The hit-list of prominent Tibetan community leaders who have been targeted because they wish to protest for full freedom for Tibet, instead of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach. Notice whose name is used to threaten them to conform and agree with the leadership’s opinions and policies. This is by the pro-Dalai Lama supporters against other pro-Dalai Lama supporters. It can be assumed the hit-list invites ‘mob’ action or what else can it be for? This screenshot was taken from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206341017108150&set=a.2326306320962.139856.1348791130&type=1
By: Tenzin Wangchuk
The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
On March 10, 2015, at protests in New York, USA to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan uprising, in-fighting broke out among the Tibetan protesters there. This has nothing to do with the Dorje Shugden ban issue, but what is important to note is the Tibetans are turning on themselves. The violence, fighting, name-calling, vulgarities are now being turned on themselves. These are the same tactics that has been used on the Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners for decades now. One faction were arguing for full freedom for Tibet, whilst the other faction were in support of the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach (umaylam) for meaningful autonomy. Unable to come to an amicable resolution to their differences, they jostled and argued until the New York Police Department (NYPD) were forced to intervene. The Tibetans never have harmony nor united. But always find reasons to create factionalism which is introduced and encouraged by the Tibetan leadership or the CTA in Dharamsala. This factionalism trend is dangerous and will blow the tiny shreds of unity within the Tibetan communities to smithereens. Again the CTA does nothing. Sits by and watches. They have now created immense disharmony among the Tibetans for this rift in political goals as they have done with the Dorje Shugden ban.
In this video, pro-Dalai Lama supporters fight with one another at the March 10, 2015 protests commemorating the 1959 Tibetan uprising
To see this disharmony among the Tibetans was not a pleasant experience for the team at DorjeShugden.com. Dorje Shugden practitioners have always wished to have peace – inner, outer and world peace – so these events were not witnessed with much happiness. No Dorje Shugden practitioner are happy with this turn of events. But it sure sounds familiar. The CTA stirring the hornet’s nest and sitting by to see who gets stung. If you notice, the new hit-list by the pro-Dalai Lama people against other pro-Dalai Lama people warns you to say “DALAI LAMA WILL BE WATCHING YOU GUYS”. These are the same ‘threats’ given to Dorje Shugden people who do not give up their faith. Sounds very familiar.
Then, today and to fan the flames of an already-escalating issue, it was brought to our attention that someone or some group had published a hit-list of the Tibetan community leaders who had argued in support of full freedom for Tibet. This hit-list is meant to stir up the feelings of the other pro-Dalai Lama people to take action against them. This is done to the Dorje Shugden followers also. Same tactics. What civilized democratic society would allow or encourage hit-lists? Tibetans do.
The publication of this hit-list was disturbing to say the least, as it points to a growing trend of targeting people who go against the leadership’s wishes. This is not the first time a hit-list has emerged from within the Tibetan community. In fact, the first group of Tibetans to issue such a list were the leadership themselves, who published a list of people who dared to protest against them regarding the Dorje Shugden ban.
In Tibetan society, the leaders like to think, pretend or act like they are democratic but in fact, they are not. For decades now, it has been the leadership themselves who encouraged Tibetans to target people who protest, and who have indirectly encouraged mob attacks. Since the Tibetan leadership began this trend, it is no surprise that their people followed suit, and the March 10 protest and subsequent events are a clear indication of this.
Click to enlarge the image and to read the remainder of the 200-over comments. This screenshot was taken from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206341017108150&set=a.2326306320962.139856.1348791130&type=1
Tibetan politics is both complicated and simple. It is complicated because whatever Tibetan politicians have tried to achieve in relations to their goals have failed. It is simple because their failure is a clear sign of wrong methods, wrong tactics and wrong approach. These wrong methods, tactics and approach have obviously filtered down to the people because on March 10, 2015 it culminated in a fight when their own people could not agree on what political goals to campaign for.
As a side note, what is disturbing is a new faction of Tibetans speaking up in Dharamsala the de-facto headquarters of Tibetan leadership, that they wish to eliminate all religions from Tibetan society. Religion made the Tibetans compassionate and therefore weak so the Chinese can take over the country. Religion and religious leadership has continued to weaken the Tibetans leading to nearly six decades of exile with no hopes of returning to Tibet or freedom or autonomy. The Tibetan leadership or the CTA are watching this new group of outspoken Tibetans carefully. They have posted their views in a local Dharamsala Tibetan newspaper and the newspaper editor was duly questioned by the CTA as to why they published this view. Another clear indication there is highly censored media within the Tibetan communities. Media reports that do not fall in line with the CTA will be questioned and harassed.
