Khen Rinpoche Jangchup Sangye, the new abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Born in Tsum, Nepal, he denies of the Shartse monks the religious freedom that his own countrymen in Nepal receive to practice whatever they wish. This new abbot is well known to be very political and was chosen to be the abbot as he will be a good mouthpiece for the Tibetan government in exile. The ironic point is all the gurus of this abbot all practiced Dorje Shugden as well as the guru of his gurus for the last 400 hundred years. For political reasons and political gain this abbot persecutes the protector of his very own gurus such as Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche as well their masters including Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. The monks in Gaden Shartse Monastery know there are many secret practitioners of Dorje Shugden within the monastery and many monks are very displeased with this abbot.
The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
By: Jangchup Wangmo
Gaden Shartse abbot’s letter. Scroll down to read in full.
MUNDGOD – Some disturbing news has come to light recently with the publication of two letters detailing the expulsion of monks from Gaden Shartse and Sera Jey Monasteries. Contrary to what the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala) has falsely claimed, the purge and expulsion of Dorje Shugden monks from Tibetan monasteries continues.
The Gaden Shartse Monastery letter is particularly disturbing because it was leaked for publication just a few days ago, showing that the Dorje Shugden ban and issue is not over. Both letters were published on their respective monasteries’ letterheads, no doubt with the involvement and approval of the abbots who are still actively dividing and creating schism within the sangha.
(1) As abbots, it is supposed to be their job to be guardians of the religious education and welfare of the monastery. It is not the abbot’s role to foster disharmony and engage in political games. Their behavior is much like those of the Burmese monks who uphold segregation against the Rohingyans just because of religious differences.
Gaden Shartse Monastery, Mundgod Tibetan Colony, South India. The abbot who is supposed to be the steward of its hallowed halls, has recently been acting in a manner that contradicts the compassion, learning and humanity we have come to expect from abbots.
(2) The abbots are supposed to be the heads of monastic institutions which are supposed to be the spiritual pillars of the community. It should be a JOY for people to connect with them. Yet, these days, our sources in the settlements tell us that Tibetans within the settlement camps no longer consider it to be an honor for their families to send their sons to become monks, as it used to be. Sick and tired of all the petty bickering and politicking, parents are now using the monasteries as a threat of punishment for their children, telling them that if they do not behave, they will be sent to become a monk. The fact people now view the monasteries as a punishment, is the responsibility of the abbots who have painted the monasteries in this light through their actions. Why would any parent send their children to a monastery, when abbots are busy expelling monks to win favors from Dharamsala, instead of encouraging positive religious education?
(3) Evidence of this is the fact monastic populations in the settlements are declining. Fewer Tibetan parents are willing to send their children to become monks and nuns, and fewer still are leaving Tibet to live a life in exile. The situation is exacerbated by the fact Tibetans are returning to Tibet every single day, drawn by the prospect of a traditional monastic education that is free from the control and interference of the CTA. As a result, monasteries are having to go farther afield to recruit children from remote villages to ordain them as monks. This is one of the reasons why His Holiness the Dalai Lama, despite his advanced age, is traveling more frequently to the northern regions of India these days. In places like Ladakh where culturally, they are very similar to the Tibetans, it is easier to recruit young monks for the monasteries in South India.
(4) Knowing all of this, still the abbots decimate the monastic population further, and destroy the monks’ morale by creating an atmosphere of fear amongst the sangha that they might be unwitting victims of the witch-hunt against Shugden practitioners. Our question is – if it was just advice to not practice Dorje Shugden, why does anyone need to be kicked out? Surely if it were just advice, it would be up to the individual to follow or not. And if they chose not to follow, they should not suffer any repercussions.
(5) If it was just advice, then the Gaden Shartse abbot’s letter and announcement of the expulsion contradicts what the CTA says. On the one hand, the CTA says it is just advice from the Dalai Lama to not practice Dorje Shugden. On the other hand, Gaden Shartse’s abbot says it is a RULE that no one is allowed to practice Dorje Shugden. Clearly, he also gains courage to implement such schismatic behavior because of the video of the Dalai Lama saying that all Dorje Shugden practitioners should be expelled from the monastery.
Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)
(6) The abbot of Gaden Shartse, and the administration of Sera Jey are still actively perpetuating the witch-hunt against Shugden practitioners. This opens up the situation to abuse and personal vendettas – will innocent people be accused of being Shugden practitioners, so that violence can be directed against them? Tibetans will live in fear of this, much like the days of the Gestapo in East Germany and the Cultural Revolution of China, when neighbors would inform on one another, friends could not trust friends, and parents even had to be afraid of their children. Are the abbots guardians of the monastery, or are they the enforcers of divisive policies that have been handed down to them by the Tibetan leadership?
(7) In fact, spiritually-speaking, the abbots and monasteries have no right to expel the monks on the basis of Dorje Shugden practice. These monks received Dorje Shugden practice from their teachers, as part of a personal relationship between guru and disciple (samaya). Never in the history of the monasteries have abbots ever been allowed to dictate how the samaya between student and teacher should be played out. In expelling these monks from the monasteries, the abbots are in fact making a ruling over people who received practices from their teachers, when in fact there is no higher authority who should be allowed to interfere or interject with this personal relationship.
The arrow indicates the current abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery. He is pictured here with some of his gurus, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche (seated left) and the then-abbot Kyabje Lati Rinpoche (seated right) of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Both Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and Kyabje Lati Rinpoche practiced Dorje Shugden very strongly.
