Rejoicing Against Oppression
By Gregory Flannery Here’s a quick test: What comes to mind when you hear the word “Tibet”? The Chinese genocide against a small country; The Dalai Lama, apostle of nonviolence; An idiosyncratic Buddhist philosophy; or Momos, spicy Tibetan dumplings. All four are correct answers but momos are the most straightforward. Filled with beef or with…
Letter sent to the Indian Government for Protection
The letter here is self-explanatory. What is sad are the Monasteries need protection from the Dalai Lama and entourage. What has happened to come to this? The Dalai Lama is a symbol of compassion and peace, within the Tibetan communities, it seems he is very much feared. The ban has turned one Tibetan against another….
Dalai Lama at Critical Crossroads
(Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7921862.stm) By Zoe Murphy BBC News Five decades in exile and years of denigration by Beijing have failed to weaken the Dalai Lama’s influence over Tibetans in his homeland and beyond. The Tibetan spiritual leader’s unwavering commitment to non-violence has also earned the world’s respect. But the long conflict over the status of…
Through the Eyes of Dorje Shugden Buddhists
In recent years, Dorje Shugden has become a controversial issue in which many Western Buddhists who follow the Dorje Shugden deity of Tibetan Buddhism have raised the issue of religious freedom under the Dalai Lama. CNN’s report on Dorje Shugden: Dalai Lama Greeted by Protesters in Manhattan http://cnn.com/US/9805/03/buddhist.dissension/index.html As I did my research on Tibet,…
Statement of Pomra Kamtsen
Statement of Pomra Kamtsen February 2008 This community of the Sera-Mey College has remained in peace and harmony, without ever having any conflict or schism, since the founding of the Sera monastery by Jamchen Choeche Shakya Yeshe in the year 1419 in Tibet, until now. After coming to India we have shared spiritual and material…
For Dorje Shugden, For Dalai Lama
Readers can see for themselves what the two sides believe in and are going through. This article gives a broad overview of what the controversy is about and how it has affected the Tibetan community. Though dePrisco had originally written the article with a certain target audience in mind, we at dorjeshugden.com feel that this…
A quick note on Dorje Shugden (rDo rje shugs ldan)
Paul Williams Centre for Buddhist Studies University of Bristol The following note is taken from an informal letter in response to a request for some further information on the current dispute over Dorje Shugden*. Dorje Shugden is a Dharma protector deity, and you can read one of the very few academic accounts of him in…
Conflict, hypocrisy, and miscommunication
What are some human tendencies in responding to conflict? While walking this morning along the streets of Oxford (to a conference I am presenting at the weekend), I saw a group of people gathering and asked what was happening. They said the Dalai Lama was coming. So, like any tourist, I wanted to see him and get…
A Controversial Tibetan Buddhist Deity
Dorje Shugden is generally believed to be a worldly protector deity that was likely practiced first in the Sakya Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. According to some accounts he was inducted into the pantheon of Sakya protectors by Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741). Later placed together with the two protector deities Dorje Setrab and Tsi’u Marpo, they were collectively known as the Three…
Does the Dorje Shugden ban affect Western Buddhists?
This article will focus on the real effects of the Dalai Lama’s ban of Dorje Shugden practice on Western practitioners. On web forums, supporters of the Dalai Lama are often non-plussed that Westerners are involving themselves in this issue at all. They say “this is a Tibetan issue that doesn’t affect you, so why are…
Sad, Relatively Unknown News of Tibetan Buddhists’ Infighting
Several of my friends have approached me with eagerness to say, “The Dalai Lama is coming to Cincinnati! Are you going?” I remained neutral and answered that H.H. the Dalai Lama has requested that anyone from my lineage not attend his teachings. “What! Why?” Because of a hundreds-of-years-old conflict concerning a certain Dharma Protector (protecting…
A Letter from Tibetan Shugden Practitioners in the USA to Radio Free Asia
Below is a letter written by Dorje Shugden practitioners living in the USA to Radio Free Asia in response to the article they published in which Prime Minister Samdhong is Encouraging Violence Against Shugden Practitioners. Dear Sirs: We are writing with regards to the recent news posting on December 24th 2010 on the website of…
Nice art, troubled history
Issues around the worship of the Tibetan deity Dorje Shugden have been the source of much conflict ever since the deity and its associated practices were adopted by the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. But it was not the Gelugs who inducted the deity into the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. In fact, it was only in…
Dalai Lama messes with Tibetans’ minds
