Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche with the Dalai Lama
The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
By: Shashi Kei
Not so long ago, towards the end of 2017, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most famous lamas, Sogyal Rinpoche, the author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and the head of the international Rigpa Buddhist organization was again accused of sexual assault and physical abuse which he allegedly inflicted on his female students. It was not altogether a shock because allegations of Sogyal Rinpoche’s sexual improprieties and abuses go as far back as 1994 when a $10 million lawsuit was filed against him by a ‘Janice Doe’. She accused Sogyal Rinpoche of sexually assaulting her as a means of purifying her “bad family karma”. Since then, the Tibetan lama has not been able to shrug off an on-going string of accusations of sexual offences and charges of misconduct but the Rigpa organization grew nevertheless, and fame and success continued to follow Sogyal Rinpoche.
In 2011, Lama Choedak Rinpoche publicly apologized for having multiple sexual relationships with his female students. Source: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/
index.php?id=49,10104,0,0,1,0#.
WzZrA9gzYUt. Click to read the full article.
Sogyal Rinpoche’s story is not an isolated one. In 2011, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, who is the leader of the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra, was forced by members of his community to make a public apology for multiple sexual relationships he had with his female students. In yet another case, The Guardian newspaper in October 2017 published an article that exposed how the Dalai Lama’s personal emissary, Lama Tenzin Dhonden extorted money in exchange for audiences with the Dalai Lama and endorsements by the Tibetan spiritual leader. Tenzin Dhonden’s transgressions went beyond financial offences and it soon became clear that he freely engaged in affairs and relationships with women, a clear violation of his monk vows.
Even before these scandals had a chance to subside, we now see reports that yet another Tibetan Buddhist lama has been accused of sexual abuse, carnal misconduct and even allusions to rape. The lama in question this time is Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the leader of Shambhala International.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the latest in a string of Tibetan Buddhist lamas linked to allegations of sexual misconduct. Sakyong Mipham recently made a public apology for sexually assaulting three of his female students and engaging in coercive sexual relationships with others.
What is surprising is how you never hear the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which claims to represent all Tibetan people in the world, publicly censure or denounce these offenders no matter how serious their crimes are. Neither does the Dalai Lama’s office, which behaves like an absolute authority on spiritual matters under the Tibetan Buddhist ambit, denounce these lamas and their actions. They never speak of how much damage has been inflicted on innocent people seeking spirituality under the Tibetan Buddhist auspice.
The CTA has a Department of Religion & Culture which, according to the CTA’s official website, claims that its function is to oversee religious and cultural affairs. The question that therefore arises is this – if the CTA is claiming ownership over Tibetan Buddhism as it is wont to do, and uses the religion to garner public support in their fight with China, how come the CTA does not do its job and take responsibility for the conduct of these lamas and Tibetan Buddhist teachers it is exporting all over the world?
For all the scandals involving Tibetan Buddhist lamas, the CTA has not said one word about any of them. Neither has it apologized for its failure to oversee the conduct of these Tibetan Buddhist representatives; pledged to reign in errant lamas, teachers and representatives; expressed any concern and offered solace to the victims of these wayward Tibetan lamas; or publicly rebuked them as enemies of the Dharma and traitors to the Tibetan people’s efforts to regain their homeland. Surely the bad conduct of these highly influential Tibetan lamas would have a tremendous negative impact on how the public perceives Tibetan Buddhism. Yet, the CTA does literally nothing to curb such offences. Very unfortunately for Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people, the CTA focuses all its attention on persecuting Dorje Shugden worshippers just because it is a religious practice the Dalai Lama chose to ban for reasons neither he nor the CTA have been able to articulate logically. On the CTA’s official website, it unleashes its unabashed hatred for all Dorje Shugden practitioners in such an unrestrained way that it makes a complete joke out of its claims to be a democratic government.
- Instead of warning the public to be wary of deviant Tibetan Buddhist lamas and teachers who are known to be causing harm to their respective communities and to the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism, and who are even accused of cheating, physical abuse and rape, the CTA instills fear of Shugden practitioners in their people, labelling them destroyers of the Buddha’s teachings and traitors of the Tibetan people.
The CTA’s hit list of Dorje Shugden practitioners. Click image to enlarge.
Taken from http://tibet.net/2014/05/list-of-dolgyal-followers-who-protested-against-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-in-us-and-europe/
- Instead of publishing a list of known sexual offenders and those teachers who are proven to have abused and taken advantage of their students, the CTA publishes a hit list of Dorje Shugden practitioners with the implied instruction that these people should be marginalized, excommunicated and even assaulted.
- Instead of creating a section on its official website to provide advice to victims of abuse and provide an avenue for complainants to voice their concerns and grievances, the CTA dedicates an entire section of its official website to pages upon pages of negative indoctrination and disinformation about Dorje Shugden aimed at demonizing Shugden Buddhists just because of their religious beliefs.
- Instead of producing literature to guide aspiring Tibetan Buddhist practitioners on how to avoid abuse by bad teachers, the CTA spends time and sponsors’ money producing books, videos and literature that blatantly distort facts and Tibet’s spiritual history just to support the CTA’s illegal religious ban.
- Instead of using its state instruments to enact and implement laws and guidelines that penalize and expel those lamas who have been proven to be guilty of crimes, breaking their monastic oaths and also the law, the CTA uses its parliament to criminalize a religious practice and endorse a witch-hunt against Shugden Buddhists.
- Instead of using religious teaching sessions or secular public forums to rebuke errant lamas like Sogyal Rinpoche, Lama Choedak, Lama Tenzin Dhonden and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and warn people about them, the Tibetan leadership takes every opportunity to further disfigure the truth about Dorje Shugden whose practice is in fact ancient and holy.
Lama Tenzin Dhonden is pictured here at a party with a friend. He is alleged to have had sexual relations with a wealthy heiress. Tenzin Dhonden was the monk who represented the Dalai Lama in North America. No matter who you were, you had to go through him to secure the Dalai Lama’s presence for events, talks, Buddhist rites as well as personal audiences. Everyone had to go through him and he was well known for abusing his position and demanding donations for the Dalai Lama as well as for himself in order to fulfil such requests from the public. Since this picture was uncovered, Tenzin Dhonden has been in many major newspapers and claims have been published against him, his embezzlement and his womanizing. This is highly inappropriate behavior especially given that he is a monk and the Dalai Lama’s representative. These claims have since been shown to be true and the foundation that he worked for, the Dalai Lama Trust, has since fired him. However, since he is a major embarrassment to the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama’s office and the CTA by virtue of his proximity and association with them, no official letters or communications denouncing his behavior have been issued from any of these institutions. This shows a very clear bias that, in order to protect the Dalai Lama’s reputation, if you are his friend or if you are endorsed by him, your crimes are covered up and swept under the rug no matter how offensive or serious your crimes are. That is how the Dalai Lama’s office and the Tibetan administrative regime that he controls, operates.
To the CTA, there is nothing you cannot get away with, no matter how grotesque your crime, as long as you toe the Dalai Lama and the CTA’s line. You are perfectly fine as long as you do not oppose the Dalai Lama’s wishes and you do not have Chinese friends or a connection with China. In fact, on many occasions, the Tibetan leadership will even assist offenders by facilitating audiences and photo-taking sessions with the Dalai Lama. Such measures are often the offender’s ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card. To the Tibetan people, being seen with the Dalai Lama and having your picture taken with him is tantamount to being issued carte blanche to do as you will. We see this is true in the case of Sogyal Rinpoche and Lama Tenzin Dhonden, who were literally untouchable for the longest time by virtue of their favor with the Dalai Lama. So, instead of the Tibetan leadership being the overseer of highly influential Tibetan Buddhist figures with the capacity to inflict tremendous harm on people, it is in fact an underwriter for their misconduct.
