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 Tobi Lee
For better or for worse, the fastest way of spreading news today is via social media and like any other inanimate object, the results of social media use are dependent on the motivation of its users. Whether it is to shock and horrify, or to educate and raise awareness, social media has become many people’s preferred method of getting their news and spreading it. The downside however, is that oftentimes unsubstantiated rumors take a life of their own on social media, thanks to people’s propensity to spread news before checking facts.
One such unsubstantiated Facebook posting that has recently left users stunned was apparently made by a monk in Bhutan. The monk, Sonam Dorje of a Nyingma monastery in Pardo, Bhutan, claimed that his monastery’s sponsor, Benchen Khenpo, had brought some foreign pilgrims to visit. The group included Dechen Tulku, a Tibetan lama who is a well-known and outspoken Dorje Shugden practitioner.
The posting, which was accompanied by a letter, was full of contradictions. On the one hand, Sonam Dorje claimed that he did not know who Dechen Tulku was at the time of his visit. At the same time, he also stated in his posting that Dechen Tulku has a history of visiting other Bhutanese states and monasteries. Regardless, after learning about Dechen Tulku’s background, Sonam Dorje went on to post that,
Actually, Dorje Shugden’s practice was banned many years ago by our spiritual leaders. According to this, I am the holder of the pure Nyingma lineage and when I see Shugden practitioners, I really hate them. I believe that they are evil beings.
Dechen Tulku during his recent visit to Bhutan
Taking the visit as a negative sign, his monastery then requested their lamas for divination. The results said that Dechen Tulku’s visit had brought negative obstacles to the monastery and in order to purify and prevent these obstacles from manifesting, the monastery would have to and is now performing Damtsig Lu Lo Dang, Gekte, and Drolo gyi Tordak pujas.
Sonam Dorje ended his posting by calling upon all Bhutanese people to be careful of people who are Shugden practitioners.
What observers have found puzzling about this post is that even at first glance, there are strong reasons to believe that the letter and Facebook post are fake. This is because:
- The letter is not written on a monastery’s official letterhead, especially when it is supposed to be an official notice. This is against convention and in some cases, regulations.
- There is no mention of which monastery the letter is from and the pictures posted do not show any buildings. This is left as a mystery, making the accusations flimsy.
- The letter is written following the rules of Tibetan grammar. If it was written by a Bhutanese, the style of grammar would be Bhutanese and not Tibetan. Hence there is a very strong likelihood that the author of the letter is Tibetan.
- The notice is a picture, not a scan of the original document which would have provided for greater authenticity.
- There is no signature, only a name. If the issue was so important, how come the monastery refused to endorse it with their letterhead, or even the abbot’s signature and seal? This again does not lend any authenticity to the post’s claims.
Hence the letter could have been written by anyone but the question is, what was this person’s motivation to do so?
A Contentious Past
Gyalo Dhondup, the Dalai Lama’s brother, was involved in a plot to assassinate the Bhutanese king.
The Tibetans have a history of creating problems in peace-loving Bhutan. In 1974, Tibetan refugees were expelled from the country after the Bhutanese government uncovered a plot to assassinate the nation’s beloved king, just months before his coronation. 28 Tibetans were involved in this plot, including Gyalo Dhondup, the Dalai Lama’s brother who wanted to overthrow the Bhutanese government and install his brother as the ruler. Having just lost their own country, Tibet, Gyalo Dhondup must have been hankering after a return to any form of power.
As a result of his actions, Tibetans in Bhutan were given an ultimatum – become Bhutanese citizens, assimilate into the country and pledge loyalty to the government, or leave. Thousands of Tibetans chose to become Bhutanese citizens while others left to start new lives in India or in the West.
The assassination plot is not the first time that Tibetans have attempted to depose Bhutanese rulers in order to install a Tibetan one. These plots arise from Tibetan jealousy and covetousness for Bhutan’s stable governance and economy, a situation compounded by the world’s comparison of these two Buddhist governments; that is, people cannot help but wonder why Bhutan is able to remain democratic and independent, while Tibet was so swiftly taken over by China. What is lacking in the Tibetan leadership’s method of governance?
And so, this letter with its Tibetan syntax and grammatical rules has all of the hallmarks of a Tibetan leadership-led plot:
- Someone wishes to unsettle relations between the Bhutanese people and Dorje Shugden practitioners, by creating misunderstandings between the two groups. The open-minded Bhutanese have generally abstained from criticizing Dorje Shugden practitioners because, exposed to the workings of the modern world, theirs is a society that respects individual rights and freedoms.
- The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership based in Dharamsala, North India) wants to find another way to further vilify Dorje Shugden practitioners. Because their own reputation is in tatters and their name has lost credibility thanks to numerous ongoing scandals ranging from sexual harassment to embezzlement to money laundering, they are now making use of Bhutan’s good reputation to do so. That is, if Bhutan, who are good and democratic, hate Dorje Shugden practitioners, everyone should follow in their example and hate Shugden practitioners too.
