JOIN US'May Buddha bring the corrupt to heaven soon'
Godmen have a reputation for delivering either the blandest of lectures possible or kicking up a controversy when they express political opinions. But the Dalai Lama distinguishes himself with such an uncanny sense of humour that his spiritual observations become candid confessions and the sharpest of political commentaries by him leave listeners rolling with laughter.
On a recent visit to Delhi, to address organ donors and recipients at the Indraprastha Apollo hospital, His Holiness spoke not just on Buddhism and spiritual health but a range of subjects such as politics, world religions and corruption, and did it in such a way that he left his audience in splits.
Praising the over 100 liver donors at the event, the Dalai Lama said, “Buddhism says that a thousand candles can be lit by the flame of just one. Similarly, one human
being can touch the lives of many others. It cannot be easy to give away a part of your body. It would require immense physical and mental endurance, but you have done it.”
“I just talk, talk. You are the ones actually practising Buddhism.”
Then turning his attention to corruption - clearly a subject on top of his mind – His Holiness lamented, “Corruption is a result of lack of moral principles – thinking that happiness is equal to money. This lack of principles plagues every profession. People say that politics is dirty, but it’s the practitioners who make it dirty. Every religion teaches love and compassion but even religion is misused by the greedy today.”
Then with a hint of naughtiness in his eyes, the Dalai Lama turned to founder and chairman, Apollo Hospitals, Dr Prathap Reddy, and said, “There is too much money
involved in even healthcare today,” leaving the audience in peels and the host searching for words.
In the same vein, when a member from the audience asked him: ‘What would Buddha have done if he were alive today?’, the 78-year-old quipped, “I don’t think the Buddha can do much… But then, we have his teachings to lead the way – to think about humanity first and oneself later. At the max, what the Buddha can do is bring the corrupt to heaven soon.
That will rid us of some corruption.” The audience couldn't agree more with him.