Badge of Shame
(By Tsem Rinpoche, Joy Kam and edited by Pastor David)
A brief history of Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery is one of the “three great” Gelug monastic universities of Tibet, located north of Lhasa. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The Sera complex is divided into two sectors by pathways; the eastern part contains the Great Assembly Hall and the dwellings of monks, and the western part has the well-known three colleges: Sera Jey Dratsang, Sera Me Dratsang; and Ngakpa Dratsang.
Sera Jey Monastery today in Bylakuppe in Southern India
Sera Jey Monastery is located in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe in Southern India
Sera Jey monastery was originally established by Jetsun Kunkhen Lodroe Rinchen Senge, who was one of the main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa (1357 – 1419) in the early 15th century. After going to exile, Sera Jey Monastery was re-established in 1970 at the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe in Southern India. Today, there are more than 3500 monks living within this monastery. This great monastery is also famous for having created greatly renowned teachers like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Geshe Rabten, Geshe Lhundub Sopa, Geshe Ngawang Dhargye and also Lama Yeshe.
A brief history of the ban
In 1996, after many lifetimes of worshipping Dorje Shugden, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama began to impose a prohibition on this 400 year old practice, without giving proper logical or scriptural reasons. Ever since then, for over 19 years, thousands of exiled Tibetans; monks, nuns and lay practitioners who practices Dorje Shugden have been ostracised, discriminated and segregated.
The Tibetan Leadership systematically implemented and encouraged the ban on Dorje Shugden by putting up signs, disseminating memos and notices to enforce the prohibition of this practice and those who continue practicing this deity were shun and rejected within their own exiled community. This act is a huge breach on Shugden worshippers’ human rights to religious freedom, as well as a breach on the practitioners’ spiritual bond (samaya) with their teacher as they are forced to abandon a sacred practice given to them by their teacher. This becomes a violation of their spiritual vows and commitments.
Dalai Lama bans Dorje Shugden practice and expels monks
A New Ruling At Sera Jey
In recent times, His Holiness the Dalai Lama says there is no ban and that it was all just spiritual “advice” and that the monasteries have gathered together and decided on the ban. It is said that people had their freedom of choice to choose to practice or give up on the practice on Dorje Shugden even though there are so many concrete evidence of an imposed ban.
On the 25th January 2016, Sera Jey Monastic officials have issued a letter to impose a new ruling that all ‘bona fide member monks of Sera Jey wear a badge that specifically indicates whether they practice Dogyal or not. If that is the case and everything Shugden practitioners are saying about the ban is untrue, then WHY does an established monastery like Sera Jey implement an identity badge system “distinguish” the identities of their monks from Dogyal propitiating monks?
Hence, this is obviously not just “advice” against Shugden but outright discrimination and this new ruling is a proof of this. If it was really just advice, then why does an advice need to be imposed in the monasteries? There is a difference between advice and instructions, this is obviously an instruction to be enforced, and it is very clear evidence that there is discrimination and a real ban on Dorje Shugden practitioners. If this is not considered a ban or discrimination on Shugden practitioners then what is?
The above are many clear evidence of the discrimination on Dorje Shugden practitioners. As if this is not enough, we now have Sera Jey’s identity badge of hatred.
Questions to ponder…
Let’s just ponder these questions. If someone tells you that you have the freedom to practice any religion you want but you need to wear a badge meant to show that you are a practitioner of religion x, how would that make you feel? A normal person made to do that would immediately feel that the badge is meant to ostracize those who aren’t a practitioner of religion x. Why does anybody need to wear a badge meant to distinguish monks from Dorje Shugden practitioners? This is the same question a monk of Sera Jey would ask since the monastery had already officially expelled Dorje Shugden practitioners. By wearing the badge, monks of Sera Jey would be made to feel that the monastery is deliberately discriminating against Dorje Shugden practitioners of Sera Jey who don’t wear the badge.
It seems that Sera Jey monastery is being pressured by higher authorities to filter out a few stubborn remaining Dorje Shugden practitioners, who despite all the efforts of implementing the Shugden ban, continue to hold on to this practice. This is because the new ruling would have to be approved by the private office of the Dalai Lama before being implemented. Perhaps this is the Tibetan leadership’s final push in tightening the ban on Dorje Shugden to distract their people from their own failures in delivering an independent Tibet and the recent controversies surrounding an allegation that the recent elections was rigged. On the other hand, the pressuring of the monastery like Sera Jey to do this, the Tibetan Leadership (Central Tibetan Administration – CTA) washes their hands clean on this issue where they could say “see we’re not the ones creating discrimination or implementing any ban” but it’s the monastery’s own ruling.
