First, thank you for the pictures. It is always so encouraging and uplifting to see the young tulkus, continuing the legacies and being here among the rest of us who need them so badly.
Secondly, I think it is important to say this: Almost all the replies to this thread talk predominantly about the schism and bad behaviour of FPMT. I think we have to be careful about what we are saying or how we say it. It is wrong to generalise and say that all of FPMT are this way, which can lead to wrong insinuations that Lama Zopa is encouraging this.
Yes, FPMT have given up their practice of Shugden. I hold strong that Lama Zopa himself, as their Spiritual Guide is not publicly seen or has even spoken in a condemning way against Shugden practitioners or Shugden practice. His stance (it seems) is more about respecting the instructions of the Dalai Lama by not doing the practice. But he rarely, if ever, comments about the nature of the practice or practitioners being bad, condemning them or acting in untoward ways towards them.
Yes, there have been many accounts of how FPMT or Kopan members or students have acted in unpleasant ways towards Shugdenpas. But this is never clear whether this kind of behaviour is sanctioned by their teacher and is their "official" stance. I am sure Lama Zopa, being who he is, would never allow such unkindness towards another fellow sentient being, least of all another fellow Dharma practitioner.
There are many reasons for why some Lamas have chosen not to continue the practice openly and publicly, which may not be revealed until a later time. We had a nice surprise didnt we, when we heard Samdhong say not too long ago that he has done everything because of the command of his teacher, Trijang Rinpoche (which would automatically include his denouncements of Shugden practice). This could well be the same for Lama Zopa. We will never know what instructions he may have received from his teachers, which included both Lama Yeshe and also Trijang Rinpoche.
In my humble opinion, whatever obstacles that have arisen for FPMT is not because of Lama Zopa's action or stance towards Shugden practice. As an enlightened Lama, a highly attained tulku, he may well be operating from a base far beyond what we can see now. The obstacles, as in any Dharma institution would be arising from students who are not towing the line with their teacher, in this case Lama Zopa - this includes acting unkindly towards other Shugden practitioners, as some of them are known to have done; or create schism towards and among Shugdenpas. This alone breaks the most basic of refuge vows, so of course obstacles arise.
I hope this is making sense and is clear in some way. I just think it is important to be clear that whatever obstacles may be arising is NOT "Lama Zopa's fault" but the way in which some students may be acting. It is also not a reflection of FPMT being not a good organisation, or any thoughts like that. We must remember that they are one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist organisations in the world and have been important in bringing Dharma to many. Unfortunately, a few bad apples can spoil the whole basket, but as outsiders, we too need to be careful not to fall into a trap to start badmouthing and putting them down.
