Are You Secular Or Spiritual? | 你选俗世之道，还是佛法之道？
(译文请往下阅读)
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Sometimes I read online people who criticize Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and other great beings and then on another breath they are all spiritual and talking about initiations and practices the Dalai Lama is giving… and the teachings and transmissions, and how holy, fortunate and lucky they are to get these teachings. Great, so if the teachings are so holy, practice and be holy. On the other breath, they are saying how negative, bad and harmful Geshe Kelsang Gyatso or another lama is, and I think we are getting secular and spiritual mixed up here. If we have joined Geshe Kelsang and we have felt that we have been wronged by him or his organization and there is something to be done about it, do something about it. And if we are psychologically damaged from it then go and get professional help, if that is really the case. But to go online constantly bickering and complaining and talk and bad-mouth Geshe Kelsang and his group will not change Geshe Kelsang or the group or change any of the situation and definitely won’t help yourself. That is secular. Geshe Kelsang being the spiritual teacher of hundreds of centres and thousands of students around the world is bound to attract all types of ‘interesting’ characters with various motives and agendas. So I am not surprised when people criticize an erudite master like him or leave him. With the ratio of thousands of students, of course there will be a higher ratio of people who might find fault and criticize. All famous people experience this. In Gaden I have seen a few monks criticize their teachers to the shock of everyone. Most do not and dare not understand the tantric codes and refuge vows. Because Gaden is such a huge place and thousands of monks, you are bound to have unhappy people, some dropouts or people who will blame the lama or Gaden for their failings. Many people cannot look within and have to blame. Yes sometimes the blame is justified, but look, the bottom line is this, writing about it incessantly and talking to others who are not qualified to counsel you constantly gets you nowhere. Revenge tactics only increase your hatred and invite more and more negative energy to your doorstep. All actions have results in one way or another.
On a spiritual level, if Geshe Kelsang was your teacher and you see faults and negative things and you criticize him and you say negative things about him all the time and suddenly you find His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to be your new guru or somebody else to be your new guru, no matter how much you follow that new guru, the negative thoughts you have on your old guru will prevent realizations from arising in the teachings you receive from the new guru. Why? Because in Ashvagosha’s teachings on guru devotion, Fifty Verses Of Guru Devotion, it says very clearly if we have negative thoughts, wrong thoughts and show disrespect or lost faith in our teacher, without purifying that karma and purifying that relationship, and we go to another teacher, no matter how much we practice, study and meditate we will gain no attainments. Whether the previous teacher was wrong or right is not the issue. The issue is to let go, the issue is to forgive the situation and make amends. Don’t speak ill.
Powerful attainments follow from (doing what) your guru (likes).” This has been said by (the Buddha) Vajradhara himself. Knowing this, try to please your guru fully with all the actions (of your body, speech and mind)
~ Ashvagosha, 50 Verses of Guru Devotion
Milarepa’s story is a good example for all students to learn more about the importance of Guru- Disciple relationship. | 密勒日巴的故事是所有弟子学习关于师徒关系重要性的最佳典范。
Sometimes we really don’t have karma with a certain lama and we have to leave. But leaving doesn’t mean having to criticize them in order to justify our leaving or to make our leaving right. The West has a very strong culture of exposing the wrong, and talking about the wrong openly and helping other people to prevent the wrong by talking about it. That’s all good and well. But that’s secular again. So are we following the secular side or are we following the spiritual side? The spiritual side of the coin is if we say negative things about our lama, and constantly talk negative things about the lama and his organization and what our lama is doing; then whatever new lama we go to and the teachings we get, we will gain no attainments according to the great pandit Ashvagosha.
In the tantric teachings, it says the same thing by Vajradhara. So no matter how erudite our new lama is and how great our new lama is, as long as we have negative views of our previous lama and keep speaking negative things about our previous lama that we have left or abandoned, we will gain no realizations from the new lama. That is according to tantra by Vajradhara. This is on the spiritual side.
On the secular side, if we talk about what a certain lama has done to us and certain organization has done to us… very simple, go get help if what you claim is true and so disturbing. Speaking about it and having a few people talk about it back and forth is not going to help us at all. Who is interested? Why so obsessed? At the same time, if they have really done us some harm, talk with the law, talk with the authorities, get it straightened out and get compensation. But if you are not willing, unable, or cannot do that, then maybe there is something fundamentally wrong with what you are doing and your approach. So therefore I think it’s very important that we have to pick a secular side or we have to pick a spiritual side. We don’t flip back and forth at our convenience. To praise our new lama from here to high water and immediately in the same breath criticize our previous lamas will not serve us or anyone in anyway. It will only serve to make keep breaking our refuge precepts.
You will never see signs like this at the White House, Buckingham Palace, etc. but only in Tibetan settlements.
If there is no ban, why are the Dalai Lama’s people telling Dorje Shugden followers not to contact him at all?
If His Holiness was the secular leader, why are his people turning away their own citizens from him? As the secular leader, he should meet all freely and fairly to discuss and address their secular concerns, regardless of the differences in their faith and beliefs.
~ Pastor Jean Ai
If we pick the secular side to explain why we dislike a certain lama and his organization and we ramble about it on and on; then go all the way with the secular side. If we are going with the spiritual side, then go all the way with the spiritual side. We don’t use the secular side to justify our ramblings against a lama and then use the spiritual side to uplift our new lama, what you are doing with them, your faith, practice and new-found spirituality. Because then we are just using secular and spiritual back and forth, for our own convenience. I find that quite contradictory and quite damaging to one’s spiritual practice. So I thinks that’s very very important to understand and learn.
Are there lamas who abuse their positions… what they have done? Perhaps there are, but if that is really the case, then seek compensation through the law and stop talking about it incessantly over and over because it doesn’t make us a better person, it just makes us look obsessed, petty and… in fact, makes us look not all that well up there. That’s my thinking. I could be wrong. But my point is simple. Are you going to view your relationship with your teacher through a secular eye or spiritual eye. If secular, you are disqualified from practicing tantra. If spiritual you are disqualified from secular methods to disparage any lama.
