The groups,WSS/SSC/ISC/ISBC, allegedly known as ‘Not The NKT’, recently informed the public it would organise protests over the recognition of Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche as Tulku. Following requests from many quarters, the threat of protests has been withdrawn. It is not news that Geshe Kelsang does not agree with this recognition. The question I have, is why this matter has been raised by ‘Not The NKT,’ at this time?
‘The Real NKT’, tell us. ‘…we are different traditions; we are a Western tradition, within Western culture for Western practitioners, and they are a Tibetan tradition, within Tibetan culture, teaching largely in a monastic context.’
Also, ‘….While to some, the practices of recognizing Tulkus and using oracles for divination may seem interesting and exotic, they are well outside Western cultural norms.’
Although the lineage Gurus of the NKT from Je Tsongkhapa up to Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso are Tibetan Lamas, the NKT is not Tibetan Buddhism.
When the NKT became the International Kadampa Buddhist Union, which is legally registered under English law, it became a legally independent Buddhist tradition.
The main reason why NKT–IKBU has chosen to become legally registered as an independent Buddhist tradition is because it was recognized that in Tibetan Buddhism there are so many political problems. These problems are due to the mixing of Dharma and politics, with higher Lamas using the holy Dharma of Buddha’s teachings for political aims.
http://kadampa.org/buddhism/modern-kadampa-buddhism‘It is also worth noting that Geshe Kelsang has not tried to interfere with how Shar Gaden or Serpom Norling are organized, even when his involvement was requested. He has never tried to interfere with any other Buddhist Center in the West either.’
“We don’t need to mix our traditions. Each tradition has its own uncommon good qualities, and it is important not to lose these. We should concentrate on our own tradition and maintain the good qualities of our tradition, but we should always keep good relations with each other and never argue or criticize each other. What I would like to request is that we should improve our own traditions while maintaining good relations with each other.” (Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, An Interview With Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Tricycle: the Buddhist Review, No. 27, Spring 1998, p. 76)
Before the claim the NKT is not the ISBC is made, without the NKT the ISBC would not function.
President: Brianna Groshon….Kelsang Demo
Treasurer: Lisa Klusendorf…..Also Treasurer of the Kadampa Meditation Center New York
Secretary: Rachel Jeffrey……Kelsang Norden
Henry Shefveland …..Kelsang Jampa…. Signatory of the open letter dated 10th March 2017 from the International Shugden Buddhist Community.
