There is clear evidence that the ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice, which was decreed by the Dalai Lama, has created dissension and division within the Tibetan exile communities in India and abroad. Dorje Shugden practitioners are alternately labeled as spirit worshippers who are destroying Tibetan Buddhism from within, Chinese spies who are paid to create discontent within the Tibetan population, or samaya-breakers who are endangering the Dalai Lama’s life. The followers of the Dalai Lama ostracize Shugden practitioners as a direct result of these pronouncements.
Consequently, the ban has driven a deep wedge into the heart of Tibetan society, resulting in families broken, marriages estranged, and friendships lost. Nowhere is the effect of the ban felt and seen more clearly than in the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries of the Gelugpa lineage where, not only are spiritual friendships rent asunder but worst of all, the sacred bond between teacher and student is severed in the name of the ban. This has culminated in the great expulsion of Shugden-practicing monks from their mother monasteries, and in the formation of Shar Ganden and Serpom monasteries, which are home to well over 1,000 Shugden monks today.
For over 20 years, the Dalai Lama has taken an unyielding stance against Shugden Buddhists, openly and repeatedly condemning the practice, while his administration has passed parliamentary resolutions criminalizing the followers of this enlightened Buddhist deity. Yet, in spite of all the abuse and false accusations hurled against Dorje Shugden and his practitioners, the honest truth is that the Dalai Lama owes his fame, success, and even his life to Dorje Shugden and the attained masters that uphold this practice.
Here are just a few examples of why the Dalai Lama is indebted to the great Dorje Shugden Lamas, both past and present.
The Two Tutors
An official portrait of the Dalai Lama (center) and his two tutors, H.H. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (left) and H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (right)
When the 14th Dalai Lama came of age in Tibet, two imperial tutors or Yongzins were appointed for him. The imperial tutors are responsible for the Dalai Lama’s formal education in grammar, arithmetic, dialectics, philosophy, lamrim, and innumerable tantric initiations and oral transmissions. Given their great responsibility, it is to be expected that the Dalai Lama’s tutors would be carefully selected from among the most erudite masters of the time. Thus, it was no surprise that Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was chosen to be the Dalai Lama’s Senior Tutor and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the Junior Tutor.
The relationship between the Dalai Lama and his two extraordinary Gurus was very close and spanned over 30 years. So close was their relationship that Ling Rinpoche was likened to be the Dalai Lama’s father while Trijang Rinpoche was the mother. Ling Rinpoche was primarily occupied with giving teachings on Buddhist philosophy, while Trijang Rinpoche taught the Lamrim and the tantras. In fact, most of the Dalai Lama’s tantric initiations were received from Trijang Rinpoche.
Just like a mother nurtures her child, Trijang Rinpoche also taught the Dalai Lama everything else he needed to know for someone of his position. As the Dalai Lama’s birth father died young and his mother came from a peasant background, his parents could not teach him the proper behavior befitting such a high lama. So it was ultimately Trijang Rinpoche who taught the Dalai Lama “how to be a Dalai Lama” – how to speak, how to receive guests, noble manners, grooming, etc.
It is important to note that both tutors were very close students of Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche and received a great number of lineages, teachings and transmissions from him, including the practice of Dorje Shugden. Therefore, most of what the Dalai Lama teaches in his stadium-packed events today is largely due to the kindness of these brilliant masters: Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche AND Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche.
Yet, the Dalai Lama dishonors the kindness of his tutors and the lineage masters with every negative statement he makes against Dorje Shugden. Not only were Ling Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche staunch Dorje Shugden practitioners, they also proliferated Dorje Shugden’s practice. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche composed a fulfillment text propitiating Dorje Shugden, while Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche composed ‘Music Delighting An Ocean of Protectors‘, a commentary of Dagpo Rinpoche’s praise to Dorje Shugden called ‘Infinite Aeons’ and one of the most definitive and complete documents on Vajradhara Dorje Shugden, his nature, function and history.
During a 1997 teaching in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama did acknowledge how much he owes Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, saying:
I received immeasurable kindness from him even when I was very small. It may seem a little boastful if I give you this example of my strong faith in Trijang Rinpoche. I often dream of my lamas, and in one clear dream Kyabje Rinpoche was urinating and I was lapping it up. So, I do have single pointed faith in him.
