dorjeshugden.com
About Dorje Shugden => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mana on January 01, 2012, 08:17:46 PM
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Found the below in some forum. Apparently somebody's family has been having a Dorje Shugden shrine for years in their home and decided to get rid of it upon hearing that Dorje Shugden practice is bad.
So someone replied and named some places which will accept the return of Dorje Shugden statues, apparently these places are in Singapore: Charitable Assistance society, Thekchen Choling or Amitabha Buddhist Centre.
I wonder what the holy temples are going to do with the returned statues/images? Maybe they send Dorje Shugden statues to the foundry and re-melt the metal and re-cast into a Nechung statue? But since the atoms of the metals are the same, re-melt and re-arranging the atoms of the metals does not remove the fact that the atoms are "evil atoms", so I hope they don't do that, because no matter what statue it is being re-casted into, it is still intrisically evil.
Hmmm....that means it is possible that some of the statues on the altars of these temples now are originally Dorje Shugden statues...so beware, devotees there may unknowingly pray to demons all these while...
if they didn't do that, then perhaps they are very kind to give away Dorje Shugden statues for free, so please contact these temples if you are in need to Dorje Shugden statues/images.
websites of the three holy temples in Singapore that you might just get free Dorje Shugden statues from:
http://www.casotac.com/ (http://www.casotac.com/)
http://www.thekchencholing.org/ (http://www.thekchencholing.org/)
http://www.fpmtabc.org/ (http://www.fpmtabc.org/)
source: http://sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/217527 (http://sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/217527)
My family and I have been Therevadan Buddhists for sometime but we were first introduced to Buddhism via Chinese Gelugpa. We used to be fervent devotees of the association, even setting up a shrine specially for (the controversial) Dorje Shungden on the advice of the chief rinpoche.
It has been half a decade since we moved to Therevada Buddhism but the shrine of Dorje Shungden still remain in the household.
On the advice of many Buddhist friends online and offline, I was encouraged to remove the shrine and return all religious artefacts and books relating to the sect back. I have always procrastinated but did so this evening.
My parents being traditional, felt that since the household has been fine and peaceful, there shouldn't be any reason why we should remove it. Even our Therevadan Bhante felt that it was fine to leave the shrine there as long as we don't seek any favours from it.
As I am not well-versed with Vajrayana Buddhism, I would like to seek my fellow brothers and sisters in the Dhamma on how to deal with this situation. As my family is quite uneasy with this episode, I would hope that someone can guide me as I would like to return all the artefacts back to the association tomorrow.
Thank you.
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it is okay to have the statue of Dorje Shugden Image at home .
If one wish to "send" off image of Dorje Shugden, Please contact
either Charitable Assistance society , Thekchen Choling or Amitabha Buddhist Centre for assistance
The Chinese Gelugpa was not recognised in this forums as their practice do not adhere to the Mainstream of Gelugpa teachings and in due respect to the founder of Gelugpa ,Je Tsongkhapa
please read more on Gelugpa lineage .
With Sincerity,
Bohiruci
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It appears that there is another holy temple in Singapore that you may get free Dorje Shugden statues from:
Tibetan Buddhist Centre:
http://www.tibetanbc.org/ (http://www.tibetanbc.org/)
They have a statement on their website about Dorje Shugden, and in their notice inviting members to participate in Dalai Lama's teachings, they specifically stated that "Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allowed to participate"
Dear Dharma Brothers & Sisters,
We're pleased to share with you on 2011 His Holiness The Dalai Lama Teaching's information as below:
2011 His Holiness The Dalai Lama Teaching For South East Asia Students
Teaching Topic: A Guide To The Bodhisattva's Way of Life by Acharya Shantideva
Date: Aug 30 – Sep 1 , 2011
Teaching Site : Namgyal Monastery, Upper Dharamsala, India
Organise by : Tibetan Buddhist Centre
Note :
Visit our website www.tibetanbc.org (http://www.tibetanbc.org) for more information.
Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allowed to participate.
