tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444828253239414712.post2060531547350432298..comments2023-06-28T05:19:43.903-04:00Comments on The Notes Taken: Is the Dalai Lama a Mean Theocrat?D. Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08598034752112505284noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444828253239414712.post-50807654274705125052010-07-17T15:13:43.892-04:002010-07-17T15:13:43.892-04:00Yes! In many respects some tenets in Buddhism can ...Yes! In many respects some tenets in Buddhism can be appreciated by those with modern Western values.(ie. atheism, <br />the interdependence of all phenomena, compassion, personal responsibility) People project a lot onto H.H. and have idealized him to the point of being a something of global saint. I don't agree with a lot Chinese sources have to say on this topic but it is true that Hollywood and other media have done quite a good job in the sensationalizing, and idealizing of Himalayan religion and culture as a sort of ancient tradition that "gets it" to the West. While the teachings in Buddhism do stress things like wisdom and compassion as core values, the "Buddhism is a way of life, not a religion" crowd seem to have more issues with their own anti-religious baggage to not want to label Buddhism as such. Buddhism IS a religion with hierarchy, dogma, unfair gender practices, and the like. Though some don't like to hear it, abortion in Buddhism is killing a very valuable sort of sentient being, homosexuality is taboo, and being born a woman has been considered in the past a lower rebirth. Much of this is changing due in large part to the Dharma's exposure to the west. The bones of the religion are by nature very adaptable and have done so in Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Sri Lankan, S.E. Asian countries etc. while still preserving the investigative marrow of the Buddhas original teachining. Now that is happening for what may will be known as Western Buddhism as it travels and comes up yet again working to adapt to yet another culture with their strange values, attitudes, issues and practices .<br />I always find it refreshing when things like this come up because it causes people to question their assumptions and have to readjust their views to a more moderate, realistic perspective; which is sort of what the Buddha seemed to be up to in the beginning anyway. Thanks for posting this.lobsanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01677759148332930830noreply@blogger.com