Aghori
Aghori Sadhus drinking from a human skull cup
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear friends,
I came across something very interesting. There are many methods to the divine, or finding God or connecting to a sacred heaven since the beginning of time. As trends change, so do worship. The Hindu faith has over 1.2 billion adherents in the world and it is over 5,000 years of continuous practice. Hinduism has many sects and sub-sects also. In India and all over the world Hinduism is accepted as a mainstream religion and it’s a profound path.
Aghori sadhu on the move with his bone ornaments, human skull and smeared ashes from a cremated human corpse on his face and body. These are the requirements of this sect of Hinduism.
We cannot judge what is correct or not. We cannot condemn another person’s faith or method to God or reaching Godhood. Everyone has their rights to worship or not worship as they like. No one should criticize anyone else’s religion no matter how different, ‘strange’ or unfamiliar it can be to you. So we cannot criticize anyone’s religion or restrict their rights to freedom of worship. Especially religious leaders of any religion should never criticize another person’s religion, discourage or degrade. We need world peace and harmony. Religion can be a vehicle of peace or destruction depending who wields this dangerous power.
Dorje Shugden practitioners do not make animal sacrifices, eat human corpses, become intoxicated as part of the rites, be nude in public, sit on top of corpses to meditate, drink animal urine or eat their feces. They do not eat rotting food, make offerings of human sacrifices to Shakti (Female divine power as embodied by Kali), smear ashes of burnt human corpses on their bodies. I am not saying good or bad to these practices. I am simply stating Dorje Shugden practitioners do not engage in similar rituals or even remotely similar. Many places unfamiliar with Indian religious culture would find these practices perhaps too difficult to understand? Dorje Shugden practitioners are taught to develop compassion, offer vegetarian foods (where possible), meditate on Lam Rim or mind transformation teachings, be good human beings, give charity, take refuge in the Three Jewels, have guru devotion, do their Dharma studies and apply and achieve the enlightenment of Lord Buddha to be of benefit to all sentient beings. Yet they are not allowed their religious freedom in India as sanctioned by the Tibetan Leadership within their own Tibetan communities.
Shakti or the female form of God
The democratic Government of India protects all religions but within this the Tibetan leadership creates religious differences leading to discrimination, violence, hatred and bias against Shugden practitioners. They call Dorje Shugden a demon and his practitioners followers of the devil. Why is there a ban against Shugden where its practice is much more milder than the Aghori faith in their expression of worship? Many cultures would even see Shakti or Shiva in his terrific form as demonic and far from being God. If India allows Aghori why not Shugden faith? But then it’s not India that bans Shugden. But there is loophole. India gives Tibetans a sort of autonomy within India which Tibetan leadership exploit this loophole by banning worship of Dorje Shugden for political reasons. If a Tibetan started practicing the Aghori sect of Hinduism, how would the Tibetan leadership accept this? Would Shiva or Shakti requiring blood and human flesh to be eaten be considered a Buddha? If Shiva or Shakti is not a Buddha would their practice be banned? Why or why not? Tibetan leadership doesn’t consider Dorje Shugden a Buddha and needs to be banned. If Shiva/Shakti is banned, then is that based on religious freedom or protecting their people from the big bad “demon”? Which one is it? Are you going to interfere with people’s religion and ban religions or give full religious freedom? You cannot give religious freedom and then publicly discourage people from it. Religious freedom or protecting their people from the practice of non-Buddhas as in the case of Shiva/Shakti? Amidst practices such as the Aghori sect which is accepted (which it should be), the ‘requirements’ for Shugden practice is more ‘easier to accept’ and benign in its expression to the general populace and there is nothing that can be seen as extreme. So again, why is Aghori accepted and not Shugden practice? If the Tibetan leadership dare make comments about Aghori or any sect of Hinduism, they would have huge protests and they know it. Because they don’t allow religious freedom and they know it. They do their best to cover this fact. Any genuine democracy and their leaders NEVER criticize any religion even actual devil worshipers such as Satan believers. I am not advocating or not advocating any worship, just making a statement that religious worship should be allowed in any form and no government or leader should ban/criticize or interfere.
Aghori derives from the Sanskrit word “Aghor” which means absence of darkness. Aghor implies natural state of consciousness where the mind is free of fear and repulsion. It is to achieve rising above what we fear and what we attach the ego to. If one is fearless, then one does not discriminate or damage. Aghori sect of Hinduism engages in all these practices that some in different parts of the world may find difficult to grasp or repulsive. But as I said, the road to the divine is not one single road map, but many types and we have to respect. This sect is constitutionally protected in India and also no one calls them slanderous names, degrades them or calls them vulgarities because of their practices and methods to God or enlightenment.
Some basic information on Aghori practices and *sadhus:
- The sadhus will eat leftovers from human corpses as part of their ritual.
- They drink from human skulls as well as use the human skulls as bowls to eat food.
- The ashes of human corpses are smeared on their body regularly.
- They are followers of God. They believe in God. God is whom they call Shiva which this sect dates back as beginning in the 5th century. They also worship God in the female form or Shakti which is Kali.
- They must disconnect from family after being ordained as a sadhu and never ever return to the village of their birth again. Families and responsibilities are thought to be a hindrance to spiritual enlightenment.
- Hindus cremate the bodies of the dead in special places called charnel grounds. Aghori sadhus must live only in charnel grounds their whole lives to be free of attachment to pleasure and comfort.
- They will kill animals and offer animal sacrifices to the female form of God, Kali. In the past they would also offer human sacrifices to God as well as animal. Now it is primarily animal sacrifices.
- One has to practice meditation under a guru’s direct guidance for minimum 12 years to enhance one’s spiritual advancements.
- Aghori sadhus use wood from funeral pyres to produce fire for their needs. They dress themselves in clothes taken from dead bodies.
- To be initiated into sadhu-hood, one must find a guru and follow him precisely in all instructions. Find a human skull (kapala) and use this as a food bowl. Must smear ashes of cremated corpses on their bodies during meditation. You have to during certain rituals eat rotting human flesh and meditate while sitting on a human corpse. This symbolizes no fear and eliminating all attachments to form, taste, touch, sight, smell and phenomena in order to ascend to God. To become one with Shiva. To become enlightened.
- There are many Aghori sadhus that wander their whole lives in complete nudity to free themselves from illusions. This is to transcend human feelings of hatred, love, jealousy and pride.
- Daily they eat rotten food and leftovers found in garbage dumps or dumpsters. Also to eat animal feces and animal urine in their diet.
- They believe God exists everywhere whether it’s in cow dung or all foods. Therefore nothing is unholy, unclean and or inauspicious. Everything is sacred because everything is infused with God’s energy. They wish to blur the lines of holy and unholy, good and bad to transcend normal ordinary human likes and dislikes in order to achieve enlightenment.
- They roam freely without worry of community, food, family and they sleep in any charnel ground they come across at night. Their sleeping places or any semblance of resting area must be a place where corpses are cremated. They must only partake food and drink through a human skull or kapala.
- They also partake of smoke and alcohol which differentiates them from other Hindu sects. To be imbibed or intoxicated is another way of disconnecting from ordinary mundane views.
Aghori sadhu who are widely feared and respected and considered very powerful.
These are some basic tenants, rules and beliefs of this Aghori sect of Hinduism. I am sure there is much more depth, meaning and symbolism to this faith for those who wish to study further as you can search on line. I don’t think we should conclude any religion or faith or spiritual path from the external practices/symbolism that may greatly differ than our own. India is a great and ancient nation with many forms of religion for thousands of years. We cannot ‘judge’ their methods to God or enlightenment based on the criteria we learned from our own culture. What is acceptable and not acceptable culturally is vastly different. No culture is better than another. A culture whether secular or spiritual is unique and must be seen from their perspective and not ours. Social norms, acceptability, religion develop to suit the people over time of a particular region. After all, in the end who is to say which way is correct or not correct. But one thing for sure, all leaders both secular and spiritual must always grant religious freedom and never create division based on religion. This is necessary for peace in the family, neighborhood, community, town, province, state, countries and the world. We need to present religion in a way that creates harmony and mutual respect.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/aghori.mp4
Animal sacrifice and blood offerings are part of the rites to Shakti
Aghori charnel ground ritual
Shakti requires blood and she is the female form of God. God is genderless. We ascribe gender to God. So therefore God can manifest as male or female, benign or ferocious, fearsome or gentle. God has no borders and barriers.
Invoking Shakti in charnel ground during ritual by Aghori sadhu
Aghori dedicate their practice, devotions and worship to God who is personified by Shiva. Shiva is the universal divine. And they believe God or Shiva is everywhere and in everything. Their goal is to merge with God Shiva and become one and enlightened. They can also do the same with Shakti, or female personification of God.
