Dear positive change
Look at my response below:
Dear Michaela... you did not touch once on why you think the ban is in place and that it does indeed have some very tangible positive affects but keep on insisting the ban needs to be removed because it is causing so much suffering, which by the way, is insinuating that HHDL is causing the suffering. Please be careful of wrong views towards a living Buddha! Have you ever wondered why it is hard to find fault (not that one should when it comes to HHDL) with HHDL except for with the ban? Ever thought it is because he wants it to be so?
Yes. HHDL has some share in causing the split of major monasteries, discrimination and sufferings due to his implementation of the ban. This is not wrong view. This is fact. He may have done it intentionally or unintentionally or even for bigger picture. But the discriminations and the confusion that occurred due to the ban are facts.
Wrong views mean interpreting Buddha’s teaching the wrong way. As HHDL stated himself, we need to continuously investigate the teachings. So when a premise, in this case the arguments basing the ban, can no longer stand in the fair argument or debate, it has to go.
I believe, the inactivity and acceptance using the premise that HHDL has his own reason, is worse. It does not even serve the purpose of the ban or what HHDL always promote in his teaching, thorough investigation of the matter at hand. HHDL once said during the forum with several scientists, if science can proof that certain aspect of Buddha’s teaching is wrong, than the teaching should change. I am just advocating what he said here. You can see that I have so much trust and faith in HHDL, but I use it in a different way with logic and thinking not only in pure acceptance.
Of course the ban does not make sense... it is not meant to. It is meant to spur us on... meant to give us the drive amidst adversity and come out "victorious". It is as you say it too, meant to make us contemplate and look deeper and realise why it is in place and NOT stop at why it does not make sense!
There are two ways to face adversity, to find reason that could calm your mind toward acceptance or to actually fight for what you believe is right. We need to continue to think why it does not make sense so we can stop justifying the ban. That is the investigation and learning that are emphasized in Buddhist teachings. Without this investigation and learning, it is no better than blind faith although you are very much tempted to call it otherwise.
I now know why you are so passionate about lifting the ban as you are on the suffering camp and I empathise, but so am I but that does not mean we cannot see beyond our suffering and look at the silver lining in the clouds. It does not mean we should sit back on our laurels and pretend there is nothing wrong. It should push us beyond our comfort zones and spread Dorje Shugden in spite of it all. Find ways to spread that does not harm anyone... take for example the creator/creators of this website, the ban spurred and is still spurring them into making the effort in researching, compiling, designing, updating, maintaining, etc. I really do not think this website would come to be born without the ban and look at how many people are and will benefit from this website alone!!!
And questioning the ban and arguing why it should be lifted are not harming anyone so to say. This website can still stand without the ban and continue to dissiminate information to those who needs it.
That is what I mean by looking beyond the ban and stop focusing on removing the ban. When you focus on spreading the truth, the ban will eventually fall to the wayside... you do not need HHDL to do that. That is just the easy way out... and no disrespect, the selfish way out!
You need to focus on two levels:
• The removal of the ban that can be achieved by arguing and stop accepting without questioning what are you accepting
• Spreading the truth about DS.
Only focusing on what would happen beyond the ban is like living the future and not in the presence. We need HHDL to remove the ban because:
- He advocating it
- When all arguments fall, he is the only thing that stand in our way of lifting the ban. Because he is a very respected Lama. When he undo what he said, it will give a lot of credibility to our DS cause.
I do not see how this is selfish at all.
I know you mean well and I take what you say to heart naturally... of course there is suffering, of course we need to remove the ban but it is how we remove the ban that is in question here. Because that will show our true motivation towards Dorje Shugden!
I do not quite understand your statement here. You propose to remove the ban based on the premise that it is ok for HHDL to implement the ban because he is an enlightened being and he is doing it for a bigger picture?