The Dalai Lama; One of the most evil men on Earth?

[tomarin]

i know. thats why i mentioned both progress and tolerance.

the cult of progress allows for no competing faiths – as your own posts make abundantly clear.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Gandhi (helped) free 350 million people from British rule. Back in the day, that was one fifth of the world’s population.

John Paul II helped bring down Communism. I’m sure more than 1 % of the earth’s population lived under communist regimes.

Mother Teresa heavily benefitted the poor in India. Even if it wasn’t a large contribution, it had a massive impact on the world. She won the Nobel peace prize, after all.

I gave credit to Gandhi.

Teresa got the Nobel prize, for me thats proof that she was immensely helpful.

But Paul II merely helped, like many people did.

So you get 3/5 instead of 2/5.

I answered about what Teresa did, so I pose a question to you, how did E=MC2 help the Indian peasant?

India has nuclear power plants.

Oh please. Was there on atheist among those who drafted the Constitution? Deists, yes, but no atheists. Religion prompted the good that has been done, not secualrism. By your logic, atheism is even more detrimental to humanity than religion, as atheist regimes have killed over 50 million people in the last century alone.

Why are you singling out atheists? Secularism is largely composed of non-practicing catholics & protestants (& other religions).

 

[notself]

BACK ON TOPIC, PLEASE.

I found another quote today in Time.

"The most inspiring thing he ever told me was to ignore all organized faiths and keep to the road of higher consciousness. “Without relying on religion, we look to common sense, common experience and the findings of science for understanding,”

Since Time Magazine is online, will you please post a link to the article? The Dalai Lama does not appear in the current issue, or I have not found the article yet.

I will greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Pope_Noah_I]

I gave credit to Gandhi.

Teresa got the Nobel prize, for me thats proof that she was immensely helpful.

But Paul II merely helped, like many people did.

So you get 3/5 instead of 2/5.

Actually, John Paul II got nominated and the Dalai Lama recieved one. That’s 5/5.

India has nuclear power plants.

How much has that helped?

 

[AgnosTheist]

nominations dont count. so okay, its 4/5. still too few, man.

nuclear plants are cleaner sources of energy. it helps the nation as a whole. it helps the environment as well.

 

[notself]

Budhism has always baffled me. I honestly cant figure it out. I have met several western world Buddhists.
I ask them , " Do you believe in a God or Gods?

They reply, "blah,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah, blah, blah, etc. "

And at the end of his or her explaination I’m NOT SURE what the answer was.

The same process repeats itself with every question I ask.

Am I that stupid?

Does anyone else have the same problem???

You get qualified answers because some Buddhists sects believe in something called the Buddha mind. This can be incorrectly identified with God. It is difficult to explain certain concepts to people unfamiliar with the teachings. Kamma, Dependent Origination, Not Self, Dukkha, Impermanence are all interconnected much like the weaving of a tapestry. These are not easy concepts to understand. They take a lot of thought, analysis and meditation.

Here is what the Dalai Lama says about God. This quote also conforms to what Theravada Buddhists think about God.

“Buddhism does not accept a theory of God, or a creator. According to Buddhism, one’s own actions are the creator, ultimately. Some people say that, from a certain angle, Buddhism is not a religion but rather a science of mind. Religion has much involvement with faith. Sometimes it seems that there is quite a distance between a way of thinking based on faith and one entirely based on experiment, remaining skeptical. Unless you find something through investigation, you do not want to accept it as fact. From one viewpoint, Buddhism is a religion, from another viewpoint Buddhism is a science of mind and not a religion. Buddhism can be a bridge between these two sides. Therefore, with this conviction I try to have closer ties with scientists, mainly in the fields of cosmology, psychology, neurobiology and physics. In these fields there are insights to share, and to a certain extent we can work together.”

Here is the link. katinkahesselink.net/tibet/dalai-lama-quotes.html

Pope John Paul was correct when he called Buddhism and atheistic religion although I think it could also be called an agnostic religion.

There is one person on this board who says he was a Christian, became a Buddhist and is now a Catholic. He belonged to the sect who follows the teachings of a Chinese sage who wrote the Lotus Sutra about 1500 years after the Buddha taught. He said that as a Buddhist, he believed in God.

Buddhism is a big tent.

 

[grandfather]

I can’t answer that, because in our theology, the question can only be answered for Jews.

We believe there is one correct religion, but only for US. For Gentiles, we believe as long as they follow basic laws of morality, they go to Heaven.

So in our worldview and theology, there cannot BE one true religion that applies to everyone.

