The Dalai Lama is not the Pope

[Lineageholder]

This was posted recently on a blog by someone who is very anti-Shugden and NKT.  The post is actually in relation to Sogyal Rinpoche and the allegations of sexual misconduct about him, but in particular, this section is very interesting:

The Dalai Lama is Not the Pope

It has been argued in his defence that appeals to the Dalai Lama’s authority are misguided since, despite popular perceptions, he in fact holds no official role within his religious tradition: he is certainly ‘not the Pope of Buddhism’. In fact, there are numerous Buddhist traditions across the world and within these further divisions into schools and sects. The XIV Dalai Lama is a Tibetan Buddhist for instance. Within Tibetan Buddhism there are four main sects, Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug and within these, there are numerous further sub sects His Holiness is a follower of the Gelug tradition in particular and, significantly, not its head.[ Far from being the seniormost Buddhist in the world then, he is in reality, a follower within one sect of only one of a number of Buddhist traditions that grace this planet. From this perspective, and since he is not even a follower of the same sect as Sogyal, it seems quite appropriate for him to remain silent on the issue.

Nevertheless, despite his lack of official status, it is certainly the case that he is considered de facto leader of Tibetan Buddhism and even, in the eyes of some, the whole of the Buddhist faith. In such a situation, and where Sogyal has very publically relied on the Dalai Lama’s patronage to promote his own projects, it seems entirely appropriate for him to speak out. So why the continued silence?

http://thedorjeshugdengroup.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/the-dalai-lama-and-sogyal-rinpoche-a-roaring-silence/

What this writer is saying is that the Dalai Lama is has no official position (basically, no official authority), yet he's regarded as the leader of Tibetan Buddhism and in the eyes of some, the whole Buddhist faith!

How did this crazy situation come about?  The perception that people have of the Dalai Lama as a leader is certainly reason why the Dalai Lama's words regarding Dorje Shugden are blindly followed, but he has no official position, so in reality it's just other people's perceptions and the Dalai Lama's charisma that maintains the negative view of Dorje Shugden in the Buddhist community.

How does he have so much power?  Who gave him that power?  What gives him the right to choose the abbots of the monasteries when he's not even the head of the Gelugpa tradition?

The blogger says that the Dalai Lama is simply a follower of one tradition of Buddhism (Gelug) but in reality, that's not true because he rejected the view of his Gurus regarding Dorje Shugden - he stopped being a follower a long time ago.  Also, he follows and practices other traditions, so he's not even a pure Gelugpa.

What a strange situation!

[hope rainbow]

The Dalai lama certainly did never refer to himself as the "Pope of Buddhism", the Dalai Lama alwasy refers to himself as a monk.

The "self-promotion" that has been going on for decades over the figure of the Dalai lama is nothing else but a motion of his vows to benefit others.

In fact, in instauring the ban on Dorje Shugden and even contradicting himself in his speech sveral times over the matter, he is even looking like a "fool" to some, but that does not bother Him, in fact, that also is a motion of his vows to benefit others, even if one has to loose his reputation in the process.

There are many more things said about the motivation for the Dalai Lama to promote himself, or even instaure the ban, it was said that he wanted to unite and control all sects... Maybe it is so, maybe it is not, I don't know. But what I know is that the Dalai Lama does not act in these ways to gain control for himself, for his own gain, no! the Dalai lama has worked tirelessly to bring people back ontio their spiritual path, and for that, he has gain recognition, he has promoted himself, and he also instigated his own "reputation loss' with the ban on Dorje Shugden.

On the same ground, the Dalai Lama has made choices that were debated or challenged, some choices that did upset such or such group. People operating at that level will always have to go through that, there is no exception. It does not mean that I agree with the Dalai Lama, I am just sharing here what I think about the situation, and I also do not claim that I am right.

If people see him as the Pope of Buddhism, it is because perhaps he has worked very hard to promote Buddhism, to a point where he became one of the most famous monk in history. It does not mean that he claims for that title, it does not mean he "enjoys" that fame.

[Ensapa]

For non tibetans, it is extremely hard for us to understand the relationship between HHDL and Tibet, therefore as foreigners we should not act as if we are Tibetans and that we know everything that is going on. When the 5th Dalai Lama took over, it was not an immediate acceptance for the Tibetans that their new leader is a monk. It took them 15-20 years of war before they could accept the Dalai Lama as their leader.

