Report from South India
February 28, 2008
This afternoon, The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and Tibetan Woman Association,
Bylakuppe called their members for a meeting where they take oath and sign to give
up Shugden worship, presided by Sera-Jey abbot Lobsang Palden. The venue is
Podrang (Old Palace of Dalai Lama where Tibetans hold festival normally.),
situated at Dickyi Larsoe Tibetan Settlement, Bylakuppe, Karnataka State. The
abbot Lobsang will recite the oath letter, and the members presented there repeat
after him. After that, they would take oath and give signature of giving up the
worship of Dorje Shugden.
Sera Jey Monastery is a registered non-profit Charitable Religious Cultural &
Educational Institute under Karnataka State Socieiies Registration Act. 1960
Under the Government of India Tibetan rehabilitation program, Dickyi Larsoe
Tibetan settlement was established in the year 1969-70. Mysore Rehabilitation and
Development Agency (MYRADA) took up the responsibility of building settlement
houses. The settlement has 1800 acres of land for construction of housing and for
cultivation. It has 16 villages. each having an average of 40 families. Present
Population 4096
Representative acts as the liaison between the settlement and the Department of
Home (CTA) and is the main source of information for the people in the settlement
Lugsung Samdupling Tibetan Settlement is first Tibetan settlement in India. It was
started in 1960 with the help of Indian Government for initial population of 3000
settlers. Later assisted by number of other foreign funding agencies and
individuals assisted to improve upon the existing infrastructure. This settlement
is also one of the biggest Tibetan refugee settlements in India. This Settlement
consists of 7 villages or camps scattered at different location with average of 30
families in each camp. The distance between each settlement is about 4 to 6 Km.
Present population 10611. The monks of Sera monastery, Namdroling monastery, and
so on are included in population.
The settlement has 5 monasteries in this settlement namely, Sera monastery,
Namdrol ling Nyingma monastery, skaya monastery, Nyingma monastery. Sera monastery
is the biggest monastery among them with almost 3000 monks.
There are 52 Tibetan settlements (35 in India, 10 in Nepal and 7 in Bhutan) and 11
welfare Office.
In view of every situation, it is sure that the discriminatory, abusive and forced
movement will be carried out in every family in Tibetan settlements. And it is
more possible that they will engage in house to house searches.
It is not necessary whether you worship Shugden or not, or whether you know
Shugden or not, everyone must sign signature and take oath that he/she never
worship Dorje Shugden.
The question is: what is Buddhism? Where are all living beings? Where are peace,
harmony, tolerance, and compassion that Tibetan Lamas talk and teach to the West?
Shugden devotees are like Harijan, the low cast Indian who were banned to enter a
temple, drink water in a wall, and eat in a restaurant, etc. Harijan is called
untochability which was abolished by Indian constitution.
In article 17 of Indian Constitution is abolition of untouchability.
Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The
enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability shall be an offence
punishable in accordance with law.
