Dalai Lama Criticizes 'Immoral' Chinese Censorship

[struggle4progress]

October 08, 2011

The Dalai Lama sharply criticized censorship in China as "immoral" during a video chat with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

The exiled Tibetan leader spoke with Tutu Saturday from Dharamsala, India. The Dalai Lama had planned to visit his friend and fellow Nobel peace laureate in South Africa for Tutu's 80th birthday this week, but the South African government refused to issue a visa.

Showcasing the government's action to keep the Dalai Lama away, Archbiship Tutu's Peace Center placed an empty chair on stage at the event held at the University of the Western Cape near Cape Town.

During the videoconference, the Dalai Lama accused Chinese officials of telling lies and being uncomfortable with people who tell the truth. He said China's 1.3 billion people should have free access to information in order to make up their own minds about what is right or wrong ...

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Dalai-Lama-Criticizes-Immoral-Chinese-Censorship-131388958.html

[LAGC]

1. Is this the same Dalai Lama who says gay sex "is generally considered sexual misconduct?"

Sounds like a real progressive hero.

[struggle4progress]

2. Dalai Lama urges 'respect, compassion, and full human rights for all,' including gays (1997)

by Dennis Conkin
Bay Area Reporter, June 19th, 1997

The Dalai Lama, world-revered leader of millions of Buddhists and leader of the Tibetan people, spoke out strongly against discrimination and violence against lesbians and gays during an extraordinary Wednesday, June 11 meeting in San Francisco with lesbian and gay Buddhists, clergy, and human rights activists ...

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.

"His Holiness was greatly concerned by reports made available to him regarding violence and discrimination against gay and lesbian people. His Holiness opposes violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. He urges respect, tolerance, compassion, and the full recognition of human rights for all," said Office of Tibet spokesman Dawa Tsering in a statement issued within an hour of the meeting ...

http://www.quietmountain.org/links/teachings/gayrites.htm

[LAGC]

4. Oh okay, so its just practicing Buddhist gays who are immoral. Gotcha.

Thanks for the clarification.

[ZombieHorde]

3. Tibetan Buddhism is very tolerant of gay people. The Tibetan Buddhist church in my town has

had openly gay people in high positions.

When you use a monotheist paradigm to interpret non-monotheistic teachings, you will have problems. In other words, don't think in terms of good and evil.

Instead, think in terms of what creates the conditions for enlightenment, and what creates the conditions for suffering? Non-attachment versus attachment.

Sex for pleasure generally leads to attachment, so it is misconduct.