The young 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche
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: Solaray Kusco
High in the foothills of the Himalayas, from their base in Dharamsala, North India, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership in exile) has spent the last 60 years in a coordinated campaign to vilify and isolate China. It is becoming increasingly clear however, that their efforts have been in vain because the world today watches China’s rapid and ongoing transformation from a provincial backwater that was easy to malign for her Communist past, into a world superpower with sophisticated politics and great economic vigor.
As part of their campaign against China, the CTA has always promoted themselves and pre-1959 Tibet as some kind of idyllic Shangri-la. Thanks to canny marketing, for decades Tibet supporters were swept away by romantic notions of a land of snows filled with grand old lamas full of wisdom, and free from the shackles of capitalism, materialism and politics. While there is some element of truth to this, and many lamas were indeed great beings, pre-1959 Tibet was in fact a generally feudalistic society with deeply entrenched ideas about rank and servitude. If you were born a serf, it was because of your karma and you were bound to serve whoever was wealthier than you until your karma was exhausted. Unlike other more meritocratic societies, there was very little opportunity for upwards social mobility.
This form of ‘governance’ has been relocated into the Tibetan diaspora, where the nobility and aristocrats of pre-1959 Tibet continue to rule life in exile, and names such as ‘Aukatsang‘ and ‘Gyari’ fill the ranks of the leadership. One person still sits at the top, dictating all decisions and policies that the government, a mouthpiece for democracy, enforces on his behalf.
The Tibetans were able to do this in pre-1959 Tibet, as well as in exile, because of the global reputation of Vajrayana Buddhism and, more importantly, that of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Few in the world have achieved the universal rank and reputation of the Dalai Lama and until recently, he has enjoyed a warm welcome all over the world. Lauded as a paragon of compassion and all-knowing wisdom, the Dalai Lama and, by default, the CTA have had near-carte blanche to do as they pleased for the last 60 years. Political rivals, for example, could be disposed of as they pleased; in pre-1959 Tibet, this might have been through the use of poison or assassins but in the exiled community, it has taken on the more elegant, though no less violent, form of labelling someone a Chinese spy to upset the Tibetan people and “sic ‘em” on one another.
One other nation close to Tibet that has benefited from similar tropes is Bhutan, another Vajrayana Buddhist nation that continues to enjoy a very positive response globally. While most aspects of Bhutan are very admirable, including their carbon-negative status as well as emphasis on happiness and peace instead of materialism, there exists a side of Bhutan that not many know about.
Going back to the beginning
Modern-day Bhutan was founded by His Holiness Zhabdrung Rinpoche Ngawang Namgyal, an attained being who unified many warring fiefdoms into one kingdom. Not only was he an astute military strategist and shrewd statesman but he was also an accomplished meditator and a patron of arts, culture and Buddhism. As the secular leader of Bhutan, he sought to create a Bhutanese cultural identity that was distinctly different from the Tibetan one. He implemented a unique judicial and legal system in the country, splitting control of Bhutan between a religious leader (Je Khenpo) and a secular one (Druk Desai). It is a system of governance that persists until today, albeit in a modified form. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was also militarily-minded and established many dzongs (fortress monasteries) throughout Bhutan, including the strategically-located Simtokha Dzong close to Thimphu, the capital city. This allowed him to control traffic between Paro Valley in the west and Trongsa Valley in the east.
As a religious leader, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was open-minded and although his personal Drukpa Kagyu practice prevailed to become the state-sponsored faith, he allowed the Nyingmapas to continue undisturbed with their worship. He even hosted Jesuits in his court, unlike Tibet, which continued to remain closed off to foreigners and visitors for many more centuries.
This 252-year-old statue of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Rinpoche was acquired by The Asiatic Society in Kolkata in 1865. (Souce: dnaindia.com)
Due to his activities and deeds, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s image can be seen painted on walls in temples and homes all over the country. It is said that every Bhutanese home in the country has a statue of this great lama who did so much to bring Bhutan together, and give them the tools to grow and prosper for many more centuries.
One might think that such an illustrious lama would come back in his next life with no impediments for the continuance of his great works. Unfortunately, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s successors did not fare as well as their predecessor.
After his passing, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s subsequent incarnations returned as multiple emanations. Some say that the recognition of a body, speech and mind emanation of the Zhabdrung line was an intentional move on the part of the secular Bhutanese leadership, who conspired to recognize more than one reincarnation so that power could not be consolidated into one individual. And in addition to the recognition of more than one reincarnation, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s reincarnations also appear to have developed a habit of dying at a young age.
A summarized list of the demise of the Zhabdrung lineage goes as follows:
Click to enlarge
Rumors abound of the Bhutanese leadership’s role in all of these deaths; sources speak of a prophecy that foretells the demise of the Bhutanese monarchy should the Zhabdrung mind emanation ever be allowed to come of age, and gain all the resources that comes with a full and proper recognition.
This would certainly be a very good reason for the Bhutanese leaders to suppress the Zhabdrung incarnations and it appears that they have been successful with at least the body incarnation lineage which died out in the mid-18th century. The speech and mind emanations, on the other hand, continued well into the 20th century.
The Zhabdrung lineage in the 21st century
The 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche
Today, the 10th Zhabdrung mind emanation, Zhabdrung Rinpoche Jigdrel Ngawang Namgyal (Pema Namgyal), is rumored to reside in Kalimpong, away from the potential tumultuousness of a relationship with the country his previous incarnation established. That is not to say the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche has not tried to establish a relationship; the fact he attempted to do so actually led to a very eventful early life for the young reincarnation.
