SUPRESSION STORIES

OR HOW THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT USES HIS HOLINESS AND HISTORY TO SUPRESS DORJE SHUGDEN IN THE NAME OF FREE TIBET AND NON-SECTARIANISM

Most governments use distorted history and falsified ‘facts’ to remain where they are – in power and looking smart. Why should the Tibetan one be different? Here follows a study of the Dolgyal (Shugden) chapter in the ‘messages and speeches’ section of His Holiness’ website. Please forgive us to treat, in this political context, all statements including quotes of His Holiness, equally on the conventional level, as human opinions open to intellectual debate.

Our commentaries are in CAPS . For reasons of alarming actuality, we begin with the second last subchapter.

STORY 1:

Violent Events with images

An extract from the ‘Sternstunde’ transcript (Swiss television) of an interview conducted with Mr. Prithvi Raj, SP Kangra on the triple murder at Dharamsala:

Prithvi Raj (PR), Chief Police of Kangra District:

We have identified two of the murderers, and we have clear indications that the murderers are directly linked to the Shugden association and directly connecting these murderers with the case. But so far we have not been able to arrest them. One is called Tenzin Chozin, the other is called Lobsang Chodrak. Before the murder, the principal received threatening letters from the Shugden association.

PR: First of all, on the location where the murders took place, we found a letter, written by the Shugden association and signed by Chime Tsering, who is the president (secretary) of Dorje Shugden Charitable Trust. This letter is the threatening letter to the monk Lobsang Gyatso, and it proofs the direct connection of murderers with Shugden. This is one of the links. Then these murderers were living in Majnu-ka-tilla in Delhi , another evidence that they maintained contact with the Shugden Centre.

This made our label on the case file: linking these two murderers with Chime Tsering. Because on the day on which Lobsang Gyatso returned from Singapore , he spent the night in Delhi . On the next day, when he was coming to Dharamsala, he was followed by these murderers. At Ambala they somehow had a car breakdown. They then called to Delhi . They dialed the number of the president (secretary) of the Shugden association, at the number of Mr. Chime Tsering. They talked to him, and we have word traced that call.

PR: On the basis of some evidence we have found in Kalsura, in the district of Mandi, some pictures, which show the president (secretary) of the Shugden association along with the murderers. This is another evidence that links the murderers with the Dorje Shugden association. We from the police are convinced that these murderers were engaged to assassinate the principal of the Dialectic School , Lobsang Gyatso. The principal was always opposing the Shugden worship and he was propagating the ideas and ideologies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

NONE OF THESE ACCUSATIONS AND DECLARATIONS HAVE PROVED CONCLUSIVE, AND ALL THE ‘HOT LEADS’ ARE GONE WITH THE WIND; “THE SIX MURDRERS HAVE FLED TO TIBET WHERE THEY LIVE UNDER PROTECTION FROM CHINA .” THE INVESTIGATIONS SEEM TO HAVE SIMPLY ENDED THERE, WHILE MORE LIKELY THREADS HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWED. THIS DOESN’T KEEP VARIOUS ‘EXPERTS’ FROM REPEATING IT OVER AND OVER AS IF IT WERE PROVEN FACT AND, OF COURSE, PROOF OF THE WICKED NATURE OF THE ‘SHUGDEN CULT.’

EXERPT FROM HELMUT GASSNER’S SPEECH:

About a year after the conflict broke out the newly constituted opposition had organized and began consolidating itself. This was contrary to everything the government-in-exile had expected. Then, in the spring of 1997 a horrifying triple murder in Dharamsala put a different spin on the controversy. The Director of the Dialectics School in Dharamsala and his two young translators were gruesomely murdered just a few days before the Tibetan new year. Apparently the three of them had been alone in their room only about 15 minutes and they were found stabbed without anyone hearing screams or seeing killers.

The Director of the Dialectics School was well known for his slanderous writings in which he would drag through the mud anything that veered even slightly from the course established by the government-in-exile: famous masters, the big monastic universities and even the Tibetan guerilla were his targets. In one of his last articles he wrote, ” …these people will not cease to criticize the Dalai Lama until blood flows from their bodies…”

Given the character of the assassination and the humiliations the Tibetan guerilla movement had been subjected to in earlier years, one could have assumed that the search for the murderer would eventually also lead to them. But that obviously did not occur; already the next day, Dharamsala’s local newspaper claimed that the murderer would certainly be found among the Dorje Shugden Society in Delhi .

Aside from who committed the murders, this gruesome act was exploited to the hilt by the government-in-exile with only one aim in mind: Resorting to all possible means they tried to incriminate the Dorje Shugden Society in Delhi in order to put its leading monks behind Indian bars. For the benefit of the press, the image of a Dorje Shugden sect with bloodthirsty, cultish, terrorist and fundamentalist attributes was successfully established linking it effectively with the traditionally depicted wrathful appearance of the deity while cleverly neglecting to mention that many wrathful Buddhist deities are represented in considerably more terrifying ways.

For his part, Robert Thurman thought it appropriate to portray for Newsweek magazine a murderous Dorje Shugden cult describing it as ” the Taliban of Buddhism.”

On a Swiss TV program discussing the subject of the murders I then had the opportunity to admire my old friend, the government-in-exile minister Tashi Wangdu, exhibiting evidence in front of the camera. According to the commentator it was a death threat sent by Dorje Shugden followers to the murder victim. I could not resist stopping the video to copy the Tibetan text and translate it. It contained no death threat at all, simply an impertinent letter containing a challenge to debate the issue so as to settle the difference.

WE HAVE FOUND THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE TWO DAYS AGO, OCT 22, 2007 (!!!):

PLOT TO MURDER HH THE DALAI LAMA

His name is Zhang Qing Li, born 1951, Shandong Province, and he is the insultingly acid-mouthed Communist Party Secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Credible news just now filtering out of China places him at the center of a bizarre Chinese government plot to assassinate the Dalai Lama, blame the Dorje Shugden Cult, and then declare the Dalai Lama’s successor. The plot is believed to include Chinese intelligence service personnel operating under diplomatic cover in all nations visited by His Holiness, including the United States, as well as “sleeper” type agents. It is said that details of the plot include provisions for a “discredit after death” type operation, i.e. the manner of death would serve to tarnish the victim’s memory. It is further suggested that the threat is imminent, and that this is why the Chinese government rushed its “reincarnation regulations” into effect last month.

COMPARE ‘DISCREDIT AFTER DEATH TYPE OPERATION’ WITH THE PICTURES ABOVE AND DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS… HOW ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE THAT WHILE OFFICIALS ARE CONTENT WITH CONVENIENT STORIES, THE DALAI LAMA’S HOLY LIFE MAY BE UNDER REAL THREAT!

STORY 2

Three Main Reasons

The three main reasons why His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama has advised people against the propitiation of Dholgyal.

Such practices degenerate the profound and vast teachings of Buddhism, wherein our ultimate refuge is the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. While the profound teachings of the Buddha are based on the two truths and the Four Noble Truths, the appeasing and propitiating of Dholgyal, to the extent it is done by those who do this practice, degenerate the Buddhist practice into a form of spirit worship.

‘THOSE WHO DO THIS PRACTICE’… HAS SOMEONE INTERVIEWED THE ESTIMATED WORLDWIDE FOUR MILLION PRACTITIONERS AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY ALL, INCLUDING LAMAS AND SANGHA, ARE PRACTICING FOR WORLDLY GAINS? (AND IF THAT WERE SO, WOULDN’T PART OF THE REASON BE THAT DURING THE TIME OF HH THE 13 TH DALAI LAMA, KYABJE PABONGKHA RINPOCHE ETC WERE FORCED VIA GOVERNMENT TO PORTRAY DORJE SHUGDEN AS A WORLDLY DEITY?)

HOW MANY PERCENT OF ALL ‘DHARMA PRACTITIONERS’ PRACTICE FREE OF THE EIGHT WORLDLY CONCERNS?? ARYA TARA , MEDICINE BUDDHA, DZAMBALA, GURU RINPOCHE, JE TSONGKHAPA ETC PRACTICE HAVE THEREFORE ALL DEGENARATED INTO SPIRIT WORSHIP AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED…

It goes against His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s non-sectarian approach especially within the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. His Holiness himself practices teachings(PRACTICE HERE MEANS DOING DAILY SADHANAS OF WHICH MANY TAKE HOURS TO COMPLETE, NOT READING BOOKS BY MASTERS OF DIFFERENT TRADITIONS, WHICH OF COURSE IS FINE, ESPECIALLY FOR ORDINARY NON-MONASTICS LIKE MOST OF US) from the other traditions such as Nyingma, Sakya and Kagyu simultaneously with the Geluk tradition and encourages others to do the same. (HOW BLATANTLY UNTRUE. HIS HOLINESS SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT HE AS DALAI LAMA HAS THIS DUTY, WHILE THE REST OF US SHOULD STICK TO OUR RESPECTIVE LINEAGES, AS EACH IS COMPLETE AND IT IS MOREOVER PLENTY OF WORK FOR A LIFETIME TO SERIOUSLY STUDY, NEVER MIND MASTER, ONE LINEAGE.) However, the practice of Dholgyal is extremely sectarian. HAVE WE EVER IN OUR LIFETIME HEARD A NON-GELUK MASTER EVEN MENTION JE TSONGKHAPA? DOES THIS MAKE THEM SECTARIAN? WE DON’T THINK SO. THEY ARE FOCUSING ON THEIR LINEAGE – IF THEY WOULDN’T, WHAT PURPOSE WOULD IT SERVE TO HAVE LINEAGES IN THE FIRST PLACE? ANY TRUE GELUK PRACTITIONER KNOWS WHY THE GELUK ARE ALSO CALLED THE ‘FUSION LINEAGE’ AND THEREFORE DOESN’T NEED TO BE REMINDED TO REVERE ALL TRADITIONS WHILE FOCUSING ON THAT OF ONE’S AFFINITY.

