Author Topic: The Degeneration or Death of Tibetan Buddhism?  (Read 3372 times)

PrajNa

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The Degeneration or Death of Tibetan Buddhism?
« on: February 17, 2017, 03:33:49 AM »
I am posting some points I saw on a facebook post with regards to the degeneration of Tibetan Buddhism in exile. I recently heard that monasteries in exile are receiving less new recruits, while a number of issues abound in the schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Please share your thoughts.



In the Gelug school, the ban on Dorje Shugden practice approaches its 20th year, there is no sign of the religious persecution, faith-based discrimination and suffering endured by Shugden Buddhists abating.
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/make-a-difference-today-say-yes-to-religious-freedom/


In the Kagyu school, forced conversion of Drukpa Lineage monasteries in the Mount Kailash region by the Karma Kagyu Lineage.
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=5107.0


In the Sakya school, the new three-year term is a surprisingly short tenure and is in stark contrast to the traditional term where past Sakya Trizins were throne holders till the end of their lives.
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/the-real-reason-the-sakya-trizin-resigned/



The Jonangpas demand for the discrimination against their sect to end.
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/tibetan-parliament-discriminates-against-jonangpa-sect/


Next, Karmapa Thaye Dorje faces harassment, intimidation and discrimination attributed to supporters of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/the-karmapa-oppressed-by-dalai-lama-loyalists/



Last but not least, where is the Panchen Lama now?
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/the-11th-panchen-lamas-kalacakra-initiation-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-the-cta/

Matibhadra

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Re: The Degeneration or Death of Tibetan Buddhism?
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2017, 03:55:37 AM »
Quote
Last but not least, where is the Panchen Lama now?

As of very recently giving the Kalachakra initiation in Tibet.

Harold Musetescu

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Re: The Degeneration or Death of Tibetan Buddhism?
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2017, 10:07:02 AM »
Thank you PrajNa for this wonderful article.

I have felt this way about Tibetan Buddhism for many years.

Many native Tibetans and Westerners are giving up on not "Tibetan Buddhism" but on "Corporate" Tibetan Buddhism.

I have given up on "Corporate" Tibetan Buddhism.

It seems that our "Spiritual" leaders have become "Corporate" leaders.

Its all about obtaining more "Corporate" centres and not "Spiritual" centres.

The more "Franchises" the "Corporate" Sect has the more revenue it obtains on a monthly and yearly basis.

In this setting its all about "MONEY" and "CORPORATE" power and very little on our "Spiritual" journey.

Every few weeks it another "Weekend Empowerment" for a mere two or three hundred dollars.

It becomes like a man standing on a street corner yelling to the passing crowds, "Get your empowerment,
Get your empowerment here. Get two empowerments for the price of one, Get your empowerments before they run out".

In the "Old Days" empowerments were given to only a few at a time and they would first prepare themselves for months or a year prior to receive it. Now the highest empowerments are given to anyone off the street if the have they "Right Motivation". That to pay the "Fee" for the empowerment and to join the "Corporation".

In "Corporate" Tibetan Buddhism they need you to have dozens of empowerments. The thought that you are given a single empowerment to practice for the rest of your life makes no "Corporate sense". You don't make "Money" for the "Corporation" from a single empowerment. We all know people with this "Corporate" mentality that list off with pride the dozens of empowerments they have "Paid For" and received. Yet they have mastered not a single one but they don't care its all about collecting the empowerments like collecting baseball cards in the old days.

So the new mantra is "Join up now and get your "Corporate" Tibetan Buddhism here. Get your empowers here, two for the price of one" "Sign up now, any one can join, no waiting time required".
 

pemachen

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Re: The Degeneration or Death of Tibetan Buddhism?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2017, 02:08:16 AM »
Prajna, what you pointed out is painfully true. It has been 57 years since the Dalai Lama went into exile since 1959. With over a hundred thousand Tibetans around the world, who have been given much privilege and benefits in their host countries, why does the CTA still seek financial aids continuously from the international community? Not only did they fail politically in managing the Tibetans community, they fail in protecting their biggest assets - Tibetan Buddhism and their Lamas. The CTA continues to let Shugden issue become the scapegoat for their failure, and does nothing to stop the growing disharmony and schism. If any monastery is doing well, it is not because of the CTA, it is because the lamas in the monasteries work hard to ensure its survival for preservation of their tradition and lineage.

SabS

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Re: The Degeneration or Death of Tibetan Buddhism?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2017, 05:59:46 PM »
It is indeed a shame that whilst Tibetan Buddhism had spread worldwide, it has degenerated amongst the Tibetan themselves.The spread of the practices were by great Lamas who had held true to their lineages and the degeneration by those who followed popularity publicity rather than true Dharma itself. The biggest asset of Tibet is it's pure Lamas and lineage practices that had been passed down through the ages stainlessly since the time of Buddha Shakyamuni. How meritorious it would have been if CTA had kept it sacred instead of destroying the holiness of it with schism, doubts and false accusations. Now so much fear and doubts had been created within the Tibetan communities around the world, especially those close to Dharamsala and CTA. We may never know the initial reasons for all these disharmony but the way CTA blows up the issue turned whatever pure motivations into such pain and sufferings to the people and practitioners. So much time and resources had been wasted on attacks, counter attack, slander, defence, etc. which could have been better spent on preserving the purity of the lineages. Although I wonder if it isn't also to filter out who are the real practitioners and who weren't. With the Dalai Lama and the many high Lamas' exodus out of Tibet, the consequential spread of Tibetan Buddhism, the many deviations from tradition and up to the current situation where China is modernising Tibet, could Tibetan Buddhism be heading different directions, towards openness rather than its preserved practice shrouded in secrecy? Will the Dalai Lama return the purity of the lineages to his people after such heavy negativities had been perpetrated, seemingly his silence speaking very loudly as consent to CTA's actions. I certainly hope it is not his consent and that he will stand up to give back the sacredness of the lineages their rightful heritage. It would be such travesty of Buddha's holy teachings to be watered down to that of spiritual hobby and the people losing the power of blessings from the great Lamas due to the doubts and fear that had been created. The reverence that people have of the Dalai Lama, makes his voice a powerful one and I humbly request His Holiness to bring the truth and purity back into Tibetan Buddhism, reunite the practitioners and restore the faith for all to receive the power of blessings from the attained Lamas and the lineage Gurus.