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].
By: Shashi Kei
There is one prominent characteristic of genuine spirituality, which is ‘consistency’ and this is especially true in Tibetan Buddhism with its focus on lineage. All authentic masters of Tibetan Buddhism and indeed all religions and spiritual paths will tell you that at the very minimum, a person must be kind, compassionate, honest and practice right livelihood which is not to make a living based on deception and dishonesty. And it is precisely this that makes Professor Robert (Bob) Thurman and his Menla Dewa Spa business very disturbing.
Bob Thurman is regarded as somewhat of an expert in the knowledge and practice of Tibetan Buddhism and regards the Dalai Lama as his teacher. The Dalai Lama on his part is supposed to be the embodiment and personification of compassion. Bob Thurman has written quite a few books on Buddhism, all of which ultimately advocate kindness and the generation of an inner wisdom that regards all phenomena and life in a fair and non-dualistic way.
Menla Dewa Spa is Bob Thurman’s business built on an image of wellness and healing based on Tibetan Buddhist principles. Menla itself refers to the Medicine Buddha and Bob Thurman presents Menla Dewa Spa as “Tibet in the Catskills” which is how Thurman takes advantage of the Hollywood image of Tibet as Shangrila, or heaven. According to Bob, at Menla you heal your mind and body, you become one with your environment, you sharpen your awareness and you study under ‘world class teachers’ (namely Thurman himself as his picture accompanies the caption on Menla’s promotional materials).
Great taglines and buzzwords, but are any of these real? The problem with fake spirituality is eventually you slip and expose yourself and this is precisely Bob Thurman’s problem – he cannot keep up with his own rhetoric.
The tweet sent out by Menla Dewa Spa.
Click to enlarge.
While Bob Thurman preaches great kindness and tolerance in his classes, his Menla spa has been inviting Menla participants to extend their search for healing into activities such as killing other sentient beings for pleasure. Menla promotes fly fishing in the Catskills which involves luring fishes, a form of sentient being according to Tibetan Buddhist teachings, to a painful death by teasing their hunger. How can a ‘wellness and spiritual healing’ retreat center based on Buddhism promote the killing of animals for pleasure unless its Buddhist values are fake and its spirituality is just a scam to draw people into spending money on Thurman’s business.
Killing cannot lead to wellness and healing, and Thurman should already know this. In fact, any beginner to Tibetan Buddhism would already know this, what more the ‘Je Tsongkhapa Professor’ of Buddhism. So, the question is why Bob Thurman condones this. Is his belief in Buddhist principles fake? Is Menla’s foundation of spirituality fake? The killing that Menla promotes is like placing cigarette vending machines within cancer treatment centers. It is absurdly contradictory and utterly shameful.
Thurman cannot say he didn’t know that Menla was promoting killing because Thurman personally operates Menla’s Twitter and social media accounts jointly with his henchman, Justin Stone-Diaz, who is rumored to be Thurman’s propagandist and manager of Thurman’s Twitter army. Together, they spread the Dalai Lama’s political agenda and along the way, promote Bob Thurman’s image and business. Bob Thurman needs to explain in what Buddhist tradition does the study and practice of Buddhism involve killing wildlife for sport and recreation?
By encouraging Menla participants to inflict suffering on other sentient beings, Bob Thurman is knowingly allowing them to accumulate even more bad karma, all for the sake of business and the bottom line – money.
What is even more harmful is the way Thurman creates opportunities for people seeking healing and wellness to become even more unwell by creating more bad karma. If Thurman is a true Buddhist, he will know that there is bad karma that arises from harming and killing other sentient beings. This is a fact even if Menla participants are not aware of it because the law of karma, like the law of gravity applies regardless of whether one agrees with it or not. Instead of showing innocent participants the methods to clear their bad karmic energy through proven purification techniques, Thurman encourages them to create even more bad energy. This makes Thurman and Menla not only hypocritical but also highly damaging.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the illnesses of the body and mind are often related to karma. Even if Menla participants do not subscribe to Buddhism, Thurman as a Buddhist expert and a supposed firm believer must surely know better and should assume the responsibility of subtly leading participants to meritorious activities instead of harmful ones. Why Thurman does not do that and instead allows Menla to promote fishing and killing, can only be due to a few reasons. Either
- Thurman is not truly knowledgeable about even basic Buddhist principles; or
- Thurman is aware but does not truly practice Buddhism or does not believe in Buddhism; or
- Thurman is aware and he personally believes in Buddhism but does not care about the wellness of Menla’s clientele; or
- Menla is doing so poorly as a business that it has to cross-sell wildlife adventures to prop up its flagging business.
Whatever the reason may be, as a result, many are led astray by Menla.
Did the Dalai Lama tell Bob Thurman that he is exempt from the karma of killing? Why else would Thurman, a so-called Tibetan Buddhist “expert”, encouraging the sport of fly fishing?
Or perhaps, Thurman feels immune from karma through his association with the Dalai Lama. It is well known that the ‘success’ of Bob Thurman as a Buddhist teacher is only due to his reputation as the “Dalai Lama’s man in America”. It is a confluence of agendas – the Dalai Lama needs a Westerner to sell the Tibetan leadership’s agenda for Tibet to the Western people, and Thurman needs a justification to be regarded as a Tibetan Buddhist expert.
Now however, we can see clearly that his only qualification is his sycophantic involvement with the Dalai Lama. No emanation of the Buddha of Compassion whom the Dalai Lama is supposed to be, will encourage the torture and killing of other beings for recreation. Indeed, no authentic student and practitioner of Buddhism would engage in such harmful acts. But here we have it – a ‘Buddhist teacher’ promoting killing for the sake of business and riding on the Dalai Lama’s continued endorsement because he is a useful spokesperson for the Dalai Lama’s agenda. A few factors are at play here but none of them are based on the principles of kindness, tolerance, oneness with the environment, gentle understanding of the important principle of live-and-let-live, concern for others and not least of all, awareness of the suffering of others regardless of the form they take.