Yet, in an interview with Swiss Public Television in 1998, the Dalai Lama vehemently said that his Gurus were wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden (watch the interview here). Once again, the Dalai Lama contradicts himself. If the Dalai Lama really means what he says about his faith in Trijang Rinpoche, why doesn’t he uphold ALL of the teachings and lineages that were bestowed upon him, including the practice of Dorje Shugden, as a sign of his devotion to his lamas?
The Western Buddhist Pioneers
Dalai Lama (centre), Geshe Rabten (left) and Gonsar Rinpoche (right) with members of Tashi Rabten during the Dalai Lama’s visit
Europe
The late Geshe Rabten was an erudite scholar, unexcelled debater and a fearless lama who first introduced the complete and complex teachings of Buddhism in the West. Appointed as the philosophical assistant to the Dalai Lama in 1964, Geshe Rabten moved to Switzerland in 1974 to serve as the Abbot of Rikon Monastery in Tosstal, at the Dalai Lama’s request. Combining his understanding of the Western mind and ideas with his ability to explain Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy with powerful clarity, Geshe Rabten quickly gained a following of Western students and became the pioneer in spreading Tibetan Buddhism in Western Europe.
Unknown to most, it was Geshe Rabten who arranged the Dalai Lama’s very first visit to Europe in 1973, inviting him for a tour that included Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, and UK. During this trip, the Dalai Lama gave a discourse on adaptating to Western civilization at Rikon Monastery, Switzerland, on 6 October 1973.
It was also Geshe Rabten who arranged the Dalai Lama’s very first public teaching in the West. Geshe-la invited the Dalai Lama to visit Tharpa Choeling in Mt Pelerin, Switzerland in the summer of 1979, and 900 members of the public attended these historical teachings.
Thus, it is partly due to the kindness of Geshe Rabten that the Dalai Lama has mastered all the Buddhist philosophy and dialectical lessons needed to become the great scholar, debater and master of Buddhism that he is today. And it is entirely due to the kindness of Geshe Rabten that many doors in the West were open to the Dalai Lama, resulting in his eventual fame as the figurehead of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dalai Lama gave a discourse on adaptating to Western civilization at Rikon Monastery, Switzerland, 6 October 1973
1979: His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives his first public teaching in the West in Tharpa Choeling, with B. Alan Wallace and Helmut Gassner translating
America
A rare portrait of Domo Geshe Rinpoche Ngawang Jigme
In 1971, Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche Ngawang Jigme established the Dungkar Gompa Society in the United States. A property was found in the Catskill Mountains of New York State and was named Gangjong Namgyal, the All Victorious Snow Land.
Then in the summer of 1981, Domo Geshe Rinpoche invited the Dalai Lama to visit the United States, hosting his stay at Gangjong Namgyal. After that initial visit, the fame and influence of the Dalai Lama grew exponentially and resulted in innumerable other trips to America. Thus, it was partly due to the kindness and foresight of Domo Geshe Rinpoche that the way was paved for the Dalai Lama’s eventual popularity in the USA.
Domo Geshe Rinpoche is yet another Dorje Shugden lama who was renowned for creating the Dungkar Oracle that took trance of Dorje Shugden, and for pacifying and installing Namkar Barzin within the entourage of Dorje Shugden.
Today, the Dalai Lama misuses his fame and reputation as a Tibetan Buddhist leader to mislead audiences worldwide into believing that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit and that his practice is harmful. Yet, Geshe Rabten, his heart disciple Gonsar Rinpoche and Domo Geshe Rinpoche are all renowned Dorje Shugden practitioners. Thus, when the Dalai Lama renounces Dorje Shugden’s practice, he is ‘biting the hands that fed him’ and that put him on the world stage.
The Dalai Lama’s fame, stature and success today is due to the kindness of Dorje Shugden lamas, past and present
The Life Savers
The 6th Panglung Kuten, Oracle to the Protector Dorje Shugden
The Dalai Lama also appears to have forgotten how Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden saved his life during the tumultuous period of Chinese military presence in Tibet. It was through Trijang Rinpoche’s counsel that special arrangements were made to seek the advice of Dorje Shugden via the Panglung oracle. And it was Dorje Shugden via this oracle who instructed the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet and revealed the escape route for the fleeing party.
