dorjeshugden.com
About Dorje Shugden => General Discussion => Topic started by: LosangKhyentse on March 09, 2010, 12:32:14 AM
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Extract from Pg 208 of
The Fourteen Dalai Lamas:
A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation by Glenn H. Mullin
Another controversy surrounding the Great Fifth concerns the details of the death of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, a famous Gelugpa lama of the period. He was one of the most prominent lamas of his day, and in fact in some circles was held in even higher regard than was the Great Fifth, for the Fifth at the time was still in his youth.
One day Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was mysteriously murdered. His followers claimed that the culprits were followers of the Fifth Dalai Lama, although there was no suggestion that the Great Fifth was personally even aware of the plan.
The theory was that the Great Fifth was being eclipsed by the towering stature of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, and thus would greatly benefit from the death. As long as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was alive the Fifth Dalai Lama would be number two in the Gelugpa School; his death allowed the Great Fifth to rise to the position of number one.
Whether or not the followers of the Great Fifth were involved in Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s murder was never proved, but the rumours persisted.
The tale, already somewhat bizarre, now takes an even more exotic twist. It is said that the soul of the murdered monk wandered in the hereafter for some time as a disturbed spirit, creating havoc for the people of Lhasa. Eventually the Great Fifth contracted a group of Nyingmapa shamans to exorcise and pacify it, but they failed. He then contracted a group of Gelugpa shaman monks.
As a result of the rituals of this second group the spirit of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was eventually pacified and transformed into the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines.
Although the Great Fifth tried to discourage the practice of worshipping this deity, it caught on with many monasteries. The practice continued over the generations to follow, and eventually became one of the most popular Protector Deity practices within the Gelugpa School. In particular, during the late 1800s, when four Dalai Lamas died young, it became an all-pervasive monthly practice within almost all provincial Gelugpa monasteries, and was especially popular with Gelugpa aristocratic families.
The controversy surrounding the murder of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and the deity that emerged from his disturbed spirit has shadowed the Dalai Lama office until the present day. By the time the Tibetans came into exile in 1959, worshipping Dorje Shugden was still a common monthly practice of most Gelugpas.
In recent decades the present Dalai Lama has attempted to discourage the practice, but with little success. It is as strong today as ever, if not stronger; for with the Dalai Lama discouraging it in India, the Chinese are fully promoting it in Tibet.
Tibet watchers will be aware of this bizarre controversy, as it has even found its way onto the pages of Times and Newsweek, and has dozens of web pages dedicated to it.
(The above was extracted from Guestbook http://www.dorjeshugden.com/Guestbook/ posted by Thomas David Canada. He always has interesting posts. Thanks Thom!)
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Glenn Mullin is a leading Biographer of all the fourteen Dalai Lamas. He has dedicated his works to the line of Dalai lamas, background and history.
Dalai lama once commented that Glenn Mullin knew more of his predecessors than he himself. Mullin continues to be the Dalai lama's good friend.
But the incredible thing is that Mullin writes a few very strong points that contradicts what the Dalai Lama says always re Shugden's practice in Tibet.
1. The Shugden practice was within a small minority in Tibet. Not true according to Mullin.
2. Mullin also says that it became the MOST POPULAR protector practice within the Gelug. That contradicts the Dalai Lama saying it is relatively small.
Interesting that Mullin also mentions the practice is strong if not getting stronger today. Interestingly, the book has been FORWARDED BY THE DALAI LAMA HIMSELF. I guess Dalai lama nor his assistants were able to read the book before issuing the forward.
TK
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Again, I would like to thank the sincere and constructive efforts of this forum's participants (with special thanks to Thomas David Canada and tk in this particular posting) for the well supported information you make available.
This posting is especially exciting because it is an extract of writings by the 14th Dalai Lama's leading biographer who is recognized and acknowledged by H.H himself. To top this sundae with a cherry, the content was endorsed by the 14th Dalai Lama in his forward for the book. Adding 2 and 2 together, one should scientifically conclude that the content of the book is credible.
From analyzing the posting, I developed the following point of view:
To avoid any risk of a short lifespan (based on the lives of the 1800s' Dalai Lamas), H.H banned the practice of DS to extend his life as the 14th Dalai Lama because he has a big mission this lifetime to bring Dharma mainstream onto the international arena.
As H.H reaches the end of this life, the Dharma world faces the uncertainty related to his succession: Karmapa Lama who is supported by the Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama who is the "official" successor through the history of Tibetan leadership and also supported by the Chinese government.
To overcome this trial for the "survival" of pure Dharma, H.H may recognize that Dharma practitioners require the protection of The Great King - Dorje Shugden because he has the strongest karmic link to sentient beings during this period.
In his ban of DS, HH never stated that DS practice causes harm to the Dharma or all sentient beings. HH was specific that the harm was on his own life and the sovereignty of Tibet. Perhaps, now in his 70s, H.H believes it will bring greater long term benefit to bring DS back to mainstream practice. Based on results of the past year to year and a half, this is what is happening. Similarly, with the threat of conflict that could arise in the election of the next Tibetan Political & Spiritual Leader which can cause greater threat to Tibet, having DS' presence and protection may bring more benefit than harm. In the law of impermanence, this theory stands a chance of being valid.
