dorjeshugden.com
About Dorje Shugden => General Discussion => Topic started by: beggar on May 28, 2008, 05:39:13 AM
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DEAR FRIENDS,
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED TO START COLLECTING ALL NEWS CLIPS, ARTICLES OLD AND NEW, VIDEO FOOTAGE LINKS AND SO ON IN ONE PLACE.
GOOD AND TIMELY IDEA!
SUCH MATERIALS COULD ALSO SERVE WELL IN BEING SENT OUT TO OTHER JOURNALISTS AND MANY PEOPLE WHO GET A MAJOR PART OF THEIR INFORMATION FROM THE MEDIA.
HERE FOR STARTERS AN OLD CLIP FOUND BY 'A FRIEND':
the Internationalist:
Disastrous policy
The ‘Update’ on the Dalai Lama’s ban of Dorje Shugden (NI 305) showed clearly the suffering that this is causing both exiled Tibetans and Western Buddhists.
The Tibetan government-in-exile is in a period of crisis and transition. Its policy of seeking ‘limited autonomy’ within China is deeply unpopular with Tibetans and it needs to create a popular consensus to deflect growing criticisms of its lack of democracy. Since 1996 its ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden has enabled these issues to be submerged under a state-sponsored purge. Religious freedom has been severely curtailed by the exercise of undemocratic authority vested in the Dalai Lama as the ‘god-king’ of Tibet.
From a legal position the Dalai Lama is neither the political nor the religious leader of the Tibetans – how much longer can he continue to
justify this disastrous policy?
Dan Coote
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german television ducumentation from 1997: http://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/media/dalailama74.html
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hi kelsang
do you know how to extract that german panorama video and post on you tube?
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Hi Beggar, thanks for setting up this.
My suggestion is a little bit more complicated:
1-I think we should put in a fixed place all the material we can collect that was WRITTEN. This one should be the place, if the other participants accept to place their messages somewhere else, and only post here
ARTICLES from reporting or opinion or blogs or whatever WRITTEN material.
2-You Beggar dearest, might ask you administrator friend to take all the VIDEOS AND ACTUALLY DOWNLOAD THEM TO THIS WEBSITE (like you did already with Swiss TV and Dr. Wafa Sultan for example. We should have a videothèque with everything said about the issue, demos etc. Otherwise, IF WE ONLY HAVE THE LINKS, then the originals can disappear, as it happened with a BBC footage.
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Hi,
Here's one in the Guardian 29th May. Apologies if seen already:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/brendan_oneill/2008/05/down_with_the_dalai_lama.html
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Wow, indolent1, no I hadn't - cheers for that!
;)
Love,
LS
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here's the news article from spiked dated 20th may 2008 from brendan o'neill called 'Is the Dalai Lama a ‘religious dictator’?
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5170/
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Video links of Swiss TV documentary from 1998, showing evidence of the Dalai Lama's religious persecution and human rights abuse's against Shugden followers:-
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sOm-uQH9Y
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aboblx-0zAs&feature=related
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1dILwsmwCQ&feature=related
German television documentation from 1997 (Panorama)
http://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/media/dalailama74.html
Video link of Dalai Lama's representative 'Tashi Wangdi' lieing on camera at the Western Shugden Society protest at colgate university on 22nd April 2008 saying there 'is no ban' (5.26mins on video link)
http://www.westernshugdensociety.org/en/colgate-university-ny-demonstration-overview
BBC news report with quote from Dalai Lama interview from 27th May 2008, where Dalai Lama lies on camera says 'he had not advocated a ban'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7421888.stm (news article)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2008/05/26/dalai_lama_interview_feature.shtml (radio interview - Dalai Lama lies and says 'no ban' (8.55mins)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7422121.stm (the Dalai Lama's 'no ban' quote was originally on the afternoon tv news report but was then edited out for the evening news!)