- By intentionally pointing out that a Nyingma monastery issued this letter, the Tibetan author is driving a wedge between the Gelugs and Nyingmas, encouraging hostility between the two schools of practitioners.
- By dredging up the Dorje Shugden issue once again and reminding Nyingmas that they should exhibit animosity towards Gelugpas, perhaps it will distract the Tibetans and Bhutanese from the Tibetan leadership’s own failures and ongoing scandals
Of course, suspicious in all of this is the fact Sonam Dorje is a common name, and no monastery, abbot or monastic administration has come forward to take responsibility for the anonymous letter. After all, why would anyone wish to be identified with such a divisive letter, designed to encourage hatred? No real spiritual practitioner would ever pen such a letter which is clearly not in the spirit of Buddhism.
Nyingmas Do Not Hate
Kyabje Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche, a prominent master of the Nyingma tradition.
There are four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya. All four are equally valid paths to Enlightenment, and the relationship between the four schools may be likened to four different cars offering various routes to the same destination.
Nevertheless, in recent history, the CTA has made it their business to repeatedly remind Nyingma practitioners that they should hate Gelugpas and this latest Facebook posting is no different, with its ironic statement that “…I am the holder of the pure Nyingma lineage and when I see Shugden practitioners, I really hate them.”
Incredibly, the letter’s narrow-minded author does not realize what a contradiction it is to call himself a pure Nyingma practitioner yet project such extreme hatred towards millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners. The fact is that the Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya schools are all valid traditions of Buddhism, and real practitioners of any one of these schools will practice the Buddha’s teachings on compassion and wisdom. None of these schools espouse hate or schism, so why would a so-called “pure” Nyingma practitioner proudly declare how they “really hate” someone? No real Nyingma practitioner will hate anyone and similarly, no real Gelug practitioner will ever believe that a real Nyingma practitioner can hate anyone. How can the sun hate the moon, when both occupy the same sky?
Bhutan Guarantees Religious Freedom
Serious doubts have been cast over the authenticity of the letter but if it had indeed been written by someone in Bhutan, the fact it could even be published is a reflection of Bhutan’s democratic laws.
Bhutan’s Constitution, adopted in 2008, transformed the country from an absolute monarchy to a democratic constitutional monarchy. Article 7 of the Constitution establishes numerous rights, including “many of the basic human rights enshrined in international conventions”. This includes the freedom of thought and religion; and the freedom from discrimination on grounds of race, sex, language, religion, politics, or other status.
Hence, the divisive letter takes full advantage of Bhutan’s laws which protect freedom of speech and religion. Yet, it simultaneously infringes on the same laws which give Benchen Khenpo the right to invite and host whomever he wants.
Based on the law, how can any religious leader ban any religious practice? How can the so-called Nyingma author of the letter criticize Benchen Khenpo for his friendship with a Dorje Shugden practitioner? Regardless of whether Dechen Tulku practices Dorje Shugden or not, that is his faith and his personal choice is protected under Bhutanese law. His choice should not prevent two friends from meeting; is the author implying that Dechen Tulku must give up his Dorje Shugden practice just to visit beautiful Bhutan and his friend Benchen Khenpo? If that is the case, then the letter might as well ridiculously call for all tourists to renounce their religious practices which do not align to the author’s sensibilities.
Guilty by Association
Dechen Tulku in Bhutan
According to the letter, the author’s monastery was so easily affected by a simple visit from Dechen Tulku that pujas had to be performed to destroy the obstacles created by his visit. If a mere visit from a single Dorje Shugden practitioner can bring about such calamity, as the letter’s author falsely claims, then the situation can be read in a number of ways:
- The members of the author’s monastery are poor practitioners, and their refuge vows are so broken that they no longer enjoy the protection of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha).
- Benchen Khenpo is a much more powerful practitioner as he is not affected or tainted by his association and friendship with Dechen Tulku.
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are so powerful that a mere association or connection with them will taint everything that they touch. That is why Sonam Dorje took pains to mention that they destroyed the monetary contributions that Dechen Tulku made, because they came from a stalwart Dorje Shugden practitioner.
But if it is the case that any connection with a Dorje Shugden practitioner is a tainted one, why doesn’t the monastery – if it at all exists – return their patron Benchen Khenpo’s contributions as well? After all, according to the logic presented by Sonam Dorje, surely Benchen Khenpo and everything he owns would have also been tainted too, thanks to his being friends with Dechen Tulku?
It would have been easy to include the items offered by Benchen Khenpo in the three pujas that were performed to purify and prevent the obstacles that were supposedly brought about by the visit of Dechen Tulku. As a matter of fact, if these pujas are powerful enough to remove the supposed obstacles, why didn’t the monastery just direct them towards Dorje Shugden in order to subdue him? Why has no Nyingma lama conducted any of their powerful rituals, of which they have many, to successfully subdue Dorje Shugden so there is no longer a deity for anyone to make a connection with?
