To Sum It Up
In 1996, His Holiness the Dalai Lama banned the practice of Dorje Shugden. His Holiness himself had practised Dorje Shugden for 30 over years, after it was given to him by his teachers, many of whom also practiced Dorje Shugden and in fact propagated it all over pre-1959* Tibet (the year His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Tibet to seek refuge in India).
We understand that for those new to the issue, it can be a confusing subject. The strength of feeling from both sides of the problem has resulted in a lot of misinformation and rumors. For those who are not Buddhist or who are unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism, hearing about the ban will give rise to many questions – why did the Dalai Lama ban this deity? Isn’t the Dalai Lama a paragon of human rights? Why do people send vulgar messages to one another in trying to protect or defend His Holiness?
Trying to read up and research about the ban can also result in confusion, since oftentimes secular issues are combined with the spiritual. It can be hard for those who are not familiar with Tibetan Buddhism to discern between the two, and to appreciate the spiritual background behind the ban.
So here we answer for you some simple questions about the ban on Dorje Shugden, using logic and evidence. We offer this information to you with the hope that it brings clarity to your understanding about the ban. Our intention is not to convert you to the practice of Dorje Shugden, but simply for you to understand the reasons behind the ban, why it is so illogical and therefore why it must be lifted.
There is no need for you to be a practitioner of Dorje Shugden in order to understand that the ban causes great suffering to everyone involved, and that it has driven a deep wedge in the Tibetan community. We are not asking for everyone to agree with our beliefs but for your help to remove the ban and the discrimination that arises as a result of this ban, so that everyone can believe whatever they want without repercussion or fear of repercussion.
For 18 years, countless Tibetan Buddhists around the world have suffered because of the ban, and countless others remain confused about how this conflict can be considered Buddhist. Many hurtful words have been exchanged by both sides, and this needs to stop. For these reasons, we humbly request His Holiness the Dalai Lama to lift the ban on Dorje Shugden.
TsemRinpoche.com team
Contents
- Key Questions: Is there a ban? What is this conflict about? How did the ban come about? How is the ban enforced? Why can His Holiness the Dalai Lama not do this? What is with all this name-calling?
- Why did the Dalai Lama ban Dorje Shugden? His Holiness gives his reasons and a Dorje Shugden practitioner responds
- Why has the ban been enforced with so much enthusiasm?
- Why will Dorje Shugden practitioners not give up their practice?
- Evidence of the ban
Key Questions
First of all, is there a ban?
Yes, there is a ban. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been filmed many times instructing Tibetans (both lay and ordained) that those who do not give up the practice of Dorje Shugden should be kicked out of the monasteries.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/dl-contradictions.mp4
Since 1996, four resolutions have been passed by the Tibetan Parliament urging Tibetans to uphold His Holiness’ instructions through whatever means possible. Memos and notices have been circulated throughout Tibetan government departments instructing that employees should give up the practice of Dorje Shugden or face dismissal; signs have been erected throughout the Tibetan settlements (and indeed, around the world) denying Dorje Shugden practitioners entry into shops, restaurants, clinics, schools, temples, etc. People who protest against the ban have been identified as traitors to Tibetan society, and have had their faces, names, personal details and addresses published in lists on the Tibetan leadership’s websites.
The prevailing atmosphere of fear in the Tibetan communities, the separation of the monasteries, and the constant online and physical attacks against Dorje Shugden practitioners are all evidence of the ban against Dorje Shugden.
For more evidence of the ban, click HERE.
What is this conflict about?
The Dalai Lama banned an ancient practice, and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) have taken it upon themselves to enforce this ban through whatever means possible. The CTA refers to the Tibetan leadership which is based in Dharamsala, North India.
How did the ban come about?
Since 1996, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has spoken on countless occasions against Dorje Shugden. In July 1996, the Central Tibetan Administration’s constitution was changed, without a referendum, to include the ban on Dorje Shugden. There was no vote, no Dorje Shugden practitioners and leaders were consulted, and there was no dialogue, debate or discussion held with the people. Thus, the people who would be most affected by this decision were not informed at all, and the policies were implemented without their consent, by a government that claims to be a democratic one.
Click the image to enlarge.
Since then, in a move reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution in China, monks have been forced to swear out of the practice in front of thousands of their compatriots and threatened with expulsion should they refuse to do so. The Tibetan leadership have also organised riots against Dorje Shugden practitioners, to intimidate them into giving up the practice. Those who refuse to participate in these riots are threatened with fines and expulsions, or are accused of being sympathetic towards Shugden practitioners (and therefore may face discrimination and accusations of being a traitor themselves).
Dorje Shugden practitioners, both lay and ordained, who refuse to give up their practice are harassed and a great stigma befalls their families. They carry this stigma with them wherever in the world they are; stories abound of Dorje Shugden practitioners living in Australia, Taiwan, Switzerland and the United States who are harassed by the local Tibetan communities and pressured into leaving the area.
How is the ban enforced?
In general, a combination of fear, intimidation, peer and community pressure, and violence are used to enforce the ban. More specific examples of enforcement include:
- Signs are put up in the Tibetan settlements saying non-Shugden people should not associate with Shugden people. This trend has spilled over to Tibetan Buddhist centres around the world – most recently, some Dharma centres in Singapore with these signs at their entrances
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allowed to hold positions in the civil service or any kind of roles in the Tibetan leadership
- As recently as 2014, the Central Tibetan Administration published lists of Dorje Shugden practitioners on their official website. These lists included their photos, names and addresses so Tibetans can identify them easily. What reason would you need such detailed information about Shugden worshippers, if not to direct some harm or violence against them?
- Dorje Shugden practitioners have been violently attacked regardless of their age. As recently as 2013, an 84-year old monk was attacked and stabbed by five masked men bearing knives. During the attack, they said nothing so as not to reveal their true intentions. After the attack, they ran away without taking any valuables, therefore dispelling the idea the attack was part of a botched robbery.
An 84-year old monk was attacked by five masked men bearing knives
In defending himself, the monk sustained injuries to his head, arms and hands
- As recently as 2014, those in support of the ban have violently taken over Dorje Shugden monasteries upon the death of their caretakers
- Medical treatment is denied to Dorje Shugden practitioners and signs are erected outside clinics clearly stating this
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are told they will not be served in restaurants and shops
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are banned from certain temples and from attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings
- Dorje Shugden practitioners have been denied refugee status at the Tibetan reception centre in Nepal
- Dorje Shugden monks have their homes pelted with rocks
- Dorje Shugden monks are denied monastic identity cards showing that they belong to a particular monastery
- Dorje Shugden practitioners, on a daily basis, face online threats, attacks and vulgar verbal abuse directed at them
- Privately, many Dorje Shugden practitioners receive nasty messages and publicly, anti-Shugden people tell everyone that they should boycott those who rely on Dorje Shugden
- The Tibetan leadership has organised riots of 3000-4000 people against Dorje Shugden practitioners who were peacefully conducting their pujas in their prayer hall
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are forced to swear out of the practice in front of thousands of people
- Wherever they emigrate, the local Tibetan population creates visa problems for Dorje Shugden practitioners, harasses them at their homes and dharma centres, and ostracises their children in school
- Those who are not Dorje Shugden practitioners but show sympathy, support or even some kind of understanding of what Dorje Shugden practitioners go through, are themselves subjected to pressure until they agree that no one should be allowed to practice Dorje Shugden
- Relatives of Dorje Shugden practitioners are pressured for their relatives’ practice. Sometimes, the pressure is so great that either Dorje Shugden practitioners are forced to leave their homes in order to protect their family, or their families kick them out altogether for refusing to give up the practice
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are told they will go to hell for their practice
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are told that they are unlearned in Buddhism because they are Western/not Tibetan and have no right to comment
- Dorje Shugden practitioners are accused of working for the Chinese government or being Communist agents. Within Tibetan society, this accusation is tantamount to being labelled a traitor and the stigma of this accusation is so great that anyone labelled as such is immediately assumed to be against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and working for the ‘enemy’
Why can His Holiness the Dalai Lama not do this?
