Who made Lama Zopa a Rinpoche?

Originally published on June 11, 2009

(Source: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=49.0)

This website helps me to see things better but what I as I have always believed deep in my heart the same beliefs as expressed in this website…

I respect H.H. the Dalai Lama and I respect Dharmaphala Dorje Shugden. Just like my teacher Lama Yeshe who had supreme faith in H.H. and trusted Dorje Shugden his whole life till he passed away.

LAMA YESHE was the very symbol of skillful compassionate action in constant motion and he mentioned many times that Dorje Shugden made his works grow as far as it did during his life time. Lama stayed true to his root teachers such as H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten and H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche showing us what guru devotion is really meant to be free of political inclinations.

In his practice of Dorje Shugden, Lama never hinted even slightly of sectarianism, or disregard for any form of religion never mind Buddhism. Lama would sometimes make breakfast for us students and during breakfast go into a dharma subject we were unclear about, or praise of H.H. the Dalai Lama or one of his personal teachers.

That truly was an age of ‘innocence’ sort of a way to say. Very inspiring stories at that. I miss those days before the controversies. Much simpler back then. Simpler that there was next to zero in lama-bashing, centre-bashing, lineage-bashing or siding up with H.H. the Dalai Lama for political reasons.

It was Lama who cared for me and taught me patiently. It is Lama whom I owe everything to. I will choose Lama always.

I am grateful to Lama for the dharma he imparted to so many. I express my gratefulness to Lama by myself never criticizing or doubting any of his practices or the practices he so compassionately gave us.

If Lama can have such deep affection/faith for H.H. the Dalai Lama, tremendous effort of guru devotion in his lamas, and keep up the practice of his protector Dorje Shugden throughout his life and see no conflicts, then I will do the same in my limited capacity.

I respect the Dalai Lama from my heart, but my root guru is Lama Yeshe and he advised us to practice Dorje Shugden and I will do so till the end.

If I must choose between the Dalai Lama and my root guru, Lama Yeshe, then I choose Lama Yeshe. He is the one that cared for me. Patiently taught me the dharma in a down-to-earth pragmatic level.

Lama Yeshe was not considered to be a scholar, or have studied much or even considered learned by his own Tibetan peers. Lama Yeshe was not a Rinpoche per se, nor ‘qualified’ to sit on a throne in a monastic environment, and did not obtain his Geshe degree that some equate as qualified to teach these days, but he was instrumental to bring thousands onto the path of BuddhaDharma.

He had real experiential knowledge of the dharma and was able to convey it in such a way that it would literally change the lives of hundreds as it did me.

I have met the Dalai Lama a few times and feel very fortunate, but the actual lama that took care of me was Lama Yeshe. I will view him as my refuge. In my meditations I invite Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa, Zong Rinpoche to dissolve into Lama Yeshe and then I focus on Lama Yeshe and proceed with my refuge.

Even when Lama was hospitalized for the last time and ‘dying’, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche flew in to perform the rituals, prayers, ceremonies necessary. The actual cremation H.H. Zong Rinpoche again flew into Vajrapani Institute in California to oversee the whole procedure. That shows us Lama’s deep guru samaya intact that on his deathbed, his great lama would personally fly in to do the rites both during his death process and again during the cremation.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche performing puja for Lama when he was extremely sick

Lama made no conflicts between the great lamas, his lamas, lineages, schools, diverse religions and certainly not dorje shugden and I think that embodies his capacity to think from a deeper wisdom. I bow to Lama. I MISS LAMA.

I hope his students will keep their samaya clean to Lama. I hope his students will never criticize H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, their practices and their students.

I HOPE FPMT WILL NEVER CRITICIZE DORJE SHUGDEN WHICH IS LAMA’S PERSONAL DHARMA PROTECTOR. I HOPE THAT FPMT STUDENTS WILL RESPECT LAMA’S WISHES AND PRACTICE THE DHARMA. I HOPE THEY NEVER CRITICIZE STUDENTS, CENTRES AND GREAT LAMAS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE OF DORJE SHUGDEN.

I am very happy to see Lama Yeshe’s sacred picture in this website’s masters sections. Many people are afraid to say the truth to look politically wrong. But that is not what the dharma is about. We should let go of attachment of this sort and just do our practice. Ego-less state of mind is the goal of our practice as Lama would say.

Lama relied on Dorje Shugden, just as Kyabje Zong Rinpoche did. When we condemn Dorje Shugden, aren’t we condemning Lama’s choices? Aren’t we condemning Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s choices?

Also never to criticize Dorje Shugden and the practices Lama gave us SO THAT HIS CURRENT INCARNATION CAN MANIFEST AS A DHARMA TEACHER. The only way his unmistaken current incarnation can manifest as a great dharma teacher again, is if his students keep samaya clean free of politics and free of politically motivated actions in the name of dharma.

Otherwise, it would be the responsibilities of the students if the current Lama Yeshe incarnation cannot perform the actions as he had set out to do. After all, if we as FPMT members criticize others who practice Dorje Shugden, then that will accumulate very heavy karma. Why? Because we destroy the faith of others in their gurus.

Do we have the right to do that? Does Lama Zopa’s closeness with H.H. the Dalai Lama validate FPMT CENTRES AND MEMBERS TO BE SOME KIND OF SPIRITUAL POLICE. That type of spiritual arrogance will be the downfall of any dharma organization. IT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF LAMA YESHE’S ASPIRATIONS.

We should reflect Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa well, by never criticizing other sects, lamas, lineages, practices, Dorje Shugden, etc. Why because it contradicts Lama Yeshe’s Bodhicitta aspirations. We should not especially criticize lamas who are spiritual heirs of Sera, Gaden, Drepung or who are students of Pabongkha, Trijang, Zong Rinpoches. Why? Because they are OUR LINEAGE LAMAS ALSO AND THEY ALL PRACTICED DORJE SHUGDEN AS THEIR PRINCIPLE PROTECTOR.

What if Lama’s reincarnation decides not to take over?

After all, think, how many years will Lama Zopa be alive. If Lama Osel, doesn’t decide to take over, or manifest as in his previous life, then what will happen to FPMT after Lama Zopa is gone. I shudder to think that. So we MUST CREATE THE CAUSES FOR FPMT TO SURVIVE AND LAMA OSEL TO MANIFEST AS HIS PREVIOUS LIFE BY KEEPING OUR SAMAYA CLEAN. HELPING OTHERS TO KEEP THEIR SAMAYAS CLEAN TO THEIR LAMAS BY NEVER CRITICIZING.

We can set out to cross the bridge, but if others destroy the bridge, then to get to the other side would take much more effort after great delays. Lama Zopa is working so hard, but the sad time will come when he enters death, then if Lama Osel’s incarnation is willing to take over, it will be smooth. Otherwise what will happen. What will become of all that has been started??? That would be such a waste.

So myself, I keep up my practices to create the causes for that. We cannot think of Lama’s work just expanding in our life time which it can due to Lama Zopa. But into future lifetimes. Future generations. So for that to happen, we need continuation of Lama’s successor.

If we just follow along the current political tides, we may look clean and good, but simultaneously it becomes damaging to what Lama’s previous incarnation practiced and that would not be very good. What’s the point if Lama’s centers and works grow now and after Lama Zopa’s passing, it stops, slows down or what not?

Is spiritual attainments gained by flashing pictures we have taken together with the Dalai Lama to other centers and justifying our arrogant authoritarian ways with that? I don’t think so.

I think if Dalai Lama is close to FPMT we should reflect that well by being even more humble, even more gentle, even more kind so we do not stain the name of H.H. the Dalai Lama. We cannot uplift his name or prove our guru devotion to him by putting down anything in regards to Dorje Shugden. That would be a heavy price to pay at the expense of our own Lama Yeshe’s heart protector. That is Dorje Shugden.

So when Lama was alive, we practice Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden is ok and a Buddha.

Lama Yeshe (far right) and Lama Zopa (second from right) doing a puja underneath a thangka of Dorje Shugden.

Kopan had monthly ‘secret’ pujas to Dorje Shugden as with most of the centers. The FPMT centers that were fortunate to have a great lama/geshe living nearby would always invite them monthly to the centers to do the monthly Dorje Shugden pujas as instructed by both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa.

The young Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche who resides in Nepal was often invited to Kopan Monastery to perform incredible pujas. Even before the current new Kopan Prayer Hall was built, many preliminary pujas had to be done on the land before the foundation was set. Kopan invited Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche to perform them.

Then when Dharamsala started stepping up on their anti-Shugden campaign, Kopan cut their ties with Pabongkha Rinpoche. It remains so till this day amazingly and he is the reincarnation of our lineage master!!!

I was amazed when I heard that from very reliable sources. In fact, Kopan wanted to look good, that the monk administrators influenced some Taiwanese sponsors against Pabongkha Rinpoche. Rinpoche was promised by them to build a Pabongkha Monastery in Nepal, and the Taiwanese had promised to sponsor it.

In order to get on Dharamsala’s good side and to get the sponsorship for themselves, Kopan administrative monks told the Taiwanese sponsors (which I will withhold name from here) that Pabongkha Rinpoche is not following Dalai Lama’s instructions to abandon Shugden practice and that they should not support Pabongkha’s Rinpoche’s intent on building the Monastery in Nepal.

Consequently it worked and unfortunately for Kopan’s karma. My question is, who put Kopan as the spiritual police in Nepal and so daringly create schism between their lineage guru’s sponsors??

For example, the Delhi FPMT branch centre in the past on monthly basis would invite the great Rongtha Gyabgon Rinpoche who lived in Ladakh Budh Vihar, New Delhi to perform the pujas at their centre every month. Dorje Shugden full puja was done at FPMT centre in Delhi monthly with great offerings. It was advised by Lama Zopa. In fact, Lama Zopa used to perform the Dorje Shugden pujas in both Kopan and Delhi himself on many occasions!!

Himalayan Yogic Institute in Katmandu had a Dorje Shugden statue in their side shrine room in a box with offerings, it would be opened from time to time as did the Delhi centre.

So Kopan is now very great, how did Dorje Shugden damage Kopan?? What was the wrong results manifesting now due to the decades that Lama Yeshe practiced Dorje Shugden and had Kopan do pujas monthly?? So if a friend helped us in the past, and we get a new friend, we simply abandon the old friend? Is that ethical or dharmic?

Lama Yeshe in Kopan, 1975 doing a puja during the 8th Meditation Course. Thanks to Lama’s reliance on Dorje Shugden, Kopan has grown to become great today. So how did Lama’s reliance on Dorje Shugden curtail Kopan’s success?

Then Lama dies and we don’t practice because H.H. the Dalai Lama says not to. And HH has reasons beyond our ordinary minds can conceive. Then one unfortunate day, H.H. Dalai Lama passes away (very sad time) and Lama Yeshe is back and then we again practice Dorje Shugden?? I mean that is a strange scenario. Back and forth that is.

It is very sad, because many of the FPMT centers now go on spiritual witch-hunts condemning other centers in their same cities. Using Dorje Shugden practice as negative as their ‘pure’ reasoning to take students away from their respective centers to join the nearby FPMT centers. But in fact they are just as I see it, trying to increase their own memberships.

I have witnessed this. Many, many, many of the older Lama Yeshe students have gone underground with their practices of Dorje Shugden. Some like me do not really go to the centers here in the USA anymore. They will not abandon their practice of Dorje Shugden because of their great devotion to Lama Yeshe and are somewhat flabbergasted at the direction that some new FPMT centers’ are going with their arrogant witch hunts.

What is important to remember is JUST BECAUSE YOU ATTEND THE DALAI LAMA’S TEACHINGS, OR HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS WITH HH DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY VALIDATE YOU AS A SPIRITUAL POLICEMAN AND GO ON WITCH-HUNTS.

We must practice the essence of what HH teaches as did Lama Yeshe, which are tolerance, compassion, forgiveness and not ever slandering any lama, dharma, lineage or practice. As the karmic retributions will fall onto us. We should never mislead new FPMT students toward this line of thought. We are destroying our organization slowly if we do so.

FPMT centers citing so and so practice Dorje Shugden and so therefore they are not pure. That is so hypocritical and political because Lama Yeshe practiced and Lama Zopa was recognized as a tulku by Dorje Shugden himself. In Dorje Shugden is a ghost, then Lama Zopa’s recognition becomes nil.

In fact some of the FPMT centers’ committees are in direct competition to attach students to their OWN centers for fundraising, attendance, membership, etc. So they use the heinous method of condemning Dorje Shugden to scare other centre members into joining FPMT. In fact when they do that, it is a disgrace. Older/senior FPMT students should speak up to new and younger ones who have not had the great fortune to meet our founder, Lama Yeshe.

