Non-violence can't tackle terror: Dalai Lama

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

NEW DELHI: The Dalai Lama, a lifelong champion of non-violence on Saturday candidly stated that terrorism cannot be tackled by applying the

principle of ahimsa because the minds of terrorists are closed.

"It is difficult to deal with terrorism through non-violence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture here.

He also termed terrorism as the worst kind of violence which is not carried by a few mad people but by those who are very brilliant and educated.

"They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai Lama said.

He said that the only way to tackle terrorism is through prevention. The head of the Tibetan government-in-exile left the audience stunned when he said "I love President George W Bush." He went on to add how he and the US President instantly struck a chord in their first meeting unlike politicians who take a while to develop close ties.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/N...how/3995810.cms

(guilty liberals are going to have a tough one with this..... he's not a Christian or Jew so he must be right)

[mox 298]

The Dalai Lama is a human being, fallible, and certainly is not the authority on terrorism. Trust the Dalai Lama if you want to know how to do breathing exercises, otherwise someone like John Wilson would be a better authority on the subject. Personally I think that if he's so close to President Bush, then he's either completely out of touch or just a very bad judge of character. In either case I don't think his views on terrorism should be taken seriously one way or the other.

Edited January 18, 2009 by mox

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Oh come on. George Bush Jr. the human being is a likable guy but as President maybe it's his policies that weren't always likable. As for what the Dali Lama says on things he is coming from a place of spirituality and he is correct in what he says. The best approach we have that has been proven to be effective is prevention through education starting with children. Business men don't like to hear that because they're not going to make money off of selling weapons. However the ones that can build schools for impoverished communities over there are doing the real counter-terrorism work. The roots are deep and long between nations in these regions currently. The young minds & hearts of the impoverished ppl is where the battlefield is. Greg Mortenson touches this in his book "Three Cups of Tea".

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

More spurious baiting.

The Dalai Lama is entitled to his opinion.

So what?

[HAL 9000 96]

Nonviolence does not mean that we remain indifferent to a problem. On the contrary, it is important to be fully engaged. However, we must behave in a way that does not benefit us alone. We must not harm the interests of others. Nonviolence therefore is not merely the absence of violence. It involves a sense of compassion and caring. It is almost the manifestation of compassion. I strongly believe that we must promote such a concept of nonviolence at the level of the family as well as at the national and international levels. Each individual has the ability to contribute to such compassionate nonviolence.

-Dalai Lama

But for jerkoffs that have nothing better to do with their time other than be jerkoffs:

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

[peejay 327]

Growing up here in the US in the 1960's and 1970's I met several of my peers that thought it was hip to proclaim that they were pacifists and jump on the perceived moral bandwagon of anti-war because it was the Vietnam era of hippies and peaceniks.

Really... how can someone be pro-war and pro-violence in civil society? Most sane people don't condone such behaviour. But let's not be naive. Human history is rife with the price paid for appeasement. It is also rife with the price paid for raw agression.

Talk is cheap though. How much are you willing to pay for your ideals and convictions? You just don't know until you have to really do it. And most here in the USA don't.

[mox 298]

Human history is rife with the price paid for appeasement.

"Appeasement." Probably the most mis-used, bogeyman phrase of the 21st century.

[peejay 327]

Human history is rife with the price paid for appeasement.

"Appeasement." Probably the most mis-used, bogeyman phrase of the 21st century.

Considering that the 21st century is only 8 years old it doesn't have much of a track record. Go look at the 20th century if you want abundant examples of appeasement.

[alienlovechild 75]

Human history is rife with the price paid for appeasement.

"Appeasement." Probably the most mis-used, bogeyman phrase of the 21st century.

Considering that the 21st century is only 8 years old it doesn't have much of a track record. Go look at the 20th century if you want abundant examples of appeasement.

What was thinking when he wrote that?

[mox 298]

Considering that the 21st century is only 8 years old it doesn't have much of a track record. Go look at the 20th century if you want abundant examples of appeasement.

The point is that appeasement is not a synonym for surrender or cowardice. The original meaning has been spun and mangled such that it's bandied around now as a way of accusing your opponent of capitulation to the enemy (as in the original post I quoted), when in fact that's not what it means at all. I'm not taking a stand one way or the other on the policy (it has its uses like any other policy tactic), but please at the very least use the term correctly.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I wonder what the Dalai Lama's opinion is about people who view our complex world in black-and-white terms of "aggression" and "appeasement".

[mawilson 2,133]

Trust the Dalai Lama if you want to know how to do breathing exercises, otherwise someone like JohnMark Wilson would be a better authority on the subject.

Well thank you.

[HAL 9000 96]

I wonder what the Dalai Lama's opinion is about people who view our complex world in black-and-white terms of "aggression" and "appeasement".

I hear he's too nice to call dumbazzes out on their own draconian view of the world.

[SpiritAlight 1]

He truly is "too nice".

My good friend's mom has met him a few times. She has reported that he is quite playful and extremely easy going.

From all that I have read and all that I have heard him speak, he does not want to meddle in/with people's complicated minds.

He shrugs his shoulders when asked about why does so and so behave such and such a way.

He has many beautiful and loving things to say, and like all spiritual leaders just wants keeps telling us all to wake up and smell the love.

We are all connected, and so what one does affects another.

Is anyone paying attention?

We sure are!

The tipping point (critical mass) is coming.

Perhaps someone who has chosen to use their intelligence to do evil did not open his heart to others...meaning he has chosen to dominate rather than live with or create more of inclusivity. (I like to make up words.)

[almaty 19]

f##k the Dalai Lama