Dalai Lama to face protesters during visit to Cambridge: Who is protesting and w

[DharmaSpace]

The Dalai Lama, one of the world's most iconic figures and a symbol for world peace, is visiting the UK this week. While many are due to gather at his talks in London on 19 and 20 September, not everyone will be welcoming His Holiness with open arms.

The International Shugden Community (ISC) has organised protests against the Dalai Lama during his visit to Cambridge on 16 and 17 September and is anticipating a crowd of hundreds. A similar protest was organised in June 2014, with the spiritual leader being greeted by 600 protesters as he opened a community centre in Aldershot, Hampshire.

Who is the ISC?
The ISC describes itself as an umbrella organisation that fights for the rights of four million Shugden Buddhists worldwide. It claims the Dalai Lama has discriminated against it by preventing its members from being able to practise their worshipping freely. The group is demanding that the Dalai Lama write to Tibetan communities throughout the world calling on individuals and communities to "completely stop all discrimination against the practice of Shugden and its practitioners".

What do the Shugdens believe and why does the Dalai Lama believe something different?
Shugden Buddhists worship Dorje Shugden, a deity associated with the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism, which has origins in the lifetime of the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682). Dr John Powers, a specialist in Asian religions with a focus on Buddhism in India and Tibet, says that after the violent death of a rival of the Dalai Lama, Drakpa Gyaltsen (1618-1655), the Dalai Lama began to be haunted by the spirit of his enemy. The spirit became known as the Dorje Shugden and became a Gelugpa protector.

"It is associated with sectarianism and is viewed as a malevolent force by members of the other orders," Powers said. "Because of its associations with sectarianism and in light of the need for unity among the Tibetan refugee community, the current Dalai Lama has urged Tibetans to cease propitiating Shugden."

The Dalai Lama has claimed to have had a dream where the Shugden was attacking Pehar, the main protector deity of the Dalai Lamas. Other such events have led the Dalai Lama to believe the Shugden is working to kill him. Powers says he has also spoken to members of other orders who are also deeply afraid of Shugden and believe it wishes them harm.

Some were initially reluctant to follow the Dalai Lama's orders to halt worshipping of the Shugden as they had begun the practice of Shugden worship with their root Lamas. However, over time, several prominent Gelukpas began to publicly support the Dalai Lama's position and today, most accept the shunning of the worshipping of Dorje Shugden.

However, Shugden worshippers believe this is a traditional Gelugpa practice that was taught and practised by prominent figures of the tradition. Therefore, some still continue to do so to this day.
The Dalai Lama addresses the crowd

Why are they protesting against the Dalai Lama?
A spokesperson for the International Shugden Community alleged the Dalai Lama was responsible for spreading "religious hatred" and that Shugden worshippers felt "absolutely excluded and ostracised" due to his actions.
ISC says Shugden worshippers have been asked to cease their practice by the Dalai Lama and have often been asked not to attend his religious rituals due to his fear of the practice threatening his life. Due to the Dalai Lama's worldwide support, many have followed his lead and strayed away from the faith and those who practise it. Most Gelugpa monasteries have now renounced it and monks who wish to continue with it are often asked to leave.
ISC claims it has tried to start a dialogue with the Dalai Lama for 20 years, with no response until July. However, the meeting resulted in "just another criticism of Shugdens".

Powers speaks of his visits to Shugden monasteries in Tibet, saying his tour guide would not go any closer than a kilometre away and said locals also shun the monasteries. He pointed out that while most Tibetan monasteries are full of people, the Shugden monasteries he visited had high walls, spiked metal fences, and no visitors – just a few monks. "My tour guide clearly saw Shugden practice as something distasteful," he said.

Shugden worshippers believe the animosity created towards them is a direct result of the Dalai Lama's actions and are demanding he fixes the situation by releasing one clear statement confirming he does not support the alienation of Shugden worshippers.

What are Dalai Lama's defendants saying about it?
Many Tibetans believe the International Shugden Community is funded by the Chinese government to undermine the Dalai Lama. Kate Saunders, from the International Campaign for Tibet, described the group's actions against the Dalai Lama as "a political agenda which is clearly unsuccessful given the Dalai Lama's global popularity and influence".

She said: "The very vocal protests by this group, which compares the Dalai Lama to Hitler, creates distress among many Tibetans and British people who are turning out to give His Holiness a warm welcome this week in the UK."
The International Campaign for Tibet maintains that no established human rights group has confirmed any of the ISC's claims of international human rights abuses by the Dalai Lama or the Central Tibetan Administration.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dalai-lama-face-protesters-during-175158271.html#xU7vGXn

[yontenjamyang]

The facade of courage and righteousness on the Dalai Lama and CTA cannot be maintained for very much longer as the world will wonder what is the matter with the Dalai Lama so that everywhere he goes there are protests against him. Well, there is something drastically wrong. He blames his failures on a deity and as says there are issues between deities. How ridiculous is that?

[Joo Won]

Kate Saunders, from the International Campaign for Tibet, described the group's actions against the Dalai Lama as "a political agenda which is clearly unsuccessful given the Dalai Lama's global popularity and influence".

