Tibet's Unique Buddhist Heritage (Part 2)

The Aspen Institute and the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture present conversation between author and philosopher Robert Thurman and Buddhist teacher from Tibet Sogyal Rinpoche.

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• sogyal
• rinpoche
• robert
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• tibet
• buddhist
• buddhism

[amboy4]

long live Sogyal rinpoche.

[MonMolo]

They were still happy in poverty, and that's why they are a good example for the world.

[MsTibetan]

very good mr or miss .iamlumin. I like your point very clear.

[iamlumin]

What do you care? What makes you think it's your business? You believe and tell yourself whatever you need to in order to lessen your sense of guilt and complicity.

[iamlumin]

So what's your point? You can rationalize and justify the invasion and occupation of Tibet by the Chinese all you like. That doesn't make it right. If we were living in a manner that was in total conflict with the way Chinese live then no one said they have to move to Tibet. No one asked them to invade.

[iamlumin]

A person cannot comprehend what they have yet to realize on their own. A Tibetan monks primary focus is on spirituality not physicality. You will eventually die as well. How will you be throughout the trip? Can you do anything about your eventual destination? The answer is no. You can go to every school, college, institute of higher learning in the world and your destination is the same.

[ruzickaw]

What did the Tibetans before the Chinese invasion? Hiding behind their mountains,

mumbling old texts and hoping that they will be left alone.

If you are surrounded by brutal, aggressive neighbors, you have be prepared to defend yourself or ,knowing that you are too weak ,submit.

All these millions of Tibetans died in vain.

Anyway, most of these so called rimpoches have a much better life in the west.

Now they can travel throughout the world, instead of staying in old monasteries.

[ruzickaw]

You did not get it. Read what i said again.

[ruzickaw]

The whole day just memorizing and mumbling old scriptures?

When I was in a Tibetan Monastery in India, one of the tulkus had some eye problems.

And where did they take him? To an Indian doctor. This man had to study medicine to be able to help him.

The Tibetans with all the scripture study could not do anything.

[iamlumin]

The over one million Tibetans who lost their lives since the invasion would surely have desired freedom and independence from the Chinese. Oh, that's right, we can't ask them.

[iamlumin]

You know very little of the depth of Tibetan Buddhism. As far as looking back at Tibetan history I need only to speak with my friends and family, at least those still alive. My Father died in a Chinese labour camp and my Mother died after spending 3 years in prison for speaking her opinions. She was tortured with a cattle prod and raped by Chinese guards. No one suggested going back to the old times. That is just the Chinese propaganda machine, scaring people so they can control them.

[iamlumin]

No one is forcing you to adopt this approach. No one invited the Chinese to move to Tibet. The Chinese government has done everything possible to entice Chinese to move to Tibet, to work in Tibet, etc. No one said all Tibetans were monks and nuns, and no one said they should be forced. You simply don't get it.