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Hmmmm! I wonder if we can tell these temples to send all these statues and paraphernalia to us instead so we can spread them to others. That would mean that they would have to send it to someone in singapore. Why can't they return these sacred items to a Dorje Shugden organisation like Serkong Tritul's center or NKT? Why give it to these anti-DS centers so they can destroy them?
On top of that, the ban has forced this innocent family to be ungrateful to Dorje Shugden. Don't they realize that Dorje Shugden has protected their family all these years and there has never been any problems. Heck! Even the Theravaden monks have told them to keep the shrine to Dorje Shugden. Why can't they do that? They are not even students of the Dalai Lama! This is just so ridiculous.
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Hmmmm! I wonder if we can tell these temples to send all these statues and paraphernalia to us instead so we can spread them to others. That would mean that they would have to send it to someone in singapore. Why can't they return these sacred items to a Dorje Shugden organisation like Serkong Tritul's center or NKT? Why give it to these anti-DS centers so they can destroy them?
On top of that, the ban has forced this innocent family to be ungrateful to Dorje Shugden. Don't they realize that Dorje Shugden has protected their family all these years and there has never been any problems. Heck! Even the Theravaden monks have told them to keep the shrine to Dorje Shugden. Why can't they do that? They are not even students of the Dalai Lama! This is just so ridiculous.
people with weak minds and no logic end up being bad buddhists. there are too many of those around. they betray their own lineage for something they think is better etc and is always fearful to go all the way with any one lineage. They dont have their own stand of things and rely on the opinions of less qualified people. Personally i dont think we can do much about people like that. So much fear that he ignores the advice of his new guru and act out of fear. That is not buddhist at all, that is just plain ignorance shown in full glory.
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I have seen this posted too!
I do agree how confused practitioners back then were unable to find a source of explanation and clarification because in many countries, due to the disposition of the laws, many are unable to house a resident Lama or Geshe to provide with the necessary information on how to handle such cases.
In such countries, many a times there will be Dharma centres and temples taking matters into their own hands by offering such services. Little do they know that the people in the committee have zero or next to none Dharma to be able to handle such cases. (This may be a sweeping statement but you may look up on these centres the next time u pop by these countries)
There has been a well known anti-Dorje Shugden warfare since the beginning of the ban in Singapore with every single Dharma centre scrutinised and questioned to the max. Laymen would try their best means to compete with other centres by setting up their own 'police patrol' going to every centre to ensure that there were no DS related items in the temple and would declare themselves as being 'clean' before proceeding to the next.
That was the past, now they've got printed materials stating the downfalls of practicing Dorje Shugden. Their efforts will come in vain in the near future as they will find out how foolish they have been when the ban is lifted.
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I like the way Mana said it, so sarcastic, yet so true :)
I wonder what the holy temples are going to do with the returned statues/images? Maybe they send Dorje Shugden statues to the foundry and re-melt the metal and re-cast into a Nechung statue? But since the atoms of the metals are the same, re-melt and re-arranging the atoms of the metals does not remove the fact that the atoms are "evil atoms", so I hope they don't do that, because no matter what statue it is being re-casted into, it is still intrisically evil.
Like what Big Uncle said, I am just wondering, is there a way the owner of this website can find a way to collect these statue back and re-distribute them. May be can setup a chapel. The chapel will be primarily used to give out free distributions, and it can allow others to drop off their Dorje Shugden statues if they so decided to do so...
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I respect the Dalai Lama, but sorry, it's just too hard for me to accpet this.
How could a Buddha suddenly turned to be an evil spirit? How could the Dalai Lama made prayers to a Buddha in the past and now the Buddha is an evil spirit? And the statue you used to respect so that much, you see the statue as a Buddha, and now you going to send the Buddha off or even just throw it away?
Even after I grow up to be a young man, i didn't throw my old toys away and send them off to someone who I know he/she wouldn't appreciate the toys. And what Im talking about now is a Buddha statue that you used to make prayers to, a Buddha statue you used to gain energy, aspiration and hope from.
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I respect the Dalai Lama, but sorry, it's just too hard for me to accpet this.