Because the reasons for the ban are not logical and because the ban is a breach of human rights, both on a national and universal level. The Tibetan leadership operates out of India and because they are not an officially-recognised government by any nation in the world, they have to abide by the Indian constitution. The Indian constitution guarantees freedom of worship; the ban therefore goes against the Indian constitution.
India is also a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which also states that everyone should have equal opportunity to practice their faith without suffering fear of discrimination.
From a spiritual perspective, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is technically not the spiritual leader of all Tibetans and therefore does not have the authority to decide on spiritual matters for all Tibetans. Within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there are four schools or traditions – Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug – which each have their own spiritual leaders. It is these leaders who provide guidance to those practicing under their various traditions.
Therefore, His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is a Gelug practitioner does not have the spiritual authority to say “Ban Dorje Shugden” for a Sakya practitioner who should take guidance from His Holiness the Sakya Trizin. In the case of the Gelugs, their spiritual leader is the Gaden Tripa who has not banned the Dorje Shugden practice. In fact, the 101st Gaden Trisur (the Gaden Tripa Emeritus) is a Dorje Shugden practitioner himself.
What is with all this name-calling?
As there is no legitimate nor scriptural basis to ban the practice, Tibetans are told that Dorje Shugden is anti-Dalai Lama and against the Tibetan cause.
The reasons that the CTA use to enforce the ban on Dorje Shugden touches on a very emotional topic for Tibetans. For the majority of Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause is their raison d’être – the very reason for their existence. Thus when they are told that something threatens this reason, it is easy to see why they would be very enthusiastic about enforcing the ban. As a result of the CTA’s misinformation, Dorje Shugden has been made to look like a threat to their very existence. Therefore enforcing the Shugden ban is not just about Dorje Shugden himself, but about defending the reason for their existence.
Since the CTA has not presented a balanced view of the issue, people have not been allowed to make their own decisions regarding Dorje Shugden. As a result, many non-Shugden practising Tibetans who are not highly educated and otherwise unable to express their feelings about the ban, have taken to name-calling and directing vulgarities and violence against Shugden practitioners. Their anger has also been encouraged by the Tibetan leadership who have taken every opportunity in the last 18 years to speak about Dorje Shugden in a derogatory manner and remind their people of the reasons for the ban.
This name-calling and violence has spread from Tibetan society into the West, where His Holiness the Dalai Lama has worked tirelessly for the last 60 years to raise awareness about the Tibetan situation. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have come to strongly identify with the Tibetan cause, or with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as their teacher. Because of this, you will find that there are Western Buddhist practitioners who are very enthusiastic about enforcing the ban.
Why did the Dalai Lama ban Dorje Shugden?
According to His Holiness, Dorje Shugden is banned because he is a spirit and relying on him shortens His Holiness’ life and harms the Tibetan cause; and those who continue to rely on Dorje Shugden should be expelled from the monasteries. As a result, those who did not have the resources nor ability to examine further took the ban on face value. But with all due respect, His Holiness’ reasons do not make sense if we examine them more closely.
REASON #1: Dorje Shugden is a spirit
This reason can be countered in many ways.
ANSWER #1
Tibetans believe His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. If Dorje Shugden is a spirit as it is claimed, why hasn’t His Holiness simply bound and destroyed him, and sent his consciousness to a pure land?
Many rituals exist within the Buddhist faith to allow for this and there are many examples of spirits being subdued in this way. For example, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is famous for his subjugation of spirits. When he first arrived in Tibet, the land was very wild with many spirits roaming and creating obstacles for the spread of the Dharma. One such spirit was Nechung whom Guru Rinpoche subdued and bound to serve the Dharma.
So why hasn’t His Holiness destroyed Dorje Shugden if the practice is as harmful as he makes it out to be? If Dorje Shugden is a harmful spirit as it is claimed, then destroying him would stop Tibetans from being harmed by Dorje Shugden. It would also stop Dorje Shugden from creating negative karma by harming others. That would be the compassionate thing to do for both Tibetans and Dorje Shugden.
Is it that His Holiness, a ritual master, is unskilled in doing this? It does not make sense that someone who is viewed as a Buddha cannot overcome a spirit; someone who is viewed as a Buddha should be MORE powerful than a spirit. So going back to the original premise – if His Holiness is a Buddha, and Dorje Shugden is a spirit as claimed, His Holiness should be able to bind Dorje Shugden. Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not done so, it can only mean that Dorje Shugden is as powerful as His Holiness i.e. he is also a Buddha himself.
From a more scriptural point-of-view, according to the Buddhist belief system, a Buddha is a being who is free from karma. If you can be harmed, you have the karma to receive the harm. Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not yet bound or destroyed Dorje Shugden, it can only mean that Dorje Shugden does not have the karma to be harmed or destroyed i.e. he is a Buddha.
ANSWER #2
Being a Buddha, His Holiness definitely possesses clairvoyance. So how is it that for the 30 years that he practiced Dorje Shugden, His Holiness did not see Dorje Shugden’s nature as a spirit, and overnight, suddenly realised that he is? It cannot be that His Holiness suddenly developed clairvoyance; he was born a Buddha and possessed this ability since birth. So to say that it took him 30 years to see that Dorje Shugden is a spirit is illogical.
ANSWER #3
Countless Buddhist masters from all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug, Sakya, Nyingma, Kagyu) have relied on Dorje Shugden over the last 400 years. It is impossible that NONE of those masters were attained, NONE of them could see that Dorje Shugden is a spirit, and ALL of them were fooled by Dorje Shugden. It cannot be possible that only His Holiness has the clairvoyance, knowledge and wisdom to check and see that Dorje Shugden is a spirit, and that no one else in Tibet possesses these qualities or abilities.
ANSWER #4
Similarly, it cannot be that no one within the Tibetan Buddhist system possesses the power, ability and ritual knowledge to destroy a being that is supposedly just a spirit. If the fear of Dorje Shugden is so great, then Buddhist masters from all traditions should gather to subjugate Dorje Shugden and end the fear once and for all. Why have they not gathered and if they have, why have they not been successful if Dorje Shugden is only a spirit?
ANSWER #5
His Holiness is a pure monk. According to the Buddha himself, those who hold even their refuge vows very well (let alone their monk vows) are protected from all forms of harm, including spirit harm. Therefore, if the claim that Dorje Shugden is a spirit is true (which it is not), then His Holiness who is a pure monk has nothing to be afraid of because his vows protect him. And those who are not monks but hold their refuge vows well also have nothing to be afraid of.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama (center) with his two tutors His Holiness Kyabje Lati Rinpoche (left) and His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (right), both of whom practiced Dorje Shugden. Were they BOTH wrong and if they were, does this mean His Holiness the Dalai Lama received wrong teachings, and is therefore spreading wrong teachings to his own students all around the world?
ANSWER #6
According to the teachings of His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (the tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama), Dorje Shugden comes from a great incarnation line of lamas. These lamas were famed for their attainments and scholarship, and had thousands of students who relied upon them for teachings. Up until today, monks from Drepung Loseling and Gaden Shartse monasteries continue to study texts authored by one of Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnations, Panchen Sonam Drakpa.
It is one thing to teach from texts how we can achieve enlightenment; it is an entirely different level to author and compose texts describing the path to achieving enlightenment, AND have the entire monastic community accept these texts as being genuine and authentic. Therefore it is not possible that someone of this caliber (who composed texts that lead us to enlightenment) can reincarnate as a spirit and it is not possible that the monastic community would study texts authored by a spirit as part of their core syllabus.
REASON #2: The practice of Dorje Shugden shortens the Dalai Lama’s life
ANSWER #1
Tibetans believe His Holiness is Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. According to the Buddhist belief system, a Buddha is a being who is free from karma. To be harmed, you must have the karma to receive harm.
Therefore since His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a Buddha and free from karma, he cannot be harmed. Thus his life cannot be shortened by anyone, let alone a spirit (which is what anti-Shugden people claim Dorje Shugden to be).
