Intriguingly, he has made comments recently that mankind needs to find " ethics beyond religion" which suggests a certain open-mindedness to secularism that is rare in religious leaders. He has also argued vociferously against religious pluralism, despite generally advocating tolerance towards "false" religions. He is somewhat supportive of same-sex marriage, at least as far as Buddhists are concerned. His political views are generally internationalist and socially progressive, while he has also described himself as a Marxist on several occasions. He has also written books on subjects ranging from politics to neuroscience. Moreover, he constantly agitates for greater autonomy for Tibet, though he has not called for complete independence in a long time. The current Dalai Lama has become a worldwide celebrity, particularly on the human rights circuit. The current Chinese position is that the Dalai Lama will reincarnate whether he likes it or not. This comment could also refer to the expectation that his succession is going to spark a major clash between the Chinese authorities and the exiled Tibetans as both sides are likely to pick different candidates in a bid to advance their particular agendas. This statement could imply that he doesn't want to come back as Dalai Lama, either because he is dissatisfied with his job or because he thinks that further Dalai Lamas would be unhelpful. The current holder of the job, Tenzin Gyatso, is in exile from Chinese occupation of his country, and has sometimes talked of being the last Dalai Lama. Traditionally the view is that the office has been held by a single man reincarnating over and over again into the same job. The Dalai Lama has, over the centuries, gained sufficient status to be accepted as ruler of Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the head of one branch of the Tibetan school of Buddhism, although he is often thought of by outsiders as the head of all Tibetan Buddhism. “ ”If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change.
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