Tsem Rinpoche
你选俗世之道，还是佛法之道？
有时候当我读到网络上的人抨击格西格桑嘉措和其他大师时，语毕他们即刻充满灵修气息，热烈讨论达赖尊者给予的灌顶、修持、教诲和口传。能获得这些教诲是如何的殊胜，他们又是如何的幸运。
很好，如果那些教诲是如此之殊胜，那就实修那些教诲，成为一个神圣的人。然而，这些人一转头就开始说格西格桑嘉措或另一位上师是如何的负面、 恶劣和具伤害性。我想，这样的做法显然是将俗世和佛法修行混为一谈了。
如果我们投到格西格桑门下后觉得被他或他的团体误导了，该必须挺身而出的话，就采取一些行动吧！
如果我们的心理确实受创了，那就去寻求专业帮助。在网络上无休止地争吵和投诉、恶意攻击格西格桑和他的团体，都将无法改变格西格桑或其团体，更不会改变任何现况，而且很肯定地，这么做也帮不到你自己。
这是俗世之道。格西格桑作为全世界几百个道场和几千个弟子的精神导师，他难免会吸引各式各样、怀着各种企图和议程的“有趣”之人。因此，如果有人抨击一个像是他这样博学的大师，或是离他而去，我并不会感到惊讶。以几千个弟子的比率而言，存心找过失和抨击的比率也相对提高。所有著名的人都会经历这样的情况。
在甘丹寺，我见过一些僧人批评他们的上师而让大家震惊不已。多数人并不理解，也不敢去了解密法戒条和皈依戒律。
由于甘丹寺规模非常大，寺内僧人有上千位，当中肯定会有不高兴的人，也肯定会有人中途退出，或者把自己的失败归咎到甘丹寺或上师身上。
很多人无法自我反省，唯有把责任归咎到别人身上。是的，对别人的责难有时候是合理的，然而，你看，最关键的是你无休止地书写，以及跟不具备条件开解你的人进行讨论，对你根本毫无帮助。
复仇的手段只会增加你的怨恨，且会把更多的负能量招引过来。我们的所作所为不管怎样都会自有其果报。
从佛法修行层面而言，如果格西格桑曾是你的上师，你看到了其过失和负面的东西而无时无刻去批评他、说他的不是；转眼间你突然视至尊达赖尊者或另一位上师为你的新上师，不管你如何追随这位新上师，你内心对前一位上师的负面想法，将对你在新上师所授予你的教诲中得到了悟形成障碍。为何如此？
因为马鸣菩萨在依止上师教诲的《上师五十颂》里明确说明，如果我们对上师持有负面想法、错误的想法、表现不敬或失去信心，只要一天未净除此业，以及补救此段师徒关系，即便我们转投师其他上师，再如何努力修法、学习和禅修，也都将无法取得任何成就。
前一位上师的对与错并不是重点，重点是放下、宽恕和作出修补。不要在背后说上师坏话。
马鸣菩萨在《上师五十颂》里阐明：“金刚如来亲此说，成就跟随阿闍黎；此明全物一切事，圆满欢喜咕噜师。”
有时候，我们跟某些上师确实无缘，所以唯有离开。然而离开并不表示你需要去批评这些上师，来证明本身的离开是无误的，或者证明自己的离开是合理的。西方文化里非常强调揭恶，大张挞伐，并且透过大肆公开讨论，以免其他人重倒覆辙。这做法很好，但是那是俗世的做法。
因此，我们要跟随俗世或佛法修行的做法？佛法修行的做法是：如果我们恶言中伤自己的上师，无休止地恶意抨击上师、他的团体和所进行的法业，那么不管我们师从哪一位新上师、被赐予哪些教诲，根据伟大班智达马鸣菩萨的说法——我们都不会获得任何成就。
在密续教诲里，金刚总持也是如此说。因此，不管我们的新上师如何渊识博学，如何伟大，只要我们对前一位上师仍存有负面看法，继续恶言中伤前一位上师，我们就无法从新的上师那里获得任何领悟。这是金刚总持所授之密续教诲。这是佛法修行的角度。
从俗世的角度而言，如果要告诉人们某位上师和某个团体对我们做了些什么不好的事……非常简单，如果你提出的控诉是确凿、让你深受困扰，那你该去寻找援助。老是讨论它，跟几个人在那说了又说，是完全无法帮到你的。有谁有兴趣听？为何要如此无法自拔？
与此同时，如果他们已经对我们造成伤害，那就请采取法律途径解决，告诉相关单位或执法单位，把事情纠正过来，让自己获得补偿。
如果你不愿意、不能或无法这么做，那么或许你正在进行或所采取的方法存在一些根本性的错误。因此，我认为很重要的是，我们要在俗世和佛法修行的做法上作出抉择。我们不可以基于自己的方便而在俗世和佛法修行的两种做法中间徘徊不定。上一分钟极力赞美新上师，下一分钟则批评我们的前上师——这么左完全不会给我们或其他人带来任何好处。它只会导致我们继续抵触本身的皈依戒。
如果我们选择了俗世方法来说明我们为何不喜欢某些上师和他的团体并且无休止地对他们谩骂的话，那你就由始至终都选择俗世的方式来处理；如果你选择的是佛法修行的方法，那就由始贯彻至终。我们不该利用俗世的手段来合理化本身对一位上师的谩骂；与此同时又利用佛法修行的方法来抬高自己的新上师，跟新上师一起做什么，你的信念、修持和重新找回的灵性。
如此一来，我们只是以方便自己为基础，在世俗和佛法修行两种做法中徘徊不定。我认为这相当矛盾，对个人的修行也颇具破坏性。因此，我认为从中了解和学习是非常重要的。
世界上是否存在滥用本身地位的上师？他们又做了些什么？或许有这样的上师，不过若真如此，你就该透过法律途径去寻求补偿，并且停止继续无止尽地谈论了一回又一回，因为这样做并没有让我们变成更好的人，反而让我们看起来像是失心疯、小气和……事实上，它并没有让我们好看。这是我个人的看法，我或许是错的，但我要表达的很简单：你是否要从俗世的眼光还是佛法修行的眼光看待本身与上师的关系。如果你用俗世的眼光，你就失去了修持密续的资格；如果从佛法修行的眼光来看，你就没有资格用俗世的方法来毁谤任何一位上师。
詹杜固仁波切
For more related articles of interest and importance: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/dorje-shugden
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The reason why Dorje Shugden ban is rife within Tibetan communities because many of them do not investigate further or have sufficient knowledge on the topic. Many of them just listen to what the Tibetan government has to say and accepted it right away without examining the logic of it.
Many of the reasons and arguments that the Tibetan government had said regarding Tibet has been proven to be illogical. However, due to the limited knowledge of the public and also their secular view, Dorje Shugden ban was being imposed and many practitioners have been suffering ill-treatment since then.
A true spiritual practitioner will not judge and keep an open mind because he/she will know that these issues have a bigger picture and not just the surface that we see. A spiritual practitioner will not judge or inflict suffering on others.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you so much for this teaching.
I believe that we have to examine ourselves thoroughly first before we even comment about our Lama. Why am I judging my Lama? What qualifications do I have to judge him? Is it because I feel I am more qualified than my Lama that I can actually criticize him?
Well, we have to realise that we chose our Lama in the first place! Our Lama didn’t come knocking on our doorstep and says that we must follow him otherwise we won’t have higher realization.
Unfortunately, most people don’t seem to question themselves this way – they just slip past all the teachings gained and somehow “drift” away from being spiritual to becoming secular and use the secular way to judge one’s Lama. I think such people have created unto themselves more negative karma. We are supposed to be very mindful on our body, speech and mind. That’s the very essence when we take the Refuge Vows.
I agree with Your Eminence with what you have expressed in the teaching above.
We must always examine ourselves before we judge others.
Your humbly,
Lum Kok Luen
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
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
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
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.
Buddhism teaches us love, compassion ,tolerance, forgiveness , and so forth. Once we have choose our guru, then we should go all the way out on the spiritual side.. We should not criticise or make negative comments if we decided not to follow a Guru. What ever ,happen never ,never ever bad mouth one another , just let go and let it be. Its always a case how much or great we do ,there is always people saying some thing when they are not satisfied but when we are spiritual we will think twice .As it stated clearly in Fifty Verses Of Guru Devotion, no matter how much we practice, study and meditate we will gain no attainments without purifying our karma.
We are fortunate to have met our Guru H.E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche and guiding us and learning the Dharma teachings .
May Rinpoche live long ,good health and continue turning the Dharma wheel to benefit all sentient beings.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
Tsem Rinpoche has worked very hard and patiently over the years to provide good and accurate knowledge about Dorje Shugden. These truths are not new at all but have been overshadowed by malicious anti-Shugden propaganda over the last 2 decades. It is a welcome change to see this comment by Suzy on Rinpoche’s YouTube channel in which she expressed her realization of the Protector’s goodness. This is truly beautiful-(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s)
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Guru is the one who lead us to enlightenment. Yes, agree that whether the Guru is suitable for us or not also depends on our karma. But criticizing our Guru or a high Lama will definitely lead us to bad karma. No matter that particular Guru is suitable to us or not, Guru did no harm to us, and he benefits us. We should not criticize anyone who gave us benefit before. That’s being ungrateful. Besides, those people who keep criticizing their previous Guru instantly, they keep themselves in the three poisons. For example, if we don’t fully let go our ex-girl friend and move on, how do we fully love our new girl friend? 🙂 It’s just my two cents. Hopefully those who criticizes, will understand this one day, and stop the criticizing, some even defaming. It really makes them look ugly. _/\_
50 verses of Guru Devotion must be abided in order for us to gain attainments in our spiritual journey. Guru always can foresight our weaknesses and he try to apply “medicine” to it. Of course this will be a short term sufferings.
Whether people practice Dharma or not , Guru still care them and willing to help them to alleviation sufferings in secular world. Why ?Because Guru is compassionate.
Come back to Dorje Shugden case, how can Dalai Lama follower keep attack Dorje Shugden practitioners by harsh words and action and on the other hands uplift Dalai Lama. This is really not Buddhism want. Buddhism is facilitated love, compassion,tolerance,humility and forgiveness.
