Author Topic: 2 film reports on german tv  (Read 9919 times)

polartortoise

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2 film reports on german tv
« on: March 25, 2008, 12:48:03 PM »
has anyone seen or even heard of these 2 documentaries?

http://www.iivs.de/~iivs01311/EN/expose1.html

two explosive film reports on German — ARD (Panorama) — and Swiss— SFR (10 vor 10) — television, about the human rights violations associated with the suppression of the Tibetan Shugden religious community by the XIV Dalai Lama.

a friend

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2008, 05:28:35 PM »
Dear Polartortise

Since I'm not always able to access movies through my computer could you please write for the ones like me a brief description of those films? Of course the images are important but the words that interpret them are still more important. Could we have a brief version of what they say?

Thank you so very much.

polartortoise

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2008, 04:55:32 PM »
i would love to. honestly. but i too, am in the dark what the 2 documentaries cover except what was said on the website. it only states that the documentaries were shown in 1998.  i gave the website address earlier. but here's the entire article (still, the website is worth going through). seriously, does anyone have any idea about this?

EXPOSÉ
Vicctor and Victoria Trimondi
The Shadow of the Dalai Lama

In March 1999 “The Shadow of the Dalai Lama: Sexuality, Magic and Politics in Tibetan Buddhism” by Victor und Victoria Trimondi appeared in Germany. The book looks in detail at the cultic background of Tibetan Buddhism and its clerical leader, the Dalai Lama. In this original work of analysis, interpretation and critique, the authors not only provide surprising, previously largely ignored factual information; they also undertake a philosophically well-grounded interpretation of Lamaism, rendering the Tibetan-Buddhist worldview understandable for Western readers through a comparison with European religious traditions. V. and V. Trimondi have succeeded in combining history, politics, religion and psychology in an impressive cultural-historical presentation.

The German edition of the book was published by the Patmos Group (Düsseldorf and Zurich) in the spring of 1999. The Patmos Group consists of four of the most reputable German-language publishers (Walter; Benzinger; Artemis and Winkler; Patmos) and specializes in the fields of psychology, mythology, comparative religion, classical antiquity, world literature, cultural analysis and contemporary history. Walter published the complete works of C. G. Jung. THE SHADOW OF THE DALAI LAMA thus appeared in the company of international classics. The authors hold all foreign rights.

Although this is a well-grounded and scholarly work, the language of the text is fluid and enlivening. The authors have paid particular attention to rendering Tibetan culture understandable to “laypeople” who have not dealt with it before. This study by V. and V. Trimondi measures up to all the criteria of a classic reference text and could well be described as a seminal work on the topic.

Of the book’s reception, the Berner Zeitung (a Swiss newspaper) reported that THE SHADOW OF THE DALAI LAMA "struck like a thunderbolt". To date (Oct. 2000) the work has been reviewed in over 200 different media outlets. Opinions have alternated between pro and contra, but virtually no review remains unemotional. Despite numerous initial calls for a boycott by the pro-Lamaist wing, the book has led to a fierce, ever-expanding discussion, and has in the meantime become a standard work on the critical examination of Lamaism and the metapolitics of the Dalai Lama. The major press organs (AZ; Focus; NZZ; Zeit; Facts; SZ; Presse; Standard; Badische Zeitung; Die Woche; Berner Zeitung; WOZ, etc.), numerous radio and television stations (ORF; 3SAT; BR; HR; SFB; WDR; SW; DRS2, etc.), and many “scene” magazines (Tattva Viveka; Women World Wide; Idea; Factum; Topic; Ab 40; Hier & Jetzt; Spuren; Novalis) have all run stories on the book. Within a very short time, THE SHADOW OF THE DALAI LAMA became a discussion topic in four other books.

In the German-speaking world, the book by Victor und Victoria Trimondi appeared in the middle of an already begun reconsideration of the Dalai Lama and his religious system. In 1998, the Scottish author June Campbell’s book (Traveller in Space: In Search of Female Identity in Tibetan Buddhism, Athlone Press) had appeared, in which she reported on the system’s secret sexual practices and the sexual abuse of women, along with two explosive film reports on German — ARD (Panorama) — and Swiss— SFR (10 vor 10) — television, about the human rights violations associated with the suppression of the Tibetan Shugden religious community by the XIV Dalai Lama. These fuelled intensive discussion and opened the gateway for a critical debate. Nonetheless, THE SHADOW OF THE DALAI LAMA caused quite a furor when it appeared, and was not without its successors. Within a few months several other books with a critical content came onto the market. There was Colin Goldner’s Dalai Lama. Fall eines Gottkönigs [Dalai Lama: The Fall of a God-King] (Allibri Verlag), likewise a critical title, which confirmed factual material. The theology professor Michael von Brück picked up essential facts from the Trimondis and wrote a critical book on the topic himself (Religion und Politik im tibetischen Buddhismus [Religion and Politics in Tibetan Buddhism], Kösel Verlag). Then the former Buddhist, Martin Kamphuis, told of his disappointing experiences with the Lamaist system (Ich war Buddhist [I was a Buddhist], Pattloch Verlag).

