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Authors: Khushwant Singh
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Karma.” The present travails of the Tibetan people are due to both kinds of Karmas. Some for acts done by individuals at some time or place, now come together in common suffering.
I did not buy the explanation. “Your Holiness, I am a sceptic and an agnostic. I find no rational basis for accepting the theory of Karma and rebirths nor the system of rewards and punishments in heaven or hell. There is no scientific basis for accepting one or the other.”
The Dalai Lama laughed heartily. “Scientific proof is what you want?” he asked. “But certain things are beyond scientific proof. I have many thoughts going on in my mind, it is difficult to give scientific explanations for them. Every particle of the body and mind is changing all the time, but none of these changes can be measured by computers.”
I protested. “Since you cannot adduce rational, scientific explanations for certain phenomenon, wouldn’t it be more truthful to say ‘I don’t know’. As for me, I go further and say not only I do not know the answers, nobody else knows them either.”
The Dalai Lama stuck to his ground. “There are two kinds phenomena. One are provable by science; the second are beyond the realm of scientific proof. But that does not mean they do not exist. Only scientists do not as yet know about them.”
“Then why not say that till such time as the scientists have found out we withhold our judgement.”
“I agree. Buddhism is quite clear on the subject: investigate till you find out the right answers. Do not accept anything and take it for granted. The Buddha himself said, ‘Do not accept anything said by me out of respect for me.’ If it does not appeal to you, reject it.”
“Would you extend the scope of inquiry to basic Buddhist beliefs like Karma and life hereafter?” I asked him.
“Yes,” replied the Dalai Lama. “If scientists can prove that there is no next life, we Buddhists will accept it.”
“Why then persist in propagating unprovable theories till we can prove them?” I persisted.
The Dalai Lama pondered over the question for a while before replying. “If you don’t accept the past or the future, you are only left with this life. You can trace it back to your parents, grandparents back to millions of years back to the amoeba and further back to empty space. Then you either accept the Almighty Creator and land yourself in more contradictions and more questions. How did it happen? The Buddhist concept of a beginningless beginning, continuity of consciousness and Karma, coming and going from to time till the space article came into existence avoids these contradictions.”
We went on to other questions, like why wickedness so often triumphs over goodness, why innocent people suffer while evil people prosper. Instead of the half-hour allotted to me, the interview went on to one hour and-a-half. The tape ran out. As did his secretary’s patience. There were other visitors waiting to see the Dalai Lama.
We took our leave. I was exhilarated by being with him. He extended that aura of goodwill, cheerfulness and crystal-clear honesty that envelops you long after you have left his presence. The Nobel prize committee has done well in awarding him the peace prize because he is a man of peace. He has suffered many wrong but never uttered an angry word in protest. He has brought solace to millions of people who are troubled by the way the world is going today.
10/12/1989
The Lama who Loved Women
A s often happenst to me when I go out in quest of the spiritual, I stumble on the earthy and find myself fully absorbed in it. My mission to Dharamsala, was to seek an audience with the Dalai Lama, ask him questions on God, re-incarnations, purpose of life, suffering, death and life hereafter. But the first thing I did after unpacking at the Hotel Tibet was to visit the Tibetan Emporium next door. Apart from carpets, woollens and other artifacts, it also had books. “Poetry,” I asked the lady attendant,
I did not buy the explanation. “Your Holiness, I am a sceptic and an agnostic. I find no rational basis for accepting the theory of Karma and rebirths nor the system of rewards and punishments in heaven or hell. There is no scientific basis for accepting one or the other.”
The Dalai Lama laughed heartily. “Scientific proof is what you want?” he asked. “But certain things are beyond scientific proof. I have many thoughts going on in my mind, it is difficult to give scientific explanations for them. Every particle of the body and mind is changing all the time, but none of these changes can be measured by computers.”
I protested. “Since you cannot adduce rational, scientific explanations for certain phenomenon, wouldn’t it be more truthful to say ‘I don’t know’. As for me, I go further and say not only I do not know the answers, nobody else knows them either.”
The Dalai Lama stuck to his ground. “There are two kinds phenomena. One are provable by science; the second are beyond the realm of scientific proof. But that does not mean they do not exist. Only scientists do not as yet know about them.”
“Then why not say that till such time as the scientists have found out we withhold our judgement.”
“I agree. Buddhism is quite clear on the subject: investigate till you find out the right answers. Do not accept anything and take it for granted. The Buddha himself said, ‘Do not accept anything said by me out of respect for me.’ If it does not appeal to you, reject it.”
“Would you extend the scope of inquiry to basic Buddhist beliefs like Karma and life hereafter?” I asked him.
“Yes,” replied the Dalai Lama. “If scientists can prove that there is no next life, we Buddhists will accept it.”
“Why then persist in propagating unprovable theories till we can prove them?” I persisted.
The Dalai Lama pondered over the question for a while before replying. “If you don’t accept the past or the future, you are only left with this life. You can trace it back to your parents, grandparents back to millions of years back to the amoeba and further back to empty space. Then you either accept the Almighty Creator and land yourself in more contradictions and more questions. How did it happen? The Buddhist concept of a beginningless beginning, continuity of consciousness and Karma, coming and going from to time till the space article came into existence avoids these contradictions.”
We went on to other questions, like why wickedness so often triumphs over goodness, why innocent people suffer while evil people prosper. Instead of the half-hour allotted to me, the interview went on to one hour and-a-half. The tape ran out. As did his secretary’s patience. There were other visitors waiting to see the Dalai Lama.
We took our leave. I was exhilarated by being with him. He extended that aura of goodwill, cheerfulness and crystal-clear honesty that envelops you long after you have left his presence. The Nobel prize committee has done well in awarding him the peace prize because he is a man of peace. He has suffered many wrong but never uttered an angry word in protest. He has brought solace to millions of people who are troubled by the way the world is going today.
10/12/1989
The Lama who Loved Women
A s often happenst to me when I go out in quest of the spiritual, I stumble on the earthy and find myself fully absorbed in it. My mission to Dharamsala, was to seek an audience with the Dalai Lama, ask him questions on God, re-incarnations, purpose of life, suffering, death and life hereafter. But the first thing I did after unpacking at the Hotel Tibet was to visit the Tibetan Emporium next door. Apart from carpets, woollens and other artifacts, it also had books. “Poetry,” I asked the lady attendant,
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