I couldn't help but notice the Thoreau-like simplicity and humility of
the Dalai Lama's recent announcement, and mentally compare both the
message and the layout of the Web page to TMO pronouncements on their
Websites. Compare and contrast the following pages, and do the feel
test as to which one seems to reflect qualities you'd associate with
compassion, egolessness, and what it might be like to be a fairly human
human being, and which one...uh...you'd not associate with those
qualities so much.
The Dalai Lama's recent announcement of his intention to step down as
political leader of Tibet-In-Exile, in favor of free elections:
http://dalailama.com/news/post/655-statement-of-his-holiness-the-dalai-l\
ama-on-the-52nd-anniversary-of-the-tibetan-national-uprising-day
http://dalailama.com/news/post/655-statement-of-his-holiness-the-dalai-\
lama-on-the-52nd-anniversary-of-the-tibetan-national-uprising-day
Couldn't find a similar announcement by Da King...yet, but here's what
his pronouncements look and feel like:
http://www.vedicknowledge.com/nader.html
http://www.vedicknowledge.com/nader.html
Which personality seems more about ego and which feels more about
egolessness? Which site uses designers with a color sense that could be
described as 'subtle' and 'appropriate' and which hires designers whose
work would be considered 'gaudy' in kindergarten classes? Which speaks
in clear, plain English and which speaks in buzzwords that no one other
than a pre-brainwashed elite would understand? Which seems in touch with
the real world and which does not? Which uses language that seems to
indicate that he cares about the people he leads and for all people, and
which does not? Which is shinola and which is the real shit? You decide.
Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the 52nd Anniversary of the
Tibetan National Uprising Day
March 10th 2011
Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful
uprising of 1959 against Communist China's repression in the Tibetan
capital Lhasa, and the third anniversary of the non-violent
demonstrations that took place across Tibet in 2008. On this occasion, I
would like to pay tribute to and pray for those brave men and women who
sacrificed their lives for the just cause of Tibet. I express my
solidarity with those who continue to suffer repression and pray for the
well-being of all sentient beings.
For more than sixty years, Tibetans, despite being deprived of freedom
and living in fear and insecurity, have been able to maintain their
unique Tibetan identity and cultural values. More consequentially,
successive new generations, who have no experience of free Tibet, have
courageously taken responsibility in advancing the cause of Tibet. This
is admirable, for they exemplify the strength of Tibetan resilience.
This Earth belongs to humanity and the People's Republic of China
(PRC) belongs to its 1.3 billion citizens, who have the right to know
the truth about the state of affairs in their country and the world at
large. If citizens are fully informed, they have the ability to
distinguish right from wrong. Censorship and the restriction of
information violate basic human decency. For instance, China's
leaders consider the communist ideology and its policies to be correct.
If this were so, these policies should be made public with confidence
and open to scrutiny.
China, with the world's largest population, is an emerging world
power and I admire the economic development it has made. It also has
huge potential to contribute to human progress and world peace. But to
do that, China must earn the international community's respect and
trust. In order to earn such respect China's leaders must develop
greater transparency, their actions corresponding to their words. To
ensure this, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are
essential. Similarly, transparency in governance can help check
corruption. In recent years, China has seen an increasing number of
intellectuals calling for political reform and greater openness. Premier
Wen Jiabao has also expressed support for these concerns. These are
significant indications and I welcome them.
The PRC is a country comprising many nationalities, enriched by a
diversity of languages and cultures. Protection of the language and
culture of each nationality is a policy of the PRC, which is clearly
spelt out in its constitution. Tibetan is the only language to preserve
the entire range of the Buddha's teachings, including the texts on
logic and theories of knowledge (epistemology), which we inherited from
India's Nalanda University. This is a system of knowledge governed
by reason and logic that has the potential to contribute to the peace
and happiness of all beings. Therefore, the policy of undermining such a
culture, instead of protecting and developing it, will in the long run
amount to the destruction of humanity's common heritage.
The Chinese government frequently states that stability and development
in Tibet is the
