Is Dorje Shugden a Spirit??

[Poonlarp]

Thanks Ensapa for the explanation in details, yes I agree with the statement of Dorje Shugden a demon is very weak from all the points given.

Enlighten beings are enlighten beings, they won't show any quality to harm as this is a quality of non-enlighten. So far, is there any evident of negative effects from practicing Dorje Shugden?

The sufferings of the practitioners are all caused by human beings who interpret HHDL's will to an extreme extend.

I wish people who give up the practice of Dorje Shugden because of HHDL understand that, it's your Guru Devotion to give up, but it's also their Guru Devotion to continue practicing. It's like people in different religions have their ways, to critic and harm is not the point to have religion, it brings no point to peace.   

[Mana]

Hi, I have prepared a longer and more extensive reasoning.


Is Dorje Shugden a demon or a Buddha?

There are many who argue about the state of Dorje Shugden. Traditionalists, consisting of high lamas who received the practice from their masters consider Dorje Shugden an enlightened being, a Buddha on the basis that some of the most eminent Buddhist teachers of the century practice them, and also on the past reincarnations of Dorje Shugden, who comes from a long line of enlightened and erudite masters. On the other side of the camp are the Dalai Lama and his supporters, who claim that Dorje Shugden is nothing but a ghost, based on the circumstances of how Dorje Shugden came up on, his prayers, and his history based on the 5th Dalai Lama’s biography.

To explain this topic, we must first also discuss about the origins of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden’s line of incarnations as explained by many enlightened masters, starts off with Virupa. Virupa is one of the enlightened Mahasiddhas of Buddhism. He was a monk in Atisha’s monastery, Vikramshila who has achieved spectacular tantric abilities to the point of having Yidams appearing to him directly. His subsequent incarnations were all of high caliber from this point forward. He was Sakya Pandita, one of the 5 founders of the Sakya tradition, Buton Rinpoche who compiled the Tibetan Buddhist Cannon, Kangyur and Tengyur before reincarnating as Duldzin Dragpa Gyaltsen, who built and funded Ganden Monastery, and subsequently incarnated as Panchen Sonam Dragpa who composed most of the study material for the monks, which are still being used today. The last incarnation was a very famous monk by the name of Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen.

Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen was a contemporary of the 5th Dalai Lama. He is also a candidate for the Dalai Lama’s title when he was first discovered. He was immensely popular during his time, until his fame and property eclipsed those of the 5th Dalai Lama. When this happened, the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama killed Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen, who arose as Dorje Shugden. The 5th Dalai Lama, who thought he was an evil spirit as many unfortunate events happened during that time attempted to exorcize him with the highest lamas of that time. Every single one of the highly effective rituals failed to destroy Dorje Shugden, and this made the 5th Dalai Lama realize that Dorje Shugden is not an evil spirit but an enlightened Dharma protector. The Dalai Lama immediately wrote prayers to Dorje Shugden and made a statue with his own hands, which exists until today. Dorje Shugden’s practice has existed and has been practiced by the Gelugs and the Sakyas to an extent since.

According to the traditionalists, Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche got the practice of this protector from his master, Dagpo Dorje Chang, who got it from his master, Tapu Dorje Chang. Tapu Dorje Chang, famous for his ability to traverse other planes of existences, went to Tushita heaven where Maitreya, Atisha and Lama Tsongkhapa and their retinues resided.  There, he requested the teaching of Dorje Shugden directly from Dulzin Dragpa Gyaltsen who passed it to him with Lama Tsongkhapa’s blessings. This practice was then disseminated and practiced by the highest lamas of the Gelugpa tradition. Logically, if they practice and recommend it, surely there is nothing wrong with the practice. [Source http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=11618]

If Dorje Shugden was really an evil spirit, that would mean that all of these erudite masters such as Pabongkha Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche, Rilbur Rinpoche, Taktra Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche and many others are also wrong and their teachings are invalid and will only lead to degeneration. Their students will also no attainments and their teachings will be invalid as well. It would also mean that Dharma protectors do not exist because they allow the Dharma to degenerate. However the opposite is happening and these teachers and their students are spreading Dharma far and wide, and there are attainments.

