Isolationism was intensified in 2008, when the Dalai Lama started a new phase of persecution against Shugden practitioners. Whilst ostensibly on a religious visit to Drepung Loseling monastery in South India, instead he instigated a political referendum on whether the monastery wanted Shugden monks to remain in their ranks.

He forced the monks to vote by having them select a stick of either red (for Dorje Shugden) or yellow (for the Dalai Lama) colour in a public referendum. Very few monks were brave enough to go against the Dalai Lama and as a result of the ‘referendum’ which was undemocratic and unconstitutional – since when do monks engage in a political vote on a spiritual practice?

Nine hundred monks were expelled from their monasteries. The Dalai Lama himself is on video shamelessly praising the Abbots of the monasteries for expelling the monks. This intensified the schism in the Sangha that the Dalai Lama has instigated with the introduction of the ban in 1996.

Eventually the monks found a home in two new monasteries that were purpose built for them by various Western benefactors, Shar Gaden and Serpom. It was clear that the monastic community was completely split. High walls were erected between the new monasteries and the old to separate the two factions.

The Central Tibetan Administration quickly introduced a process of oath-swearing for Tibetans whereby the had to swear in front of Palden Lhamo not to share material or spiritual resources with Shugden practitioners. Just as the monasteries were divided, this split families and set family members against each other as some swore and some bravely refused.

The suffering that this caused was incredible and further isolated Shugden practitioners, making them pariahs in their own communities. It’s difficult to believe that a so-called ‘Buddhist’ society could countenance this, but out of blind faith in the Dalai Lama, the ordinary people have instigated his evil actions. There are many examples in history where the weak have been influenced by powerful and charismatic dictators to create evil – this unfortunate situation is just another one of those.

All of these actions, instigated by the Dalai Lama, clearly show that he is not a qualified Buddhist Teacher, nor even a Buddhist, as it is a commitment of Buddhism not to harm others.

Editor’s note: DorjeShugden.com does not support the anti-Dalai Lama stance in this article as we believe that the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden are working together to spread Dharma. However, we are publishing this article to show the various different perspectives on this subject.

(Continued in part 3)

Source : http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-dorje-shugden-practitioners-are-not_17.html

The principal cause of isolationism is ostracism by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama for political reasons. The Dalai Lama has banned the practice of Dorje Shugden, but unlike some religious disagreements where there is a ‘live and let live’ attitude, the Dalai Lama will never allow anyone to remain neutral on the issue.

He has forced Tibetans to swear an oath in front of the Tibetan protectoress Palden Lhamo not to share material or spiritual resources with Shugden practitioners. Thus, it’s not possible to abstain or remain neutral on this issue if you are Tibetan, because if you do not swear an oath, you are excluded from Tibetan society.

This ostracism began very early on, in fact, as soon as the Dalai Lama decided, for incorrect reasons, to stop practising Shugden. He then formed a plan to destroy the practice by exploiting the blind faith of the Tibetan people which has been encouraged by giving many public Kalachakra empowerments. The problems started in 1976 when the Dalai Lama gave up the practice. This caused many problems from the beginning. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explained how this ostracism began:

Lama Yeshe was the general spiritual director of Manjushri Center, while I had the responsibility of organizing the daily programmes. We were both very happy to have the picture of HH the Dalai Lama on the shrine because we hoped that the people of Manjushri and HH Dalai Lama would develop a good spiritual connection and relationship.

Many times we invited the Dalai Lama to come to Manjushri Centre, although we both knew, even then, that he had rejected the practice of Dorje Shugden. We assumed it was not his real intention because we found it difficult to believe that he really wanted to destroy the practice of Dorje Shugden.

So for a long time we continued to practise Dorje Shugden and kept faith in the Dalai Lama. Then later the situation deteriorated because he intensified his ban on Dorje Shugden worship. I heard that he said in public that those who practise Dorje Shugden cannot be his friend.

