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In December 2014, DorjeShugden.com had the opportunity to chat with the International Shugden Community’s (ISC) spokesperson, Kelsang Rabten. In this exclusive 3-part interview, Kelsang Rabten shares his thoughts on the progress the ISC has made in their efforts to bring down the ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice, and some of the challenges they have faced.
Kelsang Rabten and ISC obviously prefer to be doing something else other than the protests, but their compassion for the many Tibetans and non-Tibetans who suffer discrimination due to this Shugden ban has inspired them to speak up. The protests are huge logistical challenges, expensive and takes up much time, not to mention bearing much varied and uncomfortable weather conditions, travelling and basically having to speak up for something that no one else wishes to speak up for or even perhaps dared. ISC has a tremendous challenge of protesting against someone like the Dalai Lama, that many in the world think cannot be creating this religious discrimination. Protesting against a popular public figure that has the aura of holiness and sanctity is indeed not going to curry friends or put ISC in a favorable light. Yet Kelsang Rabten and the hundreds of ISC people continue to overcome enormous challenges to protest. They get nothing in return. No one is paying them. No perks or benefits of any kind but in fact ignored and even spat upon at times and insulted. So why do they continue? Because there is a ban. There is religious discrimination against Shugden practitioners within the Tibetan communities and practitioners around the world. They can see this and now more are seeing the truth. The ISC gets nothing for this but are peaceful and selfless activists for the ban against Shugden to stop. ISC wishes to see the pure lineage of Lama Tsongkapa and Trijang Rinpoche not trampled upon. Their reward is to release millions of Shugden practitioners who did not have a voice or choice from discrimination. No one should be discriminated against due to their religious orientation.
ISC’s approach may be direct and perhaps even offend some people but please realize, they have asked for dialogue for years with the Dalai Lama with no success. They have repeatedly asked for peaceful and positive dialogue to resolve this issue. But neither His Holiness the Dalai Lama nor his people have consented to dialogue. Even if they don’t consent to dialogue with ISC, dialogue with Tibetan Shugden leaders would be a good start, but nothing of the sort has happened. Exasperated, ISC has decided to invest enormous time and personal resources to protest peacefully to ask the Dalai Lama for dialogue and stop the discrimination. The Dalai Lama ironically and ISC are not deriving any benefits from the protests, but it must be done because the Dalai Lama must understand his talks against Shugden have hurt millions of people. The protests are not helping the Dalai Lama he must understand, but bringing his attention to something he perhaps does not wish to address. Dalai Lama may not think there is a ban and that he is only giving ‘advice’ against Shugden, but his words against Shugden are even more powerful than a ban. His ‘simple’ advice against Shugden carries heavy negative ramifications. Why should he ‘advise’ against Shugden which has been practised by millions for four hundred years? All lamas who practised Shugden have been wrong and only the Dalai Lama is right on this issue? Very illogical to say the least.
We were able to catch up with Kelsang Rabten who was extremely busy with the protests and we are grateful for his time to answer some of our questions. We at www.dorjeshugden.com appreciate anyone with courage enough to stand up and speak up for those without a voice. Whether we agree with the protests against the Dalai Lama or not is another issue. If we don’t agree with the protests, then suggest another way that will be effective to get the Dalai Lama’s attention to stop this ban? The protests are a result of exasperation as mentioned earlier. Kelsang Rabten and ISC as with any other genuine Dharma practitioners would rather use their time to study, meditate, teach, engage in retreats or do Dharma work that benefit the society. They have to take invaluable time away to protest due to their compassion. They are spat upon, hated and criticized heavily for speaking up against a ban. They are not against the Dalai Lama nor wish him ill, but simply to let him know this ban must stop. For this courage we all give them our deepest respects. If the Dalai Lama is going to create a ban that even affects citizens in democratic countries, then he has to expect that many will not go along with it and will speak up. People in these countries have grown up in the atmosphere of freedom and democracy and religious discrimination will not go down well with them. The Dalai Lama needs the support of the West, but he must understand that there is a price to pay for this support which is democracy and a democratic way of doing things. Autocracy is out. Religious discrimination is also a big no.
