On Friday night, I visited the Dalai Lama with Phil Goff and yesterday went with the Parliamentary Lobby group on Tibet, which included MPs from all parties, including Hone Harawira and John Boscowen.
I know there are varying views on Tibet and the role of the Dalai Lama and there are strong convictions about the rights and wrongs of the situation on all sides.
Whatever the basis of the argument may be, I am concerned when I hear about human rights abuses, the oppression of religious freedom and an apparent determination to wipe out a unique culture and language. Additionally, there are significant worries about what is one of the most environmentally strategic and sensitive regions in the world.
These are enough to get me interested in working with other parliamentarians to do what we can to help find solutions.
But I have to confess to another motive for going, probably arising from a stint I had ten or more years ago of practising Tibetan Buddhism. I wanted to hear the Dalai Lama again.
Phil Goff asked him about what he was going to be saying in his talk at the Vector Arena. The Dalai Lama told us that it wouldn’t be about China and it wouldn’t be about religion. It would be about right-mindedness and compassion as the basis for happiness and peace.
He talked about how fear and hate drive many of the problems in the world. He said that truth and honesty could be the basis for a happier life and that love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
This “simple Buddhist monk” as he calls himself has much wisdom. People forget that Buddhist monks are scholars, with up to 20 years of study.
Here’s a great quote :
“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”
His message might sound simple, and even obvious, but perhaps we could try it out.
How about gross domestic happiness?
My respect for Phil Goff has trebled since I learned that he had spoken to the Dalai Lama. Good on him!
G
ff 2 
11 !!!!!!!
Of course, the Dalai Lama would unequivocally agree that Gross Domestic Happiness includes Gays, Lesbians, Takaatapui, Transgender and Bisexuals in all their glorious wondrous natures!
I’m sure Phil Goff clarified that, right?
Well said Christopher. When this chap wears his religious hat…he is as intolerent of other folk as the Chinese are of him.
What do you guys mean?
@Christopher,Peter: From 2 sec Googling: http://www.quietmountain.org/links/teachings/gayrites.htm
“Dalai Lama urges ‘respect, compassion, and full human rights for all,’ including gays”
“The religious leader said at the press conference that he had previously been asked his views on gay marriage, and said that such social sanction of gay relationships “has to be judged in the context of the society itself and the laws and social norms.”"
“From a “Buddhist point of view,” lesbian and gay sex “is generally considered sexual misconduct,” the Dalai Lama told reporters at a press conference a day earlier.
However, such proscriptions are for members of the Buddhist faith – and from “society’s viewpoint,” homosexual sexual relations can be “of mutual benefit, enjoyable, and harmless,” according to the Dalai Lama. ”
“Participants also said the Dalai Lama expressed the “willingness to consider the possibility that some of the teachings may be specific to a particular cultural and historic context.” “
you guys might be right but you have to admit Goff showed more guts than no nuts national which avoided him because they were scared of the Chinese…..
What did the buddha teach on homosexual orientation or homosexual behaviour, rainman?
Labour is in opposition n0exit. Goff can say pretty much anything he likes, meet whom he wants and so on.
It is always fun to watch the sudden onset of pragmatism that politicans assume as soon as they take office.
Man, I think Buddists should be allowed to be as gay as they like.
@Peter Martin: It’s pretty clear from what I quoted above. Did you read it?
Yes I did rainman. It mentions the Dalai Lama’s position…and that of his part of the faith. It doesn’t quite get around to stating what the buddha said on the topic. It could be because he said nothing about it.
So where does the Dalai Lama get his attitude from?
How about gross domestic happiness?
The major problem I see with a GDH is most easily described using a car analogy.
The Speedometer is like GDP, measuring how ‘fast’ you’re going or growing. The Petrol Guage is like your sustainability, a measure of the stock of ‘resource’ you have at your disposal.
Both are really really important for assesing your overall state, but there is simply no way you can meaningfully combine the two indicators into a single measure – which is exactly what GDH tries to do.
@Peter and Christopher – I’m not romantic about Buddhism, the Dalai Lama or any religion and these days I don’t subscribe to any religion or faith. But values matter to me and those expressed in the quote above are very appealing. I’m interested in how we achieve fairness for everyone – and it seems to me that a good start is to care about other people’s happiness and well-being. I am not arrogant enough to assume that I can’t learn from people with great life experience like the Dalai Lama, even if I don’t accept everything he believes in or says.
@Phil – yes, I know what you mean. Obviously my post was referring to Bhutan, another Buddhist Kingdom and they are facing many tests. But a lot of great dialogue going on around the place about different ways to measure progress and success.
@nOexit – Phil Goff met the DL when he was Foreign Minister in 2002. Key won’t even allow his Ministers to attend a meeting.
Thanks Rainman for your contribution.
I’ll do a culture-jack of what the Dalai said;
“Dalai Lama urges ‘respect, compassion, and full human rights for all,’ including gays”
“The religious leader said at the press conference that he had previously been asked his views on gay marriage, and said that such social sanction of gay relationships “IS WELCOMED AND CELEBRATED WITHING BUDDHISIM ACCORDING TO OUR PRECEPTS THAT WE RESPECT GAYS AND LESBIANS, ARE COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MARGINALISED AND TREATED ABOMINDIBLY BY SOCIETY, AND WE ACTIVELY WORK TO SECURE HUMAN RIGHTS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS.””
“From a “Buddhist point of view,” lesbian and gay sex “is generally considered A NON-ISSUE. IT IS THE SAME AS HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONS. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE BUDDHIST FAITH – WE RESPECT EVERYTHING,” the Dalai Lama told reporters at a press conference a day earlier.
However, such proscriptions are for members of the Buddhist faith – and from “society’s viewpoint,” homosexual sexual relations can be “of mutual benefit, enjoyable, and harmless,” according to the Dalai Lama. ”
“Participants also said the Dalai Lama expressed the “willingness to consider the possibility that some of the teachings may be specific to a particular cultural and historic context, AND CONSEQUENTLY ARE IRRELEVANT TO TODAY’S REALITIES. I DO NOT TEACH SUCH TEACHINGS.”
Having done a culture-jack I think you’ll agree that you can understand where I am coming from.
To be fair, the Dalai Lama is merely one of many religious leaders, all of whom are well, people, subject to various prejudices. The distinction is that he tries to overcome them, but clearly, he hasn’t suceeded.
I only raise this to point out that one should take large grains of salt when talking about religious leaders.
And excuse the spelling mistakes – there’s no editor button in this blog…
Some of these posts are sidestepping the Dali Lama’s central claims – that truth and compassion are necessities, not luxuries, and that our own sense of well being depends on the concern we have for the well being of others. It’s not as if he added the qualification, “except for those whose actions I myself disapprove of.” Furthermore, his suggestions point to a sense of value far more enduring and worthy of careful consideration than those contained in the Brash Report, for example.
Goff met him when he was a minister aswell…..
@Olwyn – thanks for your post. You said it better than me.
Hone would do well to travel with the Dalai Lama for the two months off parliament he has.And you as well Trevor Mallard.