How could a Buddha suddenly turned to be an evil spirit? How could the Dalai Lama made prayers to a Buddha in the past and now the Buddha is an evil spirit? And the statue you used to respect so that much, you see the statue as a Buddha, and now you going to send the Buddha off or even just throw it away?
Even after I grow up to be a young man, i didn't throw my old toys away and send them off to someone who I know he/she wouldn't appreciate the toys. And what Im talking about now is a Buddha statue that you used to make prayers to, a Buddha statue you used to gain energy, aspiration and hope from.
It just goes to show the quality of the practitioners today: no loyalty or stability to their practice. Will these people achieve enlightenment? How to benefit all beings if they take sides and follow the 'flow' on influential forces and abandon practices for the sake of being "correct"?
When HHDL does it I am very sure he has his reasons, but when laypeople who know next to nothing do it i am pretty sure they are doing it out of blind faith, fear and ignorance. So sad to see how people can be so disloyal to their own lineage and protectors. How can they even hope to achieve results or have blessings?
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I respect the Dalai Lama, but sorry, it's just too hard for me to accpet this.
How could a Buddha suddenly turned to be an evil spirit? How could the Dalai Lama made prayers to a Buddha in the past and now the Buddha is an evil spirit? And the statue you used to respect so that much, you see the statue as a Buddha, and now you going to send the Buddha off or even just throw it away?
Even after I grow up to be a young man, i didn't throw my old toys away and send them off to someone who I know he/she wouldn't appreciate the toys. And what Im talking about now is a Buddha statue that you used to make prayers to, a Buddha statue you used to gain energy, aspiration and hope from.
It is human nature to keep clean and be on the good books, any rumours can trigger a sparkle that starts off a fire. Again it shows that the nature of the minds that for most, they prefer to stay away from any controversy and abide to peer group pressure so as to avoid any trouble.
Ignorance is rooted, even ignoring the advice from one's guru, how do one advances on one's spiritual journey when household gossips can make one deviate from one's practice??
Sad but it is a reality, so all the more that motivate me to do whatever I can to spread the truth of Dorje Shugden. All the more, we should do whatever we can, be it distributing the brochures, be it supporting the monasteries like Shar Gaden or Serpom , be it participating in the forum, be it anything in fact, as the truth will always prevail!!!!
The more people wants to talk bad on Dorje Shugden, the more I want to tell people how wrong and ignorant they are!!!!
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It is human nature to keep clean and be on the good books, any rumours can trigger a sparkle that starts off a fire. Again it shows that the nature of the minds that for most, they prefer to stay away from any controversy and abide to peer group pressure so as to avoid any trouble.
Ignorance is rooted, even ignoring the advice from one's guru, how do one advances on one's spiritual journey when household gossips can make one deviate from one's practice??
Sad but it is a reality, so all the more that motivate me to do whatever I can to spread the truth of Dorje Shugden. All the more, we should do whatever we can, be it distributing the brochures, be it supporting the monasteries like Shar Gaden or Serpom , be it participating in the forum, be it anything in fact, as the truth will always prevail!!!!
The more people wants to talk bad on Dorje Shugden, the more I want to tell people how wrong and ignorant they are!!!!
problem is it is also human nature to do proper research before jumping into things, but these people have obviously lost the whole thing. They do not do their own research but prefer to listen to hearsay.
When I see people like these i pity them as they will never be able to develop any wisdom for a very long time and yes like you, it does motivate me to want to educate them more about Shugden, but in a friendly and explainable way. There are just so many materials on Shugden and why is he actually enlightened yet so many of his detractors seem to miss them.
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I like the way Mana said it, so sarcastic, yet so true :)
I wonder what the holy temples are going to do with the returned statues/images? Maybe they send Dorje Shugden statues to the foundry and re-melt the metal and re-cast into a Nechung statue? But since the atoms of the metals are the same, re-melt and re-arranging the atoms of the metals does not remove the fact that the atoms are "evil atoms", so I hope they don't do that, because no matter what statue it is being re-casted into, it is still intrisically evil.
