276 Responses to Dorje Shugden people

1. 

   Moon Chan on Jan 4, 2020 at 12:47 pm

   Everyone come from different background and culture, it is impossible for people to be the same. So, when people choose something different, it is really fine and normal. From here we also learn to appreciate each other’s differences of worldviews and beliefs. Even religious freedom does the same, it preserves diversity! We have long histories to study about a religion, how beautiful is that? People need to accept conditions as it exist; Life would be boring if everyone was the same.

   People who are afraid of differences should first look into themselves. There is a fear of losing control; what is the motive behind of Tibetan Leadership (CTA) to create disharmony and disunity among their community? Their policies are actually encouraging hatred, it doesn’t make the world become better. It is sad to see people get harm and not treated respectful because of being special. How many lives were taken just because they make a difference choice to practice Dorje Shugden? The main point is even the official site stating that Shugden practitioners are bad and demon worshippers, but they has no proof evidence for the statement.

   Mixing politics and religion is not a good thing. Dear people, look what the Tibetan Leadership (CTA) has done to their community, also find the evidence to show if the practice of Dorje Shugden really harmful like the government said.

   Reply
2. 

   Pema tashi on Jan 2, 2020 at 7:29 pm

   You are right rinpoche. I do agree all. I also wanted to obey you and dorje shukden in future follow dorgyal in my future life

   Reply
   • 

     Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai on Jan 27, 2020 at 12:32 pm

     Tashi delek Pema Tashi,

     “Dorgyal” or “Dolgyal” is an insulting term to refer to Dorje Shugden so I would politely request you to please not use that term when talking about an enlightened being like Dorje Shugden.

     If you would like to start on the short daily practice of Dorje Shugden, and cultivate a relationship with this enlightened Protector, you can begin here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=188437

     Thank you,
     Pastor Jean Ai

     Reply
3. 

   Pastor Shin Tan on Dec 9, 2018 at 9:16 pm

   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

   
   

   Reply
4. 

   Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 27, 2018 at 6:03 am

   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

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Reply
5. 

   Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 23, 2018 at 11:26 am

   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

   Reply
6. 

   Pastor Adeline Woon on Sep 24, 2018 at 2:45 am

   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

   Reply
7. 

   Valentina Suhendra on Aug 14, 2018 at 1:52 pm

   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

   

   

   

   

   Reply
8. 

   Edward Ooi on Aug 10, 2018 at 5:29 am

   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

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Reply
9. 

   Valentina Suhendra on Jul 25, 2018 at 1:50 am

   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

   

   Reply
10. 

    Pastor Adeline Woon on Jul 24, 2018 at 6:26 am

    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

    

    Reply
11. 

    Joy Kam on Jul 20, 2018 at 9:39 pm

    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.

    

    Reply
12. 

    Samfoonheei on May 20, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    Our faith and religion is our choice. We choose what we want to practice . That’s our choice. We should respect each other choice and should not be biased, segregate, discriminate or hurt any one of a different faith to have a better environment to live in. Those who believe in Dorje Shugden should be treated equally and respected as others too. Politics is politics and has nothing to do with religion. Once mixed it s become harmful to another and used by another for political agenda. Tibetan leadership(CTA) should stopped contradicting itself and discriminating based on faith, for the benefit of Tibetan people. The ban instituted by the Tibetan Leadership (CTA) has created disharmony and disunity among their communities. There are more than enough evidence to prove that there is no religious freedom or true democracy and discrimination against Shugden people within. May the ban on Dorje Shugden be lifted soon and they have the freedom and rights to practice freely.

    Reply
13. 

    Lama Dan Simons on Mar 15, 2018 at 4:08 am

    Well I have one person that believes in dorje shugden. I see he can help when nothing else is. And I weighed the pros and cons. I made a promise so I am going to go with dorje shugden and also what tsem rinpoche says over Dalai lama cuz dorje shugden.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Dan Simons on Mar 17, 2018 at 11:34 am

      I will not go against dorje shugden and I stick to my promise.

      Reply
14. 

    Lama Dan on Feb 21, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    Drone shugden is the best after being tortured for years I have proven through my faith that dorje shugden must be allowed. He protected me and answered my prayers. Now I am leaving this place and continuing my dorje shugden practice in privacy at my own apartment. Thank you and I wish you well. Sarva mangalam

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Dan on Feb 22, 2018 at 10:45 pm

      I find true joy in this but the thought comes do I really need it? Or is it just causing me undo stress and anxiety for no reason? If that is the case it’d be better to give it up. Agree to disagree and go our separate ways. I owe myself that much at least the right to choose so now I do. I choose not to. No more dorje shugden. I can die without regrets. I’m just going to live a good life serving others. That’s all. But I thank you for the experience. I have achieved bodhichitta so I can give up the protector practice now which I think is what tsem Tulku said was okay. Now I can move on to other things. Thank you.

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Dan on Mar 2, 2018 at 2:27 am

        For my new office I had the two choices….manjushhri thankha or a Buddha painting by a famous Chinese painter for the king but i choose majushriye so I could keep my connection to dorje shugden and still do my practice. That proves my conviction.

        Reply
15. 

    Lama Dan on Feb 11, 2018 at 9:29 am

    Alright you win. I’m gonna say even if dorje shugden is bad you still should be allowed to practice it. If I do or not should not matter. I am. Hahaha good job rinpoche stay strong I’m with you. We will overcome it doesn’t matter if they believe us or not but I’m not gonna give up my dorje shugden practice so you can get me. In not gonna let you. So you wanna pretend there is no issue well you’ll see were not gonna let that fly anymore. So this time were not giving up were standing firm with dorje shugden you can listen or you can never mind.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Dan on Feb 11, 2018 at 11:51 pm

      I’m at Starbucks and I forgave them so I’m not gonna go either way with the shugden issue and leave it alone cuz I don’t feel a need to. Thnx

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Dan on Feb 15, 2018 at 8:28 pm

        Well I decided that it doesn’t matter if dorje shugden is a demon I made a deal with even though I didn’t know at the time I still made a promise to him and I have to stick with it no matter what.

        Reply
        • 

          Lama Dan on Feb 17, 2018 at 6:20 am

          I see from the perspective of emptiness and what geshe michael teaches respectfully with fate that it doesn’t really matter if I practice dorje shugden or not it is all just a game. So I’m gonna go with geshe michael on this and I’m just not gonna play.

          Reply
          • 

            Lama Dan on Feb 17, 2018 at 6:22 am

            Faith not fate sorry auto text
          • 

            Lama Dan on Feb 18, 2018 at 9:15 am

            Okay actually I’m gonna go with shugden
          • 

            Lama Dan on Feb 20, 2018 at 3:57 am

            Nope sorry no shugden allowed gotcha!
16. 

    Dan simons on Jan 28, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    Hi i see there are some new videos…let me just say I am not going to give up dorje shugden no matter what they do to me. I find strength in dorje shugden and am not afraid of nothing. I don’t care what anybody says I made my promise and I’m sticking to it to do whatever he says. Thanks tsem Tulku again.

    Reply
    • 

      Dan simons on Jan 30, 2018 at 7:12 am

      Well I tried keeping dorje shugden but umm I’m gonna just follow what geshe michael teaches for now which is just emptiness

      Reply
17. 

    Joy Kam on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    In this video, a nice couple is being targeted and attacked just because they are pagan faith. They are Wiccan and the nice lady is a practising elemental witch, but they are being perceived to be bad people and hurting children, although none of that is true and they are being attacked for their faith. This is also another example of what Dorje Shugden people go through especially in Dharamsala, India because the Tibetan Leadership has put a notice on their official site stating that Shugden practitioners are bad and demon worshippers which is completely untrue. Hence, daily Shugden practitioners are being persecuted and if you are not there in Dharamsala, you get online abuse like what H.E. Tsem Rinpoche receives daily as well as myself and other Kecharians who are openly practising what our Guru gave us.

    Is this kind of discrimination and violence acceptable in this day and age when there is religious freedom? Why are these people allowed to do this crime? Why is the Tibetan Leadership acting like a dictatorship and attacking others of a different faith? They do it indirectly and encourage this hatred because they do nothing, say nothing and have a page talking against Shugden on their official website. That is a clear indication there is a ban and discrimination against Shugden people.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798075.mp4

    
    

    Reply
18. 

    Joy Kam on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:25 pm

    In this video is a police officer being discriminated for his Wiccan religion and he is going to sue the state because he was told it was mandatory for him to attend a Christian gathering. There is supposed to be freedom of religion, so why is it okay for a group of people to force other people to join, pray and believe their religion? And what gives them the authority to tell people what to believe or not to believe in? This is a dictatorship type of leadership, not a democratic one at all. And this is exactly the same question I would like to ask the Tibetan Leadership and those who come on our social media wall to abuse us and call us names and vulgarities because we practice Dorje Shugden. Watch what the guy says in the video.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798026.mp4

    
    

    Reply
19. 

    Joy Kam on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    I’ve just attached a video here on a lady reading about “the Persecution of Women in Witchcraft”. It is stated that in the early 16th century there was a mass execution of witchcraft. In the year 1515 in Geneva Switzerland, they burned 500 witches at the stake.In 1526, 1000 witches in Italy were executed. In 1571 witch hunt spreads across France.In total it is estimated from 1500 – 1600, there were 50 – 80,000 suspected witches executed.

    Religious persecution in any way is wrong, look at how many lives were taken because people decide to discriminate on others and persecute them just because they do not follow your belief system. This is exactly what Dorje Shugden practitioners are facing today as well when the Tibetan leadership keeps on harping and silently encouraging their people to discriminate and ostracised Shugden practitioners which we can see from all the above online abuse. Is this okay in this 21st century, is this what H.H. the Dalai Lama advocates – religious tolerance? I think not.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797992.mp4

    
    

    Reply
20. 

    Pastor Adeline Woon on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:08 pm

    Everyone has rights to practise what they like. Those who practise witchcraft has their rights to practise but they are not allowed to voice out their concerns, fearing to be treated differently just like most Dorje Shugden people.
    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798931.mp4

    
    

    Reply
21. 

    Pastor Adeline Woon on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    Taken away the rights to purchase items for witchcraft is the same as burning the witch for practising their religion. It is just a manifestation of different types of witch hunt and banning the sale of certain items is the same as stopping them from practising a certain ritual that is the same as taking their rights away. This scenario is the same as what Dorje Shugden people face also.
    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798088.mp4

    
    

    Reply
22. 

    Pastor Adeline Woon on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    This is another proof of discrimination that is similar to Dorje Shugden people. The witchcraft people do not get to purchase their religious practise items online because there is no law that protects their rights on what they can purchase and what not they cannot.
    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797979.mp4

    
    

    Reply
23. 

    Pastor Shin Tan on Jan 24, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    Despite the founding fathers’ effort to give Americans religious freedom, the Wiccans and Pagans are denied their right, such as to have Chaplains to perform ceremonies, receiving books and materials and so on in prison. It is not fair and this is the kind of discrimination Dorje Shugden practitioners faces. Tibetans in exile are supposed to be ruled under democracy, but they are denied their rights of religious freedom. This is not fair.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797960.mp4

    
    

    Reply
24. 

    Pastor Shin Tan on Jan 24, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    This is another example of religious discrimination. Wicca was accused to be related to Satan, which is not true. Wiccans are being rejected from being able to participate in the governmental system as they are not a member of the mainstream Judeo-Christian religion.Similarly, Dorje Shugden is accused to be a demon/ evil spirit, and that Shugden practitioners are not allowed to participate in the system – they cannot work in governmental jobs, they are denied travel documents, they are not denied medical treatment, and the members of the public are advised to not be associated with them.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797909.mp4

    
    

    Reply
25. 

    Pastor Shin Tan on Jan 24, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    This video shows how Christians in Nigeria face enormous persecution, similar to what Dorje Shugden people are facing.Just like what Bishop Mike Moses said in the video, they are being persecuted “in your own country, your own community”, and that’s worse than being persecuted by others.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797726.mp4

    
    

    Reply
26. 

    Valentina Suhendra on Jan 24, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    Pagan man talks about freedom of religion choices

    Religious freedom should be applicable to all including Pagan practitioners and atheists

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516796937.mp4

    
    

    Reply
    • 

      Valentina Suhendra on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:54 pm

      This man’s dilemma is similar to what Dorje Shugden practitioners are experiencing. Even if the Dalai Lama has discouraged Dorje Shugden practice, those who choose to retain their practice should still have the right to do so without being penalized, without being discriminated, abused, attacked and harassed day in day out. Religious Freedom is every human’s right and should be respected, when the Tibetan Leadership stay silent when Shugden practitioners are being attacked, it is clear they condone it. So how can Tibetan Leadership claim to be democratic when they are not and how can they point the finger and blame others for human rights abuse when they do so themselves with their very own people? Illogical, injustice and unacceptable in this day and age!

      Reply
27. 

    Valentina Suhendra on Jan 24, 2018 at 8:38 pm

    Oklahoma Pagan suffer Discrimination

    A lady witch suffers discrimination after being found out that she is a witch.

    Uploaded: https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516796905.mp4

    
    

    Reply
    • 

      Valentina Suhendra on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:54 pm

      This is similar to what Dorje Shugden practitioners are experiencing in Tibetan settlements. Once they are found out that they are a Dorje Shugden practitioner, they would be a target for discrimination (e.g., denied service in the public places), some even target attacked. And if you are not in Dharamsala, you will be targeted and attacked online with vulgarities and all kinds of derogatory slurs.

      Reply
28. 

    Valentina Suhendra on Jan 24, 2018 at 8:38 pm

    Messianic Jews Persecuted

    In 2005, a large number of protestors crashed the Messianic Jews Christmas eve celebration and told them to go back to Gaza.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516796866.mp4

    
    

    Reply
    • 

      Valentina Suhendra on Jan 24, 2018 at 9:54 pm

      Any form of discrimination is wrong and should be discouraged and stopped. How can we discriminate people base on their religion, just because we dislike their religion? This is pure prejudice and hatred, so how can this be considered good and right for those executing such persecution? And this is exactly the same mentality the Tibetan Leadership has and encourage their people to attack Shugden practitioners. This is the kind of hatred that cause division, war, and suffering. How can one religion claim to be better than the other in the name of “God”? How can this be considered compassion?

      Reply
29. 

    Lama Dan on Jan 15, 2018 at 9:05 am

    I’m not going to Starbucks anymore but I am practicing dorje shugden. Power to the tsem Tulku people we over ride everything. Keep praying folks we will beat them no matter what listen to us or don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We are gonna win over Starbucks. Next is lottery winning school but so far I’m gonna go with that over Starbucks steps 2 so ha we win you loose.

    Reply
30. 

    Lama Dan on Jan 15, 2018 at 6:32 am

    Hello well I am back. Rinpoche is pulling the load for all of us here. I am gaining newfound confidence in this practice thanks to his skillful teachings and still practice dorje shugden with 100% faith even if this is the only practice I do. Thank you

    Reply
31. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 14, 2018 at 8:42 am

    Well konchok shenphen is dead you can read about it on Twitter and Facebook lamakonchokshenphen oh well.

    Reply
32. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 12, 2018 at 8:21 pm

    Actually not taking sides…4 Starbucks steps

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 13, 2018 at 11:13 pm

      So just to be fair though if I quit shugden then I’m gonna quit coffee too and then just focus on lottery winning school as main practice. Plus I’m trying to find apartment. Thnx.

      Reply
33. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 3, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    Well I’ve seen it from both ways and it turns out I don’t need to do dorje shugden or even 4 Starbucks steps or lottery winning school so I’m gonna clear my agenda of all of them. Have a nice day!

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 4, 2018 at 1:32 am

      Still can drink coffee and play lotto btw but not shugden that’s blank. I’m not gonna argue with it though

      Reply
      • 

        Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 10, 2018 at 7:32 pm

        I have to keep my commitment to dorje shugden no matter what i see how important it is now I promise I am never gonna give it up not making any more excuses I swear and I’m gonna learn more about it thank you rinpoche your amazing you were right all along

        Reply
34. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 3, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    Only way I understand is to avoid conflict all together and follow like geshe michael and not go either way.

    Have been going to true buddha lottery winning school and master blessed me to win lottery.

    Am going to hope for good luck for year of brown dog and win big.

    Thnx

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 3, 2018 at 11:07 pm

      Well I feel not right…I think right thing to do is support dorje shugden people and keep up the practice actually.

      Reply
35. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 2, 2018 at 5:48 am

    Even though I try to give up I can’t…I feel like Dalai lama not 100% and I still hold on to dorje shugden either way I have to do what is right and I think I will always be dorje shugden follower just saying I’m not gonna practice doesn’t change things he’s a part of me now

    Reply
36. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 29, 2017 at 10:03 am

    I’ve been listening to dorje shugden videos for 4 or 5 hours today and come to the side of the tibetan gov. A nd Dalai lama. No more dorje shugden practice anymore just can’t bring myself to anymore. Thank you.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 31, 2017 at 4:49 am

      Well thought about it some more and it is my only main practice I can’t give it up I feel I would be loosing everything it is that important so if I was to give it up I wouldn’t have anything left

      Reply
      • 

        Lama konchok shenphen on Jan 1, 2018 at 6:21 pm

        Never mind I would like to practice I am not going to anymore that’s my decision for the new year I have to trust in Dalai lama even though I may not understand thnx

        Reply
37. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 29, 2017 at 1:14 am

    The. Pastor says my dorje shugden ideas are not rational but I believe them and I am going to keep practicing for my life.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 29, 2017 at 1:52 am

      I had stopped following geshe michael after then rinpoche died and it landed me in the hospital for pretending to be crazy. Unfortunately I did too good of a job because they are sure of it now. But there was one angel I believed knew the truth and I had sent her a message before I came here to let her know. It seems to be that what geshe michael has been teaching lines up with what I said. He is willing to discuss the dorje shugden thing and even pay for the flight out to see him. Basically I ended up having to lie about my meds so I wouldn’t have to take them but I realized it was wrong and I was able to find a way out through tsem tulkus protector. As a result of my new found faith I promised to do whatever he asked me and I still hold this to be true today.

      Reply
38. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 28, 2017 at 11:27 pm

    So I guess it is an argument but what is the point of shugden practice? Basically following 4 Starbucks steps whatever you desire from shugden you should try to provide for others then you will get it automatically whether you practice shugden or not. So instead of getting on your case I will just leave it as that. If it is a bad thing you are practicing dorje shugden then also I should try to weed out the things I am doing which would create that result for myself. Basically the cause being not following gurus advice..so if I’m not following it then why should you? Because by following gurus advice others will also listen to me. And if they listen to me then they will listen to you. Don’t have to get into a struggle just do the good karma your guru told you to and should be all set. Whatever dorje shugden does do the exact same thing for others and then you will plant a seed where others will do the same for you. Then in this case you don’t need to do dorje shugden just do you… That’s what I’m going to try to do for now I pray all the fighting goes away. How can I be part of the conflict and pretend to be guru?

    Reply
39. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 26, 2017 at 4:23 am

    Despite how I feel about it I still practice dorje shugden and I know it is good because it makes me feel better and stronger as soon as I start my prayers so I refuse to say that is a bad thing. The brainwashing is hard and I will not go into it too much but I think it is a campaign to rout out dorje shugden. You can read my story if you do not believe me but good news is dorje shugden is winning so too bad haters. Love you tsem Tully rinpoche.

    Reply
40. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 23, 2017 at 8:57 am

    Well I decided I’m not going to go against Dalai lama after all. No more dorje shugden practice. I hope you all will follow suit.

    Reply
41. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 22, 2017 at 2:40 am

    I think practicing For me shugden is okay…

    Reply
42. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 13, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    Well I was just reading one of gesh e Michael’s facebook posts and he said he would be happy to sit down at rainbow house or his step mom’s by the beach to talk about the for me shugden thing so I will say tsem Tulku is right but as far as actually myself or anyone being able to practice it unless you want to go with me then it really is pointless to continue discussing. I can only say from my meditative experience what I know which is I made a promise to setrap whom at the time I did not know was affiliated with shugden until many years later to do whatever he told me. I figured if he said that then shugden would be the same. But then again the circumstances were different back then. I’m not sure if I should keep practicing or keep my promise or what because the bond we made was very powerful. I have tried to keep it and have become somewhat crazy sometimes even it seems about it which due to one particular instance where I was offered some beer went all out crazy and said some things that got me locked up and have to get a psych evaluation. Then I have been in this group home ever since withticin a bunch of psychos and staff. All of this I thought somehow was the protector…anyway is that not good? I’m actually not crazy though they found so the only thing I can think of is that it really is the protector doing all this. But then I was put on drugs for a while and quit practicing but after I got off I felt bad and started again briefly but then started feeling conflicted about it again and I couldn’t continue. I feel better just not going either way with the issue either to tell you the truth. When you compare what shubeen did for me to what gesh e michael was able to accomplish clearly the shugden issue no longer seems so important. But if you want to talk here’s your invitation.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 13, 2017 at 8:11 pm

      What I’m going to do is use the four Starbucks steps…thnx

      Reply
43. 

    Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 11, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    After reading the post on Dalai lama blessing a strap statue I see it has been a mistake to give up my practice. Could have been the years of drugs…good news is I won in court and they could not prove I was crazy so now that I’m off the meds now 6 months I see clearly it was wrong. Today I practiced wants again for the first time in a while with no shame because I still will keep my promise to do whatever a strap or drone shugden say sin e they are both basically the same and you cannot say one is better than the other. I believe that answers the million dollar question so is everybody happy now? I only was following what I thought was what the protector wanted me to do at risk of life and limb and proves to be true. Now I see the error in my ways. I am just glad I caught myself before it was too la t e. I will never give up my protector practice even for the Dalai lama. Ok ah hum

    Reply
    • 

      Lama konchok shenphen on Dec 13, 2017 at 6:50 pm

      Well I guess no one cares… Ill just listen to you guys then,doesn’t matter if I practice him. Anyway maybe when the ban goes away I don’t know but then it doesn’t matter anyway….it is just draining trying to practice like that and it just seems to go against my conscience even when I said I was right before. I don’t know when it will be answered but I can’t keep stressing out over it to tell you the truth. It is true that what I said in the above post is how I feel but when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of it maybe it is just stupid. I would like to follow but do you not see anything wrong with the ban? I personally feel like I am creating bad karma and it goes against my gut. When daily life experience contradicts supposed higher truths trust your gut feeling. I still believe in the protector and my promise to him to do whatever he asks. But I just seem unable to…like a part of me is just in opposition to it and I don’t know why but I have to trust my gut to not practice it until I feel like the issue has been resolved. Thnx

      Reply
44. 

    Valentina Suhendra on Oct 22, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    Great message every Tibetan especially must read!

    

    

    

    

    

    Reply
45. 

    wan wai meng on Feb 7, 2017 at 1:29 am

    There is never a good excuse to discriminate another person based on their colour of their skin, beliefs and so forth. To discriminate has been and enlightened thought at all and on the contrary the opposite of enlightened thought.

    Do discriminate against is not much different than being a racist, and racist are not really known for their enlightened or illuminating ideology.

    Reply
46. 

    nadia on Jan 14, 2017 at 3:17 am

    I think the problem is never the colour of skin,but the colour of aura…!We cannot use a living force to destroy other people lives and if we do this we are very very far from any teaching.This is real misery and generates misery outward,too.So in asking for some other being protection we should care to act according to dharma.We should ban selfishness or hate more than external practises and we can learn to overcome it and not be used by it.So a protector should help us in evolution not in our damnation through criminous mental acts.We can ban nuclear bombs or ban greedy violence and competition and looks to me that Buddha way was more on banning negativity INSIDE than outside.If some people actually misused the help of this protector they damaged their karma ,the protector happiness and integrity and their own future and this cannot be defended, as cannot be any kind of black magic or disrespect to life but instead that banning a knife is better to teach how to use it properly .I suppose the protector deeper being is joyful and loving and we should not offend him with unproper tasks,honoring his lightfullness and letting him free from being always in the prison of an angry deity.Many years ago i was in Camdem Monastery in Mungod,in the same period you lived there and before all this problems.I perceived an happy loving family community and appreciated very much the attitude of people there.One night I dreamt of a presence,and when i told it to the lama there he sent me to Joke falls.There I meditate and could perceive a deep sense of joyful devotion and a voice told me that a man lived all his life there adoring It in the falls.When i came back they brought me to a black statue telling me he was the monastery protector and as a human being lived all his life in joke falls.Maybe he was the same protector you speak about ,in this case we should respect his purity and ask help only if needed and for a good cause…Who was the voice…

    There is a great Unity beyond names and definitions
    It express Itself in sambogakaya,It is present in nirmanakaya
    It is shining of its own presence in dharmakaya
    in It all beings exist and flow
    in It all will merge

    gate gate gate…………you know what I mean
    If Dorje is the same one of Joke falls he adored UNITY there and was a very peaceful guy ,in this Oneness quarrels and wars are pure nonsense,as any selfish use of any power against others , the Oneness will help all ways back to Itself but will not help wars or improper use of prayer or power,no wars in Its name no more.Present in everybody It helped you in your good will job, and still is doing it in the hearts and minds of so may people around you .so….
    Dorje is back in shapelessness oneness all angerness behind, the Oneness presence is there and all around, time to worship the Infinite presence and return to Oneness om peace to you and the world.

    Personally i can understand your sufference as I had not an easy life too,but I think it is nice how we try to get the best from it and find always better ways to be useful and create a better world ,best wishes.ps nice you did not become an actor!

    Reply
47. 

    Pastor Antoinette on Jan 12, 2017 at 9:53 am

    Still after 20 years we have to suffer discrimination because of our religious choice! It is 2017 but it seems that the dark times are not over. We are being attacked on social media like Twitter and Facebook day in, day out.

    This is not right! Everybody should be able to practice his/her religion and not be scared of the repercussions they have to suffer because of it. Imagine you practice your religion but because of that you are said to be a traitor and to associate with people you don’t even know.

    Religion has nothing to do with politics and our religion should not be used for anyone’s political goals! May the Dorje Shugden practitioners be able to practice freely and openly. May they have equal rights, not being harassed and ill-spoken about. This is my wish for 2017! May the ban on Dorje Shugden be completely lifted!

    Reply
48. 

    Echeah on Jan 3, 2017 at 12:45 am

    This is an absolutely ridiculous scenario. How for will bigots take it? But bigotry has always been around, like forever. I remember studying about the biblical times where there were Jews and Gentiles. One group was the unclean one and shunned by the other group which were the chosen ones (by God), in the name of religion.

    I suppose rules, guidelines and interpretations are set by people and they justify their actions by calling it religion. They take lines and phrases out of religious texts and interpret it, often out of context and it becomes the rule of law. But different people interpret differently, hence there are so many sects and denominations. It’s ok if they interpret their religion and apply it to themselves, entirely their prerogative. But when they start applying their interpretation to judge other people and across to other religions/faiths, that becomes unacceptable. They cross the line.

    Reply
49. 

    Tan Soon Huat on Jan 2, 2017 at 10:40 pm

    I do not understand why this issue has been brought up again and again even H.H. Dalai Lama has annouced that Dorje Shugden practice does not harm him at all. Why these people still insists to disturb Dorje Shugden practitioners, what is their motive? It does not make any sense to me. I just practice what my Guru has passed down to me. I dot not want to harm anybody, I just want to do my practice in peace. I will never give up what what Guru has given to me even my life is threatened.

    Reply
50. 

    Pavara Lam on Jan 2, 2017 at 10:12 pm

    Freedom of religion should be a right that cannot be taken away. Yet some people have their freedom taken away. One such example is the Dorje Shugden Ban. People who practice Dorje Shugden are often viewed as lower class people, people without rights of any sort, they are often mistreated and banned from going to public schools, hospitals, shops and clinics. Sometimes Shugdeners are attacked by mobs, the reason? They worship a demon, although the CTA people call Dorje Shugden a demon none of them can prove it. On the other hand many people who practiced Dorje Shugden can show proof that Dorje Shugden has helped them in a way or another.

    I really hope that the CTA and the Dalai Lama will put an effort to end the ban peacefully without any further conflict.

    Reply
51. 

    paul yap on Jan 2, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    I live in Malaysia and i believe in human rights and freedom of religion. No one can force you do anything against your will. As for the practice of Dorje Shugden, i do the practise with my free will because i believe he is an emanation of Manjushri. I have heard thousands of critics that DS is bad, well if is not suitable for you, you do have a choice to practice something else you like. In Malaysia we live in a big family consist of many cultures and religions. There are Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus, Christian, Sikh. We don’t criticised others just because it’s not what we practised and believed in. Most of us in Malaysia chose to live in peace and harmony. For people who likes to criticise and blame DS for their problems, i believe in real life these people are doing the same in their work and family life, always blame others. I was quite disappointed reading some of the comments left on this blog post. Please be responsible when we call ourself Buddhist. Be nice and kind to each others, that’s the most basic teachings we learn from the elders. Don’t throw that dignity away. No matter how high position you get or how rich you are, eventually karma will catch up with us.

    Reply
52. 

    Anne Ong on Sep 26, 2016 at 12:54 am

    Dear Rinpoche,

    I respect Rinpoche’s advice and decision in any practice. I always believe we must always have strong faith in our Guru and hope Rinpoche will live long to teach and spread the dharma. I pray that H.H. The Dalai Lama and CTA would quickly resolve the ban.
    OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA AYURPUNYE JNANA PUTIN KURU SVAHA. _/\_

    Reply
53. 

    Tsem Rinpoche on Sep 15, 2016 at 12:16 am

    Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, Tibet

    Over 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

    __________________________________

    The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje Shugden

    HUM
    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

    Reply
    • 

      Konchok Shemphen on Sep 24, 2016 at 12:33 am

      Well I went back to practicing Dorje Shugden…what else is there to do? good choice!

      Reply
54. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on May 18, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Well, I just found out on an article by Namkhai Norbu that also Dorje Shugden is bad and then I think all of the problems I have been having and that maybe he is right because of this legal case and how things went bad with my career and I have felt it is directly related. It also becomes a case where you are subject to the Gyalpo which could explain why I want to do what I said in my previous post regardless of what my sister said. Now that I hear what Namkhai Norbu says it makes complete sense that in a way I am just making myself subservient to him…which could be a bad thing. You see, so Namkhai Norbu is saying that there is a practice you can do if you actually do run into problems like I have with the protector and are not sure whether to worship him or fear him. I think personally, I would not have had many of the problems I do now if it was not for the protector practice. But being in the situation where you are subservient to him there is nothing you can do, unless you do this practice…of Guru Draghpur. I think this is better than sitting back and worrying about whether the protector is going to get you or not and also being subservient to him. I think that is the worst thing and that is what has been causing most of the problems. Also there is something you can ask for from Namkhai Norbu directly if you meet him to protect you from the effects. So I think that is the route I am going to take. Try practicing Guru Draghpur and see if some of these problems go away. Thanks

    Reply
    • 

      Tsering on May 18, 2016 at 5:43 pm

      Dear Lama Konchok Shempeh,

      Some thoughts for you.

      1. Namkhai Norbu is not a Gelug Lama. He has no right to criticize any practice within Gelug and comment on Gelug practices and Gelug affairs. He is not qualified to do so. He has never practiced Gelug, studied Gelug teachings and should keep quiet.

      2. It is well known he is sectarian. He has never taken, studied or practiced Gelug teachings. He never taught Gelug teachings so he has no right to say anyting against Gelug. Full stop.

      3. If Dorje Shugden is so bad, then any lama using Guru Rinpoche can subdue him including Namkhai Norbu, bind him and make him not harm. Why can’t any of these lamas bind Shugden? Are they all powerless? Shugden is more powerful? They should just bind Shugden and then shut up. Instead talking incessantly about it. They are happy Gelug has problems because they have sectarian views. It’s obvious.

      4. Namkai Norbu is nothing and should mind his own business.

      As for you. Your problems came because of karma. You had problems before Shugden. During Shugden practice and after Shugden practice. As long as you are in samsara you will have problems. Blame karma….

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shempeh on May 21, 2016 at 8:52 am

        Good post. I take full responsibility for my karma, which is the Shugden practice. But I still shy away from it from what has been said about it. I don’t think that Norbu would stop me from practicing but I still feel like there is some problem. maybe from my side there is a problem with the Dorje Shugden practice but I am not saying everyone has that problem. And in reality, I can’t say it is Dorje Shugden’s fault, even. Like I said before, I was the one that wanted to practice him and I even made a vow not to talk to my sister and she is the one advising me not to practice him as well. She is a student of Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. I try to keep an even mind about the practice and see that it is neither good nor bad…I have seen from my point of view both sides and try to take the middle path. I knew a student of Norbu’s. He seemed to be okay. I don’t personally think that it is going to help necessarily to practice what he is saying though, obviously, to get rid of Dorje Shugden or his problems and I don’t intend on trying. If that is the case, then maybe it is true that there are no problems but even if there were I don’t think it would make a difference. So I have given up trying to get rid of the problems. One thing I did notice though with what he was saying with Gyalpos was that it was making him nervous. WHen I tried applying some of his advice I noticed that there was a connection with my practice of him and feeling nervous energy also. I still don’t recommend using this as a way to avoid the problems of the Gyalpo spirits or Dorje Shugden in particular. I’m just not sure how I could also say that Dorje Shugden is a good practice with all of what is being said about him and how he is so discouraged and just the back and forth which seems to get so heated at times with him. I wanted to practice Setrap so that he could help with my problems….and you know I said before how I felt about it. But I guess if this is not the answer then it is better to practice Dorje Shugden. I would just hate to think that I was wrong and ignore what some or all of the Lamas are saying. Here is what I have been taught. From the perspectice of emptiness…he is neither good nor bad. Some people say he is bad and others say he is good. But what is he really? If both parties walked out of the room and left Dorje Shugden there what would he be? LIke Norbu, nothing. Which says that he is emptiness. But I could also say that Dorje Shugden and Norbu are no better than one another either and you can’t say whether to practice him or Dorje Shugden. But if both walked out of the room they would both be nothing too. So what are they really? I feel they are empty. What my karma forces me to see is that Norbu is no more right about Shugden then Tsering is right about Norbu. That is emptiness. So that is what I go by. I think that there is no basis for really comparing Norbu and Shugden and saying that he is wrong about the practice from the standpoint of emptiness. But when one feels so strongly about it then that indicates that there is something unnatural that goes against emptiness and makes me not want to really get into a debate about it. If you can see the emptiness of this situation then you would know what I mean. Norbu is just as right as anyone else. Even if he is nothing. But still I am not saying that this is what I feel is personally the right answer. Even though I don’t agree with practicing Dorje Shugden for instance doesn’t mean that I think that trying to practice what Norbu is saying is any better. I don’t agree that that will help the situation but it does make me see that there still could be a problem with the practice. But it is not a ban, it is just a suggestion or advice so I agree with that. There seems to be some basis for it. But it is up to the individual to decide. I will leave it up to Tsering. For me, I don’t necessarily think that trying to counter the practice with other practices is the answer but I still rely on my Gurus and the Dalai Lama and say that they are right when it comes to not practicing it even though you can if you want to. I don’t think it needs to be a war between those who practice Shugden and those who don’t either. Just because you practice Dorje Shugden and I don’t doesn’t mean I’m going to go up against you and try to beat you with my powers. So in a way I am doing my part to keep the peace. Even though I practiced Setrap when Tsem Tulku was not open about the Dorje Shugden practice and I am still advocating for what the Dalai Lama thinks about it I still post without trying to go against what you believe in because I believe it is the right thing to do. I could understand if you wanted to fight about it but I don’t want to. We need open discussion about it so that people can make up their own minds as to what they think is best. There is a part of me that wants to practice what Norbu said but I’m not going to practice it just because I don’t believe in Dorje Shugden. But I’m not going to practice Dorje Shugden either. I have been dealing with the issue for some time now and appreciate some feedback on it none the less. Have a nice day. #DalaiLama

        Reply
        • 

          Tsering on May 21, 2016 at 10:45 am

          Lama Konchok Shempeh,

          Let’s make is SUPER SIMPLE, just stop doing Dorje Shugden and having any relations to him.

          1. Your practice of Shugden benefits no one.
          2. Your practice of Shugden does not benefit Shugden. You don’t practice him, it does no damage to him.
          3. You practice Shugden does not help you.
          4. You not practicing Shugden does not damage you.

          In other words your practice or not practicing of Dorje Shugden has absolutely zero significance for anyone including yourself.

          So either way it does not matter. Just stop practicing Shugden and be done with it. Then you don’t have to ever talk about it again and we don’t have to read about it again.

