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"World belongs to 'humanity,' not leaders."
Originally posted by Jordan River
Wew need more spiritual leaders than political leaders in office. (omit pope)
Originally posted by FlyersFan
NO NO NO. Trading in political leaders for faux-religious/spiritual leaders would be even worse. Then they'd be saying God told them to do such and such or this or that ... even when God never said any such thing. YIKES! NO NO NO.
The pope is supposed to be a 'spiritual leader'.
Muhammad was supposedly a 'spiritual leader.
Both, throughout the ages, were involved in politics.
(and murder, and death, and destruction, and theft, and wealth hoarding).
edit on 4/26/2012 by FlyersFan because: typoedit on 4/26/2012 by FlyersFan because: typo
Originally posted by SeekerofTruth101
Buddhism had NEVER been a religion. It is only a way of life. There are spiritual leaders such as the Lama, but they are there only to impart wisdom on human behaviour, observed over millenia, to the masses. They do not seek for political offices, but only to stay true to their calling by Buddha, to help end the suffering and pain confused humans such as you experienced daily.
I've always thought The Dalai Lama was a pretty interesting fellow; he's pretty humorous, too.
Originally posted by silent thunder
Wow. Just wow. I'm guessing you've never lived in an Asian country or encountered actual Buddhist practice in any indigenous form.
I'm sure your "Zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintainance" version of new-age hippie Buddhism would be of great comfort to the many thousands of bonded Tibetan serfs who had their hands hacked off in monastic landholding in feudal Tibet. And while we are on the subject of Zen arts, what do you think those medieval Samurai archers were shooting at with their Zen-focused concentratrion? Human flesh, is what.
I have great respect for Buddhism but no respect for the cartoonish idealization of it that goes on in the West so frequently.