His Holiness the Dalai Lama, flanked by Indian and Tibetan dignitaries, at the 100 years celebration of the TMAI, Tsuglakhang courtyard, March 23, 2016. Phayul Photo: Kunsang Gashon
By: Annie Lee
Based on Maslow’s law, the most basic need of a society is that of physical necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and… healthcare. Hence, world leaders and governments have a fundamental responsibility to provide conditions that will fulfill a certain quality of life to enable their people to progress to the next levels of development. The emphasis on healthcare in the electoral campaigns of developed nations like America shows us the importance that modern, democratic and progressive societies place on the provision of reliable and accessible healthcare. Thus the ability of a government to guarantee this basic standard in quality of life is one major quality necessary to be in power and to remain in power.
It is very sad and it raises suspicions that the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) Department of Health and the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute have failed to fulfill this basic responsibility towards the Tibetan public after 55 years in exile, despite a constant inflow of monetary support and resources from supporters from various parts of the world. How would loyal sponsors of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and supporters of his cause feel if they discovered that their sincerity and generosity resulted in a failed healthcare system that is unable to meet the needs of the Tibetan public, and that also discriminates against Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners? How would these supporters feel if they saw Tibetan leaders constantly flying abroad to engage in dialogue to increase awareness of the Tibetan cause and raise more funds, while their people continue to languish in ill health? Questions must be asked about what happened to the millions of donations that the Central Tibetan Administration has received and what it has been spent on. Clearly the lack of accessible healthcare is indicative that the donations did not go towards the overall improvement of the Tibetan people’s welfare.
Around 300 participants from around the world, mostly from India, gathered at Men-Tsee-Khang, formally known as the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute.
One of the first people to question the lack of accountability and the failure of the Tibetan leadership to show tangible results is US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. In a letter published in 2014, he accused the CTA of mismanagement of funds and threatened a decline in American financial support should the Tibetan leadership continue to fail to use the funds to improve their people’s welfare.
Congressman Rohrabacher was voicing the opinions of many Tibetans frustrated with their leadership. Although many Tibetans have suspected corruption and embezzlement within their leadership for many years, it has not been easy for them to speak openly about this. Tibetan society has always dismissed critics of their leadership as being ‘anti-Dalai Lama’, a dangerous accusation because it results in the person being ostracized, marginalized and possibly even physically harmed for their comments. Indeed, in his letter, Congressman Rohrabacher also remarked on the lack of free speech within Tibetan society, writing that “The rules… appear to have the effect of anti-democratically restricting free speech and free association, at a time when the current CTA incumbents are seeking reelection.”
So His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s remarks at the opening of the Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute) is notable in the way it accuses his people of the same thing– spending money on unnecessary ceremonies, instead of offering practical help to the Tibetan people. The fact that these governing bodies would invest funds to have a pompous opening celebration instead of directing the resources to obtain more and better medical supplies and staff reveals the priority of the Tibetan leadership, which is to look good instead do good. It is very dangerous when the leadership would jeopardize the welfare and well-being of their own people for an ego trip. Perhaps it is the severity of the situation that has left His Holiness the Dalai Lama no choice but to step in and address the problem.
His Holiness literally pointed to the CTA’s hypocrisy by covering the poor work they are doing for the people with “grand” ceremonies that do not contribute to mission of Men-Tsee-Khang, which is to relieve some of the hardship and suffering of the community in exile. The Dalai Lama said that true practice of the spirit of healthcare is not in just praying to the masters who write the texts but in the application of this wisdom, combined with compassion and motivation to benefit others.
It is worth noting that the problems in the Men-Tsee-Khang did not develop overnight but are the accumulation of willful misdemeanors by the Tibetan leadership. The gravity of the CTA’s corruption extends to their direct interference with the work of the Tibetan healthcare system. The Men-Tsee-Khang and its faculty say they intend to engage in outreach programs, which will be in alignment with their mission to provide accessible healthcare to the public, regardless of caste, creed or color.
