Dorje Shugden monks offer felicitations to the New Abbot of Shar Ganden

Shar Ganden Khen Rinpoche receiving offerings from a long line of devotees during the puja

The first historical abbot of Shar Ganden Monastery has served the monastery’s learning of sutra and tantra curriculum well. His Eminence Jetsun Losang Pende is now retiring as the abbot. He will continue to teach his hundreds of students and remain in deeper spiritual meditational retreats within the Monastery and also travel from time to time.

Dorje Shugden practitioners are grateful to this great Geshe who during our most difficult time was instrumental to form Shar Ganden Monastery and lead over 600 monks who were persecuted by the Tibetan CTA (ex-exile government). These monks were told if they continue their Dorje Shugden practice they will be expelled from Ganden Shartse Monastery. Not wishing to abandon the practice their root gurus bestowed upon them, they left Ganden Shartse Monastery to form Shar Ganden Monastery.

Within Tibetan society, freedom to worship is not allowed although to the Western world they portray themselves as democratic. You are allowed to worship what is dictated by the Tibetan leadership. They say you have freedom of choice, but in actual deeper examination you don’t. By word you are told you have the freedom to practice as you like, but if you oppose, then you will be banned from Tibetan facilities such as schools, hospitals, jobs, monasteries and travel documents.

The holy sangha of Shar Ganden Monastery consulted His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden as to the choice of the new abbot from among their geshes. Both have chosen the eminent master Geshe Lobsang Jenpa.

The newly chosen abbot flew from Taiwan where he resided to Nepal, and then from Nepal to Shar Ganden Monastery in South India (Mundgod). As an auspicious start to the year, on 9 January 2014 the Dorje Shugden Charitable Society had an audience with the newly selected Shar Ganden Abbot, His Eminence Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Jenpa, in Gangchen Ladrang, Nepal. Also in attendance at this historical event were 20 monks from Dagom Ladrang, Segyu Monastery and Phegyeling monastery along with many laity. It was a gathering to make the first offerings and felicitations to the newly chosen abbot where he will travel down to Shar Ganden for the official enthronement soon.

The meeting was hosted by Gangchen Ladrang, under the leadership of Gangchen Rinpoche’s faithful changtso to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Lunch was also served by Gangchen Ladrang to celebrate this meeting.

It was a joyous celebration as monks gathered to perform Vajra Yogini’s self-initiation and the offering of tsog also during this special occasion. In the face of adversity, these pure and holy monks who place supreme importance on their Guru’s words have been upholding the practices which their Gurus compassionately taught them. It is very heartwarming to see that even though they are faced with much suppression and prosecution, they are still able to come together to ensure the continuity of the lineage and teachings.

The monks of Shar Ganden Monastery have no ill wishes toward His Holiness the Dalai Lama but requests humbly that Dalai Lama will allow them to practice Dorje Shugden without persecution as this lineage stems back 350 years to the time of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, a great Mahasiddha, during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama. Shar Ganden monks request the Dalai Lama to lift the ban against the practice of Dorje Shugden as it’s the instructions and practice from their root guru Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche to continue the practice. The monks humbly request Dalai Lama to remove the ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners incorporated within the Tibetan constitution in Dharamsala.

We at www.dorjeshugden.com offer our heartfelt good wishes for the retiring abbot Jetsun Lobsang Pende and the incoming abbot Geshe Lobsang Jenpa. We thank them for their commitment, bravery and solid examples of Guru devotion in the face of so much adversity from the Tibetan leadership and their followers.

H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche’s changtso offering the mandala to Khen Rinpoche, requesting him to turn the wheel of Dharma

The new abbot of Shar Ganden performing Vajrayogini’s Tsog offering together with the assembled monks