I offer this post with no offence to anyone especially the Hindus. If there are mistakes in this, I ask for profound forgiveness of my Hindu brothers and sisters. The methods, rites and worship of the vast and profound Hindu faith is not something I fully fathom nor understand. I as any ignorant observer from another culture can only share the superficial elements of this sect of Hinduism. I offer my profound and deepest respect to all aspects of Hinduism, their teachers and adherents.
*Sadhu – priests/and or meditators/mendicants/ascetics
For more information on Dorje Shugden, click here.
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Refreshing this post again about Aghori. Interesting read as I saw them during my trip in Vananasi, India back in 2019. The Aghori are a small group of ascetic Shaiva sadhus found in Uttar Pradesh, India. They engage in post-mortem rituals. They will smear cremation ashes on their bodies, and use bones from human corpses as jewellery. Shrouded in an aura of mystery, Aghoris also drink from human skulls. The shores of Ganges in Varanasi is one of the important places to find Aghoris and their lifestyle. Cannibalism is openly practised by Aghoris in Varanasi where they consume raw corpses. Well, renouncing clothes is the symbol of renouncing the world. By giving up clothes, these sadhus have renounced one of the most basic necessities. This is a sign of their renunciation. They are fortunate in their own world living like nomads as the Indian government allow religious freedom and protects all religions. Somehow the Tibetan leadership creates religious differences leading to discrimination, and so forth against Shugden practitioners. Now situation has improved much better than before. May there be a peaceful solution to end all the unnecessary banning of Dorje Shugden practice.
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting post.
An interesting aspect of this practice, is that they see everything as pure and wholesome, there is nothing impure. To me it feels they are training in pure perception.
Pure minds, only see everything as pure, impure minds will see impure things.
Thank you, Rinpoche and the blog team to share with us this interesting sect of Hinduism which really challenges us to see things different around us. We are used to be presented and see nice things and when we are not, we will feel repulsed and avert the sight.
Many might not accept this form of Hinduism thinking it is too extreme or unnecessary to train ourselves with such methods. However, out of respect, they accept their choice of religion. They do not discriminate or segregate them no matter what they did that is unfitting to their own world.
However, it is totally different for Dorje Shugden practitioners. Everything about them is the same as other dharma practitioners and the only difference is that they pray to this special protector. It is also because of that they are being discriminated and shunned from their own community. That is no religious freedom and Tibetan leadership is the one who started it.
This is a superficial post rinpoche
As i was intiated into meditation through
An aghori.
There are deeper aspects to the ritiual of the aghori
I am not trying to disrespect you but
The more real aghoris know the true aspects of the path
What you see on most post on the internet
About the aghori are just people that are most fetishes
But i get the point your trying to make by your post about lord shugden
Jai ma
Tashi delek
There is no such thing as freedom of religion. It is more what can you get away with. Please I am aware of all my past lives. I have spent five years working with the Deity Green Tara and years later with Shiva. I will say the opposite of you. Very few people understand any truth about the deities. Recreated by man’s ignorance. Then what you said about God you can only get close to IT ONE WAY . People can think what ever they want. Everybody can have a truth but is it the real truth. They do not know a true God. The lies they preach are from their own ignorance.
The universe has nothing to do with God. They are naked because they cannot afford anything, grubbing food. They are programmed by something they don’t talk about . They cannot talk about Satnam also called Lucifer because they are being controlled by it. The things they do go against God Itself. I truly wonder how many really stood before Shiva and learned anything from It. I did study with a Vajra master for about five years but every student should out grow their master if he is a good one. It is never about time it is about awareness. Once you become aware of God- it is about what you do not about what you don’t do. Soul which few people talk about is all anyone is. There are two kinds aware and unaware and sadly there are very few aware souls. People can dream all they want but the truth- theirs will be before them when they die. Not while they are still here playing the game. Even thinking they are better.
I am very hard core, I challenge any one to prove they even know what spiritual means never mind the one True GOD which is not Shiva. He is a deity the little God in the lower worlds. along with four others. How many people with all their practice have a true understanding about death and why most people reincarnate and only a few move on. There are 150,000 dying daily while there are 350,000 coming back daily. That is not to hard to figure out.
For the people saying God is everywhere – they have a very sick idea of God. For God to dwell in hell is delusional. Again what were the Deities main concern – It was sex. It was never about understanding a real GOD. All man’s ideas about God just prove their ignorance to what A real God is. Then their is a fine line between Lucifer the (dark side) Deities and aliens based on who has more control over the planet. But people like living in a dream world hoping it will come true.
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们，
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说，西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使，一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前，当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺，化身为特别的护法，赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安（平日外游和神游时）和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时，你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时，你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后，你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒：嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑，你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见，充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的，圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安，常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿（布旦康萨）— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
Interesting…. there are so many religion and different culture in the world. India is renowned for its rich and varied culture. At every corner of India, there will be a lifestyle or culture which are different from one other. Aghor is an extreme sect of Hinduism living in remote places far from the public such as in the cold caves of the Himalaya , in the jungles and even some of them lives in cemeteries. Aghori are known to engage in post-mortem rituals and are notorious for their uncommon ritual . These mysterious Aghori feast on human flesh as part of their rituals, eat rotten food, drinking from human skull and covered their naked body with ashes from dead bodies. They practice meditation and do believe in getting to God or to achieve enlightenment. They have their practice which we have to respect some how, even though they perform grisly rituals as a part and parcel of their religious routine. Everyone has their rights to worship and practice what they like. No one should criticize anyone religion no matter how strange . The Government of India protects all religions , giving freedom to choose their practice and spiritual path. But the Tibetan leadership in India creates religious differences dividing the Tibetan in-exile for years causing hardships, discrimination, violence, hatred and so forth against Shugden practitioners. To have religious freedom is way to have peace and harmony. May the ban on Dorje Shugden soon be lifted . Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche, for sharing with us the interesting facts about another faith.
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama
Tibetans commonly refer to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama as the “sun and moon” of Tibetan Buddhism. They are the center of Tibetan Buddhist civilization, which draws to its sphere of influence millions of non-Tibetan practitioners. The Panchen Lama’s incarnation line began with the 16th abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1570 – 1662). He was bestowed the title of Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama after being declared as an emanation of Amitabha.
After being given the title, his three previous incarnations were posthumously also bestowed the title, making Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen the 4th Panchen Lama. He became a teacher to many Tibetans, Bhutanese and Mongolian religious figures, including His Holiness the 4th and 5th Dalai Lamas, and the 1st Jetsun Dampa of Mongolia. A prolific author, Chokyi Gyeltsen is credited with over a hundred compositions, including a number of commentaries and ritual texts that remain central in the Gelukpa tradition today. Along with his role as a teacher of the Dharma, the Panchen Lamas are usually responsible for the recognition of the rebirths of the Dalai Lamas, and vice versa.
The 10th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Trinley Lhundrub Chokyi Gyeltsen (19 February 1938 – 28 January 1989) continued both the spiritual and political roles of his predecessors. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, his contemporary, was even heard to say and echo the Panchen Lama’s own words that the Dalai Lama would safeguard Tibet from the outside while the Panchen Lama would safeguard Tibet from the inside, as he never left Tibet after the political troubles of 1959. He was truly loved by the Tibetans, all the way until his passing. When he taught, thousands of people would attend, not only from his own Gelug lineage, but masters and practitioners from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
At his sprawling monastery of Tashi Lhunpo, he has a special chapel specifically dedicated to Dorje Shugden, where prayers and rituals are performed on a daily basis. In his great omniscience the Panchen Lama held Dorje Shugden as the principal Dharma protector of the monastery. He also personally propitiated Dorje Shugden among other Dharma protectors, and even wrote extensive prayers and rituals to Dorje Shugden. These rituals and prayers are contained within his ‘sung bum’ or collected works, which are provided here. As such a great lama, with an erudite and clear understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, a teacher to millions in both Tibet and China, from an established incarnation line and an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha, he could not be mistaken about his practice of Dorje Shugden.
His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama is known for his composition of commentaries and practice texts that are still in use by contemporary Buddhist practitioners both in Tibet and across the world. One of these is a powerful ritual composition propitiating the compassionate Dorje Shugden.
Upon the request by Acharya Lobsang Jangchub to compose a shorter version of the prayer (sadhana) for the exhortation of activities of Dorje Shugden, Panchen Lama immediately composed an abbreviate form of Dorje Shugden’s Kangsol. This text is entitled “Manjunatha’s (Tsongkapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfilment of activities rites” or “Melodious sound of Accomplishment of the Four Activities” for short. Once the prayers were completed, he had signs and strong feelings that Dorje Shugden has been working hard to protect the Buddhadharma in general and the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa specifically.
Mirroring the abilities of one of his earlier incarnations, Khedrub Je, a disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa and master of both sutra and tantra, the Panchen Lama used his compositional skill and poetic prowess to create a masterful sadhana. Worthy of note is a praise in which the first letter of each verse is a Tibetan vowel. Such compositions are rarely seen, and have historically only been used when propitiating senior Dharma protectors such as Palden Lhamo and Kalarupa.
