Dorje Shugden and Dalai Lama - Spreading Dharma Together » oracle

Who made Lama Zopa a Rinpoche?

admin — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 04:42:01 +0000

Originally published on June 11, 2009

(Source: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=49.0)

This website helps me to see things better but what I as I have always believed deep in my heart the same beliefs as expressed in this website…

I respect H.H. the Dalai Lama and I respect Dharmaphala Dorje Shugden. Just like my teacher Lama Yeshe who had supreme faith in H.H. and trusted Dorje Shugden his whole life till he passed away.

LAMA YESHE was the very symbol of skillful compassionate action in constant motion and he mentioned many times that Dorje Shugden made his works grow as far as it did during his life time. Lama stayed true to his root teachers such as H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten and H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche showing us what guru devotion is really meant to be free of political inclinations.

In his practice of Dorje Shugden, Lama never hinted even slightly of sectarianism, or disregard for any form of religion never mind Buddhism. Lama would sometimes make breakfast for us students and during breakfast go into a dharma subject we were unclear about, or praise of H.H. the Dalai Lama or one of his personal teachers.

That truly was an age of ‘innocence’ sort of a way to say. Very inspiring stories at that. I miss those days before the controversies. Much simpler back then. Simpler that there was next to zero in lama-bashing, centre-bashing, lineage-bashing or siding up with H.H. the Dalai Lama for political reasons.

It was Lama who cared for me and taught me patiently. It is Lama whom I owe everything to. I will choose Lama always.

I am grateful to Lama for the dharma he imparted to so many. I express my gratefulness to Lama by myself never criticizing or doubting any of his practices or the practices he so compassionately gave us.

If Lama can have such deep affection/faith for H.H. the Dalai Lama, tremendous effort of guru devotion in his lamas, and keep up the practice of his protector Dorje Shugden throughout his life and see no conflicts, then I will do the same in my limited capacity.

I respect the Dalai Lama from my heart, but my root guru is Lama Yeshe and he advised us to practice Dorje Shugden and I will do so till the end.

If I must choose between the Dalai Lama and my root guru, Lama Yeshe, then I choose Lama Yeshe. He is the one that cared for me. Patiently taught me the dharma in a down-to-earth pragmatic level.

Lama Yeshe was not considered to be a scholar, or have studied much or even considered learned by his own Tibetan peers. Lama Yeshe was not a Rinpoche per se, nor ‘qualified’ to sit on a throne in a monastic environment, and did not obtain his Geshe degree that some equate as qualified to teach these days, but he was instrumental to bring thousands onto the path of BuddhaDharma.

He had real experiential knowledge of the dharma and was able to convey it in such a way that it would literally change the lives of hundreds as it did me.

I have met the Dalai Lama a few times and feel very fortunate, but the actual lama that took care of me was Lama Yeshe. I will view him as my refuge. In my meditations I invite Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa, Zong Rinpoche to dissolve into Lama Yeshe and then I focus on Lama Yeshe and proceed with my refuge.

Even when Lama was hospitalized for the last time and ‘dying’, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche flew in to perform the rituals, prayers, ceremonies necessary. The actual cremation H.H. Zong Rinpoche again flew into Vajrapani Institute in California to oversee the whole procedure. That shows us Lama’s deep guru samaya intact that on his deathbed, his great lama would personally fly in to do the rites both during his death process and again during the cremation.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche performing puja for Lama when he was extremely sick

Lama made no conflicts between the great lamas, his lamas, lineages, schools, diverse religions and certainly not dorje shugden and I think that embodies his capacity to think from a deeper wisdom. I bow to Lama. I MISS LAMA.

I hope his students will keep their samaya clean to Lama. I hope his students will never criticize H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, their practices and their students.

I HOPE FPMT WILL NEVER CRITICIZE DORJE SHUGDEN WHICH IS LAMA’S PERSONAL DHARMA PROTECTOR. I HOPE THAT FPMT STUDENTS WILL RESPECT LAMA’S WISHES AND PRACTICE THE DHARMA. I HOPE THEY NEVER CRITICIZE STUDENTS, CENTRES AND GREAT LAMAS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE OF DORJE SHUGDEN.

I am very happy to see Lama Yeshe’s sacred picture in this website’s masters sections. Many people are afraid to say the truth to look politically wrong. But that is not what the dharma is about. We should let go of attachment of this sort and just do our practice. Ego-less state of mind is the goal of our practice as Lama would say.

Lama relied on Dorje Shugden, just as Kyabje Zong Rinpoche did. When we condemn Dorje Shugden, aren’t we condemning Lama’s choices? Aren’t we condemning Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s choices?

Also never to criticize Dorje Shugden and the practices Lama gave us SO THAT HIS CURRENT INCARNATION CAN MANIFEST AS A DHARMA TEACHER. The only way his unmistaken current incarnation can manifest as a great dharma teacher again, is if his students keep samaya clean free of politics and free of politically motivated actions in the name of dharma.

Otherwise, it would be the responsibilities of the students if the current Lama Yeshe incarnation cannot perform the actions as he had set out to do. After all, if we as FPMT members criticize others who practice Dorje Shugden, then that will accumulate very heavy karma. Why? Because we destroy the faith of others in their gurus.

Do we have the right to do that? Does Lama Zopa’s closeness with H.H. the Dalai Lama validate FPMT CENTRES AND MEMBERS TO BE SOME KIND OF SPIRITUAL POLICE. That type of spiritual arrogance will be the downfall of any dharma organization. IT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF LAMA YESHE’S ASPIRATIONS.

We should reflect Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa well, by never criticizing other sects, lamas, lineages, practices, Dorje Shugden, etc. Why because it contradicts Lama Yeshe’s Bodhicitta aspirations. We should not especially criticize lamas who are spiritual heirs of Sera, Gaden, Drepung or who are students of Pabongkha, Trijang, Zong Rinpoches. Why? Because they are OUR LINEAGE LAMAS ALSO AND THEY ALL PRACTICED DORJE SHUGDEN AS THEIR PRINCIPLE PROTECTOR.

What if Lama’s reincarnation decides not to take over?

After all, think, how many years will Lama Zopa be alive. If Lama Osel, doesn’t decide to take over, or manifest as in his previous life, then what will happen to FPMT after Lama Zopa is gone. I shudder to think that. So we MUST CREATE THE CAUSES FOR FPMT TO SURVIVE AND LAMA OSEL TO MANIFEST AS HIS PREVIOUS LIFE BY KEEPING OUR SAMAYA CLEAN. HELPING OTHERS TO KEEP THEIR SAMAYAS CLEAN TO THEIR LAMAS BY NEVER CRITICIZING.

We can set out to cross the bridge, but if others destroy the bridge, then to get to the other side would take much more effort after great delays. Lama Zopa is working so hard, but the sad time will come when he enters death, then if Lama Osel’s incarnation is willing to take over, it will be smooth. Otherwise what will happen. What will become of all that has been started??? That would be such a waste.

So myself, I keep up my practices to create the causes for that. We cannot think of Lama’s work just expanding in our life time which it can due to Lama Zopa. But into future lifetimes. Future generations. So for that to happen, we need continuation of Lama’s successor.

If we just follow along the current political tides, we may look clean and good, but simultaneously it becomes damaging to what Lama’s previous incarnation practiced and that would not be very good. What’s the point if Lama’s centers and works grow now and after Lama Zopa’s passing, it stops, slows down or what not?

Is spiritual attainments gained by flashing pictures we have taken together with the Dalai Lama to other centers and justifying our arrogant authoritarian ways with that? I don’t think so.

I think if Dalai Lama is close to FPMT we should reflect that well by being even more humble, even more gentle, even more kind so we do not stain the name of H.H. the Dalai Lama. We cannot uplift his name or prove our guru devotion to him by putting down anything in regards to Dorje Shugden. That would be a heavy price to pay at the expense of our own Lama Yeshe’s heart protector. That is Dorje Shugden.

So when Lama was alive, we practice Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden is ok and a Buddha.

Lama Yeshe (far right) and Lama Zopa (second from right) doing a puja underneath a thangka of Dorje Shugden.

Kopan had monthly ‘secret’ pujas to Dorje Shugden as with most of the centers. The FPMT centers that were fortunate to have a great lama/geshe living nearby would always invite them monthly to the centers to do the monthly Dorje Shugden pujas as instructed by both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa.

The young Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche who resides in Nepal was often invited to Kopan Monastery to perform incredible pujas. Even before the current new Kopan Prayer Hall was built, many preliminary pujas had to be done on the land before the foundation was set. Kopan invited Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche to perform them.

Then when Dharamsala started stepping up on their anti-Shugden campaign, Kopan cut their ties with Pabongkha Rinpoche. It remains so till this day amazingly and he is the reincarnation of our lineage master!!!

I was amazed when I heard that from very reliable sources. In fact, Kopan wanted to look good, that the monk administrators influenced some Taiwanese sponsors against Pabongkha Rinpoche. Rinpoche was promised by them to build a Pabongkha Monastery in Nepal, and the Taiwanese had promised to sponsor it.

In order to get on Dharamsala’s good side and to get the sponsorship for themselves, Kopan administrative monks told the Taiwanese sponsors (which I will withhold name from here) that Pabongkha Rinpoche is not following Dalai Lama’s instructions to abandon Shugden practice and that they should not support Pabongkha’s Rinpoche’s intent on building the Monastery in Nepal.

Consequently it worked and unfortunately for Kopan’s karma. My question is, who put Kopan as the spiritual police in Nepal and so daringly create schism between their lineage guru’s sponsors??

For example, the Delhi FPMT branch centre in the past on monthly basis would invite the great Rongtha Gyabgon Rinpoche who lived in Ladakh Budh Vihar, New Delhi to perform the pujas at their centre every month. Dorje Shugden full puja was done at FPMT centre in Delhi monthly with great offerings. It was advised by Lama Zopa. In fact, Lama Zopa used to perform the Dorje Shugden pujas in both Kopan and Delhi himself on many occasions!!

Himalayan Yogic Institute in Katmandu had a Dorje Shugden statue in their side shrine room in a box with offerings, it would be opened from time to time as did the Delhi centre.

So Kopan is now very great, how did Dorje Shugden damage Kopan?? What was the wrong results manifesting now due to the decades that Lama Yeshe practiced Dorje Shugden and had Kopan do pujas monthly?? So if a friend helped us in the past, and we get a new friend, we simply abandon the old friend? Is that ethical or dharmic?

Lama Yeshe in Kopan, 1975 doing a puja during the 8th Meditation Course. Thanks to Lama’s reliance on Dorje Shugden, Kopan has grown to become great today. So how did Lama’s reliance on Dorje Shugden curtail Kopan’s success?

Then Lama dies and we don’t practice because H.H. the Dalai Lama says not to. And HH has reasons beyond our ordinary minds can conceive. Then one unfortunate day, H.H. Dalai Lama passes away (very sad time) and Lama Yeshe is back and then we again practice Dorje Shugden?? I mean that is a strange scenario. Back and forth that is.

It is very sad, because many of the FPMT centers now go on spiritual witch-hunts condemning other centers in their same cities. Using Dorje Shugden practice as negative as their ‘pure’ reasoning to take students away from their respective centers to join the nearby FPMT centers. But in fact they are just as I see it, trying to increase their own memberships.

I have witnessed this. Many, many, many of the older Lama Yeshe students have gone underground with their practices of Dorje Shugden. Some like me do not really go to the centers here in the USA anymore. They will not abandon their practice of Dorje Shugden because of their great devotion to Lama Yeshe and are somewhat flabbergasted at the direction that some new FPMT centers’ are going with their arrogant witch hunts.

What is important to remember is JUST BECAUSE YOU ATTEND THE DALAI LAMA’S TEACHINGS, OR HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS WITH HH DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY VALIDATE YOU AS A SPIRITUAL POLICEMAN AND GO ON WITCH-HUNTS.

We must practice the essence of what HH teaches as did Lama Yeshe, which are tolerance, compassion, forgiveness and not ever slandering any lama, dharma, lineage or practice. As the karmic retributions will fall onto us. We should never mislead new FPMT students toward this line of thought. We are destroying our organization slowly if we do so.

FPMT centers citing so and so practice Dorje Shugden and so therefore they are not pure. That is so hypocritical and political because Lama Yeshe practiced and Lama Zopa was recognized as a tulku by Dorje Shugden himself. In Dorje Shugden is a ghost, then Lama Zopa’s recognition becomes nil.

In fact some of the FPMT centers’ committees are in direct competition to attach students to their OWN centers for fundraising, attendance, membership, etc. So they use the heinous method of condemning Dorje Shugden to scare other centre members into joining FPMT. In fact when they do that, it is a disgrace. Older/senior FPMT students should speak up to new and younger ones who have not had the great fortune to meet our founder, Lama Yeshe.

Lama with His Holiness Zong Rinpoche (seated) and Lama Zopa. Both Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa received Dorje Shugden from Zong Rinpoche Rinpoche. Was Lama praying to a ghost? What Zong Rinpoche praying to a ghost?

Lama Yeshe’s main protector practice was Dorje Shugden till the end. He didn’t take an unfortunate rebirth. Dorje Shugden didn’t harm him? IF LAMA YESHE WAS PRAYING TO A GHOST, THEN WHY DIDN’T HE TAKE REBIRTH IN THE THREE LOWER REALMS??

We must think clearly and not be swept away by convenient political tides in order to fill our dharma centers with membership so it gives it a successful appearance. If that was done, what would be the cost? It would affect Lama Osel’s current incarnation in not being able to manifest as a dharma teacher.

We destroy other people’s faith in their lama, and help them break their samaya with their lama, that karma would return back to us PERSONALLY AND AS A GROUP.

We as FPMT should respect our founder’s wishes and not ever criticize Dorje Shugden, his practitioners, his lineage, his followers in anyway because our founder, Lama Yeshe was one of them.

We shouldn’t practice or not practice what the current political situation pressures us to or not to. We should do what our lama says. So during Lama’s life Dorje Shugden is good and now Lama is dead, so Dorje Shugden is bad??? Wouldn’t that infer that lama was wrong, had bad degenerate practices, lacking in wisdom, had no refuge, had no attainments and wasted his life praying to a spirit??

So if Lama gave us Heruka initiation and practice, then it had no blessings because lama’s refuge degenerated due to his practice of Dorje Shugden?? Since Dorje Shugden is a spirit and Lama kept up his ‘sogtae’ (Dorje Shugden’s initiation) or life entrustment practices his whole life, then all of the other practices lama did was degenerated and ineffective when passed to us.

So any practices Lama Zopa received from Lama Yeshe and passes it to others would logically be degenerate also??? Wouldn’t it?

Lama gave many teachings and practices to us. It is our duty and commitment as his students that we maintain what Lama conferred on us, and not give it up for convenience or the sake of politics or financial benefits.

The implications are quite big if we choose to believe that way….So that would mean many of the practices that Lama Zopa does now and gives others that are directly from Lama Yeshe are degenerated because Lama Yeshe was degenerated?? Of course not. Very dangerous line of thought. Very ruinous direction we are heading toward.

I watched Lama Zopa get brow-beaten into ‘giving’ up his Dorje Shugden practices. And Lama has to be degenerated because H.H. Kyabje Trijang and Zong Rinpoches were degenerated we have to falsely assume. Both these lamas practiced Dorje Shugden till they entered parinirvana (deaths)…Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche entered into 12 days of clear light meditations in Dharamsala and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, three days.

And their unmistaken incarnations are back recognized by both H.H. the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden via his oracle again. How come they didn’t go to the Three Lower Realms since they worshipped Dorje Shugden the ‘spirit’ their whole lives in fact in all their previous many incarnations they worshipped also.

They didn’t descend into the lower realms from a lifetime of practicing and propagating a Dorje Shugden. Since these great lamas have ‘degenerated’ their refuge by the practice of Dorje Shugden which implies they have zero attainments in the first place to choose a spirit to worship, then their other practices naturally became defiled.

Do we choose to believe that way of thought?? I and many others clearly don’t. It doesn’t make sense. Many teachers and thousands of their disciples around the world today are committed and practice Dorje Shugden today. Because they have been given this practice by H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. They are following the commands of their root gurus, so what are they doing wrong? We switch gurus like status symbols??

His Holiness Zong Rinpoche (left) and His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche (right) were both Lama’s gurus. Both of them practiced Dorje Shugden, and they in turn conferred this practice onto Lama. Lama maintained his commitment to them until the end of his life, so how come we cannot maintain ours?

These are both the root gurus of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa. So we should not criticize other centers, lamas, students that practice Dorje Shugden. Be true to your dharma practice.

Even if hypothetically lama had given up his Dorje Shugden practices during his life, which he did not, his gurus didn’t give it up. So if his gurus did not give it up, then the practices received by Lama Yeshe would have been degenerated since his lamas are degenerated.

Lama Yeshe was inviting H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche up till his death in the early 80’s to his centers giving teachings, initiations, transmissions and commentaries. And Dorje Shugden life empowerments to hundreds. So however you want to look at it, then many of the practice graciously conferred by lama Zopa today are in one way or another defiled or at least contaminated. Could that be so? I don’t want to go that direction.

So however many photos Lama Zopa takes together with H.H. the Dalai Lama and advertised (as today, affiliations with Dalai Lama in any way would hint at authenticity/genuine practice whether you are or not) or whoever many events of H.H. are sponsored by Lama Zopa, it still cannot wash away the inner degenerate practices received from Lama Yeshe. Is that what we choose to believe?

