Dear Lobsang Sangay,
As the new Head of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), I am writing to protest that I am shocked to see this section on Dorje Shugden practice on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website (http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden) and request that the CTA have it removed as soon as possible.
Every allegation on this page can be refuted point by point with logic. There is absolutely no basis that Dorje Shugden is a demonic practice and there has not been any substantiated explanation why it is so except for the declaration by the Dalai Lama that it is.
This archaic condemnation of a Buddhist practice is not at all in keeping with the inclusive pacifist image which the Nobel Prize winner, the Dalai Lama, portrays as an icon of Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has always championed interfaith harmony, but since 1996, the Dalai Lama has created a deep schism between Buddhists the world over by excommunicating Dorje Shugden practitioners. The Dalai Lama has become synonymous with Buddhism and peace. Unfortunately, this ostracisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners reflects badly on Buddhism and will turn potential Buddhists away. They will see this unfair action against other Buddhists and not want to get involved. Why would anyone want to be Buddhist when they see this kind of unharmonious action against their own?
I have the deepest respect for the Dalai Lama and what he has achieved by bringing Buddhism to the West, but all the goodness that he has brought is undermined by the discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners. To this day, monks and lay people who are Dorje Shugden practiioners (or even suspected as Dorje Shugden practitioners) in Tibetan refugee camps are forbidden from buying produce in certain stores. They are not allowed to have travel papers nor are their children allowed to attend school. This kind of apartheid is not widely publicized in the Western world and if it is brought up, Tibet will be the laughing stock of the world. Tibet already has been struggling for the past 50 years to gain independence without any leeway whatsoever. I believe that it is this intrinsic parochial and petty divisive mindset which has created the cause that Tibet will always be divided from its homeland.
If the CTA wishes to be taken seriously on the international arena, it has to ensure that this apartheid is removed. I wish you and the CTA much strength and wisdom to do the right thing and correct this injustice and misconception to the world at large. Please remove this webpage from the Dalai Lama’s website so that people do not have the wrong view of the Dalai Lama and he can continue to have an otherwise unblemished public image.
May Tibet then create the causes for harmony within and without and CTA become respected in its own right.
Yours truly,
(YOUR NAME)
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