It was also Dorje Shugden practitioners, in the form of the Chushi Gangdruk, who successfully escorted the Dalai Lama out of Tibet in 1959, at the cost of their lives. The Chushi Gangdruk was a society of Khampa warriors, formed at the advice of Dorje Shugden a few years prior. Through his omniscience, Dorje Shugden already knew in 1956 that the Dalai Lama would have to leave Tibet in 1959, and thus insisted the Chushi Gangdruk be formed to escort the Dalai Lama to safety.
Chushi Gangdruk Self Defence Forces, Lhokha, U-Tsang Province, 1958.
And on yet another occasion in December 1999, the Dalai Lama was on the road from Gaya in Bihar to Sarnath on the outskirts of Varanasi when he met with a car accident. The car that was carrying him exploded and would have killed the Dalai Lama had it not been for a bodyguard who pulled the dazed Dalai Lama out of the wreckage just in the nick of time. That bodyguard was in fact a student of Domo Geshe Rinpoche and a staunch Dorje Shugden practitioner.
Thus, on more than one occasion, the Dalai Lama owes his life to Dorje Shugden and his practitioners. Why then does the Dalai Lama say that Dorje Shugden’s practice endangers his life, since the reverse is clearly the case?
The Right Hand Man
Samdhong Rinpoche (right) followed Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s instructions to assist the Dalai Lama
The 5th Samdhong Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin was elected into power as the Kalon Tripa or Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in 2001. He played an instrumental role in implementing many of the Dalai Lama’s policies. However, before his appointment into office, Samdhong Rinpoche was another staunch Dorje Shugden practitioner, a direct student of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who was known to take Dorje Shugden pujas very seriously.
Originally, Trijang Rinpoche was grooming Samdhong Rinpoche as a teaching lama who would give initiations, oral transmissions, teachings and blessings. However, when Samdhong Rinpoche entered the political arena, his root teacher Trijang Rinpoche told him to go all the way and follow the Dalai Lama’s advice. During one of his last speeches in office, Samdhong Rinpoche revealed that he did not really care about Tibetan politics and only did his job because it was one of his Guru’s last instructions to him.
The Ingratitude?
It is apparent from these examples that the Dalai Lama has received tremendous benefits from Dorje Shugden and his practitioners. Almost everything the Dalai Lama has – his lineage, teachings, initiations, fame, success, popularity, manners, grooming, even his life – was received from or obtained through the efforts of Dorje Shugden practitioners. Unfortunately, the ban on Dorje Shugden has alienated and outcast the very same people who have brought so much benefit to the Dalai Lama and his works.
From a logical perspective, these examples illustrate how the Dalai Lama’s reasons for the Dorje Shugden ban are weak and hollow.
From a spiritual perspective, it is clear that Dorje Shugden’s practice only brings benefit to everyone that it touches.
And at the most basic level, it is clear that the Dalai Lama’s actions have the result of making him appear ungrateful. This is completely unbefitting of a world-renowned Buddhist master. After all, the virtue of gratitude should be inherent in such an illustrious master, spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. It would, therefore, very much behoove the Dalai Lama to address the Dorje Shugden issue to reconcile the differences between the pro- and anti-Shugden parties – if not for the sake of correcting a mistake, then at the very least, in remembrance of the kindness of these great Shugden High Lamas to whom the Dalai Lama is indebted.
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Daniel B
February 28, 2015
This is an important article for all to read, especially those who accuse Dorje Shugden practitioners of wanting to harm the Dalai Lama. In fact the opposite is true. Until the Dalai Lama imposed the ban, in fact Shugden lamas and people featured prominently in the Dalai Lama’s life.
For example, it was Taktra Rinpoche who raised the Dalai Lama. Taktra Rinpoche was one of the main disciples of Pabongka Rinpoche and was surely a Dorje Shugden lama. During the years leading to 1959, the Dalai Lama enrolled the services and advices of Zemey Rinpoche in the Dalai Lama’s precarious dealings with China. When the Dalai Lama made the perilous journey from Tibet to India, he was escorted by monks from Pomra Khangtsen who worshipped Dorje Shugden. Even in exile, it was the Dorje Shugden lama, Guru Deva Rinpoche who contributed tremendously to the Dalai Lama efforts to re-establish Tibetan Buddhism in exile.
And even now, despite the Dalai Lama’s great efforts to destroy their Protector, many Dorje Shugden monks remain defensive of the Dalai Lama and refuse to speak against him.
