Facinating! I love it! Thanks ex-l for bringing this point up:
Oh, let's do the BK and just put him down as a "new soul having his Golden Age at the fag end of Kali Yuga".
I remember the first time I heard this and how my stomach groaned at the simple suggestion that it might be true. I did end up "churning" it and realized that it was such a good way to justify so many unanswerable questions about the injustice of the rich and famous "new souls" versus the poor and miserable "old souls." God help us! Such a crock of kaka (is that okay? Or still too profane?). I just wish I had listened to my groaning stomach instead of whatever else caught my attention.
Now speaking of fake actors, Sharon Stone is number one in my book. I won't get into this but we do share the same ex-boyfriend (from many years ago) and I never understood how he could date her and I in the same lifetime (because I am better you see
. That was a self-deprecating comment in case it wasn't clear. But then again, rockers date anything that walks. And, yes, this is a gross generalization too.)
These high profile actors being seen with high profile spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama is an exchange of sorts. By association, the Dalai Lama gives the actors some sort of depth whilst the actors give the spiritual leaders extra PR. Is this good for the masses? Is this helping the world become more spiritual? Maybe. Is Sharon Stone's exhibitionism good for Hollywood? Yes. So put the two together and with the spiritual trend going on right now (the "confluence" age), Dalai helps Hollywood, Hollywood helps Dalai.
I once saw the Dalai Lama at the Hollywood Bowl and I waited to be enlightened with great anticipation. His wise words to us were, "be happy! hahahahaha!". Then the journalists came to ask my ex and I what we thought and I was speechless. I thought it was the biggest joke. Don't get me wrong, I love Buddhist teachings and I think compassion does help the world and I think the concept of "mindlessness" and "no suffering" is awesome.
As far as I know, I may just be one of those people who benefitted from the PR machines. And now they're just stories to be told.