The Men-Tsee-Khang sponsors and supporters from India and Europe with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
From experience and history however, we know that their supposedly noble and humane motivation is not the truth, and it does not apply to all sectors of Tibetan society due to the ban on Dorje Shugden. Members of the Department of Health for example, were forced to give up their Dorje Shugden practice if they wanted to remain in their positions and a memo was disseminated stating all staff should not be Shugden practitioners. In subsequent years after the dissemination of the memo, providers of medical care in Tibetan society have categorically denied medical attention and service to Dorje Shugden practitioners. Providing medical attention is not a spiritual or political matter but a universal basic responsibility and human right.
These inhumane decisions and actions of the Tibetan medical service stem directly from the enforcement of the Dorje Shugden ban by the CTA. The CTA have basically decreed that it is okay to deny medical treatment for Dorje Shugden practitioners, so that they will suffer sickness and even die because they practice Dorje Shugden. What is the purpose of such cruelty and discrimination? There is never justification to inflict suffering upon others and this extremism of the CTA has left even their own gods with no choice but to step in, as Nechung and Tseringma have recently done.
Take a moment to read what His Holiness has to say. The failure of the CTA in fulfilling its responsibility towards its people, its supporters from all over the world and the Dalai Lama has been an on-going chronic problem that must be now seized and addressed by the public.
Phayul
[ Wednesday, March 23, 2016 20:16 ]
By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSALA, March 23: The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today pointed towards a possible failure on the part of the Central Tibetan Administration’s department of health and the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute in providing healthcare to the Tibetan public. “It appears that there has been a significant failure by Health Department and the Tibetan medicine section of the Men-Tsee-Khang in tackling issues related to preventive measures in healthcare. While there are many Tibetans in the settlements that are afflicted with various ailments, we engage in pomposity here. It would be ‘grand on the outside but shallow inside’ if we put on grand proceedings here while there are lagging in our work on the ground. I may yet live for ten or fifteen years more, you all have the responsibilities now,” the Tibetan leader said at the centenary celebrations of the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute here.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the patron of the institute, along with Indian and Tibetan dignitaries including Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Sri Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Ayurveda Minister Sri Karan Singh, Sri Ravi Thakur (MLA), Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Penpa Tsering, officials of the Central Tibetan Administration and the general public attended the event at Tsuglakahang courtyard here today.
The centenary of establishing Men-Tsee-Khang in Lhasa on today’s date by the thirteenth Dalai Lama also marks 55 years of re-establishing Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamsala and the 320 years of establishing the Chagpori Medical College in Lhasa under the tutelage of the current 14th Dalai Lama and his predecessors.
His Holiness, however, said that the Tibetan people’s struggle in all spheres of life in exile has borne result. “Against the overwhelming hardships that we faced in exile, we have poured in together our determined efforts and unified endeavor. It has been almost 57 years and Men-Tsee-Khang is part of that struggle. We have all worked tirelessly and honestly and, often putting the public goal before and the results is considerable,” said His Holiness.
While expounding on the importance of the traditional Tibetan education that includes the sowa-rigpa (traditional Tibetan medicinal science), His Holiness reiterated the importance of not just praying to the masters who wrote the texts but rather study and dwell on the written wisdom of those masters for the furtherance of oneself and the science.
“The Tibetan medicine is truly effective on a wide range of ailments especially those related to preventive diagnosis,” said the 80 year old Tibetan leader. On a lighter note, His Holiness said that his knowledge of Tibetan medicine is at par with that of substandard Tibetan physician as he has consumed considerable amount of pills over the course of his life and is well aware of which medicine to take for different ailments.
The Director of Men-Tsee-Khang Tashi Tsering Phuri said, “It’s a collective effort,” while thanking his staff and students for having made it this far. He said, “We rejoice because we did our best to achieve a level and at the same time we rededicate our services, firmly believing in the noble goal to benefit humanity.”
He recounted what the His Holiness had said when he first reestablished the institute in exile, “His Holiness had said then ‘Right now, Men-Tsee-Khang is very small facing acute problems in terms of money and man power but some thirty, forty years later, Tibetan medicine will speak for itself’.”
As of now, the medicine production unit in Dharamsala is struggling to cater to overwhelming domestic demands from its own 55 operating clinics in India and Nepal. The institute has begun to tread on collaborative ventures with a few Indian states and has projects in the pipeline to bolster export demands abroad. Besides the medicine and treatment of patients from many countries, the institute also boasts of a respectable college that produces doctors trained in the traditional Tibetan medicine.