So what is going to happen to those who do not wear the badge? Are they going to be excommunicated and ostracised because it is stated in the letter that this badge is meant to distinguish between those who practice Dorje Shugden. So are they saying that those who practice Dorje Shugden are not pure and therefore need to be kicked out and that people should not associate with them because they are not pure? This new ruling of wearing a badge to single out Dorje Shugden practitioners counters the very core of the teachings that the Geshes and elders of the monastery teach on generating compassion for all sentient beings.
Another important question would be where would these monks be wearing these badges? They would not have to wear the badge within the monastery as they had already sworn off the practice of Dorje Shugden. Naturally, they have to wear it to big events such as the Dalai Lama’s teachings, initiations, Geshe examinations, great debates between monasteries and all around the Tibetan community in Bylakuppe and other Tibetan communities. By doing so shops owners, businesses and the exiled community are encouraged to shun those who are Shugden practitioners by being identified by a badge of discrimination. This will create more controversy, segregation, separation, conflict and ultimately violence especially within the lay community who are already riled up by the previous implementation of the ban.
So why would Sera Jey wish to stir up disharmony and trouble for Shugden practitioners if they were pure Buddhist practitioners? If the ruling is not meant to discriminate and is strictly for a spiritual purpose, then why not implement rulings that reinforce the Vinaya vows. Why not enforce rules that would make the monks hold their vows well especially those that make monks be harmonious with each other, behave and speak in such a way that inspire faith and respect? Why enforce a badge that divides people? In the history of the various Buddhist monastic universities, there has never been such a rule where one needs to wear a badge to indicate their practice and promote further segregation and disunity amongst the Sangha?
The Sera Jey discriminatory badge ruling has similarities with Hitler’s implementation of the yellow badge for Jews, which was a mandatory ID badge. The badge was sewn on a person’s outer garments and immediately identified Jews of the young and old to be rounded up into various groups so that they can be tortured and murdered on a massive scale.
Since Sera Jey had started this badge ruling, it will be a moral and psychological pressure for the other monasteries to implement this rule. The reason is simple, because all the monasteries want to compete to curry His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s favour, as there are benefits to be gained from this. For example, when His Holiness pays a visit to Sera Je monastery to give teachings and pictures are inevitably taken and this would place them in a good light.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is seen here in one of the teachings at Sera Jey Monastery, Bylakuppe, India (December 2013)
By associating themselves with His Holiness closely, this would show to the world that they are ‘pure and legitimate’ and that the Dalai Lama backs them up, and this will gain them more prestige and fame hence more sponsorship, donations and of course more members to join them in order to make them grow further. There is nothing wrong with that because real practitioners would rejoice in any Dharma institution’s growth because it will benefit more people but the means and method that Sera Je is adopting to gain material resources are actually against human rights as it segregates people, inevitably causes more pain and suffering to others, and that is downright wrong and that is the injustice of this illogical ruling of wearing a badge. This is something we should and simply cannot allow and it is something we, not just a Shugden practitioners, but as human beings, should speak up against because this is a clear and direct proof of the ban on Dorje Shugden and that is against the freedom of religion.
Click to enlarge
Some may ask “why is wearing a badge viewed as negative as there are many organisations out there that wear badges.” The issue here is not about wearing a badge, the issue is why do we need to wear a badge to distinguish between Shugden practitioners and non-practitioners? Why do we even need to distinguish anyone if it leads to something positive? We have seen much suppression, segregation, and bias towards Shugden practitioners who have suffered so much conflict for over 19 years. In the end, this badge is just going to perpetuate the negative oppression and segregation even further. The reason is because the badge like the Dorje Shugden hit list from the Tibetan leadership has only served to incite further discrimination and violence.
The Dorje Shugden hit list from the Tibetan leadership which has only serve to incite discrimination against Shugden practitioners.
Therefore, this badge from Sera Jey Monastery is not a statement of identity, peace, harmony or to create anything positive amongst the monks of Sera Jey but rather, it has become a symbol of injustice inflicted on Dorje Shugden practitioners as a whole. This has become the first Buddhist apartheid the world has ever seen. The ‘advice’ by His Holiness the Dalai Lama against Dorje Shugden has created further discrimination against the followers of this protector now in the form of this identity badge of shame.