Would you want to experience this? If not, why would you want to inflict this experience on others?
Robert Thurman allowing Menla to promote fly fishing and killing for recreation exposes who he truly is – a greedy businessman who is using Buddhism and his association with the Dalai Lama to make money and a name for himself. Buddhism is just a trade to Thurman, just like the plight of the Tibetan refugees whom Thurman leverages on for monetary gain. As Tibet burned and over 150 Tibetan people self-immolated, Thurman did not appeal for the Tibetan people not to waste their lives as Buddhism advocates. Neither did Thurman do anything to help the families of those who lost loved ones, nor did he visit these victims of self-immolation in hospital or offer to pay their medical bills. Instead he again took advantage of these personal traumas to promote his Menla lectures on suicide and end of life. What kind spiritual person would see business opportunities in the tragedies of others? Apparently, the Dalai Lama’s man in America.
Not content with promoting fly-fishing and killing at what’s supposed to be a spiritual retreat, Thurman is now trying to drive people to leave good reviews for his business. In truth, there is no correlation between good reviews for Menla and showing love and support for Tibetan culture. Menla is a for-profit, commercial entity that makes use of Tibetan spirituality and healing practices to boost Thurman’s bank balance. Promoting this commercial entity will not aid the Tibetan struggle in any way; why does Thurman ask for people to show their love for Tibet through Menla, when they can do it directly through so many other actual non-governmental organizations? Thus Thurman yet again demonstrates that he is willing to exploit his relationship with the Tibetan struggle in order to make a quick buck for himself. This is a clear reflection of his greed and his presumption that the paying public will be swindled and fooled into believing falsely-derived positive reviews. Once again, Thurman is caught behaving at odds with his standing as a so-called spiritual leader.
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Bonnie Fider
July 11, 2018
WHY DOES RICHARD GERE AND DALAI LAMA SUPPORT SOGYAL THE DISGUSTING ABUSER?
As long as you are friends with the Dalai Lama, your actions are excusable, no matter how horrendous they may be. Even something as heinous as sexual abuse of over 60 women can be overlooked when the perpetrator is friends with the Dalai Lama namely Sogyal Rinpoche. Why rush to join the chorus of Hollywood voices condemning Harvey Weinstein’s criminality, but remain silent against Sogyal’s exploitation and abuse of women? Richard Gere was vocal in condemning against all the abuses and attacks against women by Harvey Weinstein. But silent on Sogyal Rinpoche. BBC has a full length documentary on Sogyal’s abuses as you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhIivvmMnk. Yet Richard Gere can take photos with the disgusting and abusive Sogyal. Is it because one group of women are worth protecting and the other are not? If it is not for that reason, then it can only be because Sogyal is the Dalai Lama’s friend. The Dalai Lama’s condemnation against Sogyal is very light and it’s disappointing. I guess since Dalai Lama supported Sogyal so much, he can’t be seen as wrong in doing so. Politics is sad.
Sherab Wangmo
July 11, 2018
TENMA VERY ANGRY WITH SIKYONG LOBSANG SANGYE AND PENPA TSERING
Tenma deity takes trance of her oracle in Nechung Monastery in Dharamsala, North India. The deity is highly displeased and angry at Sikyong Lobsang Sangye and Penpa Tsering. She is scolding them by waving her arms at them and throwing rice at them. You can see Penpa Tsering shielding himself. These two has always been corrupt and extremely self-serving. Naturally the oracles of the Dalai Lama take trance and are very angry.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1531344206.mp4
Anonymous
July 12, 2018
Everyone in the Tibetan Buddhist scene knows that although Bob Thurman is as old as the hills, all he’s interested in is to MAKE MONEY. He loves money. A real saintly Buddhist he is.He does not practice what he preaches-Buddhism. He has a vile temper. Nasty arrogant way of speaking. He is full of himself and talks down to people and shouts at everyone for no reasons at all. He uses his ‘connection’ to the Dalai Lama in order to sell books, promote his HORRIBLE podcast talks and his disaster Menlha spa. Who in blazes wants to go to Menlha and go fishing??? He promotes fishing. Real good move Bob! So many bad reviews on his spa.
None of the genuine translators of Tibetan Buddhism in the west will collaborate with him much as they know he is greedy and driven by money. He is outright nasty always trying to hack into people’s accounts too. He was caught advertising on twitter for hackers. Can you believe his stupidity. He was caught doing that. Nasty piece of work, as old as the hills and looks like melting clay yet still just greedy. Greedy, vile tempered and just plain bad representative of Buddhism.😒
Suresh Ratna
July 12, 2018
SUMAA has been consistent in their efforts to evict Tibetans from Arunachal Pradesh as the Tibetans are known to exploit benefits given to locals. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), especially their so-called ‘president’ Lobsang Sangay, made the situation worse by rubbing salt in the wound, making a statement that Chief Minister Pema Khandu is an ardent follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a lifelong friend of the Tibetan people. This was right after Khandu announced the adoption of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy in Arunachal Pradesh.
Tibetan refugees create a lot of problems for the locals no matter where they are, especially in Arunachal Pradesh. They take the locals’ land and resources without giving anything in return, making the locals furious to the extent that they are now demanding a written undertaking from the Tibetan refugees not to claim Indian citizenship and STC/PRC in Arunachal Pradesh. It is time to impeach Sangay for a better leader to guide and take care of the Tibetans in India before the wrath of locals evict Tibetans from the state or even the country for good.
