A Tibetan Solution Uncovered in Modern Diplomacy
Since the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) established themselves in Dharamsala, North India as the Tibetan exiled leadership, their policies have pitted them and their supporters against pretty much the rest of the world. Nevertheless, despite the CTA’s best efforts to foster in-fighting within their community, the many-decades-old divisive and damaging battle regarding who is the real Panchen Lama, who is the real Karmapa, between pro- and anti-Dorje Shugden people, between Rangzen (full independence) and Umaylam (meaningful autonomy) advocates, and between India and China regarding Tibetans living in exile, may finally find a solution.
In his latest article in Modern Diplomacy, investigative author Dr Andrea Galli sees an opportunity for a practical solution towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama returning to his homeland — through de-escalating tensions with China on many fronts including by pulling back from the long-running controversies over the Panchen Lama and Dorje Shugden worship.
Modern Diplomacy, a politics-based publication for movers, shakers and policymakers, is a leading platform for impartial and unbiased qualitative analysis on complex international issues that matter. Boldly venturing off the mainstream path whenever required by rational thought and logic, yet regulated by exceptional standards of professionalism and journalism, this influential publication is well-respected for its special reports, rigorous research, in-depth political commentaries and hard-hitting inquiries.
Like many of the other insightful pieces on Modern Diplomacy, Dr Galli’s latest penetrating article separates the wheat from the chaff, demonstrating clearly what route the Tibetan leadership ought to take to seize the opportunity, after many decades, to bring about substance to the wishes and hopes of the Tibetan diaspora — a return to their homeland, peace, prosperity, some form of autonomy, and a preservation and continued flourishing of their religion and culture.
Dr Galli begins by describing the global socio-political environment today, that is one of chaotic politics plus the disruptive belligerence in the Middle East, and surmises that the Chinese political model has become increasingly appealing. I note this to be true given the wide welcome China has received in Asia and elsewhere.
With regards to India in this global scenario, according to Dr Galli,
“One of the most contentious issues springs from Beijing’s resentment that India continues to give shelter and a platform to the Dalai Lama and those Tibetans who followed the spiritual leader into exile following a failed uprising against Chinese rule almost six decades ago.”
He blames this fissure or impasse on the CTA who,
“…has until very recently, never lost an opportunity to needle Beijing about the legitimacy of its claims on Tibet. These include the issue of the Panchen Lama, and of devotion to the Dorje Shugden deity.”
Dr Galli also underscores the Dalai Lama’s spiritual leadership of the Tibetan community in exile as an important factor in both the CTA’s relations with China, and to a lesser extent, China’s relations with its Tibet Autonomous Region. Given his pivotal role in this dynamic, the Dalai Lama’s openness to a cordial relationship with China could ultimately pave the way for an agreement between the CTA and China that would allow the return home of Tibet’s exile community.
Fortunately, there is positive news to this end.
In the past, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA saw it convenient to view the “Chinese-sponsored” Panchen Lama, a Shugden devotee, as a provocation and an attempt to create a rift in the exile community. They therefore came up with all sorts of reasons to propagate this division, for instance by saying that the practice of paying devotion to Dorje Shugden would shorten the life of the Dalai Lama, and that the practice encouraged sectarianism among Buddhists and represented a “danger to the cause of Tibet”. That the Dalai Lama is 82 and in good health, appears to have been conveniently ignored in the CTA’s compulsion to find reasons to segregate Shugden worshippers from mainstream society.
All these false accusations were used by the CTA to ramp up their backing of their own Panchen Lama candidate, which is an important step towards recognising their own 15th Dalai Lama in the future, and therefore upping the stakes against Shugden worshippers. In recent times however, and especially since the Dalai Lama has come out to bolster the legitimacy of the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama, there is hope of a complete reversal.
According to Dr Galli, the CTA have also been compelled to tone down their US-backed anti-China rhetoric significantly as they have begun to lose the faith and support of the Tibetan public, having done little to ease their precarious situation after 60 years of exile. Support for the CTA has noticeably dwindled amidst allegations of corruption and self-promotion; where just a few years ago any word spoken against the Tibetan leadership would have invited instant and violent retribution, these days the CTA are having to talk down passionate protests against them by their own people. Tibetans are leaving the settlements in droves and with each person leaving, the CTA’s relevance is diminished and, just as seriously, the CTA also appears to be losing international moral and financial support.