The Panchen Lama also stated that while composing the Dorje Shugden sadhana (prayers) he was filled with a sense of happiness and bliss. He ends the composition with not only his official title but his ordination name, Tenzin Trinley Jigme Choje Wangchuk, endorsing the validity of his work. He composed the sadhana in his own Tashi Lhunpo monastery while in the Hall of Clear Light and Bliss.
See the Panchen Lama’s writings and download: https://bit.ly/2KIfeXb
For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 asssistants of his mandala.
Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.
Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-
1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-
– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.
2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.
3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.
4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.
5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.
6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.
7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.
These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.
Dorje Shugden mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=131570
Dorje Shugden’s benefit and practice: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62422
Dorje Shugden’s origins: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=106424
Dorje Shugden chapel in His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=68698
*Stand not included
Amazing post!!!!!
Dear friends, For months we have been working on this BEAUTIFUL and meaningful mural in Kathmandu, Nepal. Please click here to enjoy the many stunning pictures of this mural: https://bit.ly/2LgOj8J
Tsem Rinpoche
Sakya tradition’s thangka of Dorje Shugden sitting on a throne within his palace with his four emanations and high Sakya Lamas nearby. Tsem Rinpoche
Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
This is really open up my mind that are so many different religions based on different cultures in this World. The Aghori sadhus are unique and special. It was interesting to read the article and learn more about the Aghori sadhu through further sharings and research in the comments.
As long as there is no further sufferings caused to living humans,and I wished animals too. I feel that people should be free and entitled to deem what practices suit them most to help them progress spiritually in their journey through life.
We will continue to educate the public about the practice of Buddha Dorje Shugden until the ban comes down and practitioners are not harassed and ostracized. Thank you Rinpoche for this very interesting article._/\_
This is a very interesting comment left on Tsem Rinpoche’s YouTube channel. The commenter ‘Suzy in Hawaii’ sees the beauty in the Dorje Shugden practice despite her reluctance to admit it due to old loyalties. Her opinion reflects the shift in public opinion of the Protector practice signaling the collapse of a 2 decade long attempt to bury the Dorje Shugden lineage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s
Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, TibetOver 400 years ago a great and learned lama Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was famed in Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and China for being very saintly and compassionate. He resided in his residence (Zimkhang Gongma Ladrang) in Drepung Monastery. His root guru was H.H. the Omniscient 4th Panchen Lama and his close dharma brother was the 5th Dalai Lama.
The 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had a very close and dharmic relationship and often went to receive teachings together from the 4th Panchen Lama. They were close in age. They both became very learned and well known. During this time, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as a Dharma King of Tibet. But more people went to see Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for teachings, initiations and divinations. This made the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama feel threatened that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s fame might usurp the power of the 5th Dalai Lama. So they had a khata forced down his throat. At that moment, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen dissolved his psychic winds and generated the wish to be a great guardian of Buddha and Tsongkapa’s teachings. As his consciousness dissolved, he entered ‘bardo’ as a dharma protector of the highest order (jikten depey sungma). Many signs were seen throughout Lhasa at this time and the earth was said to have shaken in Lhasa. This event was already predicted to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s previous incarnation when he was one of the 8 main disciples of Lord Tsongkapa the Supreme Master and he served Tsongkapa directly by building Gaden Monastery.
When the 5th Dalai Lama heard what his scheming and power-hungry attendants had done, he was very distressed. He was very sorry Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was murdered and dishonored as he was a great dharma master. The 5th Dalai Lama composed an apology to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. In Lhasa, tens of thousands gathered for the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s holy body. During the cremation, the 5th Dalai Lama’s apology was read out at which flames spontaneously arose from the body of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen commencing the cremation. From the body, during cremation, a powerful whirlwind of smoke tunneled into the sky for all to see as this was an indication Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s consciousness has arisen as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. The Dharma Protector Setrap immediately recognized this new protector Dorje Shugden and ‘enthroned’ him as a powerful Dharma Protector in the realm of the Buddhas. From this, Setrap and Dorje Shugden are closely connected and very close working hand in hand always. After the cremation, the great 5th Dalai Lama built a Dorje Shugden chapel on the spot the cremation took place and named it Trode Khangsar. The 5th Dalai Lama commissioned the statue of Dorje Shugden in this chapel and had monks installed in the chapel to do continuous propitiations to Dorje Shugden. Trode Khangsar Chapel was a commemoration to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who was wronged and also a celebration of his consciousness arising as the World Peace Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
This Trode Khangsar Chapel still exists now in Lhasa where many make pilgrimages there. It is in good condition and was recently renovated. It is over 400 years old and a testimony to the respect the Great 5th Dalai Lama had to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who arose as Dorje Shugden.
I have visited this holy chapel in Lhasa years back. I’ve never heard of it till I was in Lhasa and by chance, I was told about it which I was happy to visit. I could not find the place but strangely a bunch of pilgrims from Amdo told me they would show me how to get there in Lhasa.
This short video is a short clip of this holy Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa today commemorating Dorje Shugden, built by the great 5th Dalai Lama. The great 5th Dalai Lama even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden which is still available today and we can recite to invoke the blessings, protection, and assistance of World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
Tsem Rinpoche
Read more: Trode Khangsar – A 400-year-old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/trode-khangsar-%E2%80%93-a-400-year-old-dorje-shugden-chapel-in-lhasa.html
Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTybDwTeLAM
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The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje ShugdenHUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!
Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinoceros leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamos of the charnel grounds, praise to you!
Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favourite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!
Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!
Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!
From: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/the-5th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden
Tibetan prayer from: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-14th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html
I am an orthodox Muslim from Pakistan and most of our ancestors were Hindus who converted to Islam, and I read about a Pakistani family in Bhakkar who roasted human flesh to attain the thirteenth stage of black magic to acquire Satanic enlightenment. There is a debate within Islam about validity of idea of wahdatul wujud or unity of being. The following statement confirms my skepticism about its pagan origin:the life of Aghori Ramnath, who is initiated by tantric master, and lives in the cremation grounds and follows the path of Aghora to be one with Shiva. Sufi scholars like Sheikh Abdul Aziz Dabbagh say in Ibriz that enlightenment can either be holy or evil. The holy enlightenment is after recognizing Abrahamic unitarianism(tawhid) and Prophetic orthopraxis(sunnah) along with love of Prophetic family(ahlulbayt). Without purifying heart with these lights, supposed enlightenment supports dark forces. Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him said: Remembrance of death and reciting Quran removes the rust on hearts caused by sins and materialism. He also taught that do not pray for death or war, but when there is war stand firm. So, we must be spiritually balanced between positivity and negativity. In Islam, faith is between fear and hope.
அகொறிகள் எண்பவர்கள் முற்றும் துறந்தவர்கள்,
முறைபடி கல்வியொ குருவொ கிடையது .
அவற்கள் தாமாகவெ கற்றவர்கள்.
அவற்கலின் பயிர்சி ஆக்ரொஷம் இருக்கும் .
அவர்கள் வணங்குவது சிவன் ஆக இருந்தலும்,
சிவனை அவற்கள் அழிக்கும் சக்தி யென கருதுவற்.
ஆகயால் பலி கொடுதல் இருக்கும் , இறப்பினை சிவன் யென
கருதபடுகிரது , அதனல் அகொறிகல் மண்டை்ஓடுகலை வைதிருகின்றனற்.
(Aghori began form by self without teacher or guru .their activity will be violence .Even their pray fro god of shiva ,their angel is god of destroy.fro that purposes given sacrifices to full fill their requested. lord shiva also concern for created fro the death , because of that their show symbol bone.)
Thank you Rinpoche for this article
India is truly accepting and tolerate for all kinds of faith, and it is very much welcome. However within Indian Subcontinent there is a foreign government, that does not play by the same rules that Mother India abides by. That foreign government is CTA or formerly known as The Tibetan Government in Exile for their ban on the Dorje Shudgen practice. Despite so much evidence of a ban, the CTA has the audacity to deny there is no ban at all, such denials damages the Tibetan movement and hurts any moral authority they may lay claim to.
I really respect Aghor saddus, And their believe system , describes non-dual thinking as I come up with this verse “our ability to read reality in a way that is not judgmental, in a way that is not exclusionary of the part that we don’t understand. When you don’t split everything up according to what you like and what you don’t like, you leave the moment open, you let it be what it is in itself, and you let it speak to you. Reality is not totally one, but it is not totally two, either! Stay with that necessary dilemma, and it can make us wise.”
Thank you Rinpoche for this article , as Rinpoche said there is many paths to enlightenment, many are secret and we don’t know too.. We are lucky with Buddha Sekyamuni Compassion he gave us clear and doubtless teaching to path to enlightenment.. Dorje Shugden lineage goes to even Buddha Sekyamuni time I dont see any reason for ban this practice..