Based on the law of Karma, the "poor" relations between DS and DL is caused by karmic link between them. As a highly attained being, I believe that HH accepts the law of karma and its consequence. However, in this lifetime, H.H made efforts to "get around" the consequence of his karma because it was more beneficial for more sentient beings that he lives long enough to turn the wheel of Dharma outside Tibet. In his direct efforts, H.H brought Dharma to the West and, in an indirect way, he has caused Dharma to strengthen in China as this influential nation propagates Dorje Shugden as a direct result of H.H's ban.
Perhaps there is more harmony between DL and DS than our ignorant eyes permit us to see. As ignorance still cloud our minds, our best option is to place trust in our enlightened Guru and Buddhas who will never wish harm upon any sentient being.
I wish for more and more credible information like this arise. I hope eyes will open and bring an end to the controversy and suffering as a result of this misunderstanding of Dharma.
I apologize in advance if I sound presumptuous in my sharing above.
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http://www.westernshugdensociety.org/video/dalai-lama-slaves/
Dalai Lama Slaves
Dalai Lama -
The Slaves and the CIA
Penn and Teller tell it like it is in this satirical examination of life under the Dalai Lama's rule. While the Dalai Lama lived a priviledged life in his luxurious palace, the majority of Tibetans were exploited as a serf underclass. They lived in squalor and regularly faced the threat of torture and punishment. They also debunk the myth of the Dalai Lama leading a non-violent resistence to the Chinese... unless, of course, the CIA sponsored Tibetan resistence were actually non-violent covert guerillas...
Western Shugden Society
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Although the Great Fifth tried to discourage the practice of worshipping this deity, it caught on with many monasteries. The practice continued over the generations to follow, and eventually became one of the most popular Protector Deity practices within the Gelugpa School. In particular, during the late 1800s, when four Dalai Lamas died young, it became an all-pervasive monthly practice within almost all provincial Gelugpa monasteries, and was especially popular with Gelugpa aristocratic families.
The controversy surrounding the murder of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and the deity that emerged from his disturbed spirit has shadowed the Dalai Lama office until the present day. By the time the Tibetans came into exile in 1959, worshipping Dorje Shugden was still a common monthly practice of most Gelugpas.
In recent decades the present Dalai Lama has attempted to discourage the practice, but with little success. It is as strong today as ever, if not stronger; for with the Dalai Lama discouraging it in India, the Chinese are fully promoting it in Tibet.
Tibet watchers will be aware of this bizarre controversy, as it has even found its way onto the pages of Times and Newsweek, and has dozens of web pages dedicated to it.
(The above was extracted from Guestbook [url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/Guestbook/[/url] posted by Thomas David Canada. He always has interesting posts. Thanks Thom!)
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Glenn Mullin is a leading Biographer of all the fourteen Dalai Lamas. He has dedicated his works to the line of Dalai lamas, background and history.
Dalai lama once commented that Glenn Mullin knew more of his predecessors than he himself. Mullin continues to be the Dalai lama's good friend.
But the incredible thing is that Mullin writes a few very strong points that contradicts what the Dalai Lama says always re Shugden's practice in Tibet.
1. The Shugden practice was within a small minority in Tibet. Not true according to Mullin.
2. Mullin also says that it became the MOST POPULAR protector practice within the Gelug. That contradicts the Dalai Lama saying it is relatively small.
Interesting that Mullin also mentions the practice is strong if not getting stronger today. Interestingly, the book has been FORWARDED BY THE DALAI LAMA HIMSELF. I guess Dalai lama nor his assistants were able to read the book before issuing the forward.
TK
Now why would Glen Mulin write something in contradiction to HH the Dalai Lama's reasons for the BAN especially since he has such a close relationship with the Dalai Lama. Mulin himself must have noticed the contradiction and he is just merely being objective in presenting the facts. Yes it is very funny that the Dalai Lama himself actually gave a Foreward to this book as well as many other books out there ( e.g. The Lawudo Lama) that proves the opposite info of what He is claiming about DS.
It quite amazing that because of this whole Ban drama, a lot more information are being churned out, researched about Dorje Shugden. A lot of info are being presented and shared now, not just to clear people's doubts but it also inspire those who are practicing, and educate those who have no clue about Dorje Shugden. In the past, I think if anyone wanted to know anything about Dorje Shugden, you will need to go to a Lama "secretly" who practice and ask for teachings. Now with the wonders of the internet and this wonderful site we can share many valuable information and teachings to literally anyone in the world! Isn't it IRONIC
Thank you Thom and TK for always providing valuable information!
Isn't it IRONIC "this bizarre controversy, as it has even found its way onto the pages of Times and Newsweek, and has dozens of web pages dedicated to it".