          Reply
          • 

            Lama Konchok Shempeh on May 26, 2016 at 6:57 am

            If it doesn’t matter if I stop practicing him, then why stop? That is what protestors are saying but I don’t agree. The Dalai Lama has said just that it is a bad idea. He is just giving his advice. Do I believe that this advice is called for or agree with it? Not necessarily but I do believe that going by what the Dalai Lama says is important, regardless. He is saying not to practice it but I believe you and the Dalai Lama and Namkhai Norbu are of differing opinions. It would be one thing if I listened to the Dalai lama and decided to stop but it would be another if I listened to the opposite side. I am not going to say it is a good idea to practice Shugden but what you do is up to you, whether you decide to practice or not. All I know is that at one time I had decided to follow Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s protector practice when he was not letting people know that he was doing Dorje Shugden. Even though maybe there was some misgiving there I still believe in my heart that Dorje Shugden despite whether it is good or bad is still in a way one of my Guru’s commands. Because I had pledged myself to the protector this way I feel that my opinion still matters and even if someone says not to practice it does not necessarily mean that I am going to. I still believe that if you trust Rinpoche, and you believe in me then if you practice Dorje Shugden there should be no problems from your side. This comes from looking at the situation in every way I possibly can. I don’t want to go against what Tsem Rinpoche has said. But it is ultimately up to each one of us to decide. My main concern with doing the practice or recommending it was that others would possibly receive some harm from it. I feel like if there is any harm then it would be horrible. I still would be willing to risk my reputation and practice it nonetheless and recommend it to others because of my strong belief in the practice and what I have learned. Does that mean that there is a 100% chance that harm will not come? No, it doesn’t. And that is why I agree with the Dalai Lama when he says that the practice is harmful. I would hate to do the practice and then have someone have some problems because of it even though I would be willing to risk taking the chance I just don’t think it is right when there is so much that we don’t know. Me, personally, I would be willing to risk it and reccomend it to others just based on what I believe and maybe that would help Dorje Shugden and the community, I don’t know. But if I don’t practice it then definitely no one would be helped. So there is a part of me that definitely does want to practice and recommend it to others. But then there is another part of me that says what are the ramifications of this practice, you see? Is it that we just practice a Deity without knowing what is going to happen to us even after the Dalai Lama and others have advised against it? Obviously there is reason for concern. If I choose to ignore what has been said about it then other people get hurt as a result I am go blame. So it does not fall back on Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. So that is my own karma. And that is why I believe it is better to advise against it so that I don’t receive any of that karma. This is what I believe what my Teachers would want of me. It is not necesary for me to say I am not going to do the practice but actually to advise against it. This is just from the perspective of karma, which you said I should blame so to avoid receiving that karma I will just advise against it.
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempen on Aug 4, 2016 at 6:19 am

      You talk about being segregated for practicing Dorje Shugden but it seems like I am being segregated for advising not to practice Dorje Shugden. In case you haven’t noticed I haven’t said anything about it since then. But I just wrote up a flowery response about how Dorje Shugden is empty but it got deleted but it definitely embodied the kind of message I was trying to send which was that we have no real control over that…all we can do is plant the seeds by behaving towards others the way we would like them to behave towards us. This is the main message I was getting and it was very nice I wish you could have read it. Anyway, the question comes, is it good enough just to practice being nice to people or karma or whatever you call it or should you practice Dorje Shugden? I think as long as the question is still there then obviously it is not just going to go away by thinking about being nice to people, especially if you are like me and have been following Tsem Rinpoche and his protector practices for some time and have gained much from it and do not want to just abandon it because it has helped you so much in your time of need, maybe more than anything else you have ever come across. Or maybe it was just that because it was a time of need that it seemed like it was so good. But I am willing to say that actually it is because you deserved it. You must have been doing your practice well and also taking care of others and keeping your vows, etc. etc. It is an entirely good thing. So Then why would I want to abandon it now? Yes, of course it is not the exact same practice but it is similar…so similar that when Dorje Shugden came to me I treated the experience the same way I had before with the other protector and welcomed him. Because in the moment my faith in the Guru Deity is stronger than anything else. In fact, I even watched a video online about the Dalai Lama, and I had this feeling that I did not agree. I only said not to practice him because I felt it was a way to follow what my Guru was teaching on karma…and that somehow by practicing him you were creating negative karma. And that the only way to avert it was to advise against it too. I feel like it doesn’t matter what the Dalai Lama says. But I have gone to his teachings and have tried to use what I learned but against Dorje Shugden…I’m not sure. It doesn’t make sense to use Buddhist teachings to fight against Buddhist protectors or anything Buddhist whether you call it good or bad. Just like black magic…people advise against that but they still use it. So I guess this is where Tsem Rinpoche is coming from. I think personally for me though that just following my Guru’s wishes is good enough and I am not the same person that needed a protector all those years ago when I was going through such trouble and was willing to pledge my allegiance to them. I feel like by doing good deeds I am creating the karma for what I need and living with pure samaya. I don’t feel I need to practice Dorje Shugden. I’m saying this because I don’t like feeling like I’m being ousted for making up my own mind about it just like you have the right to make up your own mind about it. I don’t oust you for it and I hope you do not oust me but I feel like I am being treated worse because I don’t go along with Dorje Shugden and I’m sure you feel worse because you are going along with it. But who is right? I am because I am not doing any harm and you are. So that’s where we’re at. I could just remain silent but I thought it better to say. Thank you

      Reply
      • 

        Rosalyn on Aug 4, 2016 at 6:56 am

        Four million Shugdenpas suffering and all you can think and talk about is you. No mention of the suffering of others or of the Tibetans.

        Hey guess what? No one really cares. You practise what you want and let them practise what they want. You keep writing on this blog over and over again like you’re trying to find some kind of validation for your stance. Geez. Own your decisions already and stop trying to get people to tell you what you’ve decided is wrong or right, or trying to convince people to adopt your point of view through your long monologues and missives. Just follow what your Guru says fer Chrissake. You keep talking about him over and over again, and for what? The more you write, the more it just looks like you’re trying to convince yourself you’re doing the right thing by following his instructions. I’m not even a student of Tsem Tulku but damn, even I can see your comments start from nowhere and end nowhere. It’s really big of them to let you keep posting here when your comments don’t really go anywhere.

        Reply
        • 

          Estelle on Aug 4, 2016 at 9:37 am

          Oh my goodness Lama Konchok Shempen I think we are seeing enough of your pointless comments here. You’ve literally taken up 3/4 of this blog comments section! What are you going on about?
          Are you in need of so much attention or do you need some kind of clinical help? Either way please go get proper help and stop posting your comments here that leads no where and ends no where because you obviously do not want to conclude.

          I echo Rosalyn “Four million Shugdenpas suffering and all you can think and talk about is you.”

          I hope you will just make you own mind up and stop needing to validate it with anyone or anywhere, especially NOT HERE. If you truly believe you know what you are doing then just do it, no one is stopping you and be done with it. No one needs to know or hear it, it is between you and your Buddha. Seriously. Stop posting the same stuff here.

          This blog’s admin are really too too kind to allow so much of your repeated post, maybe this blog’s admin need to consider pausing you for a while.

          Reply
          • 

            Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 17, 2016 at 12:48 am

            maybe need to consider pausing you? maybe need to consider that Dorje Shugden is bad and stop practicing him.
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 17, 2016 at 12:56 am

          it’s really big of them to let people like you write the things you do when it clearly advises against negative posts…much like Dalai Lama advises against Dorje Shugden. Hypocrite. I have better things to do. Not only you bash me you bash my Guru? That apparently is the only way you think you can get at me. It’s ironic someone so weak attacks someone who has Guru and is strong? Maybe you wish you had a Guru, too. Or do you not think that is important? Maybe you would just like to bust my chops some more about not practicing Shugden and keep up the allure of worshipping Tsem Tulku…

          Reply
      • 

        Pastor Shin Tan on Aug 4, 2016 at 9:57 am

        Dear Lama Konchok Shempen,
        Since you have a Guru, the best is to follow what you Guru say about the practice. Since you did not received any commitment on this practice, such as Sogtae (life entrustment), then as far as I know, there is no issue if you do not practice or continue to practice.

        You have been sharing with us about this matter since Nov 2015, and I think it is good if you can make up your mind because I don’t think you want to spend another year debating with yourself whether you should practice.

        If you have benefited from the practice, or concern about the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners, there are many other ways you can contribute, for example, help keep our websites tsemrinpoche.com and dorjeshugden.org going so more people are aware of this practice. You can also support the Shugden monasteries and Sangha.

        Here is the link: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/how-can-you-help

        Many people have suffered to preserve this practice for the generations to come. With understanding of Dorje Shugden and the ban, perhaps you can voice your concern and request the NGOs below to pay attention to the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners worldwide and request for their assistance for the Dorje Shugden ban to be lifted.

        UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency)
        United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
        Case Postale 2500
        CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
        Suisse
        Telephone: +41 22 739 8111 (automatic switchboard)
        Fax: +41 22 739 7377

        Working hours are from 9:00 to 18:00 (8:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT) Monday to Friday. Phone calls will be routed to a Duty Officer outside UNHCR Geneva working hours.

        Human Rights Watch
        New York Office
        Address: 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
        New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
        Tel: +1-212-290-4700
        Fax: +1-212-736-1300

        Geneva Office
        Address: 51, Avenue Blanc
        1202 Geneva
        Switzerland
        Tel: +41-22-738-0481
        Fax: +41-22-738-1791

        London Office
        Address: Audrey House
        16 -20 Ely Place
        London, England
        EC1N 6SN
        Tel: +44 (0) 20 7618 4700

        Australia Office
        Address: GPO Box 4278
        Sydney NSW 2001
        Australia
        Tel: +61 2 9221 9422

        Tokyo Office
        Address: MBE704 Akasaka 258 Bldg. 1F
        2-5-8 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo Japan 107-0052

        Refugees International
        Address: 2001 S Street NW
        Suite 700
        Washington, DC 20009
        Phone: 202.828.0110
        1.800.REFUGEE (1.800.733.8433)
        For general inquiries, please contact extension 500 for the operator.
        Fax: 202.828.0819
        E-mail: ri@refugeesinternational.org

        UN Watch
        Address: UN Watch,
        Case Postale 191, 1211
        Geneva 20, Switzerland
        Tel: +41-22-734-1472
        Fax: +41-22-734-1613

        Reply
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 16, 2016 at 10:10 am

          well, people can say what they want. But I have pretty much quit writing about it and have only posted a few things since then about how people are responding to the issue…it does not seem like if Dorje Shugden was bad or good it would even matter. Which means that you have missed the point. You must not care that I practiced what Tsem Tulku Rinpoche was teaching for many years as a good practice which in fact was actually just a guise for Dorje Shugden worship that he was doing secretly. Only years later when I found out about this did I have any questions and shared my feelings openly about it until I finally could see for myself that Dorje Shugden “people” were going nowhere and that the practice was actually harmful. It was only up to a point that I put up with it and then I started to express what I felt. I feel much better now that I have done that and I’m sure that woshipping Tsem Rinpoche’s protector for all these years would give me some right to say something even if it is that Shugden is bad and that you shouldn’t follow him. But like I said, up to a point I was willing to go consider both sides until it was very clear that all of this talk about Shugden is just nonsense. So instead of considering Shugden as the problem or yourselves for following him instead you want to get angry at me and act like I am not actually taking a stance about the situation because it suits you to think that I go round in circles with it when I was giving you a chance to say back then but you never did. Instead you left me to suffer with it and it was quite uncomfortable to do so…based on all the misinformation and such. I am just lucky to see that practicing Shugden and practicing Tsem Tulku’s other protectors are entirely different and you should know that but you don’t point out that not only me but probably many other people have been misled as well, do you? There is so much pro Shugden that you do not see the other side which is what I am making available to you. The question is, is it alright to lead someone along thinking that the practice they are doing is legitimate and helpful and at the same time be hiding the fact that the whole while it is really basically same Dorje Shugden? That seems like a bit of a misrepresentation to me. It is not even that Shugden is bad but it is that it went from practicing a protector to practicing a demon, really. And no one seemed to notice? For me. If I had not been associated with this practice I would not have said anything and it is also clearly stated that only people who have associations with Shugden can be harmed by him so that’s maybe why I am getting all of this feedback since I have stopped practicing it alltogether. I have spent many years following the protector that has been encouraged openly by Tsem Rinpoche and only when it became Shugden practice did I say anything because it should be known when things like this happen, for good or bad, which way you want to go or what stance you should take. I was not saying anything when there wasn’t any talk of Shugden and I am not trying to be down on Shugden people either…but it seems like Shugden people are getting down on me. Which is very sad. But you should be willing to take that on yourself and off the happiness to others. And not get involved in the Shugden controversy. But it does not change the fact that what is being said about people against Shugden is actually being done by the people who are supposedly for Shugden who are bashing me. Why should you feel so attached to your Dharma Protector anyway…even Lord Buddha said that the Dharma itself is like a raft and that once you reach the other shore it too should be discarded…maybe we could say that the spirit is influencing you, that is all I can think of. And it makes you look even worse for defending Shugden that way! Why hurt your cause? This is not to you pastor, but to the people that have been saying bad things in particular. I have tried to take a middle way approach to the situation but in a way I am truly outraged by what has happened and if you didn’t know, now you know how I feel about it. If Dorje Shugden was good then you should explain his good qualities and see if I can get back on board with him but it doesn’t seem like anyone is even interested in Dorje Shugden…only the fact that the Dalai Lama said you should not practice him and now suddenly it is a big deal. Why should what the Dalai Lama matter to you? I can take the same stance you all are taking and say, just keep on practicing Shugden but it would not be the same as me not practicing Shugden because I have some actual merit and create good karma. It is pointless to argue with me about it anymore because you are creating negative karma and you can’t win. You should give up now. Sorry 🙂 bye. No more practice Shugden for you but you can if you want to. So why the hard feelings? If anyone should be upset or have something to say it is me for ever getting involved with the protector to begin with whoever it is. I’ll still do what he says but what about Dorje Shugden? Him too. But I’ll also follow what Dalai Lama says even though I don’t agree. I guess which is most benefit? Probably following me. I’m sure there’s a teaching in there somewhere but I guess it’s possible for it to go from a good protector to a demon too. What would you all make of it it this happened to you? You probably don’t even have the protector’s support from the beginning. The way I look at it is…if Dorje Shugden is good or bad…doesn’t help. Depends on my karma. So I don’t need to practice him…I don’t need to do anything. I’m already enlightened. But it was fun while it lasted…maybe now just hand it up and dedicate the virtue to all sentient beings, obviously something you haters know nothing about. Or you would be praying for good things to happen. You would say something like, oh it doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in Dorje Shugden or not he is so kind he will protect you no matter what especially since you have been so loyal to Tsem Rinpoche when he was openly practicing. But how do you expect me to accept Dorje Shugden when you talk mean? If anything this board has made up my mind about Dorje Shugden practice and how bad it is from the way the people just post random rude comments and have no basis for them. I think I could probably win if there was a battle between Dorje Shugden or not just from the last few posts where I already made it clear that he was wrong. If you don’t get the picture by now and are afraid of practicing Dorje Shugden then there is something wrong with you because I have really looked into it and I clearly have made up my mind. And the glorious thing is that you did it for me. Ever hear of 50 cent? In one of his songs he says I need you to hate, so I can use your for your energy. I shouldn’t even say that either. But I set it up for you to decided whether Shugden was bad or not and I didn’t say anything until you started attacking me people which proves my point that you shouldn’t practice Shugden. That’s all I have to say. Same as Dalai Lama! Good bye!

          Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 24, 2016 at 8:55 pm

      Just because Dorje Shugden is banned is not reason enough for me not to practice it. I made this decision based on my personal life entrustment to the protector…whether it is setrap or Shugden shouldn’t matter. It comes down to what I want to do and what is most benefit. Also even though I have read some bad things about Tsem Tulku lately too I think he still kept samaya and that is all that matters even though we want to jump on a Guru first chance we get better to wait, see? My commitment is not something I can give up so easy. I was the one that started it so of course it is up to me to do the right thing. If all of this fighting has done any good it has caused me to not want to stop the practice. I also read about Trijang Rinpoche and how he did not side with the protestors either but he kept on practicing Shugden telling them not to contact him. He even disrobed because of it. I was thinking of quitting Buddhism all together. So it is not that I don’t care….obviously I do. But it helps to see both sides of the story. If my commitment to the protector is strong enough then I will do the right thing and that is how I decided this. I do not like going against what dalai lama said but since Trijang Rinpoche and my mind are the same he said Trijang Rinpoche can practice that should be reason enough. Or am I entirely wrong and that the Shugden practice is bad and I have just been misled all of these years? I felt like I made the right decision when entrusting my life to the Protector and that he would not fail me and it was meant to be. In fact, as I hope this would please Rinpoche, it makes even more sense to practice Shugden when I had entrusted my life to another protector who wasn’t even him at the time and now when it is time to practice Shugden that should prove that there really isn’t anything wrong with it. I would imagine that Tsem Rinpoche has worked very hard to help people and his very actions reflect it so that what he has done about hiding it and so forth has actually been to help us. That’s why it makes sense that if it was okay to practice it before it would be okay to practice it now. That would be my only claim as far as reasons TO practice Dorje Shugden. And that should be good enough. I think I have good reason now. Thank you Rinpoche for putting up with me for so long you are incredibly patient but now I think through much struggle with the issue what you are doing. Thank you. Om Swasti.

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 25, 2016 at 12:39 am

        what’s odd is that when i decide to practice Shugden and even convince myself of it there comes another position against it every time. Like this last time, I realized afterwards that it was actually a bad idea practicing Setrap before and therefore it would not be a good idea to practice Shugden even though I thought it was so I am not sure. I have to trust my intuition and try not to go against my Guru. If there was not this strong opposition then maybe I would practice but when every time I try to practice and the negative energy associated with it is so much that it makes me not want to practice and opposes all of the positives I have about Dorje Shugden before it makes me take a middle ground where I’m not going to go against. There is a line I won’t cross and I think every time I try to find a way to practice it there seems to be some evidence for the practice actually not to be good even when I think it is sometimes and want to practice and even recited the prayers so I am sorry I can’t do it anymore. Maybe it is just better to say it is better not to do the practice all together rather than try to find the positives in it because at this point it is pointless to even think about it anymore. I know personally for myself I don’t want to because I feel I would be going against the Guru’s wishes. I would really be harming myself. So that’s from someone who has argued about it and still face this problem and could just go against it but feel I have to respect that. Thanks. I am going to stop Shugden practice for now. There is nothing more really I can do about it for now. I have to trust my intuition and I am doing something harmful I believe by practicing it so I have to listen to that. Sorry. It would be nice if someone could just totally make their mind up about it to practice or not but I think that it takes time and experience to really understand the issue especially after I had been so deep into it for so many years you don’t just give it up overnight. So I am faced with giving it up but I believe that there is reason to even though part of me doesn’t want to. I listen to the little voice in the back of my head and he tells me not to. I don’t know what you want to call it but I think it is protecting me from something. And I have to listen because it comes from me. So that’s probably enough for now. I’m going to trust my intuition that actually my worship before was even bad and that I shouldn’t do it now. Thanks

        Reply
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 25, 2016 at 5:48 am

          After I prayed to Tsem Rinpoche in last chance effort not to make all my years of this practice for not, he blessed me with the realization of emptiness through the practice of Dorje Shugden so now I can say that it is legitimate. If it passes the test of emptiness then there should be no doubt in your mind about it. It was after watching a video by my Teacher about how to teach emptiness on this very day. At this point I have not only wanted to practice and faced the problems with it but I have come out on the other end. I feel like I have done enough. May it be of benefit.

          Reply
          • 

            Lama Konchok Shemphen on Aug 25, 2016 at 6:19 am

            Just to be absolutely correct, I guess that if you can judge a practice by Buddha’s highest teaching then it would stand that it is a legitimate practice and that you should follow it. I am not trying to say that emptiness makes the practice okay, rather, that if it is in tune with emptiness then there is really not much bad you can say about it, from one’s own point of view. So that is why I have been struggling with it to find some value because I knew that there was some truth in it somewhere and I just had to find it. Now I feel like in a way I know the truth. Hopefully that helps. But I am not officially endorsing it or anything I’m just saying it seems that it is in line with what Buddha taught and that there wouldn’t be a real reason to discriminate from that point of view as that truth is definitely the highest and is actually suppose to be understood initially even to practice these things. So even if I don’t practice Dorje Shugden I am at least qualified. Which gets us one step closer to the freedom people are talking about from an individual viewpoint perspective. I am sharing this information because it has to do with the Dorje Shugden practice and what I have gone through because of the so called ban or labeling it under another practice or whatever that I have been involved with myself unknowingly. I did not want all of those years to be a waste so I prayed to Rinpoche and he gave me the blessing of emptiness…and that is like the greatest thing in the world cuz if you understand that then you will definitely not go to the lower realms. So I feel like I have rescued the Dorje Shugden practice a little bit instead of just ignoring it. I had to push myself. And I encourage anyone who wants to know what the truth is about it to do the same. All I know is that I have been blessed with the realization of emptiness from praying to and wanting to know about this practice and having been involved with it indirectly for many years now. If that is all I get out of it then that would be good. I hope to be able to use the knowledge of what I have found to help other people…even if they don’t practice Dorje Shugden. This has been the only approach I can take on it considering all of the backlash. I am not saying it is a legitimate practice only that if it is in line with emptiness then it should be fine…I’m not sure I’m going to practice it like I said before because there is something saying not to but it isn’t to say it’s not a legitimate practice and that it’s not in line with what Buddha taught. That’s what I mean. If it’s emptiness then that is about as good as it gets…that’s amazing.
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shemphen on Sep 11, 2016 at 4:34 am

      I talked to someone today about the Dorje Shugden issue and came to the same conclusion that Rinpoche has been posting about so he is right which is that Dalai Lama even though he puts you in bind not to practice Shugden my personal belief is that I will practice anyway. I don’t want to fight with people but like Trijang Rinpoche said he does not want to support the pro Shugden people either but basically just go away to practice by himself. I do not want to say I am going to do the same thing he is but I feel I have reason enough to practice. I am going to go through the Sadhana right now just to be good and practice Shize.

      Reply
      • 

        Konchok Shemphen on Sep 13, 2016 at 9:37 am

        n/m I’m not…it’s a bad idea to practice so I’m not gonna on second thought it could take some time before I am entirely convinced but I feel like I am on the right path

        Reply
    • 

      Konchok Shemphen on Sep 24, 2016 at 12:14 am

      Well…I will always stay true to what I promised the protector all those years to do exactly what he tells me even if it is practice Dorje Shugden. When I do practice though, there is a part of me that realizes it is bad from what His Holiness said. In that case, what is better? I don’t know? Don’t practice either. But if Tsem Rinpoche was actually practicing Shugden this whole time and just not saying and then I was involved in Shugden also, then I am guilty and should say that I am going to keep practicing. All depends if people see me as a Shugden person or not. As much as I try to get it out of my life and stop it I feel it is like letting a limb go. This is not just because I practiced a lot but because I dedicated my life to this practice. Whenever someone was bothering me I would call on the protector. It went like this for some time. But I practiced all the time…just like it says in the Sadhana. It was all I would do…that was how strong my connection to the protector was. I don’t think it is by accident that I met my protector. I had gone to initiation with Garchen Rinpoche and he said to visualize any wrathful form of Manjushriye. I thought that he must have been talking about Dorje Shugden. And then after reciting so many hundred thousands of mantras and also practicing the prayers from Tsem Tulku I came upon the Protector and gave my word to do exactly as he asked…unless I wanted to walk. But I thought that that would take too long. The fact was that I was going through a very hard time…and he was there when I needed him. I don’t know exactly who he was but I still depend on him even though there is a possible relationship or maybe even is Dorje Shugden. That would be great. Then it would get rid of all of my doubt about the practice and then I would know to do the practice for sure. Many years ago I wrote on another blog something to the same extent that even if the Dalai lama says something that is not the highest authority…I mean I did not agree even back then. So if you go by what I said back then then it definitely means that you should not just follow what he says about Dorje Shugden. In fact, it means if you want to practice it you should. I would say that that is still relevent today. If I had one practice to commit myself to it would be this protector. Because I was able to meet him and I have such a strong connection. I don’t know if it is Dorje Shugden but whoever it is may I not go back on my vow to him and continue to serve the Dharma for as long as I live. If I am being treated poorly like Rinpoche says he is because of my relationship with this protector then I am willing to go off by myself and practice him…what difference does it make if it is Dorje Shugden or Setrap? If I go on practicing Setrap knowing that it was Dorje Shugden all the time then I might as well be practicing Dorje Shugden. At this point I am so lost as to what to do basically being in the situation I am in where I have had this setback from doing very good maybe from my protector practice to having all sorts of lies made up about me and put in a group home on medication. Now I am being forced on depending on the medication and gained an incredible amount of weight plus all sorts of other problems when before when I was off of it I didn’t have any of that at all. I am looking for my next place to live probably an apartment and I will keep on following my protector and I’m sure when I am ready he will let me know if it matters for the sake of others what to do but I don’t care if he’s Dorje Shugden or Setrap or whatever I will still follow him and that’s not just because I think he is Setrap and not Dorje Shugden. If I have to go away from everyone to practice on my own then that is what I will do. Because what choice do I have now that I know they are possibly the same? I can’t go on practicing like Dorje Shugden doesn’t matter anymore. Either way whether I like it or not I am still going to have to accept Dorje Shugden one way or the other. I don’t think that the Dalai lama could convince me otherwise. So that is where I am at with it right now. Even though I am not practicing Dorje Shugden when I get my own place I will. That is my commitment. That is personally the best thing I think I can do for myself, really. If that is not right though or good, then I will not do anything. That is basically what I am doing right now. The medication is difficult to take and makes me sleep the whole day. I would not feel like at this state I could practice anyway. So I’m leaving it up to karma and the universe to decide but I still support the protector and thank you

      Reply
55. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on May 18, 2016 at 9:37 am

    Here is my final say on it. I have promised Setrap to do whatever he asks and as Dorje Shugden comes from Tsem Tulku and he is the one that introduced me through fate or destiny then I will therefore do the Dorje Shugden practice. I hope that there are no hard feelings even my sister says that I should vow not to practice him but now I know what I must do…I am even going against what my sister says. But I believe in you Tsem Tulku and let this be my promise to you that I will do the practice. I do not believe that I have really had any hard feelings against Dorje Shugden even up to the point where I was really going to stop and I hope everyone understands that. I just wanted to let you know that all I have asked from the Sangha here was to keep their word of honor so karmically for me to have it work out with me then I must do the same. Please do not think Rinpoche is a charlatan. I apologize for ever doubting you Rinpoche but now that I have made up my mind I am not going to regress ever again. You have my word. Once you have made a connection with a Dharma protector like this, you have that connection for lifetimes so you must be sure to treat it like jewels. I cannot say enough about this and I feel like now I have some direction again in my life…and you were right Rinpoche, there is no one who can make you stop practicing Dorje Shugden. Here’s to you, RInpoche. I have my court case tomorrow about the assault charges on one of the staff here for letting the clients steal food from me. I will make sure to recite my Sadhana tonight. Thank you for not giving up on us Rinpoche and for letting me explain exactly why you would practice the Dorje Shugden and this is what I have detailed in this post so it has taken a lot of thinking and dedication and not giving up so I hope that this helps. I am dedicating the good karma to you and transferring the merits. Also I am getting my shot tomorrow and I won’t be using an amulet as I believe it has been effecting the medicine but it will only be for one month and not three as my court ordered medication is over in June. I am ready to devote my life to Dorje Shugden regardless of the medication even if it is for another year. I will practice Dorje Shugden as my principal deity. Thank you and have a good year. The signs leading up to this epiphany which is what I have been fighting about with myself to figure out finally came to me after I saw that Dorje Shugden and I are the same. And then naturally I came to this conclusion on my own. That since I practiced Setrap before and it was through Tsem Rinpoche that I met him then since Rinpoche offered the Dorje Shugden practice it was proper and made sense to not only follow this practice now but to do so out of my devotion to the Guru Deity and my pledge before to him. It is also proof that the practice is not bad and that there is no reason for its ban.

    Reply
56. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 11, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    well, I am not just going to bend over or lay down because someone says I practice Dorje Shugden and that is it. Now it has gotten to the point where I feel like you almost have to fight for this practice. I feel like blogging about it I have done my part. I have explained to you how maybe I have been treated differently because of my practice too. What I was thinking of earlier was how if you see it as good then it will be good and if you see it as bad it will be bad. But ultimately this depends on you. So how can Dorje Shugden benefit you? In what way can he harm you? It seems that there has been a lot of talk about him being an evil spirit or hungry ghost. So, be that as it may…in what ways can he help you, even so? This would be the first question I would ask. Otherwise it is clear that he is harmful and there is no basis for him to do good other than that. But no one is really giving any good evidence. That is why where I said before that I was diagnosing him, I was obviously kidding…but what I meant was sound. It’s that like anyone else who has problems he is obviously running into some himself. So my question is how can we change some of these negative views of Dorje Shugden and maybe see some good in him? If you just totally negate him then that is not being fair to yourself, is it really? So for one thing, Dorje Shugden is an emanation of wrathful Manjushriye. His practice brings true happiness and release from mental suffering and is not that hard even in these times. And to dispel some of the negative about him the Dalai Lama has not acted properly by just indiscriminately banning him like he did. So there is an alternative view with some reason and credibility from what I have investigated into him and found out to be true. So not only is Dorje Shugden not an evil spirit, it was wrong for the Dalai Lama to ban him. So anything other than that is purely conjecture, so you might as well just end up right back where you started at first if you throw it out. But if you take it into consideration then maybe it will sway your belief that Dorje Shugden is bad and maybe you will accept him into your heart and he will bless you. So that is possible too. That is what I mean by him being empty, it is dependent on you. So instead of being so negative about him and just ignoring him why don’t you give him a chance and see what happens? Just a thought. I know for sure that I am not going to continue to just treat him that way because I know that he comes from me and if I treat him the right way then he will be Buddha…but if I treat him the wrong way, who knows? He will treat you exactly the same way you treated him maybe that would be fair right? But if you believe in emptiness then this explanation should be like nectar. It will clear away your doubts about Dorje Shugden and put Liberation back where it belongs, in the palm of your hand. If you don’t think that by treating the protector wrong then you could have wrong impressions of him then you’re wrong. Because karma is infallible. Who know’s how he will appear to you. All I am teaching you here though is how to create positive impressions to get the results you want from Dorje Shugden. Then maybe he will not be dangerous anymore and everyone can practice him. Good luck.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 14, 2016 at 4:05 pm

      Well, I figure since the teachings of emptiness do not verify him then not only will I not practice him I will also not follow those teachings anymore…I will just go back to living my life as a normal person again without all of this. It has been fun…but since the highest teaching of Buddhism doesn’t even validate the practice of Dorje Shugden despite all that I have shown it doesn’t prove worthwhile to practice him from the within the context of the lineage. This is just my personal view. And for this reason I will just leave the two together…the fact that that particular view of emptiness does not validate this protector practice and the view itself…and leave it at that, not to revisit it again from the standpoint of the protector or the standpoint of the lineage view of emptiness and just to continue living my life as an example to all. To do this, I do not need to be involved in the controversy but thought I would tell my side of the story as this is only appropriate since I have been involved in the shenanigans for so long. I came to this conclusion based on the highest wisdom that is taught in this tradition so it only makes sense that if the two do not match then there is a problem with them. I think that the wisdom is correct and the Dharma Protector practice is not, but I am still not going to follow that particular wisdom as I believe in what I saw, not what Geshe Michael saw, even though it is the same thing maybe. But I have to live my own life and as much fun as I like to have with it I would rather follow Geshe Michael and it seems that what I have been taught and studied contradicts this protector practice and I must go by that. I still am not necessarily following this but I am a Dudjom Tersar practitioner by the way so it doesn’t matter anyway. It is good though that there is a proof here of emptiness in favor of Dorje Shugden but still it does not prove that the protector practice is acceptable which means from the view of the teachings it is not appropriate. I am leaving it up to emptiness basically, and at this point, it is better not to practice. I have helped to solve the problem not only for myself but for those who would wonder. It is not from my side that the fault arises. It is the protector practice. And since I don’t want to say anything bad about it I will just leave you will what I observed and how the teaching of emptiness does not support it from the standpoint of the lineage. Once again I quit practicing this lineage many years ago so it doesn’t really matter but I had to say for certain not whether it was good or bad, but with respect for the practice and lineage, where it comes from and how it is to viewed from the standpoint of emptiness where it is. I think people are practicing it without a proper understanding of emptiness and the practice itself is in a way leading to this sort of thinking as well…blindly. So that is my response to all the Dorje Shugden people. I have analyzed it from the highest view and did not say whether it was good or bad but then reprimanded you for it…like the Dalai lama would. Which goes to show the Dalai lama is not entirely wrong when it comes to these things. It is like thinking in Christianity that all are good when the fact of the matter is there is also evil, the devil for example. This could be a good lesson for Buddhists as well. So this has been fun but I had better get back to practicing Dudjom Tersar religion and trying to apply the teachings to making money and things like that, since I have already helped you in the best way that I could. This is what I have been taught and what I have shared with you here so I hope you take it to heart. This was all I wanted to do was to help you with emptiness but it seems you cannot be helped. So I have done my part and I will receive my karma and you will also receive yours.

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 16, 2016 at 12:25 pm

        Well it turns out that Dorje Shugden is not bad either after I did a mo on the highest wisdom itself it turns out that he is not a Buddha or an evil spirit…I guess we would have to say he is empty. He comes from our past good or bad deeds from a seed we planted in our mind by the way we treated others. This came about because I was thinking about abortion and the upcoming election of Donald Trump for president and how I love New Yorkers. So we could say that since he is neither an evil spirit or a Buddha he is empty. He only exists based on our past karma. So one would have to say that he is empty. I just wanted to say because that wisdom that I used to come to that conclusion is also empty. It does not mean that he is evil spirit or he is Buddha. He is only what we see based on karma. If we treated others good we will see him a helpful, if we have harmed others we will see him as harmful. He is like a mirror. And so is everything else. So the most important thing is to do good karma. That is the main point. You don’t have to practice this protector, just do good karma. That is the main teaching because that is the cause for all of the good things in your life…you don’t have to worry about it if you do good karma. So that is one answer for people who are not sure whether to practice him or not. Just do good karma and don’t worry about it. It is more important to do good karma then practice him if that is the question because good karma is the cause of good practice itself. So even if you were to practice him you would still have to do good karma. And if you weren’t going to practice him, you would still want to do good karma. So it’s not really a question of practicing the protector or not which is up to question, it is a question of doing good karma. By adopting the practice of Dorje Shugden you are not doing good karma. But by what are you doing good karma then? By serving others. For this you don’t need Dorje Shugden practice…you can serve others with the very last breath of your life with nothing left other than that. That is the real way to live. So I guess I would compare what is Dorje Shugden practice to what is the highest level of practice and see which is better if you are really interested in finding out the answer for yourself. I looked up a little about some Dharma protectors online and found an article that said not only Dorje Shugden is not advised to be practiced but any Dharma protector for that matter. So maybe it is that Dorje Shugden is alright, but only for the most advanced practitioners. Then why would people be able to practice the best without him. Obviously from what I am saying, he is a problem. I am just writing and seeing what comes to mind and I can see for myself this problem without bringing it up purposefully. So I hope that this is proof enough that you don’t want to practice him because I think that if you were to make problems your Dharma practice you would be erring…it is better to focus on the things that are going to help you. And for anyone to see, this protector practice if you think about it immediatly brings up problems. Maybe you can’t see them, but that is because you are blind to the Dharma. I am putting them out there for everyone to see but if you can’t see them then that is not my fault. Maybe you need new eyes. Enough said. If you refuse to see that there are faults in this practice then that is not good enough, you need to search your conscience to see how your relationship with the Dharma really is. Maybe you are fooling yourself into thinking that good things are bad and bad things are good. I am so sickened by the fact that people refuse to even accept that there is a bad side to this Dorje Shugden practice that I don’t want to even pursue helping anymore if you refuse to observe the truth when it is right there before your eyes and you keep making up reasons when I am just sharing and can see it clearly and make it clearly known but you won’t. So instead of getting on your case about it, I am going to let it go because I don’t think it is worth arguing over a practice like this with people that don’t care so it is better for me to focus on what really matters and say goodbye.

        Reply
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 16, 2016 at 7:59 pm

          Well now that I have been saying whatever about Dorje Shugden and people don’t think I practice him I had a dream where I was put in a situation where I was reciting Om Mani Padme Hum Hrih and normally this would be sufficient for the situation which was maybe just some possession or something but in this case the spirit became very angry at me and even though like nothing can harm Dalai Lama etc. he couldn’t harm me it was still harmful because the spirit was not able to find peace and the mantra was not effective. Usually the mantra would be effective though. This makes me think that it is Dorje Shugden responsible and not that I am not just doing his practice that makes this happen. I was just testing to see what he would do or how the situation would turn out…but immediatly it was like nothing could help after the first mantra. But I don’t think you need to say any more than one mantra anyway so if it doesn’t work…well, who cares? But just noting this not saying it is bad either way. I am just piling up evidence against myself for no reason…no, I am trying to tell you how ridiculous this Dorje Shugden is and you won’t listen.

          Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 26, 2016 at 5:41 pm

      Good news, even though I’ve been told not to speak about it, I am telling you on my birthday today what good news I have in Dorje Shugden. My dream…I was being threatened by a demon or whatever and I went to request help from someone and when my prayers were answered automatically almost, as if by magic, I asked her what the prayers were and it was a form of Dorje Shugden. Immediatly my faith was restored and I wanted to share this with you. It is the good sign that I have been looking for for so long so I share this with you people on my birthday. Good yeah.

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 26, 2016 at 5:57 pm

        I am still not practicing though and feel sorry for the lady that posted under me who did not know what she was getting into before when she started practicing and then found out about Dorje Shugden. All we can do is make a firm vow not to practice it now thanks to the Dalai lama for informing us about this.

