The Dalai Lama gives advice, but taking it just doesn't feel right.
Everyone of that notoriety who speaks for a living has speech writers. He's the Dali Lama, not a claimed master of all spoken word. His speeches need to be crafted so that they can be translated appropriately into numerous different languages. And since he is speaking so often, it saves him the time of writing all the speeches and he can spend time doing other things. I don't find this surprising or shocking or negative of the Dali Lama at all. Speech writers for some who is that big of a public figure make sense.
I agree that everyone of that noteriety likely has a speechwriter(s). But the Dalai Lama's spoken words are considered sacrosanct by many, which does make this case a bit different. In a way, it would be like Jesus or Moses having speech writers. Which, they may very well have had. Your point about being appropriately translated etc is a good one.
True, and even if they didn't, they would if they were alive during present times. It was one thing to give a speech to hundreds or thousands of people live. It's another to have it recorded, aired on TV, youtube, linked, written about, published, etc. That kind of media infrastructure didn't exist then. The scrutiny of spoken word these days is higher than it's ever been, because it's not just a one-time speech. It's going to be recorded and published and broadcast, and around FOREVER. One misspeak and the internet will criticize anyone, even someone like the Dali Lama. Plus, he's pretty old. He's also not just a spokesperson and supreme being for his sect of Buddhism, he's also a political figure for the Tibetan people. So there's that too.it would be like Jesus or Moses having speech writers. Which, they may very well have had.
I'd beg to differ but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Personally, you can't really compare a farmer to what the Dali Lama does, not saying the Dali Lama works harder, he's just busier in a different kind of way; traveling more, and has more appointments and appearances to attend to, books, speeches, appearances, meetings, world travels, etc. It's a different kind of busy. Also most farmers don't do shit in the winter, unless they have animals, in which case they have to clean and feed them, but they are more "ranchers" than they are "farmers". My family farms. They are really only super busy during seeding and harvest, but none of them maintain any livestock, just crops. I consider myself a Buddhist, but don't believe in the Dali Lama and how he is a reincarnated being. That's not the Buddhism I'm down with. That part is just one sect of Buddhism that I don't really agree with because it relies on something I simply don't believe in, reincarnation. Buddhism in itself really isn't a religion, but to those that follow the Dali Lama, it kind of is. That's not to say that I don't agree with his writings, speeches, and what the message he and his establishment has tried to spread. But he's also a political figure in many ways, so I'm not surprised he has speechwriters. But I do understand what you are saying.
As a young man, I told my Methodist pastor that I thought that there were "many paths to God/enlightenment." She responded, "yes, and the key is to pick one." Perhaps the Dalai Lama means that most all spiritual beliefs can lead to the same place and one is not any better than the other. The key is finding your path within that framework.
Sure, I enjoyed the questions it arose. Is that your blog? If so, did you take the photos on the main page? They are really spectacular.
Well, I'm sure I am not telling you anything you don't already know, but your wife has some major skills. Those are really great shots. Please send her my compliments.