We have arrived in Dharmasala, a place in northern India where the Tibetan government and many of its people came after China took control over the area. This place gives account to very much. In this place there is of course Tibetans monks and like all other monks I have found, they are on their motos, buying, in the coffee shops and cyber cafes, all the while walking and talking on their cell phones. The supposed theme here is the plight of those still in Tibet. They are sending their children here as refugees because of tyranny and oppression of the Chinese government but all the while showing conflict. They speak of the freedom of the people but the main leader has left / fled the country for fear of his own life by personal or community consensus. Yet does not Buddhism teach that suffering is an illusion which is caused by ones attachment and clinging to the material world? Whether the attachment is in the form of land, government, ideas, beliefs, or even others with the thoughts based upon worldly understanding. It is by following the eight noble paths that one ends their suffering. So therefore, is it freedom the people want? Then why not prescribe to their religion so that their suffering may end. And there will come no change while their leader goes to hospitals in Delhi because of exhaustion while his people are being beaten and killed without such comfort.
I suppose the Dali Lama could learn much from Gandhi. I write these thoughts as the sun rises. Today we will see about a meditation course and visit with our new found company from Japan.