Do you know the mind-blowing history behind this thangka?

[Positive Change]

I was just thinking,..does HHDL need to carry the thangka of Dorje Shugden to keep him safe?
I find it easier to continue believing that  HHDL is an emanation of Arya Avalokiteswara and no harm will come to him.
While keeping in mind that Dorje Shugden "masterminded" the entire escape way ahead of time and thus, will surely see through completion.

SO WHY did HHDL went to the extent to borrow an offering made to his Guru Trijang Rinpoche, and to carry the thangka on his own back throughout the escape?
Wouldn't he know that the 30 monks would live to tell the world of this unforgettable journey?

Dear DS Friend,
What an interesting observation indeed. I did not think of that...
This sounds like someone leaving clues behind...
The next step in the plot is to hear of a denial of that story to make it even more widespread...  oops...

On the same vein and thread of thought... I have already "heard" of the "denial" (shared below). In a way it wasn't so much of a denial but an omission of the facts. With no disrespect to HHDL, it was said that the thangka was actually that of Penden Lhamo. Perhaps there were two or more? But surely adds to the controversy which is rattling the cage to a breaking point?

excerpt from speech by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the Second Gelug Conference (Dharamsala, 6 December 2000) - http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/speeches-by-his-holiness/gelug-conference

When it came to important decisions, he was told to direct all of his questions to Palden Lhamo by performing divinations before the thangka in question. This thangka is thus held in very high esteem. When I escaped from Tibet, I carried this thangka with me personally. I had it on one shoulder and a gun slung across the other. I was supposed to look like one of the guards in a detachment. One attendant was made out to look like some sort of military leader and we his escort.

[vajrastorm]

"Protector whose time is now...." It's the timing of revelations such as this by the Sera monks who had actually accompanied the Dalai Lama when  he escaped from Tibet to India. These guardians of the sacred and precious thangka of Dorje Shugden( which protected the Dalai Lama and saw him safely into India from Tibet) are now making a mind-blowing revelation which establishes without doubt that it was definitely Dorje Shugden who engineered the Dalai Lam's escape, telling him to immediately leave Tibet and delineating the escape route and protected him all the way to India.

So we must see this revelation as signifying the beginning of the unravelling of all the mischievous and malicious work designed to put Dorje Shugden down and remove him. This must surely give much impetus for Shugden practitioners and devotees to rally even more to the cause of promoting and spreading Shugden and vindicating him. We must surely double our efforts in creating causes for the ban to be lifted quickly.

[negra orquida]

When I read this article, I felt the hairs on my body stand up... I thought: wow this is really a big revelation, an eye-opener to all and hopefully even to the anti-DSers... Thank goodness for the courage, persistence and loyalty of these grand monks to their lineage, gurus and Dorje Shugden, to save this crucial and beautiful piece of evidence and continue practicing DS. For if not for them, we would not be able to see the other side of this coin, and the practice may die out sooner.

Then I read through the comments of this forum subject.. and I then I thought, the way HHDL (and DS) operates to spread Dharma like wildfire in the shortest time possible is really beyond anyone's imagination (if the end result indeed is for this).

Isn't it ironic that more and more proof to support who helped HHDL escape are being uncovered in such a short time after HHDL "resigned" and after TGIE became CTA. These undeniable truths are vital to be made known to all.

Maybe there's another way to view HHDL's resignation... why is the ban still on even though HHDL has resigned? Could it be that it is the people running the CTA (and not HHDL) who are the ones who want to continue the ban? But why?? Since it causes its practitioners so much suffering and disharmony?

So many sides to the coin... I hope that the end result is indeed to help more beings by the spreading of Dharma in such a way, and the sufferings experienced by DS practitioners (and anti DS-ers) will not be in vain. Please please please lets get this resolved soon!

[Reena Searl]

“THE TRUTH behind who saved the Dalai Lama’s life”

Since DS saved HHDL and this is the truth, to me the more HHDL continues to ban DS, the more DS will be popular, especially throughout China.

I will continue to spread DS and practice DS with strong faith. Sometime  makes me think why would HHDL denied that DS actually helped him to escape to India?

