This letter seems to be circulating among Tibetan Buddhist circles. I have a few friends in different centers who have received this letter and shown it to me. A brave, and interesting perspective. I did not attend this Buddhist gathering though I heard about it through the grapevine. Did anyone here attend it? And what did you think of it? I suppose it's not much of a surprise to hear that Shugden groups would not have been invited, seeing as it was held in Delhi, right smack in DS-Discrimination land.
I applaud Mr Tenzin Kunzang for his courage in speaking up. Don't know if he's Tibetan, though it sounds like it. All the power to him if he is, because it must be difficult speaking up like this within the Tibetan societies. His points about including and respecting all Buddhist traditions is such common sense, but so often not practiced. If only perpetrators of the ban would realise that imposing this ban is just them cutting off their noses to spite their own faces.
Anyway, have a read. Drop a comment. Write to Mr Tenzin if you like. (his email address is at the end - the one where this letter came from). We need more like this.
(And by the way, if you hear of any other letters like these, or if your own centers are writing letters to lobby for some change, please share them here too. It is inspiring to hear)
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To members of Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan friends,
Tashi Delek! How are you?
I am Tibetan man live in Europe, Switzerland. Last week, I am in Delhi for the Global Buddhist Congregation 2011, arrange by Asoka Mission and very venerable Lama Lobzang. It is very good to meet so many Buddhist people coming from all countries in this congregation. I congratulate to Lama Lozang and his committee to make such a big event for Buddhist people.
But I think this kind of events is not so fair and not so truthfull. You say the congregation is for all Buddhist peoples but of course Dorje Shugden people cannot go to join. It is same like this always. Why is it like this? Dorje Shugden Lamas and their Buddhist centers are very big in the world. They have so many centers. They are doing very good things for Buddhist practice. They are also studying Lamrim and the holy dharmma of Buddha. I think they have many things to share. They have many networking contacts and big international sponsorship. They can help Buddhism so much.. but they cannot come because of this Shugden issue! Why you invite Christians, Jain people, Hindu people and Muslim to your talks and prayers, but Shugden people cannot go? Shugden people are also Buddhist!
Dalai Lama writes very beautiful message on www.dalailama.com (http://www.dalailama.com) . He says: “Today, in a new millennium, our world requires us to accept the oneness of humanity. Many of our world's problems and conflicts arise because we have lost sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a human family.” So nice message. His Holiness always give good teaching on peace and kindness and I respect and love Dalai Lama so much. But if he talk about “oneness of humanity” and “human family” isn’t it Dorje Shugden people also in this family? We cannot tell people we are Buddhist but we push away some people. This is not part of the Buddhist teachings about compassion.
If we want to be real Buddhists and kind, then we must love everybody and help everybody, even we don’t like them, even our enemies. If you think they are bad or wrong, then why not you help them to connect with Dalai lama and all the lamas so they can learn more dharma and become good. You should not keep them away and say they cannot attend dharma. I think even Buddha will not turn them away. This is dharma logic.
Everyday during Global Buddhist Congregation, many good venerable lamas and scholars talk about Buddhist peaceful method and Buddhism is very good to bring more peace for modern world and modern people. But this is not true! We know Buddhist people have discrimination and bias against Dorje Shugden people. Even inside Buddhism, our own Tibetan people attack and push down other Tibetans and Buddhist people because of one protector issue. So this is not correct if we want to hold big Buddhist events but we don’t include all the Buddhists.
At Global Buddhist Congregation, you want create a new international Buddhist fedreation group. But how can you do this if you don’t tell to all Buddhists and you on purpose push down some people and make them not speak? This will not be a real and fair Buddhist group. I am very sad our Buddhist Dharma event also become politics.
Then, the whole world will look at Tibetan Buddhist people and think why they have so small minds, why they treat their own people like this? All world countries will ask why Tibetan people do not improve their society but always focus on small things like religion things like this. Even there is politics in the most important thing they have.. that is Buddhism.
Please do not be angry with me. I do not disrespect you. I respect His Holiness so much. I love him so much. I respect tibetan parliament also because you always working very hard for Tibetan peoples. But I also wish we can have more justice and more expression and freedom for all religion. This is what Buddhism teaches and the whole world respect Buddhist people because we are kind people. Let us show everyone that this is true. Please invite all Buddhist group next time and don’t tell to people they cannot come for teachings and Dharma gatherings if they are Dorje Shugden practitioners. Dorje Shugden people are also human just like us. They also need Dharma and they love Dharma and love His Holiness.
Please I hope my letter does not make you angry and offensse. I wish you good luck and long life always. Many tashi delek to you.
Mr. Tenzin Kunzang
[email protected]