People: Dalai Lama

The co-editor of a new book on the history of Buddhist violence and warfare explains how the notion of a purely mystical and otherworldly Buddhism -- promoted by some of the great interpreters of the tradition -- denies its adherents’ humanity.

The @DalaiLama account is up and running. And, unlike a previous hoax account, this appears to be the real deal. Twitter's new vice president of communications, Sean Garrett, just welcomed the Tibetan spiritual leader to the site. The account is here. The Dalai Lama already has more than 6,000 followers.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday, the same day the Dalai Lama visited the White House, showed that 56 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of him, putting him "in the same neighborhood as other major religious figures," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Favorable ratings for the pope, at 59 percent, and Billy Graham, at 57 percent, are virtually identical."

Obama met privately with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader in the Map Room on the ground floor of the White House, far removed from reporters and photographers. Press secretary Robert Gibbs issued only a brief statement after the event, and the White House distributed a single in-house photo of the two leaders.

He has spoken all week about the future; of the environment, the world's rivers, melting glaciers and the youth who will inherit this ailing planet. Indeed ''Our Future'' is the title of his 10-day Australian tour. But behind the scenes it is the future of the Dalai Lama, the institution, that is increasingly occupying the thoughts of those who for more than half a century have looked towards the exiled political and spiritual leader as the face and voice of Tibet.

The email edition of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest has reached the milestone of its 150th issue. That's over 900 quality, peer-reviewed psychology journal articles digested since 2003. To mark the occasion, the Digest editor has invited some of the world's leading psychologists to look inwards and share, in 150 words, one nagging thing they still don't understand about themselves. Their responses are by turns candid, witty and thought-provoking. Here's what they had to say...

The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, who is here to lead the Vancouver Peace Summit, and Bishop Tutu were jointly given the Fetzer Prize for Love and Forgiveness. The award has been instituted by Michigan's Fetzer Institute to honour those who are working for peace in the world.

The Tibet Oral History Project is pleased to announce that oral histories of Tibetan elders living in exile are now posted on our website's Interviews page...

The Chinese government often has the clout and muscle to prevent Hollywood films from being released in Asia, and can even discourage films from having an extended release in the West if they are perceived to threaten Chinese policy.

ONE WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE that our world’s recognized saints and sages have the best interests of everyone at heart in their thoughts and actions. One would also like to believe that the same “divinely loving” and enlightened figures would never distort truth to suit their own purposes, and would never use their power to take advantage (sexually or otherwise) of their followers. They would, that is, be free of the deep psychological quirks, prejudices, hypocrisy and violence which affect mere mortals. One would further hope that the best of our world’s sages would be able to distinguish between valid mystical perceptions and mere hallucinations, and that the miracles and healings which they have claimed to have effected have all actually occurred. Sadly, none of those hopes stand up to even the most basic rational scrutiny.