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URSULA BERNIS RESEARCH ON SHUGDEN CONTROVERSERY
CONDEMNED TO SILENCE: A TIBETAN IDENTITY CRISIS (1996-1999)
http://www.shugdensociety.info/pdfs/BernisResearch.pdf
Exiled from Exile
© by Ursula Bernis, 1996 - 1999
PREFACE
While gathering material for a book on seminal Buddhist masters of this century I became aware in 1996 that because most belonged to the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and relied on the religious protector Dorje Shugden, they were suddenly at the center of a raging controversy. Told by the Dalai Lama to renounce ties with that venerable tradition they were put into a position of either breaking their vows or facing ostracism from the community. These greatest of masters who included one of the two tutors of the Dalai Lama had been central to the transmission of Buddhism as it traveled from Tibet to India and the rest of the world after 1959. They ensured the integrity of a living wisdom tradition that had been passed on from one adept to another for millennia. I was shocked to hear the ugly allegations against such venerated and highly respected Lamas. I personally knew many of them, had studied with them, and had had a chance to observe them in close proximity over many years. Like most everyone else, I found their gentle kindness, open-mindedness, and inclusive teachings exemplary.
Since every accusation against them contradicted facts, reason, and my own experience, I felt compelled to get to the bottom of the controversy that had generated such extreme views. It was impossible to continue my project without finding an explanation of how such a dramatic shift from the most revered masters to "devil worshipers" could have occurred and, moreover, how it could so completely possess the Tibetan cultural psyche in such a short time.
In the process of my work on this book I found that open debate about the subject was impossible in the exile community and that the conflict was driven by an emotional zeal for the Dalai Lama beyond all rational considerations, suggesting an identity crisis of unexpected proportions. The conditions of exile, the loss of country, home, family and the threat to the established religious world view certainly contributed to the Tibetans' exaggerated hold onto the one institution left to them, that of Dalai Lamas. However, there seemed something else at work that extended far beyond the Tibetan community to affect Western Tibet supporters as well. They exhibited similarly irrational responses to the conflict. No matter what approach one brought to the subject, all attempts at rational debate became immediately polarized and turned into a series of outlandish accusations none of which held up under scrutiny.
At the heart of the difficulties complicating this investigation were the unique problems deriving from the fact that Tibetan society remains largely an oral culture. I traveled throughout India and Nepal, the longest visit lasting four months, and talked to hundreds of Tibetans and affected Buddhists, gathering their stories and oral testimony. At the same time I collected relevant documentation of government records, published papers, wall posters -- a common form of communication about controversial subjects -- and circulars of the various social organizations that make up the Tibetan administration. This material forms the background for the book.
Since the Tibetan exile government denies the reality of the conflict it has been instrumental in creating, the issue is presented here from three different perspectives: Part I, from the point of view of Tibetans living in India and Nepal most affected by the conflict; Part II, a historical background and chronological ordering of events surrounding the conflict followed by biographical sketches of the most influential masters of a tradition now being suppressed as a "cult"; and Part III, which examines the issue from an outsider's point of view. My analysis traces some of the standard accusations to a basic confusion of religious and political issues. It brings to bear the historical and cultural background to show the dynamics of power relations in the exile community and how they get played out in the international arena through the media. Crucial to understanding the emotional involvement in this issue of Western Tibet supporters is their need to uphold at all cost today's icon of universal goodness, made accessible by the media to a world bereft of deep spiritual meaning. Even though the Dalai Lama's politics come into critical focus, the book is not intended as an attack on him.
Although I am indebted to many scholars and experts on the subject, it would be a disservice at the time of this writing to acknowledge their individual help publicly. The nature of the issue is so sensitive that they must remain unnamed. Even so, I would like to express here my gratitude for their contribution
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Documentary Evidence of religious persecution and human Rights abuses against Shugden followers by the Dalai Lama in 2008
His Holiness instigated public swearings in the monastic universities in South India in January 2008, aimed at making social life impossible for anyone not converting to the new line of faith.
Here a few documents used in these swearings:
http://www.shugdensociety.info/outcastSocietyEN.html
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NOTTINGHAM.CO.UK EVENING POST
DALAI LAMA: NOTTINGHAM PROTEST
19 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.
09:00 - 28 May 2008
Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns gathered in the Old Market Square yesterday afternoon to protest against the Dalai Lama.
Members of the Western Shugden Society chanted and demonstrated against what they say was religious repression as the Tibetan leader has banned a traditional Buddhist prayer and Deity.