How can the Dalai Lama not remember all these great deeds?
Eli Buchen
March 1, 2015
I think this article is dedicated to all of dalai lama students and followers so that they know how greatness came about, and who are the people who supported such a greatness to manifest.
This article taken in the correct context will help mend the broken fences in the future… The dalai lama is great but he was also helped by the best gelug lamas in tibet.
Anonymous
March 1, 2015
While the evil dalie was indeed helped by unconceivably great beings, he was not able to not tame his own evil nature, whereby his fake “greatness” is just the Western mass-media projection given to him in capacity of Western-subservient local tyrant and anti-China posterboy.
Matibhadra
March 1, 2015
> The dalai lama is great but he was also helped by the best gelug lamas in tibet.
While the evil dalie was indeed helped by unconceivably great beings, he was not able to not tame his own evil nature, whereby his fake “greatness” is just the Western mass-media projection given to him in his capacity of Western-subservient local tyrant and anti-China posterboy.
Joo Won
March 1, 2015
I do not see this article as an article to put down HH Dalai Lama, instead an article to tell the fact and let more to see things clearer.
I read these facts with respect to all Shugden lamas, and HH Dalai Lama as well. When we read facts with emotion and wishing to choose stand, then we lose the insight.
May more receive the blessings & protection of Dorje Shugden.
Dhondup
March 1, 2015
This is great article…
Of all the contradtions that the Dalai Lama seems to be entangled, the biggest one seems to be the lie about Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden practioneers harming the the Dalai Lama`s life. The article clearly proves that the contrary is the true. Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden practioneers have always protected the Dalai Lama… it is high time to cal him the DaLie Lama !!!
Matibhadra
March 1, 2015
> I read these facts with respect to all Shugden lamas, and HH Dalai Lama
> as well.
While every sentient being, even the evilest criminal, deserves some kind of respect, insofar as we are all endowed with buddha-nature, offering to a ruthless criminal such as the evil dalie the same respect offered to a pure object of refuge only shows the weakness of one’s refuge in the Three Jewels.
> When we read facts with emotion and wishing to choose stand, then we lose the
> insight.
What “insight” do you still have to lose, having gone for refuge to such a criminal, thus relinquishing the Three Jewels?
Sofia Neumerkel
March 1, 2015
Many evidences have shown that Dorje Shugden practitioners are not evil. If DS practitioners want to harm HHDL, HH Ling Rinpoche or HH Trijang Rinpoche could have done it easily when they were assigned to be HHDL’s tutor. It was so much easier. If DS is a demon, what HHDL has learned since young was impure, so in another words HHDL followers are impure too! How can the downstream of a river be clean when the upstream is polluted?
Previous HH Trijang Rinpoche did say before there would be a time when HHDL and DS appear to be in conflict but in fact they are both promoting pure Dharma. There are many things we do not understand as we are not attained, but as long as we follow our gurus, practice respect, harmony and tolerance, we will be fine. That’s the basic teachings from the Buddha.
kelly
March 2, 2015
I think the Dalai Lama follower should read this article so that they know how how ungrateful their leader, not paying the kindness of those who who are helpful to you I don’t think this is a good behaviour that one high lama should have if he is highly attain.
sunitta
March 2, 2015
Facts remain facts. Great to read a comprehensive write up on how DS lamas played different roles that benefited the Dalai Lama.
Then comes the question of GRATITUDE ! HHDL should be grateful to those that helped or benefited him despite whatever “labels” he or others have placed on them. This is a core practice in Buddhism. Even if he chooses not to help them, don’t harm them !
Matibhadra
March 2, 2015
> Previous HH Trijang Rinpoche did say before there would be a time when HHDL
> and DS appear to be in conflict but in fact they are both promoting pure Dharma.
Promoting self-immolations, murderings, witch-hunts, collective hatred, bloody riots, and social rifts is never promoting pure Dharma. Therefore, Trijang Rinpoche necessarily meant something different.
> There are many things we do not understand as we are not attained,
Since now you recognize that you do not understand what Trijang Rinpoche meant, how could you so arrogantly claim that you know what he meant, and that he meant that all the above crimes are “pure Dharma”?
In fact, you are just looking for some divine justification for your own sociopathic, murderous beliefs, and therefore you claim that you perfectly understand Trijang Rinpoche, and that he supports your abhorrent views.