        Reply
57. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 11, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    I have come to terms with the uncomfortable feeling and see that it is not due to Dorje Shugden. In fact, I have included it in my meditation. It is very powerful…it is like it has become my reality. That’s how powerful getting to the root of some of these issues is with the cover up and everything. Like Gandhi said…everyone can turn on a small light in a dark room. The more dark there is when the light is out the brighter it becomes when it is turned on. Shedding light on these topics has helped me in so many ways not just being able to tell you about it but also learning myself to the point where I have no doubt about Dorje Shugden anymore whatsoever. And really feel differently about the Dalai Lama and what he has done by not allowing the practice. In fact my disgust for what has happened is fueling my Dharma practice even more and making me want to practice harder. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Thank you Tsem Tulku Rinpoche it seems that some of my requests are being answered and that I am clarifying my practice despite the obstacles. Dorje Shugden is no longer the problem it is only what is left that he is purifying that is yet to be discarded. By keeping an open mind about Dorje Shugden with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche I have made the right choice for sure. He only continues to astound me. Thank you Rinpoche.

    Reply
58. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 11, 2016 at 3:24 pm

    Dalai Lama prohibiting practice of Shugden paramount to King Jong Un using his position to have sex with many women and when questioned about it all the women can do is try to speak up but when they are about to say something to the camera they keep their mouth shut and go along with it when it is time to say something they can’t because he would have them eaten by dogs.

    Reply
59. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 11, 2016 at 11:49 am

    Well it seems all is well…we have the Dalai Lama saying not to practice it and somebody else saying it is not the right thing. This is the controversy. Do I get into it or do I stay out of it? Do I have to make my mind up one way or the other? No, not really. And this is the only answer I would expect. Just to remain neutral, one might say. Which makes perfect sense. Who is going to argue with that? So despite being neutral about it I realized who Dorje Shugden really is…and it is quite a revelation. He is not an evil spirit at all. He is an emanation of manjushriye and I have been practicing him for going on a decade knowingly or unknowingly up until this point where we have been discussing him. So the question is, do I give up now or do I keep going? I feel that if I were to no longer do this practice I would be fine. I have achieved my goal of meeting him. That is enough for me…so surely I will be going to heaven, at least I would hope. I have done some great good deeds to meet him. And I will never forget that. It is one of the happiest times in my life only second to enlightenment itself. So from my side I have pure vision. That is all I am saying. I see him as a Buddha. And my personal goal has been to see the Buddha as empty…that he comes from me. Just like everything else…I created it from my karma. But the other way to look at it is that it is empty. I am empty, even Buddha is empty. He is based on my good or bad deeds to others. Some other people believe that Buddha exists from his own side. So anyway, I know how to see a Buddha. And I applied my understanding to view Dorje Shugden this way. Regardless of whether I practice him or not I have planted a powerful seed to see Buddhas in the future. This is what I have been taught about planting seeds which I was explaining before. You plant the seed and then the result will come. You don’t need Buddha to do this. You do it yourself. I planted a seed to see Dorje Shugden as the Buddha. I rejoiced in this seed. That is all I am technically required to do. This creates enough karma in itself so that I will have many Buddhas protecting me from now on because I planted them. So that is what I have learned and when something like this happens it reinforces the fact that you do not have to be competitive or cheat people or harm them you simply plant the seeds and what you want will show up. Consider it as a sort of test to see if Buddhas really exist. Not only does it prove that all of this about Dorje Shugden is wrong it also proves that Buddha does exist. So what I have done is a great good deed. It does not come necessarily from practicing Dorje Shugden though. It comes from planting the seeds to attain a desired result. Basically I possess the power of Dorje Shugden and through this I can get whatever I want. But the way I did this was by planting the seeds. It is what many people hunger for but are not fortunate enough to be blessed with because they are going about it for the wrong reasons. So I went out on a limb. But I am not going to use Dorje Shugden for the wrong reasons. Once you have mastered this practice you have immeasurable power. This power is unlike anything on earth. That is why it is given to very few people and why the practice is deemed to be dangerous in fact. If you did not know that everything was empty, in fact, you could misuse this power. That is why I said that I would not practice it. But that doesn’t mean anything at this point. Because I have already completed the practice. It is through the blessing of the Lama. So as I was sitting here putting up with all of this I kept telling you what was happening and you didn’t believe me but I did it anyway just to prove to you it could be done. It doesn’t matter if Dorje Shugden is bad or not. Don’t you see. It’s too late. I have received the most powerful practice in the world…at what point I realized that the only path to happiness is Dorje Shugden. So anyway, I have achieved it. That is all I am saying. And I am very proud of that fact. What do I get from it. All I get is that I would like to continue serving others whether it involves Dorje Shugden or not…to plant the seeds for my own success and for that of others because I see how powerful the practice is now that was taught to me by my Lama. I don’t want to go back on my Dorje Shugden practice, and I think from responding to the question below that Rinpoche is right and there is no reason you can’t practice Dorje Shugden and follow the Dalai Lama so it doesn’t matter if I practice it or not. That is the point I am trying to make and the same one that Rinpoche has been trying to make just in case you haven’t noticed. So if Rinpoche can say that so can’t we. We can take him as an example and wish him luck with his practice so that he eventually attains to the status of Dorje Shugden. That means he can if he wants to and no one is going to stop him. It does not matter if you support him or not. He’s still going to do it. So why bother complain or make threats? For that reason I would like to say that for Tsem Tulku Rinpoche I would like to do my Dorje Shugden practice, even if that is only reciting the Sadhana. But it is still not going to stop the people who are protesting and saying it is a bad thing, you see. So really, neither one is a good answer. What we do is plant the seeds. We use these four steps…1. Find someone who wants the same thing you do 2. Invite them out to coffee and offer to help them 3. Talk to them for an hour a week 4. Rejoice in your good deeds. This is how we create the reality we want around us using the mental images in our mind based on the idea that everything is empty to get whatever we want. That is how I was able to achieve this realization of Dorje Shugden. I planted the seeds and then just sit back and watched them grow. Once you see how good it works you will want to do the same for yourself. What fascinates me most is not the power but the help it gives to others. So I am devoted now to this practice for the next ten years at least. Because I am convinced at how good it works. When you stop serving others you loose your protector. As long as I am serving others I am all taken care of. There is nothing beyond that. I want to serve others and I believe that by doing so I am also going to be fulfilling my own needs automatically so no need to worry about self. I have lost more out of this situation then what I have gained and I barely have the energy to be happy but I still know that the seed has been planted and goodness has won. Whether you call that Dorje Shugden or not is up to you. But what I really want to do is continue doing what I have been doing for the last ten years which has been serving others. I believe this is also the best way to get what I want. This makes more sense than worshipping Dorje Shugden for material gain…because he too is empty. At this point I don’t want to discuss Dorje Shugden anymore because I have already received his blessing. I am not here to tell you that he is better than Dalai Lama or anything else. You have to make up your own mind about that and I can just hope you do well with it. But my practice was not disrupted by Dorje Shugden or the ban so it doesn’t matter. I’m enlightened. That’s all I wanted. That is the prayer at the end of Tsem Rinpoche’s prayers. So I’m done. I look forward to another ten years of helping people and planting seeds. The question is, do you want to practice Dorje Shugden? The problem is we are looking at it the wrong way. We think we can be the one’s to possess some practice but it is really up to the kindness of the Lama to bestow it upon us. But nevertheless, if you want to try, good luck. But don’t forget that it is dangerous without a spiritual guide first. Even if I said go practice Dorje Shugden, would that change all that has already been done? Maybe it is vain to put so much expectation on one person. All I can do is what my teacher’s have asked of me. No more. If the Dalai Lama says don’t practice then don’t practice. Right? Right…but that is in emptiness. You don’t have to do it either way. That’s what I mean by it is important to have a spiritual teacher so he can teach you these things. Sometimes Gurus say opposite things…and you are forced between the both of them. In this case, it hasn’t affected my practice any. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m an enlightened being. Which is why I wanted to see if he really was a Buddha…what I saw was that he and Manjushriye were the same. But this realization can’t really be put in words. It’s the realization of Buddhahood. Even if I were to define it no one has understood it. This is the great secret. Which is the basis behind why Dalai Lama says not to practice it, you see. I’m not here to judge Dalai Lama…all I had to do was make sure that my practice was not being polluted by evil, which is why I investigated, for the sake of others. So he and Manjushriye are the same. If you have to visualize Majushriye then you can visualize Dorje Shugden. He is in wrathful form. But still there are many problems left to deal with…which is why I noted being uncomfortable to some degree. It seems like certain things are being blamed on Dorje Shugden where they should not be. That is my professional diagnosis for you Dorje Shugden. I hope this helps get you out of the situation that you are in. Regards

    Reply
60. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 8, 2016 at 3:37 pm

    Finally can say that Dorje Shugden practice good. From everything here it seems we all have good samaya because Dorje Shugden blessed me through my initiation and as I was visualizing Manjushriye he was in the form of Dorje Shugden, and he shattered all doubts of him being unenlightened. He is a perfect practice as far as I am concerned he is good enough for me as I have been instructed and received many initiations and this is my main one to this day…without any other practice you can receive attainments. I had to compare the main Manjushriye which I was visualizing in the form of Dorje Shugden and analyze whether it was harmful or not, based on tradition and from my initiation plus life entrustment and found that he was not actually harmful without a doubt he was an enlightened being worthy of my devotion just like Vajrayogini or any other practice in fact that I have received this is the most beneficial in the times of need. I am not just saying this. I have received instructions and based on these instructions I meditated exactly as I was taught without Dorje Shugden being a concern and then as a result of that I was blessed to see that my meditation was actually on Dorje Shugden. I was inspired by thinking about how for so many years I have prayed to see Buddha and how I have not made any progress and finally my prayers were answered when I realized the true nature of Dorje Shugden and I am forever true to him and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche from now on, I swear it for all. Had I not followed the advice and taken the initiation and life entrustment I would have not received the blessing to meditate on Dorje Shugden in the aspect of Manjushriye and therefore would have never realized that they are both one in the same: part of me and an enlightened being and I cannot reject them as they are part of who I am now and always will be and have been now that I have seen the truth through all of this sharing with you and trying hard to be good. I will not say much more about it as we must keep our Tantric practice pure but if you are interested in practicing Dorje Shugden now, you have my blessing. Thank you Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. I hope that I have convinced you that I am serious about this practice and that you will continue to support me in any way that you can as well as anyone else who aspires to this high practice who deserves to know Dorje Shugden for who he really is: Manjushriye. I wanted to tell you all right now about what I realized so as soon I had a chance even though it is 3 in the morning I came to tell you all about the great news that there is not chance in hell that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit and I will never think like that again. I am going to post more good on Dorje Shugden in the form of Manjushriye so that you will see what I mean but have no doubt this is the truth. I am not just saying this for any other reason then what we have to practice. Now that you know though, I encourage you to practice so that you will be blessed as well, also. What I have realized today through the blessing of the Lama is that Dorje Shugden and Manjushriye are the same and Dorje Shugden can indeed be trusted. I have taken every precauction up until now to say one way or another but now I will tell you for a fact that if you are serious about Tantric practice then this would be the Deity that I recommend. I am sorry for ever saying anything bad about this practice or Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in passing when I was in doubt and trying to find the answers. I hope that through my sharing you will be inspired to practice Dorje Shugden yourself, with or without initiation and life entrustment. Let me tell you that I have done the hard part for you which is verifying that he is an authentic Buddhist Deity one and the same with Manjushriye and this is without even comparing him to so called Dorje Shugden as an evil demon. This is from the standpoint of meditating on Manjushriye himself and being revealed the true identity of him which is actually Dorje Shugden in this case as it has taken time for the truth to come out. Now that it is out though no one should have any doubt about who he really is. He is pure love and compassion with a mind of wisdom. He is super powerful…the closest thing to God that I have come and since I am an enlightened being I can vouch that this is Buddha. Please do not have any doubt about it. I would not have any belief in a demon myself and I know about the Buddha and this is one. He did not change into a Buddha he always was one. Now he has shown it to me there is no doubt. I was just doing my meditation and then all of a sudden it was like whoa, Manjusriye is in the form appearing as Dorje Shugden…sort of like when Prince changed his name to the artist formerly known as Prince or something. It was unbelievable to me that people could be so deceived over all the years, in fact, when he clearly was the Buddha and could offer immeasurable help if we were to stop fearing him, develop faith, and come under his protection. I have done this for you and I dedicate the merit to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for all he could ever dream of and more. Please feel free to re-read through all of my posts and decide for yourself but I feel like the truth is ready to be told. Dorje Shugden is a Buddha. And even though it is controversy to talk about it I will say that I will believe this until the very end of my days. The power of the Buddha is inconceivable. You will have to just go by what I say on this and practice, please. Thank you. Sarva Mangalam.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 10, 2016 at 10:49 am

      I still am feeling uncomfortable about practice regardless of what I realized about him it still could be harmful to practice. In that case I would be happy to give it up. Then you would have at least known what troubles I have gone through to see it through. It took me about ten years the same amount of time it took Asanga to see Maitreya when he was a dog with worms and he paraded him around town. I could say that Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and I finally got to meet him through my meditation from initiations and instructions and practice but then he still might look to you like a evil spirit just like it was a dog still to people with Buddha Maitreya and Asanga with worms or whatever he took out of his flesh to save them. Then that would be the perfect time to say hey, if you want me to practice this then so be it. But if it is going to make things more harmful for the Dalai Lama then no, better not. I believe personally anyone who respects Buddhism must make this very decision and then from that good things will follow. So I will say after I have attained my goal that I will follow what the Dalai Lama says regardless from Guru devotion and go from there. I will not get involved in the speculation but you can speculate whether I have attained realization when it comes to this practice or not but it doesn’t matter either way as I believe if there was a time to stop it would be now. If someone says to stop the practice and you don’t even know what it is then it doesn’t matter. I had to attain to it before I could stop it. I am going to commit myself to follow the Dalai lama and reveal that I have already achieved my goal so there is no point in continuing the practice anyway. I have attained it’s goal. It took me ten years and I have achieved it. But I will go by what the Dalai Lama says and that it is a bad practice out of devotion to him and it must make sense because nothing comes of it. Or from it. That is what I mean by this uneasy feeling. All I can think of though is that I have fulfilled my Guru’s wishes and followed his advice up to this point and would like to keep following his advice to the best of my ability. We must do what he tells us regardless. And this includes the Dalai Lama. I will be the first who has realized Dorje Shugden and given him up. This will inspire other people who are too afraid to make up their own minds about it. If I don’t need him and I have attained it then neither do you…don’t waste your time. So I have given you both ends of the spectrum. I think in emptiness there is potential to go either way, so I will now no longer talk about it. Thank you. I wish you the best and hope that you can have a good relationship with your Guru, the Dalai Lama and that Dorje Shugden does not get in the way of that anymore. i have love for you despite your practice of Dorje Shugden but in my heart of hearts I think it is better not to practice him. I have attained the goal anyway, so what is the point? Better to serve the Guru and this is one way I have served the Guru after all these years and here is why. He said that all you have to do is plant the seeds. That is how I realized this…and attained the realization. But it does not necessarily involve practice, per se. Especially if it is potentially harming you or others. And this is why I am quitting it. I will continue to plant seeds though for the benefit of others regardless and do not look at myself as a Dorje Shugden practitioner but triumphant over all. This is because I was able to practice despite all of these problems and come out on top despite the problems with it. But now there is nothing to overcome anymore and nothing to practice. Therefore, there is no benefit for me anymore to do the practice at all. So I will not do it. I have assessed the practice in it’s entirety and it no longer is necessary for me plus it is advised against by Dalai lama and I have also achieved it’s goal, which was serving others, by planting seeds for my Guru, and that is how I got the realization of the practice. But now it would be wrong to continue any further for selfish reasons other that that. I feel what really allowed me to get to this point was planting seeds and that is how I will continue to function to create the reality I want around me using the teaching of karma and emptiness. And depending on my Guru and the lineage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama that he has given us. I really feel like the main point is taking care of others and that is what I did. It was just so that it happened that Dorje Shugden practice came about and may or may not have, etc. etc. and so on and so forth. But the one thing that really gives me hope having said that, is above all else, even Dorje Shugden, is serving others. And I believe above all else that will still be my motivation which means I don’t need Dorje Shugden anymore. I have gotten the benefit of serving others, and I think this is the most important thing and what I want to continue doing into the future, not Dorje Shugden. This is the offering to my Guru to make up for errors that I have made and shortcomings and down falls all the while I was trying to be good. Seriously, how good of a person do you think you are when one of the holiest beings in the universe tells you not to do something and you do it anyway? Not me. I have struggled with it and there was a side of me that wanted to know. But if was nothing special. I wanted to serve others, not practice Dorje Shugden. And that is my answer to this day. So I guess we end it here. When you want to take care of others as much as I do, then you won’t need Dorje Shugden either. Remember, I have already realized him. It’s nice to be able to say, yeah. But you can’t judge me because I am far ahead of you for actually completing his practice. So how come you practice him, not me? Because I am a realized being. I believe I can save the world. All by myself. With what my Guru has taught me it is enough. I still have fulfilled my commitments to the Dharma Protectors and offer any benefits to the Teachers who have helped me get to this point. When you complete your practice then come and tell me if I was right or wrong, but not at this point can you, really. So wait. But if you realize it, you will not want to, and therefore you will not practice Dorje Shugden. I have already gotten the result. So don’t judge me for being ahead of you and I won’t judge you for practicing something that is behind. If Dalai Lama says something there has to be some truth to it. If you quit Dorje Shugden, I will give you mantras taught to me by Dalai Lama himself for incentive, to recite once or twice but you must want to . No just kidding. All of this is bogus. No practice Dorje Shugden. Who cares what the Dalai thinks. I think it’s all nonsense. So just follow my own tradition, Dudjom Tersar and try to help as many people as possible from what I was taught as an enlightened being. If you have no Dalai Lama, you have nothing. So better to go by what he says. I have love at least. And that is what I am trying to go by. I don’t really own anything or have anything…but I have love. If you have love, that is all I ask. You don’t have to practice Dorje Shugden or anything. Just have love. That’s all. And try to increase it and you will have wisdom. At this point I am fine with love. That is what I have always wanted. So if I have love, will you leave me alone? Basically it’s all a projection of my mind so if I have harmed others in the past then you will harm me but if I have been kind to them then I will receive kindness in return. So it is all based on karma. There is no Buddha even that comes from his own side that will help you. All is empty, and we realize this. So if you want people to be kind to you, be kind to them. And if you want them to be mean to you, be mean to them. And the same goes with Buddha. But he will be kind to you either way…even if it seems like it is hurtful like the Guru…but this takes much Guru Devotion to view one’s spiritual teacher in this way is a blessing indeed. But I have reached it with my teacher is why I am careful to say that I would rather serve others as the cause for my happiness then depend on the Dharma protector. So if you want to be a follower do like me. Bye. we’ll do it together. And ten years from now we’ll be Dharma brother and sisters. And we can both share how much we have gained from planting seeds for others. And how everything we see is a reflection of those seeds, even Buddhas and demons. And how much we have love for all of them. Especially those in most need of our love. Which are the sentient beings us Buddhas are trying to save. Leave it up to karma. Just keep planting seeds to help other people and it will come back to you. This is Dharma practice. So this is what I am advocating. And this is what I will be doing. I encourage you to do the same. You can’t have someone else plant a seed for you. You must plant it yourself as only you get the result. So use these four steps. 1. Determine what you want. 2. Find someone who wants same thing you do and invite them to coffee 3. Help them once a week 4. Rejoice over the good deeds you have done. This will get you what you want. You have to plant the seeds. This is what I have been taught. You want to be rich? Give to others…there are correlations to each and every thing you desire as to what karma you have to plant to get it. Then you do the exact karma to create it in your life. Try that. You just have to do good deeds to others. If you plant the seeds than you can have anything you desire. Even people have good things in this life who are bad, come from doing good things in the past. Just seems that they cheat people but no cheating will ever cause prosperity. They are planting bad seeds for later but enjoying the good seeds from the past. This is what most of us do. We waste our karma. But you can plant more. Just use those four steps I taught you. Then you can have everything you want and more. Thank you.

      Reply
      • 

        Valentina Suhendra on Apr 10, 2016 at 4:52 pm

        Dear Lama Khonchok Shempeh

        I don’t quite get what you are writing and your intention. In the first post you said you believe in Dorje Shugden and will never give it up. In the second comment you said you follow Dalai Lama. And that you got a realization. I don’t really get what you mean?

        Valentina

        Reply
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 11, 2016 at 9:42 am

          I think if you were to go with one, go with practicing Dorje Shugden. The realization I was referring to was that in fact majushriye and Dorje Shugden are the same, and that I have been practicing this way for the past ten years until I finally came to this conclusion on this blog after writing about it for some time. I mean really what I think about it does not matter that much but if it helps others then I would by all means recommend it. I was told to visualize any wrathful forms of manjushriye. Then while I was doing my meditation I realized that this was in fact Dorje Shugden and in a way changed my life. I think if there was any verification that I needed that my practice of Dorje Shugden was no different then what I was already practicing, and that I couldn’t change it even if I tried, that was it. But it also made me realize that there was really no further I could go with it either if it was decidedly so you should not practice it. So I basically left it up to emptiness as far as what is of most benefit to others and trying to serve them as that is how I looked at what I came to realize and how most it would benefit others. From my absolute conviction though, I don’t say do what the Dalai Lama says and as far as my Guru I have advised his student who was also my teacher to follow me. I have only advised Tsem Rinpoche followers to keep their sacred pledge. I think from doing this there is some power transfer that makes it possible to talk about things…I think it is due to the blessing of the Master. But you must understand that I have been trying to teach in my own right mostly about how to become enlightened. It does not necessarily mean that you have to practice Dorje Shugden especially when Dalai lama makes it seem so unappealing…it could turn people away. But in all honesty it is better to do what the master says. I am not referring to His Holiness, though. I think I have said so much about it and done so much looking into it that I could really go either way with it but I still tell you to practice Dorje Shugden, so from that perspective, am I such a horrible person? You see how much I risk even to mock those who would go against Dorje Shugden by being willing not to practice but having realized him already? That already goes against what they believe in, and if you analyze carefully, they would never agree because their main goal is to get rid of all Dorje Shugden practice and/or practioners. How can they do that now once I have become one with him. Even if I never practiced him again, I already have attained to his level. It is like if a Guru gave you initiation and you realized, what I mean by this is completed your practice, or attained enlightenment. It doesn’t take just Deity practice to attain enlightenment. Maybe you could just do with Guru Devotion, even. It depends on what you know. But to have a practice is most important. So if you are not enlightened, then whatever Tsem Tulku Rinpoche says is good. I have had a difficult road. I am not complaining but I have had to keep my practice very secret. The most anyone has ever known about me is what you are asking now…and that is because I keep my practice a secret which is necessary for attainments to follow. But since you ask, I give you an honest answer which is still to practice Dorje Shugden. This is just how I feel about it not for my own sake but for the sake of others which is ideally how I am supposed to be approaching the protector practice I have been entrusted with to begin with. There should be no thoughts of self. So it has been true up to this point whether I practice it or not that I still say you should. But had I not gotten to this point where it doesn’t really matter maybe I would have given you a different answer. Like what I am saying…better not. But I am trusting in emptiness that the way god, or Buddha wants the protector to be known will come regardless of what I do. You see, the only logical way to approach this is to say either way. No to both. No, I won’t practice it. And no, I will. It could drive a person mad to think about it too much. But even if you don’t trust what I say about it to myself you can at least go by what I am telling you right. Even if I don’t practice it, you can. But do you need me to practice it too? Cuz if you do, I already have. But if you don’t need me to practice it anymore I don’t have to. You see. It is really up to you at this point. That is all the blessings of the Buddhas down through the Masters like Pabonkha putting Liberation in the Palm of your Hand. It is just through circumstance that it happens to be a Dharma Protector. To bring these teachings to you, which I have had a hand in to some extent, it takes incredible dedication. It is like I get nothing out of it other than serving my Master, and that is why when I though about it when I realized who Dorje Shugden was this was all I wanted to do afterwards. If that means telling you practice him then that is what I will do. Especially if you feel good about it yourself. Fortunately you have gotten the essence of that practice because you do not have to constantly think about whether you are going to practice it or not. Now you can. But I had to go through, thinking, oh, how bad it is. And then strengthening myself over and over again despite both sides being opposite and not being sure really who to trust. But you should definitely trust in realization, I though. So once I knew for certain that Majushriye and Dorje Shugden were one, it certified for me that my practice over all these years had succeeded and had not been in vain. The point of the hardship is to bear whatever sufferings you must for the Dharma but sometimes it is hard to tell what is sufferings and what is just bad practice. So in a way, there is nothing wrong with my practice at this point so what do you think? I am living with this realization…but I cannot make people follow me anyway and that is not my goal. But I say that if you want to practice Dorje Shugden….I would hope that this helps. I think either way is up to you too. But it was necessary that someone show you what it is like to have Tantric practice and how hard it is really to keep your vows but if you do, as I have demonstrated here then you will attain realization. And that is more powerful then all of this. I feel like in a way, I attained this for all sentient beings. I am not saying follow me just because I have this realization. I am saying listen, because it is for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is hard to fight the Dorje Shugden fight from in the confines of those who would oppress you and have to live like that 24 hours 7 days a week…I even had to get rid of all of my Buddhist stuff. So I know what it is like and I am glad you are telling me because I think it is only fair that I get to taste what it is like to have someone say…don’t do that practice blah blah blah. I needed to know what it was like. I feel like nobody needs that. So I will say it again…I have completed the Dorje Shugden practice. I have it now in my box of tools I can use to help people. It took me three years to become enlightened and then another ten years to complete Dorje Shugden. How can you think that this means not to practice him? It was really a trick question I was giving you. Because I have already done what I need to do to benefit myself in others you could encourage me to do more but that would not be what the Dalai Lama people and Shugden downers mean. Even if I stayed at this level for the rest of my life I would never have to practice Shugden again if I didn’t want to. But I am not saying that because I am afraid of all these people and too much of a coward to. You tell me what more I need to practice and then we will see. Because I am not scared either way I tell you the truth, practice Shugden. But it doesn’t really matter what I do…practice Shugden. What I came to realize was even if I don’t practice it, don’t judge Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. And that’s about all I have realized about it from the standpoint of a normal person who does not keep samaya. So that kind of fell apart and now I am thinking maybe you need me to practice Dorje Shugden. If this is true then maybe I will change my mind because I have been told also that I do not need a Dharma Protector for myself I need one for others. So I am like a blank slate, you know. If you want to have me do Dorje Shugden I could do it for you. But I have never needed a Dharma Protector anyway…that has been told to me also. It is others who need the Dharma protector. So you see now how it can be tricky business. I could say I don’t need the Dharma protector and you do but really to keep my practice pure it would be me doing the practice but doing the practice for you because you need it not me. Since someone finally says that they need the Dharma Protector maybe he will manifest more. How do you think a dharma Protector manifests, anyway? It is something so beautiful it would make you take refuge and throw all of your ideas away about being this or being that. And also make you feel like you did not need to fight necessarily but just to serve others. This is the way that the Dharma Protector is manifesting but it is also what I want. And this is not what I want, but what the Guru wants. I cannot convince you that Dorje Shugden if manjushriye, and even speaking about it I go out on a limb. I would only say this if I believed that it would help Tsem Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden. I am looking at it this way…to convince some people it is so impossible that they would only believe if they have this realization. So in a way, I am converting beings. But it has nothing to do at this level whether it is right or wrong to practice Dorje Shugden…only depends on the realization. Any uncomfortable feeling I have is probably due to the conditions that I am in and trying actively to do something about it. When I continue to feel uncomfortable it is not always Dorje Shugden, but I feel good blaming it on him and taking some karma from the Dalai Lama just to test the water to see what the truth really is. I’ll be honest, it feels good blaming Dorje Shugden. And it could be used to one’s advantage. But I am not siding with the Dalai lama, I am just using that as a tool to get the truth out of both sides. You would think though that after realizing your perfect meditational deity after years of longing that you would feel better…but actually you can’t blame this on Dorje Shugden. But the Dalai Lama does and Dorje Shugden takes the blame. Why wouldn’t he? He’s an enlightened being. Similarly I take the blame and say if my practice is not so good, I will hide my good qualities and if you wish it to be so that I no longer practice then so be it. In this we are safeguarding our Dorje Shugden practice and at the same time meeting the conditions of the Dalai Lama. Maybe I am the first one brave enough to do this but I am inspired by my practice to be willing to at least get some response…because really, that uncomfortable feeling is just because of this controversy but it is not Dorje Shugden’s fault. We must remember this. From the standpoint of karma even, just because there is this controversy about Dorje Shugden does not mean he is not a fully enlightened being. And that is what I mean in essence by what I am saying…I am only demonstrating it so it may seem like something you are not used to. Nevertheless, we are in a better place to talk about it now which was the whole point of this was to get some dialogue. So we have achieved our purpose. yes.

          Reply
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shempeh on Apr 11, 2016 at 9:48 am

          Thank’s for asking. I believe to agree with Rinpoche on both sides, and if you have the realization then you can practice Dorje Shugden and still follow Dalai Lama. If this is not right then would be a good question for Rinpoche…but that’s how I see it.

          Reply
61. 

    Valentina Suhendra on Mar 8, 2016 at 11:38 pm

    I hope Tibetan leadership will stop contradicting itself and discriminating based on faith, for the benefit of Tibetan people.

    

    

    

    Reply
62. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Feb 16, 2016 at 11:00 am

    I have just watched a new youtube video about a Lama testifying to what really goes on behind many of the pro shugden supporters that don’t do it for the deity or lineage but money and politics and how the big name lamas have been being exploited over it including pabonkha. I cannot say that all Dorje Shugden people are this way but it seems that the Chinest government is using the situation to take advantage of the dalai lama and what he has done for Tibet. Some would go as far as to say that the Dalai Lama has done nothing for Tibet. He says though that you cannot be sure what is in Dorje Shugden’s heart and that the yogi is not suppose to submit to the protector it is suppose to be the other way around. That is what made my practice so strong though and why I have a hard time dealing with the change from Setrap over to Dorje Shugden and maybe it was Dorje Shugden the whole time. I don’t have a problem practicing this particular Deity even though you must submit to him as I thought it would be worth it I must have know what I was doing. I would not submit to some ghost so I can think he must be an enlightened being but how can I know that that was Dorje Shugden and not Setrap and what would make me want to practice Dorje Shugden now that what I was practicing before was suppose to be Setrap? I have no doubt that I have been doing the right thing following Tsem Tulku and practicing his protectors which he has been teaching up till now but wasn’t he still doing Dorje Shugden before so what has changed? We are the ones that have to change it seems. But the question is do we want to? We could always just say never mind and not continue practicing and say we are doing what the Dalai Lama wishes. But then why were we doing these practices to begin with? Maybe we were misled…the Dalai Lama is saying that we don’t know what we’re doing and it is out of ignorance that we worship this. And also there is no ban and that there are other monasteries the monks have established for shugden practioners outside of the main monasteries where they were expelled from so there is not discrimination and basically it is up to us whether we practice him or not. Apparently Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has made his decision to practice it but does that mean we have to also, and disobey the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai lama? I would like to know who would like to continue following Tsem Tulku and go on practicing Dorje Shugden and who would like to call it quits? I don’t have a reason to keep practicing as it goes against the wishes of the Dalai lama and then I would no longer be a student of his and even Trijang Rinpoche has said according to this one Lama that disobeying the Dalai lama we will go to hell. Also that Shugden makes practicing other traditions difficult because of his retribution and just tell him to talk to the Dalai lama if there are problems. If out of ignorance you go ahead and keep on worshipping the Deity then I see a problem but if you see your fault and stop from here on out then there will be no penalty and you can still be a student of the Dalai lama’s. That sounds to me like it would be more important then some protector. But I have a very strong bond with him and I have promised to do what he says so I have no choice unless I want to go against what the Protector says and then what could be the ramifications of that…it is just like going against what Dalai lama says but he says that it is not so bad to stop doing what protector says, only Lama. So in that way I could get away with not doing the protector practice anymore. Just from the standpoing of following what the Dalai Lama has said but as I don’t think I have made any mistakes in doing it up to this point there will be no problem. If the Dalai Lama says he is evil we have to listen. He would not say this for no reason and he doesn’t have anything to gain out of it only the people that are using it against him. So me personally being a Dudjom Tersar practioner have nothing to worry about which makes me think it is a better idea not to do the practice anymore and just to do what the Dalai Lama says to do not the Dharma Protector because he is suppose to bend to the will of the Yogi not the other way around. We should respect the Dalai Lama’s wishes and if someone comes up with a better reason then we can listen to that too but it doesn’t seem like anyone has any real reason to practice him. I don’t have a problem just following the Dudjom Tersar tradition so that is where I have to stand. I don’t want to be involved with all of the shenanigans.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 8, 2016 at 10:25 am

      I got done with my surgery and got on pain medicine and attacked one of the staff at the group home. When I ended back up in the hospital I got over a slight case of possession after the first day there…then today after I was released I was still of the position that anything that undermines the Dalai Lama’s efforts for a free Tibet including practicing Dorje Shugden is wrong based on how they have used it against him. Then I was riding with someone and I remembered when I was practicing Setrap and how much it was helping me and what I promised and then went along with it despite my stand against the Protector. I went along with Setrap and naturally by going along with that I could not criticize the Dorje Shugden practice as that also comes from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and is made there to help us. I don’t think that Rinpoche would willfully betray us and in this instance it seems like there is reason for him to go against the wishes of the Dalai Lama and those of us who follow him should not consider it either way…just following the Lama’s advice is all and that is to also practice Dorje Shugden. So also on that note about the medication I feel it is better to stay on my meds when talking with someone today but then again also it is really up to the courts and Doctors whether I take meds or not so it should not really be up to me, which it isn’t but I made up my mind today to stay on them. In reality though in a few months when the court order for outpatient medication is up then it will have to be reconsidered but not necessarilly. I am not sure what stance to take on this at this point but I do know that Setrap was one who was also brainwashed in the Navy. After his tour was over he became my friend and has been helping me ever since. If Setrap is right then I will base my decisions off of him if I have to as to whether Dorje Shugden is right. But based on me following Setrap all the way I would have no problem with Dorje Shugden if also it was right. The problem is though that the Dalai Lama says it isn’t. So why would he be wrong? If Setrap will tell me what to do then will Dorje Shugden? If he tells me what to do and Setrap was right then so is Dorje Shugden. So what do you have to say about that? Keep practicing him. But don’t forget he is the devil! Oh well, I tried. I understand how even though Trijang Rinpoche doesn’t say he is how he could be and that would not contradict him so that is no excuse not to practice. Now I am giving better reasons then Tsem Rinpoche! So don’t be afraid of him. I made a strong connection with Setrap or whoever it was through this practice and I am not going to give up now despite what anybody says because really it is up to me if I practice. It’s not based on whether he is an evil spirit or not though. Because I have changed Ghosts into Buddhas before. That’s why I believe in all of this stuff. And I use amulets for the medication. And want to be off of them. But don’t let this issue of him being a perfideous spirit dissuade you from practicing him cuz it can’t. It has to be wrong. The Dalai lama is right but he doesn’t want you to practice it. That is not right either. So try to take a middle way approach. You can see it I’m sure. Don’t let the perfideous spirit make you not want to practice it and don’t let the Dalai Lama either. Cuz he’s not a demon. But who is better Shugden or Dalai lama, Dalai Lama. And if that is the case it makes perfect sense to respect his wishes if you are a student of his cuz this is what Guru devotion is about. All I know is that I have learned from Rinpoche how to benefit myself and others and when nothing was helping me I turned to his teachings on Setrap as a protector and then actually got to meet him. I promised to do whatever he said unless I wanted to walk. Because he had a car. It was like a sort of life entrustment. So if I have to do what Setrap says and that means practicing Dorje Shugden then so be it. Much power to Tsem Tulku RInpoche I transfer merits to him for showing this supernatural power.