However, on the other side of the story, the Dalai Lama quotes from the 5th Dalai Lama’s secret biography, saying that Dorje Shugden is but a normal spirit who appeared out of distorted prayers. The biography also insinuates that Dorje Shugden is against the 5th Dalai Lama and wanted to harm him. The 5th Dalai Lama even wrote a prayer that requests the other Dharmapalas to destroy Dorje Shugden but it did not work. Also listed as reasons were a number of high lamas who were also against the Dorje Shugden practice from the 17th century up to the 19th century, stating that Kalarupa was furious at monks who practiced Dorje Shugden and killed them to “cleanse” the monastery.  However, the main point as declared by the Dalai Lama on why Dorje Shugden should not be practiced is that Dorje Shugden encourages sectarianism since Dorje Shugden encourages the practitioner to only focus on his or her own lineage, and thus harmful to the cause of Tibet and to the Dalai Lama as the current Dalai Lama would like to practice all 4 of the lineages together.  Another historical fact is that many people dreamt of Dorje Shugden, in a dream to several people, announcing the death of the 13th Dalai Lama in a “joyous and melodious tone” from Pabongkha Rinpoche’s biography, as proof of his maliciousness. All of these are proof that Dorje Shugden is against the Dalai Lama and are presented as scriptural evidence that Dorje Shugden is malicious and that he is against the Dalai Lama. On another level, since Pabongkha Rinpoche’s time, consultations with the state oracle, Nechung had stated that he was unhappy with monks practicing Dorje Shugden in Drepung monastery, and that it would speed up the degeneration of the Dharma if it continued.
[source: http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/speeches-by-his-holiness, http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/historical-references]

Although all of these there are a few loopholes with these scriptural references. 
-   Firstly, it is a well known fact that the 5th Dalai Lama was very against Dorje Shugden at first and tried to destroy him but realized that Dorje Shugden is a Buddha when all of the methods failed. He remedied for his mistake of writing the wrathful prayer by writing a prayer enthroning Dorje Shugden as an enlightened Dharmapala. The evidence from the 5th Dalai Lama’s biography only takes the part where the 5th Dalai Lama still thought that Dorje Shugden was still a spirit and not after. 

-   On the Kalarupa case, there was no evidence on who perceived Kalarupa acting this way. On the sectarianism of Dorje Shugden, in his prayers Dorje Shugden is requested to protect Losang’s tradition (Gelugpa). [source: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?page_id=57 ] This is however a standard feature of any Dharma protector prayer where the Dharma protector is requested to protect the lineage, and not exclusive to Dorje Shugden’s prayers alone, therefore there is nothing sectarian about Dorje Shugden’s prayers.

-   Many lamas such as Pabongkha Rinpoche has also stressed the importance on being loyal to one’s own tradition as it sends a message to others that your own tradition is not good enough, which is why you take on another lineage, giving a bad impression to others of your own lineage [Liberation of the Palm of your Hand] and Dorje Shugden encouraging this trait is not a strong or valid reason for him to be classified as sectarian.

-   As for the other historical facts, it is also well known that Dorje Shugden saved the life of the 14th Dalai Lama by asking him to flee Tibet when Nechung asked him to stay, and also Dorje Shugden asking people to form Chushi Gangdruk, a guerilla group to protect the Dalai Lama, 3 years before the uprising began [http://dorjeshugden.net/wp/?p=8850], so why would Dorje Shugden be happy for the 13th Dalai Lama’s death but protects the 14th Dalai Lama? This inconsistency does not make logical sense at all.

-   In Dorje Shugden’s biography, it is stated that Nechung specifically appeared to Dulzin Dragpa Gyaltsen and requested him to manifest as a Dharma protector for the recent times to come. In other words, Nechung was instrumental in the “creation” of Dorje Shugden, but why would he go against him now when he helped create Dorje Shugden? Did Nechung realize he made a mistake? But if he did then that would mean that he is no longer dependable as the state oracle as all his instructions and predictions would be false, including all the tulkus that he has approved. Again, there is no logical conclusion to this point.

As presented here, the points given on why Dorje Shugden is a demon is quite weak, but there is much evidence that Dorje Shugden is in reality a Buddha after heavy contemplation, reasoning and evidence.

Ensapa,

This is an excellent and well prepared essay. We will incorporate this into our permanent writings section of this website so all future visitors may benefit. Please keep up your sensitive and powerful investigations concluding with more of your thoughts and writings. We look forward to them.