Then my mind gradually changed, especially as we received criticism from people who were saying that Manjushri Centre had broken its guru devotion to the Dalai Lama because of our continued practice of Dorje Shugden. As his picture was on our shrine, people believed that he was our root Guru — on the other hand because we practised Dorje Shugden people thought we were against the Dalai Lama. Due to this contradiction we received a lot of criticism.

The Dalai Lama never visited Manjushri Centre because he was displeased that Lama Yeshe and Geshe Kelsang continued to practise Dorje Shugden.

Because the Dalai Lama’s stance on Dorje Shugden was not to allow any religious freedom, Tibetan Buddhism began to polarise into two distinct camps – those who followed the Dalai Lama’s view that Dorje Shugden was a harmful spirit and those who had faith in the traditional Gelugpa lineage view of Je Pabongkhapa and Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang that Dorje Shugden was a protector aspect of Je Tsongkhapa himself.

The Dalai Lama made it clear on many occasions that he wanted to eradicate the practice of Dorje Shugden completely, and so it became a case of ‘if you’re not with me, you’re against me’. This caused a lot of suffering for Shugdenpas who were torn between their faith in the Dalai Lama and their faith in their Lineage Gurus and Shugden himself. They had to make a choice, and no choice was comfortable as it involved the loss of something precious in either case.

(Continued in part 2)

Source : http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-dorje-shugden-practitioners-are-not.html

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THIS IS A RARE AND UNSEEN BEFORE VIDEO

This video was taken sometime in 2008-2009, which showed monks in Gaden Shartse monastery in some kind of swearing ceremony, but this was no normal ceremony, it was a ceremony to swear against the pracrtice of Dorje Shugden.

The monks were first lectured by some lay Tibetan government-in-exile officials (how dare they) about the negativities of practising Dorje Shugden, and after that, the whole Sangha community, from young novice monks to old senior Geshes, one by one lined up at the front under the thangka of Setrap to read out loud the swearing statement from a board/paper, swearing against the practice Dorje Shugden, and right after every reading, there was an applause.

The monks were made to swear against Dorje Shugden in front of a huge Setrap thangka (time 06:56), which is ironical because Setrap is very close to Dorje Shugden and Setrap appears in Dorje Shugden’s mandala, so the person who made this arrangement was either subtly and wittily protesting against the whole thing, or was purely ignorant.

You can see in the video even some very senior monks were made to swear: a very old monk in walking stick (time 09:40), an old monk whose hands were shaking while reading the swearing statement (time 10:40), and another monk who was seemingly disgusted and didn’t bother to read out loud (time 11:04).

Which leader/government in the world would make their people/monks do this kind of act of swearing against the practice of a certain deity? This video is a clear evidence of the appalling things that the then Tibetan government-in-exile made its own people to do.

These were the darkest hours in the history of Gaden Shartse Monastery. This forced swearing in against one’s religious practice (Dorje Shugden) was carried out in all the Monasteries and all Tibetan settlements throughout India and Nepal. Monks who had practices Dorje Shugden for over 60 years were forced to swear against this practice given to them by their eminent teachers.

The swearing in against Shugden was witnessed by a lay ‘official’ representing Dalai Lama. If you did not swear, then you were excommunicated and not allowed to interact with those who have sworn in. Everyone i carefully watched and recorded and reported to Dalai Lama. Those who have sworn in may not interact with those who continue Dorje Shugden’s practice. Families, friends and teachers/disciples have been torn apart.

There are many cases where some monks did not swear in but their families did. Because of this they did not meet their families again. How can Dalai Lama and CTA ask all to swear in against Dorje Shugden’s practice. How can someone take away your religious freedom. Dalai Lama and CTA says you have the freedom to practice, but if you do you are excommunicated from the Monastery or community.

You cannot go to any stores owned by Tibetans, hospitals, community meetings, or any talks given by Dalai Lama. What kind of freedom is that? Even now, those who do not swear in are hounded or investigated by the CTA and Dalai Lama’s people to force you to swear or be excommunicated. For some this may be shocking, but do further investigations to see how true all of this is. The Tibet you see romanticized to the world and how it really is are different.

Below are some related postings made during those period.