Video: “In the Name of Enlightenment – Sex Scandal in Religion” – About Sogyal Rinpoche
Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)
As a matter of fact, it is undeniable that the Dalai Lama has played a significant role in building up the prestige and prominence of these lamas to the point that they are almost invincible and occupy positions where they can abuse their victims without much resistance. Most newcomers to Tibetan Buddhism and even those who have practiced for a number of years have no other point of reference besides the Dalai Lama’s endorsement of a certain lama. Suffice to say, many victims of these abusive lamas submit themselves to exploitation, manipulation and assault because they trust the Dalai Lama’s sanctioning of these lamas even if they do not comprehend the mistreatment and unusual methods which are usually summarily dismissed as ‘crazy wisdom’, supposedly a characteristic of highly attained beings.
The Dalai Lama therefore becomes an advocate of these bad lamas by being friendly with them, speaking highly of them, taking pictures with them (something which in the Tibetan context is as good as a formal seal of approval), attending events organized by them and continuing to support them. The Dalai Lama’s approval of these lamas is a determining factor in their rise to prominence and yet neither the Dalai Lama nor the Tibetan leadership will accept responsibility and take remedial measures to avoid more harm being inflicted by bad lamas under the protection of the Dalai Lama.
Sogyal Rinpoche was able to get away with his misdeeds for far too long by virtue of his association with the Dalai Lama. Sogyal Rinpoche invited the Dalai Lama to his Dharma centres, cultivated a friendship with him, made generous donations, and also ensured that he took many pictures and videos together with the Dalai Lama. He knew that by doing this, he would make himself very popular, even more famous and therefore, it would be easier for him to rake in the donations. From the Dalai Lama’s side, the Dalai Lama is more than happy to attend events such as this one because he wants to show an atmosphere of non-sectarian harmony. However, this association with Sogyal Rinpoche has backfired at the end of the day as Sogyal Rinpoche is now best known for molesting, accosting, and/or raping over 60 women. So the question that begs asking is, why is the Dalai Lama, his office and the CTA regime quiet about all of this? Why are there no strong statements condemning Sogyal Rinpoche’s behavior? The CTA cannot be serious if they think the public will believe that harming over 60 human beings directly is less dangerous than praying to Dorje Shugden, a so-called evil spirit (which he is not).
A clear example can be seen in the way the Dalai Lama has supported Sogyal Rinpoche over the decades and maintained a close association with him, even as Sogyal Rinpoche sexually abused and took advantage of his students. Was the Dalai Lama unaware or was it not important to him that someone like Sogyal Rinpoche was hurting people in the name of Buddhism? The Dalai Lama is believed to be the emanation of Chenrezig, a Buddha, and is therefore supposed to be omniscient and clairvoyant. The claim that the Dalai Lama is enlightened and therefore has perfect foresight and cannot be wrong is invoked time and again when it comes to the ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden. Yet, the same clairvoyance and omnipotence seem to have gone into recess when the Dalai Lama continually validates Sogyal Rinpoche, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and probably many others who have yet to be exposed.
Clockwise from top: Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche and Tenzin Dhonden. It is safe to conclude that as long as you are on the Dalai Lama’s side and take pictures with him, then no matter what your crimes are, you will be forgiven and the Dalai Lama will continue to love you. But if you practice Dorje Shugden, you will be condemned and heavily segregated by the rest of the community.
Logically, if the Dalai Lama is clairvoyant, wouldn’t he have known that he was empowering lamas who would harm a lot of people and dilute the sanctity of the Buddha’s teachings? Why then did the Dalai Lama not stop them when he had the opportunity? On the other hand, if the Dalai Lama is not clairvoyant, then on what basis can he or the CTA claim that the practice of Dorje Shugden harms the Tibetan Buddhist religion? The ban on Dorje Shugden was imposed based on the belief that through the Dalai Lama’s ‘psychic ability’ he saw that the deity was in fact a demon. This inconsistency in the Dalai Lama’s supposed prophetic powers and foreknowledge is disturbing.
Letters from the Dalai Lama’s private secretary to Michael Roach. This shows you that the Dalai Lama and his administrative regime in exile are capable of writing very strong letters to admonish a “wayward” Buddhist teacher. They even make these letters accessible to the public in order to send a strong signal that these teachers should be avoided. Click on image to enlarge.
Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the Dalai Lama will not speak out against lamas whom he is on friendly terms with, even if they have committed crimes, simply because they are his friends. But if they are not his friends, the Dalai Lama does not hesitate to speak out against these individuals such as in the case of Geshe Michael Roach, the first American to receive the Geshe degree at Sera Monastery.
In 2006, the Dalai Lama’s private secretary, who takes his instructions from the Dalai Lama, wrote a letter to Michael Roach discouraging him from attending the Dalai Lama’s upcoming teachings in Dharamsala on account of his “keeping company with women” and “unconventional behavior”. This communication has since been made available to the public (click here for the PDF version). Yet, we do not see any signs of the Dalai Lama or the CTA doing the same for Sogyal Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche or Lama Choedak Rinpoche, even though their crimes are arguably worse than Michael Roach’s. Therefore, the question that begs asking is, if the Dalai Lama’s secretary can write to Michael Roach, why do they not write to these other teachers who are doing even more harm? Some people may argue that Michael Roach is a monk of the Gelugpa tradition and therefore is subject to stricter rules of conduct compared to monks of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions. But that is totally besides the point. Molesting, harassing, accosting or raping women is 100% wrong regardless of whether you are a monk or not, and regardless of what Buddhist tradition you come from. This is the issue that must be addressed.
It is also lamentable that after the reprehensible misdeeds of these lamas are exposed, the Dalai Lama does not retract his approval of them and allows the continuation of an implied endorsement. In the case of Sogyal Rinpoche, it was only after significant time had passed and Sogyal Rinpoche’s scandals became uncontainable, that the Dalai Lama expressed some regret but still referred to Sogyal Rinpoche as his “very good friend”. In addition, the Dalai Lama added that the only thing to do is to expose these abusive lamas and make the misdeeds of these lamas’ wrongdoing, public. However, the Tibetan leadership does not seem to heed its own advice as neither the CTA’s website nor the Dalai Lama’s website carry any warning of these very dangerous Tibetan Buddhist figures. Surely, the loudest warning should be sounded by the very authorities who placed them in a position where they could harm and abuse so many.
The decent thing for the Tibetan leadership to do would be to accept some level of responsibility and accountability. If the Dalai Lama, as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, and the CTA, as the self-proclaimed government of all Tibetan people, do not accept responsibility for those they empower, then whose responsibility does it become? Instead, both the CTA’s website and the Dalai Lama’s website continue to ignore sexual and financial scandals perpetrated by the Dalai Lama’s close friends and choose instead to victimize Dorje Shugden worshippers. The lack of transparency and sheer recalcitrance of the Tibetan leadership to admit its mistakes is a sure sign that they do not hold themselves accountable to anyone, anything, any laws or even any moral standard. The Dalai Lama should speak up stronger and condemn these teachers as people who destroy Buddhism and abuse their powers. It makes Buddhism look bad if the Dalai Lama highlights these teachers, but it makes Buddhism look worse if he does not and remain silent. These type of scandals are growing and to support the Dalai Lama knowing he is not doing something tangible about this brings the prestige of the Dalai Lama down. This will not go away. The Dalai Lama’s silence will not make this go away. The very teachers he endorses are turning out to be sexual predators that bring Tibetan Buddhism a bad name and making people lose their confidence in the Dalai Lama.
