Author Topic: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association  (Read 11710 times)

WisdomBeing

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2096
    • Add me to your facebook!
This event was very powerful for bringing the Dorje Shugden issue up to the mainstream media. I just hope that the media will cover it. However, I must say that I am not comfortable with the anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric. I can understand that their purpose is to discredit the Dalai Lama because the ban came from the Dalai Lama, but I always am mindful of what HH Trijang Rinpoche said, which was to not lose faith in the Dalai Lama nor Dorje Shugden in future. Vilifying the Dalai Lama is in direct contradiction to this instruction. Also, if any of the monks who spoke have received teachings from the Dalai Lama, they would be criticizing their guru, in which case the karmic repercussions are severe.

Despite this spiritual view, if we can just look at the points raised in this press conference, they are worth thinking about.

1.   China has been supportive Buddhism in Tibet.
2.   The Dalai Lama is hypocritical in his campaign for animal rights.
3.   The Dalai Lama has encouraged self-immolations not just by not condemning it but actively supporting, eg creating the statue of the first immolator and making him a martyr.
4.   The Dalai Lama contradicts his stance for non-violence by not condemning the immolations.

These facts and figures below are a grim reminder of the result of the ban:

Quote
At that time 908 stores burned down, most belonging to Tibetans. 6 schools for Tibetan children burned down. 120 houses burned down. 5 hospitals burned. 20 high rise buildings burned down. 84 cars burned. 382 people were injured, 58 so serious they never recovered. 18 died. Is that really peace? The damage cost 2 billion dollars. The world must wake up and see, is the Dalai Lama really a non-violent person?

And one last question. Does anyone have any details over the 9 people who were murdered over the past 2 years as mentioned by Sonam Lama? Perhaps it was in the papers he handed out. Anyone here who was present at that press conference?


Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
International Human Rights Day – December 10, 2012
Tibetans speak the truth about the Dalai Lama’s Oppression and Violence

All the major news organizations, including the BBC, CBS, The Boston Globe, China Daily, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the World Journal were contacted.

The event began with Dechen Tulku, host of Tibetan Public Talk Show, the only Tibetan news outlet with freedom of speech outside of Tibet. At 12:30 he introduced the days topics and guest speakers.

Sonam Lama, former Vice President of NAGBA, Present Board Member of the Dorje Shugden Devotee’s Charitable & Religious Society in New Delhi, and Representative from NAGBA to New Delhi, introduced the topics and speakers in English.

The first speaker was Venerable Geshe Lama Thupten Phurbu Rinpoche. He spoke about the DL’s religious ban in Tibet and the violence that it has instigated. For his own purpose the Dalai Lama is misleading the world outside of Tibet. He claims there is no religious freedom in Tibet. But Tibet has religious freedom. For example, if you wish to be a monk, no one will prevent you, if you want to study Buddhism, no law will prevent you, you can give all of your money to temples, lamas or monasteries and the government will not stop you. The Chinese government is actually giving protection to all of the five major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. In recent years at Ganden Monlam Chenpo more than 10,000 monks gathered. People gave millions in offerings. The Chinese government did not interfere but only made it easier, providing protection and health services. The same with the Kagyu Monlam, Bonpo Monlam and Nyingma Monlam. Monks receive a monthly salary from the government so they can concentrate on their studies and even have retirement plans. The Dalai Lama is mixing religion with politics and contaminating pure Tibetan Buddhism. The result is that now Tibetan people are burning themselves alive for him. This is absolutely against Buddhism. The Dalai Lama never spoke against it. It shows that he has no compassion for these people.

The next speaker was Lobsang Dorjee, the President of the Association. He spoke about the Dalai Lama’s receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. Both of these awards were earned by deception. After receiving them the Dalai Lama used his power to destroy Tibetan religious freedom and started widespread segregation in the Tibetan community, even instigating murders of Tibetans by other Tibetans. These awards have become worthless because he has never created peace anywhere, he has only been interested in his own fame.
 
