What are the Dalai Lama's views on Asperger's/Autism, etc.?

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I'm writing a paper on the Dalai Lama for my World Religions class and was thinking of including something about his views on autism and other developmental disabilities in my assessment, but I couldn't find any examples of what his opinions are on this subject.

Any help?

I suspected a quick internet search would throw up some quote a la Glenn Hoddle (soccer guy) about disabled kids being punished for their sins from a previous life, and sure enough I found one, from an article by Johann Hari. (Bear in mind that Johann Hari is perhaps a more fervent atheist than Richard Dawkins.)

He hasn't explicitly mentioned autism here, of course.

If you're not fixed on the Dalai Lama, just search for autism and Buddhism. This looks interesting: http://puzzlepeaceofmind.com/Spirituality.html

to the OP - I would choose Gromit's answer It's up to you though.

The karma thing was just the first thing that came to me. My post was not intended as a slight against the Dalai Lama or against religion, or as an insult to aspies.

However, I'm not one of these people who thinks Aspergers is the next step in evolution either.

Who is the man in your avatar?

That's Wimpy from the old Popeye cartoon strip.

Correct.

I could see how this might make sense to them, so I respect that their beliefs are based on what they feel they experience. However, I feel that if we do not balance spirituality and science, we will not be happy.

While I say hey we are apart of evolution, I don't dare say we are the darwin winners. We are infact a part of evolution though. Any changes in DNA at all is a part of evolution. You're still evolving. For the better and for the worst. There is no such thing as perfect. There is no such thing as having all pros and no cons. There is always ying and yang.

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today

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Perhaps the Dalai Lama would promote meditation for those with Asperger's/Autism? In my view, the Dalai Lama knows next to nothing about modern neurology - the neurology of the many epilepsies, the ADHDs, autism, and Asperger's. The Dalai Lama would (likely) look to sacred Dalai Lama scriptures for almost all the answers. Just a guess. Am very aware that the Dalai Lama has embraced science to the extent of implying that modern brain science can learn something from meditating Dalai Lama monks and nuns. Is that publicity-mongering by the Dalai Lama? Other? In my view, non-profit, tax-exempt religious leaders like the Dalai Lama and the corrupt, fascist-like Pope of Italy have nothing of value to say about modern neurology including Asperger's/Autism. Also believe that neither the Dalai Lama nor the Pope of the Vatican are good role models for human marriage at all and anything either says on the topic of human marriage is a bunch of nonsense (aka 100.00% pure garbage).

You use the name as if it were a religion.

I hope there is no-one on WP so naive to think that a bunch of socially awkward geeks (no offence intended, that's how I would describe myself too) would out breed the captains of the football team We are intellectually blessed, and evolutionarily doomed.

The mutation rate will keep our numbers about one percent.

ruveyn

I would. I do.



Maybe he's interested in neuroscience?

By many accounts, yes, I've seen that the Dalai Lama is indeed very interested in neuroscience.

In some Buddhist circles, it does seem that they see science as only being capable of verifying what is already known and practiced in meditative cultures.

A more interesting view is held by Shinzen Young, who has a vision of cross pollinating meditation with science and technology.

The measurement of meditation benefits is useful in convincing the scientific/materialists that meditation is a real and useful exercise.

Why should we care what Dolly Lama thinks?

ruveyn