The Dholgyal spirit has a long history of antagonistic attitude to the Dalai Lamas and the Tibetan Government they head since the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Throughout that period, it has also been very controversial in both the Geluk and Sakya traditions. In fact, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama, as well as many other prominent Tibetan lamas have categorically stated the harmful effects of this practice and have advised against the practice and propitiation of Dholgyal.

INTERESTING TO NOTE HERE THAT PRECISELY DURING THE GREAT FIFTH AND 13 TH DALAI LAMA’S TENURE THE GELUK WERE MOST INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND POWER, WHICH INVARIABLY LEAD TO, OR AT LEAST APPEARED TO LEAD TO, LOSS FOR THE OTHER SCHOOLS. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT UNDER THE FIFTH DALAI LAMA HAS ASSUMED POWER OVER ALL OF TIBET , THE KARMAPA HAD TO FLEE THE COUNTRY AND MANY A KAGYU AND NYINGMA MONASTERY WAS CONVERTED VIA UNFRIENDLY TAKE-OVER. SECTARIAN OR FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL IN THE LONG RUN? OUR ORDINARY MINDS CANNOT TELL. UNDER THE 13 TH DALAI LAMA TOO THERE WAS LOTS OF WARFARE AND POWERSTRUGGLE; AGAIN, WE CANNOT KNOW THE DEEPER VISION OF ENLIGHTENED MINDS. WELL KNOWN FACT IS THAT MANY OF THE WOUNDS SUFFERED BY ESPECIALLY THE KAGYU SCHOOL AT THE TIME OF THE GREAT FIFTH ARE STILL UNHEALED; THE GELUK TRADITION ENJOYS LITTLE SYMPATHY AMONGST MANY KAGYUPAS AND ONE RARELY SEES A THRONE FOR THE DALAI LAMA IN A KAGYU MONASTERY.

WELL KNOWN FACT IS ALSO THAT THE GREAT FIFTH HAS COMPOSED A PRAYER TO DORJE SHUGDEN AND BUILT HIM A CHAPEL WHICH IS STILL IN USE TODAY (SEE ALSO OUR GALLERY). ALSO, ‘Dorje Shugden had advised the Thirteenth Dalai Lama to renovate the eastern and western stupas. Following this advice, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama undertook major renovations of the Potala and the stupa of the great master Je Tsong Khapa at Ganden Monastery, as is mentioned in Purchog Jampa Rinpoche’s biography of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama.’(SEE H. GASSNER)…

STORY 3 (speeches)

Speech to an audience dominated by Tibetans from Tibet on 27 March 2006 during the Spring Teachings

It is not at all on the basis of a change of mind arising from a new thought that I have restricted the practice of Dholgyal Shugden. In my own case, I have previously (??) been a religious lineage holder of Kyabje Pabongkha. In particular, I have been an actual disciple of Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang. From the very beginning I have practiced Dholgyal under the influences of many circumstances. Gradually I came to have many major doubts about the external, internal and secret aspects of it and about developments concerning it. Finally I looked up the works of the previous Dalai Lamas and for the first time came to realize the error in practicing Dholgyal; as a result I stopped it.

ONE NEEDS TO BEAR IN MIND HERE THAT HIS HOLINESS DID DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTICE FOR A QUARTER CENTURY. IT WOULD REQUIRE AN INCREDIBLE STRETCH OF IMAGINATION THAT DURING ALL THIS TIME THE DALAI LAMA WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE WORKS OF HIS PREDECESSORS. IF ANYTHING, PERHAPS NOW HIS HOLINESS’ PUBLIC INTERPRETATION OF HIS READINGS HAVE CHANGED UNDER PRESSURE OF THOSE SURROUNDING HIM.

WHATEVER THE CASE, COMPLETELY BEYOND REASON AND IMAGINATION WOULD IT BE TO BELIEVE THAT FULLY ENLIGHTENED AND CLAIRVOYANT CHENREZIG TENZIN GYATSO, THE 14 TH DALAI LAMA, WOULD PROPITIATE A DEMON EVEN FOR A SPLIT SECOND WITHOUT NOTICING IT IMMEDIATELY! AND HOW MUCH LESS COULD HE DO SO FOR 25 YEARS, BEFORE FINDING IT OUT BY READING THE (OFFICIAL..) BIOGRAPHIES OF HIS PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS (IF IN THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE CURRENT DALAI LAMA DORJE SHUGDEN SUDDENLY BECOMES NECHUNG WHEN GUIDING HH OUT OF TIBET, HOW MUCH ‘TOUCHING UP’ CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE PREVIOUS ONES, IN FEUDALISTIC MEDIEVAL TBET?)?? IF FOURTEEN INCARNATIONS AS DALAI LAMA WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO PROTECT US FROM MISTAKING A BUDDHA FROM A DEMON, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? AND WHAT MESSAGE WOULD THIS CONVEY ABOUT US ORDINARY BEINGS AND OUR HOPES OF EVER ACHIEVING EVEN THE MOST BASIC ATTAINMENTS? WOULD IT BE ACCURATE TO ASSUME THAT 99,9% OF US WOULD SAY “LET’S GO BACK TO SHOPPING” IF THIS WERE TRUE?

The controversy relating to the issue of Dholgyal arose during the Fifth Dalai Lama. I examined such things as how the Fifth Dalai Lama viewed the controversy and resolved (? IF SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM NOW?) it. Likewise, when I examined the works of the snow land of Tibet’s holy ones embodying both knowledge and wisdom in general and specifically those of the upholders of the Geluk faith at and during that time, I came across the contents of the work of Purchok Ngawang Jampa on the history of the Three Geluk Seats of learning dealing with Ganden. That work records information about restrictions on Dholgyal. And the biography of the Seventh Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso’s Tutor Trichen Ngawang Chogden (THE LAMA WHO BANNED PALDEN LHAMO FROM THE LOWER TANTRIC COLLEGE AFTER A SHIP SANK, PALDEN LHAMO APPARENTLY NOT HAVING WARNED THE MONKS ON IT OR SAVED THE SHIP. THUS, THE MAIN PROTECTOR OF TIBET AND THE DALAI LAMAS IS BANNEDTO THIS VERY DAY FROM THE LOWER TANTRIC COLLEGE!! PROBLEM? WHAT PROBLEM?) reveals that during his tenure as the Ganden Tripa, the worship of earthly guardian-spirits on the premise of Ganden monastery was restricted.

H. GASSNER: ‘Since 1996 His Holiness has cited the names of Trichen Ngawang Chogden and Changya Rölpa’i Dorje as having proscribed Dorje Shugden. He cites a passage in Changya’s biography composed by the master Thuken wherein Trichen Ngawang Chogden supposedly had an image of Dorje Shugden removed from Ganden Monastery. On closer scrutiny, however, it appears that in Changya’s original rendering of the story about Trichen Ngawang Chogden, to which Thuken refers, Dorje Shugden is not at all mentioned, while reference is made to a local spirit instead.‘ PROBLEM? WHAT PROBLEM?

Whatever be the case, if one reads the biographical works on the successive previous Dalai Lamas, and looks in chronological order at the biographical works of the accomplished and responsible upholders of the Geluk order, it becomes extremely clear that the higher level, holy-born lamas, accomplished in both knowledge and wisdom, had restricted the practice of Dholgyal.

(THIS WOULD MAKE HH THE DALAI LAMA’S ROOT GURU, HIS ROOT GURU’S ROOT GURU, AND HIS ROOT GURU’S ROOT GURU’S ROOT GURU (TO NAME ESPECIALLY TRAGIC EXAMPLES OF THIS ‘LOGIC’) LOW-LEVEL, UNHOLY-BORN AND UNACCOMPLISHED… ONE HAS TO ASK – WHAT WOULD THIS MAKE OF HIS HOLINESS, WHO RECEIVED HIS VERY MONASTIC VOWS FROM KYABJE TRIJANG RINPOCHE, IN TERMS OF TRANSMISSION, EDUCATION, FORMATIVE YEARS, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE VAJRAYANA TRADITION WHERE LINEAGE AND LAMA ARE ALL-IMPORTANT??) And I have carried these forward. From a more recent point of view, Drepung Khangsar Dorje Chang, a contemporary of Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche, has said, “Today, the practice of Dholgyal Dorje Shugden is becoming a widespread phenomenon. This is not at all good.”

The previous Zong Rinpoche was an ardent practitioner of Dholgyal. I even had to write to him on this issue when he was alive. His reincarnation, who is here with us today (WHY NOT IN HELL?), used his power of discrimination between the good and the bad, and, with a view to avoid mistakes about what is in his immediate and long term interest or disadvantage and for the sake of the religious and political causes of Tibet, carries out his practices with care to avoid mistakes. It is only proper that in front of this gathering today Rinpoche has come to the path of perfection. He rightly deserves congratulatory praise and appreciation for having taken the decision to conform.