Adar Tsering, former General Secretary of NAGBA, said the Dalai Lama is pretending he is an environmentalist and animal rights activist. There is a nursing home in south India that had chickens. The Dalai Lama has banned them from keeping the chickens, saying that eating eggs is a sin. Yet he eats fried fish every morning for breakfast. At the same time, his sister owns a restaurant in Bangalore, India that I have been to a few times. On their menu is fried chicken. They kill approximately 3,000 chickens a week. The Dalai Lama calls his contaminated Buddhism “21st Century Buddhism.” This is not true Buddhism.

Sonam Lama said the Dalai Lama has two faces. He has mislead the world for several decades now. He has been recognized as a world leader in politics by a number of Western nations, and today is the day they celebrate his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Sadly, the world’s ignorance about the truth of the current situation has allowed the Dalai Lama to encourage not only self-immolation of his followers, but also the murder of Tibetans by other Tibetans. The Dalai Lama has openly persecuted Tibetans solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. In 1996, the Dalai Lama began persecuting and segregating Shugden practitioners. He denied them basic human rights, and he has forced them to hide their true beliefs. The Dalai Lama’s religious ban on Shugden practice has lead to mob violence and even murder. During the past two years nine people have died. He handed out papers with more details.

This is not the only damage he has done to Tibetans. His encouragement of the politically-motivated self-immolation of Tibetans has also shown his true colors. In 1998, a Tibetan man named Thupten Ngodup burned himself alive in New Delhi, initiating the chain of suicides that continues to this day. The Dalai Lama visited Ngodup in the hospital, showing approval and support for his actions. If that wasn’t enough, after Ngodup’s death the Dalai Lama built a statue of him in Dharamsala. People continue to visit and honor this statue. He has been made a hero to young Tibetans. Since 2008, more than 100 Tibetans have burned themselves alive because of their belief in the Dalai Lama.

In 2010, Tibet suffered one of the worst earthquakes in history. The death toll is estimated to be in the thousands. Chu Zhi Gangdrug organized a large memorial for the dead outside the Dalai Lama’s palace in Dharamsala. Although they pleaded with the Dalai Lama to join, he refused to come. It is hard to imagine what could have been more important than the death of so many Tibetans. Yet, he had time to organize prayers for those who died by self-immolation and read aloud their names and the villages that they came from. After these prayers, 82 more people burned themselves this year.

Jampa Lobsang, Advisor of the Association, said the Dalai Lama started the ban on Shugden saying he was a controversial protector. That is why he was banned. If that is so, the Dalai Lama himself is a controversial Dalai Lama, so we must ban him too. We don’t need to argue about whether Dorje Shugden is a good protector or not. There are many high lamas in the lineage who for more than 300 years praised Dorje Shugden, wrote books about him and prayed to him as a lineage protector. Look at what the Dalai Lama does. He goes against those high lamas of the past, and at the same time he pretends to preach peace and non-violence. If the Dalai Lama teaches non-violence, then why doesn’t he request his followers not to burn themselves?

Tenzin Tsultrim, Advisor of the Association, spoke about how he started working for the Dalai Lama in 1956. He trained for the CIA for 2 years in Colorado and worked very closely with the Dalai Lama and the Dalai Lama’s brother Gyalo Dondhup to escort the Dalai Lama to India. He knows them very well. He then worked closely with the CIA and the Dharamsala Security Department for 12 more years. The Dalai Lama only kept close to him people who tried to please him. People who tried to speak the truth or who cared for the Tibetan people were expelled. He only likes people who agree with him. Someone who speaks the sincere truth will not last long with the Dalai Lama. Because of that now Tibetan’s problems are worse every year. For example, last week the Dalai Lama’s Lamrim teaching in south India was sponsored by Ling Rinpoche. When the Dalai Lama came to south India Ling Rinpoche was in a bad car accident, breaking both of his legs. This shows the result of the bad karma they created.

