Amchok Rinpoche (right) with Sichuan government official Cui Baohua. The two are said to be very close and are “old friends”.
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].
In 1959, the Tibetans were exiled from Tibet. Given asylum by India for the next 100 years, the Tibetans re-established themselves as refugees in South India. Although life as refugees was full of hardship, they endured all, hoping that that they may one day return to their home in Tibet; a task which H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and his government appeared to place great importance on, but with no results to show so far.
Fast forward 56 years later, two generations of Tibetans have lived out of Tibet. The Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is no closer to bringing their people back to Tibet than they were half a decade ago, despite going as far as demoting the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE) to CTA in order to entice China to be more accepting of their Middle Way stance.
Many Tibetans realized this reality and have migrated to richer Western countries to have a brighter future than what was being offered by the CTA. Although outwardly, Tibetans starting a new life abroad is not a big deal, but behind closed doors, it is a known fact that the CTA heavily discourage Tibetans from receiving naturalized citizenships from foreign countries, as they desperately try to claim each and every exiled Tibetan for their own benefit and power.
With these factors in mind, it seems astonishing to hear news that Amchok Rinpoche, an ex-abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery, one of the biographers for H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama who also compiles the teachings of the Dalai Lama, and an ex-member of the Dalai Lama’s private office, has defected to China’s Tibet.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with his former personal biographer and confidant, Amchok Rinpoche (right). Notice Amchok Rinpoche who, in a traditional gesture of devotion, remains bowed, keeps his head lower than the Dalai Lama’s and holds his hand in a way that implies he supports the Dalai Lama. So is his move to China a genuine defection or are there other underlying reasons?
Could it be that Amchok Rinpoche have lost hope for the Dalai Lama and the CTA that he decided to return to China’s Tibet, the sworn enemy of the CTA; despite the risks of being scorned and branded a traitor to the Tibetan cause by the Tibetan public and authorities?
It is common to see people who are not favoured by the pro-Dalai Lama’s group, such as the Dorje Shugden practitioners, being put down and accused of selling themselves out to the Chinese. These people are ostracised within the Tibetan community, often due to false allegations by the CTA and more often than never have been brought to the media’s attention for defamation and shame. Yet, here what we witness today happens to be one of Dalai Lama’s close confidants. More people are leaving the Tibetan settlements in India as they see no hope. Are they truly loyal to the Dalai Lama when they leave India to live comfortable lives in Western countries, instead of trying to remain as close to their leader as possible? In fact, this second Tibetan diaspora from India to other countries also sees many Tibetans returning to Tibet, China. However their moves remain unreported as they are not high profile like Amchok Rinpoche.
Supposing some people give Amchok Rinpoche the benefit of the doubt, and claim that this story is nothing but Chinese propaganda stirred by China in order to paint a bad picture of the CTA, and that China is being generous by accepting exiled Tibetans back into China. However, it is incredibly difficult to believe that Amchok Rinpoche would put himself in a position to be used for propaganda, unless done intentionally, especially since this is not Amchok Rinpoche’s first time visiting China.
The fact it is not Amchok Rinpoche’s first time visiting China highlights a number of hypocrisies on the CTA’s part. Their silence regarding the Dalai Lama’s personal biographer making repeated visits to China over many years, and befriending Chinese officials on a personal level is in stark contrast to their vocal criticism of Shugden lamas who are pictured with Chinese officials. It is clear that if anyone does not share the same opinion as the CTA, they are branded as traitors and accused of being anti-Dalai Lama. However, the same action becomes perfectly acceptable if it furthers the CTA’s own interests.
Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)
How effectively the CTA functions as a governing body is debatable. It is evident that in the last 60 years in exile, the CTA has achieved nothing close to getting independence. The CTA’s influence has seen a huge decline, especially since they have not been able to convince the Tibetans to unite. Seeing how the CTA has failed to meet with its objective and even those who are pro-Dalai Lama are going against their policies, like Amchok Rinpoche who took things in his own hands. Now it seems Amchok Rinpoche is the one getting Chinese government aide and finances.
The inconsistency in the CTA has brought itself to the doorstep of its own downfall. On one hand they persecute Shugden Lamas who they claim have been receiving money from the Chinese despite having zero evidence to back up that claim; yet when it comes to those who are working closely with them, similar issues are swept under the carpet and hoped that people do not talk about it again. It is through such poor governance that members of their own parliament can get away with murder, and embezzlement, or even defect back to China’s Tibet, an act that Tibetans consider as a huge disgrace and betrayal towards the Dalai Lama.
