This wasn't a recent empowerment was it? The original video was posted up in 2010 but I hadn't seen it before, so thanks for the share. It's amazing to see how many people there were. It's a good sign that the practice and lineage certainly seems to be flourishing in the face of so much opposition (and even that characteristically bad weather of the north of England!)
I liked this, what Genla Dekyong said:
We need help, support and power - we need power. [...] We're asking Dorje Shugden, "please help me with my Dharma practice" [...] So through coming under Dorje Shugden's loving care, and relying upon him, he will guide us on the correct path - what an amazing path.
I have been thinking about what it means for someone to help us in our Dharma practice. What exactly is that? And how would this be of any relevance or interest to someone who is NOT in Dharma, nor actively looking for anything spiritual? Would they feel that all of this does not apply to them and they "don't need it?"
I have been coming across quite a number of Dharma practitioners who give the impression that unless you are in Dharma and following such-and-such a path, in such-and-such a way, then you don't need Dorje Shugden or Tsongkhapa's practices (or any practices for that matter). They feel that unless you are following the path in very specific way, then you may as well not do it at all. I've also been noticing with some interest how there are very strong opinions on this forum that don't think it valid or "right" to talk about Dorje Shugden in the capacity of him helping us with the more mundane matters of wealth, health, family, relationships etc.
So let's look at this statement again: "We're asking Dorje Shugden, 'please help me with my Dharma practice'"
First, what does Dharma practice mean? This alone has so many varied meanings for so many people (not always necessarily correct meanings or motivations). But ultimately, I think, we engage in Dharma practice - or actually, in anything that we do - to find happiness, wisdom to know what to do in difficulties, and peace. We all want the same things, whether we manifest them in the same way or not.
So while one person's dharma practice may mean intense study and meditation upon the Lamrim, another person may express their practice simply through offering a candle daily. That's what their level of "practice" is for now. In some cases, people may not even be able to find that interest in themselves for spiritual practice because they are so very much absorbed with the world outside of themselves - the finances, families, friends, relationships, children, career. We can't fault someone for that in the same way we can't fault our pet dogs for not having an inclination for Dharma - everyone is at different levels and each have their own karmic dispositions, and environments.
If you consider things in that way, then we can't impose our concept of what "dharma practice" is on someone else, expecting people only to engage in Dharma if it is direct study of the Lamrim, retreats, study, teaching - and all the things that would be considered very "heavy" and far removed for the average person out there.
I've been thinking about this debate on here as to whether it's beneficial to "promote" Dorje Shugden's practice as one that will help us in wealth, relationships, friendships, businesses and careers, family, health - which should really be the very things that we're trying to detach ourselves from.
But hey, you can't get rid of an attachment overnight, plop someone into a retreat and tell them to start reading the Lamrim. It isn't going to happen and we have to be realistic about that. But what we CAN do, is to start at the level they are at, wherever that might be. Work with the attachments, instead of to deny them. Isn't that precisely what Tantra is anyway? So if someone is interested in money, give it to them first - reveal to them the true blessings and powers of the Dharmapala through the language they're most familiar with - show me the money!! If someone wants health, then give that to them first. Feed the body before you feed the soul, as it were. People aren't going to even want to go near a lamrim book when they have supposed "problems" to deal with first on the outside. So let's deal with those "problems" first, help them solve those and then introduce who's really behind helping them solve the problems - Dorje Shugden.
So in this way, I think that "helping someone with their Dharma practice" could be something that doesn't look at all like what we think is Dharma. It may very well NOT be the Lamrim, or any kind of formal practice. It could just be to ease their secular concerns first before going to the next level. Not everyone out there in the world wants to sit on a forum and discuss spiritual matters, so how else can we get them to understand the blessings of the Dharma and the Buddhas?
I like what Genla has said here because she has spoken in terms broad enough to encompass many different needs and levels of practice. This is precisely Dorje Shugden's nature - to not discriminate between one person's needs and another. the way of the Bodhisattva after all, is to find every possible way, tirelessly to relieve the sufferings of others. And mind you the word "sufferings" doesn't have to mean a deep, philosophical, sociological postmodern condition. It could mean someone doesn't have a job, or enough money to put food on the table, or a very troublesome child, or an abusive partner. Before getting into the four noble truths, the 8 verses of mind transformation, the 6 of this and the 10 of that, wouldn't it be great if we could just help out these people with what they need now?
Dorje Shugden manifested at this time not just to watch over us as we perfect Nagarjuna's middle view of emptiness. Surely, as part and parcel of that, he will help us from the very basics of stepping foot onto a path to lead us basics. It's unfortunate that we've come to a time when we need this kind of babysitting, but that is the reality of the world now. Shugden would not be the fully enlightened buddha that he is if he didn't help us on every level - from the basest, most mundane - up to full enlightened. And yes, that could possible, very well mean helping us to win the lottery. I don't think we should scoff at that idea, but regard it as a true skilfulness - an answer to that very prayer spoken by Genla: "Dorje Shugden, please help me with my Dharma practice"