The journey of the institute in exile had modest beginnings with only one doctor and a few monks. That doctor; formerly a personal physician to His Holiness, Amchi Yeshi Dhondhen, was today felicitated for his contribution to Tibetan medicine and the institute. The Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute intends to engage in outreach programs in India and abroad in the near future. In keeping with the mission statement to provide accessible health care to the people regardless of caste, creed or color, the staff of the institute have pledged 100 hours of their salaries towards the same.
Click on the image to read Phayul’s report.
Source: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=37292&article=Dalai
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Michaela Smith
April 24, 2016
Dear Annie Lee
Thank you for the article. It is sad that even after 55 years in existence and continuous flow of monetary support, Men Tsee Khang still could not provide proper health care to refugees. Instead of concentrating their level of service, they made it a point to make sure that Men Tsee Khang does not serve Dorje Shugden practitioners.
55 years is a long time, I do think they missed the chance to promote Tibetan Medicine and welfare of Tibetan refugees regardless of their faith and belief. I don’t think the sponsors are too thrilled with their achievements.
Michaela
Marissa
April 24, 2016
The problems of the Men Tsee Khang is yet another indication that the CTA has failed and its politicians more interested in politicking and their own personal and corrupt agendas.
I am very certain that should His Holiness the Dalai Lama actually receive treatment from the Men Tsee Khang, all their problems would strangely be resolved overnight because the problems are definitely not due to a lack of funds but lack of sincerity.
The Tibetan people should now wake up, unite and compel the CTA to do their jobs and fulfil their responsibilities, not line their own pockets. The CTA imposes illegals bans such as the Shugden ban so that the people are sidetracked from the real problem which is corruption and incompetence, not any deity.
Dharmacrazy
April 24, 2016
I guess enough is enough. The CTA has done enough to shame its cause, its people and its iconic leadership – the Dalai Lama.
Suppression and bulldozing ways of leadership is no longer tolerated by the young Tibetans who are now more exposed and will not accept unjust treatment. Neither will they simply accept because the CTA said so. You can witness this in the Tibetan Youths questions their authorities (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/tibetan-youths-question-dorje-shugden-ban/)
Similarly, the glitz of His Holiness’ good work is losing its luster as the dark and dirty acts of the CTA is displayed recklessly in the open. Just because they could suppress the traditional Tibetan society, the CTA arrogantly think they can do as they wished on the international front and still be a Free Tibet cause the world would support and rally for. The past few years, world leaders have been shying away from Tibet, CTA and the Dalai Lama because they want to make friends with China. Now, with one failure after another to function as a body of authority for the Tibet cause and Tibetans’ welfare, the CTA is giving very good reasons for the world to withdraw their financial as well as spiritual support. With Congressman Dana Rohrabacher openly expressing his concern and his stance about the suspected corruption around the elections and fund management (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/congressman-dana-rohrabachers-warning-over-unethical-tibetan-elections/)
Even the God like Nechung and Tseringma cannot keep quiet as they publicly chastised Penpa Tsering and Syikong Lobsang Sangya with angry gestures like throwing rice at them and shaking them with hopes that they will “wake up” (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/nechung-and-tseringma-scolds-tibetan-leaders/)
It is so sad that now, they even put the Dalai Lama in such a difficult position to reprimand the CTA and its leaders about their failure to provide the most basic and fundamental service to the public: a reliable healthcare system. Something close to the heart of the Dalai Lama since the establishment of the Men-tse-khang 55 years ago.
Tashi Choezom
April 24, 2016
I am not surprise Gyalwa Rinpoche is talk like dis . Medical is the important things for all sentient being but our Tibetan leader is not recognise this n keep the help from Shugdenpas . Men Tsee Khang is always shandap gyapsho all the time n receive so much donate but they are not giving this to the Tibetan people. Of course Gyalwa Rinpoche must say something to them or western sponsor is no longer helping to us. As long as western sponsor is think Gyalwa Rinpoche is still in control n making sure all is following his order , then they will donate again n again. But actually I am thinking our kalon n chitthue is not care to us at all n not care to Gyalwa Rinpoche at all . Otherwise they r not making him speak like this when he is sick.