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Read what Glenn Mullin, leading Biographer of all the fourteen Dalai Lamas who has dedicated his works to the line of Dalai lamas, background and history has to say about Dorje Shugden. Very interesting that Dalai Lama wrote the forward for this book!!
Extract from Pg 208 of
The Fourteen Dalai Lamas:
A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation by Glenn H. Mullin
Another controversy surrounding the Great Fifth concerns the details of the death of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, a famous Gelugpa lama of the period. He was one of the most prominent lamas of his day, and in fact in some circles was held in even higher regard than was the Great Fifth, for the Fifth at the time was still in his youth.
One day Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was mysteriously murdered. His followers claimed that the culprits were followers of the Fifth Dalai Lama, although there was no suggestion that the Great Fifth was personally even aware of the plan.
The theory was that the Great Fifth was being eclipsed by the towering stature of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, and thus would greatly benefit from the death. As long as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was alive the Fifth Dalai Lama would be number two in the Gelugpa School; his death allowed the Great Fifth to rise to the position of number one.
Whether or not the followers of the Great Fifth were involved in Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s murder was never proved, but the rumours persisted.
The tale, already somewhat bizarre, now takes an even more exotic twist. It is said that the soul of the murdered monk wandered in the hereafter for some time as a disturbed spirit, creating havoc for the people of Lhasa. Eventually the Great Fifth contracted a group of Nyingmapa shamans to exorcise and pacify it, but they failed. He then contracted a group of Gelugpa shaman monks.
As a result of the rituals of this second group the spirit of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was eventually pacified and transformed into the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines.
Although the Great Fifth tried to discourage the practice of worshipping this deity, it caught on with many monasteries. The practice continued over the generations to follow, and eventually became one of the most popular Protector Deity practices within the Gelugpa School. In particular, during the late 1800s, when four Dalai Lamas died young, it became an all-pervasive monthly practice within almost all provincial Gelugpa monasteries, and was especially popular with Gelugpa aristocratic families.
The controversy surrounding the murder of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and the deity that emerged from his disturbed spirit has shadowed the Dalai Lama office until the present day. By the time the Tibetans came into exile in 1959, worshipping Dorje Shugden was still a common monthly practice of most Gelugpas.
In recent decades the present Dalai Lama has attempted to discourage the practice, but with little success. It is as strong today as ever, if not stronger; for with the Dalai Lama discouraging it in India, the Chinese are fully promoting it in Tibet.
Tibet watchers will be aware of this bizarre controversy, as it has even found its way onto the pages of Times and Newsweek, and has dozens of web pages dedicated to it.
(The above was extracted from Guestbook [url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/Guestbook/[/url] posted by Thomas David Canada. He always has interesting posts. Thanks Thom!)
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Glenn Mullin is a leading Biographer of all the fourteen Dalai Lamas. He has dedicated his works to the line of Dalai lamas, background and history.
Dalai lama once commented that Glenn Mullin knew more of his predecessors than he himself. Mullin continues to be the Dalai lama's good friend.
But the incredible thing is that Mullin writes a few very strong points that contradicts what the Dalai Lama says always re Shugden's practice in Tibet.
1. The Shugden practice was within a small minority in Tibet. Not true according to Mullin.
2. Mullin also says that it became the MOST POPULAR protector practice within the Gelug. That contradicts the Dalai Lama saying it is relatively small.
Interesting that Mullin also mentions the practice is strong if not getting stronger today. Interestingly, the book has been FORWARDED BY THE DALAI LAMA HIMSELF. I guess Dalai lama nor his assistants were able to read the book before issuing the forward.
TK
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Weren't 90% of Tibetans were Gelug practitioners before Tibet was lost to China.
Glenn Mullin like most western intellectuals he only reported whatever facts he found. When was the book first published?
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The tale, already somewhat bizarre, now takes an even more exotic twist. It is said that the soul of the murdered monk wandered in the hereafter for some time as a disturbed spirit, creating havoc for the people of Lhasa. Eventually the Great Fifth contracted a group of Nyingmapa shamans to exorcise and pacify it, but they failed. He then contracted a group of Gelugpa shaman monks.
As a result of the rituals of this second group the spirit of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was eventually pacified and transformed into the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines.
How true is this part of the story? I have not heard this version - re the Gelugpa shaman monks pacifying TDG's spirit and transforming him into Dorje Shugden.
There's no mention of the time DS spent with the Sakyas too.
Does anyone know more about this?
Thanks!
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The tale, already somewhat bizarre, now takes an even more exotic twist. It is said that the soul of the murdered monk wandered in the hereafter for some time as a disturbed spirit, creating havoc for the people of Lhasa. Eventually the Great Fifth contracted a group of Nyingmapa shamans to exorcise and pacify it, but they failed. He then contracted a group of Gelugpa shaman monks.
As a result of the rituals of this second group the spirit of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was eventually pacified and transformed into the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines.
How true is this part of the story? I have not heard this version - re the Gelugpa shaman monks pacifying TDG's spirit and transforming him into Dorje Shugden.
There's no mention of the time DS spent with the Sakyas too.