Tenzin Gyatso, former President of the Association, said he was very grateful that the timing of Lama Thupten Phurbu Rinpoche’s visit from Tibet allowed him attend the press conference. The Association’s board members and former board members also appreciate it. In 1996 the Dalai Lama started banning Shugden practice. He destroyed thousands of Dorje Shugden statues and scriptures. Things got worse in 2008 when he began ostracising and segregating Shugden practitioners, splitting the monasteries in two. But monasteries were not the only places affected. Schools, shops, hospitals, everything in the Tibetan exile community in India that the Dalai Lama has control over. In Lhasa City in Tibet his followers started 300 fires. At that time 908 stores burned down, most belonging to Tibetans. 6 schools for Tibetan children burned down. 120 houses burned down. 5 hospitals burned. 20 high rise buildings burned down. 84 cars burned. 382 people were injured, 58 so serious they never recovered. 18 died. Is that really peace? The damage cost 2 billion dollars. The world must wake up and see, is the Dalai Lama really a non-violent person?

Dechen Tulku closed things up saying Dalai Lama and his organization received millions of dollars in donations but the people who practice Shugden do not receive any aid. When the Dalai Lama talks to the world, he pretends that these funds are to help all Tibetans, but he uses them to persecute and segregate Tibetans. We must let the world know about these issues.
Kate Walker - a wannabe wisdom Being

WisdomBeing

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2096
    • Add me to your facebook!
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2012, 03:58:24 AM »
Here are a couple of photos of the press conference.
Kate Walker - a wannabe wisdom Being

Big Uncle

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1995
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2012, 08:28:01 AM »
Wow! It is nice that the Lamas, monks and Dorje Shugden practitioner are standing up and making themselves heard for the Dorje Shugden cause. I am happy in that sense although they have no choice but to speak against the Dalai Lama. From the tone of the article, I think the speakers were speaking the truth and had to stress on the deception of the Dalai Lama's ban.

I think that is very good because there are some who flinch when they hear that and absolutely refuse to hear of it. I think with more awareness of the deception of the Dalai Lama's ban, it would bring about better understanding and ultimately, contribute towards the lifting of the ban. Just like the fall of slavery, the Dorje Shugden ban will fall because of awareness and understanding of the true circumstance surrounding the ban. 

When more and more people stand up to the ban and not to the Dalai Lama, I think it would gather momentum where the CTA would be force to act on it. At the moment, not many people really understand the nature of Dorje Shugden and the background of the ban and they just believe the Dalai Lama blindly. Hence, awareness will go a long way towards dispelling this widespread ignorance.

Ensapa

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4124
    • Email
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2012, 11:04:21 AM »
This is an extremely powerful and eye-opening article. It helps to counter all the lies that CTA and Tibetologists has been feeding mainstream media about Tibet, that it is a good and exotic and peaceful haven where everyone practices Buddhism. The press conference will be the start of the end of the Shangri-la dream that CTA has been selling to everyone to date, and they will lose more and more support as more of their shameful acts gets disclosed. The article blames the Dalai Lama, but who else is more to blame than the CTA? I had no idea about all the arsons in Lhasa that is related to the Dorje Shugden issue, but it does show that CTA managed to reach them, and burning people's houses because you dont like their practice is not Buddhist at all.

vajratruth

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 706
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2012, 12:39:00 PM »
Thank you Wisdom Being for posting this article and Big Uncle for your comments.

It is unfortunate that the Dalai Lama is criticized in discussions about the Dorje Shugden ban, but it is quite inevitable since the only source of the restriction on the Protector practice is His Holiness himself. If the Dalai Lama has in the past referred to stories in the controversial “Yellow Book” written by Zemey Rinpoche as the evidence that Dorje Shugden harms practitioners, then the Dalai Lama himself has also strongly condemned and discredited the contents of the book.