Dr Galli also noted that in recent interviews and speeches, the spiritual leader has been more conciliatory towards China and the idea of Chinese rule in Tibet than at any time during his exile. Indeed, the Dalai Lama’s comments have even earned him the ire of his Indian hosts, many of whom clamour for his deportation over his perceived ingratitude towards India’s kindness.
Taken together, the recent developments represent a lifetime opportunity to bridge differences not only between India and China but between Chinese-controlled Tibet and its exile community.
It has become clear over the years that the CTA itself no longer sees an independent Tibet as a viable option, and that the most practical way of working towards a return to the homeland is through de-escalating tensions with China, according to Dr Galli.
His conclusion — pulling back from the long-running controversies over the Panchen Lama and Dorje Shugden devotion represents a small step towards this end. To continue these conflicts and remain belligerent and hostile towards Chinese policies regarding the Panchen Lama and Dorje Shugden, is to bite the hand that could open the doors for the CTA to go home.
The question is, does the Tibetan leadership really want peace, prosperity and the preservation of religion and culture for the Tibetans? If they do, then they better tow the Dalai Lama’s line steadfastly. Dr Galli’s article is one of the few I have seen where real problems are being met with real, practical solutions — solutions which the CTA would do well to consider and put into action. And whilst the article is full of painful truths the CTA will find difficult to accept, being bereft of any other option, it seems they have left themselves with no other choice.
Seow Choong Liang
MODERN DIPLOMACY: Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama quarrel: The way for rapprochement with China
For more interesting information:
- Dalai Lama’s sudden change of mind about China-backed Panchen Lama
- Nepal and China: Two Old Civilisations Embrace
- Pilgrimage Through India & Nepal
- “The Tribune” Publishes Dalai Lama Planning to visit China! | “The Tribune”发表达赖喇嘛计划访问中国的新闻!
- Reuters publishes my thoughts on Tibetan self-immolation
- Reuters covers international Dorje Shugden conference 2018
- Milestone International Dorje Shugden Conference 2018 | 2018全球雄登代表大会开创历史新篇章 | ས་ཚིགས་འཛམ་གླིང་རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན་ལྷན་ཚོགས ༢༠༡༨།
- Huffington Post: Shugden Acolytes Decry Ostracism Within Buddhist Ranks
- Huffington Post: When Machiavelli Dons Tibetan Robes
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- Dorje Shugden: Our Personal Stories
- Dear Dalai Lama, please read this
- Dear Dalai Lama, With Folded Hands
- Why so rude?
- 700 Meet A Buddha (七百人幸睹佛现)
- Great Masters Speak about Tsem Rinpoche
- Dorje Shugden Retreat: A powerful practice to fulfill wishes
- Dorje Shugden People Do Not Go to the Three Lower Realms
- Why Accepting Dorje Shugden Is Good for Tibetan Democracy
- Why can’t the Dalai Lama ‘bind’ Dorje Shugden?
- H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s first live streaming!
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- Manjushri Nagarakshasa comes to KFR!
- They were not wrong
- Can Tibetan Lamas Make Mistakes?
- My plea to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- My plea to His Holiness (Tibetan) | ངའི་༧གོང་ས་མཆོག་ལ་སྙན་ཞུ་ཞུ་རྒྱུར།
- The Fourteenth Dalai Lama & Dorje Shugden | ༧གོང་ས་ཆེན་པོ་སྐུ་འཕྲེང་བཅུ་བཞི་པ་མཆོག་དང་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན། | 十四世达赖尊者与多杰雄登
- The Fifth Dalai Lama & Dorje Shugden | ༧གོང་ས་ལྔ་པ་ཆེན་པོ་དང་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན། | 第五世达赖尊者与多杰雄登
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story
- Should there be a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state? Part 1
- Should there be a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state? Part 2
- To Sum It Up
- The Buddhist Divide – An Unholy Campaign against Religious Freedom
- Tibetan Leadership’s New Anti-Shugden Video
- Updated: Dorje Shugden Teaching Videos
- The Dalai Lama Speaks Clearly About the Dorje Shugden Ban
- Nechung – The Retiring Devil of Tibet
- Will the Dalai Lama agree with this?
