Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

[DharmaSpace]

The picture above shows a historic meeting in 2010 between H.H. Karmapa Thaye Dorje and the current incarnation of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a high-ranking Nyingma incarnation. The Karmapa Thaye Dorje was one of two candidates for the highest seat in the Karma Kagyu lineage and was recognized and enthroned by the Shamarpa. The Shamarpa is the second highest-ranking lama of the Karma Kagyu lineage and traditionally, it is the Shamarpa’s role and duty to recognize and enthrone incarnations of the spiritual head of the lineage – the Karmapas.

The throne of the 17th Karmapa was and still is contested by H.H. Karmapa Ogyen Trinley, another candidate recognized and enthroned by Tai Situ Rinpoche, the third highest-ranking lama of the Karma Kagyu tradition. In a break with tradition, this was done without the consent and agreement of the Shamarpa. However, Tai Situ Rinpoche somehow managed to secure the political support of the 14th Dalai Lama who quite surprisingly endorsed Ogyen Trinley in a move that has split the Karma Kagyu until this day. Many observers have voiced their opinion that the Dalai Lama should have mediated the quarrel instead of taking sides, which has resulted in devastating consequences for the Karma Kagyus.

With the Dalai Lama’s interference in what should be a Karma Kagyu matter, Ogyen Trinley was officially recognized as the 17th Karmapa. In fact, the highest court in India that presided over the court cases brought by the Karmapa Trust found that the rightful and legal occupant of the Karmapa’s seat (based on the will of the 16th Karmapa) was, in fact, the Shamarpa’s candidate, Thaye Dorje. Nevertheless, the wrong candidate was enthroned with the endorsement of the Dalai Lama and, as has become convention in modern history of Tibetans-in-exile, the Dalai Lama’s word is the law that cannot be challenged.

The Dalai Lama, and therefore the Central Tibetan Adminstration (CTA), only associates and promotes the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley and have never provided any political space and due recognition for the Karmapa Thaye Dorje. Even as it has become clear that the wrong candidate was enthroned, the Karmapa Thaye Dorje has never been granted any audience with the Dalai Lama and is even deemed to be ‘fake’. Instead of an independent impartial government, the CTA’s official activities and dealings with the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley have thus far served to galvanize this mistake.

For all intents and purposes, Ogyen Trinley then is the ‘official’ and therefore ‘true’ Karmapa endorsed by the Dalai Lama and the CTA’s diktat. Any act by anyone that goes against the Dalai Lama’s will is deemed an act of betrayal against the Dalai Lama and therefore treacherous. So, when Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche agrees to meet with the ‘unendorsed’ ‘fake’ Karmapa Thaye Dorje, he is in fact going against the decision of the Tibetan leadership and the Dalai Lama.


Another photo of H.H. Karmapa Thaye Dorje and Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche in 2010
Now, this is interesting because going by recent events in the Tibetan political and spiritual landscape, for example the Dorje Shugden controversy, such an act would be regarded as treason and the act of a traitor. And yet, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s decision to meet the Karmapa Thaye Dorje clearly shows his blatant disregard for the ‘official’ Tibetan stance. This is tantamount to ‘betrayal’ deserving of reproach and public condemnation as we see in the way Shugden worshippers have been treated. Yet, the Dalai Lama and CTA have said and done nothing to reprimand Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

It is obvious that the other main Tibetan Buddhist sects such as the Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya do not recognize the Dalai Lama’s self-proclaimed universal authority over all spiritual matters and do not abide by his recognition and pronouncements. On the contrary, the leaders of the Nyingmas, Kagyus and Sakyas are free to make their own decisions without fear of reproach from the Dalai Lama and the CTA, who dare not act against them nor impose the usual bullying tactics for fear of being labeled sectarian. Why then, does the Tibetan leadership admonish only Gelugpas who ignore the ban on Dorje Shugden?

Time and time again, the Dalai Lama and the CTA have heavy-handedly imposed harsh consequences on Dorje Shugden practitioners for refusing to abide by the Dalai Lama’s illegal ban on their practice, to the extent of publishing a list of Dorje Shugden supporters in the style of a “most-wanted” list, for the mere act of engaging in peaceful protests against the unconstitutional ban. Yet, when it is non-Gelugpas who blatantly flout the Dalai Lama and the CTA’s pronouncements, nothing is done. What possible reason could there be for this double-standard in enforcement other than to ensure the other sects’ support for the Dalai Lama and CTA in the political arena?

The Dalai Lama has never criticized or admonished a Lama or even an ordinary monk of another sect. Neither would any high lama of those sects simply submit to the Dalai Lama’s pronouncements. This is not because members of religious sects apart from the Gelugpas are beyond reproach, but because the Dalai Lama cannot and does not have the authority to do so. For that matter, neither do all ordinary Tibetans agree to the Dalai Lama’s decisions as we can see in the continuing call of most Tibetans for the CTA to seek full independence from Chinese rule, even though the Dalai Lama has opted for autonomy instead. Again, we do not see those seeking Tibetan independence punished for disagreeing with the Dalai Lama. Only the worshippers of Dorje Shugden are singled out and targeted.