The most interesting aspect about this hit-list is that it is published by pro-Tibet supporters, about pro-Tibet supporters. The only difference between the two factions are their differing views regarding their homeland. One faction (the one on the hit-list) want to campaign for pure, 100% freedom whilst the other faction supports the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach. The fighting is increasing. One can only assume that the hit-list was issued by those who support the Middle Way Approach, who feel the opposing faction is going against the Dalai Lama’s wishes for autonomy. Thus what is also interesting about this hit-list is that casual observers and online commentators themselves use the term ‘hit-list’, thus recognizing the fact some harm or violence may befall these individuals.
Other than that, there is no difference between the two factions involved – both factions are Tibetans, both are nationalistic, both are pro-Tibet and both ‘love’ the Dalai Lama. However, thanks to 59 years of their leadership’s ineffective governance, the seams of Tibetan society are starting to split. There is no harmony because the leadership spent nearly six decades sowing the seeds of discontent and fostering a mob mentality, to distract from their miserable failure to gain either autonomy or full freedom for Tibet.
Some non-Tibetans may be shocked that any leadership can do this, but in fact there is a lot of evidence to prove that the Tibetan leadership behaves in this manner whenever an issue does not suit their personal power goals. The result today is even more division within the Tibetan population, for example:
- The Panchen Lama issue
There are two groups for the Panchen Lama, one claiming that the current Panchen Lama who was enthroned is the real Panchen Lama whilst another group claims he is not. As such, Tibetans have been fighting with each other over this topic, in another argument created by the leadership. The leadership created this problem.
- The Karmapa issue
There are two Karmapa candidates, one who is recognized by the Tibetan leadership and one who is not. As a result, within the Karma Kagyu sect they have been fighting for the last two decades, and continue to fight up until today, with letters and YouTube videos still going back and forth. Tibetan leadership should have never interfered in the selection of the Karmapa.
Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)
In this video, the attack of Rumtek Monastery is recorded by supporters of one Karmapa candidate over another
- The Gyalwang Drukpa issue
The Gyalwang Drukpa has come out in an interview stating how other sects are taking over their monasteries and converting them. This may not be a direct result of the CTA’s policies, but certainly they should intervene to assist. Yet they stay quiet and attack Dorje Shugden practitioners saying they are sectarian. When there is blatant sectarian activities happening within the Gyalwang Drukpa’s sect, the CTA remains silent.
Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)
In this video, the Gyalwang Drukpa speaks emotionally about the forced conversions of his monasteries which go unchecked
- The Dorje Shugden issue
The ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice which was widely practiced by the majority of the Gelug sect for 400 years, was banned in 1996. The ban has been enforced and implemented in a manner that has divided the Tibetan people into two. Much prejudice, segregation, fighting and discrimination has occurred. If you read the comments under the hit-list, you will notice they accuse each other of being involved with PRC or People’s Republic of China. This is the same accusation against anyone who practices Dorje Shugden. Why is that? Because China is made out to be Tibet’s biggest enemy. To be accused of friendliness with China is the most serious accusation a Tibetan can be accused of. In other words, you are a traitor. This is a favorite abuse of Tibetans to call another Tibetan when they don’t agree with their views. Now pro-Dalai Lama people call other pro-Dalai Lama people of consorting with China as a way of putting them down. Truth or not does not matter. If you practice Dorje Shugden you are automatically friendly with China or taking their money even if it is not true. Now they accuse each other relentlessly.
Tibetans really like to accuse anyone of working for China the minute you do not fall in line with their politics. Just like the Dorje Shugden people, they accuse them of working for China immediately.
- The Tibetan movement
Now we see that there is one faction who wants full freedom for Tibet, versus one faction who supports the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach.
Although there are only about 150,000 Tibetans in exile living outside of Tibet and around the world, there are so many internal issues when Tibetans do not even live on one continent, in one country and under one government anymore. Such examples of factionalism will grow bigger and the gap will grow wider, and Tibetans will continue to turn against each other because the leadership has spent nearly six decades encouraging their people to express their thoughts and defend their opinions in this mob-like manner.
It is sad that the Tibetan government has done so much damage to their own people with their short-sighted policies. Now it seems change is in the air. For whatever they have done to Dorje Shugden practitioners by creating the ban, breaking samaya, creating rifts and separations, enforcing prejudice, it would appear the karma is starting to ripen for those same difficulties the leadership caused to come back to them.
