See what Dalai Lama says in South India

[thaimonk]

Democracy is a powerful instrument: Dalai Lama
 Sunday, December 02, 2012
 TNN
 
KARWAR -- Tibetans all over the world are politically and culturally facing difficult times. They must follow the path taught by Gautam Buddha, said Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

 
He was speaking at a congregation of the Buddhist monks at Tibetan Colony in Mundgod in Uttara Kannada district on Thursday. The Dalai Lama who arrived at Mundgod from Goa will stay there for 14 days from Thursday. He said that the Drepung Loseling Monastic University Centre for Buddhist Studies in Mundgod is looked upon as the modern Nalanda University by the Buddhist community in the world. The 65th anniversary of this monastery, set up by the 5th Dalai Lama, is still drawing crores of Buddhists for spiritual solace, he said.
 
Commenting on the political situation in Tibet, he said Tibetans were still facing difficulties in their own land. He recalled that at the age of 16, he had taken up the political responsibility of the Tibetan community who were exiled from their own land. He had handed over the responsibility to the Tibetan government-in-exile last August to carry on the political fight and he would spread the spiritual message across the globe from now onwards. Democracy is a powerful weapon. So Tibetans are striving for democracy in their country as well as in the rest of the world, he said.
 
The Dalai Lama said that biologically human beings are equipped with love and compassion. It is these values he is trying to spread in the society, he said.
 
Recalling his meeting with the Hindu spiritual leaders and the Bishops in India, he said that all religions spread the same cause like love and peace. Recalling his meeting with Shri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur, the Dalai Lama said that he was inspired by the Swamiji. ``I wish I could have a long life like the Swamiji to serve the society," he said.

(Karwar is a small town very near Ganden and Drepung Monastery in South India. HH Dalai Lama is in Ganden and Drepung for 14 days and also visiting nearby towns.)

[Ensapa]

There is an unfortunate irony on this stance, as the Dalai Lama's followers, the CTA are not following Gautama Buddha's teachings of nonviolence and to not react in a damaging way against others. To me, it is sort of hypocritical for HHDL's followers in CTA for damaging Dorje Shugden practitioners, merely because HHDL said it's bad to practice Dorje Shugden. To me it is still not a valid reason at all to destroy their homes and give them death threats. And lets not forget that they are the only 'buddhists' in the world who give death threats to high lamas based on what they are 'practicing' which is none of their beeswax in the first place.

[yontenjamyang]

Democracy in a properly elected country and where the people has a proper country to speak of is definitely a powerful instrument. Democracy in Tibet or rather with the CTA is doubtful because the democracy cannot be implemented. Then it is left to the very few; in this case the CTA to "translate" the will of the people. It is not a "government of the people, by the people, for the people" to quote Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address.

Lincoln was saying that the government which governed the people, was taken from the people themselves, rather than from a hereditary, aristocratic class and operated for the good of the people, rather than the benefit of someone else. This is not what is happening in either China-Tibet and certainly not with the CTA. That is not democracy.

So what is the point of saying "Democracy is a powerful instrument"? It cannot be applied holistically. What is important is human rights; something even more basic than democracy that is lacking in the CTA's "government" and must be given to Shugden practitioners.

With due respect; over to you, your Holiness!

[Ensapa]

Democracy in a properly elected country and where the people has a proper country to speak of is definitely a powerful instrument. Democracy in Tibet or rather with the CTA is doubtful because the democracy cannot be implemented. Then it is left to the very few; in this case the CTA to "translate" the will of the people. It is not a "government of the people, by the people, for the people" to quote Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address.

Lincoln was saying that the government which governed the people, was taken from the people themselves, rather than from a hereditary, aristocratic class and operated for the good of the people, rather than the benefit of someone else. This is not what is happening in either China-Tibet and certainly not with the CTA. That is not democracy.

So what is the point of saying "Democracy is a powerful instrument"? It cannot be applied holistically. What is important is human rights; something even more basic than democracy that is lacking in the CTA's "government" and must be given to Shugden practitioners.

With due respect; over to you, your Holiness!

I forgot who, but one prominent person once said that democracy is not for the uneducated, or when the entire country are actually stupid because then real democracy would not exist in such situations. In the light of this, CTA is not exactly that well educated and neither are they smart enough to choose. There is only one party in CTA and thats the party that supports the Dalai Lama. You're either in or you're out. That is not democracy, and the US people should really know by now what is really going on instead of blindly believing.

[jessicajameson]

I actually see the situation a little differently from those who have replied this thread so far...