The Karmapa Ogyen Trinley backed by the Dalai Lama
One might argue that perhaps the Tibetan leadership does not admonish lamas and monks from other sects because they do not have the necessary knowledge to interfere. After all, that is the illogical excuse that they always use – they do not know enough about the other sects to interfere. We at DorjeShugden.com firmly believe that it works both ways. If the Tibetan leadership feels they are suitably qualified to recognise the Heads of other Buddhist traditions, then they should feel equally qualified to reprimand monks and leaders who meet with the candidates they do not recognise.

Why does the Tibetan leadership not go all the way in their support for their own candidate? If they truly support the Karmapa Ogyen Trinley, then they should reprimand everyone equally for meeting with Thaye Dorje, regardless of what sect they are from. The Tibetan leadership should not speak up only when the lama who disagrees with their edicts is a Gelugpa, but remain quiet when the lamas who disagree are from the Nyingma, Sakya and Kagyu sects. It is a clear indication that the Tibetan leadership does not operate in a democratic, fair manner in applying their policies to all Tibetans. It is in fact, embarrassing for the leadership to have so little conviction in their own decisions, that they do not uphold them consistently and regardless of the rank and background of the perpetrator.

Thus when the Tibetan leadership demonises Gangchen Rinpoche for meeting with the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama, but they fail to reprimand other lineages’ monks for meeting candidates they do not recognise, the Tibetan leadership’s intent is clear – they wish to court favours and support from the other sects. Gangchen Rinpoche practices Dorje Shugden and therefore anything he does will be manipulated in order to demonise him, in the process disregarding any of the other great works he has done.

We would ask the Tibetan leadership to be fair in their policies to all. Governments should not pick and choose who their policies apply to, on the basis of what the person or organisation can provide for them. In transparent, democratic nations, such corruption would not be tolerated. If the Tibetan leadership feels they have the necessary authority to recognise a person who will provide spiritual guidance to millions of people, then they should have the necessary authority to apply sanctions to anyone from ANY tradition who disregards their policies. The role of a government is to implement the law regardless of an individual’s race, religion, ideology, faith and relationship with them.

It appears that respect and rule of law within Tibetan society is a commodity to be traded for political support and only granted to non-Gelugpas, while Gelugpa practitioners of Dorje Shugden must continue to suffer in silence, since the Dalai Lama can do as he likes within his own sect without fear of repercussions.

Clearly there is a policy of unfairness against Dorje Shugden Lamas and lay worshippers, and the Dalai Lama has forced every level of state machinery and Tibetan society to impose and enforce a very personal prejudice against a group of Buddhists who have fallen out of favor. There cannot be any doubt that the ban against Dorje Shugden is simply the product of pure discrimination by the Dalai Lama, hollow in reason, tradition and law, and therefore should be abolished without question.

Yes the CTA and Dalai Lama seems to be wearing kids gloves when it comes to the transgressions of lamas from other traditions. However it could be that CTA have their hands full, dealing with the Chinese, their own tibetans, their western benefactors, Dorje Shugden, perhaps they can't start another front to fight on. the CTA's determination is dogged but some of them can be smart enough to notice they are already fighting on many fronts.

The fact CTA says that they do not have enough knowledge to mediate or take appropriate actions is just a cop out for their inaction. If CTA claims they don't know enough which is true in a way, why are they so blatant and unchanging about the Dorje Shugden, despite so many references and lamas who obviously took on the Dorje Shugden sogtae they are back and more powerful to bring Je Tsongkhapa tradition to the world.

[Blueupali]