(8) What is interesting is that the letters say the monks broke the monasteries’ rules, and therefore they are being expelled. Our question is – these monks received the practice from their teachers so theoretically, their teachers broke the rules too. If so, will their teachers be removed from the monasteries as well? Surely if their teachers broke monastic rules, they are no longer monks and no longer qualified to give teachings. According to the CTA’s logic, it would actually be dangerous for them to remain in the monasteries to continue giving teachings. If the abbots are serious about upholding these so-called monastic rules, it would mean that more people are going to be expelled. So how many more people do the abbots and monasteries intend to expel, before Gaden, Sera and Drepung are all empty? Who then will the abbots pretend to be administering and caring for?
(9) And when were these monastic rules introduced? It is historical fact that Dorje Shugden practice has been around for nearly 400 years, since the time of the Great 5th Dalai Lama. So who introduced these rules against the practice, and why were they suddenly introduced, and on what basis are the monastic administration acting upon to expel these monks? Surely it is not just on the basis of the Dalai Lama’s words or due to political pressures. If so, why are the abbots expelling monks based on a political directive? Should the abbots and monks not be above politics?
Monks being biased, fundamentalist and political in this way is a bad image for Buddhism. These abbots reflect a scary form of fundamentalist Buddhism that is arising from the Tibetan monasteries, and the CTA encourages it from behind the scenes, then steps back and watches and hides from the blame. They like to do this under the guise of rules and regulations in the monastery, when no such rule has existed for 400 years.
(10) More importantly, this expulsion contradicts all rules governing guru devotion. As Gelug practitioners, we are taught that guru devotion is the foundation and basis for all attainments, and that we should not abandon our teachers and the practices they give us even at the cost of our lives. Why are the monks being punished for being loyal to their teachers, when they have been taught all of their lives that their relationship with their teachers overrides everything else? It is the monasteries who taught them to remain loyal to their teachers, and to the practices given by their teachers. Yet they are now being punished for this loyalty. How does that affect those who remain behind, when they see that you can be punished for actually practicing what you have been taught?
(11) For many of the monks, especially older ones, being kicked out of the monastery is tantamount to be kicked out of your home with no place to go. Imagine being ordained into the monastery at a young age, and then being unceremoniously expelled in your later years, to be rendered homeless. Not only is it disrespectful for the monks to treat older monks in this way, but it is cruel to kick them out of their lifelong homes just because of their religious beliefs.
Logoan Tulku Jampa Choesang, the abbot of Sera Jey Monastery who continues to perpetuate the CTA’s illegal ban against Dorje Shugden.
If you have lived in the monastery your whole life, it is your home and the only home you HAVE EVER KNOWN. This can cause a lot of psychological damage for those who are kicked out and for those who miss the ones kicked out. Being kicked out affects the victim as well as the people who are left behind.
(12) The monks who were expelled were geshes, and therefore potential teachers for the younger monks of the monastery. What happens now that the monastery, already struggling to recruit and retain monks, has two fewer teachers? The abbots sacrificed the welfare of the monasteries’ spiritual education for the sake of currying favor with Dharamsala. Geshes are the assets of Buddhism and kicking them out is horrendous way to destroy Buddhism.
(13) Truly, who are the stewards of the monasteries now? Is it the abbot and the administration, or Lobsang Sangay and his band of merry men? The monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery whisper that the new abbot is very political, and trying very hard to stay in Dharamsala’s good books to woo His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the monastery. Hence he has gone ahead with this expulsion, so that he will be praised for his hardline stance against Shugden practice. The new abbot is not winning supporters from within the monastery because in his first year as abbot, he is expelling monks which is very inauspicious.
It is a sad state of affairs when abbots are not firm spiritual pillars, and are instead more interested in personal praise and self-gain. It is even sadder still that they can be manipulated by external parties like the Gaden Phodrang (the palace, office and government of the Dalai Lama). Each year, the Dalai Lama visits the monasteries in South India, and these visits are dependent on the relationship between the monastic administrations and Gaden Phodrang. This relationship is governed by how many offerings the monasteries make to Gaden Phodrang, and how well the monasteries follow the diktats of the Gaden Phodrang. If Gaden Phodrang is not happy with the monasteries, they will advise the Dalai Lama to snub certain locations and not visit.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Drepung Monastery, Mundgod (South India) in 2017. The Dalai Lama will only visit monasteries which are ‘clean’ and approved by Dharamsala. In order to be approved by Dharamsala, the monasteries have to do whatever it takes to please the government by making massive offerings and following all of their policies. Everybody wants a visit from the Dalai Lama, not just for his teachings but because in this current economic climate, a visit from the Dalai Lama tells everyone that that monastery is good and worthy of financially supporting.
Repeated snubs would be detrimental to the monasteries, who are dependent on the Dalai Lama’s appearances to validate that they are good, clean and worthy of making offerings too. Of course it is an honor for the Dalai Lama to visit any place, and to turn the Wheel of Dharma while he is there, but it is a sorry state of affairs when spirituality can be politically manipulated in this way to gain favors so that the monastery can benefit financially and sustain itself.
(14) Having observed the situation, residents of the Tibetan settlements are starting to whisper how easily manipulated the abbots are, and how they are allowing the government to dictate their affairs. Who are the real leaders of the monastery now? Is it the abbots or are they just convenient mouthpieces for the actual leaders, who are the government in Dharamsala telling them what to do? Or, more disturbingly still, are the abbots not just mouthpieces but actually in cahoots with the Dharamsala government, working to divide and destroy the Tibetan community? With the expulsion of the geshes, the abbots have sowed the seeds of insecurity in the monastic sangha to worry and wonder who may be next.
