H.E. Daknak Rinpoche

In the fantasy world, we have superheroes, like Spiderman, who capture the minds of countless children everywhere with their superhuman powers and abilities. But in Tibetan Buddhism, we have super erudite and highly attained Lamas who attract thousands of followers, both ordained and lay, because of their selflessness and great compassion to benefit all beings. One such highly revered lama is H.E. the 14th Daknak Rinpoche who has thousands of followers in Tibet and Taiwan.

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche is highly respected in Taiwan, a country where Tibetan Buddhism is rare and less popular compared to the mainstream Mahayana Buddhist tradition. However, Daknak Rinpoche’s great dedication and hard work in spreading the Gelug lineage in this region eventually led to the founding of the Daknak Genden Lhundup Monastery in Taiwan.

Today, H.E. Daknak Rinpoche travels frequently between Taiwan and Tibet, and also to other countries around the world to expound the great teachings of Lama Tsongkapa and the protector Dorje Shugden. Most recently, Daknak Rinpoche personally presided over a four-day puja: a one-day Yamantaka peaceful Fire Puja and a three-day Medicine Buddha Puja.

Fire pujas are an excellent way to pacify the results of our unwholesome actions, and to clear away obstacles and challenges. In addition, the Medicine Buddha puja is a popular practice especially within Asian communities as it promotes healing and longevity.

Dedication cards were produced for both pujas, a common practice in Chinese temples across Asia where sponsors write dedications for themselves or their loved ones. It is wonderful to see aspects of local culture infused with Tibetan Buddhism in Daknak Rinpoche’s monastery.

We at DorjeShugden.com rejoice to receive such wonderful news about one of the most respected Dorje Shugden lamas of our time and we look forward to hearing more great news of H.E. Daknak Rinpoche and other great masters that in their immense compassion, selflessness and skillful means, have captured the minds of all they meet.

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche in full dakini ritual garb

Bountiful offerings for the Medicine Buddha puja

Offerings for the fire puja neatly arranged

H.E. Daknak Rinpoche performing fire puja

Handwritten dedication cards

Many of Daknak Rinpoche’s Taiwanese students attended the event

For more about Dorje Shugden, the Lamas who practice him and other pages of note, click on any of the links below that may be of interest. To submit more links for consideration, please leave a comment.

Links about Dorje Shugden

• http://www.dorjeshugden.org/
• http://nyanangphelgyeling.org/
• http://www.serpommonastery.org
• http://shargadenpa.org/
• http://segyugadenphodrang.org/
• http://www.shugdensociety.info
• http://www.xiongdeng.com/
• http://phradorjeshugden.net/
• http://dorjeshugdenimagelibrary.wordpress.com
• http://www.dorjeshugdenhistory.org/
• http://shugden.tripod.com/
• http://kachemarpo.wordpress.com
• http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.blogspot.com/
• http://www.wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org
• http://shugdensociety.wordpress.com
• http://dorjeshugdentruth.wordpress.com
• https://truthaboutshugden.wordpress.com/

Links to Great Lamas

• http://www.tbiusa.org/
• H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche’s Facebook Fanpage
• http://www.domogesherinpoche.org/
• http://www.thardeuling.com/
• http://kadampa.org/
• http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/
• http://www.lgpt.net/
• http://ahmc.ngalso.net/
• http://kunpen.ngalso.net/
• http://www.lamagangchenusa.org/
• http://www.rabten.eu/
• http://www.meditationtsongkhapa.org/
• http://www.khenrab.org/
• http://www.dgtlmonastery.org/
• http://www.gadenforthewest.org/
• http://www.ganden.org
• http://www.kadhampa.org/
• http://gadenpa.com/

Other Interesting Links

• http://www.facebook.com/DuldzinDorjeShugden
• http://twitter.com/dorje_shugden
• http://www.youtube.com/dorjeshugden
• http://www.facebook.com/GyelchenDorjeShugden
• https://www.youtube.com/TibetanPublicTalk
• Dorje Shugden Tibetan Followers Facebook
• Dorje Shugden Tibetan Followers Youtube
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbh8A7SmyD8xE0WdPbi5-IQ
• https://www.facebook.com/shargadenmonastery
• http://www.youtube.com/SharGadenMonastery
• http://twitter.com/shargaden
• https://www.facebook.com/serpom
• https://www.youtube.com/Serpomdratsang/
• http://www.arebuddhistsracist.com/

