The Dalai Lama -- a study in excellence

"The extravagancies which disfigure the record and practice of Buddhism may be referred to that inevitable degradation which priesthoods always inflict upon great ideas committed to their charge". Sir Edwin Arnold

A few years ago a westerner had jibed that the reason why the Buddha became enlightened was that he had to, given the terrible conditions which exist in India . Should this yardstick be applied to the Dalai Lama, he is certainly far from being enlightened, given the stately existence he enjoys. Besides, it is categorically stated in the Kanjur, the encyclopedia of the Buddha's words, that one must be born an Indian to become a completely enlightened Buddha!

The Dalai Lama's upbringing, reveals on close scrutiny, that he was brought up as a Tibetan first and will remain one till his very end. Taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa at the age of four, he was cloistered there throughout his impressionable years given to understand that Tibetans constitute the superior race in the world. He, as their sovereign, is the 'Supreme Amongst Beings', 'the Knower of All', 'the Infallible One' and so on. His word is the law even though he is totally beyond the law as he is inscrutable.

His education, as he himself admits, was confined strictly to Buddhist philosophy a la Gelugpa Buddhism, in spite of which he was expected at 18 to take the reins of the governance of his country. Certainly until then he had not been trained in meditation. The assumption had been, though not borne out by human experience, that a so-called enlightened person is able to tackle all the complexities of state craft and governance through his supposed wisdom!

Nothing could be further from the truth. The Dalai Lama, a culpable human being, himself admits in recorded interviews, that having been trained only in Buddhist philosophy, he has had no understanding of the outside world and repeatedly consults his elder brother, Gyalo Thondup, hardly a saint, but wise to the ways of the world, in matters of state craft, policy and governance.

It is also questionable as to whether the Dalai Lama is actually an emanation of Avalokiteshwara. History records, as is supported by Prof Robert Thurman, that in the sixteenth century, a Mongolian War Lord, Alta Khan, was so impressed by the learning of Sonam Gyatso, that he had given him the appellation of the Taala'i Lama, meaning Ocean of Wisdom. Moreover, while declaring himself to be the rebirth of Kublai Khan in order to validate his own status, he had similarly validated the Taala'i Lama as an emanation of Avalokiteshwara. It is acknowledged that Alta Khan was not a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. Hence his statements made above, do not carry the weight of the Buddhist tradition. Rather it is the imposition of a political decision on the people of Tibet . This has unfortunately overflowed into the twenty first century with the uncritical accepting it at face value.

The lives of various saints throughout the world, reveal that true spirituality does not reside in the form of kings. Such who have sought a spiritual life have repeatedly abdicated their thrones and gone in quest of solitude. Invariably, those evolved persons who have changed the course of history, giving the world a positive direction, the Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava, Jesus, the Prophet Mohammed, Marpa, Milarepa, St. Francis of Assissi, Machig Labdron, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avilla, St. Francis Xavier, Guru Nanak Deva, Togden Shakya Shri et al, have all endured incredible hardships to gain various stages of human evolution. Moreover, their lives have been exemplary in the service of all sentient beings, humanity and so on. Thus, history itself cannot support the view that the Dalai Lama is spiritually enlightened.

If one was to analyse this from the perspective of Hindu philosophy, personality is divided into the three types of sat, raj and tamas. It is the human experience that every individual is a combination of these three gunas, or characteristics, in varying proportions of allocation. It is also known that a saint possesses much more of the first guna -- sat -- than the others. A skilled ruler possesses predominantly qualities of the second guna while thieves and so on fall in the third category.

Thus, although one might wish that a skilled ruler be a saint, realities point elsewhere. A ruler for proper governance, needs to express various aspects of rajo-guna such as shama, dama, danda & bheda. Paraphrased they refer to the three pillars of state -- legislature, executive and judiciary -- understood as various aspects of good governance in the modern world. These are totally alien to the sat consciousness -- that of a spiritually evolved person. No compromise seems possible amongst these conflicting characteristics. To state that an enlightened person can rule in this world, is thus a tautology. Such an occurrence has not been recorded in written Indian history and perhaps not of the world. Even Tibetan history does not support such a statement.