Whether it is due to its unwillingness or inability, the CTA has proven time and time again that it will not do anything to curtail abuses by Tibetan Buddhist figures. To the CTA, any crime is permissible including murder, inflicting physical harm, inciting violence and unrest, instigating suicide, financial and spiritual fraud, extortion, sexual assault and even rape, as long as you are not a Dorje Shugden practitioner. The only ‘crime’ the CTA is interested in prosecuting is the benign worship of a benevolent Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. That, to the CTA is an unpardonable treason no matter how devoted a Tibetan lama is to the Dharma, how well and completely he keeps his monastic vows, how much he protects the integrity of Tibetan Buddhism, how hard he works to spread the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, how well and properly he runs his Dharma centers, how firmly he adheres to his ethics, how knowledgeable and attained he is, how much he protects the Tibetan culture and tradition, or how hard he works to keep the Tibetan dream alive.
For all the Tibetan leadership’s condemnation of Dorje Shugden people, there is not even a single sexual scandal, financial scandal or any form of outage reported against a Dorje Shugden lama in the West. You would think that with all the ‘criminality’ that Shugden people are accused of, there would be quite a few exposés and investigative news reports like those which undid Lama Tenzin Dhonden and Sogyal Rinpoche. However, after over 20 years of baseless accusations, the CTA is unable to come up with anything apart from more baseless, illogical and defective accusations, a popular one being the allegation that Shugden practitioners are all undercover Chinese spies and agents.
Dorje Shugden.
Click to enlarge.
The CTA would have you believe that merely by practicing Dorje Shugden, you will go to hell. But doesn’t one go to hell for committing crimes such as rape, sexual assault and inflicting physical harm onto others? Doesn’t one go to hell for creating schism in the Sangha and by breaking sacred oaths and forcing others to commit heinous crimes such as corrupting the Dharma? Why is the CTA so vocal on the practice of Dorje Shugden even IF it was a corrupt practice (which it is not) and yet so timid and accommodating on such serious crimes and sinful infractions? Is the self-practice of the benign 400-year-old Dorje Shugden ritual more harmful than rape, murder, fraud and felonies that leave countless lives damaged? Even if practicing Dorje Shugden is wrong (which it is not), which is the more serious crime? Which is the misdeed that pushes people away from the Dharma and erodes trust in Buddhism? Ponder that question and one might then begin to understand the true character of the CTA and its real agenda.
Ultimately, given that the Dalai Lama is the supreme spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, he should take much stronger action to deter errant Tibetan Buddhist lamas from further indulging in such abusive behavior. He should make very strong statements that lamas who have committed such crimes in the past and those who do such things in the future will immediately have their connections with him severed. That his recognition and endorsement of them will immediately be revoked. That they should immediately remove any forewords he may have written from their books. That they are forbidden to use any photos they may have taken together with him. That they may not hold official positions in the Tibetan administration. That they may not attend his teachings or be in his presence any more. This will be a good warning to the Tibetan Buddhist world that the Dalai Lama is serious about stamping out wayward behaviour amongst the Tibetan Buddhist clergy.
In fact, the Dalai Lama should really take the current situation seriously before the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism is utterly and completely ruined. Take what is happening to the Vatican as an example. They are coming under fire for case after reported case of men of the cloth molesting young children, and as a result are paying millions in compensation. If the Dalai Lama and the CTA continue to remain quiet, it is only a matter of time before they are held similarly accountable for the harmful actions of those under their domain. So, before it is too late, the Dalai Lama and his CTA had better take stronger measures so that the global public sees that something is being done about these criminals in robes, just as how Dorje Shugden practitioners are being punished for not heeding the Dalai Lama’s advice.
Buddhist leader sexually assaulted students,
report finds
Source: https://thinkprogress.org/buddhist-leader-sexually-assaulted-students-report-finds-0d08e17cedd9/. Click to enlarge.
Shambhala Head Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Accused of Sexual Abuse in New Report
Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/sakyong-mipham-rinpoche-sexual-abuse/. Click to enlarge.
Report alleges sexual misconduct by
leader of Shambhala community
Source: https://www.lionsroar.com/report-alleges-sexual-misconduct-by-leader-of-shambhala-community/. Click to enlarge.
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Robert Halls
July 1, 2018
If the Dalai Lama does not speak up on this issue, I will lose trust in him. I will throw all my Dalai Lama books away and trash his pictures. I will go on a social media campaign peacefully to demand Dalai Lama speak up and turn against Tibetan Buddhism. I will ask my friends to join me on this as they are outraged. I have shared this on the bulletin board of my university. ☹️
Linda J.
July 1, 2018
The Dalai Lama should speak up and TAKE ACTION and not beat around the bush. Sogyal and Mipham are DISGUSTING! Dalai Lama should take strong action and stop all this abuse against women now!
Even the pope has spoken up strongly and has taken action. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-letter-chile-bishops-clerical-sex-abuse.html
Disgusting
July 1, 2018
Sakyong Mipham ‘Rinpoche’ is big time DISGUSTING. He apologizes ahead of time to avoid lawsuits. It’s not going to work. We are writing to his victims to let the women know to take him to court.
Teach Sakyong Mipham a lesson. Tibetans in America must learn that this is NOT Tibet where you can get away with this. You Tibetans want to be in America, then you should be ready to be exposed about your dirty laundry.
Dalai Lama and his ‘govt’ regime in North India is shamelessly staying quiet. Shame on you!
DISGUSTING!👎
CTA will lose
July 1, 2018
WHY IS THE DALAI LAMA NOT TAKING ACTION AGAINST SAKYONG MIPHAM?!
Michaela Smith
July 1, 2018
I have always respected the Dalai Lama for his enormous contribution to make the precious Buddha Dharma available to people around the world.
However, there is no denying that the Dalai Lama has a significant influence and this influence has been misused and at times in a sad way. His endorsement of the so-called Buddhist teacher/ monk like Mipham, Sogyal, and Tenzin Dhonden are doing more harm than good to the Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dalai Lama should have put his foot down on those who are harmful to the lineage and Tibetan Buddhism in general and those who are harming others early instead of continuing to endorse them until the issues become huge. By doing this, he would limit the damage and the harm that they are doing.
Compared to the people mentioned in the article, there is nothing that Shugden people have done to harm the Dalai Lama or the Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, the ban against this practice that has never been proven to be harmful should be removed immediately.
I do hope the Dalai Lama would put his foot down and address the pressing issues in Tibetan Buddhism like those created by Mipham, Sogyal, and Tenzin Dhonden and lift the ban on Dorje Shugden practice so peace and harmony can be restored within Tibetan Buddhism.
Samayakeeper
July 1, 2018
Seems like Tibetan Buddhism is going to the dogs with the Tibetan leadership keeping mum on sex scandals. Yet the CTA spent millions of dollars to orchestrate unfair treatments on Tibetans who refuse to give up their Dorje Shugden practice.