What we will start to see is more violence, vulgarities and anger as various factions in Tibetan society begin to turn on one another, and begin to express their frustration and lack of faith in the leadership. And at the end of the day, there is only one group responsible for this – the Tibetan leadership which creates and upholds policies which are not democratic, but appear to be democratic in order to secure more funds from the West.
Dorje Shugden practitioners understand how these factions feel because for the first time in two decades, the “accepted” ones are now the targeted ones who appear on hit-lists discriminating them on the basis of their political beliefs. The “clean” ones are now fighting among themselves, experiencing the disharmony that they themselves enforced on Tibetan society through the Shugden ban for the last 18 years. And the sad thing is, this was all created by the Tibetan leadership themselves or in other words, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The CTA continues to have policies that destroy Tibetan unity which is a threat to the preservation of their culture. Not to mention there is no religious freedom or freedom of speech for Tibetans under the rule of the CTA in Dharamsala contrary to their facade to Western governments and donors to secure continued funds. We can expect all these problems started by the CTA to only escalate further. It will reach a point where they will have to retract or change their unethical and destructive policies. They cannot keep going with their destructive policies. May the ban against Shugden be resolved and there will be unity among the Tibetans with differing political views. The CTA must make positive changes as karma is catching up.
In this video, Ugyen Tobgay talks about the Karmapa’s fake prediction Letter by Tai Situ Rinpoche. Such videos criticizing the Karma Kagyu leaders and members have been going back and forth since the Karmapa issue began with the involvement of the Tibetan leadership
The Hit-List Trend
This is the hit-list which the Tibetan leadership published on their official website to include the names, faces and personal details of Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners who protested in Europe for their religious freedoms. To read more about the hit-list, click HERE: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/tibetan-leadership-publishes-hit-list/
Click image to enlarge. Taken from http://tibet.net/2014/05/list-of-dolgyal-followers-who-protested-against-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-in-us-and-europe/
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
BlueUpali
March 18, 2015
You say this is pro-Tibetans putting people who are pro-Tibet on it, as opposed, it implies, to the pro-Shugden people who you are implying are anti-Tibet. We like Shugden; the Dalai Lama is against us, but we are not against Tibet.
Also, you mention the two Karmapas— you mention that one is recognized by the Tibetan Authority; so what— the Dalai Lama has no right to recognize Karmapas, and picked China’s candidate to appease China, and destroy the Kagyu school, just like the false Dalai Lama tries to destroy the Gelugpa harmony by banning his guru’s practice of Shugden.
The Drukpa’s issue seems to be coming from a take-over from the Gelugpa Karmapa— who is backed by China (the Dalai Lama’s candidate).
So I guess from this article you are pro-Dalai Lama and pro-China.
Michael Maynard
March 19, 2015
Mixing religion and politics has never led to harmony and peace in any society where it is practised. Mixing Guru Devotion with Political Leadership is a terrible form of tyranny and revolting distortion of a holy view for worldly aims.
Manjushri
March 19, 2015
It is never good to let religion be controlled, and fuelled by politics because everything will then be influenced and undermined with an agenda.
Looks like the CTA had failed terribly in leading their people in the rightful manner. Instead of doing more to unite, and bring benefit to their people, CTA has further segregated and divided their people. The behaviour of the people, is testament to what has been instilled by the government, and definitely, this divisive behaviour has been what CTA has instigated all this while.
It is sad to see that pro DL camps are now fighting amongst once another – Ultimately, you can see that it is not about the betterment of the people at large; it is about what the government in exile wants, and that is selfish.
Sonam la
March 20, 2015
May all those negative influences that harm the teaching of the victorious ones through their perverted aspirations –
Those with form and those without form (Shugden) –
All those who work with malicious intentions,
Be annihilated through the truth of the Three Jewels !
Joo Won
March 21, 2015
It’s terrible and sad to see this hit-list. It shows CTA had failed in leading his people, in governing with democracy.
Keep using forces to put off/stop voices difference from us as a leader, instead of finding consensus, having a dialogue or at least listen to different opinions, will not make you achieving a united Tibetan society. Will also not getting one closer to the goal of going back to Tibet. After more 50 years, should be able to tell using forces would not getting anyone anyway.
Eli Buchen
March 21, 2015
In the coming days the will be more and more conflict amongst Tibetans, how can such a disunited diaspora lead to anything beneficial or good amongst the Tibetan people no matter what they want to achieve?