- The Tibetan Leadership Exposed in Modern Diplomacy
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Beautiful sharing of Dr. Andrea Galli’s article, with important advice for the Tibetan leadership to consider it. Its time for them to change their views and thinking of ways to benefit the Tibetans instead of politicking the long over due Dorje Shugden controversy. Dalai Lama has stated openly that he wish to return to China, hence the leadership should fulfil Dalai Lama and many Tibetans in-exile wishes. Tibetans have been living in India for the past 60 years , it time for them to be move on to think for the future generations and not depending on USA and India or any other countries. In China , those who had remained there felt happier as China allow religious freedom with many Tibetans practicing Dorje Shugden. The Tibetan leadership working closely with China government for the benefit of all Tibetans as China if they really to want peace, harmony , growth of their country and the preservation of religion and culture for the Tibetans. Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们,
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说,西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使,一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前,当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺,化身为特别的护法,赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安(平日外游和神游时)和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时,你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时,你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后,你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒:嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑,你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见,充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的,圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安,常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿(布旦康萨)— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
Many come to Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia to make offerings and prayers to the increase form of Dorje Shugden who appears like a prince and rides on a golden horse. Many report having their wishes fulfilled and return many times. Am happy to see this. Tsem Rinpoche
You can learn more about this form of Dorje Shugden here: https://bit.ly/2wxQyes
and
See video of this chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEK35F_O5Hg
Thank you Choong for this great sharing of Dr. Andrea Galli’s article and it would be good for CTA to heed his advice to fulfil the Dalai Lama and the most Tibetans In Exile’s wishes to return to Tibet. With each passing of time, the opportunity becomes slimmer as world politics changes so I hope that CTA understands the dynamics to swiftly take the chance they can now. No other country will be coming to their aid. Quite the contrary…USA who had been a staunch supporter is become more belligerent towards these refugees with sponsorship aid becoming less, is a good example. The years of unaccounted spending had lead to questionable need for sponsorship as the Tibetan refugees are certainly not living any improvement. So time to smell the coffee CTA!
COMPASSION at its best: His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained in Ladakh, 31 July 2018:
“Usually at the beginning of an empowerment there is a ritual to drive away interferences. But I no longer feel it’s consistent to regard some beings as evil forces. At the start of each day I cultivate altruism, but in the evening we say, ‘May the evil forces be driven away.’ There seems to be a contradiction here that I’m no longer keen to comply with. I’m not highly realized, but I have great confidence in the power of Bodhichitta.”
Source: https://bit.ly/2wVsqSb
———————————————-
This latest statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is excellent. I fully believe in his compassion and I hope he will fully implement it.
All negative beings take rebirth with negative minds due to deep attachments. The attachments result in negative states of rebirth and angry minds that carry out harmful actions, like spirits or hungry ghosts who can be very bothersome because they are very angry as they died in the state of attachment in their former rebirths.
Indeed we need to generate compassion towards these beings, especially the formless type, as it would be the best remedy to stop their harm. We can recite mantras with love and bless them with it. While reciting prayers, we can meditate on them being at peace. When we generate compassion towards these harmful interferences of the formless type, many of them will calm down and stop their harm and even go away. Some of them, you can talk to them and subdue their harm and they will stop harming completely if they feel your love. That is how you can help them.
Many high masters of India and Tibet generated great compassion towards certain ghosts, spirits or interferers and subdued them in this manner and even made them into protectors of regions. I’ve witnessed this with one of my lamas where he subdued a female spirit that crossed over the Himalayas. After making the spirit promise it will not harm others, my lama gave the spirit a drink to seal the promise.
Since the Dalai Lama has manifested saying Dorje Shugden is negative (although many high lamas disagree), then he can apply this method to Dorje Shugden. He can ‘subdue’ Dorje Shugden by generating tremendous love, prayers and talking nice to Dorje Shugden who will be ‘subdued’. Then people are henceforth ‘free’ to practice Dorje Shugden without more discrimination, segregation and being called degrading names for practicing this protector.
