homophobic asstwit

I don’t know whether the Dalai Lama is homophobic or not. I’d suggest it is fair to say that the Dalai Lama and Theravada Buddhism frown upon homosexuality.  It is IMO the one of the very few flaws in Theravada Buddhist philosophy. (While I casually study Buddhist philosophy I would never practice it (or anything else) as a religion)

For the record the Dalai Lama has commented that the purpose of sex in general is for procreation, so, for him, homosexual acts do seem a bit unnatural. He said that sexual desires in themselves are natural, including homosexual desires, but that one should not try to increase those desires or indulge them without self-control.

who wants people to give up sex so that, instead of them having wives, families, jobs, and satisfying lives, he can lord power over them and make them grow his vegetables in some cave.

I am sorry but this displays an profound ignorance of Buddhism.

Buddhism is not a religion but rather a life philosophy that some people have chosen to practice in a religious way.  Buddhism has no deity, no omnipotent entity or authority.  There is no supernatural BS.  There is no belief in an afterlife or anything other than your life here on Earth.  Buddhism is all about getting the most joy and happiness out of the life.

Buddhist monks are expected to live lives of celibacy. There is no rule prohibiting those with a homosexual orientation from monastic life.

Lay Buddhists (those who live outside the monastery) are expected to adhere to Five Precepts, the third of which is a vow “not to engage in sexual misconduct.” Right and wrong behavior in Buddhism is generally determined by considerations such as the following:

- Universality principle - “How would I like it if someone did this to me?”
- Consequences - Does the act causes harm and regret (in oneself or others) or benefit and joy?
- Utilitarian principle - Will the act help or harm the attainment of goals (ultimately spiritual liberation)?
- Intention - Is the act motivated by love, generosity and understanding?

Based on these principles “sexual misconduct” has been interpreted by Buddhists to include actions like coercive sex, sexual harassment, child molestation and adultery. It does not include homosexuality.

It’s not that I think he wants vegetables, but I do think he’s as vain and celebrity-obsessed as any starlet or Kim Jong Il for that matter.

The Dalai Lama has been very deliberate in utilising whatever high profile attention he can garner to draw attention to the plight of Tibet and the Tibetan people. I’m sure he would readily admit that he gets some personal joy out of his association with celebrities.

Also LP SUCKS!

Well, the whole thing generally was sort of hyperbole.

I am sorry but this displays an profound ignorance of Buddhism.

You are right, it would if I meant it ... it stems from an argument Spazmo and I had about whether one day he should go become a Buddhist monk or not. But you wouldn’t know about that, so it wouldn’t make any sense, so it probably just sounded like I was talking nonsense, which as far as you were concerned I was.

I’m all for freeing Tibet (though I think, at this point in history, it’s a lost cause), but I think the Dalai Lama is manipulative of the media in a similar vein as Mother Teresa. This article I read in the Times comes to mind.

Also LP SUCKS!

Wow. I guess Roman Catholicism’s fair game, but man, don’t touch the Buddhists.

First she hates on Thai food, now on the Dalai Lama.  Conclusion:  LP hates Asians!

Great, more for me to fetishize/colonize.

For real, while I can’t give a response nearly as informed as ToP’s (my knowledge of Buddhism is limited to art), I think this is harsh:

but I do think he’s as vain and celebrity-obsessed as any starlet or Kim Jong Il for that matter.

LiLo et al. and KJI have given us nothing but a sense of doom re: the future of the world plus some tabloid fodder. 

I also wouldn’t categorize him with Mother Teresa.

Wow. I guess Roman Catholicism’s fair game, but man, don’t touch the Buddhists.

LP, I believe ToP was joking there.  I know I was with my silly “LP hates Asians” comment—really intended as a joke.

I don’t see the Dalai Lama in the same way as Mother Teresa—this may very well be my own ignorance, and the fact that I’ve read a lot more negative stuff on MT and her stance on birth control than I have on the Dalai Lama and Buddhism.  I will read that article you’ve linked to up there.

And I think all we need to do is bring dimmer into this thread to let us know that all religion is shite and fair game for ragging on.

Maybe I’m responding less to the Dalai Lama himself then to Western attitudes toward the Dalai Lama, if that makes any sense. Maybe what bugs me isn’t actually the dude, its that everybody thinks he’s so awesome and nobody really knows shit about him. And if they knew shit about him, maybe they wouldn’t think he’s so awesome anymore.

We went to this really excellent show at the Asia Society last weekend, and in the gift shop (Spazmo can’t pass by a gift shop, and not only can he not pass by a gift shop, he has to touch every item in the gift shop at least once, preferably three times, even if it is, like, an embroidered used tampon or something), and they had some book, “You are NOT really a Buddhist” or some such. I didn’t read the book, just held up the title for Spazmo, so he could touch it.

Anyway ... I don’t remember where I was going with that.

Also LP SUCKS!

jk LP I was responding to the expressed comments.  BTW I was also joking a couple weeks ago with my “That’s racist” comment, I hope you read that. I knew you were being hyperbolic and casual with “hate” but just calling attention to how it might read to others.

Wow. I guess Roman Catholicism’s fair game, but man, don’t touch the Buddhists.

Please criticise Buddhism as much and as often as you wish. The quote in the linked article is out of context is misleading (it suggests that Buddhism proselytises abstinence which is false. The matter of the Dalai Lama’s views on homosexuality is certainly a fair criticism.

Oh the Dalai Lama. No doubt there is a creepiness factor there and you don’t want to think about what’s going on under teh robes (I said “don’t”!) but I think he is cool dude.  If nothing else, when Bill Murray finally met the Dalai Lama a couple years ago (in a reception line at a formal event) and Murray introduced himself, the Dalai Lama smiled at him for several seconds saying nothing and then said “Gunga Galunga”.

I’m all for freeing Tibet (though I think, at this point in history, it’s a lost cause),

Due to the ethnic and cultural genocide policies orchestrated by the PRC government, Lhasa has been severely damaged by the Han Chinese migration into the city.  Tibet as a whole is an enormous place, beautiful rooftop of the World.  I would love to go there but will not pay the PRC a dime to allow me to do so.  Tibet the people will never be lost or a lost cause.

And I think all we need to do is bring dimmer into this thread to let us know that all religion is shite and fair game for ragging on.

Well religion is shite IMHO.

I knew you were being hyperbolic and casual with “hate” but just calling attention to how it might read to others.

That’s wise to do. I would hate for somebody to stumble on this site and to misinterpret our intentions.

Or if I’m just being an ass, for that matter, it’s also wise to point it out.

This article I read in the Times comes to mind.

I will read that article you’ve linked to up there.

moi aussi.  Oh but The Times is published daily in the United Kingdom, as it has been done since 1785.

\*frowns upon ur colonial uppityness*

Oh but The Times is published daily in the United Kingdom

Not that Times, the other Times, the New York one.

There is only one The Times deary. Pfft.

Not if you live in NYC. If you live in the NYC, there’s the Times, the Post, the Daily News, the pink paper, the Voice, the Journal, and there used to be the Sun. There may be a few others.

Well, freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose, I guess.

I can’t believe I let that pass w/o note. He’s quoting Janis Joplin! Quick, to the Spazmobile!

Not if you live in NYC.

I’m just taking the piss out of ya LP, no need to ‘splain.

yeah i agreed that Buddhist is strict religion and but freedom is some which exist in the world and i appreciated their spirits. when i was doing mcse course i remember my some Buddhist friends are very much loyal with their values