For other related articles of interest:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/dorje-shugden
NOTE: Something interesting is that according to WeChat, a communications mobile chat app on smartphones, many of Sera Jey Monastery’s monks have expressed their wishes not to implement this badge system as it will create more discrimination and harm. But the monastic heads in collusion with the Tibetan leadership went ahead with it anyways.
Screenshot of announcement on Sera Jey’s website
Link to announcement on Sera Jey’s website: http://www.serajeymonastery.org/component/content/article/152-announcement/969-identity-badge-of-sera-jey.html
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Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The choice each of every one of us choose includes freedom to change our religion, belief and freedom. There shouldn’t be a law to impose their beliefs on others. Every one of us has the right to profess and to practice his or her religion without undue interference. Religious freedom is very important as this gives us the right to be ourselves, and this helps to work together after maintaining peace the country. It allows different faiths and beliefs to flourish. After worshipping Dorje Shugden for decades, HH the 14th Dalai Lama suddenly imposed a prohibition more than 400 year old practice. He once did rely on this practice so During the height of the banning of Dorje Shugden’s practice , many practitioners who practice Dorje Shugden were ignored, discriminated and rejected within their own exiled community. Many were forced to give up on the practice on Dorje Shugden even though there are so many concrete evidence of an imposed ban. They were forced to wear an identity badge to distinguish their identities from those Dorje Shugden propitiating monks. Many Dorje Shugden practitioners had suffered because of the ban, families , friends were torn apart services denied and so forth. To live in harmony with others, we should overcoming the differences and disagreements in religion and faith of others. May this Dorje Shugde controversy be over soon .
Thank you Rinpoche, Anila and Pastor David for this sharing.
All practitioners of Dorje Shugden are forced to wear a badge in Sera Jey Monastery. No religious freedom at all just to distinguish between Shugden practitioners and non-practitioners. The ban of Dorje Shugden is unnecessary causing suffering and hardship among the Tibetans. Having to wear a badge is even more sad. Freedom of religion is a basic principle of all religions and a fundamental human right. The Tibetan government in exile say they are democratic but its not true from what they are enforcing rules. They are bias towards Shugden practitioners, over the years Shugden practitioners have suffered. Hopefully HH Dalai Lama will lift the ban soon for the sake of peace , harmony among the Tibetans.
Thank you Rinpoche, Joy Kam and Pastor David for this sharing.
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们，
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说，西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使，一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前，当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺，化身为特别的护法，赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安（平日外游和神游时）和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时，你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时，你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后，你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒：嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑，你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见，充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的，圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安，常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿（布旦康萨）— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
Many come to Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia to make offerings and prayers to the increase form of Dorje Shugden who appears like a prince and rides on a golden horse. Many report having their wishes fulfilled and return many times. Am happy to see this. Tsem Rinpoche
You can learn more about this form of Dorje Shugden here: https://bit.ly/2wxQyes
and
See video of this chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEK35F_O5Hg
COMPASSION at its best: His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained in Ladakh, 31 July 2018:
“Usually at the beginning of an empowerment there is a ritual to drive away interferences. But I no longer feel it’s consistent to regard some beings as evil forces. At the start of each day I cultivate altruism, but in the evening we say, ‘May the evil forces be driven away.’ There seems to be a contradiction here that I’m no longer keen to comply with. I’m not highly realized, but I have great confidence in the power of Bodhichitta.”
Source: https://bit.ly/2wVsqSb
———————————————-
This latest statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is excellent. I fully believe in his compassion and I hope he will fully implement it.
All negative beings take rebirth with negative minds due to deep attachments. The attachments result in negative states of rebirth and angry minds that carry out harmful actions, like spirits or hungry ghosts who can be very bothersome because they are very angry as they died in the state of attachment in their former rebirths.
Indeed we need to generate compassion towards these beings, especially the formless type, as it would be the best remedy to stop their harm. We can recite mantras with love and bless them with it. While reciting prayers, we can meditate on them being at peace. When we generate compassion towards these harmful interferences of the formless type, many of them will calm down and stop their harm and even go away. Some of them, you can talk to them and subdue their harm and they will stop harming completely if they feel your love. That is how you can help them.
Many high masters of India and Tibet generated great compassion towards certain ghosts, spirits or interferers and subdued them in this manner and even made them into protectors of regions. I’ve witnessed this with one of my lamas where he subdued a female spirit that crossed over the Himalayas. After making the spirit promise it will not harm others, my lama gave the spirit a drink to seal the promise.