And so, this carried on for centuries and ever since then HHDL has been ruling Tibet both spiritually and politically. He is basically someone that was placed in that position against his will by Sangye Gyatso after he started a war against the Dungzars who were the patrons of Karma Kagyu because the Gelugs were basically suppressed by the Kagyus at that time during that era.

In fact, during that time, the Sharmapa stole the monlam chenmo tradition from the Gelugs by leading and overseeing and blocked the Ganden Tripa from doing so even though it was supposed to be done by the Ganden Tripa, and suppressed or converted smaller Gelug monasteries all around. It was also around this time that Dorje Shugden manifested as a Dharma protector that overturned this situation into what we know of today.

And HHDL came and put a stop to all of that, as well as reconciling between the many clans of Tibet and unifying them...he is the glue that holds Tibet together as the government officials would usually throw him all sorts of responsibilities that a Lama should not have, but HHDL quietly did it anyway because he knew no one else is more capable. Due to that all Tibetans respect and love him and will follow all his decisions.

[DharmaSpace]

Most people not familiar with TIbetan buddhism would not even there is four sects within Tibetan Buddhism or is it five now since the Jonangpas are coming back into the scene. Yes The Dalai lama is definitely not the pope but he as a man and a monk have been an icon for Tibetans all over especially after the exodus of many of the lamas and people into India. An icon and also someone who supports the tibetans in exile, give them hope, was the Tibetan's Nobel Prize winners, a source of faith and devotion for many Tibetans, and he gives an excellent series of talks wherever he goes, garners support for the Tibetan cause and on and on.

So not it is not very hard to feel respect , deference to someone like that and especially for most lay Tibetans who have not studied much the Dalai lama's word is law. And most of the monasteries do rely on lay Tibetans to support them, though this phenomena is changing as buddhism goes global .  Not very hard to see why Tibetans just follow the Dalai Lama just like that, but whose fault is it if the Tibetans themselves do not make themselves informed. I remember seeing in Shar Gaden there was a board at the protector chapel it had the names of all the sponsors for Dorje Shugden chapel and most if not all not have stopped practicing Dorje Shugden and they are mostly lay Tibetans. It is sad but they chose to be ignorant of the truth so they rely on the Dalai Lama's decision who to blame?

[beggar]

Yes, this is an interesting phenomena that is happening around the world. He has been the secular (and also perhaps spiritual) head of the Tibetan people, yes. But what is now happening in some countries is that people are bringing the Dalai Lama's authority into their countries, claiming his instruction and teaching to be gospel for all Tibetan Buddhist practitioners there.

In such cases, I have often heard, the edicts of the Dalai Lama (such as about Dorje Shugden) override the laws and religious freedoms of those countries. I have heard that Dalai Lama supporters in such countries like Taiwan carry the same kind of animosity towards Shugden practitioners as you might see in the Tibetan camps in India. They exert the same laws and exclusions. In such countries, Shugden practitioners are also not permitted to associate with non-Shugden practitioners, or in fact, actively denounced and insulted.  This is completely illogical of course because they're living in a country with a totally different set of rules. I'm sure the Taiwanese government permits Shugden practice as much as any other Buddhist practice as long as it complies with the governing laws of their country! 

A lot of such strains, hypocrisies and unkindness would be relieved if people only realised, for once, that simple truth you've pointed out that the Dalai Lama really is not the Buddhist Pope.

[kris]

Yes, there are many school and sects in Buddhism, and it is complicated. HH Dalai Lama wearing the hat of a spiritual guide AND political adviser is even more complicated.

What I respect HH Dalai Lama is his spiritual attainments. Reading his books is very enjoying, listening to his Dharma talk is very fun, and whenever I see his photos, I sense calmness.

However, I do not like the way he bring up the whole issue of Dorje Shugden, and his political stand against China. I felt He should stay away from the political role. It would be much "clear cut". But then again, attained masters are thinking at the different level from us..

May be the question we can ask if, do we need a Pope for the Buddhism? May be not HH Dalai Lama, but a leader to represent all the Buddhists?