The Karmapa said Shugden should not be subdued
H.H. the 16th Karmapa
Aside from the fact Dorje Shugden is a Buddha with no karma to be harmed, it is possible that no Nyingma lama has ever attempted such a subjugation ritual because of the words of the previous 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, who counselled Nyingma practitioners to respect Dorje Shugden.
While on pilgrimage in Nepal, the 16th Karmapa graced the opening of Urgyen Rinpoche’s new Nyingma monastery. After being greeted by the Nepalese King and Queen, he entered the monastery and saw a statue of the Nyingma Protector Dorje Drolo stepping on Dorje Shugden. The original iconography of Dorje Drolo does not include Dorje Shugden at all, but the statue in the monastery had been modified to depict Dorje Shugden being pressed down under the statue’s feet.
After gazing at the statue for a while, the 16th Karmapa then pointed his finger towards the statue and asked,
Who made this? Where did this lineage come from? Who is the person who built this statue?
In a room full of abbots and monks, no one stepped forward. The 16th Karmapa then became visibly angry and demanded that the statue be removed. He then gave the following prediction to the Nyingmas at the monastery:
You will have no choice in the future but to practice this Protector; there will come a time when you need him.
There were many lamas present at that time who witnessed this event and this incident has also been recorded in Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche’s sungbum (collected works and writings).
Will the Real Author Please Stand Up?
If readers pause to consider the content of the letter and its context, they will quickly realize that there are many reasons to doubt its authenticity and question its authorship. It does not make sense that after six decades, Bhutanese Nyingma practitioners are suddenly wading into the Dorje Shugden controversy by issuing such a provocative letter. What would the Nyingma monastery – if it at all exists – gain from publishing such a letter?
To ascertain the real author of the letter, one should look to who stands to gain the most from its publication. The democratic Bhutanese leadership have no reason to publish the letter; their country is stable, their economy is growing, and they enjoy an immense amount of global publicity for their unique culture and traditions, as well as their environmental preservation efforts. Publishing such a letter only harms their image.
Similarly, the Nyingmas have no reason to publish such a letter especially when it paints them as intolerant, narrow-minded and superstitious. Likewise, the Gelugs will not benefit from a letter that encourages Nyingma hostility towards them.
The only people who stand to gain from the letter is the Tibetan leadership, who will benefit from a Bhutanese nation distracted and weakened by a perceived enemy to fight against. In fact, it seems extremely likely, given the Tibetan syntax of its composition, that the letter’s source lies within the Tibetan community. And for anyone to be so daring as to falsely pinpoint the letter to a Nyingma source, it can only be done with the approval of the very top i.e. the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala.
Until today, even with so much turmoil within their ranks, the Central Tibetan Administration still cannot resist creating trouble for Bhutan. The CTA is like a jealous, petty child in a playground, caught in an argument he cannot win and resorting to “If I can’t have it, you can’t have it either” tactics. Sadly but clearly, the Tibetan leadership’s mentality is that if Tibetans cannot enjoy peaceful independence, they will be damned if Bhutan is allowed to.
At the end of the day, the real victims here are the people – the Tibetan people who have once again been painted in a bad light by the actions of their inept, troublemaking leadership, and the Bhutanese people who have nothing to do with Tibetan politics but are now being exploited to direct anger and hostility at unsuspecting Dorje Shugden practitioners who just want to be left alone to practice in peace.
CTA, it is time to grow up and stop meddling in other people’s affairs. Your playground days are over.
English translation: We Bhutanese who are very peaceful… have spoken about important news. Please look carefully.
English translation: Recently, the Dorje Shugden practitioner Dechen Tulku visited Bhutan. We realised that this was a negative sign and we performed pujas. This is the notice that we performed the pujas.
The supposed official notice from the monastery. Click to enlarge
Translation of the notice:
Recently my friend and the monastery’s sponsor, Benchen Khenpo, brought foreigners to Bhutan for a pilgrimage. When they arrived at Pardo, Benchen Khenpo asked if he could visit my monasteries and that he had a friend who was a Gelug Tulku that would like to come along. We are grateful to Benchen Khenpo and so whoever comes along with him is welcomed and served tea. We did not know anything about this Gelug Tulku [Dechen Tulku] and did not ask about who he was. According to Bhutanese culture, he offered tea and 500 [Bhutanese Ngultrum] cash to each monk. He [Dechen Tulku] has a history of visiting other Bhutanese states and monasteries.
A few days later, after he went back, we realised his photos were all over social media. Then we understood he was a Dorje Shugden practitioner. Actually, Dorje Shugden’s practice was banned many years ago by our spiritual leaders. According to this, I am the holder of the pure Nyingma lineage and when I see Shugden practitioners, I really hate them. I believe that they are evil beings.