Like what Big Uncle said, I am just wondering, is there a way the owner of this website can find a way to collect these statue back and re-distribute them. May be can setup a chapel. The chapel will be primarily used to give out free distributions, and it can allow others to drop off their Dorje Shugden statues if they so decided to do so...
This sounds like a great idea because giving the Dorje Shugden statues to these centre would go to waste.... perhaps create a public collection center/chapel/booth that allows people to send their Dorje Shugden statues. Then on the other side a free distribution of Dorje Shugden statues, images, information etc for those who wish to invite DS. This will look hilarious... but it would be convenient for those who wishes to return DS and those who wish to obtain a stat would discourage the other named centres in the list from throwing or burning DS images... creating more negative deeds from their ignorant actions.
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I had the good fortune to visit the old protector house on the border of gaden and shar gaden. And there are many statues and even pictures of dorje shugden practitioners left by people and the monks who probably could not find any way go against the decree by Dalai Lama or could not find the strength to oppose the society views of the day. If ds was so evil and if one is on the side of the truth why fear to destroy these items unless there is doubt within their hearts.
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It is so sad to hear that a family who has been praying to and protected by Dorje Shugden decided to get rid of of it upon hearing that Dorje Shugden practice is bad. How can these practitioners be so ignorant? They should check out this website and know more about Dorje Shugden before making such a silly move. How can Dorje Shugden who has been taking care of them all these years suddenly became an evil spirit?
HHDL has reasons for his actions, but the practitioners should at least make an attempt to check out more information before making such a move. I hope they will have no regrets when the ban is lifted.
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It is so sad to hear that a family who has been praying to and protected by Dorje Shugden decided to get rid of of it upon hearing that Dorje Shugden practice is bad. How can these practitioners be so ignorant? They should check out this website and know more about Dorje Shugden before making such a silly move. How can Dorje Shugden who has been taking care of them all these years suddenly became an evil spirit?
HHDL has reasons for his actions, but the practitioners should at least make an attempt to check out more information before making such a move. I hope they will have no regrets when the ban is lifted.
I have a feeling that they will regret the whole thing but it will be too late back then as they will be faced with much obstacles from betraying their own lineage and doing/making decisions out of fear and hearsay. Because the only research i see them do is asking friends and family. No reading, no investigation. Nothing.
but i guess sadly this is the majority of how the anti Shugden people are and it is shown very clearly.
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It is sad to hear how ignorant this family is that they could abandon something they have prayed to for a long time and has helped them in some ways. If they do not want to practice or pray to it anymore, at least respect it enough to give it to someplace who respects it also and not to be destroyed. I have heard that during the initial stages of the ban, there were lots of statues being abandoned by practitioners at the doorstep of Shar Gaden (Gaden Monastery then). The monks there do not know where the DS statues/thanka comes from but they put the statues at the altar and continue to pray to it. That should be the way.
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I respect the Dalai Lama, but sorry, it's just too hard for me to accpet this.
How could a Buddha suddenly turned to be an evil spirit? How could the Dalai Lama made prayers to a Buddha in the past and now the Buddha is an evil spirit? And the statue you used to respect so that much, you see the statue as a Buddha, and now you going to send the Buddha off or even just throw it away?
Even after I grow up to be a young man, i didn't throw my old toys away and send them off to someone who I know he/she wouldn't appreciate the toys. And what Im talking about now is a Buddha statue that you used to make prayers to, a Buddha statue you used to gain energy, aspiration and hope from.
It just goes to show the quality of the practitioners today: no loyalty or stability to their practice. Will these people achieve enlightenment? How to benefit all beings if they take sides and follow the 'flow' on influential forces and abandon practices for the sake of being "correct"?
When HHDL does it I am very sure he has his reasons, but when laypeople who know next to nothing do it i am pretty sure they are doing it out of blind faith, fear and ignorance. So sad to see how people can be so disloyal to their own lineage and protectors. How can they even hope to achieve results or have blessings?