Madhouses are full of people who claim some divine insight justifying their violent actions and beliefs; you would not be the first.
> but as long as we follow our gurus, practice respect, harmony and tolerance,
> we will be fine. That’s the basic teachings from the Buddha.
Then, according to you, supporting the evil dalie’s violence as “pure Dharma” (as demonstrated by your divine insight into Trijang Rinpoche’s mind, of course) is the “basic teaching of the Buddha”, is it?
You are not following any guru; you are just following your own violent instincts, and trying to use the authority of Trijang Rinpoche (of whom you claim to be the privileged interpreter) in order to justify them.
Geshe Syletsen
March 3, 2015
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the most peaceful Buddha heart being! Dorje Shugden worship is angry and evil! After many years of study, it is true that I see the anger of DS and how the people who worship this dark and angry idol are also very mean and bitter beings! Shugden worship is called very bad and His Holiness is correct to say that if you wish to worship DS then he is not your Guru!! This is a simple choice! If you so desperate to worship DS, then no one prevents you!! Leave His Holiness alone and leave the peaceful followers of His Holiness alone!!! Your actions are very clear anger from so much evil Shugden worship! You are obsessed with Dalai Lama!! Do your practice well and we will do ours very well!!
Geshe Gyletsen
March 3, 2015
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the most peaceful Buddha heart being! Dorje Shugden worship is angry and evil! After many years of study, it is true that I see the anger of DS and how the people who worship this dark and angry idol are also very mean and bitter beings! Shugden worship is called very bad and His Holiness is correct to say that if you wish to worship DS then he is not your Guru!! This is a simple choice! If you so desperate to worship DS, then no one prevents you!! Leave His Holiness alone and leave the peaceful followers of His Holiness alone!!! Your actions are very clear anger from so much evil Shugden worship! You are obsessed with Dalai Lama!! Do your practice well and we will do ours very well!!
Geshe Syletsen
March 3, 2015
Dorje Shugden is very angry spirit!! It is not wise worship!! Most us with His Holiness as Guru wish to know what is your obsession with His Holiness? You spread many lies and this is not the path of Buddha! Most are American people with nothing better to do in their sad live. His Holiness says if you wish to worship Dorje Shugden, then this is your free will, but do not expect him to be your teacher. So, go find someone else and leave us alone! You cater to Chinese and Chinese invade our Tibet!! This will never be accepted from us! Free Tibet!!! Dorje Shugden is angry!! Let go of the past and move on! This is a very tired topic!
Geshe Syletsen
March 3, 2015
The obsession with His Holiness from you is so sad. Even NKT founders say that they are not to have anything to do with you or your organization. It is sad that you give innocent people very bad advice and information. It would be better if you find something productive to do with your time such as helping the needy. Your collective issues are nothing more that the bitterness of a jaded and self important group.
Anonymous
March 4, 2015
> [...] I see the anger of DS and how the people who worship this dark and angry
> idol [...]
Dorje Shugden is as much of an “idol” as any other Buddhist Tantric deity, many of which are also dark and angry.
Therefore, you have just shown your own hatred against Buddhist Tantric deities in general. Are you a Muslim?
Jason Statham
March 5, 2015
Up until now, I still do not understand why the Dalai Lama said that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit. I’ve been practicing for many years now, and Dorje Shugden has always been there to help me. Why would the Dalai Lama say that practicing Dorje Shugden will shorten his live span, practicing Dorje Shugden has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama and besides Dalai Lama is Chenrizig himself. And most of Dalai Lama’s Gurus are very well known DS practitioners. I wonder what costs the Dalai Lama to go against Dorje Shugden? Dorje Shugden even took trance and saved the Dalai Lama’s life twice. What is Dalai Lama’s reason for banning the practices of Dorje Shugden?
Sandra
March 7, 2015
As told in the above post clearly stated Dalai Lama is really devoted to his guru Trijang Rinpoche. I personally feel that very hard for me to accept the facts that now His Holiness is now against his guru practice and imposing the ban on Shugden practice. However I will strictly follow my own guru practice and never deviate from it no matter whose comment in it. I hope the ban will soon be lifted and people need not confuse about it anymore.
cassie
March 9, 2015
This is a great article!
So many points in this article which clearly shows how Dorje Shugden have helped HHDL.