When such a situation happens in our Nyingma monastery [Dechen Tulku making offerings] this is a very negative sign. We requested our lamas for divination. His visit brought negative obstacles to the monastery. In order to purify and prevent the obstacles, we are now performing the Damtsig Lu Lo Dang, Gekte, and Drolo gyi Tordak pujas. We are doing these kinds of pujas now. The monetary offerings that Dechen Tulku made were put together with the “lu” torma, which was taken outside and thrown away as part of the ritual.
I want to apologize for not looking into this person [Dechen Tulku] and it is my mistake for not asking before he visited the monastery. I request that from today onwards, all Bhutanese people should be careful about people who are Shugden practitioners.
From the monastery’s lama, Sonam Dorje.
Sources of information on Benchen Khenpo:
- http://articles.latimes.com/1987-01-10/news/vw-3361_1_shangri-la
- http://articles.latimes.com/1999/dec/31/news/cl-49176
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Dondrup Shugden
May 7, 2018
It is very impressive to read the information in this website and the treachery that CTA will follow to bring further disunity and disharmony among Tibetans over the issue of Dorje Shugden.
In this post we read of a Nyingma, Sonam Dorje writing adversely about a Dorje Shugden Lama, Dechen Tulku. Of which there is no basis to believe what Sonam Dorje had written about Dechen Tulku’s visit to Bhutan. Reasons for Sonam Dorje’s negative motivations are well spelt out in this article.
It is also good to read another article in this website:
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/tai-situ-rinpoche-criticizes-sakya-and-gelug-lamas/
Here Tai Situ Rinpoche of Kagyu tradition is also speaking on the adverse view of Dorje Shugden.
Has the power of CTA waned so badly that they now need to enrol mouths of other traditions to speak against Dorje Shugden?
Why do Buddhist lamas resort to such tactics when Buddhism is about love and compassion and acceptance? Are power and money the rewards offered by CTA? Food for thoughts.
Anonymous
May 7, 2018
Yeshi Dorje
May 11, 2018
The Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) in Dharamsala refusing to accept Tibetan RCs (Registration Certificates) is yet another example of interference by the Central Tibetan Administration. Tibetans need this document to apply for an Indian passport. The CTA does not want to lose its grip on Tibetan refugees, as fewer refugees under their control means less foreign aid. That translates to less money that they can line their own pockets with.
This is not the first time that the CTA has created problems for Tibetans who wish to apply for Indian citizenship. Last July, the CTA ordered all its departments to stop issuing NOC (No Objection Certificates) to Tibetans applying for Indian passports, effectively sabotaging India’s goodwill of offering citizenship to eligible Tibetans. Perhaps that is a reason why many Tibetans are leaving their settlements in India, some of them even returning to Tibet! The CTA’s days as a ‘government’ are numbered, as more and more Tibetans apply for Indian citizenship or leave the CTA’s influence in India altogether.
phyag na rlangs pa
May 11, 2018
This article makes me so sad. We are all like the sun and moon occupying the same sky and we should learn to appreciate how vast the sky is. There is so much more we can occupy our minds with, but so many people choose to fill the sky with voluminous black clouds of hate. This is so very sad.
Anonymous
May 14, 2018
Sujatha
May 14, 2018
I am sure the divination was not done by an Enlightened being !! Enlightened beings would definitely not discriminate ! Enlightened beings will not say that a visit by a Dorje Shugden practitioner to a monastery creates negative obstacles !!
Khampa Bhu
May 14, 2018
The Dalai Lama Fears that He Might be Expelled from India!
The situation in India is not getting better for the Tibetan government in-exile or the Dalai Lama. Since India is getting closer to China, this trend will not slow down. Whether it is the current Prime Minister Modi, or the next Prime Minister of India making efforts to get close to China, it does not matter because the momentum has started. It benefits both India and China tremendously to be friendly and on good terms with each other. The parasite-like Tibetans leeching off India brings no benefit whatsoever to India and India realizes this sad fact finally. The Dalai Lama and his team in the Tibetan government in-exile have created so many problems externally for India and internally within the Tibetan communities, enough is enough. Tibetans like to use India to irk China. They have done that for decades and now it’s over. The Tibetans have been put in their place. The Indian government has been snubbing the Dalai Lama this year. The Dalai Lama and his cohorts have created tremendous problems, segregation, hatred, and violence towards thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners, now that karma is coming back. Too bad. The Tibetan leadership is losing support from India, in fact, Modi purposely humiliated the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama and cohorts have less power to create so much schism and trouble now. If you read this article carefully, the Dalai Lama himself has expressed concerns he might be kicked out of India. It has reached this level that the Dalai Lama is unsure of his footing in India now. Too bad.