We thank Kelsang Rabten and all the compassionate people in ISC who speak up and protest peacefully. For our pure lineage to survive, your sincere deeds have made you heroes. We will overcome and we will end the ban. Thank you.
Admin
An Exclusive Interview with Kelsang Rabten – Part 2
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An Exclusive Interview with Kelsang Rabten – Part 3
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English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Ron Cook
February 10, 2015
A beautiful concise explanation of Dorje Shugden practitioners views and objectives. Now all the Dalai Lama has to do is to actually practice dharma instead of secular ‘ethics’ and the whole situation will be resolved.
Kelsang D
February 11, 2015
All Dojre Shugdhen people should join together to bring against ban down. We all believe in same thing and and same goal. Heppy to see Shugdehn people join together. Tibetans happy for this.
Tenzin K
February 11, 2015
Nice interview with Kelsang Rabten. There are so many Shugdenpas out there that would voice up about the ban. I like what he said that Dalai Lama has his freedom disagree with Shugden practice but Dalai Lama has to respect other believe and practice. The Dalai Lama may says that there is no ban but his statement about his disagreement on Shugden practice has given so much negative impact to the Shugdenpas. In fact there are so many evident about the ban and the violent act towards Shugdenpas but the Dalai Lama just keep silent and to me as good as allowing it to happen.
I’m so glad to see the ISC spokeperson share his view and experience with us and may more and more people share theirs and together we give the pressure to life the ban
Kelsang T
February 11, 2015
Thank you so much DorjeShugden.com for this interview and website. I think it is clear as Gen Rabten was saying that the web is unraveling and we are getting much closer to a resolution. Keep up the good work everyone!
Kagyupa
February 12, 2015
Fake story of karmapa. Kagyupa and nyingmapa hates shugden more then his holiness Dalai Lama. U know why if u go to any kagyupa and nyingmapa monastery u will see guru rinpoches statue or painted on a wall. And u Shugdenpa like to distroy guru statue.
arokhampa
February 12, 2015
It is really sad that most worshippers of Dogyal are from Kham.These people are fighting among themselves on this so called God,Spirit or Demon. The rest of Tibetans from other regions like Amdo and Autonomious Tibet are just watching this great show instead of solving this issue.
This is one of the darkest period in Tibetan history. This time the enemy is not coming from outside but from the very core of Tibet.
Nyingmapa
February 12, 2015
@Kagyupa,
Real Nyingma and Kagyu do not hate Dorje Shugden and do not hate anyone. They have compassion.
False Nyingma and false Kagyu hate others. Penor Rinpoche and Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche and Karmapa never say one bad word against Dorje Shugden. Don’t make us and Kagyus look bad.
Tenzing W.
February 12, 2015
I live in Dharamsala. There is so much politics and problems in Dharamsala created by our own CTA and people. We cannot blame our Tibetan problem on a god or protector but only ourselves. I am not for or against D. Shugden as I am not interested. I am interested to solve the Tibet issue. The Tibetan issue is ignored as CTA have no progress and it seems they are hiding the real issue behind Shugden and other religious problems.
There is even a faction of Tibetans in Dharamsla now who are advocating not having any religion. Religion made us weak and not take up arms. Religion made us soft. We should not have any religion or religious leaders running the country. This movement is becoming popular.
Sushilla Kapur
February 12, 2015
Dear Kagyupa,
I believe your statement is not very valid at all, at least not in my Buddhist centre. We have Guru Rinpoche’s statues, large ones in fact displayed in the centre and thangkas too. Our main Dharma protector in the centre is Dorje Shugden. We do not go around destroying Guru Rinpoche’s statues or images. You must have been grossly misinformed! Please beware of statements and speeches you issue to others as it constitutes breaking a vow when you make such negative statements of Shugden practitioners ! I hope you will make sincere efforts to learn the truth and speak with Wisdom ! OM MANI PADME HUM !
meruland19
February 12, 2015
I am glad I took the effort to listen to all 3 parts of Kelsang Rabten’s interviews. It cleared up a lot of doubts I had in my mind re the movement of the International Shugden Community (ISC). Honestly, before, I used to think that they were too noisy and potrayed more negativity then good. At some point they gave me the impression that they were having a jolly good time protesting on the streets !
