Obama, the Dalai Lama and China

The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].


It seems China’s growth, resurgence and political might has won over the US President. Obama, being sensitive to the good relations he has with China, did not want to damage this by meeting the Dalai Lama. By meeting the Dalai Lama, there is no benefit for the US. Whereas being on good terms with China will benefit USA tremendously.

Unfortunately, the Dalai Lama is not making any efforts to become friends with China. If he can only become friends, he can diffuse the tension. The Dalai Lama joining the breakfast with Obama but seated separately brings no benefit to Tibet or himself except maybe some prestige. But prestige will not solve the Tibet issue. It’s time the Dalai Lama’s advisors give good advice to the Dalai Lama to make friends with China.

The Dalai Lama, one amongst the many that attended breakfast with Obama on Thursday, 4th February 2015

As China supports the Dorje Shugden practice, the more the Dalai Lama speaks against Shugden, it will deepen the thorn in China’s side. It is not good to aggravate such a powerful ally or foe, depending how you look at it. Dorje Shugden has been a valid practice in Tibet for four hundred years. The Dalai Lama has no reason to speak against this practice, hurting the sentiments of millions. It is time for the Dalai Lama to have dialogue with China as well as dialogue with the Shugden leaders.

John Lowe

Disclaimer: This article was submitted by a third party author and does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of DorjeShugden.com. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].

 


 

News coverage of ISC’s protest on Fox 5 News


Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

 

Click on image to enlarge

[Source: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/obama-dalai-lama-attend-prayer-breakfast-but-not-together-1.2221995#ixzz3QtUrbVhU]

Please support this website by making a donation.
Your contribution goes towards supporting
our work to spread Dorje Shugden across the world.

Related Topics: , , ,

Share this article
10 total comments on this postSubmit yours
  1. The dalie lame is no independent entity, but rather just a geopolitical puppet at the service of his Western bosses, and his function is merely to serve as a posterboy for Western anti-China war propaganda.

    Therefore, it is naive to expect from such a preposterous puppet any decisions based on reason, or aimed at benefiting Tibetan people or Buddhism.

    Once people disillusion themselves about the dalie lame’s actual nature, his bloated, media-promoted image will triumphally disappear into where it belongs, the garbage bin of history.

  2. With such response from the USA and the obvious act of abiding to the request of China, we cannot help but conclude that the hope of Tibet’s independence or autonomy etc is getting farther and farther from its goals.

  3. The Dalai Lama and Tibet need a protector!
    I would recommend Dorje Shugden!

    End this unfair ban, HH Dalai Lama.
    It will help your cause much more that travelling the world!

  4. It is imperative that the whole world knows about the Dorje Shudgen which of course leads them to know about Dorje Shugden…

    I look forward to the day that all people on Earth know about Dorje Shugden. That will be most awesome. Dalai Lama and CTA cannot rely on the US as an ally anymore, where will the tibetans get their support and help for their causes. US wants to use the Tibetan as a pawn in their geopolitical game with China….

  5. It is just ridiculous that there is a ban. Now they are using the strength of the US to show others that what they are doing is correct?

    I really do not understand why. There is so much injustice around the Tibetans, if Obama or the States care so much about human rights and freedom, then why are they not looking into the problem that is caused by the CTA headed by the Dalai Lama?

    There are always protest going on where the Dalai Lama is at, then why not think about the reason behind the protest? The protestants are not super free and have nothing better to do apart from doing that.

  6. It is quite obvious that President Obama is very much aware of the importance of maintaining good relationship with China will bring great economical benefits to US. In a show of support & not to be any disrespect to the Dalai Lama, President Obama had met up with the Dalai Lama privately recently & now attending in the same public event.

    No matter it is from a secular or spiritual point of view, great leaders should always act on the basis of providing, supporting & maintaining the social well being of their people & citizens of the world. Being judgemental, segregate & discriminating to certain groups of people for not having the same spiritual belief & punishing them are not some of the qualities that fit into a democratic government. Certainly not so for a government like CTA who have a great influence from the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama himself.

    I do not know what was the discussion between President Obama & the Dalai Lama on the 3 private occasions, one thing for sure is that the CTA should learn from the actions of President Obama & urgently seek dialogues with the Chinese authority to resolve the Shugden’s issue for the benefit of the Tibetan people & the Shugden community in the world. May the illegal ban on the Protector Dorje Shugden practice be lifted immediately.