Tsamduk
May 15, 2018
More and more Tibetans are expressing their dissatisfaction with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). This even extends to accusing them of ruling without legal precedence. This is a serious matter as their management of funds, administrative procedures, and even their governing constitution are all flawed. From the simple of choice of words used for the translation of a title, the CTA have exposed the way in which they run their “nationless government” in an egotistical and self-serving manner. The CTA simply do things based on their personal agendas and needs, using the title of democracy as a cover.
Clearly, there is no system of governance for what the CTA do and how they spend the money they gain from people sympathetic to the Tibetan plight, aid from their host and donors from around the world. Since law is at the core of any administration, their underhanded tactic of finding loopholes and bending the rules to suit their individual needs has failed the Tibetan people. As an ex-Senior Fellow of Harvard Law School and a self-proclaimed expert in international human rights law, Sangay deters people’s faith in the integrity of a leader and the legal system, instead of upholding the cause of justice. After the public apology during his swearing in ceremony in 2016 and his firm pledge not to repeat his misconduct, it looks like Sangay is at it again.
Jonson
May 15, 2018
Go to hell Dorjeshugden.
Mind your language and don’t try to create unnecessary problems or disharmony in their peaceful nation. BHUTAN is only GNH on this Earth.
Learn to respect the others and at least create happiness among yourselves..
very sad!!!!!
Drukpa
May 15, 2018
I would say Dorji Shugdhen is trying to create religious disharmony. If we look carefully, in one of the movie clips on the social media, the lama supposedly a Dorji Shugden follower is prostrating to the temple’s window away from any other objects of veneration clearly showing its discriminatory habit. Doji Shugdhen should avoid its discriminatory nature to rationalize its accusation of other’s being discriminatory. How would Dorji Shugdhen justify its followers and students not being allowed to receive teaching from another religious school, read and study other religious texts and philosophies? If Dorji Shugdhen is discriminatory even to other Buddhist schools, how much would it tolerate other religions? I am just wondering how other religious schools are discriminatory and Dorji Shudhen is not if it cannot even tolerate prostrating to the altar of a monastery which received him in a grand procession as a guest?😀
Anonymous
May 15, 2018
ttt
Anonymous
May 15, 2018
Bhutan is a very culturally, spiritually, politically strong INDEPENDENT Country. We do respect and help each other internally. We don’t need you to tell any history of our Country. We know very well. We don’t criticize other religions even if they do ours. And we defend our own as the best because that’s is ARROGANCE.
bambi
May 16, 2018
Yes.Social media disadvantage is when spread rumors by people who plan to confuse people who don’t think.People who read & believe everything.I believe this letter intention is to cause hatred & misunderstanding coz it look fake with no letterhead & sign.I also believe what writer write is true.No good CTA plan this & make disharmony for bhutan ppl.CTA always use cheap tactics.Paying ppl to write nonsense.I don’t understand how come monks do divination & cause discrimination.Sangha suppose to practice wisdom & compassion but I don’t see it is what they are doing.Then hold vows for what?To be afraid of a Buddha like DS.Then why practice when 3 jewels cannot protect.How come till today nobody can defeat DS if they say DS is evil.
Anonymous
May 16, 2018
Pema
May 16, 2018
This is just another story which has been invented to create schism. When does the CTA stop creating problems for themselves and everyone around them.
No name of any monastery and official letter, no picture of the location, no Bhutanese language, … so much trouble has been created by the CTA and this is just another episode. Wait, karma is waiting just around the corner…
Opposite to the CTA, Bhutan is a real democracy .. so just be ashamed of yourself CTA!
Samayakeeper
May 16, 2018
No true Buddhist practitioner would condemn any Buddhist lineage or other religions. Why would this so called ‘monk Sonam Dorje’ who claims he is a Nyingmapa hates Dorje Shugden so much? He did not give valid reasons and proof for his hatred, just his written words. Surely, this is to undermine the good works of Dorje Shugden practitioners especially those high lamas who work tirelessly to spread dharma as taught by Lama Tsongkhapa. Why would Sonam Dorje do this? Because he was paid – and the trail leads to the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala, India.
Belinda Mae
May 16, 2018
This is getting more and more ridiculous. Seriously, the CTA is behaving very childish and selfish to ruin Bhutan. By using dirty tactics to harm people, they will have to face the music themselves later on.
Tenzin K
May 16, 2018
Another way how CTA trying their best create hatred and schism. This time CTA is using Bhutanese and Ningma. At this crucial time CTA already lost their creditability and trust not only from other countrie’s but also their own people the Tibetans, instead doing their best to gain back the confident CTA would rather spend more money and effort to create such problem to divert their failure.
DS survivor
May 16, 2018
The hypocrite behind all this is none other than CTA. I truly don’t understand this group of uncivilized people! Why kept creating havoc misunderstanding, confusion among others countries affair? The very truth was, CTA aren’t FIT IN into Spiritual at all! Religion is spiritual affair among everybody. Religion teaches us to be kind, compassion, love, TOLERENCE and FORGIVENESS.
