Dear Trinley Kalsang,
The Taiwan visit of Dalai Lama is after the hurricane disaster in Taiwan. Dalai Lama went to pray and console ppl there.
1. The protests are regarding:
a) They are saying that Lamaism is not real Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is a just a political tool and he is not welcomed.
b) That they don't need the Dalai lama's prayers, they need money to rebuild. To give them practical help.
2. The protest was not about tantra in particular, just that Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism) is not Buddhism at all. They wanted to let Dalai lama know, they don't accept his form of Buddhism.
3. As far as I know, the Dalai Lama does not endorse Gelugs to have a physical consort. There was one exception by the 13th Dalai lama though.
It goes like this:
Serkong Dorje Chang (Two incarnations ago. He is a tulku of Gaden Jangtze Monastery and he has a monastery in Swayambunath, Nepal also) was a enrolled in Gyurme tantric college. During prayers, he would see mini small females dancing in his tea bowls always. He reported this to 13th Dalai lama who advised him to give his robes back and take a consort. He had reached a level where the consort practice would not create desire in his mind, but elevate his practice as he is able to control the flow of 'bodhicitta' hence can experience uncontaminated great bliss and clear light directly.
The 13th Dalai Lama has never advised this to any other Gelug monk.
Tsongkapa Himself did not take a consort, but left the last stage for the Bardo. Tsongkapa in order to keep his monk vows pure and set the correct example for thousands of disciples, entered clear light of death as a pure monk and attained enlightenment in bardo.
Serkong Dorje Chang did as advised by the 13th Dalai Lama. A consort was seen going inside his meditation cave. The consort gave birth to Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche (also a tulku of Gaden Jangtze Monastery). After the birth, the consort disappeared nowhere to be found. So Serkong Dorje Chang took care of Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche.
Serkong Dorje Chang was often invited to give teachings wearing a layman's chuba in Gaden Jangtze prayer hall attended by all the elites. While he was teaching, he would have the infant Serkong Tsenshab in his arms on the throne. That was a great exception.
Reminiscent of when Candragomin was invited to Nalanda and gave teachings although he was a layman. In order to not confuse the villagers that monks are putting high status on a layperson, they would invite a Manjushri statue and have Candragomin walk behind it. So when they blew conshells, burned incense and threw flowers, ppl thought it was for Manjushri. Otherwise why do sangha show so much respect to layman would have been on the villagers minds creating doubt.
Thank you.
TK
