Before his departure from Taiwan tomorrow, the Dalai Lama made a surprise donation to the 921 earthquake victims of all the money donated to him during this trip -- the equivalent of US$100,000 -- plus US$50,000 out of his own pocket. This last act of kindness is just one of the countless demonstrations that the Dalai Lama is a true religious and spiritual leader, possibly making him look awkward to many people in Taiwan accustomed as they are to impostors and false prophets who have commercialized religions and offer pseudo-religious solutions to people's woes for sale.
The infamous Soong Chi-li (
In a similar vein, the commercialization of religion was epitomized by another Buddhist priest's recent preaching sessions in Taiwan. Items for sale at those sessions ranged from bottled water to key chains to clothing designed by the priest herself -- all priced at a dozen or so times their regular prices, allegedly because they were "blessed" by the said priest.
In comparison with such vampires, the Dalai Lama's open plea to "not give me `red envelopes' if you trust me," and generous donations are like a breath of fresh air.
People in Taiwan are vulnerable to commercialized religions and false prophets because they feel a deep spiritual void, making them hungry for quick religious fillers. So, if money could buy you these solutions, why not? It's a lot less time-consuming than actually leading one's life according to the teaching of the Buddha.
The Dalai Lama is apparently quite aware of this obsession with religious short-cuts. Therefore, before he conducted an "initiation" (
On the other hand, in view of the hardship endured by Tibetans, it seems like such a luxury for people in Taiwan to lament and whine about their sense of spiritual void. People in Taiwan may think their problems are severe and manifold -- the surging unemployment rate and the uncertainty regarding future cross-strait relations among others -- but that is not the case.
When we compare Taiwan and Tibet, we will realize how fortunate we are. First, we live in our homeland, Taiwan, where we enjoy a democracy for which even the Dalai Lama has indicated admiration. We enjoy a high degree of freedom in religion and speech, among other important freedoms. While our economy may be undergoing a downturn, it remains one of the strongest in the world.
In contrast, Tibet remains under brutal military occupation by China. The People's Liberation Army has violently oppressed the Tibetans, destroying Tibetan culture and temples along with it. Currently there are more than 100,000 Tibetans living in exile, taking refuge in India, Nepal, the US and elsewhere. These people, including the Dalai Lama, have not set foot in their homeland in years or even decades.
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