Comments on: Can the Dalai Lama EVER Make a Mistake?

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:17:07 +0000

I believe this thought has been entertained by most, if not all, practitioners who are aware of the ban imposed by HHDL. I believe a great part of spirituality is faith, in this case we should have faith in HHDL all the way. He is a holy enlightened being and he must have reasons for doing so.

Whatever sufferings we are going through now has to be the results of our rippened negative karma, so we might as well accept this and keep our practise pure and do our best to benefit others as a true Buddhist should be.

I am very certain we will see the ‘light’ at the end of the tunnel and reasons for the ban will be unvailed.

By: vajrastorm

vajrastorm — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:10:55 +0000

I agree with Sarah that as, Trijang Rinpoche has said in his ‘Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors’, we, with our ordinary view of beings and phenomena, cannot truly understand the actions of Enlightened Holy Beings. We see what appears to be their ‘faults’ and the ‘mistakes’ they make and conclude that they are fallible like all of us. Because of our contaminated view, we don’t see that they are manifesting ‘crazy wisdom’ and skillful means out of great compassion.

Furthermore, ordinary beings involved in this current conflict are caught in the ‘playing out of karma and interdependent arising’.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:18:14 +0000

Most Western practitioners of Buddhism who have been brought up with a strong belief in basic human rights find it hard to understand the Dalai Lama’s actions, thus viewing H.H. as feudal, autocratic and politically motivated. There are others, Western and non-Western, who, having reflected more deeply on the subject (and who have probably overcome their delusions to a certain extent)regard the Dalai Lama as displaying an enlightened activity. We tend to act and react to others according to our karma and project our ordinary faults upon the holy beings. In “Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors”, Trijang Rinpoche said that “to the common view of beings, it is difficult to fully understand the appearances of holy great Aryas and their inconceivable three secrets at the definitive level.” Enlightened beings, out of compassion and with skillful means, may appear to “make mistakes” in order to get sentient beings started on the path. They always act according to the needs of the world. Therefore, we should regard what we see as “displays appearing to the common view of trainees.” (Trijang Rinpoche, in “Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors”)

By: kurava

kurava — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:32:01 +0000

As I understand it , its very difficult for us to comprehend the minds and enlightened activities of holy beings and incarnates like authentic Rinpoches and HHDL.

When our minds are not pure, we cannot see any pure actions in anyone. Our own powers of reasoning are limited. Bodhisattvas can appear to make mistakes in order to show us how they deal with such a situation. It can be a teaching on humility or how to take criticisms. When Sakyamuni passed away, it’s said that the Buddha showed us how to die with grace and peace.

In Samsara, we are stuck in relativity. What is a mistake for someone may be a teaching for another depending how you want to see it. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Buddha had advised not to dwell on things which are not beneficial towards our spiritual progress. We should adopt what is good for us and abandon what is not. All teachers and saints appear to have both good and bad sides due to our deluded minds. We can’t pretend to not see their faults at our level, but we need not let our perceptions destroy our faith, practice or learning.