Wisdoms from the Journey - Vol IX (Oct 14 thru Aug 16)

An un-silly question, …
and an unenlightened Answer
(10/25/2015)
I like the Dalai Lama ... I really do. He seems like a pretty nice guy, and
most of the time he relays a pretty important message. Yes, it is disconcerting
that he has still not yet returned to Tibet to protest Chinese atrocities there in
person, and it is actually just as disconcerting that he sometimes panders to what I
lovingly call ―New Age BS‖ by telling people that they should have compassion
for their enemies because that is the best way to achieve peace for themselves
(which is, of course, a total crock) – and yet I believe that he is a powerful Force for
Good in the world, and I admire him immensely nonetheless … That having been
said, he was recently caught completely off-guard by a particularly insightful
question, and as such gave an answer that was completely ―unenlightened.‖ For
in response to the question (paraphrased) of ―What would you say if you only had
one moment to say it‖ is probably the least silly question of all, and when asked
that remarkable query, the Dalai Lama had quite a few very good retorts at his
quite-wise disposal:
*He could have said, ―Love is a verb.‖
*He could have said, ―Be Kind when least inclined.‖
*He could have said, ―Your life is not about you.‖
*And he could have said, ―Do whatever you can with whatever you've got.‖
And yet instead of any of these answers -- indeed, instead of even a
prolonged, silent smile (which would have allowed the questioner and all others
listening in to come up with one of the four aforementioned Truths themselves), our
beloved Dalia Lama not only called the question ―silly‖, but then proceeded to
offer one of the least enlightened answers possible -- essentially saying ―Feed
yourselves when hungry.‖ (?!?!)
Now I'm sure it's hard to wear the mantle of Holiness, just as I'm sure it is
difficult to be continually asked for replies that are expected to be both insightful
and wise. That having been said, it is precisely because ―holy men‖ are often
asked such questions that they take far greater Care -- and be far more devout
champions of CARING -- whenever answering the same.
Amen ... Let it be so.
―There is no need for temples; no need for
complicated philosophy. My religion is very
simple ... My religion is kindness.‖
~ The Dalai Lama
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