Why I Think The Dalai Lama is Cool, Part II

The other aspect of the Dalai Lama’s life and personal beliefs that I believe is noteworthy and worthy of emulation is his compassion for all people.  He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 because of his dedication to the issue of Tibet.  He has gone to great lengths to educate the world on the issue of Tibet and fighting, peacefully and from a distance, the Chinese government and their occupation of his homeland.  While the Dalai Lama does not hold jurisdiction over other sects of Buddhism nor over every province of Tibet, he has elected to shoulder the burden of fighting for freedom for all Tibetans.  These are a voiceless people who suffer under a tyranny that would otherwise go unchallenged.  If not for Tenzin Gyatso, the issue of Tibet would not even register as a blip on our radars.  Because of the Dalai Lama’s relentlessness, the world is aware of the issue of Tibet and his disenfranchised nation has not been swept under the rug of world politics.  He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize because of this.  However, while the Nobel Peace Prize is an incredible achievement, the award misses the main point of his personal beliefs and teachings: his kindness and desire for peace extend to all people.  He is practical yet clear on his views.  For example, while he does not condemn the war in Iraq and accepts that the war may be justified, he believes the final verdict cannot be made yet as the ultimate value of the outcome is not known at this time.  He has received much criticism as a political figure and as a religious leader because of this position.  That being said, he is quick to point out the bigger picture issue: violence will only beget more violence and will never be a tool for achieving enlightenment or lasting peace.  It is for this reason that he does not support armed conflict as a resolution to the issue of Tibet.  I remember telling my mother that the war in Afghanistan would ultimately wind up being nothing more than an exercise in revenge and would lead to more violence.  I espoused this view to others, as well, and I was met, more often than not, with resistance.  

“If we do nothing, then we teach them that they can do whatever they want to us and that America is weak.”  

“But if we wage war, we will only wind up giving another generation a reason to hate us.  Innocent people will die, and new hatred will be born.”  

Fast forward to today, and Afghanistan continues to be a source of death for American soldiers, as well as a source of conflict on a regional and global scale.  The initial illusions of US success in Afghanistan led us directly down the path of war with Iraq.  More violence, more hatred, and more death.  All these years later, and the situation has barely changed.  We’ve managed to move American troops from one spot to another, then back to the first, all in the name of…of what?  I am not quite sure myself.  At the time I made those statements about violence, I had not read the almost-identical position taken by the Dalai Lama.  I find my personal philosophies to align with many of his, and I admire and respect his open-minded position.  His dedication to compassion are singular, and, I believe, quite unique among those who walk the world stage.  

Compassion and love are what will make a difference in this world.