Similarly with the persecution of Shugden Buddhists, we can see how biased and senseless the CTA has been in clamping down the freedom of Shugden practitioners when everything they accused Shugden practitioners have committed, the same or worst is being done in their own backyard. As to how the CTA is going to react with Amchok Rinpoche’s move, it sure opens up the possibility for the Shugden ban to be eliminated soon. Amchok Rinpoche one of the close people to the Dalai Lama has defected back to China and proudly says now he is a Chinese citizen.
Achok Rinpoche’s biography
In this biography of Achok Rinpoche, it states clearly that he is the former abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and was the biographer of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Click to enlarge (Source: http://www.tibetcenter.at/1/education-program/teachers-of-the-institute/ven-achok-rinpoche/)
English
Click to enlarge (Source: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1861793/dalai-lamas-former-biographer-takes-residence-mainland)
Chinese
Click to enlarge (Source: http://www.tibet.cn/news/focus/1443276477544.shtml)
Tibetan
Click to enlarge (Source: http://bangchen.net/achok-rinpoche-returned-to-tibet-settle/)
In the Media
The news of Amchok Rinpoche’s defection is now being publicised on Chinese media.
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
(Newspapers above also available HERE and HERE for easier reference)
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Left column (starting at the light blue box):
Dalai’s Close Official Returned to Settle in Sichuan, Receiving Mark of Courtesy
Official media widely reported that in May this year, Achok Rinpoche who has served key positions in the exiled Tibetan Spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama’s “Government In Exile”, declined to participate in the Dalai Lama’s 80-year-old birthday celebrations, returning from India to China, to settle in Aba Sichuan, and receiving mark of courtesy from the government. Achok Rinpoche could be the first important member of the Dalai Lama “government in exile” to return home in 30 years. Beijing’s scholar, Jiang Zhaoyong told this newspaper that “this is an important change in Beijing’s policy on Tibet, and I hope this will play a role in dividing and splitting up Dalai Lama’s “government in exile”.
Achok Rinpoche was born in Sichuan, Markam County in 1944. He is the third incarnation, associated with Tsanney Gompa. In 1959, when he was 15 years old, Achok Rinpoche followed the Dalai Lama into exile in India. Achok Rinpoche served as director for the Dalai Lama’s “Government In Exile” Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institute, director for the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and other key positions.
The official China Tibet website reported that Achok Rinpoche first visited China in 1982. Since then, he has returned to the mainland several times to visit relatives and friends in his hometown in Sichuan. On August 30th 2012, receiving approval from the Central United Front Work Department, Achok Rinpoche came home. According to reports, “every time he returned home, he witnessed tremendous changes in the rapid development of the motherland and his hometown,” he also thinks that the Chinese high standard of living and a variety of social security are such that even those living in Dharamsala or in the big Indian cities do not dare to dream about, and “the only hope and way out for overseas Tibetans is only in China.”
Late last year, Achok Rinpoche had injured himself from a fall. The Sichuan government sent experts to treat him. Achok Rinpoche subsequently filed a formal application to reside permanently in China. In April, his application was approved by the Sichuan Provincial Government. He received the news that his application was approved and returned early in May, not attending the the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday celebrations although he was invited.
On the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival, Sichuan Provincial Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department, Cui Baohua visited Achok Rinpoche in the Aba Tsanney Gompa on September 22nd, conveying greetings from Sichuan Provincial Party Committee’s Wang Dongming, and Sichuan Province Governor Wei Hong. According to reports, the first words that Achok Rinpoche blurted out when meeting Cui was: “I am truly a Chinese citizen now!”
It was reported that when Achok Rinpoche spoke about his wandering life of 56 years, his eyes had flashes of hardship and helplessness. He said, “While in the past I have been a Chinese citizen in name, but I was wearing the coat of ‘refugee’ for decades. Today, I am considered a real Chinese citizen.” Achok Rinpoche is the current abbot of Tsanney Gompa.
Tsanney means “institute of philosophy”. It is one of the monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and the first monastery in Aba to implement debate. It has also established subsidiary monasteries in many areas, and it is one of the three major monasteries in the Aba region.
Middle column (under the main headline):
“This is a bit unusual!” said Jiang Zhaoyong, a independent Beijing researcher on Mongolian, Tibetan and other ethnic issues, who said that extensive reporting of the return of Achok Rinpoche reflects Beijing’s preparation to deal with the post-Dalai Lama era. This also shows the important policy change of the United Front and that this “will have some effects” on Tibetans who have been wandering for decades.