I consider myself to be open minded and accepting to things that are unorthodox but I must say I was a bit surprised at these practices. I won’t claim to say our Tibetan Gelugpa practice is better than the Aghori’s because I simply don’t understand their practice well enough to say so. Even still, the main point here is to focus on our own practice, if the practice was good enough for beings to become enlightened then we should try to and do that rather than put down another practice that we don’t understand and then lose focus of our own practice which then gets us nowhere.
We might always have doubt, fear or weird feeling about anything unfamiliar to us, or in our cultures/experiences, but it does not equal to there moist be something bad or devil. Have an open mind and go back everything to respect others and their choices, would make lessen sufferings to others and ourselves.
Thanks for Rinpoche always open our mind to something we are unfamiliar with and view with respect.
Wow, what an amazing way to reach enlightenment. Adopting methods that may be considered abhorent to “normal” people certainly helps to overcome attachments and fears. This blog post really open my mind to the extreme that some would go to, to achieve enlightenment. Makes me all the more grateful to have Rinpoche as my previous Guru, buddha Lama Tsongkapa’s method of enligthenment and Lord Dorje Shugden as my Protectot. Thank you for sharing how the Aghorians practises and I do agree everyone should be free to practise what suits them. We are all just working our way out of samsara.
我们要感恩因为可以出生和成长在马来西亚。虽然，马来西亚并不算是很先进和发达的一个国家。但最起码这里不像有些国家那样，处在容易有天灾人祸发生的地方。马来西亚可以被认为得天独厚，可以免除不幸的事情发生，而且也让大多数的人民衣食无忧。
除此，马来西亚也是属于民主的国家。而因为这样，所有马来西亚的人民皆有权信奉与实践其宗教信仰的权利（这是根据马来西亚联邦宪法第十一条文，清楚的写明着）。不过如果Aghori 教派在马来西亚传法的话，可能就遇到问题了。因为Aghori所注重的苦行与种种的行为简直与本地其他的宗教差异太大了。而且很有可能被认为抵触宪法第十一条文的第五款，那就是影响公共安宁、健康或道德原则。
感谢仁波切的分享。让我看到与了解到Aghori的修行和他在印度是极度的普遍化。 如果相较之下，上师尊贵的詹杜固仁波切所传授的多杰雄登护法其实是让我们更容易接受与修持。因为多杰雄登护法的是其中一个法门可以帮助消除我们在学佛的道路上所遇到的障碍。
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post with everyone.
This is really open up my mind that are so many different religions based on different cultures in this World. The Aghori sadhus are unique and special. At the beginning reading this post, it was make me difficult to understand the way their practices, like the sadhus will be eat leftovers from human corpses as part of their ritual, they will kill animals and offer animal sacrifices to God and so on. But after read and think further, Aghori sadhus practice is one of the methods to find divine or finding God in order to achieve enlightenment.
The main goal is same to Dorje Shugden practitioners because we want to achieve the enlightenment of Lord Buddha to be benefit to all sentient beings by taught to develop compassion, offer vegetarian foods , meditate on Lam Rim or mind transformation teachings, be good human beings, give charity, take refuge in the Three Jewels, have strong guru devotion and do their Dharma studies.
The democratic Government of India protects all religions, but there is a ban against Shugden where its practice is much more milder than the Aghori. India gives Tibetans a sort of autonomy within India which Tibetan leadership has banning worship for Dorje Shugden for political reasons. This clearly shown there is no freedom of religion. All the leaders in the world regardless they are secular or spiritual, they must always grant religious freedom and be respect to everyone to create peace in this world.
Thank you Rinpoche for shedding light about respecting other people’s religion, faith and beliefs. This is the right attitude to have if we wish to have a peaceful world, if we wish for less wars, less suffering, less pain… after all at the end of the day we all bleed the same colour – red. Whatever another belief, we should never judge and criticise. And if it does not break any legal laws, how dare we put a ban on people’s spiritual faith. That is completely unethical and a breach of our human rights to our religious freedom. So whatever logic or rather non-logic that the Tibetan Leaderships gives regarding the discrimination and ban on Dorje Shugden practice, it is considered a breach of the human rights constitution and isn’t that considered illegal?
Yes Rinpoche has made a very clear point that if we are to compare the Aghori’s methods of practice with Dorje Shugden’s, it is obvious that Dorje Shugden’s practice is much tamer. But that’s their way and from this post I also realise that the Buddhist vajrayana Tantras are very similar in concept of non-duality however in Vajrayana Tantra it is all just representation and not actually real blood, human bile, bodies and fats that we use as offerings. It appears that the Aghori saddhus take their teachings ‘literally’…so how come the Tibetan leadership does not dare criticise them and say their ways are demonic? It is obvious why and we know it is nothing more than just a political issue to use Dorje Shugden as a scapegoat to cover their own failures in delivering the promises they made to their own people in exile. How sad… instead of taking responsibility, they push it on to Dorje Shugden.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing the posting about Aghori. This religion is something new to me and it opens up my mind that this Aghori practice is totally the opposite of many religions that I know of in general. If one is allowed to kill the animals and carry out animals scarification in Aghori practice, should we encourage more people to practice Dorje Shugden’s prayer and His mantra recitation since Dorje Shugden practitioners are taught to be kind and compassion to all living beings and animals?
Although I cannot accept the practice of Aghori, but in my mind I still respect the practitioner of Aghori because any moment we respect others irrespective of different culture, religion practice and race, we can achieve happiness, peace of mind and harmony since we do not create the cause of being disliked or being criticized. From my understanding, there is no reason to criticize others’ religion practices as other different religions do not affect our own practice in one’s religion.
I sincerely pray and hope that the ban of Dorje Shugden’s practice will be lifted very soon after much explanations given by Tsem Rinpoche and eventually bring back the peace and happiness among all the Buddhism practitioners.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
相信大家對多杰雄登護法的爭議略有所聞，知道暫駐印度的藏人行政中央大力反對其修行法門，禁止非修行者跟雄登修行者來往，甚至下令驅逐僧眾，剝奪修雄登法門僧俗二眾的基本權益，包括購物、治病、上學、用水等等。這些情況在印度藏人聚居地是屢見不鮮， 而且變本加厲，讓許多無辜的人飽受無謂的痛苦。
雄登護法是文殊菩薩眾多化身之一，其偉大的使命就是要護持佛法，讓末法時期無知的我們能往正道前進，直到成佛為止。顯然，此護法必會竭盡所能，為正法久住在世而努力。
印度是一個尊重多元文化的國家。該國的宗教信仰有高達90多種，無論修行法門、方法、祭祀等等的差別，所有宗教信仰和睦共處，各自自由發揮，互不干涉，甚至連 Aghori 教派也包括在內。
Aghori 是印度教支派之一，崇拜濕婆，注重苦行。其僧人身穿死人衣，以頭蓋骨為餐具，身塗骨灰，在屍體上禪修，食用腐爛的食物、動物的糞便與尿液，以及人類的屍體，同類相食。因為他們認為濕婆創造一切，所以毫無節制地喝酒、吸毒、吃肉。
雄登護法的法門提倡慈悲、無私、耐心，教導心識轉化，平等對待一切有情。其修持者持戒（總的來說不殺、盜、淫、妄、酒），提升自己心靈的層次，開啟本有的佛性，進而自利利他。純然以客觀的角度來看，這個法門相對 Aghori 而言，無疑更為溫和、友善！
這個星期在跟同仁、義工們分享 Aghori 教的同時，也跟他們分享上師對多杰雄登的看法，希望大家透過對 Aghori 的理解而看到印度是一個實行宗教自由的國家，同時也看到藏人行政中央如何私自禁止多杰雄登的修持，違反印度治國有道的作風。
雖然我們很難理解 Aghori 苦行僧的行為，但是我們還是客觀地看待他們，因為這是他們千年的文化，我們應該尊敬。藏人行政中央呼籲大家尊敬和保護藏人豐富的文化，包括宗教、語言、服裝等等。然而，禁止雄登護法的修持不但自相矛盾，而且還自欺欺人。廣受現代民主文化洗禮的藏人，不會永遠支持傷害子民的領導；擁有民主意識的外國人，也不會繼續支持獨裁的藏人行政中央。
It is fascinating to learn the faith of another. Aghor, a prevalent religion in modern Northen part of India with its origin traced back to old Indian culture present a gory image of religion to any by-stander. It is beyond imagination to think of consuming rotten food / food from a dumpster through a human skull bowl, leave alone to imagine consuming animals’ feces and urine, or a piece from a dead corpse. Consumption of intoxicant (alcohol and cannabis) is encouraged to aid the practitioner to achieve a state of renunciation. These are just a portion of the prerequisite of being an Aghori.
