An Open Letter to Gelug Monasteries and Sangha Regarding Dorje Shugden

Gyudmed Monastery (Lower Tantric College) Kensur Sonam Gyaltsen’s Letter to Tibetan Buddhists and Tibetan Government-in-exile: An open Letter to Gelug Monasteries & Sangha Regarding Dorje Shugden

Dear all Gurus and monks,

Regarding the letter sent December 30, 2010, and received on January 13, 2011. The content of this letter asked me to give up the protector practice, let me explain:

In 1996 I was the Khenpo (abbot) of Gyudmed Monastery, at that time, from the Khenpo to the new monks at the end of the seats, everybody was to submit a statement to stop propitiating protector. Besides this, the letter also mentioned that we must make sure to cut off all Dharmic and worldly connections with people who pray to Gyalchen (Dorje Shugden) Protector. Such an order is impossible to carry out, please allow me to state my reasons:

Jangtse Dratsang (Gaden Monastery North College) is not a newly built monastery in India, there have been many Gurus, Rinpoches, and Geshes who propitiated Gyalchen Shugden: the attained Gurus that spread the Dharma nectar to learning monks in the Dratsang – Serkong Dorje Chang, his incarnation the 2nd Serkong Dorje Chang, Kenchen Tendakwa Rinpoche, Phara Rinpoche Lobsang Yeshe Sonam Chokyi Wangchuk, (Hardong) Geshe Rinpoche Kenrab Samten, (Gowo) Kensur Yeshe Gawa, (Tsawa) Drokmi Jampa Lodro Rinpoche, (Gowo) Geshe Nyima Gyaltsen, (Gowo) Ken Rinpoche Sonam Kunga.

These great Lamas are great masters who taught Sutra and Tantra teachings in Jangtse Monastery, if we swear to cut off all Dharmic and worldly material relationship with them, it is totally unacceptable. Forcing ourselves to cut off all Dharmic and worldly material relationship with our Gurus is something impossible to do even for non-Buddhists, let alone Buddhists like ourselves. Where did you get your Sutra and Tantra lineage from? Maybe you dug it out from the ground. Ken Rinpoche Sonam Kunga tirelessly taught us a lot of great scriptures, he received the teachings from his Gurus and Geshes. From Serkong Dorje Chang to Ken Rinpoche Sonam Kunga, and all the Dratsang great masters in between, it is widely known that they practiced protector Gyalchen Dorje Shugden.

You forced us monks to cut off all Dharmic and worldly material relationship with them, I cannot do it, because I am a monk, according to Tibetan traditional vinaya code a monk is not allowed to swear. This code is also in Shakyamuni’s Vinaya scripture towards the end, page 392, you can go and check for yourselves. You should request Samdhong Rinpoche, “Please be compassionate, don’t let the monks swear, because monks are not allowed to swear.” But you didn’t request, and you followed Samdhong Rinpoche’s order and you swore, and caused the great Gaden Monastery to fall apart into different factions. I did not swear because I did not want to create schism among Sangha. Some people abuse the vinaya power in their hands, this is widely known, it is like our Tibetan proverbs “The person in charge of the water flour mill is not the main person-in-charge, the head of the farm village is not the government officials.”

I have already quoted the scriptures for you in my letter above, and have shown to you with valid and solid proofs that Gyalchen Dorje Shugden is a saint, is a protector, is a Gelug protector. I am not trying to show off my knowledge in my letter, I wrote it because I had no choice.

It seemed like our government-in-exile had nothing better to do, they spent so many years to create chaos, excommunicate many monks, divided a fine dratsang into two factions, I wrote this letter because I had enough, it is too much.

Regarding Dorje Shugden, we just have to check the historical materials and we will understand the original facts. I wish the unnecessary chaos created in these 40 years can be pacified very soon.

This letter is sent to the religious department, Samdhong Rinpoche and various dratsangs, please read it openly in front of all sangha.

