OT: Dalai Lama & air-rifles

beoram

beoram

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The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, owns an air rifle. "I feed birds, peaceful birds. I'm non-violent, but if a hawk comes when I'm feeding birds I lose my temper and get my air rifle," he has reportedly said. "Only to scare the hawks."

from BBC News - 10 Things We Didn't Know Last Week
 
Hmmph: I'm an Uzi kind of guy too, Bruise!

The Dalai Lama I'd expect to use that Tiger Eye mala of his.

( Malla is a type of khuk, a mala is the Hindu/Buddhist form of prayer beads, sometimes made from crushed rosepetals formed into beads, I believe the word's meaning is garland. Others can correct me if I had bad info. )

Anyway, it has been reported that the 14th Dalai Lama uses a mala made of Tiger Eye beads.

It is my understanding that malas made from semi-precious gems like coral and turquoise are prized by the Sherpas. Others stones also. Some are made of bone, either from yaks - often carved into the shape of a skull - , or from the skulls of buddhist monks. Kind of an abrupt reminder of our fate. Other malas are made from seeds of the tree the buddha sat under, or of lotus seeds

And yes, you can buy them over here ( the malas made from human skullbone ) and no, I won't tell you where.
 
Originally posted by beoram
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, owns an air rifle. "I feed birds, peaceful birds. I'm non-violent, but if a hawk comes when I'm feeding birds I lose my temper and get my air rifle," he has reportedly said. "Only to scare the hawks."

from BBC News - 10 Things We Didn't Know Last Week
Click to expand...

So......I guess, from the Dali Lama's point of view, a hawk out trying to feed her/himself is not a "peaceful" bird? What a disappointing statement coming from the spiritual leader of so many people. How do you scare a hawk with an air rifle. They make little noise. Either you shoot something or you don't, otherwise you could just wave a stick.
 
It's interesting. In my readings, I get the impression that Buddhism (at least some flavors) is not completely gentle and peaceful. Certainly not absolute pacifism. But I'm not quite sure where the line falls.

Personally, I wouldn't say that killing hawks because they were eating other birds would be an acceptable action. Then again, an air rifle with the proper force and ammunition would not necessarily be lethal, and my understanding of Buddhism is probably not as developed as the Dalai Lama's ;)
 
Dalai Lama:
"I feed birds, peaceful birds. I'm non-violent, but if a hawk comes when I'm feeding birds I lose my temper and get my air rifle," he has reportedly said. "Only to scare the hawks.""

When asked about ants that invade one's home Black Elk replied, "I ask them gently and politely to leave. When they don't I get my can of RaidTM from under the counter."
 
I think he may just shoot to scare them off, not to hit them. But I'm not sure.
 
Originally posted by Tohatchi NM
It's interesting. In my readings, I get the impression that Buddhism (at least some flavors) is not completely gentle and peaceful. Certainly not absolute pacifism. But I'm not quite sure where the line falls.

Personally, I wouldn't say that killing hawks because they were eating other birds would be an acceptable action. Then again, an air rifle with the proper force and ammunition would not necessarily be lethal, and my understanding of Buddhism is probably not as developed as the Dalai Lama's ;)
Click to expand...

I wasn't intentionally implying that Buddhism and pacifism go hand in hand. That the Dalai Lama has a greater understanding of Buddhism than the rest of us is almost too obvious to mention. No one has a greater understanding of Catholicism than the Pope, but I don't think he is without flaw either.

I was only expressing my *personal* disappointment with his actions(don't believe everything you hear or read in the news), as it is contrary to my beliefs. People love baby seals too, but I don't condone whipping out one's 30.06 and "scaring" away the Orca, when it is simply doing, like the rest of us, what comes natural to it's nature.

I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinion, nor do I expect anyone to think that I presume to know more about Buddhism than the Dalai Lama because I don't happen to agree with him on this particular matter. From my viewpoint ,he's just another man, and his being the Dalai Lama doesn't mean he's always right. Just my 2 cents, so, please, no religion/philosophy based flame wars.





:D :D
 
No flame intended or taken. I think I agree with you on the hawk/pigeon and orca/seal issues.

But I'm personally interested in the popular notion that Buddhism is a very passive philosophy. In many ways, I think it is. But I've also read some things that suggest otherwise - that one should not attempt to eliminate anger and that there may be a time and place for aggressive acts. Of course, this seems to be present on a deeper level of ideas and understanding - to the point that a book could be written about what concepts like "aggressive" mean to a Buddhist master.

Basically, I'm just intrigued that Buddhism is seen as incredibly peaceful, and a major Buddhist teacher does something that many would consider to be an act that is incompatible with Buddhism.
 
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