Lama with His Holiness Zong Rinpoche (seated) and Lama Zopa. Both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa received Dorje Shugden from Zong Rinpoche Rinpoche. Was Lama praying to a ghost? What Zong Rinpoche praying to a ghost?

Lama Yeshe’s main protector practice was Dorje Shugden till the end. He didn’t take an unfortunate rebirth. Dorje Shugden didn’t harm him? IF LAMA YESHE WAS PRAYING TO A GHOST, THEN WHY DIDN’T HE TAKE REBIRTH IN THE THREE LOWER REALMS??

We must think clearly and not be swept away by convenient political tides in order to fill our dharma centers with membership so it gives it a successful appearance. If that was done, what would be the cost? It would affect Lama Osel’s current incarnation in not being able to manifest as a dharma teacher.

We destroy other people’s faith in their lama, and help them break their samaya with their lama, that karma would return back to us PERSONALLY AND AS A GROUP.

We as FPMT should respect our founder’s wishes and not ever criticize Dorje Shugden, his practitioners, his lineage, his followers in anyway because our founder, Lama Yeshe was one of them.

We shouldn’t practice or not practice what the current political situation pressures us to or not to. We should do what our lama says. So during Lama’s life Dorje Shugden is good and now Lama is dead, so Dorje Shugden is bad??? Wouldn’t that infer that lama was wrong, had bad degenerate practices, lacking in wisdom, had no refuge, had no attainments and wasted his life praying to a spirit??

So if Lama gave us Heruka initiation and practice, then it had no blessings because lama’s refuge degenerated due to his practice of Dorje Shugden?? Since Dorje Shugden is a spirit and Lama kept up his ‘sogtae’ (Dorje Shugden’s initiation) or life entrustment practices his whole life, then all of the other practices lama did was degenerated and ineffective when passed to us.

So any practices Lama Zopa received from Lama Yeshe and passes it to others would logically be degenerate also??? Wouldn’t it?

Lama gave many teachings and practices to us. It is our duty and commitment as his students that we maintain what Lama conferred on us, and not give it up for convenience or the sake of politics or financial benefits.

The implications are quite big if we choose to believe that way….So that would mean many of the practices that Lama Zopa does now and gives others that are directly from Lama Yeshe are degenerated because Lama Yeshe was degenerated?? Of course not. Very dangerous line of thought. Very ruinous direction we are heading toward.

I watched Lama Zopa get brow-beaten into ‘giving’ up his Dorje Shugden practices. And Lama has to be degenerated because H.H. Kyabje Trijang and Zong Rinpoches were degenerated we have to falsely assume. Both these lamas practiced Dorje Shugden till they entered parinirvana (deaths)…Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche entered into 12 days of clear light meditations in Dharamsala and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, three days.

And their unmistaken incarnations are back recognized by both H.H. the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden via his oracle again. How come they didn’t go to the Three Lower Realms since they worshipped Dorje Shugden the ‘spirit’ their whole lives in fact in all their previous many incarnations they worshipped also.

They didn’t descend into the lower realms from a lifetime of practicing and propagating a Dorje Shugden. Since these great lamas have ‘degenerated’ their refuge by the practice of Dorje Shugden which implies they have zero attainments in the first place to choose a spirit to worship, then their other practices naturally became defiled.

Do we choose to believe that way of thought?? I and many others clearly don’t. It doesn’t make sense. Many teachers and thousands of their disciples around the world today are committed and practice Dorje Shugden today. Because they have been given this practice by H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. They are following the commands of their root gurus, so what are they doing wrong? We switch gurus like status symbols??

His Holiness Zong Rinpoche (left) and His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche (right) were both Lama’s gurus. Both of them practiced Dorje Shugden, and they in turn conferred this practice onto Lama. Lama maintained his commitment to them until the end of his life, so how come we cannot maintain ours?

These are both the root gurus of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa. So we should not criticize other centers, lamas, students that practice Dorje Shugden. Be true to your dharma practice.

Even if hypothetically lama had given up his Dorje Shugden practices during his life, which he did not, his gurus didn’t give it up. So if his gurus did not give it up, then the practices received by Lama Yeshe would have been degenerated since his lamas are degenerated.

Lama Yeshe was inviting H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche up till his death in the early 80’s to his centers giving teachings, initiations, transmissions and commentaries. And Dorje Shugden life empowerments to hundreds. So however you want to look at it, then many of the practice graciously conferred by lama Zopa today are in one way or another defiled or at least contaminated. Could that be so? I don’t want to go that direction.

So however many photos Lama Zopa takes together with H.H. the Dalai Lama and advertised (as today, affiliations with Dalai Lama in any way would hint at authenticity/genuine practice whether you are or not) or whoever many events of H.H. are sponsored by Lama Zopa, it still cannot wash away the inner degenerate practices received from Lama Yeshe. Is that what we choose to believe?

Lama assisting Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, who he was extremely devoted to. Lama never gave up his commitments. What kind of example are we setting for future generations of FPMT if we gave up what Lama gave to us? What does that say about our devotion to Lama?

Even if Lama Zopa truly gave up his Dorje Shugden practices to be ‘absolved’, then he would have to give up all the practices that Lama Yeshe gave him also or at least don’t pass it to others. Then we have to believe the founder of our FPMT Lama Yeshe WAS WRONG.

In order to be truly clean? Just giving up Dorje Shugden wouldn’t be enough as his root lama, Lama Yeshe would have to be thought of as WRONG IN LAMA ZOPA’S DAILY MEDITATIONS. I also don’t think so.

So I again request everyone to think of the implications. Otherwise Lama Zopa had no formal long term training in Sera, has never studied to be a Geshe and is not a known as a scholar. He is not a Geshe of any rank. But contrary to not being a scholar-Geshe, he has excelled as a great master anyways. How kind of Dorje Shugden to know that Lama Zopa would bring many benefit to others and therefore recognize him as a true reincarnation.

When Dorje Shugden recognized him as a great incarnation, everyone accepted and believed. It is believed and accepted until today WITHOUT QUESTION. So if Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, what about Lama Zopa? Do we want to go that direction I ask again ? If Dorje Shugden is evil, then why believe Lama Zopa is an incarnation? Since Dorje Shugden pronounced it first.

I am grateful to Dorje Shugden for assisting Lama throughout his holy life. I am grateful to H.H. the Dalai Lama to spread Dharma even further now where the seeds have been sown way back then by the greats like Lama and his contemporaries for it to grow this big now..

This website speaks the same message as Lama Yeshe did. That is guru devotion, tolerance, acceptance and using one’s wisdom mind. I thank all those who participate in it and host it.

Our great current Lama Zopa Rinpoche HIMSELF WAS RECOGNIZED AS A REINCARNATION OF LAWUDO LAMA BY DORJE SHUGDEN HIMSELF.

The famous oracle of Dungkar, taking trance of Dorje Shugden. There was only one oracle at Dungkar, and this oracle took trance of six deities, three of whom are Dorje Shugden or associated with Dorje Shugden.

There was a very famous oracle of Dorje Shugden in Dromo Geshe’s Rinpoche’s Dungkar Monastery. This Monastery was visited by H.H. the Dalai Lama. When Dalai Lama visited, he was so impressed with Dorje Shugden’s prophecies via the Oracle Monk, that there and then H.H. the Dalai Lama composed the prayer and praise to Dorje Shugden. Still in use today. I am sure it is the same prayer as on the Home page of this extraordinary website.

There were many incidences of Lama Zopa wanting to become a monk or join his uncle to go to Tibet when he was very young. His mother relenting finally sent the young Lama Zopa with his uncle to Tibet where they went to Dungkar Monastery.

It was at this Monastery, the monks asked Dorje Shugden in full trance whether this young boy from Nepal was indeed a Tulku Incarnation as the young boy himself insisted that he was. DORJE SHUGDEN CONFIRMED IT. Yes Dorje Shugden took full possession/trance of Dungkar’s oracle and conferred the Rinpoche title on Lama Zopa and till this day it still holds.

So the current holder of the whole FPMT organization, our own Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was recognized, installed and enthroned by Dorje Shugden himself as a reincarnation or a Tulku. It is on that basis that Lama Zopa received special training from Lama Yeshe.

Many didn’t know that Lama Zopa was recognized by Dorje Shugden himself. He is and many of the younger FPMT students can verify that with the book written by the nun Jamyang Wangmo. Excellent book.

I would recommend highly getting this book which tells you everything:

 

THE LAWUDO LAMA

Written by Jamyang Wangmo (Vajra Publications)

You can get it at any major bookstore. The incredible thing is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has given a foreword to the book!

Why would His Holiness endorse this book knowing that it was Dorje Shugden who confirmed Lama Zopa’s incarnation status. Isn’t the Dalai Lama inadvertently or indirectly endorsing the recognition made by Dorje Shugden by giving a foreword to this book which is the biography of Lama Zopa Rinpoche?

See Page 172-173 of this book. Also see page 376 (footnote 250, 256) where it mentions clearly that ‘Gyachen’ (short for Gyachen Dorje Shugden) took possession of the oracle that day and pronounced Lama Zopa to be a true incarnation. This Dungkar Monastery oracle was famous throughout Tibet to take trance of Gyachen Dorje Shugden, Tashi Ober, Kache Marpo and Namkar Barzin. Kache Marpo and Namkar Barzin both being Dorje Shugden’s main entourage.

Page 172 and 173

footnote 250, as referenced in Pages 172 and 173

footnote 256

In fact many of the great masters mentioned in this book took Dorje Shugden as their principle protector. Masters such as Serkong Dorje Chang, Geshe Rabten, Zong Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Trehor Kyorpon Rinpoche, etc. etc. It seems many of the Lamas connected to Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa are great practitioners of Dorje Shugden.

We of FPMT, especially the people who joined after Lama Yeshe’s passing should think of the future from a wide scope. Our founding father was a sound Dorje Shugden practitioner, and his legacy was passed to Lama Zopa who was invested as a Tulku by Dorje Shugden.

Our lineage lamas all practiced Dorje Shugden as their principle protector. We must not criticize this protector in any way. If he was so bad, or truly a spirit, do you think all the dharma protectors of Tibet cannot out beat him?

Do you think the Dalai Lama cannot do some wrathful pujas and just subdue him as was done to Nechung (In Exile From The Land Of Snows. Wisdom Publications by John F. Avedon. Chapter: Wheel of Protection, pp. 238-270). Could it be that and evil spirit can harm the Dalai Lama’s life, merits and activities? If he can be harmed, then what is the point we take refuge?

We must think deeper, harder and refrain from actions of body, speech and mind to get immediate benefit. We must think of our organization, the dharma, and our personal growth on a long term basis. Into our future lives.

I hope all that read this would understand better. That is my hope to write. As I have not said anything for over twenty years.

Yeshe Sangye

 


 

FPMT Lineage Lamas

If FPMT is to be a fortress of Dharma, it has to depend on the solid foundations by which it is built, and there is no stronger foundation than to follow the Guru’s instructions, as stated in Je Tsongkapa’s text The Foundation of All Good Qualities. The majority of Lama Zopa’s teachers are well-known stalwarts of Dorje Shugden. It is no secret that Lama practiced Dorje Shugden himself too. In fact, Lama Zopa himself says,

Of course, Lama and I practiced Dorje Shugden for many years. That was always the main thing that Lama did whenever there were problems to overcome. At the beginning of every Kopan course, Lama always did Shugden puja to eliminate hindrances.
Source: http://www.lamayeshe.com/?sect=article&id=1026

It is therefore baffling that Lama Zopa and any of the senior students of FPMT, most of whom have Lama Yeshe as their root guru, would denounce Dorje Shugden today. By contradicting their lineage masters, a number of questions arise:

  1. If most of FPMT’s lineage masters are correct about Dorje Shugden and take the Protector as an integral practice, how can the FPMT simply dismiss it on the whim of the Dalai Lama?
  2. If Lama Zopa so blatantly disregards the majority of his teachers, how can the FPMT hope to inculcate guru devotion in their students? And if there is no culture of strong devotion to the gurus, how can the FPMT teach higher trainings that requite absolute adherence to the guru’s instructions?
  3. If the FPMT agrees with the Dalai Lama and CTA as they seem to, and accordingly treat Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals of society and enemies of the Tibetan people, then why list “criminals” on their official website as lineage masters?
  4. Following on from that, why continue to pass on the lineage teachings to present and future FPMT students if indeed these teachings came from lamas who seriously erred by practicing demon worship, as the FPMT claim Dorje Shugden to be?

