Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group My letter to the Dalai Lama

I just wrote the following message and sent it to the office of his holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. The issues I have been wrestling with all last night prompted me to reach out for some answers. I'm hoping to get a response which I can share with you all at a later date.

My letter to the Dalai Lama,

"I have a question that I would like to find an answer to and it occurred to me that I should start my search with a highly respected and wise expert - I could think of no-one more appropriate than his holiness himself.

To put my question into perspective, I should explain a little about myself. I am a Canadian man who has always looked at life with as open a mind and heart as I can manage and have had many wonderful adventures in the forty years I've enjoyed so far.

As a youth, I studied world religions and later I became an archaeologist. In recent years I was a Naval Officer but I am now disabled and unemployed due to two auto-immune diseases that came on very suddenly and unexpectedly.

There is a notion that many people in my country hold to be true and I would like to think that it is based upon a lack of understanding of Buddhist teachings. The concept of Karma being something that is accumulated in past lives which determines the fate of those alive in the here and now.

Another concept that is closely related to this is that of the power of positive thinking and how thoughts can manifest themselves in the physical realm.

Long before I ever became a disabled person I rejected the ways in which these ideas were casually tossed about by those I encountered. It struck me as a thought born from the hateful and callous minds of the over-privileged who took comfort from these notions in an attempt to soothe their guilty consciences. To dismiss the pain and suffering of millions of people in distant lands so easily by suggesting that they somehow deserved their lot in life because of past misdeeds also implies a kind of smug superiority in that their own comfortable lives and luxuries were somehow earned or deserved because of their righteousness in days long forgotten. The power of positive thought is similarly offensive when it is used to imply that someone who is suffering is doing so by choice because they have the power to heal themselves by simply changing their attitudes?

I don't mean to rude or give offence in any way. In fact, I find it difficult to accept that these are legitimate Buddhist teachings. I understand that Karma can play a role in this Maya existence due to the motions of Samsara (please forgive my clumsy attempt to remember Buddhist terminology as it has been many years since I gave any serious thought to Buddhism). I also acknowlege the wondrous powers of positive thinking and prayers but to use these beautiful concepts to try and justify another's suffering seems ugly and offensive to me.

Instead, I would like to think that Karma is an influence while Dharma is ultimately more relevant to this time and place. And yet there are so many people in pain and turmoil at this very moment, billions of innocent people ravaged by wars and famine, I refuse to accept that it is appropriate to blame the victims for their own misfortunes.

I would like to know the truth of this from a Buddhist perspective and maybe learn how to reconcile these conflicting thoughts. Obviously, his holiness has far too important demands upon his time and energy to answer my email but I was wondering if someone closer to him who has a better understanding of his perspective might be able to help me find these answers. Perhaps even directing me to a place where I might find what I am seeking on my own would suffice.

As a last resort, I would consider contacting a local Buddhist temple in my area but I suspect that much like other major religions, there are varied interpretations similar to different Christian denominations and I do not understand Buddhism nearly well enough to make an informed choice about who to seek guidance from. For this reason, I wanted to reach out to his holiness as he is the living embodiment of the Buddha spirit, as I understand it.

I would be very grateful for any help or guidance you could offer me in this regard,

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter,

[tiredofpain]"

I suppose I should send one off to the Pope and leaders of Judaism, Islam and Confuscianism too, just to cover my bases? Maybe I'll just start with this one letter and see how that goes.

Chris

too too deep for my simple mind!

Thanks Salvadore, can I call you Sal? It's easier to type.

I always appreciate the artful way you juxtapose wisdom and tomfoolery, I'm always left confounded and amazed by your comments.

To be perfectly clear, I do in fact believe that there is enormous healing powers within the human mind and spirit just as constant negativity and darkness can lead to sickness. I never meant to give the impression that I doubted the value of positive thinking - the point I am trying to make is that this fact cannot be used to blame those who are suffering or support the implied claims of superiority in those who have overcome adversity.