Why CTA go other way round? Why CTA endlessly create disharmony, hatred with others? Jealousy, hatred and anger are the most deadly poison in our mind. So, CTA is killing themselves faster than others. Keep it up CTA!!
Tianni
May 16, 2018
no surprise, more and more fake news will be out. This time is using Bhutanese, next may be Africa, haha… They just wanted to create schism and hatred for their own personal gain -”money”. No proof given, so all these just FAKE.
Brian
May 16, 2018
See through flaws. All one sided and no real proof to back it up. Wonder how will this even will earn trust from netizens. It takes quite a lot for people to really believe this. It must be CTA up on their sleeves again. CTA’s creditibility is down into the drain that whatever their leaders say will carry no weight hence they have to rely on some so called monk to utter lie and condemn another sect (which is so unBuddhist)
Richard TamLak
May 16, 2018
Whoa….. did I see someone is playing dirty from the article? CTA is on its dirty work again. I thought monks are not suppose to involve in politics and not suppose to talk bad about religious? And, we are not suppose to critic a monk also even he’s doing wrong. We leave that aside, but I think whatever this monk did or wrote, there must be someone behind him instructed him to do so, or he was “paid” to do so. Who else is the one who created this? Non other than CTA that I can think of. Other than karma, it’s still karma. Because we are living in samsara which is caused by karma. Maybe CTA doesn’t believe in karma, which is strange. But it is very clear that karma is there, and it will do its work.
Addan Rigg
May 16, 2018
The few points should be notice within this letter:
1. An official letter from a monastery, there is no letterhead from the monastery which made this letter unofficial
2. the letter was signed off by just a name, no official position or identity from which monastery, means anyone can just use a fake name to write a letter to spread rumours
3. a Sangha member does not and should not practice hatred, as in the Buddha’s teaching, hatred is one of our 3 poisons that bound us samsara and keep taking rebirth back to this sea of suffering again and again endlessly. since being ordained as a monk, motivation should be liberation hence, how can a monk hate someone? Even Buddha showed love to Devadatta who is so evil, who wanted to kill the Buddha and yet, over here we are learning Buddha’s teaching but we practice hate?
4. a monastery is a holy place, no one evil spirit can pollute the monastery, so how on earth a puja needed to be done after the visit of a Dorje Shugden practitioner?
5. Since Dalai Lama already said practicing Dorje Shugden is a personal choice, he does not stop people from practicing Dorje Shugden, then why is this ‘monk’ going against Dalai Lama’s instruction to spread hatred towards Dorje Shugden practitioners?
Basically, this letter is so wrong on so many levels, I really doubt what is the purpose of the person who wrote this letter… CTA again? how much harm has he created and still want to spilled it over to another country? CTA is getting really ridiculous. I would say CTA must go, or else, more people will suffer wherever CTA goes to.
Choyang Sumdrup
May 16, 2018
Don’t bring this fake news to destroy harmony of religion of Bhutan. If tibetan try to play politic to cause dishorny in Bhutan, we are not part of your plan.Please respect our country and democracy.
Nima Yoezer
May 17, 2018
I wish everyone PEACE & Happiness. The Righteousness reigns
Pema sholin
May 17, 2018
I dont deem to disrespect you but..you need to learn about bhutan…if you arent from here…dont pretend to be from here and create disharmony…we didn’t take away Tibet from you either…Respect….Namo Amitabha😍
Vajra10
May 17, 2018
H.H Dalai Lama said so
Phuntsho
May 19, 2018
I would rather see the articles of religions and the benefits of practicing Buddhism and even on the goodness of Dorji Shugdhen than frequently or mostly targeting CTA. It is more of finger pointing to CTA than teaching Buddhism. It paints a picture that there are internal turmoils within Tibetan communities, disharmony among the schools of Buddhism and politics than what a simple Buddhist would accept from such articles.
celia
May 21, 2018
I am all for the preference to read articles of religions and the benefits of practising Buddhism and even on the goodness of Dorje Shugden.
However, given that people are tainting and attempting to stamp off the Dorje Shugden practice with lies and politics, if the practitioners only keep quiet and allow those untruths to convolute the lineage, pretty soon there will be no pure lineage to speak about as the idea of Dorje Shugden being bad would be too entrenched.
How can any self-respecting Dorje Shugden practitioner ignore the derogatory unsubstantiated attacks on Dorje Shugden and allow for creation and snow-balling of the karmic cause for the “disappearance” of the lineage? Especially if one is supposed to be practising compassion.
On that note, consider that even with samsaric objects, if people already have a bad impression, it is usually extremely difficult to dissuade such bad impression by just repeating the goodness or benefits. A more effective way to deal with this would be to expose the credibility of the source information as well. In this case, it becomes necessary to present the true facts to the masses, which entails talking about the politics and dirty tricks employed by unscrupulous people against Dorje Shugden.