For more information about H.E. Daknak Rinpoche:

The Opening of a New Dorje Shugden Monastery
Kyabje 13th Daknak Rinpoche Teaching LAMRIM
Daknak Rinpoche visits Segyu Gaden Phodrang

This will not be a re-hashing of the pros and cons of this controversy. In this respect, I take a position of neutrality. Recent conversations with Lamas and other Dharma practitioners have convinced me that it is time for me to make a public statement. As a long-time Dharma practitioner in the Gelug Lineage, this is not a topic with which I am unfamiliar.

My Tsawa-Lama is Chodag Tulku Rinpoche, with whom I studied until his passing at the end of 2001. I was ordained by Dagom Rinpoche at Dagom Ganden Tensung Ling Monastery in Bloomington, Indiana.

Chodag Tulku and I had many long and detailed conversations about this matter. He gave me very specific instructions regarding how I was to handle discourse on this topic and the things I have to say about it are either his direct words or are informed by what he taught me. His teaching was that while this all started as an internecine religious squabble some centuries ago, it has degenerated into a squabble about Tibetan politics and not religion.

Tibetan politics, both before and since the introduction of Buddhism, has a long, violent, bloody history filled with deep political intrigue, and long-standing sectarian hatred, including the assassinations of many religious figures, even the Dalai Lamas, and open warfare between monks in rival monasteries. My Lama said that as a practitioner and a monastic, I am to avoid the mixing of politics and Dharma. It is always disastrous and always poisons both.

This first thing I want to address is the first question usually asked, aside from, perhaps, “What is all this Shugden mess?” And that question is: “Are you a Shugden practitioner?” As with ALL tantric practices, I will neither deny nor confirm any connection to this practice. As with all of one’s practices, especially Tantra, it is an inappropriate topic for public discourse for any practitioner; period. A true Tantric practitioner will not engage in any public discourse with respect to whether or not they have an empowerment for a specific practice. To do so violates one’s tantric vows. This is the teaching of my Tsawa-Lama.

Some of you will make an immediate assumption one way or the other about what my answer “means”. If you actually care one way or the other about whether or not I, or anyone else, is a Shugdenpa then you already have a proclivity for wasting your time and meddling in affairs that do not concern you. My personal observation would simply be that you do not spend enough time on your meditation seat or reading the Bodhisattva and Tantric vows.

The second thing I wish to address is this. I do not have relationships with Lamas and other practitioners, or friendships and acquaintances with anyone, based on their position on this matter. I don’t know how most people feel about this controversy and, truthfully, don’t much care what anyone thinks.

I know many people who are Shugden practitioners, even more who are not and, for the most part, have no clue about the vast majority of the practitioners I know. If it matters to you, then I’m probably not someone you want to know. I base my decisions regarding friendship on how one treats other people and whether or not they are disruptive to my mind-stream.

My Lama’s teaching on this was, also, quite clear.

• You can have all the compassion and loving-kindness toward another sentient being and, quite reasonably (and well within the dictates of yogic principles) not want that being to be anywhere near you.
• You should always avoid those who are disruptive to your mind-stream regardless of who they may be.

Any of you who have gone to hear Tibetan Lamas since the introduction of the Dharma in the West has taken teachings from, studied with, or has been empowered by one or more Shugden Lamas, whether you know it or not. Many of you still take teachings from a Lama who is a practicing Shugdenpa. The fact that you don’t know is an example of the both the critical importance of secrecy in Tantra and the facetious pretense of superiority that is at the heart of this centuries-old, occasionally rehashed, squabble about political influence and sectarian persecution.

I have a zero-tolerance policy toward, and absolutely no respect for, anyone who engages in such nonsense, who perpetuates this blatant disrespect for the teachings of the Buddha, or for anyone who harasses or intimidates another person for their spiritual beliefs and practices.

