Question asked by Demian
Recently, I was reading on Trijang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai's root guru and got confused. In the website, it said that he thought of Dorje Shugden as a mundane protector and as a gyalpo spirit that harms beings and kills them. He also said that Dorje Shugden would kill and harm those who mix Lama Tsongkhapa's traditions with the other schools as he said:
"[This protector of the doctrine] is extremely important for holding Dzong-ka-ba's tradition without mixing and corrupting [it] with confusions due to the great violence and the speed of the force of his actions, which fall like lightning to punish violently all those beings who have wronged the Yellow Hat Tradition, whether they are high or low.[This protector is also particularly significant with respect to the fact that] many from our own side, monks or lay people, high or low, are not content with Dzong-ka-ba's tradition, which is like pure gold, [and] have mixed and corrupted [this tradition with ] the mistaken views and practices from other schools, which are tenet systems that are reputed to be incredibly profound and amazingly fast but are [in reality] mistakes among mistakes, faulty, dangerous and misleading paths. In regard to this situation, this protector of the doctrine, this witness, manifests his own form or a variety of unbearable manifestations of terrifying and frightening wrathful and fierce appearances. Due to that, a variety of events, some of them having happened or happening, some of which have been heard or seen, seem to have taken place: some people become unhinged and mad, some have a heart attack and suddenly die, some [see] through a variety of inauspicious signs [their] wealth, accumulated possessions and descendants disappear without leaving any trace, like a pond whose feeding river has ceased, whereas some [find it] difficult to achieve anything in successive lifetimes."
This was on Wikipedia, but yet he was a Dorje Shugden practitioner. But why would he say such vile things about Dorje Shugden when he worshiped him? Not only that, but why did he call Dorje Drakden an enlightened emanation? He called Nechung, "is of a nature of the Buddhas of the Five Families". I'm getting confused on the teachings now.
Dear Demian,
You are right that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was a Dorje Shugden practitioner. In fact he was the lineage holder of Dorje Shugden practice that stems from Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. In fact Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche composed a very large text called ‘Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors’. This text details the history, benefits and practices associated with the Dharma protector Dorje Shugden. There is an English version of the text available online, which the Wikipedia article you are referring to actually references. The English translation however is not complete, it is just once chapter of the entire text.
The article you mention is somewhat biased against Dorje Shugden practitioners, therefore it does not convey that much information. There are actually three categories of Dharma protectors: (i) Enlightened protectors, (ii) Enlightened protectors appearing in worldly form and (iii) Worldly or mundane protectors. Enlightened protectors are those protectors whose form is outside of samsara, such as Kalarupa. Enlightened protectors appearing in worldly form, such as Dorje Shugden, are enlightened beings who have taken on a form within samsara to be closer to us. Worldly protectors are those beings within samsara who have been oath-bound to assist practitioners.
Therefore although the article states that Dorje Shugden is mundane, they have not given all the information. Manjushri has emanated within samsara and manifested to benefit beings. Some people find this hard to comprehend, yet they also believe in Lamas who are emanations of the enlightened beings. This is exactly the same. For example His Holiness Dalai Lama is considered the emanation of Chenresig, and the His Holiness the Panchen Lama is the emanation of Amitabha. Therefore Dorje Shugden is enlightened, but appears in a worldly form in order to be closer to sentient beings.
Next we see the author’s bias against the practice of Dorje Shugden. Since Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche thought of Dorje Shugden as an emanation of Manjushri, he would not have said such vile things about Dorje Shugden. In fact Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s action of composing such a large text on the practice of Dorje Shugden goes to show that in fact he thought very highly of Dorje Shugden. This does not come across in the article you have mentioned.
In regards to the Dharma protector Nechung, or more correctly Pehar Gyalpo, he can be viewed in two different ways. Even though he is generally considered a worldly being, who was oath-bound by Guru Rinpoche, he is actually a high level Bodhisattva because he has been serving the Dharma and keeping his Samaya strongly with Guru Rinpoche. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche however views Nechung as an enlightened being, or in some interpretations will be considered to be the same as the Buddhas of the Five Families once he achieves enlightenment. Regarding this, when Pehar attains enlightenment, there is a prophecy that says he will be replaced in his position as chief protector of Tibet by Dorje Shugden himself. I hope this helps.
Thank you.