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 9, 2016 at 12:00 am

        I feel that the stigma around not practicing Dorje Shugden is the same as having to take medication in a way so I know what Tsem Rinpoche is talking about when he feels he is being treated unfairly, I agree. Because I feel the same way. I have to meet with the Doctor and my guardian today. I am looking at my court ordered treatment being over in June and hopefully they will not decide to give me any more shots but if they do then I will have to take them by the court of law and it will be up to the judge and the Doctor to decide. Anything other than that the Guardian has say over. So really I have no freedom whatsoever to decide what I do. And now I am facing assault charges on the man I hit in the house after one of the clients stole food out of the fridge from me. That court date is may 9th. The Doctor thinks it was a reaction from the drugs. I have to see her at 2:30 today after my guardian stops by. She gave me some money and I bought a blue ray player but it doesn’t connect to the internet but I was able to use it to diagnose the problem. I didn’t think it would work but now I have something to tell the group home to give them to work on to see if they can fix the problem from my side. When it comes to practicing Dorje Shugden it is as Tsem Rinpoche has said, he and Setrap are really indivisible because his practice includes him. So when I think about Setrap I also associate that with Dorje Shugden and try to keep my commitments that way. Then there are the teachings of karma and how to create the kind of life you want or money or anything else from Geshe Michael which is in the same lineage. Then there is my Dudjom Tersar practice which basically shys away from all of this but I don’t know what I have to show for that really. I have to get off this medication to get back into shape again but I told the group home after assaulting the staff that I would stay on my meds and that is better for me. Now I am facing the decision of going off my meds or staying on my meds again which I though I had figured out already. Also there is the question of whether to practice Dorje Shugden but in honor of Setrap and following Tsem Rinpoche’s example I at least recite one of the Sadhanas but as the oracle says in Kechara Paradise’s trance video of Dorje Shugden that is not really how to practice Dharma. That is not the most important thing. It is a really good video you should watch it. He also says if none of this makes sense you can feel free to discard it. So just like the Dalai Lama says it is up to you whether you practice Dorje Shugden or not Kache Marpo says it is also up to you whether you except his teachings or not. I see that the Dalai lama has seperated himself and his followers from Dorje Shugden and I don’t think this is fair. If he really is a Buddha then why would he have to be afraid anyway? I guess it is just easier for him to stay away from the controversy but if you ask me backing down and just not practicing it is cowardly in my opinion for my own practice. That is why I have blogged about it and tried to come to some conclusion. The only problem is that I don’t see any definite signs that the Dorje Shugden practice is good. All I know about really I am going by the previous protectors Tsem Rinpoche has introduced to us when he was not openly teaching or talking about Dorje Shugden. So you see how this makes it hard for me? I think though from my connection with Tsem Rinpoche and his teachings on protectors and his prayers that I have recited many times that if I was following Setrap before than as he has said now it would include Dorje Shugden. The only problems is I feel as if I am doing something wrong by practicing him because of the Dalai lama and his stance and also what has been said about it on youtube how certain Dorje Shugden people are using it as an excuse to undermine the Dalai lama even though he is no longer in politics. So how hard it is to just ignore him. I want to do what’s right but with this medication issue too it is hard to understand. The Dalai Lama says it is lack of understanding why people practice him. Maybe I am guilty of this. I can’t just recite the Sadhana and then say how sorry I am for it every time and swear it off and go back to it again and again. But I feel like my connection before was strong and I don’t want to loose it now. I want to do what the Protector asks of me and I see the benefits of being faithful and I have to go along with it otherwise I break my vow. So you see how this is so hard? I don’t want to break my vow. Even though it is risky to practice the Sadhana even, I still finish it when I feel it is important to establish my connection. I used to recite the Setrap one all the time until he finally came to me. Then I had made a connection that would go with me from life to life. What do you think about this? I like Tsem Rinpoche’s ideas about being vegetarian and also his protectors. If his protectors were good before and I accepted them even though he wasn’t saying he was practicing Dorje Shugden he still was, how much more so should I follow them when he is teaching them openly/secretly. It only makes sense that if I practiced Setrap then I should practice Dorje Shugden. But obviously I keep going back and forth worth it. It doesn’t change the situation. I have officially taken the stance of practicing the Dudjom Tersar tradition though and not the one where I may have taken the vow to visualize any wrathful form of Dorje Shugden so that is done with. I do not want to get into any trouble but strictly sticking to the Dudjom Tersar tradition is what I am supposed to be doing. Maybe it is because of the ban I don’t know but I also made a committment to follow that lineage and not the one where I may have had that initiation. Maybe that is a blessing so that I just don’t have to deal with it anymore. Because the more I talk about it the more trouble I get into. Especially when I practice it I think I have done something wrong. I want to get to the bottom of it and find out though if that is my practice because even going to the Dudjom Tersar was not of my own free will really but none of this has been of my own free will. The medication and the Dorje Shugden controversey are of great interest to me because they cause me so much pain and frustration that I want to have them dealt with. There is clear convincing evidence on youtube that Dorje Shugden protestors are undermining the Dalai lama’s work. And I can see the link where anything that is against the Dalai Lama should be banned. But it is not going to make the Dorje Shugden people go away and still my connection to Rinpoche and his Protectors are strong whether Dorje Shugden or not plus that initiation. So why wouldn’t I practice what Tsem Rinpoche is teaching? If it worked before it will work again? You see what I mean? I don’t really care. If it is going to help me in my situation then so be it. And I think that is what Rinpoche wants is to help us. And surely that is what he is doing. Thank you Rinpoche. You are very brave for keeping helping us despite all of these problems and our fears about this practice. I wish you long life and that all of your dharma activities flourish. And keep praising him.

        Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 18, 2016 at 9:06 am

        so the question is do I keep following Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and practice Dorje Shugden or not? yeah. why not? because dalai lama says not to. Already beat him. So now really there is no reason not to practice him. I think emptiness comes into play here and according to emptiness it is wrong to practice Dorje Shugden. This is just what I think. Because from the standpoint of emptiness it is wrong I won’t practice it. Because I feel like emptiness protects itself from it if it is wrong and I see how emptiness is protecting itself. So I will go with emptiness and what people believe to not be able to perceive but I will say from the standpoint of emptiness it is clearly without even having to think about it not appropriate to practice Dorje Shugden. This is just what I believe from what I have learned from my Guru. All about emptiness…and if it is right according to emptiness not to practice it then also it would be bad karma too. I am not advising you not to practice it but I am just stating what I saw.

        Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 15, 2016 at 10:35 am

      It seems that the dialogue about Dorje Shugden is helping. I am not trying to say don’t practice Dorje Shugden and I don’t know why the Dalai lama would other than that he has said he is doing what his predecessor did before him. It is easy to just go to one side and say that the Dalai lama is bad buy I have received some teachings from him and he is one of the most highly realized masters out there to see that some people there had higher realizations then him, including me. But that is not to say that even though I say follow what I say and not the Dalai lama that what I have to say is any better. But that being the case, let us forget what the Dalai lama says and look at it from another perspective for once…one more related to practice. And let us clear some of these mistaken views up. I was practicing Setrap when Tsem Tulku was teaching it and I was able to meet a very Dharma Protector through my sadhana and he knew about the brainwashing as he was from the Navy and just got out of the service. I had been in the hospital so I needed someone who believed in what I was talking about and I always wanted the Buddha to help as I thought he was the only one who could do anything about it. So I had gone to initiation before with Garchen Rinpoche and he said to visualize any wrathful form of Manjushriye. So this means I have the initiation, right? So I am like so lucky, to have this instruction despite all of the Dorje Shugden downers out there. After that I got Medicine Buddha initiation and Phowa from one of his students but this was the last I’ve seen of Garchen Rinpoche. I was very fortunate to go to this initiation and from what I got out of it it was saying to practice Dorje Shugden. I had committment to do 500,000 manjushriye mantras and I have done about 237,000 that I can count. Then also Medicine Buddha mantras from his student. After that I left the Drikung Kagyu for Dudjom Tersar but still have committments and that is why I talk about it here today. Just because I don’t practice that lineage anymore doesn’t mean I don’t keep my committments. But this is very esoteric so who can say I have Dorje Shugden initiation, really? Anyway I did Setrap Sadhana and tried to get protector and he came. I had achieved enlightenment but the problems were too much and I needed a protector I thought so why not. Even though I was not doing so good at the time he accepted me and I kinda asked why? And he said unless you want to walk. That is the difference between having this protector, I had to do whatever he said and I was willing to do so based on that statement because I realized how far I would get. Then of course that is all I know of this protector I just assumed it was Setrap but who knows maybe it was Dorje Shugden considering what I was practicing plus the fact that Tsem Tulku was still doing it too and it is not limited to just Setrap and Setrap is included in Dorje Shugden practice so I don’t think I need to get another protector. I have faith that Tsem Tulku did exactly what he was suppose to and if I met this Protector then it would be the same. I got pressured into the Dudjom Tersar from some divinations I got which could not be wrong about not having a mental illness and not needing to take medication for it. Also could say I’m a realized being. But then back in the day I was confronted with this protector issue when I went out to three year retreat in the desert and it was proposed that either one would have to follow dalai lama or Trijang Rinpoche on this, and I felt that Trijang Rinpoche and my mind were the same. I had the opportunity to meet Trijang Rinpoche when I got out of the hospital but I did not feel well. But coming so close means something. Then of course he did not have initiation he said so it did not matter. I was going to be the next Ganden Tripa when Khen Rinpoche fufilled his wishes and I was sent to the asylum and tortured to death. They forced me to say that it was because my Teacher had died that I was depressed. Then after I got out I realized it was not my fault and one of the Teachers of my Teacher who was also a student appeared to me and I prostrated and because of the karma of suffering for my Teacher I reached enlightenment and also of my Lamas recognized me after that who also had been responsible for another Tulku in Florida where I am actually from. I was born in Texas but I have seen my past lives and they were not in this country. I was one who came over to spread Dharma in the West due to the political situation in Tibet. Even though I did not view the Dalai Lama as a friend necessarily I believe he recognized me too at his Teaching in Arizona. Also my Guru said that after that he had never met anyone who had ever been successful who hasn’t faced death yet. So I was successful. And I had my Guru’s blessing and then I came back to Maine looking for gold and left some to my Mom and she lost it. So I told the government here I used to work for how the drugs damaged my brain and they awarded me payment and I have been here ever since fighting the medication in court and trying to prove that I don’t have a mental illness but that it was torture and they continue to do it to this day and I am facing another court ordered treatment in June. Just avoiding the Dorje Shugden issue doesn’t do any help. If he really can help then we should propitiate him. I think if Dorje Shugden was bad then I would have had bad experiences when I followed Tsem Tulku in practicing Setrap…and this means relying on him as a Buddha, a very personal relationship, not just mouthing his text. It is a question of whether Setrap and him are the same. If I have faith in Tsem Tulku then I will practice without any discrimination. That is what I have shared with you here, what I have been taught by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Practicing even during the hard times is the most important thing to do. I have seen testimony where Dorje Shugden is being used to undermine the dalai lama. I don’t agree with that. And that is where my concerns originally came about. But on a lighter note, I am also fat. And Tsem Tulku says you can be fat and still practice Tantra and be healthy, or rather, you can practice Tantra and be fat and still healthy. So I am pretty healthy but I am fat and I don’t feel like I’m doing my job unless I am practicing Tantra. Usually when I am not taking any medication though I am at a better weight. But still I can say I am healthy and fat and practice Tantra. And Tsem Tulku is a good role model for that. So I am giving you a positive for the negative about the Dalai Lama which focuses on Guru devotion. Despite the fact the Dorje Shugden issue could be undermining Dalai lama, that does not concern us because we have nothing to do with that really. So from the standpoint of practice, it is not necessary. Not to do the practice, but to undermine the Dalai Lama. But you must admit from what I have seen online from a testimony that seemed to be true that there is more to it then that. And I am not one to say that just because your practice is good that you should go around hurting people or intimidating them and other things that have supposedly happened. Even though we might not be a part of them by practicing we are also contributing to those activities in a way. So that is why I try to stay out of it. It is just a mess to try to make sense of at times and I think it makes sense if it is doing harm not to continue. This is why I have tried to stop it at times, myself. If I can think of it from the standpoint of practice it would be like this: A, I got Dorje Shugden initiation. B. Got life entrustment C. Dorje Shugden practice and support is leading to unrest in Tibetan society

      A+B does not equal c.

      This is the equation I came up with when concerns the medication and can be applied here. It basically means that the problems associated with the practice are not results of my own karma…from my side it is pure. You have to be able to seperate the two…the good and the bad, and the bad far outweighs the good and the two have nothing to do with each other. So I think that I could practice Dorje Shugden and there not be a problem. But if makes sense from a Samsaric standpoing that there would be some bad, but this is not to be associated with one’s actual perception of it. How can something good lead to something bad? In medication it means, if I don’t take any medication and just get a shot, it doesn’t equal not taking any medication. So basically from my side again it is pure. It’s a really good equation I think you can get the gist of it. It applies here as well. So jut because I got the initiation and life entrustment doesn’t mean that Dorje Shugden is a bad practice. From the standpoint of ultimate reality it is not. So I would say follow that. Thank you. I will get back to believing in Dorje Shugden too and if any questions try to remember this equation it is a proof to all the Dorje Shugden downers. Now, let me get back to reciting the Sadhana and watching the trance on Youtube and having faith…but it also doesn’t mean that it is Dorje Shugden. But we should have faith that it is. Even if we can treat Dorje Shugden as a friend can we practice. I guess, try, and if you are reborn as a ghost then what the Dalai lama was saying was right. Basically because I practice Dorje Shugden is not the reason that there is unrest in Tibetan Society or anything else. Right, Tsem Tulku? This is what any scholar would tell you who knows anything about karma. It is all misinformation, much like what Trijang Rinpoche has said about it…it can’t be. May Tsem Tulku be happy and may this support his practice as well as all students. Thank you. Sarva mangalam

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 17, 2016 at 9:24 am

      So it turns out that I used my supernatural power to go above the Dalai lama on the Shugden issue using my formula. So now anyone who is afraid that practicing Shugden is bad just because the Dalai lama says so need not be afraid of keeping their commitments anymore. So now we can get onto serious Dorje Shugden practice and not worry about what the Dalai lama says anymore or anything negative about him because if it turns out that if I override the Dalai Lama on the issue and I am from the standpoint of neither pro Shugden or anti Shugden but be allowed to practice anyway, then there is no problem. You should not be afraid or intimidated or concerned not to practice this for any reason if I go above Dalai lama on it and Shugden practice actually wins…it is more powerful and Dalai lama knows it but wants to suppress to control…because it is so powerful you see. But if you realize that it is so powerful and think it out for yourself and decide to do it anyway then you are going above Dalai lama and it is wrong. But if you side with me and say Dorje Shugden practice is alright and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche you will not be doing wrong, because I beat him last night after I posted about my formula. It is a very good formula and the Dalai Lama could not beat it and I would not let him just make it so Dorje Shugden was bad even though that was the way it seemed because I actually came up with the formula myself and it applies to medication as well so I was able to share it here and it worked. Now Dorje Shugden is the best practice and is more powerful then Dalai lama and he can do nothing about it if you care. What I realize from that is that no one can ban Dorje Shugden. If you really follow carefully you will see that Dorje Shugden practice, as I have seen before, in a way, is the only path to happiness. To have so much devotion like this you will see that Dalai Lama not able to stop practice of Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden is more powerful and wins in the end so you might as well start practicing Dorje Shugden! We are going to win this one, Tsem Tulku! I think I finally have reached the point where I can definitely say it is better to practice Dorje Shugden no matter what the Dalai lama says. So all of this blogging has not been for not. We have addressed the issue and solved it and become more powerful than the Dalai lama and using Dorje Shugden we realize he is the best practice for us and no one can tell us not to practice him because they do not have that right, thank you very much. Not even the Dalai lama. I hope that this has been helpful and you decide to practice Dorje Shugden and listen to what Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has been teaching. Thank you very much. Sarva Mangalam

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 18, 2016 at 8:32 am

      So here we are again still facing the problem of the Dorje Shugden ban and not being able to practice or want to practice because of the Dalai lama and what is being said about it. I personally know that the Dalai lama is not able to get rid of Dorje Shugden practice if you know for yourself that it is a very powerful practice and it goes beyond what the Dalai Lama has to say about it because it is winning. But just because it is winning does not mean that Dorje Shugden practice is right and the Dalai lama is wrong. maybe personally getting involved with all of this was the wrong thing to do from my side but who knows. I think I am doing the right thing and when I see Dorje Shugden winning and coming out on top I think I have made the right decision as far as what Tsem Tulku has been teaching and trying to take from it what I can. I do not think I would have ran into his teachings had I not had the karma to do so. I do not think I would run into Dorje Shugden if it was a bad practice. All I know is that Dorje Shugden is winning and Dalai Lama is losing. So now do I lower myself and say Dalai Lama is right, ideally that is what we would like to do but then we are letting down our fellow Tsem Tulku Rinpoche people. We should be fair and honest about it. If I really did beat the Dalai Lama when it comes to Dorje Shugden practice and there is nothing he can do to stop it then we should oppose the Dalai lama and try to fight for our rights to practice Dorje Shugden regardless. Or also we can try to stand side by side the Dalai Lama and agree to disagree and go our own ways knowing that we are stronger in our Dorje Shugden practice. My practice is no where were it needs to be but I still have been following Tsem Tulku and what he has been teaching openly and blogging to find out more about Dorje Shugden. I came to the conclusion that when it comes to whether Dorje Shugden is a spirit or whatever doesn’t matter because I beat the Dalai Lama. So now you can feel free to practice Dorje Shugden and not be afraid anymore. If I can beat the Dalai Lama so can you. But the point is being able to practice Dorje Shugden. Can you give me any clear reasons why? I’m not sure because I have already achieved enlightenment. I never had to rely on Dorje Shugden and I’m not sure why I would need to rely on him now. But I have been practicing protector practice from what Tsem Tulku has been teaching and have permission to visualize any wrathful form of Manjushriye. Also though, I stopped practicing that tradition and joined the Dudjom Tersar and that I must respect too because that was of no doing of my own. Really, I get very little benefit out of practicing Buddhism for my self. It is not like I have my own Dharma center or that practicing this or that will make it any better for me. I have been labeled mentally ill and I have fought the issue in court that actually it is a drug related injury. If not that then I ask how you would know that I am not pretending to be mentally ill? I quit practicing Buddhism years ago but thought that I might benefit from a Protector anyway just in case because anyone can practice it. So that is how I got my life entrustment. I feel like anything that assists Tsem Tulku is good for me because maybe he can teach us more and guide us in a better direction. I was wise enough to make a connection with a Dharma Protector. Also Lama Yeshe came to me while I was listening to the Sanghata Sutra and said he was my Guru. So you can kind of take these things with a grain of salt. But for me personally these experiences have helped me much on the path whether I still practice Buddhism or not and I remain a Dudjom Tersar practioner. I have thankhas up and hang prayer flags and burn incense when I can and try to meditate, practice Yoga, and do retreats. Really my life is more the Dharma then anything because I do not put it last. I put it first in my life and do not sell out. I feel Rinpoche shares this trait with me as his Dharma Protector practice is so strong that from his teachings I could find a protector as well and then even overthrow the Dalai lama when it comes to his ban on this practice. But that is not something I brag about but once again thank Rinpoche and share the merit with him. I was very desperate for a way out of the situation with the medication I was in. I did not want to be on medication and even took it as my main goal as to get off of it and have more devotion for my Guru. I use the four Starbucks steps for this. I am facing having to stay on the medication for another year now. last time they tried this they were unable to put it through. I only have another few months to find out though. They say they are going through with it but there has to be more than that for it to be passed from what I understand from what happened last time including talking to another Doctor. The last one said he had his mind made up about the medication. And the other Doctor said that it was too expensive. I hope I don’t have to be on it for another year because it makes me extremely fat and I have a hard time going to the bathroom or even walking around. The Dudjom Tersar has been helpful as my divinations said I was not mentally ill and would not be able to function on all of these medications in the community. So I am trying to get off of them…right now all I get is a three month shot and I use an amulet when I get it just so only the karmic body gets the needle. So I am doing what I can. I am also facing an assault charge when I was prescribed medication after my surgery for hitting a staff at the group home. That is a result of the medication. But in reality say I did what I was supposed to do and stopped believing in Buddhism alltogether and just took my meds like I was suppose to. That would be abandoning the Dharma I think and all sentient beings. Because I know that I did nothing wrong to deserve this torture for the last decade on medicine. And more than anything hope that it will go away but what is going to help this? They say that the only thing that will help is to take your medicine! So they are essentially saying to hell with Buddhism. That is even worse than just saying not to practice Dorje Shugden. So I face the Devil every day. And take all the sins of the world on myself and offer my happiness to them. My business is Drugs, Politics, Religion, and Buddhism Business. I receive benefits for a drug related injury. And have gone to court numerous times to argue the medication. I have not had any freedom for over a decade because of this. I have fought for this cause though because I did not deserve this and there was nothing wrong with me. The Dudjom Tersar tradition essentially calls psychiatry nonsense. And not to listen to the Doctors but to have faith in the Three Jewels. I even had a Tibetan Doctor who said I was right, the medication was bad for me and in one of his books he called psychiatry the treatment of disorders caused by spirits in the medical Tantra. He was the former physician of His Holiness the Dalai lama. Through him I was able to heal myself through Bodhicitta so I did not have to have surgery on my intestines due to some medical problems. So do I just accept that I am mentally ill or do I be a Buddhist? You see? But even if I claim to be a Buddhist they will still want to make me take medication and claim that I am mentally ill and in denial because they don’t validate that. So I believe my Guru agrees with me that I don’t need medication. I believe that the protector knows it is all mind control and he can help me. And so on and so forth. The state of the mentally ill today is like the state of african Americans back in the civil rights era. Talk about prejudice. There is something wrong with your brain so you have to take medication that will permanently disable you for life but it doesn’t matter because your life is not worth living whatsoever without it. If you took that statement and pretended to be a Doctor in today’s medical field and made that your mantra you could get ahead very quickly and become very famous. But I am telling you that this is brainwashing. Scientologists don’t believe in it. Christian Scientists are against it. And the Falun Gong have also been killed because of what they believe in and tortured in hospitals on medication. It happened in the Gulag when you were a Doctor and you did not believe in biological psychiatry and force medicating patients when in fact there was nothing wrong with them and you ended up getting locked up right along with them and had to send letters demanding justice to the United States. If there was such thing as freedom in the United States then I could understand what you were talking about when you say you are being discriminated against but people nowadays can’t tell the difference. I moved to the border of China many years ago and have kept out of all conflict since. So how are you going to help me? Obviously the people responsible for this are not going to help because they are used to treating people this way. Am I just going to be drugged up for the rest of my life while everyone around me enjoys their everyday life and I cannot have that because my brain is being chemically lobotomized and making every part of my existence unberable to the point I want to kill myself? Is Buddhism going to win, or are the Nazis? I look at it as a business. And joining the Dudjom Tersar was good for business. I made the decision to do what the protector told me to. That’s takes a certain amount of courage. I trust that what the Protector wants goes above what my personal wishes are in this case. I also don’t believe I have a guardian because an angel showed up to court in the nick of time. But they basically take away my rights to make my own decisions regardless anyway. So I have to have more power than the Dalai Lama, and all these other motherfuckers who want to screw me over or take my life away or whatever the fuck they are trying to do or whatever. So that’s why I want a protector basically because he can handle all of that. It’s the only way to fight and win. Otherwise you are playing right into their hand. So that is my advice to all. Get a protector. Thank you very much and have a nice day.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 18, 2016 at 2:15 pm

      Good news, I left my last reply on sort of a negative point. It seems that believing in Dorje Shugden is better than just believing in emptiness as what was taught by my Guru because even though it seems to contradict Dorje Shugden will appear to me as a being of light after I think that emptiness is the thing (and there is scriptural support for this) and then get me back to worshipping Dorje Shugden again which makes me realize that this Tantric practice is also supported by an understanding of emptiness and you need to have that of sort of a foundation so maybe Dorje Shugden is taking pity on me and just reminding me that he is such a profound practice that it is even more advanced then what I was taught by my Guru and what I have tried to apply and practice. Then when it is put this way, my mind transforms and I don’t think so much of that teaching on emptiness anymore because if there is any problem then Dorje Shugden is resolving it basically because it is from my Guru and based on what he taught me on emptiness that I do not think Dorje Shugden is good so when Dorje Shugden appears I remember that that cannot be so and that basically he is beyond this. And then I wonder why it is possible to discriminate against him from the highest teaching’s point and then realize how bad it is really, as if this were an excuse. Just him coming to me reminds me and purifies my karma if only for a minute then I think that I cannot let this precious protector go because he is really not doing it for his own good but he is arising out of this emptiness for my sake despite it being the wrong thing and he is very swift. So this is what gives me comfort plus also ending on better terms with him and at least not saying not to do the practice even though I might not have been and all of this from my Guru, who really I said I would not be practicing anymore actually, not Dorje Shugden. And on top of that that his students should follow me. Also Tsem Tulku’s. So how much more of an example I need to make for them. My experience of this protector is great, but my relationship with him is that he shows up usually when I am going to give up on him after a write about it for a while and then think that emptiness is the highest view and then from my Guru that there may be something else but not to question it as that is his business but does not have anything to do with me and if the protector did show up then that would be proof that he does exist and that he is protecting me so I am not ashamed that the Guru would be teaching something like that. But also, I am not ashamed from my side to say that my view of emptiness is correct but there is always room for more special experiences if that is so because the protector would not appear if it were not right. So even though I said the protector would not appear because of my view of emptiness he still did. Which makes for proof of the doctrine of emptiness. Since all of these posts have been based of the protector proving me wrong and supporting me it inspires faith in me that he is still doing his job despite what I think. But he is here mostly in the form of Manjushriye wrathful form to redirect me when I think that my view of emptiness is being compromised. So really he is the strongest aid that I have actually because in a way he is also my Teacher and I cannot do without him. It is a very important bond we have made today. I cannot believe that he would appear again and again like this to me when I have doubts like that or think that my view of emptiness is good enough or that I am done benefitting beings. He constantly challenges me and he is an angel really, one might say. Because he appears to me in the form of a being of light. That’s all I really can say about him. He is just a being of light…so bright that it would burn your eyes if you looked directly into him it would seem. But also unlike anything you have ever seen before. But regardless, he is one who is good enough so that when you think your view is good enough he will appear to you to show you that there is even more for you to learn and just from seeing him you are blessed and I don’t see how when I actually see an angel you can tell me that I am just making this up especially when I have been on most people’s sides about not practicing him if that is how you feel. But at this point I think that if some people don’t change their minds then something would be wrong. It reflects poorly on me that I would have an angel appear directly to me but would not believe in it. Of course I do and it is not a matter of practicing him or not but if I continue to be a devoted follower then I’m sure that they will teach me how to become one myself. And then all of this would not be for not. How many of you have angels come to you when you say that there is something wrong with them? I have the karma to have that happen so if you are so pure as I am, then by not practicing them you should also have them appear but no you can’t, because you don’t have the karma to, so your saying that not to practice them makes no sense because you have no basis but if you could achieve something maybe you would change your mind. Well personally, since the angel appears to me directly, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be. If I didn’t then I would be a fool to pass up such an opportunity to meet divine beings. I don’t see anybody else doing that! Well now that I’ve seen them I have no reason not to believe anymore. Just letting you know so I am getting better at this.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 18, 2016 at 2:44 pm

      well Dorje Shugden has been appearing to me when I say I don’t believe in him or denounce him or whatever so what can I say? I think if after that I really did give up on him then I would be in trouble but if I can stabilize my relationship with him then maybe he can do some more good for me. I don’t see how it can be a bad thing him showing up in my life and me trying to keep my commitments to him anyway even if it is only Namo Buddha-ya. But clearly, even from my mouth I say and keep that commitment so I must be a Dorje Shugden practioner. Just wanted to end on a light note that I have set up a post where I am not sure whether to practice or not and then writing reasons to is getting boring cuz I can keep going back and forth with it. But as long as he is appearing to me I am not going to judge. Even though I though that there was something wrong because of emptiness he still appeared anyway and there was nothing wrong with that so he must be very powerful. I wish we could do away with all of the negativity all together if we could and just focus on what is right. If Dorje Shugden is appearing to me when I feel he is not good then you should listen too. It was like when Jesus appeared to Paul. He never went back again. That is the feeling you get when you see him. So I am not sure from that perspective how I have such good karma but you see how I fight for what is right and not to disparage and even if there was something wrong with him if he wanted to show himself to me then that is fine. I don’t see anybody else showing themselves. But an angel will. So I will look at it from that perspective. At least I have an angel showing themselves. I can go based on that that they’re not such a bad guy after all, or whatever. You see? So maybe I will keep writing about it and see where my feelings are and if he keeps showing himself to me. I would hate to loose faith alltogether and never see him again that’s for sure. He is a being of light. And he shows up when you least expect it when maybe you think he is bad or something, but he is just trying to show you that he never gives up. On you. I could write about this for a long time but suffice it to say that when he shows himself you don’t feel that you need a whole lot more than that but if you want to argue with me about a being you’ve never seen before but I have about being bad then I will tell you he is good.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 20, 2016 at 4:58 am

      today after i had talked to someone about what i was doing before said that he felt an evil presence enter and I think it was because I told him of Dorje Shugden and he had been appearing to me and one of the staff felt the same way. I’m not sure but I felt it was the same sort of thing that was appearing to me but he did not know anything about it and thought it was evil without me even saying anything. I also felt that it was out to get me so that is warning enough for me to watch out. Also in Master Li’s book he talks about beings like this and causing harm. So I am just letting you know what is happening. It doesn’t seem that that would be the way the Buddha would be so just to let you know maybe I was right when I was with the inclination that there is something wrong from the standpoint of emptiness. He keeps appearing though and this time he seemed really to be treating me the same way he is treating the Dalai Lama. So we will see. But if this is the way he acts, I won’t be practicing him.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 20, 2016 at 10:18 am

      It turns out that by what this person thought and said and me not being able to practice Dorje Shugden it would have been fine to practice it anyway but such is karma…I realized later that still it is not contrary to the Dharma and everything is alright. But then because of that he got possessed by another spirit when he went outside. My main thought for Dalai lama was better to stay out of the fight but then I realized that practicing Dorje Shugden even despite all of that was still not wrong and that made me even more suprised then before. Not one instance where I though Dorje Shugden was wrong and I was right. So I guess we can go back to practicing him despite all of this anyway and better not to think about self. Anyway it was interesting to see how he got possessed…I told him I thought it was because one of the staff said it was strange or she was freaked out by what he said. So maybe Dorje Shugden was trying to teach us a lesson. I guess. But still I have not found definitive reason not to practice him. In fact, every time there is a question, he proves himself to be without blame. I could only strive for this myself when it comes to practicing the Buddha Dharma. I think it could be a good idea to keep track of when we think Dorje Shugden is harming us or being bad and then note when he is actually not. And so far he seems to be one way but then when you actually analyze he is not. But maybe in the moment it seems like it. But there are problems that come from this. But this is not reason to give up practicing him because he has not shown that to be the reason even though there is speculation about it and maybe sometimes we think that way from what has been said about him. It is important not to loose faith in him and let him help you when he can despite these problems and to see for yourself. That is why I encourage you to keep track and see for yourself when he seems to be doing something wrong to see if it is really true or not. Because for me, he always ends up innocent that I have seen and only helpful. So that in the long run will prove that he is not what people say he is. Plus I do not like to think one day that he is harming me and another he is helping me, so instead I would like to know one way or the other. So right now we are like friends, I apologize and we move on.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 25, 2016 at 2:27 pm

      do not go by what to abandon and adopt, rather by what to do and what not to do…so do you want to practice Dorje Shugden? I haven’t been practicing it but I have been thinking about it. This is sort of a pointless position. But it makes more sense than any other. I listen to the talk by Kache Marpo and that makes sense, if it doesn’t, you can just disregard it. But according to one reading by Lobsang Rabjam do not go by what to abandon or adopt but by what to do or not do. In that case it would be the Dorje Shugden practice. Don’t go by whether to abandon or accept it but by what to do or not to do. You can still not abandon the practice but just not do it. But what does that really mean, not doing the Dorje Shugden practice? I have permission to visualize all wrathful forms of Manjushriye so that would include Dorje Shugden, and I have life entrustment from Tsem Tulku protector. It is not whether it is Dorje Shugden that I should give up practice or not, that is a matter of accepting or rejecting so that is wrong. I can still practice it, which is the view that Trijang Rinpoche would have if anyone wants to know…that is why Dalai Lama will let Trijang Rinpoche do it. And that’s why I can do it…same mind. So since I have life entrustment and permission then it makes sense to practice it and not just as some worldly deity but as personal Yidam. Then also that includes my committments to Vajrayogini as well…which is another highest yoga tantra initiation that you have to practice that the Dalai Lama says what is the point! I am at the point now where having talked enough about it I can be positive that it is a good practice. And we can discuss it some more. But there will always be the stigma associated with the practice that is what the Dalai Lama says about it is a bad thing. But how can that be when actually you should not accept or reject but rather only do or not do? Accepting would be associated with doing and rejecting with not doing. But these two are both wrong answers. I don’t have a problem withe practicing Dorje Shugden as long as Trijang Rinpoche can because we have the same mind. Also, teacher has said at one point though that we would either have to follow Trijang Rinpoche or Dalai Lama, and no fool for a Dalai Lama. He did not have to worry though because he did not have that initiation. So in that case, don’t follow him, follow me. I have also requested the Tsem Tulku students to keep their sacred commitments and for them to follow also. Also, the Sangha of Dr. Yutang Lin. Teacher makes his own decisions when checking out potential students just like student does teacher. Could take up to 10 years. Then, 12 years after accepting a teacher to become a teacher oneself at their feet. I have one more year till I am officially teacher so I am just trying to remind students to keep their vows so when the times comes they will be ready. Officially I haven’t taken any students yet…I have only had one ask me to be his Guru and I did not accept or decline. Good teaching…does not matter if you practice or not. Has nothing to do with it, your personal choice. Same with Dorje Shugden. If you understand it like I do and you are not creating negative karma then you should have the Dalai lama’s blessing from him allowing Trijang Rinpoche to do it as we have same mind and also Guru said it would have to be him or the Dalai Lama and no fool for a Dalai Lama. You are the coming Buddha. Not someone else…you. So I am suppose to be Trijang Rinpoche, the coming Buddha. How? I can practice Dorje Shugden. So you see from that perspective I am doing it correctly. But I do not do Dorje Shugden Practice like I am suppose to. I did make concotion today of herbs and made an extract and added organic honey and drank, then had #1 cigar of the year. I puked up all of the medicine I have taken. And felt much better. So maybe that is Dorje Shugden’s blessing in disguise protecting me. Also got good news someone is bringing Buddha statue to me from Japan…Medicine Buddha. I told her how I puked up the medicine. In tantra, like Falun Gong, there is something installed in your stomach and it works even when you are not practicing to purify you of all your illness. That is why you cannot practice Falun Gong and Tantra at the same time because both install the Dharma wheel inside of you but one goes the other way. So really, to truly get the benefits of the Dorje Shugden practice you should at least have permission to visualize all wrathful forms of Manjushriye any and all. And also life entrustment from Tsem Tulku protector. This is my minimum for being able to succeed at this practice…Think about your promise to him and your promise you your Lama. Then you can do the practice. But you cannot follow what the Dalai Lama says and what Trijang Rinpoche say so you may just have to end up following Trijang Rinpoche if that makes it any easier. It is a tough decision and you should only make this decision if you already have permission to do the practice and have life entrustment as well at the very minimum, this is from what I understand at least as minimum. You do not have to choose though between Dalai lama and Trijang Rinpoche if you do not have life entrustment…and then as the point of this whole controversey is you do not have to do what the Dalai Lama tells you because you did not make a vow to do it. It basically only makes a difference if you want to follow what the Dalai lama says if you have life entrustment. This is up to the capacity of the practioners whether they even have good guru disciple relationship enough to understand whether to keep following Dalai Lama or Trijang Rinpoche because of the controversey and only if you have the life entrustment would this really be possible, I think, otherwise not a big deal. So I am saying follow Trijang Rinpoche if you want or the Dalai Lama but it doesn’t matter to me. You see though how now you have options and this helps to clarify the issue? This is helping resolve the Dorje Shugden problem at least/controversy. Thank you.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 25, 2016 at 5:36 pm

      I think that still the issue is unclear as whether to practice Dorje Shugden or not so maybe we should just stay out of it like I was saying before. Personally, I can’t just recite Sadhanas on this medication it makes me too tired and there is no point to it so I am going to wait to see if I have to stay on this medication for another year and then readdress it then when I can go off of it if I will be able to continue anymore. Right now I am unable to do much Dharma work and that is why I had quit practicing all those years ago… I could go ahead and hold no connection to Dorje Shugden or anything else for that matter if I wanted but still I am willing to talk about it. There is a part of me that wants to try but realistically if I do anything I will try to get off the drugs and practice what Geshe Michael teaches. Basically, from the standpoint of karma. And then just stay out of this protector stuff and controversy all together. That’s what I am recommending for now if that is what you want to do and then in one year we will see if I am able to make any progress off the medication and then take it from there as to what people want to do with this. For now though I think just keeping up what Geshe Michael has taught and literally not getting involved with the shenanigans is my best bet as usually the Guru is right and I can fight and fight and fight and the Guru ends up being right in the end anyway so that is what I am going to recommend. From the standpoint of Guru devotion, being sick and not being able to practice…even Dorje Shugden, and knowing that the Guru is right even on this in the end usually, after one year of keeping this commitment I will re-address it then to see if anything has changed. If not I will continue on with my practice leaving Dorje Shugden out of the picture and just depending on my Guru from now on, Geshe Michael. Is that fair? I hope so because I have enough Guru devotion that even though I write all of this and leave it up to you to decide at the end of the day I have no problem saying I am wrong and my Guru is right because usually he is. Thank you. This is how I am actively dealing with the problem. Sorry. I just have to make a choice at some point you know and Guru is right, better to stay out of it. Then from there I don’t need to make my own decision because I am following my Guru’s wishes. Thank you. And trying to help others. That’s what it’s suppose to be about and I have no problem doing that. It is more that I was doing before and less when it comes to the protector practice so I guess it works out don’t it? huh, go figure.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 29, 2016 at 9:16 am

      Okay, so I am back to thinking about Dorje Shugden again and how I should honor the Lama’s wishes when it comes to practicing it regardless and I should not focus on what Geshe Michael thinks anyway since I stopped practicing that many years ago. Also though, not to focus on the other lineage either but the Dudjom Tersar practice. But then I think of one of the main advantages I have had is the Dharma protector practice I got from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and that if I were to disregard it entirely after much thought it would be like loosing much precious gems. It is thanks to Tsem Rinpoche’s sharing that I was able to meet with a Dharma protector from practicing Setrap after I had permission too to visualize any wrathful form of Manjushriye and doing his mantra almost 300,000 times. Then also after that from another student I got Medicine Buddha initiation and also Dzambhala. I had to recite more mantras for that. I try to focus just on what Geshe Michael has taught me but when it comes to the Dharma Protector practice I feel like I should say how I feel. Which was that I broke from that before and asked his students to follow me…they continually think though that it is better to follow what the Guru says because they have said things before and he was right in the end. The Protector issue though is something that could maybe take me further ahead and maybe set me apart in a good way so that maybe I will appear in a more favorable light to them. I do not have any problem following Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and his protector. Because I did not have a problem with the one before. So if you have a problem with it then that is your problem. Not mine. That is basically where I have to set myself apart and go with Rinpoche on this and it has nothing to do with Geshe Michael or anyone else. It has to do with following the Teacher with the best practice that helps the most people. And at this point this is where I am focusing my energy. I was able to do a little research on some other protectors and got to watch a Vaishravana/White Mahakala puja and that had great benefits so even though it is not recommended to practice Dharma protectors it still turns out favorable to practice Dorje Shugden. Worse comes to worse, you can always quit later. But I have gone back and forth with it to see both sides and leave it open to the person to decide…but if it helps you then why not practice it? Is it right for the Dalai lama to say not to practice it? I will say that it is unconventional and that is normally not something a spiritual teacher would do and if you were to disregard that advice then I don’t think that is out of the question because of the strangeness of it and how I don’t think normally that would be acceptable. If you have a guru disciple relationship with the Dalai Lama though then I could see how you would follow it without question. When it comes to Geshe Michael and what he wants though, I think I have laid out the options pretty well. If you were to want to know what I thought it is basically to get Tsem Tulku Rinpoche to give me power to practice this protector. Because you have to actually ask, because before I was just practicing Setrap, or so I thought. So that is officially my request to make this protector my own. So I guess you have succeeded in convincing me, Rinpoche. That is the proper approach I think and I am taking it very seriously so please bless me so that this will be my protector from now on especially if only I was able to meet Setrap before. I am willing to go the extra mile to practice him if that is what you think because I am devoted from my practice of the Protector before and what good results and how powerful my practice was. I want to learn more about him and also what I saw on the trance video on youtube about the teachings from Kache Marpo. What commitments you would have me keep etc. etc. and what you would have me to do, Rinpoche. Please instruct and guide me so that you will know I am a sincere practitioner from before and that I am onboard with whatever protector you are willing to bestow upon me through the right efforts. Before it was mostly on my part that I got to meet the protector through my constant practice. I am not in the position now where I have the freedom to do such practice or in the right conditions but please bless me so that I may aquire them. Please bless me to be a better teacher and lead all sentient beings to enlightenment and to spread the teachings of Je Tsonkhapa, the exalted practice of Vajrayogini, and also the Protector which you have directed me towards…if that is Dorje Shugden so be it. I am willing to do whatever it takes to continue on my path upwards and not find any faults in the Guru and to do exactly as it says as it is for my best good. I don’t think that I would have accepted Tsem Rinpoche’s protector practice before and then all of a sudden denounced it considering I am an enlightened being. I am apt to say that you should follow it and I am willing to as well also myself. Now is not the time to abandon the Guru. We should give him support. All I can say is that you pointed me in the right direction before and I am not going to abandon you know just because Dalai lama says he is evil spirit and says he said so himself. “I am a perfideous spirit.” He also says we cannot know what is in his heart. Probably one of the most meaningful events of my life was meeting the protector. This is due to the kindness of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and my fervent practice. It was not in the best of situations to say the least, and until my karma clears up, the way the Protector appears could be pretty wrathful, who knows. But all I know is that I created the cause for it and I accepted him. I cannot break that bond. It is too powerful. The other most powerful experience is when Lama Yeshe came to me when I was listening to the Sanghata Sutra and said he was my Guru. Most powerful realization was realizing the emptiness of all sentient beings and Buddhas. Knowing that I had done nothing wrong and I was tortured because of it and attained enlightenment after bowing down to angel and realizing this. That is gift Geshe Michael gave me through his angels. Then there was the protector…that used my knowledge of emptiness and enlightenment to devote myself more strongly to the Dharma and clear away obstacles…which has been my main practice since despite my becoming a Dudjom Tersar practitioner. Kache Marpo talks about this in his trance about how it doesn’t matter which sect you belong to basically. But still I feel for whatever reason my karma is that this protector is so important to me and I know very little about it other than that I have no choice other than to do what he says. So that was the only way I could fight the brainwashing and mindcontrol medication. I had to do what he said regardless. That is why I am making this request to Rinpoche. I hope that you will be able to help because otherwise I may loose my opportunity for the Dharma and never get it back. My goal was to attain enlightenments in three years. I was recognized. And given permission to visualize any wrathful form of manjushriye. I did as many mantras as possible and then found the Protector and made a deal with him. Regardless of whether Dorje Shugden is bad or good I still have to do what he says. So I am in the same boat as Rinpoche. Okay, Great one, let us now row over to the other shore! Sarva Mangalam. Either we go up or down. Have faith in the Guru, folks. With me and RInpoche, you have a winning team. We are destined for success. Let us welcome it.

      Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Mar 30, 2016 at 12:59 am

      It turns out I don’t have to practice that Dorje Shugden after all. Even though I was willing to do whatever I had to do from my other Dharma protector it turns out that by willing to take the karma on myself I was not at fault.

      Reply
63. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Feb 14, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    Hello, I think that one on hand you have the ban and the dalai lama from his own side being right but then you have me who is right from the side of karma and then you have tsem tulku rinpoche is right for what he believes in.

    I feel that honestly if we have given Tsem Tulku Rinpoche a chance before then it is our obligation to stay with him as he continues to teach us about Dorje Shugden and we should keep our committments as if he were Setrap, if that is the case.

    It is not wise to take one Dharma Protector in place of another…before what I was doing that started all of this blogging was obviously the one thing that Trijang Rinpoche said was something we don’t do. Which is replace Dorje Shugden with another Deity, so it only makes sense to keep practicing Dorje Shugden if this is what Tsem Tulku wants us to do after he was only revealing Setrap before as long as we were on board with him on that then since this is something we don’t do we should continue with the practice of Dorje Shugden.

    I have given it some thought and this seems to not be contradictory to what the Dalai lama is saying from a high point but also does not give up your Dorje Shugden practice. What I am saying is not to give up your Dorje Shugden practice and in my case the way I learned was by realizing from what Trijang Rinpoche had said that we do not do this. I was trying to do another Deity but this will only bring problems. So for that reason just like we would not practice another Deity in place of Dorje Shugden also if we were practicing Setrap before openly we are able now to practice Dorje Shugden we should include him in our practice and devote ourselves to it wholeheartedly since we cannot give up on the Guru. We have found a special one. Long Live Tsem Tulku Rinpoche!

    Reply
64. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Jan 16, 2016 at 12:48 pm

    you still can’t tell difference between spirit and Buddha? spirit selfish Buddha generous…just look at yourself. tell me why you see stingy…look at the world. Hungry ghost realm looking…no money anywhere.

    Reply
65. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Jan 16, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    I have put up with constant abuse too. I hope the ban will end so Tsem Tulku can better teach us because it is so uncomfortable now because of it. Just from the side of being one Tsem Tulku’s I think it should end and that we should get back to our practice of Dorje Shugden if that is the case. Because we are wasting so much time bickering maybe that is what they want…I can see the rationale behind the ban because it is after all His Holiness the Dalai lama and he must know what he is doing but I also see it from the side of practitioners who want to do their practice and be left alone. I think not criticizing the Dalai Lama is most important and if you practice keep it to yourself if you can’t though then what? Obviously no one is respecting the D Talai lama’s wishes and by going against what he says it makes it even worse for Tibetan Buddhism from the standpoint of His Holiness is concerned. Just by not criticizing what he has done you can save yourself a lot of future bad karma. Try it sometime. It works wonders. And also what he said was that you can go against what protector said and still not break samaya with lama as that is most important text doesn’t say anything bad about breaking samaya with protector. But it seems that Tsem Tulku wants us to practice it but I am not sure he is actually saying so. I am not sure what Tsem Tulku wants. But I can see the good side of Dalai Lama more and more now too. And all based on not criticizing him from the standpoint of Dorje Shugden whether it is bad or not…just keeping rule of thumb not to criticize Dalai lama about it is helping tremendously. So that would be my next advice. Try just not criticizing the Dalai lama…and can you with a straight face say you are going to practice Dorje Shugden when he advises against it? Don’t criticize him for it though. So yes, there is a way you can make everybody happy. Just don’t criticize the Dalai Lama. I think if you are criticizing the Dalai lama and supporting dorje Shugden you are wrong from Trijang Rinpoche’s point at least if not the Dalai Lama, alone even. Because he says the same thing. You can’t criticize the Dalai lama and be for Dorje Shugden at the same time. Try not criticizing the Dalai Lama and then if you want to practice Dorje Shugden you still won’t because you will be loyal to the Dalai Lama regardless of what Trijang Rinpoche says, not Dorje Shugden. So in that case I think the Dorje Shugden practioners are wrong. Because they are conflicted about what Trijang Rinpoche is saying as the highest point of practice and bottom line is don’t criticize the Dalai Lama. If he says no Dorje Shugden, respect. Maybe that is how I had the good karma of coming into the Dudjom Tersar Tradition? Never criticize the Dalai Lama. Rule #1, and then you will have the answer to this problem yourself I am sure. You will figure it out. If he says not to practice, just don’t criticize. He has that right. He can do what he wants. Makes sense then not to practice Dorje Shugden. There easy enough. I knew eventually we would get there. Don’t practice it then. And don’t criticize him for it. He is going out on the limb and doing this for your benefit…trust me. I have seen him before and I think in his shoes he can do this. He is highly attained. Don’t criticize…don’t question. That is part of samaya. so far I haven’t seen any bad come from not practicing Dorje Shugden. Me and Dalai lama on same page now. Good job everyone. I don’t think either answer is right but Trijang Rinpoche is also saying that there is no basis not to practice him. But he will not go as far as to say that an evil spirit could be an emanation of the Buddha even though he makes reference to it in a way that it could be possible and at one point he even apologizes as if yes, Im still practicing Dorje Shugden and I’ve been a bad boy. And I regret that. So it could be that by practicing Dorje Shugden you are doing the wrong thing but that is exactly what the Buddha wants. So question is if Buddha appeared to you in a form that is a demon would you still do what Buddha wants. I will give you explanation from what happened to me…Buddha appeared as empty…and that is a projection of my mind. So I realized that ultimately Buddha comes from me and the way I have treated others in the past basically and that even he is empty. If he wasn’t then there would be such thing as Buddha, but there is no such thing. its a projection of your mind from past actions you did towards others…something like that. That is the one that I believe in. That by helping others I am helping the Buddha and he is helping you but I can’t just ask the Buddha to do things because he might be an evil spirit, you see. So I can see why Dalai Lama would limit him. We just must pray for him so that he doesn’t have such a nasty life in his next life. Pay no more attention to it then that. Ultimately Buddha is a projection of your mind based on karma…he will appear to you anyway you treated others in the past based on that. But I have control of Buddha. Whether he is god or spirit doesn’t matter. All the better. because I know where he comes from, my mind. And the mind is the source of all. So really your own mind is the Buddha. But the Buddha that people think grants their wishes really comes from one’s own mind based on karma you have done in the past. So if he is evil spirit too bad get used to it. You’re not evil spirit…maybe then better luck next time for you too. You could be. hahahahhaha. Anyway, regardless either way if you are Buddha I say thank you good job. You are doing what you are suppose to be doing which is what I ask. But even that is empty. Just because I know you are empty doesn’t mean I can tell you what to do because even your actions are empty. All I know is that the highest most powerful thing in the universe is not where everything comes from…when you make a wish to Buddha, actually you are …he is in your mind. That’s how Geshe Michael puts it. Oh yes, he is there but where does he come from? He comes from past karma that you did towards other people. If you did good karma, he will appear good, bad karma opposite. So no such thing as spirit Buddha that doesn’t come from your past karma…maybe Dalai Lama was stingy in the past? So he sees spirit Buddha and hallucinates it as real? Unlikely though but maybe hallucination is real? Like in Native American Culture. Maybe Buddha is delusion? Then how could that Dorje Shugden even exist? He would not be able to help you so what is point in praying to him. He is gone from existence at that point. No more Dorje Shugden. Pointless. So who are you praying to? spirit. but that’s all we can get out of him. We’re lucky spirit on our side now. Be thankful, better than nothing. Compassionate spirit at least. That is who Dorje Shugden is. Good friend. He appears based on our karma. See, that’s emptiness. You did good, he appears to you good. You did bad, bad. Appears to you as bum. Most powerful force in the universe responsible. Buddha. no, he even comes from your mind and karma. No such thing as self. No Buddha. Only Buddha that comes from self…emptiness. karma. Based on past actions towards others. You served them as Buddhas…you will become Buddha. Make Dorje Shugden nice place…set him up in affluence and he will reciprocate. That is all there is to it. Doesn’t matter who he is. Just treat him like Buddha you will get same karma as long as it all comes from your mind good karma is good karma you know. He is empty of bad spirit or Buddha. He is just a projection of your mind, could be anyone. That is how he appears based on your karma because we don’t have karma to see Buddha in splendor do you think? Maybe it is based on the way we have treated others perhaps? Have you been stingy? Yes, then you see spirit. Have you been generous, then Buddha. But either way both are empty and come from your past deeds towards others so what is difference. One helps you one doesn’t. So if you want to see spirit then keep treating people stingy and if you want to see Buddha give them more. Either way you are seeing Dorje Shugden. What a wonderful teacher. He will appear to you differently based on your karma. Doesn’t that make more sense than Buddha who does everything the same for everyone? No, to each his own. Do unto others as they would have done unto you. You treat me cheap I treat you cheap and vice versa. But I know better, I treat you well then you treat me well too. And that is the difference between a spirit and a Buddha. Can you tell the difference?

    Reply
66. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Jan 16, 2016 at 11:47 am

    I guess what happened was that I went over to the Dudjom Tersar Tradition and in that way I avoided the whole Dorje Shugden controversy so I can’t even say that I am a dorje shugden practioner other than the fact that through Tsem Tulku Rinpoche I was introduced to who I believed to be Setrap but could have been Dorje Shugden because he was actually practicing that at the time and I was practicing just the protector. But then from practicing that protector I did not give him up at all costs so in a way even though I practiced the Dudjom Tersar I felt an obligation to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and having introduced me to this first protector regardless. For that reason I still blog about it and try to find my place in the whole controversy and not to take any particular side. If I were to be on one side I would be on the side of the Dudjom Tersar which is honoring the Dalai lama’s opinion I believe. But then again how is it that Tsem Tulku would still promote Dorje Shugden after all these years if he was bad? It makes me think that practicing Dorje Shugden is perfectly fine. Whether you practice or not though I don’t think it is right to criticize the Dalai Lama that is what I have come to understand through Trijang Rinpoche’s writings. At this point though it is so confusing as to what’s going on that I have in a way given up the Dorje Shugden practice when I decided to be a Dudjom Tersar practioner but I didn’t really even think about it back then but now it is important I guess. My question would be, can just practicing the Dudjom Tersar eliminate the problem of the Dorje Shugden controversy. According to Geshe Michael it is better not to get involved in that. But then again using what he taught me has helped me tremendously in the situation that I am in. I think if there is one teaching I would follow it would be that of Geshe Michael. That doesn’t fall towards either side of not practicing Dorje Shugden from the Dudjom Tersar perspective or practicing it either which I believe is the right approach regardless. So that is what I have come to realize. You can practice it and not practice it. I have found that the most benefit is from Geshe Michael’s teachings and if I had to follow just one it would be him. But I quit that a long time ago. And then went over the Dudjom Tersar. Which I believe may have had to do with the result of the ban. But I’m not sure. And I still feel like my connection to Dorje Shugden is strong and they say that if you have a connection it is alright. So that is what I will go by for now. Keep practicing Dorje Shugden. Because I feel for Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and the result is to want to follow in his footsteps and practice the same protector he is. I think that people are trying to get me to not start practicing Dorje Shugden by putting me in the situation that I am in right now as a result of Tsem Tulku’s not stopping practicing it because of discrimination and things of the ban. I am doing my job and that’s all I know. It makes me want to practice Dorje Shugden even more. Which I don’t see why because it is no life for anyone and that is the result of how they have treated me but it goes many years back before even all of that. I had become enlightened without Dorje Shugden. But then they wanted me to practice Dorje Shugden it seemed and then as a result I went to practicing the Dudjom Tersar which is in a way not practicing Dorje Shugden but I still had connections to this protector Setrap that I had found via Tsem Tulku on the web and got his prayer book too. Now what am I to do, just give up on this protector too? I think option c. plant the seeds. That is what Geshe Michael has taught us. Then there is also the Dudjom Tersar which says it doesn’t matter. Then there is me who says meeting the Dharma Protector was one of the greatest moments of my life there is nothing to compare it to really and to give it up would be wrong. Because I think we have karma for a reason. But how, other than practicing Dorje Shugden? That I feel is the only answer. Not to practice Dorje Shugden. And I can see where there is reason for it. To not practice it but do I entirely agree? No. I don’t have to. I don’t have to practice it and I don’t not have to practice it. But what about this protector from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, basically I go by karma and planting seeds and see where it gets me from being a good practioner but sometimes I feel like going against Tsem Tulku is not a good idea because that solves nothing, so let him practice and if he thinks it is good for me to practice too then let him say so. Otherwise I am not sure I will continue this practice as I am a Dudjom Tersar practioner…even though it was not entirely my choice, it had a lot to do with the medication being forced on me over the years and I thought that Dorje Shugden or Setrap could help with some of my problems but I seem to be getting treated worse than before which makes me wonder what is the point of it all unless the Guru knew what he was doing and is just testing me. In that case I would say I am happy to do what the Guru wants even if it is wrong as there is only ultimate benefit from it.

    Reply
67. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Jan 16, 2016 at 9:53 am

    the situation is so bad that I can’t think of anything other than practice Dorje Shugden. I think even though I am a Dudjom Tersar practioner this practice is my real connection to the dharma. I literally look at the situation I’m in and I think, what can I do? And the only answer that comes is practice Dorje Shugden as continuing from my Setrap practice.

    Reply
68. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Jan 13, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    I think I finally get it. Whether you practice Shugden or not, regardless, you must not criticize the Dalai Lama for what he has done, that is what I have figured out at least. I was practicing Vajrayogini but when I went back to temple I was able to get Chittimani Tara initiation from Achok Rinpoche so now I will practice Chittimani Tara even though before I was practicing Vajrayogini. Then I had gotten initiation from Garchen Rinpoche and then his student but the same day he was also giving Chenreziq and Green Tara initiation, but I already have Yamantaka, but I did so with the thought of retaking the Vajrayogini initation but if I’m already enlightened then why need? maybe just practice Chittimani Tara from now on. Or recite 21 praises to Tara, or something. But what I did was stop practicing everything and then go to the Dudjom Tersar tradition. Then the whole thing doesn’t really matter anymore. I took Yeshe Tsogyal as my principal deity.

    Reply
69. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Jan 13, 2016 at 6:33 am

    so, I have tried to use the four starbucks steps to figure out the protector issue and here’s what happened. I ended up being able to use the practice to help someone but the results was not that good. I attribute that to the fact that I was not practicing at the time but now I see that I have been advised in a way to practice because if you don’t do the practice and nothing happens then what is there to complain about? So then I also quote from one of Dudjom Rinpoche’s books that even if the Guru asks you to do something and it is wrong what harm is there in doing it since it brings ultimate benefit? So far I have just been able also to see how I was discriminated against because of my practice and as I supported Tsem Tulku in his plea I also am prone to action by practicing. So I will try to practice even better from now on. Realizing that even if there is a ban and I don’t practice then there won’t be any results. And I must ultimately practice as well. Thank you Tsem Tulku Rinpoche I have not been a good student but I have tried to see the good in the practice and you and not give up despite how I have been treated because of it and am thankful for you speaking up because otherwise I might have not gotten it out there that they were doing the same thing to me and then I would have received the same karma. Fortunately now, I am at least free from the karma of discriminating against people because of the Dorje Shugden protector controversy and hope to change things around so I will no longer be persecuted because of it either. Much Love. Please stay long time and do not give up on me as I am continually pointed to the right direction despite what happens with my personal life. I think the most important thing is consistent practice…but how can I do that like when I am being put into these situations when otherwise I would have no problems. Just stay positive and don’t give your practice up. Follow karma and eventually even being persecuted you will do the right thing. I have been persecuted and it takes time to develop confidence in the Dharma and this is one way of doing so. So I thank you from my heart for that. It is very hard and I would not wish it on anyone but I am willing to go through anything to serve the Lama and all sentient beings and for this to be beneficial. In this case we have followed Lama so far we cannot just turn around and abandon him now that he has introduced us to this practice we must have faith and our faith will be rewarded if we do not give up. You see how hard it is though by my blogging. yes

    Reply
70. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Dec 24, 2015 at 1:51 am

    To get what we want we have to first help others get what they want. There are no two ways of going about this. This is what has been taught since the beginning and will be till the end. There is nowhere that says that by cheating others you will get ahead. I feel like in this Dorje Shugden issue I have been able to best deal with it using the four starbucks steps from Geshe Michael Roach. And at the very least come to a realization about the practice from the standpoint of compassion. In this way I think I have opened up the doors to more freedom of the practice as well as being able to do it myself. I think though that the main thing is changing the seeds. I was able to change the seeds from negative to positive. This was from my application of the four starbucks steps. I was also able to change the medication basically with the help of using an amulet from the yogichen website for needle injections. Now the medication even though it sometimes still seems to be a problems its usually something else which is responsible. This was all thanks to the four starbucks steps and when I think of a good practice I think of this because it led me to the compassionate empathy for Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in our plight about the Dorje Shugden practice and ban. This has led me to want to practice it even though it says not to because I don’t think a person would discriminate against people that do the practice they would view both equally with wisdom. Otherwise how can they come to any conclusions? With blogging about it and reading up on Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s views about it though it is clear to see that he is on the right side and I am fortunate enough to feel that he has my support and that I would like to do the practice myself, as well. I explained it to a counselor today and basically came to the conclusion: if Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is doing it, why can’t I? Because I empathize with him on the issue and feel that the practice is good. Yet there is a part of me that says maybe I can just do the four starbucks steps but I think that if they work then more people will be practicing Dorje Shugden. There is also the issue of the medication and genocide and holocaust and mind control which is also a big subject. But if I was able to deal with that then why wouldn’t I be able to deal with the Dorje Shugden issue? I think I have dealt with it pretty well. I am in support of it because it is not right for people to do that to poor Tsem Tulku and I know this for a fact from what they did to me. I think he will be successful and I wish him all the best.

    Reply
71. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Dec 22, 2015 at 12:56 am

    note…actually my nasal surgery is ont he 19th

    Reply
72. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Dec 21, 2015 at 8:55 am

    Hi everybody, I have been on hiatus from practicing Dorje Shugden after writing some and being willing not to practice it but even though I am willing not to practice it and still not practicing it I am going to practice it though for a couple reasons…one being that Tsem Tulku Rinpoche if not after reading his article and all of my writing and seriously considering the issue you do not develop compassion and realize there is nothing wrong with it and that out of compassion you should practice it then there is nothing to help you. I feel like it was almost gone for my practice when I needed help and then I looked back on Rinpoche’s article and what I thought about it and how open I was and automatically came to the conclusion that Buddha’s teaching and Dorje Shugden do not contradict and out of compassion I will practice it. Because I think it is unfair the way he is being treated and I agree because it has been the same way I have been treated and we are going to practice out of compassion this time for all sentient beings thank you very much. Much love.

    Reply
73. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 26, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    I feel I have addressed the Dorje Shugden complaint here by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

    Reply
74. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 24, 2015 at 8:36 am

    I’m just reiterating that after checking again Dorje Shugden practice from blogging is just as good as geshe Michael’s practice…equal if not better. Because I was concerned so I came up with a mathematical equation to check it and then that is the answer I came up with was that The Dorje Shugden practice is equivalent to what Geshe Michael taught to start his 250 million dollar business if not better so that is my stamp of approval. Sometimes I wonder but now that I have blogged all of this about it the truth comes much easier because it is all out there now. For me personally as far as the ban is concerned. Garchen Rinpoche said I could visualize any wrathful emanation of Manjushriye and that would include Dorje Shugden, and he did not make an exception saying not to so neither do I. Tsem Tulku is right. Go on practicing Dorje Shugden…make it your main practice right along with your other commitments and you will not regret it. It is equal. Now I know this and I am telling you what I learned. Thank you.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 25, 2015 at 8:44 am

      if it is equal then how can you practice both? that is why I take the position of better not to choose. Respect both equally. like Tsem Tulku Rinpoche but geshe Michael does not want to be involved in conflict…well maybe this has made him more aware that he needs to be because it has just bumped him to the side that just shows how powerful Dorje Shugden really is…that he can make big Lamas like him his equal. And if you don’t like that, too bad. Because he has to deal with it not you. I wonder how he is going to respond to this because he does not feel that it is necessary to argue about the controversy. Dorje Shugden is head to head with the root lama on this one is he going to win? We will have to stay tuned in to find out. It is not fair though for him, is it, because he is outlawed. Yet he constantly suprises us. And shows us that he is better than the people around him who are putting him down and he does so without regard to sectarian bias. Which is why the sectarian people think it is sectarian. They can’t stand looking in the mirror. He constantly is showing us how good he is yet we keep on doubting him. I tell you right now for the time being it seems like no one is Dorje Shugden’s equal and we may have to rely just on him as Guru. What I was thinking though was that I had asked a teacher of mine to become a student and I had quit…so this makes me think that maybe also I am making some progress because I am giving Dorje Shugden every opportunity to make #1 in dharma practice above everything, an all-encompassing jewel of which you need no others. It seems that he has, in this case taken the lead of Geshe Michael and he is trying to hold him back even though he is winning. Because I felt it would be better for me to be the Teacher, not him. And Dorje Shugden will grant my wishes regardless and he knows what it is. So even though I don’t want to disappoint him and I feel like in his own right he is valid I also think like that I ought to be the Guru in my own right and that is how I felt about it. Even with followers on this site. And that is just what a Guru has to do nowadays. And think what better than with Dorje Shugden? I can’t help but to see the humor that despite how much I have benefitted from Geshe Michael that Dorje Shugden is helping me even more. And this is because I have followed the Dharma purely and went for Dorje Shugden before I went to initiation there through his teachers who were also the ones who were there for my enlightenment. One. So that is what the power of Dorje Shugden is all about. I’m enlightened but still, if you are not treating me right, Dorje Shugden is there to intercede if necessary. And this is proof enough of my enlightenment and the power of Dorje Shugden. Even if I had to go with Dorje Shugden to the pure land and forget about all of this I would be fine. That’s complete devotion, and instead all I got out of them was that they were talking to God. Yet no one was listening. Because Dorje Shugden was there to tell them! They could not do it on their own. Yet they choose to think so. One person from three year retreat I got to see later at another initiation from one of Garchen Rinpoche’s students. Who I also wanted to be a student of. So when Garchen Rinpoche said visualize any wrathful form of Manjushriye I decided that even if I had to visualize Dorje Shugden, I would. And that’s what he was talking about. So now the world finally knows. yup. I got the initiation. I wanted it so that I could re-take the Vajrayogini initiation if that would help because even though I had attained enlightenment I felt that I had damaged my vows and wanted to get the initiation again. And you need a lower tantric one first and the one I had gotten before was Yamantaka and so wasn’t this one. I still have not been able to retake it though and I wonder now because I did not need to whether it will ever happen again. Regardless I had given the blessing myself. So you have to be above the step yourself where you even care about the practice. Yet still I have because of others thought about what their cares were yet at the same time gone above even that. I think this is the first time anyone I have heard of has spoken enough about it to actually distinguish between the truth and the fiction and still remain so far above it that it was like I had never practice Dorje Shugden at all I just wanted to explain it to you out of great love. But you weren’t high enough to understand yet. There is connection to this practice even that far because you have no given up. You cannot say that this practice is irrelevant or that you can just forget about it. It is like if you just don’t practice it that you won’t get the negative karma. I believe it is something kache marpo said in trance on Tsem Tulku’s videos. There is not a point where you can say Dorje Shugden doesn’t matter. Yet I think maybe you think I am a Dorje Shugden practioner and I can’t tell the difference. That is what this article is about. Once you see what Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has written and what I have written how it is unfair and unofortunate regardless of the validity of the practice.

      Reply
75. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 19, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Hi, I was able to do my Dorje Shugden practice in time to for coffee and also get my nasal spray hopefully discontinued and my surgery set up for January 12th. Its not an exact science juggling all of these responsibilities and sometimes it is give and take yet when you have Guru Devotion and are able to still follow the Guru’s advice it works out and you start to see that that is the thread that keeps the beads on the mala, and yada yada, and all that etc. etc. You have to do the work. Otherwise it will not work out. So as long as you are serving others and doing your practice and keeping your commitments you are all set and Guru’s blessing will shine down like the sun, it cannot melt stone though, only wax. I hope that this blog has helped from my contribution going through and supporting me about it to give real life example of someone who wants to do the right thing just not sure what it is all the time and has made wrong decisions before, if only for a second though repairs them. And only with the best intentions for others and then spends much time on this to make sure nothing goes wrong. It gives me an idea of starting my own blog maybe and using this as a basis revolving around Dorje Shugden and the Diamond Cutter principles taught by Geshe Michael Roach to succeed in business and the use of amulets and getting shots. Shots to succeed in life by seeing everything as pure potential and to make the most out of it and letting nothing stop you, if you are a Dorje Shugden practioner or not. So far I have been able to do this and also be a Dorje Shugden practioner so it is a success. I can use what my Guru taught me and also still practice Dorje Shugden, do my coffee meditation and ultimately save the world. I have been in and out of the mental health system for 12 years. That is as long as some people have had a career. I have applied these principles in my business and life and found that practicing Dorje Shugden is something that I like to encourage others to do. This is where I really feel like I am doing what I am destined to do. I think it is my destiny to tell people about the Dorje Shugden practice and for people to practice it. That is all I am saying. And so far it is working pretty good so far for all of us. Yet, let’s be honest. What’s with all of this negativity? I seem to be supported even more! So don’t let that sway you from wanting to do this practice. It’s just hype. Do what you feel right, in this case, it is the Dorje Shugden practice. I would not come onto this blog and tell you do it for no reason. I could be like everyone else and ignore it and act like a total fool. Instead I am addressing the issue…if not from me, then whom? Whom do you think is going to address it other than me? No one. Only with Tsem Rinpoche’s help is it possible. And Dorje Shugden. Let’s keep up the practice and keep doing it and keep that as a rule. Thanks, and have a nice day.

    Reply
76. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 19, 2015 at 7:58 am

    I have another good issue to address. Geshe MIchael said you have to be put in the position of doing what your root lama says or the dalai lama. Isn’t that what this is all about. He also says though on his Facebook page not to talk about it. So I have been trying to do his favorite coffee meditation and at the same time do Dorje Shugden or be pro Shugden or try to encourage people to practice it, and be on that side and think that is the right thing to do. So I am more for the Shugden thing. I have faced this issue before though and that is no how it is suppose to be yet still he makes evident this fact in his teachings. He basically says plant the seeds to make it the way you want. So that is what I did by posting here that you ought to follow it, it just kind of came out in my writings from my concern and it is naturally how I feel. I am encouraging you and he is saying…what about the dalai Lama? So I am trying to practice his coffee meditation at the same time and having some problem with the coffee. It is not that good all of the time. So do I give up the coffee or just do the coffee meditation without the coffee? At this point I am forced to give up the coffee in a situation I am handling right now. Which also means I don’t get to go out because I usually do the coffee meditation which involves going out with someone for coffee according to the 4 starbucks steps, not just the meditation, actually. So now, not only am I not drinking coffee, I am also not doing the coffee meditation. I enjoyed doing this meditation very much and felt like it was the way to plant the seeds to get what I wanted. Unfortunately the coffee was not that good and started to become a problem. In this case, how can I plant a seed for different coffee? You still have to go to coffee with the person, so because I did not like the coffee I failed at the coffee meditation and the four starbucks steps, not because I did not do the coffee meditation, because the coffee was not good enough. Also I am facing another difficult situation where I am applying these principles in a possible surgical operation I believe I can fix using the same principles. So even though it didn’t work for the coffee I am hoping it will work for this. I am starting to get the idea how radical these ideas really are yet also how effective. Basically, even though I am not good enough to practice the way Geshe Michael taught directly, I am still able to plant the seeds the way he taught and in that way I believe I can heal my sinus problem without having to get surgery. So now I am having because of a problem because of the court judging my behavior off of medication to go and discontinue the use of the nasal spray I was using before he asked me if I wanted the surgery. Later I decided against it and have spent much time explaining it to this lady. So I have to call tomorrow to have it discontinued or else they will think I am refusing my medication and then there will be even more problems. So to be involved in this and at the same time not agree with it because of the philosophy of Geshe Michael is similar to the question of following your root lama or the Dalai Lama in the Dorje Shugden issue. In this case I am definitely going back to see the Doctor to have it discontinued because they can’t do it over the phone. If you learn these practices though, they are extremely powerful and work much better than doing things the so-called normal way. The normal way does not work. So getting to the point where you can see the change is sometimes daunting when you have planted seeds the opposite way for so long. It is not just about being a nice guy. You have to plant seeds intentionally to see your world a different way. So that you can plant what you want to have in it. In this case, the coffee was not planted the way it should be. So we must take this as a lesson. I must go back to the Doctor and call tomorrow to schedule appointment to dc the sinus spray. Because we track our actions six times a day to keep track of our actions of body, speech, and mind, to plant the seeds for our Buddha Paradise. Geshe Michael does not say either way about the Dorje Shugden practice. I say to practice it though. That is what I am saying. I’m not saying to drink coffee. Love you all

    Reply
77. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 16, 2015 at 2:07 am

    people want to find ways to practice dorje shugden. Help them if not, never mind

    Reply
78. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 15, 2015 at 3:22 am

    so, like I have spent the last 12 years locked in and out of mental institutes. The first time was when I said “I don’t think this is a good idea.” at Rashi Gempil Ling, where Tsem Tulku went when he was younger. It was right after his teacher died, who was also my teacher. When I got out I went ton see the Lama and then they took me away luckily I did not have to go back to the hospital thanks to some devoted students. I had gone to the same initiation they were giving at Diamond Mountain and had snuck off after being tortured by a monk and disciple there…tickle torture to say the least. Anyway, I got the instruction about wrathful Manjushriye who could be Dorje Shugden at the time. When I went back and was instructed to attend this which is the exact same initiation they had me taken away, most likely because I had already done the initiation with Garchen Rinpoche and it may be Dorje Shugden. Then they had some bad press after I quit the group not long after. One of the students I was sitting next to at H.H. the Dalai Lama’s teachings turned into Vajrayogini and led me to the temple helped build. At this teaching he said some people’s realizations here were higher than his. Geshe Michael and Lama Christie were also there and she stood up in front of him and said she loved me. Later, she divorced from him, re-married, stabbed her new husband and then he died in a cave. The Lama I went to go see after Garchen Rinpoche, according to one student, had been sent on a special retreat out into the world. She had not liked what Geshe Michael was doing with the girls. So maybe she was damaged psychologically and I went into the mental hospital for her because out of love, I wanted to save the world. When I got out, I realized that I had done nothing wrong…and that I was tortured. Then Lama Sonam told me I was enlightened. I was able to purify my karma. Because I had done nothing wrong, and I had gone into it with the motivation of helping her. I had seen her a few times and felt she had a special connection. Then she said something in the temple about god, and I commented on it when Michael Brennan got me! Because I was outside the temple. Later he was asked to leave himself by Geshe Michael for asking him to leave. So then I basically started doing the Dudjom Tersar Tradition based on some divinations I got. Then Lama Gyaltsen was looking into it with Lama Tharchin and then suddenly he was in Paranirvana. He was the first person that called me Lama, so I am going by what he had to say. None of this gets out though because they are too busy making up lies about me and putting me in chemical restraint for me to know what is happening half the time. 12 years is a long time…think about Panchen Lama. Kinda what’s happening here, America. Thanks, good day.

    Reply
79. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 14, 2015 at 8:40 am

    I think it will take some time to change views on the subject…mostly thinking positive about it and sending out positive thoughts.

    Reply
80. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 13, 2015 at 12:50 am

    There have been some things that pop up on the internet when I keep searching to see if anyone has posted on my comment and it says something that sounds like I’m not happy with the practice…what I actually mean is that I’m not happy with how the ban is making me feel about the practice. It got to be pretty depressing and uncomfortable at times, considering what I have been put through and I think that anyone could say that at times they feel like giving up. Instead though, I decided I would write down how I feel and that is a legitimate emotion. Nevertheless, I did not give up on my own and tried to press harder into finding a solution and sharing how I was doing with it on this blog site. I have been practicing Setrap for many years and Dorje Shugden is part of that practice. I had to decide about giving up that practice, both, or starting Dorje Shugden seriously. What I found was that people were sincerely interested in Dorje Shugden and that they most wanted someone to encourage them in their practice. So that is what I have done. I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions. What could help here is that what Tsem Tulku Rinpoche posted about the videos of the Dalai Lama where he says it’s up to you etc. and then is so harsh about punishing monks who did not listen to his advice. So it seems as though we have a choice except when we really think about it we are barraged from all sides. So you really have no choice, actually, and by then it is too late. Instead I have tried to find a middle ground and found that people respond best to the concern by being encouraged to practice it, rather than banned from it. So this is the approach that I have taken from what I have learned from writing this and everything else from Rinpoche and his blog. So I definitely believe it is not the right thing to just dismiss it. I think it makes people much happier to be able to practice it and all you need is one person who agrees, and that is Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. So even though I was not able to fly, I still was able to post on this blog and if you read it and go through the journey that I went through that I shared, you will hopefully be inspired and not so afraid of the Dorje Shugden practice and more apt to want to practice it. I know that the experience was very cathartic for me. So it says that I shared everything…when I wanted to give up. When I felt it was better not to practice, all the way to finally realizing the best way is to encourage people to practice it and promote it. This is the most magnanimous way. And it brings me great happiness to do so. And I do it free of charge. It was a learning experience for me also. I learned a lot about Dorje Shugden practice and was able to be sure that it is the right thing to do. I did not necessarily need to do a divination or research or anything. All I had to do was to think more about what others wanted and then easily the answer came to me…they want Dorje Shugden. So I think Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is absolutely right by promoting this Dharma and that he will be around for a long time after this situation has been resolved and be more popular than ever. The energy is better. You can be 100% confident in your Dorje Shugden practice now. That is all I wanted.