My Lama was very clear on this aspect of the teaching of Shakyamuni: The beliefs of others are not your concern.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/lozang-gyaltsan/revisiting-my-position-on-dorje-shugden-earlier-this-year-i-posted-an-article-it/10150355294735955

This video is part 1 (of two parts) of a commentary on the Guru Puja by His Eminence Dagom Rinpoche (in Tibetan, with no English subtitles).

Dagom Rinpoche was the highly respected lama who had commissioned the Gelug Lineage tree thangka to include Dorje Shugden among the group of supramundane protectors portrayed in this thangka (View the beautiful thangka as commissioned by the previous Dagom Rinpoche)

In one of Dagom Rinpoche’s previous lives, he was the great Pelgyi Dorje. Pelgyi Dorje had killed the evil King Langdarma, who had been trying to suppress Buddhadharma in Tibet.

Based on a landmark teaching by H.E. Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche, this Guru Tree incorporates Dorje Shugden as one of its main Protectors.

On the bottom of this thangka, Dorje Shugden is depicted standing between six-armed White Mahakala and Palden Lhamo. Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche gave extensive teachings as to why Dorje Shugden should be on this Guru Tree and prophesied that he will one day be widely accepted as the main Protector of the Gaden tradition.

Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche, reincarnation of Ra Lotsawa (the originator of the Yamantaka transmission lineage) and holder of all Gelug lineages, has been very kind to give the world this magnificent, updated Guru Tree which shows Dorje Shugden among our other Dharma protectors.

We invite you to experience the blessings of this sacred thangka – as a visualization aid of the merit field during Lama Chopa pujas or as a holy image on your altar!

Preview Image | Download Image

(17:35) “IF YOU GO FOR REFUGE IN THE DHARMA, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EVERY SINGLE LETTER OF IT…”

Lama Jampa Ngodup Rinpoche speaks out against people who disparage the teachings and texts of the Gelug great masters like Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Dagom Rinpoche, especially texts related to the Dharmapala Dorje Shugden.

We cannot even disparage or put down even one letter of the Dharma, which is consistent with the Lamrim and our refuge vows. If we do, we would have broken our refuge vows. He mentions that if there is any dispute about what is correct conduct, always check back with the Buddhadharma.

Dagom Gaden Tensung Ling Buddhist Monastery (DGTL) in Bloomington, Indiana, USA was founded in 1996 by the renowned Tibetan Buddhist teachers Ven. Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche and Ven. Gonsar Rinpoche. Their deepest wish in establishing the monastery was to preserve for the benefit of all sentient beings the Buddha’s teachings as transmitted by the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Though DGTL functions as a traditional monastery for monks of this lineage, it also welcomes lay people of all nationalities and backgrounds to participate in its many religious, cultural and educational programs.

These include sacred teachings by visiting and resident monks, the construction of precious sand mandalas, daily prayer services, guest lectures to schools and community groups, and the annual Taste of Tibet in which the monks cook Tibetan delicacies for the communities of Bloomington and Cincinnati.

DGTL is nestled at one end of Bloomington, Indiana’s Lower Cascades Park, a natural setting with cliffs, a creek, and a waterfall. The quiet monastery grounds and the building are decorated by hand with traditional Tibetan colors and designs.

Its Purpose

1. Preservation of all the authentic oral transmission lineages of the Gelug Tradition founded by the great master Je Tsong Khapa, and transmitted through an unbroken line of masters of our time, such as the great Pabongka, His Holiness Trijang Dorje Chang and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. Foreseeing the great danger of dilution and degeneration of this pure tradition at its source in the Tibetan community, giving it special attention is seen as indispensable for its preservation for the sake of all beings.
2. Following the very intention of the Buddha, as well as the great founding masters of the past, all the activities of this institution will be centered around a monastic community based upon the solid foundation of the Vinaya tradition. All the studies and practices of Buddhism will be conducted on the basis of the most complete and clear teaching of Dharma given by the matchless great teacher Je Tsong Khapa and his lineage-holding great disciples up to the direct masters of the present. It will be open to people from all walks of life, regardless of their race and origin, who are sincerely and seriously interested and eager to learn and to practice such teachings.
3. To provide everyone interested in learning and practicing the various aspects of such an authentic transmission with the possibility of studying and guidance in the practice of meditation through organizing permanent study programs, lectures, weekend seminars and occasional week-long courses.
4. To give support and assistance to all the monastic communities, organizations or individuals adhering to the same authentic tradition, especially at its source in Tibet, India, China and Mongolia.
5. In concordance with the aims and objectives of this organization, Dorje Shugden, the protector deity of this particular lineage of Dharma, will forever be the patron figure of this organization as well as that of all affiliates.

