Joyce wrote:
> I knew my daughter had read a couple of books about the Dalai Lama, so I
> forwarded the question to her. I liked her answer, so I would
> like to share
> it with you.
Except for the fact that (movie adaptations not-withstanding) the lamas
are most emphatically _not_ permitted to express any emotion at all during
the testing (no smiles, frowns, etc.), her explanation is a reasonable
one.
One problem most Westerners have with understanding Eastern religions is
the distorted way our media has presented them. Kundun was less distorted
than most--but it was _still_ a Westernized and dramatized concept of the
real situation. For those who would like to actually learn what the _real_
practices are in Tibetan Buddhism (including the mystic aspects), here's a
_very_ enjoyable book on the subject, written by a Westerner who became a
Tibetan Lama, who reports on his personal experiences in Tibet shortly
before the Chinese takeover:
Govinda, A. (1970). _The Way of the White Clouds: A Buddhist pilgrim in
Tibet._ Boulder, CO: Shambala.
Rick
--
Rick Adams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Social Sciences
Jackson Community College, Jackson, MI
"... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds
will be the love you leave behind when you're gone."
Fred Small, J.D., "Everything Possible"