Of course that was all in my ignorant mind.
ISC is left with very little choice when HHDL and the CTA ignores them and refuses forefront dialoque to solve the issues they created. At the same time the Tibetan Shugden community continued to be attacked and they were helpless if ISC do not come in to do something to stop the attacks. With ISC’s sincere efforts the media got interested to research and write on the story. With more international publicity the attacks slowed down. It gave hope to the Tibetan community to come out to voice their opinions as well, instead of hiding in fear, as it was traditionally not the correct culture to come out to say anything negative of the HHDL and the CTA. Their coming out is making peace with themselves, removing their fears, repairing their dignity and healing their pain. They are protesting peacefully and their sincere wish is to bring the Ban down. They have no intentions to fight the CTA or HHDL. MAY THE BAN QUICKLY COME DOWN TO REMOVE ALL THE PAINS AND SUFFERINGS !
Yeshe
February 12, 2015
Swiss Tibetans are the most strong Anti-Shugden society ever existed since 1998.They formed special powerful task force to collect Anti-Shugden signitures from its people from door to door in early 2008.
Those who refused to sign the document were at once hunted down as Anti-Dalai Lama faction. Many of Shugden followers were indirectly and directly osctirised from the Tibetan society and still these people are looked upon as contagious and labelled as being on Pro-Chinese payroll.
It has been for the last 18 years the biggest witch hunt in modern Swiss democratic society.
This outcast of these poor worshippers have nothing left for better life quality.
shugden neutral
February 13, 2015
Swiss Tibetans was the first who launched the Signature Collection from DOOR to DOOR in 1998 and they formed a special Task Force Group to hunt out the “Ghost Worshippers”. Even today many of these worshippers are facing tremendous segregation from the Swiss Tibetan society of 6500. They have been and still are treated as a contagious disease. These poor people could not and would not go to report to local police or to Swiss lawyers, because they do not disgrace the Tibetan name in Switzerland. Now the segregation and ostracising are so unbearable that many of these poor people or their youngsters want to report to the local Swiss authorities or Swiss lawyers.
Unless CTA begins very urgently and seriously to look in the persistent grave problem of these “Ghost Worshippers”, the image of Tibetan people and so called “Tibetan Buddhism” or ” Lama Buddhism” would go down in the 21.century history. This ” Scapegoat ” issue would cause unreparable damage at all levels of Tibetan Buddhism.
Drékangto
February 13, 2015
I am a Tibetan, born and grew up in Tibet. Like thousands of Tibetans, I left Tibet in early 1990s. Until then, I had never heard about this issue because there were no one in my area follow this tradition. After coming to exile, I heard about this controversial. Still, like the most of ordinary Tibetans, I did not care about this one way or other, it is not simply our issue. Even Dalai Lama said this devil, I did not pay attention. However, I saw some of these shugden followers are openingly collaborating and partnering with the Chinese government and saying and doing what exactly what is going in Tibet. Then, i simply stopped talking to these people. As far as I am concerned, these people are not Tibetans. Moreover, these people might be spying on us and report back to Chinese government in Tibet.
Do I have these rights?
Drékangto
February 13, 2015
I don’t know much about Buddhism. In the past, when Dalai Lama said this shugden was a devil, I did not believe him. How did he know? After seeing how these shugden followers are working with the China’s government, I believe that shugden is a devil. I think the most of Tibetans shares my views.
Drékangto
February 13, 2015
So, I am not angry with your protests. I think it is good things that you guys are protesting. Otherwise, we won’t know the nature of this devil. Shugden must be a devil. Otherwise, how can the followers of this devil are closely working with a devil government , which destroyed 1.2 million, six thousand monasteries in Tibet? Importantly, this devil government forced many Tibetans including Trijang Rinpoche, into exile. But now, the followers of this devil use similar languages and methods are undermining the issue of Tibet. So, I see this is the devil in real actions.
Thank you very much for protesting!
Drékangto
February 13, 2015
the Dalai Lama is almost 8o yrs old man. No matter what he did, for his life, he worked tirelessly the behalf of Tibetan people and Buddhism. It was him who lead to us to 21h century.
