The richly decorated stupas of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche stand precariously within the compound of the monastery that rejects Dorje Shugden, the protector deity proliferated by these two great lamas

Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche were two of the greatest Gelug lamas of our time and were therefore accorded the highest respect. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the heart son of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, was an erudite scholar and master of all the Tantric teachings. Also the junior tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama, he was famous for having compiled the notes of a famous lamrim teaching that Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche gave into a manuscript known today as Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. Trijang Rinpoche also gave countless initiations on the four classes of Tantra. He himself was known to be the emanation of Vajrayogini.

In his lifetime, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche did much to proliferate Dorje Shugden’s practice and life-entrustment initiation to innumerable high lamas, geshes and ordinary monks. In order to ensure Dorje Shugden’s practice was perpetuated into future generations, he also composed a commentary called Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors that enumerates the previous lives of Dorje Shugden and various other aspects of this Dharma Protector. On top of that, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was known to have found and trained Dorje Shugden oracles like the current Panglung Kuten.

The highly revered Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche did much to proliferate Dorje Shugden to become one of the most common protector practices within the Gelug tradition

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was the student of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and the Abbot Emeritus of Ganden Shartse Monastery. He was one of the greatest debaters of his generation and is best remembered for uplifting the discipline and education standards of the monastery during his tenure as abbot. He spent many years roaming the countryside and was known to be an accomplished tantric master with occult powers arising from his attainments.

Like his Guru, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche proliferated Dorje Shugden and the life-entrustment initiation to many, especially when he was traveling in the West. He was also known to have trained Dorje Shugden oracles and the current Ari Kuten is from Zong Ladrang.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, the erudite master who was one of the main lineage lamas who proliferated Dorje Shugden to many

Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche entered clear light in 1981 and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche entered clear light in 1984. In accordance with tradition, stupas were built by their students in the courtyard of Ganden Shartse Monastery to house the relics of both these eminent masters for future generations to venerate. The stupas also create merits for the current incarnations’ activities and works to be fulfilled.

Both these eminent lamas evidently promoted Dorje Shugden. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche proclaimed Dorje Shugden to be an emanation of Manjushri. However, the Dalai Lama himself has said that his Guru, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, was wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden and claims that Dorje Shugden is a spirit.

The Dalai Lama issued a ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice and forbade all his followers from associating with Shugden practitioners. Hence, all elements of Dorje Shugden worship were systematically eradicated from Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, including Ganden Shartse Monastery, except the stupas of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.

The stupas leave a huge gaping hole in the rhetoric of the ban.

• How can Ganden Shartse Monastery evict and expel monks who practice Dorje Shugden yet keep the stupas of these great Dorje Shugden lamas?
• How can Ganden Shartse Monastery declare that their monks cannot associate with the monks of Shar Ganden on the basis that Shugden practitioners are outcasts of society yet venerate the stupas of these great Dorje Shugden lamas?
• How can Ganden Shartse Monastery claim that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden yet still venerate him as a lineage lama of the lamrim and many other teachings?
• How can Ganden Shartse Monastery claim that Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was a demon worshipper yet welcome his reincarnation as long as he does not practice Dorje Shugden?

If Ganden Shartse Monastery really wanted to toe the line that the Dalai Lama has drawn, surely they should demolish and destroy the stupas and relics of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche for fear of being labeled as associating with Dorje Shugden lamas or much worse, venerating Dorje Shugden lamas?

The very fact that the stupas are still standing within the confines of Ganden Shartse Monastery shows that the implementation of the ban is selective and ultimately baseless. Perhaps, the continued existence of these stupas lend a glimmer of hope that the ban is just temporary and that reconciliation is possible in the near future.