Point 8: Resolution Passed by the Tibetan Youth Congress (1997)

http://dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/tyc-resolution

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;
   

   (Ed: As a matter of fact, since the ban was officially put in place the fate of Tibet has never been in a precarious position. Can you even remember when was the last time the Chinese had a negotiation session with TGIE? Even before the ban, the situation had changed from a request for Tibetan independence to autonomy. So banning Dorje Shugden has not helped the Tibetan independence whatsoever, things just got worse.If we examine carefully a lot of the influential Gelug Lamas   (still practising Dorje Shudgen) are well travelled and has many centers worldwide. What better way to pressure the governments around the world than to apply pressure on China than supporting those influential Gelug Lamas. Examples are Gonsar Rnpoche, His Eminence Gangchen Lama, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Dromtug Rinpoche to name a few.)

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;
   

   (Ed: Which Tibetan youth would even think about rejecting the directive of HH the Dalai Lama? Many of these Tibetan youths probably have never received the practice of Dorje Shugden and would have no issue with being against it because the Dalai Lama says so.)

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;(Ed: How will they confirm this? Another undemocratic referendum?)
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 executive 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;
   

   (Ed: The current Dalai Lama is 76, he is the 2nd longest living Dalai Lama since the 1st Dalai Lama, it is quite clear the Dorje Shugden practice is not shortening his life. Many of the previous Dalai Lama’s did not live beyond their twenties. Therefore there is no impact on the health of the Dalai Lama. In addition, as the Dalai Lama is the emanation of Chenrezig, how can a ‘wordly spirit’ affect his health?Tibetans are divided over this issue, as long as Tibetan are divided the chances for independence is slim and non-existent. As said previously, Tibetan independence has already been given up by HH the Dalai Lama as he says that Tibet is seeking autonomy and not independence.If the government is Buddhist as it claims, then they should be banning the Bon (this is hypothetical and I am not suggesting that the TGIE ban the Bon religion at all). Bon is clearly identified as non Buddhist, but they are allowed to attend the Dalai Lama’s teachings and their children allowed to attend schools etc. Banning Gelug monks who propitiate Dorje Shugden seems like favoring outsiders over one’s family.)

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;(Ed: And this is democracy?)
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.
   

   (Ed: To eliminate all presence of Dorje Shudgen practitioners within the TYC and discriminatory actions are a kind of ethnic cleansing. This type of action is not resonant with Shakyamuni’s Right View. Come on, when we do our visualizations we put our enemies in front to overcome our emotions towards these ‘enemies’ not persecute them and drive them away. Not understanding who are our real ‘enemies’ is the unBuddhist action we must avoid.)

Seal of Tibetan Youth Congress