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As time goes by and whoever in the Western Shugden Society published the PDF is not willing to change some sentences that we consider harmful for the common purpose, since this common purpose is of such great importance we are willing to continue trying to change the mind of the publisher/s.
To do this it's necessary now to further analyze the aspects we consider problematic.
1- There is a general matter that has been so well addressed by Emptymountains: Ask yourself, "What language would my Guru use?" and then follow his example.
Since this has been countered by saying that what might be offensive for some may be beneficial for others, we have to understand that both the demonstrations and the documents have necessarily to be suitable for most people in the world, not only for a small fraction.
We have thus to acknowledge what is acceptable to the international press, which for the most part is influenced by Western values of political correctness --whether we like these or not. In this context, the use of very strong language is perceived as harsh, vulgar language, not suitable for educated people, let alone for Buddhist practitioners.
We should be proud that the world expects from us, children of the Buddhas, a dignified language, and act accordingly.
As Trinley Kelsang said, most appropriately:
Chandrakirti said you can't go against what is established by society. So we need to take into account who will be reading it and what interpretations or reactions they may have.
2- Specifically, the use of harsh language to address the Dalai Lama not only does not accord with point 1 –the necessity of using some type of universal proper language– it opposes directly our common purpose.
Now, in our website we are so fortunate that one of our members actually was able to talk with two Public Relations professionals, and they gave a consultation for which we are very grateful. Here is their opinion, as stated by Holly, who was the person consulting:
… to take the Dalai Lama on directly would not work, given his moral authority in the world. Their advice, which was given on a one-time, pro bono basis, was to focus on the actual persecution of individual monastics and on families, to actually SHOW people, with documented proof, what is happening and has been happening. Testimonials. Written documents. Visuals. To engage in name-calling, they are convinced, would only backfire.
3- Finally, the story about the nickname that the Dalai Lama enjoyed in his hometown. It's almost inexplicable to use such thing as part of our campaign of truth, as if it had some value. It doesn't have any value and it has many disadvantages. It sounds like a tabloid piece of gossip. It does not matter that it's true. Why?
a- Obviously one of the purposes of telling the world that the Dalai Lama was jockingly called The Saffron robed Muslim in his hometown is is to show that the Dalai Lama has been fabricating an image about himself and not always telling the truth. It's true that he never mentioned in his autobiographies that he had had such nickname, nor the reason for it –that some people believe he was from a Muslim family. (Although there is an almost freudian way of pointing towards the possible origin of his family when he tells the story of the Muslim local governor being the first person to have recognized him.)
If this could be proven, it could be somehow interesting, particularly because in his biographies he also blatantly lies about who helped his escape from Tibet. But on one hand this story comes in the traditional Tibetan way, that is merely oral, so nobody that I know of can show a document about it, and on the other hand, it could be said: But is it such a great sin to have hidden this family secret?
b- Another purpose the author/s have to telling this tale is to diminish the Dalai Lama's stature among Tibetans to end their superstition about their leader. But Tibetans who are on his side are not going to change their view about him. They are just going to say that it's a lie. Go to Phayul.com and see if they are susceptible to any reason.
Now, if Tibetans are going to tell it's a lie, and Westerners are going to wonder what is so wrong with not telling the whole story about his family, then why tell this story at all?
b- Another problem deserves consideration. Reading those paragraphs in the PDF, Muslims might think that we Buddhists see something negative in being born a Muslim. We ourselves know this is not the case, and the author/s obviously are not thinking that at all. But people do not know that we Buddhists care for every single being in the world, and they do not know that we are friends with people of all religions, they do not know that for us it's forbidden to demean other people's religion. Main of all they don't know that we have a very greatly appreciated Muslim very close to our hearts indeed: the main attendant of Lord Dorje Shugden is called Kache Marpo, the Red Muslim. How on earth would people know all of this?
So, we are taking the risk of hurting our Muslim mothers for the sake of telling a little story? This could be religiously a very serious misdeed.
This can badly backfire in the sense that people are going to twist the purpose of the story and instead of talking about the Dalai Lama's wrong actions we are going to be forced to defend ourselves.
d- Then there is the problem that this story can be the source of an enormous distraction. It has a tabloid flavor, and as soon as it's picked up by the people of the press everybody is going to start talking about it, whether the Dalai Lama's family was Muslim or not, and what's wrong with it …
And then who is going to understand why this story was brought up? Who is going to understand that it was told in order to point to another type of lie (this time, by omission of information), who is going to understand that it is aimed also at diminishing the Tibetan's superstition about the Dalai Lama? Probably nobody.
But the other side is going to exploit it big time. The Dalai Lama might even come out and say, hey, I'm a friend of all religions, I didn't know my family was Muslim, how honored I am!
So again, a disaster. Instead of communicating what they want, the WSS author/s are going to provide a welcome distraction from the main subject: the Dalai Lama's attacks on the human rights of a whole group of Tibetans, and the political destruction of our lineage.
Well, we did our best. You cannot wake up someone who only pretends to be sleeping.
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