Give peace a chance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama can generate great love towards Dorje Shugden and all the hundreds of thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners that love the Dalai Lama and miss him like I do. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama bring peace and heal the rift with Dorje Shugden practitioners.
May His Holiness live very long and always be healthy,
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Reading- https://bit.ly/2wWQGUh
For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 asssistants of his mandala.
Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.
Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-
1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-
– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.
2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.
3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.
4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.
5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.
6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.
7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.
These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.
Dorje Shugden mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=131570
Dorje Shugden’s benefit and practice: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62422
Dorje Shugden’s origins: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=106424
Dorje Shugden chapel in His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=68698
*Stand not included
His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama
Tibetans commonly refer to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama as the “sun and moon” of Tibetan Buddhism. They are the center of Tibetan Buddhist civilization, which draws to its sphere of influence millions of non-Tibetan practitioners. The Panchen Lama’s incarnation line began with the 16th abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1570 – 1662). He was bestowed the title of Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama after being declared as an emanation of Amitabha.
After being given the title, his three previous incarnations were posthumously also bestowed the title, making Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen the 4th Panchen Lama. He became a teacher to many Tibetans, Bhutanese and Mongolian religious figures, including His Holiness the 4th and 5th Dalai Lamas, and the 1st Jetsun Dampa of Mongolia. A prolific author, Chokyi Gyeltsen is credited with over a hundred compositions, including a number of commentaries and ritual texts that remain central in the Gelukpa tradition today. Along with his role as a teacher of the Dharma, the Panchen Lamas are usually responsible for the recognition of the rebirths of the Dalai Lamas, and vice versa.
The 10th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Trinley Lhundrub Chokyi Gyeltsen (19 February 1938 – 28 January 1989) continued both the spiritual and political roles of his predecessors. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, his contemporary, was even heard to say and echo the Panchen Lama’s own words that the Dalai Lama would safeguard Tibet from the outside while the Panchen Lama would safeguard Tibet from the inside, as he never left Tibet after the political troubles of 1959. He was truly loved by the Tibetans, all the way until his passing. When he taught, thousands of people would attend, not only from his own Gelug lineage, but masters and practitioners from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
At his sprawling monastery of Tashi Lhunpo, he has a special chapel specifically dedicated to Dorje Shugden, where prayers and rituals are performed on a daily basis. In his great omniscience the Panchen Lama held Dorje Shugden as the principal Dharma protector of the monastery. He also personally propitiated Dorje Shugden among other Dharma protectors, and even wrote extensive prayers and rituals to Dorje Shugden. These rituals and prayers are contained within his ‘sung bum’ or collected works, which are provided here. As such a great lama, with an erudite and clear understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, a teacher to millions in both Tibet and China, from an established incarnation line and an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha, he could not be mistaken about his practice of Dorje Shugden.
His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama is known for his composition of commentaries and practice texts that are still in use by contemporary Buddhist practitioners both in Tibet and across the world. One of these is a powerful ritual composition propitiating the compassionate Dorje Shugden.
Upon the request by Acharya Lobsang Jangchub to compose a shorter version of the prayer (sadhana) for the exhortation of activities of Dorje Shugden, Panchen Lama immediately composed an abbreviate form of Dorje Shugden’s Kangsol. This text is entitled “Manjunatha’s (Tsongkapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfilment of activities rites” or “Melodious sound of Accomplishment of the Four Activities” for short. Once the prayers were completed, he had signs and strong feelings that Dorje Shugden has been working hard to protect the Buddhadharma in general and the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa specifically.
Mirroring the abilities of one of his earlier incarnations, Khedrub Je, a disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa and master of both sutra and tantra, the Panchen Lama used his compositional skill and poetic prowess to create a masterful sadhana. Worthy of note is a praise in which the first letter of each verse is a Tibetan vowel. Such compositions are rarely seen, and have historically only been used when propitiating senior Dharma protectors such as Palden Lhamo and Kalarupa.