Does anyone know more about this?
Thanks!
Dear WisdomBeing,
The account given by Glenn Mullin defers greatly with what the Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche talks about. Here is the link to a previous thread (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=697.0 (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=697.0)) It says that rituals done by Nyingma Lamas were unsuccessful and the rituals done were to destroy Dorje Shugden and not to convert him to a Dharma Protector. Between the two, I would believe Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Glenn Mullin's explanations doesn't seem very sure anyway.
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The tale, already somewhat bizarre, now takes an even more exotic twist. It is said that the soul of the murdered monk wandered in the hereafter for some time as a disturbed spirit, creating havoc for the people of Lhasa. Eventually the Great Fifth contracted a group of Nyingmapa shamans to exorcise and pacify it, but they failed. He then contracted a group of Gelugpa shaman monks.
As a result of the rituals of this second group the spirit of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was eventually pacified and transformed into the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines.
How true is this part of the story? I have not heard this version - re the Gelugpa shaman monks pacifying TDG's spirit and transforming him into Dorje Shugden.
There's no mention of the time DS spent with the Sakyas too.
Does anyone know more about this?
Thanks!
Dear WisdomBeing,
The account given by Glenn Mullin defers greatly with what the Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche talks about. Here is the link to a previous thread ([url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=697.0[/url] ([url]http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=697.0[/url])) It says that rituals done by Nyingma Lamas were unsuccessful and the rituals done were to destroy Dorje Shugden and not to convert him to a Dharma Protector. Between the two, I would believe Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Glenn Mullin's explanations doesn't seem very sure anyway.
Dear Big Uncle, Excellent reference to support this point. Yes, as far as I understand the ritual by the Nyingma Lamas is to destroy DS and not to convert him. After repeatedly failing to do so, the DL in end had no choice but to be convinced that DS is not an evil spirit and recognize DS as the direct emanation of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and a Dharma protector. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama himself authorize the recognition of DS as a Dharma Protector and wrote an official praise to DS which is available even up to today.
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If the CTA allows articles with incorrect information to be published on their websites, it is most certainly that they are sloppy enough to leave such things in a book. Or, it could be that some of HHDL's assistants are pro Dorje Shudgen and left that part intentionally in the book as a hint to Shugden practitioners that HHDL is not really against Dorje Shugden and it is all just an act.
What is very interesting to note that Dorje Shugden's practice was popular ever since the 5th Dalai Lama's time which contradicts the claim by some "scholars" that Dorje Shugden's practice was an unpopular until Pabongkha Rinpoche taught it to the masses. The reason why this is interesting is because it shows the depth of historical alterations that CTA has been doing to serve their agendas.
History serves to teach us lessons so that we do not make past mistakes. That is why Chinese history is not really that biased, and neither are the historians of Japan, Korea, Greece, Rome etc because they want to learn. Tibetan history however is heavily altered to make the current government look good, or historical facts are not presented correctly and to cover up unexplainable events…
For example, the first time where Dharma texts and Buddhist statues appeared in Tibet, they were said to have "fallen" from the sky when in reality someone bought it for them. Okay…so why is there a need to use such methods/distortions to describe something? If I am not mistaken, in the same book Glenn Mullin also mentioned that the series of Dalai Lamas who died young might have been poisoned, but Tibetan history said "they decided to leave early…"
And, they are repeating the same pattern with CTA and distorting and contorting history to serve their own means. What's the use when the next generation cannot learn from history which has degraded into nothing but a bunch of lies? No wonder Tibet is unable to be liberated, because they never learn from history.
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"Although the Great Fifth tried to discourage the practice of worshipping this deity, it caught on with many monasteries. The practice continued over the generations to follow, and eventually became one of the most popular Protector Deity practices within the Gelugpa School. In particular, during the late 1800s, when four Dalai Lamas died young, it became an all-pervasive monthly practice within almost all provincial Gelugpa monasteries, and was especially popular with Gelugpa aristocratic families.
The controversy surrounding the murder of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and the deity that emerged from his disturbed spirit has shadowed the Dalai Lama office until the present day. By the time the Tibetans came into exile in 1959, worshipping Dorje Shugden was still a common monthly practice of most Gelugpas.
In recent decades the present Dalai Lama has attempted to discourage the practice, but with little success. It is as strong today as ever, if not stronger; for with the Dalai Lama discouraging it in India, the Chinese are fully promoting it in Tibet.
Tibet watchers will be aware of this bizarre controversy, as it has even found its way onto the pages of Times and Newsweek, and has dozens of web pages dedicated to it."
Glenn Mullin pretty much sums up HHDL's plot in creating the controversy of banning the practice of Dorje Shugden. HHDL's foreword is an endorsement to Mr. Mullin's writings and a clear indication of the bigger picture of the controversy.
Because of the ban, the practice is now stronger than ever. The Chinese Government is promoting it in Tibet. Furthermore, it's making international headlines in Times and Newsweek magazine. The publicity for the practice has gone international.
HHDL is the greatest Publicist for Dorje Shugden.