Christie Donald
July 12, 2018
Hollywood is one of the most influential groups of people who have promoted the mysticism of Buddhist Tantra to the world. Together with the media, they have packaged Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan lamas into a fantasy Utopia, filled with God-like beings who are able to lead people along the quick path to enlightenment.
This propaganda has been widely exploited by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to garner support, especially financial aid, for the so-called Tibetan Cause and the Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule. Little does the West, including Richard Gere and the so-called Buddhist Professor Robert Thurman, know that efforts from China to improve the infrastructure and standard of living for the Tibetans in China have created opportunities for Tibetans to grow and be successful. This is something that is rarely seen in exile under the governance of the CTA.
This false image that has been promoted for the past 60 years or so is now slowly fading away as more and more victims come forward, exposing the sexual abuse they have suffered under the hands of Tibetan lamas like Sogyal Rinpoche. The root of the problem is clear, people are greedy and lazy while wanting quick success and attention. Since they get these from the Tibetan lamas like Sogyal, they are willing to accept the exploitation. This is further driven by fear that they would no longer be seen as the privileged ones in the inner circle if they do not clutch at their lamas and be seen showing tremendous devotion to their gurus. With only a superficial knowledge of Buddhism, this cult-like group of Hollywood stars and American politicians like Richard Gere continue to generate respect and love for their skewed version of the “Dharma”, while real Buddhist masters are relegated to the side lines.
snowlion
July 12, 2018
This is so disgusting! I knew it, this so-called Professor Robert Thurman is nothing but a fake Buddhist expert. Why didn’t he consider fishes to be his mothers too in a previous life? What kind of Buddhist promotes fishing and what more he has his boy Justin actually asking someone to actually go do some compassionate fishing? My gosh, wonder what kind of Buddhism they are teaching there!
The message was deleted from google but nothing ever gets lost.
Sam Hudson
July 13, 2018
Whether Mr/Ms Indy Hack works for a ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ Shugden cult or not makes what difference? The opinion expressed is free from any association with any religion or groups. Why is his affiliation to ‘Shugden’ mentioned at all? Do you all bash his religion? Do you all bash Shugden?
Why are you basing people’s opinion about your spa on their religion or religious affiliations? Is your spa against their religion? If you are that is against the US constitution and thereby your spa should be reported for discrimination against someone’s religion.
The way you respond shows how silly, unprofessional and biased your spa is. No wonder your Menlha spa is not doing well and there are so many bad reviews on you.
Your Menlha spa is the one who started all the trouble by advertising fishing. You are the one who are trying to get more traffic to your dying spa by enticing people to fish in your area. What kind of Buddhist spa owned by a Buddhist professor Bob Thurman are you? How can you teach about love, compassion for all sentient beings when you want others to fish? Didn’t Buddha include fishes as sentient beings and therefore we should not harm them? Why are you all so twisted and desperate for profits? Don’t you regard anything about karma?
Sam Hudson
July 13, 2018
Your replies to the public are disgusting and religious discrimination based. You will be reported.
Pema
July 13, 2018
I am so shocked! Why would anyone who is calling himself Buddhist make money from killing?
This Robert Thurman seems to take advantage of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans for his selfgain motives. Isn’t he a professor? He should be educated enough to understand the law of karma and the evil behaviour he promotes and shares with the world, yet calling himself an expert and writing books on Buddhism.
A very dangerous person!
Sad Robert Thurman wake up
July 14, 2018
Sad Bob Thurman is in his 70′s already. From a life of excess contrary to what he preaches to others about Buddhist living life simplistically, he looks like he is in his 80′s actually.
He cannot sell Buddhism to his kids. You don’t see them as Buddhist practitioners and rarely are they involved with Buddhist teachers. That speaks volumes.
He has lost many friends, Buddhist associates and even teachers because of his self-righteous hell-bent need for acquiring money. I think he thinks he can take it with him when he goes. He is only going to land himself in the realm of the pretas.
Bob is so old and worn, you think he would start practicing Buddhism sincerely instead of thinking of making more money. Prepare for his Buddhist after life, reincarnation and all that. He is only concerned about money. Yes, even now at this stage of his old life.
I’ve known him in the past during his Geshe Wangyal in Washington, New Jersey days and he was arrogant and thought highly of himself. But nobody thought highly of him. He never stuck to one teacher but flitted here and there as to wherever the attention was. He has latched himself onto the Dalai Lama because of Dalai Lama’s fame. If Bob Thurman is associated with the Dalai Lama, he can make more money with his books, lectures, podcast and all of that. Forget about his Menlha spa which is a sham. It is doing badly and not churning the money he is lusting after.
Sadly Bob is only interested in money and more money. He is very rude on social media to people. He does illegal things such as look for hackers openly online and expects to pay them to hack into people’s twitter accounts he does not like. Illegal but true. He will shout and tell people off and shut others up by saying he is the Buddhist professor and they don’t know as much as him. Arrogant as usual. The other Buddhist translators who are much better than him all stay far away from Thurman.
In his grotesque and obvious seeking of money he is even using his Menlha spa to advertise fly fishing!! Can you imagine? What irony! Menlha means Medicine Buddha in Tibetan. Medicine Buddha spa to rejuvenate and detox?? What a joke. What kind of Medicine Buddha condones or markets fishing? Since when in Buddha’s teaching did he say love, save and protect all sentient beings except fishes? For Robert Thurman the ‘Buddhist’ Professor, sadly he has degenerated further.
I know what I am writing is scathing, but it is not meant to be and it’s a wake up call for old Bob. Wake up Bob, how much time do you have left on this earth? You should intensify your Buddhist practice and become genuine already. Remember what Geshe Wangyal and Dromo Geshe Rinpoche taught you and us? Or did you forget the kindness and advice of these genuine old masters which you will never become?