[DSFriend]

For non tibetans, it is extremely hard for us to understand the relationship between HHDL and Tibet, therefore as foreigners we should not act as if we are Tibetans and that we know everything that is going on.

Dear Ensapa

I can't agree more with your view. What I wish to share in regards to this view is that non tibetans have some advantage for not fully understanding the relationship between HHDL and Tibet.

If the cultural revolution in the 50's had not happened, Tibetan Buddhism perhaps would still be securely kept within the great himalayan mountains for the Tibetans under the strong ruling of HHDL. The chance for Tibetans to be discussing this topic that Dalai Lama is not a Pope would be very low.

Considering that the Dalai Lama is not a Pope directly comes from foreigners like us who do not understand the relationship between HHDL and Tibet.

Tibetan Buddhism is not for Tibetans alone anymore...and HHDL is not considered as the authoritative figure head outside of the himalayan mountains today. 

Perhaps it is a good thing that foreigners do not know everything that goes on in regards to the sentiment or faith accorded to HHDL. Soon the majority of Tibetan Buddhist will escalate in numbers as more and more chinese from main land china are exposed to the faith. Will this voice then eventually eclipse HHDL's and the ban loses its control over practitioners?

[Ensapa]

For us non-tibetans, it is extremely hard for us to understand the relationship of HHDL with the Tibetans and then make conclusions or assumptions based on them showing respect to HHDL. HHDL is their leader and has been that for many centuries, both politically and spiritually which is why his commands can override those of the heads of the other schools: simply because he has to take up the difficulties of the Tibetans.

Also, its pretty brain dead for non tibetans to show that kind of devotion to HHDL because there is simply no reason to do so. HHDL did not have to solve your secular problems or political problems, so you dont have to please him or be his lapdog for that matter. It would suffice to just follow his instructions for now, and no where in time did he say to discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners.

HHDL is the leader of the Tibetans, and we are non-Tibetans, and we definitely should not see ourselves as tibetans because 1) it's very offensive to actual tibetans because we are trying to to be something that we are not. We are not tibetans!! why would we want to be like them? and 2) it shows that we are in the "Dharma" not for the teachings but only because we are interested in the culture.

I cringe really hard whenever I see tibetan Buddhists who are not Tibetan try extremely hard to be tibetan, when they start mixing tibetan words into even their non-buddhist conversations just to be more tibetan, or when they start wearing chubas to the temple and eat tsampa and butter tea everyday just to be "more tibetan". And the most annoying kind is the kind who keeps talking about going against Dorje Shugden just because HHDL said so.

[Big Uncle]

Well Buddhism evolved very differently from other religions, the Buddha himself gave very distinct teachings that superficially appear different. If you look at all the Buddha's teachings superficially, you will be confused. If you take a teaching of the Buddha and internalize, you will find that they are all meant to guide a practitioner all the way to enlightenment.

Hence, each branch of Buddhism had evolved separately in each country and adopted the flavor of its people. Along with that came the Sangha leaders for each branch of Buddhism. Hence, there was no single leader that would oversee all of Buddhism. Even in Tibet, the succession of the Dalai Lamas came about due to the fighting between superficial practitioners of different traditions was threatening the survival of the Gelug tradition. Hence, the Dalai Lama with the backing of the Mongols, assumed power over Tibet. That single act created hundreds of years of prosperity and the flourishing of the Gelug tradition.

However, assuming political power or as the Tibetans preferred to call it temporal power didn't mean he was the head of the 3 other major schools. In fact, some schools had sub-schools and each had their own leaders. However, due to circumstances and the power of his magnanimous presence, the Dalai Lama is famous the world over. There's very few Sangha leaders that come close in spreading the Dharma like him. Due to fame, some has attributed him to be like the Pope of the Buddhists although that is technically incorrect.

Even in the Gelug tradition, it is the Gaden Tripa or the throne holders of Lama Tsongkhapa that are the heads of the tradition. Hence, the ban on Dorje Shugden shouldn't affect all of Gelug tradition. Unless the ban came from the Gaden Tripa, the ban shouldn't cover all of Gelug tradition. 

[Ensapa]

Well Buddhism evolved very differently from other religions, the Buddha himself gave very distinct teachings that superficially appear different. If you look at all the Buddha's teachings superficially, you will be confused. If you take a teaching of the Buddha and internalize, you will find that they are all meant to guide a practitioner all the way to enlightenment.

