Greetings to all,
Here is a petition letter that I sent to Indian officials in South India and Indian Embassies in North America. Please do the same. Lets continue to fight the good cause.
February 20, 2008
PETITION
Dear Mr.
On January 8th 2008, a referendum was held to vote on the practice of Dorje Shugden, a deity worshiped by monks in the monasteries of Sera, Drepung and Gaden. This worship is a 370 year old unbroken and unadulterated tradition. Monks and lay people alike have been worshiping this deity for hundreds of years. This tradition is passed on from father to son, from one generation to the next. The right to worship Dorje Shudgen freely has been gravely infringed upon in India. This ban on Dorje Shugden, and efforts made by the Dalai Lama, his govt.-in-exile and Abbots of Sera, Drepung and Gaden to eradicate the practice and worship of Dorje Shugden violates the fundamental right of an individual and group to worship freely. This has led to discrimination and segregation. It has led to the voting with yellow and red sticks. Please note that this very act of the Dorje Shugden issue reaching the ballot box is illegal as it violates one’s basic rights to worship freely.
India’s constitution guarantees FREEDOM OF RELIGION as a fundamental right with which no person or state shall interfere. Upon instructions and encouragement of the Dalai Lama and his government, the Abbots and officials of these monasteries have taken upon themselves to collect votes, make individual monks take oaths, and given stern warnings of expulsion from the monasteries if they do not comply. Under extreme pressure and threats of being excommunicated from their monasteries, and the society at large, many monks have voted and taken the oath .
This referendum of January 8, 2008 also calls for a break from all activities and ties with worshipers of Dorje Shugden be it monastic gatherings, chanting of prayers, having meals together or everyday contact. For worshipers of Dorje Shugden this now means that they cannot freely visit the sacred monasteries, freely pay homage, freely pray together, freely eat together, freely attend teachings, freely sponsor teachings, freely give donations or freely be a part of the larger monastic and spiritual community in any way, shape or form.
Monks from Dokhang Khamtsen, Mundgod, South India having refused to participate in this referendum and voting have humbly removed themselves from Ganden Shartse, their parent monastery. This they have done in order to avoid any sort of rioting, violence, in-fighting, confusion or chaos.
Monks from Pomora Khamtsen of Sera Mey, Bylakupee, South India have refused to vote, and chosen to contest their expulsion and ostracization. The Great Monlam (prayer) Festival is yet to take place in Sera Mey. There are strong indications that the Abbots and officials of Sera Mey are planning to hand out ID cards and arm bands to identify non-Dorje Shugden worshipers in order to weed out the Dorje Shugden monks should they arrive for the Great Monlam Festival. This is not only tragic but violates another fundamental right - FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION.
I write this letter as a concerned human being who values and believes in the principles of democracy and one who cannot bear to see such injustice. It is my hope that your government, and your offices recognize these unjust and illegal acts. We petition the Indian government and its offices to please stop this travesty and violation of fundamental rights. Please do not compromise your nation’s democratic ideals. India has a long standing tradition of religious tolerance and religious diversity. Please grant Dorje Shugden worshipers equal rights, and ensure that these monks are treated fairly.
Sincerely,