IF KYABJE ZONG DORJE CHANG – PRAISED AS THE GREATEST PRACTITIONER IN THE GADEN TRADITION AFTER THE PASSING OF KYABJE TRIJANG DORJE CHANG – HAS TO ‘COME TO THE PATH OF PERFECTION’ BY TAKING ‘THE DECISION TO CONFORM’, WE ARE IN A VERY SORRY STATE INDEED. WHAT HOPE DOES THAT LEAVE FOR ORDINARY BEINGS LIKE US TO EVER BE ABLE TO ‘DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE GOOD AND THE BAD’, UNLESS SIMPLY ‘DECIDING TO CONFORM’ LEADS TO HIGHER ATTAINMENTS THAN WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT: ‘DON’T BELIEVE SOMETHING BECAUSE I SAID SO… BE A LIGHT UNTO YOURSELF…’

The people of the snow land of Tibet currently remain set apart between those in and outside the country. Although those who have come from Tibet will gradually have to happily and joyfully return home, there is no freedom there (ALTHOUGH PREDICTED FOR THE YEAR 2000 VIA THE NECHUNG ORACLE OR AN IMPERSONIFICATION THEREOF..). The current situation is a sad one for everyone. Nevertheless, it will not be too long before those in and outside Tibet will definitely reunite (MOST LIKELY AFTER DEATH FOR MOST OF US… UNLESS WE ALL GET OFFERED JOBS FLIPPING BURGERS AT MAC DONALDS. LHASA. ) . I keep praying for this and urge you all to return home with happiness in your minds. My Tashi Deleg to all of you.

STORY 4 (historical references)

The Fifth Dalai Lama
Folio 157 (front and back) of the autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682) called Dukulai Gosang, Volume Kha, Lhasa Publication:

It is well known that at Dhol Chumig Karmo 1 a very powerful perfidious interfering spirit ( dam sri) 2, born due to distorted prayers, has been harming the teaching of the Buddha (ONE OF THE BENEFITS MENTIONED ABOUT TAKING REFUGE IN THE BUDDHADHARMA IS THAT HARMFUL SPIRITS CANNOT HARM US. HOW WOULD THEY HARM THE TEACHING OF THE BUDDHA?) and sentient beings in general and in particular. The harmful activity has intensified since the firebird year (1636) and (the spirit) has been successful in many of his missions. However, hardly anyone has taken any action, as if this did not concern him or her. So, at the end of the earth-bird year (1648) a new house was constructed at Dhol Chumig Karmo and articles were placed there in the hope that it would become a place for the Gyalpo to settle. However, his harmful activities only intensified and recently many lay and ordained people have been afflicted with diseases and a few monks have died. Therefore, all the monks unanimously decided that a fire ritual should be performed.

Consequently, two groups of practitioners were organised. One was led by Nagrampa Dhondup Gyatso, who acted as the Vajra Acharya of (a performance of) the Dorje Drolo ritual and the other was led by Nangjung Ngagchang Losang Khyentse, who acted as the Vajra Acharya of (a performance of the) Yangsang Karma Dragpo ritual. Likewise Rigzin Pema Thinley of Dorje Drag, Dharma King Terdag Lingpa, Vugja Lungpa, Drigung Tulku Rinpoche, Katshal Zurpa Ngari Konchok Lhundup and Palri Tulku performed the Wrathful Lama, Yama, Phurba, Loktri practice for seven days, at the conclusion of which a fire-ritual was performed during which the ‘perfidious interfering spirit’ and his entourage were burnt (FINE THEN! PROBLEM? WHAT PROBLEM?). Everybody was convinced (of its success because of) the appearance of wonderful signs and the smell of burning flesh that everybody witnessed. Thus, many sentient beings were explicitly granted the gift of fearlessness because their lives were saved. Moreover, indirectly these creatures ( ‘byung po) 3 were delivered to the peaceful state of being released from having to experience the intolerable suffering of bad states of rebirth due to their increasing negative actions.

At that time a testimony 4 was written to indicate that these creatures or evil spirits were without protection and refuge and (consequently) the Dardhingpas of Dorje Drag Monastery compiled mantras. As a religious practice for the deceased, Sera and Drepung Monasteries performed the Prayer of the White Umbrella Deity 44,000 times and recited the Heart Sutra 118,000 times during eleven sessions during which tea was offered in each monastery.

At sixty-seven other well-disciplined monasteries in the neighbourhood, monks were requested to perform the White Umbrella Prayer as many as possible for the deceased. At Yerpa the Gyuto monks performed the prayer of appeasement of Gonpo (Mahakala) and Choegyal (Dharmaraja) 693 times, Tenma Shasana 1,121,800 times, (Sixty Section Ritual Cake Offering to Overcome Evil) Drugchu pai Tordog. At Choekhor Gyal they performed rituals to (Palden Lhamo) Magzorma, to Mahakala the Lord of the Tent (Gur and zhal), and to Begtse and at Gatshal they performed the prayer of appeasing the Dharma protectors in general 10000 times and the prayers of the Six Armed (Mahakala), Leshin and Vaishravana (rNam sre) 1000 times. At 11 district capitals they performed the Prayer for Invoking the Spirit of the Deity to Vanquish the Enemy (dgra-lha-dpangs-bstod) and other practices to appease local deities and spirits.

QUITE OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT DORJE SHUGDEN THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE… OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY! IF IT WERE ABOUT DORJE SHUGDEN, AND DORJE SHUGDEN WAS A BAD SPIRIT, THEN THIS STORY WOULD BE A HOAX AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN ‘GRANTED THE GIFT OF FEARLESSNESS.’

EVERYONE WHO HAS MISTAKEN DORJE SHUGDEN FOR A GYALPO SPIRIT AND HAS TRIED TO DESTROY HIM HAS FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE – PERHAPS BECAUSE HE IS NOT A GYALPO SPIRIT BUT A BUDDHA?

ONE WONDERS WHAT THE IDEA OF PUTTING THIS TEXT ON HIS HOLINESS’ WEBSITE MIGHT BE… UNLESS IT IS MEANT PURELY FOR THE FAMOUS KIND OF TIBETANS (LATELY EMULATED BY LOTS OF WESTERNERS LOOKING FOR THAT ‘AUTHENTIC FEELING’) FOR WHOM EVEN THE HINT AT ANY KIND OF RUMOR IS ENOUGH TO SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFS (BEFORE THEY BURN THE HOUSE DOWN). SHOOT FIRST, ASK LATER, NEVER THINK AT ALL – AH, THE WILD WILD EAST…

Notes:

1. Dhol Chumig Karmo is Shugden’s place of origin, where a shrine was constructed to him. He is also referred as Dholgyal because he is a Gyalpo from Dhol Chumig Karmo. Gyalpo refers to a class of evil spirit. Since Shugden belong to this group, he is also called Gyalchen, the great Gyalpo. ‘GYAL’ MEANS VICTORIOUS, OR KING. THAT’S WHY DORJE SHUGDEN IS OFTEN REFERRED TO IN ENGLISH AS THE ‘GREAT KING PROTECTOR.’ SO DON’T WORRY – ‘GYALWA RINPOCHE’, THE HONORIFIC TERM TIBETANS USE FOR HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA, OR ‘GYALWA KARMAPA’ DOESN’T MEAN THEY ARE A CLASS OF EVIL SPIRIT… ANYWAY, SINCE WHICHEVER GYALPO HAS BEEN SENT TO THE DHARMAKAYA ALREADY ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE, THE DISCUSSION OF HIS NAMES IN THE PRESENCE TENSE SEEMS RATHER REDUNDANT. INVOLUNTARY HUMOR?
2.  Dam sri, a transgressive interfering spirit, is the spirit of one who has deliberately breached his oath or commitment to his lama out of resentment and dissension. THE 15 TH GADEN TRIPAPANCHEN SONAM DRAKPA’S TEXT ON THE VINAYA IS STUDIED WIDELY STILL TODAY, AND THE TIBETAN LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES PROUDLY MENTION HIS 45 VOLUMES OF AUTHORATIVE WORKS IN THE SMALL COMPILATION (‘OVERVIEW OF BUDDHIST TANTRA’) THEY PUBLISHED RECENTLY. THEY ALSO MENTION TULKU DRAKPA GYALTSEN, HIS NEXT INCARNATION, WITH GUSTO… INVOLUNTARY HUMOR? OR ARE WE TRULY MADE TO BELIEVE THAT BODHISATTVAS WHO HAVE HELD THEIR VINAYA (REMEMBER THAT PANCHEN SONAM DRAKPA’S PREVIOUS INCARNATION WAS EVEN NAMED DULZIN – VINAYA HOLDER..) AND SAMAYA FOR SO MANY LIVES PURER THAN WE CAN EVEN IMAGINE, CAN SUDDENLY TURN INTO DEMONS?
3.  ‘Byung po means creature or evil spirit.
4.  Zur dpang refers to a testimony or the deposition of a witness.

Translation of the testimony (WHERE WOULD WE BE TODAY IF NOT FOR ALL THESE WONDERFULLY UNBIASED TESTIMONIES?) that the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682) mentions in his autobiography. The original Tibetan can be found on page 148 front and back (English pages 423 and 424) of the volume Da of his Collected Works published in Gangtok , Sikkim .

“Because of the manipulations of Lag Agyal (the mother) of Gekhasa, the false reincarnation of Tulku Sonam Geleg Palsang (Tulku Dakpa Gyaltsen) got his way (and was installed as the successful candidate). However, because of distorted prayers he became a perfidious spirit ( dam sri) and brought serious harm to sentient beings. (WE ARE TALKING HERE OF SOMEONE WHO WAS DURING HIS LIFETIME HELD AS EQUALLY ATTAINED AS THE GREAT FIFTH, WHOSE ATTENDANTS, THE STORY GOES, WERE NOT AMUSED AT ALL WHEN THIS ‘FALSE INCARNATION’ DEFEATED HIS HOLINESS AT DEBATE) Therefore, a total of seven groups of practitioners led by (Pema Trinley) Rinpoche of Dorje Drag, Choegyal Terdag Lingpa, Choeje Vugja Lungpa, Ngari Ngagchang Konchok Lhundup, Palri Tulku and two groups of practitioners of Phende Legshe Ling (Namgyal Dratsang) performed a ritual fire offering and burnt the interfering spirit (SEE ABOVE..). This is the declaration I have written at that time:

To the deities, Legden, Chagdrug, Leshin and Magzor,
To the oath bound protectors Gongzhi, Gonpo, Chamsre and Begtse, etc.
Who have been propitiated and whose practice (has been done)
I offer this sublime libation.
The so-called Dragpa Gyaltsen pretends to be a sublime being,
Even though he is not, (MUST BE PRETTY GOOD AT IT THOUGH TO GAIN EQUAL OR HIGHER STATUS THAN THE DALAI LAMA..)
         And since this interfering spirit and creature of distorted prayers (SEE: CAN A BUDDHA TRANSFORM INTO A DEMON?)
         Is harming everything – both the dharma and sentient beings -
Do not support, protect or give him shelter, but grind him to dust.