Since the Dalai Lama has manifested saying Dorje Shugden is negative (although many high lamas disagree), then he can apply this method to Dorje Shugden. He can ‘subdue’ Dorje Shugden by generating tremendous love, prayers and talking nice to Dorje Shugden who will be ‘subdued’. Then people are henceforth ‘free’ to practice Dorje Shugden without more discrimination, segregation and being called degrading names for practicing this protector.
Give peace a chance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama can generate great love towards Dorje Shugden and all the hundreds of thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners that love the Dalai Lama and miss him like I do. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama bring peace and heal the rift with Dorje Shugden practitioners.
May His Holiness live very long and always be healthy,
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Reading- https://bit.ly/2wWQGUh
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
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
Dear Kecharians and friends,
Last night, I gave a teaching to a group of people who were in Kechara Forest Retreat. I shared with them the correct way to pray for our loved ones and why we shouldn’t “demand” Dorje Shugden with fulfilling our wishes but let Dorje Shugden decide what is the best outcome. He has infinite Manjushri wisdom beyond our own and we should trust this wisdom. Sometimes what we pray for is not what should be fulfilled. Sometimes what we don’t want turns out to be the better result in the future.
I also shared with them about a beautiful monk, Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche, who was jailed and badly tortured by the soldiers for 19 years, starting back in 1959 in Lhasa, and yet he has no anger towards his torturers. He was released and had resettled in Nepal where I met him. For the remainder of his life, he spent his time in meditation, retreats and pujas for the public until he passed. He was glowing, happy and very proud of the fact he was a student of His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, which he told me when we met. He did full meditations on Vajra Yogini and short puja to Dorje Shugden daily in his small room in Kathmandu, Nepal where I had to honor to join in his prayers. He told me he was very happy to have his room to do his meditations, pujas and prayers openly. Whatever happened to him, he accepted as part of his karma and he spent much time in prison meditating and quietly teaching dharma to his other cellmates. He was very much respected in prison in Lhasa because he never showed anger, always meditated and consoled others, giving them great strength. He endured much hardship, torture and beatings but he never lost his monk vows. His full understanding of karma helped him not feel any anger or bitterness towards the soldiers. He told me that daily, he would meditate that the karma of others in prison would come to him. That all the torture and abuse he received was so others in prison did not have to suffer this. He said suffering for others was what kept him going and made him be able to endure the pain.
We are not bound by our experiences. We are bound by our choice. I also reminded those were present about the good person inside each and every one of us, and how we should not “bury” this good person with our excuses because the more excuses we give, the deeper this good person is buried and soon the layers of excuses will make it very difficult for us to find this good person. We are all beautiful good people and we should not let it get lost by lying, laziness, lack of integrity and procrastination. We all have a choice. If we have to make excuses, we should choose to make excuses to be a winner. When we win, we make ourselves happy and those around us happy.
The teaching session went well and it was spontaneous, and I requested the people who live and work in and around Kechara Forest Retreat for the talk. We had some good laughs to during the talk.
Thank you,
Tsem Rinpoche
‘If we trust in karma which exists, then there is no reason for anger’.
~ Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche
“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
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
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
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Amazing post!!!!!
Dear friends, For months we have been working on this BEAUTIFUL and meaningful mural in Kathmandu, Nepal. Please click here to enjoy the many stunning pictures of this mural: https://bit.ly/2LgOj8J
Tsem Rinpoche
Sakya tradition’s thangka of Dorje Shugden sitting on a throne within his palace with his four emanations and high Sakya Lamas nearby. Tsem Rinpoche
Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
How can a nun curse someone they do not even know and wish the person to die quickly and be born in hell? What kind of nun is this? Shocking! What more she’s cursing a Buddhist teacher and a monk?! Is this the face of Bhutanese Buddhist?
This is so shameful for her as a nun, her teacher, her monastery, her country and her King. A sangha should not behave in such a manner. A Sangha should carry enlightened Buddha’s teachings of compassion and wisdom to benefit all sentient beings.
A Sangha is not supposed to promote hatred and certainly should not be cursing or wishing another person to die. That wish itself is already breaking one of the vows.
A Sangha is one of the 3 Jewels, an object of refuge. They should not behave like an uncivilized person with so much hate. This is how bad the Tibetan Leadership has spread their lies and hate about Dorje Shugden and Shugden Buddhist practitioners.
What happened in Nazi Germany, I think no one thought this can happen again. What Sera is doing echoes what happened during World War 2, in many parts of Europe under Nazi Germany.
