Happy Losar?

Losar Tashi Delek -- we wish!
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) will honor Losar by renewing efforts to work for peace and justice in Tibet. They send this Thank YOU note to those who support the cause and "for standing with people of Tibet at this time."

Losar The word Losar is derived from two words, “Lo” meaning “year” and “sar” meaning “new.” For centuries, Losar, Tibetan New Year has been a time of celebration, a time for families to come together and be thankful for their blessings, for religious faith to be honored in prayer and a time when neighbors and friends greet each other with “Losar Tashi Delek!” or (Best wishes for an auspicious New Year!”). But this year’s Losar is marked with sorrow, with repression in Tibet reaching new lows, so it will be observed as a time for quiet reflection and tribute to all those Tibetans who have sacrificed their freedom and even their lives in protest against Chinese policies in Tibet.

As the card says, and as I say to you, "We humbly wish for a Losar Tashi Delek, and best wishes for the Tibetan Water Dragon Year." May it please bring PEACE and resolution to Tibet which has surely suffered enough!! Namaste!

Religion? Faith? or Reason?

Religion-- or more to the point Faith -- is it the “purposeful suspension of critical thinking” as Bill Maher calls it? The alleged comedian and his atheist guest, magician Penn Jillette, had a lively discussion on this weeks’ edition of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” about the Cult of Mormonism (their term, not mine), evangelicals, and of course, their favorite topic: atheism. Lest I sound as cynical as them, let me quickly say I am all for reason and critical thinking. In fact, I too abandoned Christianity, particularly Pentecostalism, as soon as I was capable of critical thinking. "Oh no," you sigh, thinking I am just as cynical as those two. NOT SO. Their ranting tonight provides a perfect opportunity for me to share something I've found incredibly profound from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

I’ve been listening to several hours of audio from HHDL on this very subject-- no not making fun of Christianity -- critical thinking. The Dalai Lama engages in a thought-provoking dialogue, bringing together scientists and spirituality, because as he says, “science is not neutral; it can be used for good or ill.” He takes a hard look at various ethical considerations related to technological advancements.

But, what brought me here to blog, was the following insight that I transcribed from his audio. The quote below is HHDL's comparison of scientific methods and Buddhism (this is very close to a direct transcription, telescoping just a bit of dialogue in one spot):

Although Buddhism has evolved to include a body of teachings and related rituals, scriptural authority cannot outweigh an understanding based on reason and experience. In fact, the Buddha himself, undermined the scriptural authority of his own words when he told his followers not to accept the validity of his teachings based on a reverence to him. "Just as a goldsmith tests and analyzes his gold through a meticulous process of examination," the Buddha told his followers, "you too must test the truth of what I've told you through reasoned examination and personal experiment." Therefore when it comes to validating the truth of a claim or mind training technique, Buddhism accords the greatest authority to experience, then reason and scripture last.

The great masters from the Nalanda University of India, from which Tibetan Buddhism sprang, continued to apply the Buddha’s advice in their rigorous testing and critical examination of the Buddha’s own teachings (HHDL continued on telling the gathering of monks and scientists, then summed up with this amazing statement.)

So, it makes no difference if the Truth is found through scientific research or if we investigate something and find there is reason and proof for it, we must acknowledge that as reality- even if it is in contradiction with a literal, scriptural explanation that has held ‘sway’ for many centuries or from a deeply held opinion or view. So, (and here comes his most astounding remark) a fundamental attitude shared by science and Buddhism is the commitment to keep searching for the Truth by empirical means and to be willing to discard religious precepts if our search finds the facts to be different.

This kind of critical thinking and flexibility is why I am a Buddhist.

Honestly, I can’t think of what I could add to that. If I were in Court, I would rest my case!

Free Tibet

I have a dirty, dusty bumper sticker that's been on my front window for 18 years (since 1990); "Boycott China, Save Tibet."
When I stuck it there all those years ago, I vowed to leave it until the Dalai Lama was allowed to return to his homeland in Tibet. How sad that not only have things not improved in those 18 years, they are so much worse now.

Several dozen (as many as 80) Tibetans and Buddhist monks were killed in riots in the past week. Chinese troops were surrounding Drepung monastery in Lhasa, with hundreds of monks still inside. I really want to expose what the chinese communist "boss" said (don't know his title, he was referred to as this on PBS.) I saw him speaking these words on PBS; "The Dalai Lama is a jackal. An evil spirit with the heart of a beast." I wanted to spit at the real lying jackal on my tv set.

Here is the direct quote from the Dalai Lama, "I appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people. I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence."

Anyone who knows anything about the Dalai Lama knows he stands for Peace and Compassion. That has been his life-long teaching. He is a world treasure and even in the face of this horrible situation continues to urge non-violence. But, this was, after all, Tibetan National Uprising Day -- the equivalent of our Independence Day -- only we're free. Tibetan monks are still tortured, gagged, and silenced by their chinese occupiers.

Imagine 49 years of occupation! It will be a full 50 years next year, and even monks grow weary of daily abuse. Who could blame them? How in the world would we (Americans) act? We couldn't tolerate one attack on our precious soil (2001), and we'd be violent every day if our land was occupied. Try to imagine our homes and churches occupied -- our rights and weapons taken away. Americans can hardly conceive of such a thing, yet we occupy other countries (like Iraq) and support these chinese thugs even as our children are dying thanks to their poison toys and other imported junk. I end as I began, "Boycott china" -- their junk, their coming games, and for god's sake: FREE Tibet!