Why does the Dalai Lama allow such unwarranted spending by Lobsang Sangye and the CTA, trying to prove that Dorje Shugden is a demon (of which he is not)?
What and whose skeletons are the Tibetan leadership trying to hide in their closets?
Why are they trying to wipe out the history and lineage of Dorje Shugden?
Could it be that the Dorje Shugden controversies (escalated by the Dalai Lama) have far more implications on the Dalai Lama and the CTA for them to warrant such spending, resulting in inhumane treatment on Dorje Shugden followers compared to these sex scandals and misappropriation of funds?
The Dalai Lama claims that those who practice Dorje Shugden will create the cause for his ill health and shorten his life. Years have passed by and the popularity of Dorje Shugden has not gone down but has gone up. Well, we can see the Dalai Lama is healthy, travelling all over to give teachings, and saying that he is fit and wanting to live on for another decade or so.
Sol Lang
July 1, 2018
I have been waiting for someone to write about this for a long time. What the author says about the Tibetan leadership’s non-action is spot on. In fact, if you read the attached article, you will see that his accusers accuse Songyal Rinpoche of using the same tactics that some of the Tibetan leadership’s supporters have been accused of:
“Your emotional and psychological abuse has been perhaps more damaging than the physical scars you have left on us,” they wrote. “You have threatened us and others, saying if we do not follow you absolutely, we will die ‘spitting up blood’. You have told us that our loved ones are at risk of ill-health, or have died, because we displeased you in some way.”
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/sogyal-rinpoche-and-the-abuse-accusations-rocking-the-buddhist-world-20171115-gzm7ra.html
I have also attached a photo of Hollywood star and Tibet freedom fighter Richard Gere with not one but two of the well known sexually abusive monks. This is not meant to insinuate that Mr Gere is one too but rather to show how hypocritical the Tibetan leadership’s fight for rights and freedom has reached and this includes the blatant religious discrimination and human rights violation in the ban on Dorje Shugden practice.
Every human rights activist, freedom fighter, politician, people’s representative, national leader, should know about this darndest double standard.
Anonymous
July 12, 2018
Jonathan K
July 1, 2018
This article brings to light how blatantly biased the Tibetan leadership is. It is disgusting to see spiritual leaders get away with sexual harrassment and assault and how the institution closes a blind eye just because they support their agenda.
It’s just a matter of time that more women will standup to the assault as the #metoo movement is giving courage to women to speak up against powerful individuals and or institutions.
I’m even more disappointed that HH the Dalai Lama, who is supposed to be the emanation of Chenresig, is not doing anything publically to address these sexual allegations. Are these women not worth HH’s attention? Isn’t HH the embodiment of pure compassion?
Religious institutions and the people who run them are usually tainted with so much selfish agendas. No wonder more and more people are becoming atheist!
Sara Shakti
July 1, 2018
Yup, basically you can get away with anything, even sexual abuse and rape, if you are liked and/or endorsed by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan-exile-government, they will never say anything to you! Double standards? Nah — just plain hypocrisy!
However, if a Dorje Shugden lama does anything, anything at all, even putting real historical facts about Dorje Shugden, wow, the number of hate messages and slurs hurled at them would be unending. Heck, they’ll be labelled as the “Taliban” of Buddhism like what some so-called bitter, jealous Professor Robert Thurman has been caught saying about Shugden-pas before. The amount of hypocrisy that exists in the Tibetan leadership is unbelievable, especially since they are supposed to be a Buddhist society! Very very disgusting.
I guess Mipham thought he should follow his father’s footsteps all the way. But he forgot he ain’t no Mahasiddha like his father. Sorry to say this and no one got enlightened or any realisations. The only realisations they got was that they were violated! What a shame… I used to respect Shambala and their organisation, this is a huge set back on them and their reputation as a whole. But you know what, they’ll still get much support because they are NOT Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Amber Sonam
July 1, 2018
“Logically, if the Dalai Lama is clairvoyant, wouldn’t he have known that he was empowering lamas who would harm a lot of people and dilute the sanctity of the Buddha’s teachings? Why then did the Dalai Lama not stop them when he had the opportunity? On the other hand, if the Dalai Lama is not clairvoyant, then on what basis can he or the CTA claim that the practice of Dorje Shugden harms the Tibetan Buddhist religion? The ban on Dorje Shugden was imposed based on the belief that through the Dalai Lama’s ‘psychic ability’ he saw that the deity was, in fact, a demon. This inconsistency in the Dalai Lama’s supposed prophetic powers and foreknowledge is disturbing.”
l don’t doubt His Holiness’ psychic power but it is all illogical when it is being used to justify the unlawful and baseless ban on Dorje Shugden and the failure of the Tibet Cause. It is even more unacceptable that the Sikyong Lobsang Sangay conveys His Holiness’ dream as opposed to putting efforts into doing anything useful to initiate a dialogue with China and resolve the Tibet issue. The misusing of His Holiness’ psychic power will only cause further distrust of his ability in the public who are already beginning to doubt and expose the CTA’s skeletons in their closet. Recently, more and more media are reporting the truth behind the Dorje Shugden ban as compared to the last 19 years. This is a sign that the CTA’s immature PR and Marketing methods are no longer acceptable and they are starting to surface into the limelight for confrontation and exposure.
There are no democratic countries that rely on Oracle and prophecies in handling their state matters. None of the leaders of any democratic countries demands the world to accept their psychic powers and illogical methods as a reason for their decisions that bring no benefits to their people and political allies. Only the CTA is doing so while begging the world leaders to support them financially so that they can continue to avoid the real issues and corrupt the sums for their personal agenda.
The CTA is obnoxious in not addressing the real issues but getting a scapegoat to cover them. This is especially obvious in their suppression of human rights and religious freedom of the Dorje Shugden followers. Their Sikyong was supposed to be a graduate from the Harvard Law School majored in international human rights. According to one of his principal advisor for his doctoral dissertation, Professor William Alford said: “I have known Lobsang Sangay since he entered Harvard Law School as a student in 1995. He is a person of principle committed to non-violence and someone with many friends throughout the world, including in the Chinese community. He has worked hard over many years to foster understanding and bring people together. I wish him well in the arduous responsibilities he has undertaken.” My question to Professor Alford, where is the non-violence that Sikyong has committed? How come he imposed violence on the Dorje Shugden people since he came into office? Where is the human rights for Dorje Shugden people when he happily changed the Constitution to deny their basic rights and daily basic needs? And since he is supposed to have “many friends throughout the world, including in the Chinese community” how come he didn’t even secure one dialogue with the Chinese?
I think what Professor Alford said is very telltale of who Lobsang Sangay is. In Professor Alford’s statement, there is no mention of Sangay’s scholarship and his academic achievement but Sangay’s good connections implying that Sangay didn’t put effort into his studies and research but make connections to get where he is. This explains why he failed to protect the Dorje Shugden’s people’s human rights and his so-called commitment to non-violence is just a mask he put on to be seen aligned with His Holiness’ message to the world in order to prepare himself for the Sikyong election.
Having a Sikyong like this, the CTA definitely will fail to uphold their Constitution or any principles including human rights and non-violence. While His Holiness may have tonnes of reasons why he manifested such disturbing inconsistencies, the Sikyong and CTA cannot get away from the fact that they have failed tremendously in uniting the Tibetan people, to protect their rights, freedom and culture. This is why they dare not say anything about Sogyal, Choedak, Dhonden and now Mipham’s misconduct that is jeopardizing the prestige and precious lineages of the Tibetan Buddhism which is a huge part of the Tibetan culture.