There is no transgression in the other traditions when they talk to Thaye Dorje, who is the person duly recognized by the Kagyu lama Shamar Rinpoche; the reason the Dalai Lama's government (CTA) doesn't do this is because the Dalai Lama wrongly interfered with the Karmapa recognition in the first place; the Dalai Lama doesn't like spiritual or political rivals; he wanted to merge all 4 schools under his own command, but was met with opposition by the 16th Karmapa, and other high lamas as well. 
  So, in other schools, the issue is that I think it is very noticeable when the Dalai Lama tries to take over their school. In the Gelugpa school, it is difficult for him to be as in charge as he would like; there are much better and more important spiritual guides than he, such as the root guru he disavowed, Trijang Rinpoche.  So, if the Dalai Lama wants to be in control spiritually, he needs to divide groups, lie, and control people himself.  If he picks whomever he wants for Karmapa (anyone but the one that the rightful lineage head of the Kagyus picked) then he can pretend he's in charge of the Kagyu school, can pretend that he's choosing their leader, etc..  People won't believe him as much, because there has been a long standing issue that the Dalai Lamas of Tibet, from especially the time of the Evil 5th Dalai Lama, always considered the Kagyus rivals, and would (in the time of the 5th Dalai) kill thousands of monks, behead hundreds and hundreds of abbots, and then forcibly convert Kagyu monestaries.  The Kagyus are wise to the nonsense of the Dalai; he has done this in many recognitions, because the Kagyus were powerful, and he doesn't like rivals.
  Concerning the Shugden prayers, how on earth could a mere politician compete spiritually with Trijang Rinpoche?  People respected Trijang Rinpoche, and rightly so; how would the Dalai Lama eclipse the power of Trijang Rinpoche?  One way is to ban Trijang Rinpoche's practice, demonizing it so that anyone who supports highly realized Shugden lamas will be split and fragmented.  Then the Dalai Lama downgraded the most important Gelugpa lama of that era to the status of his 'junior tutor.' 
  The Dalai Lama plays the west against the east, giving misinformation to both sides, because not very many people know the history of Tibet, or much about Buddhism at all.  He is able to lie about his root guru, downgrading him only to junior tutor status; he keeps trying to make everyone think he is in charge of Buddhism, but people like the 16th Karmapa weren't having it.  It's fine for lamas to meet with the real Karmapa (Thaye Dorje); the reason the Dalai Lama can ban Shugden in his own school, is that it is the most politicized of the schools, due to H.H. DL's being involved in running the country and running that school; people in that school have found it unwise to speak out; the Kagyus and other high lamas know the Dalai Lama isn't in charge of their schools, so they just won't listen to them.  The Dalai Lama is more evil to Shugden followers because rivals in his school would be more important than he, and he can't look less important on his own turf, or how will he ever take over Buddhism?

[dsiluvu]

Interesting observation Bluepali. However, I've just had a thought, if the Dalai Lama is really a fake and a power hungry, evil person, then how come he is able to "incarnate" back again and again from the 5th time? Should he not be reborn in the 3 lower realms already for "killing" so many people? I mean we're told we will go to the 3 lower realms for small mistakes or afflictions we have like attachments, but how is it that this person by the title Dalai Lama, since the 5th who have "killed" and harm and literally split sanghas escape his karma??? How is this possible? It would mean Buddha's teachings and karma is not accurate, no? Of course not, so what to think???

Many says he is Chenrezig manifesting all this for a damn big good reason that we cannot yet understand. Where as some say he is a fake. On both sides debate, I've contemplated and really still it makes no sense. But I am 60% more towards we cannot understand why these highly attained beings do what they do yet, because I am truly hoping for the sake of humanity, there is something good coming out of all this disgusting news about Tibetan Buddhism and Leadership. 

I never knew such a compassionate, gentle faith has so much scandals, politics, and violence... then again this is after all samsara and my idealistic projection of it all is surely crushed from all this mess! 

Still I hope that the ban will come down soon, because on a humanity level it just isn't right at all!

[vajrastorm]

The fact that HH Dalai Lama has not taken action against the incarnation of the great and highly revered Nyingma master, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, for taking a picture together with  HH Karmapa Thaye Dorje(one of the contenders for the head of  the Karma Kagyu leadership post) shows clearly that the Dalai Lama has no jurisdiction or power over the other schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Hence, his act of supporting the other candidate for the Karma Kagyu  leadership post , HH Karmapa Ogyen Trinley ,leaves much room for questioning his authority. He really has no jurisdiction or authority, and he should not have interfered. And now,  he has escalated a bitter battle between the two for recognition.

Why has HH Dalai Lama gone to such lengths to make himself unpopular, interfering in areas which do not come under his jurisdiction. But even here, in this seemingly unrelated case, the issue of DS, still surfaces. HH Karmapa Thaye Dorje has spoken up vocally in support of Dorje Shugden. HH Karmapa  Ogyen Trinley has been very quiet.

[Big Uncle]

Yes, some parties always say that the Dalai Lama instituted the ban because he is power hungry and that he wanted to control the other sects and gain political power over the opposition with the Gelug lineage. This does not really seem to hold water if we closely examine it.

By instituting the ban, the Dalai Lama has everything to loose from this. In reality, we can also examine that the Dalai Lama had not gain any political ground through the ban. The other sects may follow suit in instituting the ban but he had gained no power over the other acts. On the other hand, within the Gelug, there seems to be a huge discord because of the ban and the lamas continue to practice Dorje Shugden anyway whether in secret or openly. In fact, the Dalai Lama had open himself to immense criticism, protests and potential lawsuits. It seems that the Dalai Lama must have an alternative reason that he obviously had not voiced.

[DS Star]

It is very clearly shown that the Dalai Lama's camp and the CTA in particular have no say in matters pertaining to other Tibetan Buddhism sects.  Now, this case just proven that they even afraid to offend other sects' leaders.

They tried but failed to impose their endorsement on the selection and recognition of high reincarnate lamas as mentioned here.

They seems to be able to flex their muscles only on the Gelug-pas and against the Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Why the discrimination?

Isn't Buddhist supposed to develop equanimity?

[Dondrup Shugden]

A long outstanding issue creating schism in Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism.  Sorry to say, something created by either the Dalai Lama or perhaps in his name.