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Every day on Facebook, the Dalai Lama posts an 'inspirational' quote. And every day, thousands of people comment on his post, lavishing praise on the Lama, for the wisdom they feel he inspires.
For example, here is yesterday's quote from the Dalai Lama:
The goal is to cultivate in our hearts the concern a dedicated mother feels for her child, and then focus it on more and more people and living beings. This is a heartfelt, powerful love. Such feelings give us a true understanding of human rights, that is not grounded just in legal terms, but rooted deeply in the heart.
Within two hours, there were 11,023 'likes' and 4,972 comments, expressing profound respect for the Dalai Lama -- a self-proclaimed 'holy' man -- by showering him with immense gratitude for sharing his love and light.
This makes me cringe. Why? Because evidence shows that the Dalai Lama is a hypocrite and a homophobe. When asked about homosexuality, the Lama has repeatedly stated his intolerant views.
In an interview with the French magazine Dimanche, January, 2001, the Dalai Lama says:
Q: Your Holiness, what do you think of homosexuality?
DL: It's part of what we Buddhists call "bad sexual conduct." (Pause.) Sexual organs were created for reproduction between the male element and the female element -- and everything that deviates from that is not acceptable from a Buddhist point of view. (He counts off on his fingers.) Between a man and [another] man, a woman and another woman, in the mouth, the anus, or even using a hand (the DL mimes masturbation)...
Q: So you share this view with Christianity?
DL: We share much more than that: the same philosophy of love of one's neighbor, the aspiration to elevate a human being above his/her vices, compassion and forgiveness..."
That said, in the same interview, the Dalai Lama specifically says that he was for heterosexual sex with condoms or the pill. That is, it's fine for heterosexuals to have non-procreative sex, recreational sex, providing they go ''straight'' for it, with no foreplay involving the ''hands, mouth or anus''.
In his book, Beyond Dogma, the Dalai Lama clearly states:
''A sexual act is deemed proper when the couples use the organs intended for sexual intercourse and nothing else. Homosexuality, whether it is between men or between woman, is not improper in itself. What is improper is the use of organs already defined as inappropriate for sexual contact.''
Homophobia, like all types of bigotry, is completely indefensible and unacceptable -- anytime, anywhere, by anyone. And it's particularly egregious and odious coming from a world renowned 'spiritual leader.' Judging people or denying people their basic human rights, whether it's based on the color of their skin or their innate sexual preference, is just plain wrong.
The Dalai Lama enjoys a worldwide platform in which to preach his brand of spirituality to the masses. He parades himself around the world, like a peacock, beaming from undeserved adulation. Because of the Dalai Lama's bigotry, his words ring hollow and are neither honest or inspirational.
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