Aes Rock:

Leonardo Boff asks Dalai Lama …

“In a round table discussion about religion and freedom in which Dalai Lama
and myself were participating at recess I maliciously, and also with interest, asked him: 

“Your holiness, what is the best religion?”

I thought he would say: “The Tibetan Buddhism” or “The oriental religions, much older than Christianity.”

The Dalai Lama paused, smiled and looked me in the eyes …. which surprised me because I knew of the malice contained in my question.

He answered:
 “The best religion is the one that gets you closest to God. It is the one that makes you a better person.”

To get out of my embarrassment with such a wise answer, I asked: “What is it that makes me better?”

He responded:
“Whatever makes you
more compassionate,
more sensible,
more detached,
more loving,
more humanitarian,
more responsible,
more ethical.”
“The religion that will do that for you is the best religion”

I was silent for a moment, marveling and even today thinking of his wise and irrefutable response:

“I am not interested, my friend, about your religion or if you are religious or not.

“What really is important to me is your behavior in front of your peers, family, work, community, and in front of the world.

“Remember, the universe is the echo of our actions and our thoughts.”

“The law of action and reaction is not exclusively for physics. It is also of human relations. 
If I act with goodness, I will receive goodness. 
If I act with evil, I will get evil.”

“What our grandparents told us is the pure truth. You will always have what you desire for others. Being happy is not a matter of destiny. It is a matter of options.”

Finally he said:
“Take care of your Thoughts because they become Words.
Take care of your Words because they will become Actions.
Take care of your Actions because they will become Habits.
Take care of your Habits because they will form your Character.
Take care of your Character because it will form your Destiny,
and your Destiny will be your Life

… and …
“There is no religion higher than the Truth.””

Yesterday I watched this short documentary about the “Juggalos” (which is what fans of the shock rap group Insane Clown Posse refer to themselves as).  Filmed at their annual “Gathering of the Juggalos,”  I found the documentary disturbing on many levels.  My general reaction to the film is dismay that there is a segment – apparently large – of our society that devotes themselves so enthusiastically towards what can only be termed general sorriness.  That said, there are some choice quotations in the film that make it worth watching.

Also, I have to admit a grudging respect for the members of the Insane Clown Posse who, despite having no apparent talent whatsoever, have figured out a way to make millions of dollars off of these maggots.

*WARNING:  There is quite a bit of foul language in this film, as well as a bit of nudity.  Don’t watch it at work.*

I hope the Occupy movements prevail, and people like the ones in this video take charge of our banking and political systems.  Surely that will put American back on the proper course.

I posted this before a long time ago, but that part at the end there still floors me.