From the other point of view, if DS knew that HHDL would later start the ban of DS, why DS still helping Dalai Lama to escape? Those controversies do make people think deeper.

[thor]

Maybe there's another way to view HHDL's resignation... why is the ban still on even though HHDL has resigned? Could it be that it is the people running the CTA (and not HHDL) who are the ones who want to continue the ban? But why?? Since it causes its practitioners so much suffering and disharmony?

Dear Negra
I highly doubt it is just the CTA who are interested in continuing the ban. Although the dalai lama has resigned, shugden-ites are still not allowed at his teachings. There is no retraction on this point from him. As recently as Nov 2011, just one month ago, Dalai Lama has again reiterated his ban on Shugden in a news item on Voice of Tibet. See here:

Dalai Lama: Today it is like I am giving a lecture. It is not necessary that you listen by recognizing me as Guru. It is alright if you come to listen, saying what Dalai Bashi is saying. Tomorrow you will take a teaching. I am giving an initiation. I am giving vow. Therefore there will be Guru and disciple relationship. Pure commitment is  necessary. During the course of initiation, the pure commitment is necessary. In time, I worshipped the so-called King Shugden. I didn't know and I make a mistake. Then, having paid attention, it was wrong. Also, during the course of through analysis, king Shugden emerged during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama. If I say about the way the fifth Dalai Lama recognize king Shugden, according to his text, the nature of king Shugden is evil spirit; its cause was the wrong prayer; and its function is to harm Buddhism and living beings. So if you say this is a protector of Buddhism, or a protector of Gelug Tradition, it is disgrace and shame. Je Rinpoche has empowered and entrusted Six hands Mahakala and Dharmaraj. Je Rinpoche has seen capability in them. Simply speaking, he didn't empower them on guesses. (laugh). If you worship king Shugden, you have broken commitment with the fifth Dalai Lama, and so to the thirteen Dalai Lama. If you receive an initiation from me, you will break commitment with me. If there is anyone who worship king Shugden – actually it is your choice whether or not you worship - , please don’t come to receive teaching from me. If you are a monk or a lay, please don’t come tomorrow. If you are deceived by saying that business and luck would flourish, you should stop from now. You don’t need to be afraid at all. In case a case is necessary to be filed, I would file the case. You don’t need to be afraid. It is a freedom if you contempt although you know it is wrong. It doesn’t matter if you walk upside down.

What a stark contradiction between what Dalai Lama is saying and how Dorje Shugden helped him escape from Tibet. I am more inclined to believe the testimony of the monks instead of the Dalai Lama (sorry). Why? Because these monks were present during the actual escape. They risked their lives to escort the Dalai Lama out of Tibet and to safety. They offered their bodies to protect the Dalai Lama when he was in danger. Why would they do that unless they had great faith and love for Dalai Lama? As well as in Dorje Shugden of course.

So, these old monks who have helped save the Dalai Lama's life are now spending the rest of their lives in 'exile' in the monastery for refusal to give up their devotion to their gurus and to Dorje Shugden. All the good they have done is swept away just because of one small little point. How silly and illogical. So much about this ban is silly and illogical and doesnt make much sense at all. Can the Dalai Lama really be that 'ungrateful' and 'illogical' and 'unkind'?

[dondrup]

The ban on Dorje Shugden (DS) practice had caused so much sufferings, pains, confusions, doubts, anger etc. to DS practitioners.  There had also been so much wastage of resources in enforcing the ban.  Due to the collective karma of all of us, we have to endure sufferings and obstacles in practising Dorje Shugden. 

The facts, truths and discussion presented here in this thread and in the dorjeshugden.com had really helped me and will benefit many others to understand and appreciate more the DS issue. 

There is definitely a higher purpose to the ban. 

Majority of us who do not have the higher wisdom will not understand why the ban, why His Holiness the Dalai Lama (HHDL) continue to go against DS practice and why HHDL appears to be lack of gratitude to DS who had saved His life?  Can HHDL who is Buddha Avalokiteshvara be wrong? 

