Marxist Dalai Lama Poses Problem For South Korean Government

Praying for a revolution?

The admission by the Dalai Lama earlier this year that he is a Marxist is continuing to vex the South Korean Government. As a highly prominent Buddhist, the spiritual leader commands a lot of respect from South Korea’s large Buddhist population, but since millions of Koreans have died at the hands of followers of Marxism, and South Korea is still threatened by countries such as North Korea and China which still claim to adhere to Marxist-derived philosophies, the Government are not keen to encourage promotion of the Marxist Lama’s views, which include quotes such as “Marxism cares about the victims of minority-imposed exploitation”, even if many academics have said that if it does, it must be a form of ‘tough love’.

The problem is made more immediate because of the widespread availability of the Dalai Lama’s books in South Korea. Books on Marxist ideology were originally banned decades ago by the military government in Seoul, and while South Korea has been notionally democratic since 1987, they continue to be banned under new freedom of speech laws. A spokesman for The Ministry of Public Manipulation and Insecurity told us that “this is a man that talks peace but admits he believes in an ideology which supports the violent overthrow of the State – well you can’t have it both ways.” The Ministry wants to find a way of banning the Marxist Lama’s books – which are ostensibly about religion but are widely viewed as ‘Trojan Horse Marxism’ - without angering Korean Buddhists. The Dalai Lama – which is a revolutionary alias - his real name is said to be Tenzin Gyatso or even Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso – has not commented on the potential Korean book ban.

As a young man, Tenzin Gyatso, if that is his real name, studied Marxist theory in Beijing where he expressed a wish to become a Communist Party member. However, his position as a spiritual leader in Tibet – a territory which China did not directly control - made this extremely difficult. The Government in Beijing applied Marxist theory to the problem of young Tenzin’s prospective Communist Party membership, fostering a violent revolution which resulted in the annexation of Tibet, clearing the way for his Party application. However, rather than welcome the Marxist encroachment he was so supportive of, Tenzin reacted badly, as young people are given to do, and eventually led a band of committed non-reactionary cadres out of Tibet and into exile in India, where he has been free to espouse his ‘true Marxist’ views.

While the internal debate continues about the banning of the Dalai Lama’s books, the Korean Government may be prepared to play a waiting game. Tenzin is not a young man, and Buddhist philosophy teaches that when he dies he will be reincarnated. The Ministry of Public Manipulation and Insecurity is hoping that when this happens, Tenzin will be reincarnated as a South Korean. “If that happens” the spokesman told us “we will be able to arrest him.”

Related Links
'I'm a Marxist' says Dalai Lama, but agrees capitalism has helped China
Wikipedia: 'Tenzin Gyatso'
Wikipedia: Tough Love

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