With respect, at the end of the day, it boils down to a choice between (i) stepping out of comfort zone to address uncomfortable topics to ensure the continuity of pure lineage of Dorje Shugden so that many can benefit now and in future or (ii) indulging in either own dualistic preferences or the prioritisation of self-interest over others.
Jing Jing
May 22, 2018
😆😆, Oh my Buddha. I cannot stop laughing after reading this comment. The person who wrote it obviously not a nice person. Yet he is lack of intelligent, hence need not talk about if he has wisdom. He is here to create hatred. i can see and understand more and more about why people until today still want to create schism among people with Dorje Shugden. if Dechen Rinpoche can bring bad luck to that monastery simply because he practices Dorje Shugden, then i have doubt to that monastery. Why is Dechen Rinpoche only bring bad luck to that particular monastery in Bhutan but no one else? Bhutan is a beautiful country who endorse religion freedom and peace. such as bad karma to collect by plotting this. I feel so sad for the person who written this. All his intention is to create disharmony among people to this beautiful of Bhutan. This is not allowed any more.
Eli Buchen
May 25, 2018
All four Tibetan traditions do not practice hate. We do not do spiritual practice to develop hate.
So this letter is definitely a fake letter, created to detstabilize the relationship between Gelug and Nyingma practitioners.
Anonymous
June 2, 2018
Sherabz
June 5, 2018
From this article, I came to know most of the practitioners in Bhutan hate Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why is it so?
I agree what has been highlighted by Tobi, “how can the sun hate the moon, when both occupy the same sky?” There are so many practices and religious in the world, why the Bhutanese only hate Dorje Shugden practitioners? What about those are worshipped local deities and etc? Furthermore, Bhutan practices democracy based on human rights since 2008, but Sonam Dorje or those who are hated Dorje Shugden practitioners such as CTA actually go against the regulations and create disharmony among the Bhutanese.
Secondly, everyone wishes happiness and peace. People hope to have a practice that bring peace and ultimate happiness. Dechen Tulku practices kindness and generosity to visit and make offerings to the monastery. This is very courageous and inspiring as he used this opportunity to collect merits which are really benefit to many others. It is illogical that his visit and offerings to the monastery was a negative sign and generated obstacles to the monastery as claimed by Sonam Dorje.
Sherabz
June 7, 2018
India tightening its grip on the Dalai Lama and Tibetans
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed Himachal police to tighten its grip on Tibetans meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Those Tibetans without paperwork showing individual identity and establishing legal credentials of their arrival in India will be turned away from seeing the religious leader. Undocumented Tibetans have been arriving in India, usually from Nepal, where they are aided by the Tibetan communities there. India seems to clamping down of Tibetan activity, from cancelling Thank You India events in Delhi and now restricting Tibetans from seeing the Dalai Lama. What else with the Indian government do next?
Thinley Woeser
June 8, 2018
Things are going to be very different for Tibetans in India from now on as Sino-Indian relations get warmer by the day. India has vowed to firmly adhere to the one-China policy and ensure Tibet-related issues are handled ‘properly’. This means India will tighten her grip on all Tibetan-related activities. So, the trouble-making Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) better watch themselves and not create further problems that may antagonise China. This is something India will no longer tolerate.
Peljor
June 14, 2018
Ex-Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche caught sleeping in a meeting
The representative of the Dalai Lama and former prime minister of the Tibetan government in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche during an important meeting having a nice sleep. The Tibetan government in-exile are run by people like this who have no control over their body and manners. They only stay awake in the meeting if there is FREE aid money coming their way to line their pockets. Shameful how Samdong Rinpoche is sleeping in the middle of a meeting and he represents the Tibetan government in-exile. This is why after 60 years Tibetan leaders have failed to get Tibet back but blame others for their failures. Shame!
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1528941530.mp4
Dorji Damdu
June 28, 2018
The Dalai Lama has emerged as the biggest talking point during informal Sino-Indian bilateral talks during 2018, such as the Wuhan Summit. This is all due to concerns related to the Dalai Lama’s health. China wants the Dalai Lama to travel to Tibet, knowing that it would most probably be a one-way ticket. India on the other hand initiated the talks, shunning the Dalai Lama and kowtowed to China’s rising power. Their aim was to strike a deal to resolve border issues.
Sonam Wangchuk
June 28, 2018
The Central Tibetan Administration may be delighted to read the Daily O’s claim that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the main subject of discussion during the recent informal summit in Wuhan between Prime Minister Modi of India and President Xi of China. However, it is said that the discussion was prompted by the Dalai Lama’s ailing health, and that China and India entered into discussion to avoid a sequel to the 73-day stand-off between two countries. Perhaps the dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representatives and Beijing may finally resume since Prime Minister Modi and President Xi are being brought into the picture.
