From
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/trijang-rinpoche-visits-europe-2012/H.H. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche giving teachings in Rabten Choeling, Switzerland in October 2012
In a stunning, exciting and path-creating trip, H.H. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang has visited both Switzerland and Italy in recent weeks and conferred on the very meritorious crowd the initiation of Yamantaka and Vajrayogini.
His Holiness was also requested to give the initiation of Dorje Shugden, to which he had agreed. Unfortunately, as there was not enough time, he was not able to confer this initiation on this trip, which leaves an auspicious sign that he will be conferring Dorje Shugden in the future.
Throngs of people crowd to see H.H. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche, the Guru of Gurus
However, as we can see by the large turnout in all the photos, there were many people – including many high Lamas, Geshes and incarnations – there to welcome H.H. Trijang Dorje Chang’s to Switzerland and Italy.
While there, Trijang Rinpoche gave many interviews and intimate audiences to his disciples. Also, he remarked to the high Lamas of Europe that it is time now to invite H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche – a very outstanding and high incarnation – to Europe to give teachings. That was his reminder.
The teaching tour and initiations were a success and held portent of the future: that Trijang Rinpoche will carry on his previous life’s legacy. He will carry on the Buddhadharma and he will spread the pure lineage of Dorje Shugden.
H.H. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche confers the Yamantaka and Vajrayogini initiations to the amassed congregation
Continuing the LegacyThere has been speculation for many years now about whether Trijang Rinpoche will teach in this lifetime or manifest the same Dharma signs as he did in his previous life. Although his previous incarnation was such an influential and important Lama, especially for practitioners of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism, the current Trijang Rinpoche faced many obstacles to his work during his earlier years, and received death threats and constant physical attacks simply because of his Dorje Shugden practice. This is even after the Dalai Lama gave him permission to practice. The current Trijang Rinpoche is the only person in the world that the Dalai Lama has allowed to continue his practice of Dorje Shugden. Because of his continued devotion to Dorje Shugden, Trijang Rinpoche was living under so much danger that he eventually left Gaden Monastery in India to live in the USA instead.
So this news about the current Trijang Rinpoche granting initiations and teachings is excellent and very significant. It shows that in spite of all the difficulties, this true, unmistaken incarnation is continuing the far-reaching works of his previous life. We rejoice to know that he is once again passing the lineage onwards to many practitioners and continuing the legacy that his predecessor began.
More importantly, we must consider the effects that his teaching will have for the future of Dorje Shugden’s practice in the world… and for all practices of the Gelug lineage.
That Special ExemptionFirst, we must ask this crucial question:
Why did the Dalai Lama permit Trijang Rinpoche to practice Dorje Shugden?If Dorje Shugden was such a terrible demon, why would the Dalai Lama allow the incarnation of his root Guru to practice something so bad? Some people say it is because Trijang Rinpoche is the only Guru in the world who is powerful enough to control Dorje Shugden. If this is the case, then why doesn’t the Dalai Lama request Trijang Rinpoche to subdue and control Dorje Shugden, to lessen his damage?
These questions have never been answered.Venerable Tenzin Rabgye Rinpoche (Geshe Rabten’s incarnation), H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche, H.E. Gonsar Rinpoche, H.E. Panglung Rinpoche, H.E. Lama Gangchen Rinpoche
Secondly, Trijang Rinpoche – both his previous incarnation and the current one – is one of the most highly respected Buddhist teachers in the world, with thousands of followers everywhere. It is very obvious that the moment this current incarnation begins to teach, he will be passing his lineage and practices to thousands of people.
The Dalai Lama, who is recognized as an emanation of the Buddha Chenrezig, must know this simple fact. Therefore, why give a “bad” and “damaging” practice to the single most powerful lama in the Gelugpa lineage? Doesn’t he know that if Trijang Rinpoche does Dorje Shugden’s practice, there is a very high chance of him passing the practice to all of his followers? Even as a solitary practitioner, Trijang Rinpoche would not practice something on his own without any assistants – the pujas and rituals he does would involve his attendants and students who would set up, make the tormas and assist during the pujas.
These questions have never been answered directly by the Dalai Lama or his people. This can only lead us to one conclusion:
The Dalai Lama actually intends for the practice of Dorje Shugden to spread further.Making Dorje Shugden FlourishThe ban on the practice has resulted in a huge amount of news coverage and awareness about Dorje Shugden. The more the Dalai Lama bans the practice and talks against it, the more people hear about it all around the world. There is no Buddhist deity today that is more “famous” than Dorje Shugden and has been featured so extensively on major international news channels.
Now, as the time for the Dalai Lama’s reign and current incarnation comes nearly to an end (we apologize for saying this and we do not wish for this to happen any time soon), could it be that he is preparing to pass the leadership on to the next generation of powerful teachers? A generation which includes His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche?
So, by allowing Trijang Rinpoche to practice Dorje Shugden, the Dalai Lama prepares for a time when he will no longer be around, and a time when this young, new Lama rises to become a powerful great teacher to pass on the teachings. With the ban right now, the Dalai Lama creates much awareness and knowledge about Dorje Shugden. Then, as he retires, Trijang Rinpoche steps in to take this awareness to the next level – he begins teaching and spreading the practice of Dorje Shugden. Thus, we see that two Lamas are actually working together hand-in-hand to make the practice grow bigger and go further than it ever has before.
In the 1970s, the previous Trijang Rinpoche himself wrote clearly that it is incorrect for us to ‘take sides’ with either the Protector Dorje Shugden or the teachers like the Dalai Lama. He stressed that it is important to realize that “the enlightening activities of these great masters (
such as the Dalai Lama or the Panchen Lama) are each as mutually universal and pervasive as the other.” He writes in his very famous text,
Music Delighting an Ocean of Protectors:
"...Some who are narrow-minded, not understanding this point, consider this Dharmapala (Dorje Shugden) to be like an ordinary worldly being and, with supposed faith in the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, disparage him; or else they admire this great Dharmapala but criticize the Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama. Using either one as a reason not to admire the other and speaking badly about either in any way is the conduct of an ordinary being who, under the influence of attachment and hatred, just tries to help friends and hurt enemies; it obscures the increase of these great holy Aryas’ deeds and creates the karmic cause to experience unbearable suffering in the future."
After all, great teachers like the Dalai Lama (who is Chenrezig) and Trijang Rinpoche (who is Vajra Yogini) wouldn’t make such simple “mistakes” about a practice like Dorje Shugden, would they? Are Lamas like these unable to tame a mere spirit? (which is what people claim Dorje Shugden is.) Either they are ordinary and unattained, or they have much bigger plans ahead. We are sharing all this with you with the hope that it is indeed because of bigger, better plans for the future of all practices.
We wish everyone excellent success in your practices. May you always receive the blessings of the Protectors and the Three Jewels.
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Download the previous Trijang Rinpoche's autobiography and his definitive text on Dorje Shugden:http://www.dorjeshugden.com/articles/kyabje-trijang-rinpoches-works-and-autobiography/Join in the discussion:http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=2792.0Check out the buzz on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=464104293631066&set=a.333716930003137.72762.124479407593558&type=1&relevant_count=1More auspicious pictures of Trijang Rinpoche's Europe visit: