Welcoming the Dalai Lama

Spirituality Column #50
October 23, 2007
Current! In Carmel (IN) Newspaper

Welcoming the Dalai Lama
By Bob Walters

I write as a Christian but the big religious news in Indiana this week is a visit by the Dalai Lama, head of the Buddhist faith.

He is speaking at both Indiana and Purdue Universities, celebrating the payoff of $1.5 million in debt on the Tibetan Cultural Center in Bloomington (announced by Elaine Mellencamp), and visiting his brother, Thubten Norbu, an IU professor emeritus. The Dalai Lama’s trip to the U.S. included visiting privately with President Bush and receiving the Congressional Gold Medal.

America has an affection for the Dalai Lama that I find logical. He is truly and deeply a man of peace (Nobel Peace Prize 1989), has mesmerizing star power, and is censured by the Chinese government. We like all that stuff. America always roots for Tibet (and Taiwan, et al) against the freedom-stifling muscle of the Chinese government.

Plus, don’t we all as Hoosiers get a kick out of the fact the Dalai Lama’s brother lives in Bloomington?

Still, my hunch is that most Americans (and Hoosiers) know precious little about Buddhism, which has both some interesting teachings and some huge theological holes. I have a parallel hunch that many Christians would stammer horribly if presented with the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama (means “Ocean of Wisdom") personally and explain their faith in Christ.

Even if we don’t meet the Dalai Lama, there’s a good chance we’ll talk to a secular friend who will challenge us on why our Christianity works better for us than the peace-loving ways of Buddhism.

First of all, let’s not confuse Christians and our fallen world with Christ, the ultimate man of peace; God incarnate who died for our sins so we would have eternal life in the presence of the living, loving Creator God.

Christians get grace for eternity. A Buddhist is shooting for “consciousness.”

The most important aesthetic of Buddhism is “Emptiness” (that’s true). A Christian on the other hand seeks “fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Empty, or full? You decide.

Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and 10 Precepts might remind one of the 10 Commandments and various Bible verses on, for example, suffering and wisdom. But Buddhism’s tenets are all self-directed, and mention nothing of love, community, family or God – the core of Christian theology.

As a Christian we can’t argue the Bible against a Buddhist (or even your secular neighbor) any more than a Buddhist can argue his Precepts against us. For one thing, a Buddhist is a lot less likely to argue. For another, it’s a fool’s errand to argue scripture with someone who doesn’t understand scripture.

Reveal instead the enormous gifts of life, love and grace we have in Christ. That’s the story to tell, and remember Jesus is the ultimate example of peace.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) encourages Christians to learn to step outside the Bible to defend their faith, which resides in one’s heart, not in a book.