The 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche was born in 2003, two months before the 9th Zhabdrung Rinpoche passed away. Within Vajrayana Buddhism, this is not an unusual occurrence. For example, Guru Deva Rinpoche is known to have emanated in a similar way, ejecting his consciousness into his son before he passed away.
Under the guidance and recognition of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley, the young boy was recognized as the 10th Zhabdrung, the declaration taking place in Bodhgaya in 2004. The boy was just one year and four months old at the time. He and his supporters were subsequently invited to Bhutan to face Bhutan’s reincarnation committee, set up by the government to validate all tulku recognitions. Tulkus who are not recognized by this body may not promote themselves as reincarnations and are subject to a variety of institutionalized consequences. Supporters of such unapproved claimants also face harsh punishments.
Thus the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche travelled to Bhutan accompanied by his parents as well as the oracle who had recognized him. Upon their arrival in Thimphu, the oracle was promptly thrown in jail while the boy and his parents were held in a secret location. The 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche was then declared to be a fake and, instead of being released, he and his parents were put under house arrest. Their current whereabouts remain unknown; the last reports about them are in 2014, when they were said to have still been under house arrest. Nothing was published about their release, and reports about the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche residing in Kalimpong remain unconfirmed.
Similarities with China
It would be remiss if we failed to see how the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche Jigdrel Ngawang Namgyal’s situation closely mirrors that of China and the 11th Panchen Lama.
A relatively benign example is the fact the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche is rumored to have three emanations – a body, speech and mind incarnation. The same can be said of the 11th Panchen Lama – there is the Dalai Lama-recognized candidate and the China-backed Panchen Lama, whom the Dalai Lama has just confirmed is the “official Panchen Lama”.
Another example of the similarities is China’s “living Buddhas” list which is a record of all state-recognized tulkus throughout China and Tibet. Those who do not make it onto the list are subjected to greater levels of scrutiny and monitoring; in Bhutan, it appears that those who fail to meet the standards of the reincarnation committee face harsher consequences than mere scrutiny and monitoring.
(Left to right) The Panchen Lama candidate chosen by the Dalai Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and the Panchen Lama candidate recognised by China, Gyaincain Norbu.
Just like China, the Bhutanese leadership claim that this committee was set up to prevent abuse of the tulku system by charlatans but lamas like the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche, who is recognized by his followers but not by the committee, would argue that the committee and its lists are open to abuse, and can be employed to shut out potential political rivals or threats to the system.
Similarly, in the case of the candidates for the 11th Panchen Lama, when the Dalai Lama’s candidate was recognized and announced, the young boy disappeared just a few days later. The Tibetan leadership claim that the child has been under house arrest for the last 22 years. In the case of Bhutan, the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche was placed under house arrest upon his arrival in Bhutan from India 13 years ago, and his current whereabouts also remain unknown or otherwise unconfirmed.
And just like China, whose leadership has a reputation for making swift work of political rivals, it would appear that the Bhutanese leadership are also quick to dispatch of any potential threats to their position and power, the sudden and early demise of many Zhabdrung emanations being evidence of this. As Dr. Dhurba Rizal notes in his book The Royal Semi-Authoritarian Democracy of Bhutan, the Zhabdrung incarnations have “continued to appear and have to be dealt with poisonings, pushing off rooftops, and strangulations“, leading to subsequent incarnations taking rebirth further and further East, away from Bhutan.
Double standards from the CTA
What is intended here is not an indictment of Bhutan’s practices and policies but rather an examination of the CTA’s double standards, hypocrisy and obvious political machinations for their own benefit.
Ironically, everything that the CTA has accused China of, and could accuse Bhutan of, they are guilty of themselves. For example, China has a list of officially-recognized tulkus and Bhutan has their reincarnation committee. The Tibetan government have the exact same thing in the form of the Dalai Lama. Any reincarnations who do not meet with his approval are shunned and segregated by the community.
So while the CTA has been very vocal about China’s perceived foibles and attempts at regulating religious practices, they have on the other hand been silent on Bhutan’s actions. The CTA does not hesitate to claim that China is an authoritarian regime, yet they say nothing when witnessing similar practices in Bhutan. So why is it the CTA feels entitled to comment on one situation and not on the other? The answer lies, as always, in the CTA’s self-interests.
- It’s harder to criticize someone with a good global reputation. Bhutan has a better standing internationally while China does not. It is easier for the CTA to vilify China when everyone already dislikes China’s Communist background. It’s much harder for the CTA to vilify Bhutan when the world lauds Bhutan for approaching globalization without losing Bhutanese culture, tradition and flair. If the CTA were to criticize Bhutan for anything, it would only make them look like petty, jealous, playground rivals and the Tibetan leadership risks a public relations backlash.
- Relations between the Bhutanese and Tibetans are only just improving, and they have to make amends. After decades of attempts at destabilizing Bhutan, including an assassination attempt on the King in the 1970s, the CTA do not want to jeopardize their already-fragile relationship with Bhutan, who may be a potential ally in a world where the CTA are rapidly losing friends. In the Himalayan region especially, the CTA have few friendly faces to turn to – Bangladesh and Pakistan have no interest in them, Nepal has turned towards China and India is on her way to doing the same. All that remains is Bhutan, the last Vajrayana holdout that the CTA can hope for.
- They have nothing to gain. It is not necessary for the CTA to hold Bhutan to the same standards that they attempt to impose on China because they have nothing to gain in doing so. Hence, when they criticize China for getting involved in religious matters, it is not because the CTA is trying to defend any real principle or standard, for example that an atheist government should not be involved in religion. They criticize China purely because they have something to gain from doing so – it helps the Tibetans to continue looking like victims, thus making them appear to be deserving recipients of more free financial aid.
