Nottigham Post

[Demian]

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133965&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133948&contentPK=20728458&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch&bustcache=&1212007368640#views

DALAI LAMA: NOTTINGHAM PROTEST
7 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.

09:00 - 28 May 2008

Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns gathered in the Old Market Square yesterday afternoon to protest against the Dalai Lama.

Members of the Western Shugden Society chanted and demonstrated against what they say was religious repression as the Tibetan leader has banned a traditional Buddhist prayer and Deity.

One placard read 'Dalai Lama Give Religious Freedom'. In 1996 the Dalai Lama advised Tibetans against using the Dorje Shugden prayer and worshipping Shugden, saying it could lead to Buddhism becoming a cult of spirit worship.


Although he had previously used the prayer and worshipped the Deity himself, he said he later realised it had been a mistake.

According to the protesters in Nottingham, Buddhists found practising Shugden worship in India, where the exiled Dalai Lama now lives, were being expelled and abused.

Organiser Kelsang Pema said: "People are suffering - people are having their houses burned and people are denied food and material things in monasteries if they are practicing this prayer."

Kelsang Pema said she was delighted with the turn-out and people had come from as far as New Zealand, Mexico and Brazil. She said: "Hopefully we will be able to get a meaningful discussion from the Dalai Lama from this."

The Dalai Lama was giving five days of teaching at the Nottingham Arena. He leaves the city today.

A statement on the official agency of the Dalai Lama, reads: "His Holiness has not forced anyone to stop pursuing this practice."a href="mailto:[email protected]" class="lblue" [email protected] /a

[cheyenne]

Dear Simon, London

Do you deny then that the Dalai Lamas actions are causing suffering within the Tibetan ordained and lay communities in India?

Do you think it is OK for the creation of a split in the Sangha, a heinous action?

This is the crux of the reason for demonstrations.

Your hatred of the NKT is blinding you to real suffering in India.

There are many Tibetan and non NKT Shugden practitioners supporting these demonstrations.

Cheyenne

[Lineageholder]

I'm so happy about this article in the Nottingham Post!  It shows that our message is getting through because they are now stating the facts rather than the bias and distortions of people like Madeline Bunting ten years ago.  Our karma is different this time around, I feel sure we can make our case for the world to hear.  The Dalai Lama's duplicitious actions will be shown up for what they are and people will no longer be blinded by his false celebrity and persona as a 'man of peace'.

It's only a matter of time before the world's press investigates and discovers the nasty truth of this whole issue, just as the Swiss TV team discovered it ten years ago, except this time there will be more press.   There will be nowhere for the Dalai Lama to hide; his simple denials of violence and discrimination will not be enough to silence them when they see the evidence for themselves.

I'm also happy that there are more people coming to this forum to criticize us, this is also a sign that our demonstrations are working.  All the Maras of the world can gather here but truth will never be defeated - come in your thousands, it won't make any difference.  At least your views won't be suppressed, unlike on Esangha.  The victory banner of Dorje Shugden practice can never be overcome, just as Buddha Shakyamuni was impervious to their harm at the time of his enlightenment.  The Three Jewels will always triumph over ignorance.

May everything be auspicious!