And the part that makes me confused….
Why is HHDL going against what His great gurus have passed on to Him. After 30 over years learning from some of the greatest masters, HHDL go against what they taught and say Dorje Shugden is wrong?? To me, then all they have taught HHDL should be ‘wrong’ then! Why don’t HHDL return all that He was taught and while at it return his other practices as well. How can he pick and choose what His Gurus gave him? What happened to samaya and vows?
Sonam la
March 14, 2015
May all those negative influences that harm the teaching of the victorious ones through their perverted aspirations –
Those with form and those without form (Shugden) –
All those who work with malicious intentions,
Be annihilated through the truth of the Three Jewels !
Padma Dondrup
March 14, 2015
It is impossible for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, an emanation of Chenrezig, to have no gratitude for those who had been kind to him. It is also beyond comprehension that Dalai Lama would be so disrespectful to his tutors HH Kyabje Ling Dorjechang and HH Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang and the other lineage masters. It is beyond reproach the actions of Dalai Lama since he had initiated the ban on Dorje Shugden. Dalai Lama’s actions totally contradict with the Buddhist principles of what a Buddhist should be.
One possible explanation for Dalai Lama’s actions is that these are part of the enlightened play of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the other enlightened beings.
The other possible explanation is that these are the actions of a false Dalai Lama.
Agnes Kohl
March 16, 2015
This website has indeed the most vast pool of information. I have read quite a few and the information which may seem bias against the Dalai Lama, I tend to disagree as it does document the actions of the Dalai Lama which makes us think deeper.
Of all the articles which I have read, this one is thus far the clearest in explaining how the Dalai Lama came about being the Dalai Lama. It is like grooming a King. More importantly, it gives valid and logical points to debate on the Dorje Shugden accusations that he is a spirit or demon. It makes us actually think that could the Dalai Lama be wrong? I do not see Dalai Lama as ungrateful although it would appear so. But this article is more about how the Dalai Lama became the great High Lama he is today it is because he was indeed taught by Dorje Shugden himself through his erudite teachers.
Rinchen
April 4, 2015
Through this it is already great evident that many of the things that Dalai Lama has today is because of Dorje Shugden and it is also through the blessings of Dorje Shugden that Dalai Lama is reknown all over the world.
Through this, it really makes me wonder, is this ban around for a higher reason. If such a strong devotee of Trijang Rinpoche can be Dalai Lama’s right hand man to be having governmental positions as well because his Guru has instructed him to assist Dalai Lama and go all the way, why did the CTA not boycott him? Why did the Dalai Lama allowed him to stay close and even hold such an important role? Everything just does not make any sense at all.
SabrinaS
June 26, 2016
Thanks for this article that so clearly tracks the becoming of the Dalai Lama to his world renown status. From young, he already owed so much to his Tutors, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche as his Senior Tutor and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, his Junior Tutor. They had taught him everything, I guess you would call them the “King Makers”. Then his transition into the world platform with the help from Geshe Rabten, his heart disciple Gonsar Rinpoche and Domo Geshe Rinpoche, all faithful Dorje Shugden practitioners.
The Dalai Lama had time and again been saved by those who propitiate Dorje Shugden faithfully. First with Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche seeking advice of Dorje Shugden via the Panglung Oracle that enables the Dalai Lama to escape Tibet, with the day, the time and the route to be taken given very clearly. During the journey he was protected by the Chushi Gangdruk, which was formed on advice by Dorje Shugden 3 years before the need. Later during the life threatening accident, the Dalai Lama’s body guard (a Dorje Shugden practitioner), a disciple of Domo Geshe Rinpoche saved him from the exploding car.
And yet, the Dalai Lama, being the emanation of Avalokitesvara could be so callous to forget the gratitude towards his benefactors? So many theories had been thrown around and one of these is that its all a divine play to promote the practise of Dorje Shugden. Well, if this is so (and hope this is so), I feel terribly sorry for His Holiness as he would be in so much pain having to publicly be so hurtful and damaging to those who had been his “parents”, “guides” and “saviours”. It would take a person of great compassion to endure this internal sufferings to “promote” the precious practise throughout the world.
May His Holiness the Dalai Lama swiftly manifest his true nature to “realise” the wrong and to lift the ban on enlightened Dorje Shugden to prevent further the karmic burden of the people.
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.