Point 7: The Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies’ Resolutions

http://dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/atpd-resolutions

Resolutions Passed Unanimously in June 1996. (Parliament in Exile)

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.
   

   (Ed: Buddhism does not encourage the worship of spirits like Nechung, yet the Tibetan Government in exile seeks advice from Nechung on all important decisions. This advice has often been proved wrong, while the enlightened Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden’s advice to HH the 14th Dalai Lama has been proven to be correct, yet Dorje Shugden is the one banned. Where is the logic?

   The ban on the Dorje Shugden practise violates human rights, in the United States if one wants to practice demon worshipping anyone can jolly well do so.

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.
   

   (Ed: Tibetans are split by this issue, Tibetan families are torn by this ban, the ban has no Buddhist basis to back it up. How can Tibetan independence materialize when the people are not of one heart and united. It’s like living in post war communist states whereby everyone is watching and suspecting everyone else. This air of suspicion is not the right environment for any request for independence. Tibetan people are divided in India, Tibet, Switzerland and the rest of the world where there are Tibetan Communities.)

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.
   

   (Ed: Gelugpa monks have been under threat to their ability in carrying on with their spiritual practice, they were obviously under duress due to the yellow/red stick referendum conducted by TGIE. As Confucius said ‘people are not obligated to keep promises made under duress’ so how sure are you that all the monks in the remaining government sanctioned monasteries have given it up wholeheartedly?)

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.
   

   (Ed: There is only one choice in this matter, NO choice. Is this democratic?)

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.
   

   (Ed: This advice has caused riots, danger to sangha, destruction of property, this kind of advice creates conflict and is not of a benign nature. Hence this is an unmeritorious advice. People and monks alike have been driven from their homes, this is religious persecution. Though It must be said that this advise does not infringe on religious freedom but it harms people that is for sure. Does the TGIE likes to harm its citizen? It would seem so from where I am standing.)

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.
   

   (Ed: If we are told by our guru to do this practice and after a while we don’t do it or stop, we are breaking our samaya. Trijang Rinpoche’s previous incarnation practiced Dorje Shugden till the end and it looks like the current Trijang Rinpoche will be doing that too. How is the Dalai Lama stopping his protector practice following his tutor’s intentions? In 2011, Samdhong Rinpoche said that he served the Dalai Lama out of devotion to his Lama, HH Trijang Rinpoche, and not because he wanted to, that’s a big hint for everyone that many Shugden practitioners in this tragedy have acted out of pure devotion with regards to the ban.

   Most of the elite and erudite Lamas of the Gelug tradition have opted not to abandon the practice of Dorje Shugden, so the statement above is misleading. During the time of the 13th Dalai Lama, Trijang Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche and Pabongka Rinpoche are among a fraction of the elite lamas who have chosen not abandon the practice given to them by their gurus.)

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. 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.
   

   (Ed: There are many videos capturing such occurrences of suppression and persecution all over video sites like youtube which have been also listed on dorjeshugden.com. This issue has been covered by the many famous TV channels such as France24, Al Jazeera, Australian Broadcasting Channel and some of the people interviewed did express clearly the persecution they have felt on cameras.)

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. 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.
   

   (Ed: Nechung has historically advised the Tibetan government  incorrectly and with disastrous results, still the Tibetan Government persists in cultivating it. As opposed to Dorje Shugden who gave the correct advice for Dalai Lama to leave for India. Logically, I would rely on Dorje Shugden and not Nechung a spirit bound by Padmasambhava.

   Shar Gaden and Serpom are the results of the persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners.)

Resolutions Passed Unanimously on 17 September, 1997.

1. 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:
2. 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;
   

   (Ed: The high lamas who propitiated Dorje Shugden produced works which are still resonating through time, Domo Geshe Rinpoche for his countless great deeds, the erudite scholar Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Denma Gonsa Rinpoche whose students are still building massive monasteries. These are the spiritual heavyweights of the Gelugpa tradition.)

3. The joint disinformation campaign of China and a small number of Shugden activists should be challenged within the framework of law;
   

   (Ed: This is a dirty tactic to associate the people who practise Dorje Shugden with the Chinese. Just like how Hitler used the Jews to rally the Germans into committing World War 2. It is through the sincere hard work, dedication and tenacity of the Gelug lamas that they were able to get the help to grow their organizations and not through any underhand collusion with the Chinese.)

4. Clarifications should be issued to repudiate the Shugden activists’ distorted propaganda, aimed at deceiving the general people;
   

   (Ed: Nechung has deceived in past predictions which did not turn out to be true, so why not issue that and warn against the dangers of consulting with a spirit?)

5. Efforts should be made to challenge the Shugden activists’ campaign to intimidate and deceive non-Shugden practitioners, and that the victims should be provided security and legal protection;
   

   (Ed: It is Shugden practitioners who need assistance and security. This is the very reason monasteries like Shar Gaden and Serpom have sprung up so that the Dorje Shugden practitioners can practise in safety.)

6. 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;
   

   (Ed: On the threat of cutting off shelter, sustenance and etc necessary for uninterrupted practice, many monks who had practised Dorje Shugden may have sworn off the practice. The government used the yellow stick referendum to corner the monks. Without Shar Gaden or Serpom, where could those who have wanted to keep their Dorje Shugden practice go? Hence those are the threats and blackmail against the monks and practitioners who still wanted to engage in Dorje Shugden practice.)

7. 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;
   

   (Ed: The so-called Shugden activists like Gangchen Lama have been engaging with the Chinese people and have been spreading Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition among the Chinese. So compare one billion plus Chinese versus 7 million Tibetans, I think Gangchen Lama is both wise and has foresight in engaging the Chinese.)

8. 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;
   

   (Ed: This implies that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is ignorant and that Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche is ignorant! And even HH 14th Dalai Lama himself! Then we might as well discount the entire Lama Tsongkhapa’s tradition from history.)

9. Efforts should be made to ensure that Shugden practitioners do not receive tantric teachings and Sothar teachings/vows;
   

   (Ed: All Dorje Shugden practitioners want is the freedom to practise our protector which is an essential component of the Gaden Oral Tradition. If the TGIE can leave us alone, not harass or stifle the Dorje Shudgen practitioners and not incite people to riot that would be good enough.)

10. 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;
    

    (Ed: This instills a culture of fear and divide, this is not a democratic or Buddhist way of doing things.)

11.  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.
    

    (Ed: Dorje Shugden practitioners have no agenda other than spiritual, they do not want Tibetans not to have their own country. I think the many years in exile have taught much hardship to all Tibetans why would they wish that for others. The ban however splits Tibetans everywhere and is a genuine obstacle to unity among Tibetans which therefore hinders any Tibetan independence aspirations.)

Translated from the original in Tibetan

The original article at dalailama.com in full:

The Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies’ Resolutions

Resolutions Passed Unanimously in June 1996. (Parliament in Exile)

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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.

Resolutions Passed Unanimously on 17 September, 1997.

1. 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:
2. 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;
3. The joint disinformation campaign of China and a small number of Shugden activists should be challenged within the framework of law;
4. Clarifications should be issued to repudiate the Shugden activists’ distorted propaganda, aimed at deceiving the general people;
5. Efforts should be made to challenge the Shugden activists’ campaign to intimidate and deceive non-Shugden practitioners, and that the victims should be provided security and legal protection;
6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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;
9. Efforts should be made to ensure that Shugden practitioners do not receive tantric teachings and Sothar teachings/vows;
10. 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;
11. 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