    Reply
81. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 12, 2015 at 6:45 am

    so I have addressed how not to give up your dorje shugden practice even if you are being pressured it is better to go on with it.

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 12, 2015 at 6:47 am

      I’m going to do the wangze practice to convince other people to practice dorje shugden…

      Reply
82. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 11, 2015 at 5:07 am

    I find that even not practicing Dorje Shugden is also contributing to the issue…because even not making a decision is still making a decision. It is easier to back away on difficult issues and not take a side though rather than stand up for what is right. I have found that by following a perfect lama, who one has examined and must be an emanation of Vajradhara, eventually one’s wishes for all sentient beings will be fulfilled and one will become a buddha. Regardless of the practice. Even if it is Dorje Shugden, because of emptiness. And karma…so what is most important is following your Guru’s instructions I believe now more than ever. What Tsem Tulku Rinpoche seems to want us to do is be able to practice the protector Dorje Shugden. I have received Yamantaka initiation before and was told that I could visualize any wrathful form of Manjushriye and figured that Dorje Shugden, if I were to have to practice him, would be no different. I also have life entrustment with Setrap, not to mention I have received Vajrayogini initiation before and have been enlightened. What I decided was that for the benefit of others though, there was more that needed to be done. So I tried to find ways to benefit people that were more direct, building on this experience. Some focused around medicine Buddha practice, or the 7 Protectors, or Chittimani Tara, or Arya Dzambhala, or the Pure Land practice of Buddha Amitabha, Yeshe Tsogyal and the Dudjom Tersar Tradition, etc. So most of this has been to be of more benefit then I was previously, hoping one day to recreate what I had done with my practice before attaining enlightenment. Instead of just saying this was good enough, I wanted to find ways that could benefit people not just me, so I had these other practices and tried to introduce them as well. I was hoping that by getting this Yamantaka initiation I could eventually retake the Vajrayogini initiation again. Of course since I had achieved the goal of practice this was not necessary so I found other ways to fulfill my goals. One was by sticking to the same lineage and practicing Setrap and taking life-entrustment with him. I later found that there is a tradition of this also, after Yamantaka. So this is for taking trances and things like that. So I wanted to find another way of going about it by also accomplishing the same goal: enligthenment and at the same time benefit others who might not be there. And to give them hope and fulfill their wishes along the way. This was my main attraction to an enlightened worldy dharma protector because he could fulfill their goals very easily. Of course, what I was teaching was just the Vajrayogini practice and that was what I was trying to transmit as it was taught to me as it enlightened me. Of course, this realization is few are far between, which is why I was open to other ways, which included Setrap. So one might say I have permission to practice Dorje Shugden because he is a wrathful emanation of Manjushriye and anyone will do. Then I found that Tsem Tulku Rinpoche was also teaching this and this led me to believe that this was the missing piece. I believe now maybe there can be some help I can provide to sentient beings with the aid of this powerful protector. And I believe also that Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is trying to help us to realize that. I took the stance of being appropriate and dropping the practice in favor of what I felt to be a more reasonable approach considering what I could see about the controversey and discussions I had. Then I had the dream about him and Setrap where I realized what was at stake if I did stop the practice and then immediatly started it back up again and was sorry for doubting Rinpoche, or in other words, for trying to do things my own way when really we are to be thankful to him and Dorje Shugden. So in a way I saw what was going to happen and immediatly before it was too late lifted the ban myself. The way that I decided was not right and the way that Tsem Tulku and Dorje Shugden were doing it was better. For good reasons so I went with that. One might say that is how you decide. Anyway I went with them on this one and hopefully it will pay off big time. Then of course from another Guru I had, I see that he has addressed it at times yet does not want to get involved because it is sectarian and that does not bother me because I quit many years ago. So I think, from the standpoint of it being sectarian or not, that is the approach I would take. I stopped practicing this years and the person running it was not even involved in the Dorje Shugden issue. That is why I come at it with such an honest view. I don’t think that just not practicing it is the answer. Face it, at least Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is going to practice it. We can either support and join him or not. What do you think? It would be going back into that same organization again, and even in that organization, the discussion is not brought up. So I am going even farther out on a limb then my Teacher when it comes to this to say from personal experience that I thought I knew what was right because of Dalai lama etc. and trying to please them yet this is not what they want, really. I can assure you that Tsem Tulku Rinpoche does not have any evil intentions in this and that Dorje Shugden practice is purely a way to create your own Buddha Paradise and it is a shame that they are getting such criticism when in a world like this there is so much of a difference between stuff like this and real problems. That’s why I think it’s better not to discuss the issue, honestly. Anyway, I am asking Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for futher guidance on this. I will tell you here is what I have done…

    Took life-entrustment with Setrap
    stopped practicing and decided not to practice Dorje Shugden
    Realized that I was making a mistake and apologized
    Started to blog
    Stopped practicing again
    Recited the Sadhana for Trakze when I stopped practicing, I started again.

    So I have gone from not practicing to practicing again over and over. I am starting to see how fighting for this issue becomes a problem.

    If I were to continue to say forget about it and just go on with my practice maybe nothing would happen. I have to figure though that since I started practicing Setrap and Dorje Shugden is included in his practice I must find a way to do it constructively, which means I must and have to practice Dorje Shugden, you see?

    So when you think about it the answer is very clear. To continue doing the practice. What is the practice though and how is done? Is it just reciting a sadhana?

    It is depending on the Guru and believing that Dorje Shugden is planting the seeds for your Buddha Paradise.

    And not going against them like I have done.

    Instead, I have decided that to do Dzambhala practice would suffice and to not do Setrap or Dorje Shugden. Then I got evidence that this was not a good idea.

    So my idea was not a good idea…and dorje shugden is not a good idea. so what is?

    If it was not a good idea, then my idea would be a good idea because it included not doing Dorje Shugden.

    So now it is clear that Dorje Shugden is a good practice.

    I can clearly make that distinction because it makes perfect sense to practice it despite the ban.

    I will say though that my idea was not a good idea, so we can’t based on that just say that the dorje shugden is a good idea, either.

    hmmmm…what can we do?

    We need clear explanation.

    I don’t just suggest practicing some other Deity, so that one is off the list. Otherwise you wouldn’t need Dorje Shugden. So he is proven to be useful.

    Otherwise, why would you practice him?

    Just guessing that he is not useful is not the answer though.

    Can you say that he either is or he isn’t. I at least know how not to handle the situation now, which is to say not to practice him and just to practice something else.

    Which even adds to the confusion.

    So don’t practice someone else. Practice Dorje Shugden.

    Which means you have to go by with what I say because I am in the lineage and I go by what Tsem Tulku Rinpoche says. Isn’t that great. Yes, much more powerful than not practicing Dorje Shugden.

    So even from this perspective you will benefit from his practice.

    very good. That is one reason that is good to follow.

    Reply
83. 

    Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 1, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    Hello, I am writing in regard to the Shugden issue as I have been losing sleep over it and it is daylights saving hour so I have a little bit of time to address it now. I would also like to continue more open discussions about it without taking sides while also supporting Rinpoche in his practice and everyone who decides to practice shugden without worrying that you are doing something wrong because the dalai lama is not the lord and master of all. In a teaching he said there are people here with higher realizations than his. Not to mention that what Trijang Rinpoche has said about Dorje Shugden would make a believer and his mind is the same as mine. Of course, ultimately, it is up to oneself what one practices or does not practice and Dalai Lama has said that Trijang Rinpoche can practice if he wants so why can’t we? I am saying that I would like to form a group of people who would like to practice Dorje Shugden without fear of retaliation or anything of the like. This would be based on mutual understanding that you can walk the line. You can practice Dorje Shugden and not worry about what the Dalai Lama says. You can practice Dorje Shugden, and most importantly, not worry about what I say. Because I have had the same problem. I actually decided out of respect for the Dalai Lama and what was happening to stop my practice of Setrap and totally forget about Dorje Shugden even though I had not technically been a Dorje Shugden practioner it was included in Dorje Shugden the practice of Setrap, whom I had given life entrustment to out of a hope that maybe he could help if I propitiated him and now I feel that like Tsem Tulku Rinpoche that they are one. So by practicing Dorje Shugden we are also including Setrap in our practice and this is a lot easier I find then just practicing one or the other. So that is my spiel, that rather than just practicing one, we practice both. I am giving you an incentive to practice Dorje Shugden which is my right without any harsh punishments or retaliation and dedicating it to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche who has been kind enough to open up this practice to people and I don’t think he would be wrong on the subject. Like I said, I had tried to find a way to make everyone happy and these darn Dorje Shugden practioners are so awesome that they made me want to give them a chance to show their practice and possibly win some more followers, if that is possible, even? I know for a fact that after I had decided no quit the practice in my own way with respect to both sides I had a dream where I actually saw what Dorje Shugden was doing for me which was planting the seeds for the Buddha Pure Land and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche who was out of his great compassion trying to teach me. I immediately felt remorse for trying to find a way out of the practice and decided to remove the ban in my own way, nevertheless still feeling the impact of what I had done I needed to take remedial actions to apologize and make up for what I had done. Hence, my new stance on the issue which allows it and says I’m sorry for ever doubting, Rinpoche. I have seen both sides and I am fortunate enough to amend my ways hopefully it is not too late! I can only call on the great compassion of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and saving grace of Dorje Shugden to make this right. There is no other way, I’m afraid. So I leave it up to them to solve this while doing my part by confessing and offering this little story. May it be of benefit to all sentient beings. Sorry for having disturbed the mind of the guru because obviously it effects my practice and this is all because I tried to find a way not to practice dorje shugden basically and I am making up for it before it is too late by changing my ways and saying it is not right. I have tried, believe me. I am just fortunate enough to have gotten a sign…it is actually breaking tantric vows. Anyway, just thought I would let you know if you believe in those things or not I would hope that even if you don’t believe in Dorje Shugden and all that that you would at least honor the lineage and what it stands for by not saying that I do not…because I do. And that for me includes Dorje Shugden and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. I have seen the harm that comes from giving up the practice and I warn anyone who takes these things seriously to carefully listen to what Rinpoche is saying and not to dismiss it. Also to keep practicing Dorje Shugden regardless of what anyone says. And to attain enlightenment. And for all the activities of the Guru to grow. Once again, I apologize for ever doubting you Rinpoche and respectfully remind others not to give up their practice of dorje shugden because they are giving up their enlightenment, basically. And to listen to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche because even though sometimes he seems crazy so am I. Yet he was right about this. Honor the lineage…it goes all the way back to Lord Buddha. Sorry for having to make a mistake and ever thinking that I could so easily cop out on you and try to get in the way intentionally or unintentionally of creating my own Buddha Pure Land, Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden, much respect. Ok, so you see what I am saying here. Its not right to discriminate against someone just because they practice Dorje Shugden. This is like one of those times when Buddha was teaching something about someone and then at the end he says, oh, “that was me.” Obviously I learned my lesson never to do that again. Let Rinpoche pray to Dorje Shugden, please. And let Dorje Shugden be prayed to basically so that he can create the conditions for our Buddha Pure Land because if we do not respect him then what are we saying about our practice and the other things we try to do to help people? It is all a façade. because we will never be able to help anyone, not even ourselves. Thank you. Sarva Mangalam

    Reply
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 5, 2015 at 4:36 am

      I still feel horrible about this whole ban thing. I don’t even feel right practicing dorje shugden or anything anymore and don’t even want to…that’s how upsetting it is. I keep doing my practice anyway and this just…is very upsetting. I’m not sure what to do. Because on one hand I thought it would be better to just hold off on the practice. And do Dzambhala…with like how Rinpoche responds to the Dalai Lama, without giving up either. Yet then of course, I did not feel right about this. I have put myself between a rock and a hard place which makes sense because it is just my karma. I am sorry for not listening to Rinpoche in his great compassion and at the same time realize how great Dorje Shugden’s plans were for me and now I have thrown them all away. I feel like I am not worthy to continue the practice anymore and I might as well have given it up because I can’t be helped now by it anyway. I could not just give the practice up though because it did not feel right and I felt it was the wrong thing to do. I’m not going to change my mind about it now yet I don’t feel like enthusiastically practicing it as much as I was before when it was just Setrap. I wish Dorje Shugden would help me out with this…at the same time the debate has become exhausting. Mabye it is better just to take a middle ground. That’s what I feel I am doing now. Thank you all for your support. I wish that the Dorje Shugden people would not get back at the Dalai Lama. I feel for both sides. It is a struggle that takes great care and consideration. Thank you.

      Reply
      • 

        Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 5, 2015 at 5:40 am

        some people might think that this is sectarian…I will tell you what I heard from my teacher on the issue when I was still a teenager yet when the ban had already been around. Basically, he said that it didn’t really matter because he didn’t have the initiation. Then I asked him later if it was alright to take refuge with another Lama and he said that didn’t matter. I ended up quitting that though after I got out of the hospital the first time for pretending to be mentally ill and saying that I was depressed because Khen Rinpoche died (Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s first Guru). Anyway, the Lama I did take refuge with said I was enlightened at that point so it didn’t really matter. He was right. Nonetheless, it didn’t matter because I got some divinations done by Lama Dawa Rinpoche and they confirmed I was not mentally ill, regardless, I joined that Lineage. I was in the Drikung Kagyu before that and before that I was Gelug…or Gelug/Kagyu whatever way you want to look at it. Then, if you have seen Rinpoche’s video on trance I basically did that and said that I was going to wipe someone off the face of the earth forever. That was finally standing up for my rights, the way I had been treated. I am one of the few chosen people protected by the Dalai Lama. I am Finnish. Along with the Tibetans and Chinese…I was trying to get rid of the people I was working for so that another Doctor could help me who had helped to get me off the drugs as a favor for him. Also to get fid of DHHS which supposedly is my guardian yet is not true. The same thing happened to Krishnamurti and Mary Baker Eddie so this is nothing new. Anyway, in case you didn’t know, it is a Bodhisattva vow to threaten people with supernatural powers when needed. I was living by the college at the time over a statue of the norse sea goddess. I gave this place up…and was forced to pay many thousands of dollars. As well as liquidate my statue collections, some of which I had gotten directly from Tharchin Rinpoche when he was alive. Lama Gursam was going to send me some offering substances and had to make sure I was who I said I was when Lama Tharchin was going to Oregon to meet him so I let him know that he had personally said I could use the substances. I got the idea from Ngondro to use the substances blessed by a wisdom realized Lama if I did not have medication. It was written by Dudjom Rinpoche’s son, and teacher of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche and is fine to do. I had gotten the information in writing from lama Tharchin through his organization directly to me in writing via email. Next thing I knew before I could find out what he said he had passed into ParaNirvana. In a video he did say how amazing “lamas” are, concerning a separate event. One must believe in these things. For example, instead of getting a nose job done I am forgoing the rhinoplastey. There is something called cosmetic psychopharmacology and it is related to medicine to bring about certain changes in the brain. Also in Tantra you use chemicals in your brain in more advanced practices. It is not cosmetics in the sense of the word you may be imagining though. Also, there is something called Organic Religious law which some lamas in my tradition use for tax exempt status. I did not believe in the drugs and for this same reason the war so I wrote a letter to the government saying I would not pay taxes on this. I think these things can be fixed organically. I also talked to a Doctor who was the former physician of H.H. the Dalai lama and he said that I was right the medication was bad for me. I had another Buddhist Doctor prescribe me a form of medical marijuana and I have read that in small quantities it is permissible for Buddhists to use it for medical purposes. I have also survived for many years just drinking my own urine. I was able to not have surgery because of this. I have read that if you have surgery you cannot practice yoga. I have had a minor surgery on an ingrown toenail though…that is the extent of my cosmetic psychopharmacology. I have been forced to take medication and via Yogi Chen’s advice I use an amulet and hold it slightly above my body when I have to get a needle injection as to indicate it is only the karmic body that gets the needle. I believe the medications have caused some genetic mutation…and because I have consistently refused them for 12 years may have given me some special powers when they poured it down my mouth. I have been trying to find a cure for this…and as a result I get super big and gain like 100 pounds every time they put me back on it and then loose it when I go off of it again in my training. I seem to be super fast, super smart, and super strong. I have a drug related injury from at the age of 18 I was locked in the hospital and tortured until I said that I was depressed because of my Guru dying. I was actually able to clear my conscience after I got out and realized that I had done nothing wrong and then used this to get my disability. I have received somewhere around $80,000 in payments so far. I have the documentation in case anyone does not believe me on protonmail. You can email me, my name at protonmail. I am also a member of the AMHI consent decree where the hospital I was at where I am living now killed 250,000 people. Mass extermination. Nothing though compared to the Holocaust where 20,000,000 mentally ill people were exterminated. So I have been going to court to defend myself against the drug charges because I receive money from the state. They think they can drug me even though my disability does not say I have a mental illness. It claims the medication were responsible. And I do not take them anymore. So instead I have to get a shot and be tried in the courts and defend myself against the medication and I have been since I have received my social security because of it. I did not want to go on Social security. I had no choice though because the meds made me unable to work and I have proof of this. Unfortunately even though the board of medical examiners agree some people think they have the right to discriminate against me for that. So I go to court and am repeatedly forced to take medication, get a shot, or go back to the hospital where it will be given to me against my will while I am living in the community in a group home. It takes away some of my civil rights, said one lawyer. I can only be on it for another year and a half before they have to stop. The U.N. has asked for this to stop in march. It still goes on and is a form of torture. I think I might be getting my next shot tomorrow, even. Regardless, I am willing to undergo such harsh treatment because I think they tortured me and I have to speak up. Much like Tsem Tulku Rinpoche speaks up for what he believes. There are charges against these people even in International Court. I am not going to lay down and take this. My only choice is to go back to the hospital where they will give it to me there. Even though I have proven that the medication is harmful and it harmed me they still continue to give it to me knowing that I am receiving money from the state for a drug related injury. So I go to court to argue it so that they will not be able to get away with it. That is simply a legal issue. The Dorje Shugden issue is something different. We will talk about it more later.

        Reply
        • 

          Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 6, 2015 at 5:40 am

          Even though it is not suppose to help to talk about sectarian things to spread harmony about the issues, it is only called sectarian by certain people. It is not this in reality. Because actually anyone can practice Dorje Shugden. So it is better to take the sectarian label away from the controversy and then it would not even be a controversy anymore, actually. So if we are able to get past the stigma of the practice, only then can we actually judge with a clear mind whether the practice is good or not. As of yet there is too much confusion about it and we are not able to take a stable approach. My idea due to the controversy was just to practice Dzambhala and to give up practicing Setrap and Dorje Shugden, both.

          So a few days after this, I had a dream about it and realized it was not a good idea and tried to apologize the best I could and tried to re-allow the practice again.

          Also I felt like it was not right to quit the practice for personal reasons as well, felling that I had an affinity for it and that giving it up would be worse than anything that could happen from practicing it.

          So even though I thought that it would be better to not give it up it does not mean that the ramification will not be worse. Because in my honest opinion I had already decided not to practice it anymore.

          So how could I practice it and not practice it, you see?

          I am just trying to describe what I am going through because it is helpful to put it down…and since it mostly comes from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and this is his blog I am free to share my ideas about it and try not to say that no, you cannot practice it.

          I think that should be rule #1.

          You cannot say that you cannot practice Dorje Shugdn.

          Okay. I can warn against it or feel sorry about it for you if you practice it but no I can’t prohibit you from practicing it. Let’s get that straight. No one can make you not practice Dorje Shugden.

          No more making up excuses not to practice.

          Don’t say that because there is a ban you do not want to practice. Instead, make sure to do your practice regularly.

          Anything else?

          Why do you trust the Dalai Lama and not Dorje Shugden?

          And why do you make up excuses not to do your practice?

          And say that it is sectarian?

          Because you are not obeying the rules!

          So obey by these rules and you will be fine.

          Just like everybody else makes up rules, so do I.

          So you cannot just say it is sectarian and ignore it anymore. Because that shows you have pride.

          It is misdirected.

          Why is Dorje Shugden so bad?

          He’s not really, I thought we already established this.

          Why can’t you practice him?

          You can.

          Who’s going to say otherwise?

          Not me.

          So basically it takes a little bit of critical thinking and coming together to fight for our practice and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.

          The only problem is that from our side we have to fight for our practice. That is no different from any other day though, really.

          The only question is, is it worth it?

          Yes, because Tsem Tulku Rimpoche says it is.

          That is good enough.

          If you choose to go against what he says and come up with your own ideas that do not come from a pure lineage, then who would listen to you anyway?

          Isn’t it better to trust an established master when it comes to this, just in case Dorje Shugden is actually not bad? And it is just people’s karma?

          So maybe it is just that they do not have the karma for Dorje Shugden and to make up for their selfishness they say you cannot practice him. That means they’re just selfish though, anyway, and not to listen to them.

          Maybe they are saying not to listen to them even though they are saying listen to them.

          And the student was asked by Guru to go rob bank with his other disciples and he said no, sorry I can’t do that. The Guru said, thank you, you are the only one that actually did what I asked you to do.

          If you can understand what this story means then you will be the student who does not go rob the bank.

          In other words, you will be the one, like Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, who says he will not stop his practice of Dorje Shugden.

          And the Guru will say, good job, you are the only one who did what I asked of you.

          Isn’t that great.

          So even though the Guru says to do this, doesn’t mean that that is actually what he wants. You must make up your own mind. And to me, it is not giving up my Dorje Shugden and Setrap practice either.

          And Tsem Tulku Rinpoche would say, good job, you are doing what I told you to do.

          Which is saying, no, I won’t give up my Dorje Shugden and Setrap practice.

          Thank you, Rinpoche. I think I have made the right decision on this and am very greatful that you have too.

          Reply
          • 

            Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 9, 2015 at 4:59 am

            To whom it may concern, I just had a dream that my Guru wanted to me stop the Dorje Shugden practice because I see how otherwise I will get nothing done because it is pretty pointless, this controversy.

            So I will not do it for the next two days.
    • 

      Lama Konchok Shempeh on Nov 12, 2015 at 3:12 am

      Hello, once again. I am glad to be supporting Tsem Tulku Rinpoche on this issue and feel like with such constant pressure we must remind ourselves constantly of our practice and our wish to follow the Guru’s wishes and do the practice of Dorje Shugden at the very least to plant seeds for our future Buddha Pure Land. I would encourage all of you in this way to do so.

      I feel like the more I talk about the issue and you can hear someone’s perspective on it who is just an observer maybe it will help lessen the pressure on Rinpoche in this issue even if it comes back to me. I feel confident in the present moment that this is a good idea and that these honest conversations over social media have helped.

      Rinpoche has also given his side of the story and I have given you my side.

      It is pro Dorje Shugden and that is so far how it comes out, despite all the efforts of people to not want to do this practice for whatever reason. Isn’t that amazing.

      That despite all of the problems I can still encourage you along with Rinpoche to do this practice. It is only an act of repentance though from me, because Rinpoche has been honest about this practice on his own terms and no one can take that away from him, I believe.
      I wish not to detract from his teachings only from a positive standpoint today at this time to continue to see the good in this practice and promote it from that perspective. Very few people have taken the time to honestly comment on the issue from the perspective of experience so I am glad to contribute these small experiences as I have had them here.

      I think people are ready for spiritual growth otherwise they would not be receptive to this. I believe they are and I would be happy to support Rinpoche in his efforts to support the Dorje Shugden practice in any way he could.

      I believe at this point you must have faith in Rinpoche and rely on this practice to effectively receive blessings for our future Buddha Pure Land to come about.

      This will, through the help of Kechara, bring about blessings for the entire world and all sentient beings.

      I think personally, from a basic ground of goodness, and through the blessings of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, and his students that this practice should not be banned and from this day onward everyone ought to be able to practice it if they like.

      Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s wishes have been granted.

      He has expressed his views in this article and I have elaborated on them and have to say that if anyone does want to practice this, then they should not be afraid.

      I think it is the blessing of the lineage lamas and there is force behind it that nothing could stop it from happening, now.

      I see that by contributing to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s efforts I am also contributing to your well-being and rejoice.

      I believe that if you rely on the lama, from this day onwards, you should have no problem with your Dorje Shugden practice at all. I hope that this inspires you to continue.

      I have imparted to you the wises of the Lama.

      It is up to you to take from it what you will.

      Sarva Mangalam

      Reply
84. 

    Wan Wai Meng on May 31, 2015 at 1:18 am

    Dorje Shugden practitioners are no different than anyone that we encounter on the streets. They are not having the plague or some contagious disease they do not to be labeled, do they need to be identified by wearing a badge, they do no need to be quarantined, they do not need to be discriminated, they do not need to be locked up, they do not need all manner of bad things to be done to them. banning and discriminating Dorje Shugden practitioners has never been spiritual from day one, so how long more must the CTA prolong this ban and catches on that by discriminating against dorje Shugden people they are just shooting their own feet?

    Reply
85. 

    Yuriwa YM on Apr 1, 2015 at 12:05 am

    My aspirations in understanding Buddhism comprehensively had been fulfilled when I entered Kechara Paradise as I devote myself as a student of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. It has been more than 11 years that I have been struggling so painfully with my inner egotism to continue my Buddhism practices as I could not even apprehend the basic law of cause and effect (Karma) in the Buddhist teachings. Encountering Kechara Paradise has been more than a blessing; it’s a precious treasure that must be cherished forever as I finally found a spiritual abode which provides me with the facilities to engage with Dharma practices such as the blog posts, Youtube videos, lamrim and other Dharma classes etc., and eventually, if I would manage to, progress into higher levels of tantric meditation. Rejoice that I had been fortunate enough to be able to land myself in a spiritual sanctuary which is resourceful in all aspects to impart the Dharma teachings to the community. This is the first Guru I have ever met to be so compassionate to the younger generation that he would be willing to adapt his methods of teaching the Dharma flexibly, tailoring to our specific needs and trends of this era.

    Relating to this, there is none other than appreciation, reverence and utmost gratitude I should express to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for whatever teachings, oral transmissions or prayers that he have instructed us to practice. After such a hard experience in finding a suitable Guru for me to peacefully learn about Buddhism, it should not be an excuse for me ever to bow down to the demeaning and insulting comments of the opposing Dorje Shugden practitioners; as I have learned that: An opportunity is a rare jewel; it comes or it doesn’t even bother to knock at your door at all. To be able to find such a magnificent, courageous and passionate Guru is a rarity, so I clasp my hands together and pray that may Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s life be always lengthened and may his health be excellent to enlighten us with more wisdom and knowledge on Tibetan Buddhism.

    Thank you. Do note that I am actually expressing my views on the Dorje Shugden debate in a rather indirect fashion. ^^

    Reply
86. 

    Victoria on Mar 4, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    For many years I’ve followed the teachings Tsem Rinpoche has given. He has sworn religiously how he did not practice Shugden. Denied it over and over and over. THAT, is why I will not be able to take teachings any longer from Tsem Rinpoche. Not because he practices something my Holy Guru tells me to avoid like the plague, but because of all the untruths. This disqualifies any monastic (in my mind anyway) from having all the qualities of a teacher in a respected lineage.

    I have no animosity, but will no longer support or attend or listen to or watch videos or audios. That snarky meme about me watching everything meaning I must be a fan on your Facebook page is inappropriate for a Rinpoche. I’m disappointed, but must move on.

    thank you,
    Victoria

    Reply
87. 

    Samudra on Feb 24, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Thank you so much for your post Rinpoche. As a Shugden practitioner it means more than I can express that you defend those with differing beliefs. It is so refreshing to hear words that defend us instead of condemning us. We need more pure practitioners like you in this world 🙂 Again, thank you, from the depths of my heart.

    Reply
88. 

    paolorossi4444@yahoo.com on Feb 18, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    Great article Rinpoche thanks.claudio laghen

    Reply
89. 

    tsemtulku on Feb 16, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    INTERESTING DEVELOPEMENT:

    We have been informed by our friends in Dharamsala that the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; the de facto head of Tibetans in Exile in India) that they have seen the vulgarities said in the name of being on the Dalai Lama’s defense. Many who can read English in Dharamsala have been horrified that their campaign against Shugden is leading to such vulgarities and attacks on Shugden followers personal lives. CTA had hoped to intimidate Shugden people to give up through fear and violence in the past, but it has worked against them as they represent Dalai Lama a Nobel peace prize winner. People are asking why Dalai Lama does not speak up against the hatred towards Shugden people? CTA in the past have kept quiet about the attacks on Shugden people both physical and verbal but now IT’S DIRECTLY BEING CONNECTED TO THEM which is bad PR. The more Dalai Lama supporters hurl abuses on line and it’s recorded, the more it will work against CTA.

    The CTA visit this blog often to keep a watch. They are embarrassed by people who write such negatives and vulgarities now and engage in name-calling in the name of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama. It reflects terribly on them. They have been getting more negative response from people around the world and more queries. The press has been picking up on these types of verbal abuses hurled at Shugden people and find it justified and alerted to the fact something is seriously wrong. They are starting to question the CTA more which is embarrassing.

    We will keep posting these vulgarities hurled at Shugden people online. This is what Shugden people have to tolerate daily. But you will see NO SUCH COMMENTS from Shugden people. I have friends who informed me they will also send this article’s link to press around the world and proper authorities to keep them alert. As violent vulgarities can escalate into violence against innocent Shugden practitioners.

    You see the bottom line is all this name hurling and violent words can stop overnight if His Holiness Dalai Lama speaks up to stop it. Dalai Lama should send people to engage in dialogue to settle this matter once and for all. It would benefit everyone all around. This ban and advice against peaceful Shugden practitioners was started by Tibetan leadership. They should do something to stop it as they are responsible for every person they affect with this ban. The Tibetan leadership is responsible for every harm perpetrated or planned against Shugden practitioners both verbal, psychological and physical.

    Do see the pictures here of the abuse but be ready for how unpleasant it could be: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=58841

    Reply
    • 

      car-nut-freq on Mar 3, 2015 at 10:51 am

      After years of denial, Tsem Tulku has admitted he practies or at least practiced Shugden. This practice is of course his own decision, but not being straightforward about his practice is controversial at best. In recently pulicised teachings of around 2005 he vehemently declares he will never stop this practice. Around 2008 he apparently vowed he stopped, but still supported the website shugden.com. So what exactly is the truth?

      http://viewonbuddhism.org/controversy-controversial-teacher-group-center-questionable.html

      Tsem Tulku NEW ! you are ranked in-“not”-bad company,i do wish you well

      sincerly
      your inocent bans”fun”

      Reply
90. 

    tsemtulku on Feb 13, 2015 at 2:27 am

    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

    Reply
91. 

    Chheku Dukpa on Feb 10, 2015 at 5:33 am

    THE CONTROVERSY ON DORJE SHUGDEN

    I am from Bhutan and a born Buddhist but let me say that i am not a strict follower of Buddhism. Religion to me is very simple. I just believe it to be a path of spiritual enhancement. As someone who uses facebook on a daily basis, it is interesting to learn that there is this issue of so called DORJE SHUGDEN. Despite my efforts,i still dont have a clear picture of the whole issue. Anyhow, let me make an attempt to offer my views as follows:

    (1) Religious Freedom

    I am a very open minded person and i strongly hold the view that every individual on this earth must have the right to follow whatever religion one desires. I have no capacity to comment on religion and i do hope that every religion has no elements of something that would in general have conflicting issues against human values and compassion in general. Having said that, i would not also support any religion that would involve religious events and ceremonies that involve the killing of any animals- this is pretty much simple.

    (2) The Practice of Dorje Shugden

    I really dont have much idea on this practice or belief. At this stage i would like to get an answer to my question. My question is : Is this part of the mainstream Buddhism? Meaning something that is part of the teachings of Buddha. Now in the first place, i would like to know who is the incharge of Buddhism?. Is there any body who is believed to have the responsibility of making clarification on this issue? If there is, then this issue may be resolved by this body. I think it is very simple. Even if there is no such body at present to decide on this, then top Buddhist masters in the world must gather together to decide on whether this practice should be allowed or not. As a concerned global citizen, i would wish that this issue is resolved. I AM MUCH SADDENED TO LEARN THAT THERE IS GREAT HATRED AND ANGER GENERATED WITHIN THE BUDDHIST COMMUNITY WHERE COMPASSION AND TOLERANCE IS MISSED OUT IN THE PROCESS.

    Reply
92. 

    abby foo on Feb 7, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    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

    Reply
93. 

    Hong Jian on Feb 4, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    Dear Rinpoche,
    In my opinion the DS issue and controversy is mainly political in nature and not because of religious understanding.His Holiness Dalai Lama is in a dilemma and predicament.I think he is banning DS practice with a heavy heart.
    Anyway,I learn a great deal from you as nowadays there is no boundaries for learning due to the internet.Thank you and may the Dharma flourish.
    Hong Jian.

    Reply
94. 

    Andy McLellan on Feb 3, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    With the greatest of respect, Rinpoche, I believe you are conflating two issues into one.

    Firstly, should people be segregated, attacked or villified based on their religious belief? Clearly and emphatically no.

    Secondly, should people be encouraged to venerate a protector deity who has historically been used by one school to restrict the teachings of other schools and promote sectarianism under threat of violence and physical harm? Personally, I would say not. However, I am not going to stop other people from doing so, even though it seems to go against the basic principle of ahimsa.

    Andy

    Reply
95. 

    Lester on Feb 2, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    Dear Tsem Tulku,

    I would just like to take this moment to thank you for being you and for setting such a tremendous example! I am also an American male of Asian descent and a Buddhist, so all of your virtuous, profound, and courageous work really resonates with me and has helped me immensely.

    May you have continued success and live a long, healthy life.

    With folded hands,
    Lester

    Reply
96. 

    Lim Tat Ming on Feb 1, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    Anyone who is concerned with suppression of human rights and religious freedom should take note of these thought-provoking questions here in this article!

    In the history of mankind, we have seen many injustices, discriminations and inequalities been inflicted upon humans by fellow humans. These phenomena are now manifesting in Dorje Shugden people who are suffering due to the ban on Dorje Shugden!

    Dorje Shugden people had been and are still being labeled as evil, cultist, negative, harmful, impure, and any other derogatory names that you could think of by those anti-Dorje Shugden people who simply refuse to give Dorje Shugden people their every
    birth right to practise what they want!

    Buddhism teaches about kindness, compassion, love, equality, non-discrimination, acceptance, respect and other good qualities of the mind. However, anti-Dorje Shugden people – who themselves are Buddhists – ignorantly, openly and incessantly attack, despise, curse, disparage, discriminate, ostracize, hurt their fellow Buddhists who chose to practise Dorje Shugden. What had happened to the consciences of these anti-Dorje Shugden people? Are their behaviours in accord with Dharma?

    Buddhas love all beings equally! Dorje Shugden practitioners are also living beings just like these anti-Dorje Shugden people. If the Buddhas can love and accept all living beings equally without exception, why can’t the anti-Dorje Shugden people?

    Please respect Dorje Shugden people’s human rights and religious freedoms.

    Anti-Dorje Shugden people, please be mindful that if you continue to inflict harm on Dorje Shugden people, you will experience the repercussions of your heavy negative actions! The Law of Cause and Effect is clear about this.

    There is enough suffering in this human world already, why add more suffering to Dorje Shugden people and the anti-Dorje Shugden people? The ban on Dorje Shugden must be lifted immediately!

    Reply
97. 

    Emily on Feb 1, 2015 at 5:33 am

    l

    Reply
98. 

    Emily on Feb 1, 2015 at 5:29 am

    Dear Rinpoche,

    I agree with all the questions raised and it would be sad and is wrong if some people are discriminated for any reason including religion in this day and age of science and increasing respect to individual rights.

    Even from the perspective of Buddhism, if other Buddhists’ ridicule/insult shugdhen followers/practitioners, first of all, it would be wrong to do that because insults only arise from a separatist attitude. Buddhism teaches that there is no sentient being that has been our own mother at least once, so the question of insulting our mother’s faith does not arise. So, if some non-shugden practitioners openly(Mundane view) or secretively(in their spiritual minds) insults and thinks bad about them, this seems to be a major flaw in the understanding.

    However, strictly in the Buddhist sense, my view of Buddhism is it as a science and what I mean is it is great in the way that apart from the ultimate truth, every conventional truth changes in accord with the changing society, and most importantly, I believe every conventional or conceptual practices of a particular time are aimed at getting the correct understanding and realisation of the truth. From my little understanding of tibetan buddhism, I know that there are two types of deities, one meditation deties which are enlightened Buddhas, and others which are Bodhissattvas not yet enlightened but with supernatural powers working towards only safeguarding and clearing external obstacles for Buddha dharma, and also creating feasible conditions. So I believe shugden is a worldy deity. According to my readings of some articles, it was explained in them that Shugden was not the reincarnation of an enlightened being but someone born out of distorted prayers. However, I don’t know myself anything about it.