Conclusion
The ban on Dorje Shugden had many unintended consequences, one of which was the discovery and highlighting of many controversies within Vajrayana Buddhism. Because the discrimination against Dorje Shugden was at total odds with the world’s general view of Buddhism being tolerant and compassionate, this led people to investigate what else Vajrayana Buddhists have been doing which may not fit Buddhist stereotypes.
Hence everyone was able to witness the conflict within the Karma Kagyus due to the issue of the three Karmapas, caused by the CTA. They were also treated to a display of forceful conversions of Drukpa Kagyu monasteries, which the CTA stood by silently and watched. And everyone saw how the Jonangpas were discriminated within the Tibetan Parliament by being refused equal representation.
And of course, everyone has seen the ongoing decades-long persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners. When the CTA first banned the practice 20 years ago, one of the justifications they gave for the ban was the alleged link between Shugden practitioners and the Chinese leadership. According to the CTA, Shugden practitioners are bad, bad, bad because they are connected to the Chinese leadership who act in an authoritarian manner.
Yet, right at the CTA’s doorstep is the Bhutanese leadership acting in a similarly authoritarian manner but the CTA remains silent over this. Again, this is not an indictment of the way Bhutan chooses to operate. Every sovereign nation has a right to choose their form of governance; that is, Bhutan has a choice in how they wish to operate, and so does China.
But the fact is that every nation has events in their history that they are not proud of. For Bhutan, this may be their treatment of the incarnations of the Zhabdrung lineage. For China, it may be the way in which intellectuals were treated during the Cultural Revolution. For the US, it may be their involvement with issues like Guantanamo Bay which they have not been held accountable for, or the continued racism against African-Americans. Similarly, the 2.3 million people in the American prison system (as of 2017) would also argue that their government has acted in an authoritarian manner with regards to their incarceration.
What is clear is that the CTA’s choice of who they condemn is not based on any particular consistent principle, but on where they stand to gain the most. They do not condemn the US for their war crimes because the American government gives them US$17mil every year; they do not condemn Bhutan for their treatment of the 10th Zhabdrung Rinpoche because Bhutan may potentially be their last ally. But they DO condemn China because pitting themselves as the David against a super-powered Goliath has been a lucrative move for the last 60 years. But with China’s ascent to political and economic supremacy, how much longer can the CTA draw from this seemingly-unending well of money before it runs dry?
Addendum
News of the 10th Zhabdrung Jigdrel Ngawang Namgyal’s unwarranted house arrest even made headlines on the Buddhist Channel website. Click on the image below to read more.
Click to enlarge. (Source: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=40,3674,0,0,1,0#.WyK4w1Uzayp)
Sources:
- The Royal Semi-Authoritarian Democracy of Bhutan by Dr. Dhurba Rizal (July 2015; Lexington Books)
- http://www.bhutandnc.com/bhutantoday%20-May.htm
- http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=40,3674,0,0,1,0
- http://www.vijayvaani.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=2831
- http://www.ipajournal.com/2012/09/26/is-new-shabdrung-threat-to-bhutanese-royals/
- http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=42,1818,0,0,1,0#.Wt1z3dNubhM
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Tibetan
Tracy
July 24, 2018
The dark side of Bhutan Kingdom! A high lama is put under house arrest due to political reason. I don’t think a high lama like Zabdrung Rinpoche so power hungry that he would want to become the political head of Bhutan. As a living Buddha, his only mission is to spread Dharma and to benefit all sentient beings.
I think Bhutanese don’t have the karma to receive Dharma teachings from high lama like Zabdrung Rinpoche. What they have are some Sanghas who wan
The Je Khenpo of Bhutan issued an announcement to Bhutanese to tell them not to practice Dorje Shugden because Dorje Shugden is a demon. As a Je Khenpo, shouldn’t he investigate thoroughly before making a conclusion? Besides Dorje Shugden is a controversy among the Gelug lineage, it has got nothing to do with Drukpa Kagyu, why did he want to create disharmony? Why can’t he show his compassion as a Khenpo and ask his people don’t discriminate against others just because they have a different belief?
free
August 8, 2018
This article is quite true but not all of it is true. rinpoche is still in Bhutan and being taken care of his teachers. Doing his practice and not getting into political stress. His parents are not under house arrest.
Amanush Azad
June 3, 2021
Till date I was in doubt whether the information on this webpage are true or not. Now all my doubts are cleared becuase none of the information on the issue of 10th Shabdrung is true.
Bhutan a drukpa kagyu state has nothing to do with a ghost of gelug zombie. Je Khenpo issued the order that no one should appropriate Dolgyal Spirit because some Tibetan refugees are found to be appropriating it despite the advise of his holiness.
All the DS activities and accusations are based on ignorance and projections of ones own smallness.
Dolgyal worshippers has caused immense pains to all other buddhist sects. Their motto since the ancient times was ” Death to the non-believers” and it sitll is. It goes completely against the teaching of Buddha. Buddha never said- no enlightenment without dolgyal.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Tenzin Paljor
August 22, 2018
Why does the Bhutanese Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche behave and dress in a way that makes people lose faith in Buddhism and it’s teachers? ☹️
Maya
August 24, 2018
Although the Dalai Lama has offered an apology, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) still expressed their disappointment over his controversial comment on Nehru, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). Dalai Lama called Nehru self-centred.
