Dalai Lama Essay
Question 1- Buddhism (20 marks)
The significant people and schools of thought in Buddhism that have the most impact are those that challenge adherents to follow Buddhist teachings more closely.
How accurate is this statement in relation to ONE significant person or school of thought, other than the Buddha.
The fourteenth Dalai Lama, also known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is one of the most significant religious leaders in the world and is also exceptionally important to Buddhism. He has been especially influential with regards to reinterpreting traditional Buddhist teachings so they are relevant in a more contemporary context and using them to deal with issues that have arisen and effect the Buddhist people.
The Dalai Lama became particularly important during the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Despite Dalai Lamas previously only being the spiritual leader of the country, when the Chinese invaded the Dalai Lama was installed as the Head of State. His Holiness preaches non-violence and passive resistance. He appealed to the US, India and also the UN for some level of protection for the Tibetan people, however no help arrived and so he had to ensure the safety of his people himself. He challenged the Tibetan people to closely follow the teaching of Ahimsa, even in this time of great hardship.
The Dalai Lama was then forced into exile in 1959 due to the suppression of the Tibetan uprising by the Chinese troops. However, despite his distance from his people, he remained involved in their hardships. In 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution between the Tibetans and the Chinese. He first requested that Tibet become a zone of Ahimsa and this would challenge not only the Chinese, but also the Tibetans to maintain this state of peace. He also requested that the Tibetan people be able to freely express their culture and religion and this would encourage the proliferation of the religion,
The significant people and schools of thought in Buddhism that have the most impact are those that challenge adherents to follow Buddhist teachings more closely.
How accurate is this statement in relation to ONE significant person or school of thought, other than the Buddha.
The fourteenth Dalai Lama, also known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is one of the most significant religious leaders in the world and is also exceptionally important to Buddhism. He has been especially influential with regards to reinterpreting traditional Buddhist teachings so they are relevant in a more contemporary context and using them to deal with issues that have arisen and effect the Buddhist people.
The Dalai Lama became particularly important during the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Despite Dalai Lamas previously only being the spiritual leader of the country, when the Chinese invaded the Dalai Lama was installed as the Head of State. His Holiness preaches non-violence and passive resistance. He appealed to the US, India and also the UN for some level of protection for the Tibetan people, however no help arrived and so he had to ensure the safety of his people himself. He challenged the Tibetan people to closely follow the teaching of Ahimsa, even in this time of great hardship.
The Dalai Lama was then forced into exile in 1959 due to the suppression of the Tibetan uprising by the Chinese troops. However, despite his distance from his people, he remained involved in their hardships. In 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution between the Tibetans and the Chinese. He first requested that Tibet become a zone of Ahimsa and this would challenge not only the Chinese, but also the Tibetans to maintain this state of peace. He also requested that the Tibetan people be able to freely express their culture and religion and this would encourage the proliferation of the religion,