The decision to ban Dorje Shugden if fact does not have any true spiritual or theological basis at all.  The Dalai Lama has been challenged quite a few times to produce hard doctrinal and scriptural evidence to show that Shugden devotees are in fact worshipping an evil spirit. I would have thought that the Dalai Lama, should His Holiness be able to produce such facts, would put an end to the practice once and for all.

On the contrary, anyone investigating the ban would soon realize that there is no religious authenticity to the ban and instead political ambitions has always been the main reason. Dorje Shugden is an enlightened Protector sworn to protect the purity of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings that is at the core of the Gelugpa lineage.  Historically, all attacks on Dorje Shugden have actually been attacks on what the deity has come to symbolize, which is the efforts to preserve the purity of lineage.

On all occasions when the Shugden practice have been attacked, there were strong political currents forcing the Gelugpas to break down its lineage walls, essentially calling for the pollution of a lineage in order for a politically expedient objective to be met. In the present scenario, opposition to the Shugden practice heightened only after heads of another Tibetan Buddhist sect threatened to remove representatives from the Tibetan legislature unless perceived influence by Shugden practitioners are removed, a threat which the Dalai Lama bought into, and thought would undo His Holiness’s great efforts to unite all Tibetans.

All the Gelugpa Lamas like Pabonkha Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche have transmitted the Dorje Shugden practice to students purely as a means to help students stay on track in their study and practice of Dharma based on the prescribed method taught by Lama Tsongkhapa, nothing more.  What interest would the average Dorje Shugden practitioner have in the sectarian politics of Tibet? Clearly it is politics and political ambition that is the true evil force, not Dorje Shugden.

But now that the ban has been instituted even though the powers that be in Dharamsala deny so, untold number of people have suffered and this serious infringement on human rights cannot and should not be ignored. Those who have suffered are not limited to the Tibetan exiled community but in the process of enforcing the ban, the politics of hate have also been exported all over the world where Dorje Shugden is being practiced.

That the ban has caused tremendous harm cannot be ignored and therefore such conference as that recently held by the NAGBA is good to create awareness of the sufferings many Shugden practitioners have had to endure and it looks like the atrocities were worst than what was reported. And yet if we are to be true practitioners of Guru Devotion, we cannot ignore the advise of our lineage guru Trijang Rinpoche to support the Dalai Lama, nor indeed the advise from Dorje Shugden himself who through his oracle has also told us to keep supporting His Holiness. As difficult it is to understand some of his contradictions, the Dalai Lama after all is the living incarnation of a Buddha. Pressure must be brought upon the CTA who can remove the ban instead of the Dalai Lama who has his good reason for his actions. Reasons, which our limited minds find confusing.

Therefore I agree with Wisdom being that a proper response from us who have benefitted from Dorje Shugden would be to keep up with our own practice strongly, to keep supporting efforts to bring down the ban by lobbying the CTA who are now in full possession of all the powers required to undo a grave injustice, and unceasingly create awareness of the ban so that more will come to know about it and lend support.

dsiluvu

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1272
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2012, 01:10:36 AM »
This is GOOD NEWS that more and more monks and Lamas are speaking up to tell the world the truth. Although it is unfortunate that the Dalai Lama is being criticize for his decisions and actions, it is also inevitable like what Vajratruth stated... the source of it all came and started by His Holiness. It all made me realise how compassionate HHDL is for allowing himself be the main source to be blamed for starting this whole twisted commotion which I am sure His Holiness would have knew, it will be coming. Yet without the BAN, Dorje Shugden's practice would not have been such a global news and issue to be discussed. Good or bad, publicity is publicity and when facts are presented, it is up to the viewers, listeners to decide on their own.

What the courageous monks are doing, stating their experience and facts will shed light to the world on how bad the ban has effected them directly despite having to probably face more threats and challenges after this Press Conference. But they still share their stories to create a global awareness of the injustice of it all which is high time again for the world to realise Tibet's hypocritical side.