THE SHADOW OF THE DALAI LAMA has also not been without a direct influence on public opinion about Tibetan Buddhism and its "god-king". When at the invitation of German Interior Minister Schily and the SPD (the governing party) the XIV Dalai Lama attended a public discussion in Munich in May 2000, a critical body had already formed. Not only did the press report critically and reservedly about the Nobel Peace Prize winner for the first time, there were also protests in front of the hall where he was appearing and the posters for the event were pasted over with protest notes. The chief critics were the Munich University Student Committee, the Forum for Critical Psychology, and SPD members. The accusations against the Dalai Lama in the media could no longer be overheard. Here are some examples from the press headlines. (Translations of such critical opinions are provided in a separate information flyer.)

"A system that despises women!" (AZ) — "Loved, honored and avoided!" — (AZ) "Free Tibet from the Lamas" (ASTA) — "Fuss about a cult figure" (Deutscher Freidenker Verband [German Freethinkers Association]) — "The Dalai Lama is no saint!" (Idea - Informationsdienst) — "Pretty lame: Dalai Lama and the Munich SPD" (AZ) — "Row in the SPD about Dalai Lama visit!" (SZ) — "The Dalai Lama - Welcome to Munich?" (AZ) — "A controversial guest" (SZ) - "The Dalai Lama rumpus" (SZ) - "The Entertainer!" (FAZ).

Politicians, journalists, artists, theologians — no one who deals with the Dalai Lama and his religion will be able to ignore the facts and arguments in this sensational yet sound study. It is a standard critique of Tibetan Buddhism. The subject areas encompassed by V. and V. Trimondi’s book, which also reveal potential target audiences, include the history of culture and religion, cross-cultural comparison, comparative religious studies, philosophy, political theory, international politics, state theory, interreligious dialogue, the sociology of religion, Buddhism, fascism, anarchism, ecological studies, feminism, gender studies, postmodernism, ethics, occultism, esotericism , mysticism, ritualism, mythology, magic, Oriental studies, history, anthropology, psychology, sexual theory, and consciousness studies.


bodg

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2008, 08:47:12 PM »
The swiss footage is about the schism. Helmut was largely responsible for getting it on TV. I have a copy.
It went about as far as my interview with the "Village Voice" in august 99, called "Bickering Buddhist" . Now the interview has been stripped from Village Voice web site. Just as well , I was too much of a gentleman to call the Dalia lama a murderer at the moment, is a great regret to me.
 However I think the Protector presented this opportunity for me without any effort on my behalf to give this interview. So he will present another chance for someone to make international press at some point. I hope.

I am perplexed that the Chinese do not pick up on the excommunicated event as material for their own purposes.
Thom




polartortoise

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2008, 01:55:59 AM »
dear thom
u hit the nail on the head with yr question at the end. why did the china govt not make use of the information in the 2 films to support their case against the dalai lama? i have been pondering about this.

the book written by victor and victoria, the 2 films, etc. whatever's been exposed and serious questions posed about the credibility of the dalai lama, all this feels like it's suppressed under a bubble away from the consciousness of the mainstream public. it's like websites like this, are on the way out fringe. critical thinking questions are today easily available on the internet to give a balanced view that not all is as it may appear on the surface. but is any news media doing any investigative piece on this? it's totally wierd, almost like an unspoken silent conspiracy.

a friend

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2008, 03:36:15 AM »
It's an interesting question, why the media are not investigating at least?
I don't have any definite answer but several that might be cumulative.

One. The vicious circle. When the last great attack against the monasteries in Southern India started I was able to reach a friend who has a tv program in one of the big countries of this world. This friend passed the information on his "political" colleagues. Result? The political journalists of that tv channel said: The Dalai Lama doing that? Impossible, he's such a compassionate person.

Two. Nobody wants to be proved a fool. Imagine that the world has awarded the DL a Nobel Peace Prize, the Medal of the Congress of the United States, and millions of dollars in help for the cause of Free Tibet. Who is going to want to investigate something that, were it proven true, would also prove the naivete and shallow perception of world leaders, world governments, world intellectuals, Hollywood stars, rock bands, university professors, and practitioners in general, not only of Buddhism but also of other religions, like many a Catholic, many a Jew, and others that adore the DL?

In other words, apparently mission impossible.

I think one should write to individuals, to free thinking people. Take Salman Rushdie for instance. He smelled that not everything was as great as the media thought about the DL from the early days of the ban and included something about this religious persecution in one of his novels years ago. Can't remember which one, I'll try to find out. He might be interested in learning that his perception was true, unfortunately.

For the moment our efforts seem useless. They are not. The truth cannot remain hidden forever.

polartortoise

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2008, 07:45:56 AM »
*thinking...
on the surface, the reasons u give sound plausible.. but still i feel energetically there is more than that. i remember talking to kundeling last year on why did the gelug leaders not take earlier action, why did they silently allow the dalai lama to destroy their heritage? his answer baffled me then and still does now. he said that the tibetans did not want to publicly oppose the dalai lama as they wanted to resolve it internally. for 20 years, it was an issue of face??

i feel there is more involved beneath the surface.

a friend

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2008, 03:42:22 AM »
Dear Polartortoise

I think we see our Lamas with an eye excessively expecting supramundane knowledge, supramundane purposes, supramundane everything. We forget they were born human. We forget the unfathomable depths of culture. Look at their Tibetan culture and you will find at least partial answers to the question that puzzles you.

I like your name. Why did you choose the turtle from the cold extremes of this planet to symbolize you?

polartortoise

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2008, 12:56:45 PM »
i didn't use polar as in the north or south poles but as a reference to the polar stars. part of the draco constellation has a tortoise.

a friend

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Re: 2 film reports on german tv
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2008, 06:22:09 PM »
wow. thanks