Tenzin Ketsun
July 14, 2018
For God sakes, I hate Bob Thurman’s books!! They are just plain bad. He makes up stuff in his books. His podcasts are so contrived as he is full of himself. I listened in once and had to leave after ten minutes. Waste of time.
His books are commercially motivated and Bob does not know his stuff. This is well known among the Buddhist circuit in the US.
Try reading Glenn Mullin or Jeffrey Hopkins’ Buddhist books. Now those are genuine practicing Buddhist scholars. They really know their stuff and humble too. They are very learned. They brought Buddhism to the west accurately.
Jushri Jay
July 15, 2018
Robert Thurman maybe a professor in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and is clearly just that. His close association with HH Dalai Lama has not rubbed off much Buddhist values given what he is today:
1) It’s a known fact that his Menla Dewa Spa is a huge scam. It is supposed to be all about Buddhism and spirituality BUT look at what it promotes – FLY FISHING. Fishing is killing and is SO un-Buddhist.
2) He also heads an army of online trolls that flames Shugden practitioners with defamatory tweets and racist hate speech. Check out him retweeting his own troll!
3) He has openly solicited on Twitter for hackers.
4) He has personally attacked monks and other Buddhists for their believes on Twitter. (Religious freedom and acceptance are not part of what he believes in)
Thurman is such an embarrassment to Buddhists!
Joo Won
July 16, 2018
Such a hypocrite. It’s clearly shows that academic status and publications in Buddhism, or establishing a healing or retreat centre of Menla, is actually merely a business to make money and gain fame. There’s no real passion involved in spreading the teachings of Lord Buddha or sharing the kindness or compassion values with others from Robert Thurman. All these showned Robert Thurman might be using HH Dalai Lama to gain his fame and become famous, what do you think?🤔🤔
If not, you woulnd’t see someone who is real in spreading love and compassion encouraging fishing/killing as pass time activity. 😖😖
Pema
July 18, 2018
Shocking seeing a Buddhist teacher encourage killing. Instead of practicing compassion Bob Thurman promote fishing next to his spa. Isn’t this going against his Guru His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaching on compassion? Why he go against His Holiness and also Buddha’s teaching? Encouraging killing still can teach Buddhism?
bambi
July 18, 2018
I found out that robert use to be a monk.I am very sure that he learn the basic buddhist principles or vow of no killing.How come he can promote buddhism & killing at the same time.Such hypocrite.I have heard a lot about him always only thinking highly of himself & in actuality he has not much knowledge on buddhism.I think he only want to be famous & with hhdl as friend I am sure it is.If not why so many ppl say he is not good.I don’t care whether he is prof or not coz actions speak louder than words in this case the words are louder.Why he always harass DS ppl & find ways to destroy them where is the kindness & wisdom that he shd have at his age.For goodness sake he is 76 yrs old but still have none of them.What is the difference of a cyber bully & physical bully they are the same.Extremely unbelievable.
Karma
July 18, 2018
Why would someone wanting to do a retreat at Menla destroy his peace of mind by killing animals?
I really cannot understand why these people call themselves Buddhists. Just go and create your evil karma but don’t promote it all over the world on Twitter. Shame on Robert Thurman and his associates!
brian
July 18, 2018
I don’t know about Robert Thurman but by reading this, i don’t think he represented DL very well. From his profile, he looked a very well learned man riding on the fame of his teacher in HHDL. His actions doesn’t seem to match what his personality really is. One hand he is the ever compassionate (theoretically wise) but on the other hand he encourages harm onto others. Misleading figure really.
DS survivor
July 18, 2018
Surprisingly, such a pro and educated as he praising himself could have such poor quality of wisdom. In Buddhism, killing is the first and most important action that should be stop. As an expert like Robert Thurman should have known of this basic knowledge long time before he converted. What really shameful, embarrassed was his promotion of his spa retreats centre indulging with sacrifices of wildlife. Obviously, such actions focus more on fame, money and material. With this motivation will make him a successor? As what words had said, what you throw will bounce back to you. Wait and see. 😏
Belinda Mae
July 18, 2018
Bob Thurman should go back and study his Dharma properly. Which part of the Lamrim allows killing of any sentient beings? The answer is NO. If we kill then we have to bear the consequences for killing any sentient beings. Bob Thurman is not fit to teach as he is not showing to others a good example of what Tibetan Buddhism is about.
Dondrup Shugden
July 18, 2018
Robert Thurman is well publicised with his “close” association with the Dalai Lama. Reading about him here, I am surprised that he was or had been a monk. So he disrobed? Bad impression for me to note.
With all the publicity on the Dalai Lama, Thurman did well in leeching on HH to gain fortune and fame.
The least he can do is to abide by some commonly known Buddhist virtuous tenets such as “do not Kill”.
How could such opposite action of killing sentient beings as a recreation to assist in mental healing be acceptable to any normal thinking person. That is the reason why Menla is not successful.
By the way, as a buddhist isn’t promoting killing for financial gain a wrongful livelihood. Another non virtuous act.
Richard TamLak
July 18, 2018
Hello Robert Thurman, I am not an “expert” in Buddhism yet I know that killing is wrong. What more to say killing for recreation or pleasure? You, who has been promoting Buddhism, telling the whole world that Dalai Lama is your teacher, open a business called Menla Dewa Spa to spread Buddhism, instead of promoting charity work, helping the wild life, helping the fishes, you promoted flyfishing for recreation. Where is your Dharma knowledge? Did Dalai Lama teach you that? Or did the CTA teach you that? That’s not a way to promote your Dharma center, Bob.