As more and more truths are been revealed day by day, may many more lay or ordained Dorje Shugden practitioners be inspired to speak out to help lift the ban!

[tsangpakarpo]

I heard another version of this story. Yes, HHDL did carry the thangka on his back during the exodus. But how HH got the thangka was quite amazing.

I was told, Trijang Rinpoche commissioned this thangka to be painted and given to HH The 14th Dalai Lama back in Tibet because HH decided to practice Dorje Shugden with faith back then. Trijang Rinpoche knew that HH likes Dorje Shugden very much.

Whatever the story is, we can be sure that HH did carry the Dorje Shugden thangka along when He went to India. Many has spoken and provided proof. This thangka is one of them.

[Rihanna]

It made me so angry for a moment when i read this post and found out the truth. Then sanity set in...in any normal circumstances i would say what an ungrateful person HHDL is. But he is definitely not you nor me; so i choose to believe he has his reasons for denying that it was Dorje Shugden thangka that he carried out of Tibet into safety.
I remember reading In Exile From The Land of Snow. HHDL said that once during his escape journey, they were in a clearing and they saw the Chinese plans above. Suddenly clouds appeared above them and sheltered them from the view of the Chinese. Who else could have manifested the clouds in an instance???
I so wish there is a duplicate of this thangka that I can get...

[Big Uncle]

I was just thinking,..does HHDL need to carry the thangka of Dorje Shugden to keep him safe?
I find it easier to continue believing that  HHDL is an emanation of Arya Avalokiteswara and no harm will come to him.
While keeping in mind that Dorje Shugden "masterminded" the entire escape way ahead of time and thus, will surely see through completion.

SO WHY did HHDL went to the extent to borrow an offering made to his Guru Trijang Rinpoche, and to carry the thangka on his own back throughout the escape?
Wouldn't he know that the 30 monks would live to tell the world of this unforgettable journey?

Dear DS Friend,
What an interesting observation indeed. I did not think of that...
This sounds like someone leaving clues behind...
The next step in the plot is to hear of a denial of that story to make it even more widespread...  oops...

On the same vein and thread of thought... I have already "heard" of the "denial" (shared below). In a way it wasn't so much of a denial but an omission of the facts. With no disrespect to HHDL, it was said that the thangka was actually that of Penden Lhamo. Perhaps there were two or more? But surely adds to the controversy which is rattling the cage to a breaking point?

excerpt from speech by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the Second Gelug Conference (Dharamsala, 6 December 2000) - http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/speeches-by-his-holiness/gelug-conference

When it came to important decisions, he was told to direct all of his questions to Palden Lhamo by performing divinations before the thangka in question. This thangka is thus held in very high esteem. When I escaped from Tibet, I carried this thangka with me personally. I had it on one shoulder and a gun slung across the other. I was supposed to look like one of the guards in a detachment. One attendant was made out to look like some sort of military leader and we his escort.

I read the same thing too! That the Dalai Lama carried a Pelden Hlama thangka on his back when he made his great escape from Tibet. How very sad that he had to change his facts around, call his Gurus wrong, deny these great monks the truth, cook up a story that Dorje Shugden is evil and does his best to make it believable by enrolling other-worldly beings like Nechung into the plot and throw in a ban as well.
 
He is doing all that and risking so much reputation loss and loss of power because his people are divided in order to suppress this obscure practice? Come one! There must be a more plausible reason for this instead of the same tired reason that he is power hungry. We have to give the Dalai Lama some credit. It is a very bad way to gain power because the results are showing right now. The Dalai Lama is losing credibility and foothold on great many monastics and lay people that choose to hold on their lineage practice. So, there must a more plausible answer to this.

[icy]

It is a great wonder how H.H. The Dalai Lama escaped to India to safety during the red guard attack with Dorje Shugden thangka on his back and on Dorje Shugden recommended escape route. H.H. The Dalai Lama’s life had relied on Dorje Shugden’s divine intelligence in such a dangerous escape without any of the modern science and aids that the US Central Intelligence has privy to. If the US CIA were to be asked to use DS’s intelligence in that situation, they will surely pee in their pants. It proved here that H.H. The Dalai Lama has complete faith and trust in Dorje shugden who is no less than the Buddha Manjushri.

