Nice bit of back and forth here on Atisha's Cook's wall. He's been quiet this last year or so since ISC / NKT shut down their operations.
But
good on Gen Jamkar for answering so well. Direct, not rude, factual and he brought up some pertinent points about NKT's hypocrisy. In referring to Gen Jamkar, we are talking about a senior member in NKT, an elder, now criticising the organisation's role in starting up this whole tulku system issue and detracting from the real issue (i.e. religious freedom for Shugden practitioners).
Gen Jamkar makes reference to the fact NKT recites songs composed by an oracle, while criticising the oracle himself. What about the prayers that NKT / ISBC members recite, which were composed by tulkus and people who gave recognition to tulkus? What about the teachings NKT promotes and organises classes on, which were taught and held by tulkus and people who gave recognition to tulkus?
It is NKT's right to believe that what Trijang Rinpoche did may not apply today, yes that's their right to do so. But NKT is simultaneously under the assumption that everyone in the "wider global community" today is exactly the same in character, upbringing, belief and cultural identity. So are they right to assume someone who practises in Taiwan has the same values as someone raised in the UK? No, not really. Atisha's Cook and NKT are free to believe some views are anachronistic and redundant
to them, but they have
no business and no right imposing their judgements on anyone.
What they are doing is similar to the colonialists of the 19th century, forcing people to stare down the barrel of a gun and believe that "My Judeo-Christian view is the right and only view, and you're going to follow that, or else." Or in NKT / ISBC's case, "You're going to follow our view or we will launch a social media campaign to insult and defame you".
Don't they see how hypocritical it is to protest for religious freedom in one breath, and then turn around and criticise everyone else who doesn't agree with their beliefs?
Isn't it other people's religious freedom to believe in whatever they want? Calling Gonsar Tulku a "troublemaker" for refusing to comply? That's just rude and unnecessary. Since when did Gonsar Tulku have to answer to Atisha's Cook and Rabten?
Atisha's Cook def does himself no favours when he paraphrases his guru as saying things like "mystical horseshit divination". Doesn't paint his teacher in a very good light...it's nice to know Geshe-la is so dismissive of something Trijang Rinpoche, Pabongka Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche and a whole host of other teachers engaged in.
So is Atisha's Cook right in this, and everyone else in the Gelug tradition wrong? ![Undecided :-\](https://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/Smileys/default/undecided.gif)
Atisha's Cook should just get in line with Rabten then.