(15) The actions of Gaden Shartse Monastery’s abbot, Khen Rinpoche Jangchup Sangye, are especially disappointing considering he is not even Tibetan. He is, by birth, a fully-fledged Nepali born in Tsum. In the country of his birth, the Nepalis have full religious freedom granted to them by their government. Their citizens enjoy the freedom to practice a wide range of religions from Buddhism to Hinduism, to animism and shamanism, and even Christianity. What the people of his country enjoy, he as the abbot of Gaden has denied his monks, even going to the extent of expelling them. His actions can only be for totally political reasons.
Despite all of this news, it is still inspiring to know that to this day, regardless of whatever the CTA has done to the monks, and regardless of the negative propaganda and lies they have spread about Dorje Shugden, there are still people quietly and secretly practicing. It is evidence that Dorje Shugden practice was so widespread, that it will never be fully stamped out. Everyone knows there are many secret practitioners of Dorje Shugden in Gaden, Sera and Drepung Monasteries. Because Dorje Shugden has been practiced in these monasteries for 400 years by the highest of Lamas to the ordinary monks, you simple cannot wipe it away.
Who decides what happens with the monasteries, the abbots or politicians like Lobsang Sangay? Are the abbots the leaders of the monastery, or are they just there to take orders from people like Lobsang Sangay who has done nothing but perpetuate the ban, create divisions and pocket the profits for himself? Or, worse still, are the abbots not actually mouthpieces but are really in cahoots with people like Sangay to destroy and divide the Tibetan community?
Yet, this is the situation we find ourselves in. While the monasteries’ populations are declining, while the CTA has failed to actualize any of their political goals, and while the Tibetans continue to languish as stateless refugees dependent on international handouts, the monasteries and their abbots disregard thousands of years of tradition, and clamor to curry favour with the CTA. Gaden Shartse Monastery used to have 1,400 monks. After the illegal ban on Shugden, over 700 monks have either left or been expelled. Some of the monks who were expelled or left were in their 70s and 80s. Now Gaden Shartse Monastery has around 700 monks, making it the smallest monastery compared to the other monasteries within Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Not many people want to send their children to the monasteries these days.
In this day and age, when the world rallies around religious freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of speech, the monasteries, their abbots and the CTA continue to keep the Tibetan people chained in the dark ages. Given this latest incident in a long program of discrimination against practitioners for their religious belief, once has to ask the question, when will Tibetans be free to practice what they so desire, free of the influence of a domineering Dharamsala? The monasteries used to be institutions that people derived inspiration, learning and spirituality from. These days, it would seem that the monasteries and their abbots are no more than chess pieces, ‘yes’ men and willing suppressors of religious freedom. When will Gaden, Sera and Drepung ever regain the glory of their pre-1959 days? At this rate, and with the kind of leadership, it is a sure bet that they never will.
Statement by Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery
Click to enlarge
TRANSLATION
Notice!
According to the situation within the Gelug community, since 2008 all members of the Sangha community from Gaden Shartse Monastery are no longer practicing Dorje Shugden, even to the extent of not having either secular or Dharma contact with Dolgyal (Dorje Shugden) practitioners anymore. They swore in front of Dharmapala Setrab’s thangka in Gaden Shartse’s main prayer hall.
After swearing, those found to still be practising Dolgyal (Dorje Shugden) will in the end be expelled from the Monastery. In the past and in accordance to such regulation, we have gathered proof that Geshe Jampa Thupten and Geshe Lobsang Jinpa who were from Gaden Shartse Monastery are still practicing Dolgyal (Dorje Shugden), therefore they were expelled from Gaden Shartse Monastery. As of today, we are announcing that these promise breakers are no longer included in the monastic community of Gaden Shartse Monastery.
What dogs do not eat is iron, what human beings do not eat are their oaths [a Tibetan saying], but these evil people have eaten (violated) their oaths and have found to be continuing their practice of Dolgyal (Dorje Shugden). We must know who these people are, and the main point is not to be cheated by these evil people.
On 21/1/2018: by Khenpo Geshe Janchup Sange the Abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastery, Mundgod Tibetan Colony, South India
Statement by the
Administration of Sera Jey Monastery
Click to enlarge
Translation
On 15 March 2002, the whole monastery including ex-abbots, tulkus, geshes vowed not to practice Dorje Shugden in front of the Hayagriva thangka. On 8 January 2008, in Sera Monastery there was discrepancy in this matter. Hence the whole monastery again vowed in front of the Hayagriva thangka not to practice Dorje Shugden, and not to associate with Dorje Shugden practitioners in terms of finances and Dharma. Recently, from reliable sources from (unnamed) khangtsen, “Rawa” Geshe Lobsang Reden was expelled. The monastery, also in order to uphold monastic codes, also expelled his monastery membership. Everyone please take note.
Administrative Office of Sera Jey
30 November 2017
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Ms. Thubten
February 24, 2018
I use to send donations to Gaden Shartse Monastery. But I have stopped since they decided to institute the damaging ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners of their own monastery. Disgraceful.
This new abbot is very interested in using his position as abbot to find funds to channel to Tsum in Nepal. He has no real loyalty to the monastery. That is why he is doing his best to climb to the top using politics. He has to get close to the Dalai Lama to do this hence he is witch-hunting Dorje Shugden monks and expelling them to please his Tibetan govt ministers. The funny thing is this abbot’s gurus all practiced Dorje Shugden.