Dorjee Gyaltsen
April 24, 2016
I remember being told by a friend the incident and memo where members of the Department of Health were forced to give up their Dorje Shugden practice if they wanted to remain in their positions . As if that is not shocking enough, Dorje Shugden practitioners were denied medical attention and treatments, simply because they practice Dorje Shugden.
I am very disappointed with Men Tsee Khang and I knew of some Dorje Shugden lamas who have donated the Men Tsee Khang in the past. So they are now denied the healthcare they have donated to.
I’m ashamed that His Holiness has to time and again tell the Tibetan leadership how bad they are doing their work. This definitely is a cause for His Holiness to not live long, it’s not the Rangzen or Dolgyal people who is harming the cause of Tibet or creating obstacles for Kundun’s long life and good health! It’s the CTA leadership themselves!
Sharmane
April 24, 2016
“The Men-Tsee-Khang and its faculty say they intend to engage in outreach programs, which will be in alignment with their mission to provide accessible healthcare to the public, regardless of caste, creed or color.” —Yeah right, what a bunch of hypocrites!
Why am I not surprise to hear this from the Dalai Lama and why should the Dalai Lama be surprise also? He is the one that put them in power. I guess this is what happens when you have bad corrupt leaders. Another perspective is that there is karma for turning people away and not allowing people to seek medical help especially when they are ill just because of their faith. Now that is down right wrong, against the code of healing and medical oath taken by doctors. But I guess the CTA thinks their above all this and I guess this is why they are getting all this crap now.
I guess we bare witness to the destruction of CTA. As long as they continue to practice discrimination and injustice towards Shugden practitioners, they will never be seen as just and right and for that they will always have issues because the very basis of their actions is based on money and power. This is why they will fall and for the sake of their own let’s hope they do so real genuine leaders that care for the people can rise.
Pema
April 25, 2016
Health and good medical services is something that must be provided in a nation. There is no place for any discrimination may it be colour, race or religion.
This is something people in the West take for granted. To discover that funds have been used for personal benefit and the people are left without proper healthcare service will be shocking at least. How can anyone not treat people because of their religious choice and leave them sick and even to die ?
I am happy that Congressman Rohrabacher is checking on it and the CTA will hopefully learn soon that the money is for the benefit of all Tibetan people.
Aloysius Bong
April 25, 2016
Only healthcare? CTA failed in many more and bigger areas than just healthcare. The world is seeing it more and more, and should stop all donations to them, they are far from being Shangri-la.
Lovett
April 25, 2016
Yes… Yes… Yes CTA failed…! any they failed miserably to protect and work for the Tibetan people in general. They only succeed at filling their personal coffers. I think that is not without basis considering how they harshly come down on Shugdenpas and how they do little to nothing to unify everybody. On top of that, a section of Tibetans considered pariahs and not afforded with medical assistance just because they practice Dorje Shugden.
Sascha
April 25, 2016
Quote: “It’s the Dalai Lama who …”
Do we really have to prefer to follow other people instead of following our own wisdom and compassion?
Is the essence of the dharma to follow other people and to ignore our own inherent dignity, is that really dharma and democracy?
To follow ones own wisdom and comapssion is democracy, it is recogintion of ones own inherent dignity and following ones own free will or wise and compassionate will, that is free of eternalistic and nihilistic views, thougts and intentions. Only our own wisdom and compassion can and will effect freedom and wellbeeing, nothing else can do this for ourself and others.
I think we can’t just say “It’s the Dalai Lama who …”, many other people are responsible too for anything that effects our present. It is easy to make one or a couple people responsible for something or just everything that was and is happening, but there a many people an circumstances involved as well that effects the present.
When we look at the public authorities and economy of the USA as well as the negative effects of it, we clearly can see the anarchy of the US in the name of god and democracy.
Everywhere the same around the world, due to a lack of wisdom and compassion, a lack of recogintion of ones own diginity, a lack of education regarding our dignity. How can democracy happen without recognition of our own inherent dignity, our own wisdom and compassion? A majority of people in the world just need to recognize and live their own dignity for freedom and wellbeing of mankind.
Just take the resolutions of the UN, declerations of human rights, charta for the nature and so on, and what was and is going on in the US since european people came to north america, you clearly can see the anarchy in the name of god and democracy.
Eternalism and nihilism as well as independence is the opposite of reality, where everything is interdependent, and ones inherent dignity, so just check and see what the USA really was and is. USA is only destroying and supressing themself by their own anarchy in the name of god and democracy.