Lama assisting Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, who he was extremely devoted to. Lama never gave up his commitments. What kind of example are we setting for future generations of FPMT if we gave up what Lama gave to us? What does that say about our devotion to Lama?

Even if Lama Zopa truly gave up his Dorje Shugden practices to be ‘absolved’, then he would have to give up all the practices that Lama Yeshe gave him also or at least don’t pass it to others. Then we have to believe the founder of our FPMT Lama Yeshe WAS WRONG.

In order to be truly clean? Just giving up Dorje Shugden wouldn’t be enough as his root lama, Lama Yeshe would have to be thought of as WRONG IN LAMA ZOPA’S DAILY MEDITATIONS. I also don’t think so.

So I again request everyone to think of the implications. Otherwise Lama Zopa had no formal long term training in Sera, has never studied to be a Geshe and is not a known as a scholar. He is not a Geshe of any rank. But contrary to not being a scholar-Geshe, he has excelled as a great master anyways. How kind of Dorje Shugden to know that Lama Zopa would bring many benefit to others and therefore recognize him as a true reincarnation.

When Dorje Shugden recognized him as a great incarnation, everyone accepted and believed. It is believed and accepted until today WITHOUT QUESTION. So if Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, what about Lama Zopa? Do we want to go that direction I ask again ? If Dorje Shugden is evil, then why believe Lama Zopa is an incarnation? Since Dorje Shugden pronounced it first.

I am grateful to Dorje Shugden for assisting Lama throughout his holy life. I am grateful to H.H. the Dalai Lama to spread Dharma even further now where the seeds have been sown way back then by the greats like Lama and his contemporaries for it to grow this big now..

This website speaks the same message as Lama Yeshe did. That is guru devotion, tolerance, acceptance and using one’s wisdom mind. I thank all those who participate in it and host it.

Our great current Lama Zopa Rinpoche HIMSELF WAS RECOGNIZED AS A REINCARNATION OF LAWUDO LAMA BY DORJE SHUGDEN HIMSELF.

The famous oracle of Dungkar, taking trance of Dorje Shugden. There was only one oracle at Dungkar, and this oracle took trance of six deities, three of whom are Dorje Shugden or associated with Dorje Shugden.

There was a very famous oracle of Dorje Shugden in Dromo Geshe’s Rinpoche’s Dungkar Monastery. This Monastery was visited by H.H. the Dalai Lama. When Dalai Lama visited, he was so impressed with Dorje Shugden’s prophecies via the Oracle Monk, that there and then H.H. the Dalai Lama composed the prayer and praise to Dorje Shugden. Still in use today. I am sure it is the same prayer as on the Home page of this extraordinary website.

There were many incidences of Lama Zopa wanting to become a monk or join his uncle to go to Tibet when he was very young. His mother relenting finally sent the young Lama Zopa with his uncle to Tibet where they went to Dungkar Monastery.

It was at this Monastery, the monks asked Dorje Shugden in full trance whether this young boy from Nepal was indeed a Tulku Incarnation as the young boy himself insisted that he was. DORJE SHUGDEN CONFIRMED IT. Yes Dorje Shugden took full possession/trance of Dungkar’s oracle and conferred the Rinpoche title on Lama Zopa and till this day it still holds.

So the current holder of the whole FPMT organization, our own Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was recognized, installed and enthroned by Dorje Shugden himself as a reincarnation or a Tulku. It is on that basis that Lama Zopa received special training from Lama Yeshe.

Many didn’t know that Lama Zopa was recognized by Dorje Shugden himself. He is and many of the younger FPMT students can verify that with the book written by the nun Jamyang Wangmo. Excellent book.

I would recommend highly getting this book which tells you everything:

THE LAWUDO LAMA

Written by Jamyang Wangmo (Vajra Publications)

You can get it at any major bookstore. The incredible thing is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has given a foreword to the book!

Why would His Holiness endorse this book knowing that it was Dorje Shugden who confirmed Lama Zopa’s incarnation status. Isn’t the Dalai Lama inadvertently or indirectly endorsing the recognition made by Dorje Shugden by giving a foreword to this book which is the biography of Lama Zopa Rinpoche?

See Page 172-173 of this book. Also see page 376 (footnote 250, 256) where it mentions clearly that ‘Gyachen’ (short for Gyachen Dorje Shugden) took possession of the oracle that day and pronounced Lama Zopa to be a true incarnation. This Dungkar Monastery oracle was famous throughout Tibet to take trance of Gyachen Dorje Shugden, Tashi Ober, Kache Marpo and Namkar Barzin. Kache Marpo and Namkar Barzin both being Dorje Shugden’s main entourage.

Page 172 and 173

footnote 250, as referenced in Pages 172 and 173

footnote 256

In fact many of the great masters mentioned in this book took Dorje Shugden as their principle protector. Masters such as Serkong Dorje Chang, Geshe Rabten, Zong Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Trehor Kyorpon Rinpoche, etc. etc. It seems many of the Lamas connected to Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa are great practitioners of Dorje Shugden.

We of FPMT, especially the people who joined after Lama Yeshe’s passing should think of the future from a wide scope. Our founding father was a sound Dorje Shugden practitioner, and his legacy was passed to Lama Zopa who was invested as a Tulku by Dorje Shugden.

Our lineage lamas all practiced Dorje Shugden as their principle protector. We must not criticize this protector in any way. If he was so bad, or truly a spirit, do you think all the dharma protectors of Tibet cannot out beat him?

Do you think the Dalai Lama cannot do some wrathful pujas and just subdue him as was done to Nechung (In Exile From The Land Of Snows. Wisdom Publications by John F. Avedon. Chapter: Wheel of Protection, pp. 238-270). Could it be that and evil spirit can harm the Dalai Lama’s life, merits and activities? If he can be harmed, then what is the point we take refuge?

We must think deeper, harder and refrain from actions of body, speech and mind to get immediate benefit. We must think of our organization, the dharma, and our personal growth on a long term basis. Into our future lives.

I hope all that read this would understand better. That is my hope to write. As I have not said anything for over twenty years.

Yeshe Sangye

FPMT Lineage Lamas

If FPMT is to be a fortress of Dharma, it has to depend on the solid foundations by which it is built, and there is no stronger foundation than to follow the Guru’s instructions, as stated in Je Tsongkapa’s text The Foundation of All Good Qualities. The majority of Lama Zopa’s teachers are well-known stalwarts of Dorje Shugden. It is no secret that Lama practiced Dorje Shugden himself too. In fact, Lama Zopa himself says,

Of course, Lama and I practiced Dorje Shugden for many years. That was always the main thing that Lama did whenever there were problems to overcome. At the beginning of every Kopan course, Lama always did Shugden puja to eliminate hindrances.
Source: http://www.lamayeshe.com/?sect=article&id=1026

It is therefore baffling that Lama Zopa and any of the senior students of FPMT, most of whom have Lama Yeshe as their root guru, would denounce Dorje Shugden today. By contradicting their lineage masters, a number of questions arise:

If most of FPMT’s lineage masters are correct about Dorje Shugden and take the Protector as an integral practice, how can the FPMT simply dismiss it on the whim of the Dalai Lama?
If Lama Zopa so blatantly disregards the majority of his teachers, how can the FPMT hope to inculcate guru devotion in their students? And if there is no culture of strong devotion to the gurus, how can the FPMT teach higher trainings that requite absolute adherence to the guru’s instructions?
If the FPMT agrees with the Dalai Lama and CTA as they seem to, and accordingly treat Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals of society and enemies of the Tibetan people, then why list “criminals” on their official website as lineage masters?
Following on from that, why continue to pass on the lineage teachings to present and future FPMT students if indeed these teachings came from lamas who seriously erred by practicing demon worship, as the FPMT claim Dorje Shugden to be?

Let’s take a closer look at the list of gurus that Lama Zopa names as his teachers:

1. H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo

Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s faith and reliance on Dorje Shugden was undisputed. This enlightened master, who authored what has been recognized as an important Lamrim text (Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand) by the Dalai Lama himself, taught the great importance of propitiating Dorje Shugden as the Dharma Protector of the Gelug lineage.

2. H.H. Trijang Rinpoche

In modern Gelugpa history, there is hardly any significant figure of the Ganden tradition who has not been a disciple of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Trijang Rinpoche’s role in preserving the entirety of the Oral Ganden lineage and then passing it on intact cannot be disputed, and Dorje Shugden’s practice is an integral part of that tradition.

3. H.H. Ling Rinpoche

Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was the heart disciple of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, and Ling Rinpoche received all his Dharma knowledge and practices from Pabongka Rinpoche. Ling Rinpoche, in turn, passed his knowledge and practices down to the 14th Dalai Lama. It is a known fact that Ling Rinpoche prescribed Dorje Shugden’s practice to many within the Tibetan community, and also composed prayers to Dorje Shugden.

4. H.H. Zong Rinpoche

A heart son of H.H. Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche had impeccable knowledge of all rituals, art and science, and was renowned for his ‘many actions of powerful magic,’ as a result of which ‘the most marvellous, indescribable signs occurred.’ Zong Rinpoche trusted Dorje Shugden wholeheartedly and advised his students to practice strongly and devotedly.

5. Lama Yeshe

The founder of FPMT and a great practitioner of Dorje Shugden till the end, Lama Yeshe is well known to have commenced all-important Dharma projects with Dorje Shugden prayers. He remained devoted to his teachers and did not give up his practice of Dorje Shugden despite the ban on its practice.

6. Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche

Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche was a Dorje Shugden practitioner and his devotion borne out of his practice is legendary. Rinpoche absorbed the obstacles to the Dalai Lama’s welfare and works, and took them upon himself through the practice of tonglen. It is therefore incredible that anyone should accuse Dorje Shugden lamas of wishing to harm the Dalai Lama.

7. H.H. Serkong Dorje Chang

Serkong Dorje Chang was well known for writing extensive commentaries on the tantric deity Chakrasamvara as well as an extensive confession and propitiation prayer (kangso) to the protector Dorje Shugden. In this kangso, Serkong Dorje Chang identifies Dorje Shugden as the principal protector of Lama Tsongkapa as well as the special protector of Ganden’s Ear-Whispered Lineage, the heart of the Gelug tradition.

8. H.H. Sakya Trizin

History shows that Dorje Shugden was first propitiated by the Sakyas. Dorje Shugden was inducted into the pantheon of Sakya protectors by the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741). Later, Sonam Rinchen named Dorje Shugden together with two other Protectors – Setrab and Tsiu Marpo – as the “Three Kings” (Gyalpo Sum).

Other Sakya high lamas who propitiated Dorje Shugden include the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunkhyen Ngawang Kunga Lodroe, the 33rd Sakya Trizin Padma Dudul Wangchug, the 35th Sakya Trizin Tashi Rinchen, the 37th Sakya Trizin Kunga Nyingpo, the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Thinley Rinchen and the 41st Sakya Trizin, who later recanted his practice under political coercion.

9. Geshe Rabten Rinpoche

Geshe Rabten was the philosophical assistant of the 14th Dalai Lama and the first Tibetan Buddhist master to introduce the complete Vinaya-tradition and the study of the five major topics of Buddhism to the West.

Geshe Rabten’s faith in the Protector is clear by his statement, “This manifestation of the Buddha has no equal. If you are really determined to tame your mind, he will even give you his heart”.

10. Geshe Sopa Rinpoche

The Dalai Lama praised Geshe Lhundrub Sopa Rinpoche as an eminent “Buddhist mentor and a guide to hundreds of Western students and a pure lineage holder of the monastic tradition”.

However, this erudite teacher disagreed with the Dalai Lama’s view of Dorje Shugden, saying that “The idea of these ritual texts of Shukden is to spread and strengthen the pure teachings and destroy wrong views and practices, so their language and imagery tends to seem rather sectarian and aggressive”.

11. Gomo Tulku

Lama Zopa himself stated that Gomo Tulku worked to spread the Dorje Shugden lineage:

“My root guru, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche; Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guru’s root guru; His Holiness Zong Rinpoche, from whom many of the older students received the initiation of Shugden; and the previous incarnation of Gomo Rinpoche, who has a strong connection with Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, here in Italy, all promoted the practice of Shugden. They were all aspects of the Dharmakaya”.

12. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche

Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche was born in the province of Amdo and at age six was recognized as the reincarnation of the former Abbot of Kirti Gompa. Rinpoche received teachings from many high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition including the practice of Dorje Shugden, which he kept all his life.

13. Zemey Rinpoche

So highly realised was Zemey Rinpoche that Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang regarded Zemey Rinpoche, one of his heart disciples, as being equal to him in knowledge and attainments. Zemey Rinpoche held all the same lineages, transmissions and practices as Trijang Rinpoche including the practice of Dorje Shugden.

14. Ribur Rinpoche

Ribur Rinpoche’s devotion to his guru, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche was legendary. He faithfully held on to all the teachings he received from Pabongka Rinpoche, including the Dorje Shugden practice.

As Ribur Rinpoche said, “I have had some success as a scholar, and as a lama I am somebody, but these things are not important. The only thing that matters to me is that I was a disciple of Pabongka Rinpoche”.

15. Choden Rinpoche

Choden Rinpoche, one of the highest lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, was recognized and ordained by Pabongka Rinpoche. Choden Rinpoche was a fiercely steadfast practitioner of Dharma, saying: “I don’t remember too clearly my first meeting with Pabongka Rinpoche, but I do remember that Rinpoche was very happy with me. I really admired everything that Rinpoche did: the way he walked, the way he dressed, everything. I felt, “If only I could be like him”.

16. Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche

Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche of Drepung Loseling Monastery was a direct student of H.H. Ling Dorje Chang. He was an expert on Manjushri’s fierce form, Yamantaka, amongst many other teachings and practices, and was appointed the Abbot of the Dalai Lama’s Namgyal Monastery from 1986 to 1991.

Denma Locho Rinpoche was a scholar of the highest calibre and a very prolific gentle teacher who did not discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners although it cost him his reputation.

17. Khyongla Rato Rinpoche

Khyongla Rato Rinpoche is a reincarnate lama and scholar of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche was born in the Dagyab region of Kham, in southeastern Tibet and eventually settled in the United States where he founded The Tibet Center, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Center in New York City.

It is truly shocking to see FPMT policies that openly dishonor the practice of its lineage masters. Our root Guru, Lama Yeshe, was a Dorje Shugden practitioner. Kopan manifested with the help of Dorje Shugden. Sadly however, it appears that to be politically correct and on the Dalai Lama’s side far outweighs loyalty to the lineage masters and the pure tradition the masters used their lives to manifest.

Further Developments

After Yeshe Sangye’s stunning article on the fact Lama Zopa was recognized by Dorje Shugden as a Rinpoche, the news spread like wildfire. Lama Zopa tried to issue a clarification but it only served to confirm by Lama Zopa himself that he was indeed recognized by Dorje Shugden.

Lama Zopa’s “clarification” is included below. Notice that he ends it by saying, “So the Lopon for his own benefit asked the oracle of the monastery if this was true.” We ask – who is the oracle of the monastery? The famous Dorje Shugden Oracle of Dungkar Monastery, of course! See here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/?p=307

Lama Zopa’s 2008 “clarification”
about being recognized by Dorje Shugden:

HOW I WAS RECOGNIZED
(Source: http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=292)

To my very dear friends and students, I heard there is some misunderstanding about how I was recognized, so I just want to give you the details here.

The main disciple of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe (who it is said is my previous life) was Ngawang Chopel. He did many retreats during his life and he also followed the Buddha’s example of offering his own body (charity) to the insects and animals for seven days; this was quite amazing as he completely offered and they ate parts of it and he had to be taken to the hospital. Later Ngawang Chopel also built a monastery at Maritika near a cave of Guru Rinpoche (considered one of the most holy places of Guru Rinpoche – where it is said He achieved immortality). Ngawang Chopel was with the Lawudo Lama at the time of his death. The Lawudo Lama explained the signs happening in the death process to him as he was dying.

Since I was born in a very poor family, there was doubt by some if I was the incarnation, mainly on the part of the son of Lama Kunsang Yeshe. When Ngawang Chopel heard this he went immediately to Tibet to consult high lamas and all six lamas he consulted confirmed without doubt that I was the incarnation of the Lawudo Lama Kunsang Yeshe. Two of the six high Lamas were His Holiness Tulshig Rinpoche (one of the teachers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama) and his root guru, the great Lama Rongpu Sangye. So at an early age, long before going to Tibet and the monastery at Pagri (small branch of Domo Geshe’s main monastery), I was recognized. Before I left for Tibet the son of Lama Kunsang Yeshe accepted me as the incarnation and promised to return to me the cave and texts, etc. belonging to his father after I returned from Tibet.

I was brought into Tibet by two uncles; both were my alphabet teachers. Why did I have two alphabet teachers? The first one was from Thami, near Lawudo; he took care of me. When I was very small (maybe four years old) I was always escaping and running home, so my mother sent me far away to the monastery in Rolwaling, a very isolated place high in the mountains near Tibet. There I was in the care of another uncle, Ngawang Gendun, who also taught me the alphabet (Tibetan). I stayed with him in Rolwaling for seven years, memorizing and reading texts and doing pujas called “shi-trol.”