To the female protectors like Nodjin Yangghaza, etc. and
Gyalpo Ku-nga, Khyabjug, Dorje Leg and particularly
Nechung and his entourage
I offer this sublime libation.
The so-called Dragpa Gyaltsen pretends to be a sublime being,
Even though he is not,
And since this interfering spirit and creature of distorted prayers
Is harming everything – both the dharma and sentient beings -
Do not support, protect or give him shelter, but grind him to dust.

To the seven Barwa brothers like Tse-marpa etc.
And likewise Setrab of Sangphu etc. – the wrathful gods and spirits
Among whom this negative spirit seeks support -
I offer this sublime libation.
The so-called Dragpa Gyaltsen pretends to be a sublime being,
Even though he is not,
And since this interfering spirit and creature of distorted prayers
Is harming everything – both the dharma and sentient beings -
Do not support, protect or give him shelter, but grind him to dust.

Having agreed before the root and lineage lama Vajra Dharas
To increase what is good and beneficial to sentient beings and the dharma,
If you protect this perfidious spirit,
Will you not cause your own past pledges to degenerate?

There are groups of interfering spirits who display inopportune miracles
In the form of human sickness, cattle disease, hailstorms, famine and drought.
May their power and ability
Their body, speech and mind be smashed into tiny particles.

SEE ABOVE: QUITE OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT DORJE SHUGDEN THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT HERE…

Trichen Ngawang Chokdhen (1677-1751)

(SEE ALSO STORY 3)

From page 67 of the biography of Trichen Ngawang Chokdhen (1677–1751) composed by Changkya Rolpai Dorje (1717–1786):

Previously, a very vicious and evil spirit (it is not specifically stated that the spirit is Dholgyal, but it is clear from Changkya’s biography that the spirit referred to is Dholgyal. It also refers to the time when Trichen Ngawang Chokdhen was the Ganden Throne-holder,) possessed a man at Draksep. Some unstable lamas, former abbots, and monastic hostels (khangtsens) did practice in relation to it simply by invoking and propitiating it. A cairn for invoking spirits had also been erected on top of the Jangtse mountain. Considering how inappropriate was this turn of events he issued an edict to the assembly of monks that as there had been no tradition of propitiating worldly spirits and protectors within the premises of this seat of learning since the time of Je Tsongkhapa, henceforth, nobody would be allowed to engage in such activities. The cairn was demolished (this is very clearly stated in the biography of Changkya) and the stones and earth were returned to the places from which they had been taken. The spirit was invoked through a medium in trance and was then ordered not to come through such trances henceforth. Dholgyal replied, “If this is the order of Tri Rinpoche, I have no choice but to leave.” Then, the ghostly spirit fled to Taktse Shol. Je (Trichen Ngawang Chokdhen) himself went into retreat. He made it a rule that the prayer to Dharmaraja composed by the Omniscient Gendun Gyatso (the second Dalai Lama), should be said in the Main Hall of Ganden. Due to Dharmaraja’s wrath, the Lamas and former abbots who had been propitiating the spirit were killed and the monastic hostels also suffered many misfortunes. Consequently, such misdeeds entirely ceased and the action that had been taken became an excellent cause for maintaining the purity of the monastery.”

AMAZING, ISN’T IT, THAT WHEN DHARMARAJA (KALARUPA, LIKE DORJE SHUGDEN A WRATHFUL MANIFESTATION OF MANJUSHRI) KILLS AND BESTOWS ‘MANY MISFORTUNES,’ IT BECOMES ‘AN EXCELLENT SOURCE FOR MAINTAINING THE PURITY OF THE MONASTERY,’ WHEREAS WHEN DORJE SHUGDEN SAVES VOW-BREAKERS FROM CREATING MORE NEGATIVE KARMA, IT IS PROOF OF HIS VISCIOUS SECTARIAN NATURE…

Phurchok Ngawang Jampa (1682–1762)

In the Catalogue of the Three Monastic Seats composed by Phurchok Ngawang Jampa (1682-1762):

Thus, at the time when Je (Tsongkhapa) himself was alive, apart from those dharma protectors who are bound by oath and are mentioned in the tantras themselves, no objects for propitiating or seeking the slightest help of harmful negative worldly spirits who are ghosts, was ever installed within the premises of this monastic seat (INDEED – WHY WOULD ONE DO SO WHEN ONE CAN PROPITIATE POSITIVE SUPRAMUNDANE PROTECTORS SUCH AS DORJE SHUGDEN? IT HAS OFTEN BEEN SAID THAT JE TSONGKHAPA NEVER MENTIONED DORJE SHUGDEN. COULD THIS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT DORJE SHUGDEN AROSE IN THE 17 TH CENTURY, ROUGHLY 300 YEARS AFTER JE TSONGKHAPA?…). As a result, all the members of the community, both Lamas and disciples lived in harmony and the tradition of study and practice flourished. Even (the cairn) to the spirit of Tsongkhapa’s birthplace was placed outside the monastery. However, nowadays, many people who consider themselves to be followers of Tsongkhapa, and who adopt the three robes of a fully ordained Buddhist monk, go for refuge in ghostly spirits. They will have to face the consequence of meeting with great misfortune.”

Thukan Lobsang Choekyi Nyima (1737–1802)

On page 446 of volume Ka, Zhol edition, of the Collected Works of the great Gelugpa scholar, Thukan Lobsang Choekyi Nyima (1737–1802) , which was reprinted in 1969 in New Delhi, the following account is found of (a conversation between) Changkya Rolpai Dorje (1717–1786) and his student Thukan Lobsang Choekyi Nyima:

Reaching the site of the cairn to Machen, he explains in detail to Thukan Lobsang Choekyi Nyima as follows: “Je Lama (Tsongkhapa) and his students do not propitiate worldly gods and protectors and hence even the cairn of Machen, the god of his birthplace, is not included within the parameter of the circumambulatory (path at Ganden). (However,) in the past some Ganden Throne Holders propitiated Dholgyal (Shugden) and experienced misfortunes, consequently Tri Chen Dorje Chang dismantled Dholgyal’s image and shrine and banished it from the monastery.”

Phabongkhapa Dechen Nyingpo (1878–1941)

On pages 471-2 front and back of the Tibetan text of the biography of Phabongkhapa Dechen Nyingpo (1878-1941) composed by his student Denma Losang Dorje and published by the Nyimo Publisher Palden, the following account is found:

“(Here is) an appeal from me, Phabongkhapa, holding the name of an incarnate, in accordance with an instruction that I have received from you through Tse Khendron Chenmo. (I am glad that) you have received my application of 22nd of the 12th month last year, and I am grateful that you have kindly clarified each and every point therein. It was entirely my mistake and I have absolutely nothing to say (to defend it). It will be my endeavour in the future to take the meaning of your instructions earnestly to heart and I ask your forgiveness for whatever mistakes I have made in my appeal.”

Phabongkhapa quotes the Dalai Lama’s letter: “With regard to the three points mentioned here, there is still much ground for debate, both in logical and scriptural terms, but this is enough for the time being. With regard to your reference to making endeavour in the practice of taking refuge, first of all you are propitiating Shugden (Dholgyal) as a protector. Since they received Lamrim teachings from you at the Drepung Monastic Religious Centre last year and so made a connection with you, propitiation of Shugden among students there has greatly increased. The Great Nechung Choegyal who from the very beginning was commanded and entrusted to protect and guard this monastery, expressed his displeasure to the Drepung Lachi several times, saying that (due to propitiating Dholgyal) the degeneration of the Buddha dharma had been speeded up. This is the source of his displeasure. I feel that your seeking the support of a wrathful worldly spirit (to secure benefits in) this life specifically contradicts the precepts of taking refuge. Therefore, your statement, ‘I want to say from the depths of my heart that it is only due to my being confused by ignorance and not that I have knowingly entered an unwholesome path and led others onto the same path.’ is contradictory.”

Phabongkhapa answers: “You have therefore instructed me to give you an answer. I have propitiated Shugden until now because my old mother told me that Shugden is the deity of my maternal lineage.I wish to inform you that henceforth, with intense regret (for what is past) and (with the intention of) restraining my faults (in the future), I will never again propitiate (Shugden) or make daily offerings and supporting prayers and that I will wholeheartedly keep this commitment in the core of my heart. Whatever mistakes I have committed until now, such as having become a cause for the mental displeasure of the Great Nechung Choegyal, contradicting the precepts of taking refuge and so forth, I request you, the supreme protector, who is especially compassionate to the lowly, to regard me with love and great compassion and patiently to forgive me.

With great respect I here offer one silk scarf as a medium of request and five silver coins (to contribute to the) mandala offering.

A FINE EXAMPLE OF A FORCED ‘DECISION TO CONFORM’… OF EARLIER TIMES IN TIBET . KNOWING THAT KYABJE PABONGKHA DECHEN NYINGPO RECEIVED HIS PRACTICE FROM HIS ROOT GURU, WHO HAD GONE TO TUSHITA TO RECEIVE IT, THIS PAINTS A VIVID IMPRESSION OF PAST TIBETAN SOCIETY AND ORTHODOXY, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE CHANGED ALL THAT MUCH, UNTHINKABLE AS IT STILL IS TO UTTER OPINIONS NOT CONFORMING WITH THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OF THE DAY. WHO CARES IF THE CONTENT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS, JUST AS LONG AS IT SOUNDS POLITICALLY CORRECT.