There is only one world order, the basic freedom of lastingness and non-existence, because of limitless space, that also people of the USA can’t escape. USA can’t escape the law of cause and effect, that’s why they have and will fail with their anarchy, because USA is not according to reality.
USA is just a fail that will disappear in the future anyway, because dualistic systems never where able to survice in reality which is non-duality. Just look at history of mankind! Where are all the dualistic sysems are? There are gone due to the one and only world order that nobody can’t escape!
So all the eternalism and nihilism of the USA was and is anarchy and performed in the name of god and democracy. Thereby they only suppress themself, harm themself, destroy themself and it also harms many other people around the world as we all can see when we look into history and our present.
USA is just cheating and supressing themself by not living according to reality, by not living according to the one and only world order.
You can write yourself as many world orders as you like, but thereby you can’t esacpe the one and only one of the space. Thereby you just betray yourself and will end up with suffering.
So please don’t follow the anarchy of the USA, don’t follow the path of suffering, follow your own diginity, your own wisdom and compassion, your own free will for your own freedom and wellbeing.
May all people of the USA be blessed with wisdom and compassion and follow the path of dignity, of freedom and wellbeing.
Democracy Now!
Amber Sonam
April 25, 2016
In the Phayul reporting, it is evident to us that His Holiness agreed much can be done by the Men-Tsee-Khang, pointed the impropriate use and planning of the received funds. Meaning the Men-Tsee-Khang has not achieved much in the past 60 years. If there is any, they should be visible and noticeable as many will be benefitted from it, though not including Dorje Shugden practitioners.
The CTA and His Holiness supporters and kind donors should pay attention to the abovementioned comments and request for transparency regarding the Men-Tsee-Khang’s account. The donors have every right to ask as it concerns the people’s welfare and benefit which should also include the Dorje Shugden practitioners. It is illogical to restrict people from what they are entitled to just because of their religion choice; this is common sense.
Olivia
April 25, 2016
It’s funny how they keep saying that there’s no ban when there is, there are proofs floating all over the internet and yet that they can still be in denial and justify that there isn’t a ban. Even there’s a statement issued by Men-Tsee-Khang saying that Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allowed to enter the clinic to get treatment. If this is not discrimination, persecution, segregation and so on, then what is this?
Dorje Shugden practitioners are humans too and they too have human rights and religious freedom, no one has the authority to deny medication access to anyone, and in fact it’s against the law, no ‘democratic’ country would endorse that.
Sascha
April 26, 2016
According to: http://dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden you can find: http://dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/dbo-statement that says that the allegations are factually distorting and misleading, due to so called overzealous Tibetan individuals.
However, because society basicly is about conciousness, society is basicly about recognizing the inherent dignity and living according to the inherent dignity for the sake of freedom and wellbeing.
Freedom refers to the basic world order of cause and effect, because of the basic freedom of lastingness and non-existence, interdependence, impermanence and so on, because of space that conciousness is rooted in.
Because space is a continuum and conciousness is rooted in space, conciouness is a continuum and free of lastingness and non-existence. Hence all beings can’t escape from their own conciousness and space, all beings can’t escape from this one and only world order as well as that freedom and wellbeing can only be caused and effected by our own inherent wisdom and compassion due to space.
Therefore all human beings have the right of education regarding ones own inherent dignity that is unavoidable, because all human beings have a conciousness and are living in this space and need to live according to their inherent wisdom and compassion (dignity) in order to avoid ignorane, duality, eternailsm and nihilism, problems, suffering and frustration for themself and other and cause and effect freedom and wellbeing for themself and others.
Dharma is not a religion like buddhism that was not foundet by Shakyamuni himself when he was teaching about the basic freedom of lastingness and non-existence, interdependence, law of cause and effect and so on.
Shakyamuni was not a buddhist monk nor a buddhist teacher but a genius who found out on himself about the non-duality state of mind as well as reality out of this non-dualistic state of mind and just transmitted his wisdom and compassion which is about this inherent dignity of all beings and how to recognize ones own inherent dignity to cause and effect freedom and wellbeing for oneself and others by study and practice of ones own inherent wisdom and compassion, by analytical and resting mindfullness regarding the basic freedom of lastingness and non-existence, interdependence, impermanence, law of cause and effect and so on, to become aware of reality or non-duality in order to be able to prevent suffering and cause and effect freedom and wellbeing for oneself and others.
