About the Dalai Lama’s Advice Concerning the Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden
The Dalai Lama has given three main reasons for banning the practice of Dorje Shugden. Before we reply to those, we should point out that although he says he “strongly discourages” it, there is an increasing body of evidence to show he has banned it. Witness the ID card – Tibetans are forced to swear that they will never venerate Dorje Shugden nor have any spiritual or material relationship with those who do or they will not be given an ID card (effectively making them refugees amongst refugees). The resulting ostracism and denial of basic human rights such as food, shelter and companionship has created great suffering in the Tibetan community and is clearly documented.
Even if the Dalai Lama’s views on the practice were reasonable or true, which they are not, it would still be unacceptable to force these views on others in this way, using his political power to impose his religious will. Imagine if any other leader forced this signature campaign on Muslims, or Jews, or Shamans? There would be a huge outcry and people would be reminded of Germany in the 1930s.
As for his reasons, they are refuted in detail by the words and experiences of thousands and thousands of practitioners past and present – for example, see www.WesternShugdenSociety.org and www.WisdomBuddhaDorjeShugden.org. In particular, look at the article Replies to the three reasons for the Dalai Lama’s ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden.
Here, we answer them briefly.
- “The danger of Tibetan Buddhism degenerating into a form of spirit worship”. The practice of Dorje Shugden is not spirit worship because Dorje Shugden is viewed as the embodiment of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom, arisen in this form to protect Buddha’s teachings. All Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden practitioners, including the Dalai Lama’s teachers and millions of Gelugpa Lamas and practitioners of past generations, are actual Buddhists who practice the complete Dharma of Buddha Shakyamuni. It is untrue, patronizing and insulting to say that they are not. It would also mean that the teachings that the Dalai Lama himself is giving are non-Buddhist as these come from his teachers who were Dorje Shugden practitioners
- “Obstacles to the emergence of genuine non-sectarianism”. The Dalai Lama allegedly promotes interreligious understanding and harmony, just so long as Dorje Shugden practitioners can be the exception to the rule. Even today, for example, everyone can attend the “formal religious teachings” by the Dalai Lama – come along if you are a Muslim, a Catholic, or an actual spirit worshipper, everyone is welcome! But a Buddhist Dorje Shugden practitioner? You will be asked to leave. That the Dalai Lama says he is a man of peace and tolerance makes this Buddhist apartheid even more intolerable. There is absolutely no evidence to support the claim that it is Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden practitioners who promote sectarianism; they are simply asking for the freedom to practice their ancient tradition without being persecuted and shunned. The Dalai Lama hides behind his celebrity status and blames the victim for the crime.
- “Especially inappropriate in relation to the well-being of Tibetan society”. Imagine if President Bush were to declare that someone’s spiritual practice was affecting his life and ability to govern and so it should be stopped? He would be considered dictatorial and idiotic. The idea that those who do their peaceful prayers to Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden for the protection of positive minds of compassion and wisdom is somehow detrimental to the government headed by the Dalai Lama and therefore should be stopped is likewise dictatorial and embarrassingly superstitious. The Dalai Lama is now 73 years old, in fine health, and he gave up the idea of Tibetan independence years ago. Scapegoating Dorje Shugden practitioners for the failure to win a free Tibet is a political ploy and, if it were not the popular charismatic Dalai Lama who was saying these things, this would have been laughed out of court a long time ago. It is not Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden practitioners who are destroying Tibetan unity, it is the Dalai Lama’s controversial and divisive actions of splitting families and communities down the middle.
The Dalai Lama has urged people to consider this and “to act accordingly”. We are confident that if you do take the time to critically examine his reasons and do some research, you will agree that they make no sense and that, even if they did, he has no right to impose these religious views on others through political processes such as the ID card.
Why would so many Tibetan and Western practitioners take all this time and expense to travel to demonstrate against one of the world’s most famous religious leaders if there were not some very urgent and compelling reason for doing so? We are here because there is a major problem in Tibetan exile society and it is just going to get worse if we do not have the courage to point it out.
