Tibet Isn't a Buddhist Litmus Test

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As the violence in Tibet has continued, the Dalai Lama issued a stern statement that he could not align himself with insurrection in his home country. Buddhism rests on several pillars, one of which is nonviolence. Tibet quickly became a kind of Buddhist litmus test. How much pain and oppression can you stand and still exhibit loving kindness and compassion? I wonder if that's really fair. The Tibetans face a political crisis that should be met with political action. Whatever that action turns out to be, nobody should be seen as a good or bad Buddhist, anymore than defending your house from an intruder tests whether a Christian is living by the precepts of Jesus.

In India, where Gandhi preached nonviolence, or Ahimsa, he confronted a decaying British empire that was forced to give up its vast holdings. Historical luck was on his side, and as a result of Gandhi's pacifism, India gained its independence. The Dalai Lama, however, has had historical misfortune to contend with. The Chinese are an expanding empire, and their ingrained racism allows them to overrun the "inferior" native Tibetans without any moral qualms. Will pacifism work in this situation? A better question might be, Would anything work? It's not as though the Beijing regime can be defeated by force, either. One recalls that Gandhi combined pacifism with resistance, whereas the Tibetans up to now have sunk into an inert pacifism that could lead to their cultural extinction.

No doubt the entire conflict, now half a century old, is entangled in religion and other interwoven ingredients: Communist ideology, fantasies of restoring Chinese glory days, and much else. But Buddha, like Jesus, didn't start a religion. He was concerned with how to live in the world, and being entangled in the world's pain and confusion is an eternal dilemma. It didn't need ruthless bureaucrats in China. Over the centuries, failed crops, endemic disease, and poverty have been quite capable of bringing suffering. It would be superficial to say that Buddha and Jesus arrived at the same remedy -- to be in the world but not of it -- yet nobody needs to pass that test, either.

What Buddha and Jesus undoubtedly had in common was a sense that another realm of existence transcends the material world. Buddhists are asked to consider how to reach that realm. There are no dictates (as far as my limited knowledge goes) to engage the world and solve its tortured dilemmas. Indeed, Buddha is famous for teaching that such solutions don't exist. It is futile to apply Buddhism to a political crisis -- or to the subprime mortgage debacle, for that matter -- because wrestling with the material world never leads to freedom, fulfillment, or peace.

Someone may protest that the Dalai Lama is being an exemplary Buddhist in maintaining such perfect equanimity, and I completely agree. But he has achieved his level of consciousness for himself. This is a case where virtue must be its own reward. The world looks on and admires the Dalai Lama; it doesn't change for him. My intention isn't to give any Tibetan Buddhist advice, or to adopt a position superior to anyone else's. It just strikes me that Tibet shouldn't be a litmus test for religious purity while an entire people are slowly ground to dust. Nor should the peaceful countenance of the Dalai Lama become an excuse for the rest of us to stand by and do nothing, as if that proves how virtuous we are.

Click: www.intentblog.com

www.deepakchopra.com

Comments

[Steelsil]

Zhao Ziyang and Hu Yaobang were Chinese Communist party leaders who wanted freedom for all citizens of China-including the Tibetans, and the people who demonstrated in Tianenmen Square and who were killed or jailed for it. They were kicked out of their leadership roles by the hardliners, kept incommunicado, and placed under house arrest for the remainder of their lives.

The Olympic torch was lit recently in China, but it isn't the torch the Chinese people wanted. Their torch was held aloft by their statue of the Goddess of Liberty, the one that they built. That torch was torn down, and the people were attacked and killed or jailed by the "People's" army in Tiananmen square in 1989.

Young adults in China today know nothing of this, because the Chinese government propaganda machine has vilified the hundred thousand patriots who demonstrated for freedom that day, and dismissed them as a few anti-social hooligans. This process is, of course, taking place today in China, only it is currently directed against the Tibetan demonstrators and the Dalai Lama. If the Tiananmen Square demonstrators had been successful in reforming the Chinese government, I doubt if there would have been the demonstrations in Tibet, because the people of Tibet would probably have had far fewer grievances. Google: Wikipedia Tiananmen Square Massacre

[WilliePilgrim]

Consider this; doing nothing can refer to any effort to go to China to vacation, see the Olympics and buy their stuff. IN which case "doing nothing" is actually "doing something". I plan on doing a lot of nothing when it comes to the olympics.

[appleknocker]

I admit to almost complete ignorance of Tibet, but I have a hunch that many of those commenting on it are suffering from Shangri-La Syndrome. It seems the term "the Tibetans" is used as synonym for "Tibetan monks", who, for all I know, may very well have their own agenda. What do ordinary
non-privileged Tibetans think about all this?

[rkrapten]

I think it is important to read the following and understand this in a more "real world" than DC seems to create...basically he has decided not to take sides since it might hurt his book sales in China. How shameful.

Read this...these are the "real issues" for Tibet.