This article really inspired me to have Guru Devotion to Guru and this will lead to clean Samaya which is utmost part for attainment.
Thanks Guru.
Jason
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article with us and shows us the correct way of practising the pure Dharma. It is very sad to see or hear people or other Buddhist practitioners criticizing or putting down the spiritual teachers, especially Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and other highly enlightened Lamas, with baseless negative comments. Whether the negative comment refers to a person or an object, the negative impact will only be reflected on the person who makes the comment according to the law of cause and effect.
For example, if one goes online and starts attacking on a spiritual teacher just to put down or humiliate that particular spiritual teacher in order to justify one’s spiritual teacher is greater or on the better side compared to other spiritual teachers, then this is not a pure Dharma practice in the aspect of spirituality. Since we are living in a world where one’s country laws and regulations are being enforced, every one of us has the freedom to lodge the legal report to the authority with evidence and facts if one has identified the wrongful doing carried out by other party. No one should back stab, making false accusation or creating confusion against any spiritual teacher as this is not helpful to anyone at all.
I am truly fortunate to be able to learn the pure Dharma teachings from H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche through the unbroken lineage beginning from Buddha Shakyamuni since 2600 years ago.
May all Dharma teachers live long with stable health and continue spread the Dharma to the 10 directions until samsara is emptied.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands,
kin hoe
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting topic. Guru Devotion is most important.How can we criticise a high lama? The lama only wants the best for us and our future lives. Why praise your Guru when you take him as your Guru and talk bad about him when you leave him? They are very insincere. I would still agree with this…”Buddhism is not a buffet. One lama, one centre, one lineage, one practice.TSEM RINPOCHE” _/\_
Tibetan Buddhism are unit in the way to pass down lineage of Buddha dharma from the guru to his disciple.When i was first take refuge, i have no idea of refuge and guru devotion. I think simply have faith with the guru and three jewel is enough without changing any from our side, just seek protection from the guru and jewel.
I have the great fortune to met my lama, take refuge under him and received many teaching and counselling in secular matter and spiritual side. All the advice and teaching i received is from the kindness from the lama to help my spiritual to grow. Even scolding from the lama is from his care and love to help me to cut down my ego and selfishness. I guess most of the people understand this point. But when your lama come down hard on you,how you react and respond to your guru from your body, speech and mind reflect your devotion toward your guru. Your guru will use secular and spiritual tactic to help you train our mind until you have selfless and thing cannot disturb your mind. No matter how your guru is wrong in the secular way,his concern is always right in the spiritual side.
Very sad to read about this. Unfortunately this is the fact. They go online and media to criticise such a holy Guru Geshe Kalsang Gyatso. Of course Geshe la is not the only Guru that’s being criticised but many more included my Guru H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. When you read about what they wrote on social media crtisizing their Gurus and lamas rudely, after that their next post were phrasing the new Guru and talking about how spiritual they are. But then what’s your point of meeting a Guru? Why is everybody stay with this Guru but you leave? It’s time to look into yourself. If you are here for spirituality then behave like one. Not happy or this is not what you want, leave sincerely. If you are not for spirituality then stop pretending like one.
You may not appreciate or agree with this Guru that Guru, it’s ok but be nice and respectful. They are monks that studied 20-30 years and gave up everything just to teach dharma in their whole life, what have you done in your life? Hence, learn to be nice and stop putting the Dharma down. Ashamed to call yourself a Buddhist.
It is hypocritic to use the name of dharma or spirituality to express one’s anger. It is an act to put down dharma. When they criticized their guru or others guru on social media platforms using dharma and spirituality as an excuse, it confused people around the world of the nature of dharma. Aren’t people who seek dharma and spirituality seeking the way of peace, tolerance and compassion? Why would people who engage in spiritual practise showed so much anger and some more it is instruction from their spiritual leader to be angry about the others who have different believe then them. It seems like their spiritual leader or guru is approved of their way to be rude and angry with the others and it is right to do so as a spiritual practitioner. Then it shows to others there is no difference berween a secular person and a spiritual practitioner. Appearantly people will feel that engaging in spiritual practise is nothing because all these practitioners do not find peace and compassion in their practise with their guru.
Secular or spiritual is all come from our selfishness and our ego. When thing is not our way, we start to attack people using the name of “spiritual”. The worst thing is a spiritual person can attack a high lama who benefited many sentient being.
I totally agreed that we resolve the problem with 100% secular or 100% spiritual, it cannot be mix because it will confuse peoples for their spiritual grow and peoples going no way also. For those who attack high lama like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, peoples may stop learning and practicing Dharma, as such you create a heavy negative Karma.
Seeing your guru as a Buddha is the root of the path to enlightenment, the root of everything, the root of all success.
Secular and spiritual should not be mixed. If we hold on to whatever our ego and our attachments tell us, we are not spiritual. So if we want it or not we have to face it.
Guru Devotion is most important.
How can we criticise a high lama? The lama only wants the best for us and our future lifes.
Those who speak ill about a lama should stop and do something to purify their karma and not create more negative karma. No benefit can ever come from critizising a lama.
The KFR team read and discussed this article together with some visiting guests. One of the guests recounted a geshela once said:
Secular is equal to being concern of living for the present life.
Spiritual is equal to being concern of the next life.
When people say they are spiritual and they claim to be students of a high lama with a big title but they act secularly as mentioned by Rinpoche, I guess they are secular and not spiritual.
I do not know much about Tibetan Buddhism. A true dharma practitioner will not talk bad about others. In dharma, we learn about compassion and kindness.
I agreed with Rinpoche, if we found something wrong do something about it and not by bad mouth or condemn about others.
Human being have been giving wisdom, we should use it wisely and not on negativity. Secular and spiritual can never be mix or there is no in between. I do want to wall the spiritual path.
This post really give a logical explanation between secular and spiritual. As mentioned in the article we often mix both for the convenient of our interest. But one think for sure we can mix spiritual and secular as both will give different result.
I totally agree that if we are seeking for spiritual we should give all out for spiritual reason. Surrender ourself for what we have learn and belief the Guru can help us. If we being selective that shows that we are better than our Guru and why we seek for a Guru at the first place than? The key here is our mind. If we keep hoping to look for a new Guru and bad mouth our previous Guru or holding negative thought of previous Guru what make us think we will not have the same thought of the new Guru? The problem is not the Guru but us.
What I learn today from a discussion being secular is only an act for one to believe in this single life time and that doesn’t mean it will bring fruitful benefit but spiritual is for current and many future lifetime. What will be our take? obviously the spiritual path that will bring long term benefits.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.It gives me a clear picture of people with secular manner will never stop criticizing,bashing,humiliating others due to religious differences.While on spiritual side, there are only peace maker who show compassion and kindness to them.
With folded palms,
Andrea
It’s a good distinction. Religious spirituality is usually associated with a long tradition and certain stories. Secular spirituality is basically this: It does not deny God or the transcendent, but it doesn’t mix God or the transcendent with stories that one needs to believe. Of course, you can have spirituality within a religion. You can have religion with spirituality, and you can have religion without spirituality – which also happens quite often. Religion without spirituality is just ideology, such as certain belief structures in the collective mind that one identifies with, and that’s not helpful. And then at other times, religion may still have its stories and rituals, and even beliefs, but they are no longer so dense that the light of consciousness cannot shine through. Religion can be an open door into the realm of the transcendent, or religion can be a closed door, depending on how it’s used. Then comes something relatively new, which I suppose is secular spirituality. We can call it that. Although he represents ancient religious traditions, the Dalai Lama seems to be moving in that direction. There’s no need to give up your religion as a result of this teaching, but you can deepen it
It’s actually quite disturbing to read this post.
It’s confusing to read about people who say that they are spiritual but then they ‘attack’ the sangha and other practitioners online that are rude and uncalled for.
Whatever we practice, we shouldn’t say bad things nor condemn other people. That is not what Buddhism taught us. Instead we should be non bias and understand based on facts and reasons, not blind faith.