The Congress said Dalai Lama being a foreigner should shun and refrain from interfering in the internal as well as external affairs of India.
Alex
August 27, 2018
Another news of another high lama is being suppressed in some ways to limit their fame and power so that they won’t overpower the government. This is very sad because this will limit what the high lama can do in this lifetime. Bhutan is being known as a democratic country and they are proud of it. I guess even a beautiful country like them will have a few skeletons in their closet.
CTA has been doing this since the 5th Dalai Lama and Gaden Podrang. They will eliminate whoever that can post a thread to His Holiness Dalai Lama’s power and influence. This is to make sure Dalai Lama stays in power and unchallenged. During the 5th Dalai Lama’s time, Tulku Dakpa Gyeltsen was the person that was eliminated by Dalai Lama’s people. TDG’s fame is the same as the 5ft Dalai Lama during that time and this is why he was murdered with a khata stuffed down his throat which resulted in the rise of Tulku Dakpa Gyeltsen as a Dharma Protector in the form of Dorje Shugden.
This is very sad to see how these compassionate high lamas are willing to go through all these hardship just to spread dharma. They have clairvoyance and im sure they already know what they will experience when they take this specific rebirth. They could have just chosen another easier rebirth far way from these politics and samsaric turmoils but they did not. This is the proof of their compassion.
Belinda Mae
August 30, 2018
One word to describe the CTA, CHEAPSKATE.
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.
Tashi Wangdi
September 20, 2018
When compared to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala that does not take any responsibility for their people like any proper government normally would, China is radically different and liberal for allowing sex abuse victims to express themselves on social media, despite its heavy censorship of the Internet.
For people like Luo Xixi, whose online postings on sex abuse has garnered millions of views on Chinese social media, said that the government is gradually opening up to the #MeToo movement, a hashtag catch-phrase movement that encourages and empowers sex abuse victims to stand up against sex abuse. In China, those who are convicted of sexual abuse are severely dealt with by the law and laid off from work. The Central Tibetan Administration should take heed of how such cases are dealt with in China and not allow sex abuse perpetrators, especially Tibetan lamas to continue committing their crimes unchecked and without consequence.
Thupten Lungrig
September 20, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speeches create headlines nowadays not because they bring wisdom and enlightening thoughts, but rather unpleasant feelings and disapprovals. From the sexist quip in 2015, his gaffe on Nehru, and his recent comment about Europe that caused him to be labelled as White Supremacist, there is now one more to add onto the list. In order to be congenial and consistent with the image of a Nobel Peace Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been issuing statements, especially about Islam, such as redefining Jihad as an interior struggle.
More and more people are expressing their doubt, with some even directly pointing out the mistakes in the Dalai Lama’s speech. This pattern of speech of strong statements that ends up in denial or apology seems consistent with his advice concerning the practice of Dorje Shugden. With the reasons behind the ban shifted so much over time, perhaps there really was never any validity behind the ban at all.
SabrinaS
September 25, 2018
I find this article a real eye opener. It gives further insight into the Bhutanese royalty and their worries of such a prophecy. It may be true that the people are easier swayed using religion and human laws as in the case of the Dalai Lama. His words or insinuations are taken as law immediately without consideration and anything otherwise is punishable as opposition. However if going by the 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s record, even after reconciliation of the many fiefdom into Bhutan, he had not put himself in ruling position but instead installed another. So what gave rise to this prophecy and also if the king was a good ruler, then why would there be any fear from the Zhabdrung incarnations?
CTA is very bias in their accusations and I really don’t think that Bhutan will stand with them anyway. All the history of animosity and somehow I don’t see Bhutanese respecting CTA for all their dirty politics and self interests. So too bad! CTA is on its own.
Gold Germany
September 28, 2018
Transcript: Dalai Lama is a Racist Nazi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_J_we4rp34
Dalai Lama is a piece of shit and a disgusting scumbag. It is, it is insane this cunt comes to Europe and tells us that we should not accept more refugees. Is he fucking retarded? It is amazing, like you don’t expect from people like, like those to be Nazis and to support all the right. It’s just insane a spiritual leader is a fucking Nazi dude. Europe needs more refugees, way more than we already have. Do you understand? And this degenerate says that we should send refugees back to where they came from and that we should help the countries of the refugees. His suggestions are, it’s obvious, like obviously we should help the countries of the, of the refugees, of their origin, but we should not send anyone back. We need more refugees in Europe and we should not deport anyone. We should give money to the refugees so they can stay in Europe and live here. What this Dalai Lama is suggesting is very inhumane, that’s all what I wanted to say. Hopefully in future we will get more migrants in Europe. Hopefully we can help more people. Let’s hope, let’s hope for the better.
Ngawang Norbu
October 1, 2018
The issue of Indian resentment towards the Tibetan refugees living on Indian soil is nothing new. The Tibetans have built comfortable lives for themselves in India and enjoy many privileges including exemption from paying tax. All of this is done without Tibetans showing genuine concern for the less fortunate in their host country.
The story below, which took place over 24 years ago, is a reflection of how fragile the Tibetan situation is in India. When a Tibetan murdered an Indian following a dispute, chaos ensued, and the Dalai Lama had to consider moving out of Dharamsala. Tensions between the Indian and Tibetan community have not normalised and remain high in the area even until today.
Pema Tashi
October 2, 2018
A Plot to Murder the Dalai Lama
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, South India, says there is a plot to murder the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
Link to the original video: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/fight-for-separate-lingayat-religion-karnataka-deputy-cm-alleges-murderous-plot-against-dalai-lama-more-1353993-2018-10-02
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1538514480.mp4
Namdrol
October 2, 2018
A plot to murder the Dalai Lama by a Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorist named Kausar was recently uncovered. Kausar planned to cause the Dalai Lama’s demise and blow up Buddhist temples in the Indian State of Karnataka as revenge for the attacks on Rohingya Muslims by some Buddhists in Myanmar.