Sometimes many things start off as something innocent, I am sure the Jews in Europe did not think they would end up in gas chambers across Europe.
A true democracy allows everyone the freedom to exercise their human rights, including the freedom to practise any religion they want. In democratic countries, the government does not interfere with this right. Neither are democratic governments prejudiced against their citizens’ choice of religious belief. They do not force people to stop their religious practice or pass legislation criminalising people because of their religion.
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan leadership who are based in Dharamsala are the exception. They are the only so-called ‘democratic’ leadership that puts a stranglehold on its people, persecuting them for their religious beliefs. They deny the rights of Dorje Shugden practitioners for simply practicing their religion as they have done for the past 400 years. Dorje Shugden practitioners are ostracised from their own community, denied medical care, education or even employment in government offices. The CTA definitely does not live up to the right to be called a democratic administration, especially when in it inflicts suppression of people’s freedom and disrespects basic human rights.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1523903366.mp4
This 2016 enforcement of a discriminatory badge on Dorje Shugden monks in Sera Jey, making a strong statement that there is a ban on Shugden practice, sounds so absurd in the current day context.
Today, who dominates the world scene? China .Who is everyone going to listen to and follow? China. Now China has officially declared its support for Dorje Shugden practice. Which power in the world will go against China and support the CTA ban on Dorje Shugden practice. No country not even India will dare do this for fear of raising the ire of the Chinese Government.
Furthermore, as the Dalai Lama wishes to go home to Tibet, China, and has publicly declared that he recognises Tibet as part of China, it logically follows that the Tibet Leadership must now adopt a conciliatory approach towards China, in order to fulfil the Dalai Lama’s wish. A conciliatory approach requires them to stop enforcing the ban on Shugden practice and all the accompanying violence and persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners , and cease all negative remarks (which are unfounded) of Shugden practitioners being China spies. Only then perhaps will China concede to holding negotiations with the Tibetan leadership regarding the Dalai Lama’s visit to China.
Interesting highlights of the issue of the latest Sera Jey Monastery , which required all practitioners of Dorje Shugden to wear a badge. The ban of Dorje Shugden is unnecessary and illogical that has cause a lot of suffering and hardship among the Tibetans. Every since the ban there is no religious freedom and now having to wear a badge is causing even more discriminations and more problems to arise . It is the result of 60 years of the Tibetan leadership exploiting their people in all sectors of society. Watched all the video posted in the comment section. Its sad all cases is similar to what Dorje Shugden practitioners are experiencing. Freedom of religion is a basic principle of all religions and a fundamental human right. They should be given religious freedom to practise how and what they want. Freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world is a source of stability for all countries.
Thank you very much Rinpoche, Joy Kam and Pastor David for this article and evidence about this badge of discrimination.
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In the famous Sutra of King Pasenadi’s 16 Dreams
King Pasenadis’ fifteenth dream says: – he saw a crow surrounded by golden swans wherever the crow went, those golden swans will surround it as followers.
Buddha made the prediction that: – (Golden swans served a crow) in the distant future, newly ordained monks and novices whose morals are not quite pure will surround, admire and pay respect to immoral monks as teachers. The crow is clever and devious in giving gifts in return for the respect of all little swans, small swans, and big swans. The swans will show how important the crow is by sending gifts every month. Every year they will gain more status and titles. They will not work for religion but they flatter the housemaster for status in return.
When the era of decline of Buddhism is coming, there will more immoral monks. Monks and novices who lack of education and guidance in monkshood will not understand the discipline and their duties. They will not conduct their daily prayer but just watch TV, those in the rural area will enter monkshood for the sake of tradition or they do it for money, some will do it on their parents’ request and while being ordained they will bring entertainment to the temple which violate the rules and regulations of priesthood and bring unwholesome karma for their parents and relatives. They do not perform monks’ duties and lack of discipline. They neither listen nor pay attention during dhamma teachings. They talk without respect and are even proud of their immoral behavior, without shame and not afraid of the results of their unwholesome deeds. This will happen in the distant future and all will hear and see.
This prediction by the Great Sage Buddha Shakyamuni 2500 years ago, could not be more apt to the current situation affecting the controversy created against Dorje Shugden and the students. Monks who have poor practice simply side seemingly older and famous monks who issue controversial instructions which are contradictory to the teachings of the Buddha. Buddha never taught to segregate others, certainly not your own Dharma brothers and sisters. Buddha never taught to discriminate and create sufferings for others. Buddha never taught to split up the monastic world . Buddha taught renunciation, compassion and wisdom of the truth. Buddha taught generosity, patience, moral ethics, discipline, concentration and wisdom.