ON A DEEPER LEVEL, THE TENSIONS DISPLAYED BETWEEN THE 13 TH DALAI LAMA AND PABONGKHA RINPOCHE ARE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SUBDUING THE DUALISTIC MINDS OF SENTIENT BEINGS. AT ONE TIME FOR EXAMPLE, PABONGKHA RINPOCHE WAS SUMMONED QUITE HARSHLY TO THE DALAI LAMA’S COURT TO PROVE THE AUTHENTICITY OF HIS ‘ SOUTHERN LAMRIM ’ TEACHING LINEAGE, OTHERWISE HE WOULD BE SCOLDED PUBLICALLY. PABONGKHAPA APPEARED AND POINTED TO THE ‘BOOKSHELF’ BEHIND THE DALAI LAMA, WHERE ALL THE TEXTS WERE KEPT, WRAPPED IN CLOTH, SAYING, “CHECK THE FIFTH TEXT FROM THE RIGHT, PAGE SO AND SO, THEN THE 12 TH FROM THE LEFT, PAGE SO AND SO..” AND SO FORTH. THE DALAI LAMA’S ATTENDANTS UNWRAPPED ALL THESE TEXTS AND TO THEIR AMAZEMENT FOUND INDEED ALL THE DEMANDED ANSWERS EXACTLY AS INDICATED…

Jigme Dhamchoe Gyatso (1898–1947)

The following account is found on pages 394 and 395 of the Biography of Jigme Dhamchoe Gyatsho (1898–1947) by the Dhomey scholar Tsetan Zhabdrung (1910–1985), first published in June 1987.

“Some of the followers of Ven. Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo Rinpoche engaged in heated argument over the systems of philosophical tenets of the new and the ancient traditions. They engaged in many mistaken activities such as destroying images of Padmasambhava and other peaceful and wrathful deities. They said that reciting the mantra of the Vajra Guru is of no value and would destroy the Padma Kathang (by burning it or throwing it into rivers.) Similarly, they asserted that turning Mani prayer wheels, observing weekly prayers for the deceased, and so forth are of no purpose and so placed many on the path of wrong view.

EVEN (OR PERHAPS ESPECIALLY, OUT OF GREAT COMPASSION) THE HIGHEST LAMAS HAVE LOTS OF STUPID DISCIPLES, WHO MISUNDERSTAND AND MISINTERPRET EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY THEIR LAMAS WRATHFUL ACTIVITY, QUOTE IT OUT OF CONTEXT AND USE IT AS EXCUSE FOR THEIR OWN EGO TRIPS. SUCH STORIES – WHETHER THEY ARE TRUE OR NOT WE DON’T KNOW – KEEP BEING USED OVER AND OVER AS ‘PROOF’ OF KYABJE PABONGKHA’S SECTARIAN TENDENCIES. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK IN HIS LAMRIM TEACHINGS WHAT HE TAUGHT ABOUT THE DISBENEFITS OF SECTARIANISM AND REFLECT DEEPER. A LAMA’S WRATHFUL WORDS OR ACTIONS AT A CERTAIN TIME REGARDING CERTAIN SITUATIONS COME FROM COMPASSION AND TO GET STUCK AT THE SUPERFICIAL APPEARANCE IS TO REMAIN BEREFT OF THE BLESSINGS CONVEYED ON THE INNER AND SECRET LEVEL.

INTERESTING ALSO THAT WHILE SUCH UNCHECKED STORIES OF THE PAST ARE TOLD AND RETOLD, FANATIC MOBS ARE PERFORMING ‘RELIGIOUS CLEANSING’ BY TEARING DORJE SHUGDEN STATUES FROM PEOPLE’S AND MONASTERIES ALTARS, DESECRATING AND DESTROYING THEM, TRAMPLING KYABJE TRIJANG DORJE CHANG’S PICTURES IN THE DIRT IN DHARAMSALA, SETTING HOUSES WITH THE ‘ACCUSED’ STILL INSIDE ON FIRE. LOGIC? WHAT LOGIC?

FINALLY, JUST ‘EN PASSANT’ – MANY GELUK TEMPLE IS GRACED BY GURU RINPOCHE STATUES; AS A FAMOUS EXAMPLE CHECK DROMO GESHE RINPOCHE, CONTEMPORARY AND VERY BEST FRIENDS WITH PABONGKHA AND TRIJANG RINPOCHES, WHO ALSO DID YEARLY SPECIAL CEREMONIES TO GURU RINPOCHE.

They held Gyalpo Shugden (Dholgyal) as the supreme refuge and the embodiment of all the Three Jewels. Many monks from minor monasteries in the southern area, claiming to be possessed by Shugden, ran madly in all directions destroying the three symbols of enlightenment (images, scriptures and stupas) and so forth. Displaying many such faults they greatly harmed the teachings of the second conqueror, Je Tsongkhapa. Therefore, if you were to compose an advisory letter for everyone’s benefit and were to publish it and distribute it throughout the three provinces of U, Tsang and Kham, it would greatly contribute to counteracting such disturbances to the teaching.”

IT DOESN’T GET ANY MORE ‘TIBETAN’ THAN THIS. FOR A VERY RECENT EXAMPLE CHECK THE STORIES ABOUT WHEN CHATRAL RINPOCHE GOT ATTACKED. FIRST THING OUT AND HAPPILY REPEATED ON EVERY CORNER WAS THE STORY THAT A TIBETAN GELUK MONK, ‘POSSESSED BY SHUGDEN’ ATTEMPTED TO STRANGLE CHATRAL RINPOCHE. SLOWLY SLOWLY THE MONK WAS NOT GELUK ANYMORE, THEN NOT A MONK, THEN NOT TIBETAN, AND IN THE END TURNED OUT TO BE A DERANGED AMERICAN…

BUT YOU CAN BET YOUR HAT THAT THE GELUK-SHUGDEN-MONK STORY WILL PREVAIL IN THE HEADS OF THOUSANDS WHO WILL PASS IT DOWN AS FACT TO ANYONE WHO CARES TO HEAR… SO MUCH TO SOME ‘TESTIMONIES.’

Story 5 (statement of the cabinet, ATPD and TYC resolutions)

Kashag’s Statement Concerning Dholgyal
(Cabinet of the Tibetan Government in Exile – Dharamsala – May 31, 1996)

After nearly forty years in exile under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the chances of achieving our goal of freedom for Tibet continues to improve. Tibetans stand out among all the refugees in the world for their unique achievements. This is no doubt the result of the Tibetan people’s courage and perseverance in attempting to restore the freedom (FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, AS THE SONG GOES..) of their country, which they enjoyed for more than two thousand years of its recorded history. However, we are yet to achieve the ultimate triumph (??). Obstructive factors of various kinds, emanating from beings of both the form and formless realms, continue to hinder our efforts.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has investigated these obstructions and their causes for many years. One of the findings of his investigations is that depending on the spirit (WE HAVE SURE COME A LONG WAY FROM ‘Glory of the wisdom, compassion and power of infinite Buddhas, Miraculously powerful protector of Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings’ – SEE HIS HOLINESS PRAYER TO DORJE SHUGDEN), Dholgyal, otherwise known as Dorje Shugden or Gyalchen Shugden, conflicts with Tibet’s two protector-deities (Nechung and Palden Lhamo) as well as the protector-deity of the Gelugpa tradition, Pledge-holding Dharmaraja (Damchen Choegyal). The inclination of this spirit is to harm, rather than benefit, the cause of Tibet . BY, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVING HIS HOLINESS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL ADVICE, SUCH AS THAT TO LEAVE TIBET AND HOW TO DO IT? IF DORJE SHUGDEN WANTED TO HARM THE CAUSE OF TIBET , WHY DID HE NOT JUST REPEAT NECHUNG’S ADVICE, “THE HOLDER OF THE LOTUS SHOULD STAY IN THE LAND” AT THAT CRITICAL ALL-DECIDING TIME? TO REPEAT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ELSEWHERE ALREADY, WHERE WOULD HIS HOLINESS BE IF HE HADN’T LEFT TIBET , AND WHAT WOULD TIBET BE?

Understanding this, His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself made a complete break with the Dolgyal in 1976. Since then, His Holiness has regularly explained to the Tibetan people why depending on the Dolgyal was inappropriate. Many Lamas, abbots, geshes, as well as the general Tibetan public, both lay and ordained, heeded his advice and stopped propitiating Dolgyal. As a result, the Tibetan situation has taken a turn for the better (SUCH AS THE NEW TRAIN LINE THAT DELIVERS MILLIONS OF CHINESE DIRECTLY TO LHASA ? HELLO?) .

However, some people have continued to propitiate Dolgyal, either because they failed to appreciate the threat it poses to the Tibetan cause or because they have decided to disregard it. There are yet others who not only propitiate Dolgyal themselves, but also actively encouraged others to follow suit. This has impaired the sacred relationship between the people of Tibet and their protector-deities. Today, this is one of the greatest dangers to the cause of Tibet and the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

During this spring teaching this year, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that it was very important at this point in our struggle that the people and protector-deities of Tibet maintain a harmonious relationship based on their mutual commitments to each other (START BY LIFTING THE SANCTIONS ON PALDEN LHAMO AT THE LOWER TANTRIC COLLEGE?). He repeated what he had declared on many previous occasions that just as a person’s breach of honor can create difficulties, so can a breach of commitments among the protector-deities. He reiterated that what he has previously announced remains unchanged. He conceded that restrictions on Dolgyal would not apply to any monastery, lama’s household or private individual who has no concern for the general interest of Tibet . His Holiness made this absolutely clear.