Mana

P.S. Ensapa, please see this: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=11790

[beggar]

Ensapa,
Thank you for the tremendous effort in writing that piece. Your points extremely clear and very hard to debate against. I would like to see the faces of Dalai Lama supporters when shown these points!

I have a few extra points to add to this debate about dorje shugden NOT being a demon / ghost / evil thing. Hope they might be helpful.

1. Why won't he die?!
During the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, many of the highest lamas in the land were called to do extensive rituals to exorcise him and "kill" him completely. Some witnesses apparently even said that they smelt the smell of burning flesh, which was supposed to be proof that the "spirit" had been totally killed.
In that case, why are we still talking about this "spirit" today? If the spirit was already killed, then what is there to be so afraid of?

2. Recent assassinations - failed!
In more recent times, the 14th Dalai Lama has also employed many high lamas to performed rituals to kill Dorje Shugden. in 1997, there was a famous case of many monks from Sera being called to perform a Hayagriva Tamdin, a very powerful puja to destroy this spirit.
It didn't work. The next day, Dorje Shugden took trance in an oracle and spoke perfectly as always.

There is only one kind of being that cannot be destroyed - an enlightened one. The fact that many attempts to kill dorje shugden have failed points to only thing: that he is an enlightened being and not a spirit.

3. Okay, murder isn't working. What about other methods?
Since killing him doesn't work, why don't the many, many high Lamas throughout the many centuries just do a simple binding ritual to bind and control him? if this could be done for spirits as powerful and dangerous as Pehar (which bound him into the Dharma protector Nechung), then why can't it be done for the simple single "spirit" of a murdered monk? errrr, perhaps because he is NOT a spirit!

4. He doesn't really send you to hell
The claims are that if you pray to a spirit, especially to Dorje Shugden in particular, his practice is so harmful that it will send you to hell.
In this case, all the hundreds and thousands of monks throughout the Tibetan Buddhist traditions who have practiced him must be burning in avici right now. well, they aren't. A number of tulkus recognised throughout the world today are proof of that. Certain Rinpoches were recognised by the Dalai Lama himself - like Trijang Rinpoche! This is illogical isn't it? They were very strong DS practitioners in their previous life - this would mean that they should be burning in hell by now since DS is apparently such a harmful spirit. But in fact, they are very much alive, and back here in on earth, still teaching and spreading Dharma in very beneficial ways. And if Dalai Lama dislikes DS so very much, claiming him to be so harmful, then why would be recognise the incarnations of very strong and well known DS practitioners??

5. This spirit can harm Chenrezig?
The claims are that this spirit can harm Dalai Lama's life. This is an oxymoron. The people who claim this are also the same people who regard the Dalai Lama as Chenrezig. This means that they believe that a spirit can harm the life of Chenrezig, a fully enlightened being - how is this possible!? It is the complete opposite of what the dharma teachings tell us.

Even if we are not fully enlightened beings, even taking the refuge vows and hold them sincerely, or holding the monk vows well is already protection against harm from spirits. This claim that DS is a spirit that can harm even the highest of practitioners is completely illogical and goes against everything we have been taught in Dharma.

6. Why HASN't he already hurt the Dalai Lama?
If Dorje Shugden was such a vengeful nasty spirit intent on causing harm to the Dalai Lama, then why hasn't he already done so?! He hasn't laid a single finger on any of the Dalai Lama's incarnations from the 5th to the 14th... why not? If he's so harmful and vengeful, why hasn't he just done something already?!

Why is it instead, that whenever DS takes trance through the oracles, and questions are put to him about the dalai Lama and this current situation, he only replies that we should all be patient, practice compassion and never speak badly against the Dalai Lama. Is this just a very patient "spirit" or an enlightened being? I think, the latter!

****
So you see, the many claims that DS is a spirit can be very easily refuted. The claims are not logical and do not align in any way to the teachings of Dharma. This is not about putting down the Dalai Lama - who I suppose has his own reasons for this ban...it cannot be as simplistic as this, since the debates are so clearly skewed and the points so easily refuted. No, it's not about putting down the DL, but the truth of the arguments need to be shared so people can see for themselves how the claims put forward are not true. At the same time, we better understand the true nature of Dorje Shugden, by examining it from both the positive and negative sides.