ANSWER #2
Prior to the ban, millions of people practiced Dorje Shugden including the sangha of the three great Gelug monasteries of Gaden, Sera and Drepung. None of them ever prayed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be harmed, and since the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, when Dorje Shugden was first relied upon, none of the Dalai Lamas have ever come to any harm because of Dorje Shugden or his practice.
Likewise, according to eyewitness accounts from those who were directly involved with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s escape into India, it was Dorje Shugden who saved the Dalai Lama’s life. It was Dorje Shugden who, through an oracle medium, advised His Holiness to leave Tibet and even specified which route to take. It was also a thangka of Dorje Shugden that His Holiness carried on his back as he made his way out of Tibet and into India.
REASON #3: The practice of Dorje Shugden harms the Tibetan cause
ANSWER #1
Dorje Shugden was practised by the majority of Gelug lamas for 400 years with no adverse geopolitical effects. So how is it that suddenly the practice harms the Tibetan cause, when it did not for four centuries prior?
Is one single deity, a so-called spirit, so powerful that he alone can prevent the resolution of the Tibetan situation and none of the Buddhas or attained lamas in Tibet can stop him?
ANSWER #2
It is ridiculous to say that one deity can cause the loss of an entire country. Those who claim that Tibet was lost because of Dorje Shugden are also saying that all the Buddhas (Shakyamuni, Guru Rinpoche, Lama Tsongkhapa, etc.) and attained lamas in Tibet were not powerful enough to stop him.
It would also be saying that a deity that they call a spirit is more powerful than all the Buddhas and that even today, these Buddhas are still not powerful enough to help resolve the Tibetan situation.
ANSWER #3
To say that one deity can cause the loss of a whole country is to deny that karma exists, and that one spirit (as he is claimed to be) can override the karma of six million Tibetans. If a Buddha cannot override the karma of six million Tibetans to resolve the Tibetan situation, how is it logical to claim that a spirit can do so?
ANSWER #4
The official Protectoress of Tibet is actually Palden Lhamo and not Dorje Shugden. Therefore should the Tibetan community wish to hold any deity responsible for their political failures and for failing to protect Tibet, logically it would be Palden Lhamo. This is NOT to say that Palden Lhamo or any of the hundreds of protector deities should be blamed; it is to say that there is no logical reason why it is Dorje Shugden’s responsibility, and not Palden Lhamo’s, for the resolution of the Tibetan situation. In fact, the responsibility for the current state of the Tibetan situation should lie squarely on the shoulders of the Tibetan leadership.
REASON #4: Relying on Dorje Shugden is harmful to Buddhist practice
ANSWER #1
The Tibetan leadership claim that Dorje Shugden is a jealous spirit who harms practitioners who do not keep their commitments. They say that Dorje Shugden takes revenge on people who stop engaging in his practice.
Logically, this does not make sense because His Holiness the Dalai Lama stopped relying on Dorje Shugden in 1996. Yet for the last 18 years, not a single ounce of harm has come to him and His Holiness continues to be very strong, healthy and still travels the world tirelessly to teach Buddhism.
Although His Holiness the Dalai Lama is now 80 years old, he shows no sign of slowing down and continues to keep up a hectic teaching schedule. Clearly, giving up Dorje Shugden’s practice did not harm him in any way.
Similarly, thousands of other Buddhist practitioners have given up the practice of Dorje Shugden as a direct result of the ban. If Dorje Shugden were just a jealous spirit who seeks revenge, then surely harm would have fallen on these ex-practitioners who do so much to disparage and destroy Dorje Shugden’s name. Yet no harm has come to them and in fact, they continue to be very vocal offline and online about their hatred and dislike for Dorje Shugden.
ANSWER #2
It is claimed that when we rely on Dorje Shugden, we break our refuge vows and we are no longer Buddhists. Now, His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself practiced Dorje Shugden for over 30 years. If his reliance on Dorje Shugden meant that he was not a Buddhist during this time, then all the teachings he gave to millions of people were not valid.
Similarly, His Holiness’ own teachers relied on Dorje Shugden for their entire lives (60-80 years). If relying on Dorje Shugden means all of them were not Buddhists, then all the teachings they gave throughout their entire lives (including those they gave to His Holiness the Dalai Lama) are no longer valid. This would mean His Holiness received teachings from unqualified teachers and is therefore not qualified himself to teach.
Thus, if people wish to receive teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and believe his teachings to be authentic, it is not logical for them to simultaneously believe that Dorje Shugden’s practice is harmful to our Buddhist practice.
ANSWER #3
According to the Tibetan leadership, relying on Dorje Shugden results in us going to the Three Lower Realms (i.e. being reborn as an animal, hungry ghost or in one of the hells). However, contrary to these claims, many Dorje Shugden lamas have been reborn in a perfect human body and their incarnations were recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with his guru His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (top) and with the reincarnation of his guru (bottom). If relying on Dorje Shugden means we will take rebirths in the Three Lower Realms, why did His Holiness the Dalai Lama confirm the recognition of his own guru who, in his previous lifetime relied on Dorje Shugden until he entered clear light?
For example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised the reincarnation of his own guru, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. This incarnation, known as His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche, now resides in Vermont, USA as the spiritual guide of Trijang Buddhist Institute. Likewise, His Holiness the Dalai Lama also recognised the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe, known as Lama Osel, who relied on Dorje Shugden until the day he passed away.
If these Dorje Shugden-practicing lamas went to the Three Lower Realms (as the Tibetan leadership claims), then it should not have been possible for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to recognise their reincarnations.
REASON #5: Dorje Shugden’s practice promotes sectarianism and division
ANSWER #1
Many of the Gelug liturgies propitiating Dorje Shugden’s assistance contain prayers composed by great Sakya and Kagyu masters. It is not logical for a practice which incorporates prayers from other lineages and traditions to be considered sectarian.
Furthermore, the claim that Dorje Shugden takes revenge on Gelug practitioners who rely on practices from other lineages also does not make sense.
ANSWER #2
Dorje Shugden originally began as a Sakya practice. From the 18th Century onwards, the Sakyas starting with Morchen Kunga Lhundrub regarded Dorje Shugden as an enlightened being. Some quick facts about the Sakya tradition of Dorje Shugden practice:
- Morchen Kunga Lhundrub composed a Sakya prayer (kangsol) to invoke upon Dorje Shugden.
- The 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen included Dorje Shugden in the pantheon of Sakya protectors. He placed Dorje Shugden together with Setrap and Tsiu Marpo, collectively calling them Gyalpo Sum (Three Kings).
In the Sakya tradition, Dorje Shugden is commonly depicted as riding astride a black horse
- The 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro composed prayers to Dorje Shugden including a wrathful torma offering called “Swirl of Perfect Sense Offerings”. He also first coined the term ‘Shugden Rig Nga’ to refer to Dorje Shugden and his four cardinal emanations.
- The 37th Sakya Trizin Kunga Nyingpo was considered to be an incarnation of Dorje Shugden.
- The 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen recognised Dorje Shugden as being of the same nature as Chenrezig / Avalokiteshvara in his writings.
Although the Sakyas today no longer rely as heavily on Dorje Shugden as they used to, this historical information clearly shows that Dorje Shugden’s practice will benefit anyone and everyone regardless of faith, tradition and self-created divisions.
ANSWER #3
In Geshe Lhundrub Sopa’s biography, which includes a foreword from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he states clearly that thousands of students received teachings from His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. Amongst this corpus of teachings and practices was Dorje Shugden, which Pabongka Rinpoche’s students in turn taught to their own students.
Therefore it would not be untrue to say that Dorje Shugden was historically relied upon by the vast majority of Gelugpa practitioners, and was an accepted part of the Gelug monasteries. Those who did not feel an affinity with Dorje Shugden were not forced to engage in his practice, and those who relied on him chose to do so willingly. There was no need for separate monasteries to be identified as Shugden-practicing and non-Shugden practicing monasteries.