I believe in the power of positive thinking to help us improve our lives, I reject the notion that an attitude adjustment can cure cancer. I especially take offence when people imply that a person's suffering was brought about by not having the proper mindset. This amounts to nothing more than blaming the victim and making the healthy feel superior to the unenlightened, diseased untouchables they condemn.

In my mind, positive thinking, visualization techniques, meditation and other practices of this sort are an important tool that people can use to help them improve the quality of their lives but it is not the all-powerful, deterministic power that some people suggest it to be.

Simply put, one's own attitude and outlook can make living with AS more bearable but it cannot cure one of the disease. Neither can anyone point their finger at someone with AS and say "See there, that is someone who brought on their own suffering because they don't think the way we do".

In the west we accept this to be true as evidenced by the saying, "you'll worry yourself sick" or by visiting a loved one in the hospital to "cheer them up".

With regard to the spellcheck comment, I wasted some time doing just that and couldn't find any spelling mistakes in any of the religious terms I used. I did, however, realize that I threw in the term "Maya existence", which is actually a concept from Hinduism.

Most importantly, I want to thank you for your comments because I know a little bit about the journey you have taken with this dis-ease and despite great suffering you continue to bring smiles to so many other people. I greatly admire this about you, Sal.

I'm still struggling with the acceptance thing and understand that although many of my hopes and dreams were dashed upon the rocks of disability, new ones will soon replace them and may just glow all the more brightly for it. I'm not there yet but with your help and all of our other wonderful members in here, I know I will get there one day.

Thanks again Sal,

Yer pal, Jack

Hi Chris,

I am not His Holiness the Dalai Lama, nor have I ever played him on TV... I am however a believer in much of Buddhist philosophy.

I think your questions show that you have been hurt by the ignorance of others less knowledgeable than you.

If you understand the concept of Samsara, you will see that you are not living your current Life as punishment for actions in a past Life. There is no such thing in Buddhism as "Bad Karma" - that is just ignorant Western gobbledegook! There is just Karma - it is as it is.

As humans, we all have to endure a life of suffering - in fact, in every incarnation, except for that of Deva (when one has been enlightened) there is much suffering. According to Buddhist doctrine, you may have many many lives as a human. This is a good thing, as you may have been recently reborn from an animal (lower) form, and need to live your Life as best you can to ensure that when you are reborn you are again human, having another chance to live a life of generosity of spirit and honesty, assuring that you have the best chance of attaining a higher level of existence in the future.

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It struck me as a thought born from the hateful and callous minds of the over-privileged who took comfort from these notions in an attempt to soothe their guilty consciences. To dismiss the pain and suffering of millions of people in distant lands so easily by suggesting that they somehow deserved their lot in life because of past misdeeds also implies a kind of smug superiority in that their own comfortable lives and luxuries were somehow earned or deserved because of their righteousness in days long forgotten. The power of positive thought is similarly offensive when it is used to imply that someone who is suffering is doing so by choice because they have the power to heal themselves by simply changing their attitudes?

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I agree that your idea of "Karma" as being a punishment for past actions is completely unfounded and a misguided idea fed by Western ignorance. Life is a journey of suffering for all of us - some just don't realise that by throwing harsh words and living selfishly that they are suffering now and in the future in a different maybe less tangible way than the "Poor starving millions", who are dealing with their Life path on a daily, minute to minute basis.

Whilst Alan has done his usual trick and thrown in a bit of a joke for levity, he is actually demonstrating an understanding of Buddhist philosophy, in that he has "acceptance" of his current Life.

"Positive Thought" will get you nowhere except into a cycle of misery and frustration if you are hoping that *just being positive* will make all things right for you. That is a very selfish attitude(according to Buddhist philosophy). You have to WORK at reducing your suffering in future births by how you deal with the suffering in this Life - just hoping it will happen is a complete waste of time.

You can however contribute *positively* to ease your current suffering in any way you can - medications, heat packs, a comfy bed to assist with getting a good night's sleep etc..... I think those who don't understand the concept of "acceptance" of one's Life see it as a passive thing - in fact, in order to get to that point, I daresay that Alan (and many here) have already had to do numerous battles with the inner raging beast (anger, denial, frustration, accusation, jealousy and resentment). I also think those ignorant folks see it as a pass or fail test, instead of a continuum...