As vile as it may seem to me, who am I to judge that this is a bad/good religion practice? The old adage of “one man’s food is another man’s poison” applies here. And their rights as human is protected to allow for their continuous practice of their faith, as long as they do not break any law of the country, they have the freedom to do so.
It makes for an easy comparison to see through the political motivation of the Tibetan leadership on the ban and harsh restriction towards Shugden practitioners based on illogical accusation that has no proof nor basis. The Tibetan community, having practiced Buddha’s teaching for at least hundreds of years, also showed a lack of compassion and wisdom by mal-handling their fellow Shugden practitioners.
Therefore it is imperative for the Tibetan leadership to lift the ban. Damage had been done when the divide was created. It is time to damage control before more people get confused and potential practitioners get turned off by the in-fighting of a supposedly peaceful religion that promote compassion and loving kindness. Obviously the ban will not be something the Victor, Buddha would do, right?
Thank you so much, Rinpoche, for sharing with us interesting facts about another faith. It opens our eyes and our mind to be more receptive towards things that are out of our belief system.
With folded palms, humbly,
Stella
This, I believe, is the way to open the mind and generate a good heart for the joy of living in peace with one another! Thank you Rinpoche, for enlightening us with such intriquing unique symbolism of a spiritual practice, which to many of us is “a First sight” and knowledge! Rinpoche has so wisdomly said,”No one culture is better than another. A culture whether secular or spiritual is unique and must be seen from their perspective and not ours. Afer all. in the end who is to say which way is correct or not correct. We need to present a religion in a way that creates harmony and mutual respect.” Looking at Aghori, it brings back memory of a religious teaching which I have heard years ago. Yes, “one religion, like a single type of food, cannot satisfy everybody.” As in their varying mental despositions, some benefit from one kind of teaching, others from another. Each has its own ability to produce fine warmhearted followers, despite their espousal of contradictory philosophies or dislike. All religions have succeeded in doing so, like Aghori in this case. Thus, as such, there is no neccessity to engage in divisive religious bigotry or intolerance of others, but every reason to respect and cherish all forms of spiritual practices. As said, all religious practitioners should realise that each religious tradition has immensed intrinsic value, and the means for providing mental and spiritual health, as well as adopting an attitude of universal responsibilty, which is essentially a necessity. Based on love and understanding, a religious practice is sacred. With the pursuit of a geniune religious practice, it can open the way to a far more peaceful World. Om Benza Wiki Bittana Soha.
世上无奇不有，在Aghori的世界里，他们觉得这样的修行是对的，但在外面的人来说，这是非常极端的修行方式。
每个宗教都会有他们的修学的方式，我们不能理解的，也不要胡言做评论。因为选择自己的宗教信仰是很个人化的，既然都有人能接受Aghori, 为何不能接受多杰雄登呢？
在这社会里，互相尊重是非常重要的，不管是，种族，习惯还是信仰，我们都该以和平的心去看待，每个人都有选择的权利和自由。
因为在佛教里的教诲是，不去伤害他人，不能引导他人有错误的观点和不两舌，所以我们不该去批评他人，恳请大家也尊重我的选择。
The aghori practice is an eye opener for me. Its extreme practices can be very disturbing as they challenge all human preconceptions of what’s right and wrong. Although it doesn’t appeal to me, it doesn’t mean I’m on a rampage to condemn the practice.
This article prompts me to have an open mind to many other practices that I’m not exposed to or can ever accept based on my mind set and what’s “normal” for me. What I think is not divine, is totally divine for other cultures. Who am we to judge? Why do we like to play GOD? Hence, we have religious freedom.
Likewise, no one should be discriminated for practising Dorje Shugden. Just because HH The Dalai Lama says it’s not a good practice, it doesn’t mean I have to follow.
The Pope has been promoting Catholicism and the benefits. Does that mean I MUST listen and convert to Catholicism just be because of his big title? If I don’t convert, does that mean I’m the enemy of the Vatican?
It’s very unfortunate that Tsem Rinpoche receives vulgarities online and even threats for his religious choice in this day and age. They actually make justifications in the name of the Dalai Lama.
Just like racial discrimination with the recent Ferguson and Baltimore cases in the US, DISCRIMINATION IS ILLEGAL regardless of any justifications.
When we practice compassion, we can’t just sit here and allow others to suffer and be bullied. Just like if we see someone in the streets being attacked, do we walk away and let their karma take over or do we help the person?
We will continue to educate the public about the practice of Buddha Dorje Shugden until the ban comes down and practitioners are not harassed and ostracized.
在我们生活的空间里，宗教、仪式、仪轨和教派无处不在。我们必须学习和其他法门和教派互相尊重。虽然我们未必了解他派所表达的，但并不代表他派是错的。我们应该保有中庸之度和包容。如此才不会互相发生矛盾而产生摩擦。因此，我们应该对不了解宗教的朋友多加解释，如此才不会让人对宗教的东西产生厌恶或不适的感觉。
I believe there are so many religions out there, people practice what they believe. Even some of their practice so extreme that would scared us, but they were still practice and followers. How people can see Aghori of their religion is their freedom.
We might not understand what other people religion practice about, and we do not expect other people to understand what Tibetan Buddhism is about but at least give Dorje Shugden practitioners freedom.
Please give Dorje Shugden practitioners a freedom to practice.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this video and article.
这个影片让我非常惊讶！印度宗教自由，接受的程度非常扩大，他们的人民也非常尊重宗教自由，我们却无法理解的。为什么修持多杰雄登，不能让他人接受和尊重？
也许有些人不明白，多杰雄登是什么，是否也应该尊重他人的修持？
我们不接受他人的宗教修持，也不应该批评他人的宗教和修持，我们应该尊重每个宗教信仰的自由。他们应该怎样做？
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing.
In this video I’ve saw a religion that I don’t even know of my past, there are so many religion that we can’t understand the way they worship BUT we respect them. Why can’t others respect our choice too?
We practice Dorge Shugden is our freedom, we didn’t force other people to do the same practice but please don’t make bad comment on our practice.
World peace begin with respecting each other.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
There are so many religion practices that can communicate with their god. We don’t understand what they do but we must respect their beliefs.
I am so fortunate that we have Kechara, I have a chance to learn Buddism, Tsongkhapa & DS lineage and Rinpoche’s teachings. Other people may not understand what Tsongkhapa & Dorje Shudgen is, but at least respect the lineages, is it not necessary to comment about it.
World peace start with mutual respect.
Thank you.
看了这段影片与分享， 让我大开眼见。
世界之大，无奇不有。大家都有宗教的自由。就比如说东南亚与一些亚洲国家都有一些习俗与文化的信仰。如下：
巫术
在原始时代，人类对自然界的认知与改造能力的不足，所以对于大自然界的各种变化产生强烈的恐惧和敬畏，便相信有一种超自然的力量在支配千变万化的大自然。又由于大自然的变化，带给我们不可捉摸的神秘感，于是相信有一种神灵的力量在操纵著大自然。上述这两种力量造成了大自然的力量。
台湾：灵降、蛊降、混合降
灵降————降头师可以用自己的意志力，令受害人产生幻觉，或迷失意识，做出匪夷所思的怪事来。这类的降头术，必须配合大量的符咒来进行，而使用的符术，有异曲同工之妙，功效十分快速，能在瞬间控制住一个人的意志，做出他原本不想做的事情。
这些都是一些比较另类的宗教信仰；我们不了解，但不应该评论。大家必须要互相尊重。
感恩仁波切的分享与教诲
在这个帖子里，虽然我不是很了解有关于到这印度教的“方式”与“修习的仪轨与教义”但是我却是在当中看到了几个点
第1. 在这个教派中，他们同样的必须依止上师，没有上师的话，同样的他们没有学习的方向，在佛教中上师的依止心也是非常重要的，因为透过上师，上师给予我们佛陀的教诲与修行方式，让我们在自己的道次第中有所成就
第2. 在这充满古老文化的印度里，他们能够包容任何形式色彩的宗教与文化，每一个人依着自己的因缘而往不同的方向学习与修行，这是非常棒的，因为这样文化宗教得以自由，这样大大的让文化与伟大的宗教能够顺利的被延续下来，比如佛法，因为佛法能够在印度中自由成长，那么佛法就能够得以更顺利的延续下来
第3. 看着这个帖子，不经让我联想到，许多人攻击藏传佛教中的一些修持法门，比如护法修持充满血腥或恐怖，然而在藏传佛教中，我所理解到的反而我们更加依据佛陀的教诲，我们比较中道而不太极端（我这里没有批评任何其他宗教的意思），比如我们许多充满血腥与恐怖的经文，我们都只是透过象征式的物品取代或透过观想而已，而因佛法的慈悲教诲，我们并没有伤害一切有情众生，所以，大家可以接受许多种种玲琅满目的宗教，为什么就不能接受有关藏传佛教中护法修持（比如文殊菩萨的化身多杰雄登护法）的这一块呢？
感恩仁波切
弟子合十
jerry sito
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
This post about Aghori really open up my mind in the sense that there are so many religion and different culture in the world.