"Twelve Suggestions for Dealing with the Tibetan Situation, by Some Chinese Intellectuals"

http://blog.gardonslesyeuxouverts.org/post/2008/03/26/Twelve-Suggestions-for-Dealing-with-the-Tibetan-Situation-by-Some-Chinese-Intellectuals

The FIDH (International Federation of Human Rights)
It represents a network of 155 organizations that defend human rights around the world. Since 1922 FIDH has been active in the combat against all forms of injustice, intolerance, racism, and discrimination. FIDH acts to protect victims of human rights abuses, the prevention of these abuses, and in the pursuit of their authors.

[sean201]

Your quote "Indeed, Buddha is famous ... It is futile to apply Buddhism to a political crisis .."
I feel as a Buddhist this is a mistaken view, it should be used in daily life to resolve challenges, and even crisis. "Earthly desires are enlightenment" teaches that desires and suffering can be the source of wisdom and happiness. Both are intrinsic to our lives and any intent to deny either is itself a delusion, Buddhahood cannot exist apart from the lower nine worlds, or our daily life. Through Buddhism we develop wisdom so that they do not influence us negatively. "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?" (Nichiren) 'what political crisis or mortgage debacle' can be obstacle' then? Nichiren wrote to the parents of a sick child "sickness" can be broadly interpreted all that causes spiritual or physical anguish such as problems with health, relationships, family harmony, money, career or political unrest.
Buddhism's purpose is to help people become happy in daily life to solve all levels of problems. Which I can say I myself have overcome many tremendous obstacles of all types by applying this Buddhism to my daily life.
Through this teaching we can create the greatest possible value from our natural desires and suffering, while neither denying them nor abandoning ourselves to them. This Buddhist principle offers us an approach to the problem of human desires and karma resolution (those challenges that arise in our life).

[gabriel38g]

The Dalai Lama is a leader. Spiritually first, but because of the Chinese, politically as well. Tibet will get it's independence, today, tomorrow, someday, but the Dalai Lama won't choose to do it in a way that compromises the most fundamental principle of himself and Buddhism. Perhaps I'm over-simplifying, but the rest of this talk seems to be conjecture. The Chinese are not inherently racist, the Dalai Lama is not confused about himself or his people, and the rest of the world pays no attention because the world's major super-power is more concerned about middle east oil reserves, and it, like it's allies views China as a major oil-purchaser, trading partner and reserve for inexpensive labor.

[WH]

Dr. Chopra,

Please refrain from attempting to apply the diluted and materialistic spirituality that you sell to millions of hapless spiritual seekers to the conflict in Tibet. It may surprise you that some people choose to actually live the principles of their faith to a degree that may seem foolish to those like you who choose to mix and match the ideas of several different religions into a materialistic wish-fulfilling spirituality. Not all Buddhists (or Christians or Muslims for that matter) play so fast and loose with the precepts of their respective ideologies.

You claim that it is not your intention "to adopt a position superior to anyone else's", yet your entire article takes not only the Dalai Lama but the Tibetans themselves to task for staying true to principles of compassion and non-violence. This is simply a case of misplaced anger and ignorance.

To those of us in the West, it is clear that the aggressor is China yet somehow we have resorted to blaming the Tibetans for this whole thing. It is similar to a person who is too scared to intervene when a bully is beating a smaller victim, and then blaming the victim for the beating as a way of clearing their own conscience. If you want to take on anybody, take on the Chinese government (in a way that doesn't broadly paint the entire Chinese population as racist or assign any other negative attribute to the citizens themselves).

[brokenarrow]

WH..........Please refrain from attempting to disguise a post that is clearly meant to insult, as one containing insight. It's always the paid trolls that get to the post first, ever notice??

[WH]

brokenarrow,

I apologize if my post doesn't bow down and pay homage to Dr. Chopra, but to be honest I expected more thoughtful insight on this issue from him.

So if the post was insulting, it was only because it contained enough truth to sting. The fact that Dr. Chopra exhibits the arrogant and ignorant Western mindset that "we know what is best for you", especially as it relates to religious ideology, is disappointing but perhaps not surprising.

By the way, If you want to participate in a blog where there are no opinions that diverge from the author's, go to Michelle Malkin's site. She doesn't allow dissenting opinions so you'll be right at home. Or perhaps you would be interested in visiting China, where they have Internet censorship down to a science.

Either way, have a good day.

[Joeloholic]

One of the most fundamental insights of Buddhism is what the Four Noble Truths tells us. Essentially, what it says is that the entire human race"s suffering stems from one single thing - desire.

To embrace the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, and therefore to walk the Noble Eightfold Path, is to ultimately aim to release ourselves from desire and attachment. Attachment to worldly material needs, from selfish love, from greed and avarice and even from strong passions.

What, then are the monks in Tibet doing? The Central Tibetan Administration seeks to reclaim power and break Tibet free from China¦ and who indeed will gain most from this? Sadly, the Dalai Lama himself, who heads the CTA. Behind all the propaganda and nationalism coming from every side, at the heart of the problem is desire. A desire for power, stemming from the biggest Buddhist role model in existence.