The Panchen Lama also stated that while composing the Dorje Shugden sadhana (prayers) he was filled with a sense of happiness and bliss. He ends the composition with not only his official title but his ordination name, Tenzin Trinley Jigme Choje Wangchuk, endorsing the validity of his work. He composed the sadhana in his own Tashi Lhunpo monastery while in the Hall of Clear Light and Bliss.
See the Panchen Lama’s writings and download: https://bit.ly/2KIfeXb
Dear Kecharians and friends,
Last night, I gave a teaching to a group of people who were in Kechara Forest Retreat. I shared with them the correct way to pray for our loved ones and why we shouldn’t “demand” Dorje Shugden with fulfilling our wishes but let Dorje Shugden decide what is the best outcome. He has infinite Manjushri wisdom beyond our own and we should trust this wisdom. Sometimes what we pray for is not what should be fulfilled. Sometimes what we don’t want turns out to be the better result in the future.
I also shared with them about a beautiful monk, Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche, who was jailed and badly tortured by the soldiers for 19 years, starting back in 1959 in Lhasa, and yet he has no anger towards his torturers. He was released and had resettled in Nepal where I met him. For the remainder of his life, he spent his time in meditation, retreats and pujas for the public until he passed. He was glowing, happy and very proud of the fact he was a student of His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, which he told me when we met. He did full meditations on Vajra Yogini and short puja to Dorje Shugden daily in his small room in Kathmandu, Nepal where I had to honor to join in his prayers. He told me he was very happy to have his room to do his meditations, pujas and prayers openly. Whatever happened to him, he accepted as part of his karma and he spent much time in prison meditating and quietly teaching dharma to his other cellmates. He was very much respected in prison in Lhasa because he never showed anger, always meditated and consoled others, giving them great strength. He endured much hardship, torture and beatings but he never lost his monk vows. His full understanding of karma helped him not feel any anger or bitterness towards the soldiers. He told me that daily, he would meditate that the karma of others in prison would come to him. That all the torture and abuse he received was so others in prison did not have to suffer this. He said suffering for others was what kept him going and made him be able to endure the pain.
We are not bound by our experiences. We are bound by our choice. I also reminded those were present about the good person inside each and every one of us, and how we should not “bury” this good person with our excuses because the more excuses we give, the deeper this good person is buried and soon the layers of excuses will make it very difficult for us to find this good person. We are all beautiful good people and we should not let it get lost by lying, laziness, lack of integrity and procrastination. We all have a choice. If we have to make excuses, we should choose to make excuses to be a winner. When we win, we make ourselves happy and those around us happy.
The teaching session went well and it was spontaneous, and I requested the people who live and work in and around Kechara Forest Retreat for the talk. We had some good laughs to during the talk.
Thank you,
Tsem Rinpoche
‘If we trust in karma which exists, then there is no reason for anger’.
~ Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche
“If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can be harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he be harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, young Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s tutor Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
DON’T MISS THIS! FANTASTIC NEW GREAT STUFF! High quality videos redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden practice and people and the current sad Tibetan situation and why they are losing ground in the world. Powerful and truthful – CLEAR VIDEOS – https://bit.ly/2LJbo35
Nice short video of a new LED signage reminding us of who we can go to for blessings in case of need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwrkaKUoH0
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Amazing post!!!!!
Dear friends, For months we have been working on this BEAUTIFUL and meaningful mural in Kathmandu, Nepal. Please click here to enjoy the many stunning pictures of this mural: https://bit.ly/2LgOj8J
Tsem Rinpoche
Sakya tradition’s thangka of Dorje Shugden sitting on a throne within his palace with his four emanations and high Sakya Lamas nearby. Tsem Rinpoche
Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
How can a nun curse someone they do not even know and wish the person to die quickly and be born in hell? What kind of nun is this? Shocking! What more she’s cursing a Buddhist teacher and a monk?! Is this the face of Bhutanese Buddhist?
This is so shameful for her as a nun, her teacher, her monastery, her country and her King. A sangha should not behave in such a manner. A Sangha should carry enlightened Buddha’s teachings of compassion and wisdom to benefit all sentient beings.