His Holiness clearly explained the point again on 21st March 1996 during the preparatory ritual for the Very Secret Hayagriva (Tamding Yang-sang) empowerment. He said: “Recently I have conducted a number of prayers for the well being of our nation and religion. It has become fairly clear that Dolgyal is a spirit of the dark forces (PERHAPS THIS IS A CONCESSION TO THE CATHOLIC AMONGST US, WHERE INHERENTLY EXISTING FORCES OF THE LIGHT BATTLE AGAINST INHERENTLY EXISTING DARK FORCES. HOWEVER, ONE IS TEMPTED TO ASK, ‘WHAT HAS BECOME OF KARMA – NO RESULT WITHOUT A CAUSE?’ THIS IS NOT TO DENY THAT APPARENTLY INDEPENDENTLY ACTING ENTITIES WITH NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE INTENTIONS MANIFEST, BUT IT DOES SOUND A BIT SIMPLISTIC IN A BUDDHIST CONTEXT, WHERE THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE MENTION OF THE DEPENDENCE ON INDIVIDUAL KARMA WHETHER SUCH ‘FORCES’ AFFECT US). Therefore, during the Hayagriva invocation last year, I specifically mentioned Dolgyal by name and an incantation was made to ward him off.” He continued: “I wonder if any among you here today continue to propitiate Dolgyal and still feel comfortable receiving this Hayagriva empowerment. This is the reason why I suggested yesterday that it would not be appropriate for those who propitiate Dolgyal to attend this empowerment. When the protector concerned is disloyal to its commitments, the person concerned becomes disloyal in turn. As I said yesterday, this gives rise to a breach of commitments which carries with it a definite threat to the life of a Lama.

“If any among you here are determined to continue propitiating Dolgyal, it would be better for you to stay away from this empowerment, get up and leave this place. It is improper for you to continue to sit here. It will not benefit you. On the contrary it will have the effect of reducing the life span of Gyalwa Rinpoche (The Dalai Lama), which is not good. However, if there are any among you who hope that Gyalwa Rinpoche will soon die, then you can stay.” Therefore rejecting Dolgyal has become a matter of the highest importance to the cause of Tibet , which is dependent on the personal security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

HIS HOLINESS HAS REMARKED IN THE MEANTIME ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THAT DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTICE DOES NEITHER ENDANGER HIS LIFE NOR THE CAUSE OF TIBET , AND THAT HE IS ONLY AGAINST IT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS OTHER LINEAGES HAVE WITH IT.

His Holiness also remarked: “The biography of His Holiness the Great Fifth Dalai Lama contains a reference to discord between him and Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen (whose spirit is alleged to have become Dolgyal) (SEE ALSO GEORGE DREYFUS’ ARTICLE ON HH’S WEBSITE, WHERE HE DESCRIBES HOW SOME PERCEIVED THIS AS AN INSULT AND SOME AS A COMPLIMENT, DEPENDING ON THEIR VIEW AND UNDERSTANDING OF DORJE SHUGDEN). The matter is made very clear in the Great Fifth’s Extensive Collection of Secrets (Sangwang Gyachen). On the basis of this evidence, the 13th Dalai Lama imposed restrictions on Dolgyal. I am a successor to the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and, likewise, have a unique karmic relationship with the previous Dalai Lama. I have therefore a duty to carry out the legacy of the Great Fifth and the 13th Dalai Lama (A NOTE ON THE SIDE: WHEN KYABJE TRIJANG RINPOCHE BEGAN HIS TUTORSHIP WITH THE DALAI LAMA, KYABJE PABONGKHA RINPOCHE TOLD HIM TO GIVE HIS UTMOST TO THIS SACRED DUTY, AS HIS HOLINESS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME AS MAGNIFICENT AS THE GREAT SEVENTH DALAI LAMA… FROM A POLITICAL VIEWPOINT, IF ANY OF THE DALAI LAMAS COULD BE SEEN AS SECTARIAN, THESE WOULD BE THE FIFTH AND THE 13 TH, AS DURING THEIR TIME THE GOVERNMENT WAS POLITICALLY VERY ACTIVE AND THE GELUK SCHOOL GAINED MASSIVE INFLUENCE. IT SEEMS AN INTERESTING PARADOX THAT PRECISELY THESE TWO ARE ALWAYS QUOTED AS BEING AGAINST DORJE SHUGDEN, WHO IN TURN IS BEING ACCUSED OF BEING SECTARIAN! THIS MIGHT BE WORTH A SEPARATE ARTICLE) .This is my responsibility, although some people may not like it. But then, this is not a matter of what is in the Dalai Lama’s interest, but what is in the interest of the Tibetan nation and its religion.

“When it comes to the interests of the Tibetan nation, I will carry through to completion the work I have begun (SADLY, AS WE SPEAK, FREEDOM FOR TIBET SEEMS FURTHER AWAY THAN EVER. OF COURSE THIS IS NOT HIS HOLINESS’ FAULT, WHO HAS WON THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS THE WORLD OVER AND THEREBY GENERATED GLOBAL SYMPATHY FOR TIBET ’S PLIGHT. MANY HIGH LAMAS FROM ALL LINEAGES ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THE LOSS OF TIBET WITH ONE WORD – KARMA. THIS MEANS THAT ULTIMATELY WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IS HAPPENING IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CHINESE, OR EVEN THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT WHO SEEM TO BE WASTING SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY SEEKING THE CAUSE OF TIBET ’S SITUATION SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE, WHILE ENGAGING IN INTERNAL SECRET SERVICE TYPE POLITICS AND MAKING PROMISES THEY CAN’T KEEP. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT IF WE WISH TO HELP TIBET WE HAVE TO BECOME MORE COMPASSIONATE, FORGIVING AND WISE AS INDIVIDUALS. POLITICALLY, BEFORE CHINA SEES A RENEWAL OF DHARMA ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, BETTERMENT OF CONDITIONS FOR TIBET ARE HARD TO IMAGINE. ISN’T IT SAD TO REMEMBER HOW LAMAS WHO HAVE GONE TO PLANT SEEDS IN CHINA HAVE BEEN BRANDED AS TRAITORS?) . I will not back off because of a few (? THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS, FROM HIGHEST LAMAS TO HUMBLE PRACTITIONER) disgruntled individuals. I am determined to implement the conclusions of my careful research and will not let it be. In the great monastic universities – Drepung, Sera and Ganden, the majority are faultless. However, it is clear that a tiny number among them are stubborn. Even private individuals may later have cause for regret if you take this lightly now in the hope that perhaps things will turn out all right after all. …Some of you feel that your business and ability to earn a living do better if you propitiate Dolgyal (IT WOULD INDEED BE VERY SAD TO LIMIT AN ENLIGHTENED PROTECTOR SUCH AS DORJE SHUGDEN TO MATERIAL FURTHERANCE IN ONE’S VIEWS AND PRAYERS. HOWEVER, DORJE SHUGDEN WILL NOT HELP MATERIALLY UNLESS DOING SO WILL BRING US CLOSER TO THE DHARMA. IT MAY ALSO BE WORTH MENTIONING AGAIN THAT THE GROWTH OF MOST IF NOT ALL DHARMA INSTITUTIONS OF THE GADEN TRADITION IN THE WEST HAS HAPPENED OR IS HAPPENING IN DEPENDENCE ON RELIANCE ON DORJE SHUGDEN. WITHOUT THIS, HIS HOLINESS WOULDN’T HAVE THE PLATFORM TODAY FROM WHICH HE BLESSES THE WORLD). This is ill-omened talk. It is an example as the notable lama and writer Gung-thang Tshang remarked, of how we human beings end up embracing evil friends.”

Propitiating spirits is a practice originating in pre-Buddhist Tibet . However, when Guru Padmasambhava was helping to establish Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century, He recruited some spirits such as Nechung, the State Oracle, to protect the Buddhist doctrine. Due to his high spiritual attainments, he was able to subdue such spirits and bind them by oath. Propitiating of spirits, therefore, is not a Buddhist practice itself, but a means to help sustain spiritual practice. Over the centuries the practice of propitiating spirits has instead become widespread as a means to achieve fame, fortune and the general well-being for this life, concerns that run counter to general Buddhist outlook.

His Holiness has commented on this too: “Those who can afford us protection and bounty in this life alone – be they humans, deities and nagas, mountain-dwelling protectors, and so forth – are all objects for whom we might feel compassion. There is no reason for holding them in awe. Seeking refuge in them is a disgrace to the Geluk tradition. It is disgraceful to seek refuge in such beings while failing to see benefit in the Six-armed Mahakala (Gonpo Chagdrug) and Pledge-bound Dharmaraja (Damchen Choegyal), the worthy appointed guardians of the immensely valuable teachings of Je Tsongkhapa.” Allaying any fears Tibetans may have about ceasing to propitiate Dolgyal, His Holiness said: “Lamas, Geshes, religious students, and laity need not fear that they will be harmed if they stop propitiating Dolgyal. Nothing will happen. I will face the challenge. As Gelugpas, recite the migtse ma prayer, it will be enough if you also recite the Condensed Extensive Praise to Dharmaraja (Choegyal Gyi Toepa Kyangkumma). No harm will befall you.”

HERE IT’S BACK TO THE DISCUSSION ‘ENLIGHTENED VERSUS WORLDY PROTECTOR.’ WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT THERE IS NO REASON TO HOLD WORLDY BEINGS IN AWE; IT JUST DOESN’T PERTAIN TO DORJE SHUGDEN, WHO MANIFESTS THE  “ Glory of the wisdom, compassion and power of infinite Buddhas” , IN HIS HOLINESS’ OWN WORDS, WHICH – SURPRISE! – IS AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF JE TSONGKHAPA’S EMBODIMENT OF MANJUSHRI, CHENREZIG AND VAJRAPANI, AND THE SUBLIME QUALITIES THE MIGTSEMA PRAYER INVOKES.

