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

[rlg94086]

“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.”

Right, but that is not saying to avoid religion. The Dalai Lama is the ultimate relativist. He thinks religion is great but not necessary. And, he thinks that which religion doesn’t matter. I don’t consider him “the most evil man on Earth.” However, he may be one of the most dangerous for those who don’t understand their faith. Relativism and/or agnosticism is the easiest path away from one’s faith. You aren’t “denying” anything…just saying it doesn’t matter because everything is equivalent.

Hmm…then again…that does sound an awful lot like the whole snake/apple/Garden of Eden situation.

 

[notself]

“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.”

What are the sources for these quotes? Are any of these sources online? I would like to read the quotes in context. Reading quotes in context always helps me understand what is being said.

I don’t see any of these quotes evil per se. They sound like quotes from someone who does not believe in God or who thinks God is undefined. This is in conformity with what I understand to be Tibetan Buddhism.

It doesn’t appear that he is trying to convince anyone to change religions. In the quote I gave (along with a link), he discourages anyone who believes in God from leaving their religion.

Where exactly do you see these quotes as supporting the allegation that the Dalai Lama is one of the most evil men on Earth? Perhaps I misunderstand the title of the thread.

 

[thecoach]

The title of this thread is definately an eye catching one.

I think the Dalai Lama is rather a pop celebrity. He preaches general, nice things that the Hollywood pop cult crowd likes, without really making moral demands on people. He has some good ideas, but it’s all pretty sugar coated so as not to offend anyone.

Oh really? Try walking that path first before talking from ignorance of it.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

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.

##** Stalin wasn’t - I think people assume he was, because he was not Russian Orthodox either. He was Georgian Orthodox by birth. **

---

**His confessional origins have little to do with his later beliefs - one cannot say that because Comrade X was formerly a polar bear, therefore polar bears are evil; let alone that they are unique source of evil & badness. To say that, would be the modern equivalent of saying this - a piece of non-Christian scapegoating preserved by Tertullian: **

• ‘If the Tiber rises too high for the walls, or the Nile too low for the fields, if the heavens do not open, or the earth does, if there is famine, if there is plague, instantly the howl is, “The Christians to the lion!” What, all of them, to a single lion?’
  tertullian.org/works/apologeticum.htm

[See under[/COLOR] Other Points Of Interest about half-way down the page]

 

[whiteknite]

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?

I dont see the problem realy, You say he believes in the spiritual side of life and doesnt believe in violence,
Is it because he doesnt have your point of view??
I see him as a peacefull man who hasnt said nothing bad about anyone.
He is far from being evil…VERY FAR
Leave him alone as he has enough problems with china without people calling him evil…
I know you say you kinda admire him then you shouldnt think bad of him and just see the good he inspires from people!

 

[Pilar]

I certainly would not say that he is the most evil man on earth! While he may have opinions that go against many of the core teachings of th Faith - he is essentially an advocate for peace and non-violence. We can nit-pick over the places where he, Buddhism, and the New Age are flawed or we can pray that the Dalai Lama’s will to do good will eventually lead him (amd those who follow him) to see the truth and light that is our Faith. That said, I would caution people about attending speeches, etc. by him and others. There is a wealth of Catholic speakers out there to help us learn more about what we believe - taking part in too much New Age and other such can be dangerous.

This is a particularly pertinent post given the location of the Olympics this summer. This is an opportunity for us all to take a long hard look at China (their politics and their religoius persecution). How much of what we buy supports them?

 

[inthecloud]

A gay couple came to see me, seeking my support and blessing. I had to explain our teachings. Another lady introduced another woman as her wife - astonishing. It is the same with a husband and wife using certain sexual practices. Using the other two holes is wrong."

“A Western friend asked me what harm could there be between consenting adults having oral sex, if they enjoyed it… But the purpose of sex is reproduction, according to Buddhism. The other holes don’t create life. I don’t mind - but I can’t condone this way of life.”

“I see women who have had abortions because they thought a child would ruin their lives. A baby seemed unbearable - yet now they are older, they are unable to conceive. I feel so sorry for them.”

Poor Dalai Lama, he is getting Cafeteria Buddists too.