Ensapa

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4124
    • Email
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2012, 09:27:03 AM »
This is GOOD NEWS that more and more monks and Lamas are speaking up to tell the world the truth. Although it is unfortunate that the Dalai Lama is being criticize for his decisions and actions, it is also inevitable like what Vajratruth stated... the source of it all came and started by His Holiness. It all made me realise how compassionate HHDL is for allowing himself be the main source to be blamed for starting this whole twisted commotion which I am sure His Holiness would have knew, it will be coming. Yet without the BAN, Dorje Shugden's practice would not have been such a global news and issue to be discussed. Good or bad, publicity is publicity and when facts are presented, it is up to the viewers, listeners to decide on their own.

What the courageous monks are doing, stating their experience and facts will shed light to the world on how bad the ban has effected them directly despite having to probably face more threats and challenges after this Press Conference. But they still share their stories to create a global awareness of the injustice of it all which is high time again for the world to realise Tibet's hypocritical side.

I dont really think that it will case a huge dent in HHDL's popularity as people can just brush this off as a small mistake, but it will still make people question his acts more in the future and really think for themselves for sure and not just blindly follow what HHDL has said. Like I have mentioned in the past, the CTA's lies are catching up with them now and they can no longer keep lying to people. The more of it that gets exposed, the less credible CTA will be and more people will know what is going on and they will not support the Tibet cause anymore. CTA should come clean now and make up for their actions.

beggar

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 861
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2012, 10:21:50 AM »
Indeed, an extremely powerful press conference, more so when it was given on International Human Rights day.

This point especially stood out like a big neon sign:

Quote
He claims there is no religious freedom in Tibet. But Tibet has religious freedom. For example, if you wish to be a monk, no one will prevent you, if you want to study Buddhism, no law will prevent you, you can give all of your money to temples, lamas or monasteries and the government will not stop you. The Chinese government is actually giving protection to all of the five major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. In recent years at Ganden Monlam Chenpo more than 10,000 monks gathered. People gave millions in offerings. The Chinese government did not interfere but only made it easier, providing protection and health services. The same with the Kagyu Monlam, Bonpo Monlam and Nyingma Monlam. Monks receive a monthly salary from the government so they can concentrate on their studies and even have retirement plans. The Dalai Lama is mixing religion with politics and contaminating pure Tibetan Buddhism. The result is that now Tibetan people are burning themselves alive for him.


I had not known that there was this much freedom in China and am very glad to hear. All the more ironic then, that the exiled Tibetans are championing for freedom and independence when in actuality, China grants them more religious freedom than they do among themselves. I have heard from friends who have travelled to Tibet that in fact the Chinese government give very rich subsidies to religious institutions to help them rebuild and restore their monasteries. I'm sure they get a lot more aid than what the CTA are giving to their own people (well, in fact the CTA are DESTROYING statues and monasteries because of the DS ban).

I agree also with what was said about the self-immolations (there's an article on this also on this website here, which emphasises similar points: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/self-immolations-and-the-fight-for-true-freedom/

The fact that the CTA and the Dalai Lama have remained relatively quiet on the subject can only reflect that they are in support of these self immolations and perhaps even behind it. Quoting from our the dorjeshugden.com article:

Quote
Then, while all this is happening, the CTA have remained unusually quiet about the self-immolations. Apart from the token occasional comments, they have said or done little else to try to stop the immolations. This inaction is leading to more loss of lives. Their silence becomes suspicious, making it seem that they may well be manipulating the situation to their advantage or even be behind the incidents. Are the CTA intentionally remaining silent, refusing to strongly discourage the self-immolations because it generates more sympathy for their cause? Are they allowing their people to die for a free Tibet?

