From 13 – 21 September 2015, H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama toured the UK for 9 days, giving teachings and talks in various major cities. The Dalai Lama spoke about providing a safe haven and long term solutions for the influx of refugees into Europe, describing such actions as humane. However, right outside, hundreds of Shugden practitioners demonstrated peacefully against the Dalai Lama calling for him to show them compassion as well, by giving religious freedom through lifting his ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice. DorjeShugden.com has been closely following the protests organised by our fellow Shugdenpas to bring our readers this compilation of news, pictures and videos. Please do visit this post over the next few days as we continue to update this article with new photos and videos. If you have more pictures or information to share, please email us at [email protected].
News Coverage
PHAYUL
Source: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=36491&article=Dalai+Lama+begins+9+day+UK+tour
YAHOO NEWS UK
Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dalai-lama-face-protesters-during-175158271.html#zcri71l
CAMBRIDGE NEWS
OXFORD MAIL
RT UK
Source: http://www.rt.com/uk/315561-dalai-lama-protest-cambridge/
ITV
Source: http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2015-09-16/dalai-lama-greeted-with-jeers-as-well-as-cheers/
Source: http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2015-09-16/dalai-lama-greeted-by-rival-protests-in-cambridge/
Source: http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2015-09-16/protest-expected-during-dalai-lamas-visit/
RINF
Source: http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/dalai-lamas-uk-visit-met-buddhist-sect-protests/
Video Coverage of the England Demonstrations
Protests against the Dalai Lama’s religious prosecution
From BBC
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Radio coverage on the protest against the Dalai Lama
From BBC
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News coverage on Shugden practitioner’s protest against the Dalai Lama’s religious ban
From Heart News East
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News coverage on the recent demonstration by Shugden practitioners in Cambridge
From ITV
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Shugden practitioners asks for religious freedom in recent demonstration in England
From ISC
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Internations Shugden Community protests against the Dalai Lama’s religious ban in England
From ISC
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Photos of the England Demonstrations
Cambridge
Eli Buchen
September 24, 2015
The Dalai Lama, actually said that this ban and segregation was started by Dorje Shugden Lamas and people. How can BBC broadcast such lies like this?
The standard of journalism and reporting has gone to the dogs.
Amber Sonam
May 17, 2016
These demonstrations are important to create awareness peacefully for the unlawful ban of Dorje Shugden. For 20 years, various methods have been applied for a dialogue to taken place between the Dalai Lama office and the Shugden practitioners. A ban is a discrimination, and it is against the core teachings of Buddhism, including those that is preached by His Holiness – kindness and compassion. Kindness and compassion should be applicable to everyone equally regardless of one’s choice of practice like Dorje Shugden.
jasonteng
June 16, 2016
Demonstrations have create awareness to leave the ban of Dorje Shugden in order for all practitioner to stay peacefully while practicing dharma. We respect all religions, this is the basic of being kind and compassion. Please leave the ban and give freedom for Dorje Shugden practitioner.
Camilia
June 24, 2016
It is very hypocritical that Dalai Lama toured the United Kingdom to speak about humanity yet he shows none of that back at home. Thousands of Shugdenpas suffer because they are being suppressed and ostracized in the Tibetan community under Dalai Lama’s leadership.
Shugdenpas are forced out of jobs and denied medical aid. Monks who practiced Dorje Shugden are forced to leave the monastery if they cannot renounce their vows to their Guru who bestowed them the practice. It is strange that the West, like the UK, turn a blind eyes to all the controversial and continue to embrace Dalai Lama despite having him violated human rights for 20 years.
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 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.