To paraphrase one aspect of this in modern idiom, the following is the editorial as it appeared in the Hindustan Times, Patna edition, May 20, 03:

'True lies

A study conducted this week in Britain has concluded that politicians lie. Apart from that precious nugget of information, it also states that voters know that politicians lie! So why are we not astounded? Probably because of the same reason we are not startled when we hear that journalists exaggerate or merchants cheat. But apart from showcasing the cynicism that accepts — or actually embraces — such tumbles in ethical standards, the study shows that by the very nature of their job, politicians need to be economical with the truth.

A peek at any political party's election manifesto will show that the trick is to lie without giving it away that one is lying. Voters, of course, know that — while politicians know that they (the people) know that they (the politicians) are lying. To escape from this ethical 'hall of mirrors', a social contract exists between the people and politicians.

'Don't ask and we don't have to lie' seems to be the arrangement that politicians have in place. Unfortunately, journalists and pesky citizens sometimes puncture this illusion. As the study points out, it is only when pushed to answering specific questions (like, 'Did you take the money?') that politicians are forced to be extremely liberal with the truth ('I didn't take the money').

There are occasions when lying may indeed be preferable to the truth in this practical world of ours (national morale etc.). But, as a rule, telling the truth in politics is the inability to lie — in other words a shortcoming. Quite rightly, politics has been compared to poker, a game in which other players practise and expect deception. To think otherwise is to make the terrible mistake of thinking that the ideal politician is a saint. The two hold two different portfolios.

THINK IT OVER...

A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation

H. H. Munro'

This is in contrast with the forthrightness of numerous enlightened saints whose lives may be read in English.

Moreover, the Dalai Lama is an object of constant adulation by his followers, be they Tibetan, westerners, or whatever. Rarely has a saint received acclaim in his or her life. On the other hand, they have all been persecuted in one way or another by the establishment.

It is only Gelugpa stream of Tibetan Buddhism which has perfected the art of combining these antithetical traits of a Buddhist Monk, a Bodhisattva and a Vajra Master, a politician, and sovereign in select individuals such as the Dalai Lama. Politics is integral to this tradition which claims enlightenment to be possible only through it.

The public presentations of the Dalai Lama, include an impassive visage and a pair of eyes which none can fathom. Behind this facade, he makes his facile deliveries, with the audience so enthralled by his holy presence, that none dares to ask the right questions. He elides with amazing grace from being a sovereign to a politician to a supposed Buddhist Master and so forth, with such finesse that it leaves his audience gasping and confused.

Similar is the case with Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, currently the purported Prime Minister of the Govt of Tibet in Exile.

Stated simply, it is his so-called followers who actively empower him to be what he is and accept his statements as God's word! Are they? For those who don't, he is just another person, a refugee from Tibet trying to leave his mark on history!

And under which law, international or Indian, does the so-called Govt of Tibet in Exile claim its legitimacy?

II

H.H. the XVIth Gyalwang Karmapa in particular, had repeatedly exhorted his immediate disciples to refrain from getting involved in politics but to persevere to continue the Dispensation of Marpa's traditions. He categorically repeated that the training he was imparting to them was purely religious and spiritual. Politicians needed to be educated differently. The truth of this statement is borne out by the bizarre events subsequent to the demise of the thirteenth Dalai Lama in 1934 until the enthronement of the fourteenth 1951, amongst countless others in Tibetan history.

Two high Gelugpa incarnate Lamas, Radreng and Tagdhrag Rinpoches, had taken charge as the Regent. Their deeds are recorded in 'The Water Bird and Other Years' by K. Dhondup, available from Dolkar Herbal Medicines, D-10 Kalkaji, New Delhi 110 019. This is a historical document which is exceptionally dispassionate. Suffice it to state, intrigues, conspiracies, assassinations, destruction of monasteries by Buddhists themselves -- all are mentioned with exceptional clarity in this historical document. A fair judiciary as understood currently, was unheard of in Tibet then.

A recently published work, 'Tibet, Tibet' by Patrick French, Harper Collins Publishers India, too corroborates much of what is written in The Water Bird ..., providing accurate insights into the Tibetan psyche. It is those in the west who do not wish to understand accept these basic realities blindly extend their unconditional support to the Dalai Lama.