Shame on this selfish abbot. Shame.
Shakya Dev
February 24, 2018
This abbot like money very much
Why?
February 24, 2018
Why is this Nepal abbot throw out innocent monks for praying to the deity of their choice? He is same like Burma monks who hurt Rohingyan because their religion is different😖
Esophyune
February 24, 2018
If you look at the face of this abbot, he is very cunning, unscrupulous and has no energy of a real spiritual being. He goes against his own gurus who gave him the education to become a geshe. His gurus all practiced Shugden, so why is he like this?
His aura is very dark and his mannerism is very rude.
I met him before in India and he only wants money and donations for his family in Nepal. He is really only interested in money, money and more money.🤑🤑🤑
Very bad
February 24, 2018
This is money abbot. Politics abbot. We Tibetan don’t respect this new abbot of Shartze Monasetary😫
Uranus
February 24, 2018
Its really sad that monks have to be kicked out of a monastery they have lived in their whole lives. Where will they go now. How to find a new home?
What about the students and friends left behind? How can religions be so divisive. Tibetan Buddhism was so pure prior to the ban against Shugden. Too bad, What kind of cruelty are they practicing in the monasteries these days for political reasons and personal agendas. These abbots are really the types of people who are like the bishops in the vatican that cover up pedophiles within their ranks.
L Lhundup
February 25, 2018
I’m sorry to say, but this is the stupidest move any monastery can do and they dare call themselves a monastery of Buddha’s teachings!
Why?
Let’s take a leaf from the historical Buddha himself.
One of his chief disciples was Sariputta.
Who is Sariputta? He is a Brahmin who later renounced the world to become a disciple of the sceptic Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta of the ajnana school of thought.
Imagine if Buddha had chased him out from Buddha’s teachings because he was an ascetic who practiced the teachings of sceptic Sanjaya Belatthanputta? Can you imagine that?
If Buddha had chased him out just like these monasteries are chasing Dorje Shugden practitioners out, would Sariputta have ever attained Arhat? No.
So what are these monasteries trying to do? Propagate the Dharma, cause new arhats and attained beings or playing politics?
Please teach everyone the Dharma. Buddha even went to hell to teach the hell beings and here you don’t even want to teach monks who have spent their lives learning the Dharma. What kind of monastery are you?
Devano
February 25, 2018
An article published in 1997 in the Spanish magazine “Mas Alla” stated that Ling Rinpoche practiced Dorje Shugden. The magazine covers spiritual and metaphysical issues around the world, and doesn’t have anything to do with Tibetan Buddhism. So in that way, it has no reason to be biased in and to write articles in support of or against Dorje Shugden.
The magazine was also issued in 1997, before the height of the ban, at a time when no one was compelled to hide the truth. So we can be sure that the reporting on this matter is therefore neutral and unedited and objective.
It’s a fact that both the tutors of the 14th Dalai Lama (Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche) practiced Dorje Shugden, which was confirmed by the research conducted by the reporter JC Deus from Mas Alla. Deus clearly interviewed the right people and since the truth will always prevail, it is not surprising that an independent researcher like him with no links to Tibetan Buddhism so easily discovered and reported that Ling Rinpoche does Dorje Shugden practice. Remember that Deus was just doing his duty as a reporter, and reporting it as a neutral historical fact, not with any agenda in mind.
This is clear proof and it contradicts the false information the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) propagates that Ling Rinpoche does not practise Dorje Shugden. Lies like these will always be found out and exposed. This has been proven with the CTA who continue to make a fool out of themselves, losing trust among the Tibetans and supporters around the world.
This is PART 1, the first part of my 4-part comment. It shows the first three pages (pg 28-29) and the cover of the Mas Alla magazine, which published this report about Dorje Shugden.
Devano
February 25, 2018
This is PART 2, the second part of my 4-part comment. It shows the next three pages (pg 30-32) of the Mas Alla magazine, which published this report about Dorje Shugden.
Devano
February 25, 2018
This is PART 3, the third part of my 4-part comment. It shows the next three pages (pg 33-35) of the Mas Alla magazine, which published this report about Dorje Shugden. Please take SPECIAL NOTE to see page 33. The part where it mentions Ling Rinpoche practices Dorje Shugden has been highlighted for your reference.
Devano
February 25, 2018
This is PART 4, the final part of my 4-part comment. It shows the last two pages (pg 36-37) of the Mas Alla magazine, which published this report about Dorje Shugden.
Samayakeeper
February 25, 2018
It is sad that the ban on Dorje Shugden practice has badly affected so many practitioners, the lay people and the sangha community. The sangha members are taught to practice dharma, but politics reared it’s ugly head when such an abbot and other seniors behave politically. Where is the teaching and practicing of wisdom and compassion as spoken by the Dalai Lama to the monks in monasteries and to lay people wherever he goes? This puts dharma in a bad light. No wonder more and more Tibetan youth do not want to join the monasteries.
Karma Tenkyong
February 26, 2018
དགའ་ཤར་ལྷོ་པ་སངས་རྒྱས་ཀྱི་བྱེད་སྟངས་དེ་སྙིང་རྗེ་མེད་པའི་ལས་ཀ་རང་རེད།
Amber Sonam
February 26, 2018
When religion and politic mixed together, we see religious figures fully exercise their un-dharmic behaviours and the expansion of their three poisons. An abbot is supposed to make a monastery continue to operate in order to protect the lineage and proliferate the dharma. His job is to make sure the sangha is well trained to represent the dharma and to attract like-minded practitioners to continue practicing the dharma and to bring benefits to others.
