What ho! The Communist Chinese government, in its headlong bid to completely alienate itself from the world's clear-thinking peoples, has once again amped up the rhetoric, pushing well into the red zone of High Cultural Revolution. Lessee...on at least two occasions I have received initiation into Buddhist practices from HH the Dalai Lama. I have also taken Refuge and Bodhisattva Vows with him. His sterling example provided one of the primary inspirations for me becoming a Buddhist monk. Therefore, I definitely consider myself one of his followers. But if that's the case (like, double therefore), in the considered determination of the officially areligious Chinese leadership (or at least its thoroughly bizarre propaganda arm), I have surfaced as part of what they deem the "scum of Buddhism". I swear. This in the midst of blissfully evidence-free accusations that the next nefarious plot among the "Dalai Clique" is to go on suicide bombing missions. Now, let's be clear. In the Buddhist teachings, such actions do not result in a comped room in paradise among 72 virgins and a bottle of Courvoisier. In fact, our understanding is that blowing up ourselves and our nearest neighbors earns us a one-way ticket to one of our lower, nastier hells.
You know, back in my punk rock days, I would have pushed hard to name a band The Scum of Buddhism. 
(That's an actual photo of me and my best friend Tod in, I dunno, '85? While I've since tripped down a different path, Tod's still rockin' hard at the helm of a band called Firewater. Their next killer release, "The Golden Hour", goes worldwide April 6 (dig this awesome, relevant Chinese agitprop cover! Or...hang on, is that Japanese? (Update: Tod sez it's Chinese, the characters for -- what else? -- "fire" and "water")), followed by an EU/US live tour through June. He's threatening to visit me here in Mongo in May in between gigs. Stay tuned.)
And...hey, waaait a minute. It occurs to me my mama attended the Dalai Lama's Kalachakra initiation in Toronto not so long ago. Why, she considers herself a follower of the Dalai Lama! Hey Hu Jintao! Zhang Qingli! You talkin' 'bout my mama?! Did you just call my mama the scu...c'mere, you putty-faced, Dalai-hating...why I oughta...
OK, lemme lay the snark on the end table for a moment (I can't even summon outrage anymore, the Chinese government is so beyond ridiculousness). Smoke signals on the horizon inform me that my friend, Brazilian photojournalist Haroldo Castro, on the scene right now in Kathmandu, has translated from Portuguese into English two of his important blog posts documenting the over-the-top violence of the Nepalese police and the prayerful response of the Tibetan monastic communities, both linked as one post. If you scroll around the rest of the blog, there're also excellent clips of video he shot.
"Heart of a Beast" - THAT'S the metal band I wanna front!
Also, "Dalai Clique" kinda makes me think of a New Order-ish 80s dance band.
Posted by: sarah | April 02, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Can my band Dalai Clique open for Scum of Buddhism?
Posted by: Thomas Robertson | April 02, 2008 at 03:14 PM
String quartet called "Skirts of Uncle." They play weddings and other clearly subversive events. Their 1st violinist moonshines as lead guitar for "Scum of Buddhism."
Posted by: Sangye | April 02, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Shoot, y'all, look like we got us the makings of a summer stadium tour!
But Sangye, I think "Skirts of Uncle" might be the late-nite, under-a-tent drag queen cabaret. Also, er, if one takes a second job at night, one 'moonlights'. Tho your version does have its comic possibilities, to be sure.
Posted by: Konchog | April 02, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Is that you with the Flying V?
Nice axe Rinpoche?
:)
Posted by: Ross M. W. Bennetts | April 02, 2008 at 09:13 PM
oops... I should have said 'Nice Axe Bagshi'
:)
Posted by: Ross M. W. Bennetts | April 02, 2008 at 09:26 PM
I wish I could take credit for that rock pose, but that's my bud Tod with the axe. I'm the half-naked, drunken yowler to the left.
And yes, Ross, thanks for the clarification. No one's ever confused me for a rinpoche!
Posted by: Konchog | April 02, 2008 at 09:50 PM
LOL Oh, Moonlights! I kept staring at that sentence knowing something was wrong. Took me awhile to actually post it because something was just off. It's like every so often someone puts a spoon in my head and swirls things around. Feels like a Betty Crocker lobotomy.
Posted by: Sangye | April 02, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Nice abs, Monkie!
(OH! Was that a totally inappropiate thing to say? I am sooooo sorry!)
Just blowing off some steam from having to be on my best meet-and-greet behavior for Open House Night.
Spring Break is just around the corner. I'll be in New Orleans soon, although I'll be home before Thai New Year.
Posted by: Sarabaite | April 03, 2008 at 12:17 AM
An op-ed on Mongolia: http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1603&Itemid=41
Posted by: Dolgor | April 03, 2008 at 01:40 AM
In the name of all that is Holy take that horrible photo off your blog!
Posted by: Don | April 03, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Not only do I think it's a cool photo, gramps, the shooter, Sandra Hamburg, went on to snap for Vogue. So there.
Posted by: Konchog | April 04, 2008 at 01:53 AM
It is a cool photo, K, it's just kind of mind-blowing that you've got abs and hair 'n stuff...
Posted by: Leamur | April 04, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I know. All that is long, long gone, never to return in this life. In that photo I was 19, maybe 20. Let that be a lesson to you young whippersnappers. Impermanence'll gitcha.
Posted by: Konchog | April 04, 2008 at 10:44 AM