But the current Dalai Lama has been upfront about Tibet’s past, which is one of the reasons why I trust him. For the record, *he* is not calling for Tibetan independence from China. He wants autonomy, allowing self-determination while still officially being linked with China, which was pretty much the relationship they had for hundreds of years until the West got involved.

My biggest beef with most Hollywood and liberal protesters is that they don’t even know the history of the region. No denying that Tibetans have suffered under the brutal rule of the Kuomingtang, but what Westerners usually forget is that *everyone* has suffered - Han, Mongolians, Manchurians, Tibetans, Hui… It wasn’t only Tibetan monasteries that were destroyed in the “Great Leap Forward.” Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist monasteries all across China were destroyed. That said, the Dalai Lama is right to point out that Tibetan *culture* is under siege and in danger of irreversibly disappearing due to the “modernization” efforts of the communist govt.

As for the Dalai Lama’s goofiness, a lot of “advanced” Buddhists have been described in ways that could be considered goofy. Maybe because they know not to take themselves too seriously. I doubt his holiness would be offended.

I hope their intentions for the future can be trusted. But their history should not be forgotten.

Thanks for the info on the gov in exile. I feel better about that now. I wish their goals were more out front in the news.

The Tibetan government in exile is something more than the Dalai Lama, whom, like many, I find quite attractive in many ways, without buying the theological assertions about his person. He has turned out to be an astonishingly appropriate spokesperson for these suffering people.

On that note, considering the depth of suffering of the Tibetan people and the heroic and holy stance that the Dalai Lama has presented in response, the “goofy” line does appear to be a tad inappropriate…

Here’s a pointer to the Tibetan exile government and its connections to democracy.

http://www.savetibet.org/news/newsitem.php?id=120

Daily Llama, your argument is a straw man. Theocracies are not ruled by “God” anyway; they are ruled by the religious institution. And Tibet was a theocracy, with an oppressive serf structure.

That said, the current Dalai lama has said that he would not return Tibet to a serfdom, that he promotes democracy, and I believe him.

Mahayana Buddhism seems most likely to deify the Buddha and Boddhisattvas. Theravadans, not as much. The Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhists seem to be the most complex. Or maybe they just like rituals more. I’m still confused and have a final in 4 weeks. :)