Are All Psychopaths Are Monsters? 6 min read When you hear the word "psychopath," you probably picture Jack The Ripper , Ted Bundy or Anthony Hopkins doing his famous fava beans scene. But what if I told you that psychopathy doesn’t always fit that image? In fact, high-functioning psychopaths are all around us—teaching in classrooms, running companies, leading congregations, and even playing heroes on screen or being heroes on the battlefield. More often than not these individuals exhibit traits like charm, fearlessness, and emotional detachment, which make them uniquely suited for leadership. When people with psychopathic traits are diagnosed it's usually with anti-social personality disorder because it covers most socio and psychopathic behaviours. But still, the question is, why do we trust them so easily? The Charm of High-Functioning Psychopaths Psychopathy exists on a spectrum . At one end, you’ve got violent offenders. At the other, you’ve got individuals who can ...
Dalai Lama Tongues a Child!
The Dalai Drama...
5 min read
Since his apology for asking a boy to suck his tongue, the Dalai Lama's reputation has taken a hit. I'm not plunging into the ugly talk of paedophile accusation, as such; I don't think there's enough evidence. More to the point, I can't help but wonder about this man's dedication, his meditating and years of reflecting on Buddha wisdom before finding Satori and eventual awakening.
It looks like I'm sprucing him up, but, what I'm saying, is—to be enlightened on earth, is to be a very insightful mind living among regular people. Okay, there's always been a contrast between the illuminated and common folk across any myriad of religious culture. However, the ultimate goal of the Buddhist is Moksha, the liberation from death and reincarnation. Now, what I find sad—but, at the same time quite interesting—is that when the illuminated mind of the Sage is touched by dementia, it shows us that nothing is sacred. It's almost paradoxical; mindfulness at the minds decline.
Of course, cognitive and neurological issues, can affect anyone, but senility seems especially insulting to our western construal of the Buddhist ethos. The Buddhist teachings on non-self, suffering, but also impermanence, hold relevance in the face of such cognitive endings. The Buddhist calling for resilience of the mind over the physical body and it's mental desires, might offer some consolation. I am reluctant to hurl this unique sheep or any of his fellow grass munchers onto the paedophile pyre just yet. Yes, I clearly speculate The Dalai Lama is diminishing, but also, I'm saying he isn't morally perfect either; in three interviews he made questionable comments about women, and three times he publically apologised for them.
I still don't see an Epstein or a Gary Glitter in this man, however, the Dalai Lama did acknowledge that he knew child abuse was happening in Buddhism; is it really fair to compare him to what the Pope is to the Catholics, given the difference in position, culture and structure? I doubt it, but I do know that I make the same unconscious assertions with Joe Bidens senility, regardless of his politics or his accolades.
The image is still in my mind. A tongue sucking request made to a boy in a room of people—no one rushed to intervene! Those four walls full with modern Buddhism itself, which; let's face it, let both the religion and that poor boy down. Idolised men get away with way too much; I'm nodding toward the many scandalous clergy cover ups. After Saville and the BBC we have hardly moved on. Don't get me wrong, we everyday people call out pedophilia quite admirably, disgust at it, and righteously oppose it! Many of us might share the same feelings of frustration and discomfort when watching YouTube videos showing children pullaway from Joe Biden, for example. Why aren't the top brass prioritising the safeguarding of children? Maybe paedo-ring blackmailers still exist in high places?
Tongue sucking is bizarre. However, personally, neurocognitive deteriorated will cause a person to exhibit uncharacteristic and unwanted behaviours. I recall visiting my grandad, he was a mild mannered gentleman and everyone loved his respectable sense of what's proper. He always wore a shirt and tie. It was unbelievable to learn of his violence to female staff and shouting at other residents in his nursing home—he dragged an elderly woman out of bed! This wasn't the grandad I knew and loved. As the Alzheimer gradually took him, we watched him respond to hallucinations and tell us his peculiar recollections of his day. We wanted him to pass away because he was being eaten alive. We couldn't mourn him, it was like we had been mourning him with every visit. If my grandad or your grandparent could act this way, then so could some holy man.
I want to make a comparison. There're no previous convictions nor any evidence that suggested Prince Andrew was guilty of child molestation, but in their droves people accuse him. He lied, fair enough, association with Epstein, that photo and the damning story; yes, it all smeared him, but that stuff isn't primary evidence, unlike what was used to prosecute Rolf Harris. That being said, a rigorous investigation into The Dalai Lama and his entourage for historical offenses would be a great idea.
I know I'm being biased here; fully aware there is no evidence of senility, but as we have seen, neither was this just innocence and playfulness. Their circle may have legitimate incentives to retain The Dalai Lama's health information from the public. I do, however, concede, that my speculation is a stroll down conspiracy theory street. There has to be a strong message in this story, no matter who you are: never peer pressure kids into doing pervy things!
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