Like what Rinpoche said, I truly agree. If there is a problem, then solve it the right way and not by using abusive speech. If the person feels that is wrong, then report it to the relevant authorities or get help one way or the other. Why hold onto grudges and make yourself unhappy? Practice what is taught and not act how you think you should react just like it is stated in 50 Stanzas.
Indeed, if we want to solve a problem, we must use the right and proper solution.
For instance, it’s common for us to possess high intensity of hate toward criminals etc., snatch thieves,rapist and more. When the public got them first before the police officers, individuals who committed the crimes would most probably beaten up seriously by the public. It’s wrong or right? By law, it’s wrong and we should not harm them and hand them to the police officers. However, most of us may think that the offenders deserve more punishments than just being jailed and corporal punishments by the authorized sector because our angers are not released yet.
Back to the question, it’s wrong or right to corporal punish a law offenders privately? Who have the rights to give the sentence? Does it mean that when an individual did something wrong
, he or she should accept and deserve whatever from us and his/her human rights is then declined on the spot?
What I wish to indicate here is that even one really did something wrong we should follow the decision and certain rules and regulations which are preset by the authorized sectors. Needless to mention when it comes to the gurus and high lamas, especially ours own gurus. Every individual is unique, their way of communication, background and experiences are all different and one of a kind. Therefore, it’s true that..
‘Sometimes we really don’t have karma with a certain lama and we have to leave.’ – Tsem Rinpoche
The Chinese used to say ‘合则聚，不合则离’ it’s mean that when it’s matchable it will match automatically when it’s not it will somehow be apart.
We live as human beings as the greatest animal for with high intelligent, able to think and filled with full of emotions. We should able to think logically and be considerate about another being’s feelings before we act and harm.
There are always complainers, they simply just complain about everything for them to feel good. They are not here to become a better person, they are not here to do something constructive, but instead, wherever they go, they only create more harm and damage to the place and people. These people will always want things to go their way, they want to be the controller and not be controlled by others.
We hold our own responsibilities, before we choose a guru, we observe, we check, and we try out, so once we decided to follow a guru, it is the choice we made, so since we are the one who made the choices, why blame others? Why criticize others? Why defame / harm others to hide our failure? If we really cannot get along with our guru, or our Dharma brothers, and sisters, or anyone in that Dharma centers, then just walk away and look for a Dharma centers we “think” we are suitable to can stay along well. Don’t create schism or division between the lama and his students.
When we do this, we are just telling people out there of what we are doing, we tell people that Spiritual is to harm, defame, abuse, complain, so on and so on, then who will still want to enter into their spiritual practice? When we do this, we are pushing people away from Dharma, how heavy the karma we are collecting? This totally defeat the purpose why we come into a Dharma centers.
Milarepa story is really inspiring, he dropped, he’s been “tortured”, he suffered a lot, but due to his guru devotion, he stayed and follow through his guru’s instruction, finally he gained attainment. More about Milarepa can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHOsTA7PDT0
Thank you Rinpoche for this article. I totally agree what was said in this article. It do make sense if contemplate deeply. Why praise your Guru when you take him as your Guru and talk bad about him when you leave him? In spiritual side, there will be negative karma accumulated. On a secular side, I call it hypocrite.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for this “wake up” call for some of us who get caught up through picking on spiritual side and secular side just to suit and justify their actions.
Through the 50 Stanzas, we know very well the consequences of not having Guru devotion. For all of us who call ourselves Buddhists and having recited the 50 stanzas and still behave secularly, then the only consequence is only collection of negative karma upon themselves.
I would like to express my utmost gratitude to Your Emminence for all these wonderful teachings to ignorant people like me. May you have long life, stable health and continue to turn the Dharma Wheel.
Humbly yours
Lum Kok Luen
In the “Fifty Stanzas of Guru Devotion” by Ashvagosha, we are told to look carefully for a qualified Guru and , once you have found him,” should you then despise him from your heart, you will reap continual sufferings as if you had disparaged all the Buddhas”.
Leaving your Guru may be because, for some reason or another, it had appeared justifiable for you to do so. Maybe you did not have the karma to be with him. However, having left him, to go and bad-mouth that guru brings very negative karmic consequences on yourself, as the above lines from” Fifty Stanzas ” show. Seeing faults in your Guru, and criticising him after leaving him , does not bring you any spiritual benefit at all, even though you follow your new Guru all the way. You will not gain any spiritual attainments. Worst of all, you heap on yourself all the heavy negative conseqeunces of having disparaged your previous Guru.
Stanza 14 of “50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion”
“Whatever fearful hells have been taught , such as Avici, the Hell of Uninterrupted Pain, it is clearly explained that those who disparage their teachers will have to remain there (a very long time). ”
Having a spiritual Guide is a purely spiritual matter. Hence, to introduce secular methods of handling a matter which is spiritual, to confuse the spiritual and the secular, adds up to nothing but serious negative outcomes . On top of it, what does it gain you to bad mouth your teacher? You may gain the attention of some like-minded people, but only for a short while. Who will be patient enough to continue listening to you go on and on. Honestly, if really they have done you some harm, seek legal action. Seek out a therapist, if your mind has been damaged.
Otherwise, for your own peace of mind, just let go and not keep blaming and blaming and hurling insults against Gurus like Tsem Rinpoche? How come some people see him negatively, when there are so many other students and people who see him as his blog (with its current 8.5 over million views) show him to be – a most compassionate being who only cares to benefit all by spreading the Dharma?
Thank you Rinpoche for putting this plainly; no matter how we look at it, criticizing our previous lama and destroying the samaya with our Guru can never be a good thing. One may have found a new Guru but from a spiritual level, one will not achieve attainments with the new Gru once the samaya with previous Guru is ruined. And from a secular level, it just goes to show what a bickering character one is. It is best to practice Buddha Dharma, seek to mend the broken samaya and part in good terms.
Thank you Rinpoche for the timely reminder as we see this happening right before our eyes. Mixing the secular with the spiritual and going back and forth to suit our convenience shows very clearly we’re neither here nor there. That means we’re making up our own religion. Then we have no right to say that we’re so and so’s disciple or follower because the Guru whom we profess to follow did not teach that and in fact we bring disrepute to the Guru whom we seem to rally behind.
But there is one common rule of basic decency that runs through both the spiritual and the secular. That is we take responsibility for our own decision and not blame someone else for the decision we made if we think it turned out to be wrong.
So we chose to follow a particular Guru, nobody dragged us into it. Or we chose to work at a particular co., again nobody forced us to work there. Or we got into a relationship with our eyes open, we were not kidnapped. Then we have a change of heart or we want out for whatever reason. The decent way to do it is to part on a good note. Why turn around and blame the Guru or company or ex- for making our own “bad decision”?
What is worse than lacking in basic human decency is when we have not even been a student of the Guru, or never worked in the company or don’t even know someone personally and then we bad mouth them, abuse and slander them, try to harm them physically and otherwise.
Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, TibetOver 400 years ago a great and learned lama Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was famed in Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and China for being very saintly and compassionate. He resided in his residence (Zimkhang Gongma Ladrang) in Drepung Monastery. His root guru was H.H. the Omniscient 4th Panchen Lama and his close dharma brother was the 5th Dalai Lama.
The 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had a very close and dharmic relationship and often went to receive teachings together from the 4th Panchen Lama. They were close in age. They both became very learned and well known. During this time, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as a Dharma King of Tibet. But more people went to see Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for teachings, initiations and divinations. This made the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama feel threatened that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s fame might usurp the power of the 5th Dalai Lama. So they had a khata forced down his throat. At that moment, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen dissolved his psychic winds and generated the wish to be a great guardian of Buddha and Tsongkapa’s teachings. As his consciousness dissolved, he entered ‘bardo’ as a dharma protector of the highest order (jikten depey sungma). Many signs were seen throughout Lhasa at this time and the earth was said to have shaken in Lhasa. This event was already predicted to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s previous incarnation when he was one of the 8 main disciples of Lord Tsongkapa the Supreme Master and he served Tsongkapa directly by building Gaden Monastery.