Do not harbour anger that "this has been done to me because of previous failings". That is a complete waste of time and spiritual energy that could be better used dealing with where you are today to live your Life with more peace in your soul.

Anyway, I could go on forever, but I am happy to discuss this further if you wish.

Here's hoping you get a response from His Holiness or one of his assistants.

Take care of yourself, and don't waste your time worrying about the thoughts and barbed comments of others. Only *you* can influence how your Life is lived.

Louise

I really appreciate your input Louise, you've helped me see this issue a bit more clearly.

My reasons for struggling with these questions aren't because I am preoccupied with the opinions of others but rather when considering a response to a recent post by triforkids, I realized that I didn't really know how much "truth" there was in the common perception of concepts like Karma and Dharma, here in the west.

I suspected that such a compassionate and rational philosophy could not support the ideas I wrote about and I am glad to learn that those suspicions were well founded.

Strangely enough, when I initially looked at Buddhism in my youth, I refused to accept the concept that life is suffering. In fact, I told people that were it not for this one fundamental point, I would have embraced Buddhism fully. At that time, my outlook was so completely positive that the suggestion that life is suffering seemed entirely counter-intuitive and misleading.

While writing my letter to the Dalai Lama, I realized that the universe has gone to great lengths to teach me the truth of this fact which I had previously rejected so completely.

Perhaps it is time for me take another look at these questions...I think I'll start by reading Herman Hesse's Sidhartha once again. This was where my journey on this path started many years ago and I like the cyclical symmetry of starting again at the beginning.

Thanks again for your insights,

Chris

Hi Chris,

Just for the record, I think its Hindu mythology and not Buddhism that traces past life karmas to your current life situationsa. It could be fortune or unfortune, as they say. In India, we have Hindu sages (pundits) reading our horoscopes and telling us a lot about our past life karmas and their specific effects in current incarnation. To mitigate them, they also advice certain religious rites. I can not vouch for their accuracy or ultimate truth but I do believe in it, in a different alway albiet.

I read and follow the book "The power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle (I think he is a canadian citizen). He quite elucidly explains how life life could either be looked at or lived 'moment to moment' or 'karma to karma' or it could be looked at from bird's eye view as a sum result of our karmas in current and past lives. The re-incarnation theory is quite accepted in India and almost all the avatars (Divine incarnation) are believed to have a string of past life history....

But to link it to your current life situation would be frustating unless you have the right guide / source to such body of knowledge. For a start I recommend you - The Power of Now. Its very simple, yet liberating.

I am atill at work but I will try to respond more to this later in the day.

Peace.

Ankush

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Strangely enough, when I initially looked at Buddhism in my youth, I refused to accept the concept that life is suffering. In fact, I told people that were it not for this one fundamental point, I would have embraced Buddhism fully. At that time, my outlook was so completely positive that the suggestion that life is suffering seemed entirely counter-intuitive and misleading.

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Chris,

In the West, suffering equates to "misery". Full Stop.

In the East, suffering encompasses much more - making decisions and compromises, doing charitable/kind things for others instead of ourselves, holding your mouth shut when somebody says something thoughtless. The word "suffering' has an altogether different meaning, I think...

I was hoping some of you guys from India would respond with the Hindu perspective - this could be a very interesting discussion!

Having travelled to India, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Japan, I find the 2 religions really interesting in the interpretation of a lot of common doctrine - especially in Tibet, and Nepal.

Thanks Ankush,

I look forward to hearing any other comments you have to share.

I also happen to be going through a voracious reading phase lately and appreciate suggestions for good books to look for. Sue has given me a few good ideas as well.

All this reading might cut into my video gaming though...lol

Talk to you later Ankush

Chris

I almost feel like someone lost in the desert and blinded by the scorching sun who happened to stumble into an oasis.

I'm so glad I found my way back to this place.

Chris