Although Kausar’s plans are appalling and cannot be justified, it is a reminder that the Dalai Lama as a well-known Buddhist personality has a moral obligation to discourage religious persecution in any form. This even includes the discrimination experienced by Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Ngawang Jigme
October 2, 2018
The fact that rangzen activists aim for the goal of Tibetan independence is at odds with the Dalai Lama’s goal for Tibet’s autonomy. This is nothing new but it is an undeniable fact that the Dalai Lama is the most recognisable Tibetan face and representative for the Tibetan Cause. However, for years now there has been a deficit of trust between China and the Dalai Lama, which leaves the future of Tibetan refugees in limbo.
Recently, the Dalai Lama tried to take conciliatory steps towards China by acknowledging that development in the Tibet Autonomous Region is beneficial and expressed his desire to return to China. He even said he wants to go on pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, China’s most famous Buddhist site. The fact that the Rangzen people are still protesting against China however shows their true colour. They are against the Dalai Lama and want to make sure that his efforts to help Tibetans are unsuccessful.
Tashi Wangdi
October 4, 2018
Sex Predator in a Monk’s Robes?
In USA, Shambhala’s head Sakyong Mipham with his huge ceremonial hat, blue and gold brocades on a high throne. So much pomp and ceremony and underneath it all was a monster… a sexual predator in religious robes exploiting women and people. Such a disgusting shame. Sakyong should be barred from any activities in the future and go for counselling. He needs it badly. His father was Chogyam Trungpa who did the same thing to women and included drugs and orgies in the 70′s. Dalai Lama supports Sakyong Mipham as sizeable donations were given to the Dalai Lama’s office. Shame. We all thought Dalai Lama was clairvoyant and can see the hearts of sentient beings? Sakyong Mipham wears monk robes, shaves his head but has a wife and kids. Why keep wearing monk robes? He is wearing monk robes to look authentic as he is not authentic. Easier to swindle and fool people. Ontop of wearing robes, shaved head masquerading as a monk, has a wife and kids, he further attacks other women sexually. What kind of spiritual leader is this? Disgusting.
ashrao
November 1, 2018
China and India are becoming closer and in a recent meeting have agreed on some points. One of these points is that the Dalai Lama will not be allowed to carry out any more political activities against China on Indian soil. Being a spiritual leader, why is he so political anyway? The Indian leaders are slowly silencing the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans in India. The Dalai Lama and his Tibetan government in-exile regime had better make friends with China already. They should either go back to Tibet/China or become Indian citizens and remain silent.
Potter
November 8, 2018
A powerful article, a must-read! Makes people wonder, why are they so biased against China when all the other countries are doing exactly what China is doing but behind the facade of ‘democracy’? 👎
Dawa Tsering
November 25, 2018
“The bottom line is its not about whether anyone trusts or likes China but whether China can help these countries advance their own respective national interests. And the answer is yes. Correspondingly the question is whether any country can afford not to access China’s vast consumer market moving into the future. Not doing business is bad for local economies and no one will elect or re-elect a government that presides over a failing economy.”~NY Times
Thupten Lungrik
November 25, 2018
Everyone is expecting a communist China to fail. But in fact China is getting stronger and bigger and more powerful. China proves communism can work to the chagrin of ‘democratic’ countries such as the US who is jealous and threatened of their own status quo. China will continue to grow according to the New York Times.
Jampa Samten
November 27, 2018
India and China now pushing ahead with resolution of their border disputes. It looks like India is finally ready to officially drop the Tibet card.
Excerpt:
“India and China will have “early harvest” talks on their vexed border dispute as many agreements have been reached by both sides since their top leaders met in Wuhan, Beijing said on Monday”.
Sino-Indian ‘early harvest’ spells scorched earth for Tibetan dreams.
Too bad for Tibetans in India. Too bad for Tibetan leadership. Their karma coming back soon for all the harms they have done.
Sonam Wangdue
December 2, 2018
Dear Lobsang Sangye and Tibetan Govt in exile in Dharamsala,
How come after 60 years you are still not at the G20 meetings? How come you cannot get your country back? How come the world economies and power are shifting towards the East which is China? How come you cannot get Tibetan autonomy, or freedom or any leeway with China? How come your negotiations with China is a failure and you produced nothing?
You run around begging for FREE MONEY from Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada, Taiwan and US for 60 years now but no one in your refugee community has made it big or successful? Where did all the money go? In your pockets? How come all your Tibetans from India/Nepal are going back to Tibet or leaving to the west. How come your schools in India are empty? How come Dharamsala is emptying out?
How come you are getting weaker and more world governments are ignoring you? How come more are paying attention to China? Less governments are willing to pay attention to you and the Tibet cause? Where is all your rangzen groups? How come they are not effective? Maybe they are disillusioned with your corruption, lies and underhanded tactics and human rights abuses using religion to divide your own people?
What happened to you? Why are you and your community your Tibetan ‘parliament’ such losers and failures? How come you cannot achieve anything?
Are you going to continue to beg for more FREE MONEY to fund your trips, houses, children’s education, vacations, five star hotels, nice brocade chubas, expensive accessories, and properties. You know the ordinary Tibetan in India has gotten nothing in financial help of the hundreds of millions in aid for that last 60 years you Tibetan exiled government pocketed. Is that why your Tibetan people in India and Nepal are all leaving to back to Tibet and the west? You failed?