Now, I consider that the rid off this devil from Tibetan Buddhism is one of greatest achievements of his life. He shows us a real devil in action. Believe me, your guys protests and noisy convinced me shugden is a devil. If your guys did not protests, i would have never believed that shugden is a devil because I did not know. but I know!!!
Steve Lee
February 13, 2015
I cannot to dispute the importance of the protests. I am a Shugden practitioner but I am just wondering if a better slogan and theme should be used for the protest. Shouldn’t the slogan be something like this “Dalai Lama, Please Grant Us Dialogue.” Or “Dalai Lama, please bring down the Shugden ban.” I feel this would be more skillful in coming to dialogue because there is a purpose to the protest instead of what it sounds like, right now, which is to character assassinate the Dalai Lama. That’s really not what the spirit of these protests are for.
Drékangto
February 13, 2015
If you guys protested under the Tibetan national flag, I think many Tibetans, myself included who are too religious, may listen to you and may think that you guys may have some legitimate reasons. But after seeing some of you and some Tibetan shogen followers, who are collaborating and partnering with the China’s government, it is enough for me. I will never ever consider talking to you and consider them as Tibetans, even Dalai lama says so we won’t to him. it is our choice.
Drékangto
February 13, 2015
sorry, typo there. I am a Tibetan, but like the most of Tibetans, we do not know much about Buddhism and practice it. But we are tolerate all kinds of religious, including Muslim. In my home town, we have Bonpos, Muslim and other many religious sects, but we live in peace and no one is bothering anyone until the people’s liberation army came. It destroyed everything, including murdering Tibetans and muslim.
now your shugden followers use the similarly languages and some Tibetan shugden followers are actively collaborating and partnering with the devil’s government. It clearly shows shugden is a devil. Otherwise, how can the China’s government and shugden have similar languages? haha
Kris
February 14, 2015
Kelsang Rabten has been very active in the protest against religious persecution and frequently we can see him interview others during the protest, but this time we Kelsang Rabten is being interviewed
. I really like this interview because Kelsang Rabten speaks from his heart and I admire him for making a stand and speak up for many of those who cannot speak up for themselves.
May there are more people like Kelsang Rabten who would work for the benefit of others.
also devil jusified
February 14, 2015
According to the true Buddhist philosophy, any DEVILS have also good right to exist. They are to be tamed intelligently but not to be hated as many are doing through sheer ignorance. The Devil issue has no connection at all with China but it has been made politically in such a way that this Devil became the historically Scapegoat for to serve some peoples hidden agendas. The most common average or low intelligent citizins do not apprehend the whole complexity of the set up. But also there are many who know these hidden agendas but they do not want to take the risk of becoming outlawed citizins in their own small society.
The best solution in solving this Devil issue will be UME-LAM policy acceptance by China. So till this impossible policy mission happens, I am afraid that these poor Devil Worshippers have to suffer in their own small society.
Dan Bear
February 14, 2015
Drékangto, you write about peaceful coexistence with Bonpos, Muslims and people of all religion. And you are right and that should be the way. For over 300 years, Shugden practitioners coexisted with everyone as well. In fact they were not known as ‘Shugdenpas’ then, just Gelugpas or Buddhists. It is the illegal ban that has created this separation and gave rise to the term ‘Shugdenpas’. You don’t hear of any reports about Shugden practitioners creating problems and so it is not simply worshipping Dorje Shugden that is the problem.
The problem starts when the CTA starts interfering with the religious freedom of those who practice Shugden. You will find the same resistance if the Bonpos, Kagyus, Nyingmas, Sakyas, Muslims and Christians were banned from practicing their respective religion. It is not Shugden that is the problem, it is a government that does not hesitate to bully and infringe on the rights of its own citizens AND THEN use false reasons such as calling them all ‘Chinese agents’ to cover their oppression. Obviously it works because people like you who despise the Chinese people so much don’t see deeper than that.