These two uncles took me to Tibet. In Tibet I stayed with another uncle. He was in the Indian army; then he met a Tibetan lady from Tsang and they married and lived in Pagri, Tibet. Pagri was a very busy place for traders from Bhutan, Kalimpong, Lhasa, etc. The three uncles with some other Sherpas left me in the care of my aunt while they went on pilgrimage to Lhasa. They didn’t take me as they thought the journey would be too difficult and I could die, as I was still very young. After living some time in Pagri (hanging around), outside my house I met a very tall monk (externally appearing not to know me) and immediately he asked me if I would be his disciple (there must have been very strong karma with him). I answered him immediately “yes.”

Next day in the morning my aunt made a very nice thermos of tea and bread in a bamboo container inside a basket and took me to the small branch monastery of Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s main monastery about fifteen to twenty minutes’ walk away, where I met the tall monk again – he was the Lopon of this small monastery. The Lopon heard stories of me from people in the village, that I was a tulku from Lawudo near Thami. So the Lopon for his own benefit asked the oracle of the monastery if this was true.

With much love and prayer,
Lama Zopa Rinpoche

If you look carefully, the explanation from Lama Zopa Rinpoche does not deny the fact that he was also recognized by Dorje Shugden.

There are other descriptions such as about hospitals, insects, tall uncles, small monastery, etc. etc. etc. that attempt to distract the reader but Lama Zopa himself writes on the last line that the lopon of this monastery asked the oracle to confirm if he is a tulku or not. But he doesn’t explain what the oracle said and which deity entered the oracle. Of course the possessing being was Dorje Shugden, as stated in the book Lawudo Lama by Jamyang Wangmo. The book was written by one of FPMT’s own nuns and even more surprising, a foreword was provided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The private office of His Holiness definitely did not read this book carefully before issuing this foreword. Maybe they had no time to scan and read page by page so it most likely slipped past them. One thing is for sure – Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who is a special being, was recognized by the protector of his root guru, Dorje Shugden, another special being.

If Lama Zopa Rinpoche was not recognized by Dorje Shugden, then just say so. Just say that he was not recognized by Dorje Shugden. Simple and straight. But the fact is, he was.

Someone called Ronald Johnson further tried to deny all of this but his attempt was futile, and he was easily and immediately refuted:

You totally miss the point. Also, it would appear that English is not your first language so you would not be aware of the difference between recognized and confirmed. The implications of Yeshe Sangye’s first missive were that Rinpoche was FIRST identified by DS; Rinpoche’s letter clearly indicates that this is not so.

Look, anybody can ask DS anything…I could ask him if Tenzin Gyatso was indeed the Dalai Lama and he would confirm it. So what?

Also, to take a couple of sentences out of Jamyang Wangmo’s 500-page book and make a federal case out of it is simply obfuscation. Anyway, this happened in the mid-50s. The world was a very different place back then…especially Tibet. “

In response, a user on the Dorje Shugden forum known as Mountains says:

Dear Ronald,

My English being 1st or 2nd language has no point in this issue. I understand you are angry. I beg your forgiveness and wish you no ill. I am not attacking Lama Zopa nor FPMT, but the whole shugden issue has divided all of us. Imagine our Tibetan Buddhist world and how it would be if the whole Dorje Shugden issue was never brought up? Who did it harm? The majority of the Gelugpa High lamas and Geshes practiced/practice Dorje Shugden including Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa. Do you see any difference in Lama Zopa before when he was practicing and now when he says he is not?? He is exactly the same. Which leads you to believe with your own eyes, there is nothing wrong with Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa are both sublime beings who practiced a sublime Dharma protector.

(1) Do you deny that Lama Yeshe practiced Dorje Shugden his whole life until his death? Was lama Yeshe wrong in this? Was Lama Yeshe’s refuge commitments degenerated due to this? If not, why is it so bad, that lama zopa was confirmed by Dorje Shugden?? The point is not if he was confirmed or recognized, the point is that DORJE SHUGDEN’S PRACTICE, ORACLES, TRADITION, LINEAGE WAS WIDESPREAD/PREDOMINATE AND VALID IN THE TIBET OF THE 50′S. And you are right, Tibet WAS VERY DIFFERENT BACK THEN. The gelugpas were one and coexisted with the other sects beautifully.

(2) Do you want to hinge on one word of Yeshe Sangye’s letter that is identified? Whether Rinpoche indicates it is or not is not the point, the point is DORJE SHUGDEN was used to confirm his reincarnation status.

In the other Lama Zopa’s book “The Door to Satisfaction” by Wisdom Publications page X of Editor’s Preface, again Lama Zopa mentions clearly in the 3rd paragraph that the Dharma Protector of Domo Geshe’s Monastery CONFIRMED THAT RINPOCHE WAS A REINCARNATE LAMA AND OFFERED ADVICE CONCERNING HIS CARE. That we can conclude since Rinpoche mentions no other names of who else recognized him, whoever else did not hold much weight in the eyes of the ppl to caretake and train Rinpoche at that time. So they had to consult something to CONFIRM AND MAKE SURE Lama Zopa is who the others say he is. Who did they trust to confirm, Dorje Shugden.

If the great emanation of Tsongkapa, Domo Geshe Rinpoche would have a oracle recieving Dorje Shugden’s presence in his temple, definitely Dorje Shugden is a beneficial and beneficient being. Unless Domo Geshe Rinpoche was also unattained? I dont think so. Domo Geshe’s famous oracle in which HH the 14th Dalai Lama himself consulted in the 50′s at Dungkar Choede, can take full possession of 6 different dharma protectors!

They are:

Dorje Shugden

Namka Barzin (Dorje Shugden’s entourage)

Kache Marpo (Dorje Shugden’s entourage)

Tashi Obar

Genyen Jingkarwa

Pawo Trobar

Three of them are Dorje Shugden and his acolytes. Surely Domo Geshe Rinpoche whose people and temple nurtured and took care of Lama Zopa in the early years are not all evil, wrong and degenerate for propitiating Dorje Shugden? Domo Geshe is famed for his devotion to Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (root guru of Lama Yeshe and HH Dalai Lama), His great meditative concentration on the Vajra Yogini Tantras and his powerful propitiation of Dorje Shugden. Is Domo Geshe wrong to have a famous Dorje Shugden oracle in his monastery that ppl came from all parts of Tibet to consult. On all states of affairs, governmental, secular, etc. Many high incarnations are found by the oracular pronouncements of Dorje Shugden’s oracles past and present, so why not Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Even the current Trijang and Zong Rinpoche incarnations were found and confirmed by the Dorje Shugden oracle or Choyang Dulzin Kuten of Gaden. Then only it was presented to the Dalai Lama for formal recognition. What Dorje Shugden found and recognized was further confirmed by HH. Is that so bad that Lama Zopa was also confirmed by the great protector of Lama Yeshe, Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche, Pabongkha Rinpoche, Regent Daktra Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche that he is authentic? Of course not.

The incarnations of HH the Dalai Lamas are all confirmed by Nechung Oracle, but recognized and enthroned by the regents of Tibet. So are the confirmations by Nechung Oracle for the Dalai Lama not important? You dont say that Nechung recognized the Dalai Lama, but he plays an important part to confirm that LEADS TO EVENTUAL RECOGNITION. Just the same in the case of Lama Zopa, where Dorje Shugden confirmed he is a real tulku and even gave advice on the care. And in the Tibet of the 50′s Dorje Shugden’s oracular pronouncements carry great weight as his famous oracle in Lhasa called PANGLUNG KUTEN OR ORACLE where many high lamas, nobilities,and government officials consulted for private and governmental affairs. HH kyabje Trijang Rinpoche very much relied on the accuracy of this oracle of Dorje Shugden/Kache Marpo. You can read in his personal autobiography of HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.

(3) If Dorje Shugden was an evil spirit, he would of said that Lama Zopa is not a tulku, dont take care of him. Why would he say that? Because he can forsee Lama Zopa would benefit many and he would try to stop it not being happy about that. Devadatta did whatever he can to stop Buddha, but could not of course. Similarily, Dorje Shugden was so bad, he would try to stop Lama Zopa’s works to flower in the future.

(4) I see that Sangye has taken a couple of sentences out of Jamyang Wangmo’s book, to support the fact that even great lamas alive today are direct, or indirect products of the Dorje Shugden lineage of lamas, oracles and practices. It is not making a federal case. And If it was attempted to be turned into a federal case in any country outside of the Tibetan Exile footholds, it would never be a federal case. Religious freedom is tolerated anywhere in the democratic world. What is happening in the Tibetan settlements can only happen because of the pressures of ostracization. Muslims, satanists,Hindus, Sikhs, atheists, voodoo-followers, Protestants, Baptists, Mormons, Amish, Orthodox, Jews are ALL ALLOWED TO ATTEND ANY BUDDHIST SERMON IN ANY FPMT CENTRE IN THE WORLD. CAN ATTEND ANY TEACHINGS/GATHERINGS/INITIATIONS BY HH DALAI LAMA IN THE WORLD. ONLY DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTITIONERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO. Doesnt that sound funny. Surely Dorje Shugden practitioners are ‘better’ than satanists?? Christians, Muslims would find the image of the Buddha blasphemous, yet their devotees are never barred from HH Dalai Lama’s talks, why is that? Because it cannot never be gotten away with?

(5) My point is simple. FPMT as well as many other centres, lamas, organizations in the world has practiced Dorje Shugden peacefully and without incidence for a long time. In some cases, centuries. What is the big furor now. Suddenly HH Dalai Lama is right and all other lamas are wrong?? Cannot be. If so, then HH the Dalai Lama can be wrong also. In the unfortunate time in the future, when HH passes away, what will stop ppl from saying his ban on Dorje Shugden was wrong?? In fact what is to stop people from saying it now. Since our gurus can be wrong, the whole basis of Guru devotional practices is severely disrupted. This is not a Gelugpa issue, but a issue of freedom to practice whatever lineage we wish free of any lamas condemnations. If one lama can condemn, then all can be condemned. Then who is right and who is wrong?? I dont want to go that direction.

(6) Dont hinge the whole thing on words such as recognition and confirmation. Lama Yeshe and his root gurus/lineage practiced Dorje Shugden. Lama Yeshe consulted Dorje Shugden on many issues throughout his whole life. That is what makes FPMT so great now. Lama himself mentions in his books that it is the protector’s divine help in all his works that made it grow. FPMT’s main sadhanas are composed by lamas that held Dorje Shugden as their principal protectors. So if you wish to throw out Dorje Shugden, you better abandon the practices of for example Cittamanitara, Vajra Yogini and Yamantaka composed by Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche. Since he practiced Dorje Shugden and that is a mistake, then the sadhanas he composed that Gelugpas do everyday could be a mistake also. After all he seems to be able to make mistakes. We have to be very careful. That is not the case definitely.

THE POINT IS THIS: FPMT’S ROOTS ARE DEEP-SEEDED IN CONNECTIONS TO DORJE SHUGDEN. YOU MAY DENY CURRENT CONNECTIONS BUT YOU CANNOT DENY PAST CONNECTIONS. PAST CREATES THE FUTURE. SO IF YOU DYE A SCARF RED, IT CANNOT COME OUT BLUE. YOU CANNOT DENY THE SAMAYA CONNECTIONS TO DORJE SHUGDEN THAT ARE DEEPLY INTERRELATED TO ALL OF FPMT’S LINEAGE LAMAS OF THE PAST THAT CREATES/RESULTED IN ITS GREATNESS NOW. IF DORJE SHUGDEN PRACTICE AND PRACTITIONERS WERE ARE EVIL, THEN THE FRUIT MUST BE EVIL, IN THIS CASE FPMT MUST BE EVIL AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE.

Again Ronald, I write this to you in earnest to help you and many people see that Dorje Shugden has never harmed and will never harm. If he does harm, just have the great lamas do a fire puja or binding puja and be done with it. Do you mean all the dharma protectors of Tibet cannot overcome one ‘evil’ spirit Dorje Shugden?? It is not as simple as that. There is a bigger picture as predicted by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Dorje Shugden will go global. China will adopt the practice and on a governmental level promote the practice of Dorje Shugden first in China then from China into the world. The practice will go global and strong in the future generations. HH the Dalai Lama knows that. He cannot openly push it. So in his own way he is pushing it. China is already using Dorje Shugden as one of the bargaining ‘chips’ in the 6th negotiations with the exile govt of Tibet as stated by kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche. China is taking great interest and HH is pushing it in that directions. That is a level much more powerful than our likes and dislikes within the Tibetan Buddhist Community. China will adopt Dorje Shugden’s practice and will make it grow as HH is pushing it into that direction. As predicted in the early 70′s by HH Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang.”

Addendum

Zasep Tulku Rinpoche’s autobiography, A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada, published in 2016, provides historical evidence and irrefutable proof that the Central Tibetan Administration is falsifying the facts when it comes to the practice of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.

The autobiography of Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, a high lama of the Gelug lineage, provides accurate historical accounts of the Dorje Shugden practice. Click to enlarge.

The back cover of the book, click to enlarge.

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Historical accounts show that prior to the politicization of the Dorje Shugden practice by the Central Tibetan Administration, this popular deity was relied upon by Dharma practitioners to help in their spiritual practice. Contrary to detractors’ claims about Dorje Shugden being ‘anti-Dharma’, this Dharma Protector practice was traditionally deemed to be suitable to be practiced alongside the Highest Yoga Tantras.

Click to enlarge

Zasep Rinpoche and his family were able to escape to safety prior to the events of 1959 through the clairvoyance and prophetic advice of Dorje Shugden through one of his oracles, Lama Gelong Chojor Gyamtso.

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Oracles of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden were known for the accuracy of their prophecies due to Dorje Shugden being a fully enlightened deity with perfect clairvoyance. As stated clearly by Zasep Rinpoche in his autobiography ‘A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada’, Dorje Shugden warned the Tibetans of the impending loss of their homeland but his advice was mostly ignored by the Tibetan government.

The Tibetan government chose to consult the worldly state protector Nechung, and Nechung advised that the Dalai Lama should remain in Tibet where he would be safe. This was mistaken advice, as historical events would later show. Fortunately for Tibetan Buddhists all around the world, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang had great faith in Dorje Shugden and consulted the protector for advice on the Dalai Lama’s safety. Dorje Shugden via the Panglung Oracle urgently adviced the Dalai Lama to leave for India immediately and gave the exact escape route. In saving the Dalai Lama from certain harm, Dorje Shugden prevented the destruction of Tibetan Buddhism and preserved the future of the Tibetan culture and people.

Zasep Rinpoche’s account of events concur with monastic records that it was indeed Dorje Shugden who saved the Dalai Lama instead of Nechung, contrary to the claims of the Tibetan leadership.

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Dorje Shugden’s practice was first established within the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Sakya Throneholders regarded this Dharma Protector as an enlightened being and Dorje Shugden, together with Dorje Setrab and Tsiu Marpo formed the triune of Sakya Protectors known as Gyalpo Sum. Today, Sakya practitioners claim that Dorje Shugden was never widely practiced by their lineage but history proves otherwise. The undeniable fact is that before the CTA’s religious ban, Dorje Shugden was practiced first by the Sakyas and was later transmitted to the Gelug school where it was practiced by the majority of the Gelugpas.

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Contrary to the CTA’s claims that Dorje Shugden’s practice is sectarian, Zasep Rinpoche’s autobiography shows how practitioners of all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism lived and practiced together in harmony, especially during the early years of exile in India. It was only when the CTA launched a virulent smear campaign against Dorje Shugden that the general public began to label Dorje Shugden a sectarian practice. In truth, Dorje Shugden’s practice is no more sectarian than the practices of other Dharma Protectors such as Mahakala Bernagchen, Achi Chokyi Drolma or Dorje Legpa, who protect the Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu and Nyingma schools respectively.

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By the 1980s, the Tibetan government had failed to fulfil multiple promises to return the Tibetan people to their homeland. A scapegoat was needed and they made one out of an ancient Buddhist practice, pinning the loss of Tibet and the failure of the Tibetan cause on Dorje Shugden. In his autobiography, Zasep Rinpoche is of the same opinion, stating that “…the [Dorje Shugden] controversy was orchestrated by the Tibetan Central Administration…”

The Tibetan leadership effectively sanctioned witch-hunts on Dorje Shugden practitioners and persecuted them using government instruments, declaring that simply by being a Shugden worshipper, one was effectively an enemy of the Tibetan nation.

As a result of the hatred against Dorje Shugden practitioners instigated by the Tibetan leadership, virtually all Shugden Buddhists had to fear for their lives, or at least for their safety.

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Dorje Shugden’s beneficial practice has continued to thrive due to the courage and commitment of high lamas such as Zasep Tulku Rinpoche.

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For centuries, Dorje Shugden has been practiced alongside the highest practices of the Gelug and Sakya lineages. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche’s list of transmission is an indication that the highest scholars viewed the Protector as an enlightened being compatible with their yidam practices.