When the 5th Dalai Lama heard what his scheming and power-hungry attendants had done, he was very distressed. He was very sorry Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was murdered and dishonored as he was a great dharma master. The 5th Dalai Lama composed an apology to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. In Lhasa, tens of thousands gathered for the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s holy body. During the cremation, the 5th Dalai Lama’s apology was read out at which flames spontaneously arose from the body of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen commencing the cremation. From the body, during cremation, a powerful whirlwind of smoke tunneled into the sky for all to see as this was an indication Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s consciousness has arisen as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. The Dharma Protector Setrap immediately recognized this new protector Dorje Shugden and ‘enthroned’ him as a powerful Dharma Protector in the realm of the Buddhas. From this, Setrap and Dorje Shugden are closely connected and very close working hand in hand always. After the cremation, the great 5th Dalai Lama built a Dorje Shugden chapel on the spot the cremation took place and named it Trode Khangsar. The 5th Dalai Lama commissioned the statue of Dorje Shugden in this chapel and had monks installed in the chapel to do continuous propitiations to Dorje Shugden. Trode Khangsar Chapel was a commemoration to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who was wronged and also a celebration of his consciousness arising as the World Peace Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
This Trode Khangsar Chapel still exists now in Lhasa where many make pilgrimages there. It is in good condition and was recently renovated. It is over 400 years old and a testimony to the respect the Great 5th Dalai Lama had to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who arose as Dorje Shugden.
I have visited this holy chapel in Lhasa years back. I’ve never heard of it till I was in Lhasa and by chance, I was told about it which I was happy to visit. I could not find the place but strangely a bunch of pilgrims from Amdo told me they would show me how to get there in Lhasa.
This short video is a short clip of this holy Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa today commemorating Dorje Shugden, built by the great 5th Dalai Lama. The great 5th Dalai Lama even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden which is still available today and we can recite to invoke the blessings, protection, and assistance of World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
Tsem Rinpoche
Read more: Trode Khangsar – A 400-year-old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/trode-khangsar-%E2%80%93-a-400-year-old-dorje-shugden-chapel-in-lhasa.html
Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTybDwTeLAM
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The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje ShugdenHUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!
Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinoceros leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamos of the charnel grounds, praise to you!
Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favourite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!
Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!
Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!
From: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/the-5th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden
Tibetan prayer from: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-14th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
Before we choose a dharma center or a guru to follow, we have to do more study and research on the dharma center and the background of the guru. Once we rely upon the guru we have to follow the guru instruction and commit into our practice seriously.
However, there will be some political players inside a dharma center who can cause people to walk away from the center. As a practitioner, I am learning to adapt to the situation, practicing to ease my judgmental view on some people and learning to accept. If I couldn’t comply with the people who brought difficulty to me I will choose to walk away with no more anger and disappointment.
Finally, I would like to thank Rinpoche for making dharma so easily for us to access and also I would like to thank Kechara for organizing a Lamrin class for all of us.
Humbly with love and with hand folded,
Ng Jesvin
Once we have our minds set on choosing our guru, then we should go all the way with our studies and practice with that one guru because upon taking refuge vows, a bond is created that your guru will lead you all the way to enlightenment. Therefore, you had the affinity to meet that particular guru in the current lifetime that you are in! And when one criticises their teacher or ex-guru, then it shows what kind of person they are, because they made the choice also in the beginning to accept his/her guru based on the benefits they received through the Dharma during the beginning stages of observing the guru.
Not only have I read criticisms towards Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, I witness the same being thrown at my teacher, His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. Some of these people who criticise my teacher,
1. Are not even students of my teacher
2. Don’t even know my teacher
3. Falsely accuse my teacher
4. Call him names.
5. Disregards the Dharma works that my teacher has been doing and upholding all his life.
Before these people criticise the lama, they should observe what have they done in their lives that has benefitted the tens of thousands across the globe, like these teachers have?
Secular, or spiritual, they both arise from the same minds. The karma from one, doesn’t outweigh the karma from the other. So whether we are doing negative, secularly or spiritually, they both drag us down further.
A real spiritual teacher does not operate with a secular motivation, ie to harm you or to take advantage from you. A real spiritual teacher is here to help us develop our good qualities, sometimes due to our karmas, the method engage by the spiritual teacher in achieving the goal is quite unconventional and we may not comprehend. For example, Tilopa once asked Naropa to get curry for him which resulted in Naropa stealing the curry. This is seen unacceptable in secular sense but in spiritual sense, it has helped Naropa develop very strong Guru Devotion and very stable mind, eventually he received very precious teachings from the guru and became enlightened.
Therefore, when we see a person as a spiritual teacher, we should not critcise or make negative comments on him/her using the secular standards simply because the teacher does not operate in secular way. By making negative comments on the spiritual teacher because he/she does not fit into our secular projection will create many negative karmas. As a results, we will not progress and will be moving further away from liberation.
We must be clear of the difference between spiritual and secular if we want to engage in spiritual practice and see positive transformation in ourselves.
谢谢仁波切的分享。
我非常赞同仁波切所说的。 很多人在修行路上不知道最重要的就是对上师的依止心， 而且还犯下毁谤上师的错误。
文中的例子就是格西格桑嘉措的弟子在离开格西格桑嘉措的中心后就大肆在网上抨击格西格桑嘉措， 不过转过头来就大力赞扬达赖尊者。
身为佛教徒， 我们就需要以佛教徒的角度来对待每件事情， 包括我们如何对待各位上师。
我们皈依上师不是因为上师的知名度， 无论我们皈依的上师是谁， 我们都要视师为佛。 在很多经典如上师五十颂或事师九心， 所有的内容都是关于我们该如何侍奉上师， 而且通过修习上师依止心我们才可以在灵修上得到成就。
一日为师， 一生为师， 如果我们要换上师， 我们必须得到上师的允许。 如果没有上师的允许而转投其他上师的门下， 无论我们如何修行都不会有成就。
最广为人知的例子就是大成就者米勒日吧。 当时米勒日吧在玛尔巴门下受训的时候他就因为无法忍受玛尔巴德严峻修行而向师母求救。 师母因为不忍而冒用玛尔巴的名叫米勒日吧去向玛尔巴的一位得意门徒修行。 虽然米勒日吧精进修行， 他还是无法得到成就， 玛尔巴的弟子也从而得知米勒日吧并没有得到玛尔巴的准许来向他学习。
在历史、或佛典都告诉了我们上师依止心的重要性。 所以请停止毁谤自己的上师。
谢谢
Talking bad about a guru or a sangha member is very bad karma. When we join a Dharma centre, our main purpose is to learn the Dharma and be a better person. If we find that then Dharma centre is not suitable for us, then we can choose to leave. This is not the case of flipping minds. When a person leaves the Dharma centre, why do you need to criticise or slander the centre or the guru?
If we are there to learn Dharma, then we should persevere and take the teachings. The guru will know what is the best method to break our ego and push our buttons so that we can attain some realisations. Each person is different, and each method is different. If we cannot take the training, is it the teacher’s fault or is it our problem? It is something we need to ponder on.
Choosing to leave a Dharma centre and talk bad about it does not make your a better person, in fact it makes you fuel your ego even more. Because you have to win and cannot lose face or accept the fact that you have failed. The problem then lies in you and only you can deal with it. If you start blaming, then the very intention of joining a Dharma centre is foiled. You have to examine your intention again.
When you decided to join the Dharma centre or follow a guru, first, ask yourself what’s your motivation and intention in doing so? If it’s pure secular, i.e to get more contacts, business opportunities, friends, relationship etc, then it’s wrong in the first place because Dharma centre is not for secular gain. So when you entered a Dharma organisation with secular motivation and due to some reasons you left the organisation, then do it professionally and secularly, like what suggested in the article. Go the legal way if it’s necessary. In secular world, termination of service in a company voluntary or involuntary, either way we have to go through proper procedures and if the party finds he or she is being treated unfairly, file a claim from the Industrial Court of any other legal path to seek compensation for your loss.