By the end of 1978, the central government promoted “All patriots belong to one big family, whether they rally to the common cause early or late”, welcoming visits by overseas Tibetan compatriots to return home for visits. In the 1980s, some influential Tibetans have continued to return to settle in China. After the Tiananmen Square Protests, although China is still in contact with the Dalai Lama, there has not been any progress. Achok Rinpoche may well be the first influential overseas Tibetan to return home in 30 years.
Jiang Zhaoyong also said that Achok Rinpoche’s repatriation could not have been determined by the Sichuan Provincial Government alone. It was the decision of the Central Government, and it is an important preparation by Beijing to deal with the post-Dalai Lama era, as well as United Front’s strategy in hopes to divide and split up the Dalai Lama’s “government in exile” in India. He also mentioned that the Tibetans who exiled together with the Dalai Lama have been wandering for decades, and that their Indian identity issue has not been resolved. They are still refugees and as they age, the longing to return to homeland gets stronger. The official announcements of the repatriation of Achok Rinpoche and of him receiving the mark of courtesy from the local government, “will have some effects!” to attract more Tibetans to repatriate.
In addition, the Dalai Lama announced that due to health reasons, the trip to the United States in October is cancelled. Agence France-Presse said that the decision would lead to concern about the Dalai Lama’s health from his supporters. However, the Dalai Lama’s secretary Tenzin Takla, said that there is nothing wrong with the Dalai Lama’s health.
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Kelsang Wangmo
September 28, 2015
This news is big and also very important. It shows that the Dalai Lama/CTA’s handling of Shugden affairs as well as other secular affairs are not going down well. Many Tibetans have left for Western countries instead of staying in India near the Dalai Lama and that says something. If they are loyal, stay near Dalai Lama. But in the West although they are comfortable, their children are losing the Tibetan culture and assimilating into Western culture. This is a greater danger to preserving Tibetan culture, language and customs. Going back to Tibet is a better choice. China is changing it’s policies to lure more Tibetans to return back to Tibet, China. Now more and more have returned. Amchok Rinpoche is high profile being that he worked closely with the Dalai Lama for decades. But more Tibetans have been returning and finding life quite comfortable in Tibet where their children do not lose their Tibetan identity.
Mary Kay
September 29, 2015
For me the compassionate side of Achok Rinpoche has brought him back to China. For highly attained Lamas like him, it doesn’t matter where they live or what hardships they may have to endure. Achok Rinpoche’s focus is how best to benefit more people.
Achok Rinpoche’s first visit to China was since 1982. That was a brave move for him especially being such a close member of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Achok Rinpoche must have been strictly scrutinised by the China government during each of his visits to China. Overtime, Achok Rinpoche must have gained the confidence of the China government . When he fell in 2014 and hurt himself, the China government offered medical assistance to Achok Rinpoche. They trust and respect him.
This in my opinion is very important, the relationship between the Tibetan government and the China government must close ranks in order to benefit its people. There is no point arguing and squabbling as that’s all been done over 50 years and nothing really positive came out of it. These two parties ought to shake hands and be friends in order for a better future for everyone.
Similarly with the Dorje Shugden controversy, the ban should come down and everyone become friends again. Put into practice the teachings of the great sage Buddha Shakyamuni !
Ian Rutherford
September 29, 2015
Well Amchok Rinpoche’s defection to China from India make Dalai Lama and CTA look bad?
Valerie Cheung
September 29, 2015
Achok Rinpoche not an ordinary monk, he made the best decision during this period of time to benefit many different level. Honestly it’s has been more than 50 years that CTA still no result getting Tibet back to them and at the same time China is getting more acceptance and recognition from all over the world. The fact was CTA couldn’t win the battle at the first place and what make CTA to win now!
Instead of winning back Tibet, CTA and Dalai Lama building up their bad name through Dorje Shugden Ban to suppress millions of DS practitioners no freedom for religious, no educational and medical support for DS’s tibetan, this is crucial. Perhaps lift the ban first, prioritize to take care your own people welfare and get everyone united.
THIS BAN MUST COME DOWN.
Lovett
September 30, 2015
@Ian Rutherford
This is really not about how it makes CTA and the Dalai Lama looks. It is about the fact that CTA is totally quiet when one of its own switch sides and they are totally quiet. Usually, when any Shugden lama so much as shake hands in a picture with a Chinese official, the lama is branded traitors and that they are taking money from the Chinese. Now, they are totally and will remain quiet because they are embarrassed. It is this double standards that reveals one of the many things are wrong with CTA and its governance, which of course is this huge and glaring ban on Dorje Shugden.