Your policies and work are not effective.
Too bad.
Thaimonk
December 3, 2018
TIBETANS SHOULD NOT HAVE MONKS AS LEADERS, THAT IS A BIG MISTAKE
Note what Namdol Lhagyari said is progressive and unlike the usual Tibetan rhetoric:
“The problem I see right now is how reliant we are on one individual,” Namdol Lhagyari, 32, the youngest member of Tibet’s exile parliament, said. “I understand that every freedom movement requires one role model, one leader, who would push everyone in the right direction, bring everyone to one goal. But he has reached an age where we will have to prepare ourselves for a post-Dalai Lama.”
Source: https://themediaproject.org/news/2018/12/3/as-the-dalai-lama-ages-tibetan-exiles-turn-to-secular-unity-over-sacred
👎
These are important points to remember:
1. Tibetan lamas and monks SHOULD not enter politics. They should not hold positions of power, leadership and political roles. It will demean the Dharma. They are not trained, nor qualified nor have the credentials to be in government. They also do much damage to religion as people start to respect them less. The lines between respecting them as spiritual beings (sangha) and speaking against them when they are in government and make wrong decisions become blurred.
2. Monks and nuns should not get involved with the running of the country but should stick to education. Giving good education to the public about ethics, morality and in some cases Buddhism. No one wants to see a political monk or nun. Because it contradicts the very reason they renounced the worldly life in order to enter a life of contemplation, learning, meditation and gaining enlightenment.
3. Look at other countries where Buddhism is strong where sangha is sangha and never get involved with government or being public officials. In Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka etc where there are tens of thousands of sangha, you don’t see them in the government at all. Local or national governments both do not have sangha. Even in Christian countries you don’t see priests in government. That is Tibet’s big mistake to place monks/high lamas in so many government positions and as public officials. Very dangerous for the country as it has proven with Tibet and Tibetans.
4. Monks, nuns and high lamas should do dharma practice, produce books, videos, give teachings, guide the public, do funerals, blessings, be a nurturer, study dharma, build real temples, keep existing temples spiritual, animal shelters, environmentalists, be mediators, help with orphanages, shelters, the poor, half way houses, poor houses, and basically all sorts of charities that benefit the mind and body of sentient beings that is NOT GOVERNMENT BASED. If sangha gives good education, they can produce kind and good leaders to run the country.
Tibetans should never never never allow Sangha (monks, nuns and spiritual personages) to be involved with government, politics and rule of law because it ends up in disaster. That is how Tibet lost it’s country and will never get it back. There are too many monks in the Tibetan Parliament and as leaders remember Samdhong Rinpoche as the prime minister of exiles. That was very bad. The King of Tibet currently is a monk. How does that look? Very political.
Tibet made that huge mistake and Tibet will never recover from it.
Forum: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6226.0
Thaimonk
December 5, 2018
Differences between Dalai Lama and CTA president put Tibetan politics in a tailspin
By Rajeev Sharma, November 27, 2018 SouthasianMonitor.com
Tibetan politics is in a tailspin as there are signs of serious differences between the 14th Dalai Lama, unquestionably the supreme and undisputed leader of the Tibetans, and Lobsang Sangay, president of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
The immediate provocation is the unceremonious cancellation of the 13th Religious Conference of the Schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Tradition, which was scheduled between November 29 and December 1 year in Dharamshala. Insiders have revealed that the conference was cancelled by Lobsang without consulting the Dalai Lama.
Even more intriguing is the timing of the move. Knowledgeable sources in the Tibetan establishment in India disclosed that Lobsang made the move while the Dalai Lama was travelling back from Japan, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it.
Tibetan politics is turning out to be a cloak-and-dagger mystery. According to sources, Lobsang waited until the Dalai Lama was on his way to the airport before ordering the Department of Religion and Culture to cancel the event. Interestingly, the cancellation of the conference is available by way of an announcement in English on the CTA website.
The CTA’s Department of Religion and Culture announced that owing to the sudden demise of the supreme head of the Nyingma tradition, Kathok Getse Rinpoche, who passed away this week in Nepal and in respecting the sentiments of the followers of Nyingma tradition, the 13th Religious Conference of the Schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Tradition was being indefinitely postponed.
The department cited that many lamas and representatives of the Nyingma tradition were unable to participate because of Rinpoche’s passing away.
On November 22, the CTA organised a prayer service to mourn the demise of Rinpoche, the 7th supreme head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche passed away following an accident on November 19 in Pharping, Nepal. He was 64.
Sources say the Dalai Lama is furious with Lobsang Sangay for trying to take credit for his negotiations with China about returning to Tibet.
Sangay claimed that the Dalai Lama has failed for 60 years in negotiations with China, but he has the power and ability to succeed. This is also an indication of how weak the Dalai Lama’s current position is. Sangay knows that the Dalai Lama has been negotiating with China about returning and he’s trying to position himself to take credit for it. Had this happened a few years ago the Dalai Lama would have had him removed, but since his cancer has become terminal, Sangay has been consolidating his position among the exiled community. He controls the press department of the Tibetan government-in-exile and has done so since he ousted Dicki Chhoyang.
For the record, the head of the department, which cancelled the conference, was appointed by Sangay.
By the time the Dalai Lama returned to India the event was cancelled and announcements were issued to the media while he was still in the flight, which would have prevented a confirmation with the Tibetan leader and nothing could have been done to stop it. The reason given for the cancellation was the death of a senior monk.