Let’s take a closer look at the list of gurus that Lama Zopa names as his teachers:

1. H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo

Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s faith and reliance on Dorje Shugden was undisputed. This enlightened master, who authored what has been recognized as an important Lamrim text (Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand) by the Dalai Lama himself, taught the great importance of propitiating Dorje Shugden as the Dharma Protector of the Gelug lineage.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/pabongka-rinpoche-wikipedia/

 

2. H.H. Trijang Rinpoche

In modern Gelugpa history, there is hardly any significant figure of the Ganden tradition who has not been a disciple of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Trijang Rinpoche’s role in preserving the entirety of the Oral Ganden lineage and then passing it on intact cannot be disputed, and Dorje Shugden’s practice is an integral part of that tradition.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/tributes/a-tribute-to-his-holiness-kyabje-trijang-rinpoche/

 

3. H.H. Ling Rinpoche

Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was the heart disciple of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, and Ling Rinpoche received all his Dharma knowledge and practices from Pabongka Rinpoche. Ling Rinpoche, in turn, passed his knowledge and practices down to the 14th Dalai Lama. It is a known fact that Ling Rinpoche prescribed Dorje Shugden’s practice to many within the Tibetan community, and also composed prayers to Dorje Shugden.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/dalai-lama-and-ling-rinpoche-a-contradiction/

 

4. H.H. Zong Rinpoche

A heart son of H.H. Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche had impeccable knowledge of all rituals, art and science, and was renowned for his ‘many actions of powerful magic,’ as a result of which ‘the most marvellous, indescribable signs occurred.’ Zong Rinpoche trusted Dorje Shugden wholeheartedly and advised his students to practice strongly and devotedly.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/videos/must-watch/must-watch-advice-from-hh-kyabje-zong-dorje-chang-on-dorje-shugden-part-1/

 

5. Lama Yeshe

The founder of FPMT and a great practitioner of Dorje Shugden till the end, Lama Yeshe is well known to have commenced all-important Dharma projects with Dorje Shugden prayers. He remained devoted to his teachers and did not give up his practice of Dorje Shugden despite the ban on its practice.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/letter-from-yeshe-fpmt/

 

6. Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche

Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche was a Dorje Shugden practitioner and his devotion borne out of his practice is legendary. Rinpoche absorbed the obstacles to the Dalai Lama’s welfare and works, and took them upon himself through the practice of tonglen. It is therefore incredible that anyone should accuse Dorje Shugden lamas of wishing to harm the Dalai Lama.

Read more: http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/approaching_buddhism/teachers/tsenzhab_serkong_rinpoche/a_portrait_of_tsenzhab_serkong_rinpoche/part_8.html

 

7. H.H. Serkong Dorje Chang

Serkong Dorje Chang was well known for writing extensive commentaries on the tantric deity Chakrasamvara as well as an extensive confession and propitiation prayer (kangso) to the protector Dorje Shugden. In this kangso, Serkong Dorje Chang identifies Dorje Shugden as the principal protector of Lama Tsongkapa as well as the special protector of Ganden’s Ear-Whispered Lineage, the heart of the Gelug tradition.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/enlightened-lamas-series/serkong-dorje-chang-1856-1918-2/

 

8. H.H. Sakya Trizin

History shows that Dorje Shugden was first propitiated by the Sakyas. Dorje Shugden was inducted into the pantheon of Sakya protectors by the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741). Later, Sonam Rinchen named Dorje Shugden together with two other Protectors – Setrab and Tsiu Marpo – as the “Three Kings” (Gyalpo Sum).

Other Sakya high lamas who propitiated Dorje Shugden include the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunkhyen Ngawang Kunga Lodroe, the 33rd Sakya Trizin Padma Dudul Wangchug, the 35th Sakya Trizin Tashi Rinchen, the 37th Sakya Trizin Kunga Nyingpo, the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Thinley Rinchen and the 41st Sakya Trizin, who later recanted his practice under political coercion.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/dorje-shugden-on-a-black-horse/

 

9. Geshe Rabten Rinpoche

Geshe Rabten was the philosophical assistant of the 14th Dalai Lama and the first Tibetan Buddhist master to introduce the complete Vinaya-tradition and the study of the five major topics of Buddhism to the West.

Geshe Rabten’s faith in the Protector is clear by his statement, “This manifestation of the Buddha has no equal. If you are really determined to tame your mind, he will even give you his heart”.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/tributes/a-tribute-to-geshe-rabten-rinpoche/

 

10. Geshe Sopa Rinpoche

The Dalai Lama praised Geshe Lhundrub Sopa Rinpoche as an eminent “Buddhist mentor and a guide to hundreds of Western students and a pure lineage holder of the monastic tradition”.

However, this erudite teacher disagreed with the Dalai Lama’s view of Dorje Shugden, saying that “The idea of these ritual texts of Shukden is to spread and strengthen the pure teachings and destroy wrong views and practices, so their language and imagery tends to seem rather sectarian and aggressive”.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/geshe-lhundub-sopa-speaks-about-shugden/

 

11. Gomo Tulku

Lama Zopa himself stated that Gomo Tulku worked to spread the Dorje Shugden lineage:

“My root guru, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche; Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guru’s root guru; His Holiness Zong Rinpoche, from whom many of the older students received the initiation of Shugden; and the previous incarnation of Gomo Rinpoche, who has a strong connection with Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, here in Italy, all promoted the practice of Shugden. They were all aspects of the Dharmakaya”.

Read more: http://www.lamayeshe.com/?sect=article&id=1026

 

12. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche

Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche was born in the province of Amdo and at age six was recognized as the reincarnation of the former Abbot of Kirti Gompa. Rinpoche received teachings from many high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition including the practice of Dorje Shugden, which he kept all his life.

 

13. Zemey Rinpoche

So highly realised was Zemey Rinpoche that Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang regarded Zemey Rinpoche, one of his heart disciples, as being equal to him in knowledge and attainments. Zemey Rinpoche held all the same lineages, transmissions and practices as Trijang Rinpoche including the practice of Dorje Shugden.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/tributes/a-tribute-to-h-e-zemey-rinpoche/

 

14. Ribur Rinpoche

Ribur Rinpoche’s devotion to his guru, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche was legendary. He faithfully held on to all the teachings he received from Pabongka Rinpoche, including the Dorje Shugden practice.

As Ribur Rinpoche said, “I have had some success as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important. The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche”.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/recent-masters/ven-ribur-rinpoche/

 

15. Choden Rinpoche

Choden Rinpoche, one of the highest lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, was recognized and ordained by Pabongka Rinpoche. Choden Rinpoche was a fiercely steadfast practitioner of Dharma, saying: “I don’t remember too clearly my first meeting with Pabongka Rinpoche, but I do remember that Rinpoche was very happy with me. I really admired everything that Rinpoche did: the way he walked, the way he dressed, everything. I felt, “If only I could be like him”.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/recent-masters/h-e-choden-rinpoche/

 

16. Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche

Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche of Drepung Loseling Monastery was a direct student of H.H. Ling Dorje Chang. He was an expert on Manjushri’s fierce form, Yamantaka, amongst many other teachings and practices, and was appointed the Abbot of the Dalai Lama’s Namgyal Monastery from 1986 to 1991.

Denma Locho Rinpoche was a scholar of the highest calibre and a very prolific gentle teacher who did not discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners although it cost him his reputation.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/recent-masters/h-e-dhenma-lochoe-rinpoche/

 

17. Khyongla Rato Rinpoche

Khyongla Rato Rinpoche is a reincarnate lama and scholar of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche was born in the Dagyab region of Kham, in southeastern Tibet and eventually settled in the United States where he founded The Tibet Center, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Center in New York City.

Read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/recent-masters/khyongla-rato-rinpoche/

It is truly shocking to see FPMT policies that openly dishonor the practice of its lineage masters. Our root Guru, Lama Yeshe, was a Dorje Shugden practitioner. Kopan manifested with the help of Dorje Shugden. Sadly however, it appears that to be politically correct and on the Dalai Lama’s side far outweighs loyalty to the lineage masters and the pure tradition the masters used their lives to manifest.

 


 

Further Developments

After Yeshe Sangye’s stunning article on the fact Lama Zopa was recognized by Dorje Shugden as a Rinpoche, the news spread like wildfire. Lama Zopa tried to issue a clarification but it only served to confirm by Lama Zopa himself that he was indeed recognized by Dorje Shugden.

Lama Zopa’s “clarification” is included below. Notice that he ends it by saying, “So the Lopon for his own benefit asked the oracle of the monastery if this was true.” We ask – who is the oracle of the monastery? The famous Dorje Shugden Oracle of Dungkar Monastery, of course! See here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/?p=307

 

Lama Zopa’s 2008 “clarification”
about being recognized by Dorje Shugden:

HOW I WAS RECOGNIZED
(Source: http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=292)

To my very dear friends and students, I heard there is some misunderstanding about how I was recognized, so I just want to give you the details here.

The main disciple of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe (who it is said is my previous life) was Ngawang Chopel. He did many retreats during his life and he also followed the Buddha’s example of offering his own body (charity) to the insects and animals for seven days; this was quite amazing as he completely offered and they ate parts of it and he had to be taken to the hospital. Later Ngawang Chopel also built a monastery at Maritika near a cave of Guru Rinpoche (considered one of the most holy places of Guru Rinpoche – where it is said He achieved immortality). Ngawang Chopel was with the Lawudo Lama at the time of his death. The Lawudo Lama explained the signs happening in the death process to him as he was dying.

Since I was born in a very poor family, there was doubt by some if I was the incarnation, mainly on the part of the son of Lama Kunsang Yeshe. When Ngawang Chopel heard this he went immediately to Tibet to consult high lamas and all six lamas he consulted confirmed without doubt that I was the incarnation of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe. Two of the six high Lamas were His Holiness Tulshig Rinpoche (one of the teachers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama) and his root guru, the great Lama Rongpu Sangye. So at an early age, long before going to Tibet and the monastery at Pagri (small branch of Domo Geshe’s main monastery), I was recognized. Before I left for Tibet the son of Lama Kunsang Yeshe accepted me as the incarnation and promised to return to me the cave and texts, etc. belonging to his father after I returned from Tibet.

I was brought into Tibet by two uncles; both were my alphabet teachers. Why did I have two alphabet teachers? The first one was from Thami, near Lawudo; he took care of me. When I was very small (maybe four years old) I was always escaping and running home, so my mother sent me far away to the monastery in Rolwaling, a very isolated place high in the mountains near Tibet. There I was in the care of another uncle, Ngawang Gendun, who also taught me the alphabet (Tibetan). I stayed with him in Rolwaling for seven years, memorizing and reading texts and doing pujas called “shi-trol.”

These two uncles took me to Tibet. In Tibet I stayed with another uncle. He was in the Indian army; then he met a Tibetan lady from Tsang and they married and lived in Pagri, Tibet. Pagri was a very busy place for traders from Bhutan, Kalimpong, Lhasa, etc. The three uncles with some other Sherpas left me in the care of my aunt while they went on pilgrimage to Lhasa. They didn’t take me as they thought the journey would be too difficult and I could die, as I was still very young. After living some time in Pagri (hanging around), outside my house I met a very tall monk (externally appearing not to know me) and immediately he asked me if I would be his disciple (there must have been very strong karma with him). I answered him immediately “yes.”

Next day in the morning my aunt made a very nice thermos of tea and bread in a bamboo container inside a basket and took me to the small branch monastery of Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s main monastery about fifteen to twenty minutes’ walk away, where I met the tall monk again – he was the Lopon of this small monastery. The Lopon heard stories of me from people in the village, that I was a tulku from Lawudo near Thami. So the Lopon for his own benefit asked the oracle of the monastery if this was true.

With much love and prayer,
Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 

If you look carefully, the explanation from Lama Zopa Rinpoche does not deny the fact that he was also recognized by Dorje Shugden.

There are other descriptions such as about hospitals, insects, tall uncles, small monastery, etc. etc. etc. that attempt to distract the reader but Lama Zopa himself writes on the last line that the lopon of this monastery asked the oracle to confirm if he is a tulku or not. But he doesn’t explain what the oracle said and which deity entered the oracle. Of course the possessing being was Dorje Shugden, as stated in the book Lawudo Lama by Jamyang Wangmo. The book was written by one of FPMT’s own nuns and even more surprising, a foreword was provided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The private office of His Holiness definitely did not read this book carefully before issuing this foreword. Maybe they had no time to scan and read page by page so it most likely slipped past them. One thing is for sure – Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who is a special being, was recognized by the protector of his root guru, Dorje Shugden, another special being.

