Editorial - Dalai Lama’s wisdom for our leaders
2 August 2012 06:30 pm
One of the most respected Buddhist leaders and philosophers the Dalai Lama has often spoken words of wisdom that stung people into the reality of realities and liberative spirituality. Unfortunately the Tibetan liberation leader has been unable to or apparently not allowed to come to Sri Lanka possibly because Sri Lanka fears the consequences from China on which it is heavily dependent economically and politically. This week a top US foreign policy analyst warned that Sri Lanka would have to make a choice between the US and China on a strategic alliance in the Indian Ocean area.
The Dalai Lama when asked what surprised him most about humanity answered, “People sacrifice their health to make money. Then they sacrifice money to recuperate their health and become so anxious about the future that they do not enjoy the present. As a result they do not live in the present or the future. They live as if they will never die and then die having never really lived.”
The rich and ruling elite of Sri Lanka, especially our political leaders, need to reflect deeply on what the Dalai Lama has said. He is a leader who practises what he preaches and preaches what he practises.
A sincere examination of the conscience by our political leaders and those who comprise the rich and ruling elite will show that most of them live to make more and more money, by fair means or foul, and build bigger barns to store the ill-gotten wealth mainly plundered from the poor people and the resources of the country. But a religious leader has warned them, “Thou fool, tonight you shall die and then who shall get all your wealth?”
Most political leaders, though they are often seen at religious ceremonies preaching pious and puritanical platitudes, are apparently living a deceptive life. Though they say they have come forward to serve the country and are servant leaders of the people, most of them are seeking personal gain or glory, popularity, power and prestige, perks and privileges. When Shakespeare said the world is a stage and most people are actors, he was not referring to Romeo and Juliet or any omelette made by Hamlet. Being a deeply spiritual man as seen in his writings, Shakespeare was probably referring to political and other leaders who have a dual character – one thing inside another outside. Inside they are often plagued with the self-destructive vices of selfishness, unforgiveness, anger and jealousy and a desire to beat the other person by fair means or by foul or even criminal means with the criminalisation of politics today.
If these leaders continue with this self-righteous humbug and hypocrisy, it will be like the blind leading the blind and the whole country will be led into a valley of darkness. If the political leaders do not change, then the people must change the political leaders.