Considering that there were no divisions in Tibetan Buddhism until the ban came about in 1996, therefore it was the ban that created division in the Tibetan and Tibetan Buddhist community, and not Dorje Shugden himself.
Why has the ban been enforced with so much enthusiasm?
We recognise that those who enforce the ban come from all walks of life and will therefore have all kinds of reasons for enforcing the ban. These are some of the more common reasons as to why the Tibetan leadership and their supporters have been so enthusiastic about enforcing the ban on Dorje Shugden.
REASON #1: They need a scapegoat
In the 60 years since Tibetans first fled into exile, the Tibetan leadership has not been able to arrange for meaningful dialogue with the Chinese leadership. While the Tibetan leadership continues to rely on the kindness and generosity of sponsors, the Chinese leadership have transformed their nation into a global economic powerhouse.
As we move further away from the events of 1959, it becomes increasingly clear that goodwill towards the Tibetan leadership is waning, and they are losing their influence to pressure other nations into intervening in the Tibetan situation. To distract from their lack of accomplishments over the last 60 years, a reason for their failures had to be found and Dorje Shugden became an easy target.
As a result of the Tibetan leadership
Thus, to distract the Tibetan people from real and immediate issues (for example, the persisting low literacy rates amongst Tibetan adults) they intentionally linked Dorje Shugden practitioners to China without any proof. Doing so achieves a number of objectives.
First, it is an easy way to make Dorje Shugden people the enemy, by associating them with an even greater ‘enemy’ which is China. It gives the Tibetan community an outlet for their frustrations. Instead of directing their anger at their leadership for failing to resolve the Tibetan situation, the anger and emotion is directed towards a tangible enemy – Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Second, it distracts people from learning about Dorje Shugden. When they are blinded by this association with China, they will be distracted from looking beyond the accusations to examine if the ban has any scriptural basis.
Finally, creating a false association with China is a convenient explanation for the leadership’s failure to effectively provide for their community on a day-to-day basis. Saying that Dorje Shugden lamas and practitioners are paid by China is a convenient method of explaining why Dorje Shugden monasteries and their lamas’ works continue to grow, whilst the remainder of the Tibetan community continues in much the same way it has for the last 60 years, with minimal improvements to their lot.
However, it is ridiculous to say that Dorje Shugden people are paid by China when there are practitioners from all across the globe with no relations to China whatsoever. Is it logical that the Chinese leadership would feel so strongly about the Dorje Shugden issue that they are paying millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners to keep up the practice? Even logistically speaking, this accusation does not make sense. How would the Chinese leadership even get in touch with millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners to disburse the funds? Not a single pay slip providing proof of payment has ever been produced although this accusation has been in existence for the last 18 years.
REASON #2: To diminish the influence of Dorje Shugden lamas
In pre-1959 Tibet, Dorje Shugden lamas commanded the respect, power and held authority over millions of Tibetans. For example, His Holiness the Panchen Lama (second only to the Dalai Lama) relied on Dorje Shugden, as did His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, who commanded the respect and loyalty of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans in the Chatreng region.
Dorje Shugden lamas in pre- and post-1959 Tibet could command crowds of hundreds of thousands of students. One possible reason for the veracity in enforcing the ban could be to diminish these lamas’ influence in Tibetan society.
In a post-1959 world, the Tibetan leadership would have needed to consolidate power into one individual and their biggest obstacle to achieving this would have been the influence of Dorje Shugden lamas. Thus they chose to destroy the reputation of Dorje Shugden lamas by labelling their faith as demon-worship, anti-Dalai Lama and anti-Tibet.
REASON #3: To break people’s hero worship of His Holiness
His Holiness recognises that the success of the Tibetan movement (for better or for worse) relies largely on his global reputation as a paragon of human rights, universal compassion and virtue. After his passing however, with no succession plan in place, it may never be possible for exiled Tibetans to return to their homeland. There is no other Tibetan leader as charismatic as His Holiness who can influence the opinion of world leaders.
By implementing this ban and publicising it, His Holiness makes it very difficult for many people to continue their blind hero worship of him. It forces many to break their reliance on him as the sole hope for the success of the Tibetan cause. That is, the ban forces most thinking people to wonder why His Holiness the Dalai Lama who teaches compassion and tolerance, would be so intolerant of a particular faith or practice.
REASON #4: To test real practitioners
Dorje Shugden practitioners have suffered constantly for the last 18 years solely because they rely on a deity that was arbitrarily deemed traitorous to the Tibetan situation and people. The ban has made it clear who will give up something for personal gain, and who are loyal, trustworthy and reliable.
REASON #5: For personal vendettas and self-interest
Some may use the ban as an excuse to act out personal vendettas and to further their own political and financial self-interests. Support for the ban is necessary to rise in the ranks of the Tibetan leadership, and to gain personal favours from those in power. It is easy to imagine how a person may be accused of being a Dorje Shugden practitioner if they are viewed as an obstacle to someone else’s rise to power and money.
On a more mundane level, within Tibetan communities, individuals may use the ban to act out their personal vendettas against one another by being unnecessarily forceful in implementing the ban, just to ‘get back’ at someone they do not like.
REASON #6: Lack of knowledge
Many lay Tibetans are unlearned and untrained in Buddhist philosophy. Although they may speak and read Tibetan in a lay context, it is very different to read, contemplate and understand Tibetan in a philosophical or monastic context. Thus most lay Tibetans – young and old – lack the ability to research and check for themselves if the statements and accusations being made against Dorje Shugden are true or false according to the scriptures. Instead, they rely on what they hear or what they have been told.
Uninterested in hearing or seeing what the protestors have to say, supporters of the Tibetan leadership erect banners to block off Dorje Shugden protestors during one of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Europe. Their respect for freedom of speech is conspicuously absent.
It is also important to acknowledge that most Tibetans have been raised in an environment where they are taught that any and all statements coming from a ‘trusted’ source (like their leadership) can be taken as unquestionable fact. This gives rise to the particularly virulent enforcement of the ban.
REASON #7: Silence equals consent
Lack of knowledge has resulted in the virulent enforcement of the ban. It has also resulted in another more passive form of enforcement – silence. For those who do not know why the ban is wrong, they may feel they have no choice but to go along with it. As more and more choose not to speak up because they are unequipped to debate against the ban, it encourages others to remain silent.
When everyone remains silent and there is little overt opposition to the ban, it encourages the more vocal supporters to continue with what they are doing since no one is standing up to them.
REASON #8: Genuine, sincere devotion to the Dalai Lama
We should also recognise that there are those who are genuinely sincere in their belief in His Holiness’ reasons, and feverishly enforce the ban as a demonstration of their devotion to the His Holiness the Dalai Lama. What they do not realise is their manner of expressing their devotion is a sad reflection of the qualities of their teacher.
They think that worshipping Dorje Shugden is at odds with and against His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Unfortunately, they do not see that it is completely contradictory to threaten someone for their faith in order to uphold the instructions of someone who teaches compassion.
In fact, they should understand that reliance on Dorje Shugden and respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama are not mutually exclusive; just because we do not agree with something or someone does not mean we are against them. Disagreements on certain aspects of our beliefs and faiths should not colour our entire relationship with people; there is no relationship in the world that is not TOTALLY free from disagreements.
Why will Dorje Shugden practitioners not give up their practice?
Just as how supporters of the Tibetan leadership are very enthusiastic about enforcing the ban, Dorje Shugden practitioners have been equally enthusiastic about maintaining their practice and campaigning for the ban to be released. In this section, we address some of the reasons why this is the case.
REASON #1: Guru devotion to their Dorje Shugden lamas
In the Buddhist belief system, guru devotion is the foundation of all attainments. A practitioner should hold the advice, practices and instructions received from their teacher as the most precious and important. Therefore Dorje Shugden practitioners maintain their commitments to their teachers because it is guru devotion and it is the correct thing to do according to the Buddhist scriptures. These commitments include Dorje Shugden’s practice.
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche received Dorje Shugden sogtae from His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in 1983, long before the ban was enforced in 1996.