If Lama Zopa Rinpoche was not recognized by Dorje Shugden, then just say so. Just say that he was not recognized by Dorje Shugden. Simple and straight. But the fact is, he was.

 


 

Someone called Ronald Johnson further tried to deny all of this but his attempt was futile, and he was easily and immediately refuted:

You totally miss the point. Also, it would appear that English is not your first language so you would not be aware of the difference between recognized and confirmed. The implications of Yeshe Sangye’s first missive were that Rinpoche was FIRST identified by DS; Rinpoche’s letter clearly indicates that this is not so.

Look, anybody can ask DS anything…I could ask him if Tenzin Gyatso was indeed the Dalai Lama and he would confirm it. So what?

Also, to take a couple of sentences out of Jamyang Wangmo’s 500-page book and make a federal case out of it is simply obfuscation. Anyway, this happened in the mid-50s. The world was a very different place back then…especially Tibet. “

 


 

In response, a user on the Dorje Shugden forum known as Mountains says:

Dear Ronald,

My English being 1st or 2nd language has no point in this issue. I understand you are angry. I beg your forgiveness and wish you no ill. I am not attacking Lama Zopa nor FPMT, but the whole shugden issue has divided all of us. Imagine our Tibetan Buddhist world and how it would be if the whole Dorje Shugden issue was never brought up? Who did it harm? The majority of the Gelugpa High lamas and Geshes practiced/practice Dorje Shugden including Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa. Do you see any difference in Lama Zopa before when he was practicing and now when he says he is not?? He is exactly the same. Which leads you to believe with your own eyes, there is nothing wrong with Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa are both sublime beings who practiced a sublime Dharma protector.

(1) Do you deny that Lama Yeshe practiced Dorje Shugden his whole life until his death? Was lama Yeshe wrong in this? Was Lama Yeshe’s refuge commitments degenerated due to this? If not, why is it so bad, that lama zopa was confirmed by Dorje Shugden?? The point is not if he was confirmed or recognized, the point is that DORJE SHUGDEN’S PRACTICE, ORACLES, TRADITION, LINEAGE WAS WIDESPREAD/PREDOMINATE AND VALID IN THE TIBET OF THE 50′S. And you are right, Tibet WAS VERY DIFFERENT BACK THEN. The gelugpas were one and coexisted with the other sects beautifully.

(2) Do you want to hinge on one word of Yeshe Sangye’s letter that is identified? Whether Rinpoche indicates it is or not is not the point, the point is DORJE SHUGDEN was used to confirm his reincarnation status.

In the other Lama Zopa’s book “The Door to Satisfaction” by Wisdom Publications page X of Editor’s Preface, again Lama Zopa mentions clearly in the 3rd paragraph that the Dharma Protector of Domo Geshe’s Monastery CONFIRMED THAT RINPOCHE WAS A REINCARNATE LAMA AND OFFERED ADVICE CONCERNING HIS CARE. That we can conclude since Rinpoche mentions no other names of who else recognized him, whoever else did not hold much weight in the eyes of the ppl to caretake and train Rinpoche at that time. So they had to consult something to CONFIRM AND MAKE SURE Lama Zopa is who the others say he is. Who did they trust to confirm, Dorje Shugden.

If the great emanation of Tsongkapa, Domo Geshe Rinpoche would have a oracle recieving Dorje Shugden’s presence in his temple, definitely Dorje Shugden is a beneficial and beneficient being. Unless Domo Geshe Rinpoche was also unattained? I dont think so. Domo Geshe’s famous oracle in which HH the 14th Dalai Lama himself consulted in the 50′s at Dungkar Choede, can take full possession of 6 different dharma protectors!

They are:

      1. Dorje Shugden
      2. Namka Barzin (Dorje Shugden’s entourage)
      3. Kache Marpo (Dorje Shugden’s entourage)
      4. Tashi Obar
      5. Genyen Jingkarwa
      6. Pawo Trobar

Three of them are Dorje Shugden and his acolytes. Surely Domo Geshe Rinpoche whose people and temple nurtured and took care of Lama Zopa in the early years are not all evil, wrong and degenerate for propitiating Dorje Shugden? Domo Geshe is famed for his devotion to Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (root guru of Lama Yeshe and HH Dalai Lama), His great meditative concentration on the Vajra Yogini Tantras and his powerful propitiation of Dorje Shugden. Is Domo Geshe wrong to have a famous Dorje Shugden oracle in his monastery that ppl came from all parts of Tibet to consult. On all states of affairs, governmental, secular, etc. Many high incarnations are found by the oracular pronouncements of Dorje Shugden’s oracles past and present, so why not Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Even the current Trijang and Zong Rinpoche incarnations were found and confirmed by the Dorje Shugden oracle or Choyang Dulzin Kuten of Gaden. Then only it was presented to the Dalai Lama for formal recognition. What Dorje Shugden found and recognized was further confirmed by HH. Is that so bad that Lama Zopa was also confirmed by the great protector of Lama Yeshe, Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche, Pabongkha Rinpoche, Regent Daktra Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche that he is authentic? Of course not.

The incarnations of HH the Dalai Lamas are all confirmed by Nechung Oracle, but recognized and enthroned by the regents of Tibet. So are the confirmations by Nechung Oracle for the Dalai Lama not important? You dont say that Nechung recognized the Dalai Lama, but he plays an important part to confirm that LEADS TO EVENTUAL RECOGNITION. Just the same in the case of Lama Zopa, where Dorje Shugden confirmed he is a real tulku and even gave advice on the care. And in the Tibet of the 50′s Dorje Shugden’s oracular pronouncements carry great weight as his famous oracle in Lhasa called PANGLUNG KUTEN OR ORACLE where many high lamas, nobilities,and government officials consulted for private and governmental affairs. HH kyabje Trijang Rinpoche very much relied on the accuracy of this oracle of Dorje Shugden/Kache Marpo. You can read in his personal autobiography of HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.

(3) If Dorje Shugden was an evil spirit, he would of said that Lama Zopa is not a tulku, dont take care of him. Why would he say that? Because he can forsee Lama Zopa would benefit many and he would try to stop it not being happy about that. Devadatta did whatever he can to stop Buddha, but could not of course. Similarily, Dorje Shugden was so bad, he would try to stop Lama Zopa’s works to flower in the future.

(4) I see that Sangye has taken a couple of sentences out of Jamyang Wangmo’s book, to support the fact that even great lamas alive today are direct, or indirect products of the Dorje Shugden lineage of lamas, oracles and practices. It is not making a federal case. And If it was attempted to be turned into a federal case in any country outside of the Tibetan Exile footholds, it would never be a federal case. Religious freedom is tolerated anywhere in the democratic world. What is happening in the Tibetan settlements can only happen because of the pressures of ostracization. Muslims, satanists,Hindus, Sikhs, atheists, voodoo-followers, Protestants, Baptists, Mormons, Amish, Orthodox, Jews are ALL ALLOWED TO ATTEND ANY BUDDHIST SERMON IN ANY FPMT CENTRE IN THE WORLD. CAN ATTEND ANY TEACHINGS/GATHERINGS/INITIATIONS BY HH DALAI LAMA IN THE WORLD. ONLY DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTITIONERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO. Doesnt that sound funny. Surely Dorje Shugden practitioners are ‘better’ than satanists?? Christians, Muslims would find the image of the Buddha blasphemous, yet their devotees are never barred from HH Dalai Lama’s talks, why is that? Because it cannot never be gotten away with?

(5) My point is simple. FPMT as well as many other centres, lamas, organizations in the world has practiced Dorje Shugden peacefully and without incidence for a long time. In some cases, centuries. What is the big furor now. Suddenly HH Dalai Lama is right and all other lamas are wrong?? Cannot be. If so, then HH the Dalai Lama can be wrong also. In the unfortunate time in the future, when HH passes away, what will stop ppl from saying his ban on Dorje Shugden was wrong?? In fact what is to stop people from saying it now. Since our gurus can be wrong, the whole basis of Guru devotional practices is severely disrupted. This is not a Gelugpa issue, but a issue of freedom to practice whatever lineage we wish free of any lamas condemnations. If one lama can condemn, then all can be condemned. Then who is right and who is wrong?? I dont want to go that direction.

(6) Dont hinge the whole thing on words such as recognition and confirmation. Lama Yeshe and his root gurus/lineage practiced Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe consulted Dorje Shugden on many issues throughout his whole life. That is what makes FPMT so great now. Lama himself mentions in his books that it is the protector’s divine help in all his works that made it grow. FPMT’s main sadhanas are composed by lamas that held Dorje Shugden as their principal protectors. So if you wish to throw out Dorje Shugden, you better abandon the practices of for example Cittamanitara, Vajra Yogini and Yamantaka composed by Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche. Since he practiced Dorje Shugden and that is a mistake, then the sadhanas he composed that Gelugpas do everyday could be a mistake also. After all he seems to be able to make mistakes. We have to be very careful. That is not the case definitely.

THE POINT IS THIS: FPMT’S ROOTS ARE DEEP-SEEDED IN CONNECTIONS TO DORJE SHUGDEN. YOU MAY DENY CURRENT CONNECTIONS BUT YOU CANNOT DENY PAST CONNECTIONS. PAST CREATES THE FUTURE. SO IF YOU DYE A SCARF RED, IT CANNOT COME OUT BLUE. YOU CANNOT DENY THE SAMAYA CONNECTIONS TO DORJE SHUGDEN THAT ARE DEEPLY INTERRELATED TO ALL OF FPMT’S LINEAGE LAMAS OF THE PAST THAT CREATES/RESULTED IN ITS GREATNESS NOW. IF DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTICE AND PRACTITIONERS WERE ARE EVIL, THEN THE FRUIT MUST BE EVIL, IN THIS CASE FPMT MUST BE EVIL AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE.

Again Ronald, I write this to you in earnest to help you and many people see that Dorje Shugden has never harmed and will never harm. If he does harm, just have the great lamas do a fire puja or binding puja and be done with it. Do you mean all the dharma protectors of Tibet cannot overcome one ‘evil’ spirit Dorje Shugden?? It is not as simple as that. There is a bigger picture as predicted by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Dorje Shugden will go global. China will adopt the practice and on a governmental level promote the practice of Dorje Shugden first in China then from China into the world. The practice will go global and strong in the future generations. HH the Dalai Lama knows that. He cannot openly push it. So in his own way he is pushing it. China is already using Dorje Shugden as one of the bargaining ‘chips’ in the 6th negotiations with the exile govt of Tibet as stated by kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche. China is taking great interest and HH is pushing it in that directions. That is a level much more powerful than our likes and dislikes within the Tibetan Buddhist Community. China will adopt Dorje Shugden’s practice and will make it grow as HH is pushing it into that direction. As predicted in the early 70′s by HH Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang.”

 


 

Addendum

Zasep Tulku Rinpoche’s autobiography, A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada, published in 2016, provides historical evidence and irrefutable proof that the Central Tibetan Administration is falsifying the facts when it comes to the practice of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.

The autobiography of Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, a high lama of the Gelug lineage, provides accurate historical accounts of the Dorje Shugden practice. Click to enlarge.

The back cover of the book, click to enlarge.

 


 

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Historical accounts show that prior to the politicization of the Dorje Shugden practice by the Central Tibetan Administration, this popular deity was relied upon by Dharma practitioners to help in their spiritual practice. Contrary to detractors’ claims about Dorje Shugden being ‘anti-Dharma’, this Dharma Protector practice was traditionally deemed to be suitable to be practiced alongside the Highest Yoga Tantras.

 


 

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Zasep Rinpoche and his family were able to escape to safety prior to the events of 1959 through the clairvoyance and prophetic advice of Dorje Shugden through one of his oracles, Lama Gelong Chojor Gyamtso.

 


 

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Oracles of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden were known for the accuracy of their prophecies due to Dorje Shugden being a fully enlightened deity with perfect clairvoyance. As stated clearly by Zasep Rinpoche in his autobiography ‘A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada’, Dorje Shugden warned the Tibetans of the impending loss of their homeland but his advice was mostly ignored by the Tibetan government.

The Tibetan government chose to consult the worldly state protector Nechung, and Nechung advised that the Dalai Lama should remain in Tibet where he would be safe. This was mistaken advice, as historical events would later show. Fortunately for Tibetan Buddhists all around the world, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang had great faith in Dorje Shugden and consulted the protector for advice on the Dalai Lama’s safety. Dorje Shugden via the Panglung Oracle urgently adviced the Dalai Lama to leave for India immediately and gave the exact escape route. In saving the Dalai Lama from certain harm, Dorje Shugden prevented the destruction of Tibetan Buddhism and preserved the future of the Tibetan culture and people.