A Sangha is not supposed to promote hatred and certainly should not be cursing or wishing another person to die. That wish itself is already breaking one of the vows.
A Sangha is one of the 3 Jewels, an object of refuge. They should not behave like an uncivilized person with so much hate. This is how bad the Tibetan Leadership has spread their lies and hate about Dorje Shugden and Shugden Buddhist practitioners.
The winds of change are changing very quickly, hope the CTA would wake up to it, soon it will not be relevant anymore. The CTA is not receiving the same backing from the Indians anymore and Trump has no time for such a small issue like CTA.
Certainly would recommend the CTA to please clean their backyard, and resolve more issues than create them, and hope foreign aid can help resolve this. Actually disharmony amongst tibetans is creating much issues and problems for the CTA and the people it sought to govern, if they would just take the time to resolve their internal issues and have a better cohesion and harmony, CTA wouldn’t be getting less and less support with the years. Demonizing China is not an effective strategy at all, so CTA need to smart up real fast to bring about better and peaceful situation amongst all Tibetans in exile.
Thank you Choong for sharing the article written by Dr. Andrea Galli, added with your commentaries to give us a clear, guided explanation about the current political situation between Tibet and China at this moment. After Tibetans-in-exiled and Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) have been living in India for the past 60 years, it seems that more medias, observers and political analysts are interested to find out the reason behind for the majority Tibetans-in-exiled, who are still staying in India unmoved after 60 years rather than getting closer to return to their homeland in Tibet.
The inaccurate accusations of practicing Dorje Shugden that will shorten the life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, encourage sectarianism among Buddhists and creating a danger to the cause of Tibet, are no longer valid and there is no significant effect to many people in the community as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is currently 82 years old and going strong at the moment, many people from different countries have started to engage in Dorje Shugden practice faithfully without any problem in sectarianism and China government is controlling and ruling well in Tibet Autonomous Region.
Since His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has shown the positive sign of mending the tie with China by acknowledging and recognizing China-backed Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu is reincarnated Panchen Lama and further revealed that the 11th Panchen Lama candidate, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, whom Dalai Lama has recognized initially, is currently alive and lives well, CTA should immediately align their administrative direction towards working with China government peacefully in order to bring Tibetans-in-exiled back to their homeland Tibet where they should belong to. 60 years of living in exiled conditions are more than enough for anyone to go through and now is the time for CTA to work wisely with China government for the benefit of all Tibetans since India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken proactive steps to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the informal two-day summit in Wuhan, China on 27th and 28th April 2018.
May all the Tibetans who are living in exile, able to return to their homeland and reunite with their family and friends in very near future.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
Dear Seow Choong,
I really like what you wrote here. It is obvious you did your research on this topic and deliver it very well. I particularly like your last question: “Does the Tibetan leadership really want peace, prosperity and the preservation of religion and culture for the Tibetans?”
If the Tibetan leaders are really working for the people, it is obvious and logical they would put their people before their own needs. But unfortunately, I doubt that is the case. They said they want to unite the Tibetans to fight for “Free Tibet”, but they segregate the Dorje Shugden people. They said they want to fight this cause with the Tibetans in Exile, but they got their foreign passports and houses in Europe/USA. They received millions of dollars of donation each year, but they don’t spend it on their people to develop them, but instead they used the money to print books to blame Dorje Shugden as scapegoat for their incompetence.
I do not feel Tibetan leaders genuinely care for their people. If they would do their best to work with China so that Tibetans in exile can go back to China. Instead, they keep antagonising China, and they even go to the extend to create friction between China and India, so that the leaders can continue to enjoy the fundings from the western countries.
I wish Tibetans in exile can stand up and tell their government to buck up. Enough is enough.
I wish all the best to the Tibetans. May their culture and religion be preserved for many more years to come.
Modern Diplomacy is an invaluable platform for assessing international issues where Dr. Andre Galli an investigator have heighted the current political situation in Tibet. Having the Dalai Lama taking an opportunity to amend the diplomatic ties with China in a peaceful way. After so many decades of tension between Tibet and China , the Tibetan leadership finally decided maybe to correct the past mistakes. His Holiness the Dalai Lama who has made a stunning announcement of recognising the China backed Panchen Lama. It could made the way for an agreement between the CTA and China to solve all the issues all these years to the wishes and hopes of the Tibetans. The Holiness did once said that he would like to return to his homeland. That was the wishes of many Tibetans as well. The Holiness recent peace making approach towards China was the beginning for an agreement between China and the CTA which would allow the Tibetans in-exile to return home.