For further reading:

Where is Lama Yeshe? (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/where-is-lama-yeshe/)

FPMT Lineage Masters are Dorje Shugden Believers (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/fpmt-lineage-masters-are-believers-of-dorje-shugden/)

FPMT, Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/fpmt-dalai-lama-and-dorje-shugden/)

A True Inspiration: Claudio Cipullo (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/a-true-inspiration-claudio-cipullo/)

Fabrizio Pallotti (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/fabrizio-pallotti/)

Politically Correct at the Expense of the Lineage (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/politically-correct-at-the-expense-of-the-lineage/)

Lama Yeshe and Geshe Rabten (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/mail-out/lama-yeshe-and-geshe-rabten/)

The Broken Samayas of FPMT (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-broken-samayas-of-fpmt/)

The Questionable Policies of the FPMT (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-questionable-policies-of-the-fpmt/)

Lama Zopa admitted to being recognized by Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/others-old/lama-zopa-admitted-to-being-recognized-by-dorje-shugden/)

Recognized by Dorje Shugden, but Speaks against Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/recognized-by-dorje-shugden-but-speaks-against-dorje-shugden/)

Kopan Monks Asking for Dorje Shugden Puja for Lama Zopa (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/kopan-monks-asking-for-dorje-shugden-puja-for-lama-zopa/)

Dakini Healed Lama Zopa? (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/dakini-healed-lama-zopa/)

A Tribute to Ven. Lama Yeshe Rinpoche (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/a-tribute-to-ven-lama-yeshe-rinpoche/)

The Unreliability of the Nechung Oracle

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:28:00 +0000

Nechung Dorje Drayangling Monastery is not far from Drepung Monastery in Tibet

The Nechung oracle is the state oracle of Tibet. The governing council of Tibet and the Dalai Lama consult him on all matters of state. Usually, it is the chief minister of the Dharma Protector Pehar by the name of Dorje Drakden who takes possession of the oracle and acts as the mouthpiece for Pehar. The Horpas, an ethnic group that lived east of the Kokonor Lake, originally worshiped Pehar. According to oral tradition, this deity was one of the many deities and powerful spirits that challenged Guru Padmasambhava when he first came to Tibet. Consequently, he was subjugated and sworn to protect the Dharma. According to another source, a Bön (indigenous shamanistic tradition of Tibet) general by the name of Tara Lugong brought back the worship of this deity when he seized a meditational center near Kanchow of the Bhata Hor, a tribe of Uighurs, towards the end of the 8th century CE. Pehar was the protector of Samye Monastery and also a protector of the Dharma in general. During the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama (1642-1682), the worship of Pehar first moved from Samye to Tse Gungtang and then to the present site of Nechung Monastery. At Tse Gungtang, Pehar was believed to have started a fire at a monastery. This angered a powerful high lama there who, using his meditational powers, captured Pehar in a box and threw him in a river.

A thangka representation of Nechung Pehar

This box floated westwards into the vicinity of Drepung Monastery, where an abbot requested an attendant to retrieve it. While the attendant was carrying the box back to the monastery, he opened the box out of curiosity. Pehar, in the form of a bird, escaped and perched upon a nearby tree before disappearing. It was around this tree that a chapel was later built to Pehar. The Fifth Dalai Lama expanded this chapel which later became known as Nechung Monastery. Then, he installed the Nechung oracle as the state oracle of Tibet. In spite of holding the respected position of state oracle, the Nechung oracle over the centuries has been beset with numerous controversies. Hence, many high lamas both in the past and today refuse to consult the Nechung oracleeven on the smallest of matters as this oracle has been proven to give inaccurate pronouncements and prophecies over the years.

During the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama

A statue of Dorje Shugden riding on a horse that was believed to have been made by the Fifth Dalai Lama

It is generally believed that the current Dorje Shugden ban was substantiated by a long-standing feud that extends back to the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, who had initially blamed the calamities befalling Lhasa at the time on the spirit of the deceased lama, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. The Fifth Dalai Lama commissioned Nyingma lamas to perform powerful fire pujas to eradicate the ‘spirit’, Dorje Shugden. However, the pujas were ineffective as Dorje Shugden was of the same indestructible nature as Yamantaka. The Dalai Lama realized this and composed a praise to Dorje Shugden, built the shrine Trode Khangsar and crafted statues according to the vision he had of Dorje Shugden. According to the elder monks of Gaden Phelgyeling Monastery, the Fifth Dalai Lama was the one who appointed Dorje Shugden to be the protector of their monastery as well. Thus, whatever issues that might have existed between Dorje Shugden and the Fifth Dalai Lama were resolved. Since then, many Dalai Lama incarnations have arisen with no issues with Dorje Shugden.

During the time of the 13th Dalai Lama

It is believed that issues with Dorje Shugden resurfaced during the time of the 13th Dalai Lama but historical records reveal the truth of the matter – that he merely reshuffled state approval of deities. At that time, Tibetan society was rife with the worship of innumerable deities and oracles. Charlatans had taken advantage of the situation, posing as oracles of make-believe deities and cheating people of money and offerings. To curb the situation, the 13th Dalai Lama outlawed the worship of a number of such deities and oracles. On the other hand, the Dalai Lama continued to approve of the state oracles of Nechung and Gadong, Dorje Shugden from Trode Khangsar, Tsangpa (believed to be the peaceful aspect of Setrab) and the Tenma oracle from Drepung.

The embalmed holy remains of Domo Geshe Rinpoche Ngawang Kelsang (1866-1936) – the only known image of him

There was a high-ranking police officer for British India by the name of Legden. He was a Sherpa (of Tibetan ethnicity) from Darjeeling, and had maintained special relations with the 13th Dalai Lama. He often traveled to Tibet and was bestowed a high rank by the Dalai Lama for being the founder of the first Tibetan police regiment in Lhasa. On one occasion, he was requested to investigate a money-forgery racket by the Dalai Lama and was successful in arresting several Nepalese men in Calcutta who were involved in this racket. He was also awarded medals of honor by the British government in London for his service in India. His memoirs include a personal letter from the 13th Dalai Lama thanking him for his service to Tibet, and several gifts including a walking stick. The Dalai Lama also gave him some special sacred items which were to be sent to a modern temple of Dorje Shugdenas well as a Guru Rinpoche temple, both founded by Domo Geshe Rinpoche. The above are some noteworthy anecdotes that confirm the 13th Dalai Lama had actually approved of the worship of Dorje Shugden, contrary to what is disseminated today.

Younghusband British invasion and the demise of the 13th Dalai Lama

The Nechung oracle is infamously linked to the defeat of the Tibetans at the hands of the British expedition in 1904. Prior to this, the Tibetans had taken measures to curb the growing influence of the British in the Sikkim area. On the advice of the Nechung oracle, the Tibetans forcibly occupied a mountain within the influence of the British. The Nechung oracle said that the magical powers emanating from the mountain would fend off the advance of the British troops into Tibet. Needless to say, the British forces recaptured the mountain fairly easily with a feeble resistance from the Tibetans. Then in 1904, the Younghusband Expeditionary Force began to advance into Central Tibet after a failed negotiation attempt. Colonel Francis Younghusband led the British troops into the Tibetan heartland. The Nechung oracle was invoked and proclaimed that the British army would reach Central Tibet and predicted that the Tibetan army would be victorious. The British did arrive in Lhasa but, unlike Nechung’s prophecy, easily defeated the poorly equipped Tibetans. The Dalai Lama fled the country along with the Nechung oracle. Upon his return when the had British departed, the Nechung oracle was dismissed from his position as the state oracle.

Expedition leader Col Younghusband (centre) with Captain Hayman (right) and other officers in Tibet in 1903

When the 13th Dalai Lama fell ill, the Nechung oracle was traditionally invoked to advice on the best course of action to heal the Dalai Lama. Towards the end of the 13th Dalai Lama’s days, the Nechung oracle was summoned whereupon he prescribed a certain herbal remedy and prepared the medicine in a cup of water himself. Witnesses said that the 13th Dalai Lama refused to drink the concoction but the Nechung oracle insisted and literally poured the tonic down the Dalai Lama’s throat. The Dalai Lama’s condition deteriorated after that and he soon lost consciousness and never said another word. It was said that the Dalai Lama was prescribed the wrong medicine for his condition and that was what killed the Dalai Lama. It is widely believed that, since the time of the 13th Dalai Lama until today, the Nechung oracle has been under the influence of an evil spirit instead of Nechung/Pehar, thus causing much mischief and problems for the Tibetan peoples such as the untimely death of the 13th Dalai Lama. Some believe that a tulku of Nyarong who had become a raging spirit is entering the Nechung oracle. Another source claims that the Nechung oracle is taking trance of a previously deposed oracle. Whatever it is, rumors and controversy have been shadowing the Nechung Oracle ever since, not to mention glaringly wrong predictions and prophecies.

The 14th Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet

The biography of the 14th Dalai Lama states that, during the tumultuous period of 1959, it was Nechung via his oracle who told the Dalai Lama that it was time to escape from Tibet. However, according to letters and documents from Changtso Lobsang Yeshe, it was in fact a message from Dorje Shugden that prompted the Dalai Lama to begin his flight to India. After the Chinese forces fired two cannon shots at the Potala Palace, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche had requested Rato Chowar Rinpoche and Kensur Ngawang Dakpa of Sera Mey Monastery to consult the Panglung Oracle about the imminent threat to Tibet. Changtso Lobsang Yeshe became the main intermediary between Kensur Ngawang Dakpa and Dorje Shugden via the 6th Panglung Oracle because the Chinese were observing Kensur Ngawang Dakpa rather tightly. Thus, it was Changtso Lobsang Yeshe who ended up representing Kensur Ngawang Dakpa at a private audience on this pressing matter with the Protector Dorje Shugden on 10th March 1959 via the 6th Panglung Oracle. During that period, a sinister Chinese plot to have the Dalai Lama and many other religious leaders arrested and harmed was uncovered. And it was at this crucial juncture that Dorje Shugden gave specific advice for the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet without further delay. Dorje Shugden also specified the exact time and day of departure, the escape route, and also gave further instructions on what to do to ensure a successful escape. Conversely, the Nechung oracle had adviced the Dalai Lama to remain in Tibet. Thus, the 14th Dalai Lama’s life and the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the world is attributed to Dorje Shugden and not the Nechung oracle.

How Nechung misled the 14th Dalai Lama

In 1970, the 14th Dalai Lama was still practicing Dorje Shugden, exactly as he had been taught by His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. It was also widely known that the Dalai Lama had his personal monastery, Namgyal Monastery, perform monthly pujas to Dorje Shugden. However, around the time when the Dalai Lama was about to receive Dorje Shugden sogtaeor life-entrustment initiation from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the state oracle took trance and misled him away from the practice with negative counsel about Dorje Shugden. Therefore, it is clear that the Dorje Shugden ban did not start from a vision or meditative realization but was influenced by an external source.

In the 70s before the ban, the Dalai Lama’s private Namgyal Monastery was doing monthly Dorje Shugden pujas

The Dalai Lama had two extraordinary gurus, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Of the two tutors, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was the ‘father’ and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was the ‘mother’. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche not only gave teachings on the Lamrim and other Dharma topics to the Dalai Lama but also taught everything else he knew from table manners to the proper etiquette expected of a high lama. In fact, the Dalai Lama has received the most tantric transmissions and Lamrim teachings from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Even Kyabje Ling Rinpoche received the Lamrim teachings from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Thus, whenever the Dalai Lama gives lamrim teachings, he should recite the prayer to solicit the blessings of the lineage masters beforehand, according to tradition. However, due to the Dorje Shugden controversy, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche have been omitted from the list of lineage masters. This is a travesty of tradition and lineage – these two great masters are major lineage holders of the Gelugpa tradition and omitting them would mean that the lineage is broken.

Pisu Jola’s Book

Pisu Jola was an educated lay Tibetan man. He sponsored the Dorje Shugden statue in the great prayer hall of Gaden Tsokchen, which was consecrated by the Dalai Lama, the two tutors – Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and other high lamas. However, when the ban on Dorje Shugden began, the Dalai Lama decreed that the statue was to be removed. Thus, the Gaden oracle had the statue placed in his own temple instead. When Pisu Jola found out about this, he was very disturbed and pleaded with the religious affairs office not to carry out the plan. At that time, Nyingma Lama Kamtrul was the person in charge. Pisu Jola pleaded with him not to do so. He said, I do not have a very long time to live. I do not want to die in such great disappointment… In other words, he was very respectful. But the lama responded by admonishing the old man saying, You stupid old man! If you are afraid of your death, you should listen to the Dalai Lama. Disheartened by the state of affairs, Pisu Jola decided to write a small but powerful book about the Dorje Shugden issue. Guru Deva Rinpoche sponsored the publication of Pisu Jola’s book. The Central Tibetan Administration were very unhappy when the book began circulating, as it contained many true stories that they wished to suppress. So desperate were they, that the CTA even offered a reward for each copy of Pisu Jola book that was handed over to them!

The Nechung Oracle in full regalia as he takes trance of Dorje Drakden who acts as a mouthpiece for Nechung

So what is all the fuss about? Well, one of the stories in Pisu Jola’s book is the famous story of the circumstances surrounding Kyabje Ling Rinpoche’s passing. When Kyabje Ling Rinpoche was seriously ill, Ling Ladrang (household), Changtzos (assistants) and the Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery at that time requested for an emergency trance with the Nechung oracle in order to consult the Dharma Protector Nechung for a way to heal Ling Rinpoche’s illness. The paper containing the questions pertaining to Ling Rinpoche’s health was presented to Nechung in trance, who took it, crumpled it into a ball and put it under his buttocks. Nechung then proclaimed that if Ling Rinpoche’s condition improved in three days time, there would be no harm to Ling Rinpoche’s life. Nechung further commented, Obstacles from the big is put on the head of the small. This was interpreted to mean that the Dalai Lama’s obstacles (‘big’) were being suffered by Ling Rinpoche (‘small’). This statement got the old Ling Ladrang Changtzo worked up. “How can the Guru be considered the ‘small’ and the student the ‘big’?” the Changtso said. The Ling Ladrang Changtzo grabbed Nechung in trance by his clothes and scolded Nechung to his face saying, Every day we offer you liquor, tea and pray to you. And in difficult times like these, you say such things and never help!!!Nechung left the body of the oracle and never took trance in the presence of the Changtzo again.

The Great Return to Tibet

The Dalai Lama with the Indian beggar girl who claimed to be the incarnation of a Hindu goddess

In more recent times, an Indian beggar girl traveled to Dharamsala a few years ago claiming to be an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Sambhavi. Her parents demanded a private audience with the Dalai Lama, claiming that the girl had a special message for him. In ‘trance’, she warned him of health concerns and also gave a prediction that Tibetans would return to Tibet in 2012. The incident was covered by the news channel Al-Jazeera and French Channel 5. To verify the girl’s claims, the Nechung oracle was invoked and the Dharma Protector concurred with the girl’s predictions. However, the year 2012 came and went and nothing happened. Even earlier in 1986, the Nechung oracle offered another prediction concerning the Tibetan cause. The oracle pronounced that in the Year of the Dragon, something extraordinary would happen; the Tibetans in exile and abroad would reunite and that this day was very near. At that time, a Geshe was visiting Lhasa and people would come up and ask him, “Are you from abroad?” When he said yes, they asked further, “Did you know that our state oracle has given this prediction?” And they showed him a slip of paper that had the prediction written on it. On another occasion, the state oracle said, I will send 100 million divine soldiers to China Come 1987, the Year of the Dragon, the Tibetans organized an uprising against the Chinese, optimistic that Nechung’s prediction would come true. However, the Chinese police swiftly crushed the uprising and no divine soldiers came to assistant.In fact, Nechung would make further (and similar) predictions about the Year of the Ox (1997) and the Year of the Pig (1995) but with no success. The Tibetan situation remained the same.

Conclusion

It is clear from these anecdotes that Nechung has a track record of making unreliable, inaccurate and plain-out wrong pronouncements and prophecies. These incorrect predictions have created tremendous trouble for the Dalai Lama and for the cause of Tibet. Yet, it is puzzling to note that despite all the problems that arose due to the reliance on the state oracle, the Nechung oracle is still very much revered and consulted to this day. Generally, many high lamas still have high regard for the Dharma Protector Nechung, and some believe that the being entering the Nechung oracle’s body is not necessarily Nechung himself. In fact, some say that a powerful malignant spirit of someone who had been murdered by the CTA has been entering the state oracle, and intentionally making incorrect pronouncements – karma coming back for the Tibetan leadership. Whatever it is, there is a general belief that the trance of the Nechung oracle is not and has not been pure. In all likelihood, Nechung’s pronouncement against Dorje Shugden is yet another fake prophecy designed to create more harm in Tibetan society. Very plausible considering that all the Dorje Shugden ban has achieved is to create suffering, misery and heartache for all involved.

Addendum

Zasep Tulku Rinpoche’s autobiography ‘A Tulku’s Journey from Tibet to Canada’, published in 2016, provides historical evidence and irrefutable proof that the Central Tibetan Administration is falsifying the facts when it comes to the practice of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.

The autobiography of Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, a high lama of the Gelug lineage, provides accurate historical accounts of the Dorje Shugden practice. Click to enlarge.

The back cover of the book, click to enlarge.

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Zasep Rinpoche’s account of events concur with monastic records that it was indeed Dorje Shugden who saved the Dalai Lama instead of Nechung, contrary to the claims of the Tibetan leadership.

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As a result of the hatred against Dorje Shugden practitioners instigated by the Tibetan leadership, virtually all Shugden Buddhists had to fear for their lives, or at least for their safety.

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Dorje Shugden’s beneficial practice has continued to thrive due to the courage and commitment of high lamas such as Zasep Tulku Rinpoche.