Zasep Rinpoche’s account of events concur with monastic records that it was indeed Dorje Shugden who saved the Dalai Lama instead of Nechung, contrary to the claims of the Tibetan leadership.

 


 

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Dorje Shugden’s practice was first established within the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Sakya Throneholders regarded this Dharma Protector as an enlightened being and Dorje Shugden, together with Dorje Setrab and Tsiu Marpo formed the triune of Sakya Protectors known as Gyalpo Sum. Today, Sakya practitioners claim that Dorje Shugden was never widely practiced by their lineage but history proves otherwise. The undeniable fact is that before the CTA’s religious ban, Dorje Shugden was practiced first by the Sakyas and was later transmitted to the Gelug school where it was practiced by the majority of the Gelugpas.

 


 

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Contrary to the CTA’s claims that Dorje Shugden’s practice is sectarian, Zasep Rinpoche’s autobiography shows how practitioners of all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism lived and practiced together in harmony, especially during the early years of exile in India. It was only when the CTA launched a virulent smear campaign against Dorje Shugden that the general public began to label Dorje Shugden a sectarian practice. In truth, Dorje Shugden’s practice is no more sectarian than the practices of other Dharma Protectors such as Mahakala Bernagchen, Achi Chokyi Drolma or Dorje Legpa, who protect the Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu and Nyingma schools respectively.

 


 

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By the 1980s, the Tibetan government had failed to fulfil multiple promises to return the Tibetan people to their homeland. A scapegoat was needed and they made one out of an ancient Buddhist practice, pinning the loss of Tibet and the failure of the Tibetan cause on Dorje Shugden. In his autobiography, Zasep Rinpoche is of the same opinion, stating that “…the [Dorje Shugden] controversy was orchestrated by the Tibetan Central Administration…”

The Tibetan leadership effectively sanctioned witch-hunts on Dorje Shugden practitioners and persecuted them using government instruments, declaring that simply by being a Shugden worshipper, one was effectively an enemy of the Tibetan nation.

As a result of the hatred against Dorje Shugden practitioners instigated by the Tibetan leadership, virtually all Shugden Buddhists had to fear for their lives, or at least for their safety.

 


 

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Dorje Shugden’s beneficial practice has continued to thrive due to the courage and commitment of high lamas such as Zasep Tulku Rinpoche.

 


 

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For centuries, Dorje Shugden has been practiced alongside the highest practices of the Gelug and Sakya lineages. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche’s list of transmission is an indication that the highest scholars viewed the Protector as an enlightened being compatible with their yidam practices.

 

For further reading:

Where is Lama Yeshe? (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/where-is-lama-yeshe/)

FPMT Lineage Masters are Dorje Shugden Believers (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/fpmt-lineage-masters-are-believers-of-dorje-shugden/)

FPMT, Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/fpmt-dalai-lama-and-dorje-shugden/)

A True Inspiration: Claudio Cipullo (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/a-true-inspiration-claudio-cipullo/)

Fabrizio Pallotti (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/fabrizio-pallotti/)

Politically Correct at the Expense of the Lineage (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/politically-correct-at-the-expense-of-the-lineage/)

Lama Yeshe and Geshe Rabten (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/mail-out/lama-yeshe-and-geshe-rabten/)

The Broken Samayas of FPMT (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-broken-samayas-of-fpmt/)

The Questionable Policies of the FPMT (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-questionable-policies-of-the-fpmt/)

Lama Zopa admitted to being recognized by Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/others-old/lama-zopa-admitted-to-being-recognized-by-dorje-shugden/)

Recognized by Dorje Shugden, but Speaks against Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/recognized-by-dorje-shugden-but-speaks-against-dorje-shugden/)

Kopan Monks Asking for Dorje Shugden Puja for Lama Zopa (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/kopan-monks-asking-for-dorje-shugden-puja-for-lama-zopa/)

Dakini Healed Lama Zopa? (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/dakini-healed-lama-zopa/)

A Tribute to Ven. Lama Yeshe Rinpoche (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/a-tribute-to-ven-lama-yeshe-rinpoche/)

 

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  1. Dear Yeshi Sangye-la

    I am not a Dorje Shugden practitioner. I’m a regular Tibetan who has been an observer to this controversy for the last few years. I think you are very brave to come out. Thank you for taking the trouble to explain.

    I have never met Lama Zopa, but I would be very happy if I did one day. From his writings, I find him an exceptionally inspiring teacher. He gives advice to lay folks how to be good parents, how to have a good marriage, or how to deal with difficult situations in life as Buddhists. It’s a great plus for Tibetan Buddhism to have Lamas who are able to bring this ancient knowledge to the people of our times in an accessible way.

    I also saw the letter Lama Zopa wrote to explain why he stopped the practice of Dorje Shugden. To me, it is clear that he abandoned his belief out of a sense of obligation, deep respect and gratitude towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and not because he shares the Dalai Lama’s insight on Dorje Shugden. This is a very important point to keep in mind: We must not look at his decision as an act of cowardice, Lama Zopa not able to stand up for his belief. No, I think we must see this as someone who is made to choose between his father and his mother.

    Therefore, if Dorje Shugden made him, Lama Zopa knows. And if abandoning Dorje Shugden has caused Lama Osel to quit his predestined role, Lama Zopa knows too. But there is no need for Dorje Shugden followers to triumphantly proclaim it to the public and rub it under his nose. It only makes them look bad.

    Dorje Shugden followers are being pressured and wronged. They are very brave to stick to their belief at the cost of being ostracised. In the name of religious freedom, in the name of democracy, they have every right to stick to their faith and take whatever legal action is necessary to help them safeguard their faith. But in doing so, they should remember to show restraint. Be mindful. They shouldn’t risk to diminish their efforts by appearing fanatic, evil or revengeful. That’s precisely what many in the Tibetan public think they are. So they should be extra attentive when picking their topics and they should use objective language to further their cause.

    For someone looking from outside, the current dispute over Dorje Shugden has only loosers on both sides. There are no winners.

    Those Tibetans who have NOT abandoned their faith, such as Trijang Rinpoche, suffer mental stress because they find themselves in opposition to the Dalai Lama, whom every Tibetans loves, even when they don’t agree with his views. And those Tibetans who HAVE abandoned their faith, such as Lama Zopa, suffer equally because they discontinue their religious practice to please the Dalai Lama. Neither side took their decision lightly and probably neither would have done what they did had they not been desperate pressured to choose. There must be a tremendous conflict of conscience on both sides.

    Now, if the law of cause and effect holds, there is no external power deciding which group did wrong and which did right. They are held responsible exclusively by their own motivation and their own mindset – including the Dalai Lama. The law of cause and effect will take care of it. It’s not up to us to judge. And if the Buddhist concept of emptiness holds, it would be correct to assume that all our great teachers represent one and the same mental continuum. So by pulling down one of them, we are pulling down all of them. By pulling down one of them, we are pulling down the Buddha himself and everything he represents. So why would we denigrate any of our Lamas?

    It’s an extremely difficult situation on the ground. The Tibetan society is deeply split over Dorje Shugden. Something we can do to help is for the moderate voices on both sides to come together and speak up on behalf of the other side.

    I would love to see prominent Nyingma and Kagyud Lamas speak up on behalf of their persecuted Gelug brothers. Their appeal would be particularly effective because the pretext is that Dorje Shugden is a sectarian, pro-Gelug protector. Or is their great silence on this one the great talking?

    Mountain Phoenix

  2. As Buddhists we have a responsibility to notice every truth and never be ignorant, however painful or shocking that knowledge may be. It must be truly horrible for you, Yeshe Sangye, to have this conflict inside you, and you clearly do not wish to identify the Dalai Lama as the cause of the conflict, although what you truly and honestly say about Dorje Shugden makes it clear that the Dalai Lama is indeed the cause.

    The Dalai Lama has repeatedly incited violence and hatred, and his reasons for opposing the Dorje Shugden practice are lies, told by a man whose manifest hatred cannot represent Buddhadharma. This is very sad – it has the deep and sharp sadness of samsara itself. We don’t need to be vengeful or angry, and probably shouldn’t take any action at all, just work within ourselves to become more enlightened and improve our wisdom and compassion. But we also need to be willing to share our understanding, and not hide behind comfortable delusions such as thinking that the Dalai Lama is a being of perfect moral discipline. I very much wish he were, but to pretend that he is would devalue all those remarkable people who really do manage to avoid promoting conflict and who live in peace with all.

  3. So we should practice & work according to Guru 50 practices & rules, precepts and dharmas of Buddha. NEVER CRITICIZE OTHERS’ GURU! ALWAYS LOOK AT OUR HEART!

    GURU(BUDDHAS) BLESS US!

  4. hi,
    i am tibetan but i am christain.Dont bring the dharma into the contravercy.

    the main thing is the chinese government is taking this matter into the political view and trying to bring gap within the tibetan society.The big lama are shouting each other,cant understand what kind of dharma tibetan are doing.Well dont ever bring the HH dalai Lama name into contraversies either this will bring the negative image in we all fellow,tibetan…

  5. Tibetans have done a good job in spreading Buddhism outside Tibet since their exile from Communist China. However, the ban on Dorje Shugden practice certainly has the effect taking a few big steps back from the good work done so far.

    HH Dalai Lama’s ban on DS practice caused confusion, sufferings and disillusionment to many Tibetans and Buddhists…..unless the enlightened minds have a bigger plan underlying these confusing policies.

  6. I deeply sympathise with Yeshe Sangye. He epithomises the anguish felt by many who are unable to find a solution to the current dilemma. In times like this, the dharma is the best refuge. The solution is there.

  7. From what I have read re Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa are practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe was Head of FPMT. But when Lama Yeshe passed away why then FPMT stop the practice of Dorje Shugden? Lama Zopa is recognised as incarnation of Lawudo Lama by Dorje Shugden himself. I think many of the old students and members may not be alive anymore and are ignorant of the history of Lama Zopa in relation to Dorje Shugden. That is why when the Tibetan controversy started and Dalai Lama put a stop to the practice of Dorje Shugden for some reason. The young ignorant members and students did not understand and followed the instructions of the Ban.

  8. Our great current Lama Zopa Rinpoche HIMSELF WAS RECOGNIZED AS A REINCARNATION OF LAWUDO LAMA BY DORJE SHUGDEN HIMSELF < I think that Rinpoche would have shown his qualities even if He was not recognized by anyone….still far from me of putting down anyone including the protector who no doubt is powerfull. I received the initiation from Kyabje Trichang Rinpoche together with Lama Zopa and Lama Yeshe long time ago (as you know it can be given to only 3 people at one time). I decided to give up also long time ago, not because the protector is evil, but because it is not indispensable for the Dharma practice and at the same time H.H. The Dalai Lama requested me to do so. I asked myself what Geshe Rabten and Lama Yeshe would had done, although is just an opinion, i think they would had followed H.H. advice as the great majority of Lamas did. The question is can you progress on the path without developing Bodhicitta and an understanding of sunyata, the answer is obviously a big No. Now can you progress without propitiating the protector? The answer is a big Yes. That s why i give up, the tibetan above said "giving up faith", i think is wrongly stated, the faith is in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and that is never given up.

  9. Dear Yeshe Sangye

    I feel for you as many are in the same situation. As I have reiterated many times, Temple and State have no place together. As Tenzin Tsering says, he is a Christian and does not wish to have the meaning of Tibetan smeared.

    We can only plead with the CTA and H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama, please help lift the ban so ALL Tibetans can live in harmony regardless of creed or believes.

    Thank you for being so forthright and brave to pen your thoughts and feelings in this matter of the Dorje Shugden ban.

  10. Kusho zopa is two face monk.

  11. I understand that there are people who are able to give up the practice of Dorje Shugden because it is really optional and they can give up happily. However I must speak on behalf of those who cannot. Despite being a mere Westerner, it happens to be my karma to have the presence of Dorje Shugden in my heart as my first original, deepest and most immediate and effective Deity practice. I cannot abandon Dorje Shugden without abandoning my Guru, the Segyu and Ganden lineages, and my entire path of the Buddhist Tantra which I have promised to follow to the end. I am at the mercy of the haters of Dorje Shugden and greatly thankful that they have not gone further than a little slander and ostracism in the safe and tolerant place where I live. It is heartbreaking to imagine the undeserved sadness and fear experienced by my Dharma brothers and sisters in the East.