As everyone may know, over 500 monks was forced to leave their beloved home GADEN SHARTSE MONASTERY in South India. HH Dalai Lama and Tibetan govt in exile forced all the Monasteries to swear an oath to abandon all practices of Dorje Shugden. If they do not, they must leave the monastery for good. So these 500 monks decided to remain true to their spiritual convictions and left Gaden Shartse Monastery in Mundgod South India.

Nearby, they re-established Shar Gaden Monastery as a place to have freedom of worship. Help, support, donations and care has been pouring in from all parts of the world. They have a grand prayer hall, monk quarters, pujas, active Geshe Study program. Many monks and Tulkus from other Monasteries who refuse to abandon Dorje Shugden has also joined Shar Gaden Monastery. Shar Gaden have been working very hard in preparing huge lineage lama statues for their prayer hall, cleaning, painting, extending buildings, etc.

The 450 monks of Dokhang Khangtsen has officially seperated from Gaden Shartse Monastery. Gaden Shartse had meetings and the property of the Shartse had to be divided. Dokhang Khangtsen was given their share of the collective monastic property. From Gaden Shartse Monastery, Dokhang khangtsen has received:

1. 400 crore Indian Lakhs (1 lakh is Indian rupees 100,000)( 1 crore is 1 lakh x 100)
2. 15 Female buffaloes that produce milk
3.  Shartse has a guest house in Delhi, that has been handed over to Dokhang.
4. Shartse has a newly built guest house in Gaden, that has been handed over.
5. Much ritual silverware and ritual objects of the monastery.
6. Hospital Car
7. Carpets and Many thangkas
8. One lorry and two tractors
9. 20 acres of agricultural land

They have remained where they are in the Monastery but seperated from the main Gaden Shartse Monastery completely. They have no involvement with any activities with eachother. They have kept their khangtsen prayer hall and monk rooms. With this, they have formed their own Monastery and now it is offically called: SHAR DOKHANG DRATSTANG.

The newly elected Abbot is: Geshe Lobsang Pende.

The incredible part is that The exile Govt of Tibet very much encouraged all monks and organizations to seperate from Dorje Shugden practitioners. They advised strongly not to share anything with Dorje Shugden practitioners. That any cost incurred in this THEY WILL HAPPILY COVER AND REIMBURSE. So far the expenses as mentioned in the 9 points mentioned above incurred by Gaden Shartse Monastery has not been reimbursed by the Tibetan Government. Gaden Shartse has to bear the ‘lossess.’ Tibetan Government is absolutely silent on this issue of reimbursement. They talk alot and demand, but when it comes to footing the bills, they are silent.

Dokhang Khangtsen has been an inalienable part of Gaden Shartse Monastery for the past 600 years. Dokhang has produced so many great Masters of the highest calibre. Now because they wish to continue worshipping Gyelchen Dorje Shugden, the Tibetan Govt insists that ANY MONKS WORSHIPPING DORE SHUGDEN may not remain in the monastery. The Tibetan Govt has put incredible unfair pressure on the abbot of Gaden shartse during this period. This policy will return to ‘haunt’ the Tibetan Govt in exile. Dokhang Khangtsen in Shartse is not fully gone, as around 30 monks stayed and did not move with their compatriots to Shar Dhokhang Dratsang.

Shar Dokhang Dratsang has had no conflicts with Gaden Shartse Monastery. Such a seperation/division within the sangha is unheard of . The Tibetan Govt is responsible for such an heinous act. The monks of Dokhang khangtsen has never had anything ill against HH the Dalai Lama, or were ever unpatriotic. Their worship of Gyelchen Dorje Shugden was granted to them by HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. Their district in Tibet (Chatreng) where many of the monks from Dokhang hail from have kept Dorje Shugden as their heart protector for hundreds of years now and many generations. Their forefathers have worshipped Dorje Shugden for so many generations. Each home in Chatreng will have a shrine to Dorje Shugden.