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The Heart Of A Protector – Geshe Lobsang Phende

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 17:08:10 +0000

Venerable Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, the Abbot Emeritus of Shar Ganden Monastery

Outwardly the Dharma Protector King, Dorje Shugden, displays a very wrathful disposition and yet, Geshe Rabten once remarked that,

…if one were sincere about the Dharma, then this emanation of Manjushri, and the most powerful of all Dharma Protectors would even give you his heart.

To give another your heart is a language of transcendent love and it is not the image one immediately associates with a wrathful and fierce looking protector. But at the very heart of Dorje Shugden’s being is a deep love for all sentient beings and a profound wish for all to be liberated from their sufferings through the study, understanding and application of the Dharma. In fact, this is why Dorje Shugden decided to emanate in a worldly form.

Dorje Shugden’s affection is unmistakably apparent towards those who hold true to their oath made to their gurus and whose lives epitomize the Dharma even under tremendously difficult circumstances. Honoring one’s word and the keeping of one’s promises, especially those made to the Guru – also known as Guru Devotion – is after all central to the practice and development of good qualities.

It is important to keep promises to one’s Guru because it is by adhering strictly to the Guru’s instructions that the pure teachings can bear fruit in the practitioner, and it is by the same that the precious teachings can be preserved and passed on. Ultimately, Guru devotion is the key to attaining the highest levels in practice.

As the Mahasiddha Tilopa said to his disciple, Naropa (who was one of the previous lives of Dorje Shugden) in the Twenty Eight Verses, the great results, blessings and inspiration a disciple gets from having fervent respect for his guru is due to the guru’s high attainments and qualities. And so, have great respect for the guru.

The great Jetsun Milarepa also voiced similar opinions about the importance of the Guru:

Your guru who produces merit, the embodiment of all the Buddhas, is the Dharmakaya in itself.

And in the Foundation Of All Good Qualities, Je Tsongkapa also taught in no uncertain terms, that the foundation of all good qualities is the kind and venerable Guru, and that the correct devotion to the Guru is the root of the path.

Keeping one’s promises to the Guru is synonymous with keeping one’s practice on the right track and in a degenerate age, uncompromising devotion to the Guru is crucial to ensure that the lineage teachings remain free of corruption as it is practiced and passed on. Therefore it should come as no surprise that Dorje Shugden should show deep affection towards all who regard the promises made to the Guru as sacred, never to be compromised. It is an indication that one holds the Guru, who is the embodiment of the Three Jewels, in higher regard than oneself.

One monk who exemplifies this perfectly is the Abbot Emeritus of Shar Ganden, the Ven. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende. In the face of incredible hardships experienced by all Shugden monks and laity as a result of the ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende stands out as the quintessence of all that Dorje Shugden requires of a good practitioner. At a time when the pure Dharma that Dorje Shugden protects was coming under threat, the singularity of focus of Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende’s devotion to his Gurus translated into actions and sacrifices which ultimately provided a shield for the practice and practitioners alike to survive.

Therefore it was only to be expected that during the opening of Shar Ganden Monastery in 2008, the oracle of Dorje Shugden was seen holding Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende (then Khen Rinpoche) warmly. This was a remarkable gesture because the Protector does not show such affection readily, and usually only when he is very pleased with the practitioner for upholding the lineage tradition without compromise. In fact, Dorje Shugden has shown outright displeasure in cases where an individual has not followed the lineage practice loyally. One such situation was observed when a certain lama who had not followed Dorje Shugden’s advice sought an audience with the Protector via an oracle. Dorje Shugden even refused the offering of tea that is immediately presented to the Protector once the oracle takes trance of the deity, and left without saying anything.

The opening of Shar Ganden was not an isolated occasion of Dorje Shugden showing how happy he was with Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende. When Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende attended the opening of Serpom Monastery as a guest, the Protector was again seen holding Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende’s shoulders gently and shaking him heartily as a father who is proud and pleased with this child would.

Dorje Shugden rejoices with dance during the Shar Ganden Monastery opening, as he holds on to Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende whose head remains bowed in humility.

Dorje Shugden displays tremendous closeness with Kensur Lobsang Phende again during the opening of Serpom Monastery.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Watch the video above at 6 min 49 secs:

The relationship between Dorje Shugden and Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende began even before Shar Ganden Monastery existed, at a time when the founding monks were still residents of Dokhang Khangtsen, an integral part of Ganden Shartse Monastery. Prior to the Shugden ban, the oracle would frequently take trance of Dorje Shugden in Ganden Shartse’s Protector House (Tenkhang), and it was Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende who would take notes and interpret the message of the Protector who spoke in a language that only those initiatied would know. However, the Protector’s bond with Kensur Rinpoche became an open display of divine intimacy after the Dorje Shugden ban, when it became clear that Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende held his devotion to his Gurus as a gem more precious than his regard for his own well-being.

Before holding the seat as the Abbot of Shar Ganden Monastery, Geshe Lobsang Phende, as he was known then, was an ordinary monk albeit one recognized as an accomplished scholar who rose to the rank of Chant Master of the prestigious Ganden Shartse Monastery. Still, it was not the Geshe’s achievements nor his many skills that endeared him to Dorje Shugden, but his unshakeable piety towards his Gurus, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, and his immovable faith in the lineage of Lama Tsongkapa that earned him the love of the Protector.

Dorje Shugden has in the past shown significant respect for other high lamas as well, such as H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche, but in Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende’s case, he earned the love of the Protector as an ordinary monk without any high honorifics but as one who is totally committed to the untainted practice of Guru Yoga, Lamrim, Vedic philosophy, Moral Discipline, the Vinaya and the Pratimoksha, all of which are perfectly encapsulated when one practices pure Guru devotion.

When the Dorje Shugden ban was illegally imposed in 2008, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende was holding a position of high regard in Ganden Shartse Monastery and yet he, together with most of Dokhang Khangtsen (except for 30 monks) agreed to split away from their mother monastery. This drastic move came about simply because they wished to keep their promise to their Gurus and continue in their commitments to Dorje Shugden above anything else.

Overnight, although Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende has always maintained his veneration of the Dalai Lama, he became seen as the embodiment of anti-Dalai Lama sentiments. And by holding the seat as the Abbot of Shar Ganden, many in the monastic and lay community viewed him with considerable hostility and took him to be an enemy. Like many monks and lay practitioners, it would have caused Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende much grief to be estranged from the Dalai Lama and it would have been a much easier path to renounce the Protector and keep favor with the Tibetan establishment. But it is not by taking the easier path that one realizes the practice of high Dharma. The chronicles of all the greatest of Mahasiddhas can testify to that.

This humble monk of considerable erudition was willing to give up everything except for his commitments and undertakings of honor made before his Gurus. This made it even more difficult for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the anti-Shugden camp to justify the ban. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende became a target for persecutions and yet he would not allow anything to become an obstacle for him to preserve the true Gelugpa lineage as had been handed down to him by his Gurus, and that the future lineage holders would inherit.

Still, as a Shugden practitioner and doubly so as the Abbot of Shar Ganden, an institution that became the symbol of defiance to the Dalai Lama and CTA, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende endured significant difficulties and hardships both physically and psychologically. Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende was shunned by many people who were previously friends and brothers in Dharma, and risked physical injury as many Shugden practitioners received death threats and faced condemnation from both the monastic community and the Tibetan people in general. And at the same time, he had to be a source of strength and motivation for his monks and other Dorje Shugden practitioners.

If the entire Tibetan community and the CTA were against Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, then his honest devotion to his Gurus and Protector secured him the affection and support of the Buddha, Dorje Shugden. During the opening ceremony of Shar Ganden Monastery, Dorje Shugden via the oracle pledged his support with the following message that was read out to Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende and the entire community of Shar Ganden Monastery:

“Hri! The Iksvaku, Saviors Nagajurna and Asanga, Dvipamkara – Lobsang Drakpa, their emanation: to rekindle the essence of his teachings from the base, there is now Ganden of Shar. If this is proper and purposeful, from the Vinayadhara to new ones, the seniors’ guidance and the juniors’ compliance of Pratimoksha precepts – the basis for training: this foundation must be there. The five great systems, the two stages of generation and completion – salient instructions in this is a lamp flickering in the wind. Listen, contemplate and practice in these domains, with steadfastness, fully and without delaying. If that happens, I shall be pleased to extend help, as vowed to Manjunath and in accordance with it”.

And with the reading of that message, Dorje Shugden clasped his hands together twice (indicating that he was pleased that Shar Ganden, under the guidance of Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, had arisen to continue the pure tradition of Manjunatha Je Tsongkhapa) and knocked on his breastplate, indicating that he, Dorje Shugden, will pledge his assistance.

Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende and Shar Ganden Monastery thus became a symbol of living hope – a flickering lamp that refused to be snuffed out by the winds of deceit and disloyalty, a sanctuary for those seeking to practice the pure lineage of Je Tsongkapa. At a time when the Protector practice was under siege, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende and Shar Ganden became torch bearers, holding the fort until the young incarnations of the lineage Gurus such as Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche came of age.

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The initial years of Shar Ganden were extremely tough although the situation is only slightly better today. When Dokhang Khangtsen split away from Ganden Shartse to become its own monastery, they had very little resources and assistance. It was difficult to raise sponsorship and secure support as the ban literally made Shugden practitioners the enemies of the Tibetan people. Even those who may not have believed in the accusations against the Protector were wary of being associated with the new monastery. To even be friendly to Shugden practitioners was (and still is) seen as a crime.

And yet, since its formation in 2008, Shar Ganden has grown and the number of monks within its walls today exceed 800, which is almost twice the number of monks when Shar Ganden started. Against the most difficult odds, social pressure and institutionalized persecutions, Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende successfully provided a viable alternative monastic university to the established ones that Shugden monks were no longer welcome in. This speaks volumes of the Abbot and further explains Dorje Shugden’s affection towards him.

Going by Dorje Shugden’s message during the opening of Shar Ganden, one can surmise that Shar Ganden has kept itself true to the monastic codes established by Je Tsongkapa himself, for Dorje Shugden’s promise to help was premised on the monastery doing what is “proper and purposeful” by the Dharma.

If Dorje Shugden was firm in his resolve to protect Tsongkapa’s teachings, then Shar Ganden arose because Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende too was steadfast in his promise to his Gurus to safeguard the lineage teachings from corruption. At a critical time, an ancient tradition long held by Manjushri’s line of incarnations found a stalwart in Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, whose virtues made the difference in the survival of the lineage, for it was through his attainments that the powerful assistance of Dorje Shugden was unlocked.

For practitioners such as Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Phende, Dorje Shugden keeps a special place in his heart. As Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche wrote in his prayer to Dorje Shugden, the Nyirtoe, the relationship between the Protector and one who abides by his commitments to the Guru, who is in fact the Buddha Vajradhara, is beyond that of a Protector and a disciple. It is much closer:

…Affectionate when cultivated,
You treat the commitment-abiding like a son (or daughter)…

Dharma Demystified: The Enthronement of Dorje Shugden

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 05:00:23 +0000

A rare statue of an enthroned Dorje Shugden in Trode Khangsar

The enthronement ritual is traditionally performed at the end of the medium or long Dorje Shugden Kangsol (propitiation text), originally composed by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche in Melodious Drum Victorious in All Directions, and is an investiture of power and authority placed upon Dorje Shugden by the practitioner.

The enthronement prayer seals the merits of Dorje Shugden’s blessings in a particular location, image or practitioner’s life. Through this ritual, one is able to consecrate statues, pictures and thangkas of Dorje Shugden. It is also a request for Dorje Shugden to reside in a particular location, thus blessing the place and dispelling various negativities and interferences.

Most importantly, the enthronement ritual plays a key role in supporting the growth and flourishing of the Dharma, particularly if performed in a location that will be used for the practice and furtherance of Lama Tsongkapa’s rare lineage.

OM SARVA BI PURA PURA SURA SURA AWARTAYA AWARTAYA HO BENZA PARANAKAM(recite 3x)

The enthronement ritual begins with the recitation of a special mantra that enthrones and empowers Dorje Shugden, followed by special requests that delineate the reason and purpose of the enthronement.

HUM
We enthrone you as the holy venerable one
Inseparable with root and lineage Vajradhara gurus,
Grantor of infinite easy attainments
And dispeller of all obstructions on the path without exception!

In the first verse, Dorje Shugden is enthroned as a fully enlightened monarch who has the same qualities as our root Guru and the rest of the enlightened lineage Gurus stemming directly from the Buddha.

With this Buddha nature, Dorje Shugden is also enthroned as the protector deity who bestows all common and uncommon attainments. Common attainments are those that are common to both Sutra and Tantra, for instance Bodhichitta, renunciation, valid view of reality and so forth. Uncommon attainments are those specific to Tantra, such as those of the generation and completion stages.

We enthrone you in the nature embodying the three refuges;
The fully enlightened, verbal and realised dharma’s sovereign,
Holy dharma, peaceful, freed from all attachment,
And Sangha, untiring in serving others’ welfare!

Next, Dorje Shugden is enthroned as the holiest object embodying the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, in which we take refuge.

From emptiness’s great sphere, whatever various forms will subdue
Full distinctly appear like the moon’s reflection in water;
Principal of all Tantric sets’ countless mandalas,
We enthrone you in nature of the yidam deity!

Dorje Shugden is then recognized as having direct perception of emptiness or Shunyata. He is praised as being equal to the Tantric deities and is thus enthroned as an equal of a Buddha-Yidam. In this verse, the practitioner recognizes Dorje Shugden’s enlightened qualities and enthrones him accordingly to create the merits to achieve the same qualities.

The Choyang oracle in full trance of Duldzin Dorje Shugden is enthroned like a lama

In form of a red raksha protecting, without exception,
The temple libraries of Jambudvipa,
The teachings, and Sangha assembly upholding them,
We enthrone you as principal of all dharmapalas!

In this verse, Dorje Shugden is praised as the special guardian of the scriptural and oral lineage teachings. We also request him to protect practitioners and members of the Sangha, thereby protecting the spread of the lineage and its teachings.

Powerful king granting all wished common and supreme attainments
To anyone who properly relies on and propitiates you;
Bestowing all easily like a wish-granting gem,
We enthrone you as protector who fulfils all hopes!

We, master, disciples, and entourage,
Entrust ourselves to you, protector, guard us unceasingly!
Pacify all negative circumstances and grant accomplishment
Of whatever desired attainments at our mere wish!

In the final verse, we request Dorje Shugden to remove all difficulties and problems resulting from our negative karmas that may distract or pull us away from the spiritual path. Lastly, Dorje Shugden is entreated to accomplish whatever purpose that the practitioner requests.

The Return Of A Great Master: H.E. Kyabje Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

admin — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:13:41 +0000

The 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

On the 6th of October 2013, a very special and propitious event took place in Tsampehling Monastery in Chatreng, the home monastery of the illustrious Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. That auspicious day marked the enthronement of the new incarnation of one of the most extraordinary lamas of our time, the erudite Kyabje Denma Gonsar Dorje Chang. The late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche, who entered clear light in the year 2005, was an outstanding student of both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, and went on to become a highly regarded senior lama and one of the most important figures within the Gelugpa sect. Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was also a prominent lineage holder of various important teachings including the practice of Dorje Shugden.

A few months before Denma Gonsar Rinpoche entered clear light, during a lecture he was giving at Tsampehling Monastery, Rinpoche stated clearly that his next reincarnation would be born in Chatreng, a place famed for its strong devotion to Lama Tsongkhapa and the enlightened Protector Dorje Shugden.

In addition, Denma Gonsar Rinpoche instructed that his next incarnation would be a boy who could recite the root tantra of Guhyasamaja perfectly from memory. This warrants significant note because the root tantra of Guhyasamaja is an advanced, complicated practice with extensive literature consisting of seventeen chapters with tremendous amount of details. That the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche pre-empted his students to only recognize and enthrone the incarnation with such an incredible ability speaks clearly of his high attainments and clairvoyance. Only an authentic, attained master who has achieved the enlightened mind could return with his attainments intact, to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma again.

And so, as this great Master had prophesied and instructed, his incarnation – the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was officially enthroned in his Guru’s monastery. The boy by the name of Dorje, who is seven years old today, was born to a prominent family in Chatreng just as the late Denma Gonsar Rinpoche had predicted. Interestingly, it is the same extended family to which Rabten Tulku Rinpoche (reincarnation of Geshe Rabten) also belongs.

A few months before Dorje was recognized, the monks who were charged with the responsibility of looking for Rinpoche’s incarnation consulted the Dorje Shugden oracle who advised that Rinpoche’s incarnation had already been born in eastern Tibet where Chatreng lies, and that the search should begin. The boy they found showed many miraculous signs and one clear indication was the visible symbols of the sun and moon on the boy’s forehead. The sun and moon are symbols of wisdom and compassion indicating the attainment of enlightenment, and from the first Denma Gonsar Rinpoche to the present 20th incarnation, the sun and moon marks have always been visible on their foreheads.