Tianni
July 18, 2018
Why he is different form other Buddhist? Robert who previous is a monk and he likes to talk about compassionate to the public. And yet in the other hand he promote fly fishing, he would disturb Buddhist practitioners’ mind about “compassionate”. Is not only the meaning of compassionate but also the basic vows about “not killing”. In his talk he mentioned compassionate is “Sensitivities to another suffering”, so obviously he already against what he said. He is not fit to teach compassionate.
Vajra10
July 18, 2018
Using the name of Buddhism to gain fame, wealth & power, at the same time, putting down the name of Buddhism by introducing a wrong method a wrong method of recreation. That’s a lot of negative karma.
Samayakeeper
July 18, 2018
I am not shocked with what Robert Thurman says and does anymore. I can see who and what he is from his hateful speeches and inappropriate actions. All for the sake of politics and money. The Dalai Lama surely would know of what Thurman is doing, and it is perplexing why the Dalai Lama is condoning such actions. Not only that, why does the Dalai Lama keeps mum about lamas accused of sexual exploits but is very outspoken against Dorje Shugden?
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/crime-is-fine-as-long-as-you-are-endorsed-by-the-dalai-lama/
Wangel
July 18, 2018
Reading through this article immediatly raise up many question Robert Thurman qualification as Buddhism professor. Did he know in Buddhism, killing is first vows to be hold. Many buddhists practice compassion realising million and million of life to be free and not get kill. Here we see Robert Thurman is promoting fly fishsing at Menla Dawa Spa.How can Buddhism Professor make such mistake. This show how uncare and no messy to others sentient being. Such acting should stop killing activity just for fun.
Kikyoenrique
July 20, 2018
This is the case of Mr Robert Thurman a Professor of Buddhist study, was ordained by HH 14th Dalai Lama in 1965, the first American Buddhist monk of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition (in 1967, renounced his monk status) and a close friend of HH 14th Dalai Lama.
Robert Thurman is the business co-owner of Menla Dewa Spa in USA, built on an image of wellness and healing based on Tibetan Buddhist principles.
Here is the interesting part of his business, Menla Dewa Spa offered the activities such as Flyfishing, Horseback Riding and an alternative meal with organic chicken and fish.This clearly contradicted with what he is writing and practicing in Buddhism.
Let me reiterate what Buddhism teach us to:-
a) No Killing animals
b) Do no harms / cause animal suffering
Buddhists believe that every sentient beings have Buddha nature and they don’t deserve to be harmed or killed.
My sincere request to Mr Robert Thurman, please practice Buddhism correctly and as a Buddhist author, please do not make your reader or friends confused on what you are doing. Seriuosly, is unethical.
Tsultrim R.
July 20, 2018
If one cannot help at least do not do harm. Under the goodie goodie image of a meditation center and encourage people to do harm in behind. This is very confusing and disturbed to see and to know.
I would like to urge Menla Dewa Spa and Professor Robert Thurman please stop this cruel act.🙏🙏
Tsering
July 22, 2018
I really don’t understand why Robert Thurman would use his name for killing animals. I mean he has written books, is a professor and so on. He is friend with the Dalai Lama but he is promoting killing animals.
I don’t get this. Of course the CTA, who should protect HH the Dalai Lama has no comment and is in no way concerned for the Dalai Lama’s reputation. I mean, how can the Dalai Lama be associated with someone who promoted and makes his living with killing animals?
When is the CTA going to do its job?
Carla
July 24, 2018
How compassionate is Robert Thurman. First, he invited people to go to his spa to look for peace, to generate love and compassion. Then he offers another extended activity to the participants to go kill some fish!
I find it rather disturbing. When I was first introduced to Buddhism, I bought several Robert Thurman’s books. I thought he is very reputable because he is very close to Dalai Lama and he is a professor in Tibetan Buddhism.
Now I have lost my faith in him. He does the opposite to what he preaches. Is he after money or truly concerned others spiritual path? I am going to give away his books to the second-hand book store, not going to read them anymore. There are many good Buddhist teachers out there, Robert Thurman for sure is not one of them.
Tsewang
July 25, 2018
Tai Situpa’s Karmapa candidate’s escape to USA and continued stay in USA is a huge embarrassment to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile. The Karmapa said he is very sad with his situation in his recent video (youtu.be/AdI4DMRFkm4?hid).
Yonten N.
July 27, 2018
It’ shocking. One might argues that during Buddha’s time, there’s no vegetarian vows, Lord Buddha and many great and attained masters even eat meats! But too bad, we are not attained, we are not Buddha, we do not done any great deeds, why compare with Lord Buddha?
Even you are not a Buddhist, encouraging killing is totally wrong. Encouraging someone to kill to make profit even more wrong😔😢
Sherabz
August 2, 2018
Menla Dewa Spa is a spiritual place for people to seek for healing and wellness. Unfortunately, this place is having an animal activity i.e. fly fishing.
As we all know that Buddha teachings emphasized not to kill other lives but to cherish all life. Robert Thurman allowing this activity held in Menla Dewa Spa shows very clearly that Robert Thurman wants the business / profits is higher priority than not to kill other beings. Furthermore, Robert Thurman intentionally influence people to kill the fish for excitement is totally contradicted the purpose to setup this Menla for the wellness of others.
Thank you for sharing this important post so that we can make the right choice for the vacation without harming others.
Jushri
August 2, 2018
If Ol’ Bob has any shred of Buddhism in his mindstream, he would have not even endorsed and promoted fishing. Fishing = Killing. One of the basics of Buddhism. Clearly, it’s all about the money!
And I do agree with Shashi – Thurman feels immune from karma through his association with the Dalai Lama. Have you seen any of his videos? I have not seen any Buddhist teacher as arrogant as him. Check out his body language in his teachings. You’ll see why.
