HH Dalai Lama in Australia 1-10 Dec 2009

[Ngawang Drolma.]

Thanks a lot Dazzle! Okay, I won't worry so much about having put my foot in my mouth.
We'll leave it as it is, I feel more comfortable now. Thanks!

Best,
Drolma

[Ben]

What an extraordinary opportunity, Drolma! How amazingly meritorious!
Incredible!

Ben

[Yeshe]

Dharma teachings should always be free. The opportunity to make a donation may be communicated.

All the groups I know need to hire rooms and the teacher has to travel to the venue. A fee for this is fine IMHO.

Now, HHDL has the same issues - dharma free, premises and travel still to be funded.

In the case of events where he explicitly teaches dharma, the situation is pretty clear.

But what of the talks which are not billed as Buddhist teachings?

I know that the manager of a venue being approached to take a booking from HHDL probably has dollar signs in his eyes, but again we are faced with the dilemma that HHDL will probably express views which are 'Dharma'. So should there be a fee, other than to cover the basic costs of the events?

On another issue, HHDL will have security costs. He is a prime target for terrorist attacks, as is the Pope and other prominent religious leaders. I attended an NKT Buddhist summer festival recently and noted that all the drain covers were sealed and numbered to prevent (presumably) bomb attacks - these are difficult times.

In summation, Dharma should always be available without a fee. Donations create good karma. Fees for venues, travel and other costs are OK. But I am uncomfortable about the teachings HHDL may give which are not billed as 'Dharma', as I think his view will be that of 'Dharma' and therefore should be free.

[Ngawang Drolma.]

What an extraordinary opportunity, Drolma! How amazingly meritorious!
Incredible!

Ben

Thank you! I feel amazed too

[Cittasanto]

On another issue, HHDL will have security costs. He is a prime target for terrorist attacks, as is the Pope and other prominent religious leaders. I attended an NKT Buddhist summer festival recently and noted that all the drain covers were sealed and numbered to prevent (presumably) bomb attacks - these are difficult times.

I think you would find there are other reasons for the drains to be numbered, NKT are not exactly going to be a top terrorist target, and are linked to terrorist activity???

but HHDL needs security because he is the exiled head of tibet a political office not because he is a religious figure there are plenty of religious figures who don't get such treatment from governments of the country they visit, who actually foot the bill for the security not the person or venue. EDIT - may be different for different countries but I knoe this is true for some

[Yeshe]

On another issue, HHDL will have security costs. He is a prime target for terrorist attacks, as is the Pope and other prominent religious leaders. I attended an NKT Buddhist summer festival recently and noted that all the drain covers were sealed and numbered to prevent (presumably) bomb attacks - these are difficult times.

I think you would find there are other reasons for the drains to be numbered, NKT are not exactly going to be a top terrorist target, and are linked to terrorist activity???

but HHDL needs security because he is the exiled head of tibet a political office not because he is a religious figure there are plenty of religious figures who don't get such treatment from governments of the country they visit, who actually foot the bill for the security not the person or venue. EDIT - may be different for different countries but I knoe this is true for some

To clarify, there's a nasty little outfit called Al Qaeda who might well think that a massive explosion killing the Dalai Lama, or the Pope, would be a wonderful thing to do on the pretext of anti-Islamic practice. I'm unsure of the facts, but wasn't HHDL from an Islamic family background? In the eyes of Al Qaeda, in 'rejecting' Islam and in spreading the Kalachakra Tantra, surely that would make him even more of a target.

As for Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, I believe there have been threats against him, and he also takes appropriate precautions. Sealing and checking previously-inspected drains is standard security practice I've seen elsewhere. I do not think that within Tibet or within the exiled Tibetan community, there is yet a separation of political and religious life, albeit the roles of the community leaders may indicate such a separation. It only needs the risk of one nutter to believe in killing in the name of his Tibetan sect for protection to be required.
An assembly of 6,000 NKT Buddhists would also seem a pretty easy target for Al Qaeda, and one sure to cause massive death and lots of publicity.


I think prayers for the safety of the Dalai Lama, and such others who are brave enough to engage in public life, is the least we should do.

[Cittasanto]

To clarify, there's a nasty little outfit called Al Qaeda who might well think that a massive explosion killing the Dalai Lama, or the Pope, would be a wonderful thing to do on the pretext of anti-Islamic practice. I'm unsure of the facts, but wasn't HHDL from an Islamic family background? In the eyes of Al Qaeda, in 'rejecting' Islam and in spreading the Kalachakra Tantra, surely that would make him even more of a target.

As for Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, I believe there have been threats against him, and he also takes appropriate precautions. Sealing and checking previously-inspected drains is standard security practice I've seen elsewhere. I do not think that within Tibet or within the exiled Tibetan community, there is yet a separation of political and religious life, albeit the roles of the community leaders may indicate such a separation. It only needs the risk of one nutter to believe in killing in the name of his Tibetan sect for protection to be required.
An assembly of 6,000 NKT Buddhists would also seem a pretty easy target for Al Qaeda, and one sure to cause massive death and lots of publicity.

I think prayers for the safety of the Dalai Lama, and such others who are brave enough to engage in public life, is the least we should do.

ask if the drains are sealed from below also next time you go! certain groups are known to do this, aswell as organisations for varying reasons from health and safety, to paranoia and I would bet Al Qaeda have other targets in mind than some tibetan group.