[Buddha-l] Buddhism and History

[curt]

Someone once said that "politics is the art of the possible". V.I. Lenin 
once said "we must make a revolution with people as they are now." He 
was arguing against the idea that Russia first had to go through a long 
period of democratic constitutional capitalism - like the most 
"advanced" countries of western europe and america. But Lenin said 
"nyet". This was the moment when Trotsky decided to join forces with 
Lenin, because Lenin's formulation coincided neatly with Trotsky's idea 
of "permanent revolution". Although Lenin and Trotsky might appear to 
have been engaging in the political equivalent of "subitism", they at 
least claimed that their feet were still firmly planted on the ground.  
Some people argue that just people things didn't turn out like they 
planned, that they were dead wrong - but that argument is completely 
lacking in imagination, in my opinion, because it assumes a kind of 
historical inevitablism that even a Marxist would disown.

Oooops - sorry for the tangent. Anyway - all politics is "realpolitiks", 
in my opinion. Obviously the Dalai Lama is walking on tip toes through 
the mindfield (sic) of international diplomacy. Diplomacy is even more 
"real" than politics, btw. I think it was Winston Churchill who said 
that Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggy" in a calm soothing 
voice, while at the same time looking for a rock.

I don't think HHDL should be criticized for taking political realities 
into consideration - but I do think he leaves himself open to criticism 
on the question of how far he's willing to go in bowing to the 
sensitivities of his politically conservative "allies". Just as he is 
open to criticism about how far he's willing to go in bowing to the 
sensitivities of his culturally liberal new-agey "allies". And, not to 
beat a dead horse, just as he is open to criticism about how far he is 
willing to go in bowing to the sensitivities of culturally 
"traditionalist" Tibetans (who don't like homosexuality or women's lib 
or beatnik poetry, for instance). I don't envy His Holiness the job of 
balancing all of those considerations and many more to boot.

- Curt

bclough wrote:

> > I don't know what "real politik" is. Is it treating issues in a way 
> that
> > helps as many beings as possible?
>  
> I'm not certain if you are joshing a bit here or asking a genuine 
> question, Mike, and I don't want to assume either, so forgive me if a 
> I give a straight answer about a word that you may know well. 
> "Realpolitik" comes from the German for "actual politics," and I 
> suppose it might be defined as politics based primarily on practical 
> and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives.
>  
> You may well be right that what the Dalai Lama is trying now could 
> turn out to be of the most benefit.
>  
> Dare I say "time will tell"???
>  
> Best,
> Brad 
>
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