The Dalai Lama

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Seen him interviewed on the telly several times, and heard him interviewed this morning on Radio 4 (listen to it here or here, it will be in the 0800-0830 section), and I think he is the most chilled-out, good-humoured, down-to-earth, well-adjusted, common-sense-speaking, laid-back, downright likeable leader on the planet, religious or otherwise.

I have so much time for this guy.

Any seconders/dissenters of this view?

Martin

[The Doctor]

I think he's great too. Very clever mind.

-Ralph

[dyrl]

I admit to never having listened to an interview, speech or read a book by him. I have only seen his statements in press snippets and so far I like and pretty much agree with everything I've heard from him.

Recently, I was very pleased that he criticized the idea of boycotting the Olympics in China as a very bad idea. I'm glad he understands that the way to deal with the bad aspects of Chinese policy is not to indiscriminately attack peaceful sporting events that just might move China and the world closer together and not to antagonize regular Chinese folks who are probably proud of the Olympics being held there.

I wish some of our western hysteria-mongers who threw such a fit and were terrible hosts to the Olympic torch actually listened to the Dalai Lama instead of just mindlessly screaming "free Tibet" and advocating a course of action that the Dalai Lama himself opposes on the most sensible of grounds.

dyrl

[legios]

I wish I could use the "listen again" feature. But apparently the BBC feel that they are only willing to support Realplayer audio for these files, and as it is a closed format it means that I cannot play them on any of the gaggle of media players that I have on this laptop. Most annoying.

But, back on topic, I have always had a tremendous amount of time for the Dalai Lama. He's one of the least "leader" like religious or political leaders that I can think of, prone to offering suggestions rather than advice and a viewpoint rather than pronouncements. (Every inch the way a Buddhist should be really). Looking around the world stage I have to say that I wish we had more leading figures with the humility of the Dalai Lama. It could only do the world good.

Karl

[Andy Turnbull]

Karl - try realalternative instead. It's Realplayer but minus the spamware.

Andy