Dr. Andre Galli ‘s conclusion is that the decades controversies over the Panchen Lama and Dorje Shugden devotion could somehow coming to an end. May HH Dalai Lama allow the practice of Dorje Shugden and lift the ban on Dorje Shugden soon.
Thank you Mr Seow for this interesting article.
Thank you Mr Seow for this article. I find 2 points interesting. One, if the CTA was really serious to reclaim Tibet as an Independent Tibet, the de facto/best ally that they could rely on would be India, besides USA. But CTA seemed to have a record of biting the hands (of the Indian) that fed them. Does it mean that CTA was not serious in reclaiming Tibet? Or, they imagined that the USA would escort them back into Tibet?
The other point being that the China-backed Panchen Lama is doing pretty well in China. The endorsement by His Holiness is just an icing on the cake. Will this help His Holiness buy his way back into the heart of his power, Tibet? Moreover, HIs Holiness and his cabinet are not without scandal and the hard liners of HIs Holiness’ camp are a shrinking population. This makes clear to the younger generation which side of the fence brings better standard of living and good chance to success in life.
Considering these, the bargaining chips by CTA and His Holiness are dipping fast, on top of nothing to offer plus they have over stayed their welcome in India, while Beijing has nothing to lose just by waiting out. There are much work for CTA to do to ensure a good passage, for example stop labelling the Dorje Shugden people as Chinese spies or China pig, etc. It will be very interesting to see their next move.
As leaders in the East have, in recent times , convened to engage in talks of peace and reconciliation, and as China and India’s two leaders move towards a more cordial relationship, it is time for the Tibetan Leadership to cease the golden opportunity to also de-escalate tensions between them and China.
In fact, the Dalai Lama has already begun to openly shift to a more conciliatory stance towards China and has expressed his wish to return to his homeland. His latest stunning recognition of the China-backed Panchen Lama, who practices Dorje Shugden, paves the way for a greater warming of ties between Tibetans -In -Exile and China. May this soon lead to the Dalai Lama also accepting the practice of Dorje Shugden.
Last but not least, may the Tibetan Leadership recognise the urgent need for them to de-escalate tensions with China by lessening their anti-China rhetoric. May they make peace and unity and the preservation of culture and religion their foremost concerns.
Thank you Seow for highlighting Dr. Andre Galli’s article on the current political and spiritual situation in Tibet. It comprehensively describes and explains that the only way forward for Tibet now to create peace and harmony with China. It describes a win win situation, and I rejoice that the Dalai Lama has finally recognised the China backed Panchen Lama, a step towards the right direction. May the Dorge Shudgen Ban also be soon lifted.
Dear Minghy,
H.E Tsem Rinpoche has always believed in this direction too ie to create peace and harmony with China is the way forward for Tibetans and the Tibetan government. Rinpoche has been advocating and advising and providing examples and teachings all skewed towards a peaceful direction. Rinpoche has been doing this for a very long time. Rinpoche’s methods have been taken well by some and not so by others; so much so that he has been humiliated, falsely accused, verbally abused and threatened.
It is a lot of sacrifice on Rinpoche to have to bear with all the negativities in order for the right path to be set. It is now heartwarming to see that all the sacrifices made are starting to show positive results. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has taken on the direction that is reconciliatory with China. The government officials and the Tibetans themselves should see this as a sign for them to follow suit.
Looking forward to when the Bans are removed and all Tibetans and practitioners are in harmony. Thank you Rinpoche ! With folded hands.
There is a way forward for CTA with her relationship with China and also to reverse the disunity and disharmony created within the Tibetan communities on the issues of the Panchen lama and ban on Dorje Shugden.
Will CTA choose to be of benefit to all Tibetans or preserve their political agenda to enrich themselves.
Advices are given openly and it is now the choice of CTA to decide.