One placard read 'Dalai Lama Give Religious Freedom'. In 1996 the Dalai Lama advised Tibetans against using the Dorje Shugden prayer and worshipping Shugden, saying it could lead to Buddhism becoming a cult of spirit worship.
Although he had previously used the prayer and worshipped the Deity himself, he said he later realised it had been a mistake.
According to the protesters in Nottingham, Buddhists found practising Shugden worship in India, where the exiled Dalai Lama now lives, were being expelled and abused.
Organiser Kelsang Pema said: "People are suffering - people are having their houses burned and people are denied food and material things in monasteries if they are practicing this prayer."
Kelsang Pema said she was delighted with the turn-out and people had come from as far as New Zealand, Mexico and Brazil. She said: "Hopefully we will be able to get a meaningful discussion from the Dalai Lama from this."
The Dalai Lama was giving five days of teaching at the Nottingham Arena. He leaves the city today.
A statement on the official agency of the Dalai Lama, reads: "His Holiness has not forced anyone to stop pursuing this practice."a href="mailto:[email protected]" class="lblue" [email protected] /a
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Human Rights abuses by the Dalai Lama reported on 'Persecution Update India' website dated 28th April 2008
http://www.persecution.in/node/2758
The Telegraph Calcutta May 18th 2008 -Rights plea against Dalai Lama
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080518/jsp/nation/story_9286999.jsp
News Report from 'Himachal' news Oct 2007 -Tibetan administration issued notices to Shudgen followers
http://himachal.us/2007/10/04/tibetan-administration-issued-notices-to-shudgen-followers/3146/news/csharma
http://newspostindia.com/report-16837
News report from 'The Times' Newspaper UK, reporting on Dalai Lama followers destroying Shugden Statue in Tibetan Monastery from April 21st 2006
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article707680.ece
News Report from 'Nepal Times' from March 22nd 2001.Human Rights meeting in New Delhi slams Dalai Lama for human rights abuse against Shugden followers.
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2001/mar/mar23/index.htm
Interview from 'indian front line' magazine with Dorje Shugden Lama '13th Kundeling Tagtsha Jetung Rimpoche' from Dec 23rd 2000 on Dalai Lama Witch Hunt against Shugden followers
http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1726/17260840.htm
Press article from 'Indian express' from 1999, reporting on Shugden monks being expelled from teachings of the Dalai Lama
http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990111/01150065p.html
Report from 'TribuneIndia' from 1999, Shugden activists seek the intervention of the Indian Home Minister
http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jun19/himachal.htm#1
Report from 'Indian Express', Shugden followers come under fire again
http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990106/00651625p.html
Monday, August 24, 1998 'Indian Times' - Anti-Shugden agenda flares up conflict
http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19980824/23651374.html
Article from 1996 from the 'internationalist' magazine reporting on the human rights abuses by
the Dalai Lama and his governement against Shugden followers
http://www.newint.org/issue304/update.htm
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Tibet office london response to the demo's, these were being handed out by Anti shugden people in Oxford today.
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I just found this
http://www.flameout.org/flameout/gurus/shadow/part2_7.html
Cheyenne
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Hi,
Found this on New Internationalist site:
http://interact.newint.org/blog/vanessa-baird/buddhists-at-loggerheads
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Is it bad form to reply to your own mail, or just a sign that you need some sleep?
Thinking about Vanessa Baird's article on the New Internationalist site, it's so badly researched, reminiscent of the type of comments you get on web forums rather then in a serious newspaper, it kind of sounds to me like she may have a conflict of interest. It may be worth checking this with her co-editors.
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Oxford today (May 30th 2008): http://youtube.com/watch?v=aRCj_E62mA0
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This post by Mark Charan Newton in his own blog quotes another blog, the SEVENOAK JOURNAL, that you will find next.
It's most moving to read what these young people write, just very simply, with their hearts.
They are free thinkers, their hearts are able to beat with human feelings, they are not poisoned by the cult of the Dalai Lama. Very interesting. May be our hopes lie on these type of media. So far the mass media are not acting as decent journalists should. I suggest that we go searching for these people and write in their blogs.
Mark Charan Newton
Dalai Lama vs Religious Freedom
May 26th, 2008 · 2 Comments
Some of you might know I’ve an active interest in Buddhism. I’m really not someone to get involved in political view on this blog, but it’s worth knowing a few things such as commented here. I’ll quote big chunks, because he’s more eloquent than me on this subject! I feel the need to put this out there because the western media aren’t really covering the issue in any sufficient detail—and as with any subject you might know enough about, the media do a poor job in covering things well.
So why are Buddhists demonstrating against the Dalai Lama? Because, over the past decade, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile have been spearheading a drive to persuade Tibetans, and the wider Tibetan Buddhist community, to stop their involvement in the practice of a particular Buddhist deity called Dorje Shugden.
Now, the word ‘deity’ in Buddhism means the same as ‘buddha’; Dorje Shugden has historically been viewed as an enlightened being, on the same level as the buddha who taught in ancient India.
Many high Lamas in Tibet praised the practice of Dorje Shudgen; these Lamas included someone called Trijang Rinpoche, one of the current Dalai Lama’s tutors (now deceased). It’s safe to say that until recently, the practice has been revered and respected by generations of Buddhists, and has done no harm to anyone.
Despite all this though, the Dalai Lama is encouraging Tibetans to abandon the practice on the grounds that it harms the cause of Tibetan freedom, and is ’spirit worship’. He has not revealed evidence for these claims, despite repeated requests from Buddhist practitioners who are concerned about the mounting persecution and violence that’s happening as a result of the Dalai Lama’s efforts to destroy the practice. This persecution includes the refusal to grant ID cards to Tibetans who will not give up the practice, refusal to admit the children of Dorje Shugden practitioners to schools in the exiled Tibetan community, and death threats against those who continue with the practice.
There’s a campaign worth being aware of at the Western Shugden Society and videos like the one below showing some of the real situation faced by many Buddhist practitioners. Stay with it, and there are some more you can follow on this series on YouTube. Particularly moving is the second part.
http://blog.markcnewton.com/2008/05/26/dalai-lama-vs-religious-freedom-2/#comment-208
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SEVENOAK JOURNAL// DESIGN/ DEVELOPMENT / FUN
Unreal
18 May 08
Ok, so I don’t normally go in for religious politics, or politics in general. But this is something I feel really strongly about and, in fact, isn’t about religious politics at all; it’s more about religious freedom.
You may or may not be aware that the HH Dalai Lama of Tibet is on a sort of tour of Europe at the moment; he was in Germany recently and is due in the UK soon. He’s also been to the USA recently. In all of these places, he has been met with demonstrations. Yes, demonstrations; and by Buddhists, too.
So why are Buddhists demonstrating against the Dalai Lama? Because, over the past decade, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile have been spearheading a drive to persuade Tibetans, and the wider Tibetan Buddhist community, to stop their involvement in the practice of a particular Buddhist deity called Dorje Shugden.
Now, the word ‘deity’ in Buddhism means the same as ‘buddha’; Dorje Shugden has historically been viewed as an enlightened being, on the same level as the buddha who taught in ancient India. Many high Lamas in Tibet praised the practice of Dorje Shudgen; these Lamas included someone called Trijang Rinpoche, one of the current Dalai Lama’s tutors (now deceased). It’s safe to say that until recently, the practice has been revered and respected by generations of Buddhists, and has done no harm to anyone.
Despite all this though, the Dalai Lama is encouraging Tibetans to abandon the practice on the grounds that it harms the cause of Tibetan freedom, and is ’spirit worship’. He has not revealed evidence for these claims, despite repeated requests from Buddhist practitioners who are concerned about the mounting persecution and violence that’s happening as a result of the Dalai Lama’s efforts to destroy the practice. This persecution includes the refusal to grant ID cards to Tibetans who will not give up the practice, refusal to admit the children of Dorje Shugden practitioners to schools in the exiled Tibetan community, and death threats against those who continue with the practice.
It sounds unreal, doesn’t it? Buddhists persecuting Buddhists, protests, criticisms of the Dalai Lama (respected peacemaker and all-round world celebrity). You may well be thinking that it’s nonsense, but there’s plenty of evidence for what I’ve just said (I wish it were nonsense). I know that there are Tibetan teachers in America who haven’t spoken to their families in India for decades — their families are forbidden to contact them because they will not give up the Dorje Shugden practice.
This is not right. Buddhist or not, no one should be persecuted for adhering to a peaceful practice that has been quietly handed down from generation to generation. One Tibetan, interviewed for Swiss TV, said (I’m paraphrasing slightly):
In some ways, this is worse than what China did to Tibet. When the Chinese invaded, they harmed us outwardly, but this ban on the Dorje Shugden practice is far worse because it harms out spiritual practice, it harms our hearts.
You can see part of the interview on YouTube - it’s towards the end of the clip.
To date, there is no evidence to support the Dalai Lama’s claims that the Dorje Shugden practice harms the cause of Tibetan freedom, or for the claim that it provokes threats to the Dalai Lama’s own life. If you believe that this should stop, please read the information, make your own mind up, and consider signing the petition asking the Dalai Lama to give religious freedom to Dorje Shugden practitioners. We’re lucky enough to have the freedom to sign petitions and do what we like with our time; let’s help others to enjoy the same freedom. Thanks.
http://www.sevenoakjournal.co.uk/2008/05/18/unreal/
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Hi, I write the Sevenoak Journal; I wanted to thank whoever linked to my blog for publicising the post. It's an important issue and deserves much more publicity.
Drop by to the journal and comment on the article if you'd like to :)
http://www.sevenoakjournal.co.uk/2008/05/18/unreal/ (http://www.sevenoakjournal.co.uk/2008/05/18/unreal/)
Thanks
James
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Here's Michael Backman's article in the Age (Australia)
Selling Tibet to the world
http://business.theage.com.au/selling-tibet-to-the-world-20080604-2lx7.html
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http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/255750
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Dear Admin (or anyone who could advice)
I'm not sure if this is the right treat to keep it in...but I'd like to request to have book recommendations for Tibetan Buddhism, our lineage teachings, lineage masters etc. Thought it'd be wonderful for newbies like me to read and to use this forum for some interesting book discussions :)
much thanks
DK
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(http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww247/Tenzin13/Jpegformat.jpg)
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Dear Loneranger,
Thank you for your link on the forced swearing imposed on Dorje Shugden practitioners. I have read a lot on this ban and the forceful impositions by HH. However, I have never actually seen a picture of the Identity Card as in your link. Seeing this card put a sadness in my heart. Many many purely out of fear of being outcast swore and got this card. I can imagine for those forced to relinquish their DS practice must be reminded of their "disloyalty" everytime they saw this card. Must be so hard to live with this internal conflict.
This ban must be lifted now so that they can be freed.
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Dear TS,
Thank you for posting up the poster/flyer on Shar Gaden's Dubcho ritual! It is so nice to see the throne set up for HE Gaden Trisur Rinpoche :) It inspire many who are not able to openly practice Dorje Shugden and give us great strength in keeping our practice up.
Cheers!
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Dorje Shugden Five Lineages
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixpl207gflM
I love these statues and i could watch this video all day. I took some buddhist art classes from the guy who made these.
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http://www.tibetanreview.net/news.php?&id=8203
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([url]http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww247/Tenzin13/Jpegformat.jpg[/url])
Thank you for posting this. Seeing a throne of Trisur Rinpoche in Shar Gaden is another indication that the practice of Dorje Shugden is not harmful as claimed by HHDL. Looks like the contradiction has a higher purpose as many people suspect based on logic.
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([url]http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww247/Tenzin13/Jpegformat.jpg[/url])
Thank you for posting this. Seeing a throne of Trisur Rinpoche in Shar Gaden is another indication that the practice of Dorje Shugden is not harmful as claimed by HHDL. Looks like the contradiction has a higher purpose as many people suspect based on logic.
I like your conclusions Lord Drakpa.
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Dorje Shugden Mantra Chanting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKMZ8T30RTY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKMZ8T30RTY)
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Thank you. Very nice 8)