  12. For a lineage to survive, we need to have good guru samaya with our lineage masters to pay homage and to repay their kindness by spreading the precious dharma in all 10 directions to benefit beings for we are all lost in samsara. With the going ons of political Buddhism, it creates chaos and confusion amongst those who are faithful, devoted and committed. The rule here is to follow the root guru’s instructions surpass any other commitment.

  13. I think however we as a practitioner we need to be able to practice our faith freely so whether or not you are DS practitioner or not the most important thing is peace so the only solution to resolved this current problem is to lift the ban .

  14. I quote what Master Cheng Yen, an amazing dharma master of our time, she said
    “Remain Soft-spoken even when reason is on your side”

    So for the FPMT spiritual policemen who think it is right to tell and persecute others as wrong and incorrect and they are right. They will be in for a rude awakening when the karma comes back.

  15. I guess until we become Enlightened, otherwise we will never understand the methods and techniques that High Lamas engage in order for his students to practice the Dharma. We need to hold steadfast to our Guru Devotion in order to be able to overcome all our obstacles in samsara

  16. It is actually quite simple; if Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, then everything associated to him would have no spiritual blessings and can confer no spiritual attainments.

    If Dorje Shugden is a demon, then Lama Yeshe who practiced him till his passing is not an attained master. If so, FPMT, a center that he founded should not be permitted to expound “contaminated” Dharma.

    Additionally, the successor of Lama Yeshe, i.e. Lama Zopa who is recognized by Dorje Shugden as a reincarnate lama is also an “unqualified” lama who cannot confer authentic teachings.

    Basically, FPMT can simply close all its centers because from beginning to current, everything about FPMT is empty of Dharma blessings.

  17. Yet another logical and outspoken article posted by this website. Thank you Yeshe Sangye for your logical thoughts on this very tough subject, you stated a comprehensive number of points that indicate why the ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden has such a negative impact on someone’s spiritual journey. From a logical Buddhist perspective this ban undermines the whole faith.

  18. It has been 7 years since this article was originally posted and I have yet to see one good reason why Lama Zopa and the FPMT would on the one hand be part of a malicious machinery bent on destroying a lineage of Dorje Shugden, and on the other hand continue to live under the patronage of a Lama Yeshe, a well-know Dorje Shugden lama. This is as churlish and one can be and it is difficult to reconcile the actions of the FPMT with Dharma.

    I wonder if Lama Zopa and the FPMT similarly encourage their students to ignore guru devotion the way they have been ignoring their guru devotion to their founder by demonising the Protector whom Lama Yeshe depended on.

    If what the FPMT says about Shugden is right, then their highest lama, Lama Zopa was recognised by a demon and the FPMT was built on the word of the devil.

    Incidentally, that reminds me how hard the Admin and Team of DS.com have been working and for so long. Many sites have come up and disappeared in the 7 years because it cannot be easy to keep this up and yet Ds.com has. My respects and appreciation to the Admin/Team.

  19. FPMT should issue a statement regarding this and lets see how they deny this fact and some of their more aggressive centers should really re-assess themselves and stop antagonizing Shugden centers. If you really wanna go down the road of abandoning your lineage and creating the cause for your lama’s incarnation to be disinteresting in continuing his work in this lifetime. Go ahead but don’t be mean and make it difficult for those who try to uphold the lineage and maintain their samaya. Please!

  20. The FPMT are such hypocrites, all the facilities and teachings that are available for the members to enjoy now is due to Lama Yeshe’s hard work and compassion. Now that Lama Yeshe has passed into clear light and his new incarnation found, most of the ungrateful members turned their backs against him.

    Lama Yeshe was a strong practitioner of Dorje Shugden, he held the practice closely towards the end of his life. Now the FPMT are calling Dorje Shugden a demon? A Dogyal? They are directly saying that Lama Yeshe did not have wisdom and he was wrong. Then why are they still publishing Lama Yeshe’s teachings/ books? All the teachings they have received and have been giving should not have any power since it all came from Lama Yeshe who was a Dorje Shugden practitioner right?

  21. Looking at Lama Zopa’s deteriorating health condition and Lama Osel’s manifestation, I urge the FPMT people to quickly restore their Samaya with Lama Osel by stopping to look good in the eyes of the CTA and be politically cleaned. This is the right way forward as the FPMT is founded by a Dorje Shugden lama and protected by Dorje Shugden. Nothing is more serious than having the wrong view of the Guru and has broken Samaya.

    I agree with Yeshe Sangye and very much grateful that he/she has the wisdom to see the contradictions in the FPMT decision to not practice Dorje Shugden. Everything that FPMT has is due to the kindness of Lama Yeshe, a devoted Dorje Shugden practitioner, and Lama Zopa, who was recognised by Dorje Shugden. The repercussion of broken Samaya is huge and we are seeing the effects now. If the group continue to ignore this, we’ll see FPMT further degenerate and eventually lose both their spiritual guides.

    I wish FPMT to continue to flourish and the current group of committee has the wisdom to see beyond the controversy and preserve the sacred lineage for the benefit of all beings.

  22. I feel really sad and sorry for Lama Zopa to have to play this game and tow the line with the CTA and to make his “sponsors” or maybe the FPMT directors happy, so He has to give in to say He no longer practices DS and that the centre is so called clean. It’s sad because ever since He had to do this which I feel it is like forced, FPMT has been going down hill with the broken samaya like…

    1. Incarnation of Lama Yeshe – Lama Osel no longer a lama instead has girlfriend and running around trying to study film or something?
    2. Lama Zopa fell really really sick and now cannot even speak properly which is so sad

    These are the two biggest downfalls and that does not include all the disharmony that’s been going on in FPMT. So I don’t understand how the students are so cold and heartless to a point the still ask Lama Zopa to talk about DS is no good. I mean if you don’t want to practice and you wish break your Guru samaya, is fine, but why condemn others and create more negative karma from it?

    I hope one fine day Lama Zopa will be able to rise above all the political games.I am sure it hurts him a lot to abandon His Guru and His practice on DS for the sake of being in the good books of the CTA which is such a short term benefit.

  23. What traitors to the memory of Lama, FPMT and the early days of Kopan.

    If FPMT had stood up to the ban when it was first enforced, perhaps it would not have taken off so quickly if the CTA had to contend with opposition from the two largest Buddhist organisations in the world.

    Pity FPMT abandoned samaya for political correctness and fame. Shame shame shame.

  24. Dear DS.com

    Thank you for posting this article by the Lama Yeshe students. The first time I read about Lama Zopa and Lama Yeshe was over ten years ago. I was in awe with the history of Kopan Monastery. It is really sad that because of Dorje Shugden ban some FPMT members have turned to partisanship. Politic and gaining factor with the Dalai Lama sure change everything, even their samaya with their Guru, Lama Yeshe and even to the point of denying the very protector that recognise their Guru.

    I think what is sad with FPMT is not so much the fact that the Dalai Lama is implementing this ban, but the fact that some of their members would like to appear politically correct and conform to the Dalai Lama’s wishes in the expense of the samaya with their Guru, Lama Yeshe.

    Lama Zopa himself never speak against Dorje Shugden or advise his students to penalise those who choose to practice. He only gave permission to his students to not practice to avoid confusion. But for those who received the sogtae and Dorje Shugden practice from Lama Yeshe, they did not have Lama Yeshe’s permission to stop practicing, and they should not stop or think that the practice they received from their Lama is wrong.

    Michaela

  25. Thank you Yeshe Sangye for sharing your view here for everyone to read. Indeed, there is no place for politics in religion. Guru Devotion is most important and following our Guru’s advice is the way.

    No doubt about Dorje Shugden, as if He wouldn’t not be who He is, He would have been send to a pure land long time ago.

    We cannot judge the action of a Buddha and must trust that there is a higher objective. May this whole controversy find an end soon and the ban come down quickly for the benefit of all sentient beings.

  26. With all due respect, I cant think of a better word to describe other than “traitor”. Lama Zopa enjoys what he has today, fame, students, centers around the world etc. because Dorje Shugden recognized him as a Rinpoche. If that did not happen, most likely Lama Zopa will not have the title to attract so much students and support. And what did he do now? He chose to side with the Dalai Lama and denounced Dorje Shugden, the very Protector who made him who he is today. Do you have a better word to describe this type of person?

  27. Thank you Yeshe Sangye for sharing this article with us. Its so sad to see your appeal to your dharma brothers and sisters to be mindful in their practises rather than attacks on Shugden practitioners. Its true, Buddha never appointed any Dharma Police other than Enlightened Dharma Protectors like Setrap, Dorje Shugden, Kache Marpo, Palden Llamo, etc. Any unenlightened ones are bound by oath to serve the Enlightened Protectors. As in the case of Namkar Barzin sworn to serve as assistant of Dorje Shugden. Even though Kache Marpo is an enlightened Protector and propitiated on his own, he CHOSE to be the assistant of Dorje Shugden as he saw the importance of Dorje Shugden’s vow to protect Lama Tsongkapa’s precious teachings.

    It is funny how ignorance can obscure one’s mental wisdom and clarity. Here you have the great Lama Yeshe, who practises and propitiates Dorje Shugden until he pass into clear light, reincarnated as Lama Osel and his incarnation confirmed by the Dalai Lama himself. That is such a strong proof of Dorje Shugden practise does no harm. And during Lama Yeshe’s time, he had grew and spread his dharma teacings and centres worldwide. That is another proof as his great dharmic activities spread on reliance on Dorje Shugden as a Protector. How can such wonderful spread happen if Dorje Shugden is nothing but a spirit?? These proofs that are DIRECTLY associated with Lama Yeshe (their Guru/lineage Guru) and his activities with enlightened Dorje Shugden, proofs that students of FPMT are witness of, not some hearsay of other centres.

    I think FPMT’s students should ask themselves a simple question : Do they want their practise to carry the power of attainments? There are only 2 answers : YES or NO.

    If the answer is YES, then they need to stop their Anti-Shugden activities. Why? Simple : Practises that gain attainments need strong Guru devotion/samaya and the blessings of Lineage Gurus. Many students at FPMT had Lama Yeshe as their direct Guru. To students of Lama Zopa, Lama Yeshe is their lineage Guru. Even if Lama Zopa had received teachings from the Dalai Lama, then HH Trijang Rinpoche is their lineage Guru. So there is no escaping a Guru/lineage Guru that practised Dorje Shugden.

    If the answer if NO, then why even bother practising?

    So my simple advice to FPMT members is whether you are against Dorje Shugden or not, it is good to concentrate on your practise and don’t create negative karma that stacks against You! Karma is personal and not transferable so you will be the one suffering the effects. You have the chance to practise precious Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings with the purity transmitted down to our times, don’t waste it but gain realisations within to help others.

    May all FPMT students gain the merits through their practises to create the cause for Lama Osel to teach in the future and continue expanding his legacy.

  28. Trying to still up controversy about anything is a distraction from the core path and focus on Bodhicitta. There was no point for this article to be written except to distract from the path. More practice, especially regarding Vajrasattva would be in order for the writer and anyone having strong emotions to the article.

  29. What will the all the people around the world and in Tibet do now? Dalai Lama says he is happy that Tibet is a part of China and should remain a part of China. So many Tibetans self-immolated for Tibet to be independent and now Dalai Lama did a 360 degree turn and says he wants to go back to Tibet and China and Tibet should be a part of China. So unbelievable. So many are angry and disappointed.

    Tibetans ready to be part of China: Dalai Lama
    Organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the event was a part of “Thank You India – 2018″ held by the Tibetan community across India to mark 60 years of its exile in the country.
    Indo-Asian News Service
    Bengaluru
    Tibetans are ready to be a part of China if guaranteed full rights to preserve their culture, the Dalai Lama said on Friday.
    “Tibetans are not asking for independence. We are okay with remaining with the People’s Republic of China, provided we have full rights to preserve our culture,” the 83-year-old spiritual leader said at “Thank You Karnataka” event here in the city.
    Organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the event was a part of “Thank You India – 2018″ held by the Tibetan community across India to mark 60 years of its exile in the country.
    “Several of Chinese citizens practicing Buddhism are keen on Tibetan Buddhism as it is considered scientific,” the Nobel laureate said.
    Born in Taktser hamlet in northeastern Tibet, the Dalai Lama was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. He fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959.
    China annexed Tibet in 1950, forcing thousands of Tibetans, including monks, to flee the mountain country and settle in India as refugees.
    Since then, India has been home to over 100,000 Tibetans majorly settled in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh among other states.
    https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/india/tibetans-ready-to-be-part-of-china-dalai-lama/293109.html

    d

  30. Dear Dalai Lama,

    Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.

    By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.

    It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.

    Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.

    You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.

