The Teachings of the Dalai Lama
as a Threat to the Chinese Communist Government

Aim: Why are the teachings of the Dalai Lama considered by the Communist Party to be a threat to the Peoples Republic of China?

Objectives:

Students will:
… understand the teachings of the Dalai Lama,
… understand the tension between the Dalai Lama and his followers on one hand, and the government of the Peoples Republic of China, on the other.
(This lesson presumes that students have previously developed an understanding of the attitudes of the Communist Party towards religion - "opiate of the masses," etc.)
Preceding Evening's Homework: Have students learn about the Dalai Lama and his teachings. Suggest that they refer to the following Web sites:
o http://www.gluckman.com/DalaiLama.html
o http://www.dalailama.com/html/training.html
o http://www.beliefnet.com/story/31/story_3167_1.html
o http://www.tibet.com/DL/nobelaccept.html

Motivation:

Have the students read Erik Eckholm's article "Dalai Lama's Envoy Hopeful for China Talks" published in the New York Times, Sept. 30, 2002 (abstract available online at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40E14F83F5C0C738FDDA00894DA404482). Have the students consider the question set forth in the aim. (Another article outlining the visit of the Dalai Lama's
envoy to mainland China in September 2002 may be substituted.)

Procedure:

1. Begin the lesson with a discussion about the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. Tell the students that he escaped from Tibet in 1959 after the Chinese invaded Tibet, and he has lived in India ever since. In 1989, he received the Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of his efforts to negotiate peace between Tibet and China.

2. Lead a discussion about the student's impressions of the teachings of the Dalai Lama. Explain that his mission is to promote compassion and tolerance. Explain that he believes that these qualities are best achieved by developing internal peace through the practice of meditation. Point out how his teachings draw from the teachings of Buddhism.

3. Lead a discussion in which you ask the students to recall a previous lesson's discussion about the attitudes of the Communist Party towards religion. Review why early communist theorists believed that religion was detrimental to the creation of a modern workers' state.

4. Lead a discussion in which the students explore exactly which of the Dalai Lama's teachings might be viewed by the Communist Party as threatening to the stability of a modern workers' state. Have the students discuss whether they agree that the Dalai Lama's teachings are in fact counter-productive to the party's aims. Explore the possibility that his teachings could be a helpful supplement to communist ideals.

5. End the lesson by discussing ways in which the Dalai Lama's teachings could be applied to the students' lives. Ask students if they feel they could apply these teachings to particularly difficult situations in their lives. Ask the students if they think that the Dalai Lama's teachings have particular relevance given the present uncertainty in the world.