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Such a surprise post, from such close associate of HHDL written with sincerity and clarify. He pretty much summed up the whole story of the ban. He mentioned a few great points, that Dorje Shugden practice was actually one of the main practice of the Gelugpas. Even with the ban, the practice has not lessen but growing. He himself agreed that the ban has less effect on stop people from practicing. In fact, it means that Gelug practitioners have been practicing Dorje Shugden way before, it does not limit to Tibetans only. As for the growth, I can only say the compassionate HHDL has put on a great mask for dharma to spread to a bigger level. If not, why would he allow Glenn Mullin to write such info if it directly contradicts what His Holiness had said?
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Glenn Mullin pretty much sums up HHDL's plot in creating the controversy of banning the practice of Dorje Shugden. HHDL's foreword is an endorsement to Mr. Mullin's writings and a clear indication of the bigger picture of the controversy.
Because of the ban, the practice is now stronger than ever. The Chinese Government is promoting it in Tibet. Furthermore, it's making international headlines in Times and Newsweek magazine. The publicity for the practice has gone international.
HHDL is the greatest Publicist for Dorje Shugden.
There is so much inconsistencies in what HHDL says and does about the Dorje Shhugden issue. However if we were to "study" HHDL we will see that he has achieved tremendous results for the spread of Buddhism and the also the growth of Dorje Shugden's practice. The results of the growth of both are undeniable and all this progress can be traced to the act of genius of one person, HHDL.
Many have said that HHDL utterly failed in returning Tibet to the government by Tibetans. Perhaps HHDL has a much bigger objective than the political status on one country. Which of the following 2, do you think is more important to Chenrezig? (A) the pervasive spread of the Buddha dharma all over the world or (B) Returning an impermanent piece of real estate to the impermanent government of people with impermanent lives?
HHDL forwarded Glen Mullin's book which presented facts that contradicts information offered by HHDL. I cannot accept that HHDL and his people merely overlooked this. As Klein pointed out, the more controversial HHDL makes the Shugden affair, the m ore attention he gives it.
One day, the world will come to know the truth behind HHDL's moves. For now, he may be the most ardent practitioner of Dorje Shugden, and also the loneliest.
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Glenn Mullin pretty much sums up HHDL's plot in creating the controversy of banning the practice of Dorje Shugden. HHDL's foreword is an endorsement to Mr. Mullin's writings and a clear indication of the bigger picture of the controversy.
Because of the ban, the practice is now stronger than ever. The Chinese Government is promoting it in Tibet. Furthermore, it's making international headlines in Times and Newsweek magazine. The publicity for the practice has gone international.
HHDL is the greatest Publicist for Dorje Shugden.
There is so much inconsistencies in what HHDL says and does about the Dorje Shhugden issue. However if we were to "study" HHDL we will see that he has achieved tremendous results for the spread of Buddhism and the also the growth of Dorje Shugden's practice. The results of the growth of both are undeniable and all this progress can be traced to the act of genius of one person, HHDL.
Many have said that HHDL utterly failed in returning Tibet to the government by Tibetans. Perhaps HHDL has a much bigger objective than the political status on one country. Which of the following 2, do you think is more important to Chenrezig? (A) the pervasive spread of the Buddha dharma all over the world or (B) Returning an impermanent piece of real estate to the impermanent government of people with impermanent lives?
HHDL forwarded Glen Mullin's book which presented facts that contradicts information offered by HHDL. I cannot accept that HHDL and his people merely overlooked this. As Klein pointed out, the more controversial HHDL makes the Shugden affair, the m ore attention he gives it.
One day, the world will come to know the truth behind HHDL's moves. For now, he may be the most ardent practitioner of Dorje Shugden, and also the loneliest.
That is a point that we have to consider as well. Anyone who understands the way people work would have known that making a big deal about something only increases awareness about it and brings on the opposite effect of making it well known instead of suppressing it. HHDL always brings up Dorje Shugden whenever he gives public teachings, which piques interest in the people and they want find out more about him, and then they bump into this site…
If you observe, the Sakya has been trying to get rid of Dorje Shugden ever since that ban in a very quiet and secretive manner. They erased his name and status from all of their puja texts in their main monasteries quietly and secretly without many people knowing. The hagiographies of masters who happen to be Dorje Shugden's incarnation was removed and/or secretly altered so that it no longer refers to Dorje Shugden.
Now, lets compare this to what HHDL is saying -- he has been talking about it publicly, and does not make an attempt to edit history but merely take things out of context or make a distorted interpretation of it while leaving the original text and information intact. There is a big difference. The first example shows a deliberate and planned attempt to erase Shugden from their lineage, while the latter shows that HHDL is trying to spread awareness.
Else, the ban would just be a ban and Dorje Shugden would have been secretly erased from history, from all the text books and puja books, the yellow book destroyed and all traces of its existence secretly removed like what sakya did. Sad for the sakyas is that some people do have in their possession the unmodified history. It just goes to show what they would have done if they were serious about it.
