Rely on the Protector
Relying on a Dharma Protector to clear the obstacles to our Dharma practice is what we are taught, but it is so rarely practiced. We choose to rely on our Dharma Protector to clear obstacles to the things we think we want, not what our Dharma Protector knows we need. Back in 2004, I had…
All We Have to Do is Believe
I am sure there have been countless incidents when the Protector Dorje Shugden has helped me without me even knowing. The fact that I’m still on this path is, I’m sure, by his blessings and protection – I quite fickle by nature and I think, given any other situation, I would have left when the…
Keeping A Roof Over My Head
I was in danger of losing my home. Tenancy agreements can be tricky things; they are valid based on certain conditions, and invalid based on others. And in my case, my tenancy agreement appeared to be invalid. Let me explain – I was facing a nasty landlord who, one year into a five-year contract, wanted…
Achieving Peace of Mind
I have directly experienced the benefits of practicing Dorje Shugden through attending regular pujas with my Dharma community as well as by chanting his mantra. Firstly, by practicing Dorje Shugden, I find inner peace. I have become more patient and obtained a much higher level of tolerance. The practice has also helped me to better…
Keeping Him Close to You
I was introduced to Lord Dorje Shugden’s practice by my Lama’s assistant in early 2002. She called us to her office one day, gave us five sheets of Dorje Shugden’s prayers and advised us to do his prayers, mantra and serkyem offerings everyday. She explained that he is a Dharma Protector, and told us that…
Turning Point
Let me first start by saying that I am not just a newbie to Dorje Shugden’s practice; I am also new to Protector practice in general, to Dharma and to spiritual practice of any form. I have gone through life very much like any other person: enjoying my life and chugging along thinking that all…
Bringing Grandma Home
I had been introduced to Dorje Shugden for quite some time already but all this while, I had never believed in Buddhism so even though I was given the Protector’s mantra I did not do my practice seriously. I only chanted the mantra when I remembered or when I needed help. That is, until one…
The Lineage
Introduction As emanations of the Wisdom Buddha, every incarnation that arose before Dorje Shugden manifested was a fully Enlightened Being. Each incarnation contributed greatly towards the growth of Dharma throughout the Buddhist world. Dorje Shugden’s lineage of incarnations includes past great Mahasiddhas (highly attained practitioners), renowned Buddhist scholars, monastics of high moral discipline and outstanding…
Introduction to Dorje Shugden
Dorje Shugden is an Enlightened Being, an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He arose as a Dharma Protector 350 years ago in order to best safeguard the precious teachings of the Second Buddha known as Lama Tsongkhapa, to benefit all sentient beings. During the degenerate times we live in and due to our…
Links
For more about Dorje Shugden, the Lamas who practice him and other pages of note, click on any of the links below that may be of interest. To submit more links for consideration, please leave a comment.
FAQS – About Dorje Shugden’s Practice
Where did Dorje Shugden’s practice come from? Dorje Shugden arose as the principal Protector of Lama Tsongkhapa’s doctrine about 350 years ago, at the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, who composed the first verses of praise to him. However, the common lineage and practice that is being followed throughout the world today is more…
FAQs – How Can Dorje Shugden Help Me?