Instead of keeping quiet on the real issues, it will be wise for the Sikyong and CTA to come clean with their dirty laundry and fix the issues within the Tibetan community such as being the overseer of the highly influential Tibetan Buddhist figures with the capacity to inflict tremendous harm on people. They should stop harming Dorje Shugden people but to find ways to resolve the Tibet issue and really take care of the Tibetans’ welfare. Instead of corrupting the donations generously given by many especially the US Congress to printing useless books and creating fake news propaganda to degrade Dorje Shugden and his enlightened nature, the CTA should wisely use these sum for their purpose which is to resolve the Tibetan issues.
Until that happens, the CTA continues to destroy Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan culture which they are supposed to protect and preserve.
Michel Petit
July 1, 2018
The facts that are exposed here and in thinkprogress.org, lionsroar.com and tricycle.org show what the CTA and the Dalai Lama are in fact covering. Instead of speaking up on these shameful monks, and protecting the public from harm, they help cover up by taking pictures with them and even help them.
These crimes should never be hidden by exposed to everyone so that the public is aware. But instead, the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan Government in Exile in India, is spending so much money against Dorje Shugden practitioners and makes their life a hell and all those who know them as well as their families.
So, now we see that not only they harm innocent Buddhist practitioners as well as their friends and family but they even cover up criminals who commit rape, murder and fraud.
Who would expect this from those who are close to the Peace Nobel Prize winner, the Dalai Lama?
It is high time that these crimes are stopped and exposed so that no more harm will be done. Much harm has been done and it needs to be stopped! It is extremely disappointing to read about this and I hope that those responsible for such crimes will face their punishment and be stopped for good.
The Sobering Thought
July 1, 2018
There is a very good reason why the Dalai Lama’s office and the Tibetan exile government do not address these complaints of sexual and financial misconducts by the likes of Sogyal and Sakyong Mipham (and these are probably only the tip of the iceberg).
The Tibetan leadership is the epitome of a ‘spoils system’ and as long as these lamas support Gaden Phodrang and facilitate the perpetuation of the Dalai Lama’s absolute authority, the spoils of the Dalai Lama’s conquest of the world go to these scavengers. Help the Dalai Lama stay in power and you come under the covering of his office and the CTA. Dare to not go along with them and you’re done for.
This is why so many Tibetan lamas and government officials readily support the Dalai Lama’s assault on innocent Dorje Shugden practitioners even though they know its wrong.
And you see the obvious double standard in the way the Dalai Lama’s office dispense with Michael Roach and not the Sogyals whose offences are much more injurious. In fact Michael Roach’s first mistake was that he did not readily yield to the Dalai Lama. He did not commit any crime (at least not in so far as his run-in with the Dalai Lama’s office) but that was sufficient to get him denounced. (Again, see why so many people were quick to join the Dalai Lama on condemning Dorje Shugden. it is not that people agreed with the Dalai Lama’s pronouncement of Shugden, they are just too afraid not to go along with it).
Michael Roach’s second ‘mistake’ was he’s not Tibetan and no matter how knowledgeable and practised he may be, he will always be an outsider. The Tibetan culture under the Dalai Lamas is one of the most extreme and ultra nationalistic. You see Tibetans scattered around the world but they are always in their own enclaves and they rarely assimilate and rarely [truly] accept other races and people of other nations. Just look at how the Tibetans look down on the Indians who have hosted them for decades and you will get some idea of the kind of segregationists they are. This is the reality and the culture that the Tibetan leadership fosters.
So how come the Dalai Lama doesn’t acts on the scandalous Tibetan lamas? Because they are part of his patronage system and they are Tibetan. Never mind the victims who are just ‘inji’s to be used and abused.
Look carefully at what the Dalai Lama says and what he does. The two do not match. He preaches tolerance which is something the CTA does not show Dorje Shugden people and indeed anyone who does not go along with its discriminatory policies, the Dalai Lama says the China-backed Panchen is the official one and yet the CTA website still carries articles and posts that disparage and disown the 11th Panchen Lama Gyancain Norbu, the Dalai Lama talks about ethics but he personally supports and upholds the Sogyals and the Dhondens and the Sakhong Miphams, the Dalai Lama portrays himself as a ‘simple Buddhist monk’ but he has armed the Buddhist religion and sent it into war with China and in addition, there is nothing simple about the Dalai Lama and nowhere is the economic duality more glaringly obvious than between the Dalai Lama and his cronies and the Tibetan refugees.
There is no government on earth today more devious, cunning, opportunistic, conniving, deceitful and unscrupulous that the Dalai Lama’s government.
China may be the clumsy bully that she is but the Dalai Lama’s government? That’s the cancer that eats the Buddha’s teachings from inside out and corrodes the faith of every practitioner in its path. If the Tibetans lost their country and are still unable to regain Tibetan sovereignty, it is because they sowed the winds of karma and are now reaping the whirlwind in spades. History will record that the only thing the 14th Dalai Lama’s government succeeded in doing was to turn the term ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ into an oxymoron.
Joo Won
July 1, 2018
* Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is a disgrace. This is not something individual, but he has given a BAD NAME to the organisation he belonged to, to Tibetan Buddhism and all the sangha.
* What is more disgraceful is he tries to get away to apologioze to the victims and Shambala community before the report on his sexual abuse being released. Kalapa Council, Shambhala’s governing body, shoudn’t gang up with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche to paint a good positive picture and giving promises saying to engage the victims in meditation as a healing process…Sakyong Mipham mentioned lightly with his sexual misconduct as “relationship with women in Shambala community”, during his personal apology.
* What has CTA done to help the victims, to correct the misconduct of those who suppose to hold the lineage, to spread the Lord Buddha’s teachings and fight for the well beings of the Buddhists? What role is CTA going to play when these kinds of challenges coming their way? They are the leaders of Tibetans only when things are rosy and good, not when they have disgraceful friends and faced with challenges?
* When we have deviant Tibetan Buddhist lamas and teachers who are known to be causing harm to their respective communities, and even committed crimes like rapes and corruption, they are free and above the laws; but Dorje Shugden lamas and followers who did nothing just because keeping their samaya with their gurus clean, they are being PERSECUTED and DEMONIZE? Who is more harmful? These deviant teachers or Dorje Shugden lamas and practritioners?
Roan T.
July 1, 2018
His Holiness Dalai Lama many years ago when he was asked to comment about Soygal Rinpoche’s misconduct, he said: “…some Zen masters and Tibetan Buddhist Masters had created a very bad impression among people. Then I told them them; these people do not follow Buddhaʻs advice, Buddhaʻs teaching. We cannot do. So, the only thing is to make it public, through newspapers, through the radio. Make it public!”😠😠
Yes, make all these masters’ misconduct public, or it will only harm the good name of Buddhism, people will think all Tibetan lamas are like this, are doing this. This will only make people have less and less confidence in Tibetan Buddhism/Buddhism. 😖😏
This must stop.
Ngawang
July 1, 2018
I can’t imagine, these teachers who hurt his students and bringing bad name to their organisation and community are getting off scot-free, but Dorje Shugden masters and people who even without any harm are being labelled as evil people , as people who are harming Tibet cause and His Holiness.