For one, I feel really happy to know that Drepung Loseling Monastic University Centre for Buddhist Studies in Mundgod is still drawing crores of Buddhists for spiritual solace. I'm also really happy to read that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is still going to monasteries such as Gaden and Drepung to give teachings. HHDL is already 77 years old, and he continues to tirelessly spread the Dharma both globally and back in India.

His Holiness will be giving a 14-day teachings on the 18 Great Stages of the Path (Lam Rim) Commentaries, including Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron), Tsongkhapa’s Great, Middling, and Concise Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lamrim chenmo, lamrim dringpo and lamrim dudon), and 14 other classic Lam Rim texts at Gaden Monastery and Drepung Monastery at the request of H.E. Ling Choktrul Rinpoche and Gaden Shartse Monastery.

There are those who speak ill of His Holiness, but unless we can take His place and continue to teach and inspire thousands of practicing sangha - we really should hold our tongues... Look at what HHDL will be teaching at those holy monasteries!! Incredible.

We create such heavy negative karma doubting that not all HHDL's actions are done without a higher purpose/reason. Last August, he handed over all political responsibility to the CTA. Prior to that, HHDL put Dorje Shugden's name into hundreds of thousands of people's mindstream via the ban, but with the political responsibility now on CTA (who has less power and influence) the ban will die down over the years.

Lamas who are strong Dorje Shugden practitioners such as Trijang Rinpoche are slowly emerging and teaching again. (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/trijang-rinpoche-visits-europe-2012/). When His Holiness the Dalai Lama enters clear light, who cares whether there is a ban imposed anymore? People will start thinking for themselves. Then other Buddhists lamas who are dotted around the globe will be of more influence than an administration office in exile. Lamas such as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso... Gangchen Rinpoche... Pabongka Rinpoche... Trijang Rinpoche... Domo Geshe Rinpoche (for the next generation)... http://www.dorjeshugden.com/category/great-masters/

[Ensapa]

I actually see the situation a little differently from those who have replied this thread so far...

For one, I feel really happy to know that Drepung Loseling Monastic University Centre for Buddhist Studies in Mundgod is still drawing crores of Buddhists for spiritual solace. I'm also really happy to read that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is still going to monasteries such as Gaden and Drepung to give teachings. HHDL is already 77 years old, and he continues to tirelessly spread the Dharma both globally and back in India.

His Holiness will be giving a 14-day teachings on the 18 Great Stages of the Path (Lam Rim) Commentaries, including Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron), Tsongkhapa’s Great, Middling, and Concise Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (lamrim chenmo, lamrim dringpo and lamrim dudon), and 14 other classic Lam Rim texts at Gaden Monastery and Drepung Monastery at the request of H.E. Ling Choktrul Rinpoche and Gaden Shartse Monastery.

There are those who speak ill of His Holiness, but unless we can take His place and continue to teach and inspire thousands of practicing sangha - we really should hold our tongues... Look at what HHDL will be teaching at those holy monasteries!! Incredible.

We create such heavy negative karma doubting that not all HHDL's actions are done without a higher purpose/reason. Last August, he handed over all political responsibility to the CTA. Prior to that, HHDL put Dorje Shugden's name into hundreds of thousands of people's mindstream via the ban, but with the political responsibility now on CTA (who has less power and influence) the ban will die down over the years.

Lamas who are strong Dorje Shugden practitioners such as Trijang Rinpoche are slowly emerging and teaching again. (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/trijang-rinpoche-visits-europe-2012/). When His Holiness the Dalai Lama enters clear light, who cares whether there is a ban imposed anymore? People will start thinking for themselves. Then other Buddhists lamas who are dotted around the globe will be of more influence than an administration office in exile. Lamas such as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso... Gangchen Rinpoche... Pabongka Rinpoche... Trijang Rinpoche... Domo Geshe Rinpoche (for the next generation)... http://www.dorjeshugden.com/category/great-masters/

Yup, you are right in the sense that we should not criticize the Dalai Lama, but the main problem does not lie with the Dalai Lama himself, but on how CTA runs and how damaging their actions are towards Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama and on Buddhists in general and as a whole. When HHDL is no longer around, CTA will fall because all that they ever do is just hang on to the Dalai Lama's words without putting up effort on their own to set up the country as a real democracy country as the Dalai Lama has instructed them to do so. The new crop of Lamas are already in their prime and are very strong Dorje Shugden practitioners, and they still respect HHDL at the same time and  they will gain the trust of the masses. By then CTA will be ignored and discarded, and nobody really will pay attention to the ban at all.