John Oliver travels to India to talk with the Dalai Lama, to get his perspective on China’s unholy persecution of Taiwanese Buddhists, and determination to destroy the Dalai Lama himself. Taking on a man who cured a country of Vodka addiction with horse milk, just may backfire on China!
China’s determination to destroy the Dalai Lama and Buddhism is all about keeping control over Taiwan – a country roughly a quarter of the size of China. According to Oliver; “Tibet is the Willem Defoe of planet earth. It is surprisingly large!” See the video for an explanation. I will certainly never look at Defoe in the same way again, but I may look more often.
To discredit him, China calls the Dalai Lama “a wolf in monk’s clothing” and “a demon.” John observes that he doesn’t look like a wolf. The Dalai Lama doesn’t suppress laughter as he adds;”I’m a demon,” while arranging his fingers to shape horns on his head. Asked how he handles the tragedy and the personal negativity constantly directed at him, the Dalai Lama replies in a way that Christians call ‘walking the walk,’
“Whatever they want to say, I have no negative feeling. I practice taking others distrust, and give them patience, tolerance and compassion – I practice that.”
The two discuss the extreme actions China employed to interfere in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. Their interference may well mean that this Dalai Lama is the end of the line. On a happier note, to cement their friendship, the two men exchange presents, and it’s fair to say that John didn’t see this one coming, and there are no returns allowed.