The Dalai Lama continues to spread pain throughout the Tibetan communities. Recently, a speech given to his followers during teachings in the Himalayan region of India were reported on the Tibetan radio station ‘Voice of Tibet’. Here is a transcript: Pachen Dorje (reporter): Today on the second day of his teaching in Varanasi, His Holiness…
China’s Involvement in the Dorje Shugden Controversy
Though the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE) said at different times that China uses Shugden as a political means to split the Tibetan Community — e.g. by favouring monks practising Shugden or by supporting especially Tibetan monasteries in Tibet where Shugden is worshipped — it is rather hard to find written evidence on this. There…
A Tibetan tempest over deity
by John Zurbrzycki, Christian Science Monitor Vol. 90 No. 120 1998.05.18 Dateline: NEW DELHI In a makeshift monastery on the outskirts of the Indian capital, a brass gong summons a group of maroon-robed monks for midday prayers. The scene could be from any of the hundreds of Buddhist monasteries in India, except that this gathering…
The Dangers of Mixing Religion and Politics
Everyone raised in modern democratic nations realises the imperative of separating religion and politics. Painful history has shown the great dangers that arise when these two are intertwined. The spiritual path is profoundly damaged by being mixed with politics. Politicians make laws that citizens must abide by – but no laws can govern what someone…
Untouchables – Shocking Posters in Monastery
Sera Je monastery is situated at the Tibetan settlement at Bylakupee, five hours by bus from Bangalore City, Karnataka State, India. Until this year, it was a monastery that was used by Shugden and non-Shugden practitioners alike. Since the introduction of the ban on Shugden practice made by the Dalai Lama, such harmony has been…
Tibet Sun newspaper highlights Dalai Lama’s discrimination against Shugden Practitioners
The Tibet Sun newspaper has highlighted the Dalai Lama’s discrimination against Shugden practitioners and how he transgresses the Indian laws against Deity discrimination and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The article describes the Dalai Lama’s recent public teachings in Bodhgaya. People of all faiths – Christians, Hindus, Jews – were welcomed… with one…
Dorje Shugden
Overview Dorje Shugden (Wylie: rdo-rje shugs-ldan), “Powerful thunderbolt”; also known as Dhol-rgyal) is a relatively recent, but very controversial, deity within the complex pantheons of Himalayan Buddhism. There exist different accounts and claims on Dorje Shugden’s origin, nature and function. Origin, Nature and Functions According to researcher Kay: “Whilst there is a consensus that this…
A ban by any other name
The Tibetan exile-government have recently been saying that the Dalai Lama has not issued a ban against the practice or worship of the Buddhist Deity Dorje Shugden, but merely advised against this. The word ‘ban’ means ‘to prohibit esp. by legal means or social pressure’ (Longmans Dictionary); ‘formally prohibit’ or ‘formal or authoritative prohibition’ (The…
Mountain Phoenix on Dorje Shugden
I’d like to draw your attention to a couple of blog posts by Tibetan Mountain Phoenix on her blog ‘Mountain Phoenix over Tibet’ which provides some interesting analyses of the Dorje Shugden issue from a less biased point of view than other Tibetan commentators: http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.blogspot.com/2010/10/mountain-phoenix-on-dorje-shugden.html Even though the blog posts were a couple of years…
What would Thomas Jefferson think of the 14th Dalai Lama?
In 1779 Thomas Jefferson laid out his vision for religious freedom in a bill which would later be passed by the assembly of the state of Virginia in 1786. Two excerpts from this remarkable exposition will serve to highlight a line of reasoning that seems particularly prescient in light of recent events within the Tibetan…
The Segregation Wall at Ganden Monastery
The new wall at Ganden Shartse monastery in Southern India was built in March of this year. (Editor’s note: The wall segregates Ganden Shartse Monastery from Shar Ganden Monastery, which was founded by monastics who do not want to renounce the Dorje Shugden practice. Read more about Shar Ganden Monastery. Watch the video about this…
Schisms, murder, and hungry ghosts in Shangri-La
Millions of Buddhist monks have been killed, imprisoned, tortured, or driven into exile by the Communist Chinese since the 1950s in a deliberate, systematic destruction of a culture and a religion. The pacifist Buddhist monks are about as innocent and noble as victims can be; the Nobel Prize-winning Dalai Lama is perceived to be equally…
Time Magazine – The Dalai Lama’s Buddhist Foes
Buddhist monks and nuns of the Shugden Society demonstrate against the Dalai Lama in front of New York’s Radio City Music Hall Thursday, July 17, 2008. It was not an object lesson in Buddhist dispassion. On Thursday afternoon, following a teaching by the Dalai Lama at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, a group…
Dorje Shugden in 3,211 words or less
Should the worship of Dorje Shugden – by devotees who consider the practice a sacred commitment – be banned by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama? I chose this topic of research for a variety of reasons, not all of which may eventually become clear to the reader, but I do want to explain how…
