Question asked by David
Hello,
I have been silly and digressed in my guru devotion over the past few years. Have read an article by tsem rinpoche I have realized the truth of what this has caused me.
I am hear on this site because I was previous part of a sect called the new Kadampa tradition. And upon realizing I needed to practice again I came upon a great conflict due to previously having a heavily based Shugden practice. Tsem rinpoche's 4 hour video cleared this for me in the first two hours and I am now back doing green Tara, tsongkarpa/Shugden practice daily.
My issue lies in the fact my sect was very secular and it was discouraged reading anything other than the books by geshe Kelsang gyatos, on one occasion I was actually told I should hide any books not written by him as not to set a bad example. Geshe-la is my root guru and I am and always will eternally greatful for the initiations and empowers he gave me. Trouble is that now I live in a country with no NKT. And my resident teacher of the centers I lived in have disrobed (which in the NKT means they are disbanded for a year and never a load to teach again) and I have never been able to write or speak to geshe la as it is not allowed. Although I have access to limited and sufficient materials to renter the path my issue arises due to having no way to ask my root gurus permission to study with anyone else. And from what I have been told it is forbidden for people to mix his teachings with other theachers. It is very difficult for me to know what to do as my sangha from this group are very close minded to Tibetan buddism and are the main instigators of the protest against HH the Dali lama. In fact these protest caused me to break away after geshela asked us (us being the entirety of the attendants at the summer festival) personally after a teaching to attend. When I arrived I found it aggressive and greatly disturbing especially when seeing some of geshela core teachers shouting fiercely whilst throwing a fist in the air. What brought me back was a post of tsem rinpoche holding a sign toned in a more polite respectful way….
I feel trapped and wanted to fully engage in my prectice again but wanted to gain some perspective from the other side (meaning those who have not dissociated from Tibet and still practice Shugden.)
My personal email is dnlbowers@live.co.uk I appreciate it may be of benefit to others for you to reply here and request you also place the reply in an email? I feel that keeping and open diaologue from time to time might be needed.
Dear David,
Thank you for your heartfelt post. I am happy to read you have begun to engage in your daily practices once again. Yes, you are right, H.E. 25th Tsem Rinpoche does stress again and again on the importance of engaging in our daily practice, especially if we have.
I am sorry to hear about your current situation where there are no New Kadampa Tradition centres. Have you tried contacting your previous centres to ask for advice? You should try that first. H.E. Tsem Rinpoche always recommends adhering to the protocols of Guru Devotion.
Perhaps you can either post here or email H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s Ladrang here mail@tsemladrang.com with any further questions.