Stalin was a Catholic,

Stalin Catholic? I have heard all know!
First Hitler was Catholic, just because he was baptized as one even if he apostatized into neopaganism in his youth.
Now Stalin Catholic. He was a Georgian Orthodox seminarian before apostatizing into atheism and becoming a bank robber. That is all.
About that post about evil atheists, come on!
Shake that protestant Total Depravity doctrine out of your mind.
Evey human, even an Atheist was made in G-D image. And has a certain intelligence and good will even in contaminated by Original Sin.
Even Atheists. Think of Albert Camus or Orianna Fallacci. They were atheists, and they were more Christian than many theists christians. Orianna Fallacci was more prolife than many Catholic Democrats in the US for example.

 

[Pope_Noah_I]

What are the sources for these quotes? Are any of these sources online? I would like to read the quotes in context. Reading quotes in context always helps me understand what is being said.

I don’t see any of these quotes evil per se. They sound like quotes from someone who does not believe in God or who thinks God is undefined. This is in conformity with what I understand to be Tibetan Buddhism.

It doesn’t appear that he is trying to convince anyone to change religions. In the quote I gave (along with a link), he discourages anyone who believes in God from leaving their religion.

Where exactly do you see these quotes as supporting the allegation that the Dalai Lama is one of the most evil men on Earth? Perhaps I misunderstand the title of the thread.

They are all sourced on wikiquote. The thing is, if God is the sole good of humanity, than surely anyone who says that He is unneccesary is doing the opposite of what is good for humanity, which is evil. Whereas other atheists, ya’ know, killed millions, this one is spreading a message of secular ethics and morality ignoring God completely, brushing Him off to the side as merely a useful idea to attain social peace, and nothing more. As a Catholic, I’d say that is evil.

 

[thecoach]

They are all sourced on wikiquote. The thing is, if God is the sole good of humanity, than surely anyone who says that He is unneccesary is doing the opposite of what is good for humanity, which is evil. Whereas other atheists, ya’ know, killed millions, this one is spreading a message of secular ethics and morality ignoring God completely, brushing Him off to the side as merely a useful idea to attain social peace, and nothing more. As a Catholic, I’d say that is evil.

As a catholic, perhaps you should tend more to the evil in your own house. Cant say I remember the last Buddhist sexual abuse lawsuit settlement, can you?

 

[whiteknite]

They are all sourced on wikiquote. The thing is, if God is the sole good of humanity, than surely anyone who says that He is unneccesary is doing the opposite of what is good for humanity, which is evil. Whereas other atheists, ya’ know, killed millions, this one is spreading a message of secular ethics and morality ignoring God completely, brushing Him off to the side as merely a useful idea to attain social peace, and nothing more. As a Catholic, I’d say that is evil.

So if he is evil. Shall we just point the finger and shout WITCH BURN HIM…

 

[thecoach]

So if he is evil. Shall we just point the finger and shout WITCH BURN HIM…

I know what you mean. These guys seem to love to throw rocks while forgetting the glass house they are in.

 

[whiteknite]

I know what you mean. These guys seem to love to throw rocks while forgetting the glass house they are in.

So true

 

[Namesake]

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?

Is that a photo of Ghandi? He didn’t believe that Jesus was God. Was he an evil monster?

 

[HashemEchad]

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?

Your post in incredibly upsetting to me. I happen to be good friends with both Tibetan Buddhists and Cambodian Buddhists, some of whom were neighbors of mine for many years.

What you dislike about Buddhism is the very thing I LIKE about it: they do not teach that their way is the only right way, and they see the good in all religious paths.

Why do you insist everyone be intolerant?

 

[Tic_Toc]

Your post in incredibly upsetting to me. I happen to be good friends with both Tibetan Buddhists and Cambodian Buddhists, some of whom were neighbors of mine for many years.

What you dislike about Buddhism is the very thing I LIKE about it: they do not teach that their way is the only right way, and they see the good in all religious paths.

Why do you insist everyone be intolerant?

Amen, my friend. The Buddhists I know are some of the nicest people I know.

 

[rlg94086]

Your post in incredibly upsetting to me. I happen to be good friends with both Tibetan Buddhists and Cambodian Buddhists, some of whom were neighbors of mine for many years.