It is the duty of the Tibetan Government-in-exile to encourage (ENFORCE WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE. SEE NEXT SENTENCE) compliance with any advice given out of concern for the cause of Tibet , the security of its head of state and the honor of all Tibetan Buddhist traditions including the Geluk tradition. Consequently, it has initiated a programme to be prevailing upon those still following Dolgyal to make a break with it. (THIS IN SPITE OF HIS HOLINESS’ ASSURANCE THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT) We are doing so out of concern for the greater welfare of Tibet and so that the Gelugpa teachings of Je Tsongkhapa remain pure (WHOOA NELLY! THIS AND THE FOLLOWING SOUNDS LIKE EITHER THE TIBETAN GOVERNMENT HAVE TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF A NEWLY EMERGED DHARMA PROTECTOR OR THEY HAVE VISITED A WORKSHOP IN CHINESE COMMUNIST METHODS OF ‘RE-EDUCATION’…). Representatives visited Tibetan religious seats in South India to read out His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s statements. Most people with connections to Dolgyal have come to understand that propitiating him undermines the cause of Tibet, compromises the personal security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and brings harm to the individual propitiator himself or herself. Many of them stood up amidst the assembly of Lamas, Geshes, and the general body of monks to state that they were giving it up. Likewise, many letters undertaking to cease propitiating Dolgyal have arrived from monasteries, public and private organizations and the general public. We consider this an acceptance of responsibility for the greater good of Tibet .

However, a few Lamas, Geshes, lay people and organizations have adopted an extremist posture and continue to follow Dolgyal thinking that what they are doing accords with Gelugpa practice. Besides these, a handful of people are seeking to exploit the issue to create discord within the Tibetan community. They are spreading baseless rumors and accusations in the international community (WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE MEDIA, THE USUALLY COMPLETELY UNKNOWN, UNORGANISED AND UNFUNDED DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTITIONERS, OR THE TIBETAN GOVT. WITH THE DALAI LAMA AS THEIR FLAGSHIP, WHOSE GLOBAL MEDIA ATTENTION THEY ARE USING ALL ALONG THE WAY TO SPREAD BASELESS RUMORS AND ACCUSATIONS?), thereby playing into the enemy’s (WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS??) hands. We, therefore, request them to stop.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has raised concern about the question of propitiating Dolgyal only because it has a great bearing on the cause of Tibet . It is precisely because of this that he has conducted extensive research and investigation on the matter for more than two decades. He explained his findings to his tutor, Kyabje Yongzin Trijang Rinpoche. The tutor graciously acceded to it, acknowledging that the findings were entirely faultless. This should be firmly borne in mind by all concerned.

ONLY AN UTTERLY SHANGRI-LA’D WESTERNER OR A COMPLETELY BLINDFOLDED TIBETAN COULD FALL FOR SUCH COINAGE AND TAKE IT VERBATIM, OR DOES ANYONE BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WITHIN TIBETAN CLERGY STANDS UP TO THE DALAI LAMA AND TELLS HIM NO? ONE ‘GRACIOUSLY ACCEDES’ OR ‘DECIDES TO CONFORM.’ THE WEST HAS NOT YET FULLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE DALAI LAMA SYSTEM IS TO TIBETANS WHAT THE PHARAO SYSTEM WAS TO EGYPT – EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON IT. STILL, BY THINKING THEY CAN FEED THE MEDIA AND WESTERNERS IN GENERAL WITH THE SAME TYPE OF HYPE, AND BURY THE WHOLE ISSUE WITH ONE SWIFT STRIKE BY DECLARING US ‘THE ENEMY OF THE DALAI LAMA’, THE TIBETAN GOVT. HAS DONE ITSELF A HUGE DISFAVOR, AS INDEPENDENTLY THINKING MINDS SOONER OR LATER START DOUBTING GENERALISATIONS AND SLOGANS BARE OF ALL LOGIC AND REASON. AND WHAT HAPPENS THEN WE ARE WITNESSING NOW – EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO JUST DISAPPEAR, WHILE SKELETON AFTER SKELETON FALLS OUT OF THE ACCUSERS’ CUPBOARD…

In one of his recent statements His Holiness said: “You should not think that dangers to my life come only from someone armed with a knife, a gun, or a bomb. Such an event is extremely unlikely. But dangers to my life may arise if my advice is constantly spurned, causing me to feel discouraged and to see no further purpose in living.” In subsequent statement, he said: “I am now a man in his sixties. Owing to some merit accumulated in my past lives, I do not see any substantial danger to my life. …In the light of the Tibetan people’s plight and the tragic situation in Tibet , I will try to live long so that I can share in their sufferings and console them as well as I can. Apart from that, I have no personal interests whatsoever.” All Tibetans should think hard about this both as individuals and communities.

It is pointless to pay lip-service to religious freedom and democracy if a lack of trust amongst us undermines our cause and the personal security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There is no question of His Holiness the Dalai Lama ever trampling upon or neglecting any aspect of religious freedom. In fact, no one has ever attempted to prevent any Tibetan from embracing Buddhism or a non-Buddhist religion, or any school of Tibetan Buddhism . This is why Christians, Muslims, followers of the four great traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and Bön enjoy complete religious liberty in the Tibetan community. What needs to be stressed here is that there never has been, nor could there be, any attempt to impose Buddhist, Christians and Muslims. Similarly, religious freedom (NO, BUT POLITICAL DOMINANCE) has never been used as a pretext to impose Kagyu, Sakya or Geluk doctrines and practices on Nyingma monasteries. On the contrary, there is a law which lays down that Christians and Muslims should follow their own respective religious doctrines and practices and that the doctrines of other religions, and practices inconsistent with their own character should not be imposed on these religious centres. This is a spiritual tradition that accords with the principles of democracy and freedom.

According to Tibetan religious tradition, it is the responsibility of the founding lama or leader of monastery of any sect to give spiritual guidance as to what guardian protector, practices and doctrines the monastery should follow. But monks of the monastery do not question that guidance in the name of religious freedom. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the supreme religious and temporal head of Tibet . It is his responsibility, in his capacity as the spiritual leader, to give spiritual guidance for the benefit of the Tibetan people. As the temporal head of Tibet , it is his responsibility to give political direction to the Tibetan people and to seek to restrain activities that would bring harm to the cause of Tibet . Fulfilling his responsibility in this way cannot amount to a violation of religious and democratic freedoms. (QUESTION: HOW DOES ‘SUPREME RELIGIOUS AND TEMPORAL HEAD’ MATCH WITH ‘DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM’?)

The essence of His Holiness’ advice is this: “Propitiating Dolgyal does great harm to the cause of Tibet . It also imperils the life of the Dalai Lama. Therefore, it is totally inappropriate for the great monasteries of the Gelug tradition, the Upper and Lower Tantric Monasteries and all other affiliated monasteries which are national institutions ever to propitiate Dolgyal (AND FOR THE LOWER TANTRIC MONASTERIES – LET’S NOT FORGET NOT TO PROPITIATE PALDEN LHAMO!). The public should be thoroughly informed so that they can gain a clear appreciation of the situation themselves. However, everyone is completely free to say: “If the cause of Tibet and the Dalai Lama’s life are undermined so be it. We have religious freedom. We are a democracy. We are free to do as we please. We will not change our tradition of propitiating Dolgyal.” The overwhelming majority of the Tibetan people will remain steadfast, keeping in mind the greater good of the Tibetan cause, and contribute as best as they can to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes. Nevertheless, it is quite clear that far from restricting religious freedom, the choice is left open to the individual concerned.

The Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies
(Parliament in Exile)

Resolutions Passed unanimously in June 1996.

1. In the interest of Buddhism and the Tibetan national cause, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has openly advised against the propitiation of Shugden. On behalf of the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet, the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies would like to express our thanks and gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and make a pledge that we will abide by his every advice (WE HOPE HIS HOLINESS’ ADVICES ON FORGIVENESS, LOVING KINDNESS AND NON-VIOLENCE WILL BE SOMEWHAT INCLUDED).
2. This Assembly, accepting and re-emphasizing the series of announcements made on this issue by the Standing Committee of the Eleventh Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies and the Kashag, would like to emphatically encourage all Tibetans to implement the announcements.
3. We would like to express our appreciation to the monasteries, institutions, lamas, tulkus, monks and lay people who have immediately implemented the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the recent announcements of the Kashag and the Assembly of Tibetan people’s Deputies.
4. Those who have not implemented the advice properly as a result of being misguided into a state of confusion are requested to get literature and audio tapes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice from the Department of Religion and other concerned departments and officials. They are requested to make their independent decisions immediately after studying these and clearing the doubts in their minds. (HERE COMES THAT RE-EDUCATION GHOST AGAIN..)
5. Some people have been circulating literature, claiming that the Tibetan Government-in-Exile’s decision to issue advice on the demerit of propitiating Shugden amounts to religious persecution. It must be stated emphatically that giving advice within the context of a particular religious practice on the merit and demerit of propitiating spirits does not by any means constitute the infringement of religious freedom.
6. Some baseless rumours have it that discouraging the propitiation of Shugden goes against the practice of guru lineage. This claim is totally prejudicial, self-motivated and has no substance whatsoever. When the successive Dalai Lamas and many reputed Buddhist practitioners in Tibet , particularly the Thirteen Dalai Lama, restrained the propitiation of Shugden, it was accepted unanimously by all the lamas who were well-known for their erudition and spiritual practice. In forbidding the propitiation of Shugden, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is following the intention of the guru lineage, including that of his two tutors (THIS IS THE VERY ICING ON THE CAKE OF HYPOCRISY..).
7. Some people have been spreading lies that individuals were harassed and their objects of worship seized for propitiating Shugden, and that government officials were expelled from job, etc. Not a single of these allegations were found to be true. (OR THIS? OR MAYBE THE CAKE HAS TWO ICINGS..) Should such an incident ever take place, it must be noted that this is neither the wish of His Holiness Dalai Lama, nor the policy of the Tibetan Administration. We appeal to all the organizations and individuals to ensure that such an incident does not take place. (OR THIS? EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TELL TIBETANS OR WOULD-BE TIBETANS THAT THE DALAI LAMA’S LIFE IS IN DANGER! HELLO? PLEASE?)
8. In sum, the departments, their branches and subsidiaries, monasteries and their branches that are functioning under the administrative control of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile should be strictly instructed, in accordance with the rules and regulations, not to indulge in the propitiation of Shugden. We would like to clarify that if individual citizens propitiate Shugden, it will harm the common interest of Tibet, the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and strengthen the spirits that are against the religion (SO ARE YOU GOING TO SLANDER AND PUNISH HIS HOLINESS FOR HAVING PRACTICED DORJE SHUGDEN FOR 25 YEARS AND THEREBY ‘HARMED THE COMMON INTERESTS OF TIBET, HIS OWN LIFE, AND STRENGTHENED SPIRITS’?). This can be quite clearly and authentically established through texts and logic. Having said this, it is up to individuals themselves to decide as they like. We cannot force anyone to do anything against his or her wish. However, we would like to emphatically plead to the Shugden-worshippers that they should stop taking tantric initiations and teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Translated from the original in Tibetan