Tibetan government-in-exile fears Chinese infiltrations
While Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s security remains the centre of concern, the Tibetan government-in-exile fears the “infiltration” of Chinese undercover agents in the hill-town that has been the nerve centre of the Tibetan movement. Fearing China could unleash its band of army-trained undercover agents in the town, the security wing of the…
Arguments For and Against
The Dalai Lama has said that: Shugden is a worldly spirit. Shugden practice has the potential to promote sectarianism. Shugden practice harms the health of the Dalai Lama and is contrary to the interests of Tibet and the Tibetan people. The Nechung State Oracle (bound by Padmasambhava) stated that it is harmful. Tibetan people using…
Radio Interview with Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche
H.H. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche has already given a good indication of how he will manifest. By looking at his website you will see he is going to be (and already is) a great teacher: http://www.tbiusa.org And before leaving for America he gave a very interesting interview with the Tibetan Radio in which he also makes…
Why Dorje Shugden practitioners are NOT CHINESE SPIES
Consider THIS most illogical and silly accusation: That Dorje Shugden practitioners are receiving money/bribes from the Chinese DS practitioners are Chinese spies DS practitioners don’t believe in the cause and independence of Tibet and support Chinese takeover DS practitioners support Chinese hatred of Dalai Lama Here’s a few points to contemplate as to why this…
The Dalai Lama’s Reasons for the Ban and Refutations of These Reasons
1. Dorje Shugden practice is not “religion”, it is “spirit worship” To say that Dorje Shugden practice is “not religion” but “spirit worship” is plainly insulting to many peoples’ beliefs on different levels – not only to Buddhist practitioners of Dorje Shugden (who are not spirit worshippers) but also to other practitioners of other religions…
The Cult of Dorje Shugden or the Cult of the Dalai Lama?
The Dalai Lama’s big lie “In an interview with NEWSWEEK earlier this month, the Dalai Lama expressed his worries about the Dorje Shugden. “That cult is actually destroying the freedom of religious thought,” he said.” – Newsweek April 1997 “The problem with Dolgyal practice is that it presents the spirit Dolgyal (Shugden) as a Dharma…
Spirit Worship or Authentic Buddhist Practice?
Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden practitioners have repeatedly been accused of being spirit worshippers, which is completely untrue. It is also a grave yet nonsensical insult because it implies that they are not pure Buddhist practitioners, whereas in fact they go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha like every other Buddhist. They practice Buddha Shakyamuni’s…
Six Important Questions for the Dalai Lama or His Supporters to Answer
I found this comment on the new blog that officially goes with New Kadampa Truth ~ Fighting the Smears. If you have answers to these questions, please send your comments in and we will post them. This particularly applies to Tenzin Peljor! Background From Ron Cook: Below was an email sent to Tenzin Paljor, the…
TV Documentary by France 24: The Dalai Lama’s Demons (Part 2 of 2)
(Read Part 1) Recently, France 24 sent journalists to India to investigate the claims of religious persecution by Dorje Shugden practitioners at the hands of the Dalai Lama and his supporters. This is what they found. Here we continue with Part Two of comments on this report. Part One can be found here. Clarification of…
TV Documentary by France 24: The Dalai Lama’s Demons (Part 1 of 2)
(Read Part 2) Recently, France 24 sent journalists to India to investigate the claims of religious persecution by Dorje Shugden practitioners at the hands of the Dalai Lama and his supporters. This is what they found. Please read on for comments to this TV documentary. Introduction First of all, it is wonderful that France…
Now is the Time
Should we demonstrate? Are we rocking the boat? Are we wrong to call the Dalai Lama into question? Are we betraying Tibetans and tarnishing the reputation of Buddhism itself? These and other questions are discussed below. The Western Shugden Society demonstrations have met with objections from Tibetans who believe that criticism of the Dalai Lama…
FAQs about Dorje Shugden and the Dalai Lama (Part 3 of 3)
(Read Part 1 and Part 2) Q: What prevents anyone from practising it anyway in his/her privacy? A: In theory there is nothing to stop people practising ‘in secret’, but as part of his campaign to remove the practice from Tibetan society, each person either has been forced to swear an oath to Palden Lhamo…
FAQs about Dorje Shugden and the Dalai Lama (Part 2 of 3)
(Read Part 1 and Part 3) Q: What are the politics behind the ban by the Dalai Lama and what may have prompted him to issue such a ban? In 1961 the Dalai Lama tried to become the supreme head of Tibetan Buddhism by merging all the schools of Buddhism into one (a position never…
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