Dan
September 30, 2015
@Lovett, you are spot on.
Amongst the pictures above are some taken of Amchok Rinpoche with an official from the United Front Work Dept. But when Lama Gangchen had a picture taken with officials from the same Chinese government department, he is treated as a traitor.
Why isn’t Amchok Rinpoche similarly accused, seeing that his dealings with the Chinese went back even further? Really shows that CTA’s accusations of Shugden lamas and people are just propaganda hot air.
http://lhasadaily.com/opinion/25-views-analysis/609-7-signs-of-a-cult-and-a-dangerous-nexus-who-are-the-anti-dalai-lama-protesters
Eli Buchen
October 3, 2015
I think CTA has failed in 50 years of bad policies and incorrect steps to bring about betterment for Tibetan people. And naturally hypocritical for having one standard for Dorje Shugden people despite little evidence are accused of being traitors, and now another standard for Amchok Rinpoche.
I do not not think Amchok Rinpoche returned to China to experience the pleasant and modern facilities China has to offer, he went back to China t bring the dharma to more Chinese people who are increasingly more ready for spiritual practices.
Ian Rutherford
October 8, 2015
@Lovett, You are right. Why is CTA/Dalai Lama quiet about this? Because they look bad. Their own people straying and he was the Dalai Lama’s personal biographer. I guess it’s the Tibetan way of doing this which is to sweep it under the carpet. CTA has always been a double standard and that explains their failure in securing anything for Tibet and Tibetans.
sunitta
October 9, 2015
It is hard to put aside the 8 wordly concerns and the ego bit when you realise that your methods are not effective and yet you do not want to acknowledge it openly. That is probably how the CTA is reacting now. They have realised their methods and efforts bring little results. Hence they now have to “plant” in a holy man to try to bridge their relationship with China. It will be too dangerous for them to stay adamant as China is so big and strong and stubborn, this bridge may risk being entirely burnt and losing all connections whatsoever with Tibet.
By having a sincere practitioner like Amchok Rinpoche go in to spread the Dharma, creates a chance for the ties and talks to remain.
Lovett
October 12, 2015
Well… well… well… A Dalai Lama stalwart had settled down in China it seems. Doesn’t say much of his connection with CTA and the Dalai Lama. Perhaps, he… like many older Tibetans are just tired of CTA’s propaganda and just wanna return to China. I am sure when the Dalai Lama enters clear light, CTA would slowly fall apart. I hope… along with CTA, the Shugden ban falls apart too… May the future incarnation of the Dalai Lama be a Dorje Shugden stalwart for a change!
Rinchen
November 14, 2015
This is indeed a very big news.
It clearly shows that the CTA does not know what they are doing. They are accusing Dorje Shugden lamas of meeting and getting money from China, yet, Amchok Rinpoche has done all these as well. And He is a confidant of H.H Dalai Lama.
Thus, why did the CTA not say anything? With what has happened it clearly shows that they are guilty of something thus wanted everything to be as hush hush as possible.
It is obvious now that CTA is indeed falling apart with not much support from the people that they used to have. 50 years have passed, yet they do not have any improvements at all. China is clamping down on the regulations, and more and more Tibetans are supporting China as well. CTA is just left aside, they will soon have to bite the dust.
Sarah
November 22, 2015
Amchok Rinpoche’s return to China might influence Tibetans living in India and elsewhere in the world to repatriate. China’s change in policy on Tibet makes it easier for Tibetans to return. After years of wandering, I’m sure many are tired of life as a refugee and would like to settle down, close to their relatives and friends. I think it is a great opportunity for Tibetan lamas like Amchok Rinpoche to spread Dharma in China, not only to Tibetans but also to the Chinese people. I don’t think Amchok Rinpoche is attracted to the high standard of living in China. For enlightened beings, home is where the Dharma is. I hope more and more lamas will follow his example.
Bond
December 19, 2015
Despite having serving in key positions in the exiled Tibetan Government (CTA), Rinpoche has make several trips to China & this could have been one of the many important contributing factors to the relaxing of Beijing’s policy on Tibet. I think Amchok Rinpoche returning to his homeland is not because he is attracted to the high standard & security of living in China. In my opinion it is a compassionate move by Amchok Rinpoche because his return to China open the opportunity for more Tibetans living in exile all over the world to be able to return to their home land Tibet having been wandering around the world for over 60 years.