Yoezer
August 4, 2018
While the government of Nepal has framed a policy to tighten the noose around non-governmental organisations, they have welcomed 30 Chinese NGOs to enter the country. These NGOs will penetrate the country’s social sector at the grassroots level. This is the first time such a large number of Chinese NGOs have entered Nepal at one time. Nepal is increasingly open to Chinese influence, a sign that ties between both countries are strengthening, while India’s influence is being reduced. The time has passed for India’s monopoly to remain uninterrupted in Nepal as opportunities to engage with China are being welcomed.
Ayana
August 4, 2018
Why doesn’t the United States and its allies end Refugee Status for the useless Tibetans? They have been refugees for 60 years now and don’t tell me they still cannot get their lives back in order?
Tibetans really know how to put on a good show and use people, take their money and do nothing in return.
Dalai Lama wants Tibet to be part of China
August 7, 2018
Dalai Lama says returning to China is better for Tibetans-What do rangzen (Tibet Independence fighters) people fighting for Tibet’s freedom do now??? Have we wasted our time?
Suddenly the Dalai Lama keeps insisting he wants to be a part of China. How about all the tens of millions of dollars in money and so much time and resource poured into the Free Tibet movement for 57 years in exile. Is that all wasted? Is that all down the drain? How can the Dalai Lama turn around on us like that?
If Dalai Lama returns to Tibet/China, then he is telling the world China is good for Tibetans and we Tibetans want to be a part of China. Is that correct? So Dalai Lama is telling the world that Tibet is a part of China? After so many years of saying we want independence and our country was eaten and now Dalai Lama is sending what message to the world?
How will India feel after hosting the Dalai Lama for so many years? – This one minute video shows the Dalai Lama August 2018 saying he feels Tibet should be a part of China! -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xLKINuIrtE
Dalai Lama wants Tibet to be part of China
August 8, 2018
Dalai Lama says returning to China is better for Tibetans-What do rangzen (Tibet Independence fighters) people fighting for Tibet’s freedom do now??? Have we wasted our time?
Suddenly the Dalai Lama keeps insisting he wants to be a part of China. How about all the tens of millions of dollars in money and so much time and resource poured into the Free Tibet movement for 57 years in exile. Is that all wasted? Is that all down the drain? How can the Dalai Lama turn around on us like that?
If Dalai Lama returns to Tibet/China, then he is telling the world China is good for Tibetans and we Tibetans want to be a part of China. Is that correct? So Dalai Lama is telling the world that Tibet is a part of China? After so many years of saying we want independence and our country was eaten and now Dalai Lama is sending what message to the world?
How will India feel after hosting the Dalai Lama for so many years? – This one minute video shows the Dalai Lama August 2018 saying he feels Tibet should be a part of China!
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1533732491.mp4
Jampa Lhundup
August 8, 2018
The Nikkei Asian Review is a highly reputable news platform. They are not tabloid in any sense of the word. What they publish is reputable and thoroughly reliable. They mention clearly in an article published August 7, 2018 that the Dalai Lama has a terminal illness. The Prime Minister of India knowing this is now conciliatory towards China. He understands that the Dalai Lama cannot be used as a pawn in irritating China any further. Negotiations are progressing that after the passing of Dalai Lama, his government in-exile will close. The end.
Drolma
August 9, 2018
For people who are not familiar with the Vajrayana or Tibetan Buddhism, they will be fooled by Robert Thurman. Robert Thurman markets himself as the Dalai Lama’s man in the US, when people see he is so close to the Dalai Lama, and the Dalai Lama endorses him, naturally, they will think very highly of him. This is how he makes himself a professor and an expert in Tibetan Buddhism.
But for people who know about Tibetan Buddhism and his history, they will not think so highly of him. He was the first westerner to be ordained as a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and he was also the first westerner monk to disrobe and got married. How much attainment or realisation does he have if he cannot even keep his monk vows?
It is not hard to see everything he does is motivated by money. Look at how his Menla Dewa Spa promotes fly fishing to the participants of his program. Killing is never advocated in Buddhist doctrine, he should know that, why is he even promoting and encouraging it? He should promote vegetarianism, tolerance, and respect, not trying to attack Dorje Shugden followers all the time. If you want to be a hypocrite, he is the best teacher you can ever find.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 10, 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.
Vardaniya
August 12, 2018
The cracks in Tibetan society are starting to show, and it is now coming to the attention of local Indians who have all but identified the Tibetan leadership as the source of the divisions. According to this author, disunity amongst the Tibetans is now creating problems for Indian law enforcement agencies, and this disunity may culminate in young Tibetans holding silent grudges against their host country. It is incredible that after six decades of generosity from India, Indians are now facing the very real possibility Tibetans can be ungrateful towards India. The Tibetan leadership totally failed to impart positive values upon their exiled community, like gratitude for those kindest to them and the need to repay these kindnesses with real, tangible results. It’s also very unlikely that the Tibetan leadership will now start to do this, after six decades of failing to do so. Indians need to realise this, and see that there is no benefit for their nation to align themselves with the Tibetan leadership, and there never will be.
John S. Shilshi
Updated: August 7, 2018, 11:00 AM
India is home to the Dalai Lama and an estimated 120,000 Tibetan refugees. Though this humanitarian gesture on India’s part comes at the cost of risking New Delhi’s relations with China, India has never wavered in ensuring that Tibetans live with dignity and respect. Notified settlements across the country were made available so that they can live as independently as possible and practice Tibetan religion and culture. They are also allowed to establish centres of higher learning in Tibetan Buddhism. As a result, several reputed Buddhist institutes came up in Karnataka, and in the Indian Himalayan belt. In what may be termed as a gesture well reciprocated, and because of the respect and influence His Holiness the Dalai Lama commands, the Tibetan diaspora also lived as a peaceful community, rarely creating problems for India’s law enforcement agencies.