What you dislike about Buddhism is the very thing I LIKE about it: they do not teach that their way is the only right way, and they see the good in all religious paths.

Why do you insist everyone be intolerant?

HasshemEchad,

There is a difference between relativism and intolerance. We should absolutely be tolerant of other’s beliefs. But, to believe in relativism (my Mom says “everyone finds their own truth”) is just silly. Regardless of which religion is correct, they can’t all be correct.

 

[HashemEchad]

Amen, my friend. The Buddhists I know are some of the nicest people I know.

Very, very true. Let me tell you of something that happened to a couple of Orthodox Jewish friends of mine, who have been active (as I am) in Jewish-Christian ecumenical work.

The Dalai Lama had requested to meet with Jewish leaders, in the hopes of grasping how Jews have managed to maintain our heritage and faith in the 2000 years of our most recent exile. The Tibetan Buddhist people are also in exile, and the Dalai Lama wanted to know if there was any advice Jews could give his people.

So, a meeting was arranged. One problem that arose was that the Dalai Lama wanted to have a banquet with his guests, but alas, they keep strictly kosher!

When this was explained to the Tibetan Buddhists, they pulled out all the stops, and went to extraordinary lengths to make the kitchen suitable for preparing kosher food, they did whatever they could so their guests would not have to be put in a situation of possibly violating any Jewish religious laws.

The wife of the Orthodox rabbi who was at this meeting expressed her plesant surprise, when she said, “They did all that for us, going so far out of their way to take upon themselves the trouble and expense, just so we could follow our religious beliefs while meeting with them? And they did not even have an ulterior motive as in seeking our conversion?”

(Its often been the experience of many Jews, historically, that when Christians or Muslims are nice to them, its with the hidden motive of seeking their conversion by doing so. Yet the Buddhists had no such motives.)

 

[HashemEchad]

HasshemEchad,

There is a difference between relativism and intolerance. We should absolutely be tolerant of other’s beliefs. But, to believe in relativism (my Mom says “everyone finds their own truth”) is just silly. Regardless of which religion is correct, they can’t all be correct.

Why does any one religion have to be ‘correct’? I see truth in ALL religious traditions, just as Buddhists do.

Naturally I feel Judaism is the best for JEWS. But there is God in all religions, and all religions are simply man’s way of searching for God.

 

[strngrnrth]

On a fire extinguisher, a pill bottle and a battery charger, there are written instructions. It is irresponsible to tell people the instructions mean whatever they want them to mean and that all ways of using these products are equal. It is, in fact, cold and cruel to do so knowing better. It’s called deception. It’s legally actionable. Spiritual issues are far more important. That’s why theists, whether polytheistic or monoteistic, seek evidence to support our conclusions and share that evidence with others. We monotheists go even further and say that there is not a great mass of roughly equal, vying gods from whom to choose a favorite, but an all-powerful, all-good God who will give better evidence than any imposter could. We therefore seek to evaluate evidence and present it as an act of responsible concern for others, that they may know the truth. This is as unconnected to intolerance as any two random ideas from a dictionary could be. Intolerance is an unwillingness to allow someone to be in a place. We actually welcome people and hope to improve their existence by adding more truth to it. It is a postmodernist fallacy to equate wishing to inform people with disliking them.

 

[rlg94086]

Why does any one religion have to be ‘correct’? I see truth in ALL religious traditions, just as Buddhists do.

Naturally I feel Judaism is the best for JEWS. But there is God in all religions, and all religions are simply man’s way of searching for God.

As Catholics we agree with that statement…from the Catechism:
scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc2.htm

27 The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:
The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.1

28 In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and behavior: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth. These forms of religious expression, despite the ambiguities they often bring with them, are so universal that one may well call man a religious being:
From one ancestor [God] made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him - though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For "in him we live and move and have our being."2
…

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."332

But, the reason that all religions can’t be correct is quite simply logic. It is impossible for the following examples separated by colons to both be true:

God exists: God doesn’t exist
Jesus is the Messiah: Jesus is not the Messiah

So, as Catholics, we believe we have the fullness of the Truth. If you don’t personally believe that your religion has the fullness of the Truth, perhaps you should still be searching.