For those who are interested, the transcript of the Dalai Lama's comments on Dorje Shugden practice is available here:
http://dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=340.0The Dalai Lama says there is no ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden, but he is lying. I've compiled, from the chronology of events on the WSS website quotations from the Dalai Lama's speeches in India where he actually uses the word 'ban':
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March 10th, 1996During annual teachings at the Thekchen Choeling Temple in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama imposes a ban on worshipping Dorje Shugden, ‘Whether outside of Tibet or within Tibet, this deity is discordant with our government and all our deities; this is serious in the context of the common cause of Tibet. It will be good if you comply (with what we are saying) without our having to resort to this last step. It will be the last resort if we have to knock on your doors (if you do not
follow this advice).’
November 19th-21st, 1996The Dalai Lama travels to South India to visit Tibetan monasteries at Mundgod, without the traditional request, which is unprecedented for a Dalai Lama. The Dorje Shugden Society holds off a peaceful demonstration in the hope of reconciliation with the Dalai Lama. They petition the Dalai Lama, but they are denied an audience. The Dalai Lama speaks in even harsher terms about the
ban, and threatens, ‘You might feel that by publishing letters, pamphlets, etc. against this
ban, the Dalai Lama will revoke the
ban. This will never be the case. If you take a hard stand,
I will tighten this ban still further.’
A further description of what the Dalai Lama said:
On November 20th the Dalai Lama gives a talk at Drepung Lama Camp from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. In this talk the Dalai Lama says that he is no longer striving for complete independence for Tibet from China. Tibetans, in view of their small population, large land mass, lack of natural resources, need for industrialization, should therefore be striving more for genuine autonomy under China rather than complete independence. As times change later on, independence can be mooted.
He also says, ‘During this year’s New Year teachings, I spoke against the worship of Shugden, and expressed my feeling. I did not ask the Tibetan exile Cabinet or the exile Tibetan parliament to enforce the
ban. However, they voluntarily supported me. I appreciate their show of support. Likewise, among the abbots, there have been many who gave up worship of Shugden after my talks; I give them my thanks for their compliance.’
August 27th, 1998At the Annual Convention of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama, in the course of his opening address, says: ‘
I have imposed this ban for three reasons: (1) Throughout history this worship has been at odds with the Ganden Phodrang ruling government of Tibet, (2) Buddhism, which is very profound, is in danger of degenerating into spirit worship, and (3) worship of Dholgyal (Shugden) creates sectarianism. For these three reasons I have imposed the ban. You, the younger generation, should be careful. It is dangerous. I was informed that more than a hundred worshippers of Dholgyal were coming.’
January 13th, 1999The Dalai Lama pays a visit to Trijang Labrang, the residence of His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche (1900-1981), his tutor. At a gathering of the Labrang’s monks, the Dalai Lama says: ‘…during my visit to Switzerland, Lobsang asked that the current Choktul Rinpoche be allowed to worship Dorje Shugden like his predecessor, without a decision through the dough ball divination. He also told me that the
ban on Shugden worship is causing widespread suffering to everyone, and that it may be revoked. This is ridiculous talk.
My reason for banning the Protector is in the interest of Tibetan’s politics and religion, as well as for the Gelug tradition. In our face-to-face meeting, I also told Rinpoche to understand that we may be meeting each other for the last time.’
During this private audience with the Dalai Lama, Ven. Choezed-la, the eldest official at Trijang Labrang, humbly points out that the religious ban has created an unprecedented atmosphere of hostility against both Shartse monastery and
against Trijang Labrang, which is not very different from the atmosphere of the Cultural Revolution in Tibet. He requests that, to lift the suffering within the Tibetan public from this atmosphere, would the Dalai Lama kindly consider revoking the ban. To this, the Dalai Lama angrily replies, ‘There will be no change in my stand.
I will never revoke the ban. You are right. It will be like the Cultural Revolution. If they (those who do not accept the
ban) do not listen to my words, the situation will grow worse for them. You sit and watch. It will grow only worse for them.’
January 14th, 1999During the first public address of his visit to Drepung Monastery, the Dalai Lama touches briefly on the Tibetan issue, and dwells on his ban on the worship of Dorje Shugden. An excerpt reads: ‘The Dorje Shugden Society play games with
me wherever I go. They have published an announcement. They think that I will back off. That I will never do. If not in this life,
a successor will be appointed to sustain this ban.’
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I included the Dalai Lama's original statement on 10th March 1996 because, although it doesn't mention a ban, it was clearly the inspiration for the government and Tibetan institutions to institute a ban. It's clear that this is what the Dalai Lama wanted from his later statements such as
"I did not ask the Tibetan exile Cabinet or the exile Tibetan parliament to enforce the ban. However, they voluntarily supported me."The Dalai Lama says there is no ban, but many times he has used this word in connection with Dorje Shugden. How can you trust him? He is definitely lying. Then he says in the Nottingham interview:
Dalai Lama: ....One thing I feel, I always talk frankly, straightforward and honestly, so perhaps I think people eventually realize this person talking sincerely (laughs)....
DALAI LAMA.....STOP LYING!!! DALAI LAMA......STOP LYING!!! DALAI LAMA....STOP LYING!!!With love,
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