Gyudmed Monastery Kensur Sonam Gyaltsen

January 13, 2011

Written in West Europe

Gyudmed Kensur Sonam Gyaltsen Rinpoche

Gyudmed Kensur Sonam Gyaltsen Rinpoche, or known as Geshe Sonam or Gen Tati, was born in the Year of the Tiger fire, the 13th day of the first Tibetan month (March 13, 1926), in a large family of nomadic herders in Atsa Region, between Kongpo and Kham in central Tibet. Rinpoche entered religious life at the age of 5.

On March 23, 1959, like thousands of his countrymen, Rinpoche fled Tibet for exile in India. In 1971, Rinpoche passed the exams of “Geshe Lharampa” (Doctor in Buddhist philosophy) where he obtained the first rank.

While at Gaden Jangtse, Rinpoche studied under teachers like Phara Rinpoche, Geshe Samten Kenrab, Geshe Nyima Gyaltsen, Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.

In 1974, Rinpoche completed a 600-pages doctoral thesis which the theme focuses on “mental images” at the University of Varanasi, India. Rinpoche arrived in France in 1980, where Rinpoche lived until 1990. That year, Rinpoche was appointed as the Vice-Abbot, then three years later, the Abbot of Gyudmed Dratsang until 1996. After that, Rinpoche returned to and lived in France.

From 2002 to 2006, Rinpoche went into a solitary retreat. Since 2004, Rinpoche devotes his time to writing. Rinpoche completed a treaty on the Vinaya, specifically the ordination of Bhikshuni. It traces the history of the introduction of the Vinaya in Tibet and chronicles the debates, the decisions taken by great masters, and supporting references.

For further reading:

http://anecdotesbouddhistes.blogspot.com/2008/01/gen-tati-gyudmed-khensur-rinpoche-sonam.html

on The Conpendium of Vinaya by Khensur Rinpoche

GADEN JANGTSE THOESAM NORLING MONASTIC UNIVERSITY

Gaden was founded by Je-Rinpoche also known as Lama Tsong-kha Pa in 1409, near Lhasa-the Capital of Tibet. Je-Rinpoche is the founder of Ge-lug-pa tradition or the yellow hat sect of the Tibetan Buddhism. In 1959, the People’s Republic of China invaded Tibet and Gaden Monastery was re-established near Mundgod in Karnataka State, India.

There are two colleges within Gaden monastery named Shartse and Jangtse.

Gaden Jangtse Norling school was started in late 1969 by the initiative and wishes of then Khen Rinpoche and senior monks of the Gaden Jangtse Monastery. Today this monastery continues to be the leading center for learning and practicing the Buddha Dharma. Here the monks study and practice the dharma all their lives. There are more than 1800 monks at present in the monastery.

Every year around 17 to 20 monks are passing Geshe Lharampa degree (20+year degree). Some of them they remain here in the monastery to teach Buddha Dharma to the fellow monks and some of them are appointed as a religious instructor/teachers at different schools in India and abroad.
Lama Camp No.1, P.O.,
Tibetan Colony-581411,
Mundgod, India District North Kanara,
Karnataka State, INDIA.
Phone +91-8301-245-672
http://www.dalailama.com
http://gadenjangtse.com/

GYUDMED TANTRIC MONASTERY IN TIBET

The Gyudmed Monastery was founded in Tibet in 1433 by Lama Je Sherab Senge, the most renowned and celebrated disciple of Lama Je Tsongkhapa. Gyudmed Monastery in Tibet was the first tantric monastery of the Gelugpas and was created in the style of Nalanda, Sera, Drepung, and Gaden monasteries with one difference, these famous monasteries were established for the teaching of sutra, while Gyudmed was established as a centre for the study of Tantra.

Gyudmed Exile in India

After the national uprising against the Chinese in 1959, thousands of Tibetans fled, following His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile in India. One hundred and fifty Gyudmed monks came in the first wave of Tibetan refugees and re-established the monastery temporarily in Dalhousie, Northern India. They stayed there until 1972 when, with the guidance of H.H. the Dalai Lama and the help of the Govt. of Karnataka, they relocated permanently to Gurupura, in the state of Karnataka, in South India. From that beginning, of only one hundred and fifty monks, the monastery grew and has continued to grow, keeping its rituals and cultural traditions alive. Over the years the number of monks has increased to over 500. Of these only 35 remain of the initial group.