Secondly, the fact that CTA has kept silence about Rinpoche’s several visit to China before his repatriation also reflects the credibility & inconsistency of CTA in their way of policy making & governance. It goes without saying when it comes to the Shugden Ban, since they have not even be able to produce a single evident linking the Chinese to any Shugden practitioners.
This is one of the many failures of CTA and hopefully it would bring to its own downfall & the Shugden’s ban as well soon,
come back
January 21, 2016
This is very sad and upset news on this person Ven Achok Rinpoche, I as a person saw him working here. I always expecting him as a next personal of our community but it is unfortunate. So it is very hard to give judgement on any individual. He is a scholar, intellectual person having rich knowledge besides being an incarnated Lama. Today as our Society is flowing in a very critical condition we need these person for the sake of our country but unfortunate not happening as per ones wishes. Shugden in concern, special to our westerner/western friends, if you really saying Buddhism, you should not think of these deities, these deities more or less like a police guarding you from any miscreants. They are not an ultimate refuge to seek for the benefit of your individual. Moreover to that they will drag you to sin as what was happened in our com last many years ago both back in Tibet as well in exile. So before writing something, it is must as normally do have in nature to the westerner. You never do anything without going thorough, investigating, doing research and else. But in this regard, sometime we feel you are been sold for dollars or Euro for doing so otherwise it is not possible.
Michaela Smith
May 8, 2016
Dear Tenzin Wangchuk
Thank you for the news about Amchok Rinpoche defecting to Tibet, China. 56 years is indeed a long time and Tibetans in exile are loosing their patient with their leadership. On the other hand, they see their Tibetan counterpart in China are treated better and can actually practice their faith without coercion from the leadership and experienced better welfare in general. If that is the case, then what is the point and of staying in exile with all its limitations?
I think it has become more clear each day that the refugees future in India are becoming more bleak. In addition, there is no freedom of speech and will as those who defy the Dalai Lama are constantly being intimidated or labeled as traitor.
I think we will see more and more high profile personalities from Tibetan government in exile defecting to other more prosperous countries in the future.
Michaela
Dharmacrazy
May 8, 2016
This is what a real government should do: identify the value of its people and arrange for these values to be utilized in ways that will benefit the nation and its people in the long run. Proper governments think long-term. It is amazing that the Chinese is already addressing the post-Dalai Lama era and identified gaps that will pose potential problems and take early action to minimize possible damage.
Some people might say that this is not done with pure motivation but political motivation to embarrass the Dalai Lama and CTA. Well, the Chinese government is a political body. At least they not a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They are what they are: politicians of a rising world power.
By attracting Tibetans back to China, China is taking the last thing away from the Tibetan leadership: its people. CTA has already lost its land and it status as a country and government a while ago. All they have are Tibetans who are still loyal. However, instead of loving, caring for and protecting its people, the CTA does nothing for them. The CTA cannot even issue Tibetans proper identification cards or a passport! What type of leadership is this!?!
In worst cases like the Dorje Shugden practitioners, the lineage of Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, Drukpa Kagyu and Jonangpa just to name a few, the CTA is consciously creating havoc and suffering.
CTA is no leadership and their end will come from within. It is unfortunately the karma they created for themselves.
Ashok Rao
May 8, 2016
Well this doesn’t bode well for the Central Tibetan Administration or the Dalai Lama’s office. For someone so close to the Dalai Lama, such as her personal biographer to have left Dharamsala to live in China, it shows just what sort of place the Tibetan Administration is.
Working for the Tibetan Administration must really be a challenging and ridiculous if such a close aid has to feel that he must move to China in order to be free of their influence and for their piece of mind.
Domeo
May 8, 2016
Say Whaaaaatttttt? And they call Shugdenpas Chinese Dog? Oh.. How come the CTA does not say anything about this??? Why they are shut up when it comes to news like this? I dont see any website, twitter, target attacks on Fb and on forums about this Rinpoche, on top of that he is the Dalai Lama’s biographer??? Huh? Wowowow… why no one say anything? Why so double standard?
Amchok Rinpoche is very smart, I guess he sees the end of CTA is coming, He might as well become friends with China and help the Tibetans over there. See this is how you make friends with China and help your people, if really you are about helping your people. C’mon two face CTA, go arrest him and stick his face all over Dharamsala to incite attack on him… and say he is Chinese spy right under the Dalai Lama’s nose and you could not even sniff him out and cannot even do a thing. How useless and how selective you guys are. Makes me wonder why does CTA even exist? Who really cares? Who and which one of the superpower country even recognise you? Time to humble down, time to apologise and time to make friends for the sake of your own people but then again it was always about your personal pockets instead of your people. Sad but true isn’t it.