Tibet has never been stronger than it is with Buddhism, if I recall correctly historically Dorje Shudgen through the oracles advised Tibet to modernize to face the new world, and there were many actions prescribed by Dorje Shudgen to avert the threats from China, alas most of those things were not done. So Tibet being conquered was not due to Tibet being a spiritual state but because Dorje Shudgen advice were not heeded.
The faction who wants religion or spirituality out of the way, wants to have a free hand in the way they conduct their affairs to get independence from China, to be able to use violence and whatever methods they deem necessary…. to achieve such goals. I feel this faction is not playing to the Tibetan diaspora’s strengths and want to use some ‘Intifada’ kind of strategy to win back Tibet. Tibetan buddhism has a gained a prominent status amongst the world religion, surely that is playing to Tibetan strength than degenerating into a bloodbath to force the Chinese to leave. Chinese determination is apparent and clear for all to see, they are moving droves of Han Chinese to the Tibetan plateau for all intents and purposes the Chinese are determined to stay.
Then we have the ridiculous hit list on the Pro Dalai Lama people by other Pro Dalai Lama people who cannot agree to having a meaningful autonomy, now the world is witness that Tibetans do not tolerate any dissension or can live by a policy of agree to disagree, no discussions is allowed. You are either on my side or you are not. Very silly as doing such a thing may create a second front in the demonstrations against the CTA, probably using the Dalai Lama’s teachings as a platform to gain visibility. Can CTA withstand another type of challenge to their already faltering grasp on the Tibetan people.
sunitta
March 26, 2015
On March 10, 2015, at protests in New York, to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan uprising, in-fighting broke out among the Tibetan protesters there. Here Tibetans were protesting against each other. One group calling for complete freedom of Tibet. The other group for the middle way.
It doesn’t help that the very next day in Beijing – Beijing: Hinting at resuming talks with the Dalai Lama for the first time in several years, China on Wednesday said it is open for a “discussion” with the Tibetan spiritual leader on “relevant issues” other than independence for Tibet or “greater autonomy” for his Himalayan homeland.
“We hope the Dalai Lama can abandon his separatist stance and his deceptive ‘middle way’ approach,” Zhou Weiqun, head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s advisory legislative body a told media briefing here.
Read more at http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2015/03/12/china-hints-at-talks-with-dalai-lama-except-on-tibet-freedom/#28o393QPcXGaFLvg.99
Talks between Dalai Lama’s representatives and Chinese officials were stalled since 2010 and failed to make any progress even after the Nobel laureate said he regarded Tibet as part of China.
China also wants to control the system of recognising the new incarnation of the Dalai Lamas of the future, despite the current Dalai Lama making a statement that he has no intention to reincarnate, that his line of Dalai Lama will end with his death.
As we can all see here, Tibetans or the CTA or the Dalai Lama have very little power to bring about much changes in the political arena of Tibet. China is very much in power and doesn’t seem to have any plans on compromising this situation. In fact they seem keen to keep some culture of Tibet alive e.g the line of Dalai Lamas, but the Dalai Lamas of the future must be under their control.
In my personal opinion, there may be very little that one can do with regards to Tibet’s independence or autonomy, whatever one may want to call it. China is a strong super power and will want to maintain their power over Tibet. Whether that is a right thing or not its not a platform here to debate. In Buddhism, this is the KARMA of Tibet and its people.
But the most beautiful thing that has come out of all these political take overs and conquer etc is that the religion Tibetan Buddhism has spread far and wide during these few years. It has penetrated countries dry of the Dharma. The most beautiful part is that this religion has benefited many sentient beings and I believe will continue to do so in this degenerate times Kali Yuga.
Bless all these High lamas and Tibetan people who have made so much sacrifices and have gone through so much hardship (still going through).
So for those who are still fighting amongst each other, that should all end. It is pointless to fight amongst yourself. Please move on to being harmonious and work out a good future for yourselves and the future generations of tibetans !
Sonam la
April 1, 2015
Om !
May all those negative influences that harm the teaching of the victorious ones through their perverted aspirations –
Those with form and those without form (Shugden) –
All those who work with malicious intentions,
Be annihilated through the truth of the Three Jewels !
Olivia
May 17, 2016
This is such an embarrassment on the Tibetan leadership, we are living in the 21st century now, no country/ leader should encourage such barbarian act. Why must one be punished for believing in their individual beliefs? What happened to the supposedly “democratic country”? What happened to human rights and religious freedom? The leadership should really start bucking up before it’s too late.
Anonymous
August 12, 2018
Dalai Lama should set things right
August 12, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.