This abbot by name, do not behave like one. His support of the banning of Dorje Shugden who was once their monastery’s protector is purely a political move. Not only did he not keep the prestige of Gaden Shartse that was once a centre that produces erudite masters Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Lati Rinpoche, Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche etc., he is making Gaden monastery another building that filled with political activities for his laziness in putting real efforts to transform, to teach and to raise funds for the monastery.
It is very obvious that this person labeled as abbot just wants a comfortable life without needing to work hard. He is also taking this opportunity to gain personal favours and wealth totally against the principle of Buddhism.
Eli Buchen
February 26, 2018
It is shocking and so demoralizing for practitioners of Gaden Tradition, that samaya is placed lower than politics and wanting to be in the good books of the Dalai Lama.
May the two Geshes find a new home in Dorje Shugden monasteries and establishments and carry on their spiritual learning in other pastures.
Having said that Gaden is a famous world acclaimed learning institution, a learning institution of good repute should not be expelling the students of the buddha dharma. CTA and the abbott should stop tarnishing the image of Gaden in the face of the world.
Doreen Park
February 26, 2018
This is surely clear evidence that there is a ban on Dorje Shugden practice. Two monks have recently been expelled by the CTA-aligned abbot of Gaden Shartse, showing that the Tibetan monasteries are continuing their purging and expulsion of Dorje Shugden monks, as directed by CTA.
It is disappointing to see abbots , becoming involved in politics and creating schism within their monasteries. Where is the fostering of harmony and peace among the sangha, as Lord Buddha taught? Peace , harmony and unity among sangha members are necessary for them to be beacons of dharma , spreading the light of dharma in all directions? Indeed creating schism,like this , among the sangha is a very grave transgression as they are part of the Three Jewels in whom we take Refuge.
The abbot has also broken his commitment on the practice of Dorje Shugden to his Gurus who all practice Dorje Shugden and gone against them as well as their teachers in this very drastic action! By such high-handed actions, they will have frightened parents into not letting their sons become monks in the future, a step which had been traditionally considered highly honorable.
Sujatha
February 27, 2018
With reference to the following statement made by the Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery :-
“What dogs do not eat is iron, what human beings do not eat are their oaths [a Tibetan saying], but these evil people have eaten (violated) their oaths and have found to be continuing their practice of Dolgyal (Dorje Shugden). We must know who these people are, and the main point is not to be cheated by these evil people.
On 21/1/2018: by Khenpo Geshe Janchup Sange the Abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastery, Mundgod Tibetan Colony, South India”
Since keeping oaths is so important then it makes sense why the monks who received their Dorje Shugden practice from their Gurus will continue their practice irrespective of the changes in the external environment. They received their oaths before the Ban started. Irrespective of the ban or not they have to continue their practice to keep their oaths/vows. So why are they punished for keeping their oaths to their Gurus?
Second comment – the Abbot of the Gaden Shartse monastery is one of the highest position in the Buddhists world whereby one can only be an Abbot if they have the qualifications befitting that role. Expelling fellow Dharma brothers who have a valid reason to keep their vows in their practice given by their Gurus, is a very poor show of the qualities of an Abbot. What was his motivation ? Where is the wisdom and compassion ? One looks up to the Abbot to show the path out of sufferings, not to create more sufferings for others. One looks up to the Abbot for the path to Enlightment, not the path to Hell !!
This is another grave example supporting the Buddha’s prophecy of this era of degeneration of the Buddha Dharma. Not the Buddha Dharma degenerating, but the practitioners degenerating the Buddha Dharma to such a low level 😞😞😞
Sofia
February 27, 2018
If all attainment can only comes from one’s guru, when a practitioner go against his/her guru they automatically lose their attainment or chances of getting attainment. On this basis, we can say those monks in the monastery who have sworn out of Dorje Shugden practice, betrayed their own gurus are not qualified practitioners because they have lost their attainments or chances of getting attainment. Why learn from monks who are not qualified? Why put our spirituality at risks?
Golog Jigme
February 27, 2018
Mr. Mila Rangzen says the head of the Tibetan exiled govt is a sexual predator
Since 2011, Lobsang Sangay’s tenure as the President of the Central Tibetan Administration has been mired with various scandals and failures, such as the election scandal and the US$1.5 million loan scandal. The 17% unemployment rate among the Tibetans in exile has also forced some Tibetans to become spies, betraying their host country India. Now, in more shocking news from Mila Rangzen, who has been proven to have access to a lot of insider news, Lobsang Sangay has been revealed to be a sexual predator who does not hesitate to risk the Dalai Lama’s reputation to satisfy his lust. More women and people are speaking up about this. This is really breaking news. These women deserve a platform to express the pain and humiliation and be open to heal.
Mila Rangzen has, on numerous occasions, shared extremely accurate and reliable news for the benefit of the Tibetan community. He has never failed us with the accuracy of the news and they have all proven to be true. Mila seems to not be afraid to tell the truth.
All the victims of the sexual predator Lobsang Sangay should not keep quiet anymore and must expose him once and for all. He should be punished for his actions and asked to step down from his position now! The victims should be empowered by this and speak up and point the finger at Lobsang Sangay if this is true. Do not stay in the dark and hide your shame because Lobsang Sangay is destroying the reputation of the Dalai Lama.
Tashi
March 1, 2018
Rangzen
February 27, 2018
Peter
February 27, 2018
Tibetan govt in exile is corrupt, liars, segregationalists, greedy, bigots and this is what they do when Dalai Lama is alive. After Dalai Lama is no more, the whole Tibetan govt in exile will just collapse overnight.
They lost their country in 1959 because they are too corrupt to keep it. For the last 60 years they cannot get their country back. Tibetan govt is a failure whether in Tibet or in exile.👎
Manjushri
March 1, 2018
The abbot and monastic community is clearly breaking their vows. They do things consciously for material gains, which totally opposes the monk vows. So, why are they operating a monastery that supposedly teaches pure dharma from our lineage lamas if not for their own gains? Eventually, the monastery will only be destroyed from within.
The abbot is teaching the sangha to not have compassion. Knowing that the senior monks, when expelled has no where to go to, and still going ahead shows them wanting to bring suffering upon others. Buddha taught to always take the suffering of others away. So again, what is the abbot and the monastic curriculum teaching? The monastery belongs to the sangha, all sangha, so there is no right for them to be expelled, and even more so, because they were practising guru devotion. Totally unacceptable.
The abbot might as well expel the entire monastery, because they are all ‘unclean’ to begin with, having practised Dorje Shugden at an earlier part of their lives. How can you become clean from being so-called ‘unclean’ practitioners, if Dorje Shugden were that bad and was a practice amongst all sangha members. They would have already broken all their vows in the many years of their lives practising Dorje Shugden at the beginning before the ban, if DS was really that bad as CTA claims.
How come Zong Rinpoche’s, who was a great DS practitioner, incarnation is back at Gaden Shartse despite having relied on DS all his life? When DS was practiced, the monastery was thriving. It is in a worse state now.
This Abbot is totally not interested in the welfare of the monastery, but for his own gains.
Tsering
March 3, 2018
Comic drawn by Tendor, a prominent Free Tibet activist.
Dondrup Shugden
March 3, 2018
Politics & Religion can never mix. Politics is a game of winners and losers. Religion is about compassion and benefit to others out of compassion and loving kindness.
It is so saddening to see evidence and proof of politics within the monasteries being practised by the Abbots.
What is indeed a terrible situation is that the noble and honourable path of monastic order is being destroyed by such schism whereby parents no longer see the honour of their sons and daughters in wearing the robes.
When there are less monks and nuns to uphold the stainless dharma is the result of politics within the religious order.
What a same!!!
celia
March 3, 2018
This is really a new low when even non-Buddhist have the general understanding that compassion and tolerance are the essence of Buddhism. And yet disappointingly a supposedly highly learned Abbot tasked to helm a great Buddhist monastic establishment is instead enforcing discrimination and intolerance. What else can be said but clearly the case of another one of the “three great” Gelug monastic universities of Tibet has fallen into the hands of a (samsarically) ambitious one who clearly deviated from what Buddha has taught.
L Lhundup
March 3, 2018
Talking about vows.
I’m sure senior monks of Gaden Shartse have taken Bodhisattva Vows (or have they not?)
Well here are a few major ones which the abbot has broken with regards to expelling monks for no good reason:
Not giving material aid and Dharma.
This vow is usually broken when we are miserly. When we have an abundance of material things and somebody asks for material aid due to their great poverty or lack of something, but we refuse, then we accrue the second transgression. If we have no sense of miserliness, but refuse to give because it may cause obstacles or hindrances to our Dharma practice, then under these circumstances, not giving is validated.
Secondly, there is miserliness regarding teaching Dharma. We feel miserliness over imparting these teachings and we also feel lazy to explain the teachings sometimes. That’s the second way to break the vow. The only circumstances when it is valid not to give teachings is when this would not benefit someone but would cause harm, and in that case we can refuse to give teachings. Generally, in giving Dharma teachings, the kind of people that we should teach are those with much aspiration and enthusiasm towards the teachings.
Causing an ordained person to disrobe.
This vow includes things like, for example, taking away robes that belong to monks, or causing someone else to take the robes away.
Committing the five immediate negativities.
We commit these “immediate negativities” when we kill our father, mother or an arhat, cause a Buddha to bleed, or cause disharmony within the community of the Sangha.
Turning someone away from complete enlightenment.
The twelfth downfall occurs when, for example, somebody has full aspiration towards complete enlightenment and we influence the person by saying that there is not much benefit, and that it is better to work for our self-liberation through either the Solitary Realizer’s path or the Hearer’s path. If we influence the person to turn away from full enlightenment through our talk, we incur this twelfth downfall.
Laying down harmful regulations and passing false judgment
The next vow is putting together rules or disciplines that are not valid. An example of this downfall is when a gelong is practicing very purely and we make certain rules and regulations that would disrupt his progress. We do this out of jealousy for that person who is doing his practices purely, and in order to distract him away from his meditation.
Source: https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/bodhisattva-vows
Sar Lang
March 5, 2018
Lhatse Lobsang, the President of Utsang Yargay Tsokpa, warns the elected leaders including the Sikyong Lobsang Sangye/Tibetan leaders and members of the parliament of his self-immolation in protest if they don’t resolve the termination issue in the coming March parliamentary sessions. Tibetans in India are so unhappy with their Tibetan government in exile in North India, they wish to self-immolate in protest. This would spell big disaster for the corrupt Tibetan government in exile in India.
