April 23, 2009
I, the undersigned, Lungri Namgyel, the official head of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism (Ganden Tripa) and successor to the said order’s founder, Je Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), whose headquarters are Ganden Monastery in Karnataka state, south India, hereby confirm that:
• His Eminence Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche, having been educated in the teachings of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism, and officially recognized by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as being the incarnation of the late Trijang Dorje Chang, Tutor to the 14th Dalai Lama and one of the greatest twentieth-century Buddhist masters of this order, is fully qualified to act in the capacity of director of Trijang Buddhist Institute in the state of Vermont, United States of America, where he is currently residing at 210 Morning Star Lane, Northfield, Vermont 05663 USA.
• I confer upon Trijang Buddhist Institute the authority to represent and transmit the teachings of the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism in the United States.
• Thus authorized, Trijang Buddhist Institute is dedicated to preserving, representing, and transmitting the Buddhist teachings of the Gelug tradition.
Signed,
Ganden Tripa Lungri Namgyel
Responses to a Letter from H.H. Gaden Trisur Lungri Namgyel Rinpoche
His Holiness, the former Gaden Tripa wrote a letter in 2009 that openly endorsed the practice and qualifications of H.H. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche. See the full article here. As the young Trijang Rinpoche continues to be a strong Dorje Shugden practitioner (with the blessings and “approval” of the Dalai Lama), he remains a huge topic of contention and debate within the Tibetan Buddhist community. An endorsement like this from the Gaden Tripa is very significant, marking large implications not just for Trijang Rinpoche, but for the Gaden Tripa himself.
Below are a series of responses from various active forum posters on the DorjeShugden.com forum, which we have compiled for your reading and contemplation. Please add to the discussions if you have further perspectives, comments and thoughts. We always welcome debate and exchange. You can also read the full debate here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=495
(Note: His Holiness is still referred to in these posts as “Gaden Tripa” as this was before his term of service had completed and he was still in office. He is now referred to as Gaden Trisur. The posts have been lightly edited for style and grammar.)
By Denpa
This is very historical piece of recognition. It shows that H.H. Gaden Tripa cannot be swayed by the winds of politics. He has stood firm and officially announced that H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche is a qualified being to study with; his center is a correct place to join.
We all know that H.H. Trijang Choktrul has not renounced Dorje Shugden. Not renouncing Dorje Shugden does not make him unqualified. In fact, whether someone is qualified or not is not defined by the practice of Dorje Shugden.
Having said that, there are many great Lamas who have not renounced Dorje Shugden secretly or openly, and/or they are still quietly practicing and will not renounce the practice. This letter of recognition from the Gaden Tripa is thus also an indirect message that these Lamas are just as fine to study with and follow. It recognizes the hundreds of other great lamas past and present who have not renounced Dorje Shugden and implies that they are still qualified due to their learning and practice. Again, their qualifications are not defined by whether they continue Dorje Shugden’s practice or renounce it.
Whether you wish to practice Dorje Shugden or you don’t is absolutely fine. The KEY is your learning and practice.
Thank you to Your Holiness Gaden Tripa for speaking up, giving rest to many people’s minds and clearing much confusion.
May Your Holiness Gaden Tripa live long and continuously turn the wheel of Dharma. May your strength give hope to many spiritually desolate and desperate people.
By TK
If anyone says the Gaden Tripa is wrong in writing this letter, then they are saying that he is not a good Gaden Tripa or not qualified. That would turn everything upside down.
Then, it would mean that the selection process to determine the Gaden Tripas is wrong. That would make us doubt all the previous Gaden Tripas and all future Gaden Tripas, which would be a very dangerous direction to go towards.
It begs the important question: if the Gaden Tripas are wrong, then who can we trust? Just the Dalai Lamas?
Some of the previous 13 Dalai Lamas had root teachers who were Gaden Tripas. If they were wrong, then ‘naturally’ the previous Dalai Lamas would have had to be wrong too since wrong teachers breed wrong students. Then everyone is wrong. We don’t want to go down that road, do we??
The current Dalai Lama can say his root tutor ,the previous Trijang Rinpoche Lobsang Yeshe, was wrong to teach the practice of Dorje Shugden; that it was a mistake. How about if we now say that the current Dalai Lama is wrong to say that his Guru is wrong? What if we said that the current Dalai Lama is wrong to say that it is wrong to practice Dorje Shugden? If the Dalai Lama’s Guru can be wrong, then can’t the current Dalai Lama himself (who is Trijang Rinpoche’s student) be wrong too?
I am not bombarding the Dalai Lama. It is just a debate I have in my head.
View the original thread on the forum and join the discussions here
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Denpa
September 22, 2009
This is very historical piece of recognition. It shows that HH Gaden Tripa cannot be swayed by the winds of politics. He has stood firm and officially announced that HH Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche is a qualified being to study with. His Center is a correct place to join.
We all know that HH Trijang Choktrul has not renounced Dorje Shugden. Not renouncing Dorje Shugden DOES NOT MAKE HIM UNQUALIFIED. In fact qualified or not is NOT DEFINED BY THE PRACTICE OR NOT PRACTICE OF DORJE SHUGDEN.
Having said that, there are many great Lamas who have not renounced Dorje Shugden, secretly, openly,and/or quietly practicing still and who will not renounce. This letter is also a indirect message that they are just as fine to study with and follow.
So hence, with the letter of recognition from Gaden Tripa, it also recognizes the hundreds of other great lamas past and present that has not renounced Dorje Shugden and that STILL MAKES THEM QUALIFIED due to their learning and practice. Their qualifications AGAIN are not defined by Dorje Shugden’s practice or renouncing it.