Similarly, if one was to analyse the Tibetan diaspora critically, one would find it full of racism, sectarian resentment, crass opportunism, political violence and assassinations, drug dealing, rogue elements and so on. In all of this the Dalai Lama is directly involved or in one way or another, the incident reflects back upon him. Of particular import are the assassinations of Gungthang Tsultrim 1978 and His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche April, 24, 1993; the attack on the Karmapa International Institute, New Delhi, March 23, 1996 orchestrated by both his monk and lay followers.

Surely it is in order of things to expect that the Supreme Amongst Beings, the Infallible One, the Knower of All, is in control of those who act in his name and fully aware of all that goes on!

As their ruler, at the very least, he has the full right and authority to have criminal acts committed by Tibetans punished, through the Indian judicial system. He has never had such processes initiated for the simple reason that he is the direct beneficiary of these shady dealings. In spite of knowing fully well that most Tibetans who are close to him or profess their unconditional loyalty towards the Dalai Lama as their sovereign, sic., use multiple names, a criminal offence in the modern world. Such have fraudulently obtained a citizenship of India or Nepal using forged documentation through payoffs. It is amazing indeed that he has never taken any action to check these malpractices or have the guilty punished. He has moreover, gone to the extent of granting certificates of good behaviour to those who are known to the Govt of India as having acted against the national interest in favour of Chinese.

Similarly he continues to pretend that monastic homosexual paedophilia does not exist in his monasteries and that too in spite of documented evidence! Molestation of children is a criminal offence which he condones through his silence!

The Dalai Lama and his compatriots receive donations in millions of dollars from abroad as also from offerings. None knows the amounts received and the manner in which such money is spent as proper accounts are neither required by the Govt of India, kept nor audited. No legislation has been enacted by the Indian Parliament granting him such privileges which he enjoys at the expense of his host country. Neither has he paid a single penny as tax to India nor does he compel his compatriots to do so. All in all the situation reeks of crass opportunism!

It is not generally known that he is constructing a palatial complex in the hot plains of the outskirts of Chandigarh in northern India. Why any Tibetan will want to bear oppressive heat when he is already settled comfortably in Dharamsala, HP, is an extremely pertinent question! Surely this will emerge as yet another focal point of questionable political activity, one undoubtedly detrimental to India, given his excellent track record, and that too right at New Delhi's doorstep!

The sad controversy surrounding the Karmapa incarnation is an indication of the fact that some of the Karmapa's select disciples have actively reneged on the spiritual discipline inculcated in them and protect their own self righteousness to the world at large. The Dalai Lama too has played his part in this hoax and that too so skillfully that his word is taken as the ultimate authority in this matter. This point of view forgets that the Dalai Lama is merely the head of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, not of all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Neither has he been the sovereign or king of any country since 1959.

In spite of all this he is considered to be the Spiritual Leader of Tibetans and the Head of the Tibetan Govt in Exile. Clearly some serious misunderstandings concerning him are in vogue!

Tibetans in India have written a Constitution of Tibet, hold elections for the Assembly of the Peoples' Deputies, run a parallel civil administration throughout India in order to cater to Tibetan refugees. The Dalai Lama has not however, seen it fit to introduce a system of justice amongst his peoples even though they are required to pay an annual amount as tax to his exchequer. Then of course, donations received by him are totally unmonitored. How much he receives and what he does with it -- these are not questions to be asked by a following which empowers him with inscrutable divine qualities!

His is yet another classic case of wanting rights with total disregard to the responsibilities concomitant with them!

In conclusion, it is evident that the fourteenth Dalai Lama has inherited the mantle of his history, culture and traditions. Thus, to expect him to be any other but a continuation of four and a half centuries of repeated reincarnations through Tibetan history, is to expect the impossible. The inscrutability presented of him is merely a ploy, a device to permit him to do as and what he pleases, guided by his elder brother Gyalo Thondup in Beijing, while the opportunist Tibetan earns money disproportionate to one's known sources of income, while a gullible following interprets all this as enlightened activity for the benefit of all!

Lama Shree Narayan Singh, Cell 94312 26073, India.