Dalai Lama on homosexuality & other issues

[Lil Red]

He chooses to discuss the West before Tibet.

"It is fascinating," he says, speaking in slightly stilted English. "In the West, you have bigger homes, yet smaller families; you have endless conveniences - yet you never seem to have any time. You can travel anywhere in the world, yet you don't bother to cross the road to meet your neighbours; you have more food than you could possibly eat, yet that makes women like Heidi miserable."

The West's big problem, he believes, is that people have become too self-absorbed. "I don't think people have become more selfish, but their lives have become easier and that has spoilt them. They have less resilience, they expect more, they constantly compare themselves to others and they have too much choice - which brings no real freedom."

He has lived as a monk since childhood, but the Dalai Lama views marriage as one of the chief ways of finding happiness. "Too many people in the West have given up on marriage. They don't understand that it is about developing a mutual admiration of someone, a deep respect and trust and awareness of another human's needs," he says. "The new easy-come, easy-go relationships give us more freedom - but less contentment."

Although he is known for his tolerant, humane views, he is a surprisingly harsh critic of homosexuality. If you are a Buddhist, he says, it is wrong. "Full stop.

No way round it.

"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."

At this point, he looks across at his interpreter - who seems mainly redundant - to check that he has been using the right English words to discuss this delicate matter. The interpreter gives a barely perceptible nod.

"A Western friend asked me what harm could there be between consenting adults having oral sex, if they enjoyed it," the Dalai Lama continues, warming to his theme. "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."

[url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/01/wdalai01.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/01/ixnewstop.html"]Full interview here[/url]

So why does the Church get so much flak when its position on homosexuality is almost identical?

[Didacus]

The Dalai Lama appears to be a good guy.

I would like to know the reaction from those couples of came to him for blessings and where explained differently than they expected.

I love the way the article says 'although he is known for his tolerance..."

Some things simply cannot be tolerated.

[Noel's angel]

I'm guessing it's because people don't really feel threatened by Buddhism, it's kinda distant and 'out there'. Plus people love to hate Catholics.

The other two holes???? eugh *shudder*

[Sirklawd]

2+2 = 5 can not and should not be tolerated. no matter how much a person wants it to be true, and feels it should be true.

there is a right and there is a wrong and they are universal. im glad to see more important people speaking out like this.


also, i like his observations on the west, he is entirely correct. I dont think the majority of westerners are even consious of their self absorbed nature. every part of our "way of life" from consumerism/capitolism to schooling and everything causes us to become self-absorbed people. glorified hungry-hungry-hippos. most people just dont know any better.

not saying its condonable because of this. just pointing out that its much sadder than it seems.

[YMNolan]

Wow, very interesting read. Thanks Red.

Amazing how God reveals himself even to those outside of Christianity. Dalai Lama was speaking, albeit on the peripheral, of some of the fundamentals behind JPII's Theology of the Body. Bottom line, each of us has embedded within us certain truths and when one earnestly seeks out God, those truths are made visible. We're just blessed to have the Church to help us on our journey.

[Era Might]

He sounds like Mother Teresa when he talks about the spiritual poverty in the West.

[morostheos]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

[Socrates]

Great artticle!

The Catholic Church's moral teachings are actually not something strange, esoteric, and repressive - as portrayed by the Western secular media - but are simply an assertion of the natural law which is written by God on the hearts of all men, and can be discerned by anyone of genuine virtue and wisdom.
It is the immoral teachings of secularist hedonism (which is founded on active reaction against Christianity) which is contrary to common human morality.

Many Westerners, rejecting our Christian heritage and morality, turn to the East for spiritual guidance. But they usually ignore what is inconvenient to their selfish and hedonistic mentality. (in essence, they practice a "cafeteria Buddhism").

Modern liberalism is contrary to all wisdom and natural virtue. It is built on nothing but lies and foolishness, seeking affirmation of its vices.

[jasJis]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Apr 18 2006, 02:05 PM']He sounds like Mother Teresa when he talks about the spiritual poverty in the West.
[right][snapback]952668[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]He looks like Mother Teresa in pastels.
without hair.

[Colleen]

Wow, that's really interesting.

[Guest Rick777]

Peoples just love to hate Catholics I guess.

[DemonSlayer]

Yeah, I first found out about this on the Australian comedy program "John Safran vs God", where Safran goes around asking people in the street if quotes about sexual morality were from Pope JPII or the Dalai Lama, and each one of them thought they were from the Pope, while in fact they were all said by the Dalai Lama.
Apparently, the Dalai Lama even thinks that it's wrong to have sex during the day.

[Church Punk]

The Dalai Lama is a wise man, and a great human. We need more people like him in our world.

Check out the Dalai Lama's book An Open Heart. For the most part it is an amazing book enlightening all who read it. He really reveals the absolute truths applicable to all faiths in this book. His teachings on compassion are amazing.

That said towards the end of the book he goes into more eastern philosophy and encourages people of all faiths to practice the Buddhist form of mediation. Needless to say I left it at that. Good book though.

He was also good friends with JPII.

[Lounge Daddy]

freaking aweome


it should be such a simple matter... "use everything for what it's meant for" - that is what i always tell my kids ... "or you will get hurt"
very simple rule in life; and it covers everything from jumping on the furniture, to throwing balls in the house, to gay sex...

it should be very simple... why do we complicate things?
marriage is for families, sex is for marriage, pregnancy brings children (that is a good thing) ...

as a side note: a big family is a much better "social security" than anything a government could promise - hehe

[Sirklawd]

[quote name='Lounge Daddy' post='953896' date='Apr 19 2006, 09:40 AM']
freaking aweome
it should be such a simple matter... "use everything for what it's meant for" - that is what i always tell my kids ... "or you will get hurt"
very simple rule in life; and it covers everything from jumping on the furniture, to throwing balls in the house, to gay sex...

it should be very simple... why do we complicate things?
marriage is for families, sex is for marriage, pregnancy brings children (that is a good thing) ...

as a side note: a big family is a much better "social security" than anything a government could promise - hehe
[/quote]


oooo, so such awesome advice.

no one wants that tho. its every man for himself it seems in the US (elseware too probably, but thats where i am). you have people doing what they can to get themselves rich, and in effect that hurts others so those others do what they can to get what they need in response - and angrier...

thats also cool that the Dalai Lama and JP2 were friends.