That's an interesting perspective. Yes, it is strange isn't it that a political leader would say and do things that are so politically suicidal. Surely, any democratic leader, or anyone hoping to gain the vote of his own people and international support would not do anything to risk his reputation.
The dalai lama has been brought to course because of the Dorje Shugden ban. He is getting a lot of bad press these days. He faces hordes of protesters outside his teachings and initiations. Wouldn't it be so much easier to play the diplomatic card and just say "Okay, people can practice as they wish" and lift the ban? What is it about Dorje Shugden that the Dalai Lama would do all these things to make himself look so stupid and politically inept, just to sustain a silly ban on a deity?
I choose to believe it must be for something more important than what we can see. How can the dalai be so astute in so many of the most intricate Dharma teachings, but unable to see something so glaringly obvious about his outward actions? It cannot be as simple as he is making it out to be - just a mere BAN which has had disastrous effects for his personal reputation, his political power and the international standing of the Tibetans in general (how primitive he has made himself look!).