Thus, simply because another monk, teacher or lama says Dorje Shugden is bad does not mean a Dorje Shugden practitioner will give up the practice. This applies no matter how famous, wealthy or high-ranking the other person or lama making the anti-Shugden statement may be.
REASON #2: No obligation to follow the Dalai Lama
Not everyone in Tibet has His Holiness the Dalai Lama as their spiritual guide. Therefore not everyone has a teacher-disciple relationship (samaya) with His Holiness nor are they obligated to follow his instructions.
Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not their teacher, there are no adverse karmic consequences when they do not follow his instructions. This is not said with disrespect towards His Holiness, but recounted merely as fact.
Similarly, not all Buddhists around the world have His Holiness as their spiritual guide and not all Buddhists are from Tibet. Therefore they are not obliged to be guided by Tibetan politics and politicians, and have no obligation to follow the edicts and directives of the Tibetan leadership.
REASON #3: Gratitude and personal experience
As an enlightened Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden’s practice has benefited countless sentient beings. He has saved lives, brought resources to the destitute, helped practitioners to develop wisdom and clarity of mind to discern the teachings, blessed and protected people from accidents… the list goes on and on and on. Dorje Shugden even saved His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life when he advised His Holiness to leave Tibet in 1959. Those directly involved in the escape have often spoken of their gratitude to Dorje Shugden for his divine assistance.
REASON #4: The ban is illogical
As it has been debunked here, the ban is not logical and the reasons given for the ban do not make any sense. Those with the ability and resources to gather all the facts then consider the ban for themselves have refused to give up the practice of Dorje Shugden because there is no logical reason for them to do so. Similarly, the continuing vulgar treatment of Dorje Shugden practitioners by supporters of the ban give them very little incentive to drop the practice.
REASON #5: Human rights
Considering that the reasons for the ban are illogical, many Dorje Shugden practitioners continue to speak up against the ban because the manner of its enforcement has been a clear violation of human rights.
REASON #6: Religious freedom
The ban itself violates the freedom of worship guaranteed by the Indian constitution, and it violates the freedom of worship guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which India is a signatory to. All Dorje Shugden practitioners want is to be able to do their practices in peace, free from fear of persecution and marginalisation, whether verbal or physical.
REASON #7: No proof, no dialogue
Ultimately, no proof has ever been shown by the Tibetan leadership that Dorje Shugden is a spirit, that his practice has harmed His Holiness the Dalai Lama or harmed the Tibetan situation. The Tibetan leadership has also never shown any proof of the more ludicrous claims directed at Dorje Shugden practitioners, for example the accusations that Shugden practitioners receive money from the Chinese leadership, that Dorje Shugden practitioners are violent, or that Shugden practitioners pray for harm to befall His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On the contrary, Dorje Shugden practitioners have, at every juncture, been able to show clearly the discrimination they face, and the violent and vulgar threats they suffer. They are able to provide evidence of the ongoing ostracisation and marginalisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners taking place all over the world.
When comparing the reasons given for the ban against Buddhist knowledge that is universally accepted by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, none of the reasons for the ban are logical. Thus Dorje Shugden practitioners and those who recognise the unfair nature of the ban will continue to speak up against it until a solution is arrived at. For the last 18 years, no offers of meaningful dialogue have ever been extended by the Tibetan leadership towards Dorje Shugden practitioners, although multiple requests have been made.
Evidence of the ban
It has been claimed by the Tibetan leadership that there is no such thing as a ban on Dorje Shugden. Here is compiled evidence of what Dorje Shugden practitioners have faced for decades. Please read the materials below and decide for yourself whether there is a ban or not.
On SlideShare
Further reading
- Will the Dalai Lama agree with this?
- They want to kill me
- Why Hide and Attack A Monk?
- Can Tibetan Lamas Make Mistakes?
- I can speak up now about Shugden
- Dorje Shugden people
- I pray to what I want to
- I will not be pulled into conflict
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
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
Thank you for sharing this article that`s sums up everything about the Shugden Ban. It is sad that a once harmonious place has turned into a place of chaos. The Ban has caused many people to be hurt both physically and mentally. Many people still to this day fear Dorje Shugden as they say he is a “Spirit”. Dorje Shugden is able to grant protection againts bad things, wisdom, material needs, safety when traveling both normal or astral and spiritual awakenings.
With folded hands. _/\_
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
For centuries, people have been practicing Dorje Shugden, no news & stories that described his practice brings harm to anyone. Conversely, the BAN of the Dorje Shugden practice has definetely brings harms.
H.H the 14th Dalai Lama has been spreading peace & love wherever he goes. I humbly requesting him not to exclude the Dorje Shugden practitioners who are innocent.?
Politics should not be mixed with religion.The Tibetan government said there is no ban but there are many evidence showing there is still discrimination and religious freedom is not allowed. With these article shared more people will get to know the truth.The Dorje Shugden practitioners have suffered for many years due to the ban. Such as denied services in hospital,assaulted, hurt, degraded, and so forth for their religious beliefs. Our Very own Kecharian wre also denied service. These are many more evidences to proof that there is a ban definately. Thank you Rinpoche and the blog team for presenting many view points that opposes the logic of the ban ???
The ban of Dorje Shugden indeed create a lot of misunderstanding, discrimination and segregation. This in fact is a very good article, to let the people out there, especially those who anti Dorje Shugden, Tibetan, to understand more about the ban. There are some who didn’t even know who is Dorje Shugden, how Dorje Shugden look like, just because the Tibetan leadership said ban the practice, they just follow blindly. Dorje Shugden has benefited many people who need help, Dorje Shugden has been practiced in the lineage by high Lamas for over 400 years, and yet there are many high Lamas reincarnate as high Lamas again. H.H The 14th Dalai Lama is now 80 over year old, and there goes the questions, how does practicing Dorje Shugden shorten H.H The 14th Dalai Lama life since he’s reincarnation of Chenrezig, and he’s 80 over year old now? How does practicing Dorje Shugden will reborn in hell since there are so many high Lamas reincarnated back? Think…..
This is a very good post to clear any doubts about the Shugden ban and the nature of Dorje Shugden. There are many salient points as stated above but here are 2 important ones for me:
1) Anti-Shugden people claim that Dorje Shugden shortens HH Dalai Lama’s life. This is NOT true because the current Dalai Lama is the longest living Dalai Lama. Recent reports say that HH Dalai Lama is healthy and doesn’t have any major health issues.
2) Anti-Shugden people claim that Dorje Shugden is a spirit that is harming the Tibetan cause. Within the Tibetan Buddhist circles, there are many Lamas who can subdue spirits. If Dorje Shugden is really a spirit that can cause harm to Tibetan cause, am very sure that HH Dalai Lama would have in his compassion subdued Dorje Shugden so that it will not harm anyone. It does not make sense that HH would just allow a spirit to continue harming the Tibetan cause and not do anything unless Dorje Shugden is NOT a spirit but an Enlightened Being.
Truth is… Dorje Shugden is just a ploy to divert from the real issue which is the Tibetan leadership’s failure to regain their country. But guess what? In this day and age where the transmission of information is practically effortless, more are beginning to see the truth.
The Tibetan leadership can fool some people all the time, all the people some of the time BUT not all the people all the time because there are 3 things that we cannot hide – sun, moon and truth.
Thank you for sharing the information about the Dorje Shugden ban in an easy to understand format. Until today, there are still people who deny the existence of the ban. They said it was just an advice from the Dalai Lama to not practice Dorje Shugden.
In actual fact, it is not just an advice from the Dalai Lama. There are many proofs showing that there is a ban. In the monasteries, if a monk maintains the Dorje Shugden practice, they will be expelled from the monasteries. Because some of them don’t want to give up the practice, they were forced to leave and establish new monasteries. The hospitals, shops, schools, and other public places put up notices to prohibit Dorje Shugden practitioners to frequent. The Dorje Shugden practitioners are being discriminated against badly in the Tibetan community.