Other than being told by the CTA that those practicing Shugden are ‘in collaboration’ with the Chinese, what other proofs do you have? The Tibetans lost their country in 1959. Why weren’t Shugden worshippers called Chinese spies prior to 1996? Why wait for almost 40 years? It doesn’t make sense.
The biggest damage the CTA and Dalai Lama did to the Tibetan people’s fight for independence was to create disunity amongst Tibetans themselves. Before the CTA banned Shugden, were there are disunity between those who worshipped Dorje Shugden and those who didn’t? No. Were those who practiced Dorje Shugden known as Chinese sympathisers? Again ‘No’. So how can they suddenly become spies and the enemy overnight?
Drékangto
February 14, 2015
Dan,
I don’t think you have ever been to Tibet and know much about Tibetan history. AS today, the Dalai lama gives all kinds of advices and suggestions, such as renunciation of violences and living holist lives etc, but , the people do not unnecessary follow them. When I head about shugden, I really did not know anything about this worship and I have no problems with any of these people whom practiced this practice like I don’t have problems with christians and muslim. Then, under the name of this devil, these people killed people. importantly, a lot of unsubstantiated lies spread around world, collaborating and partnering with the China’s government to undermine a whole ideas of Tibetan national hood. Then, it was enough for us and we don’t consider shugdenpa as Tibetans and considering shugden is a devil. Do we have this right?
Drékangto
February 14, 2015
Dan,
Don’t lie . As a Buddhist practice, it is not good to lie. In 2008, when the monastery was separated from each other in south, I was there to do some work. I witnessed some whole issues. It was a democratic referendum. I was proud of the moment. When there is a dispute, it should be separated like that. The government did not ban it. I saw it. They have their own monasteries , monks and Lamas. Once, I dated a girl whose father practiced this deity. He goes to these shugden monasteries to appropriate this devil, which I did not have any problems. So, talking about ban is absolutely lies. These lies makes me angry so I have developed ill feeling against these people and considering shugden is a devil.
To your question,
(In fact they were not known as ‘Shugdenpas’ then, just Gelugpas or Buddhists)
(1)It is not true. ‘Shugden has never been a main stream Gelupa deity and it always has been a controversial issue among Gelupa lamas. In fact, except, few Gelupa Lamas, the most Gelupa lamas had never ever practiced it.
(2)(er than being told by the CTA that those practicing Shugden are ‘in collaboration’ with the Chinese, what other proofs do you have?)
this is my problem. Do you speak and read Tibetan? If you do, to listen what these shugdenpas talk about China and Tibet, they are talking about how they are collaborating with the Chinese to undermine the ‘devil Dalai Lama” and it is their admission and don’t need any proof.
Drékangto
February 14, 2015
Dear devil jusified,
They are not suffering. They can go back to China as they do often do. The China’s government opens arms to welcome them. They live happily in the west as some of their expensive paid by the China’s government and your shugden pa followers. They have monasteries in south India which are supported by the Tibetan government and wealth-donoers.
We are suffering, we need to worry about the China’s government and now we have to worry about these shugdenpas, who are more likely informants to the China’s government.
Dan Bear
February 14, 2015
Drékangto makes it sound as if there is no persecution on Shugden worshippers. I have come across hundreds of people like that since I began studying the oppression on Shugden people. And so people like that don’t interest me as they do not have a genuine interest in the truth. For everyone else who wants to know the truth see here:
1. Dalai Lama encouraging expulsion of Shugden monks. The Dalai Lama’s word is law and so if he wanted Shugden people to be discriminated against, it becomes the law.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wxUTbsKo-0
2.http://www.westernshugdensociety.org/video/speeches-enforcing-the-ban/
3.http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/definitive-proof-of-the-ban-and-discrimination-against-dorje-shugde/
also devil justfied
February 15, 2015
@Drèkan
Sooner or later all Refugee Status holding Exile Tibetans have to go back or will be deported to China-Tibet from the day when Ume-Lam gets accepted by China. There will be no choice of not going back to China-Tibet which also applies to Holiness and CTA. But Exile-Tibetans who are holding foreign citizenships have free choice in returning in the “welcoming arm of China.”
If you guys with Refugee Status Paper wish to stay back in “Comfort Zone Countries”, then you can POLITICALLY postpone your further stay back by struggling for TIBET INDEPENDENCE, which I think is like working for NIRVANA.