On a spiritual level, when we decided to join a Dharma centre, there must be something in us that we’re struggling in life and needed spiritual help. There must be certain degree of surrenders in Dharma before we made the decision. We want a change in life and knowing Dharma could help but we don’t want to put effort in it. So when the spiritual teacher is doing his job to help us, spiritually, we resist the teacher because we don’t like the hard work. When we “failed” in what we supposed to achieve in Dharma centre, we ran away and we started to find a scapegoat to blame, and hence we saw so many small talks, gossips, defamation, false accusations on social media nowadays polluting others mind, it not only has created negative repercussions, on secular level, potential employers definitely will not hire those who bad mouth and spread rumours after one has left a company. So, this kind of unethical acts failed both ways, spiritually and secularly.
Here’s a wonderful post written by one of Tsem Rinpoche’s students on his views on when a Lama is attacked:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/why-hide-and-attack-a-monk.html
感谢仁波切的教诲，
上师是我们成就的根本，我们应该好好地依止我们的上师，如文章说提到的，如果您真的与这位上师没有缘分的话，那么我们必须依据佛法的方法来解决，比如好好请示这位上师说您要离开他而跟从另一位上师，倘若得到了允许，那么就“放下”心中的障碍，好好地跟从另一位上师吧。
既然选择了学习佛法，那么应该把佛法运用在生活当中，怎么可以上一个还在佛堂里念诵经文，听闻开示，离开佛堂后就完全忘记了所吸收的佛法，而继续用世俗的方式来处理与面对生活呢？
在这遍文章中，还有提到的部分是，许多人来到了学习佛法，即使甘丹寺那么多的僧伽众，都会发生有人放弃或埋怨的情况，这是很正常的，就是因为这样我们才需要更加好好学习佛法，来排除内心的障碍，学习方下与宽容，而且不要因为这个寺院有人离开，就完全主观地认为这寺院有问题，而产生了误解与偏见，只是天地下的每一所寺院都发生着一样的事情，人来人往的，而重要的是你用一个怎样的角度来看待这一切的“无常”
谢谢
Jerry Sito
If we are just using secular and spiritual back and forth for our own convenience, it only brings harm and damage among people. This is definitely a big NO NO in spiritual practise.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing thing article. I agree that a lot of people mixed up secular and spiritual for each convenience.
Should a person choose a spiritual path then he or she should act in accordance to it. The ban and segregation in Tibet to those people who practice Dorje Shugden is not right. Every human has religious freedom and choice of practice. Dorje Shugden practitioners will continue their practice because it is given by their Guru. In Tibetan Buddhism it is very important not to break the samaya with Guru. So for those who do not agree with it then it is fine but they cannot harm the Shugden practitioners and even critised or discriminate them. I hope the ban on Shugden will be lifted soon and stop the sufferings of the practitioners.
Dear Rinpoche,
This degenerating age many minds are hard to change.. your teaching is very valuable, I am glad that I meet you two years ago online .. I learn lots of dharma from your website and from dharma talks.. its difficult to practice dharma when conflicts are there.. hope all will be over soon.
Thank you
I hope Tibetan leadership will stop contradicting itself and discriminating based on faith, for the benefit of Tibetan people.
It is never ok to gossip and slander someone behind their backs just because what they are doing do not fit accordingly with our perceptions. Yes we all have our perceptions and do not agree with many things but even in secular life, to talk badly about people to our friends or anything of that nature will reflect badly on us more than anything else.
Yet if that is bad then how can slandering attained lamas be even conceivable? Well it is usually done out of hate and an unclear mind because a clear one would approach it in a different manner. It is very bad karma to defame lamas just because their methods do not fit our perceptions because some people will get turned off because they too have manipulated perceptions. Being the cause of someone not entering the Dharma path to practice and relieve others of suffering is a lot of karma because it snowballs significantly. It is always the better person who goes about a problem in a humble and quieter manner rather than being loud and boisterous to gain the wrong kind of attention.
Dear Rinpoche, I rejoice greatly in your activities and kindness, may you live for a very long time and all your wishes be swiftly fulfilled. I thought readers may be interested to learn that much of what is written on line but ‘ex’ students of Geshe Kelsang, is now l known to have been a fabrication of just s small handful of people. This article and part 2 off this article give some dad b but important information pertaining to that subject.
http://www.arebuddhistsracist.com/manipulating_the_media.html
I will also take to heart your questions and consider carefully your advice. My determination is too rely on Dharma always, with Buddha’s blessings and Sangha’s help (through the kindness of my precious teacher)
I prostrate to you Tsem Rinpoche. You are so wise:) Thankyou for teaching us the correct paths xxoo
Secular only creates more and more karma for us to stay in samsara, but spiritual is the real antidote for us to our endless sufferings. So if we act secularly and spiritually we will be stuck we cannot move at all. At best we remain stagnant. We need to make the right choice of where we want to head to.
It’s amazing, sometimes when you make a spiritual choice, some people can criticize and segregate you for it. As if your choice must be approved by them. If they don’t approve they have some mandate to tell you that you are wrong and also can be rude for your choice of faith. If you don’t pray to what they pray to, then your ‘god’ is a demon or something. How archaic. LOL. I find that amazing. LOL again. How can you come to my space, face and life and tell me my religion is wrong? I didn’t hurt anyone with my faith and I don’t intend to. Whatever others of my same faith are or are not doing is not me. So don’t bundle me up into the same package. I am me and they are them. Besides, I am more than my religion. There are many aspects of who I am. So don’t just look at my spiritual choice and summarize me. You don’t know me. And you don’t have to know me. Also I owe nothing to you. I don’t need your approval for my spirituality. I would love to be your friend but let’s not let our spiritual choice ever get in the way. Be modern, be today and accept who I am as I don’t hurt anyone. 🙂 So look at all parts of who I am but the bottom line is my spirituality is my choice, do not ever presume to comment, disparage, judge or even think anything about it. I eat what I want. I dress as I like. Live where I want. Befriend who I wish. Write what I like on my social media space and pray to whatever I feel is working for me. Full stop! 🙂 Thanks for letting me live my life as your opinion of it is not needed, requested or solicited and I say this with deepest respects to you.. Humbly, Tsem Rinpoche
Comment I like and inspires me from Tsem Rinpoche.
For me, I have received teachings from H.H. the Dalai Lama and I still have to respect him as one of my lamas. It might be different for some of you who have not. But my approach must be respectful. Even if I didn’t have teachings from H.H. the Dalai Lama, would still approach him in a respectful manner. The advice against Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness is hurting many people in fact millions. It’s creating discord, segregation and pain. Everything the Dalai Lama teaches is about compassion, tolerance and reconciliation and the Shugden practitioners deserve that too. I therefore, respectfully prostrating to the ground would ask H.H. the Dalai Lama to please send his ministers to talk to the leaders of the Shugden group and resolve this issue. I say all this with deepest respects. As a part Tibetan, I also wish His Holiness the best. Long live the Dalai lama.
Humbly, Tsem Rinpoche
Dear everyone, His Holiness Dalai Lama says to kick out monks from the monasteries who do not listen. I was so surprised at this short speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS6hq5HJNik
感谢上师，尊贵的詹杜固仁波切，在这篇博文里，用心的表达与同时也让我们思考，到底我们应该选择俗世之道，还是佛法之道来看待事物？
我们打从娘胎出生到现在，没有一个人可以避免用世俗的思考来衡量与决定每个行动。很自然的，大多数的人，从小到大都会先考虑自己的事情，然后才想到别人甚至于忘记他人的存在。因为有了我执之心，我们往往会只看到别人的弱点，然后加以批评他人。
一直到我们遇到佛法，接触佛法，了解佛法，然后好好的运用佛法智慧与慢慢的放下世俗的层面来面对所有的事情。当我们真正了解佛法时，以前很喜欢批评人不管是敬爱的上师或是其他普通人，不再重蹈覆辙。
我们要从俗世和佛法修行的做法上作出抉择，其实不容易的。因为我们太长时间在这娑婆世界里活动，难免会受到三毒的诱惑。
无论如何，我们必须要感恩，因为我们虽然出生在马来西亚，但却如此的幸运可以从尊贵的上师学习佛法，而且还是拥有纯净的传承。坦白说，如果不是上师的慈悲，我想今天的我，肯定会继续用强烈的世俗层面来对待身边所有的事与物。
《上师五十颂》就好像现今社会的其中一部必须遵守的《法典》，里面包涵了如何依止上师的教诲。其中有说明～如果我们对上师持有负面的想法、不尊敬或对上师失去信心，而且还没净化和改善我和上师的关系时，即便我们找到了另一位上师，无论我们多么努力修持与学习，我们也将不会取得任何成就。
我想，还是管理好我们的信念。如果我们可以始一而终跟着一位有资格的上师，反而这样会让我们得到更多与更快达到目的。
The moment we entered into Kechara to practice Buddhism, we are already being prepared for spirituality. Many of us may not have realised that at the outset of any attempt to embrace Buddhism, we were required to take vows; (Refuge vows for example) that give us directions an guidelines to follow. Then the collection of merits by four preliminary practices give actual’fuel’ to power our practice into transformation of our habits. Subsequently, followed by purification practices to clear our path for removal of obstructions and obstacles if any for us to complete the practices. These are said to be very importance steps for our holy spiritual practices as taught by our compassionate Guru, whose precious kindness, love and compassion seem matchless! Through his golden lips and kind heart, he gave us Dharma as taught by every buddha of the past, present or future. May all be auspicious for our holy venerable Guru to remain in this land immutable like a Vajra! Om Mani Padme Hung.