Sources said that the real reason for the CTA president to keep the Dalai Lama in the dark was because the latter would decide again whether to back the Karmapa as his successor. The Karmapa issue has been a major reason of discord between the Dalai Lama and the CTA president. Sources spoke about a telephonic conversation between the Dalai Lama and Sangay in this regard on November 22 when the former was in Japan.
During this conversation, furious arguments broke out between the two. The Dalai Lama is said to have “shouted” at Sangay, saying that the Karmapa wouldn’t be chosen and that he wouldn’t be dictated terms by anyone. In this conversation, the Dalai Lama used some expletives in Tibetan language which he did not expect Sangay to understand as the CTA president doesn’t know the language. However, a Lobsang aide is said to have translated what the Dalai Lama said.
This marks the most significant power play ever between the different factions within the Tibetan exile leadership. In other words, it’s now an all-out battle between the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay over the future of the exile community, which may worsen in the days to come.
(The writer is a columnist and strategic analyst who tweets @Kishkindha)
Source: http://southasianmonitor.com/2018/11/27/differences-between-dalai-lama-and-cta-president-put-tibetan-politics-in-a-tailspin/
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This interesting article has much food for thought:
1. Dalai Lama is angry and shouting expletives as Lobsang Sangay. Everyone knows the Dalai Lama is in full control. He claims he’s retired from politics but this is just to say what the west wants to hear so he can continue getting funding. It looks good to the west that he voluntarily gave up power and this makes him look progressive. But the Dalai Lama controls everything from behind and if you don’t agree with his decisions, he will be furious. Every Tibetan knows this well.
2. Interesting the article mentions Dalai Lama’s cancer is terminal. Everyone knew this but the Dalai Lama tries to cover this point up. Why? Who knows? What is the problem if people knows he has cancer. Tibetan govt tries to play it down.
3. Dalai Lama is angry as his successor will only be on his terms and no one else may dictate to him the terms as Lobsang Sangay tried to do so since it is not a democracy in practice. As all Tibetans know, the Dalai Lama is the Lama-King and he has full power and no one may contradict him. The face he shows the west (soft, friendly, diplomatic, easy-going, democratic) is all just for the west. The face Dalai Lama shows his Tibetan people (fierce, King, angersome, in charge and must be obeyed) is how it really is. Tibetans know the Dalai Lama controls everything and fully manages all politics. People are not happy with this but dare not speak up as there is no democracy.
Writer Rajeev Sharma is telling the situation like it really is. Finally the truth is coming out. Tibetan government in exile is a regime in every sense of the world that depends on all the hundreds of millions of free dollars it has been taking from the west, Japan, Australia and so on. It exists on free money. It is not a good government and has failed all negotiations with China due to the Tibetan leaders’ arrogance. Why arrogance? They think the world will force China to do what Tibetans leaders want and that they are so important on everyone’s agenda. Tibetans are on no one’s top agenda and China is an economic and military super power. China will not and will never kowtow to the Tibetan demands. It is the Tibetans who must beg China to be friends and get some concessions if at all possible. No country has ever dared stand up to USA, but China has and China is growing in power yearly. Everyone is scrambling to be China’s friend and saying goodbye to the Tibetan cause. Tibetan cause is the thing of the past and no economic benefits to support Tibetan cause.
These days every country votes in leaders that can better their country’s economy due to world recession. So every country has to do business and trade and aid with China to improve their economy. If you side with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan govt in exile in India, what do you get? Nothing! So leaders of every nation realize this now and will continue to make friends with China and say goodbye to the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama on a personal level may be rich, famous and sells a lot of books, but that won’t get Tibet back. That won’t win the support of leaders of the free world and other nations.
Mountains
December 25, 2018
“What does Empress Cixi and the 14th Dalai Lama have in common?”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has a ‘method’ in his very powerful rule.
The Dalai Lama will always say it is not up to him and it’s up to his people. He gave up his power to the people. But it is not really up to his people. His people and his parliament must seek his approval for all decisions or carry out his will. If you ask his people do they want a 15th Dalai Lama after him, they have to say yes as the current one (14th) is watching them and you have to be politically correct to say yes. Who dares to say no? You don’t want to displease him. Who dares to say we want genuine democratically elected leaders. Remember, none of the Dalai Lamas were ever democratically elected (the penny drops). All the Dalai Lamas sit in power on the throne till the end of their lives.
Also how the next Dalai Lama will be found, the current Dalai Lama will definitely set the mechanics during his lifetime and then sit back and say, it’s the people who wanted it this way. It’s the people who wanted another Dalai Lama. Of course they have to say that. If they say they don’t want another Dalai Lama after this one, it is tantamount to treason. It will offend the current Dalai Lama and make him upset. In order for a stateless leader like himself to continue to get millions in aid for free as he has been for 60 years, he must appear democratic. How will he get money to support his vast expenditure of his lama court, if no free donations in the millions are given? So behind the scenes, Dalai Lama pulls all the strings but in front, he acts like he is doesn’t know anything and not involved and his elected leaders are running the show. Nothing can be further from the truth. Just like the last empress Cixi of China. She always enthrones little emperors handpicked by her from her royal family and extended families and controlled their power and ruled China from behind them as their regent during their adolescence. As a woman she could not be the emperor or ruler of all China, so she was clever and put young kids she chose from her royal families on the throne to be their regent and controlled them from behind the gauze curtain. She was suppose to hand power back to them when they reach the age of maturity to rule China, but she never did. She would place the young emperors on the throne during audiences and sit behind a curtain and dictate orders to the ministers in the name of the emperor as their regent. So in this way, she was acting in the name of the emperor (regent), but actually she was in full control. When time came to hand power over to the emperor, she would have them poisoned. Then place another new very young emperor on the throne. She did this for decades.