For 30 years, Lamas and practitioners have tried to communicate with the Dalai Lama on this subject, and for 30 years he has either ignored or insulted us.
To say we are demonstrating because we are being paid by the Chinese is a lazy and laughable excuse – firstly because there is not a shred of evidence for this because it is not remotely true; and secondly because why would employed, educated and free citizens need Chinese money to make their voices heard?
(Source : http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.blogspot.com/2008/08/dalai-lamas-reasons-for-ban-of-dorje.html)
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Arisa
February 6, 2011
I feel the reasons that Dalai Lama gave for imposing the Ban on the Dorje Shugden practice is not sufficient. He says Dorje Shugden practice will lead to the degeneration of Tibet which he classified Dorje Shugden as a Spirit. In many countries that have Religion or Spiritual practices there is freedom to practice whatever the people choose. And this does not cause disharmony and suffering to people. If Dalai Lama would not impose the Ban on Dorje Shugden practice then people would not be thinking of for or against and sectarism will not be created. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has a large group of strong supporters for Dorje Shugden practice. And many more people are joining him. If Dalai Lama’s health were to be affected by Dorje Shugden. He would not be as healthy today. Still concentrating on the Ban. Maybe there is a much deeper reason for Dalai Lama to do what he has to do.
william bennett
February 27, 2014
reading your comments it seems your saying the dalai lama is not a true person and who is dorje shugden what linage is he repreasenting it seems like the china propergander is working with a lot of of you so called buddiesum
terence
March 16, 2014
I was at one time involved in gelugpa ,so i do have some knowledge of this,I have lived closly with tibetan people. And i understand their predicament. This so called “dalai lama” Is directly in the pay of the CIA This fact alone would condem him as a complete fraud. He pays homage to ISRAEL and loves the jews ,Telling his diaspora ,”we have a lot to learn from the jews”. The streight facts are the jews have been thrown out of 109 countries in a little over 1200 years and its always for the same reason Trying to take over other peoples countries and ENSLAVE ,them . This was the situation in tibet A small group of money lending monks took over the whole of tibet and made the natives slaves, “ref micheal perantes friendly feualism the tibean myth” Bear also in mind that the jews started ww2 , A fact that most people are totaly oblivious to. If you google jews declare war on germany 24/march 1933. you can see the actual headlines in the press. After herr hitler kicked out the jewish BANKS and refused the demands of lord rothchilds to place the new currency on the gold standard which had bankrupted germany in the years after ww1. As for the so called holocaust it is a proven fraud “ref THE LEUCHTER REPORT ” But as its again the jews who control ALL of the worlds media they can and do tell us what they want us to believe .If anyone realy wants to get to the bottom of why the so called dali lama banned the worship of king dorje shugden . Look at who benefits It was the jews who invented communism. “karl marks” and the american cuen leob bank and jacob shiff” all jews” who funded and trained the so called revolutionaries” again all jews” in new york to go back to russia and take over “ref juri lena in the shaddow of hermes under the sign of the scorpion ” While your at it check out the swimming pool in aushwitz. They murdered jesus .as they murdered dorje shugden . The puppet masters control almost every government in the world, Its a proven fact that they did 9/11 . Its also a fact that before 9/11 only 7 countries in this world refused to let the rothchils cenral bank print and issue their currency “and make them pay taxes to pay the interest or usury charges ” They wher afghanistan “invaded “iraq “invaded” sudan”invaded” libya “invaded” north koea , cuba, and iran . We hear so much about the evil dictators like mumar gaddafi but if you check this out on youtube “things i learned about libya “pleas check all my statments for yourselfs and you will find me to be 100% correct for the sake of all living beings wake up to the real cause of evil in the world today THE JEWS . read their holy “ha ha” book the talmud it explanes everything .
Kelly
September 20, 2014
There is no valid reason why Dalai Lama ban this holy practice because the DS practice has been around for more than many century many high Lama also propitiate this protector because DS is an emanation of Buddha Manjushri , it really does not make sense at all. The ban has create a lot of suffering among the Tibetan community it affect their daily life their well being all these is really not make sense we as a outsider think is really need to voice out our dissatisfaction .