Dorje Shugden followers in the millions will not abandon their practice. So it would be good if leaders of the Dorje Shugden practicing community met with the Tibetan leadership to work out something that will be a win-win situation for both sides. His Holiness Dalai Lama wants to meet the Chinese current leaders to resolve the Tibet issue. Why not meet the Shugden followers to resolve this issue too? Why forgive one ‘enemy’ and ignore another?~Tsem Rinpoche (Please read more here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=57431)
Word.
Thanks for posting this. I re-read it today. For some reason this issue is complicated or difficult. I had not heard of it this way before. The method of teaching in the religious context I am used to is very different. It is also good, but sometimes there are ways that you describe issues that I feel bring me clarity about some aspect of an issue. So, thanks.
PS Glad you recovered from a mistake I made a few weeks ago.
For me, this blog is to teach us not to criticize any Masters or lineage be respectful to other people’s practices, be loyal to your own guru and go all the way without any doubt. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for this valuable teaching to all of us here.
It is indeed that we may think that it is correct for us to boycott and ask others to boycott, but by doing things like that to the teacher that has taught us the Dharma and also given us that link towards Dharma is not correct.
Many may not think that is this wrong as they may feel that they are just voicing out their unhappiness, but in truth, they are creating schisms that are unnecessary. By creating the schisms for the students of our teachers and them, we are actually creating that negative karma that we may not see it.
Hence, there is always no reason for creating of schism because as time goes by, people would only be able to see who you truly are.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the clear explanation of how our mind works. It makes so much sense.
People who have negative comments of their own teachers and other teachers are too caught up with themselves about being right. It doesn’t get them anywhere be it secular nor spiritual.
If they were mistreated by their teacher or organization and they are so unhappy about it, they should go to the law. Really, what is the point of complaining to the same people incessantly??? Doesn’t get them anywhere. Makes their complaints sound like crying over spilled milk.
For those who choose spirituality, then they should study the 50 Verses of Guru Devotion as suggested by Rinpoche to have a better understanding of what practising guru devotion entails. Otherwise, all their efforts in the name of spirituality will not go far.
Regards,
JP
Thank you Rinpoche for highlighting the fact that a student who have left his teacher to go to another teacher would not get any realization on the practice given by the new teacher. The saddest part is when the person who have left would criticize the teacher who have kindly taught him. Instead of going to the social media to blog about his previous teacher, he should really solve his grievances with the proper authorities or to let go of his displeasure which caused him to leave.
I would choose the spiritual way, so I must always be mindful of my speech to not speak bad of any teacher and to follow faithfully what have been taught to me by my teacher.
Thank you Rinpoche for the teaching. I will put this question in my heart and ask myself again and again to remind myself what is my main reason of joining the Dharma. we are secular! That is the whole reason of we come to Dharma center to practice Dharma so that we can be spiritual. When we are serious with our spiritual path we look for a guru. The reason we need a guru because we need someone who is expert in spiritual path to lead us to enlightenment. Along the way the guru will give us many assignments to break our perceptions, our negative thoughts and our bad habits. If a guru do not do that then why we need a guru for? It’s not easy if we do not trust our guru all the way. Our problem is we always like to judge and blame when we face problem or loose face. We just cannot swallow our ego. Even with our guru we cannot. Then we started to criticize, we drama about small small things taht we are not happy with, create disharmony among Dharma brothers and sisters. We went on and on to cover up our faults which we are actually wrong, we actually cannot get things done, we are actually made a huge mistake etc etc etc. But look, who doesn’t have mistakes? Say sorry sincerely and move on with regret and remorse. Why can’t we choose to improve and repair our guru samaya instead of creating more and more bad karma for myself? We should really think about it..
I have practised the New Kadampa Tradition, Gueshe Kelsang’s teachings & they are very precise & quite addapted to the West way of exposing things, rather than a too Tibetan or Asian manner. When I went to the first lecture of the Mexican director I stopped from hating my terrible neighbor. I felt the blessings of the different Buddhas, particularly after the Green Tara retreats. It worked for me very perfectly. I had epiphanies & spiritual experiences, very particularly from Green Tara. We got our old friend Sandra McEntire become a Nun & the Culture Institute teacher a monk (although he dropped the rope later). But, our nun says she is tired at 71 years of age &
like would like to rest instead of teaching (she speaks unperfected Spanish) & myself after practicing maybe 10 years I am finnally retaking my Buddhist practices, although I do do Kuan Yin mantras very often. This Mazatlan, Mexico has bad Karma for spiritual centers & creating the energy to have a stronghold of spirituality is hard. But I consider myself a man with character & will keep up my spiritual practices.
Thank you Rinpoche, for the article.
It is so timely now that many people are on social media talking bad about certain high lamas. It is so true that if we are spiritual, we will and should know that bad mouthing our Guru or high lamas is detrimental. If we are truly spiritual, we will watch our behaviour and respect all lamas.
If our Gurus or high Lamas are wrong, we can always seek them for clarification to understand. Maybe it is what WE think that is wrong, and not our Gurus who are wrong. In fact, asking to seek clarifications will open our minds more.
Milarepa’s story and the 50 verses of Guru Devotion already teaches us that we must respect our teachers. Even if we think they are wrong [if we feel we are much more clever than our own teachers], we should never bad mouth them.
Thank you for this thought-provoking article, Rinpoche.
With much respect 🙂
Indeed there is much back mouthing in this world we live in. I see it as a part of life and realise that change towards such attacks is within myself. However, it really bothers me when the seemed holy ones are two-faced. After reading this article and also seeing what some people are bad mouthing on social media against Lamas like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, it makes me most irritated. When secular methods and intention is adopted under the facade of religion/spirituality, the one word which sums up secular mixing with spiritual is hypocrisy.
Rinpoche has many times taught us if we pray for hours in a temple, then go out and swear at the next person who cuts us off in traffic, then all the prayers will lose it meaning. Why bother praying at all is what I think.
I thank Rinpoche for the teaching in this article and it makes me understand why even in spiritual conditions there is never absolute peace BUT I strongly believe in my lineage and what Rinpoche has taught me and it has never mixed nor confused with politics/secular. I am most grateful as there is enough hypocrisy and confusion in the world.
Dear Rinpoche,
If we want to pursue a serious spiritual journey, we should not start comparing. We are so blessed to have an attained Lama, as our Guru.
The 50 Verses of Guru Devotion is the guiding path for us. I believe respecting the Guru and his Dharma teachings is in actuality respecting Buddha.
Thank you, Rinpoche
Thank you Rinpoche for this very enlightening article on being Spiritual as opposed to being Secular, especially in relations to the sacred Guru-Disciple relationship.
It makes re-examine me how we mistakenly view our Spiritual Guide as just someone whom we think will guide us on our spiritual path according to our distorted projections and expectations. When our projections and expectations are not met, we start to find fault and blame and criticize him.This is how we treat any person in our secular world.