The question you asked me presupposes an acceptance of the Muslim and Christian view, which is that there is only one true religion for all people.

Do you suppose that there is a different God, for Jews and gentiles, or is there one, the master of the universe, creator of all things?

 

[AgnosTheist]

Do you suppose that there is a different God, for Jews and gentiles, or is there one, the master of the universe, creator of all things?

For the Jews, the Master of the Universe doesnt give a damn what non-jews believe as long as they behave and dont worship false gods. I heard that YHWH is even tolerant of atheism.

 

[HashemEchad]

Do you suppose that there is a different God, for Jews and gentiles, or is there one, the master of the universe, creator of all things?

There is only One God for all, but that One God has differing requirements for Jews and Gentiles.

This does not mean He loves any one group more or less, but that He gives each group differing responsibilities, just as in Judaism, men and women have differing responsibilities, but still serve the One God.

 

[HashemEchad]

For the Jews, the Master of the Universe doesnt give a damn what non-jews believe as long as they behave and dont worship false gods. I heard that YHWH is even tolerant of atheism.

Hold on with that last one.

King David said in the Psalms, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’.”

 

[brycelaliberte]

Could you give some examples of him being a “pushover”? A link would be nice too.

It was merely an opinion, formed on the basis that he doesn’t seem to stick to anything strongly.

While he might have some ‘hard-liner’ views on sexuality, he doesn’t seem to be too worried about those who blatantly hold a different position. Or on the idea of spirituality. He’s just a very ambiguous figure, which makes him perfect for the idea that one would be arrogant to ‘claim that his God is better than your God,’ which is a terrible level against anyone. (Then how is yours better? I ask)

It’s not really a substantive thing to worry about.

 

[PetersKeys]

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”

“The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.”

"There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness. "

"We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection. "

"We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities. "

"… if scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims. "

“I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.”

Wow can you get any more relativist?

I don’t understand how someone can find any meaning or hope with moral relativism. You don’t have any solid truths to anything. And if thats true then whats to hope for?

 

[notself]

Wow can you get any more relativist?

I don’t understand how someone can find any meaning or hope with moral relativism. You don’t have any solid truths to anything. And if thats true then whats to hope for?

I am still waiting for a link to these quotes. I believe that they may have been taken out of context or misquoted.

There is this link which is a bit clearer. These are the quotes which to me at least sound like they are based on Buddhist teachings. katinkahesselink.net/tibet/dalai-lama-quotes.html

“The very purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticise others. Rather, we must criticise ourselves. How much am I doing about my anger? About my attachment, about my hatred, about my pride, my jealousy? These are the things which we must check in daily life.”

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

“Buddhism does not accept a theory of God, or a creator. According to Buddhism, one’s own actions are the creator, ultimately. Some people say that, from a certain angle, Buddhism is not a religion but rather a science of mind. Religion has much involvement with faith. Sometimes it seems that there is quite a distance between a way of thinking based on faith and one entirely based on experiment, remaining skeptical. Unless you find something through investigation, you do not want to accept it as fact. From one viewpoint, Buddhism is a religion, from another viewpoint Buddhism is a science of mind and not a religion. Buddhism can be a bridge between these two sides. Therefore, with this conviction I try to have closer ties with scientists, mainly in the fields of cosmology, psychology, neurobiology and physics. In these fields there are insights to share, and to a certain extent we can work together.”

Let me explain what we mean by compassion. Usually, our concept of compassion or love refers to the feeling of closeness we have with our friends and loved ones. Sometimes compassion also carries a sense of pity. This is wrong–any love or compassion which entails looking down on the other is not genuine compassion. To be genuine, compassion must be based on respect for the other, and on the realization that others have the right to be happy and overcome suffering just as much as you. On this basis, since you can see that others are suffering, you develop a genuine sense of concern for them.

As for the closeness we feel toward our friends, this is usually more like attachment than compassion. Genuine compassion should be unbiased. If we only feel close to our friends, and not to our enemies, or to the countless people who are unknown to us personally and toward whom we are indifferent, then our compassion is only partial or biased.

Genuine compassion is based on the recognition that others have the right to happiness just like yourself, and therefore even your enemy is a human being with the same wish for happiness as you, and the same right to happiness as you. A sense of concern developed on this basis is what we call compassion; it extends to everyone, irrespective of whether the person’s attitude toward you is hostile or friendly.