India is really like an ocean that accept any culture and religion. Within India, many religions are accepted and the people are free to choose their practice and spiritual path that they want to follow.
But this post also make me curious that why the practice of Dorje Shugden is banned by certain government? I believe that everyone have the right to practice their religion.
I practice Dorje Shugden but at the same time, i respect other religions and practices. I also hope that others will respect me as a Dorje Shugden practicioner.
Thank you
The three things I have learnt from this blog post are:
No.1 All religions should be free for everybody to practice, nobody should tell us what to practice as long as we don’t harm any living beings. I believe that every single religion will not promote us to do something bad, most religions will talk about making peace, do good things in life, love and treat our parents well, be kind to everyone. And I don’t get why Dorje Shugden’s practice is being banned, they called Dorje Shugden a demon but all Dorje Shugden’s practice talks about compassion, do good, be and promote vegetarian/vegetarianism and learn the Dharma. So what makes Dorje Shugden a demon?
No.2 Even though other people’s religion might be different we still have to respect them because it is a simple manner. If we try to fight other people just because they say that their religion is better than ours, then how can we call ourselves Buddhists? Everybody have different mindsets when it comes to religions, some might think that Buddhism is bad, some might not care anything about religion at all and etc. What I am trying to say is that we have to respect other people’s religion and we do not try to fight or argue with anyone through internet or physically. We have to accept other people’s believes and faith as well.
No.3 Most people might find the Aghoris to be extremely nasty and disgusting but it is because they don’t understand. Yes they do consume human flesh on certain occasions, meditate on top of someone’s dead body but they did all of that in order to attain enlightenment. The Aghoris do eat human flesh, animal faeces, animal urine and etc but they did these kind of things is just simply because they believe that God exists in everywhere, so we have no right to call them nasty or disgusting. Just like Dorje Shugden practioners, how can people call us demon practitioners when we don’t do anything wrong?
At first sight, Aghori practice looks very primitive and hard to phatom. When I read Rinpoche’s post on this practice, it gave me the insight to what this practice wishes to achieve in its communion with God. Spiritual practice with the divine is expressed in many ways. Touching base with ourselves both outwardly and especially inwardly is most important to achieve that state of mind which is a union with our Divine self.
Touching base also means that there should be a mutual ground of respect, love, kindness, compassion and wisdom which is expressed differently in the facets of world religions. Hence tolerance is a necessary in order to promote these qualities. Dorje Shugden practitioners in India have been suppressed of their rights in order to be able to practice their faith freely due to the wrong handling of the Tibetan leadership. We hope that by promoting Dorje Shugden on an international platform, this would help shed light to this impending injustice for the last two decades.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the Aghori practice in India.
All I could say is that I am fortunate to have the good karma to be born in the environment to be acquainted with the positive dharma path .To be given a chance to understand Dorje Shugden lineage in order to engage in its practice to increase inner and outer wealth through Kechara .
I have no comment or pass judgement on other religion which has unorthodox beliefs and ritual.I respect them for their strong beliefs on their religion without hesitation and their reliance on guru devotion .
I have watched the same video a couple of times before Rinpoche posted about it and I find it very rare and unique. Before I watched this video (I mean even before the first time) I have never ever heard of religion practitioners like this, that consume flesh, animal faeces, animal urine, smokes, drink alcohol, wear dead people’s clothes, smear human ashes on their bodies, eat everything through a skull cup and etc. I totally agree with Rinpoche that everybody should have freedom of religion. I am not trying to offend any religion but I truly believe that Dorje Shugden is definitely not a demon, we are not demon worshipers and I personally find Dorje Shugden’s practice more acceptable.
Aghori practice appeared first to me as being extremely primitive and scary. However having an open mind, it seems that this very extreme practice will definitely result in great renunciation.
It is definitely not an easy practice and it is for this very reason that Buddha Shayamuni initiated the Middle Way, which is Buddhism.
This article is very interesting for me to appreciate the kindness and compassion of Buddha to have the Dharma for us to practise with much ease compared to Aghori. Buddhism is more achievable for a lay practitioner.
This article also shows that the practice of Dorje Shugden, being of no big sacrifices for a lay person and also produces the same results of going into the path to enlightenment with our obstacles removed with Dorje Shugden’s kindness.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article that shows me the possibility to enlightenment through the middle way and not be deterred by all the political overtones by CTA operating in the world’s largest democracy should impose religious restrictions.
I applaud India and Hinduism for its vast acceptance of various religious practices even seemingly extreme ones like Aghori. One man’s God can be another man’s demon. We can view the world in terms of gods and demons, attributing the goods to the gods and the bass to the demons. We can also view the world in terms of karma, attributing goods and bads to one’s karma.
When I read this article about the Aghori practice, what comes to my mind is if this people can accept such practice as a path to enlightenment, in their mind/perspective I wonder if there is any deity/god/idol/spirit that is classified as demon? Actually what is a demon anyway.
The “being” that every religion choose to perceive as their Gods or Buddhas, as their object of enlightenment or path to heaven, the object becomes Gods/Buddhas to them and their practices. So for those who regards Dorje Shugden as a Buddha in their practice then Dorje Shugden is a Buddha to them.
In a country and culture like India that has such acceptance of various religious practices and worship of various gods and deities one would not expect that within the Tibetan settlements in India there exists religious differences leading to discrimination, violence, hatred and bias against Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this article. It truly opens my mind. I never knew such religion exist, and its priests, or the sadhus are so respected and revered. Even though the practice itself seems violent and eccentric, no one in India condemns them, or disrespects them. From the video, you can see that the sadhus give “blessings” to the women that went to the female god’s temple.
Truly respect is given to such an ancient religion.
Bringing it back to what we practice, the practice of our Protector for swift Dharma realisations, it is really complete opposites. In Buddhism, we focus on compassion and no killing or sacrifices of sorts towards enlightenment.
Rinpoche is so straight on to say that when we practice Dorje Shugden, we don’t do any of those in the Aghori practice, yet fellow Shugden practitioners are ostracised, outcast and bullied upon.
Why cannot the world open their eyes to see that each religion has their own faith, own methods. The Aghori religion requires the to-be sadhus to follow strictly what their teacher or guru tells them to.
Similarly, my guru, my guru’s guru teaches us the sacred practice of Dorje Shugden, and we just follow, because of our Guru Devotion.
Everyone is free to their own practices, this is a free world, we can choose what religion we want to be in. Not being disrespectful to HHDL, but he is creating a lot of conflict to religious freedom.
Thank you.
It was interesting to read the above article and learn more about the Aghori sadhu through further sharings and research in the comments.
As long as there is no further sufferings caused to living humans (and I wished animals too), I feel that people should be free and entitled to deem what practices suit them most to help them progress spiritually in their journey through life.
I haven’t heard of ban against a religious practice, by any leaders or government, despite how extreme each different culture views it to be, besides the ban against Dorje Shugden practice.
There is no violence, brutality, killing, sacrifices made in practising Dorje Shugden,.. there is nothing wrong with Dorje Shugden practice. How can practising something go against the country? What does spiritual practice have to do with the goals of the government? If so, then those who practise black magic, which harms people and cause greater detriments in the perception of individuals, should be banned too? But why aren’t they, and something like an individual practice like Dorje Shugden is?
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this blog regards to Aghori. Before come to close such information that posted as above, I have skeptical thinking about other religions especially on “why it is like that”. However, Rinpoche have always emphasized to have non-biased towards other religions which may unknown to us and especially when we needs to foster compassion and respect towards others.
Same goes to our DS Protector, we are praying no such segregation in future and may the DS practitioners be free of abuses, tortures and discrimination.
Thank you Rinpoche!! _/|\_
Thank you for sharing about the Aghori Hindus. I have many Hindu friends, but I must say that this is the first time I have read in detail about this different sect within Hinduism. Previously I have seen documentaries where practitioners of a certain Hindu tribe cannibalize during ritual rites, so I am actually not surprised if there are other traditions that do the same.
To me, a valid practice is one that teaches people compassion. I watched the video, and although practice may be very different from conventional religious practices, these sadhus looks like are peaceful people that bless the crowd.
Yes, I agree that it is strange that Dorje Shugden practice is banned when there are so many other belief systems out there whose practices, if wanted to, can be viewed as controversial. I’m not making a comparison, but I am just merely stating that it would be nice if Dorje Shugden practitioners can receive the same treatment… I don’t even mind if people call me weird, just don’t disparage my Lamas and spread false information that I am practicing a devil or bribed to practice Dorje Shugden. Why on earth should I trade my spirituality for money… that is utterly ridiculous.