[Big Uncle]

... I have my own views that are perhaps different from anyone else. I have been told that Dorje Shugden is an 'enlightened' protector in a worldly form. So what worldly form does he belong to, considering the 6 worldly realms he could have taken rebirth in. I have been told that Dorje Shugden took rebirth in the God or demi-god realm. However, considering the cause of his death, which is 'anger' or in his case, vajra anger, I would surmise that he took rebirth in the spirit realm.

I know the stigma attached to this theory and people would be quick to refute this. However, I would like to put forth this notion anyway because why does everyone have to think that being a spirit means that he must be evil? ...

The term "spirit" is a bit vague.

I guess Big Uncle means "preta", or a "hungry ghost", as that is one of the realms of samsara. Nevertheless, those born into that kind of form, need attachement, grasping, greed, hunger, thirst, and so forth. If anger, hatred, malice, ill will, and so forth, is the main cause of the form of the next rebirth, one would end up in hell as a hell being, not in the hungry spirit world as a ghost.

The form of DS, as protectors' in general, is basically a from of yaksha, who are typically classified as beings of the "ashura" realm, or the "demi-god" realm. For example, the protective assistant of Buddha, Vajrapani, is called a yaksha in the classical Pali sources. Of course, ashuras could be called spirits as well, since they do not have bodies of flesh, but are more, um, spirity, so to speak, just as are gods.

It would be better if people would avoid the term "spirit", as it is too general category, meaning "unembodied being" or "being without gross physical form", which strictly taken means inhabitants of 4 realms out of the six realms of samsara (humans and animals being non-spirits). The Christian God is a spirit too, as one of his personages is the "Holy Ghost".     So, if someone says that DS is a spirit or is not a spirit, one cannot be certain what is said. Please everyone, use accurate terminology that conforms to the "six realms theory" and all it's subsets of beings.

One could have a debate whether DS is a holy being who has taken the form of a yaksha, or whether he is a mere yaksha, but there is nothing to debate on the issue whether DS is a spirit or not, as it is obvious that he is one, just like all the other protectors.

Thanks Zhalmed Pawo. Anyway, its all just speculation on our parts. I guess it is most likely in the Demi-god (Asura) or God (Deva) realms that Dorje Shugden manifested considering what you have said. Anyway, it would also make more sense that Dorje Shugden took rebirth in the higher realms as such existences would provide certain abilities and powers that will enhance his abilities to assist others that lower rebirths might not have. That's what I am thinking. So, that must be the case.

Vajrastorm:-
In the case of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche's text, when he referred to Dorje Shugden and he has not taken rebirth as a preta, he means a lower rebirth controlled by karma. I think Dorje Shugden could very well taken rebirth in that state if he wishes to and that it will benefit others. The basis of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche's statement is the fact that people have been accusing Dorje Shugden controlled by karma has taken negative rebirth and thereby denying his obvious enlightened qualities. My point and his is quite different but anyway, thank you for bringing it up. 

[Ensapa]

Ensapa,

This is an excellent and well prepared essay. We will incorporate this into our permanent writings section of this website so all future visitors may benefit. Please keep up your sensitive and powerful investigations concluding with more of your thoughts and writings. We look forward to them.

Mana

P.S. Ensapa, please see this: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=11790

Thank you mana. I am very humbled for my writing to be featured on the website. I hope that it will clear the doubts of many who read it.

One thing to consider about Dorje Shugden is, his help comes very quick, even Setrap when requested does not perform activity as fast or effective as Dorje Shugden. An explanation that was given to me is because the connection between our realm and Setrap's realm is not strong as he resides in the realm of the yakshas. Dorje Shugden is fast and more effective because he resides in the spirit realm which is closer to our realm compared to the yaksha realm. From what I have heard, there are many levels of spirits as well, some spirits matching that of those in the deva realm but they are still not devas. Dorje Shugden might have taken that form out of great compassion so that he can reach us quicker and faster. But that does not mean he is not enlightened as he does not experience any of the normal sufferings that a spirit would and that he is in reality a Buddha taking that form in order to reach out to more people faster and easier.

With that having said, Setrap and Dorje Shugden reside in the same mandala. So really i am not too sure on the explanation that i have is correct or not. can someone help verify or explain? Sometimes I get so much information that there is a need to verify and check all of these info to make sure that they are valid.