The boy, Dorje bearing visible symbols of the sun and moon on his forehead as had all previous incarnations of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

And so began the examination and confirmation process. The current Pabongka Choktrul Rinpoche, who frequently travelled to Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s monastery in Kham to receive teachings and commentaries from the late Master, confirmed Dorje as the current incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche by divination. The octogenarian Purbu Khuten of Sera Monastery in Lhasa, who was personally trained and authorized by the late Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, also examined the boy, Dorje, and confirmed him as Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s incarnation. [See Note 1]

In addition, the very well known Nirtue Rinpoche, regarded as the highest and most respected lama in Denma, Kham, journeyed to Chatreng to test the candidate and concurred that the boy was indeed the correct incarnation of Rinpoche. Also of great import is the official recognition of this boy by His Holiness the Panchen Lama, whose lineage can be traced back to Subuthi, one of the original disciples of the Lord Buddha himself. Upon confirmation, His Holiness the Panchen Lama issued an official letter formally recognizing this incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche.

The official letter of recognition issued by His Holiness the Panchen Lama. A rough translation of the letter reads: “The search party of Dharmaraja Gonsar Choje Thubten Gelek Gyatso, who have been praying to The Three Jewels these few years, have found the incarnation of Rinpoche in Chatreng, Ganzi. The child born to the father by the name of Tenzin Ngyape and Tzirin Yongchen the mother, is hereby recognized as the reincarnation of the 19th Gonsar Choje Dharmaraja”

Most significantly, the search and recognition committee of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche requested Geshe Tdonsang, the changtso of Geshe Thubten Trinley, to travel to the United States of America and consult H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche as well as the Ari Khuten (Ganden oracle of Dorje Shugden). Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche confirmed that Dorje was indeed the authentic incarnation of his student from Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche’s previous life. The Ari Khuten took trance of Duldzin and similarly concurred with Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche. Trijang Rinpoche wrote a long life prayer especially for this incarnation of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche and recommended some pujas to be done for the growth of the new Denma Gonsar Rinpoche’s work. Trijang Rinpoche, together with the Dorje Shugden oracle, Ari Khuten, conferred a new and auspicious name on this young and prodigious master, Losang Yeshe Tenzin Gelek Gyatso, the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche. And with that, the return of an enlightened mind, who was also known as Denma Gonsar Kangyur Rinpoche for his adroit grasp of all 108 volumes of the Kangyur, was official.

The enthronement of the present and 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche was also attended by officials from the Chinese Government who is presently making preparations for a grand and second enthronement ceremony to be held in Rinpoche’s home monastery. Throughout the Sino-Tibetan conflict, the previous Denma Gonsar Rinpoche worked tirelessly for the good of all people, both Chinese and Tibetan, with complete impartiality void of any personal and political agendas and that won the trust and respect of the Chinese Government. It is from great works such as that of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche that will lend credence and substance to the Tibetan people’s hope to return to their homeland.

The return of a pure and virtuous master such as Denma Gonsar Rinpoche is vastly important not only for the preservation and spread of the holy Dharma but also as yet another undisputable proof that claims of Dorje Shugden practitioners not being able to take a positive rebirth are nothing but baseless lies intended to trick unwary practitioners into giving up a very crucial Dharma practice for this degenerate time.

DorjeShugden.com celebrates the return of Denma Gonsar Rinpoche with Dharma practitioners all over the world and prays for this great Master’s long and auspicious life, spreading the Dharma and the Protector practice in all ten directions.

Note 1: It is strange and most unfortunate that the original Sera Monastery recognizes and propitiates the enlightened Protector Dorje Shugden whilst Sera Monastery in India refuses to due to pressure from the Dalai Lama’s office and the Central Tibetan Administration.

Pictures of the enthronement of the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

The enthronement ceremony of the present Denma Gonsar Rinpoche at Tsampehling Monastery, Chatreng

A happy 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

The enthronement ceremony was well attended by senior monks of Chatreng and Chinese officials

Dakini Healed Lama Zopa?

admin — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:28:57 +0000

Dear friends of the Dharma,

We are most happy to share with you a most interesting story about two great beings: Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the female oracle, known respectfully as Khadro-la.

Oracles are special people who are trained to take trance of higher beings or enlightened Dharma Protectors. They hold an especially esteemed role within the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, providing a direct, physical link between us and these attained beings. Many of the highest Lamas, including the Dalai Lama, enjoy very close relationships with these oracles and often consult these attained beings through them.

The greatly respected Lama Zopa Rinpoche is particularly close to Khadro-la, the female oracle of the worldly Goddess Tenma and is often seen performing rituals and in Dharma activity together. (see the links below for further information about Lama Zopa and Khadro-la).

During Lama Zopa’s illness, it was known that this oracle Khadro-la was helping Lama Zopa to heal. There are mentions about her help and Lama Zopa’s health on FMPT’s official website, written by Lama Zopa’s main attendant, Ven. Roger:

Click on image to enlarge

Source: http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/rinpoches-health-updates-and-practices.html

There are also videos of Khadro-la helping Lama Zopa in his recovery:
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

While this is wonderful and of course very kind of Khadro-la, this raised several questions within the Buddhist community, which have been discussed on online forums. This is why:

It was well known that Lama Zopa, and his Guru Lama Yeshe (the founder of FPMT) were greatly devoted to the enlightened Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden and propitiated his practice strongly among their students. Then, in the late 1990s, H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama declared that no one should practice this Protector Dorje Shugden any longer, suddenly claiming that he was a spirit (although he has been clearly recognized as an enlightened protector for hundreds of years). This sacred 350-year-old practice followed by thousands of the holiest lamas and practitioners was suddenly banned.

FPMT were one of the organizations who, under Lama Zopa’s guidance, followed the ban and gave up the practice. A highly attained incarnated Lama like Zopa Rinpoche will have his many good reasons for this but he has always remained respectful towards this issue and not created further problems for people who chose to continue the practice of Dorje Shugden. However, it has become known that students of his organization, FPMT, have acted in quite unkindly ways towards other Dorje Shugden devotees – ostracizing them, talking badly about them or the practice, spreading rumors to undermine these practitioners’ support and sponsorship.

We believe that whatever reasons Lama Zopa may have for not continuing the practice of Shugden, he would not advise his students to act in such schismatic and unkind ways. By acting like this, his students break samaya (spiritual bond and loyalty) not only to their teacher Lama Zopa, but also to Lama Yeshe, the lineage Gurus and the Protector Dorje Shugden himself.

Now, during Lama Zopa’s illness, we hear that it is an oracle of an unenlightened goddess who is being called to help him heal. Surely, an enlightened being like Lama Zopa does not need an unenlightened being to do healing for him? That is saying that unenlightened beings are more powerful than attained ones, which is not logical. Lama Zopa is a recognised Tulku (reincarnated high Lama), with full control of his deaths and rebirths. If he is able to control this, why would he not be able to control his own illness and healing? Why would he need such an oracle to help him heal?

By requesting dakini oracles to heal Lama Zopa, his students and organization FPMT are directly putting down Lama Zopa and his enlightened attainments. Why would such an accomplished Lama ask a worldly deity to heal him or seek advice from a worldly deity? Why would he entertain and spend so much time with this worldly deity’s female oracle? Why is Lama Zopa doing this when their organization used to rely on such a powerful enlightened protector before? Why not just rely on an enlightened Buddha, such as Shakyamuni or Tsongkhapa whose attainments are without question?

It seems that by entertaining this worldly deity oracle, Lama Zopa is sending a message that times have become so degenerate among his organization and students, that he now has to “rely” on a worldly being to cure him. Because of broken samaya among the students and in the FPMT organization, Lama Zopa is not able to manifest his full abilities and powers. He has had to “lower” himself to a level that seems fallible and unable to heal himself. He is being healed now, not even by an enlightened Protector, but by a worldly, unenlightened being.

Attached is an extract from the forum of DorjeShugden.com, where many Buddhists practitioners debate various subjects related to Dharma and especially to this Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. These particular posts here relate to this topic of Lama Zopa’s illness and his reliance on Khadro-la. Please read the comments and what fellow Buddhists around the world have to say about this – it provides a very interesting perspective to the situation, to Lama Zopa’s health condition and to this delicate aspect of samaya from his students.

We urge you all to think about the serious implications that this has and what large questions it raises about the importance of keeping pure samaya with our teachers, their instructions to us and the lineage practices. Lama Zopa is no ordinary being. The manifestation of his illness and this subsequent move to rely on an unenlightened deity is evidence that something is very wrong among his students. It is very important they repair their samaya quickly – that would be the best balm to cure their beloved teacher.

With great concern,
DorjeShugden.com | DorjeShugden.net | XiongDeng.com

Some Selected Posts on the Forum Topic “Dakini Healing Lama Zopa”

This topic was started by “thaimonk” (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=1164.0)

FPMT has contacted this Tibetan woman and oracle to help Lama Zopa heal. Suddenly FPMT have such tremendous faith in her. FPMT says that she is not taking trance of a dakini but SHE IS A LIVING DAKINI.

She originally came from Tibet and during a public teaching with Dalai Lama in Dharamsala starting to take trance. Dalai Lama accepted she takes trance of a Goddess (Tema).

Years ago, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa relied fully on Shugden and Shugden oracle to help them. Lama Yeshe relied on the Shugden oracle till the end of his days. Does it seem inappropriate they are relying on a Dakini now instead of Shugden? Either way, FPMT is really on a oracle. Shouldn’t Lama Zopa being a high lama be more ‘powerful’ than the dakini from Dharamsala?

I am not sure of this. I don’t have any negative thoughts or such. I was just wondering. What do you all think?

Responses and further comments

Posted by: “DharmaDefender”

I think Lama Zopa’s students would do well to remember their own guru’s teachings on how to extend the life of their lama. Like what dsiluvu said, how comes they can ask a spirit for help but cannot rely on Dorje Shugden? How can they entrust their lama’s long life to a spirit, but apparently practicing Dorje Shugden will shorten his life?

No offence and I’m sure they all mean well (and I sincerely mean that), but relying on an unenlightened being, after breaking their protector practice, kind of smacks of desperation and hypocrisy.

Posted by: “thor”

I think FPMT would be better off directing their efforts towards requesting Lama Zopa to extend his life and heal himself. Long life prayers, rituals and individual transformation and purification of wrong actions would be more effective than medical treatment or mystical help from the oracle.

If the lama can manifest sickness, then of course the lama will be able to make the sickness heal. And there is no reason for the lama to become ill, or to shorten his life, unless it is a method towards something much greater.

My own lama has often told me that no matter how many prayers the students do, how many requests they make, how much medicine and treatment they offer to their lama, none of that will have effect if the lama does not wish to heal. So FPMT should direct their attention towards analysing what it is they should do to please the mind of their lama that he will extend his life.

Posted by: “honeydakini”

I don’t think there is any harm in consulting enlightened beings, oracles, dharma protectors for help or advice, though we should really only consult them if they’re enlightened. I don’t really understand the point in consulting someone who is unenlightened since you open the doors for so many other potentially harmful beings to come in and disturb you.

As to this case of Lama Zopa’s illness, i don’t think anything would work better than for the students to check in on themselves – what commitments they have broken, or what actions they have done that would be against what their teachers have advised or taught them. Perhaps it is not something that they have directly disobeyed, it could even be something that isn’t as obvious like creating schism among Dharma practitioners, or creating doubt in other people’s minds about their practices and their teachers.

I personally think it’s quite silly to consult a dakini when your own enlightened teacher is right there. If you consult a dakini (whether she’s enlightened or not), that is to say that your teacher doesn’t have any control over his own body! I’m sure an enlightened teacher like Lama Zopa would have full control over his health and illnesses. (he has full control over his rebirths, as a tulku, but no control over illness? it doesn’t make sense).

So If our lama has control, that means that he has already taught us the means to heal him – which i’m sure would be, like all teachers advise us, to follow his instructions to us and practice and improve our minds. That would be so much more powerful than a dakini’s advice – because whatever the dakini could “prescribe” , I’m sure it isn’t something that Lama Zopa is beyond doing for himself.

Posted by: “Big Uncle”

Well, the very fact that FPMT is relying on a Dakini to heal their Lama shows that they are insecure about their samaya and the pujas that they can do to heal their own Lama. How much can this Dakini (enlightened or not) heal the Lama when the elders of the organisation know it is through clean samaya and sincere propitiation is the only way to purify lots of negative karma and move Lama Zopa to remain.

On top of that, they seemed to imply that the oracle lady is an enlightened dakini when she is not. Last time I checked, the goddess Tenma is a powerful but unenlightened mountain goddess of Tibet. Why rely on an unenlightened deity like Tenma? This all seemed very strange to me. I don’t think the politically correct elders would dare propitiated Dorje Shugden but in actuality, he is the only one who can help save the situation now. It is so sad.

Posted by: “Benny”

Yes, I could not agree more with Big Uncle, FPMT please mend your broken Samaya! As the saying goes “barking up the wrong tree !” Lama Zopa has full control over whether he stays or leave, there is nothing that the “mountain goddess” can do to move the lama to stay as he is here solely for the students.

What a sad sight to see such an attained Lama playing along with his students. In such crucial times, shouldn’t one propitiate to ones protector rather than a ” living dakini ” who channels an unenlightened deity (confusing ) ? They the FPMT are risking loosing their guru for the sake of looking good in the eyes of the Dalai Lama!

Further information about Lama Zopa and Khadro-la, the female oracle of Tenma.

There is a long-standing relationship between Lama Zopa and this female oracle, Khadro-la. Their closeness has even been documented in some of the most popular Buddhist magazines and resources.

Venerable Roger did an interview with Khadro-la in 2009, for Mandala Magazine (FPMT’s official magazine):

Click on image to enlarge

Source: http://www.mandalamagazine.org/archives/mandala-issues-for-2009/january/interview-with-a-dakini/

There are several videos of Lama Zopa and Khadro-la, engaged in pujas together:

Lama Zopa, Phari Rinpoche and Khadro-la doing puja at Trijang Rinpoche’s stupa:
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

Lama Zopa and Kharo-la doing puja, May 2010:
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

Lama Zopa, Khadro-la, Phari Rinpoche at the Maratika Caves, June 2010
[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)

Official news on the FPMT websites often feature Lama Zopa together with Khadro-la:

Click on image to enlarge

Source: http://mandala.fpmt.org/2013/lama-zopa-rinpoche-and-khadro-la/

Click on image to enlarge

Source: http://www.mandalamagazine.org/2012/lama-zopa-rinpoche-and-khadro-la-offer-public-teachings-at-maitripa-college/

Click on image to enlarge

Source: www.mandalamagazine.org/2012/lama-zopa-rinpoche-and-khadro-la-visit-western-united-states/

Some photos of Lama Zopa and Khadro-la, who travel and attend religious ceremonies together very often.

For further reading:

Where is Lama Yeshe? (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/where-is-lama-yeshe/)

FPMT Lineage Masters are Dorje Shugden Believers (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/fpmt-lineage-masters-are-believers-of-dorje-shugden/)

FPMT, Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/fpmt-dalai-lama-and-dorje-shugden/)

A True Inspiration: Claudio Cipullo (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/a-true-inspiration-claudio-cipullo/)

Fabrizio Pallotti (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/fabrizio-pallotti/)

Politically Correct at the Expense of the Lineage (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/politically-correct-at-the-expense-of-the-lineage/)

Lama Yeshe and Geshe Rabten (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/mail-out/lama-yeshe-and-geshe-rabten/)

The Broken Samayas of FPMT (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-broken-samayas-of-fpmt/)

The Questionable Policies of the FPMT (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/the-questionable-policies-of-the-fpmt/)

Lama Zopa admitted to being recognized by Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/others-old/lama-zopa-admitted-to-being-recognized-by-dorje-shugden/)

Recognized by Dorje Shugden, but Speaks against Dorje Shugden (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/recognized-by-dorje-shugden-but-speaks-against-dorje-shugden/)

Kopan Monks Asking for Dorje Shugden Puja for Lama Zopa (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-controversy/kopan-monks-asking-for-dorje-shugden-puja-for-lama-zopa/)

Who made Lama Zopa a Rinpoche? (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/who-made-lama-zopa-a-rinpoche/)

A Tribute to Ven. Lama Yeshe Rinpoche (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/great-masters/a-tribute-to-ven-lama-yeshe-rinpoche/)

Dorje Shugden is the Bad Guy?

admin — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:07:36 +0000

Dear friends of Dharma,

The Dalai Lama has been extremely kind to bring Tibetan Buddhism and Dharma teachings out to the world. Because of the Dalai Lama, millions now know of the peaceful methods of Buddhism, which is what the Dalai Lama represents.

However, over the last 10 years or so, there have been drastic changes within Tibetan Buddhist communities which do not reflect these teachings of peace. Since the ban on Dorje Shugden, Tibetan people within the exiled communities in India and Nepal are divided and facing disharmony. This is all being blamed on the Protector Deity Dorje Shugden. But is he really such a bad guy?

Attached is a very clear and detailed forum post written by someone who calls himself TK, a passionate and very learned Buddhist on the DorjeShugden.com forum. This forum welcomes many discussions about this Dharma Protector, studying the many issues that have come out from the ban as well as providing more information and shared experiences about this practice.

We invite you to read this particular post, where TK proves very clearly why Dorje Shugden is not as bad as we think and that, in fact, he is working together with the Dalai Lama for the growth of Dharma. May this article bring you a much deeper understanding of the issues and the practice, and may it work to relieve many who have been suffering because of the ban.