Shakyamuni was also aware of that something went wrong in society that we also can see until today in India and everywhere around the world. The transmissions of Shakyamunis teachings survived in India and made their way to Tibet, where they where preserved until our present and spread around the world for the freedom and wellbeing of mankind in our present and the future.
Thanks to Shakyamuni and all people who preserved, studied, practiced, teached the dharma worldwide until today, people around the world can discover their own inherent dignity and effect their own freedom and wellbeing. Something that religions, states/republics with their dualistic views and systems, that are rooted in a dualistic state of mind, never ever can effect.
Ignorance regarding reality, the basic freedom and so on, effects duality or dualistic perception and experience of reality, this duality effects eternalstic and nihilistic views, and out of this views, that don’t relate with reality at all (because everything is free of lastingness and non-existence), all the god and bad intensions and actions of mind, speech and body arise that keeps beings in the dualistic state of mind with all the dualistic effects and conflicts between them like: good and bad, god and devil, rich and poor, knowledge and belief, right and wrong, guilty and unguilty, life and death, luck and pain, new world order a and new world order b, religion a and religion b, with all the conflicts between this dualistic phenomena and aspects and reality itself, problems, suffering and frustration.
The basic freedom of lastingness and non-existence or emptiness and clarity of space is the mahadharmapala the main protector of all beings and the emptiness and clarity of the conciousness is ones own dharmapala of all beings.
By study and practice of wisdom and compassion, ones own inherent dignity, you realize non-duality or the protector within yourself and space, and you become a protector.
So everyone who studies and practices ones own wisdom and compassion is practicing dharmapala practice and therefore is a protector or dharmapala.
So there is no need at all to worship other beings or bananas because all you need to effect freedom and wellbeing, your own wisdom and compassion that also has the aspekt of protection, is within your own inherent essence, nature and healing power of your own conciousness that is rooted in space or the mahadharmapala/the great protector space.
Banana is free of banana, the essence of banana is ekazati that will eat up all bananas anyway.
Samaya is relatonship and every relationship is rooted in space, therefore samaya with space is important and out of this relationship, unifying your own OM with AH, with space you can heal your samaya/relationship with all beings.
OM (Wisdombody) + AH (Space) Unifying Practice = RA PA (Transforming) -> TSA NA (Illusions: Ignorance regarding Reality, Duality, eternalistic and nihilistic views) = DHI (Wisdom and compassion of ones own conciousness – non-dualilty – freedom and wellbeing – protector/dharmapala HUNG). Like in OM AH HUNG and so on that is the secret of mantrayana or vajrayana or unifying wisdom an compassion or tantra/ekazati to realize rigpa rangshar.
Samaya with Samantabhadri and Samantabhadra (Space – AH) is important and Vajrasattva and Vajratopa (conciousness) is the healing transforming power of ones own conciousness (inherent dignity).
Ekazati is the wisdom of non-dualistic state of conciousness and space, the essence of protection of ones own conciouness regardng ignorance, duality, eternalism and nihilism to prevent god and bad views, intentions and actions of mind, speech and body.
My Heart is Ekazati, my Essence is Vajratopa, my Nature is Vajrasattva, my King and Queen of the one and only world order is Space, the one and only Kingdom of Freedom and Wellbeing. There is no other Law and World Order than this, there is no other King and Queen like them, there is no other Kingdom that rules all worlds and realms than this supreme and only one.
Lama is space, samaya with space (LaMa) by Yidam (Vajrasattva/Vajrakilaya) by dharma study and practice, by analytical and resting mindfullness to let this own non-dualistic awares of rigpa rangshar arise (own dignity) is not a religion but the one and only freedom and wellbeing that is available for free and everyone and can’t be brought to you by religion, states/republics etc. but by your own dignity, your own free will, your own wisdom and compassion, your own awareness, your own conciousness.
So please don’t forget the inherent dignity, please don’t bring the banana of ignorance, duality and eternalism and nihilism into the tibetan societey and sanghas around the world but eat up the banana of ignorance, duality and eternalism and nihilism with your inherent dignity.