There was so much suffering caused to the Dorje Shugden practitioners. Within the Tibetan community, friends and families split due to their choice in their faith. The ban affects the non-Tibetans as well. Once people know you practice Dorje Shugden, they will keep their distance away from you and you are banned from going to their centers. It is so sad that discrimination like this still exists in the 21st century.
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
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
“If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can be harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he be harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, young Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s tutor Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe
DON’T MISS THIS! FANTASTIC NEW GREAT STUFF! High quality videos redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden practice and people and the current sad Tibetan situation and why they are losing ground in the world. Powerful and truthful – CLEAR VIDEOS – https://bit.ly/2LJbo35
Thank you so much Rinpochela, for all of this clear and concise information on the “non-existent” Dorje Shugden ban. On a personal note and I would like to preface this by saying that I have the utmost respect for H.H. Dalai Lama but in watching and reviewing the early videos of His Holiness answering questions about the ban and while giving the explanation why Dolgyal practice is bad and the he (Dolgyal) is an “evil spirit” I noticed an obvious change in His Holiness’ voice, it was wavering and also his body language betrayed him as well. He himself, clearly didn’t truly believe what he was saying and knew it to be untrue. This ban is nothing short of a “witch hunt”. Thank you so much, again, to Rinpoche and Kechara for consistently putting out all this wonderful information and for peacefully protesting the ban. The people who are name calling and yelling to Dalai Lama to “stop lying” and acting like rabid animals are only hurting the cause and make it harder for us Shugden practitioners to be taken seriously. Sarva Mangalam. Long life and health always to H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha. ??️?
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.
In this video is a police officer being discriminated for his Wiccan religion and he is going to sue the state because he was told it was mandatory for him to attend a Christian gathering. There is supposed to be freedom of religion, so why is it okay for a group of people to force other people to join, pray and believe their religion? And what gives them the authority to tell people what to believe or not to believe in? This is a dictatorship type of leadership, not a democratic one at all. And this is exactly the same question I would like to ask the Tibetan Leadership and those who come on our social media wall to abuse us and call us names and vulgarities because we practice Dorje Shugden. Watch what the guy says in the video.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798026.mp4
In this video, a nice couple is being targeted and attacked just because they are pagan faith. They are Wiccan and the nice lady is a practising elemental witch, but they are being perceived to be bad people and hurting children, although none of that is true and they are being attacked for their faith. This is also another example of what Dorje Shugden people go through especially in Dharamsala, India because the Tibetan Leadership has put a notice on their official site stating that Shugden practitioners are bad and demon worshippers which is completely untrue. Hence, daily Shugden practitioners are being persecuted and if you are not there in Dharamsala, you get online abuse like what H.E. Tsem Rinpoche receives daily as well as myself and other Kecharians who are openly practising what our Guru gave us.
Is this kind of discrimination and violence acceptable in this day and age when there is religious freedom? Why are these people allowed to do this crime? Why is the Tibetan Leadership acting like a dictatorship and attacking others of a different faith? They do it indirectly and encourage this hatred because they do nothing, say nothing and have a page talking against Shugden on their official website. That is a clear indication there is a ban and discrimination against Shugden people.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798075.mp4
Everyone has rights to practise what they like. Those who practise witchcraft has their rights to practise but they are not allowed to voice out their concerns, fearing to be treated differently just like most Dorje Shugden people.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798931.mp4
Taken away the rights to purchase items for witchcraft is the same as burning the witch for practising their religion. It is just a manifestation of different types of witch hunt and banning the sale of certain items is the same as stopping them from practising a certain ritual that is the same as taking their rights away. This scenario is the same as what Dorje Shugden people face also.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516798088.mp4
This is another proof of discrimination that is similar to Dorje Shugden people. The witchcraft people do not get to purchase their religious practise items online because there is no law that protects their rights on what they can purchase and what not they cannot.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797979.mp4
I’ve just attached a video here on a lady reading about “the Persecution of Women in Witchcraft”. It is stated that in the early 16th century there was a mass execution of witchcraft. In the year 1515 in Geneva Switzerland, they burned 500 witches at the stake.
In 1526, 1000 witches in Italy were executed. In 1571 witch hunt spreads across France.
In total it is estimated from 1500 – 1600, there were 50 – 80,000 suspected witches executed. Religious persecution in any way is wrong, look at how many lives were taken because people decide to discriminate on others and persecute them just because they do not follow your belief system. This is exactly what Dorje Shugden practitioners are facing today as well when the Tibetan leadership keeps on harping and silently encouraging their people to discriminate and ostracised Shugden practitioners which we can see from all the above online abuse. Is this okay in this 21st century, is this what H.H. the Dalai Lama advocates – religious tolerance? I think not.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797992.mp4
Despite the founding fathers’ effort to give Americans religious freedom, the Wiccans and Pagans are denied their right, such as to have Chaplains to perform ceremonies, receiving books and materials and so on in prison. It is not fair and this is the kind of discrimination Dorje Shugden practitioners faces. Tibetans in exile are supposed to be ruled under democracy, but they are denied their rights of religious freedom. This is not fair.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797960.mp4
This is another example of religious discrimination. Wicca was accused to be related to Satan, which is not true. Wiccans are being rejected from being able to participate in the governmental system as they are not a member of the mainstream Judeo-Christian religion.Similarly, Dorje Shugden is accused to be a demon/ evil spirit, and that Shugden practitioners are not allowed to participate in the system – they cannot work in governmental jobs, they are denied travel documents, they are not denied medical treatment, and the members of the public are advised to not be associated with them.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797909.mp4
This video shows how Christians in Nigeria face enormous persecution, similar to what Dorje Shugden people are facing.Just like what Bishop Mike Moses said in the video, they are being persecuted “in your own country, your own community”, and that’s worse than being persecuted by others.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516797726.mp4
Pagan man talks about freedom of religion choices
Religious freedom should be applicable to all including Pagan practitioners and atheists
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516796937.mp4
This man’s dilemma is similar to what Dorje Shugden practitioners are experiencing. Even if the Dalai Lama has discouraged Dorje Shugden practice, those who choose to retain their practice should still have the right to do so without being penalized, without being discriminated, abused, attacked and harassed day in day out. Religious Freedom is every human’s right and should be respected, when the Tibetan Leadership stay silent when Shugden practitioners are being attacked, it is clear they condone it. So how can Tibetan Leadership claim to be democratic when they are not and how can they point the finger and blame others for human rights abuse when they do so themselves with their very own people? Illogical, injustice and unacceptable in this day and age!
Oklahoma Pagan suffer Discrimination
A lady witch suffers discrimination after being found out that she is a witch.
Uploaded: https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516796905.mp4
This is similar to what Dorje Shugden practitioners are experiencing in Tibetan settlements. Once they are found out that they are a Dorje Shugden practitioner, they would be a target for discrimination (e.g., denied service in the public places), some even target attacked. And if you are not in Dharamsala, you will be targeted and attacked online with vulgarities and all kinds of derogatory slurs.
Messianic Jews Persecuted
In 2005, a large number of protestors crashed the Messianic Jews Christmas eve celebration and told them to go back to Gaza.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1516796866.mp4
Any form of discrimination is wrong and should be discouraged and stopped. How can we discriminate people base on their religion, just because we dislike their religion? This is pure prejudice and hatred, so how can this be considered good and right for those executing such persecution? And this is exactly the same mentality the Tibetan Leadership has and encourage their people to attack Shugden practitioners. This is the kind of hatred that cause division, war, and suffering. How can one religion claim to be better than the other in the name of “God”? How can this be considered compassion?
Dorje Shugden ban is illogical and unfair for many reasons. The Tibetan leadership has no right in saying Dorje Shugden is a demon; Dorje Shugden practice is sectarian; Dorje Shugden practice is harmful for the Tibetan cause and so forth.
Looking at the Tibetan leadership, I could not understand as to why they are so adamant to retain a discrimination practice that are very harmful and caused so much unhappiness to a lot of people. To make things worse, the Tibetan leadership is contradicting themselves when they are implementing the ban. If they claim Dorje Shugden is a spirit practice and those who practice the deity will go to the lower realm, why they keep recognizing the incarnation of Dorje Shugden Lama?
