Dalai Lama meets with Obama

Whether in support of the Democratic Party or not and whether feeling favorable about President Obama's administration or not it appears Buddhists here in Syracuse have nevertheless been widely supportive of a recent meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Obama. There has been a serious erosion in faith in the entire establishment here in Syracuse and this meeting may be just what is needed to help renew hope in the system for many people here.

Anxieties have been rising in Syracuse as the community is confronted with rising government corruption, police brutality, unethical medical conduct particularly by the communities psychiatrists who are guilty of brutal human rights abuses daily, judicial corruption, unemployment, poverty and homelessness. And so it is felt here that this meeting between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President Obama may represent a sincere opportunity for the entire Buddhist community to work with the US government for affirmative changes.

And it appears there has been enthusiasm among Buddhists following the teachings of the well liked Buddhist teacher Shyalpa Rinpoche, http://bit.ly/pJbiCg, and other Buddhists here in Syracuse for President Obama's decision to ignore China's requests not to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. China considers the Dalai Lama a trouble maker and has advised Washington, DC a meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama could harm relations between China and the United States. Nevertheless, Obama has met with the Dalai Lama. Sherab Woeser has reported for Phayul.com "President Obama assures the Dalai Lama of his ‘genuine concerns’ for Tibet", http://bit.ly/npi1w2.

On Saturday His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with U.S. President Barack Obama for nearly 45 minutes at the White House. The Dalai Lama said that President Obama shared "genuine concerns" about human rights in Tibet. The Dalai Lama said “Obama is president of the greatest democratic country, so naturally he is showing concern about basic human values, human rights, religious freedom." And in a brief statement from the White House after the meeting it was stated that President Obama “underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China".