The situation, however, changed from 2000 onwards when unity amongst Tibetans suffered some setback due to developments like the Karmapa succession controversy and the controversy over worshiping of Dorje Shugden. In a unique case of politics getting the better of religion, two senior monks of the Karma kargyue sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Tai Situ Rinpoche and late Shamar Rinpoche, developed serious differences after the demise of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Karmapa, in 1981. This animosity ultimately led to emergence of two 17th Karmapa candidates in the early nineties. While Tai Situ Rinpoche identified and recognised UghyanThinley Dorje, late Shamar Rinpoche anointed Thinley Thaye Dorje as his Karmapa candidate. Enthronement of their respective protégés at the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the supreme seat of the Karma Kargue linage, being their primary objective, both started indulging in activities monks normally are expected to, and bitterness spewed against each other.
The bitter rivalry assumed a new dimension when UghyenThinley Dorje suddenly appeared in India in January 2000. The competition became fiercer and hectic political lobbying, never known in the history of Tibetan Buddhism on Indian soil, became common place. Apart from pulling strings at their disposal in Sikkim as well as in the power corridors of New Delhi, these senior monks spat against each other with allegations and counter allegations, widening the gaps between their supporters. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, choosing to favour one of the candidates—a decision many Tibet watchers felt was ill-timed—had also limited possible scope of rapprochement. Hence, the Karma Kargyue followers are now vertically divided, while the camps are dragged into a long drawn legal battle.
Another development that unfortunately split the Tibetans is the controversy over Shugden worshipping, which again is an internal matter of the Gelugpa sect, to which the Dalai Lama belongs. It erupted as a result of the Dalai Lama urging Tibetans to refrain from worshiping Dorje Shugden, a deity believed to be a protector, according to Tibetan legend. Shugden practitioners, who felt offended by the call, describe it as an attack on freedom of religion, a right, which Dalai Lama himself tirelessly fought for. On the other hand, die hard Dalai Lama followers perceived the questioning of the decision as one challenging the wisdom of the Dalai Lama and mounted massive pressure on Dorje Shugden practitioners to relent, with some even demolishing the statues of the deity. The rivalry ultimately led to split in two Gelug monasteries in Karnataka, and Serpom and Shar Garden monasteries in Bylakupe and Mundgod respectively came under the control of Shugden followers. The bitterness associated with the split is exemplified by the fact that till today, members of these monasteries are treated as some sort of outcasts by the others. Thus, for the first time, the Tibetan diaspora in India gave birth to sections opposed to the Dalai Lama, with spillover effects in Tibet and elsewhere.
For India, with a fragile internal security profile, a divided Tibetan population on its soil is not good news. It has several long-term implications. It is common knowledge that China considers Dalai Lama as a secessionist, one plotting to divide their country. The latter’s claim of “all that Tibetans were asking for, was a status of genuine autonomy within the Constitution of the Peoples’ Republic of China”, had fallen into deaf ears. China also considers him as someone who plays to the Indian tune to tickle China. Therefore, at a time when China has successfully shrunk the Dalai Lama’s space internationally, India continuing to extend the usual space for him is viewed as complicity. Sharp reaction from China when he was allowed to visit Arunachal Pradesh in April 2017, is a recent example. Such being the delicate nature of India-China relations on matters and issues concerning Tibetans, India can hardly afford to ignore the division within the diaspora. Past experience of dubious elements from Tibet having succeeded in infiltrating the Central Tibetan Administration, including the security wing, should be a warning.
It is also time India understands the reason behind Tibetans seeking Indian passports, despite an existing arrangement for issue of Identity Certificates, which is passport equivalent. Some had even successfully taken recourse to legal remedy on the issue, and left the government of India red-faced. These changing moods should not be viewed as desires by Tibetans to become Indian citizens. They are triggered by the pathetic state of affairs associated with issuing of Identity Certificates, where delays in most cases are anything between six months to one year. Early streamlining of the process will drastically reduce their desire to hold Indian passport. It will also remove the wrongly perceived notion among some educated Tibetan youth, that the cumbersome process was a ploy by India to confine them in this country. While India should not shy from requesting the Dalai Lama to use his good offices to end all differences within the community in the interest of India’s internal security, it will also be necessary to ensure that young Tibetans do not nurse a silent grudge against the very country they called their second home.
https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/tibetan-disunity-not-indias-interest
Ojas
August 14, 2018
Supreme Court of India JUSTICE Mr. MARKANDEY KATJU (RETD) writes that Tibet is much better under the Chinese than it was under the lamas who only wanted to make the populace slaves. It was feudal and it will never return to the backwardness again.
Zee News India
August 15, 2018
It is all over the Indian media how the Dalai Lama insulted Prime Minister Pandit Nehru. How dare the Dalai Lama insult the very person who allowed him and his people to come to India in 1959 and grow fat and build their golden temples TAX FREE.http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1534332541.mp4
Vardaniya
August 20, 2018
The cracks in Tibetan society are starting to show, and it is now coming to the attention of local Indians who have all but identified the Tibetan leadership as the source of the divisions. According to this author, disunity amongst the Tibetans is now creating problems for Indian law enforcement agencies, and this disunity may culminate in young Tibetans holding silent grudges against their host country. It is incredible that after six decades of generosity from India, Indians are now facing the very real possibility Tibetans can be ungrateful towards India. The Tibetan leadership totally failed to impart positive values upon their exiled community, like gratitude for those kindest to them and the need to repay these kindnesses with real, tangible results. It’s also very unlikely that the Tibetan leadership will now start to do this, after six decades of failing to do so. Indians need to realise this, and see that there is no benefit for their nation to align themselves with the Tibetan leadership, and there never will be.