Yes i agree with your question. Are these people able to achieve enlightenment and how they going to benefit all beings if they follow the flow in this degenerated era! During Buddha Shakyamuni's time, He debate to get rid all the 'influential forces' and disseminate the Dharma that last for 2500 years. Even Shakyamuni Himself need to debate, need to keep His mind clear when comes to doubt/question from the people! If we practice Dharma out of blind faith, it will bring us no where. Our mind will goes up and down endlessly. Eventually, we have no Buddha in our mind.
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[quote author=Lawrence L link=topic=1542.msg20985#msg20985 date=1326136979
Yes i agree with your question. Are these people able to achieve enlightenment and how they going to benefit all `beings if they follow the flow in this degenerated era! During Buddha Shakyamuni's time, He debate to get rid all the 'influential forces' and disseminate the Dharma that last for 2500 years. Even Shakyamuni Himself need to debate, need to keep His mind clear when comes to doubt/question from the people! If we practice Dharma out of blind faith, it will bring us no where. Our mind will goes up and down endlessly. Eventually, we have no Buddha in our mind.
[/quote]
Why do you think there are so little people who are enlightened? The Buddha did not exactly debate but he provoked people and made them think deeper on what is really going on. He merely presented the universe and how it works in a way that people like us can understand so that we can make the right choices. He did debate with people who try to challenge him to make them realize as well. And he did explain patiently using logic because that is what people understand best.
When we believe in something without through investigation, why are we still calling ourselves Buddhist? Did the Buddha not call us to test things out and do research before believing?
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Funnily this post makes me smile... why? Because these so called temples ask for the "demonic" artifacts back from people where they could easily just say, "chuck it in the bin". Perhaps there is some element of fear of negative repercussions? Maybe it is wishful thinking on my part seeing as they were the indirect cause of a family trying to get rid of such holy items to begin with... sigh!
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Yes if Dorje Shugden is just an evil spirit why not destroy the statue instead of passing it on to a center, it could potentially harm others? The Dalai Lama ordered the holy and powerful DS statue to be moved to another place one year before the ban went into full swing in Gaden. I feel it was a gesture to protect the holy DS statue. Why protect it otherwise?
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Yes if Dorje Shugden is just an evil spirit why not destroy the statue instead of passing it on to a center, it could potentially harm others? The Dalai Lama ordered the holy and powerful DS statue to be moved to another place one year before the ban went into full swing in Gaden. I feel it was a gesture to protect the holy DS statue. Why protect it otherwise?
Maybe they are afraid to destroy the statue as it may bring them bad luck! Hehe... So better send to someplace where someone else can destroy it. Give the responsibility to someone else.
However, the fact that the Dalai Lama ordered the Gaden DS statue to be moved to another place one year before the ban went into full swing does mean something. Maybe the Dalai Lama has bigger plans for DS. I believe so. Cos it makes no sense for the Dalai Lama move the statue for people to continue to worship it if his intention is to stop people from practicing DS. So, the motivation is much higher that only the Dalai Lama will know.
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Yes if Dorje Shugden is just an evil spirit why not destroy the statue instead of passing it on to a center, it could potentially harm others? The Dalai Lama ordered the holy and powerful DS statue to be moved to another place one year before the ban went into full swing in Gaden. I feel it was a gesture to protect the holy DS statue. Why protect it otherwise?
Maybe they are afraid to destroy the statue as it may bring them bad luck! Hehe... So better send to someplace where someone else can destroy it. Give the responsibility to someone else.
However, the fact that the Dalai Lama ordered the Gaden DS statue to be moved to another place one year before the ban went into full swing does mean something. Maybe the Dalai Lama has bigger plans for DS. I believe so. Cos it makes no sense for the Dalai Lama move the statue for people to continue to worship it if his intention is to stop people from practicing DS. So, the motivation is much higher that only the Dalai Lama will know.
After contemplating this for a while, HHDL's action of gradually removing the statue from the Gaden Lachi was really an act to respect the monks of Gaden who are still practicing and it gives them a breather instead of an outright trashing of the holy DS statue, we wouldn't be here talking about it today!
We all know for a fact that the monks in Shar Gaden do not hate HHDL and still respects him even though they have navigated away from their own monastery. I guess you can harbor any sorta hate for HHDL for the good things he has done for the entire Tibetan world. One bad move does not condemn u to be a bad person or if anything dispise him.