I think the fact that the Aghoris and many other religious activities that may seem controversial to the commoner’s eyes have the freedom to practice, I rejoice that people can accept the differences. To ban another person’s practice is not right… not right because there are different people that need different methods of practice to achieve their spiritual goals. Just like the Aghoris… not many people can go through such rigorous spiritual training, but there are some that like and prefer this method… can you imagine if such practice was banned, then those that need this method to enter a spiritual path, will miss the rare chance of leading a spiritual life.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this post with all of us here on the blog. It is indeed intriguing on how the rituals are practice.
What is being said in the video is worth thinking about as well. What they say about blurring the lines on what is clean or what is unclean had set me thinking that many of the things that we perceive today are based on what we call the “norm” or “regulations” that we have in our view. These are all labels that we place on things or even situations that we are not comfortable of. These labels that we put on, may harm some people without us even knowing.
Personally, I feel that the practice of theirs is mind blowing. The kind of things that are being practised I feel is similar to what I think should be done up to a certain extend. This is because their actions like not being fearful of things that are commonly feared by many like to drink and eat from skulls, staying at cremation grounds, etc is like training themselves to give up their ego. When there is no ego, we will not have fear. In my opinion, the things that they do with the human beings that have passed away is very good as well, they apply their ashes on their bodies when prayers and rituals are done. Through that, the decreased will be able to collect the merits even after their passing helping them to go to a better place in the future.
Rinpoche, I really love this article and think that the life of the Aghori is really interesting. They are like living life in the traditional ways where people would have to survive when they are in really bad conditions.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the video on Aghori. It’s really an eye opener to me. I have seen those Sadhu in Nepal but totally have no idea about their practice. To me the Aghori practice I find it very extreme and hard to accept. I believe everyone are born with spiritual affinity where there will be attracted to certain practice and they will follow through until we achieve realization and enlightenment. Same goes to the Sadhu who gave up everything and practice their spiritual path in this way. I salute to the determination they have.
I feel very sad and heart sick to see people abused the purpose of religion. Using the name of God or Buddha to create hatred and kill. Those who do so are normally not real practitioners means they are not here for spiritual reason but political purpose. They create sufferings for real practitioners, they brain washed those who are lack of knowledge to attack those who seriously practice.
I am grateful to our government who gave us religion freedom.
我非常的喜欢仁波切的分享。这篇文章写得非常有趣仿佛就像自己去了探访一趟回来的感觉。感谢你仁波切 ：）
The Aghori practice is completely contrary to what we are taught as “normal” or “civilized”. However, relating that one of the cause of our suffering is attachment to the 8 worldly concerns, the practice of the Aghori like smearing ash from human body cremation and eating rotten human flesh and living in cremation grounds can contribute to reducing our attachment to our bodily comfort and our fears of sensory displeasure.
However, the animal sacrifice part is quite difficult for me personally to understand. Nevertheless, as Rinpoche has always taught us about religious tolerance and if there is something fundamentally dangerous, we can discuss openly and with respect to each other.
An open and respectful discussion should certainly be applied to the case of the Dorje Shugden ban. There is so much contradiction in the way this whole controversy is handled. This double standard boils down to hypocrisy which stems from mixing politics and spirituality. In this day and age, religious freedom is a “given” that every 21st century government includes as a part of their constitution. The Tibetan leadership should especially advocate this because they basically “makes a living” from their religious pitch.
Being a host to Tibet and with the increasing awareness in the discrimination and breach of human rights to religious freedom, India should exercise its authority to encourage the Central Tibetan Administration to lift the ban and not foster policies of inequality that completely goes against the country’s democratic rule.
I used to come with pleasure on this blog, but now it appears as though there was a fixation for DS.
The essence of Buddhism teaches us that everything is a creation of our mind, including DS.
Once the Buddha was asked what would lead to ‘the obscuration and disappearance of the good Dhamma’
The Buddha replied, ‘It is because the four foundations of MINDFULNESS are not developed and cultivated that the good Dhamma will not last long.’
I believe that Dharma remains in the world primarily through experience of each of us. In vain we have all scriptures or all the saints in the world, if we not experience enlightenment for ourselves.
True Dharma is taught further from great experience and not from books or from hearsay from others.
It was sad to read your criticism.You don’t see the massive amount of efforts generously given to this blog for all of us the reader for FREE. There are so many categories to choose from. Tsem Rinpoche has only around 40+ articles on Dorje Shugden and thousands on other subjects and hundreds on Buddhism. You can read so many other articles which were posted years ago or re-visit some for further learning. There is a ban and hundreds of thousands are suffering and Rinpoche is working towards helping them by giving information on Shugden when it’s not available anywhere else on the net. By doing this more accuarte information is presented for the public to realize Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and the unjust ban should be removed. I support. Be patient and be steadfast and help towards this. You obtained so much benefits as many of us from this blog, so contribute back by at least supporting removal of the ban or keeping unnecessary comments to yourself.
Your comment there is a fixation on DS shows is a clearly a fixation of your mind. Apply your teaching to your own self.
As I said, I came here with much pleasure. +40 articles are strongly related to the last weeks, months, perhaps.
People don’t suffer because of the ban, but because of their own ignorance.
You are right, I’m in the same boat (of ignorance), don’t worry!
That doesn’t mean I haven’t respect for Rinpoche. I have a deep respect for him.
Dear Lawrence,
It’s sad that you would think like that. Wouldn’t be better to just glean the information and comment based on that. Rinpoche is not fixated on Dorje Shugden but upon the fact that the ban has created a lot of unnecessary suffering. Wouldn’t it behoove you to come to understand the situation with DS instead of getting bored of it. Anyway, this post is about the Aghori and wouldn’t it be better to comment based on this instead?
Dear Pastor David Lai
Aghori topic is more complex than can be described even in a book.
In any case, “why X is allowed and Y is not allowed”, is not a demonstration that remains standing up, under a very carefully analysis. Discussing on this topic doesn’t let me reach a conclusion to solve my inner and outer unknowns.
I like to think that I have to solve more stringent dilemmas in my mind than to determine the truth in DS controversy.
At the same time, I must admit that Rinpoche has helped me to clarify important spiritual aspects of my life.
Dear Lawrence,
It is not a matter of what is allowed or not. It is just a matter of the meaning behind your comment. Anyway, it is unnecessary to understand the Aghori completely but to be exposed to some of the belief systems and practices would be very enriching for our beliefs. Like Rinpoche said, there’s no right or wrong, just knowledge and to be exposed to it, broadens our horizons so we relate to others better.
Dear Lawrence
Thank you for your comment. First of all, I would just like to say that I do not think what you mentioned is criticism, but it is feedback, and for that I thank you.
Though I am quite curious as to why no one ever says the blog is too fixated on vegetarianism and animal cruelty, but when it comes to Dorje Shugden, it becomes something negative.
For the many years I have been an avid reader of Rinpoche’s blog, there is only one trend that I have seen, which is Rinpoche blogs about things that is important, beneficial and needed. The very fact that there are so many posts about Dorje Shugden, instead of thinking why are there so many new articles about Dorje Shugden… perhaps we can view on how beneficial and important this practice is.
You may wonder, then why don’t just blog about Dorje Shugden practice only? what’s with all these ‘extras’. All I can simply say is that unfortunately, there are many people who’s first exposure to Dorje Shugden is the made up falsities about his true nature. And these write ups that Rinpoche have done is to debunk that false facts, just like any genuine Dharma teacher would do… To shed light on unclear and falsities that would be a dis-benefit in our spiritual journey. There are many people, after reading Rinpoche’s blog posts on Dorje Shugden, thank Rinpoche for clarifying the issue. I hope that you can be a little patient with these many posts on Dorje Shugden, you may not need them… but there are many people out there that would need to read it =)
Wishing you well =)
I have been in Tibetan Buddhism for a few years. The two Karmapa issue, the Dorje Shugden issue, two Panchen lama issues has highly confused me. I didn’t know who to ask and where to turn. Finding an English speaking Tibetan teacher is nearly impossible where I live. Teachers in India and the West say completely different thing about these issues which adds to the confusion. It disturbed my practice.
When I came across this blog a few months back and started to read the views about what Tsem Rinpoche had to say about this issue at least and in perfect English, it gave me some relief. As I thought about it more, I started to feel light again. I saw a middle way. A ray of hope. I have even started to pray to Dorje Shugden although I focus more on Tara. My message is I am so happy and completely delighted with all the posts on Dorje Shugden which clears so much confusion for us the lay people with fixations, projections and illusions. To say view things at this stage without fixations is impossible. WHERE ELSE ON THE INTERNET CAN WE FIND INFORMATION ON DORJE SHUGDEN spoken with so much knowledge, compassion, patience and tolerance. So evenly? No where. Only here. Please keep posting as there are many more people out there like me. I don’t find you Tsem Rinpoche the Kyabje fixated at all but focused and very compassionate. I am sure Rinpoche is not posting all this for his own sake or knowledge.
