Lululemon Partners With Dalai Lama, Enrages Critics

[Klein]

There is much talk for yoga attire Lululemon to be co-branding with the Dalai Lama. If the Dalai Lama accepts their donation and agrees to the partnership, I don't see why others are upset. It's a win win situation. The money funds the Dalai Lama's project of "researching the connection between mind-body-heart" and Lululemon gets publicity for supporting a good cause as a PR campaign for their brand.

In the age of degeneration, all motivations are good but not pure. So I feel that it is still better for someone to support a cause regardless of their motivation than not supporting at all. At least some good manifests from their polluted motivation.

Please read and share your thoughts.


"The yoga-wear retailer is getting slammed after announcing a partnership this week with the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education. Lululemon will contribute $750,000 to the Tibetan spiritual leader's nonprofit organization over the next three years to expand education initiatives and for "researching the connection between mind-body-heart," according to the company's press release.

Some critics say the alliance is hogwash. They don't think the Dalai Lama's name should be associated with a money-making enterprise and complain he's been "hijacked" and turned into a mere corporate marketing tool...."

Click below for the rest of the article.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/25/lululemon-dalai-lama_n_6044832.html?utm_hp_ref=dalai-lama 

[fruven]

Lululemon is not a company without its own controversy. Anyway why can't the company donate it's money away for a good cause? Instead of being jealous one should rejoice and praise the action taken by Lululemon. This is so selfish on so many level by the critics. From my perspective a company that take measures to improve is better than a company that kept denying and won't admit to their own mistake.

[yontenjamyang]

I take this as a positive step towards the spread of the Buddhist teachings but not without worries of abuse. Buddhism is perhaps the most progressive religion on the planet currently and and can be in harmony with worldly activites if applied correctly and hence this partnership can be a positive step for Buddhism.

For Lululemon, it depends on their motivation whether it is positive or not. I look forward to see more similar partnership directly or indirectly.

[MoMo]

As a Buddhist, we shouldn’t take this as a sign that the Sangha member was involving in worldly affair and be upset about it thus. On Lululemon’s outset it is a sign of their commitment to support ethic and virtue by associating with HHDL thus Buddhist principles of loving-compassion and non-harming.
As for those who are skeptic about this association, let time and the result speak for itself if it benefits the owner of Lululemon, its employee, and the public or third party. Because as a Buddhist we should have tolerance about others and not condemning their plans before it even take off. 

[cookie]

The objections to the partnership focused on the point that the Dalai Lama's name shouldn't be associated with a money-making enterprise. It is accepted to spend tonnes of money on a famous celebrity to promote products to consumers but not ok to use a religious icon ? WHY ?