--- I think International Campaign for Tibet or office of HH Dalai Lama should be even more proactive to look into the claims and protests against HH Dalai Lama, given that Dalai Lama as advocator and champion of world peace and religious freedom. The protests even not in a big scale with hundred thousands of protesters but the fact is there are more and more global news websites or media picking up the issue. With exposure of the global media especially the Western media there are more and more people in the world learn about the Dorje Shugden issue and conflict surrounding the issue.

Do you think the conflict will fade away just because HH Dalai Lama is a famous world leader, just because the number of protesters are not many?

[DharmaSpace]

BBC asked the Dalai Lama is there Segregation then, which is why they are protesting against you.

Then the Dalai Lama said that this segregation was started by Dorje Shugden Lamas and people.

How can BBC and people take this piece of reporting just at face value? The standard of reporting by Wester Media is simply atrocious.

[fruven]

This article is extremely bias.

What do the Shugdens believe and why does the Dalai Lama believe something different?
Shugden Buddhists worship Dorje Shugden, a deity associated with the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism, which has origins in the lifetime of the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682). Dr John Powers, a specialist in Asian religions with a focus on Buddhism in India and Tibet, says that after the violent death of a rival of the Dalai Lama, Drakpa Gyaltsen (1618-1655), the Dalai Lama began to be haunted by the spirit of his enemy. The spirit became known as the Dorje Shugden and became a Gelugpa protector.

"It is associated with sectarianism and is viewed as a malevolent force by members of the other orders," Powers said. "Because of its associations with sectarianism and in light of the need for unity among the Tibetan refugee community, the current Dalai Lama has urged Tibetans to cease propitiating Shugden."

Not all scholars are of the same opinion. It is so misleading to quote the view of one scholar and make his statement deemed as true.

What are Dalai Lama's defendants saying about it?
Many Tibetans believe the International Shugden Community is funded by the Chinese government to undermine the Dalai Lama. Kate Saunders, from the International Campaign for Tibet, described the group's actions against the Dalai Lama as "a political agenda which is clearly unsuccessful given the Dalai Lama's global popularity and influence".

She said: "The very vocal protests by this group, which compares the Dalai Lama to Hitler, creates distress among many Tibetans and British people who are turning out to give His Holiness a warm welcome this week in the UK."

The International Campaign for Tibet maintains that no established human rights group has confirmed any of the ISC's claims of international human rights abuses by the Dalai Lama or the Central Tibetan Administration.

There are published report of Dorje Shugden monks being harmed and the media has the nerved to say there is none. Either the media is not doing their job well or something else.

[eyesoftara]

This has all the hallmark of the early stages of anti-semitism prior to World War 2. Hitler perfected the art of propaganda that way furthered used by the Soviets and perhaps the North Korean. But we know that despite the propaganda, the truth always prevailed.
The media in this case also failed in reporting the truth, with the exception of a few media like Al-Jazeera but nonetheless has not pursued it like it should be. I suspect the reason being that they not much benefit for them and "the world at large" for then to debunked the myth of the compassionate Dalai Lama.

But with the recent feminist comment by the Dalai Lama and continued demonstrations by the ISC, the Dalai Lama is facing far more pressure than ever and has even cancelled his latest tour.

[prodorjeshugden]

The Dalai Lama is often viewed as the symbol for world peace. But his involvement in the Dorje Shugden ban clearly shows that he can't  be the symbol for world peace. Peace does not mean tearing apart families, peace does not mean discriminating someone for no reason, peace will not create disharmony, peace means Unity and harmony.  What's more the ban was molded from some  false excuse, Dorje Shugden is a fully enlightened Dharma protector and has been practiced by thousands upon thousands of people including some very renowned high lamas. A true lama can differentiate between what is fake and what is real, so there is totally no way they can fooled if they had completed all their studies.

CTA please stop tearing apart families and ruining lives.

[pgdharma]

The Dalai Lama has claimed to have had a dream where the Shugden was attacking Pehar, the main protector deity of the Dalai Lamas. Other such events have led the Dalai Lama to believe the Shugden is working to kill him. Powers says he has also spoken to members of other orders who are also deeply afraid of Shugden and believe it wishes them harm.

If Dorje Shugden is a spirit, why can’t the Dalai Lama, who is claimed to be an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, why is he so afraid of a spirit? Can’t he just subdue the spirit? Can an enlightened being be harmed by a spirit?

The International Campaign for Tibet maintains that no established human rights group has confirmed any of the ISC's claims of international human rights abuses by the Dalai Lama or the Central Tibetan Administration.

There are so many reports on Dorje Shugden monks and practitioners being abused yet the media says there is none.  The media should find out more info before posting news that are biased and misleading the public. If this is not an abuse case, then what is this? http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/cta-creates-violence-again,

[James Bond]

I am happy to hear this. The reason i am happy is because I am glad that there is such a group standing up to the Dalai Lama and standing up for Dorje Shugden practitioners all around the world. I know that there are probably many other groups in the world that do the same as ISC, but its good to know that no matter where the Dalai Lama travels, his mistakes will always follow.