Is this logic? Is this fair? Think for yourself please.
William
July 1, 2018
I don’t expect the CTA would do anything on this matter. It is very clear to me that CTA is only interested in things that can keep them (the ministers) in power, so that they can continue to pocket the money donated to them for personal gain.
In order to protect their (the ministers’) power, they need to find a scapegoat for their failure. Very conveniently, they found the scapegoat to be Dorje Shugden. So, they are harping on Dorje Shugden as the cause of the failure of Tibet cause, hoping that people will not realise it is in fact the failure of CTA to this cause.
Given this context, it is not surprised that CTA will keep quiet on this matter. If they keep quiet, they will be doing these people (Sogyal Rinpoche, etc) a favour, and in return, they receive big donations. It is a win-win for CTA ministers and scandalous lamas: These lamas walk away “free”, while CTA ministers get to pocket the money.
It is very sad to see how degraded things has become. I saw quite a few comments above that people are threaten to throw away HH Dalai Lama’s book as they are outraged. I can understand their frustration, and I can feel for them.
To me, if we want this to stop, one of the most effective way, is to stop donations to CTA, because the poor people of Tibet in India didn’t receive the money donated. It all went into the pockets of the ministers. If we donate directly to the families, it will eventually stop the abuse from CTA. The world must come to realise that making donations to CTA does not make the lives of Tibetan in India better. It actually make things worse for them.
I pray there are more real gurus and lamas in this world, to continue the teaching of Buddha.
Jushri
July 1, 2018
A man in robes commits sexual crimes is something NOT to be taken lightly by the Dalai Lama or CTA. The fact that sexual crimes are committed by someone prominent within the Buddhist circles needs to be addressed urgently as scandals like this is a terrible reflection on the Sangha community and Buddhism.
CTA and His Holiness’ non-action is deemed as an endorsement to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche heinous crimes. It is as good as them standing right here when Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche was committing the crime and doing nothing to stop it or protect the victim.
So, my question is – who is the bigger demon?
The thing is, CTA will still continue demonizing Dorje Shugden for one simple reason – CTA just needs a scapegoat for their failure to regain their country.
But, in doing so, CTA is also alienating other countries as no country would want to back a government that oppresses its own people’s basic human right to practice their chosen religion. Just like how many groups are condemning China’s lack of human rights, this will happen to CTA too, cos the damning evidence is on CTA’s official website.
Democracy NOW
July 1, 2018
Your Holiness the Dalai Lama. Be fair. These lamas hurting women are much much much worse than Shugden practitioners. These lamas hurting women are destroying Buddhism. Yet Your Holiness are friends with these lamas but you ignore the Shugden practitioners. And you segregate the Shugden people.
Dalai Lama and CTA, you should speak up and condemn these lamas who hurt women and pull your association away from them. You did that to the Shugden people and segregated Shugden people. So you are capable of that. Why don’t you speak up against these lamas hurting women? Is it because they give you big donations from their wealthy centres? ☹️
Be fair!
Anonymous
July 1, 2018
J. Ackerly
July 1, 2018
The effect of Trungpa Rinpoche’s behaviour on his children, in particular on his heir and current leader of Shambhala, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, has not been extensively discussed. But certainly, statistically, adult children of alcoholics are at a far higher risk for alcoholism and dysfunctional relationships than the general population.
Why the Tibetan government has never reprimanded or expressed their disapproval about Chogyam Trungpa’s alcoholism and sexually abusing his students, which he was famous for, is a mystery. Perhaps they didn’t want to lose influential support and funds from the West, cold hard American cash. I reckon this is the same with Sogyal Rinpoche, even in the face of lawsuits, the Central Tibetan Administration didn’t express any concern and would rather focus on petty issues like Dolgyal, which should have been an issue to be discussed among Gelugpas, with the Gaden Tripa and the abbots of monasteries, not in Kalachakra teachings.
The CTA allowing the Dalai Lama to impose such a ban tells the world that the Dalai Lama is a hypocrite who preaches religious harmony, but demands and executes religious persecution in his own community. I blame this on the CTA. Dalai Lama is your product, and as Brand Managers, you should keep a good brand image of the Dalai Lama because he is the face of Buddhism. He is not your Dalai Lama, he especially represents all the Buddhist monks in the world and this type of hypocrisy is giving Buddhism a bad name. I suppose it is true then that the folks in Department of Information and International Relations are not doing their job, and the alleged extramarital affair of the President/Sikyong with Dhardon Sharling is distracting the department from protecting the Dalai Lama’s image.
Yes, we love the exotic culture and religion, we love the Dalai Lama, but there is a limit. It doesn’t mean we will tolerate the ineffective, scandalous Central Tibetan Administration. After all, we from the West donated a lot of aid, and we expect better performance from the begging charitable cause, which is the CTA. Our continuing support should not be wholly taken for granted. How many open letters do we need to send to make the point across?
Justine
July 1, 2018
This is disgusting. Sogyal was so known for sexually harassing women, the BBC made a documentary about him. Then he comes on saying he has cancer i.e. don’t sanction him because he’s a sick and dying old man.
Really? What about the women who suffered abuse at his hands for decades? They will have to live with that trauma.
Then you have Tenzin Dhonden who was REMOVED from his position because the CTA KNOWS he is guilty.
And now Sakyong Mipham has basically all but admitted he is guilty of the accusations.
Do you guys not watch the news? Even the CTA’s biggest sponsor, Hollywood, is fighting back against sexual harassment. And the CTA does NOTHING? What is wrong with you people?!? EVERYONE knows harassing women is wrong. You should never, ever, EVER abuse your position of power and people’s faith just so you can get off.
And yeah sure, spend your money on anti-Shugden videos but don’t do anything about educating your people on the meaning of consent and sexual abuse. Disgusting 🤢 I can’t believe anyone supports this crap.
Anonymous
July 1, 2018
Doreen Park
July 2, 2018
The world must now be viewing , with great horror, how shamelessly these three Tibetan monks and high Lamas have behaved and wondering why and how the Dalai Lama and the CTA can keep quiet and allow the disgusting behaviour of the three of them to go unreprimanded and unpunished.
On the other hand, why is it that the ban on Dorje Shugden practice continues to be enforced when it is clearly baseless? All the reasons for the ban have been shown to be illogical and unfounded.Yet, the ban remains. The latest is that , despite the Dalai Lama saying that it is naive to see China as an enemy, how is it that Shugden practitioners continue to be lambasted as spies for China? The Dalai Lama wants to return to Tibet. Yet, it remains to be seen when positive steps will be taken to remove all the negative vibes against China and Dorje Shugden practitioners as China spies. With this conflicting message, of wanting to start being friends and yet, in effect holding off China as an enemy, how will the Dalai Lama and other Tibetans ever get to go back to Tibet, which is a part of China?
Eli Buchen
July 2, 2018
The CTA which polices their own people and claim to police all manner of spiritual Tibetan traditions, is like people who are believe in god theories, that if you believe and follow a god, no matter what you do is never good enough if you do not follow the god.
So one can be a mass serial killer, yet if one repents and believes and is a follower of this god, then one can ascend to heaven. What a load of nonsensical thinking, yet CTA has that kind of backward thinking.
A Friend
July 2, 2018
It is typical of Tibetan authorities in exile (Dharamsala) to ignore the lamas really hurting Tibetan Buddhism as long as these lamas are donating to them huge sums of money. What else is new from the corrupt leadership under the Dalai Lama.