May all tibetans be blessed and protected by the wisdom of non-duality (ekazati) may vajrakilaya and vajrasattva stay firm with all tibetans and may the samaya with space stay forever firm with all of them.
Gilded Cage Articles
April 28, 2016
HIV/ AIDS, rampant drug abuse, TB, water-borne illness,… these problems existed when the Dalai Lama was still in power, and it would be naive to think they have only occurred since Lobsang Sangay became PM.
SabrinaS
May 5, 2016
After the donations of millions, the state of Men-Tsee-Khang should be glorious and well known throughout the world. However, not many knows of Tibetan medicine nor is it serving everyone, including Shugdenpas.
All Doctors takes the oath of compassion to serve without prejudice but apparently not in Men-Tsee-Khang. Do you know any hospital or clinic that ask what religion you are and deny you medical help base on that?
Camilia
May 11, 2016
It is very shocking to read that the most spiritual community in the world actually harbor such evil and inhumane operation of governance. Despite a constant inflow of monetary support and resources from supporters all over the world, all CTA can display is a failed healthcare system that is unable to meet the needs of the Tibetan public, on top and above the cruel discriminates against Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners. The CTA have basically decreed that it is okay to deny medical treatment for Dorje Shugden practitioners, so that they will suffer sickness and even die because they practice Dorje Shugden.
While Tibetan leaders constantly fly abroad lavishly to engage in dialogue to supposedly increase awareness of the Tibetan cause and raise more funds, the general Tibetan people continue to languish in ill health. Yet no one dare to raise questions about what happened to the millions of donations that the CTA has received and how it has been spent on. Clearly the lack of accessible healthcare is indicative that the donations did not go towards the overall improvement of the Tibetan people’s welfare. And no surprise for guessing why it is not easy for Tibetan public to speak openly about this. Tibetan society has always dismissed critics of their leadership as being ‘anti-Dalai Lama’, a dangerous accusation because it results in the person being ostracized, marginalized and possibly even physically harmed for their comments.
I wonder how loyal sponsors of His Holiness the Dalai Lama would feel if they discovered that their sincerity and generosity landed in the private pockets of the greedy Tibetan leaders and constantly used to cruelly discriminate against Dorje Shugden’s practitioners.
Ashok Rao
May 11, 2016
This is more than a bit embarrassing for the Tibetan Administration, given their recent scolding by their very own divinities. Now His Holiness shows his displeasure with the Tibetan Administration yet again, over money, yet again. It seems that there is nothing more that the Administration likes to do but to take peoples money and use it for themselves, even for something like healthcare.
The Tibetan culture of tradition medicine is a very valuable asset to global civilization, but is yet to make a global impact similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda. All three have tremendous benefits to the healing of various illnesses, but only the latter two are known of in the West or other parts of the world. This is a great loss, I myself have benefited from the use of Tibetan Medicine show know of its potency. It is utterly despicable to read that the Tibetan Administration has been guzzling the funds that are supposed to be used on the healing of others!
Jon
May 12, 2016
The Tibetan leadership embarrasses themselves and their people every day with their assumption that their people lacking in intelligence to see through their tricks. How long did they think they would be able to get away with their corruption and tricks before His Holiness the Dalai Lama said something? You know, for the Dalai Lama to say something like this in public, he must’ve admonished them privately for months, if not years, but it had no effect. Otherwise it makes no sense for an elderly statesman and leader to embarrass his top brass so publicly in this manner, does it?
Karma
May 13, 2016
I guess karma sure comes back to bite you in the a@#… Sorry folks if you think you can get away with all your corruption, lies and abuse of power. What’s interesting is Penpa and Sangay thinks they can even fool their own Gods. What a joke of a government, opps sorry administration.I hope their time will end soon so that fresher, fairer administration will step in.
Anonymous
June 1, 2016
It is sad to see the mismanagement of the funds raised for the health care of the Tibetans in exile. These money would greatly ease the financial burden of the displaced families. Is this one of the reasons why there is a discrimination against Shugden practitioners, so that there will be less people requiring the medical care? Is this another smoke screen to cover their own inefficiencies?
In the US, even criminals are allowed medical treatment. Even those injured during arrests will be given medical treatment before being sent to prison.