  7. I practice Dorje Shugden and I do NOT support the Communist Party of China. Is that a problem ?

  8. (1)

    On one hand, I have a very poor command of Mandarin and since I do NOT engage in politics, I am not a supporter of the Communist Party of China. On the other hand, I pray to Dorje Shugden. Is that a problem ?

    (2) I found this recently while searching the Internet :

    A response to the article from “TK” on the DorjeShugden.com forum
    This forum post has been extracted from this forum thread: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.0

    Dear everyone,

    This extracted article above is very powerful. I will share my thoughts and comments on the article above. It is what I have believed also for the last decade and a half. It concurs with the prophesy from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche in the late 70′s which is that, in the future, it may look like the Dalai Lama is at odds with Dorje Shugden, but in actuality they are helping each other to make the Buddha Dharma grow in the world.

    1. Dorje Shugden acts in the Bodhisattva manner accepting criticism, hate campaigns and the ‘destruction’ of his practice. He does this because it serves a bigger purpose for the overall survival of Buddhism in the world for the future. Why? It is easier to resurrect or perform a “Lazarus” on Dorje Shugden in the future when the smoke clears, than it would be for the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is a man and controlled by media, opinions, people, circumstances and etc. But Dorje Shugden is a formless entity that can “rise” above all of that very quickly when the time is right.

    2. Whenever Dorje Shugden takes trance in any of the oracles, he never criticizes the Dalai Lama. In fact, he is known for telling the audience to always withhold criticism towards Dalai Lama. He does not have to say this; he could say nothing about the Dalai Lama and just keep quiet. Dorje Shugden is well known for not answering questions that have little meaning, or that are insignificant or unacceptable to the listener. When questions are presented to him through the oracle, he often bypasses questions which should not be answered at that time or which have no meaning.

    3. With all the destruction happening against him, he never comments, speaks against nor gives advice towards undharmic actions. This is because the situation can all be fully reversed in a short time when the time is right.

    4. Temporarily, Dorje Shugden will accept the claim that he is the cause for the loss of Tibet, or the cause for why Tibetan cannot be regained… but in the end truth will arise. Dorje Shugden will reveal the true “plot” which Trijang Rinpoche had already hinted at in the late 1970′s. (I fold my hands to Trijang Rinpoche and prostrate my full body to Him. I offer my head as a stepping block for his feet. I truly have confidence in this great being.)

    5. Dorje Shugden is strong enough to carry such a burden. Dorje Shugden practitioners are resilient enough to not abandon his practice during this crisis. Both Dorje Shugden and his true followers will not abandon each other no matter what is said and done temporarily at this time. Both can carry the burden. I personally do not dislike or hate the Dalai Lama but have confidence in him and my own sacred Protector Dorje Shugden. I choose to believe and take refuge in Trijang Rinpoche’s prophecy. The other two options of hating Dalai Lama and /or abandoning Dorje Shugden are not open to me, nor would I choose any of the two options.

    6. Why would Dalai Lama act, talk and promote so many contradictory actions that makes himself look unstable? …. Unless it is all being done on purpose. I believe that truly. He is not stupid.

    7. If Kache Marpo (Dorje Shugden’s main attendant) has ‘destroyed’ Lamas, people and practitioners in the past for breaking samaya or polluting the Yellow Hat teachings (Gelugpa), then why are Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kashag, Kalons, Ministers, Kunga Tara, and even the Dalai Lama himself spared? … Unless there is a much bigger soup brewing.

    8. Nechung is the one who requested Duldzin Dragpa Gyeltsen to arise as a uncommon Protector to protect Nagarjuna’s view, as embodied within Lama Tsongkapa’s lineage, 350 years ago. Why would the same Nechung be speaking the opposite now when he talks and advises against Dorje Shugden?… Unless there was a larger plan between Dorje Shugden, Dalai Lama and Nechung. Seems like a hopeful fantasy? Well, to many more, the idea of a Dharma Protector or Dorje Shugden itself is a fantasy made up by the Tibetan Lamas. So which do we choose to believe?

    9.If Dorje Shugden is so powerful (which he is), why doesn’t he do something to stop all this? Perhaps it is because it is not time to ‘stop’ all this yet. In fact, Dorje Shugden is putting his followers through ‘hell and back’ (excuse me) and we have to just take it. Yes we will ‘take’ it. There has to be a much bigger game plan. Dorje Shugden takes the blame and Dalai Lama works hard to make the Buddha Dharma grow while all of the next generation of elite Lamas and teachers are still young.