From its beginning and up to the present, the monastery has been overseen by an unbroken succession of over 100 Gyudmed abbots and has produced over 50 Gaden Tripas, the official head of the Gelukpa School.

下密院堪苏索朗坚参致流亡政府及藏传佛教
格鲁派各寺师僧们关于雄登护法的公开信
各位多闻持律尊者为首的寺院上师僧职座前 敬启

公历2010年12月30日给我的来信，在2011年1月13日收到。关于信中要我放弃供奉护法神之事，容陈述原委：

1996年，我当时正任下密院堪布（住持），那时，从堪布到末座新僧， 全体已经呈报中止供奉护法的声明书。如果你们认为下密院所呈的声明书不起作用，则其表示它声明书也同样失效了。另外，在来信中提到，要保证与供奉嘉钦(雄登)护法的人，在佛法、财物共享方面断绝一切关系。如此要求是绝对无法做到的。敬请各位僧众听我道明原由：

降孜扎仓（甘丹寺北院）并不是在印度新建的，从来都有供奉嘉钦雄登的上师、活佛、格西。给扎仓的学僧们普施佛雨甘露的吉祥上师自在成就者’色贡金刚持’，二世色贡金刚持转世仁波且、大堪布殿达瓦仁波且（宏教）、帕拉仁波且罗桑益西-索朗曲杰旺秋、哈东格西仁波且钦饶桑殿、郭-卸任堪布益西嘎瓦、擦瓦卓米-向巴罗追仁波且、郭-格西尼玛坚参、郭-大堪布索朗更嘎，这些大德都是在降孜寺广宏显密圣法的无比大恩之主，若要发誓跟他们在佛法和财物上不发生任何关系，那是绝对无法接受的。强令跟自己的上师断绝在佛法与财物方面的关系，这种事情不要说是佛教弟子，甚至是外道者也不可能做到。而你们的显密法脉传承是从哪里来哪里求取的呢？大概是从地下掘藏而来的吧。堪仁波且索朗更嘎尊者不辞辛劳地给我们教导了多少经典大论，他是从他自己的上师格西们那里求到的。从色贡金刚持到索朗更嘎之间的降孜扎仓诸位上师活佛善知识们，供奉嘉钦雄登护法是众所周知的。你强求我一介僧人发誓与他们断绝佛法与财物的关系，我做不到。因为我是一个僧人，不允许发誓是西藏传统的律法，而出家人不准发誓，也是释迦牟尼佛祖在《律部》的法典，在《律》结尾部分第392页中，你们自己可以去看，应该对桑东仁波且请求：”请发发慈悲，不要让僧人发誓，因为僧人不允许发誓”。而你们没有这样去请求。竟按照桑东仁波且的要求发了誓，结果就导致甘丹大寺四分五裂的局面。我没有发誓的原因是不想制造和合僧众分裂事件罢。有些人滥用手中的律法权力，这是众所周知的，其实就象我们藏族有句俗话说： 水磨房管事非总管，庄园的主人不算官。

在我给你们的上封信中已经引经据典、有理有据地说明了嘉钦多杰雄登是圣士、是护法神、是格鲁派护法。这并不是因我有学问而在书信中炫耀，是处于无奈才写的。

我们的流亡政府好象除此之外再无事可做一样，用这么多年时间制造混乱，驱逐众多僧人，把一个好端端的扎仓分裂成两派，我实在是忍无可忍才写了回信。

关于雄登护法的事，只要翻查一下历史资料就能明白原委。但愿这四十年来无端制造的混乱事件早日得以平息。

此书信呈送给相关宗教部门、桑东仁波且及诸寺扎仓，请在广大僧众前公开宣读。

下密院堪苏索朗坚参于

2011年1月13日 于西欧

德钦朗仁学会 编译

举麦（下密院）堪苏索朗坚参仁波切

举麦（下密院）堪苏索朗坚参仁波切 ，或称为格西索朗或塔蒂导师，于西藏火虎年1月13日（1926年3月13日）出生在阿扎地区一个游牧民的家庭内。阿扎位于西藏中部康巴和贡布之间。仁波切在5岁时进入宗教生活。