At the end of all this Devil issue, all Pro or Anti-Devil Worshippers will finally land in the SAME Chinese POT.
jigme
February 16, 2015
I think the reason HH wants to ban this deity is the history behind it and that it represents sectarianism . However I do not believe they shoulld be vilified at all . Neither do I think HH should be called liar.
jigme
February 16, 2015
I have one question to ask you guys. Why didnt you have even a single tibetan flag during your demos. This shows whose side you are own. You had only shugden flags. Answer me this question
Rinchen
February 16, 2015
I am so thank you so much Dorjeshugden.com for sharing this really great interview with all of us here.
I truly understand how difficult it is for the ISC now. Whatever that they are doing is just so great. I admire what they are doing with their courage. Even when they are being put down by others.
Kelsang Rabten has answered and allowed me to understand more and clear some of the doubts that I have.
Thank you admin.
wangchuk
February 16, 2015
I think this continious protest by Dogyal group is religious issue and also human right issue,so tibetan flag doesn`t fit well with their outcry. There has never been any Political agenda involved in all those protests right from the beginning.
What they are carrying is Rewo-Gelukpa flags.
Under democratic law even sectarians have right to worship their Gods,Demons, Devils or Elemental Spirits.
Peter Stamford
February 16, 2015
Jigme,
Not everyone is interested in your Tibet issue. Don’t be so arrogant. Some just follow Buddhism, but do not need to be involved in Tibet and China and all that. You lost your country and it’s your own duty to get it back if you can. I suggest you better bite the dust and be friends with China. We have our own culture and country to follow.
Peter Stamford
February 16, 2015
Hey Dan Bear,
Thanks for posting the videos. The persecution against Shugden followers is definitely real. See how Dalai Lama speaks in the videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wxUTbsKo-0
The Dalai Lama in the videos is someone the West rarely sees being angry and kicking monks out of monasteries. Frightening really. This video should be copied and sent to all the Western politicians that Dalai Lama is chummy with.
thupten geleg
February 17, 2015
The whole tibetan internal “buddhism” attached with medievel myths or fairy tale has now become beyond control in modern global community. This mysterious problem is now very much active in western community and they are also suffering from the Ban
rinzin topgyal
February 19, 2015
It is soo sad and pity that various CTA`s ex-and present officials losing the reality and have to make mistaken and false statements to save their positions and profiles. Nowadays you can not just open your mouth and say something in public without facts and proofs.The people on streets are smarter than those on responsible chairs. We are living in the age of high tech and in resource full social surroundings.
Eli Buchen
February 28, 2015
I thank the Isc demonstrators for braving the snow and elements to protest, Its not so fun being out in the cold for hours and hours…
And all the people who put the demonstrations together, now talk after talk….
I sincerely thank Kelsang Rabten, for giving his time, to bringing to light the issue of the Dorje Shugden ban.. From the days of minimal coverage by Time.Com in 2008, it is almost covered by all major local newspapers wherever the demonstration takes place. That is progress.
antiShugdenFree
February 28, 2015
Soon Parliamentary Session of CTA in March will take place for 10 days and I hope in 2015 all unilaterally 46 members would request HH to lift the Ban forever on humanitarian ground
maria
March 6, 2015
Though Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist science can exit with modern quantum science on the same level,but the Tibetan people`s mental attitude is far behind of these. The average mental characters of these people are more at the level of 4-6 century civilisation. May be due to high deprivation of oxygen at the high altitude, their brains are not well developed and thus lack the logical common sense application and thus exposed to low adaptation ability to the modern civilisation
Bond
March 15, 2015
Thank you Kelsang Rabten for your courages, selfless & noble act in speaking up against the illegal ban on the Protector Dorje Shugden practice. It is the compassionate & tireless effort of people like yourself & the ISC that has inspired many like minded people like us here in dorjeshugden.com to dare to speak up about the ban, discrimination & the suffering to many practitioner because of the ban. Using our voice, social media platforms & DS.com, we will continue to voice up & share with the rest of the world about the ban until the time it is finally being lifted. We pray for your good health & continuos effort in working towards bringing down the ban for the benefits of millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world.
