We should not give up our practice of Dorje Shugden and we should create awareness of this sacred practice among the general public as best as we can. If we have received benefit and help from Dorje Shugden, we should bring this sacred connection and practice to many more, so that they too can be relieved of their pains and have a chance to gain some peace, happiness and wisdom.
There are many ways of doing this, but it is important to do this without harming anyone. It is important not to let our activities become something that is against the Dalai Lama. This is not the intention.
We may not agree with some of Dalai Lama’s policies against Dorje Shugden; nor do we agree in any way with his total ban on the practice and his supporters’ methods to suppress Shugden practitioners. We can still make our stance clear, we can write letters and articles to present our points of view clearly. But at all times, we should refrain from using harsh descriptives such as name the Dalai Lama things like ‘liar’, ‘dictator’ or ‘hypocrite’. We must present the information without sounding fanatical or motivated by anger. When we present information logically and respectfully, as has been done on this website, we let the world decide if the Dalai Lama is doing what he is doing.
The time left for the ban to endure is short. How much more can the Dalai Lama or his people speak on it? How much more can he go ahead with enforcing the ban? The ‘damage’ is done. The monasteries have separated. Those who wish to continue are continuing the practice. Those who don’t, stopped. But through the ban, Dalai Lama has made Dorje Shugden a worldwide celebrity and the most famous Tibetan Deity.
So we take over from here. We now promote Dorje Shugden. There are so many people out there who would like to know more and start to practice. Let’s focus on them. Let’s reach out to them. Dalai Lama couldn’t get to all of them. There are more people he has not gotten to that we can. Now is not the time to criticize Dalai Lama but to get organized and promote Dorje Shugden. Dalai Lama did us a great favor. Let’s move on from there.
Some of the practices we can do to compassionately bring Dorje Shugden to others:
- Giving away brochures about Dorje Shugden (which can be downloaded from this website here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/category/downloads/promotional/)
- Help practitioners who wish to help the monks of Dorje Shugden monasteries (by financial means, or providing whatever they need to travel and stay at the monasteries).
- Become pen pals of monks at Serpom or Shar Gaden Monasteries, or other Dorje Shugden monasteries.
- Sponsor Dorje Shugden monasteries.
- Find information about Dorje Shugden monasteries, centers and institutions. Share it on this website and on other websites everywhere to create awareness.
- Post information on this website and on the forum that is relevant, educational and informational. This will educate the thousands of readers who visit this site and have a right to know what is happening.
- Write educational articles and letters and send them into the Central Tibetan Administration, activists, Tibetan groups, NGOs etc.
- Start your own Dorje Shugden center or practice group for people in your area.
- Create educational videos and make them available on free portals like YouTube.
- Share information online by being active on social media – Facebook, Twitter etc. are free portals which let you reach out to millions of people.
These are some positive and constructive ways to expend our energy and resources for Dorje Shugden’s cause. However, whichever methods we choose, we must always remain respectful of the Lamas and practices. Negative rhetoric on the Dalai Lama convinces no one and impresses no one. It is important never to have hate sites that explicitly and obviously slander the Dalai Lama. We are Buddhists and Dorje Shugden would never approve of this. It would be much better to present information to the public and newcomers in an even, fair manner. In the end, we want Dalai Lama to retract his ban and his words against Dorje Shugden, but we do not want Dalai Lama harmed in anyway. It does us no good.
This is very important to understand. I may not be screaming slogans like “Down with the Dalai Lama” but that does not mean I agree with his policy on Shugden. However, I choose Buddhist methods that do not infringe on my Bodhisattva or Tantric vows to get the point across. After all, after I die, I face my karma. The intent is good, but the methods must accord.
This opinion piece has been extracted from the DorjeShugden.com forum. Please add to the discussions on the forum if you have further perspectives, comments and thoughts. We always welcome debate and exchange. The original thread can be viewed at http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=897
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