Why after implementing the ban for over 20 years and expelled a lot of monks, the Tibetan situation is not getting better? it is getting worse in fact with more and more countries and world leaders refusing to meet with them. Isn’t it time for them to acknowledge that they are incapable of handling the Tibetan related matters and bringing progress and welfare to their people. If that is the case, do step aside and let other people take over.
If they say that Dorje Shugden practice must been eliminated because they practise sectarianism, this kind of claim just show that they do not understand history that Dorje Shugden is not only a Gelug protector, but also a Sakya protector. And that Dorje Shugden helps everyone even the non Buddhist.
The Tibetan leadership has to start taking responsibilities for their actions and for the Tibetan situation. They should stop blaming all the challenges that they are facing to a Tibetan deity.
We should fulfil the will of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for an autonomous Tibetan state.
Dear friends,
This meme is powerful. Who you hang around with and the types of attitude they have is who you will be influenced by many times and who you will become in the future. Look at your friends and the people that always surround you to know who you will become.
Tsem Rinpoche
Recently Beng Kooi and Martin on behalf of myself and Kechara was lucky to have audience with His Holiness Gaden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal of Gaden Shartse Monastery. He lives in around Paris, France. His Holiness is 91 years old and very healthy and alert. He was the 101st throne holder for Tsongkapa and was the head of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism and was very successful during his tenure. He is a strong practitioner of both Sutra and Tantra of Je Tsongkapa’s tradition and a master of all Buddhist knowledge. He holds steadfast to his protector Dorje Shugden very strongly. So we can see even the highest throneholders who are masters of Sutra and Tantra also practices Dorje Shugden knowing the benefits.
Beng Kooi and Martin brought photo albums of Kechara Forest Retreat/Kechara and updates on Kechara and our works. His Holiness was very pleased to listen and offered some gifts back.
This is a beautiful picture and the great blessings bestowed on us from His Holiness Gaden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
This is truly a comprehensive article and first of its kind presented with all rounded logic and reasons why Dorje Shugden practitioners are still practising this protector practice despite the ban by the Dalai Lama and why this illegal and illogical ban is instituted. Reading this article can clear doubts, confusion, and misunderstanding.
I believe this beneficial article will aid many people who are misled and misinformed. Thank you Rinpoche and the writers team for working tirelessly to clarify and avail every possible resources to counter the ban so that this powerful practice may continue to flourish and spread wide and far to benefit many people free of divide and discrimination.
Many thanks to Tsem Rinpoche and the writers team for presenting many view points that opposes the logic of the ban, as the ban is based on flimsy arguments and and fallacious views.
Also presented in this article is the many points why as Dorje Shugden practitioners we can safely hold on to our practices.
Everyone is encouraged to read this article whether you are a Dorje Shugden practitioner or not, as long as you are Buddhist.I think everyone needs to understand this issue thoroughly and try the best to resolve the damage on Buddhism due to this illogical ban on Dorje Shugden.
The points tabled here are logical and easy to follow. Firstly, it is established that there is a ban, and the ban is illogial because the reasons cited for the ban can be refuted and countered, anyone who takes the time to read through will be able to have a good understanding.
Also, this article provides numerous options why the ban had been enforced with such enthuasism. Historically, religion and politics don’t mix, this ban is an epitome of the devastating result when religion and politics mixed. Many monks broke their samaya with their Guru and many lay practitioners were being discriminated against by anti-SHugden hardliners.
It is with so much prejudices and heavy handedness that the Dorje Shugden practitioners suffered for the last 20 years in India. The ban must be removed to restore harmony in the community and faith in the teachings. If the high lama who practiced Dorje Shugden can be wrong, any high lama can be wrong, and how do we know the “other” practices that are allowed are not wrong?
Thank you, RInpoche and the team, for the continuous effort to advocate for the lifting of the ban. The work is tremendouns and often met with obstacles, like been turned away from the monastery’s guesthouse, or at the shops. More severely, Rinpoche’s life had been threatened and he faces constant attack on the internet from people who claimed to be supporter of Dalai Lama or anti-Shugden people. These are really unnecessaries.
As a Dorje Shugden practitioner, it had been very difficult to endure the abuse that had been hurled at our Guru, and the Tibetans in Dharamsala and at the Indian Tibetan Refugee camps.
Being a Malaysian, I have the liberty to practise any religion I choose and had not suffered physical violence against me. But I have suffered segregation and “nasty” looks from fellow Buddhists and often discriminatory and unkind remarks on our institution.
The questions asked of me were very interrogative from aggressive people who “worship” the Dalai Lama. From those who care, their questions would be prying into my personal religious preference. At the end of every dialogue the advice would always be “give up the practice” as the Buddhist Dharma King the Dalai Lama said it is bad.
For all the unpleasantries that had been going on for the past 20 years, I truly appreciate the kindness of Tsem Rinpoche.com team for these detail answers to the many questions on my personal choice to propitiate Dorje Shugden.
In conclusion, my choice of Dorje Shugden as my protector had and always will be of great benefit to me in all ways.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing us a better understanding of the ban on Dorje Shugden.
Politics should not have mixed with religion.The Tibetan government said there is no ban but there are many evidence showing there is still discrimination and religious freedom is not allowed.With these article shared more people will get to know the truth.The Dorje Shugden practitioners have suffered for many years due to the ban.Such as denied services in hospital,assaulted, hurt, degraded, and so forth for their religious beliefs..Our Very own Kecharian wre also denied service,These are many more evidences to proof that there is a ban definately.
May the H.H. Dalai Lama please lift the ban soon so as the Dorje shugden ‘s practitioner can practice their faith without suffering fear of discrimination and end their suffering, hardship .May these informative article will help more people to understand better.
Thanks again with folded hands.
Thank you, Rinpoche for such an extensive and detailed rational account on the whole controversy. Hopefully with this supported information, verifications and reasons, the ban would be lifted.
Universally everyone is free to choose their spiritually practice. I hesitate to learn and practice on Tibetan Buddhism when I came across this ‘spirit” related issues many years ago. Now with all the clear, logical and rational information, I am happy to that I have started my practice with Rinpoche. I am more calm and peace and the practice have benefited me.
I hope the ban can be lifted and more peope will benefit with Dorje Shugden practice.
Humbly Thanking you Rinpoche with folded hands
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
__________________________________
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
Well the CTA says that those who practice Dorje Shugden will go to hell, but based on what they are doing it seems more likely that they will end up in hell. If someone practices a so called demon who will damn them to hell? If you ruin thousands of people’s lives karma will send you to hell automatically.
The so called demon worshippers don’t go to monasteries and injure people, but the non demon worshippers (CTA) go to monasteries and do all sorts of ghastly stuff with the intention of killing. From what I have just said it is obvious that the CTA is the real demon worshipper.
High lamas have gotten results out of practicing Dorje Shugden and that includes the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama’s life was saved several times during his escape from Tibet to India during the cultural revolution. Seeing that the Dalai Lama had his neck saved several times by Dorje Shugden why does he forbid people from practicing him? This just shows that the Dalai Lama has no gratitude to the great Dharma Protector who saved his life.
May the Ban end in due time to end the suffering of all the Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Thank you for having the strength, courage and genuine care to stand up and speak peacefully for what you believe in. No one should ever suffer, be segregated, assaulted, hurt, degraded, belittled, cursed, hated and biased for their religious beliefs. No one should advise anyone against any religious belief. If we want to find people who hate a certain religion, we can find plenty. If we want to find people who like a certain religion or form of spirituality, there will be plenty. In the end who is right and wrong? Which religion is right or wrong. All or some or none? Therefore it is more logical to respect all religions, all faiths and all forms of spirituality. In history many have exploited religion for selfish purposes and many have not. As long as I have not, that is all that matters. I cannot and will not speak for others of my faith and what their motive is, but I know my motive. No one and no leader and no religious leader should ever hurt, segregate or speak against another religion. Time for peace. Time for harmony. Time for respect. Time to look beyond mine/your religion and be kind. Be kind to everyone. Never put anyone down because of their religion.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche.