Thank you Admin for the wonderful updates.
susanna
March 18, 2015
70%Shugden followers are least interested in Tibetan politic.They are interested only in their daily practise of Buddhism. For their smooth undisturbed practise in their long Dharma path,they need Shugden as the Dharma protector.
This is their freedom to choice which Protector they wish to worship. No one can force or strongly advice against the wish of followers.
ReikaL
March 18, 2015
Thank you Kelsang Rabten for your in-depth interview which helps to clear some questions that many people have in their mind. It’s been very helpful. ISC has been a powerful force in this whole dorje shugden movement in lifting the ban. They are upfront and vocal yet in a polite way. I like it.
I like the fact that this website does not take sides. It covers everything and their views are neutral and based on logic and facts. Keep this good work going admin!
jamyang
March 21, 2015
Now we have 3 great divides in Exile Tibetan society; Rangzenwalas,Shugdenwalas and Umaewalas. What is the cause of this disunity after 55 years taking aids from foreign well wishers. They are just spoiled under the Wrong Policy of mixing Religion and Politic and not knowing the real situation surrounding their small world.
After all these years they have been pointing fingers to each other in their own yard and the external poisonous target CCP has been long forgotten or just one number to big for them.
The quick fix solution now is TO UNITE ALL AS ONE TIBETAN AND TO FACE THE EXTERNAL CHALLENGE WITHOUT THE HELP OF GODS, SPIRITS OR ELSE.
SabrinaS
June 16, 2016
It was a quite clear why the ISC is protesting more loudly now as previously their soft protest had not had any effect. I had thought that its was unseemly to protest against the Dalai Lama but as time goes on with more understanding and more proofs of sufferings surfacing, the direct results from his ban on Dorje Shugden, I agree that the public protest is very much needed to show the world what is really going on behind that veil of compassion.
What is scary is how powerful the Dalai Lama’s stature of holiness is within the Tibetan community and with so many minds easily swayed to believe in what he has to say. Reading on the comments from Drekangto, it is very clear that there are people who prefer to remain in ignorance and stick to what they think they know. It is people like this that had been brain washed into believing that all Shugden practitioners are pro-China. Its weird to put everyone into one basket of accusation when it is not true. The protest is against a ban on religious freedom and why is it that the CTA and followers keep bringing politics into it by inferring China is the cause of the ban. I mean what has China to do with the Tibetans practising Dorje Shugden or not.
The Dalai Lama had been so contradictory as his teachings certainly opposes the sufferings from the ban imposed on Dorje Shugden. The ban in itself is definitely against his teachings of compassion, equality, non-duality, etc. His constant denial in the western media goes to show how well a role he plays that he could say with a straight face that there is no ban or segregation nor sufferings of Shugden practitioners.
Kudos to Kelsan Rabten in playing such a big role in bring awareness of the ban and infringement on the freedom of religion to the Western media. May ISC continue to be active in bringing the illogical ban down.
Sierra
September 16, 2016
There are videos out there in the internet world showing the Dalai Lama encouraging the expulsion of monks from monasteries if they were to practice Dorje Shugden. There mere fact that there is an expulsion is evidence that there is segregation and discrimination. The Tibetan language may not have the word “ban” in their vocabulary but the act of segregation and discrimination itself is an act on the ban.
It takes great courage and a lot of soul searching studies to speak up like Kelsang Rabten. He has to have love and compassion in his heart to ask for freedom of religious practice and non-persecution by the followers of the Dalai Lama and the CTA.
Just as we have to speak up for the animals that have been abused, we have to speak up for those less fortunate who have no voice but suffer the persecution and abuse in their daily lives.
Thank you, Kelsang Rabten, for standing up for the downtrodden and persecuted.
Jam
October 13, 2017
This group are especially hired by Communist Chinese gig government. They receive enormous money to do all these unecesaary protest. It’s all based on lie and that’s why people they don’t trust them. You can’t challenge Dalai Lama. Whole world knew m, how Dalia Lama is…So shameless people…stop acting like a puppet..
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.