22 January 2015 was a landmark day for all Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world. For the first time in history, learned monks from Shar Ganden Monastery and Serpom Monastery were presented with their Geshe Lharampa certificates from the Gelugpa Buddhist University.
This Geshe Lharampa ceremony, which took place in Serpom Monastery, is significant because it’s the first of its kind for Dorje Shugden practitioners ever since the monasteries of Shar Ganden and Serpom separated from Ganden Shartse and Sera Mey respectively, due to the ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice.
Ever since the Dorje Shugden ban was enforced in 2008, Shugden monks were unable to receive the Geshe Lharampa degree (the equivalent of a PhD. in Buddhist philosophy) regardless of how qualified they might be, just because the existing Gelugpa University refused to issue such a degree to Shugden monks solely due to their religious beliefs.
Fortunately, through the compassion, effort and diligence of dedicated high lamas and monks from the Dorje Shugden tradition, this void has since been filled with the founding of the Gelugpa Buddhist University in Mysore, India. And it is the Gelugpa Buddhist University who, understanding the importance of producing esteemed teachers for the growth and continuation of the pure lineage of Lama Tsongkapa’s tradition, issued certificates for all qualified Geshe Lharampas of Serpom and Shar Ganden Monasteries.
The certificate-presentation ceremony was presided over by none other than H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, the Abbot Emeritus of Shar Ganden Monastery, and H.E. Achok Rinpoche, close student and trusted assistant of Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche, the Abbot of Serpom Monastery.
As the proceedings unfolded, the relief and joy of the monks was almost palpable as many Geshes have waited more than 5 years for this special day. All stalwart Dorje Shugden practitioners should rejoice at this wonderful news and extend deep appreciation to all who made this event possible.
May many more great geshes and scholars continue arising from the Dorje Shugden strongholds of Shar Ganden and Serpom, a testament to their great faith and dedication in preserving the precious lineage of Je Rinpoche. And may a tantric university for Dorje Shugden practitioners arise very soon, so that those denied entry into Gyuto and Gyumed Tantric Universities may have a place to further their studies of Buddhist tantra.
The new Geshe Lharampa certificate for Dorje Shugden practitioners received after 4 years of intensive studies
Certificate for Dorje Shugden practitioners after 2 years of studies
H.E. Gyara Rinpoche receives his Geshe Lharampa certificate from Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende
Shar Ganden chantmaster, Geshe Lobsang Jinpa, receives his certificate
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Kelly
January 24, 2015
Rejoice for this auspicious event , is great that there will be more qualified teacher who will teach and spread the Dharma without teacher there will be no Dharma especially during this degenerative era the is the medicine to help all sentient being who will release their suffering I feel bless to look at this holy event thank you DS.com for update.
Sushilla Kapur
January 24, 2015
REJOICE ! REJOICE ! REJOICE ! Its great to see the Dharma grow in this way. In such degenerate times it is such an inspiration to have Sangha who can put their whole heart and soul and life into learning the Buddha”s teaching in order to carry on the lineage to benefit all sentient beings !
They are so fortunate to receive their certificates and blessings from Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende. He is such highly attained and respected Lama !
Joo Won
January 24, 2015
Rejoice!
The Geshe Lharampa certificates by the Gelugpa Buddhist University and the establishment of the University itself has make sure the continuity and preserving of Lama Tsongkhapa lineage being held and kept well, and to be able to spread the teachings of Buddha to many more, and benefiting more.
Without teachers we will have no dharma, without dharma there will be no teachings of how to get out of sufferings and getting eternal happiness for all.
Gypsy
January 24, 2015
Historical moment indeed! Thanks for this good news. It must be very tough for these Geshe-las since year 2008 for pursuing this Geshe Larampa degree. I prostrate to their great faith, determination, perseverance and consistency in their practice of Dorje Shugden.
Sandra
January 24, 2015
Rejoice for this auspicious event. This is first event and hope more to come. I hope the Shugden practitioners will united and Tshongkhapa lineage can spread to ten direction.
Steve Rogers
January 25, 2015
I’m happy to see this event. Quite a relief!
benzadhara
January 25, 2015
I rejoice for this act that preserve and propagate the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa. May the tantric university manifest soon and may the lineages of the Lamrim, Lojong and the Protector multiply in the ten directions to benefits beings.
paolorossi4444
January 26, 2015
I deeply rejoice for this event of the new Geshes from Shar Gaden and Serpom,great work of the most Venerable Khen Rinpoche Losang Pende great example of Guru Devotion may He continue to work for the benefit of all sentient beings till the end of Samsara.paolo
Rinchen
February 16, 2015
It is just such great news to be hearing when we get to know that these Sugden lamas are finally able to get those Geshe degrees that they deserve. I am so happy that now Shugden monks are also able to have their qualifications.
I thank all the senior monks that pushed through and fought for the junior monks in the monastery.
I thank the admin very much for sharing this magnificent news with all of us here as well!
john
April 29, 2015
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.