Why is it that the CTA can invest so much time, effort and resources into stamping down on Dorje Shugden practitioners, but become so spineless in speaking against the self-immolations? Instead, the Dalai Lama and the CTA should stand up firmly against this, issuing clear directives that such action is not condoned nor encouraged, and that continuing in this way is tantamount to going against the Dalai Lama and his people. After all, this is exactly how they have been speaking to, putting down and repressing Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why is that the same tone and urgency is not expressed to prevent more cases of self-immolations and deaths?[/quota]

Why indeed have the CTA been so relatively quiet about the self-immolations and yet so very quick and vocal to attack and speak against all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Suspicious? I think so.

Ensapa

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4124
    • Email
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2013, 07:04:11 PM »
Indeed, an extremely powerful press conference, more so when it was given on International Human Rights day.

This point especially stood out like a big neon sign:

Quote
He claims there is no religious freedom in Tibet. But Tibet has religious freedom. For example, if you wish to be a monk, no one will prevent you, if you want to study Buddhism, no law will prevent you, you can give all of your money to temples, lamas or monasteries and the government will not stop you. The Chinese government is actually giving protection to all of the five major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. In recent years at Ganden Monlam Chenpo more than 10,000 monks gathered. People gave millions in offerings. The Chinese government did not interfere but only made it easier, providing protection and health services. The same with the Kagyu Monlam, Bonpo Monlam and Nyingma Monlam. Monks receive a monthly salary from the government so they can concentrate on their studies and even have retirement plans. The Dalai Lama is mixing religion with politics and contaminating pure Tibetan Buddhism. The result is that now Tibetan people are burning themselves alive for him.


I had not known that there was this much freedom in China and am very glad to hear. All the more ironic then, that the exiled Tibetans are championing for freedom and independence when in actuality, China grants them more religious freedom than they do among themselves. I have heard from friends who have travelled to Tibet that in fact the Chinese government give very rich subsidies to religious institutions to help them rebuild and restore their monasteries. I'm sure they get a lot more aid than what the CTA are giving to their own people (well, in fact the CTA are DESTROYING statues and monasteries because of the DS ban).

I agree also with what was said about the self-immolations (there's an article on this also on this website here, which emphasises similar points: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/self-immolations-and-the-fight-for-true-freedom/

The fact that the CTA and the Dalai Lama have remained relatively quiet on the subject can only reflect that they are in support of these self immolations and perhaps even behind it. Quoting from our the dorjeshugden.com article:

Quote
Then, while all this is happening, the CTA have remained unusually quiet about the self-immolations. Apart from the token occasional comments, they have said or done little else to try to stop the immolations. This inaction is leading to more loss of lives. Their silence becomes suspicious, making it seem that they may well be manipulating the situation to their advantage or even be behind the incidents. Are the CTA intentionally remaining silent, refusing to strongly discourage the self-immolations because it generates more sympathy for their cause? Are they allowing their people to die for a free Tibet?

Why is it that the CTA can invest so much time, effort and resources into stamping down on Dorje Shugden practitioners, but become so spineless in speaking against the self-immolations? Instead, the Dalai Lama and the CTA should stand up firmly against this, issuing clear directives that such action is not condoned nor encouraged, and that continuing in this way is tantamount to going against the Dalai Lama and his people. After all, this is exactly how they have been speaking to, putting down and repressing Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why is that the same tone and urgency is not expressed to prevent more cases of self-immolations and deaths?[/quota]

Why indeed have the CTA been so relatively quiet about the self-immolations and yet so very quick and vocal to attack and speak against all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Suspicious? I think so.


There is a recurring theme with the CTA: they love their whine and sob stories and the post all around the world and tell everyone how pitiful they are when there are so many others in worse states than them. Take the Rohgiya muslims for example in Myanmar where they are literally booted out from their homeland by the ethnic majority there who are Buddhists(!) so CTA should stop whining about the self immolations. If they want to move forward, they have to lift the Dorje Shugden ban and apologize with a series of pujas to clear their negative karma for slandering him for the past few decades. Else, CTA will just fade and whiter away.

dondrup

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 816
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2013, 07:46:55 AM »
This press conference will bring to the world’s attention the plight of the Tibetans directly affected by the ban on Dorje Shugden and shows the many inconsistencies of what His Holiness Dalai Lama (HHDL) practises!  It is an effective method to help lift the ban.