[beggar]

One thing to consider about Dorje Shugden is, his help comes very quick, even Setrap when requested does not perform activity as fast or effective as Dorje Shugden. An explanation that was given to me is because the connection between our realm and Setrap's realm is not strong as he resides in the realm of the yakshas. Dorje Shugden is fast and more effective because he resides in the spirit realm which is closer to our realm compared to the yaksha realm. From what I have heard, there are many levels of spirits as well, some spirits matching that of those in the deva realm but they are still not devas. Dorje Shugden might have taken that form out of great compassion so that he can reach us quicker and faster. But that does not mean he is not enlightened as he does not experience any of the normal sufferings that a spirit would and that he is in reality a Buddha taking that form in order to reach out to more people faster and easier.

With that having said, Setrap and Dorje Shugden reside in the same mandala. So really i am not too sure on the explanation that i have is correct or not. can someone help verify or explain? Sometimes I get so much information that there is a need to verify and check all of these info to make sure that they are valid.

Another explanation could be that karmically, Dorje Shugden has a closer affinity to the beings of this time, as he manifested specifically in this time to assist practitioners of this time. It is not that setrap answers us slower or that his practice is less effective or efficient. It is we have a much stronger karmic affinity to Dorje Shugden AT THIS TIME, which makes it easier for us to "connect" to him and for him to assist us. The efficacy and swiftness is never determined from the side of the Buddhas but from our side - whether our karmas "permit" us to receive the help.

This might be compared to how certain yidams' practices are more effective or relevant for specific time periods. For example. Vajrayogini's practice is now more effective than ever before in any of the previous times. It is not that she is suddenly now more powerful, but that her practice is more suited to our time and "answers" the needs, desires and aptitudes of people at this time. It is the same for Dharma Protectors.

[Ensapa]

Another explanation could be that karmically, Dorje Shugden has a closer affinity to the beings of this time, as he manifested specifically in this time to assist practitioners of this time. It is not that setrap answers us slower or that his practice is less effective or efficient. It is we have a much stronger karmic affinity to Dorje Shugden AT THIS TIME, which makes it easier for us to "connect" to him and for him to assist us. The efficacy and swiftness is never determined from the side of the Buddhas but from our side - whether our karmas "permit" us to receive the help.

This might be compared to how certain yidams' practices are more effective or relevant for specific time periods. For example. Vajrayogini's practice is now more effective than ever before in any of the previous times. It is not that she is suddenly now more powerful, but that her practice is more suited to our time and "answers" the needs, desires and aptitudes of people at this time. It is the same for Dharma Protectors.

Thank you for your explanation. No wonder Dorje Shugden's help comes to us so fast compared to other Dharma protectors. Is it because he is 'new' compared to other Dharma protectors? But if it is his time now why is there a ban against him? It would severely limit the benefits that he can bring to people. In general, it is harder to practice the Dharma during this time period...so I am guessing that the harder it is for people to practice the Dharma, the more effective Dorje Shugden will be to help us? If that is the case, he would be extremely powerful and popular after the ban is lifted.

[Rinchen]

I believe that why there is a ban for the protector Dorje Shugden is because it is a test to see how much people are willing to give for dharma in these degenerated times. I also believe that after the ban is lifted, Dorje Shudgen would be practiced more strongly among the practitioners and the future practitioners.

[Big Uncle]

I believe that why there is a ban for the protector Dorje Shugden is because it is a test to see how much people are willing to give for dharma in these degenerated times. I also believe that after the ban is lifted, Dorje Shudgen would be practiced more strongly among the practitioners and the future practitioners.

That's an interesting idea you have there and I think that the Dorje Shugden ban does weed out those that are weaker but I am not sure if that's the main concern of the Dalai Lama has. I am sure the ban is not about getting rid of the superficial practitioners and if the Dalai Lama is who they regard him as, I am sure he has a bigger, grander plan than just to weed out superficial practitioners. Nevertheless, thank you for your thoughts. I do like that you are thinking and offering what you think of the issues at hand. This idea is the first I have ever heard of and I do hope you contribute more and share with us what you think.

