Letters to the Editor
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Like, Om, Man
"Hell, the Dalai Lama has forgiven China, so why shouldn't we?"
Haven't we? Is there any meaningful American or global censure against China? Isn't the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, of all places? Have YOU demanded that your elected representatives do everything in their power to 'stick it' to China? It's business as usual with this tyrannical superpower as far as I am aware.
"Would he have dared offer this counsel to the 1 million Tibetans who were directly or indirectly killed by invading Chinese? ... Tibetan parents who were forced to applaud while their children were executed? Would they be expected to believe their sufferings were merely illusory and passing?"
If they ask him, yes he does dare, and most are glad to hear what he has to say. The belief that their sufferings are illusory and passing in no way exculpates the perpetrators of violence. It requires learning, study, devotion, and yes, faith to understand these two seemingly contradictory tenets.
"If what the Dalai Lama professes is truly Buddhism"
Do you believe there's something about Buddhism you can teach the Dalai Lama? He would probably say yes, there is something you can teach him about Buddhism, while you decry him and imply there is nothing about Buddhism he can teach YOU. Hmmmm...