How can Dorje Shugden help me? What are some of the benefits of doing Dorje Shugden’s practice? Dorje Shugden is very swift in his help and can assist you in any aspect of your life, for your highest benefit. He can help to: Alleviate financial difficulties and health problems Bring greater peace, clarity and stability…
Manjushri
Bearer of the Wisdom Sword Dorje Shugden is a sublime emanation of Venerable Manjushri, Buddha of Wisdom. Highly attained masters like Mahasiddha Tagphu Pemavajra, Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche have mentioned this in their teachings and written works. Venerable Manjushri’s name is…
Mahasiddha Biwawa
Lord of Miracles The earliest recognized incarnation of Dorje Shugden was born in ancient India as the famous Mahasiddha Biwawa. Mahasiddhas are spiritual practitioners (yogis) who have achieved profound spiritual realization, and are characterized by their often unconventional and outrageous behaviour and…
Thonmi Sambhota
The legendary Thonmi Sambhota is widely regarded as one of the earlier incarnations of Dorje Shugden. His life, although shrouded in legend, is still very much an integral part of early Tibetan history…
Trisong Detsen
Another of the earlier incarnations of Dorje Shugden, King Trisong Detsen would eventually become one of the Three Great Dharma Kings of Tibet, laying the foundation for Buddhism to take root in the Tibetan plateau…
Naropa
The great Mahasiddha Naropa was exceptional in his maturity, wisdom and compassion, and would eventually be counted as one of the 84 great Mahasiddhas of ancient India…
Lotsawa Loden Sherab
In the course of his life, Ngok Lotsawa Loden Sherab translated over 137,000 verses and trained countless students in Buddhist philosophy, logic, and tantric practices. He is also credited with bringing the lineage of the Dharma Protector Setrab Chen from India to Tibet…
Ra Lotsawa
One of the previous lives of Dorje Shugden is the renowned lama Ra Lotsawa Dorje Drak, who was most famous for introducing the powerful Yamantaka tantras to Tibet…
Shakya Shri Bhadra
In the year 1127, one of Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnations took rebirth in a Brahmin family in Dasobhara, Kashmir. Little is known of Shakya Shri Bhadra’s family except that he had a brother by the name of Buddhacandra. He was given the traditional Brahmin education of the time…
Butön Rinchen Drub
Great Collector of the Kangyur and Tangyur Next in the line of Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnations is the prolific scholar Butön Rinchen Drub from Zhalu Monastery. He was born in western Tibet in the same area where Tashi Lhunpo Monastery would later be built. As a child, Butön Rinchen Drub displayed all the extraordinary behavior…
Sakya Pandita
Unparalleled Master of the Sakya School The next incarnation subsequently manifested in Western Tibet as the legendary Sakya Pandita, the renowned lineage holder of the Sakya School in Tibet. Many decades later, Dorje Shugden was first enthroned as a Dharma Protector and practiced within the Sakya school…
FAQs – About Dorje Shugden
Who is Dorje Shugden? Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, the Enlightened Buddha of Wisdom. He arose as a Dharma Protector about 350 years ago especially to protect Nagarjuna’s Middle View, as taught by Lama Tsongkhapa. He is often considered to be a Protector of the Gelugpa lineage but actually, he protects all…
Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen
Immaculate Disciple of Je Tsongkhapa In a previous lifetime, in1327, the great being Dorje Shugden emanated in Central Tibet as Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen. As in his previous incarnations, he displayed a compelling inclination towards spirituality from a very young age, and took on his studies with tremendous zeal and astonishing…
Panchen Sonam Drakpa
Great Scholar and Spiritual Master of the Dalai Lama In 1478, a special child was born in Tsethang, in the Lhoka region of Central Tibet. He grew up to become known as the great scholar, Sonam Drakpa. ‘Panchen’ is translated from the Sanskrit word ‘Pandit’ and is an honorific title referring to Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s…
Sonam Yeshe Wangpo
The Supreme Spiritual Friend After Panchen Sonam Drakpa passed away, he took rebirth as Sonam Yeshe Wangpo near Tölung Lampa in Tibet. From birth, he spoke with clairvoyance and seemed to remember people and events of his past life. After he was recognized, he was brought to Drepung Monastery and presented to the Omniscient…
Ngawang Sonam Geleg Pelzang
The Virtuous Spiritual Master The following incarnation, Ngawang Sonam Geleg Pelzang was born in Olka Ribug. From a young age, he was already reciting long Dharani mantras and had clear knowledge of his past life. Soon, students from his previous life came to take him back to his residence in Drepung to be taken cared…
Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen
