Creating Arguments from Inside Out

To the respected members of the Tibetan government-in-exile,

I must say that I have always admired the way the Tibetans have found balance between religion and politics. Over the centuries, no wars have been carried out in the name of Buddhism. To me, this is proof that Buddhism is a good religion. Buddhism is good because it discourages greed, and because its practitioners cannot create pain and suffering using its name.

But recently the delicate balance of religion and politics has failed in Tibet, and that means only one thing – the people involved allowed their greed and thirst for power to get in the way of the greater good.

But why am I not surprised? After all it was only a matter of time that this would happen – history has already proven that mixing religion and politics eventually leads to disastrous consequences. Just look at the Crusades – Christian missionaries and mercenaries, fighting their Muslim counterparts over some dry desert land in the middle of nowhere. It wasn’t even about religion; it was about power, might, ego and showing who is the best.

My point is this – the Crusades began hundreds of years ago, and it tore the world apart. It resulted in on-going suspicion between the two religions that has lasted up until today. Is this what you want for Buddhism? Do you want to use His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website to sow the seeds of discord? For the next few decades, do you want people to view one another with suspicion? Do you want people to live in fear? Do you want to be the cause for children to disown their parents, or for students to look at their teachers with disgust? Do YOU want to be the cause of confusion, doubt and anger in people’s minds?

Everyone is against us. The Christians say we’re idol worshippers and ancestral worshippers, and go around converting our Dharma brothers and sisters. The Muslims bomb our statues, burn our temples, and destroy our heritage and precious teachings.

We’ve already got enough problems from the rest of the world!

So why do you want to create arguments from inside out? Why are you driving the wedge of discord between Buddhists, and forcing us to divide into different camps? The number of Buddhists is already so small compared to the traditional Judeo-Christian religions. Why are you trying to create even fewer Buddhists, instead of converting others into Buddhism? When new Buddhists go to the Dalai Lama’s website, don’t you think it’s confusing for them to read the Dalai Lama’s teachings on harmony, then see the Dalai Lama put down Dorje Shugden?

Why are you using His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website to do all of this? Why are you using His Holiness’ website to make life difficult for YOUR OWN KIND??? Please please take down this section, and stop tarnishing the Dalai Lama’s name with this Dorje Shugden issue.

Sincerely,

(YOUR NAME)