To the Tibetan leaders,
I hope all you lovely people are well. I have been reading the Dalai Lama’s website and I have a few things to say about it.
I love everything about His Holiness the Dalai Lama! I love everything from his warm benevolent face to his amazing teachings. I was so lucky to have met him five years ago while he was giving teachings in Dharamsala. I was one in a long line of foreigners offering white silks scarves to the Dalai Lama. He was so warm and compassionate but at that time, I didn’t know what to say except a trembling hello and thank you.
This was way before I came across your website and read the strange statements the Dalai Lama has issued on this Protector deity. I don’t know much about it but I can’t fathom why a religious leader who is so compassionate like the Dalai Lama would say such a thing. In Europe, we have so many religious practices and witch craft. We have Druids and white witches that worship spirits and nature gods. They are respected and accepted as of any mainstream religion. I don’t think the Dalai Lama would want to ban them and if not them, why would he ban this Shugden spirit.
I am not really a Buddhist but I am exploring Buddhist meditation and I can’t seem to understand what’s wrong about worship Shugden. I have a huge problem reconciling the amazing teachings the Dalai Lama gives on compassion and this terrible ban. I am sorry but it makes the Dalai Lama sound hypocritical and it disturbs me very much. And I can imagine how much it would disturb millions of other people who look up to the Dalai Lama as a beacon of peace and compassion.
The world needs the Dalai Lama’s presence and teachings very much but the world does not need another unfair and unjustifiable religious ban. I do not know his profound reasons for issuing the ban and frankly speaking, I don’t really want to know. I would still say these things to him in the face if I had the chance and I would even say it nicely and politely because I respect and love him very much. Whatever it is, I do hope that all of you, who represent the Dalai Lama, do your part to represent the Dalai Lama well. And if you can, please remove all the nasty parts on Shugden. It really does not represent the Dalai Lama well. That’s really all I have to say about this for now.
Peace and love,
(YOUR NAME)
English
Indonesia
Tibetan