Hence, each branch of Buddhism had evolved separately in each country and adopted the flavor of its people. Along with that came the Sangha leaders for each branch of Buddhism. Hence, there was no single leader that would oversee all of Buddhism. Even in Tibet, the succession of the Dalai Lamas came about due to the fighting between superficial practitioners of different traditions was threatening the survival of the Gelug tradition. Hence, the Dalai Lama with the backing of the Mongols, assumed power over Tibet. That single act created hundreds of years of prosperity and the flourishing of the Gelug tradition.

However, assuming political power or as the Tibetans preferred to call it temporal power didn't mean he was the head of the 3 other major schools. In fact, some schools had sub-schools and each had their own leaders. However, due to circumstances and the power of his magnanimous presence, the Dalai Lama is famous the world over. There's very few Sangha leaders that come close in spreading the Dharma like him. Due to fame, some has attributed him to be like the Pope of the Buddhists although that is technically incorrect.

Even in the Gelug tradition, it is the Gaden Tripa or the throne holders of Lama Tsongkhapa that are the heads of the tradition. Hence, the ban on Dorje Shugden shouldn't affect all of Gelug tradition. Unless the ban came from the Gaden Tripa, the ban shouldn't cover all of Gelug tradition.

HHDL is not the leader of any tradition, he is just the secular leader and due to the respect that the other lineages have for him, they allow his wishes to override their traditions but this does not mean that he is actually the leader. It is here that plenty of tibetan buddhists who are not tibetan assume and get confused with this. HHDL cannot command any particular tradition but he can issue decrees that affects the other traditions.

HHDL's decisions and decrees should only affect Tibetans. Everyone else that are not tibetan should not really allow his decrees on Tibetan political issues affect them or allow that to be part of their Dharma center. Why? It would be ridiculous to apply policies or rules that are tailor made for Tibetans to other countries or people who are not familiar or native with the Tibetan culture.

But it seems that most people who are into tibetan buddhism are only in for the culture and not for the teachings, so they get influenced easily and they try too hard to be Tibetan. Most of the time, they get caught up in the cultural aspect of Tibetan buddhism and forget about practicing the actual teachings. This is the reason why so many of those get so obsessed with sucking up to the Dalai Lama.

HHDL's appearance and manifestation is meant to appeal to the more politically inclined as it takes a political leader to respect another political leader and the world today is controlled by politicians. Perhaps HHDL has been planning this over the last few centuries. However it still does not warrant people misconstructing his advice on many things, especially with regards to the Dorje Shugden ban.

[Galen]

I would say the Dalai Lama is a promoter of Buddhism. He has done a very good job in spreading Buddhism all over the world and maybe because of this, he has become an icon and people just relates him to be the leader of Buddhism. In fact, like what Hope Rainbow said, the Dalai Lama always say that he is just a monk!

The Dalai Lama may try to influence the other sects in Tibetan Buddhism but it does not mean that he is their leader. Within their own sects they have their own leader, like the Karmapa. So, who is the official leader of Buddhism? I don't think there is one. The Dalai Lama could be the closest to someone who can play the role of "Pope" in Buddhism but still not something agreeable by all.

Due to the fact that the Dalai Lama was championing for the freedom of Tibet, the other schools allows him to influence them. Else why should they?

[Ensapa]

The misconception that the Dalai Lama is some sort of a pope in Tibetan Buddhism is actually a belief that is propagated by his fans entirely due to misunderstandings and not actually studying and understanding more about Tibetan culture. The Dalai Lama is very well respected by Tibetans and also the leaders from all the traditions because he takes on the burden of unifying the Tibetan people and making sure that they are well cared for on a secular level. On a spiritual level, his main role is ti actually make sure that Tibetan Buddhism is preserved in any way and that the lineages are still pure and intact. When he relocated to Dharamsala following the invasion, it was him who directed the founding and preservation of the Dharma by quickly re-establishing centers of learning so that the knowledge of Dharma is passed on to the next generation for our benefit, thus ensuring continuity and that the lineage will not die out. Without His Holiness the Dalai Lama, there would be no Tibetan Buddhism as we know today as he has also been doing something similar for the past 14 lifetimes.