    About some high lamas declaring during their teachings that shugden practitioners should not attend their teachings and initiations, my observation based on what I have noticed in Buddhist culture where deities are considered very real is that they serve highly realised lamas for the unhindered propogation of Lord Buddha’s teachings to sentient beings. For that the lama has to keep connection with the particular deity to guard the dharma. So my observation from this viewpoint is, if the a realised lama does not keep the connection with the shugden or some other deity, then if follower of shugden comes for initiation which requires a master-disciple pure relationship in which the student must treat his guru as Buddha without a dust particle of doubt, I think it would be inconvenient for the student himself if his master lama did not believe in the deity due to some of his own reason; however, the main point being there would be no fruition of the initiation and little point in getting initiation from the master. So I see a point in some masters who are not shugden believers telling shugden practitioners not to attend their teachings.

    Then again, if it is for the general and basic understanding of Buddhism, then there might not be a problem in shugden or any class of believers learning about buddhism because any knowledge would help them in some way.

    My honest opinion on this subject is that if some high lamas have found out that certain deities are inconsistent with the fundamental precepts of Buddhism which is about understanding suffering and its causes, then the practices various buddhist do should be consistent with that overarching theme and change as and when things are found to be and go inconsistent with the fundamental precepts of Buddhas teachings. So lastly, I agree that lamas from both sides should gather in a discussion to eradicate this major problem and do best for the sunshine of Buddha shakyamuni’s doctrine.

    Reply
99. 

    Mark Griffiths on Jan 31, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    Dear Rinpoche,
    I have only practiced Buddhism for just over a year now. It has given me purpose new friends and a faith that I love. I live in a country the UK were our history regarding division within in faiths has caused thousands of deaths strife and destruction on a massive scale. You still can still see the remains of Churches and Abbeys that were destroyed in what was called the reformation. It has only recently that the faiths are now working more together that there is a mutual respect. When I found Buddisum and all that it offered me in regards to my spiritual path I was happy. However I was then to find that there was a division within in Buddism against Dorje Shugden which has opened a rift that really needs to be closed as soon as possible. Buddism is a beautiful pure faith with love and Compassion at its centre. We don’t need segregation and excumication in Buddhism. What would the Lord Buudha have done?

    Reply
100. 

     Ron Wong on Jan 31, 2015 at 5:10 pm

     Equality, freedom of speech & choice are some of the very important aspects in this modern society that we live in. It gives every citizens of the world the freedom to choose the kind of lives they wanted, the food they eat, the place they stay & even the choice of their faith & beliefs. As long as people are not abusing the freedom & rights given to them as a citizen of the world then nobody nor someone from a higher authority can take away that right. Otherwise, there is always the law to deal with those who abused their right & use it to cause harm & hurt others.

     In the spiritual world & due to the spiritual practice, faith & beliefs of certain group of people in the community, if someone or a higher authority start segregate these people, calling them names, discriminate them, cut off the availability of essential social services to them, intimaditing & even caused physical harm, is that what & why we practice spirituality? This is exactly what is happening to the peaceful followers of the Protector Dorje Shugden are experiencing around the world. When we truly practice spirituality, we refrain from harming & hurting others in the actions from our 3 doors. Irrespective of their religious belief or lack of it, we should respect their choice, be kind, care & act compassionately towards them, not the opposite. World peace can only be achieved through compassion supported by wisdom. May the Shugden issue be resolved swiftly & peacefully.

     Thank you Rinpoche for sharing your invaluable thoughts.

     Reply
101. 

     shelly tai on Jan 31, 2015 at 3:25 pm

     Thank you Rinpoche for sharing. Everyone has their right to practice whatever religion they want this is the freedom that everyone should, we should not criticize others people belief and create disharmony among the community. World peace is essential for everyone who live in this planet no one like to be hurt everyone want happiness so why create havoc and unpeace for the world especially issue about religion because religious people should kind and tolerance.

     Reply
102. 

     tsemtulku on Jan 31, 2015 at 6:21 am

     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

     Reply
     • 

       Mipham Denpa on Feb 2, 2015 at 3:21 am

       When parents see there is danger of their kids may use harmful drugs, the parents have full moral responsibility to warn them.
       If one of the kid is sunk into harmful drugs then the parents have more moral responsibility to do needful things cure him from the addiction, like send him to rehabilitation center etc.
       After that too if that kid remains uncured of the addiction, then poor parents have no other choice than to take further tougher steps give up and disown the kid for some time in a hope that it will help the kid to come back to normal life.
       I fully agree with what His Holiness did and how is if followed by the rest of the Tibetans all over the world.
       Finally, if the kid wont give up drugs and wont get cured off the addiction then his life will be destroyed by the Drugs not by the caring parents. But caring parents will feel pain in the hearth for that kid. I am 100% sure that HHDL’s position is completely like those poor parents and he cares and loves Shugen Worshipers from depth of his heart but alas there is no other choice. He will never accept to let them fall in deep crevasse.
       Therefore I sincerely pray from my heart those people who lost the path and protest again HHDL may realize the truth and soon return back to mainstream. With blessings of Triple gem.

       Reply
       • 

         Mipham Denpa on Feb 3, 2015 at 4:25 am

         I am never surprised to listen to any of the speeches of His Holiness addressing the issue of Shugden or any other topic. His speeches are so eloquent, profound and crystal clear on all the matters. Only problem is Shugen People are so deeply merged into the harmful drug like matter of spirit worship that they never understand HHDL’s advise. Therefore, they keep protesting against him, exactly like a drug addict son reacts to his parents advise. May Buddha give them little bit light to see the truth and reality so they walk towards right path. With prayers,

         Reply
103. 

     Mipham Denpa on Jan 31, 2015 at 1:46 am

     Hello, Tenzin Zopa aka Tsem Tulku aka Tsem Rinpoche,
     I see clear cut protest and criticism in your article against the teachings and guidance of HHDL. All the questions you raised are irrelevant, illogical and insane. What ever danger and harm HHDL sees in any kind of action or practices, he has full right to bring it to the knowledge of his students, followers and one who trusts him. HHDL shouldn’t stop guiding people from any kind of danger he sees from any type of practices, will it be traditional or a new one, and those people who trust him, love him and respect him have full right and freedom to follow those instruction and do accordingly for the benefit of themselves, Tibet, Dharma, Humanity and also for the sake of friendship and amity between the sects among Tibetan Buddhism.
     Civil disobedience was a tool used by many heroes in past to achieve great goals and there is nothing wrong if those people who believe practice of shugden is harmful will boycott the worshipers.
     There is nothing wrong to offend few if the step is for the benefit of all beings, humanity and Dharma. You may feel you raised strong and powerful questions but there are much more stronger and powerful questions on practice of Shugden. If you saw the yellow book of Zemey Rinpoche you may know those questions very well. The Yellow book was not written by HHDL. It narrates the harmful, murderous and revengeful nature of Shugden and its practitioners. There is no single historic evidence of killing or murder committed by DL but lots of authentic stories on murder committed by Shugden in yellow book of Zemey. If you don’t agree with that book then what is the basis of the authenticity of Shugen?

     Reply
104. 

     Sean Wang on Jan 31, 2015 at 12:40 am

     Prejudice arises from ignorance, misunderstanding the situation, aggressive and authoritarian personalities. Authoritarian personality is the concept that a person believes in a certain form of authority, relying on a certain for of conformity (often very conservative). This could draw parallel to the anti-Shugden people who wish to conform to their high lama, H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama. They then use the conformity that they instilled on themselves to force it upon others in the form of segregation or abuse.

     These people are ignorant of the whole situation as they choose to blindly follow a guru, even if it means severing the teachings given by other gurus, due to favouritism in rank. A rather backward way to think of it but entirely plausible.

     Racial segregation in America could be the closest comparison to this issue as one faction is putting down another relatively harmless faction. The racists in America are closed minded as they would blame all their problems not on themselves and the karma they created but on the minorities who had nothing to do with the situation.

     Solutions would be hard to do as the amount of religious sects within Buddhism leads to a lot of infighting. It is shown that if all people in a group were to unite to combat a single problem and identify themselves as one singular group, peace would be able to happen.

     Based on the Robber’s Cave Case Study (Sherif), where two groups of boys with different team names. They would compete against each other, leading to cheating and fighting. However, when faced with a common problem such as their van breaking down. They all united to help. In relation to this issue, there needs to be a unification factor, something that could push all Buddhists together. Instead of engaging in politics that leads to more and more infighting.

     Reply
105. 

     john green on Jan 30, 2015 at 10:56 pm

     I am really happy to read this article as this year I was in Hamburg Germany. There was a series of talks given by HHDL and everyday was a group of ‘western’ monks and lay people making a demonstration outside. After speaking about the situation in Tibet for Shugden people I was very suprised. The placards read ‘liar liar Dalai Lama’ ‘Fake Dalai Lama’ what struck me was that of all the western people I spoke to no one really understood why they were there. It really felt that these people were programmed in a cultists way, one follower referred me to a senior who had the answers. So on day 4 HHDL after having a teenage English boy crash the Q&A with ‘why are you lying?’ A explanation was given that the previous Dalai Lama had worked towards a non sectarian approach in Tibetan Buddhism. Growing up with the sectarianism of the IRA it’s possible to understand why this is not the right path to go.
     I have been really sad about this situation and can’t help but to think why is this such a big deal especially for western converts, politics of a country they will never visit?

     Reply
106. 

     Antoinette Kass on Jan 29, 2015 at 1:13 pm

     Freedom is a very precious right. In my country everyone has the right to choose their religion or education. It was therefore astonighing for me that so much discrimination is happening in the Tibetan Buddhist world.
     Basic rights like buying at the shop you like, receiving proper healthcare is a given for me at our day and age.
     Like pointed out in point 20, many people had to suffer 50 years ago but nowadays?

     I mean this is a Protector. Nobody has to practice if he/she doesn’t want to. But if your Guru gives you the practice how can it be wrong? How can anyone criticise highly attained lamas and the practice they do?

     I hope many people get aware of this unjustice and this ban will be ended very soon.

     Thank You

     Reply
107. 

     GraceLeong on Jan 29, 2015 at 12:59 am

     If we take a moment to reflect we will notice the whole world is filled with negative news and happenings; be it weather disasters, wars,economic turmoils, poverty,fatal epidemics,child abuse,human trafficking,tortures, sickness, death etc etc…… WHY would we want to add on “discrimination of Dorje Shugden practitioners” to that list ??????
     It is high time something POSITIVE should be done .I love what Tsem Rinpoche commented “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
     I am really looking forward to a very near future where all DS practitioners can practice without fear. For those who wish to practice something else, by all means go ahead too ! Practice to be kind, to be generous, to be patient, to love and not to hate, practice to benefit others !

     Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for all your precious teachings !!
     With folded hands !

     Reply
108. 

     Carmen Lin on Jan 29, 2015 at 12:00 am

     Good day to you Rinpoche.

     Dear all,

     At the end of the day, what you need is just to achieve your goal of being enlightened, or just simply be a better and kinder person. It doesn’t serves us any good to be disrespectful, to be violence towards others because you are unable to understand or accept something that’s beyond your comprehension. It’s useless to put your energy into these kind of conflicts or self-imposed obstacles/distractions that could delay our progress towards our end goal.

     So just brush off the conflicts or distractions that could waver your faith towards the path of enlightenment; or distort you to be the opposite of who you wanted to be. If you find it doubtful, disturbing or does not suits you, then you could just find another deity, practices or path that you feel more comfortable to go along with, another that could calm your mind, another that you feel safe, another that could support you to reach your end goal.

     The world doesn’t need more conflicts, discrimination of what they cannot understand or choose to be ignorant about to be a better place. We don’t need to waste our time and energy in making a big fuss about something that’s not even an issue at all in the first place, time is precious.

     Our views and opinions do not solve the more realistic problem, poverty and hunger; our action does. So if you don’t understand (or choose to be ignorant) or disagree with something, you have 2 options.

     ‘A’ you stay, face and solve all the conflicts and problems with strong believe and clear goal that you wanted to achieve, enlightenment in this case.

     ‘B’ you walk away and don’t talk about it, your opinion entitles to you and only you, it does not serves the others.

     Namaste.

     Reply
109. 

     Matt on Jan 28, 2015 at 11:54 pm

     Dear Tsem Tulku,

     For a very long time I prayed that you would speak openly about this issue. I even wrote to you and urged you to make a public statement. Now it finally seems as if my prayers have been answered.

     With all my heart, I can’t thank you enough. It must have taken tremendous courage to decide this course of action, but there is no doubt whatsoever that it is the right thing to do.

     For so many years, countless people have had to needlessly suffer as a result of this ban – not only the Tibetans-in-exile, but also all the DS practitioners around the world who often face ostracism from the wider Buddhist community. You give a powerful voice to those who don’t have one, or for those whose makes little impact. Clearly borne from faith, devotion, and pure love, your strength and courage are going to have a massive impact on the direction this issue takes. Please, please continue your good work.

     May freedom reign and may everyone live in total peace and harmony where mutual respect abounds. May all your activities be successful and may you live a very long and healthy life.

     With the deepest gratitude I fold my hands and bow my head to you. _/|\_

     Matt

     Reply
110. 

     nyima on Jan 28, 2015 at 10:12 pm

     Tashi Deleck Rinpoche,
     I am respecting deeply for your vast wisdom of truth and it realy help
     me to looking at others way not differently .Honesty speaking
     when the one religion which creats harmony and peace then there is no distruction and voilence In the societies. But they practice the path DS blindly and threatening and warning Tools misused by Chinese this days.And I am afraid to keeping respect to DS some extent because of it is playing more with politics than religions.Some painfull experienced of abusing the HH 14th Dalai Lama when he representing the world of Tibet at every conner where as pulling by one same Tibetan being of DS.

     Thank you for bringing light!

     Reply
111. 

     So Kin Hoe (Ipoh) on Jan 28, 2015 at 8:30 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,

     Thank you for sharing your kind advice by giving many real examples in the form of questions and answers to show what is true compassion and sincere practice to benefit many people through pure Dharma teachings. From my understanding, as long as we do not end up with any negative actions after one’s practice in prayers or Dharma work, we should be on the right path in spirituality as the negative actions or motivations such as hatred, discrimination, bias, illogical thinking and harsh words cannot be mixed together with Dharma practice such as being compassionate, caring, acceptance, willing to forgive others and letting go all the expectations from others.

     My sincere wish for Rinpoche to live long and stay healthy to turn the wheel of Dharma for the benefits of many people who are yet to meet with Dharma. Thank you Rinpoche once again for bringing the Dharma to our beloved country.

     Best wishes with folded hands,

     kin hoe

     Reply
112. 

     SL Boon on Jan 28, 2015 at 5:11 pm

     Human has the tendencies to differentiate each others. They like to see things as ‘you’ vs ‘me’, chinese vs non-chinese, buddhist vs non-buddhist, my lineage vs your lineage, your race vs my race and many many more. These views have caused a lot of unrest. Why don’t we just respect each other’s ‘existence’ and let others have freedom to do their peaceful activities. Why harm and hurt them and force them not to practise whatever practise that ‘you’ think is not good and causes ‘harm’?? You are already causing harm in the first place with your ‘standard’ set onto others. If you think what I practise is no good, raise your concern and state you point. No need to harm me, hurt me, and force me to ‘eat’ your point.

     Reply
113. 

     Stella on Jan 28, 2015 at 4:22 pm

     1. The “I am holier than thou” judgmental behavior is not a Buddhism behavior, and is not part of Buddha’s teaching. In the first place, who are we to judge the practice of Dorje Shugden people.

     2. We often hear people say “the religion is beautiful but the people are not”. This best describe what is happening as certain Buddhist are the one who ran amok and overboard towards another human being just because of dissimilarity in religion practice.

     3. The consequences are severe as negative seeds may be planted in minds of others that Buddhism is a disharmony religion. Indirectly, these people are creating the degeneration of Buddhism.

     I sincerely pray that Dorje Shugden practitioner will not have to suffer any more and hope the unfair treatment towards Dorje Shugden practitioners will be resolved amicably soonest.

     Reply
114. 

     tsemtulku on Jan 28, 2015 at 4:06 pm

     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)

     Reply
115. 

     Datuk May on Jan 28, 2015 at 2:56 pm

     Throughout history, discrimination and prejudices were practised until leaders fought for their rights. Then laws and rules are passed to end such discrimination but yet new aspects for discrimination resurfaces. Even laws against such disgraceful acts are violated.

     It is my personal opinion that these acts of repression is the effect of selfish agendas and lack of respect and focus to others and their beliefs.

     All 31 points posted by Rinpoche is the true description of what had been done and still being done to Shugden worshippers. Every instance of repression and induction of suffering had been placed on the Shugden worshippers.

     This can be stopped as many High Lamas will stand for the ban to be lifted and as mentioned in Point 31, only if the people who imposed the Ban and induce the discrimination will practise kindness and compassion which is the essence of Buddhism stands for. COMPASSION CONQUERS ALL.

     Reply
116. 

     Adrian Chow on Jan 28, 2015 at 2:02 pm

     It is so sad what the situation had become. There are so many proofs how the ‘obedient’ group treating the ones who chose to keep their Guru samaya by continue practicing Dorje Shugden. As a Buddhist, shouldn’t we practice religious freedom, compassion and be kind to others?

     Just because what you claimed is wrong just doesn’t making sense to others, this do not mean you have the right to discriminate others by taking the basic rights off as a citizen. This is very sad indeed. Enough already, shouldn’t we all continue of journey of spirituality by concentrating on how we transform our mind and and be a good person to the society, friends and family?

     As we all know protector practices is only secondary, helping us clearing our obstacle in pursuing something higher which is ‘Dharma’.

     Thank you for sharing Tsem Rinpoche

     With folded hands,
     Adrian Chow

     Reply
117. 

     KH Ng on Jan 28, 2015 at 1:03 pm

     Thank You Rinpoche for this precious teachings. For me the message is about compassion for all regardless of gender, race, class, religion, schools within religion, gods, deities and if we are “high” or “low”. All religion teach love, kindness and compassion for and to all. Even if one do not have any religion these values still applies hence it is universal.

     It is also interesting to note that throughout human history there tend to be periods of bigotry of various kinds followed by leaders who stood up to speak out and act against it. Some even die for it. Joan of Arc, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt are fine examples of heroes that help humanity overcame these bigotry.

     It is hence, inspirational for me that Rinpoche is standing up for the current bigotry that is causing untold sufferings of many. You have my support all the way!

     With folded Hands!

     Reply
118. 

     henry pamudji on Jan 28, 2015 at 12:26 pm

     dear Rinpoche ,

     what ever the believe or religion , as long as they can change the human thinking way to a better phase then this is okie for me . ,

     the one who think their believe or religion is the only truth , make them step to fanatics followers .. underestimating , bullying other believe ,, defending their believe even with bombing other beings…..

     for them , defending of their believe is a good part ,so does us

     but we also living in society , where some part will accept one “thing ” as truth and other will reject it as ” wrong ” view.
     which one is the truth ? which one is the wrong ?

     all is just a matter of our thinking and view

     Reply
119. 

     sweekeong on Jan 28, 2015 at 11:21 am

     Rinpoche hits the nail in the mark. How do we define a good character, a good person? By his actions, what he says and does, by his belief, his skin color, his education, his wealth, his reputation, his house, his car, the friends he has, or even what he eats and drinks? The outer appearance or the deeds? I thought we have come out of black and white world not too long ago, apparently that is not so. Even from a secular world I learned there is no right or wrong way of doing things. What is the better or more effective way? To me most of the things in life are grey than a clear cut between black or white.

     Do look at overall of a person, the full package as my colleague has put it, or the one or two aspect of a person? If we always focus of one or two aspect then we will be always finding faults forever. No matter where we go we would be unhappy and no peace. Isn’t these the poison of desire and hatred as taught by Buddha?

     Isn’t what we find digusting or revolting of others could be our own as well? Look deep within and what can we find? I cannot stand people cannot agree with my views/opinions therefore I need to keep repeating my views and spouting negative words by insulting anyone who is not agreeing with my views/standpoints. Or but you say it is my guru views therefore I do it. However the thing is people have their own gurus therefore they don’t have to agree with your guru’s views.

     They way we practice spirituality, how we interacte others, can we even call ourshelves a Dharma practitioner to begin with?

     Reply
120. 

     Regina De Giovanni on Jan 28, 2015 at 9:48 am

     Dear Rinpoche, may you and your students be happy and well and continue to peacefully practice the Dharma. Your YouTube teachings inspire many people to return to their Buddhist teachers and practices with renewed faith. You always encourage people to stay steady and not hop from teacher to teacher or centre to centre. This is very good and kind advice. A spiritual practice is not a ‘consumer’ activity, always looking for something new. May everyone stay steady, continue to practice and not worry too much about what practices anyone else is doing. What practices you do or don’t is not our business.Deepening our own practice is our business! May all beings be happy and well.

     Reply
121. 

     Yee Ling on Jan 28, 2015 at 4:41 am

     Dear Tsem Rinpoche,

     Thank you for posing these thought provoking questions. It is clear that secular projections and ignorance can still create many divisive and cruel actions that distract from our dharma practice. Discrimination of any kind is hateful and creates so much suffering for the recipients. We really need to remember why we take refuge vows and choose to follow a particular teacher. Keeping a pure samaya with our teacher will lead to attainments and anything else is a waste of time. All the controversy raised by other groups about our Protector practice stems from ignorance.

     “Protectors are not our main point of worship. Protectors function is not as important as the Buddhas. If we wish to have a altar, in the centre should be our Guru, Buddha or Tsongkapa. Then on the left and right are any Buddhas. Then besides that is the Protectors. We must focus on Lord Tsongkapa for our practice daily or Manjushri, and last practice we do is protector. More important than that is the practice of Lam Rim and Lojong teachings. ~ Tsem Rinpoche”

     I will remember your reminder above when it comes to the Protector practice. You have my unstinting support in all you do and teach. I have learnt so much and benefitted so tremendously from your teaching, kindness and compassion.

     With much respect and love

     Yee Ling

     Reply
122. 

     cris katogiritis on Jan 28, 2015 at 4:01 am

     Dear Tsem Rinpoche, thank you so much. I live in America where we have freedom of religion and I am also a student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinposhe and a Dorje Shugden practitioner. The ban and discrimination I see and the justifications for it and the denials of it all seem so strange and out of place in Buddhism. I love your article and thank you for sharing. I hope this ban will end very soon and all Buddhists will live in harmony and will be able to practice whatever teachings their teachers give them without fear. In America we don’t have fear of the type of discrimination faced by Tibetans in the exile community but sometimes people learn of the DS issue and even if they love Geshe Kelsang’s books and dharma centers and teachings, this issue is so shocking to people that they turn away from Buddha’s teachings which is a great loss. I am so happy you can speak out for those who need help right now and present a clear voice in a troubled world. Warm Regards.

     Reply
123. 

     Denise Kuek on Jan 28, 2015 at 1:34 am

     Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for all the questions you asked, these made us and those people who against Dorje Shugden’s practise think deeper. Sometimes people just do not know what they are doing, probably they are educated in that way or they heard the news that they think is true as it come from the authorities that they used to believe or their parents, their friends, their idol or someone they believe told them is like that, so they follow. I think as a buddhist, what we should choose when we hear different voices or different views is that we should ask ourselves by doing this if we show compassion to others?By doing this we are creating conflict or harmony?I hope all those poeple who against Dorje Shugden’s prastise have the chance to read this article and think about this seriously.

     Reply
124. 

     Oya on Jan 28, 2015 at 1:24 am

     Dearest H.E.Tsem Rinpoche,
     In childhood my family was brought up racist. Yet my mother new better and trained her youngest (me) daughter to understand that all beings are worth while. None are higher or lower, in fact she taught me to associate with those whom apparently were victims due to any circumstances, and maybe together we can lift each other out of degradation or despair. Learning about compassion through these teachings my mother imparted to me has become a deep rhythm within my soul and activity within my daily life.
     The First amendment brings this understanding to the arena of Human Rights. Within this arena there is no room for inequality or racism, or any other harmful rules condoning “action that denies social participation or human rights to categories of people based on prejudice.”~ prejudice of any kind.
     Those participating in conscious prejudice behavior, in my opinion, are confused and mislead in their practice of Dharma. “May All Beings Have Happiness And It’s Causes…” How can people recite this wish for Bodhicitta every day and turn around to implement so blatantly prejudice actions as harming others for their private ‘religious’ activities? “How” is possibly the wrong question in this case regarding Dharmapala Practice; “Why” a very deep “WHY” is where the answer is~and we may not truly know why until many years from now. ~or at least, in my position “I” may not know for many years ~ hmm….maybe next lifetime at this point. 🙂
     With all due respect i offer my opinion.
     Oya Yansa

     Reply
125. 

     Frederick Law on Jan 28, 2015 at 12:41 am

     The world is advancing but somehow certain quarters are going backwards in human rights, and also Religious Freedom, even up to an extent that some uses Politics to suppress religions. Religions and politics should never mix together for selfish gain or to fortified ones authority.

     We are living in the 21st Century where segregation or persecution is deemed wrong under Human Rights, but even so it is really sad to see it still happening to Dorje Shugden practitioners. For 400 years the Gelugpas Monastery had been practicing Dorje Shugden in harmony, but when Dorje Shugden practice was ban, it created split in the Tibetan Buddhism when Dorje Shugden practice was deem evil and sectarian, which is illogical. Why before the ban all the monks can do puja’s together, and study together without conflict, families are peaceful and loving before then ban. But why when the Ban was enforce to Dorje Shugden Practice, monastery, lamas, sanghas, and family split segregation and persecution starts to crip in to differentiate DS or non-DS practitioner?

     Have anyone of those who are Anti-Shugden ever think with logical sense why before the ban everyone lives in harmony, but when the ban was enforce, why use violence and create conflict to split and persecute DS practitioner? Is it in the name of Buddha who said so? or is it because whatever you learn from your Lama is wrong all the while and has no effects on yourself? or simply, you are your own DEVIL in reality who wants to destroy Dorje Shugden practice and rope others into your ploy? I couldn’t understand why people who called themself, Buddhist, or student to this Lama, that Lama can act in such un-Buddhist manner which not only degenerate Buddhism as a whole, but it shows the world that Buddhist are not what they preach of Compassion and Peace and loving.

     Why couldn’t these people just practice what they are given and transform their mind and be compassionate, tolerance and more accepting? Why need to resort to Segregate and discriminate others who do not comply to your view.

     Thank you Rinpoche for this mind provoking questions that also triggers myself to ask within me why is this all happening, I feel injustice in this ban and all the discrimination that is happening due to this illogical and unjustice ban towards Dorje Shugden practitioners. May the ban be listen very soon, may all has the wisdom to see beyond lies, and may all be tolerance and more accepting.

     Reply
126. 

     Angel SH Ooi on Jan 27, 2015 at 11:13 pm

     Thank You Rinpoche for all the years of Dharma Teachings and guidance. I am extremely proud to be one of Rinpoche’s students. _/|\_

     I like this…If they need medical, psychological or physical assistance, should we deny to them because they practice Shugden? So should a doctor not treat a sick person who practices Shugden? Let them get sick? How far do we segregate and distance ourselves from Shugden practitioners. Why do we have to even label another person by their faith? Why do we have to base how we treat another person based on their spiritual/religious orientation?

     Religions and practices are free! All religions main teaching is to teach us to be a better person, not to harm others. However, there are people who still segregate practitioners based on their belief and practice? For most of the Dorje Shugden practitioners, the practice were given by their Gurus and to keep up the commitments with their Gurus in this practice, is that wrong?

     I respect all DS practitioners and Masters, because of the commitments to their Guru and the faith in DS, They have went through so much of pain, rejections and even got harm by others. But their faith will never change. They are people whom we should highly respect because they never gave up their practice even at cost of their death! Please don’t criticize these Great Masters, Lamas and practitioners who uphold their practices! Respect and be kind to them. This is Lord Buddha’s teaching. As a Buddhist we should make peace, harmony and be kind, regardless of what are their religion and skin colour. Because we are all humans and we have the same blood colour.

     Reply
127. 

     hecelustan on Jan 27, 2015 at 10:46 pm

     Dear His Eminence Guru Rinpoche, I am not afraid those who abused shugden’s practitioner anymore,honestly speaking,I was the one who really afraid about this protector before,since the announcement about this was officially announced at Fpmt. But now I really understand the whole truth, thanks for sharing the truth. Dorje Shugden was really important in this degenerated time,the flourishing of Dharma really facing a lot of obstacle.

     Reply
128. 

     Jens on Jan 27, 2015 at 9:26 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,
     it´s important to be kind to all. Thank you for your teachings and your clear speech! Please never stop!I think this world exsist out of serveral kinds of beeing. Everyone is called to love all of them. All is nothing without of love.
     Thank you.

     Reply
129. 

     Irene Lim on Jan 27, 2015 at 9:10 pm

     Rinpoche provokes insights to the truth and only the truth with wisdom no one has ever done before without any political taint but of a sincere practitioner. Rinpoche’s guru devotion and loyalty to the lineage have always been impeccable and passionate. I celebrate Rinpoche’s bravery in speaking up and his steadfastness in upholding the protector lineage despite the many challenges.

     Many Shugden practitioners dare not speak up for the fear of religious persecution and ostracizations as a result of the Tibetan political propaganda on Shugden practice whom many endured 20 long years of suffering. This is not right and certainly is unethical to mix politics with religion which violated human rights. How is world peace possible without ethics? Where is the compassion for Shugden Buddhists who are also sentient beings in all of our prayers and dedication?

     Reply
130. 

     Ee Mun on Jan 27, 2015 at 9:06 pm

     First and foremost, my heartfelt gratitude to you, Tsem Rinpoche for this much needed and important blog post followed by Rinpoche’s sharing in person at Kechara Gompa last night to clarify this long mooted issue which has yet to come to a proper closure.

     The following are my thoughts as a beginner in my Budddhism path with very limited Dharma knowledge:

     1. Any issue, concern and matter will rarely have an unanimous view or conclusion. Hence there will usually be the proponent for and against, the neutral ones or those sitting on the fence. The proponents for and against will have their own view and justification and in fact even those with neutral stance, they will also have their own view and justification for maintaining such stance. For those sitting on the fence, perhaps the matter is irrelevant or immaterial to them.

     2. As a risk and fault conscious person due to certain reasons, before I get into, take up or commit into certain crucial matters or even people, I will be checking, verifying or perhaps looking for loopholes, faults, drawbacks and weaknesses. For faith matters such as my Dharma path which I just embarked on since last year including searching for a Spiritual Teacher, these are definitely significant enough for me to do many checks and verification. At a much later point only that I realized all these verification and investigation on the surface are still not strong enough for me and in fact rather superficial as the available information are derived from others based on their own observation, experience, perception or realisations or maybe mere hearsay. To develop unwavering trust and faith, it is my personal actual experience and genuine realisations that are important for me to choose and decide which path I should take and which Spiritual Teacher I should devote to.

     3. There are many seemingly strong and sometimes sensible reasonings and justifications in this Dorje Shugden controversy, both for and against circulating over the internet. However, there is hardly a neutral and impartial stance that I’ve seen personally, which is usually the case with other conflicts and controversial matters going on out there, if you noticed. The above post plus the earlier posts by Tsem Rinpoche: “I pray to what I want” and “I will not be pulled into Conflict” taught me the essence of taking a neutral stance in time of conflict for certain matters, including faith and spiritual matters.

     4. After checking incessantly about this Dorje Shugden conflict before I stepped into Kechara and again on the day before last night’s talk on Dorje Shugden to decide if I should attend the talk, I realised a few things. No doubt the arguments and justification ‘for’ Dorjen Shugden practice strengthen my ‘ego’ to make sure I’m on the right path and hence comfortable to proceed further. However, that ‘righteous’ feeling is shaken by the negative comments from the proponents against the Dorjen Shugden practice with the fear and worries on whether I’m on the correct path, with the correct centre and Guru. I realized later that by going through the arguments/justifications for and against doesn’t help me much to come to a proper closure after weighing both sides of the argument. Reason being both sides will always come out with more and new reasoning, analysis and justifcations for their respective stances. And for those who are easily swayed due to certain reasons, including me initially, we will be going back and forth, make a few steps forward but step back when being ‘attacked’ by the ‘maras’.

     5. In the end what I know for sure for me at least is this: I have faith in these values: Acceptance, Forgiveness, Compassion, Kindness and Peace, both inner and outer through Mind Transformation. These values that hold very dear to me are not only repeatedly advocated by Tsem Rinpoche but demonstrated by His Eminence and his Students based on my personal observation, actual experience and genuine personal realisations. So, it is everyone’s freedom of choice in whatever matters at hand

     First and foremost, my heartfelt gratitude to you, Tsem Rinpoche for this much needed and important blog post followed by Rinpoche’s sharing in person at Kechara Gompa last night to clarify this long mooted issue which has yet to come to a proper closure.

     The following are my thoughts as a Beginner in my Budddhism path without much Dharma knowledge:

     1. Any issue, concern and matter will rarely have an unanimous view or conclusion. Hence there will usually be the proponent for, against, neutral or those sitting on the fence. The proponents for and against will have their own view and justification and in fact even those with neutral stance will also have their own view and justification for maintaining their neutral stance. For those sitting on the fence, perhaps the matter is irrelevant or immaterial to them.

     2. As a risk and fault conscious person due to certain reasons including my unbringing and career, before I get into, take up or commit into certain crucial matters or even people, I will be checking, verifying or perhaps looking for loopholes, faults, drawbacks and weaknesses. For faith practice matters such as my Dharma path and Spiritual Guide, these are definitely significant enough for me to do enough of checks and verification but most importantly the actual experience and realisations.

     3. There are many seemingly strong and sometimes sensible reasonings and justifications in this Dorje Shugden controversy, both for and against circulating over the internet. However, there is hardly a neutral and impartial stance that I’ve seen personally, same with other conflicts and controversial matter going on out there, if you noticed. The above post plus the earlier posts by Tsem Rinpoche: “I pray to what I want” and ‘I will not be pulled into Conflict” demonstrate the essence of taking a neutral stance in time of conflict for certain matters, especially faith matters.

     4. After checking incessantly about this Dorje Shugden issue with Tsem Rinpoche and Kechara before I stepped into Kechara centre (I first came across Kechara in 2012 and stepped into Kechara in 2014 ) and again on the day before last night’s talk on Dorje Shugden to decide if I shall even listen to the talk, I realised a few things. No doubt the arguments and justification ‘for’ the Dorjen Shugden practice strengthen my ‘ego’ to make sure I’m on the right path and hence comfortable to proceed nearer and further. However, that ‘righteous’ feeling is shaken by the negative comments by the proponents against the Dorjen Shugden practice with the fear and worries of whether I’m at the correct path, with the correct centre and Guru. For me going through the arguments/justifications for and against doesn’t help me much to come to a closure and have unwavering faith in the for or against stance that I took after weighing both sides of the argument. Reason being both sides will always come out with more and new reasoning, analysis and justifcations for their respective stances. And for those who are easily swayed due to certain reasons, including me initially, we will be going back and forth, make a few steps forward but reverse when being ‘attacked’ by the ‘maras’.

     5. In the end none of the conflicting stances and justifications matter to me. I decided my path based on the values that are important and hold dear to me which are Acceptance, Forgiveness, Compassion, Kindness, Integrity, Inner and Outer Peace via Mind Transformation. It’s really a personal freedom of choice.

     May Tsem Rinpoche, all Gurus and all beings be blessed _/\_

     Reply
     • 

       Ee Mun on Jan 27, 2015 at 9:20 pm

       My sincere apology for the double pasting of my comments . The complete version should be the bottom one up to the paragraph starting with “First and foremost..”. So sorry, I’m not aware of it before posting it up.

       Reply
131. 

     Li Kheng on Jan 27, 2015 at 7:19 pm

     As I read about the Dorje Shugden people, I researched online about this practice and some brief history. To my amazement, Dorje Shugden practitioners are treated in ways described and listed in the post by Rinpoche. They are not given access to medical treatment and they are not allowed to attend school (monastery in the case of the sangha). Furthermore, people are disallowed to associate with them! So, the treatment of others as listed by Rinpoche sound like something of the past…attitudes of the ignorant who got left behind as the rest of the world developed…however, with some quick simple online research, we can affirm that Dorje Shugden people are treated like this. What shocked me even more are the physical attacks I saw from photos. Even elderly individuals are not spared!

     “So you may associate with Druids, witches, Satanists, sorcerers, necromancers, voodoo practitioners, New Agers, Blacks, Whites, Yellows, Browns, Reds, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Taoists, Shintoists, poor people, rich people, sick people, lepers, HIV positive people and every single being EXCEPT Shugden practitioners right? So should all spiritual teachers ‘advise’ and teach this to their followers? Tell their followers that everyone is fine and ok to meet and safe to associate with except Shugden people?”

     The above statement I quote from the blog post. Any teacher who would make such a statement is has truly misunderstood the teachings of the great prophets, Saints and enlightened beings, whether they are Buddhist, Christian or Taoist! This is especially if he or she is a dharma practitioner because such a view contradicts the fundamental of Buddhism: equanimity, compassion and wisdom. Such actions also completely belittle the principal of karma that form the foundation of the teachings.

