In the News--Oppression and Partnership

I want to call attention to a couple of items in today's New York Times. The first is Nicholas Kristof's column, "The Terrified Monks." Kristof gives us a glimpse of what life for the monks of Tibet has been like since the March demonstrations. It's very much worth reading.

The other article, by Leslie Kaufman, focuses on the spiritual partnership between Michael Roach and Christie McNally. Roach is a monk of the Tibetan Gelug school who has earned the title of geshe, the equivalent of a religious doctorate. McNally is his constant companion -- they have vowed never to be more than 15 feet from each other -- and co-teacher. They live together in what they say is a loving and romantic but celibate relationship. Roach continues to wear monk's robes. Apparently, this relationship is causing much consternation in Tibetan Buddhism.

I admit I don't know what to make of Roach and McNally. On the one hand, if this arrangement works for them, I'm happy for them. On the other hand, McNally calls sexual touching a "low practice," and that makes me terribly sad for them. And do I ever feel a forum discussion coming on!

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