Yours in Dharma,
DorjeShugden.com
DorjeShugden.net
XiongDeng.net

Part 1: An Article

Extracted from http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.0

May 14, 1995 – Tsangpa Oracle Prophesy I

Prophesy (kha.lung) through the Tsangpa Oracle requested by the Private Office of the Dalai Lama, Prophesies of the Tibetan Government Oracles, published by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Administration of the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, 1996, p. 13.

“It is important that Tibetans should observe their commitments (dam.tsig) which is their obligation. Particularly, the issue of Gyalchen [Dorje Shugden] is a bad omen. In this direction, we, the formless, are aware that it does not harbor good. This should definitely be stopped (mtshams.’jog) in the region of Tibet. With respect to the issue of the unity of religion and politics [of Tibet] and the Ganden Potang government in particular, Gyalchen [Dorje Shugden] cannot demonstrate even a grain of benefit. He can never bring happiness for Tibet [or Tibetan people?].

June 14, 1995- Tsangpa Oracle Prophesy II

Prophesy (kha.lung) through the Tsangpa Oracle requested by the Cabinet of the exile government: Prophesies of the Tibetan Government Oracles, pp. 14-17.

“An important current issue is that if you continue to go through the motions of government service as if it were punishment instead of serving the Ganden Potang government with total loyalty it is possible that this may pose a serious threat to the well being of Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso [the Dalai Lama]. A grave issue has arisen concerning the administration of the Ganden Potang. One thing that I, the Tsangpa Dhungthoed Chan, have to say about this explicitly is that [Tibetan] worship of deities has now reached a critical stage. It is extremely sad that Gyalchen [Dorje Shugden] the Chinese spirit is being worshiped.

Even though [Gyalchen] angers Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso [the Dalai Lama], there are those who worship him [Dorje Shugden] and who revere him in secret. Not only are there such worshipers in Tibet, there is deep reverence for him even among government employees. This is very harmful. That he is of great harm has already been said by Dorje Dragden [Nechung].

In this regard there is a popular perception that there is acrimony between Dorje Dragden [Nechung] and Gyalchen [Dorje Shugden]. That can never be true. For the success of Buddhism and the Ganden Potang government, Dorje Dragden continues to extend to me complete support and since I too am to pursue this path completely, that if the Cabinet and the People’s Deputies [Assembly] do not strictly decide this issue and adhere to it, even though Buddhism may spread and even though the causes for the speedy freedom for Tibet may have begun [to grow], Gyalchen [Dorje Shugden] is sowing dissension [among Tibetans] by employing Chinese spirits and [furthermore] taking advantage of being a formless entity to vocalize and spread misinformation and thereby supporting China. This is a grave matter. Interesting to note here is that the Buddhists who rely on Dorje Shugden strongly favor Tibetan independence. Thus, it is difficult to reconcile that they would be working for the Chinese who are so adamantly against Tibetan independence. It is almost as if someone were trying on purpose to divide the Tibetan people along these lines, zeroing in on the deepest karmic weakness of the Ganden Potang government brought forward into the twentieth century. One has only to ask, in whose interest would such a division be?

We recommend rituals toward the well being of Gyalwa Rinpoche [the Dalai Lama]. Nevertheless, it is our serious concern that there needs to be strict adherence to the wishes of His Holiness and internal unity. Whether it be the People’s Deputies or an ordinary Tibetan, it is unacceptable for anyone to engage in partisan politics.

Of the honest guidelines stipulated by [His Holiness] in this regard, the most important is that regarding the worship of deities. If the common Tibetans and the government employees in particular do not heed those guidelines, there will be great loss for all.”

When in 1995 someone claims that the seeds of freedom for Tibet are flourishing when the Chinese have vowed to wipe out even the name of the Dalai Lama from history seems a blatant contradiction. In fact, this sounds so absurd that one must conclude something else entirely must be going on here. I think it is that the demonization of the Dalai Lama by the Chinese which started in 1995 is passed right on to Dorje Shugden. Perhaps he is strong enough to carry such a heavy burden.

Who is to say which would be a greater loss to the tradition of Buddhism, a Dalai Lama shouldering the blame for the loss of Tibet, no doubt unjustly, or Dorje Shugden and the split banning him has caused within Buddhism? All we know for certain is that the demonization of Dorje Shugden split the Tibetan community. It drove underground many genuine Buddhist practitioners and their practices, leaving in the larger public view mostly those who know how to play their political card correctly.

Another interesting point about this “prophesy” is the claim that acrimony between Nechung and Dorje Shugden is impossible. This is a statement from an ultimate and exclusively religious point of view also held by Buddhists who rely on Dorje Shugden. Clearly there is a danger to the Ganden Potang government of the Dalai Lama. The Chinese have been working hard to destroy it for the last fifty years.

Blaming Dorje Shugden for the actions of the Chinese makes the issue a political one. Dorje Shugden is — even for the government protector through this oracle — a matter of politics. The issue the oracle points out, it is about the [deposed] Tibetan government, that is, the institution of the Dalai Lama. It is political, especially when it concerns the Chinese.

In one trance ceremony of Tsering Chenga, the female oracle tells that Dorje Shugden prevented her from raising the Tibetan flag on the Potala in Lhasa. Some of the prophesies of these oracles are published by the exile government’s Department of Religion and Culture, 1996: gzung.bsten bod.skyong lha.srung khag.gi rdo.rje bka’.lung bzhug.so // implying that Dorje Shugden works for the Chinese.

1995- Exorcism Rituals Against Dorje Shugden

Most government rituals are performed by Namgyal Monastery, special to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government. In the course of the ban, other monasteries were also asked by the government to perform anti-Dorje Shugden rituals, often without the participating monks knowing specifically who had ordered them. They performed massive exorcism rituals against Dorje Shugden. For some, the Dalai Lama is present. It is said that for thirteen days after the Tibetan new year celebrated in spring 1996, the government did rituals against Dorje Shugden.

Part 2: A response to the article from “TK” on the DorjeShugden.com forum

This forum post has been extracted from this forum thread: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.0

Dear everyone,

This extracted article above is very powerful. I will share my thoughts and comments on the article above. It is what I have believed also for the last decade and a half. It concurs with the prophesy from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche in the late 70′s which is that, in the future, it may look like the Dalai Lama is at odds with Dorje Shugden, but in actuality they are helping each other to make the Buddha Dharma grow in the world.

1. Dorje Shugden acts in the Bodhisattva manner accepting criticism, hate campaigns and the ‘destruction’ of his practice. He does this because it serves a bigger purpose for the overall survival of Buddhism in the world for the future. Why? It is easier to resurrect or perform a “Lazarus” on Dorje Shugden in the future when the smoke clears, than it would be for the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is a man and controlled by media, opinions, people, circumstances and etc. But Dorje Shugden is a formless entity that can “rise” above all of that very quickly when the time is right.

2. Whenever Dorje Shugden takes trance in any of the oracles, he never criticizes the Dalai Lama. In fact, he is known for telling the audience to always withhold criticism towards Dalai Lama. He does not have to say this; he could say nothing about the Dalai Lama and just keep quiet. Dorje Shugden is well known for not answering questions that have little meaning, or that are insignificant or unacceptable to the listener. When questions are presented to him through the oracle, he often bypasses questions which should not be answered at that time or which have no meaning.

3. With all the destruction happening against him, he never comments, speaks against nor gives advice towards undharmic actions. This is because the situation can all be fully reversed in a short time when the time is right.

4. Temporarily, Dorje Shugden will accept the claim that he is the cause for the loss of Tibet, or the cause for why Tibetan cannot be regained… but in the end truth will arise. Dorje Shugden will reveal the true “plot” which Trijang Rinpoche had already hinted at in the late 1970′s. (I fold my hands to Trijang Rinpoche and prostrate my full body to Him. I offer my head as a stepping block for his feet. I truly have confidence in this great being.)

5. Dorje Shugden is strong enough to carry such a burden. Dorje Shugden practitioners are resilient enough to not abandon his practice during this crisis. Both Dorje Shugden and his true followers will not abandon each other no matter what is said and done temporarily at this time. Both can carry the burden. I personally do not dislike or hate the Dalai Lama but have confidence in him and my own sacred Protector Dorje Shugden. I choose to believe and take refuge in Trijang Rinpoche’s prophecy. The other two options of hating Dalai Lama and /or abandoning Dorje Shugden are not open to me, nor would I choose any of the two options.

6. Why would Dalai Lama act, talk and promote so many contradictory actions that makes himself look unstable? …. Unless it is all being done on purpose. I believe that truly. He is not stupid.

7. If Kache Marpo (Dorje Shugden’s main attendant) has ‘destroyed’ Lamas, people and practitioners in the past for breaking samaya or polluting the Yellow Hat teachings (Gelugpa), then why are Samdhong Rinpoche, the Kashag, Kalons, Ministers, Kunga Tara, and even the Dalai Lama himself spared? … Unless there is a much bigger soup brewing.

8. Nechung is the one who requested Duldzin Dragpa Gyeltsen to arise as a uncommon Protector to protect Nagarjuna’s view, as embodied within Lama Tsongkapa’s lineage, 350 years ago. Why would the same Nechung be speaking the opposite now when he talks and advises against Dorje Shugden?… Unless there was a larger plan between Dorje Shugden, Dalai Lama and Nechung. Seems like a hopeful fantasy? Well, to many more, the idea of a Dharma Protector or Dorje Shugden itself is a fantasy made up by the Tibetan Lamas. So which do we choose to believe?

9.If Dorje Shugden is so powerful (which he is), why doesn’t he do something to stop all this? Perhaps it is because it is not time to ‘stop’ all this yet. In fact, Dorje Shugden is putting his followers through ‘hell and back’ (excuse me) and we have to just take it. Yes we will ‘take’ it. There has to be a much bigger game plan. Dorje Shugden takes the blame and Dalai Lama works hard to make the Buddha Dharma grow while all of the next generation of elite Lamas and teachers are still young.

Those who take refuge in the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden will not give up on both. They are strongholds for the growth of Buddhadharma and the ‘re-arisal’ of Dorje Shugden in the near future. If the Dalai Lama is so powerful (which he is), why doesn’t he just do a binding ritual or fire puja himself and rid the planet/samsara of this horrible demented being called Jamgon Gyelway Tensung Gyelpo Dorje Shugden? And then stop spending so much time, money, heartaches, energy, resources to keep going against Dorje Shugden?! Just get rid of him once and for all. The end. Why not?

The Dalai Lama hasn’t done this because he cannot destroy a being who has actualized the complete path of Guhyasamaja in both completion and generation stages – in other words a being who is a Buddha. The Dalai Lama cannot destroy Buddha Dorje Shugden who is one with Guhyasamaja and whose 32 deities in his mandala are the same as the 32 deities in Guhyasamaja’s entourage.

So for the bigger purpose, the Dalai Lama has to put the blame of all the ills of Tibet’s misfortune onto Dorje Shugden who is strong enough to shoulder this. Dorje Shugden plays the bad guy for now. If the blame was placed on the Dalai Lama, it would spoil his reputation. This would limit him from spreading the Dharma on a global scale, which is what he is doing now. He is planting seeds of Dharma on a global scale so that they will ripen for the young Lamas as well as Dorje Shugden to take over later.

The ills of Tibet are not the Dalai Lama’s nor Dorje Shugden’s fault, but the Tibetan people’s own fault. However, for most of the world, karma is not accepted, so the blame would go to the leader of the people – which is the Dalai Lama. We cannot afford this at a time when no one else can spread Buddhism the way the Dalai Lama can.

Think through this carefully to come to terms with the pain in your heart. I do not blame you for the pain. You are not at fault. You are part of a bigger plan. I’ve had many pains in my heart that I have come to terms with and am some still working on because of this issue. We are all part of a bigger plan. This sounds clichéd, but it is true. It is easier to get through the storm with this way of thinking.

10. If the Dalai Lama loses his reputation because he is the ’cause’ for the loss of Tibet, then it would stain his reputation greatly and that would hinder his promotion of the BuddhaDharma around the world, to say the least. No other Lama of any tradition can match the skills, persona, knowledge, title and charisma of the Dalai Lama to spread Buddhism so far and wide around the world.

11. Why can’t the Tibetan Government and various Monasteries destroy Dorje Shugden through binding rituals? Because they have tried to and not been successful – Dorje Shugden has not been destroyed. This shows the power of Dorje Shugden purposely. People will keep this power in mind, remember it when they re-adopt Dorje Shugden’s practice later. This leaves a mark in people’s minds that Dorje Shugden cannot be defeated nor destroyed.

12. The Dalai Lama has given the incarnation of his teacher, Trijang Rinpoche, the special exception to practice Dorje Shugden. Why is Trijang Rinpoche allowed to practice Dorje Shugden if it harms the cause of Tibet and brings danger to the Dalai Lama’s life? Because it leaves a mark for the future, to make the point that Dorje Shugden does not hinder the cause of Tibet nor the Dalai Lama. These are small traces of hints left by the Dalai Lama for the survival of Dorje Shugden. Someone has to take the blame. That is samsara.

13. Why does Dorje Shugden himself sit on the fence?’ He says on one hand to respect and follow what the Dalai Lama says, but on the other hand, he told the Shar Gaden monks (who are ardent Dorje Shugden practitioners) that if their motivation for opening Shar Gaden was for the growth and preservation of the lineage, then it would be auspicious in the future. Doesn’t that look contradictory? C’mon, which one is it, Dorje Shugden? Clear it for us. If we were to follow what the Dalai Lama says, why open Shar Gaden and Serpom Monastery? If we were to follow what Dorje Shugden says, then why even be on this forum as he tells us to always respect the Dalai Lama?

Should we open Shar Gaden which ‘opposes’ the Dalai Lama or should we listen to the Dalai Lama and abandon Dorje Shugden’s practice? Even the great Dorje Shugden sounds contradictory.

Why does Dorje Shugden continuously take trance and give advice even to those who do not give their allegiance to the Dalai Lama while practicing Dorje Shugden? Doesn’t that damage the samaya of the individual with Dorje Shugden or with the Lama who initiated him into Dorje Shugden’s practice? Whichever way you look at it, you damage the samaya with either your guru or Protector.

The previous Zong Rinpoche, Dagom Rinpoche, Yongyal Rinpoche, Geshe Tendar, the current incarnations of Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche and Pabongka Rinpoche, Gonsar Rinpoche, the oracle monks, Gangchen Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, etc. all took teachings from the 14th Dalai Lama, at one time or another. Let’s not forget that. If we have taken teachings from any of these Lamas, then 14th Dalai Lama is also our lineage Lama who we must respect. Isn’t this logical?

Since we say that the Dalai Lama must respect our lineage Lamas such as Pabongka, then we must also reverse the situation and respect the Dalai Lama as our lineage Lama. Either way, the system is set up for you to ‘lose’. If that is the case, there must be a MUCH BIGGER PICTURE so that current infractions with our lineage Lamas can be repaired later FOR THIS BIGGER PICTURE.

After all, with or without the current issue of Dalai Lama / Dorje Shugden, we were doing a great job collecting negative karma, breaking commitments, and generally creating the causes for our personal samsaras to remain in tact and strong on our own. Neither the Dalai Lama nor Dorje Shugden are to blame. Nor are they adding to it. We were in samsara before the Dalai Lama’s name and Shugden even ‘existed’ as we know them today.

Yes the Dalai Lama does look like he always contradicts himself. But so does Dorje Shugden. Again, this leads me to believe that they are cooking up something much bigger… or it is something that’s nearly cooked.

Yes, it is nearly cooked.

It is best to have respect for the Dalai Lama and keep up our practices towards Dorje Shugden steadily. Whatever the case, whether we go to the Dalai Lama’s ‘camp’ or we go to Dorje Shugden’s ‘camp’, we go against our lineage Lamas. So it is best to maintain equilibrium by thinking things out logically, following the law of cause and effect, and engaging in our practices to develop attainments within our continuum. With the great attainment, we win freedom totally. Then (without meaning any disrespect), we won’t need the Dalai Lama, Buddha, Dorje Shugden or anyone else. Actually, that is their original intention.

I have stated my thoughts at this time and I sincerely hope this will bring peace/understanding to the many practitioners that visit this great website. I do not wish to offend anyone with my thoughts, or to be right. It is just my attempt to think and reason things out at this time when not many other options are available. Again, I will never give up my Dorje Shugden commitments nor my commitment to the Lamas who gave me the practices. Nor will I demean and hate His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I will not hate those against Dorje Shugden, but forgive them.

Much success to all,
TK

The original forum post can be viewed at: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.0

The TRUTH behind who saved the Dalai Lama’s life

admin — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:36:44 +0000

An incredible revelation has come to light about the H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama’s perilous escape from Tibet, and the truth about who really saved his life during those most dangerous times.

Some very courageous monks from both Gaden and Sera Monasteries have recently revealed many very interesting facts as below, which contradict what has been popularized. It seems that the truth has been covered up and denied by the Tibetan Government since the escape of the Dalai Lama and his people in 1959:

- First, it was under H.H. Trijang Rinpoche’s advice that the Dalai Lama sought the counsel of the enlightened Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden through the most famous oracle in the land, Panglung Oracle.

- By following Dorje Shugden’s instructions, the Dalai Lama escaped many terrible fates. For example, once, when the Chinese invaded the Norbulingka Palace (Dalai Lama’s summer home), they literally could not see the Dalai Lama and so he was not harmed. At that time, the Dalai Lama was carrying a Dorje Shugden thangka.