Canny
March 6, 2018
This is truly sad to know as an Abbot in a well known monastery, should be role model of monks and other monasteries as a very kind, compassion, adherence to his Guru. In fact, none of this quality show and as there is vows for sangha that shouldn’t be involved in politics. Breaking vows already bad karma and breaking samaya with the Guru, I just can’t imagine how deep bad karma it will cause. 😰😰
Jing Jing
March 6, 2018
If I’m the parents, why do I want to send my kid to be a monk in the monastery like this? Geshes being expelled, monks that loyal and wanted go upkeep their samaya with their gurus being expelled. Abbots that working hard to gain credit from the CTA and HHDL. What’s going on in the monastery now? What activities actually left to teach? Dharma? Or being taught to chant “Om CTA Hum pet” all day long? What value a monastery stand for now? What value could monks have learn from their abbots and gurus that left?
No wonder being a monk now has became a type of punishment for the kids. Is the monastery now a prison or hell? It’s used to scares people off. HHDL and CTA can have all the fans and supporters they want but none of them will be faithful and loyal because this arise from bad agenda. They are damaging the Buddha dharma. I pray for this darkest period to pass very soon. May the light appear at the end of the tunnel.
bambi
March 7, 2018
I only read sad posts nowadays.I keep asking myself why it decline to this sad state.If I am not a practitioner, reading these sort of news just make me want say,too much politics in this religion and I don’t think I want to be a buddhist.Why is this spiritual path such a struggle?Why mix religion and politics?The abbot as a monk should not be involved just to look good.So absurd.Which vow he took that said that he should divide & force ppl?Sickening
Belinda Mae
March 7, 2018
An abbot of a monastery is someone who is highly respected but whatever the new abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery is doing contradicts the work of an abbot should do. What will happen when no one send their children to become monk / nun in the future because of the way Khen Rinpoche Jangchup Sangye manage the monastery? My question, why is Khen Rinpoche Jangchup Sangye listens to the CTA? What benefit does he or the monastery gets?
Tenzin K
March 7, 2018
The abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery would rather sacrifices the doctrine of Buddha teaching with political interest. He’s exchanging fund with enlightenment. Is this true Buddhist teaching?
Pema
March 7, 2018
The abbot’s Gurus practice Dorje Shugden but he expel people practice Dorje Shugden. The abbot is telling others that his Gurus is wrong and he learn from his Gurus, how can he be right?
Ryan Tashi
March 7, 2018
We don like this abbot. Only think of money. Ganden Monastery is respected but this abbot is damage the name. Very bad.
Vajra10
March 7, 2018
It’s because of event like this that caused Dharma falling apart… People just need to get some slaps from Karma then they will realized that they are in hot pot.
Tianni
March 7, 2018
The abbot only need to answer to his Karma . We will still continue practice compassion to others, freedom of religion and always remember compassion conquer all.
Richard TamLak
March 7, 2018
In the fist place, why do monks ever involved in politics? I have a few friends who know that I’m a Tibetan Buddhism practitioner, asking me this question. And, I am also stunt by their question. Why do monks involve in politics? Thank you CTA, thank you Khen Rinpoche Jangchup Sangye, this is the reason why many people don’t want to practice Tibetan Buddhism, even Buddhism. Sorry for those who doesn’t have choice, but in my country, people get to choose whether they want to practice Mahayana or Vajrayana. But lay people doesn’t know that there are Mahayana and Vajrayana. To many of them, there’s only one BUDDHISM! Thanks to all these CTA and the abbot, more and more people don’t like Vajrayana. Because they say it’s too POLITICS! This is really a disgrace of Buddhism.
celia
March 7, 2018
No matter how hard people want to justify such expulsions, it is undeniable that such expulsions stemmed from discrimination and intolerance. To make matters worse, a supposedly highly learned Abbot tasked to helm a great Buddhist monastic establishment is discarding Buddha’s teachings and instead enforcing discrimination and intolerance. It really is such a shame to have to see yet again such blatant evidence of politics infiltrating great Buddhist monastic institutions.
Tenzin Sangye
March 7, 2018
Is so dissappointed and feel sad seeing monk has dispel from their monastery and reason behind because they keep their spitual practice and not allowing by monastery. Question is then where the monk should study dharma and keep their practice？. I thought monk should just focus spiritual practice and not involving politic issue. If the so involve in politic then better become politician. Monk are suppose stay at monastery and study buddhism and benifit others.
Gangchenpa
March 9, 2018
The Nepalese officials have again turned down permission for Tibetan refugees to commemorate the Tibetan uprising day in order to protect its alliance with the Chinese Communist Party, which has proven to be more beneficial to Nepal as compared to supporting the Tibetan refugees.
The Nepal Chief District Officer issued a written notice in 2005 to the Representative of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Refugees Welfare Office (TRWO) in Kathmandu to suspend both offices, ending a 45 years partnership to care for some 2,500 Tibetan refugees who would transit in Nepal from Tibet. This move was a lesson to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for not addressing the tensions between the Tibetans and Nepalese, as well as not contributing back to Nepal for as long as they have been there. The fact that the Tibetan refugees continue to protest on March 10 is a perfect example in which they will jeopardise the relationship between Nepal and China, who is now the top assistance providers to Nepal. The Tibetan refugees are forever taking, and never reciprocating the favour has proven to be an ineffective way of dealing with the Nepalese as they feel they are taken for granted always.
ashrao
March 9, 2018
Indian and Chinese foreign ministries have both made statements thawing relations between the two Asian giants. Determined to improve ties between the countries, the Indian government is taking steps to ensure nothing jeopardizes their efforts. First, they told their officials to distance themselves from the Tibetans, and then the planned #ThankyouIndia2018 events were moved from New Delhi (India’s political capital) to the out of the way Dharamsala.