ISC seems as though they stand up and protest against the right things. They are protesting for religious freedom basically and i respect them very much for doing so. I hope that protests like this pick up support and major groups such as the ISC grow. It is important that people start to know about the reasoning behind all the protest.

[SabS]

The Dalai Lama once again fooled the Western media..."The Dalai Lama has claimed to have had a dream where the Shugden was attacking Pehar, the main protector deity of the Dalai Lamas.". If Dorje Shugden is able to attack Pehar, then maybe the Dalai Lama should start propitiating Dorje Shugden as he proof to be mighter(?). Anyway, the Dalai Lama being of the same mind stream as Avalokiteshvara would not the karma to be harmed and only non-practitioners could accept his claims of potential harm by a "spirit". If Dorje Shugden had wanted to harm the Dalai Lama, he would have just advised him to remain in Tibet and not personally guide him to safety during his escape.

And the claims that Dorje Shugden's practise is sectarian and other orders fear he would harm them. Utter nonsense! Dorje Shugden was taken as a Protector by the Sakya sect before being propitiated by the Gelugpas. Even the Kamarpa had praised Dorje Shugden as the Protector of degenerate times. Fear of Dorje Shugden? Hmm, the only fear they should have is towards their own sincere practises and not be involved in politics of lies. Its such a shame that the Western media agencies are so one sided in their reports and do not check the authenticity and reliability of their sources. The infringement on religious freedom and human rights by imposition of the Shugden ban are with proofs but not taken up.

Kudos to organisations like ISC and dorjeshugden.com for taking up the issue of the ban and create awareness to educate the public on the wrongness of the ban and the sufferings of the Shugden practitioners.

[grandmapele]

The Dalai Lama has claimed to have had a dream where the Shugden was attacking Pehar, the main protector deity of the Dalai Lamas. Other such events have led the Dalai Lama to believe the Shugden is working to kill him. Powers says he has also spoken to members of other orders who are also deeply afraid of Shugden and believe it wishes them harm.

Some were initially reluctant to follow the Dalai Lama's orders to halt worshipping of the Shugden as they had begun the practice of Shugden worship with their root Lamas. However, over time, several prominent Gelukpas began to publicly support the Dalai Lama's position and today, most accept the shunning of the worshipping of Dorje Shugden.



https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dalai-lama-face-protesters-during-175158271.html#xU7vGXn

I like the Dalai Lama having a dream and the journalist lapped it up and believed that that dream holds water. Moreover, he even used the word 'shunned' to describe the situation of the Dorje Shugden practitioners without flinching or stopping to inquire whether that should have happened under Human Rights.

Powers speaks of his visits to Shugden monasteries in Tibet, saying his tour guide would not go any closer than a kilometre away and said locals also shun the monasteries. He pointed out that while most Tibetan monasteries are full of people, the Shugden monasteries he visited had high walls, spiked metal fences, and no visitors – just a few monks. "My tour guide clearly saw Shugden practice as something distasteful," he said.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dalai-lama-face-protesters-during-175158271.html#xU7vGXn

He can report of high walls but does not question the animosity of the locals or the tour guide. And, I thought the act of shunning went out with the dodos.

I'm sure there are more people out there who can think better. Hopefully, they can see and inquire on the report.

[grandmapele]

"The Dalai Lama has claimed to have had a dream where the Shugden was attacking Pehar, the main protector deity of the Dalai Lamas. Other such events have led the Dalai Lama to believe the Shugden is working to kill him. Powers says he has also spoken to members of other orders who are also deeply afraid of Shugden and believe it wishes them harm.
Some were initially reluctant to follow the Dalai Lama's orders to halt worshipping of the Shugden as they had begun the practice of Shugden worship with their root Lamas. However, over time, several prominent Gelukpas began to publicly support the Dalai Lama's position and today, most accept the shunning of the worshipping of Dorje Shugden"

I like the Dalai Lama having a dream and the journalist lapped it up and believed that that dream holds water. Moreover, he even used the word 'shunned' to describe the situation of the Dorje Shugden practitioners without flinching or stopping to inquire whether that should have happened under Human Rights.

"Powers speaks of his visits to Shugden monasteries in Tibet, saying his tour guide would not go any closer than a kilometre away and said locals also shun the monasteries. He pointed out that while most Tibetan monasteries are full of people, the Shugden monasteries he visited had high walls, spiked metal fences, and no visitors – just a few monks. "My tour guide clearly saw Shugden practice as something distasteful," he said."

He can report of high walls but does not question the animosity of the locals or the tour guide.  And, I thought the act of shunning went out with the dodos.
I'm sure there are more people out there who can think better. Hopefully, they can see and inquire on the report.

[VeronicaSmith]

This is good, the more protests the more awareness is being created, I am also happy to hear that people in more developed countries are aware of this terrible ban and I am very happy to hear that there are many people taking action in protest to this ban. The more we push, the more people turn their heads and the closer we are to lifting this ban. The ban needs to end.