My Fantasy of the Dalai Lama was Shattered & I am Sad Today

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed yesterday and noticed that a friend I respect and admire had made a casual, sarcastic, and off-putting comment about the Dalai Lama.

My initial reaction was, “What the f*ck?”

Anger, betrayal, and rejection of my friend, not the Dalai Lama, rose inside me. She is not somebody who typically speaks harshly of people.

So, I did what we do in 2023. I did a Google search on the Dalai Lama. The first eight were articles about him and his life. When I read the ninth, my heart sank and my spine went limp for a split second.

“The Dalai Lama asks a boy to suck his tongue.”

I resisted opening the article.

I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know. I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!

I clicked the link and read the article, sort of. I skimmed it, hoping I would miss the gross parts and only see where this was all a misunderstanding. But that part didn’t magically appear.

Sigh.

I am not going to defend him. I am not going to attack him. My heart, belly, and spine response was not about him. They were about me.

You can read the remainder of this article on Elephant Journal here at I am Sad Today

I look forward to your thoughts and comments on disappointment with what it’s like to be human. What is most disappointing about the Dalai Lama’s actions? How does this change your feelings about the Dalai Lama? Spiritual Leaders?

Other Posts you may enjoy:

Building Bridges or Building Walls

Acknowledging Pain Is Highest Form of Support

The World Needs More Healers—Not More Flakes

Anger A Secondary Emotion – What Are We Protecting?

Trauma Is Not Your Fault, But Healing Is Your Responsibility

Michael Swerdloff

Providence Holistic Counselor, Coach and Reiki