The Dalai Lama and Quantum Physics

[Anomalocaris]

I'm not saying that some of the claims aren't outlandish. Notice he said that IF science proves some Buddhist belief WRONG, then Buddhism will have to change. How can science prove that Siddhartha Gautama didn't do all that stuff? If it could, we could disprove all things supernatural, and the world would be a better place for it, IMO.

The Dalai Lama is a deposed theocrate without a theocracy, and like any deposed monarch angling to reclaim his throne from abroad, he would say whatever is pleasing to the ears of those he thinks he could use until he installs himself back on the throne and terminates his accountability to anyone and anything. One needs only to look at how retrograde, repressive and theocratic feudal Tibet had been under the Dalai Lamas when Tibetian Buddhism had free reign over it to decide just now much better it would make the world.

[The Grand Nudger]

Christianity is an "eastern religion". It's just not s eastern as Japan or China. The near east has been heavily influenced by almost every culture that has stomped this earth. It's a crossroads. The christianity you are familiar with is likely not a product of any eastern religion though. It incubated for far too long in the mediterranean and europe. Early christians would most likely consider modern christians complete heretics (if not outright pagans...yes, you too fundies). Christians borrowed left right and center, they still do. You'd have to be more specific. It might also bear note, that neither buddhism nor christianity are originators of religion by ay stretch of the imagination. They both borrowed, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that they both borrowed from the same people here and there. Even worse, those traditions they would or could have borrowed from...they weren't the originators of religion either. It's also completely possible that two different peoples come up with an idea so similar as to give the appearance of theft or incorporation when there is none.

Oftentimes you see people making claims about this or that christian teaching being a stolen buddhist teaching because they feel that the teaching is somehow grants authority or superiority, or that by claiming it their own beliefs will seem more to carry more authority, or superiority.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Does it? I've never heard any Buddhist claim that.

I'm afraid that is irrelevant. Perhaps do some broader reading.

Buddhism,like its base religion,Hinduism,is not homogeneous. It ranges from alogical Zen to belief in gods,demons as well an imaginative mythology about the Buddha. Tibetan Buddhism also has some rather extreme ideas about demons and possessed oracles,to the extent that it can seem more like shamanism than Buddhism.

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[Anomalocaris]

A less sangunine view of what it had been like in the Shangri-La of the Dala Lamas where the Tibetian Buddha smiles upon all and the people voluntarily observed the laws of karma:

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

[Phil]

Buddhism still teaches that Siddhartha Gautama was born of an immaculate conception doesn't it?
Buddhism still teaches that Siddhartha Gautama walked and spoke immediately upon being born doesn't it?
Buddhism still teaches that Siddhartha Gautama steps as an infant made Lotus flowers bloom doesn't it?
Buddhism still teaches that Siddhartha Gautama produced flames from his upper body and water from his lower body (twin miracle) doesn't it?
Buddhism still teaches that Siddhartha Gautama walked on water, flew through space, made himself a giant, made himself tiny and walked through mountains doesn't it?

Change my hairy ass. The Dalai Lama is full of shit.

Does it? I've never heard any Buddhist claim that.

Look it up yourself. Apparently you never spoke to a knowledgeable Buddhist.

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I'm not saying that some of the claims aren't outlandish. Notice he said that IF science proves some Buddhist belief WRONG, then Buddhism will have to change. How can science prove that Siddhartha Gautama didn't do all that

Science doesn't show that any of those supposed miracles are a physical impossibility? Tell me, how did he perform the twin miracle according to science? Tell me, how did he fly through space according to science? Tell me, how did he shrink himself to the size of an ant according to science? Tell me, how did he become a giant according to science? Tell me, how was he born of an immaculate conception according to science. Tell me, how did he walk on water according to science? Tell me, how did his footsteps as an infant cause Lotus flowers to bloom according to science?

You might think all that is possible according to science but you don't really know science do you?

[CapnAwesome]

It seems like a pretty small chance that someone who was pre-chosen, and believes himself to be a reincarnate of an ancient advisor to Mongol Emporers should be taken seriously on his scientific opinion...... or on anything else.

[Darth]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kstH-8jwa80

[kılıç_mehmet]

The Dalai Lama, no matter what kind of a monarch of a theocracy it may be, is still the leader of the Tibetan people, yes? And not just the Lamaists who live there. The moslem folk in Tibet also respect him, even more so they respect the communist yoke. Tibet would be much better off with the Dalai Lama than with the paramount leader.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yeah, because Tibet was doing just fine as a theocracy.

[passionatefool]

I see a lot of bashing of buddhism which is fine. But to be fair buddhism is probably the most progressive and closest religion to atheism you will get. If you practice more liberal Zen, it has nothing to do with magic or some invisible god. And buddhism does reject the idea of a creator or a powerful god. And though being an atheist I do respect the Dalai Lama in many aspect and definitely when he said "if buddhism belief conflict with science, always go with science" during the interview between him and Carl Sagn. He also personally said he doesnt see himself as an reincarnation of any Bodhisattva but just a monk. The responsibility and and duties of a Dalai Lama was put upon him even before he knows how to talk so that can't be blamed