    Those who take refuge in the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden will not give up on both. They are strongholds for the growth of Buddhadharma and the ‘re-arisal’ of Dorje Shugden in the near future. If the Dalai Lama is so powerful (which he is), why doesn’t he just do a binding ritual or fire puja himself and rid the planet/samsara of this horrible demented being called Jamgon Gyelway Tensung Gyelpo Dorje Shugden? And then stop spending so much time, money, heartaches, energy, resources to keep going against Dorje Shugden?! Just get rid of him once and for all. The end. Why not?

    The Dalai Lama hasn’t done this because he cannot destroy a being who has actualized the complete path of Guhyasamaja in both completion and generation stages – in other words a being who is a Buddha. The Dalai Lama cannot destroy Buddha Dorje Shugden who is one with Guhyasamaja and whose 32 deities in his mandala are the same as the 32 deities in Guhyasamaja’s entourage.

    So for the bigger purpose, the Dalai Lama has to put the blame of all the ills of Tibet’s misfortune onto Dorje Shugden who is strong enough to shoulder this. Dorje Shugden plays the bad guy for now. If the blame was placed on the Dalai Lama, it would spoil his reputation. This would limit him from spreading the Dharma on a global scale, which is what he is doing now. He is planting seeds of Dharma on a global scale so that they will ripen for the young Lamas as well as Dorje Shugden to take over later.

    The ills of Tibet are not the Dalai Lama’s nor Dorje Shugden’s fault, but the Tibetan people’s own fault. However, for most of the world, karma is not accepted, so the blame would go to the leader of the people – which is the Dalai Lama. We cannot afford this at a time when no one else can spread Buddhism the way the Dalai Lama can.

    Think through this carefully to come to terms with the pain in your heart. I do not blame you for the pain. You are not at fault. You are part of a bigger plan. I’ve had many pains in my heart that I have come to terms with and am some still working on because of this issue. We are all part of a bigger plan. This sounds clichéd, but it is true. It is easier to get through the storm with this way of thinking.

    10. If the Dalai Lama loses his reputation because he is the ’cause’ for the loss of Tibet, then it would stain his reputation greatly and that would hinder his promotion of the BuddhaDharma around the world, to say the least. No other Lama of any tradition can match the skills, persona, knowledge, title and charisma of the Dalai Lama to spread Buddhism so far and wide around the world.

    11. Why can’t the Tibetan Government and various Monasteries destroy Dorje Shugden through binding rituals? Because they have tried to and not been successful – Dorje Shugden has not been destroyed. This shows the power of Dorje Shugden purposely. People will keep this power in mind, remember it when they re-adopt Dorje Shugden’s practice later. This leaves a mark in people’s minds that Dorje Shugden cannot be defeated nor destroyed.

    12. The Dalai Lama has given the incarnation of his teacher, Trijang Rinpoche, the special exception to practice Dorje Shugden. Why is Trijang Rinpoche allowed to practice Dorje Shugden if it harms the cause of Tibet and brings danger to the Dalai Lama’s life? Because it leaves a mark for the future, to make the point that Dorje Shugden does not hinder the cause of Tibet nor the Dalai Lama. These are small traces of hints left by the Dalai Lama for the survival of Dorje Shugden. Someone has to take the blame. That is samsara.

    13. Why does Dorje Shugden himself sit on the fence?’ He says on one hand to respect and follow what the Dalai Lama says, but on the other hand, he told the Shar Gaden monks (who are ardent Dorje Shugden practitioners) that if their motivation for opening Shar Gaden was for the growth and preservation of the lineage, then it would be auspicious in the future. Doesn’t that look contradictory? C’mon, which one is it, Dorje Shugden? Clear it for us. If we were to follow what the Dalai Lama says, why open Shar Gaden and Serpom Monastery? If we were to follow what Dorje Shugden says, then why even be on this forum as he tells us to always respect the Dalai Lama?

    Should we open Shar Gaden which ‘opposes’ the Dalai Lama or should we listen to the Dalai Lama and abandon Dorje Shugden’s practice? Even the great Dorje Shugden sounds contradictory.

    Why does Dorje Shugden continuously take trance and give advice even to those who do not give their allegiance to the Dalai Lama while practicing Dorje Shugden? Doesn’t that damage the samaya of the individual with Dorje Shugden or with the Lama who initiated him into Dorje Shugden’s practice? Whichever way you look at it, you damage the samaya with either your guru or Protector.