- Through the Panglung Oracle, Dorje Shugden advised the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet immediately and advised him which route to take. Dorje Shugden assured that he would protect the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama followed this instruction and left immediately. The day after, the Dalai Lama’s palace, the Potala, was completely shelled and bombed. He and his entourage were protected throughout the escape and arrived in India safely.

- The Gaden monks explained that the Dalai Lama had made an offering of THIS THANGKA PAINTING to his Guru Trijang Rinpoche. However, when he needed to escape Tibet, the Dalai Lama requested Trijang Rinpoche to borrow this thangka as protection. Knowing the tremendous benefit that the Dalai Lama would bring to the world through teachings and the Tibetan Buddhist lineage, Trijang Rinpoche immediately lent him the thangka.

- The Dalai Lama carried this thangka on his back throughout his escape towards India.

- All this points clearly to the fact that Dorje Shugden saved the Dalai Lama’s life and helped him escape unscathed from the dangers in Tibet. Because the Dalai Lama survived, he was able to reestablish the teachings and lineage outside of Tibet. He has since also become one of the most prominent Buddhist personalities in the world, responsible for bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the highly respected status that it now holds. The prominence that is given to all Tibetan Buddhist schools and practices now can be attributed to the kindness, protection and blessings of Dorje Shugden who led the Dalai Lama and his whole entourage to safety.

- This thangka still exists and is currently preserved by the monks of Trijang Ladrang in Gaden Monastery.

- As the Dalai Lama escaped, he was accompanied by an entourage of 30 monks from Sera Monastery. To this day, these Sera monks remember that the Dalai Lama had consulted Dorje Shugden and been advised to leave Tibet when he did. They also remember that the Dalai Lama carried this particular Dorje Shugden thangka. See how deeply saddened this Sera monk is as he recalls that journey and reflects on the Dalai Lama’s current ban on Dorje Shugden:

Now, the Dalai Lama has instituted a ban against Dorje Shugden, claiming that he is an evil spirit and will harm the Dalai Lama’s life. This is totally illogical! Why would Dorje Shugden help the Dalai Lama escape Tibet safely, and now be a threat to his life and works? Why would such a highly attained Lama like Trijang Rinpoche give his student a practice, deity or even a thangka that would harm him in any way?

Because of the ban, Dorje Shugden devotees have been attacked and families have been separated; Gurus are not allowed to see their students; monks are denied welfare and even expelled from their monasteries, which is unheard of in Buddhist history. Spiritual practice has become inseparable from politics, and people cannot do their practices in peace without being implicated in the politics.

The Tibetan exiled Government in India makes defamatory reports to the police about Dorje Shugden practitioners. They spread rumors that these practitioners are Chinese spies and even try to stop Dorje Shugden practitioners from entering India!

Because the current young incarnation of Trijang Rinpoche continues to practice Dorje Shugden, there have been countless attacks on his life. Monks revealed that there was an incident many years ago where masked men charged into Trijang Ladrang in Gaden Monastery carrying sticks and wanting to kill Trijang Rinpoche. Fortunately, many monks protected him. The monks of his household had to be on constant vigilance, taking shifts to protect the holy body of Trijang Rinpoche against such attacks. In 1995, the 15-year-old Trijang Rinpoche finally left the monastery and India to America. The main reason for his leaving was because of the many threats on his life, which arose from this ban on Dorje Shugden,

There is now talk among monks that the Dalai Lama wants to be the spiritual leader of all schools of Buddhism in the world, like a pope of Buddhism. He is achieving this by breaking apart individual, smaller schools of Buddhism. He instigates political rules such the ban on this Protector Dorje Shugden, which then creates splits within Buddhist schools – in this case, he is creating a lot of schism to divide practitioners and monks within the Gelugpa school. He has also done the same with the Kagyu school, interfering with their independent religious traditions and implementing political decisions that have divided them into separate camps following different heads. It is his hope that when these schools are divided, weakened and have no strong leader, he will be able to step in as supreme head to “unite” all Buddhist sects everywhere under him.

However, the revelation about the truth of this Dorje Shugden thangka now creates shockwaves in the Buddhist world. Underlying the ban, all its twisted “reasoning” and the misery it has created for Dorje Shugden devotees, THIS THANGKA reveals a whole different story. It proves that the Dalai Lama’s success today, and the success of all Tibetan Buddhist teachers, lineages and centers in the world, actually began first with the blessings and protection of Dorje Shugden as he led the Dalai Lama to safety. All the claims about Dorje Shugden being an evil, harmful spirit are completely unfounded and untrue. The implementation and upholding of the ban by the Tibetan exiled government has accomplishing nothing but to create disharmony within the Buddhist world, alienate fellow Buddhists and infringe upon the basic right of religious freedom.

By sharing this, it is our hope that we can show the world the truth about Dorje Shugden, and that the ban can be lifted to allow more religious freedom, peace and tolerance everywhere. It is our call to action, to share the true nature of this practice – contradictory to popular belief now, Dorje Shugden is not harmful. On the contrary, it has been the basis of tremendous, worldwide benefit, peace and wisdom that Tibetan Buddhism has brought to every corner of the globe. It all began with that single Dorje Shugden thangka…

We have attached some photographs of the special Dorje Shugden thangka and other related subjects for your reference.

[YOUR NAME]

The thangka that His Holiness the Dalai Lama carried with him. Borrowed from His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, this thangka assured the Dalai Lama’s safe escape from Tibet. Upon his safe arrival in India, this thangka was returned to Trijang Rinpoche by the Dalai Lama and until this very day, this thangka is enshrined in a very honoured, special place in Trijang Rinpoche’s personal house in Gaden. This is the actual thangka that the Dalai Lama carried in a container on his back throughout the whole 1959 exodus

A close-up of His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche’s thangka that guided His Holiness the Dalai Lama to safety. It was carried by the Dalai Lama on his back until he reached safety

This is the 1959 exodus in which His Holiness the Dalai Lama carried with him the Dorje Shugden thangka that brought him safely into India

Gen Jampa, Jangchub Norbu, Gen Dawa spoke passionately about the ban and how people had attempted to harm His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche. These monks are seniors and leaders in the monastery, and very devoted students of the late previous Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. These are the monks who revealed the information about the Dorje Shugden thangka and are now the guardians of this thangka in Trijang Ladrang

FAQs – About Dorje Shugden

admin — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:41:24 +0000

Who is Dorje Shugden?

Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, the Enlightened Buddha of Wisdom. He arose as a Dharma Protector about 350 years ago especially to protect Nagarjuna’s Middle View, as taught by Lama Tsongkhapa. He is often considered to be a Protector of the Gelugpa lineage but actually, he protects all sincere Dharma practitioners equally.

What is a Dharma Protector?

A Dharma Protector is a being who manifests in a particular form with the particular function of averting obstacles and providing conducive conditions for our spiritual practice. There are two kinds of Dharma Protectors: Enlightened Protectors who are emanations of Buddhas, and unenlightened / worldly Protectors.

What is the difference between an Enlightened Dharma Protector and a worldly / unenlightened Protector?

The difference between an Enlightened Dharma Protector and a worldly Dharma Protector is that the former is a Buddha whereas the latter is not. Many of the Dharma Protectors who are most commonly relied upon are Enlightened Beings, such as Dorje Shugden, who is an emanation of the Buddha Manjushri.

Enlightened Dharma Protectors’ principal function is to protect our Dharma practice, not to help our mundane affairs. Famous Enlightened Dharma Protectors are Palden Lhamo (an emanation of Tara), Six-Armed Mahakala (Avalokiteshvara), Four-Armed Mahakala, Kalarupa and Dorje Shugden (Manjushri), and Setrab Chen (Amitabha).

The most famous of the unenlightened Dharma Protectors is Nechung / Pehar. These unenlightened Protectors are usually worldly beings who were oath-bound by Lamas to stop causing harm and to serve and protect the Dharma instead.

Why are Dharma Protectors so important?

When we are engaging in spiritual practice, obstacles and distractions will arise that may disturb our practice. Thus, it can often be difficult to fulfill our commitments or engage purely and deeply in Dharma practice.

Dharma Protectors are a very important part of our practice as they help to remove immediate obstacles to our spiritual progress. They also provide conducive conditions for us to accomplish our spiritual aspirations smoothly. For example, they can help to avert physical problems such as illnesses, accidents, financial difficulties, and bring about the resources we need such as sponsorship, resources and spiritual friends to support our practice.

Dorje Shugden has removed obstacles and created the conditions for the extraordinary growth of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings, and most importantly, the realization of those teachings. Lama Tsongkhapa’s doctrine is now spreading swiftly to countries throughout the world and touching the lives of many who have been able to learn the teachings and put them into practice to effect great transformation in their lives.

Why does Dorje Shugden look so fierce?

In Buddhist iconography, wrathful expressions denote a very fast and powerful energy. It is likened to the “fierce” but compassionate energy of a mother who shouts at her child if she sees him playing with fire or about to harm himself.

Dorje Shugden’s expression of fierceness is symbolic of his very swift and efficacious ability to destroy obstacles for Dharma practitioners and come to our aid very quickly. Underneath the fierceness, everything that Dorje Shugden does is out of total compassion.

Is Dorje Shugden a spirit or demon?

No, he is neither a spirit nor a demon. Quite the opposite. He is an emanation of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom, and is therefore a fully Enlightened Being.

Has Dorje Shugden emanated as other forms before?

Yes, prior to arising as a Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden manifested as many renowned and highly respected Lamas including:

The Indian Mahasiddha Biwawa
Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen (one of Lama Tsongkhapa’s closest disciples who built Gaden Monastery)
Panchen Sonam Drakpa (an erudite scholar and debate master, whose philosophical texts are still being studied in the monasteries today)
Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen (a highly respected Lama who was often compared to the 5th Dalai Lama).

What are the other forms of Dorje Shugden and what do they do?

There are five principal emanations of Dorje Shugden:

Dorje Shugden, the principal figure who represents consciousness. He bestows wisdom and shows the way to higher attainments.
Vairochana Shugden or Shize, who represents form. He purifies negative karma and obstacles.
Ratna Shugden or Gyenze, who represents feeling. He brings increase of all that is good.
Pema Shugden or Wangze, who represents discrimination. He brings peace of mind.
Karma Shugden or Trakze, who represents compositional factors. He helps to overcome delusions and combats the strongest negative, harmful energies.

What are oracles, and how are they related to Dharma Protectors?

Oracles are specially trained people who can take trance and serve as a medium for Dharma Protectors. This means that the essence or energy of the Dharma Protector can enter and use their bodies as a vessel to speak to us directly. Therefore, we can receive enlightened and accurate advice to make the right decisions to support our spiritual path in our daily lives.

Pilgrimage to India

admin — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:32:31 +0000

We went to India to celebrate the dedication of the new Shar Gaden temple and along the way, we had an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of thousands of Buddhists who went before us. This journey began on Oct. 23 with three monks and 16 lay students heading to Mumbai, India.

Our first visit was to the Kanheri Caves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. These caves were carved out of cliffs as a place for monks to study and practice Buddhism. They date from 1st century BCE to 9th century CE. They were commissioned by royal families, merchants and other segments of the old society to support the monks in their efforts to practice the Dharma.

In the center of some of the caves are large Stupas. Thousands of intricate carvings of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other Buddhist images cover the walls. As in other cultures, much of the ancient art in India is based on religion. So these caves and their art (sculptures, painting, etc.) and architecture are of interest to many historians.

After a quick plane ride south to Hubli, we stopped at Ven. Kuten Lama’s favorite boyhood restaurant – Ayodhya – for tea. Then we drove through a part of the Indian countryside that few foreigners get to see. Fields of sugar cane, rice and corn lay next to tree-lined roads that took us through the town of Mundgod and to a warm welcome by the Shar Gaden monks.

After we arrived and enjoyed tea, we settled into our rooms. The next day was a “play day” before the official festivities began. We met briefly with Abbot Geshe Losang Phendey and then Kuten Lama took us on a tour of the grounds. Everywhere we went, preparations were underway – hanging flags, putting up banners, hauling boxes of supplies. But there were no apparent concern for the preparations being completed “on time” but just a sense of purpose and excitement.

The celebrations began at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28. A parade of monks carried pictures of lineage masters with a procession of senior monks and students following. Hundreds of people from all over the world sat with local Tibetans around the perimeter of the temple for prayers. The younger monks sitting near us were very busy watching us most of the time.

What followed were an official ribbon cutting ceremony, a meeting of the Dorje Shugden Religious and Charitable Society and an evening performance by the monks of a monastic debate and traditional dances and songs. Over the course of the next three days, there were an education conference, a Je Tsongkhapa Long Life initiation, invocation and Lama Choepa at Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang’s Labrang and Kangso.

Time at Shar Gaden seemed to go very slowly even though the days were filled with so much activity. We were so completely separate from our everyday lives – no clock to watch, no work to do and meal times announced with a gong – but we also felt right at home. No one wanted to leave. But next on our trip was a visit to Serpom Monastery to the south.

We enjoyed a brief tour of the grounds and had an opportunity to see the new temple that still under construction. After a delicious meal we were on the road again to Mysore. There, we visited Chamundi Hill and the Mysore Palace before going to see Kundeling Rinpoche’s monastery in the heart of the city. An extra day to rest and we were on the road again – north to Bangalore to catch a train that took us to Aurangabad.

There we visited the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are undergoing preservation. Ajanta is known for the ancient paintings found on walls, ceiling and pillars. The paintings were not painted directly onto the rock walls. After the surface of the rock was made as smooth as possible with hammer and chisel, the rough surface was coated with a layer of clay and cow dung mixed with rice husks. Then, a topcoat of lime was then applied and polished smooth. Then the paint would be applied. Many of the paintings have been lost, but the few that remained hint at how beautifully decorated the caves once were.

Ancient teachers in this lineage have practiced the same prayers, chants and other rituals that we do today. So, when we had an opportunity to do Lama Choepa in one of the caves, Kuten Lama explained that it was auspicious that we were able to carry on this tradition.

On our second day in Aurangabad, we went to the Ellora caves. This set of caves is a mix of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religions. There are some features of these caves that are all the same – channels cut into the rock to direct rainwater into large cisterns, windows and holes to let in light and fresh air – but the carvings and ornamentation were all unique.

On our last night in Mumbai before we returned to the United States, we had one last meal of spicy Indian cuisine with Kuten Lama. Sitting around the table talking and laughing, it could have been any meal at any time in any place. But it wasn’t – it was the end of a historic trip that included an important time in our lineage. It was, in a single word, amazing!

~ Margo Pierce
Cincinnati

Source : www.ganden.org/uploads/news/pdfs/Garuda_Winter2010.pdf

Dorje Shugden and Dalai Lama - Spreading Dharma Together » oracle

Who made Lama Zopa a Rinpoche?

THE LAWUDO LAMA

FPMT Lineage Lamas

1. H.H. Pabongka Rinpoche Dechen Nyingpo

2. H.H. Trijang Rinpoche

3. H.H. Ling Rinpoche

4. H.H. Zong Rinpoche

5. Lama Yeshe

6. Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche

7. H.H. Serkong Dorje Chang

8. H.H. Sakya Trizin

9. Geshe Rabten Rinpoche

10. Geshe Sopa Rinpoche

11. Gomo Tulku

12. Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche

13. Zemey Rinpoche

14. Ribur Rinpoche

15. Choden Rinpoche

16. Khensur Denma Locho Rinpoche

17. Khyongla Rato Rinpoche

Further Developments

Lama Zopa’s 2008 “clarification” about being recognized by Dorje Shugden:

Addendum

The Unreliability of the Nechung Oracle

During the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama

During the time of the 13th Dalai Lama

Younghusband British invasion and the demise of the 13th Dalai Lama

The 14th Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet

How Nechung misled the 14th Dalai Lama

Pisu Jola’s Book

The Great Return to Tibet

Conclusion

Addendum

The Heart Of A Protector – Geshe Lobsang Phende

Dharma Demystified: The Enthronement of Dorje Shugden

The Return Of A Great Master: H.E. Kyabje Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

Pictures of the enthronement of the 20th Denma Gonsar Rinpoche

Dakini Healed Lama Zopa?

Some Selected Posts on the Forum Topic “Dakini Healing Lama Zopa”

Responses and further comments

Posted by: “DharmaDefender”

Posted by: “thor”

Posted by: “honeydakini”

Posted by: “Big Uncle”

Posted by: “Benny”

Dorje Shugden is the Bad Guy?

Part 1: An Article

May 14, 1995 – Tsangpa Oracle Prophesy I

June 14, 1995- Tsangpa Oracle Prophesy II

1995- Exorcism Rituals Against Dorje Shugden

Part 2: A response to the article from “TK” on the DorjeShugden.com forum

The TRUTH behind who saved the Dalai Lama’s life

FAQs – About Dorje Shugden

Who is Dorje Shugden?

What is a Dharma Protector?

What is the difference between an Enlightened Dharma Protector and a worldly / unenlightened Protector?

Why are Dharma Protectors so important?

Why does Dorje Shugden look so fierce?

Is Dorje Shugden a spirit or demon?

Has Dorje Shugden emanated as other forms before?

What are the other forms of Dorje Shugden and what do they do?

What are oracles, and how are they related to Dharma Protectors?

Pilgrimage to India

Lama Zopa’s 2008 “clarification”
about being recognized by Dorje Shugden: