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China now vilifies Dalai Lama as a joker

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The Dalai Lama’s attendants and staff remove a damaged table before exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama praying for the victims of Typhoon Morakot in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan on 1 September 2009. From calling him a separatist, a “wolf in monk’s robes,” a “monster with human face,” Chinese government now vilifies the Dalai Lama as a “joker”.File photo/AFP/Sam Yeh/Taiwan

From calling him a separatist, “wolf in monk’s robes”, a “monster with human face”, the Chinese government now vilifies the Dalai Lama as a “joker”.

A report published on the People’s Daily Online, a Chinese government mouthpiece, said, “The Dalai Lama told jokes on the solemn and respectful Dharma ceremony.”

The Dalai Lama is on a six-day visit to Taiwan that began on 30 August to console the victims of the 8 August Typhoon Morakot that killed more than 500 people. It was his third visit to the island, his first being in 1997 and the second visit in 2003.

Taiwan’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party invited the Dalai Lama. Pro-Beijing president Ma Ying-jeou, who took office 15 months ago, kept himself away from the Dalai Lama, with the view of not straining the ties across the straits.

The Dalai Lama said he was visiting the island with a humanitarian mission, and did not want to cause any inconvenience to anyone. The Chinese report said, “High-level officials of Taiwan authority were all absent.”

Reuters reported that the Dalai Lama made a quip about his English.

“There is a danger to get misunderstandings, so I always tell you, be careful Dalai Lama’s broken English,” the Dalai Lama said as he began a big prayer gathering on 1 September in southern city of Kaohsiung.

Waves of laughter followed through the audience of more than 10,000 people.

The Taipei Times reported that as the Dalai Lama went on with his sermon, he said that more than 500 people lost their lives in the disaster and the survivors are very worried. However, he pointed out, a lot of fish were able to escape from fishponds in Linbian Township because of the flooding.

The comment was followed by laughter from the audience.

The People’s Daily report found it quirky that a table placed in front of the Dalai Lama collapsed after he asked for it to be removed.

“Before the beginning of the Dharma, the joker asked the work men to move the table in front of him. Then the table, made of wood blocks suddenly fell apart,” the Chinese report said.

“The joker laughed uncomfortably.”

The Taipei Times reported that as officials were in the process of removing the table, it collapsed, to a complete silence in the audience.

The Dalai Lama broke the silence with loud laughter, which triggered more laughter and applause from the crowd.

The Chinese mouthpiece report also poked fun at the sun visor the Dalai Lama used to protect his eyes from the strong overhead light.

Many people in attendance said they were impressed by the Dalai Lama’s wittiness in his teachings on a subject that can sometimes be dry, as well as his quick reaction to unexpected events, Taipei Times reported.

The Dalai Lama uses quips and outbursts of laughter, part of his core personality, during his speeches to make people feel relaxed and to get closer to his listeners.

Taiwan audiences have understood the humour as a way to unify people on the island, which hosts many different religions and ideas, Reuters reports quoting a spokesman for the city of Kaohsiung.

Chang Chia-hsing, the spokesman, said, “What he jokes about doesn’t count as serious,” Chang said. “It’s a way to bring people together.”

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

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