His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a Devilish Comedian

The Dalai Lama (Ocean of Wisdom) is totally funny, and also truly at ease with self and other - friend or fiend. He is, of course, an enlightend being (which makes it easy for him, one should believe) who has been around for many a decade in various incarnations - and who has seen it all (at leat since the 15th century).

If you don't follow the news and don't know about the present tensions (Spring 2008) in Tibet between the ruling Han Chinese and the occupied, indiginous Tibetans, you may miss the point of what's being shown in the amazing photograph below - so here's some background for you:

Because of the recent uprising in Tibet, the Chinese government has put out the message that the Dalai Lama is no one less than The Devil.

I know it's confusing; because what Devil exactly are we talking about?

Is it some communist devil (although any form of religion is not at all embraced or respected by the contemporary Chinese rulers), are they trying to refer to the Judeo-Christian Devil with who the Dalai Lama, naturally, has no business, or are they simply attempting to paint the DL as bad guy (in the minds of Westerners), a really bad guy they didn't want to have around ever, but especially not during the Olympics in 2008?

And then - as a most poignant answer - a superbly comical Dalai Lama did this during a TV interview in Japan.

image

He's already got one Nobel Price (for Peace), but I think now that he should really get another one: Most Enlightened Comedian of the Year 2008



My sincere excuses to the photographer who shot this - for not being able to give the proper credits.
Amidst all the excitement and laughter, I've totally forgotten to note who took the picture and where I found it.