To put it into perspective for fellow Christians: this is tantamount to watching the Pope willfully doing the opposite of every Commandment there is - killing, stealing and blaspheming for the sake of personal glory and political power. And, to put things into a more relevant and tangible example, what Tenzin Gyatso is doing right now isn"t terribly different from what Osama Bin Laden did: abuse and stain religion as a call to arms.

[sean201]

Joeloholic, I would like to refer you to the teaching of "earthly desires are enlightenment" you can google it or try sgi.org.

[Joeloholic]

"The Chinese... and their ingrained racism"? Dr Chopra, unless your post is intended to inflame and aggravate, I would suggest refraining from labelling an entire race racist. Not when real genocide occurs in Africa on a daily basis, and not while New Orleans festers while the Green Zone flourishes.

[Queenhuh]

Insightful comments Dr. Chopra, particularly touching on that absolute of charged words; 'racism'. And again, NO ONE is correlating the hypocrisy of this nation who happily boycotted apartheid South Africa for decades, disallowing African athletes their place in the olympic sun. America carefully chooses its victims, carefully chooses those to boycott, carefully works in smoke and mirrors. It is not for us to debate or pass opinion on Tibetans who have chosen violence to voice their hopelessness, much the same as the Palestinians. What we need to do is demand from this government action, not hypocrisy, and intervention in troubled areas, rather than stormtrooping countries like Iraq.

[MellowDrama]

Everyone adds to the world his or her personal quality. The Dalai Lama brings a quality of peace, compassion, and understanding, and certainly not without personal cost. That others do not possess such qualities is not a rationale for supposing those qualities are not supremely important. Yet those others always seem to imagine they can be heroes and accomplish something contrary to their own qualities, which they inevitably fail to cultivate properly. But violence and agitation never beget peace.

The eternal verity of the world is that whatever CAN change WILL change. Therefore, for example, Tibetan culture itself can change and will change and is changing. The better part of wisdom is nonattachment to what is impermanent. Such inevitable changes are not a cause for exaggerated clinging or further agitation, political or otherwise. Chinese culture will also change, as will communism and capitalism and the present day mess of so-called democracy.

Tibetan culture itself, beautiful as it was in many ways, could not possibly have been preserved for all eternity, any more than your own house or your own face can last forever. No praise, no blame for this. There are no heroes capable of preserving nations or entire cultures as they are in their idealized imaginations. Such notions are passionate distractions from the modest and homely work of seeing life as it is, and sharing that insight with generosity.

[noiblau]

Not strictly related to this post, but strongly related to China. Most of the bad things we hear about China are true, however we shouldn't lose a proper global point of view and I try to show the other part:

http://www.noiblau.com

[SamuelBerry08]

This interesting article shows why one should, I believe, approach any religion with a degree of intellectual caution. The great religious teachers, such as Jesus or Buddha, exemplify an extreme position which might guide us toward the virtuous like a distant lighthouse, but it could be disastrous to emulate them. If we give all our possessions to the poor, as Jesus directed, then how could we feed our children? If we are completely pacifist, like Buddha, then how can we protect our people?

[starboymikey]

What Buddha and Jesus undoubtedly had in common was a sense that another realm of existence transcends the material world. Buddhists are asked to consider how to reach that realm.
_______________________________________________________________________

Well, Christians too are asked how to reach that realm, aren't they? Jesus advised his followers to "render under Ceasar what is Ceasar's and render unto God what is God's."

Such a simple dictum, but so hard to follow when it feels as if your very soul is being sucked out by an oppressive regime. Is it better to submit or to fight? When you see a neighbor being brutalized, what do you do? Rendering taxes unto Ceasar is one thing, but what about the life of the child downt he street who is about to be killed by invading troops? And what does it mean to "render unto God what is God's?" Whose body and soul do we render when Ceasar comes for them, our neighbor's or our own?

Fortunately, most of us are never faced with such a crisis of conscience, but when it does come, there is often little time to make a decision.

[BongWater]

This is a great analysis of the situation Dr. Chopra.

After 50 years of cruel oppression, we should not be surprised that some frustrated youth in Tibet are getting violent, and that they are ignoring pleas to stop the violence.

China has created this crisis.

And as "chance" contraction and expansion of empire favored Gandhi and hurt the Dalai Lama, now maybe the tide is turning.

China is vulnerable as the Olympics approach. None of us should miss the opportunity to use our own unique situation to help the Tibetans.

Boycott Chinese products, Wal-Mart etc at the very least. Do more if you are able.

[LeBelAge]

I agree now is the time to do something to help the people of Tibet. Boycotting Chinese goods is a good start, but we should also personally boycott watching the Olympic Games.

Many of the American companies who sponsor the Games do business in China. Let the ratings drop and don't reward them either.

We should also be writing our elected officials in Congress. The Bush Administration won't do a thing, but hopefully if enough members of Congress start discussing the issue, they can make enough noise that will force the UN to get involved.

Of course with the Presidential race underway, we should pressure each Presidential candidate to take a stand on the issue, that would perhaps force the Chinese to think twice about their future relationship with the US.