Because they wish to adhere to the religious commitments of their guru (Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang) by worshipping Dorje Shugden, they are not allowed to remain in Gaden Shartse Monastery. That is their so called ‘crime.’ Much pain, anguish and loss has been inflicted upon both the monks remaining in Gaden Shartse and those who have left to Shar Dokhang Dratsang. May their practice, study, lineage, traditions prevail. Their courage, adherence to their guru samaya, and steadfast faith opens a new door for all Dorje Shugden practitoners. A VERY POWERFUL EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW. TO REMAIN TRUE TO YOUR COMMITMENTS AND WORDS OF HONOUR TAKEN BEFORE ONE’S VAJRADHARA LIKE GURUS.

Dokhang khangtsen are in need of financial aid to provide food/tea to the monks on a daily basis. It would be good to contact them to help.

Website of Shar Gaden Monastery: http://www.shargadenpa.org

To the attention of all the most venerable Rinpoches, the venerable Geshes, the monastic community as well as lay community, who are endowed with faith based on understanding of the quality of the teaching of master Je Tsongkhapa, the King of Dharma, emanation of Lord Manjushri.

This is our appeal to all those with ever rising strength of courage and sincerity.

The following is a request coming from the depth of our heart. A situation which has occurred and which is beyond possibility to imagine is the following:

As it says, “In this world of existence, things which seem impossible to exist come into existence”. Due to politics entering inside the belly of religion, and due to the difference in power between the mouth of an ordinary person and that of a sovereign, although there is not even the slightest fault for a humble person to respect and worship one’s own lama and deity on which one has relied for generations, one is now identified in the exile Tibetan society as the enemy number one, who has committed the heaviest crime.

A forced order has been given that every monk of any monastic university must pledge through swearing and giving signatures to not have any contact of any kind, spiritual or material, with those who rely on the deity Dorje Shugden. If one does not comply with this, one must be expelled from the monasteries. In fact, this order has been carried out effectively in the three monastic universities and other Gelug monasteries openly, this has become evident to all.

We, a department belonging to Gaden Shartse monastic college with the name Palden Dokhang Kamtsen, consist of venerable Tulkus and Geshes and a monastic Sangha. Those actually present at the monastery reach the number of over 500 persons, and there are still more than 300 persons living abroad. The Tulkus, Geshes, and ordinary monks of our department, joined by other departments like Pukhang, Nyagre, Thebo, and Lhopa, have united to face the same challenge with the firm decision not to participate in that miserable swearing procedure which has taken place on February 9th 2008 in the Gaden Shartse Monastic College in the name of the college’s protector deity Setrab.

From that moment on we lost all our hope and aspiration to participate in our monastic college at the prayer assembly, the debate sessions, and even to have meals together. Now we have no other choice than to establish our own kitchen in our own department.

However, for a bird to fly in the sky it requires two wings. In the same way, establishing a monastery with a Sangha community also depends on two indispensable elements: the education and the material resources. With regards to education, with full confidence, we can say that we are in no way in any shortage of any kind. Moreover, it is very encouraging, that in all the members of our Sangha, older and younger, the fire of enthusiasm is burning strongly to establish a monastic community which is free of all kinds of mixtures, under whatever circumstances, easy or difficult.

The greatest difficulty we encounter now are the material resources. For example, in order to newly produce schools, libraries, and dining halls, and likewise to provide the monastic Sangha of several hundred monks daily with their sustenance of living, such as daily tea and meals, we are faced with an anxiety like a patient who is deprived of funds to pay his medical bill. Therefore, we would like to place our request to everybody, with folded hands, for the sake of the teachings of the Gaden tradition in general, and in particular for the faultless tradition of our former great masters, such as the precious spiritual father, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, and his sons.

This situation is like a butterlamp which is just about to extinguish due to lack of oil. At this very difficult period of our life, we have decided to face any difficulties, even to place our own life, if necessary, as a target, to safeguard the precious lineage of teaching and practice of the Dharma. In order to fulfil this great responsibility, and for us to overcome the difficulties of the present time, we ask for your support, your help and assistance, by all means.

Dokhang department of Ganden Monastery
on the 14th of February 2008 from Mundgod in India

Source: WisdomBuddhaDorjeShugden.org
http://www.wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org/dorjeshugden20.php