Hence whatever the motive for banning DS, people around the world will soon discover the truth of Dorje Shugden. People cannot comprehend the lies about Dorje Shugden and the whole episode is really a mockery of H.H.The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government. Would not it be better if the ban be lifted IMMEDIATELY?

[Ensapa]

Personally i feel that HHDL is putting up an act of sorts for a purpose. I am unable to guess his intentions but how can someone change his stance based on something so flimsy and insubstancial? yet his past actions reveal otherwise.

I guess we wont know until he removes the ban. Perhaps next year.

[pgdharma]

The Dalai Lama has instituted a ban against Dorje Shugden, claiming that he is an evil spirit and will harm the Dalai Lama’s life.  So why did he request to borrow the thangka as protection from his Guru Trijang Rinpoche when he was advised by Dorje Shugden to escape Tibet? I would say that HHDL  contradicts his actions. But who am I at my level to question the actions of HHDL. Being an emanation of Avalokiteshvara he has his reasons for all these actions. Why is it that if Dorje Shugden knew that HHDL would later start the ban of DS worshiping,  why did Dorje Shugden  still help HHDL to escape? So I believe both HHDL and Dorje Shugden are working hand in hand.

May the ban be lifted soon so that the sacrifices and sufferings of the monks and DS practitioners will not be in vain!

[beggar]

What a stark contradiction between what Dalai Lama is saying and how Dorje Shugden helped him escape from Tibet. I am more inclined to believe the testimony of the monks instead of the Dalai Lama (sorry). Why? Because these monks were present during the actual escape. They risked their lives to escort the Dalai Lama out of Tibet and to safety. They offered their bodies to protect the Dalai Lama when he was in danger. Why would they do that unless they had great faith and love for Dalai Lama? As well as in Dorje Shugden of course.

Thor, an excellent point (in red, especially). What is most remarkable about these monks is their unwavering loyalty and devotion to BOTH the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden. Their devotion and patience is enough for me to see who I should believe and which Sangha I should take refuge. It has always amazed me that all these Shugden monks (from the ones that escorted the Dalai Lama out, to the ones who have started up Serpom and Shar Gaden) remain patient and respectful always towards the Dalai Lama. In spite of all they have to go through, we never hear of them speaking badly or launching attacks against the Dalai Lama. This alone speaks volumes for the "quality" and the high, true level of their practice. I know who I choose to believe and emulate.

[Ensapa]

On this page, i feel very embarrassed when i see Shugden practitioners smearing HHDL's name. Dont they KNOW what their protector wants? They are doing the exact opposite of what their protector wants. It is really a sad twist.

[Barzin]

Looks like more and more loopholes in the stories.  I personally think this is just amazing...  How the stories reconnected after all these years and still valid.  HHDL would have clearly known that monk shouldn't lie, if he didn't then the truth is the truth.  More and more evidence of the close relationship between His Holiness and Shugden is surfacing now.  And the feeling in lifting the ban is getting stronger and stronger.  Yes, His holiness definitely knows that the truth will be found out someday.  It would have been so easy to destroy the thangka to get rid of evidence, why wouldn't he?  and clearly he would have known these evidence are still laying around.  With such power, it would have been easy to destroy all evidence but why wouldn't he? 

I am just guessing that HHDL is manifesting flaws just like Shugden taking the blame now.  Call it repaying his kindness maybe?   Only the Buddhas know what is going to happen.  But is it really necessary? to lie?  to cause sufferings for the old monks?  the segregation between the practitioners and sangha community?  Is it OK for the old monks who had dedicated the entire life in serving others die unknown?  Or is it really okay that we just want to practice dharma but it has becoming more and more politic? 

If it's not, then CTA.  Do something.  It is a great shame that you are causing your own people to suffer.  A big shame.  Do it fast before more and more thangka surfacing.  By the way, the thangka is magnificent!