The moral code of Buddhism is as stringent as any. Here are the five that are common to all traditions and sects of Buddhism

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from killing living creatures.
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

Along with these precepts are the virtues of

Generous action
Wisdom and Discernment
Energy and Effort
Patience
Determination and Resolution
Loving Kindness and Good Will
Equanimity

None of these are the morals of a relativistic belief system. Taking a few quotes out of the context of speeches and books does not give anyone the true picture of what is in the mind of the Dalai Lama or the teachings of Buddhism. For example this is a quote from Pope John Paul. It sounds flip and rather silly. I would imagine in context it made perfect sense.

“Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn’t misuse it”

Here is the link.
thinkexist.com/quotes/pope_john_paul_ii/

There are many texts and books online that will explain each aspect of Buddhist belief. If you would like some links let me know.

 

[grandfather]

There is only One God for all, but that One God has differing requirements for Jews and Gentiles.

This does not mean He loves any one group more or less, but that He gives each group differing responsibilities, just as in Judaism, men and women have differing responsibilities, but still serve the One God.

Hashem,
Why do you suppose God gives different requirements to different people?

Do you think there might be a universal requirement for all people?

Suppose there was a universal requirement or responsibility for all of us. Suppose that this requirement were to be found in the very essence of our being, tied to the purpose for which we are created.

We are made to love and be loved. That is why you exist Hashem and it is what is required of you, and me, and all.

 

[magisterfaust]

I’m going to see the Dalai Lama speak in July. I’m frustrated. I want to admire him, so much. He’s a monk, he’s a social revolutionary and a prominent proponent of non-violence. There’s one problem though, he’s a Buddhist. Buddhism makes me angry, mainly because it is the only major religion that denies God. I would have so much more respect for him if he said, “Buddhism is the only way. You cannot lead a productive life or reach Nirvana unless you are a Buddhist.” He could at least side with the other religions, but instead he tells people to avoid organized religion, and insists that religion is subordinate to science. He says religion and faith are unneccesary, and don’t even get me started on his ethics. I want to love the man, but he’s basically the Pope of liberals. He represents “spirituality” with our religious obligation. “Faith? Don’t need it! Buddha? Unneccesary! Religion? Fugedabout’it! Just be nice to other people, and be happy!” Which leads me to ask the question, other atheists showed themselves as the monsters they truly were. What about this atheist? He champions secular ethics while denying God! So, does that make him even more evil than Stalin or Mao? Is he truly one of the most evil men alive?

1. Your question woul be very offensive if it wasn’t so funny!!!
2. are you saying that ANYONE who dares to speak out against the catholic faith and organised religion is evil?

 

[notself]

1. Your question woul be very offensive if it wasn’t so funny!!!
2. are you saying that ANYONE who dares to speak out against the catholic faith and organised religion is evil?

I think the original post was just an excuse to bash another religion. I don’t think the OP admires the Dalai Lama at all.

 

[AgnosTheist]

King David said in the Psalms, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’.”

so how does that relate to the noahide laws?

i really heard some jews saying that the noahide laws does not restrict someone from not believing in god.

 

[Aaron409]

This is the second time I have heard the claim Stalin was a Catholic. Communism is an atheist ideology. Communist regimes persecuted Catholics all over the globe including Russia. Russia had very very few Catohlics before the Communist revolution, the religion of Holy Russia being Orthodox. Any tolerance of religion in Russia by the officially atheist Soviet Republic was of the Orthodox. Under Stalin Catholic Churches were taken by the state and used for state purposes or given to the Orthodox. I met a man who spent 25 years in the gulags simply for refusing to renounce Catholicism.

Can you or anyone tell us where you learned Stalin was a Catholic? I do not think that is true.

Any Russian history book will tell you he was. But he was only brought up catholic, obviously he changed his views and hated the religion and the idea of God.

 

[tomarin]

Agnostheist,

i’m sorry if i was curt with you in my last post on this thread. but whenever someone talks about how great progress is, i think of the innocent victims of those secular, atheistic regimes that were mentioned earlier, such as the archbishops, priests and religious who were murdered by the republican side in the spanish civil war for no good reason other than being catholic. they died in the name of “progress”, and there was no tolerance shown there.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Agnostheist,

i’m sorry if i was curt with you in my last post on this thread. but whenever someone talks about how great progress is, i think of the innocent victims of those secular, atheistic regimes that were mentioned earlier, such as the archbishops, priests and religious who were murdered by the republican side in the spanish civil war for no good reason other than being catholic. they died in the name of “progress”, and there was no tolerance shown there.

also think about the victims of the french revolution. priests killed in the name of the goddess of reason. catholics killing their own. i think thats centuries of church abuse finally exploding in one violent revolution. its the load that broke the camel’s back. enough is enough said the people. karma?