The Compassionate Martyr During the era of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Dorje Shugden took rebirth in the form of a very special incarnate Lama. This would be Dorje Shugden’s “last” incarnation before arising as a Dharma Protector. From childhood, this incarnation exhibited many signs of a superior being. For example, he had…
Descended from Tushita
One of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Gurus, Mahasiddha Tagpu Pemavajra had the miraculous ability to astral travel to pure lands of the Buddhas, such as Tushita Heaven. On one occasion, Tagpu Pemavajra ‘travelled’ to Tushita and had an audience with Lama Tsongkhapa and his Eight Great Disciples. There, he specifically…
The Era of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche
Dorje Shugden’s practice remained relatively obscure until the time of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. This Lama was an heir to the Changkya line of incarnations but was banned due to political affiliations that the previous incarnations had with the Chinese court. In this incarnation, the high Lamas decided to enthrone him as a Tulku of an…
The Time of the Great Fifth
Dorje Shugden’s practice initially began in the Sakya school when the “spirit” of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen first travelled there after failing to enter Tashi Lhumpo to meet his Guru. One of Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnations was as Sakya Pandita. As such the Sakya patriarch at that time, Dagchen Dorje Chang Sonam Rinchen accepted him and…
The Benefits of Dorje Shugden’s Practice
Dorje Shugden is a Dharma Protector who has arisen in this form specifically to safeguard our Dharma practice. Therefore, the very moment we begin our spiritual connection with him through our prayers, offerings and refuge is the moment he begins his work to sustain us on the spiritual path. However, many of us are new…
Great Ministers of Dorje Shugden
Beyond the 32 deities are the two great ministers of Dorje Shugden, Kache Marpo and Namka Bardzin. These are two oath-bound Protectors who have entrusted their very life essence to the King Protector and perform duties similar to that of a minister assisting their monarch in governing his kingdom. They are not emanations of Dorje…
The Retinue of Dorje Shugden
Attending to Dorje Shugden five families are the nine mothers, eight guiding monks and ten youthful and wrathful deities. Appearing in various guises, these attendants emanate to perform specific functions in relations to the propitiation of Dorje Shugden. Eight Fully Ordained Monks First are the eight fully ordained monks, emanated from…
Dorje Shugden’s Five Families
Dorje Shugden manifests in five different forms for different purposes. Aside from his principal emanation on the snow lion and wearing a golden domed hat, he has four other recognized emanations, each with their specific functions. These five forms are also known as the five families of Dorje Shugden. Altogether, the five families are…
The Mandala of Dorje Shugden
The mandala of Dorje Shugden consists of a three-storey celestial mansion emanated through the force of his mind. Residing at the heart of the mandala is Dorje Shugden in his principal emanation on the snow lion, wearing a golden domed hat. Dorje Shugden manifests as four other recognized emanations, each with their specific functions and…
Enthronement of Dorje Shugden
As all rituals failed, the 5th Dalai Lama soon realised that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was indeed not a spirit and had actually manifested as a Dharma Protector – Dorje Shugden. The Dalai Lama proceed to compose a praise in recognition of his awakened qualities. With this recognition by the Great Fifth, the calamities, dying of…
Recognised by the Sakyas
The sacred relics that were left behind by the cremation fire were placed inside eight types of stupas, which were all made of silver. These were then brought to Drepung Upper Residence but strange voices and squeezing sounds were heard to arise from the relics. Following Nechung’s instructions, the Desi took the relics out of…
An Almighty Dharma Protector Arises
According to the Great Fifth’s autobiography, he had heard of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s illness and was very concerned, as they were both close students of the same Guru, Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen. The Dalai Lama was unable to meet Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen in person so his regent, Desi Sonam Chopel dispatched Depa Norbu…
The Demise of the Great Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen
At the time, the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Palace was referred to as the Lower Residence and Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s Palace, the Upper Residence. This referred to the positioning of the residences, with one being literally physically higher than the other, rather than the status or attainments of the respective Lamas. However, people began talk about…
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At the Opening of Serpom Monastery
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