Marissa
May 8, 2016
I was waiting for some statement from the CTA or Dalai Lama’s department to denounce Achok Rinpoche as a turncoat etc but there is none. So I see again the bias of the CTA – if a Shugden monk were to visit China once, he is regarded as a traitor and an enemy of the Tibetan people. But it is OK for a non-Shugden lama to return there and become a Chinese resident.
Whether intended or not, Achok Rinpoche shows that any Tibetan can return to China now without being persecuted. Its no point waiting for the CTA and DL to ‘take them home’ because the actions of the Tibetan leadership is not in the interest of the Tibetan public or the global Buddhist community.
Aloysius Bong
May 8, 2016
The situation in Dharamsala is getting from bad to worse. The government (CTA) is corrupt, the welfare of the Tibetans there are being neglected, the Dalai Lama did nothing to push the government to improve the lives of the people there, so why would anyone stay? Of course they would leave in the first instance to somewhere better, even back to China the “nemesis”. This shows you how bad Dharamsala has become.
Olivia
May 8, 2016
This sure is a massive downfall to the Tibetan leadership, even someone so close to His Holiness would not live in Tibet. It goes to show how backwards and deteriorated the administration is, even to the extent that His Holiness’s very own biographer refuses to stay in Tibet. Shame on the leadership.
The Central Tibetan Administration’s corruption is something that’s undeniable and it’s a well-known fact. If they continue to persecute and fool their own people, very soon they will receive backlashes as karma exists and it’s inescapable.
Lovett
May 9, 2016
Marissa, That’s right and don’t forget how the Tibetan leadership are all just hypocritical. They are really not concerned about the Chinese afiliation because it looks like its just another way to get people. In TIbetan society, anything related to the Chinese makes any Tibetan look like a traitor and it doesn’t matter if they are really a spy or not. Anyway, Dalai Lama ppl like Achok Rinpoche really highlights the hypocrisy of the Tibetan leadership. It’s just too bad…
Tashi Choezom
May 9, 2016
Traitor . He is traitor to all the Tibetan pretend to be our people but now is going to take China passport. I am embarrass for him . Is our rangzen ladeb not good enough for this “Rinpoche” ? Hahaha
Amber Sonam
May 10, 2016
CTA really disappointed the Tibetans and forced everyone to seek asylum elsewhere. They’re so short sighted and stupid on many levels: 1) create negative karmas to lower rebirths; 2) create animosity among Tibetans; 3) lose trust in supporters and kind sponsors; 4) show no results in their governance; 5) no success in any of their activities, and the list goes on. I feel worried for them because it is too obvious where they are heading to. I feel worried for the Tibetans in exile and their devotion to such incapable governance since at least the time of 5th Dalai Lama.
Camilia
May 26, 2016
It is easy to put the blame the plight of Tibetans in exile on China because of what happened in the past. But the pro-longed blame is not helping 2 generations of Tibetans in exile. China is fast becoming an economy power house and a force to be reckoned with. We can either accept and try to understand more, or stay in denial and fight it. But what is the benefit of fighting it? Understanding this development, and that China is here to stay and will continue to exert influences globally is a more intelligent option. Moreover, China gives religious freedom to all faiths, and especially important for Tibetans as this allows and protects the Dorje Shugden practice.
While on the other hand, the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is no closer to bringing Tibetans in exile back to Tibet than they were half a decade ago. CTA continuous baseless claims that Shugden Lamas receiving money from the Chinese, poor governance of fund to aid welfare of Tibetans community, bias law where own parliament can get away with murder and embezzlement, had finally brought itself to the doorstep of downfall. It is therefore not surprising for Achok Rinpoche, one of the close people to the Dalai Lama, the former abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and the biographer of the Dalai Lama has defected back to China and proudly says now he is a Chinese citizen.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 11, 2018
What will the all the people around the world and in Tibet do now? Dalai Lama says he is happy that Tibet is a part of China and should remain a part of China. So many Tibetans self-immolated for Tibet to be independent and now Dalai Lama did a 360 degree turn and says he wants to go back to Tibet and China and Tibet should be a part of China. So unbelievable. So many are angry and disappointed.
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.