This is the basis for respecting the Dalai Lama. Thus, all Tibetans follow his instructions closely and have unquestioning faith towards him. All the other traditions respect him deeply for the same reason as well. His 'authority' on the other traditions is more or less, a sign of respect from those traditions and does not mean that he has absolute say in them. When people in the west observe this they get some sort of misconception that he is the pope of Tibetan Buddhism and act based on that misconception....which is why we have the complicated situation that we have today.

[michaela]

Now that HHDL does not hold any political power in CTA and also not the head of Gelug lineage, what is his official role other than being a charismatic high lama?  Thus it raise the question, should there be any need for HHDL position after this one past away?

[dsiluvu]

What this writer is saying is that the Dalai Lama is has no official position (basically, no official authority), yet he's regarded as the leader of Tibetan Buddhism and in the eyes of some, the whole Buddhist faith!

How did this crazy situation come about?  The perception that people have of the Dalai Lama as a leader is certainly reason why the Dalai Lama's words regarding Dorje Shugden are blindly followed, but he has no official position, so in reality it's just other people's perceptions and the Dalai Lama's charisma that maintains the negative view of Dorje Shugden in the Buddhist community.

How does he have so much power?  Who gave him that power?  What gives him the right to choose the abbots of the monasteries when he's not even the head of the Gelugpa tradition?

The blogger says that the Dalai Lama is simply a follower of one tradition of Buddhism (Gelug) but in reality, that's not true because he rejected the view of his Gurus regarding Dorje Shugden - he stopped being a follower a long time ago.  Also, he follows and practices other traditions, so he's not even a pure Gelugpa.

What a strange situation!

STRANGE INDEED! In the midst of media hype and stardom thanks to the Media that shapes the majority of our perception of the world today, His Holiness is seen as if He is the Pope. But thank you for highlighting the REALITY. And what does this say --- Tibetans are BLIND more then the world because they truly bought in to it and did not ever question His Holiness's status and leadership. Honestly the only leadership He was entitled to was really quite political. He was basically the representative spokes person that became an icon for Tibetan Buddhism because the objective was to draw the world attention to their plight of a "FREE TIBET". Well that plight is slowly dying off... and His Holiness has retired from politics.

So why are we still listening and following his advice/his reasons/the ban? AND hence even the so called BAN can be disable because He is no longer and never was actually in charge of the Gelugpa sect, it was teh Gaden Tripas!

Hence if really Tibetans want to be united and "FREE", they very well should start in the exile community and well remove the BAN. The ban really only weakens them against their so called "enemy" China. It is never too late. I wonder when the new PM will do something that brings him and his people some real substantial results. Stop hiding behind the Dalai Lama's zen Mr. Sangye!

[Ensapa]

Now that HHDL does not hold any political power in CTA and also not the head of Gelug lineage, what is his official role other than being a charismatic high lama?  Thus it raise the question, should there be any need for HHDL position after this one past away?

This is the exact reason why HHDL said that Tibet no longer needs him and as such, he will not return after this incarnation. What else would anyone need HHDL for? to babysit the Tibetans? but he has been doing it for more that 400 years, and yet nobody seems to improve. CTA was still using laws that were set during Songtsen Gampo's time right before the chinese invaded them. Gosh! What is the Ganden Phodrang doing for the last few centuries other than filling up their own coffers? Should they not be improving the country and drafting resolutions and new laws instead of meddling with Dharma affairs and Buddhism. HHDL's role is and has always been to consolidate Tibet as Tibet is not a country, but in reality, a band of nomadic tribes stitched together. This is the reason why even though in writing the language is the same, the spoken language varies from region to region. Now that the Tibetans are finally united, what else do they need the Dalai Lama for? To further their political goals?

The moment the CTA throws all of their responsibilities to the Dalai Lama, is the moment where they create the causes for the Dalai Lama to manifest in a way where HHDL will be away from them and not to be able to receive any of HHDL's help at all. So why else is HHDL still around? The only way to make him stay is if CTA would question him about the Dorje Shugden ban and get some real, concrete and solid answers from him and debate about it. I have a feeling that is what the Dalai Lama really wants to see as opposed to unquestioning and blind obedience. Logically, which Buddhist teacher would like to see their students become mindless drones? it would break their hearts a lot....