Anonymous
July 2, 2018
Anonymous
July 3, 2018
😅😅🤭🤭🤭 am confused.. is it religious civil war..in other country’s land..
Dondrup Shugden
July 7, 2018
Does mysticism of Tibetan Buddhism include sexual abuse on devoted female students by their Guru Lamas. My skin crawl with disgust reading this article.
Are abuses on Tibetan Buddhism more extensive although now it looks like sexual abuse is the ultimate high point.
What comes to my mind is what manner of abuse can be extended to male students by the lamas?
Tibetan Buddhism is fast growing throughout the world and the inability or unwilling attitude of the Dalai Lama and his official authority, CTA to curb such harmful conduct of their Lamas will definitely deter the growth of the Dharma.
Actually in hind thoughts, the CTA seem inclined to deter the spread of the Dharma by not taking action against such bad conduct of sexual abuse by their Lamas and putting a Ban on the worship of Dorje Shugden.
So if the Ban on Dorje Shugden is so effective, why not actions to stop or reprimand their Lamas and stop sexual and any other form of abuse within the Tibetan Buddhist communities worldwide.
How appropriate the title of this article “CRIME IS FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE ENDORSED BY THE DALAI LAMA”.
Tsering Drolhma
July 8, 2018
UNRULY TIBETANS FIGHTING AT DALAI LAMA BIRTHDAY PARTY AGAIN
July 2018-NYC- Tibetans fighting at some birthday celebratory event for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They set up a throne in the back, place Dalai Lama’s picture, and they fight, push, shout, scream at each other right in front of the throne of Dalai Lama and it’s filmed. That is the level of the Tibetans overall. Tibetans are not gentle, Buddhist, peace-loving, tolerant people as they portray to the world. They are rough, rude, hateful, vengeful, violent, regionalistic, narrow minded and will create trouble wherever they go. Very feudal. They always resort to vulgar words and violence. There are some moderate Tibetans, but on the whole they are very violent people who do not practice Buddhism. The average Tibetan know nothing of Buddhism and do not practice. Buddhism is just a meal ticket for them to get to another country. Their support of Dalai Lama is blind and only to be politically correct and they never practice what he teaches. Disgraceful to see a group of violent Tibetans fighting at a Dalai Lama birthday event. Shameful.☹️
Tibetans are not welcomed wherever they go. Bhutanese kicked them out. Nepal hates Tibetans. India has no more use for the ‘refugee’ Tibetans and their temples made of gold. After 60 years they cannot get their own country back. What a bunch of losers and useless government people they have.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1531033672.mp4
Anonymous
July 14, 2018
Tsering Drolhma
July 14, 2018
The letter:
It is about the incident that happened at His Holiness’s birthday celebration in NYC recently July 6, 2018. Some members of Tibetan woman association approached to Parliamentarian Tenpa Yarphel during the ceremony and complained that his comments regarding Nechung was disrespect to the protector and His Holiness. They also said him that he made many Tibetan people sad with his comments. And told him not to do that again in the future. Then Dhondup Tseten stood up and shamelessly touched those women. That incident almost made the ceremony stopped. To keep maintaining the relationship between Tibetan Woman Association and Tibetan Parliament Representative, TWA are asking for a apology letter from Dhondup Tseten for touching their members.
(It is so sad that in the fake democracy of the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala you cannot say anything against a leader or criticize. Too bad)
Carolle McAquire
July 11, 2018
Dalai Lama for debate, discussion to reconcile opposing viewpoints
The Dalai Lama always says we should have honest face to face discussion so misunderstandings are resolved especially on religious issues. Why does the Dalai Lama refuse to meet the Dorje Shugden followers who number in the hundreds of thousands to resolve the Dorje Shugden issue. Many letters have been submitted to request audience since 1996 and he and his office does not reply. Dalai Lama’s spirit of open debate and resolutions is not across the board. Too bad. Carolle McAquire
http://www.uniindia.com/dalai-lama-for-debate-discussion-to-reconcile-opposing-viewpoints/states/news/1285325.html
Anonymous
July 11, 2018
This is absolutely disgusting.How can HHDL let these monks taint Tibetan Buddhism with such acts.No wonder so many people have doubts abt Tibetan Buddhism.Hhdl is avalokitesvara everyone said can ban Dorje Shugden because he can ‘see’ Dorje Shugden is demon then what abt real ppl committing crimes??I can’t understand why no action was taken by police abt it if it’s that true.Why CTA keep quiet when it comes to this type of behaviour.Why is Dorje Shugden issue such a big thing when there is religious freedom.Ppl can choose what they want to practice but sexual misconduct is not fine & it shd not happen.CTA always poking nose in the wrong things & they are becoming more disgusting & useless.Can never do anything right for the betterment of ppl.Only know how to discriminate ppl & make tibetans suffer.Or maybe coz NOBODY will listen to what cta said.Powerless & useless.
Tenzin K
July 11, 2018
So sad to see how bias and corrupted the Tibetan leadership can be. We don’t see Tibetan leadership protecting their people but instead discriminate and separate their people more. The effort and money from sponsors were spent for the Tibetan leader personal interest more than taking care the Tibetan welfare.
Geraldine Sarie
July 11, 2018
The government will not interrupt on settling down this scandalism tingly unless there are financial benefits. It’s another reason failing of leadership, selfish, ignorance and greed.
Jing Jing
July 11, 2018
Why that Dalai Lama didn’t ban all these Rinpoche that created such a shameful scandal?
1. Dalai Lama think those lamas sexually assaulted their students is something very common?? nothing big deal and it’s ok to do that?
2. Dalai Lama agreed to their behaviour?
3. Dalai Lama has no control over all these Lamas?
4. Dalai Lama is paid by these lamas so that he keep quite about it?
5. These lamas were the big sponsors to Dalai Lama
😱
Bonnie Fider
July 11, 2018
WHY DOES RICHARD GERE AND DALAI LAMA SUPPORT SOGYAL THE DISGUSTING ABUSER?
As long as you are friends with the Dalai Lama, your actions are excusable, no matter how horrendous they may be. Even something as heinous as sexual abuse of over 60 women can be overlooked when the perpetrator is friends with the Dalai Lama namely Sogyal Rinpoche. Why rush to join the chorus of Hollywood voices condemning Harvey Weinstein’s criminality, but remain silent against Sogyal’s exploitation and abuse of women? Richard Gere was vocal in condemning against all the abuses and attacks against women by Harvey Weinstein. But silent on Sogyal Rinpoche. BBC has a full length documentary on Sogyal’s abuses as you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhIivvmMnk. Yet Richard Gere can take photos with the disgusting and abusive Sogyal. Is it because one group of women are worth protecting and the other are not? If it is not for that reason, then it can only be because Sogyal is the Dalai Lama’s friend. The Dalai Lama’s condemnation against Sogyal is very light and it’s disappointing. I guess since Dalai Lama supported Sogyal so much, he can’t be seen as wrong in doing so. Politics is sad.
Vajra10
July 11, 2018
No way to run away from karma…
Karma
July 11, 2018
It is an interesting question why the CTA who is doing so much harm and abuse against Dorje Shugden practitioners, does nothing here…!
What is their interest in harming Dorje Shugden practitoners and doing nothing against such crimes???
This CTA is only looking for money, and has no sense of responsibility!
