The author (吴仙标教授) was a professor of physics at the University of Delaware, before serving as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Delaware between 1985 and 1989.

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Dalai Lama is empowered in politics and religion

by S.B.Woo

To most Americans, the Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk who has been driven out of Tibet by the atheist Communist Party in China. Although he is injecting politics into Olympics, we decide to cut him a break.

Here are some facts to consider, because we have other values besides rooting for the underdog – if indeed the Dalai Lama is an underdog.

To Americans, Buddhism connotes a religion so spiritual that it tries to cleanse love in order to avoid being possessive. To the contrary, Tibetan Buddhism is a theocracy. Dalai Lama is supreme in both temporal and spiritual matters. That is, he was the ruler of Tibet, ruling over a serf society that had slaves.

To Americans, a monk conjures the image of a person living in harsh conditions while serving the poor and weak. Tibetan monks made up the privileged ruling class that lives on the backs of the serfs. So when they led protests, they could be looking to return to their old glory.

There are two Lamas in Tibetan Buddhism – Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. Panchen Lama is also supreme in spiritual matters. China has always recognized Panchen Lama, though some claimed the selection of Panchen was manipulated by China.

So is Dalai Lama motivated by restoring Tibetan culture or his power? I’d say it’s primarily power, but perhaps both. So don’t blindly take his side.

Uninformed positions and erroneous perceptions will weaken the democratic movement in China and strengthen Chinese people’s suspicion of the Western world.

S.B. Woo, Newark

great interpretation.