We can only hope that one fine day the Three Great Seats will reunite again in harmony when the ban is lifted!
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It is interesting to also note that so called “seasoned” Buddhist practitioners after many years of practice can still have something so ridiculous to ask or even contemplating “switching”. It shows the level of shallowness in practice to begin with. How to achieve any attainments with such flippant minds… this is really silly I find!
Firstly they doubt their Vajrayana Rinpoche then their Therevadan teacher’s advise and instead follow their lay friend’s advice… what have they learnt , if anything about Guru Devotion or anything for that matter?
How some people would so want a Dorje Shugden altar but are not permitted or cannot afford one and they just literally throw theirs away… sigh!
While on the subject of Dorje Shuden altar and image, check the amazing collection of pictures compiled here: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10605 (http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10605)
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I wonder what the holy temples are going to do with the returned statues/images? Maybe they send Dorje Shugden statues to the foundry and re-melt the metal and re-cast into a Nechung statue? But since the atoms of the metals are the same, re-melt and re-arranging the atoms of the metals does not remove the fact that the atoms are "evil atoms", so I hope they don't do that, because no matter what statue it is being re-casted into, it is still intrisically evil.
Hmmm....that means it is possible that some of the statues on the altars of these temples now are originally Dorje Shugden statues...so beware, devotees there may unknowingly pray to demons all these while...
if they didn't do that, then perhaps they are very kind to give away Dorje Shugden statues for free, so please contact these temples if you are in need to Dorje Shugden statues/images.
websites of the three holy temples in Singapore that you might just get free Dorje Shugden statues from:
[url]http://www.casotac.com/[/url] ([url]http://www.casotac.com/[/url])
[url]http://www.thekchencholing.org/[/url] ([url]http://www.thekchencholing.org/[/url])
[url]http://www.fpmtabc.org/[/url] ([url]http://www.fpmtabc.org/[/url])
LOL! I love this thought - if Dorje Shugden statues were melted and recast in to a different statue... it will still be Dorje Shugden ;) and that Dorje Shugden is probably in their homes of those that invited the new statues, on their shrine and they a worshipping him daily! This would be so hilarious if it's true. Basically you cannot get rid of Dorje Shugden he just re-manifest and multiplies... the more you try to destroy him, the more DS grows!
But I think they will just keep him in one side because they are probably too afraid that they will get some bad luck or be cursed by the evils. Funny how a Dharma centre with "DHARMA PROTECTORS & BUDDHAS" would be afraid of 1 bad boy Dorje Shugden? I cannot help but just laugh at the illogical-ness of it all. For them to even request for the statues to be sent to their temples says it all. I mean think... if u were a true Buddhist and has taken refuge with the 3 jewels... then there really is nothing to fear right? So send him to any temple will do, why specifically these temples?
Yes for us Dorje Shugden lovers... now we know where to look for Dorje Shugden and invite him home ;) Thank you!
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It is interesting to also note that so called “seasoned” Buddhist practitioners after many years of practice can still have something so ridiculous to ask or even contemplating “switching”. It shows the level of shallowness in practice to begin with. How to achieve any attainments with such flippant minds… this is really silly I find!
Firstly they doubt their Vajrayana Rinpoche then their Therevadan teacher’s advise and instead follow their lay friend’s advice… what have they learnt , if anything about Guru Devotion or anything for that matter?
How some people would so want a Dorje Shugden altar but are not permitted or cannot afford one and they just literally throw theirs away… sigh!
While on the subject of Dorje Shuden altar and image, check the amazing collection of pictures compiled here: [url]http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10605[/url] ([url]http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10605[/url])
Unfortunately, that actually reflects the mentality of a lot of people these days, who call themselves Buddhist, westerners and asians alike. They forgot what Buddhism really means: to investigate and illuminate against the darkness that is ignorance. The simplest way to get rid of ignorance is to investigate, study and to gain knowledge. When these knowledge is put into practice, wisdom arises. But many people these days who call themselves Buddhist are just content to hear things that pleases their ears, and not really the Dharma that they are supposed to practice as they dismiss that to be too heavy or "not for them" and they can choose from a buffet spread of Dharma teachings from all types of different traditions and keep hopping around which is fine, but all of them will eventually get challenging after a while and then they leave again, never even tasting the real Dharma or having any results.