     Diversity is the natural system of our world. It is how nature is built and flourishes. In fact, the destruction of biodiversity as we witness various species of flora and fauna reach extinction is the threat to our environment. I believe this need for diversity applies to the human species too. Homogeneity creates greater competition for the same resources which gives rise to scarcity. Scarcity cause fear and the act of people to self-protect and apply the “win-lose” view in life.

     Another point in the article that stood out for me was that: It is the Dorje Shugden people who are practicing tong len. Despite the suppression, discrimination and physical abuse, they absorb all this suffering and remain steadfast to their dharma practice.

     In reference to the 8 verses of mind transformation: If Dorje Shugden people are really so bad, those who put them down because they are “pure and good Buddhist” must rejoice because it is the perfect opportunity to practice dharma as illustrated in one of the verses (below):

     Whenever I meet a person of bad nature,
     Overwhelmed by negative energy and intense suffering,
     I will hold such a rare one dear
     As if I’ve found a precious treasure.

     Rinpoche posed a good question: why are some people obsessed about Dorje Shugden people? Why can’t these individuals just get on with their lives? Why dedicate time, energy and resources to cause disturbance, pains and heartache to these people? Is there a valid answer to this or will these questions remain unanswered….because there is no respectable answer.

     Reply
132. 

     Sharon Ong on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:59 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,

     Thank you for this thought provoking post, Rinpoche. Myriads of thoughts and emotions ran through me as I read this, from anger, annoyance to pity and acceptance. Here are some of my humble thoughts.

     1. Discrimination will not make one more supreme nor send one straight to Heaven. It does not make one more “pure” nor is it the passport to instant Enlightenment. While I do not profess knowing the detailed intricacies of all religions in this world, I do believe that at the heart of every religion or spiritual practice is to practice good virtues and do no harm. And true practitioners of each religion will respect and practice interfaith tolerance.
     2. Ideally, if everyone can accept each other’s differences and celebrate the similarities, we will all be able to live harmoniously and world peace is possible. But the reality is….acceptance of differences is very hard for many. So, perhaps we can start with respect and kindness.
     3. One’s spiritual practice, relationship with their Guru, Buddhas, Jesus or God are personal and private. Religious freedom is a fundamental right of all and no one should question or criticize another person’s choice of practice.
     4. Rinpoche’s practice was given by his Guru and no one has the right to question or judge Rinpoche, who has been an excellent example for us to emulate. Who are we to judge? We are not even holding half the amount of vows Rinpoche is holding.

     With folded hands.

     Reply
133. 

     Calvin Kam on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:48 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,
     Read thru the questions posted, I realise world peace came from harmony. The harmony relationship came from acceptance of each others. The acceptance came from letting go of attachments. If we continuous to hold the attachments in our ignorant attitude such as racism, sexual preference, condemn other religion or spiritual practices, it will brings more suffering, not only to ourself and also other around us. Buddha teach us acceptance not criticism. Everyone in this world are equal in nature. Everyone has the potential to become Bodhisattva and Buddha.
     Thank you Rinpoche to share your thought and upgrading our wisdom level.

     Reply
134. 

     Kelsang Drime on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:19 pm

     Tsem Rinpoche,
     Thank you for your courage, your compassion and wisdom as well as your devotion to your Gurus and the Dharma. I appreciate your views on many things. As you say, it is necessary to “go all the way”. It is necessary to “come out” and to be authentic with oneself as well as others. It is necessary because silence in the face of oppression, discrimination and persecution is tacit agreement with it. These three things are motivated by ignorance and ignorance can only be dispelled by truthful education. This requires courage, compassion and wisdom. Whether or not you personally are a Dorje Shugden practitioner, I appreciate your support of those who are. Please, from the depths of my heart, keep up your good work in this world.

     Reply
135. 

     tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:11 pm

     When we find kind people,
     We appreciate them,
     When we find difficult people,
     We find ways to forgive them,
     When we find sad people,
     We find ways to uplift them,
     When we find people without hope,
     We find a way to give them light,
     By doing this tirelessly,
     We find our true selves.~Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

     Reply
136. 

     Pastor Han Nee on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:06 pm

     “If someone practices Dorje Shugden and they are not harming anyone, nor do they wish to harm anyone and it’s their private practice, should we disassociate from them?”

     On what grounds do we dissociate from them? On the grounds that they are imperfect, unclean? Who decides that they are to be social lepers?

     In a world where there are still people who arbitrarily form judgments and makes decisions, that casts certain groups out of the pale,in a world where irrationality still dominates certain scenes, I find safe haven by staying close and loyal to my Guru and be guided by him.

     I will remain loyal to my Guru, who has shown me consistently, and by fine example , how to be compassionate and kind to all, how to let go and forgive, how to transform myself to be a better person to benefit others. I know his is the way of peace- a way that is not fraught with fears and anxieties born of a mind of self-grasping and self-cherishing. I will never break any commitment of practice given to me by him because his practices come from an enduring lineage, and will lead me to liberation and peace. I follow his way of peace. No schism, no conflict but respect for all other gurus and lineages. He walks the way of harmony.Where there is harmony, there is peace.

     Thank you Rinpoche.

     Reply
     • 

       Mipham Denpa on Feb 3, 2015 at 4:39 am

       Excuse my language. What nonsense you are talking? Just by worshiping DS people are harming to other people. By doing that people harm inter-religious harmony. By doing that they harm the feelings and wishes of millions of people.
       I give an analogy here, if there is a hardcore criminal that creates fear and terror in society, by supporting and worshiping that criminal you harm you all those victims of that criminal. Therefore the logic is very clear why worshiping DS is harmful to others. I hope you understand Pastor Han. With regards,

       Reply
       • 

         kookoo on Feb 5, 2015 at 4:30 am

         so, you say HH Pabongka rinpoche, Trijan Rinpoche and many other great lamas were harming buddhism and worshipping criminal??

         Reply
137. 

     Anne Ong on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:53 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,

     I respect Rinpoche’s advice and decision in any practice. I always believe we must always have strong faith in our Guru and hope Rinpoche will live long to teach and spread dharma.
     OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA AYURPUNYE JNANA PUTIN KURU SVAHA.
     With Love,
     Anne

     Reply
138. 

     Lim Chew Yin on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:51 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,
     This is a very thought provoking article and the questions posed are very relevant to the issues of today’s society. I do not have very deep or profound knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism or any other religion for that matter but I am really surprise that this is happening. I have been happily telling people within my limited circles that I now called myself a buddhist because I find that Buddhism is the most accepting of “religion ” . We or rather I have been taught by your eminence about acceptance, compassion, detachment and being responsible for own deeds. If the relevant leaders, practice these, nobody will need to be segregated.

     This is history repeating itself and typical of the Malay Proverb “When the elephants fight, the mousedeer gets trampled in between” Why should the ordinary people practicing something that they believe in be prosecuted for their beliefs and practices.

     Reply
139. 

     Calvin Thum on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:27 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,

     Generation is degenerating until almost everything is getting labelled. It might be too much freedom, choices, perhaps?

     I don’t think DS is evil, if it is other than Dorje Shugden practitioner should be suffering not the other way round.

     Hope they can sit down and settle the issue in peace.
     Thanks you for this blog post.

     Reply
140. 

     Gary Foo on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:44 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,
     It is indeed very comical for people who dont know much about Dorje Shugden (DS) to quickly go panicky, act childishly, throw insults blatantly – all these I think proabbly is due to their own insecurities and weak mind.
     No doubt, to the uninformed, maybe his wrathful form at first can lead people to be at first worried and scared, maybe its true..”He could be a Demon” 😉
     But for those wanting to know more and understand about Tibetan Buddhism would would then quickly realise, so are the other protectors like Mahakala, Lord Setrap also having a wrathful demeanour which is actually motivated by compassion.
     Sometimes all we need is logical inference. I saw the video on oracles. Where few Dharma Protectors channel their energy through this same oracle. What suprised me was the very same oracle was first channeling Lord Setrap and then later Dorje Shugden. It then blew my mind, obviously if DS was an unclean Spirit, it is UNLIKELY Lord Setrap will want to use the same oracle to channel – therefore the conclusion must be that DS is a HIGHER BEING of equal status to the great Dharmapalas.
     I am no expert in Tibetan Buddhism but what basics Tsem Rinpoche as taught me is this : Guru Devotion is key in Tibetan Buddhism therefore we cannot simply change or go with the wind or suddenly swing to the tune of a well known public Lama just because his opinion may differ from our own Guru.
     Tsem Rinpoche has never taught us anything bad and will never harm us and only will benefit us, thus those who simply criticise without checking the facts are only creating more bad karma for themselves and should stop.
     The very basic and fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism to always follow the instruction of your Guru. Those tibetan buddhist who seem to forget that basic principle, may please go back to kindergarten dharma class and relearn that key priniciple. Never ever ask any student to go against thier guru please.

     Reply
141. 

     Pastor Adeline on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:32 pm

     We are in the 21st century where most of us are educated and are exposed to different knowledge and culture in the world. None of the above is new to us, we know they had happened, is happening and will happen in the future.

     The problem is clearly never about Dorje Shugden, different religion beliefs, skin colours, spiritual practices etc. The problem has always been people and our selfish mind, creating disharmony for our own convenience and benefits.

     Our like and dislike, love and hate, support and discriminate are all due to our own perceptions on how things should be. When our perceptions are being challenged, we react to protect them dearly. We do this because we have little knowledge of what is really going on, we think we are right and our choice is the best – to some extend, we even use other people’s rank and power to support our choice. It is an easy way out.

     Seriously, how many of us who behave in this have happiness? How can we call ourselves true Buddhist practitioners or a conscientious person when we are constantly rejecting people who have different views and opinions; judging people based on just one single practice that they do; calling them names and abusing them? In fact, no true spiritual practitioners will ever do that; no conscientious people will follow blindly and believe in baseless claims that will only bring harm to the world.

     Reply
142. 

     Uncle Eddie on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:26 pm

     JP, Thank you for your frank and wisdom-wised loud thoughts on this long overdue spiritual restriction on the worship of Dorje Shugden. By the imposition of such restriction and segregation on this practice in today’s modern age and era seems outdated. Nevertheless, what you have expressed out seem to very much and similarly to what is in my mind too. Anyway its right time to be revealed too, for the benefit of many, many interested eager and silence sufferers to be enlightened once and for all for its outcome and fate!

     Reply
143. 

     Vivian Ong on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:09 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,

     First of all, thank you very much for the short talk that you gave us last night. I choose to be kind to all as this is what the Buddha has thought us to be. I find the above article very good as it trains us to contemplate deeper before we say or do something which might hurt others. Everyone in this world has their own rights to choose whatever religion that they want to follow. We have no rights to condemn and say bad things about their choice. Let’s create harmony and peace _/\_

     With Love,
     Vivian Ong

     Reply
144. 

     Ivan Chew on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:17 pm

     Dear Tsem Rinpoche,

     First of all, i would like to express how delighted for me to have finally meet you in person and i have found your teachings very profound and make a lot sense.

     When i first learned about the ban about Dorje Shugden practice, my first thought is “This is not the practice of Buddhism to condemn and ban practices that are good and profound in nature just as you have taught us about respecting other religious beliefs.”

     However, at the same time i also thought to myself that we should not also criticise the Dalai Lama for this ban. There are a lot of grey areas which are unknown to us such as political motivation and etc. Hence, in my humble opinion, we should not bring ourselves down to their level in criticising the Dalai Lama and his fanatical followers. (Death threats and etc.) This will only degenerate the teachings of Buddha further.

     As you have mentioned yesterday, you will devote yourself to the teachings of your guru Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and i believe that is at the of the upmost importance.

     Regards,

     Ivan

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:35 pm

       Dear Ivan,
       I am here to share dharma and I am not interested in politics religious or secular. I just want dharma. We are lucky to be in Malaysia which has constitutional laws to protect religious freedom. We can practice any faith or spiritual path we want and no leaders in Malaysia will say the opposite. I cherish this. So I will teach the Buddhism I received my heart guru and Gaden and share it with my students. If someone has a problem with that, then they don’t have to come to Kechara, or go on my blog or cyberspace nor do they need to comment. To each his own and one man’s nectar is may be another man’s poison. LOL. Seriously dharma is good for everyone, but I will only disseminate the pure lineage here as I was given. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
       • 

         Ivan Chew on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:11 pm

         My gratitude, folded hands and respect.

         Reply
145. 

     James Izer-Bowman on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:50 pm

     Dear Tsem Rinpoche,

     Thank you for these thoughtful questions. How can we hope to attain enlightenment while rejecting others? We cannot. Thank you for showing this.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:37 pm

       Dear James Izer-Bowman,

       Thank you for sharing. I always advocate the middle way and not to be extreme. It makes it easier for everyone. Tsem Rinpoche 🙂

       Reply
146. 

     Terri on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:47 pm

     Dude, you have a pair. I bet they are so huge. I love you so much for your bravery.

     Reply
147. 

     Miri on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:02 pm

     Dear Tsem Rinpoche, this article is a sight for sore eyes, thank you for taking a clear position. May your centers flourish. May the ban end and may harmony be restored. May everyone be happy, may everyone be free from misery, may no one ever be separated from their happiness, may everyone have equanimity free from hatred and attachment.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:39 pm

       Dear Miri,

       My taking a clear position is in no way political but strictly spiritual as you know. I choose to do the practice my root guru gave me and if that offends others, well I am sorry for them. I will continue my stance and will be loyal to my practice. I wish to be of benefit to others and I have to do it my way and how my guru showed me. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
148. 

     Monkey Mind on Jan 27, 2015 at 10:01 am

     Dear Rinpoche, for the past 4 years I’ve prayed that you would speak openly about this practice & today my prayers have been answered. Your courage & honesty will ease many troubled minds.
     I encourage everyone who appreciates this, please dedicate Amitayus & Medicine Buddha prayers for your good health, long life & success in all your activities.

     Reply
149. 

     Lum Kok Luen on Jan 27, 2015 at 9:09 am

     Dear Rinpoche,
     The questions you have posed really shoots at the conduct and behavior of humans, even back to pre WW1 times. Labeling, segregation, separation, outcasting, penalizing, ostrasizing, etc., etc. have all been practiced at all levels of society.

     What we really need now is (as you have rightly put it last night), is to have peace, RESPECT, acceptance and tolerance of one another as we are all citizens of this tiny planet in an immeasurable universe(s).

     With the precious Dharma that you are teaching, let’s all pray for Kechara and its members to truly understand, appreciate, and be infused by the four qualities that you have taught us and ultimately contribute to ensuring peace in everyone.

     Let us also not lose track that our main practice in Kechara is Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga and Mind Transformation, which will bring us peace and free of suffering, here and after.

     With folded hands.

     Reply
150. 

     Steve Tobias on Jan 27, 2015 at 8:04 am

     I know that Rinpoche’s actions are making me think more deeply about my practice. I haven’t had a reason to really think about Dorje Shugden before, or what I would do if Rinpoche or Kechara practiced it. It is very taboo, and so it requires contemplation. If it wasn’t taboo, we wouldn’t be thinking deeply about it. If we appreciate Rinpoche’s kindness and think about all he has done, it is impossible run away at the simple mentioning of a dharma protector. Therefore we are forced to confront the topic of Dorje Shugden and come to a conclusion.

     In other words, is it really truthful to ignore every single one of Rinpoche’s blogs, videos, teachings, how he has helped the homeless and animals, how he has spread dharma, because of one thing? That one thing may be big depending on one’s commitments, but if you look Rinpoche has written in detail about the subject to help guide our minds. If it was just a random negative action with no instructions, it would be different.

     I personally may initially feel shock at the announcement, or have opinions, and those opinions change, and I may feel uncomfortable, but comfort is an obstacle to dharma practice. Rinpoche is keeping his commitments with his gurus, and we are supposed to do the same. I don’t need to practice Dorje Shugden, and I’m sure not all Kecharians will either. And during the times that Rinpoche gave me advice, he mentioned many Buddhas and even graciously sent me Buddhas, but not once told me to do this or that dharma protector practice, ever. He genuinely cares about his students. I feel that his real life students feel the same way, which is why many of them do not need to second-guess the choice of the new dharma protector. I thank Rinpoche for allowing me to get out of my routine for a few days to give serious thought about the issue. Whether I have moments of agreeing, disagreeing, re-agreeing, it doesn’t change that when I sit down to do my sadhana I’m not going to change the guru who I visualize as Buddha.

     Between Rinpoche’s two posts on this subject there is a repost from a few years ago when Rinpoche gave offerings to Theravada monks with his students. We would like to think that Dorje Shugden discriminates against Nyingma teachings, and so we are clean if we don’t practice it. If we look right in the tantra vows it says not to spend more than 7 nights in the house of a Hinayana. Does that mean we all discriminate? Or maybe we should investigate the truth further? Here Rinpoche is giving Hinayana monks offerings with his students with nothing but words of admiration. Are we going to pretend that it never happened?

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:43 pm

       Dear Steve Tobias,

       I am most happy to see your sharing. I am most happy to see you are a man who can think and see past the haze. You can take something and analyze it and come to a middle way positive conclusion. How much less suffering you cause yourself and others around you when you do that. Wonderful.

       All I am doing is keeping my commitment with my holy teachers. I am not practicing anything for political or monetary reasons at all. I will never do that. I will continue my practices and will be gently more vocal about it because I am not doing anything wrong.

       I thank you for your friendship and all the help rendered in the past. I enjoy our friendship very much. I wish you all the best in this and the next world my friend, Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
151. 

     Kelsang Rabka on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:22 am

     Dear Tsem Rinpoche, thank you so much for being such a powerful voice for those who have no voice. For those who are trampled on, abused, and outcast simply for their religious beliefs. It is so puzzling that a population can be made to believe that practises endorsed by holy beings endowed with great compassion, such as Trijang Rinpoche and Pabongka Rinpoche, are evil, non-Buddhist, and will create the cause to go to hell!? That anyone who follows the advice of these great lamas with respect to the Protector practise of Dorje Shugden is to be outcast simply on the basis of their faith!? Thank you for writing such a thought provoking article. I hope many people read it and begin to think more deeply about this unfortunate situation – and in particular that it prompts the dialogue that we all want.

     Reply
152. 

     jp on Jan 27, 2015 at 5:14 am

     I like the following paragraph the most:

     “If a powerful religious or secular leader does not agree with your religious beliefs or forms of worship, is it ok for them to ‘express’ their freedom of speech and at every public event by degrading your faith? Shall they repeat this over and over and over again at every one of their religious sermons? Should any lama or teacher repeat how bad Shugden is at every single religious sermon? What are you trying to do? What are you enforcing? What are you indirectly asking people to do? Segregate others? In turn, creating the situation for others to turn against you just for your faith? Your belief system or religion is ‘advised’ by these leaders and creates confusion and drama and pain, is that ok? Is it ok for the spiritual leaders, pope, bishops, monks, priests, sadhus, masters, gurus to publicly denounce someone’s faith, religious preference and spiritual practice when it’s different than theirs? Or they should show compassion and welcome all because they are human and deserve acceptance? Is that wise to do in today’s world or does that create bias, segregation and perhaps disharmony?”

     Leaders, both secular and spiritual, have the social responsibility to promote peace and harmony in our communities. Why do we need a leader who instigates and promotes disharmony and segregation?

     For any leader to incessantly promote disharmony and segregation, we should step back and think wisely, regardless. How does this contribute to world peace that all of us hope for. Think about it. Do we pray for peace and harmony or for more wars and sufferings???

     If we continue to turn a blind eye in the name of faith and watch hundreds of thousands of people suffer just because a spiritual leader endorses it, then what difference is there between you and a Nazi! Isn’t this FANATICISM??? Isn’t this what’s happening in other parts of the world? Is this the world we want???

     Thank you Rinpoche for having the compassion to write so extensively to make people think deeper and not continue their irresponsible ways of creating more sufferings onto others in the name of faith.

     Regards,
     JP

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 8:51 am

       JP,

       Religion and religious people must create peace, tolerance and acceptance. World peace can only be achieved if we use every opportunity we can to understand and accept others even when they are different than us. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
153. 

     Pastor David Lai on Jan 27, 2015 at 4:26 am

     I think this article is written with the intention to provoke a bit of thought about the whole Shugden issue. People are often biased based on their own preference and sometimes it is also due to misguided advice from certain individuals. I personally like the last question because it relates to the actual audience this was intended for and the fact that it is irrefutable.

     No Buddhist master or practitioner would say that the Buddha would agree to go along with this ban nor would they say that Guru Rinpoche, Lama Tsongkhapa or any authentic master would pass the rhetorics of this ban as anything remotely compassionate and logical. This is especially so in this day and age of modern education and religious freedom.

     Reply
154. 

     Daniel Bear on Jan 27, 2015 at 4:25 am

     Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for this thought provoking article. Everyone who is supporting the ban should read this and think carefully where such attitude as to consent to a religious ban will end up? As this controversy is happening under the banner of Buddhism, the following question is extremely relevant:

     “If a Dorje Shugden practitioner approached Lord Buddha, Guru Rinpoche or Lord Tsongkhapa would these great beings tell them to go away”?

     Well I guess we all know the answer is No. So, IF THE BUDDHA WOULD NOT TURN SHUGDEN BUDDHISTS AWAY, WHY SHOULD THE DALAI LAMA DO THAT, SINCE HE IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE BUDDHA’S DHARMA?

     Is the ban and corresponding discrimination and violence something the Buddha would agree to?

     Reply
     • 

       i ain't no jive turkey on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:35 pm

       Buddha be like, ” who be dorje shugden?”

       Reply
155. 

     I Ain't No Jive Turkey on Jan 27, 2015 at 4:05 am

     Just in case no one has pointed this out yet, this blog was published the same day DS products and pujas went up for sale on the Vajra Secrets website. That is all.

     Reply
     • 

       jp on Jan 27, 2015 at 4:48 am

       And the sky is blue. What’s the point of even highlighting it? hehe

       Reply
     • 

       Kevin Dalton on Jan 27, 2015 at 10:50 am

       No one bothered to point it out because it’s totally irrelevant and quite frankly no one cares in the slightest.

       Perhaps you would like to address some of the many points Tsem Rinpoche has made in the above article or are you only here in the hope of deflecting from them?

       Reply
       • 

         i ain't no jive turkey on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:49 pm

         No one bothered to point it out because no one realizes TR is a fallen guru who is in it for the money, fame, and maybe even sex. Get out while you still can, Dalton!!~

         Reply
         • 

           Frederick Law on Jan 27, 2015 at 11:46 pm

           Dear i ain’t no jive turkey, i am astound at your “realization” but perhaps could you show proof of what ever you said here, if you have no proof and disparage a Lama who you never meet personally, making baseless accusation on Tsem Rinpoche, you just create more bad karma for yourself.

           If you have proof of what you accuse, please go to authority and file reports, simple as that. But if you accuse without proof and just for the intention to making you look RIght, i advice you please leave this blog and get a life. I think you are the one who should get out and stop creating more bad karma for yourself while you can, because Karma is waiting for you!

           Reply
156. 

     Colin Tan on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:45 am

     Love point number 31… Buddha practices compassion… so why is it tt some of the Buddhist society out there are not doing what Buddha preach and be so nasty to others? I just dont understand…
     The points tt Rinpoche made are so true and i doubt most of the ppl tt are writing bad comments have any answer to those asked… all they do is just condemning but without reasons…
     So pls all of u… stop doing tt and have more compassion towards our belief.
     Thank u…

     Reply
157. 

     tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:27 am

     Protectors are not our main point of worship. Protectors function is not as important as the Buddhas. If we wish to have a altar, in the centre should be our Guru, Buddha or Tsongkapa. Then on the left and right are any Buddhas. Then besides that is the Protectors. We must focus on Lord Tsongkapa for our practice daily or Manjushri, and last practice we do is protector. More important than that is the practice of Lam Rim and Lojong teachings. ~ Tsem Rinpoche

     Reply
158. 

     Thomas Marshall on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:43 am

     Hi Rinpoche, I never like segregation in anyway, seen that many times first in country I stay everybody see me as the foreigner they don’t figure out that part of my family is also part of the country. In country I’m from also I so all kind of segregation with mental health and so on so yeah we like to separate our self from others when we are not so different from other, I don’t know if this practice is good or bad I do know if people have love and compassion no matter your religion or practice matter your action.
     I don’t think that good to segregate specially in (Dharma or whatever path you practice)

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:08 am

       Thomas,

       I agree with you. We should not segregate people in any manner, form or shape. :). Thank you for sharing. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
159. 

     Tek Lee on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:33 am

     Thank you Rinpoche for the teaching. Really very happy to see Rinpoche today 🙂 People should not segregate others who is different skin colour, different religion or different practice. People should not criticise and segregate others who is different. Just like how we practice to help homeless, regardless what kind of people and what skin colour, we help everyone that sleeps on the street. To me, it’s fate that brings me here, it’s fate that brings me to Guru, I fully trust my Guru, I will believe what my Guru told me, I will follow exactly what my Guru teaches me. My Guru won’t be wrong 🙂
     _/\_

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:09 am

       Dear Tek Lee,

       Go all the way with your dharma practice and learn and absorb the dharma. Respect all religions and forms of Buddhism and teachers. But follow your own path diligently. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
       • 

         Tek Lee on Jan 27, 2015 at 4:26 am

         Thank you Rinpoche. I will follow exactly what Rinpoche said. _/\_

         Reply
160. 

     lewkwanleng on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:55 am

     It is indeed very sad that people discriminate follow human beings just because of certain believe. Not too long ago, people discriminate based on your skin colour. Then people discriminate based on your sexual preferences.

     But from history, we learnt that over time, people’s mind will change and it will become accepted. Thanks to the people who dare to stand up against the discrimination and educate the world about it. Just like Nelson Mandela had to sacrifice so many years in jail just to educate the world.

     As the person being discriminated, I felt I should be strong and show kindness to people who oppress us. May be it is not something they can control out of their ignorant. It is my duty to explain to the people who oppress the practice.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:54 pm

       My Dear Lew, never stop sharing your wisdom. I love your wisdom. Always share in a kind manner that is forgiving and without judgement because we are all just trying. 🙂 Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
161. 

     Jill Yam on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:12 am

     It is sad to know that religion segregation is still being practiced in this 21st century.
     Nobody should be treated differently because of their beliefs in their own religion. I pray to what I want to as long as my practice do not harm others.
     We should respect other religion and as a Buddhist we must practice compassion and kindness.
     Compassion Conquers All.

     Thank you Rinpoche for the above teaching.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:55 pm

       Jill Yam,

       Work hard for the dharma and help to bring more wisdom to the world by bringing your dharma tradition to many.

       Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
162. 

     Judy Chen on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:56 am

     Dear Rinpoche,

     As long as any spiritual practice does not harm or hurt anyone, we should respect their practice. People would always want to comment and criticise on something where they do not fully understand.
     We should respect all spiritual beliefs. It is not up to us to judge what is right or wrong with religious practices and teachings.

     With folded hands
     Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:32 am

       Judy,
       What you say is simple and yet profound wisdom, but many do not agree with you. Many believe by practicing something they don’t agree with, you are automatically bad, going to hell or should be forced to stop. Religion should not be used to divide in any way. Religious leaders should never show intolerance to any religious path or faith or forms of worship. We need peace and religious leaders have a huge role to play in this by teaching acceptance, tolerance and love. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
       • 

         Judy Chen on Jan 28, 2015 at 12:01 am

         Thank Rinpoche for your reply. Yes we should show more tolerance in any religious worship.

         Reply
163. 

     nicholas on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:43 am

     At this age of time freedom is what being emphasise. There is nothing right or wrong but is the freedom of choice. Everyone will have differences but doesn’t mean everyone has to follow our choices. What i learn from this articles is respect, compassion and devotion to our guru.

     Spiritually, our Guru is everything we learn from. From his kindness and love where we gain the knowledge and become somebody beneficial to others. All gurus will act the same so why criticise them? We don’t know other Guru and their practices and since we have our own and just follow all the way.

     As Buddha Shakyamuni taught 84,000 ways to benefits many different people. All the Gurus have different method and practices to help their students too. There are all from the same source which is from enlightened mind. We have to respect others believe as we are not the only human being living in this planet.

     We shall think deeper if the result of an action is to bring harm to others more than any benefits whether it’s still a compassionate act and still accord to the buddha’s teaching.

     Reply
164. 

     tenzin on Jan 27, 2015 at 12:21 am

     His holiness the Dalai lama said, the practice of ds or spirit is not appropriate for gelukpas as it is causing problems within other lineage. But it is upto individual whether to practice or not.lately few individuals in the name of ds openly criticize and protest against his holiness visit. More over many of ds practitioners claims false dalai lama. Great teacher like Tsem rinpoche ordained by his holiness can’t be that easy. Some individuals in the name of ds practice openly go to chinese embassy and visit tibet often lyrics and make a big deal about the Chinese appointed fake panchen, that’s hurts the tibetan people feeling. Practice or not it’s up to individuals.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 1:57 pm

       Dear Tenzin lak,

       I love His Holiness the Dalai Lama and I always love the protector my root guru gave me. I am the new generation of people who choose to love and respect both. Sometimes parents have disagreements and we cannot take sides. We must respect both parents. My gurus are much higher than my parents, but I just give an example.

       I will always love and respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama and my protector given by my root guru. 🙂

       Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
165. 

     keng tan on Jan 26, 2015 at 11:57 pm

     I will not deny that I do not cringe with fear at the sight of wrathful Buddhist deities depicted on the wall of Tibetan monasteries from years ago before I came into dharma. That is because, I do not know any better. I was thought that anything with an angry/horror face is ‘bad’ or ‘evil’ or can help if your offer something in return. But now I know how wrong that kind of mind was. Buddha dharma has somewhat opened my ‘eyes’ and the greatest test in my spiritual practice is ‘Do I Have Compassion’. My Guru told me that id a student has strong Guru Devotion, no harm can come to him/her. So I believe in my Guru who is one and the same as an enlightened one and therefore with understanding, through dharma and developing bodhicita, we should not segragate or being devisive but to embrace all with the compassion that one is on the path to develop.
     Thank you Rinpoche for putting forth these pertinent points to ponder-if anything else, humanity and compassion must rise above all else.

     Reply
166. 

     Lars on Jan 26, 2015 at 11:45 pm

     Dear Rinpoche, if this practice helps to produce teachers like yourself and practitioners like Kechara pastors, then it’s just not logical to not just dismiss the practice, but to go to the lengths some people seem to do when commenting on it and those who practice. As a plain observer with very little knowledge or experience of the dharma & coming from a highly secular culture, I can honestly without much bias say that the people criticizing DS from what I’ve seen is the same ones who strongly portray the faults they accuse DS to produce in its practitioners! It’s highly confusing and reeks of superstition and fear. Very sad. Your eminence conduct & results speaks for themselves, how could I alter my view of Rinpoche in face of this overwhelming ‘evidence’ of good? Should one even entertain thoughts of ‘judging’ ones kind teacher in the first place?(!) I don’t think so, rather I believe that’s where the real danger lies. Be it criticizing H.E or the perfect Dalai Lama.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:11 am

       Dear Lars,

       Indeed you have used your intelligence to see what is correct.

       I appreciate your sharing here very much. Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
167. 

     Pastor Henry Ooi on Jan 26, 2015 at 11:20 pm

     It’s so sad to see people divided because of non acceptance of another’s freedom of speech, freedom of choice, freedom of food, freedom of religious practices. We’re living in a modern world in terms of advancing technology that can take us to outer space and deep depths of the world’s vast and deep oceans. Yet we humans never learn nor want to learn to live and coexist in harmony and in peace. The greed for power, fame and name, money, politics bring so much untold physical and mental torture and suffering to fellow humans. Why can’t we be spiritual aspirants and practice spirituality? Not one religion or spiritual practice is spared from human avarice. Sad, really sad. But then again, this could be the impetus for us to work towards liberation.

     Reply
168. 

     FZ on Jan 26, 2015 at 10:23 pm

     Your Eminence, dear Rinpoche La – thank you VERY much.

     It’s just unfair to be called a non Buddhist, even though making Pujas, Sadhanas, meditations, go to teachings of our teacher etc.
     We also try our best to transform our mind and have faith in Lord Buddha’s teachings. It’s just unfair and sad.

     Reply
169. 

     Namgyal Choedak on Jan 26, 2015 at 10:00 pm

     Dear Rinpoche, i very much agree to all your points/questions but the main question or concern is who is the one doing all these? The shugden party or the other? Being born, brought up and living in a Tibetan community, have never seen or done any actions just as you have mentioned! ! So i would as a fellow Buddhist, suggest you do more investigation otherwise I would label anyone as such biased. Thank you.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 3:12 am

       Dear Namgyal, You tell me who is doing all this please? Before the Shugden issue, we all had peace and quiet? Now with the Shugden ban, who has it benefitted? TR

       Reply
170. 

     Madhuri Bhat on Jan 26, 2015 at 9:58 pm

     Thank You so much Tsem Rinpoche for such a clear article about the practice of Dharma. I am a student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and as my teacher advices – I try to improve my faith in Dorje Shugden through our daily practice. In my personal experience this practice has only made me more loving and compassion and gives me more inner protection. I personally cannot understand how he can be called an evil spirit when so many Lineage Gurus of our tradition also relyed upon him. Every time I have relied purely upon my Dharma Protector – he has only showed me my negative minds and sometimes even the judging ones and helped me to change.
     Thank you so much for expressing in this blog what the pure practice of Dharma is. I originally come from a Brahmin family. I know what misery it is for the people who discriminate. They live in dark world. They think that it is part of their ‘tradition’. I always openly opposed this and am so happy I did so and did not follow my community’s advice (as many modern Indians do) to behave in as ‘Brahmin’ should.
     Thank you so much again.

     Reply
     • 

       tsemtulku on Jan 27, 2015 at 2:04 pm

       Dear Madhuri Bhat,

       You have a nice name. There was a famous Bollywood actress in the 80’s called Madhuri Dixit. When I saw your name, I thought of her. LOL.

       You are very lucky to meet your teacher Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche who is a scholar of the highest erudition, master practitioner and shows all the qualities of an attained being and a very pure monk. You just follow him and his teachings all the way. You can respect all other teachers and just follow your teacher. You are on the right path. Do not focus on the negative because in the samsara we created, the negative can be strong if we give it more energy.

       You have my prayers and good wishes and sincere hopes, may you become a Vajra Yogini soon.
       Tsem Rinpoche

       Reply
       • 

         Victoria on Mar 4, 2015 at 9:37 pm

         Why did you lie to me, Rinpoche? When I specifically asked about rumors several years ago, I vehemently defended you to someone I respect very deeply to now find out you lied the whole time, and all your pastors also lied. I would like an explanation, but fear that will never come. I’m not sure I’d believe you. I hope you have a long life in service to the Dharma, but you have lied to many people for years.

         Reply
171. 

     Loh Ann Leong (Penang) on Jan 26, 2015 at 9:14 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,
     Although I am quite new to Tibetan Buddhism, as far I know DS practise are negatively imploded in the media (internet and forums), however and whenever guru Rinpoche had mentioned as above, there is no way I am going to have same negative mindstreams with others, so shall be respecting everyone religions and preferences towards one Protector. Morever, I will try to learn more of DS, in order to have affinity with the Protector in future. Thank you for your non-biased and unlimited wisdom teaching.

     _()_

     Reply
     • 

       Tomoko on Feb 2, 2015 at 12:16 am

       Dear, you all are mislead by so called rinpoche. DG prationers arent a true tibetan buddhist prationers at all. You must visit Dharamsala and see for yourself how far those so called followers of Dg can go, make a request at IBD Institute to allow you to have a look at what DG followers have done, photos etc of cold blooded murder of very highly venereted tibetan buddhist master and two of his disciples in their room right infront of Dalai Lama’s residence. Those murderer, where they studied, lived and how they been given a safe heaven in Chinese occupied Tibet? I hope everyone here will annalize or do more investigation before blindly following the wrong teacher and fill yourself with negative energy. Please do proper investigation and decide who you are following.

       Reply
172. 

     Ng on Jan 26, 2015 at 8:52 pm

     Rinpoche has said many times…. what really matters is the results of our practise. Whatever practices they may be. Whatever religion it may be. Due to the limelight that is cast on dorje shugden practitioners ..If we practise Dorje Shugden, we should take it upon ourselves to be a little bit “extra” on the qualities of a good practitioner. We should be “extra” patient, “extra” compassionate, “extra” aware of our speech, “extra” strong in our guru samaya, “extra” kind … extra everything thats good. In the end .. results don’t lie… results are quantifiable… results will show the truth. thank you rinpoche.

     Reply
173. 

     Edwin Tan on Jan 26, 2015 at 8:29 pm

     Dear Rinpoche,

     The question Rinpoche raised really provokes a lot of deep thinking and inner reflection.

     If we don’t accept racism [for example], then why can we accept religion segregation? Worse, within the same religion, also segregation? Even Christians and Catholics can sit and dine together. So what is so different for a Dorje Shugden practice? I am not a huge Tibetan politics fan or chasing after different Lamas or Buddhist masters. But I do believe, whatever my Guru teaches me, cares for me and guides me, if he never harms me.. whether he or she is a Dorje Shugden practitioner.. makes no difference. Fact is he or she loves me and teaches me the correct path in Dharma.

     If we want to talk about World Peace… in-fighting should stop first. How can World Peace be attained with wars and discrimination and segregation. The concept is already a contradiction.

     Thank you.

     Reply