    No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.

    You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.

    You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.

    After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.

    Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.

    The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.

    Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.

  31. A lesson to learn- Lama Osel disrobed, never finished his studies, achieved nothing much in his secular life, just running around with his girlfriend and clubbing in Ibizia, Spain. His previous life accomplished so much with the help of his determination, hard work and Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe credited much of his success to the help he was bestowed by Dorje Shugden. By FPMT abanding Dorje Shugden, they broke their samaya with their lineage gurus such as Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche from whom they received the Dorje Shugden sogtae commitment practice. Also it was with Lama Yeshe’s permission they received sogtae from these great masters. By abandoning the practice, they broke their spiritual bond (samaya) which is sacred in tantra with Lama Yeshe and lineage lamas. So it is no surprise Lama Yeshe came back in this incarnation unable to manifest being a great dharma teacher like his previous life. It is a shame and embarrassment to FPMT that Lama Osel ended up not doing much. It is a testimony to their failure in keeping their samaya to their guru and lineage lamas. FPMT wanted fame and rub shoulders with the famous and in return, they lost Lama Yeshe. After Lama Zopa passes away, FPMT will just go down for sure. No one can take over. Breaking their samaya was the wrong thing to do. ☹️

    So many more pictures and information to read here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6197.0

    _63155297_osel_today_good_jenkins464

  32. 💔👍

    Lama Zopa, who has received sogtae (initiation of Dorje Shugden) from His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, had said that:

    “Lama (Yeshe) and I practiced Shugden for many years. That was always the main thing that Lama did whenever there were problems to overcome. At the beginning of every Kopan course, Lama always did Shugden puja to eliminate hindrances.”

    “My root guru, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche; Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guru’s root guru; His Holiness Zong Rinpoche, from whom many of the older students received the initiation of Shugden; and the previous incarnation of Gomo Rinpoche, who has a strong connection with Istituto Lama Tsongkhapa, here in Italy, all promoted the practice of Shugden.”

    Photos: 1) Teachings by H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche to FPMT students. 2) As Lama Yeshe reached the end of his life, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche came to the hospital to do prayers for Lama Yeshe. Lama Yeshe was very devoted to Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden till the end.

    fpmt01

    ZR - LY

  33. In FPMT’s centre called Tushita in Dharamsala, North India, they have a statue of Lama Yeshe in the form of Vajrasattva with consort. Now the question is simple: If Lama Yeshe practised Dorje Shugden, then he is a bad lama, so why doesn’t FPMT stop the homage/respect to their founding father Lama Yeshe? If they trust him, they will go to three lower realms for worshipping Lama Yeshe who worshipped Dorje Shugden. And all statues of Lama Yeshe should be discarded from all their centres right? In fact, in nearby Gaden Choling Nunnery in Dharamsala, the nun’s took their Dorje Shugden statue out of their main prayer hall where it was worshipped for decades and destroyed the statue in the garbage dump and jumped up and down on it to further desecrate it.

    Furthermore they make a Dorje Shugden worshipping Lama Yeshe in the form of divinity as Buddha Vajrasattva. That is a double-whammy no right? Why is FPMT so contradictory? Why are they blind to this double standard?

    If they wish to disassociate from Dorje Shugden lamas, they have to disassociate from their own centre-founding Lama who is Lama Yeshe. They must set the example right. Everyone knows Lama Yeshe worshipped, trusted and believed in Dorje Shugden till the end of his life. Lama Yeshe is the one that founded FPMT, so they have to be clean across the board and be honest right? If disassociate, then do it all the way. They should have no pictures, statues and images of Lama Yeshe at all. They should not be making images of him as a deity (Vajrasattva) as that is even more wrong according to their stance against Shugden and Shugden Lamas.

    Why encourage their members to worship a Dorje Shugden loving Lama like Lama Yeshe? That is what they are doing when they keep all his images in their centres around the world. They are sending the wrong message out. Lama Yeshe was wrong in their view to practice Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe broke his refuge vows by practicing Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe’s lineage, teachings, initiations and commentaries are all corrupted because he worshipped Dorje Shugden. So they should ritually expel his images from their centres with immediate effect to be in the clean arena.

    Dalai Lama said if you worship Dorje Shugden, no one should associate with you and you will go to hell. So how come FPMT still keeps a statue of Lama Yeshe in many of their centres? Is that not hypocrisy?

    Pictures attached: Lama Yeshe as Vajrasattva with Consort housed in Tushita Centre-Dharamsala AND Lama Zopa prostrating to a statue of Lama Yeshe

    Picture1

    Picture2

  34. I do not understand how a Lama like Lama Rinpoche can write things like this, when it is well-known that he himself gave Dorje Shugden initiations and told the initiates that they were incurring a lifelong obligation to continue the practice, and that breaking such an obligation would incur grave negative karma. It is very confusing and frankly, depressing.

    Lama Zopa has written some excellent books, such as his work on the Medicine Buddha. However, his logic in this foreword is gravely flawed and perhaps even essentially anti-Buddhist. For instance, he says, “If the Precious Victorious One, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is not the actual Buddha and Arya Avalokiteshvara, then you can say that in this world there is no emanation of Buddha benefiting sentient beings. In this way bodhicitta and the entire teachings of the Buddha become false.”

    Say what??? I do not know whether the Dalai Lama is or is not an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, though, based on his words and actions, I sincerely doubt it. (I mean, the man has repeatedly stated in countless interviews that he is not enlightened, and seems to relish scoffing at the notion that he might be). Regardless, the fact that the Dalai Lama is or is not such an emanation has nothing whatsoever to do with whether there are other emanations of Buddha currently on earth benefitting sentient beings.

    Logically, one does not rule out the possibility that other living Buddhas exist today, or other emanations of Avalokiteshvara, simply by denying that the Dalai Lama is such a one. If I deny that my wife is a panda bear, I am not denying that pandas exist. Indeed, to make a claim of exclusivity on the Dalai Lama’s behalf, as Lama Zopa has done, is really anti-Mahayanan in spirit, for it belittles and denigrates the efficacy of all other Buddhist schools and traditions. Someone seems to have imported the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility into Dharamsala, and now they are beginning to round up the infidels and burn them at the stake.

    It is the height of irony that Lama Zopa urges practitioners to examine their beliefs openly and honestly, and then states as a matter of fact that the Dalai Lama is omniscient and one must adhere to what the ‘omniscient one’ says. Am I not permitted to question whether the Dalai Lama is truly omniscient, and to judge this claim by the evidence of the man’s words and actions? Am I not allowed to take him at his word when he says he is NOT omniscient? Am I not allowed to question his lack of success in defending the cause of Tibet, or his lack of compassion in his treatment of Shugden practitioners, or his bumbling manner in any number of interviews, or his willingness to be used as a CIA puppet or guest editor of a highly immoral fashion magazine?

    Sadly, the recent actions of Lama Zopa and the Dalai Lama have completely soured me on Tibetan Buddhism. I have been forced to turn back to the Theravadan and Chinese teachings, because I will never again turn my will and intellect over to a guru who demands total obedience, even when he teaches one thing today and a completely different thing tomorrow. With this version of Buddhism, it’s a heads-you-win, tails-I-lose situation for the sincere follower … any faults of the guru are really the fault of the practitioner, whose bad karma has caused those faults to manifest. And even when the guru manifests obvious error, he still is not to be questioned because the error again is in the eye of the practitioner and only through blind loyalty can he cleanse his karma to the point where sincere questioning is of any value. If this is the case, then there is no point in advising practitioners to question and judge the teachings, because their bad karma will not allow them to make reasonable judgments. Reason itself is banished; it has become soiled and fallen and no longer can be trusted. Blind obedience becomes the only permitted path … you must believe in the Dalai Lama because he is a priori infallible and any evidence to the contrary is not credible, because ONLY the Dalai Lama represents Buddha in today’s world and EVERYONE ELSE is deluded.

    And so the question arises: if I am required to have blind faith in the Dalai Lama in order to be “saved”, what separates this form of Buddhism from any other exclusivist, country-club members only, religion? What separates Buddhism from the monotheistic religions once reason has been outlawed? You can use the same “your bad karma prevents you from seeing things as they are” argument to justify any religion, any cult, any superstition, any belief whatsoever. It might take a slightly different form — “your ways are not God’s ways,” or “your reason was broken in the original fall from grace of sinful man,” but the essence is the same: don’t trust yourself, look to others, particularly those who are held up as masters, for the truth. In this way, Lama Zopa’s attempt to defend the Dalai Lama becomes an atomic weapon capable of destroying any and all religious belief, or empowering any and all zealots of every stripe.

    I find all of this unworthy of the spirit of inquiry I believe Buddha Shakyamuni promoted, and the spirit of compassion that Avalokiteshvara represents. I hope that one day all the confusion that these modern-day avatars have sowed will be cleared up and those of us who relied upon them as examples and guides on the spiritual path will have our disappointments honestly and frankly acknowledged and rectified.

    Comment left by a Howard from http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/recognized-by-dorje-shugden-but-speaks-against-dorje-shugden/comment-page-1/#comment-911810

    Image attached: HH Kyabje Zong Rinpoche performs last rites for the Ven. Lama Yeshe. Both these lamas were totally devoted to Dorje Shugden until the end of their lives. Decades later, Lama Zopa who has abandoned his guru Lama Yeshe’s practice of Dorje Shugden, to befriend the Dalai Lama.

    003

  35. This is a really well written piece with clear evidence. 👍

    fpmt01

  36. This article is done very well. There is so much proof to back up the writing. After reading it, I get to see the picture clearer. Lama Zopa should have never given up his Shugden practice. Too bad. 💔

  37. After I read this I have some doubts on FPMT. I joined them earlier this year in the US. It seems so rosy on the surface but there is many things fundamentally wrong. I will step back now from FPMT and be more careful.

    One good question is: If Lama Yeshe practiced Dhogyal Dorje Shugden his whole life, then why does FPMT have statues, images, thangkas, pictures of him and his books, videos and audios? We are suppose to disassociate from all Shugden practitioners past and present according to the Dalai Lama. After all Lama Yeshe has broken his refuge vows for worshipping something harmful.

    Why does FPMT not disassociate with a Dorje Shugden practitioner even if it is their founder Lama Yeshe. I mean, wrong is wrong. ☹️

    Lama Yeshe (1)

  38. After Lama Yeshe died, FPMT lost their direction and starting just following the Dalai Lama blindly. Lama Yeshe was a powerful leader and knew how to steer his organization. Too bad he died so early and FPMT just became political, materialistic and money minded. They always want to be politically correct and scorn those who are not. Not very compassionate for all that they are supposed to be practicing. A very arrogant group. If Lama Yeshe was alive, FPMT would be wonderful. Many have dropped out. 🤑

    tumblr_n1icr1ql231s5syojo2_1280

  39. “The broken samaya of FPMT students clearly reflected on the reincarnation of their guru, Lama Osel. He is now disrobed and has no interest in monastic life. He prefers secular life over dharma and looks like he won’t be able to contribute to Buddhism and FPMT like how Lama Yeshe did. Such manifestation from the Guru tells you clearly what kind of relationship that the students have with their Guru. Soon, Lama Osel will leave FPMT when the negative karma overwhelms the merit of FPMT to have their guru.”-Alex

    Extract from: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6206.0

    What you wrote above is exactly my opinion. I am not against Lama Zopa and FPMT. In fact before the Shugden ban, I use to respect and admire them very much. When their organization started to put up notices all over that they don’t allow Shugden people in to their functions, I noticed the hypocrisy. I was turned off. Their senior members left. Their own founding Lama Yeshe is a Shugden person and now they are being all political and discriminating against the religion of their own founder Lama Yeshe. Why do they do this? So they can get into Dalai Lama’s good books and ride on his fame to get more donations/members for their organization. You wonder why they don’t want to get in the good books on the blessings of their root and lineage lineage Lama Yeshe? If they practiced Dorje Shugden liked Lama Yeshe, maybe Dalai Lama will not be happy, but the blessings are there as they continue the tradition of Lama Yeshe the founder of FPMT. The blessings from him are more important then riding on the fame of Dalai Lama. If Dorje Shugden was deemed right by the founder Lama Yeshe, who are they to change that? Not everyone needs to follow Dalai Lama’s ways. Dalai Lama is a human and he can make mistakes too. If Lama Yeshe can make mistakes, then so can Dalai Lama. Isn’t that logical?