I have a question: how do we know that we do not become like them? these are also the most likely candidates to actually become one of those people who dismiss and accept things out of superstition? They may look silly now, but it could be us if we do not do enough investigation, study, learning and knowledge. This post is also a reminder of how silly we are if we do not develop our understanding, logic and knowledge base. That is how I see it and that is how I do not want to represent our protector.
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I have a question: how do we know that we do not become like them? these are also the most likely candidates to actually become one of those people who dismiss and accept things out of superstition? They may look silly now, but it could be us if we do not do enough investigation, study, learning and knowledge. This post is also a reminder of how silly we are if we do not develop our understanding, logic and knowledge base. That is how I see it and that is how I do not want to represent our protector.
You know you are not them if you have taken the time to check out your teacher, the teachings, and understood the basis of your practice, especially of the protector Dorje Shugden.
If you are not out there chasing after famous lamas, hoping to get initiations and blessings as quick fix for your miserable life problems, or blind faith because His Holiness is God, then be rest assured you won't turn out like them any time soon.
We live in the age of information, it's so easy to get info about who Dorje Shugden is online, books are also out, the controversy has appeared in numerous magazines, as well as news on TV, but people choose to believe propoganda or hear say because then they do need to put in effort to investigate. I can understand if they are Tibetan refugees who are uneducated and unexposed, living in Tibetan settlements. But Singaporeans? Wow, what a shame.
Anyway, may be I should go check out these centres and see if they will give me a Shugden statue as images of holy protectors are rare ;D
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You know you are not them if you have taken the time to check out your teacher, the teachings, and understood the basis of your practice, especially of the protector Dorje Shugden.
I have! And I believe that people who are intelligent and who are educated should do so too, before they decide if Dorje Shugden is good or bad for them instead of just blindly jumping into the whole thing. I have done my research and I do not need a protector that will give me gifts and money, but I do eed a protector that will help me cultivate and attain Bodhicitta. And that is one of the main reasons why I stick to him.
If you are not out there chasing after famous lamas, hoping to get initiations and blessings as quick fix for your miserable life problems, or blind faith because His Holiness is God, then be rest assured you won't turn out like them any time soon.
You're kinda right. They tend to like to do those things for some reason. I dont know why. They would have no time to even touch a Dharma book but they have time to run for day-long initiations. Interesting indeed. Not criticising, but just evaluating their behaviour and motivations towards the whole thing. I find it sad and funny that these people want all these as a quick fix to their problems when that quick fix does not really exist.
We live in the age of information, it's so easy to get info about who Dorje Shugden is online, books are also out, the controversy has appeared in numerous magazines, as well as news on TV, but people choose to believe propoganda or hear say because then they do need to put in effort to investigate. I can understand if they are Tibetan refugees who are uneducated and unexposed, living in Tibetan settlements. But Singaporeans? Wow, what a shame.
Yes it is that inquisitiveness that many people these days lack because they just take things for granted. It is true that we live in the age of information, but all the same it causes people to take information for granted and when they do it makes them less smart and less investigative and they just want to blindly believe. Singaporeans, Americans, whatever, they are the same if they were pampered and all the information they have was spoon fed to them, and they never had to lift a finger to find out or verify.
Anyway, may be I should go check out these centres and see if they will give me a Shugden statue as images of holy protectors are rare ;D
We should probably raid those temples and relief them of Dorje Shugden statues. hehehe
Sometimes it is quite shocking to see certain behaviours that are deemed barbaric appearing in this day and age. But in the case of Singapore, it is very simple: if you were spoon fed information your whole life and you did not have to question them because everyone around you said it was true, why would you find out more? This is perhaps, the danger of the modern world. With that said, lets do pray that we will never end up in this way.