Robin
August 21, 2018
I am so surprised to know Robert Thurman encourages people to kill for leisure after a meditation program. Doesn’t he think it is ironic? Someone is full of anger so they enroll in the meditation program trying to find peace and calm their mind. Immediately they have calmed their mind, they go to kill for leisure? It doesn’t make sense at all.
So what do they meditate in the program? To generate love, care, and compassion for all sentient beings? If that is the case, fly fishing activity is not aligned with the program objective, why do they even bother to promote it? Or the meditation program is to generate hatred and anger so the participant can go and kill after the program?
Robert Thurman has learned Buddhism for so many years, he should know that. I could probably conclude that academically he knows a lot about Buddhism but he is not a practitioner. Because if he is, he will not encourage killing.
Catherine McGoat
August 23, 2018
The true face of Dalai Lama’s man in the west is exposed now. It all makes sense now. He supposedly to be very learned and wise old Buddhist professor but his actions do not reflect that.
He is famous on the twitter on tweeting nasty and suppressive tweets against those who practiced Shugden ( a Buddhist protector ) which His Holiness had banned his practice 20years ago. I also understand that we practice religious freedom here in the US and nobody can tell us off for practicing a religion that we choose even if the majority of the society does not agree to it. Satanism and Wicca are just perfect examples of this. However, we still respect them. We give them the space to practice what they want and we do not go and tweet nasty things and say bad things to them to discourage them. What Robert Thurman is doing is very un-Buddhist like and very barbaric. No human rights or whatsoever.
I’m not surprised when he pulls off something like this. Promoting fishing at his spa for profits is just one of this way to get more money. His focus in life is to get fame and money. That’s all. That’s all he cared about. He does not care about Tibet or His Holiness Dalai Lama. He pretends to care because he needs the publicity and support to get his fame up and his books selling fast. It’s all a money game. It is impossible for him to not know that not killing is one of the vows in Buddhism 101. There is no excuse for him to even allow this on his property.
Karma will definitely catch up.
Sabrina
September 4, 2018
I just find it amazing and disgusting how Robert Thurman exploits his position and closeness with the Dalai Lama for personal gain. Instead of practicing the great compassionate teachings of the Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman chose to be a hypocrite, fly fishing is promoted as a “must do” sport. Riding on his fame from close association with the Dalai Lama and a leading Professor on Tibetan Buddhism, Robert Thurman beguiles innocent visitors into committing killing. Robert Thurman should know the karma of harming another being even if it was a fish. Still a life taken or harmed. It shows strongly he thinks he is above the law of Karma. No wonder Robert Thurman has no qualms about advocating wrongness as long as he benefits! Such a disappointment as I had such admiration for him and his name held such respect. Well! NOT ANYMORE!!!! Imagine what he says are all just B.S.
Shock
September 7, 2018
It is really incredible how such a close person to the Dalai Lama and author of Dharma books gets involved with killing and praises it publicly.
This Robert Thurman has really no shame and obviously is not interested in the Buddhist philosophy and therefore exploits it through his centre for his personal gain.
This shows who the CTA has as ‘friend’ and is it that they also are interested in money only!? So why are they banning a religious practice? Why are they banning and harming Dorje Shugden practitioners? And they protect someone who engaged in killing fishes and encourages others to kill them?????!!!!!
It is really shocking what the CTA does and who they associate with even back in the US.
SabrinaS
September 11, 2018
Oh wow! Robert Thurman is a professor of Tibetan Buddhism and leading expert in the West?? Really?? How many had he mislead in his life of teaching? So dangerous. Imagine the tremendous karma created not only for him but for those he misguided as they will have wrong views which may lead to wrong actions. Where does Buddhism connect with killing other than “NO KILLING”? Maybe Bob don’t understand and needs more explanation from the Dalai Lama. Generating income from his association with the Dalai Lama or supposedly “expertise” in Tibetan Buddhism is so, so wrong. I heard that he could give up his Guru (the Jewel of Jewels in his compassion to teach the precious Dharma) for another as he pleases. Totally no loyalty. For all his propaganda against Dorje Shugden, I heard that he begged his Guru for this practice? How fickle is that? One minute this and one minute that. Nothing than a self-serving degenerate. Probably will turn-coat on the Dalai Lama the minute he finds the Dalai Lama no longer useful for his advancement of money schemes or “prestige”. Utter Shame!
Lobsang Dhondup
September 16, 2018
It is bewildering that His Holiness the Dalai Lama mentioned that he had known of sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers since the 1990s, yet nothing was done to reprimand these Buddhist teachers. After all, such abuses inflict substantial damage to the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole as compared to smaller issues like Dorje Shugden.
The Central Tibetan Administration was fervent in executing the Dorje Shugden ban, launching a documentary film, books, expelling monks, splitting monasteries and denying access to hospitals, clinics, schools, retail shops and so forth down to even publishing a hit list of Shugden activists in order to encourage violence and lynch mob. Yet, the damage done to Tibetan Buddhism by these lamas seems to be ignored and hushed. Why is the Central Tibetan Administration not doing more to warn the public about these sex offenders like posting a warning list on their website?
Tashi Wangchuk
September 16, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the Tibetan spiritual leader revered by millions of Buddhists around the world should ensure that the Tibetan spiritual leaders do more to denounce sexual misconduct and abuse of Buddhist teachers as there are far-reaching repercussions and negative impact on Tibetan Buddhism.
While His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been consistent in reminding practitioners about not practising Dorje Shugden in lieu of the social and religious problems associated with it, despite the unsubstantiated claims or justifications, the indolence of the Central Tibetan Administration in taking action to pacify the public disgust against the misconduct of these Buddhist teachers is severely lacking and appalling. The bias in dealing with these issues related to religious matter has again proven the political nature and conspiracy behind the ban on Dorje Shugden.