    Photo: Lama Yeshe dancing

  40. I couldn’t attach the photo to the above comment so here it is: Lama Yeshe dancing

    Lama Yeshe dancing

  41. Yes indeed very sad what FPMT has turned out to be… nothing worst than stabbing your own Guru in the back after he is gone! How low can one get? If they really believe their Lama was mistaken and practised a demonic evil practice, then why did they not tell him so when he was still alive?

    Why did they take initiations from Lama Yeshe and did all the puja and prayers with him and only after he is dead, they give up and break their commitments? Wow, talk about breaking samaya in the most deceitful way. And now they don’t have Lama Yeshe’s incarnation to teach because he is more interested in the worldly things. Then they have Lama Zopa who suffer from a stroke and falling ill all the time. Yet they still do not see how giving up on their Guru and their commitments towards their practice has put them in such an ugly light and collecting very heavy negative karma.

    It is scary to imagine what the future holds for FPMT and those that sided with politics over staying true to their Guru. Looks like they are more into politics and money than their Guru, the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings the right way.

    It is very disgusting and sad to learn that Lama Zopa wrote a foreword for a book speaking against Dorje Shugden. I don’t think Lama Zopa voluntarily did it, I think someone must have pushed him to do it and that someone must be on CTA’s payroll. That’s my guess.

    Attached are some pictures of Lama Yeshe’s cremation ceremony that was so kindly conducted by H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, who was a huge Dorje Shugden lama… so how come they believe and accept him then. Wouldn’t his prayers be tainted if he worshipped a demon? So sad to see these pictures and how ungrateful FPMT senior students are. So much negative karma.

    lamayeshecremation019

    lamayeshecremation020

    lamayeshecremation023

    lamayeshecremation024

    2i9coy

  42. FPMT is definitely playing the politic game here. There are no other reasons for FPMT to give up Dorje Shugden practice in the first place unless it is to look politically correct to get on CTA’s and Dalai Lama’s good side. Being on their side can get more supporters, sponsors and also members by using Dalai Lama’s fame.

    It is undeniable that outwardly being against the Dalai Lama can bring some severe consequences to the center but when it compared to breaking their samaya with Lama Yeshe, it is nothing. When they break their samaya with Lama Yeshe by invalidating part of his teaching, the blessing of the lama and lineage masters will stop.

    Whatever spiritual activity that they plan to carry out in their center will have no blessing and no lineage. It is much worst to break your samaya with your guru than to have fewer members and fewer sponsorships. Now that the karma of their broken samaya with Lama Yeshe has manifested when Lama Osel decided to lead a secular life and Lama Zopa suffered from a stroke which hinders the spreading of dharma

  43. FPMT giving up Dorje Shugden practice must have been motivated by money. They want to be political right and they don’t want to lose their sponsors. Many lamas who didn’t give up Dorje Shugden practice have lost many sponsors.

    Perhaps it is out of fear that they might not survive without the big sponsors so FPMT decided to give up the practice their lama has given them. But what they didn’t realise is that they have broken their Samaya with their lama and nothing they do will have any blessing at all. I think Lama Zopa didn’t make this decision himself, he left it to his students to decide. But he is still practicing Dorje Shugden secretly.

    The manifestation of the stroke suffered by Lama Zopa is a clear indication something is not right with the students. Lama Zopa might be taking on some heavy negative karma of the students by manifesting the stroke. As for Lama Osel, he must be quite disappointed with how FPMT is run, he has not parted fully from the center but he is not doing much for FPMT either. It is a pity that Lama Osel in this life is not able to do as much Dharma work as Lama Yeshe.

  44. I think FPMT just wants to be in Dalai Lama’s good book so they did not think too much of their action. They did not think people will start questioning them the logic behind giving up Dorje Shugden practice and keeping Lama Yeshe’s statue in their center. They just happily think they are pure and clean because they don’t practice Dorje Shugden.

    If FPMT is really so goody, they would have started their centers from scratch without using anything left behind by the Dorje Shugden practitioners. The statues they put on their altar should be the Dalai Lama since they are following the Dalai Lama’s instructions. They have abandoned their teacher! It just shows how greedy FPMT is. They are profiting on Lama Yeshe’s attainments!

    Lama Yeshe was a great lama who spread Dharma in the western world. Many still respect Lama Yeshe until today. His achievements are a great tool to give FPMT a very prestigious status and can help to draw many students to their centers. So FPMT is, in fact, making use of Lama Yeshe’s fame to make money. No wonder Lama Osel refuses to go back to FPMT and remains as an ordinary person.

  45. It has been over 2 years since I first read this letter by Yeshe Sangye and in re-reading again, the feeling is still so heartbreaking. You can read the great sadness in his missing Lama Yeshe and FPMT’s degeneration into what it is today due to broken Guru Samaya. Lama Yeshe had been so kind to build up FPMT centres for the people to find a way out of ignorance for the truly meaningful life. Yet after his death, FPMT has brought the worldly into what should be pure. Instead of leaving their negativities outside, they brought them into the centre and practice them everyday in the guise of “Buddhism”. Such is the collective karma of FPMT members. The thing is, Lama Yeshe had such long term plans for FPMT as one witnessed with the incarnation of Lama Osel, coming back as one of them, a Westerner (with attainments). How could they be so blind to such kindness of their founding Guru? Now with the broken samaya in demeaning the Guru’s choice of Dorje Shugden practice, Lama Osel sees it pointless to pursue Dharma but instead goes into the entertainment industry. As many had mentioned, if Lama Zopa were to pass, then who will carry forth the spread of Dharma. With no blessings, what is being spread??? Certainly not the pure lineage practices as they had broken it off when they disbelieved their Guru, Lama Yeshe’s trust in enlightened Dorje Shugden. All said and done, it is their choice I guess… to gain attainments or to indulge in enforcing their worldly karma. However they can justify, its a plain case of broken samaya in choosing political correctness. Too heavy a price to pay for such temporal gain. I do hope that they wake up from their delusions to realise their grave mistakes and hold on to Lama Osel by mending their samaya. They definitely need to change their beliefs of Dorje Shugden to align with what Lama Yeshe believed in. I personally think that Lama Zopa had in his compassion chosen to publicly stop practising DS so that he may help the students as FPMT. He had never verbally said anything against DS and had even publicly hinted at Shugden’s enlightened state with warning against disparagement of DS. He had already suffered a stroke for them and how much more do they want him to suffer their karma?

  46. Thank you Yeshe Sangye for the courage to voice out the many doubts many of us in FPMT have of the decision and actions of Lama Zopa.

    When it happened, when Lama Zopa issued the notice, we were all taken aback and surprised. It cause a terrible split and so many of us left the organisation. It was a terrible affront to Lama Yeshe Rinpoche who we love dearly. How could Lama Zopa directly go against his own teacher? I, like many others in FPMT felt disheartened by it.

    I have since left the FPMT, after seeing how Lama Zopa has clearly chosen a route that is as far as I can, not in the tenets of Tibetan Buddhism as Rinpoche taught.

    Because of Lama Zopa’s harmful deed, all of us in FPMT have suffered. We have lost the return of our beloved Rinpoche in his current incarnation. There is no one of calibre to take over the helm of the FPMT.

    It was time to move on. I hope that Lama Zopa will realise that it was him who made the mistake of saying that Rinpoche made a mistake by practising Dorje Shugden.

    Although I have stopped my practice for a period because of all the controversy and I was confused in the time, I have since commenced my Shugden practice again.

    I hope that in time, I will regain the precious relationship I once had and that maybe in the future, Rinpoche will once again return to teach and I have the merits to meet and be under his wing again.

    To any present members of the FPMT reading this, I hope that you come to the realisation of how gravely wrong Lama Zopa was and that you will be able to convey that message to him.

    For the sake of the future of the FPMT, before it’s too late, I hope that Lama Zopa will also repair the wrongs he has done, as I am doing.

    Lama Yeshe Rinpoche said that while we still breathe, it’s never too late. The karma for leaving things as they currently are is incredibly heavy and it is agonising for me to think what may happen if nothing is done to repair the broken relationship with Rinpoche.

  47. The following is what Lama Yeshe taught regarding gurus:

    “Putting it another way, the guru is the antidote to the confused mind, as long as he’s the right guru. A guru who’s a bad influence and leads us to more confusion and restlessness is a false guru; not a guru at all.”

    Can anyone who claim to be students of Lama Zopa or even attendees of his teachings, tell me with a straight face, that Lama Zopa, and his stance against Dorje Shugden, is not confusing?

    My apologies but FPMT members ought to contemplate as to why Lama Zopa is manifesting incoherence just as he is manifesting confusion with regards to Dorje Shugden as dealt with in this very informative article.

    Are FPMT members so deluded to pretend to understand Lama Zopa while he is teaching? I for sure don’t.

    Are FPMT members so insincere as to ignore the analytically lethal contradiction of Lama Zopa’s stance against Dorje Shugden?

    Do FPMT members realize how silly they look?

    • @
      Ex-FPMT, distanced for asking too many questions,

      What you say is painfully true. Too bad.

  48. China and India are becoming closer and in a recent meeting have agreed on some points. One of these points is that the Dalai Lama will not be allowed to carry out any more political activities against China on Indian soil. Being a spiritual leader, why is he so political anyway? The Indian leaders are slowly silencing the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans in India. The Dalai Lama and his Tibetan government in-exile regime had better make friends with China already. They should either go back to Tibet/China or become Indian citizens and remain silent.

    China will review new inputs on Azhar

    Delhi says no anti-Chinese activity will be allowed in India

    China has assured India that it will, in future, consider any additional information that is provided on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to designate him as an international terrorist.

    The assurance was given by Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, Zhao Kezhi, to Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a high-level meeting held in New Delhi last week.

    Dalai Lama’s visit

    On its part, India said its territory would not be used for any political activity against China, when Beijing raised the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh in 2016.

    The Doklam stand-off between the armies of the two countries at the China-Sikkim-Bhutan tri-junction last year, which lasted for over two months, was not raised by either side.

    China had blocked India’s proposal to designate Azhar as an international terrorist at a UN sanctions committee. “The Chinese Minister also promised action on United Liberation Front of Assam leader Paresh Baruah, who is said to be hiding in China. He said they would consider any fresh information provided by India on both Azhar and Baruah,” said a senior government official.

    China considers Arunachal Pradesh a disputed territory and has referred to Tibetan leader Dalai Lama as a “separatist.” China was categorical that no protests or demonstrations should be organised by the Tibetans here.

    ‘A spiritual leader’

    “They wanted to raise the so-called disputed status of Arunachal Pradesh, but we did not agree to include it in the agenda. The Chinese delegation was assured that no political activity against the Chinese will be allowed from any Indian territory and as far as the Dalai Lama is concerned, he is a spiritual Tibetan leader who was given shelter in India,” said the official.

    Beijing also raised the unrest in Xinjiang province and sought India’s cooperation on the movement of Uighur militants.

    ‘No Uighur militants’

    “There is no evidence of the movement of Uighur militants in India, but the Chinese raised the subject as they have an apprehension that they may use India as a transit. They were assured that no such activity will be allowed,” said the official.

    On October 22, India and China signed an agreement to “strengthen and consolidate discussions and cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism, organised crime, drug control and other such relevant areas.”

    A Memorandum of Understanding had been signed in 2005 with China, but that lapsed two years ago.

    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/will-consider-information-on-azhar-china-tells-india/article25347756.ece

    ChinaWillReviewNewInputs

  49. Thank you Yeshe Sangye for your courageous truth. Lama Zopa is human and not a god. He can make mistakes too. If he gave up Dorje Shugden the main practice of many of his gurus especially Lama Yeshe, then he is open for critique. He is open to many people losing respect for him. The people who ‘worship’ and ‘adore’ him are new people who do not know FPMT’s history. I am disgusted.

    1_wH41mwA4_K9A6Zr26Pq6_w

  50. This is sad to see what have FPMT did. It looks like FPMT is going to be another version of CTA. Condemning others to gain support and fame? What sort of spiritual ethics was it? Besides, FPMT have already break samaya with their Guru, who faithfully worshipped Dorje Shugden. If FPMT continue caused schism will gain heavy bad karma to themselves as well on their own organization. 🙁

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.…Instead of turning away people who practise Dorje Shugden, we should be kind to them. Give them logic and wisdom without fear, then in time they give up the ‘wrong’ practice. Actually Shugden practitioners are not doing anything wrong. But hypothetically, if they are, wouldn’t it be more Buddhistic to be accepting? So those who have views against Dorje Shugden should contemplate this. Those practicing Dorje Shugden should forbear with extreme patience, fortitude and keep your commitments. The time will come as predicted that Dorje Shugden’s practice and it’s terrific quick benefits will be embraced by the world and it will be a practice of many beings.

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