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Glenn said last spring that a New Branch Of Mahayanna Buddhism has Sprouted~ We've pruned the tree, cut off the dead branches and keep the essence~ Our New Monasteries in India attest to the fact that we have definitely split away from the Dalia Lama cult, and strive to Preserve the Pure Teachings of Je t' Song Khapa Gadan Traditions. Which means for me, to pay no more attention to his activites anymore than I would intervene in Niger's affairs. Seperate is Liberating~
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I think HH the 14th Dalai Lama and/or his assistants would have read the script on pages 208-210 and approved of it before being printed. But why?
From the Foreword By His Holiness the Dalai Lama (back cover):
"It is nearly thirty years since Glenn H. Mullin first arrived in Dharamsala and began to take an interest in the works of the Dalai Lamas. I admire the persistence with which he has pursued this interest and have sometimes wondered if he has not found out more about them than even I know. [/color]Many people have told me he reveals an ability in his books to make things Tibetan accessible and easily understood to ordinary readers. Therefore, I welcome this volume that is the first to give some account of the lives of all the Dalai Lamas, along with examples of some of their works. I pray that readers will find here some inspiration in their own quest for inner peace."
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Have just decided to revisit this post after a weekend discussion with some Dharma friends about this piece - Glenn Mullin's very clear (and rather unbiased, object!) statement about Shugden practice growing in the world, in spite of the Dalai Lama's discouragement of the practice.
This is particularly key: "...for with the Dalai Lama discouraging it in India, the Chinese are fully promoting it in Tibet."
Most interesting is His Holiness' endorsement of something like this, and the fact that we all know how much of a Dalai Lama proponent Mullin has been in all his writings. Why would he write something very obviously against the fabric of the Dalai Lama's teachings at the moment, and one of his biggest campaigns?
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it is not just this but HHDL's website has a breadcrumb of hints that suggests that he is with Dorje Shugden, and the ban is nothing more than a show or act that he puts up, probably under pressure from the other lineages or some other party, but the point is HHDL is not doing this willingly nor is he enjoying this. There is just too much evidence that shows that his heart is not in the ban.
While many people would like to take his advice on the surface, we have to examine between the lines of the things he says, perhaps maybe that they have some other meaning to it? Why would 2 of Dorje Shugden's emanations reincarnate close to him and he is not just allowing them to be around, but even keep them very close to him but ban the practice? That sounds weird to me.
Why is also HHDL's website filled with contradictory statements about Dorje Shugden, and why is it left there on the website for all to see? Why did nobody check through properly before allowing it to be on the website, unless it is a subtle message that HHDL wants everyone to know that he is not implementing the ban out of his own personal will but rather for reasons unknown to us, and he still supports Dorje Shugden.
And, Glenn Mullin is a supporter of Dorje Shugden but he has been very discreet about it. Dont you think HHDL would know and discredit him as a scholar? But HHDL keeps quiet because HHDL is a practitioner and he wants people to know that he is with Dorje Shugden but for some reason it has to be very discreet. After all HHDL is someone who is known to give up his personal interests for the needs of the many.
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Glenn said last spring that a New Branch Of Mahayanna Buddhism has Sprouted~ We've pruned the tree, cut off the dead branches and keep the essence~ Our New Monasteries in India attest to the fact that we have definitely split away from the Dalia Lama cult, and strive to Preserve the Pure Teachings of Je t' Song Khapa Gadan Traditions. Which means for me, to pay no more attention to his activites anymore than I would intervene in Niger's affairs. Seperate is Liberating~
Dear Thom,
I definitely agree to you that it is more liberating to be seperated from those interested in politics. Gelug monks are instinctly focused on study, meditation and debate of the pure teachings of the Buddha and Dorje Shugden is the only protector who focuses on making conditions available for the practice and spread of the teachings.
We also should think that this separation is temporary to help facilitate the ban. Once the ban is lifted, I think very much that these monasteries will join forces again with the same reason; to spread Je Tsongkhapa's teachings with a much stronger and focused joined effort.
Let us all pray for this day to come soon!
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Well looks like the topic of Glenn Mullins caught the admins eye because its just been reproduced and gone up as a full fledged article here
http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=13106 (http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=13106)
What I find interesting is how many people His Holiness the Dalai Lama surrounds himself with, who are quietly (but not so quietly!) Dorje Shugden supporters. Like the case of HH the 101st Gaden Tripa - surely itd have slipped out at SOME point during his tenure that he was still practising Dorje Shugden. Its not as if Tibetans are fantastic at keeping secrets anyway and if the Gaden Tripa was doing monthly pujas, and one of the students who helped him to prepare for it let slip to someone else that they were doing such pujas... only a matter of time before itd reach the Dalai Lamas ears.
So why surround himself with so many eminent scholars and practitioners who are quietly Shugden practitioners, but outwardly put down the practice? Odd.
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Why would Dalai Lama handed out this book written by Glenn Mullin although there were some notable contradiction (esp on the practice of Dorje Shugden) what Dalai Lama says? It doesn't make sense if anyone tell me that Dalai Lama does not read it first before being sent for publishing such an important book. So if Dalai Lama approved this statement, then it shows there are something not right here... a bigger motive?