She was literally the power behind the throne. She could not be dethroned in this way yet she held all power. Like this, she ruled China till her death which was near impossible for any woman to do so. The last emperor Puyi she placed on the throne before the kingdom fell to civil war. (This spawned the movie by director Bernardo Bertolucci “The Last Emperor” and the emperor was played by John Lone.) When time came for the maturing emperors to take actual power from Dowager Cixi during her regencies, she would have them poisoned and install another young emperor and continue to be the regent. In this way, she stayed in power. She didn’t get a chance to poison Puyi because she passed away (rode the dragon to heaven) during his adolescence.
The other only female ‘emperor’ in Chinese history is We Xetian (Empress Wu). Another very incredibly intelligent woman who beat the men around her at their own game and ruled China as a woman.
The Dalai Lama started the Dorje Shugden ban. It came from him and only he can start it. But now he says, it is not him. Because it would make him look bad if he admits the ban came from him which it did. He claims everyone in the monasteries took a vote and they voted Dorje Shugden out. Ignorant western audiences wouldn’t know any better. They had no choice but to vote Dorje Shugden out or the abbots of the monasteries would be dishonorably discharged by the Dalai Lama himself. He places them in power and he can remove them. All Abbots of the great Gelug Monasteries are chosen by the Dalai Lama himself. He can remove them from power anytime, therefore the abbots are frightened of the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama says he just advised to not practice Shugden, but his people, the abbots in charge, the monasteries took it to another step and outlawed Dorje Shugden and it’s the will of the people. So his ban on Shugden appears democratic. It was up to them. But it is not. He rules behind a ‘gauze’ curtain that he handed his power over to his personal ‘Puyi’ (Lobsang Sangay).
The Dalai Lama cannot show the world he is in full charge, because he would be seen as a dictator and therefore lose all free aid money which he and his government subsist on. Dalai Lama is behind the gauze and holds all power and Lobsang Sangay ‘Puyi’ is on the throne. Strangely similar to Empress Cixi. If Lobsang Sangay does things that does not please the Dalai Lama, you can bet your bottom dollar, he will be dethroned. Again, no Dalai Lama was ever democratically voted into a lifetime of power.
Photos-Empress Cixi of China.
Tsering Ngodup
December 29, 2018
‘Karmapa’ Ogyen Trinley no longer recognised by Indian govt as 17th Karmapa. Indian government is not happy he did not show respect to India for all the years he took refuge in India. He simply renounced his Indian protectorate papers and took a Dominican republic passport. He could have had the courtesy to let Indian government know beforehand and thank them.
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67279793.cms?&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Sonam Choephel
January 3, 2019
As the so-called spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama strictly abstains from drinking alcohol in accordance to traditional monastic codes. However, it has recently been reported that the religious leader owns his own vineyard in Switzerland! Apparently, various celebrities, including the likes of Roger Moore, Sepp Blatter and Zinedine Zidane have all made trips to the vineyard. What will people say when they find out that a Buddhist monk, who promotes abstinence from alcohol, owns a vineyard that produces wine for sale? This is certainly not going to sit well with his image of a religious leader and member of the Buddhist monastic order.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1546557813.mp4
Jampa Youdon
January 10, 2019
Dear Tibetan government-in-exile (Dharamsala),
Sharmapa Rinpoche is the highest authority in the Karma Kagyu after Karmapa. By age-old tradition, Sharmapa is the one that confirms the real incarnation of Karmapa. He recognized Thaye Dorje as the genuine Karmapa. But Dalai Lama endorsed Orgyen Trinley as the real Karmapa. Dalai Lama is a great lama but there has never been a tradition of him recognizing a Karmapa.
Both ‘Karmapas’ have big followings in and out of Tibet. So which one should we follow? We have to follow the genuine Karmapa. If we follow the fake one, we will get fake teachings, fake lineage and no results. We can even take rebirth in the lower realms.
Only the Tibetan leaders can tell us which is the real Karmapa. You have told us which one is the real Panchen Lama. We follow the Panchen of your choosing. Since then we have condemned China and condemned the fake Panchen Lama. Now it is the same situation with Karmapa. We have denounced the fake Karmapa and ask him to step down. He is destroying the Karma Kagyu Lineage.
This issue has torn the Karma Kagyu sect in half. There are many who are so confused and some gave up Tibetan Buddhism altogether because of this. We must solve the confusion. This does not look good for the Tibetan government in exile because the confusion was started by Tibetan government. I support Dalai Lama and Tibetan government. But so many of us need to know the real Karmapa already. Don’t remain silent. Which one is the real Karmapa.
Tibetan government in exile, you have created two Gelugs (Pro-Dorje Shugden and against), you have created two Panchen Rinpoches, two Karmapas, two Dromo Geshe Rinpoches, two Kundeling Rinpoches and so on. When are you going to solve all the confusion. You are destroying Tibetan Buddhism.
Bystander
April 11, 2019
Religions are supposed to help people to clear their mind, to get rid of greed, anger, and attachment, to be free from politics. However, looking at all these controversies, two Karmapas, two Panchen Lamas, two Dromo Geshe Rinpoches, two Kundeling Rinpoches, Dorje Shugden bans, etc, they are creating more confusion, disharmonies, separation, anger etc. to Buddhists, all these man-made politics are pushing people away from real Buddhism, nothing positive. Sad to see.