[Ensapa]

That's an interesting idea you have there and I think that the Dorje Shugden ban does weed out those that are weaker but I am not sure if that's the main concern of the Dalai Lama has. I am sure the ban is not about getting rid of the superficial practitioners and if the Dalai Lama is who they regard him as, I am sure he has a bigger, grander plan than just to weed out superficial practitioners. Nevertheless, thank you for your thoughts. I do like that you are thinking and offering what you think of the issues at hand. This idea is the first I have ever heard of and I do hope you contribute more and share with us what you think.

Obviously the ban and the Dalai Lama's decisions are multi pronged and they have multiple benefits and not just one. Those that have been mentioned are just some of them and not all. The ban will have several purposes and they will all come to light when the ban is lifted. Maybe weeding out superficial practitioners is part of the plan, and testing Dorje Shugden followers is the other because without the ban, we would not have seen so many interesting happenings and reactions of "buddhists" who act in all the ways that are anything but Buddhist, not only in the CTA but also worldwide.

[Rinchen]

Of course I agree that the ban is for a bigger cause and not just to separate out the weaker minds. Hence, DL has not opposed his Guru, Trijang Rinpoche, to continue practicing DS.

But with regards to the topic of if DS is a spirit, I would definitely say that DS is not a spirit. Because if DS is really an evil spirit what the monasteries have been practicing for hundreds of years would be wrong. And so even said that the 5th to the 13th Dalai Lama are wrong.

[Ensapa]

Of course I agree that the ban is for a bigger cause and not just to separate out the weaker minds. Hence, DL has not opposed his Guru, Trijang Rinpoche, to continue practicing DS.

But with regards to the topic of if DS is a spirit, I would definitely say that DS is not a spirit. Because if DS is really an evil spirit what the monasteries have been practicing for hundreds of years would be wrong. And so even said that the 5th to the 13th Dalai Lama are wrong.

Well, the Dalai Lama may have allowed Trijang Rinpoche to continue practicing, but that does not have any effect as it has failed to move the fanatics who still hate Trijang Rinpoche and still dont want him to practice. So in any case, the Dalai Lama's statement is hypocritical to an extent because if he really meant it, he would have said that anyone who make death threats against Trijang Rinpoche is the same as making death threats to the Dalai Lama and anyone who is disrespectful to Trijang Rinpoche will not be allowed to see the Dalai Lama. But this didint  happen. so we can guess why.

[Rinchen]

Well, the Dalai Lama may have allowed Trijang Rinpoche to continue practicing, but that does not have any effect as it has failed to move the fanatics who still hate Trijang Rinpoche and still dont want him to practice. So in any case, the Dalai Lama's statement is hypocritical to an extent because if he really meant it, he would have said that anyone who make death threats against Trijang Rinpoche is the same as making death threats to the Dalai Lama and anyone who is disrespectful to Trijang Rinpoche will not be allowed to see the Dalai Lama. But this didint  happen. so we can guess why.

True, that with what the Dalai Lama said did not make much impact on his followers. Bit it does not mean that DL is actually using someone else's hands to murder anyone. He just opposed the action of practicing DS, but he did not say that everyone should not practice and those who practice should die.

Hence, I think we should not be putting words into HH DL's mouth to defame him like that.

[Ensapa]

True, that with what the Dalai Lama said did not make much impact on his followers. Bit it does not mean that DL is actually using someone else's hands to murder anyone. He just opposed the action of practicing DS, but he did not say that everyone should not practice and those who practice should die.

Hence, I think we should not be putting words into HH DL's mouth to defame him like that.

I think you have misunderstood what I wrote. What I meant was that the Dalai Lama should have taken more steps to protect Trijang Rinpoche and his right to practice Dorje Shugden, rather than just a fleeting statement and approval for his practice in Dorje Shugden. Then, I would say that his approval for Trijang Rinpoche is genuine. It is true that the Dalai Lama has never said that those who practice Dorje Shugden would die, but nevertheless Trijang Rinpoche got them just for practicing Dorje Shugden.  Else, it is just a symbolic gesture meant to just please someone.

[Rinchen]

I understood what you meant, is just that I feel that there are so many people that threaten Trijang Rinpoche due to his potential influential powers that the followers of Dalai Lama are not welling to accept.

Hence, the followers would be acting on their own to stop DS practitioners from practicing what they are practicing. Even going to the extreme of threatening to kill DS practitioners.