1959年3月23日，仁波切和成千上万的藏民们逃离西藏流亡印度。仁波切在1971年通过”拉让巴格西”（佛教哲学博士）考试，仁波切获得了最高学位– 第一等级格西。

在甘丹降孜，仁波切师从多位大师 学习，其中包括了：帕拉仁波切，格西桑殿钦饶，格西尼玛坚赞，至尊赤江金刚持和尊贵的宋仁波切。

1974年，仁波切于印度的瓦拉纳西大学完成了600页的博士论文，其主题是以”心理图像”为重点。仁波切在1980年抵达法国，并在那儿居住至1990年。那年，仁波切被委任为举麦扎仓的副住持。

三年后，仁波切被委任为住持，直到1996年。之后，仁波切返回并居住在法国。

从2002年到2006年，仁波切进行闭关。自2004年以来，仁波切把时间专注于写作。仁波切完成了关于戒律概要，尤其是关于比丘尼受戒。其内容追溯戒律在西藏的历史、辩论、大师们的决定，以及相关参考。

更多信息:

举麦（下密院）堪苏索朗坚参仁波切 ：

http://anecdotesbouddhistes.blogspot.com/2008/01/gen-tati-gyudmed-khensur-rinpoche-sonam.html

堪苏仁波切所编写的戒律概要：

http://www.choeurdutibet.chez-alice.fr/documents/CompendiumOfVinayaTexts.pdf

甘丹降孜诺林学院

杰仁波切或宗喀巴大师于1409年在靠近西藏首府拉萨成立了甘丹寺。杰仁波切是藏传佛教黄帽教派的创始人。

1959年，中国人民共和国入侵西藏。 甘丹寺重新建立于印度卡纳塔克孟过。

甘丹寺寺院内有两个学院， 分别为萨济和降孜。

甘丹降孜诺林学院因甘丹降孜寺堪仁波切和诸位高僧大德的倡议和意愿，于1969年末重新成立。

如今，这个寺院继续为学习和实践佛法的首要学府。这里的僧侣们一生奉献于学习并实践佛法。目前在寺院的僧人高达1800多名。

每年约17至20位僧侣们通过”拉让巴格西”学位考试（必须研读20年以上以取得学位）。其中有些会继续留在寺院，在这里传授佛法于众僧侣们，其中有些被委任为在印度及国外学府的宗教导师。

地址：

Lama Camp No.1, P.O.,
Tibetan Colony-581411,
Mundgod, India District North Kanara,
Karnataka State, INDIA.

电话：+91-8301-245-672

http://www.dalailama.com

http://gadenjangtse.com/

举麦扎仓(西藏密宗寺院- 下密院)

举麦扎仓寺由杰些绕森给喇嘛始建于1433年，宗喀巴大师最知名的弟子。举麦寺是西藏的第一个格鲁派密宗寺院，以那烂陀寺、色拉寺、和哲蚌寺的风格创建，唯有一点不同–这些著名的寺院建立了经教学，而举麦却为立密宗的研修而成立。

举麦流亡印度

在1959年，成千上万的藏民跟随达赖喇嘛流亡至印度。150位举麦僧侣们随着第一波西藏难民在印度北部达尔豪西重新建立暂时的寺院。他们在那里居住到1972年。由于达赖喇嘛和卡纳塔克邦政府的帮忙，他们永久迁居于南印度卡纳塔克邦的沽鲁波扎。从初期的150位僧侣，寺院开始并持续地增长，保存其仪式和文化传统。多年来僧侣的数目已增至500多位，其中只有35人来自初期组群。

从始至今，寺院经历了超过100多位住持，并创造了超过50位甘丹赤巴 – 格鲁派法座持有者。