The Fruitless Pursuit of The Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II Essay exa

The Fruitless Pursuit of The Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II I. Introduction: â€Å"Glinting orange through the green creepers, the Kombi family's mud-hut is barely visible now. Alphonse Kombi was murdered by militiamen in February. His wife, Bimosa, watched them eat his heart before they raped her, neighbours say. The trauma drove her insane. Two of the Kombis' four children had already died of malnutrition. Then, a fortnight ago, a distant relative came to collect the two survivors - an emaciated eight-year-old and four-year-old†¦ ‘I have come to try to prevent these ones from dying," said Mr Kiyana, pointing to the two boney forms slumped on the ward's concrete floor. With their skin drawn tight over fragile bones, the children's ages and their sexes were almost impossible to guess.’† 1 One can easily associate suffering with tragedies in third world countries like the story above. However, suffering is not only the physical abuse of victims; suffering is the psychological, emotional, and physical pain experienced by any being. This distress is not only a result of everyday activities, such as conversations that may or may not happen, suffering is a continuous presence despite what one may do to eliminate it. I believe that suffering is endless. Despite the efforts of influential men like the Dalai Lama or Pope John Paul II, suffering will still exist in several forms. If it was even possible to end the genocides that are taking place in countries like Tibet or Cambodia, suffering would still occur in my life, as I am separated from the ones I love or in my neighbor’s lonely and miserable life full of material prosperity. Therefore, although the Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II have done much work towards this ultimat... ...it symposium. (United States of America: Fordham University Press, 1999) 34. 10 Cutler, Howard and the Dalai Lama, The art of happiness : a handbook for living (New York : Riverhead Books, 1998) 126. 11 Cutler, Howard and the Dalai Lama, The art of happiness : a handbook for living (New York : Riverhead Books, 1998) 114. 12 Cutler, Howard and the Dalai Lama, The art of happiness : a handbook for living (New York : Riverhead Books, 1998) 124. 13 Davidson, Richard J. Visions of compassion : Western scientists and Tibetan Buddhists examine human nature. (Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002) 149 14 Piburn, Sidney, The Dalai Lama, a Policy of Kindness (New York: Snow Lion Publications 1990) 49. 15 United Nations. Dept. of Information. Pope John Paul II at the United Nations (New York : Dept. of Public Information, United Nations, 1980) 31 The Fruitless Pursuit of The Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II Essay exa The Fruitless Pursuit of The Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II I. Introduction: â€Å"Glinting orange through the green creepers, the Kombi family's mud-hut is barely visible now. Alphonse Kombi was murdered by militiamen in February. His wife, Bimosa, watched them eat his heart before they raped her, neighbours say. The trauma drove her insane. Two of the Kombis' four children had already died of malnutrition. Then, a fortnight ago, a distant relative came to collect the two survivors - an emaciated eight-year-old and four-year-old†¦ ‘I have come to try to prevent these ones from dying," said Mr Kiyana, pointing to the two boney forms slumped on the ward's concrete floor. With their skin drawn tight over fragile bones, the children's ages and their sexes were almost impossible to guess.’† 1 One can easily associate suffering with tragedies in third world countries like the story above. However, suffering is not only the physical abuse of victims; suffering is the psychological, emotional, and physical pain experienced by any being. This distress is not only a result of everyday activities, such as conversations that may or may not happen, suffering is a continuous presence despite what one may do to eliminate it. I believe that suffering is endless. Despite the efforts of influential men like the Dalai Lama or Pope John Paul II, suffering will still exist in several forms. If it was even possible to end the genocides that are taking place in countries like Tibet or Cambodia, suffering would still occur in my life, as I am separated from the ones I love or in my neighbor’s lonely and miserable life full of material prosperity. Therefore, although the Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II have done much work towards this ultimat... ...it symposium. (United States of America: Fordham University Press, 1999) 34. 10 Cutler, Howard and the Dalai Lama, The art of happiness : a handbook for living (New York : Riverhead Books, 1998) 126. 11 Cutler, Howard and the Dalai Lama, The art of happiness : a handbook for living (New York : Riverhead Books, 1998) 114. 12 Cutler, Howard and the Dalai Lama, The art of happiness : a handbook for living (New York : Riverhead Books, 1998) 124. 13 Davidson, Richard J. Visions of compassion : Western scientists and Tibetan Buddhists examine human nature. (Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002) 149 14 Piburn, Sidney, The Dalai Lama, a Policy of Kindness (New York: Snow Lion Publications 1990) 49. 15 United Nations. Dept. of Information. Pope John Paul II at the United Nations (New York : Dept. of Public Information, United Nations, 1980) 31