Shugden practitioners are are human beings too and they have not broken any secular law, they merely are exerting their human rights to religious freedom.
So, without even going into religion or spirituality, the CTA has broken basic responsibilty of providing “fundamental responsibility to provide conditions that will fulfill a certain quality of life to enable their people to progress to the next levels of development.”
The Dalai Lama has censured the CTA for the pomp and grandeur of an opening ceremony instead of directing the funds to the procurement of qualified personnel and medical supplies to meet the increasing demand for basic medical healthcare.
I wonder if the CTA will follow the Dalai Lama’s exhortation or practice selective deafness and go about their own merry way without making right the situation to continue redirecting the funds to wheresoever they wish.
Sierra
June 1, 2016
It is sad to see the mismanagement of the funds raised for the health care of the Tibetans in exile. These money would greatly ease the financial burden of the displaced families. Is this one of the reasons why there is a discrimination against Shugden practitioners, so that there will be less people requiring the medical care? Is this another smoke screen to cover their own inefficiencies?
In the US, even criminals are allowed medical treatment. Even those injured during arrests will be given medical treatment before being sent to prison.
Shugden practitioners are are human beings too and they have not broken any secular law, they merely are exerting their human rights to religious freedom.
So, without even going into religion or spirituality, the CTA has broken basic responsibilty of providing “fundamental responsibility to provide conditions that will fulfill a certain quality of life to enable their people to progress to the next levels of development.”
The Dalai Lama has censured the CTA for the pomp and grandeur of an opening ceremony instead of directing the funds to the procurement of qualified personnel and medical supplies to meet the increasing demand for basic medical healthcare.
I wonder if the CTA will follow the Dalai Lama’s exhortation or practice selective deafness and go about their own merry way without making right the situation to continue redirecting the funds to wheresoever they wish.
celia
June 27, 2016
It is quite appalling Men-Tsee-Khang (“MTK”) can allege the provision of accessible health care to the people regardless of caste, creed or colour and including the pledge by the institution’s staffs to dedicate 100 hours of their salaries towards it as their “mission statement” but yet blatantly undermines such “mission statement”. It doesn’t take a genius to see that the “report card” of MTK to date is sorely lacking especially considering the very generous amount of money raised and channelled to MTK. To add salt to injury, the denial of medical care for Dorje Shugden practitioners clearly reveals MTK’s discrimination of Dorje Shugden practitioners which in turn goes to show MTK as a failed healthcare system. Perhaps the biggest irony here is the admonishing by Dalai Lama primarily about MTK’s the ineffective use of the money/resources provided and yet he readily turned a blind eye as well as refused to acknowledge the ineffectiveness of MTK as a medical facility for which ALL Tibetans are supposed to be benefiting from (due to its discriminatory practice of denying treatment for Dorje Shudgen practitioners in adherence to the Shugden ban by the Dalai Lama).
Jon
June 28, 2016
The argument could be made that the Dalai Lama picked these guys so he is responsible for their results. But the Dalai Lama has a right to be upset with the leadership because he may be picking ‘em but they are the ones making the decisions. And these decisions have led nowhere after 60 years. The sum of their struggles and efforts are a few buildings on a hill station GIVEN to them by the Indian government.
Maybe if they spent less time arguing among themselves and less time engaging in a power struggle, they would be more productive. I can see the attraction though. It is a lucrative office to be in because it gives you access to the sympathies and dollars of millions of people around the world. But power? They are a government without a country and who really cares about Dharamsala anyway?
We Americans have pumped way too much money into the hands of these leeches. Bout time Obama man up and start thinking about this country and not about the Dalai Lama.
Elibuchen
June 29, 2016
The Tibetan in exiles faced with so much problems and even their health system is unreliable and presents a problem, this is typical of CTA administration.
During Wartime, medical treatment is given to all by the Red Cross. To deny medical treatment to Dorje Shudgen people is indeed a fallacy and goes against human rights. The CTA is inhuman and inefficient at addressing the needs of their people.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 11, 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 13, 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.
Ojas
August 18, 2018
Supreme Court of India JUSTICE Mr. MARKANDEY KATJU (RETD) writes that Tibet is much better under the Chinese than it was under the lamas who only wanted to make the populace slaves. It was feudal and it will never return to the backwardness again.