Just because they are Tibetans does not mean they understand Buddhism let alone practice. Many Tibetans are very ignorant and know very little of Buddhism. I have met one Tibetan Buddhist monk who didn't know what Tara looked like! I kid you not.
Most lay Tibetans are more concerned on how to make enough money to live the good life. They just follow along govt policies because they have no choice and do not know any better. Nor do most of them care. They all know after the Dalai Lama passes, it's the end. Now that is why you see the mad scramble of many of them trying to immigrate to other countries out of India, Nepal and Bhutan.
I guess that is simply samsara. I'm quite amazed at the Tibetan monk who didn't know what Tara looked like! I can imagine lay Tibetans not being familiar with Buddhist deities but a monk? Gosh.
For the pure Buddhist teachings to spread to other countries, i guess Tibet had to be invaded so the Lamas would travel to all corners of the world and the Dalai Lama would become the international 'celebrity' and icon of Buddhism that he has turned into. I wonder what would have happened if Tibet had NOT been invaded. What would the world's Buddhist landscape be like. Would Dorje Shugden practice be banned? After all, there would be no threat to Tibet's independence then. Interesting.
Wisdom Being, I like your thoughts and hypotheticals.
I believe if Tibet was not invaded, the dharma would still spread but much slower and not as mainstream. The Tibetan govt are a very closed group of ppl in the past. In the early 1900 before the invasion they banned most of the foreigners who wished to visit Tibet. They refused diplomatice ties with many. A few like Anagarika Govinda and Alexandra David Neel had to disguise their way in. Stayed undercover throughout their whole journey in Tibet. A few also did get permission but not many. Tibetans and especially the then Tibetan govt were very xenophobic.
The Tibetan govt are open now and welcome any diplomatic ties and connections to the rich, big and famous because they need financial and diplomatic support. Because of their mishandling of their country, they lost it. It's been embarrassing for them to have no headway in their negotiations with China. China is smarter than anticipated by the Tibetans.
Most likely Shugden's practice would not have been banned as there is no reason for the ban. If Tibet was not invaded, Dalai Lama would have full power of authority with no dissension therefore no need to ban Shugden. Shugden has been banned for partially political reasons and then of course the spiritual reason. Shugden is blamed for all the mishaps that occur within the exiled Tibetan community as illogical to karma as it sounds. Shugden is blamed for not gaining headway with China Talks. Shugden is even blamed for potentially threatening the long life of Dalai Lama. In short, Shugden is a 'great' scapegoat.* Trijang Rinpoche already predicted the obstacles that would arise and how Dalai Lama and Shugden would work hand in hand to make the practice enormous in the world. Trijang Rinpoche clearly said, it may not appear Dalai Lama is helping Shugden practice to grow, but it is only appearance. All the pro and anti Dalai Lama/Shugden sentiments are only temporary.
2,000 years ago Christians were fed to the lions for five hundred years and accepted as the correct thing to do among the Romans. Well now Christianity is a dominant force. Likewise who knew the persecution against the early Christians would fuel the underground Christian movement of those times and make Christianity what it is today. Similarily, the persecution Shugdenpas feel today by the Dalai Lama is all part of the plan. The protests, Geshe Kelsang's stance, Trijang Rinpoche's volume on Shugden, this website, many other websites, Tibetan Govt's childish behaviour, etc etc are all part of the grand scheme of things. A few decades later, a few hundred years later all this will be forgotten and Shugden's practice prevails.
TK
*just imagine the rise of Nazi's are blamed on Mother Mary. The death of Martin Luther King is blamed on his guardian angels. Or Gandhi's death is blamed on Shiva' lack of protection. Nelson Mandela's two decade imprisonment is St Michael's fault. Imagine if all world leaders blame mishaps and potential/actual assasinations as the fault of mystical non-physical entities as does the superstitious-minded Tibetan govt. Why would Dalai Lama attribute problems within the Tibetan community as arising from Shugden and the peasant Tibetans believe it?
