Comments on: The Dalai Lama’s picture at Shar Ganden

By: Paolo

Paolo — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 15:41:33 +0000

Despite the hardship and sorrow, Tenzin has shown his tremendous and exceptional faith to the Buddha Dharma, and especially to all the lineage Gurus.

Dorje Shugden is an enlighten Buddha, DS practitoners must show good examples by not slandering and hurting anyone. Those who always criticize, creating separation, hurt and even kills the DS practitioners. perhaps they are the one who is practicing the wrong teachings ?

By: Thupten Lhundrup

Thupten Lhundrup — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 18:36:04 +0000

Interesting thread of comments here. I would like to give my two cents on this issue. Indeed HHDL has posed a ban on Dorje Shugden and all his followers but that does not diminish HHDL’s hardwork over the years to ensure Tibet and Tibetans are well taken cared of in difficult times.

Hence, HHDL’s pictures are everywhere in Dorje Shugden monasteries’ altars because we do recognize kindness and appreciate what HHDL has done. I salute and also respect HHDL even though I am a Shugdenpa. That’s how Buddhism should be.

By: Ashok Thapa Magar

Ashok Thapa Magar — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:30:50 +0000

I like it , Thanks.

By: BlueUpali

BlueUpali — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:34:32 +0000

Hi there Two Steps,
I rejoice in your practice of Lojong. I understand what you are saying about if we take the Dalai Lama as an enlightened being; I think what is important to understand here is that my jury on that has always been out; it is my pure view of other teachers that allows me to think he could be one at all. Please understand, I am really happy if other people may see him as a Buddha or not, depending on their particular karmic link; having studied previously with the Kagyus, I kept meeting people who took lamas from different sides of the split as Buddhas. To me, though we might have a different lama, they might both be Buddhas; what really is important is to examine Buddhist teachings like we are looking for gold in the market; they may find gold with theirs; I with mine. As far as I see it, that is really quite okay, in any lineage. So if the Dalai Lama is someone you take as a perfect teacher, then I rejoice for you; I have known other lamas, from all four lineages, that I take as perfect teachers. I really don’t think it is a problem, since it would be hard for the lamas to have time to guide all of us individually if all of us had the same one. At any rate, I really do rejoice in your practice.

By: twostepsdown

twostepsdown — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:44:08 +0000

Dear BlueUpali,

I am happy to hear of your Vajrasattva practice, as it should be a win-win as you said. The way I see it is that Trijang Rinpoche has recognized Tenzin Gyatso as the valid Dalai Lama by the very fact that he was his tutor and that he has always referred to Tenzin Gyatso as the Dalai Lama. Why would Trijang Rinpoche and other high lamas all go along with a fake Dalai Lama? That just doesn’t make sense to me.

Second, tulkus don’t always have to manifest as enlightened beings who are faultless. If we take the Dalai Lama to be a Buddha, then any fault lies with our impure karma to perceive such faults. If we take him to be an unenlightened being, then I suggest the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation where it states:

Whenever I meet a person of bad nature
Who is overwhelmed by negative energy and intense suffering,
I will hold such a rare one dear,
As if I had found a precious treasure.

When others, out of jealousy,
Mistreat me with abuse, slander and so on,
I will practice accepting defeat
And offering the victory to them.

When someone I have benefited
And in whom I have placed great trust
Hurts me very badly,
I will practice seeing that person as my supreme teacher.

And in this case of seeing Tenzin Gyatso as an unenlightened being who is harming Shugden practitioners, Tenzin Gyatso should be seen giving the best opportunity for Shugden practitioners to practice and to show the world how Dorje Shugden has made them successful in their Dharma practice in the face of many obstacles. Tenzin Gyatso then is a precious jewel who is a supreme teacher… who the Dalai Lama is supposed to be anyways.

By: BlueUpali

BlueUpali — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 01:43:20 +0000

Hello there, twostepsdown,
Yes, I see what you mean about Barack Obama, but he was born in Hawaii, which is easily verified, and makes him an American citizen. The recognition of a reincarnate person on the other hand, is really a lot more difficult to ascertain. Shamar Rinpoche once told me that not all recognitions of the Dalai Lamas have been enlightened. For evidence, he gave accounts of the 5th Dalai Lama’s treatment of Kagyu khenpos, thousands of which were beheaded during his reign. (Rinpoche did not comment on the 14th one). Friend, I really do not know whether the 14th Dalai Lama is really awake and teaching by manifesting obstacles or whether we should do lots of Vajrasattva for him. To be safe, I include him in my Vajrasattva practice. If he’s a Buddha, he can use it in some way to help living beings. If not, it helps him, so it’s win-win. All I will tell you is that if he is a Buddha, he manifests a lot of failure to recognize other Buddhas; he prefers the Chinese candidate for Karmapa, and had absolutely no historical jurisdiction to intervene in any recognition in the Kagyu lineage. He also manifests difficulties in noticing that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of wisdom Buddha Manjushri. I am not saying that it conclusively proves that Tenzin Gyatso is not awake, as the Buddha taught that Buddhas can emanate in any form, even as insane beings. So I take it as a teaching to find things out for ourselves, because people can point at things and say they are Buddhas or not, but first of all they may or may not be right, and secondly, we should try to realize the nature of Buddha in our own mind.

By: twostepsdown

twostepsdown — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:04:13 +0000

Those who question the validity of Tenzin Gyatso as the real Dalai Lama, after so many high lamas say he is the Dalai Lama, reminds me of those who claim Barack Obama isn’t a American citizen, just coming up with anything to help their agenda.

By: twostepsdown

twostepsdown — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:58:26 +0000

@BlueUpali did it not also occur to you that Trjang Rinpoche had been the Dalai Lama’s junior tutor much before 1967, and would have therefore recognized Tenzin Gyatso, as the Dalai Lama he is speak about? Why would Trijang Rinpoche refer to some other Dalai Lama in that instance, knowing full well everybody would think of Tenzin Gyatso as the Dalai Lama?

By: BlueUpali

BlueUpali — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:04:53 +0000

I rejoice very much in the monk’s devotion to his Dharma Protector and also to his teachers, including the Dalai Lama. I do want to point out though, that the statement that ‘under no circumstances will a true Shugden monk disparage any Guru or lama’ could be a little bit difficult to interpret. While true disparaging of others arises from a negative mind, helping all living beings by asking a political figure to ‘stop lying’ isn’t a disparagement; also did it occur to you that Trijang Rinpoche, in 1967 might have been referring to whomever the actual Dalai Lama is, rather than the one that got recognized?
Furthermore, the Dalai Lama hasn’t been considered the spiritual head of all of Tibetan Buddhism until he announced himself as its leader while still in charge of the government. According to Shamar Rinpoche, it was never like that in the past, but he (the Dalai Lama) said it this life.
Concerning the monk you speak of, if he venerates the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden, then I rejoice that he is in a monestary in which he can have both on his shrine.