If there is an issue, there needs to be clarifications. There is a huge Dorje Shugden issue at this time for many practicing Tibetan Buddhism. The posts on this blog helps tremendously.
I agree with you Anne. There is so much information in this blog about Dorje Shugden. Without these clear explanations one easily develops a negative impression of this practice. In fact the very struggle I see from this controversy has made me understand the deeper meanings of some of the Buddha’s core teachings. For example, Compassion, Equanimity , Mind Transformation, Guru Devotion etc. If we truly want to practice and gain attainments we must apply all these teachings onto the DS controversy. This is precisely what Rinpoche is doing and showing all of us. We cannot say on one hand we want to practice the Buddha’s teachings to remove our sufferings and on the other hand create or support a Ban on DS or ignore sufferings created from this ban. We cannot aspire for Enlightment whilst our minds are not practicing Compassion for pro and anti DS people. We cannot be Enlightened if we continue to be ignorant and assume that if we follow the most famous monk or follow the majority we will get enlightened. If we do not hold steadfast to our Guru Devotion we have no integrity; how to achieve Enlightment without integrity ?
Hence, I am very grateful to Rinpoche for spending so much time and effort giving teachings on Dorje Shugden. Rinpoche has to make so much sacrifices and take on so much negativity just to make these teachings available to us. Thank you Rinpoche. With folded hands .
Lawrence,
I like all the posts on Dorje Shugden. It helps a lot as I am from an organization that is against Dorje Shugden and I left it because of all the hatred I saw against Dorje Shugden practitioners. If you have issues in your mind, then solve it but don’t project it further. Don’t imply Tsem Rinpoche’s fixated on Dorje Shugden. That can be seen as very rude. Whatever he blogs has an audience out there and therefore benefits. Rejoice in the benefits. So let’s give Rinpoche our support at this time. I think he needs it. Let’s give and not ask for more of this or that. 🙂 He is doing the best he can I would assume. 🙂
May you find the results you seek.
RT
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing some information on the Aghori sect in Hinduism. It gave me some creeps at the first onset. As I continued to read Rinpoche’s explanation I realised I felt as such, only because I was ignorant of the meaning behind all the gory actions and practices in this sect. There are people who have an affinity with this sect and they practice it within their own community; trying to gain some realisations or enlightment. I cannot condone the act of making human or animal sacrifices as part of a religious practice but otherwise, who am I to judge that they are wrong.
Coming back to the practice of Dorje Shugden, no one should or have the rights to stop those who are practicing it willingly. Many DS practitioners do excellent things for the society. They are good people and good Buddhists. No one has the right to judge that they are wrong too. Especially not by those who have no knowledge or very shallow knowledge of this practice.
All Buddhists practice to gain patience, peace, happiness, compassion and wisdom. There are many methods and paths to attain these virtues. If Dorje Shugden can help us to achieve them, what is wrong with embracing this practice !! I am personally grateful for having given the opportunity to practice Dorje Shugden. It has helped me tremendously in facing my challenges in life. For that, I have to thank my dearest Guru, Tsem Rinpoche, from the bottom of my heart, for all his hard work, painstakingly knocking it into my deluded mind. With folded hands.
Dear Rinpoche,
This such a fascinating read. I read up a bit further and found that the Aghoris believe that all opposites are identical, thus their practices/rituals are meant to blur the lines of what we perceive as normal and abnormal. Here’s an excerpt of what I found from http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/aghoris.html
“Aghori ascetics, while being devotees of the Hindu god Shiva, are monists who adhere to the common Hindu belief in liberation (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnation (samsara). This liberation is a realisation of the self’s identity with the absolute. Because of this monistic doctrine, the Aghoris maintain that all opposites are identical and the conventional Hindu distinctions between purity and impurity are ultimately illusory.”
While I do not profess to fully understand what the Aghoris practise, I respect their believes and choice of practice. I just wish that Shugden practitioners are accorded with respect, acceptance and be allowed to practise without hate, judgement or prejudice.
Thank you with folded hands.
dear Sharon , Within what the Aghoris practise is classified as VAMACHARA TANTRA within the 68 schools of ancient Tantras in HINDUISM, VAMACHARA means utmost LEFT HAND PATH where the DIVINE(GOD) is worshiped in Chaos as SHiva RUDRA and KALI/Bhairavi (Masculine and Feminine aspect of GOD in the state of DESTRUCTION as to us what comes from IT goes Back to IT )!! In Hinduism there is no Evil or GOOD and Right and Wrong are merely man Made and GOD is beyond this Judgment in the state of Creatrix ! Hence the Aghoris worship the Divine in that state of opposite of norm , such as eating using left hand which is a Taboo in Indian culture , Cursing and swearing as a mantra to GOD almighty , eating Prohibited meat such as rotting/cremated Human Corpse , Offering of feces and urine to Divine as to them GOD is beyond Clean or Dirty, living in crematorium ground or graveyard in communion with spirits and Demons ( Lord shiva is know as the lord of the Spirits and Demons in the name of BOOTHANATH ) in the aim to conquer Fear and Desire which is the two main antagonist of the Humans ability to reach the consciousness of BRAHMAN/GOD ! Their aim to be ONE with THAT (MOKSHA) is thru the state of Chaos ! The Hindu school of TANTRA exist even before the VEDIC times dating to the Prehistoric times where MOTHER NATURE was Worshipped as Supreme with Animal Sacrifices and Human sacrifices. When the ARYANS brought the Vedic religion , ANCIENT TANTRA rituals Had to be done in secrecy and many were lost to time , MOTHER NATURE was Turned into MOTHER GODDESS worship with the strong VEDIC Influence and the 10 Major TANTRA GODDESS were formed and 8 of their Secret Tantra practices are Still strongly influenced with Sacrifices and Alcohol offerings and thus not only the AGHORIS do so GREAT TANTRIC TEMPLES such as KAMAKHYA temple in ASSAM, India and many many parts of India the prehistoric practice of Animal sacrifice in the 1000 s is still done daily as part of the VAMACHARA TANTRA PUJAs ! but this is not widely practise in Mainstream Hinduism as the VEDAS and Upanishads Condemns such act and due to such practise the entire school of Hindu TANTRA (Right hand and LEFT HAND path) has a very Bad reputation within Hinduism and it is wrongly accossiated with negative actions such as Black Magic and Trickery which TANTRA is not . Hence the Aghoris are in the state of stillness within the external WARS of the MIND !
Thank you for your efforts to help me understand more. Appreciate it.
Thank you for your comments Gopinath, which is valuable addendum to Rinpoche’s post. We may not subscribe to the Aghori’s ‘methods’but I doubt if anyone can fault their motivation which appears to be the removal of duality and prejudice which reinforces the ego. It is an Aghori’s personal training to eliminate umbrage, the very thing that encourages divisiveness.
In any case, whether I agree or disagree with the Aghoris is a moot point, because if I disagree with it I just don’t subscribe to it. I don’t have to practice it. It is different if I am forced to practice what I disagree with. And it is this very principle that has kept world communities from going to war based on differences in religious beliefs.
That is not to say that anyone can do as they please in the name of religious freedom. There are laws that criminalizes the practice of human sacrifices, acts regarded as inhuman and rituals that exploit superstitions, such as that recently passed by the Indian State, Maharashtra. Laws may be put in place to prevent religious abuse but laws have not been used as an instrument for the elimination of religious freedom, except for some totalitarian regimes and dictatorships.
Examples are the now defunct USSR. However, when it first came into being, it did just that. The Chinese Communist Party used to regard religion as an ópiatethat has to be destroyed. North Korea is another country that deals harshly with those who practice religions deemed unilaterally unacceptable to the government. The Myanmar dictatorship suppressed religious worship of the minority Christians. In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal to practice any religion other than Islam based on the Sunni sect.
And then you have the Tibetan leadership today that banned the worship of Dorje Shugden and criminalizes all its practitioners. This pretty much indicates the kind of totalitarian’government’that ironically exist under the political patronage of India, which is supposed to be the largest democracy in the world, and the same ‘government’that is asking Western democracies to help it reestablish its oppressive rule.
If a god created (as they belive) this world, humans, and animals ….then why would he want you to kill them. It would seem disrespectful to destroy a devine creation. Also if everything is devine then no practice is needed because they are already devine to begin with.
To each their own. I respect their religion i just wish they wouldnt kill in the name of it. Plenty of already dead things to get blood from such as roadkill animals, dead birds, dead fish already floating. I personal dont like the word god. More travesty is done in this “word” than all others combined.
Me i choose Dorje Shugden practice with kindness, compassion, and care for all beings. I choose to better myself and all i come in contact with. I choose selflessness. I would say this practice is pure compassion without infringement of other beings rights. If you dont like love, kindness, compassion, caring, selflessness then Dorje Shugden is not for you, but please let me practice without hate.
I must respect their faith to share this earth in peace so i would hold hands or hug any of them with love. It is what my guru would want.
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