So hence if you wish to practice Dorje Shugden or you don’t is absolutely fine. The KEY is your learning and practice.
Thank you to your Holiness Gaden Tripa for speaking up and giving rest to many people’s minds and clearing much confusion.
May your Holiness Gaden Tripa live long, continuously turn the wheel of Dharma and may your strength give hope to many spiritually desolate and desperate people.
Denpa
Jose
September 22, 2009
Looks like Gaden Tripa is really using his office as the HEAD OF THE GELUGPAS for protection of the Gelugpa lineage by writing such a letter.
Fantastic!!
TK
September 22, 2009
Regarding the Letter by Gaden Tripa re Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche
Now if anyone says the Gaden Tripa is wrong in writing this letter, then they are saying he is not a g00d Gaden Tripa or not qualified. That would turn everything upside down.
Then the selection process of Gaden Tripa is wrong. So that would make us doubt all the previous Gaden Tripas and all future Gaden Tripas. That would be a very dangerous direction to go to.
So if the Gaden Tripas are wrong, who can we trust? Just only the Dalai Lamas??
Some of the previous 13 Dalai Lamas had root teachers who were the Gaden Tripas. So if they were wrong, then ‘naturally’ the previous Dalai Lamas can be wrong. Why? Wrong teachers breed wrong students.
Then everyone is wrong. We don’t want to go down that road do we??
The current Dalai Lama can say his root tutor the previous Trijang Rinpoche Lobsang Yeshe was wrong to teach the practice of Dorje Shugden. A mistake. How about if we say the current Dalai Lama is wrong to say his guru is wrong. Or how about if we say, that the CURRENT Dalai Lama is wrong to say it is WRONG TO PRACTICE DORJE SHUGDEN. I mean, if Dalai Lama’s guru can be wrong, can’t the current Dalai Lama (Trijang Rinpoche’s student) be wrong also??
I am not bombasting the Dalai Lama. It is just a debate I have in my head.
Anyone have any comments please?
James Bond
September 22, 2009
Well complex as the climate is today, this is an admission to carry on practising, if you read between the lines.
Would it be wrong to use such a letter in the hands of the people who protest soo much. It may end up being seen as petty and revengeful?
TK’s argument above is so true. If we keep saying that guru’s of guru’s are wrong shouldn’t that go logically all the way back to Buddha Shakyamuni, even Lama Tsongkhapa? Then Buddhism is wrong?
Surely no-one believes this
Kache Marpo
September 22, 2009
The HH Ganden Tripa is so holy. If he says HH Trijang Rinpoche is qualified, even tho he is an open Dorje Shukden practitioner, then Dorje Shukden must not be a demon? I hear someewhere on the youtube that even HH Dalai Lama said that HH Trijang Rinpoche can practise Dorje Shukden. A bit contradictory but there must be reasons.
Long live HH Ganden Tripa and may your openness and respect be a shining beacon for all.
charlie
October 25, 2009
Gaden Tripa is right. Trijang Rinpche is right. Zong Rinpoche is right. Zemey Rinpoche is right. Dorje Shugden is right.
Everyone is right. The end.
charlie
October 25, 2009
Gaden tripa is wrong. Trijang Rinpoche is wrong. Zong Rinpoche is wrong. Zemey Rinpoche is wrong. Dorje Shugden is wrong.
Dalai lama is wrong.
Everyone is wrong.
So what’s left of Tibetan Budddhism?
charlie
October 25, 2009
Who is right and who wrong. Everyone has their points.
Maybe we just ‘keep quite’ and do the practice that we like in private with total 100% religious freedom already.
Personally speaking, I like the Dalai lama. I like Dorje Shugden and I think I will keep a picture of both of them on my shrine and ask them to please kiss and ‘make up’?? Hope I don’t sound out of line.
And then their followers can kiss and make up and be good buddhists again?
Sarah
November 21, 2010
“Right” and “wrong” are mere perceptions. Perceptions, like all ideas and concepts are empty.
vajrastorm
December 6, 2010
This letter, from HH Ganden Tripa, is a clear and unequivocal pronouncement of endorsement and support of HH Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche as a fully qualified Lama to preserve and transmit the Gelugpa Lineage teachings in the United States, via the Trijang Buddhist Institute there.
HH Ganden Tripa, the official head of the Gelug Order of Tibetan Buddhism, and successor to the founder of this lineage, Je Tsongkhapa, recognizes and supports HH Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche as fully qualified because:
1) He has been educated in the teachings of the Gelug Lineage.
2) He is the officially recognized incarnation(recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama) of the late highly attained and renowned Master, HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
This recognition, by HH Ganden Tripa, speaks out loud and clear for all highly qualified Lamas , who are qualified by virtue of their learning, experience, attainments and accomplishments. If these Lamas also practice Dharmapala Dorje Shugden(as HH Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche does), this practice does not nullify nor diminish their qualification. Rather, their practice of the compassionate supramundane Dharmapala, Dorje Shugden has enhanced their learning, experience, accomplishments and attainments, as the results show.
Arisa
February 5, 2011
Letter to Vermont Trijang Buddhist Institute. The Head of Ganden Buddhism the Ganden Tripa and successor to the Order’s founder Je Tsongkapa.The Head Quarters is Ganden Monastery in South India. The Ganden Tripa has stamp his approval letter for the late H.E. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche’s reincarnation to be officially the Director of Trijang Buddhist Institute in Vermont U.S.A. If the Dalai Lama can say that H.H. Kyabje Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche is qualified to practice Dorje Shugden and his past incarnation is Dalai Lama’s Guru and Ganden Tripa also endorsed the Letter of approval. Why then only Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche can practice Dorje Shugden and not the other people. I don’t see the logic.