Unfortunately, we fail to realize that when we have accepted a Guru and entered a Guru-Disciple relationship with him, we are signing on to embark on a journey of gaining enlightenment or ultimate peace. This requires us to abide by the spiritual rules as laid out in the Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion. The rules are pure spirituality . Being spiritual means we abide by the rules and principles of Guru Devotion, so that we will gain out Enlihgtenment. Breaking the rules, such as disparaging one’s Guru, creates the karmic cause of not being able to realize any attainments whatsoever, even though we seek out the most renowned Master and receive teachings from him.
We cannot mix the secular with the spiritual. If we want to be secular, then we don’t embark on a Guru-Disciple relationship at all.We don’t aspire for tantric practice which will lead us to enlightenment more swiftly, which is what we need in this degenerate age.
Thank you Rinpoche for the wonderful teaching. The article reminds me of the 50 verses of Guru devotion.
If we are serious in our spiritual journey, go all the way without flipping back and forth with the secular side at our conveniences because if we have negative thoughts, wrong thoughts and show disrespect or lost faith in our teacher, without purifying that karma and purifying that relationship, and we go to another teacher, no matter how much we practice, study and meditate we will gain no attainments.
Thank you Rinpoche
Thank you Rinpoche for this teaching. All the questions raised were relevant and set me into contemplation so necessary for the development of a perfect guru-disciple relationship that will benefit us spiritually.
Mixing spiritual & secular principles in our practice will not benefit anybody. When we use secular way to support or justify our reasons with issue in our practice, we are feeding the 3 poisons in our deluded mind & create the caused for us to continue doing that again & again. Eventually this negative habituation will increase as time pass & we collect more demerits which will hinder our progress & gain no results. At the same time, we also create schism, disharmony & cause others to lose faith in their beliefs & practices. This negative karma will caused us not to be able to meet with the dharma or the right guru & continue suffering lives after lives. When we practice spirituality it is not about the 1 hour that we spent doing our prayers, attending dharma class or feeding the poor, it is about applying the teachings into our actions in the others 23 hours all the way. Spirituality is to transform us into a better person, kinder, more caring, tolerance & responsible. Therefore, to criticise one lama & praise the other contradict the principles of spirituality, it will not benefit anyone but is more damaging to our practice.
Thank you Rinpoche for this precious teaching & reminder.
In condemning another lama, his teaching or lineage and instigating the other students or followers to abandon their lama create very bad karma for both the instigator as well as the people who actually listened and left their lama. A true dharma practitioner who follow Buddha’s teaching through proper lineage will not have condemned another lineage, because by doing so, it is akin to condemning Buddha’s teaching and therefore their own practice as well.
Some may argue that it is alright to expose if there is something wrong with the lineage, so that others will not follow the wrong footstep. It can be a very dangerous view because a worldly person is unlikely to have the correct view to judge the path taught by any lineage. If a person is judging based on his worldly knowledge, it is therefore a secular view. Hence, the person are likely to be mistaken and could even be having a wrong view, which is one of the ten non-virtuous acts we need to curb.
Also, people from the secular side of things are known to be jealous and criticize people who are more successful. Sometimes they will go down to a very low level to damage successful people in a most disrespectful manner, without doing research thoroughly and understand the issue properly first.
Thank You, Rinpoche, for the wonderful teaching.
Thank You Rinpoche for this wonderful teaching why we should not mix Secular with Spiritual. Being in Secular world we have been cultivated with the mentality to criticize, complain and voice our dissatisfaction to the things we do not accept and like. This further reinforce us to make judgement and out of Ego we criticize others when things doesn’t fit our expectation or even wrong to our perception. We are repeating it day after day, years after years, and the angers build up.
Without proper understanding the spiritual commitment to Guru Devotion and practice of Dharma, which is to rid our self-cherishing mind, and Ego and wrong view, we will still continue carrying the Secular mentality with us, when situation arise, we criticize, disparage our Guru, Dharma Centre, and even other Lineages or practice. Most of the time it is due to self-cherishing we do not want to let go of our Ego to fully accept the Spiritual commitment, then we we take side, view the Guru, practice or other Guru is wrong because it doesn’t fit our perception, or have wrong view.
To becoming a Student to a spiritual teacher, we must submit ourself, and never allow perception and ego to blind us if we truly seeking spirituality, bring Secular mentality into Spirituality not only create schism in Dharma, but also contaminating the pure lineage and teaching of the Buddha. Even so, if we are devoted practitioner, we should apply the Spiritual method into our secular, not to criticize, complain and even bad mouthing our employer, that is true Spirituality.
Genuine practice of any dharma teachings doesn’t encourage extremism, right wing or left wing like in politics. Any sort of opposing wrong views will create conflict, criticism and unhappiness. That is not dharma practice is about. If we follow the spiritual middle way, we will not criticize others who took opposing views. We should show mutual respect instead. Unless those who criticized had other agenda on their mind. For me, I choose to follow the spiritual middle way and my Guru’s advice.
Genuine practice of any dharma teachings doesn’t encourage extremism, right wing or left wing like in politics. Any sort of opposing wrong views will create conflict, criticism and unhappiness. That is not dharma practice is about. If we follow the spiritual middle way, we will not criticize others who took opposing views. We should show mutual respect instead. Unless those who criticized had other agenda on their mind.
For me, I choose to follow the spiritual middle way and my Guru’s advice.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you Rinpoche for the great sharing.
In year 2013, i received a copy of 50 Verses of Guru Devotion with commentary from Rinpoche during my social media retreat.
This is one of the important book that changed my perception on spiritual practice. That is why i would not criticize other spiritual teacher.
Thank you Rinpoche for the book and the post.
May everyone understand the Guru-disciple relationship and gain attainment in spiritual practice.
Thank you
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for the beautiful article that can help me open my mind widely. From my personal view, we will not gain anything whether in our secular works or spiritual path when we bad mouth, criticize ect; hence most of us are not qualified to judge.
We can make our own choice to choose, we must respect to others towards a harmony and peace environment. Just like us, as a resident in Malaysia, we still make friends with others religion peoples. The “Respect” bring us to be friends always and no conflicts.
As Rinpoche mention above, “Milarepa’s story is a good example for all students to learn more about the importance of Guru- Disciple relationship” ; as we follow a Guru, we should behave according to the Fifty Verses Of Guru Devotion by using our limited life time to practice Dharma rather than wasted our time to bad mouth, criticize, disturbing others ect.
Your sincerely,
Casteven Lim (KH JB)
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing. When someone do not have the karma with certain lama, what they can do is to ask for the permission to leave, and the person should leave with having respect for the lama and really let go their ego. People always like to criticize especially to the people did not treat them in the way they expected, why they criticism? I guess they actually want to revenge, they want people to hate/dislike the one they hate/dislike too..this is a very secular behave, by doing this, it increase their bad karma and no matter what teacher they follow, they can not gain attainment as the hatred or whatever negative feeling to their previous teacher is always in the mind and it block them from gaining attainment
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for posing this question for us to reflect and decide what we want to do. For me and i believe anyone who wish to learn and practice the Dharma, the choice is evident: spiritual. Why? Because we already lived on the “secular side” all our lives…and if we are still searching and looking, then it is obvious that the secular angle does not work. Meaning, it has not brought us to what we are pursuing, whatever that may be…peace, happiness, contentment, success etc.
If we enter the spiritual journey to apply and reinforce our secular ways and habits, we should really question our motivation. It really does not make sense to “contaminate” the spiritual world with secularity….unless there is hidden agenda…and this agenda must be one that is harmful since it has to be hidden.
People who try to bring down leaders or successful individuals and groups are not new or uncommon. And it is sad that most of them do it because they are themselves unsuccessful or went through experiences that cause them to be destructive. For such people, i do empathize because they are truly throwing away this precious chance to meet the dharma. They are throwing away this chance because, instead of learning and practicing new ways to re-habituate themselves, they are re-creating the same problems they had in their secular world. Therefore, as said in the post, it does not matter who is the new master one follows or how many new masters one may change, the end result will be the same because one applies the same attitude and wrong view.