Justin Trudeau and the Dalai Lama: Polar Opposites

I’ve been in the hospital for a couple of days and had time to dive into the Dalai Lama’s book, The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World. When you explore the first few chapters you can’t help but see the connection between what Dalai Lama said and what Justin Trudeau misrepresented in his We Foundation. The Dalai Lama is the Zen master that finds peace in a troubled world and Justin Trudeau is the troubled world the Dalai Lama is referring to. I shall explain the epiphany.

The Dalai Lama’s book was actually written by Howard Cutler who interviewed him, yet it contains many quotes and answers to questions from the Dalai Lama. It reflects what I would envision as a student questioning a Zen master.

Part One I, Us and Them lists Five chapters. 1) Me versus We 2) Me and We 3) Prejudice (Us Versus them) 4) Overcoming Prejudice and 5) Extreme Nationalism.

It appears that Justin Trudeau stole his slogan for the We Foundation from the Dalai Lama but he purposely leaves out the chronological conclusions and thereby completely changes the meaning. Kinda like how the number 7 represents perfection while the number 6 represents not quite perfection. 666 is inherently flawed and completely changes the original quest.

Extreme Nationalism: In chapter five Howard Cutler starts off by saying “Well this week we have been talking about US Versus Them divisions, and the dangers of this progressing to prejudice, conflict and violence. I am just thinking that identifying with one’s country or nation seems to be the most powerful examples of Us. What is your own take on Nationalism?”

The Dalai Lama said, “I do not think that nationalism in itself is destructive. Being a member of a particular nation can be part of a person’s sense of identity. So nationalism can be useful, giving you a sense of belonging. I think nationalism is like an instrument or like science - if you utilize science the wrong way (in an atomic bomb for example) then it could bring disaster. If you use it properly, it brings benefit. So it is up to us to use it in the right way.”

This is one of the key differences between the Dalai Lama and Justin Trudeau’s Communism. The Dalai Lama states that “each community must have the right to preserve their own culture, including language, customs and dress and so on.”

Let’s face it, the Dalai Lama is in exile. The aboriginal Buddhist monks of Tibet are bitterly oppressed. Yet Justin Trudeau admires the Communist dictatorship oppressing them.

The Dalai Lama states “we need to ensure that the different nationalities are respected and accorded dignity. Of course if you have a diversity of different cultures within one country, in order for all of them to thrive, I think freedom is very important and a good fair constitution with the rule of law.” This is the exact opposite of Communism. Justin Trudeau addresses Islamophobia but endorses the Muslim geocode in China. Justin is a fake feminist and a fake supporter of social justice. Everything about him is fake.

Often we are made to believe nationalism is bad and that nationalism is associated with Fascism. Yet the Dalai Lama explains “When nationalism becomes extreme, it can become a dangerous ideology, so powerful that it can incite people to commit acts of aggression.” He then refers to the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. Yet we look at Communist China and we see the same thing.

Mao's murders and Communist China's ethnic cleansing of the Uyghurs, the Tibetans and the Falun Gong show that Communist China is an example of national extremism. Yet they claim the opposite. Clearly, actions speak louder than words.

Chapter 15 concludes with Empathy, Compassion, and Finding Happiness in (Justin Trudeau's) Troubled World. It cites the Power of Empathy and the Definition of Compassion. “Finally we come to the pinnacle of human emotions: compassion. Compassion is commonly defined as a kind of sympathy for or openness to the suffering of another, associated with the wish that they may be freed from their suffering. Some people’s definitions include the wish to help the suffering person." This is the compassion of Buddha and the Dalai Lama is a Budhist.

Buddha was a rich kid who left the ivory tower to see suffering in the world. When he saw that suffering he had a desire to ease the suffering of others. This is what the Falun Gong believe.

When we see the suffering of the Tibeteans and the Uyghurs, we have a desire to ease that suffering and make it stop. When we see the Falun Gong put in jail for their religious beliefs then executed to order for organ harvesting how can we not feel empathy for them? It is clear that the Troubled World the Dalai Lama is referring to is Justin Trudeau’s world and that of Xi Jinping.

The Dalai Lama has found peace in exile because he hasn’t given up on standing up for what’s right and opposing the persecution and suffering of others. He has found peace in exile because he has not resorted to violence. He is more noble than his persecutors.

Justin Trudeau’s misrepresentation of the We Movement is like the Confucius Institute’s misrepresentation of Confucius. Justin Trudeau is a glutton while the Dalai Lama always speaks out against greed. Indeed, Justin Trudeau and the Dalai Lama are polar opposites.

There’s another section in the book where Howard Cutler, the longtime student of the Dalai Lama, talks about how we are all the same. Howard states that he has regularly heard the Dalai Lama say that in public speeches.

Then when he asks the Dalai Lama about it, he said we’re not all the same. We’re all different. Whatever gave you that idea? Howard was shocked and said from you. You’ve said it repeatedly in your speeches. The Dalai Lama went on to explain that we are all different and unique like plants in a garden. That is why we need to respect individual rights. We need to protect individuals. There can be no collective social justice when individuals suffer.

The Dalai Lama further explained that he said that to help people feel connected. We are all the same in the sense that we are all human. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. We all bleed the same colour. Understanding that builds a common bond that helps us relate to those that suffer. This could be me. They are just like me. As in the song from a distance.

I submit that when the Dalai Lama said we are all the same it’s more like Bob Marley’s saying we are one. We are all brothers and sisters connected in the human family. If we can see that, then we have a greater desire to ease the suffering of others.

Communism teaches that we are all the same. Communism destroys cultural traditions so it can eradicate cultural differences and make us clones of each other. There is no happiness in that. We are all connected but we are all different. We are unique and need to celebrate our differences not fear them. Diversity makes us strong. Variety is the spice of life.