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All the points made are very clear and I agree with it.
Just want to point out my doubt about what Glen Mullin said; that the Gelug Shamans transformed the spirit of TDG into a protector.
The tale, already somewhat bizarre, now takes an even more exotic twist. It is said that the soul of the murdered monk wandered in the hereafter for some time as a disturbed spirit, creating havoc for the people of Lhasa. Eventually the Great Fifth contracted a group of Nyingmapa shamans to exorcise and pacify it, but they failed. He then contracted a group of Gelugpa shaman monks.
As a result of the rituals of this second group the spirit of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen was eventually pacified and transformed into the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines.
How true is this part of the story? I have not heard this version - re the Gelugpa shaman monks pacifying TDG's spirit and transforming him into Dorje Shugden.
There's no mention of the time DS spent with the Sakyas too.
Does anyone know more about this?
Thanks!
TDG was already attained and a buddha like the Dalai Lama. So how can one transform a Buddha into a protector unless the Buddha wants to emanate as one, like Setrap. Only a spirit like pehar can be transformed into a protector; albeit an unenlightened protector. To assume Mullin is correct is to say DS is an unenlightened protector. Since DS is enlightened, then Mullin is not correct.
Unless DS wants to show that the Gelug Shamans were better then the Nyingma Shamans which is unlikely.
So I think that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche's version is correct.
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Well looks like the topic of Glenn Mullins caught the admins eye because its just been reproduced and gone up as a full fledged article here
[url]http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=13106[/url] ([url]http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=13106[/url])
What I find interesting is how many people His Holiness the Dalai Lama surrounds himself with, who are quietly (but not so quietly!) Dorje Shugden supporters. Like the case of HH the 101st Gaden Tripa - surely itd have slipped out at SOME point during his tenure that he was still practising Dorje Shugden. Its not as if Tibetans are fantastic at keeping secrets anyway and if the Gaden Tripa was doing monthly pujas, and one of the students who helped him to prepare for it let slip to someone else that they were doing such pujas... only a matter of time before itd reach the Dalai Lamas ears.
So why surround himself with so many eminent scholars and practitioners who are quietly Shugden practitioners, but outwardly put down the practice? Odd.
What is equally odd is, why does he keep Samdhong Rinpoche so extremely close to him when he already knows that Samdhong Rinpoche is an emanation of Dorje Shugden? If HHDL was really against Dorje Shugden wouldnt it make more sense to exile Samdhong Rinpoche as it was done to Pabongkha Rinpoche? There is also Ngari Rinpoche who is HHDL's own brother. Odd, isnt it?
That part of the story actually sounds very out of place and not in line with the rest of the content as I have read that book many years ago. It sounds as if someone added that line in it deliberately and it was not written by Glen himself, or that he was forced to write it in that way to appease HHDL's staff. There is definitely something odd about that part of the biography.
The last part - This spirit was later adopted as a guardian angel by numerous Gelugpa monks who disapproved of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s manner of combining the Gelugpa and Nyingmapa doctrines sounds really funny as well...I dont think that was the original intention of Dorje Shugden's existence, because some monks do not like the lineage merging done by the 5th Dalai Lama? There are no names that accompany this statement, like most of the info on HHDL's webpage.
It cannot be that Glenn Mullin supports Shar Ganden and Serpom and speaks of them highly on one hand and then speaks about Dorje Shugden in a negative tone on the other...unless he changed camps overnight and he decided to support Dorje Shugden after his book was published...either way, it sounds odd to me. I wont be surprised if the editor decides to do some edits of his own before it got published.
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Glenn H. Mullin, as a student of HH Trijang Rinpoche, is almost certain to have been a Dorje Shugden practitioner, if not still one, which may explain his reasonably objective reference to Dorje Shugden, despite some inaccuracy. I find the inaccuracy unusual too for a scholar like Mullin, so perhaps it was deliberate.
As Mullin also took HH the Dalai Lama as his Guru, it must have been difficult to reconcile whether to give up the holy Dorje Shugden practice given by his other Guru, Trijang Rinpoche. Of course, I hope he is still continuing his practice.
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Glenn H. Mullin, as a student of HH Trijang Rinpoche, is almost certain to have been a Dorje Shugden practitioner, if not still one, which may explain his reasonably objective reference to Dorje Shugden, despite some inaccuracy. I find the inaccuracy unusual too for a scholar like Mullin, so perhaps it was deliberate.
As Mullin also took HH the Dalai Lama as his Guru, it must have been difficult to reconcile whether to give up the holy Dorje Shugden practice given by his other Guru, Trijang Rinpoche. Of course, I hope he is still continuing his practice.
The fact that he is supporting Shar Ganden now shows us that he is continuing his practice, without a doubt. There could be a chance that it wad deliberately written, or that he was forced to place that line in the book by HHDL's assistants if he wanted to get HHDL's endorsement of that book. That scenario could be very possible and that is most likely what happened as well.