Resolutions Passed Unanimously on 17 September, 1997 .

Reaffirming and calling the attention of the Tibetan people to the resolution of 6 June 1996 , the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies recommends that:

1. Continued efforts should be made to educate the people to the demerit of following Shugden and that literature, audiotapes and visual tapes on the subject should be made easily available to the people;
2. The joint disinformation campaign of China and a small number of Shugden activists should be challenged within the framework of law;
3. Clarifications should be issued to repudiate the Shugden activists’ distorted propaganda, aimed at deceiving the general people;
4. Efforts should be made to challenge the Shugden activists’ campaign to intimidate (WOW!) and deceive non-Shugden practitioners, and that the victims should be provided security and legal protection (WOW!);
5. Particularly in the Three Great Monastic Universities of Sera, Gaden and Drepung, the restriction on Shugden practice should be kept up; Wherever the restriction has not been adequately enforced in any quarter of a Monastic University, the abbots, lamas, bureaucracy and scripture teachers should be asked to discourage the practice; support should be given to ordinary monks who are forced to violate the monastic discipline through use of intimidation and threat by Shugden activists;
6. The Chinese government’s politically-motivated support to a handful of Shugden activists and their disinformation campaigns in Tibet and outside world should be challenged effectively;
7. Recognition should be given to those who followed Shugden in the past out of ignorance, but have now given up the practice; efforts should be made to ensure that they do not suffer as a result of having given up the Shugden practice;
8. Efforts should be made to ensure that Shugden practitioners do not receive tantric teachings and Sothar teachings/vows;
9. People should send as much report as possible so that the local government and concerned central government departments of India are kept informed of the activities of Shugden supporters;
10. The government, non-governmental organizations and individuals should continue to follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice on the demerit of Shugden practice, the resolutions of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies and the Tibetan Administrative organs’ instructions on the matter; and they should challenge the nefarious designs of the Shugden activists and should not let down their guard.

Translated from the original in Tibetan

ADD YOUR OWN COMMENTS TO THE ABOVE AND BELOW IF YOU LIKE – ALL THIS WRTER HAS LEFT IS… WOW!

Resolution passed by the Tibetan Youth Congress (1997)

Whereas His Holiness the Dalai Lama has evaluated the advisability of worshipping Dholgyal for many years and has addressed the issue repeatedly since 1978, and

Whereas there has been negligence on the part of the public toward these addresses, with active propagation of this worship on the part of some (spiritual masters), and

Whereas this negligence is beyond tolerance any more,

We have called a special session of the Central Executive Committee of the Tibetan Youth Congress for May 10 and 11 for exhaustive consultation with scholars and for clarification of doubts as well as for policy directive to be perused on this issue. We resolve that,

1. Since there is nothing more important (for Tibetan) than the cause of Tibet and the health of the Dalai Lama, the participants solemnly agree to abide by these (said) addresses if His Holiness the Dalai Lama;
2. Upon arriving back at our respective areas, together with showing the video clip of this talk to local youth congress members, together with announcements of this resolution of this congress, the local youth representatives will solemnly declare that they will abide by these addresses of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and will report back within two weeks from this date on the progress made in this direction;
3. When it is confirmed there is no one in the Tibetan Youth Congress membership worshipping Dholgyal, we will gradually present the (said video clip to the public, announce our policy in this issue, and especially urge the Tibetan Youth to evaluate their decisions in this regard;
4. Even in places without youth congress branches, the nearest youth congress affiliate will try to urge this message by presenting the (said) video clip etc;
5. This Congress urges the Cabinet, the Chamber of Tibetan Peoples’ Deputies, the Religious and Educational Council and the Ministry of Home Affair (of the exile Tibetan govt.) to implement this policy in their respective areas of responsibility;
6. This execute Committee will likewise announce this policy to all Tibetan monasteries and urge that everyone must abide by the address of the Dalai Lama;
7. Together with documents pertaining to this ban on the worship of Dholgyal, this Congress will urge each and every spiritual master, including geshes, that in the interest of the health of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Independence, they should stop worshipping Dholgyal;
8. If anyone in the youth congress membership is found as still worshipping Dholgyal that member will be immediately expelled from Tibetan Youth Congress membership;
9. This congress will also urge all other Tibetan organizations not to enroll anyone into their membership who venerates and worships (this native Tibetan Buddhist deity) Dholgyal.

Seal of Tibetan Youth Congress

Lullabies before we say goodnight

THERE FOLLOW, UNDER THE HEADING ‘CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARS’ A LENGHTY STATEMENT BY THE PREVIOUS GADEN TRIPA, AND THE VERY LENGTHY AND INTERESTING STUDY BY GEORGES DREYFUS, ‘THE SHUK-DEN AFFAIR.’ DREYFUS, WHO STUDIED UNDER GESHE RABTEN, A TEACHER HIGHLY PRAISED BY HIS HOLINESS AND VERY DEVOTED DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTITIONER, SHOWS HOW HEAVILY BIASED MANY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONIES ARE, DEPENDING ON THE WRITERS PREFERENCE. HIS WORK IS PERHAPS THE MOST BALANCED APPROACH SO FAR IN THE FIELD OF ACADEMIC STUDY. BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE AVAILABLE MATERIALS (AS SHOWN BY HIM), THE TEXT DOESN’T ARRIVE AT ANY CONCLUSIVE RESULT, FOR WHICH THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OR DIMENSION WOULD HAVE TO BE INCLUDED. UNDERSTANDIBLY, THIS WOULD GO BEYOND THE CONTEXT OF HIS STUDY, IN WHICH IT WOULD APPEAR AS EITHER SPECULATION OR BLIND BELIEF IN ONE MASTER’S ‘OPINION.’ IT WOULD PROBABLY ALSO FORCE HIM TO TAKE POSITION HIMSELF, WHICH HE SEEMS TO SO CAREFULLY AVOID THAT AT TIMES ONE ASKS ONESELF HOW THE ARTICLE HAS FOUND ITS WAY ONTO HIS HOLINESS’ WEBSITE; INDEED, A CAREFUL READING DOES MUCH TO DISMANTLE MOST OF THE ARGUMENTATION METHODS AND DOCUMENTS USED TO DEFAME DORJE SHUGDEN IN THE GENERAL ARENA OF CONTROVERSY.

LAST AND LEAST, THE ‘DOCUMENTARY FILM’ WHERE EVERYONE GETS A FEW MINUTES IN THE SHAKY LIMELIGHT OF A CHEAP VIDEOCAM, EXCEPT – WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT? – A SINGLE DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTITIONER WITH A CHANCE TO UTTER EVEN ONE WORD ABOUT WHAT DORJE SHUGDEN IS TO HER/HIM. WITH THE KIND OF LASER-SHARP LOGIC REMINISCENT OF A KU KLUX KLAN MEMBER STUTTERING ABOUT WHY IT’S A SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT DARK-SKINNED FOLKS HAVE SMALLER BRAINS THAN PINK-SKINNED ONES, THE NARRATORS ASSEMBLE THE MOST GRUESOME RUMORS AND ACCUSATIONS JUST STUDIED TO EXHAUSTION IN THE PAGES ABOVE AND HAMMER THEM HOME INTO GOSPEL HEAVEN, AIDED BY THE VISUAL AESTHETICS OF A MEXICAN HORROR MOVIE.
(IS IT REALLY TRUE THAT WE HAVE JUST SEEN THIS ON HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA’S WEBSITE? PLEASE, PEOPLE, HIS HOLINESS DESERVES BETTER SCRIPTWRITERS AND CAMERA CREW…)
PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME WOULD GET SUED SO HEAVILY FOR PUBLISHING EVEN FIVE SECONDS OF SUCH SLANDEROUS, UNCORRABORATED, BIASED AND SECTARIAN MATERIAL, WE COULDN’T COUNT THE ZEROES ON THE FINE PLASTERED TO OUR FOREHEADS BY THE ANGRY JUDGE.
AND AFTER THAT, AFTER DARK, PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME HAD BETTER STAY HOME.

GOOD NIGHT.

HOW SAD.

SLEEP TIGHT.

(And remember – it’s all just a dream. Reality, truth – we don’t have it; nobody does as it is not a thing to be had. That’s why it’s always perfect. Long live His Holiness who knows this from experience.)