    The previous Zong Rinpoche, Dagom Rinpoche, Yongyal Rinpoche, Geshe Tendar, the current incarnations of Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche and Pabongka Rinpoche, Gonsar Rinpoche, the oracle monks, Gangchen Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, etc. all took teachings from the 14th Dalai Lama, at one time or another. Let’s not forget that. If we have taken teachings from any of these Lamas, then 14th Dalai Lama is also our lineage Lama who we must respect. Isn’t this logical?

    Since we say that the Dalai Lama must respect our lineage Lamas such as Pabongka, then we must also reverse the situation and respect the Dalai Lama as our lineage Lama. Either way, the system is set up for you to ‘lose’. If that is the case, there must be a MUCH BIGGER PICTURE so that current infractions with our lineage Lamas can be repaired later FOR THIS BIGGER PICTURE.

    After all, with or without the current issue of Dalai Lama / Dorje Shugden, we were doing a great job collecting negative karma, breaking commitments, and generally creating the causes for our personal samsaras to remain in tact and strong on our own. Neither the Dalai Lama nor Dorje Shugden are to blame. Nor are they adding to it. We were in samsara before the Dalai Lama’s name and Shugden even ‘existed’ as we know them today.

    Yes the Dalai Lama does look like he always contradicts himself. But so does Dorje Shugden. Again, this leads me to believe that they are cooking up something much bigger… or it is something that’s nearly cooked.

    Yes, it is nearly cooked.

    It is best to have respect for the Dalai Lama and keep up our practices towards Dorje Shugden steadily. Whatever the case, whether we go to the Dalai Lama’s ‘camp’ or we go to Dorje Shugden’s ‘camp’, we go against our lineage Lamas. So it is best to maintain equilibrium by thinking things out logically, following the law of cause and effect, and engaging in our practices to develop attainments within our continuum. With the great attainment, we win freedom totally. Then (without meaning any disrespect), we won’t need the Dalai Lama, Buddha, Dorje Shugden or anyone else. Actually, that is their original intention.

    I have stated my thoughts at this time and I sincerely hope this will bring peace/understanding to the many practitioners that visit this great website. I do not wish to offend anyone with my thoughts, or to be right. It is just my attempt to think and reason things out at this time when not many other options are available. Again, I will never give up my Dorje Shugden commitments nor my commitment to the Lamas who gave me the practices. Nor will I demean and hate His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I will not hate those against Dorje Shugden, but forgive them.

    Much success to all,
    TK

    The original forum post can be viewed at: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.0

  9. It has been said that China is a growing economy and every country is trying to cut a deal with China for that piece of pie. Just as the Americans want to also. But at the same time, we know through the history that the American government can be quite underhanded in their dealings. In this case, if the Americans were sincere in dealing with China, then they would have totally not entertain the Dalai Lama and CTA. So what are they portraying in inviting the Dalai Lama and praising him as “a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion”? Isn’t it a show of “who is still the big boss that can do what they want”.

    And hello, compassion?? Is it compassion to instigate forceable removal of Shugden monks from the only home that they know of?? Is it compassion to discriminate and segregate the practitioners and the non-practitioners? There had been no segregation since the Apartheid of South Africa! And all these are not just accusations made up, the Dalai Lama had been recorded on video as proofs.

    Why aren’t the American government standing up for the freedom as symbolised by the “Statue of Liberty” so prominently for all to see. Why is CTA allowed to get away with suppression of their own people’s human’s rights and religious freedom. Are they just contradictory as the Dalai Lama? Hmmm….

  10. 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.

Submit your comment

Please enter your name

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter your message

Show More
Show More
+

(Allowed file types: jpg, jpeg, gif, png, maximum file size: 10MB each)

You can now upload MP4 videos to the comments section. "Choose File" -> click "Upload" then wait while your video is processed. Then copy the link and paste it into the message box. Your video will appear after you submit your comment.
Maximum size is 64MB

Contemplate This

.…Instead of turning away people who practise Dorje Shugden, we should be kind to them. Give them logic and wisdom without fear, then in time they give up the ‘wrong’ practice. Actually Shugden practitioners are not doing anything wrong. But hypothetically, if they are, wouldn’t it be more Buddhistic to be accepting? So those who have views against Dorje Shugden should contemplate this. Those practicing Dorje Shugden should forbear with extreme patience, fortitude and keep your commitments. The time will come as predicted that Dorje Shugden’s practice and it’s terrific quick benefits will be embraced by the world and it will be a practice of many beings.

Dorje Shugden and Dalai Lama – Spreading Dharma Together | Terms of Use | Disclaimer

© DorjeShugden.com 2024 | All Rights Reserved