Now, even Chinese ministers are hoping for improved relations, bringing stability to the volatile region. The Chinese dragon and the Indian elephant need to dance in order to become stronger said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
Will this be the end of India’s support of the Tibetans? What will they do next?
sonkel
March 10, 2018
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) should really learn from Nepal. Aligning with Chinese policy is necessary if you wish for growth and economic stability. The Dalai Lama was recently quoted to say, “We want to stay with China. We want more development.”
Nepal has developed so much since collaborating with China, with China now contributing to around 58 percent of foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments received by Nepal. China has promised that areas of mutual cooperation with Nepal would be expanded in the days to come.
Jampel Senge
March 10, 2018
Not only was the thankyouindia2018 forced to move back to McLeodganj, the Tibetans are warned to keep the event low key! BJP leadership, including L K Advani and Shanta Kumar, and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had been invited for the event in Delhi but none of them replied to the invitation. Apart from the change of venue now, new invitation list has to be prepared. It is clear that the Indian government is distancing itself from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and they will do what is necessary to mend their ties with China.
SonamT
March 10, 2018
It is very clear by now that the Indian Government does not want the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)’s thank you. No matter how the CTA orchestrates the propaganda campaign to please India, it is very clear that the Indian Government had enough of the Tibetans and are making effort to distance itself from the CTA. Although India will continue to support His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his spiritual works, the distinctions between His Holiness and the CTA is made very clear. Looking at the trend, we may be able to speculate that the Indian Government’s plan for the next few years is to end decades of support to the CTA and its people, eventually clearing all Tibetan refugees from India.
Phone
March 12, 2018
The author of the article is trying to separate between Buddhist brotherhood by citing fake news about Burmese monks. The author sounded like ignorant from truth covered by smokes of biased international media, dishonest lobbyist and probably irresistible dependence on some supporters. Please visit to Myanmar (Burma), sincerely learn Buddhist society and be open to listen direct voices of Burmese monks and people.
Lelkyi Tsho
March 12, 2018
Although both China and India are seen as giants, India has been seen submitting to China more and more. The relocation of “Thank You India” event from Delhi to Dharamsala and Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha’s note to Indian officials to not attend the event because it is a “very sensitive time” for bilateral relations with China both clearly show that India is bending backwards to please China. And they are definitely not going to entertain Lobsang Sangay anymore because the Tibet issue is no longer a trump card for India.
Lobsang Sangay said not long ago that an official usually wants to do something big in their last term of office so that people will remember them. In this case, he will forever be remembered for his incapability and his focus on building closer ties with young women, such as Dhardon Sharling, instead of significant diplomatic ties. He has done a lot of big things in his last term as the President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) but none of these shows any leadership characteristics whatsoever. These include:
1) The sacking of Penpa Tsering to evade the Tibet Fund loan scandal of US$1.5 million. He even tried to push the loan on to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to settle on his behalf.
2) Allowing a downsized, low-key #thankyouindia2018 event to celebrate 60 years of exile, something which Dhardon Sharling, the Secretary of Department of Information and International Relations, claimed to have no idea as to why the events were shifted.
3) Allowing fake monk Tenzin Dhonden to use His Holiness’ fame to conduct dubious activities including being involved in a cult and sex scandals.
4) Losing India’s half-century worth of support towards the CTA and its people for his ungrateful attitude. Instead, he focused on filling up his own pockets instead of thinking of the welfare of the Tibetans in exile.
Lobsang Sangay’s intention to take on the role as the President of the CTA is clear and his best ‘achievements’ definitely outshine his predecessors as inept failures.
Khampa Warrior
March 13, 2018
India has lost significant support from Nepal, especially since Nepal’s devastating earthquake in 2015 when China gave the country funds for aid and rebuilding infrastructure. It is now losing its grip more and more, such as in its internet monopoly, now threatened by alternatives from China. China is making inroads into Nepal aggressively. India, which originally thought of China as a friend, can only sit by and watch China exert its influence and power further, such as improving telecommunications and building railway extensions from the border with Nepal and Yadong across Sikkim, to Kathmandu and Lumbini.
Nepal and India have historically enjoyed good ties and strong trade relations and if India does not take advantage of this fast-closing window of opportunity, China will be successful in wooing Nepal. Kathmandu already signed trade and transit agreements with Beijing in March 2016. This gave Nepal an alternative route for its trade and supplies. As China builds a stronghold in Nepal, it will continue achieving its strategic objective of eliminating Indian influence and curbing the Tibetan refugee population.
Tamang
March 13, 2018
Athar Migmar
March 15, 2018
By hosting the Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi when India-Pakistan ties are at an all-time low, Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli is telling the world that he is not afraid of India, especially after landmark trade and transit agreements were signed with China. This seems to go well with the general sentiments of the Nepali people, as Oli’s pro-China stance is wildly popular among his core constituencies.
As mentioned in the article, New Delhi must learn to accept China’s presence in the region and to work with it. As China works on building trilateral cooperation with Nepal and India, the Tibetans will have no standing. Recently, the report that the Indian government had asked senior leaders and officials not to attend events that would mark the Tibetans’ 60 years in exile, as well as the cancellation of 2 events in Delhi, are clear signs that everyone is trying to please China. The Tibetans have no more sympathizers who will continue to support them as it risks jeopardising relations with China.
ashrao
March 15, 2018
Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet!Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet!Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet! Tibetans in India go home!! Go back to Tibet!