There are a few other Lamas and individuals who are both students of HHDL and Trijang Rinpoche and they have been silently practicing without causing drama or drawing attention to themselves. Anyway if i remember correctly HHDL only told those lamas to not practice openly or spread it, that they can continue their practice of Dorje Shugden but in private unless HHDL has issued a new decree since.
In that light, I dont think so it would be difficult for Mullin to reconcile, given that he has obviously shown his support for Shar Ganden, it is very clear that he is on the side of Trijang Rinpoche. Mullin is an exceptional scholar who did not become one of HHDL's army of scholars who all denounce Dorje Shugden with silly and insubstancial facts, mostly because they dont have any.
I sincerely hope that Mullin will continue to support Shar Ganden and Serpom, and come up with unbiased materials that will create the causes for the ban to be lifted sooner. People these days are hungry for knowledge, proof, facts and solid evidence and elaborate explanations with no substance will not work anymore and people will see through it very easily and quickly. Glenn Mullin can provide those facts.
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So, again, the Dalai Lama has done something that is contradictory and leaves us wondering if he is really all out against the practice of Dorje Shugden and all out to remove this practice. He has written the 'Foreward' of a book(a biography of the Dalai Lamas), in which the author(Glenn Mullin) refutes the claim that the practice of Dorje Shugden involves only a small minority of people in Tibet. Furthermore, Mullin goes on to say that despite the Dalai Lama's attempt to discourage it, the practice "is as strong as ever, if not stronger"!
THe Dalai Lama is not worried the least bit about his contradictory words and actions RE Shugden practice. For Chenrezig, it's the result of His actions that matters. His ban on Shugden practice and his vocal decrying of Shugden practice have led to the spread of it in the populous powerhouse of a country that is China. Indeed, as Mullin puts it: "with the Dalai Lama discouraging it(Shugden practice) in India, the Chinese are fully promoting it in Tibet"!
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I thank Glenn Mullin for being very objective and truthful about what has happened in Tibet and what is happening in now. The Dorje Shugden is not just the most popular practice among Gelugs it is the most effective practice in this day and age and if I may for the world during this degenerate age. I guess Glenn Mullin is being a good friend to the Dalai Lama by writing about the truth.
And him being a student of Trijang Dorje Chang well Dorje Shugden is definitely a mandatory practice for Glenn Mullin. Well the fact that Glenn Mullin is one of the closest persons to HHDL the 14th Dalai Lama and China allows him to go in and out of Tibet is very interesting.
http://bodymindspiritjourneys.com/nepal-and-tibet-may-8-to-23-2011.html (http://bodymindspiritjourneys.com/nepal-and-tibet-may-8-to-23-2011.html)
Also he does not say much about the dorje shugden ban almost like he steers away from this.
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I thank Glenn Mullin for being very objective and truthful about what has happened in Tibet and what is happening in now. The Dorje Shugden is not just the most popular practice among Gelugs it is the most effective practice in this day and age and if I may for the world during this degenerate age. I guess Glenn Mullin is being a good friend to the Dalai Lama by writing about the truth.
And him being a student of Trijang Dorje Chang well Dorje Shugden is definitely a mandatory practice for Glenn Mullin. Well the fact that Glenn Mullin is one of the closest persons to HHDL the 14th Dalai Lama and China allows him to go in and out of Tibet is very interesting.
[url]http://bodymindspiritjourneys.com/nepal-and-tibet-may-8-to-23-2011.html[/url] ([url]http://bodymindspiritjourneys.com/nepal-and-tibet-may-8-to-23-2011.html[/url])
Also he does not say much about the dorje shugden ban almost like he steers away from this.
Glenn Mullin is indeed a very good example of how Dorje Shugden practitioners should handle the ban, as prescribed by Trijang Rinpoche for these times: being discreet with the practice and not drawing attention, yet supporting the Dalai Lama in every way needed (except, of course, with giving up the practice.) That is what the previous Trijang Rinpoche said and that is what the current one is doing.
I really, really, really like how Glenn Mullin handles the whole situation: By supporting HHDL and discreetly supporting Dorje Shugden, Shar Ganden and Serpom at the same time with an impartial attitude without bias. As a result, he can work directly to contributing to the actual lifting of the ban by convincing HHDL directly that the ban is wrong and that Dorje Shugden is not evil.
What baffles me is that, for sure HHDL knows Glenn Mullin is a practitioner, and also based on the support he shows for Shar Ganden and Serpom, HHDL would have been able to tell that he is a practitioner yet still keeps him around. Why? I have a feeling that HHDL did intend for Serpom and Shar Ganden to spring up, so that he can weed out insincere monks from the monastery? I dont know, its just a gut feeling...
Glenn Mullin was able to do so much and have so much accurate and unbiased facts because he is a genuine practitioner and a real scholar. There are many out there who take lies and assumptions as facts, but not Glenn Mullin and this is the one thing that I truly respect him for. Other scholars should really learn from him as he has sources for everything he says and its not just assumptions.