Amongst these speakers were practising monks who hold monks vows.  Unless they have insubstantial evidence to prove HHDL’s oppression and violence, these monks would not risk breaking their vows for speaking out the truth against HHDL, a living Buddha Chenresig, a highly revered lama, winner of Nobel Peace Award, who is known for his compassion and world peace activities around the world.   Hence, the points raised by the speakers are relevant and necessary for all to know as too many Dorje Shugden practitioners had suffered tremendously from the ban.   

The ball is now on the court of Central Tibetan Administration and HHDL to prove otherwise the points raised by the press conference.  The ban must stop and injustice removed!

vajrastorm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 706
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2013, 10:40:09 AM »
Yes' it is good for monks and Lamas to speak up in this conference and show the world, the unfairness in the treatment of Shugden practitioners by HH Dalai Lama and the CTA. Yet, they should not be carried away to the extent of showing gross disrespect towards HH Dalai Lama, calling him a liar or condemning his deception in such strong terms.

Nonetheless, it should be pointed out that it is ironical that China has given Tibetans, in China, freedom to pursue Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism in any form or lineage.Even Shugden temples receive aid and support from the Chinese government. Funds are given for the renovation of monasteries, including Shugden monasteries. On the other hand, the same religious freedom is not given to all Tibetans in exile in India by the Dalai Lama and the CTA. Instead Shugden practitioners in the exiled Tibetan community in India have been slapped with a ban on Shugden practice and are made to suffer ostracism as well as violence from anti-Shugdenists, like the burning down of their hospitals , school and stores.

Furthermore, the Chinese have not resorted to violence to curb religious freedom among Tibetans in China nor have they condoned violence, such as the self-immolations committed by Tibetan monks and lay people. On the other hand,the pro-Dalai Lama camp and followers of HH Dalai Lama, and especially the CTA, have been seen to be behind the violence inflicted on poor Shugden practitioners who have committed no crime or transgression, but have merely followed the instructions of their Gurus and practiced Guru Devotion.

 Furthermore, HH Dalai Lama and CTA have been condoning and supporting the more than 100 Tibetans who have carried out self-immolations in China to support the cause of freedom of Tibet from China.  These monks and lay people, mostly the young, have given up their precious human lives, for nothing.Instead, the Chinese government has clamped down hard on the Tibetans whom they suspect have aided and abetted the ones who had carried out self-immolations.

So where is there real freedom to practice Buddhism? In China.

     

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 503
    • Email
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2013, 11:05:43 AM »
I think from this successful (for me) press conference, more and more individuals of the elite Gelug and probably other sects in Tibetan Buddhism will make similar gestures to come forth and voice their concerns on the ban of Dorje Shugden practice not forgetting the harsh treatments on Shugden practitioners. What i can forsee from this, there will be more and more High Lamas from Sangha community to follow suit and speak their minds. I agree that we should not speak harshly on the Dalai Lama re this ban imposed by him such as branding Him as a liar as a mark of respect.

Ensapa

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4124
    • Email
Re: Press Conference of the North American Gelug Buddhist Association
« Reply #12 on: March 30, 2013, 03:47:53 PM »
I hope sincerely that there will be more and more conferences like these in the future to expose the CTA's lies. The ban on Dorje Shugden has been largely ignored by the west due to the fact that the west simply is biased towards the Dalai Lama and somehow does not want to tarnish the western perception of the Dalai Lama. I really do notice this media game, which is why we need to make more people to be aware of the ban and of course there will be journalists who stay true to their creed of reporting news without bias and if the ban is being made known to them, they will investigate and expose the whole deal.