'Dr Dalai Lama' defends Islam

[Mid]

'Dr Dalai Lama' defends Islam
Vatsala Shrangi
2010-11-24

The Tibetan spiritual guru was conferred an honorary doctorate at Jamia

Addressing the students and faculty members of Jamia Millia Islamia at the occasion of its Annual Convocation on Tuesday, His Holiness The Dalai Lama stood up in defence of Islam, terming it as one of the most important religions on the planet.


Pic/Imtiyaz khan

The University apart from handing over degrees and gold medals to the students, conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters to His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Wearing his traditional drape and a bright red convocation robe, he started off the address in his native language to be translated to English after he finished a part of it.

However, the translated version of his introductory address did not satisfy this Tibetan spiritual leader.

"I would try my luck with broken English only. Please excuse me if I mistakenly use some wrong words. I hope to convey my message even if it has to be wrong English," said The Dalai Lama.

Man of words

Islam is the religion of the heart and needs to be protected.

We should not generalise Islam as something fearful just due to a handful of miscreants.

Jehad is not a medium of attack.

There is a need to break this false notion as Jehad actually means to conquer the evil within individuals.

Life is not easy and there is no guarantee, young individuals must have a vision to take it forward in a constructive manner," he said.

- the dalai lama

mid-day.com

[Pol the Pot]

Interesting and I'll respect this. But I'm not really a fan of his.

[good2bhappy]

well said

[billy the kid]

no respect from moi. absolute.

[keda]

Nothing new from the Communist. Next we'll have the peaceniks glorifying the foolish father of India.

[Rural Surin]

The middle path. A new and challenging model of politicking.

[billy the kid]

fok the middle path. i prefer many paths. middle path gets over crowded and predictable.

[blue]

that dude could write a worldwide guide on staying in 5 star hotels
why dont he don a pair of sandas and a humble robe and cross into tibet , get himself arressted ,and gain some respect ?

[billy the kid]

wot he said was just pure crap.
a free spirit wouldn't utter such nonsense.

[HermantheGerman]

Pic/Imtiyaz khan

He should put a flower in his hair.

[Jools]

Methinks His Holiness has been a bit too sheltered from the dark side of Islam.

[Pol the Pot]

But he's an expert of the dark side of Tibetan Buddhism. So he knows the dark side of Islam is like the renaissance (Islam) being compared to the middle ages (the place he used to live until the commies kicked him out).

[taxexile]

what blue said, he should stick to reviewing hotels and high end mercedes.

[rickschoppers]

I am a fan of the Dalai Lama and agree with his thougts on the Islamic religion being one of the heart. The problem comes when extremists twist the faith to suit their needs and hide their violence behind the veil of Islam.

[Morden]

I once spent two and a half days in an audience listening to Dalai Lama and it was a great experience.

However, I have a problem with the present day practice of Buddhism from my observations in Thailand. It's become another controlling and abusive religion with most of it's lay members ignorant of what it's really about. It was a philosophy, not a religion to be used by monks and others for their own ends. Christianity and Islam have gone the same way.

It's a relief to me that few Thai 'Buddhists' seem to have heard of the Dalai Lama so, perhaps, he carries still the torch of something worth understanding and listening to. I am no friend of Islam but if he can help Muslims and others see each other differently, that must be to the good.

[rickschoppers]

I once spent two and a half days in an audience listening to Dalai Lama and it was a great experience.

However, I have a problem with the present day practice of Buddhism from my observations in Thailand. It's become another controlling and abusive religion with most of it's lay members ignorant of what it's really about. It was a philosophy, not a religion to be used by monks and others for their own ends. Christianity and Islam have gone the same way.

It's a relief to me that few Thai 'Buddhists' seem to have heard of the Dalai Lama so, perhaps, he carries still the torch of something worth understanding and listening to. I am no friend of Islam but if he can help Muslims and others see each other differently, that must be to the good.

"However, I have a problem with the present day practice of Buddhism from my observations in Thailand. It's become another controlling and abusive religion with most of it's lay members ignorant of what it's really about. It was a philosophy, not a religion to be used by monks and others for their own ends. Christianity and Islam have gone the same way."

Morden, we meet again. You have just given the definition of religion. "Controlling" the masses so they do not completely wipe out mankind. I agree that most do not fully understand the meaning of their particular religion, but as long as it keeps most in check, I am OK with that. It is just a little ironic that most wars have been caused by religous belief.

[Morden]

Good morning, Ricky!

The control purpose of the masses is so that they will wipe out mankind if they are told to.

Religious belief is used to start wars. It cannot do it by itself any more than a gun can kill someone by itself - unless it was made in China or Thailand, of course.

[ltnt]

You're sitting in the house of Islam, receiving their honorary degree, medals and and praise. Now what's he suppose to say? "Your all crazy as bat shit and you can't find your ass with both hands?" Get a grip guys, we all fudge the truth when necessary.

[Pol the Pot]

So you think he's lying for the audience?

[Jools]

Addressing the students and faculty members of Jamia Millia Islamia at the occasion of its Annual Convocation on Tuesday, His Holiness The Dalai Lama stood up in defence of Islam, terming it as one of the most important religions on the planet.

Sure, in the same sense that the Mafia is one of the most "important" criminal organizations on the planet.

[Latindancer]

I think the Dalai Lama's statement is spot on, especially about Jihad. What he said is very insightful and well-balanced.
Those criticizing Islam due to a relatively small number of miscreants would be well off remembering the suffering that Christianity has brought to the world.
How many people were horribly tortured and killed by the Inquisition in different countries ? How many native people (in fact whole tribes) were adversely affected by over-zealous missionaries (and continue to be), and in how many countries ?
How many people had their lives screwed up by being sexually molested by Catholic priests ? And how about how the Catholic church covered it all up (and continues to do so ) ?
It's some of the followers of religion who misinterpret it and twist it to suit their own ends. The religion itself is often ok in theory.
Those posters who said negative things here just went right down in my estimation (not that you would care, I know).

[billy the kid]

it's a twisted foked up man made system.
kid yourselves if you like
or get real.
anyone who agrees with islam has really no idea of what they
are talking about.
rather they have too many 'ideas' and that's their problem.
it is a load of horse-shit.