Source : http://www.dgtlmonastery.org/

Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche was recognised by Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang, tutor to His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, as the twelfth incarnation of the lineage of Dagom Rinpoches.

He took novice ordination at the age of nine and full ordination (Bhikshu) at the age of twenty one years old.

Watch this video of H.H. Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche giving very precious teaching about Powa. The teaching is given in Tibetan.

Click to read more about Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche.

The Emergence of Dharmapala Dorje Shugden

While Je Tsongkhapa was giving a Dharma discourse, Nechung appeared to Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen in the form of a white dove, urging him to manifest as a protector of Je Tsongkhapa’s teachings who are so sublime and precious that a special protector is needed to guard and further them in this world.

Nechung repeated his request to Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen’s subsequent incarnations and during the time of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen approached again, asking him if he remembered his promise. Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen replied that since there was no anger in his mindstream, how could he manifest the wrathful energy of a Dharma protector?

Thus the event of strangulation was displayed with bodhicitta motivation, enabling the enlightened being Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen to manifest wrath at the moment of death and to emerge in this way as the transcendent supramundane Dharmapala Gyalchen Dorje Shugden.

Gelugpa Guru Tree, Updated by Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche

Magnification of the bottom row of the Guru Tree , showing Dorje Shugden as one of the protectors

Since his emergence as a supramundane Dharma protector, Gyalchen Dorje Shugden has played a major role in nurturing and protecting Dharma realizations in the minds of all practitioners.

Specifically and most importantly, he guards the “the system of Nagarjuna, the highest view, free from extremes, and the supreme behaviour of vinaya, the code of conduct of the Buddha” – the sublime Middle Way philosophy and the pure ethics as realized, exemplified and taught by Manjushri Je Tsongkhapa.

That in our turbulent times of manifold distractions and temptations ordinary beings like us are attracted to such teachings, are guided to a valid teacher, and feel the wish to study and practice with altruistic motivation is a visible sign of Dorje Shugden’s blessed activity. If we then go further and determine “to really tame our minds, he will even give us his heart,” as the great Geshe Rabten said.

Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche, reincarnation of Ra Lotsawa (the originator of the Yamantaka transmission lineage) and holder of all Geluk lineages, has been very kind to give the world this magnificent, ‘updated’ Guru Tree which shows Dorje Shugden amongst our other Dharma protectors.

As visualization aid of the merit field during Lama Chopa puja, or as a holy image on our altars – we invite you to experience the blessings of this sacred thanka!

Praise

You said, “I will protect the highest stainless essence of the Sugata’s teachings
As the precious jewel of the merit of all beings!”
Heroic Manjushri Yamantaka in a worldly, haughty disguise,
To you, endowed with strength of ten million dharma protectors,
I offer praise.

Smiling with ruby complexion of affection and compassion,
Elegant in whatever emanation of wrath, passion, or smiling peace,
The instant one remembers the limitless secrets of your body,
All needs and desires are granted,
To you I praise.

Your razor sword of superior wisdom rips through the foe, samsara,
And you hold the heart of great bliss which slaughters the extreme of nirvana;
To you who, for the glory of infinite migrators, shows signs of the skilful means,
Which have arisen from extremes of both samsara and nirvana,
I offer praise.

The system of Nagarjuna, the highest view, free from extremes,
And the supreme behaviour of vinaya, the code of conduct of the Buddha;
As an instruction to migrators that one should practice thus,
You are adorned by the domed hat and saffron robes,
To you I praise.

Having various mounts, unfixed, such as lions, agile garudas, and dragons,
Emanating as whatever will tame beings in infinite realms,
For the sake of migrators, ever tireless,
To you I praise.

Although you have the manner of a very fierce slaughterer,
In the midst of a tumultuous mass of extremely blazing fire,
You don’t move even slightly from a state of peace, love and compassion;
To this especially exalted wonder,
I offer praise.