Tenzin Sangye
July 11, 2018
CTA only interested those can help them to gain power in politic and gave donation.Such crime can destroy whole tibetan buddhism they careless about is happen. CTA has alway bias and subpress Dorje Shugden practitioner. This article has review what go wrong with CTA.
Sherab Wangmo
July 12, 2018
TENMA VERY ANGRY WITH SIKYONG LOBSANG SANGYE AND PENPA TSERING
Tenma deity takes trance of her oracle in Nechung Monastery in Dharamsala, North India. The deity is highly displeased and angry at Sikyong Lobsang Sangye and Penpa Tsering. She is scolding them by waving her arms at them and throwing rice at them. You can see Penpa Tsering shielding himself. These two has always been corrupt and extremely self-serving. Naturally the oracles of the Dalai Lama take trance and are very angry.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1531344206.mp4
Suresh Ratna
July 12, 2018
SUMAA has been consistent in their efforts to evict Tibetans from Arunachal Pradesh as the Tibetans are known to exploit benefits given to locals. The Central Tibetan Administration, especially their so-called ‘president’ Lobsang Sangay, made the situation worse by rubbing salt in the wound, making a statement that Chief Minister Pema Khandu is an ardent follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a lifelong friend of the Tibetan people. This was right after Khandu announced the adoption of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy in Arunachal Pradesh.
Tibetan refugees create a lot of problems for the locals no matter where they are, especially in Arunachal Pradesh. They take the locals’ land and resources without giving anything in return, making the locals furious to the extent that they are now demanding a written undertaking from the Tibetan refugees not to claim Indian citizenship and STC/PRC in Arunachal Pradesh. It is time to impeach Sangay for a better leader to guide and take care of the Tibetans in India before the wrath of locals evict Tibetans from the state or even the country for good.
Christie Donald
July 14, 2018
Hollywood is one of the most influential groups of people who have promoted the mysticism of Buddhist Tantra to the world. Together with the media, they have packaged Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan lamas into a fantasy Utopia, filled with God-like beings who are able to lead people along the quick path to enlightenment.
This propaganda has been widely exploited by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to garner support, especially financial aid, for the so-called Tibetan Cause and the Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule. Little does the West, including Richard Gere and the so-called Buddhist Professor Robert Thurman, know that efforts from China to improve the infrastructure and standard of living for the Tibetans in China have created opportunities for Tibetans to grow and be successful. This is something that is rarely seen in exile under the governance of the CTA.
This false image that has been promoted for the past 60 years or so is now slowly fading away as more and more victims come forward, exposing the sexual abuse they have suffered under the hands of Tibetan lamas like Sogyal Rinpoche. The root of the problem is clear, people are greedy and lazy while wanting quick success and attention. Since they get these from the Tibetan lamas like Sogyal, they are willing to accept the exploitation. This is further driven by fear that they would no longer be seen as the privileged ones in the inner circle if they do not clutch at their lamas and be seen showing tremendous devotion to their gurus. With only a superficial knowledge of Buddhism, this cult-like group of Hollywood stars and American politicians like Richard Gere continue to generate respect and love for their skewed version of the “Dharma”, while real Buddhist masters are relegated to the side lines.
Belinda Mae
July 18, 2018
I really cannot believe it. How can Dalai Lama allows sexual misconduct to happen on sanghas? Aren’t monks suppose to hold their vows? By having sexual misconduct is breaking their monks which very bad karma. If this continues to happen and Dalai Lama does not bother to take action about it then many people with say bad things and have impression on Tibetan Buddhism. At this degenerate age, we really need the Dharma to help us.
Tsewang
July 26, 2018
Tai Situpa’s Karmapa candidate’s escape to USA and continued stay in USA is a huge embarrassment to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile. The Karmapa said he is very sad with his situation in his recent video (youtu.be/AdI4DMRFkm4?hid).
Yoezer
August 4, 2018
While the government of Nepal has framed a policy to tighten the noose around non-governmental organisations, they have welcomed 30 Chinese NGOs to enter the country. These NGOs will penetrate the country’s social sector at the grassroots level. This is the first time such a large number of Chinese NGOs have entered Nepal at one time. Nepal is increasingly open to Chinese influence, a sign that ties between both countries are strengthening, while India’s influence is being reduced. The time has passed for India’s monopoly to remain uninterrupted in Nepal as opportunities to engage with China are being welcomed.
Ayana
August 4, 2018
Why doesn’t the United States and its allies end Refugee Status for the useless Tibetans? They have been refugees for 60 years now and don’t tell me they still cannot get their lives back in order?
Tibetans really know how to put on a good show and use people, take their money and do nothing in return.
Dalai Lama wants Tibet to be part of China
August 7, 2018
Dalai Lama says returning to China is better for Tibetans-What do rangzen (Tibet Independence fighters) people fighting for Tibet’s freedom do now??? Have we wasted our time?
Suddenly the Dalai Lama keeps insisting he wants to be a part of China. How about all the tens of millions of dollars in money and so much time and resource poured into the Free Tibet movement for 57 years in exile. Is that all wasted? Is that all down the drain? How can the Dalai Lama turn around on us like that?
If Dalai Lama returns to Tibet/China, then he is telling the world China is good for Tibetans and we Tibetans want to be a part of China. Is that correct? So Dalai Lama is telling the world that Tibet is a part of China? After so many years of saying we want independence and our country was eaten and now Dalai Lama is sending what message to the world?
How will India feel after hosting the Dalai Lama for so many years? – This one minute video shows the Dalai Lama August 2018 saying he feels Tibet should be a part of China! -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xLKINuIrtE
Dalai Lama wants Tibet to be part of China
August 8, 2018
Dalai Lama says returning to China is better for Tibetans-What do rangzen (Tibet Independence fighters) people fighting for Tibet’s freedom do now??? Have we wasted our time?
Suddenly the Dalai Lama keeps insisting he wants to be a part of China. How about all the tens of millions of dollars in money and so much time and resource poured into the Free Tibet movement for 57 years in exile. Is that all wasted? Is that all down the drain? How can the Dalai Lama turn around on us like that?
If Dalai Lama returns to Tibet/China, then he is telling the world China is good for Tibetans and we Tibetans want to be a part of China. Is that correct? So Dalai Lama is telling the world that Tibet is a part of China? After so many years of saying we want independence and our country was eaten and now Dalai Lama is sending what message to the world?
How will India feel after hosting the Dalai Lama for so many years? – This one minute video shows the Dalai Lama August 2018 saying he feels Tibet should be a part of China!
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1533732491.mp4
Jampa Lhundup
August 8, 2018
The Nikkei Asian Review is a highly reputable news platform. They are not tabloid in any sense of the word. What they publish is reputable and thoroughly reliable. They mention clearly in an article published August 7, 2018 that the Dalai Lama has a terminal illness. The Prime Minister of India knowing this is now conciliatory towards China. He understands that the Dalai Lama cannot be used as a pawn in irritating China any further. Negotiations are progressing that after the passing of Dalai Lama, his government in-exile will close. The end.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 10, 2018
What will the all the people around the world and in Tibet do now? Dalai Lama says he is happy that Tibet is a part of China and should remain a part of China. So many Tibetans self-immolated for Tibet to be independent and now Dalai Lama did a 360 degree turn and says he wants to go back to Tibet and China and Tibet should be a part of China. So unbelievable. So many are angry and disappointed.
Dalai Lama should set things right
August 12, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.