Ironically, like HH the 14th Dalai Lama, the 11th Panchen Lama is scrutinized and criticized for political issues. When will we stop letting politics seep into the spiritual arena? We keep saying HH is combining Dharma with politics but do we not know that we, the lay followers are also culprits to the same “crime”? Are we not the pot calling the kettle black? Enough already!
Like Big Uncle says, let’s focus constructively on the tangible benefits these great beings have created through their effort. HH brought Buddhadharma to the world when he left Tibet 50 years ago. In the past 5 decades, Buddhadharma has graced many nations but one: The People’s Republic of China. Why? It is due to HH’s political status with China.
50 years ago, it was not significantly urgent for Buddhadharma to bless the nation of China. However, in the past 20 years, as China rose and revealed its potential to become the world powerhouse, it became clear that it was time for Buddhadharma to return to motherland China. I believe that this was the time when HH started to cook up the controversy in the form of the Dorje Shugden ban.
Why create a controversy? The drama is needed because HH can never spread Dharma to China consequent to His political relations with China. If HH cannot bring Dharma to China directly, maybe He can through reverse psychology: by discouraging it…by banning it! This goes back to explaining and reinforcing the debate argument that the ban is a part of a bigger picture that will bring ultimate benefit.
Besides creating the ban, HH has to pass the spiritual baton to someone (as he has already done so for His secular work). So, who would China accept? Certainly not someone picked by the Dalai Lama! How about someone the Dalai Lama does NOT recognize? A possibility arises. How can this someone be created? By creating a diversion of a “fake” Panchen Lama.
Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama, Dorje Shugden...these are just names that are created to make sense to our unattained minds. The importance and ultimate goal is for Buddhadharma to flourish to bless and benefit all sentient beings. If it takes a “fake” Panchen Lama that is recognized, endorsed and supported by the Chinese government to achieve this goal, then so be it.
So, with this controversial setting of a “fake” Panchen Lama , Buddhadharma finds its way back to China.
As China continue to rise and influence the world economically, politically and socially, Buddhadharma will flourish to more parts of the world…maybe even Africa as China is developing a strong presence there. Is this not our aspiration?: “May the precious Boddhi-mind, where it is not born arise and grow; May that born have no decline but increase forever more”.
Thus, in summary, if our motivation as Buddhists is to have Dharma bless more people, this seems like the way to go. After all, we are in the 21st century where achieving the desired end result, which is for Buddhadharma to flourish, is of vital importance. Conclusion, I rejoice to see Premier Wen Jia Bao meet with Panchen Lama.