P.S. I wish very much the people from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s views/side and people from the side of Dorje Shugden practitioners meet very soon. May they meet in peace, with kindness in the hearts and good motivation to solve this issue once and for all. We have to solve this through peaceful dialogue. I never protested against His Holiness Dalai Lama nor spoke harshly against his views ever. I have always respected his and everyone’s views. We all have to live on this earth together. You will not accept my way of spirituality and I will not accept your’s and that is okay. But we must respect each other’s spiritual faith and NEVER criticize or advise against it. We must respect also what we don’t accept. Everyone has their way. Advising against another’s religion/faith/spirituality creates so much disharmony. No more disharmony. It’s been 19 years since the ban against Dorje Shugden started. It must end please. We have so many things to argue about in this world, let’s make one less conflict. I wish this conflict to end peacefully soon. I wish His Holiness the Dalai Lama and supporters can open channels of communication and solve this issue soon. Peaceful dialogue please and soon. Thank you.
Dear all,
As what i know DS is the Tsongkapa dharma protector but how Dorje Shugden originally began as a Sakya practice???
can anyone answer it…
Thanks…
Thank you once again Rinpoche. It seems it is a cover-up to overthrow certain lamas or heads of religion under the name of the ban of dorje shugden
Yonten Shigyurma
The Foundation of All Realisations
‘Yonten Shigyurma’
“Well-realising that the root of the path,
the foundation for every realisation,
is to properly rely on my kind Guru,
bless me to do so with great effort and devotion.”
Je Tsongkhapa who is a Buddha have composed the full prayer above, and we should not shed any doubt in Je Tsongkhapa, who was peerless the scholar and debater of his time.
So how can we turn our backs on our teachers and lamas, if some other influential says so who is not our teacher. Guru Devotion is more important than listening to a teacher or lama who is not our root teacher.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article about Dorje Shugden ban. Lots of information here that can see clearly there is no meaning to accuse Dorje Shugden bad spirit or a demon.. Since I start practicing Dorje Shugden i see only benefits. Inner benefits , Purification and etc.. For me its clear that Dorje Shugden is enlightened being.
I wish this ban be remove soon.
Thank you Rinpoche for posting this sum up of the ban on Dorje Shugden practice and reasoning behind the illogical manner the ban has been enforced. Many people look up to His Holiness as a pillar of Buddhism but this is not exactly true as many other traditions or lineages have their own Buddhist leaders. To many (even Buddhists of other traitions) who are unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism, they naturally assume what His Holiness purport to be true and since Dorje Shugden practice is exclusive to Tibetan Buddhism. I came across a lady from a non-tibetan monastery in the southern hemisphere and she accepted Dorje Shugden is a spirit because her mentor said so, from what she read.I do hope with this and many articles from this blog, people who are interested in the subject would come in to read with an open mind and decide with their own clear minds, with logical reasoning that Dorje Shugden is not a spirit and is an acceptable practice within the Tibetan pantheon of Dharma Protectors who sole purpose is to protect and further the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa.
Thank you Rinpoche for you sharing to give us a better understanding of the logic against the ban of Dorje Shugden .
The holiness Dalai Lama might have his concern against the practice as he have mention it in public.But with the ban and restriction imposed towards the loyal practitioner of Dorje Shugden . It had caused more physical suffering to his tibetan subjects then spiritual gain.
Out of compassion the Holiness Dalai Lama should put an end to the suffering of his subjects.Spiritual attainment by an individual depends on their own choice of diligence and understanding towards their own dharma practice and beliefs.
The ban had made those who are mentally weak to be bounded in samsara by propagating hate and malice causing them to be attached so strongly to them.They totally lost their sense of compassion and generosity towards others,that is so important for them to gain positive mind transformation spiritually.
Was this the objective of the Holiness in the first place or is there an hidden agenda…?
Out of Compassion the Holiness Dalai Lama should give a chance to those Highly attained Lama that practice Dorje Shugden to have an open dialog to understand their views on the matter and how to come to a compromise to end the suffering.
actually, other sects or traditions do pray to spirits too. Example gesar of ling, kuan ti, etc. i read also they say ‘harm’ to the nyingma because in pabongkha’s time, the gelugs are demolishing the nyingma monasteries. stating that the gelugs are the true teachings of the buddha. and transforming the nyingma monasteries into gelug monasteries. demolishing the statues of padmasambhava. and if i’m not mistaken some protector texts in kagyu have mention about offering to ‘gyalchen’ and ‘gyalpo’. i guess its another name for d.s. let it be with the politics in tibet, nothing to do with other countries. we practice spiritual not politics.
Thank you Rinpoche and team to put logical answers and providing very rational perspectives to all re DS issue.
My prayers will be that this issue be resolved immediately so as to create harmony amongst all.
Thank you
_/\_
Lum Kok Luen
Thank you for posting this with the clear and logical arguments about why people are following Shugden even if the Dalai lama says not to. I am curious if someone can tell me the name and also the prayers that any Kagyu lamas wrote that ever followed Shugden? I have a strong Kagyu and Dorje Shugden connection and am always trying to discern how this is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xog0HKE6VA
Hi there, i found arguments from both side, HE Tsem Rinpoche and HH Dalai Lama to be relevant in their own way, however
through this particular video, i somehow found my decision to be clinging abit more to Dalai Lama himself. Because i cant seem to find myself able to rebuke his comment if i were the one to question him.
How would you guys further respond through his answers?
Thank you Rinpoche and the blog team for putting up this article. There are many information on Dorje Shugden controversy, but they are everywhere, it was not easy to put them all together to get a bigger picture. It is so much easier to read and understand the controversy reading this post.
It is not a post to ask the reader to pick side or to go against His Holiness Dalai Lama, it is just to let the public know what is happening to Dorje Shugden practitioners and why they won’t give up the practice. I hope by reading this post, the doubt people has towards Dorje Shugden practitioners and Dorje Shugden will be answered and there will be more harmony among us. And I hope the ban will be lifted very soon!
Dear Sock Wan,
You are right in mentioning that this post is not for one to choose sides but rather a clarity for practitioners who may have doubts to have them cleared so that their practice will gain merits for them.
This article definitely answered many questions I had over by the Ban. My conclusion is whether political or otherwise, it is not for me to take sides but to be firm in my devotion of my Protector and that the day will come when the Shugden devotees who are suffering will be released from such suffering and practice their faith with peace and harmony to the communities and families.
I agree with you Sock Wan… this post is not about making people take any sides but to gain insights and understanding on what is going on and from there make their own choices. However, whatever choices are made, it is the individual’s right to do so and we should respect it and not discriminate it and instead practice and focus on the principle teachings of Buddhism which is compassion for all.
However I did take a look at James’s video and I cannot help but to think… why would a monastery (Gaden monastery as HHDL mentioned) whose protector is Palden Lhamo create “obstacles” for the monasteries. As I know enlightened Buddhas don’t get angry or create obstacles for people/anyone. It is due to one’s negative karma that creates obstacles for oneself or for the group, definitely not the Buddha. And if you say it is because of this so called “spirit” worship, then how come Palden Lhamo an enlightened Buddha who is the protector of the monastery mentioned, could not stop/subdue this spirit and protect the monastery from obstacles? And how come all the other high Lamas who are highly attained like His Holiness’s Tutors, HH. Trijang Rinpoche and HH.Ling Rinpoche are all still practising, do they not know it is a spirit? That just doesn’t seem logical and it demeans the Buddhas and all other Gurus because in other words you’re saying that this spirit is more powerful then the Buddhas/the Highly attained Lamas which we know is impossible.
All the answers are actually mentioned by Rinpoche on this post to make us think logically, using wisdom to analyse and not just accept anything on face value even if it is coming from His Holiness. Buddha taught us to check before accepting teachings literally… and for something as important as one’s spiritual practice, we definitely should think and check thoroughly.