Yangdon Dhondup
June 29, 2018
Here is another article that gives a bleak assessment of the situation regarding the Dalai Lama and of the Tibetan cause. It mentions clearly how Tibet is losing out to China and why. It also explains why Lobsang Sangay is feebly respected by the Tibetan diaspora. The articles does not foretell good news for the Tibetan diaspora, in fact it does not even give a possible outcome for what is going to happen to them. It shows how the Dalai Lama is losing influence over world leaders from countries like the Netherlands to the United States. Such articles are becoming increasingly common because they reflect the situation for the Tibetans in-exile and their leaders.
Tsering Drolhma
July 8, 2018
UNRULY TIBETANS FIGHTING AT DALAI LAMA BIRTHDAY PARTY AGAIN
July 2018-NYC- Tibetans fighting at some birthday celebratory event for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They set up a throne in the back, place Dalai Lama’s picture, and they fight, push, shout, scream at each other right in front of the throne of Dalai Lama and it’s filmed. That is the level of the Tibetans overall. Tibetans are not gentle, Buddhist, peace-loving, tolerant people as they portray to the world. They are rough, rude, hateful, vengeful, violent, regionalistic, narrow minded and will create trouble wherever they go. Very feudal. They always resort to vulgar words and violence. There are some moderate Tibetans, but on the whole they are very violent people who do not practice Buddhism. The average Tibetan know nothing of Buddhism and do not practice. Buddhism is just a meal ticket for them to get to another country. Their support of Dalai Lama is blind and only to be politically correct and they never practice what he teaches. Disgraceful to see a group of violent Tibetans fighting at a Dalai Lama birthday event. Shameful.
Tibetans are not welcomed wherever they go. Bhutanese kicked them out. Nepal hates Tibetans. India has no more use for the ‘refugee’ Tibetans and their temples made of gold. After 60 years they cannot get their own country back. What a bunch of losers and useless government people they have.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1531033672.mp4
Tsering Drolhma
July 14, 2018
The letter:
It is about the incident that happened at His Holiness’s birthday celebration in NYC recently July 6, 2018. Some members of Tibetan woman association approached to Parliamentarian Tenpa Yarphel during the ceremony and complained that his comments regarding Nechung was disrespect to the protector and His Holiness. They also said him that he made many Tibetan people sad with his comments. And told him not to do that again in the future. Then Dhondup Tseten stood up and shamelessly touched those women. That incident almost made the ceremony stopped. To keep maintaining the relationship between Tibetan Woman Association and Tibetan Parliament Representative, TWA are asking for a apology letter from Dhondup Tseten for touching their members.
(It is so sad that in the fake democracy of the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala you cannot say anything against a leader or criticize. Too bad)
Brian McDonough
July 8, 2018
Also, why is this guy Je khenpo of Bhutan so terribly FAT? Buddhists are supposed to eliminate desire. This guy can’t even eliminate his third dessert. His own body is an embarrassment to Buddhism. His own reveals his lie.
Carolle McAquire
July 11, 2018
Dalai Lama for debate, discussion to reconcile opposing viewpoints
The Dalai Lama always says we should have honest face to face discussion so misunderstandings are resolved especially on religious issues. Why does the Dalai Lama refuse to meet the Dorje Shugden followers who number in the hundreds of thousands to resolve the Dorje Shugden issue. Many letters have been submitted to request audience since 1996 and he and his office does not reply. Dalai Lama’s spirit of open debate and resolutions is not across the board. Too bad. Carolle McAquire
http://www.uniindia.com/dalai-lama-for-debate-discussion-to-reconcile-opposing-viewpoints/states/news/1285325.html
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 12, 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
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, 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 14, 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.
Tsewang
July 26, 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).
Roy
August 1, 2018
Thank you for the analysis done on this matter. I think we have enough evidence to believe this is another dirty tactic of CTA to put Dorje Shugden practitioners down and to create conflict between the Nyingma and the Gelug. CTA is really despicable, not only they want the Tibetans to hate Dorje Shugden practitioners, they want the Bhutanese to hate Dorje Shugden practitioners as well. The more conflicts there are, they fewer people will look at what CTA has not achieved over the years.
I hope Bhutanese will understand how they are being manipulated by CTA to get involved in this Dorje Shugden controversy. Bhutan is a very simple country, they are the happiest people in the world, they should remain as of how they are, don’t be used by the Tibetans to attack the innocents. First, the Tibetans try to assassinate the King, now they want Bhutanese to hate the Tibetans who practice Dorje Shugden. The Tibetans cannot be trusted.
Instead of putting the energy in giving the Tibetans in-exile a better future, the CTA is busy creating schisms, making sure their Tibet Cause does not succeed so that they can still live off India and ask money from the west. CTA is spending more money and effort in making sure Dorje Shugden is to be blamed for their failure in Tibet Cause and CTA can continue to benefit from the failure. By looking at what the CTA has been doing, they will make sure the Tibet Cause fails, only if the Tibet Cause fails, can they ask for more money from the west.
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