Its heartbreaking to see how degenerated the monastics have become. Issuing a badge is showing off, it’s segregation, its saying they are better then others ….. it is a Great Shame !
I am very sure it’s breaking the hearts of true monks like H.E Tsem Rinpoche and the like. There’s no basis to sing about this “new badge system”, in fact, the very opposite. It’s very compassionate of H.E Tsem Rinpoche to write about this to bring the awareness to others. I hope those who ignorantly made these decisions will stop their wrong doings; don’t let the ego win as many are suffering from your wrong deeds !!
Last Saturday, at an event marking 60 years of Tibetans being recipients of Indian kindness, Lobsang Sangay mentioned that the exiled Tibetans should strengthen their efforts to make the Dalai Lama’s return to his Potala Palace a reality.
Representing the Indian government, Ram Madhav, a leader in the governing Bharatiya Janata party, echoed Sangay’s statement with hope that the Dalai Lama will be able to “return to your homeland” through peaceful and democratic means.
This event was originally planned to be held in Delhi but it was cancelled and relocated to Dharamsala. At the same time, Indian officials were directed by their Foreign Secretary to avoid events hosted by the Tibetan leadership, since they coincided with a “sensitive time” for Delhi’s relations with Beijing. India’s volte-face approach in shunning the Tibetans, with the unprecedented cancellation of many key Tibetan events, is now being viewed as a clear sign that India is no longer willing to be collateral damage in the Tibetan quest to agitate China over the so-called Tibetan cause.
With mounting pressure from India to not hurt their relations with China, the tone of the message this time around seems to be that of a plea with only one goal in mind: for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and reunite with Tibetans inside Tibet. Could it be that after 60 years, the Tibetan leadership has finally realised their fight against China is a futile one, and they should start looking at more achievable goals? May the aspirations of millions of Tibetans to see the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet be fulfilled and in the words of Madhav, that ” it will not take that long for you (Tibetans) to be back home.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/01/pm-in-exile-urges-tibetans-to-make-dalai-lamas-return-a-reality
Thank you for this eye opening sharing. The message by CTA and His Holiness is quite straight forward, regardless of the terminology used to define the action; Dorje Shugden practitioners have been SINGLED OUT and segregated from the rest. Avoid using the term “ban” to describe the unlawful action of singling out DS people is pure equivocation; trying to confuse matter. If there is freedom, why would DS monks be forced to wear a badge – a badge that ensure they are being degraded by the rest of the monks and lay community; like not being allowed medical services in hospital or not being served in retail shops, etc. This horrid action in this day and age is not acceptable. I hope His Holiness and his powerful think tank will make announcement to lift the ban soon. More importantly, discrimination is against Buddha’s teaching – this basic Buddhist concept should not have eluded the lamas and monks in exchange for more funding and prestiges.
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
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
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
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
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?
It is really sad to see Dorje Shudgen practitioners wearing this badge just because they practice DS. Wearing such a badge only brings more misery for the person wearing it, that discrimination and more ostracization can be heaped upon them . This is indeed a badge of shame and is going to stir more conflict and greater hatred against Shugden people. Thank you very much Rinpoche,Joy and Pastor David for this article and evidence about this badge of discrimination ?
Dorje Shugden was practiced by many great lineage lamas for 400 years. In 1996, H.H the 14th Dalai Lama announced Dorje Shugden ban without a proper logical reasons. Thousands of monks, nuns and lay practitioners being discriminated, segregated because of holding on Dorje Shugden practice.
The Tibetan Leadership never admitted they have imposed a ban, but twisted the ban into “advice”. The ban became so intense that although Sera Jey Monastery had sworn off the practice of Dorje Shugden, now the monastery actually officially issued a letter to impose a new ruling that all monks in Sera Jey has to wear a badge to indicates they are not Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why would a monastery need to do this if this is not instructions pressured from the government? This does not sound like an advice.
Monastic life should promote compassion, kindness, tolerance, acceptance and harmony among people. Why don’t Sera Jey Monastery imposed new ruling to uphold the vows for spiritual growth instead? The badge is a solid prove there is Dorje Shugden ban. Wearing this badge is meant to stir up even more disharmony and segregations. CTA please have mercy to the monks and fellow practitioners, stop using them and Dorje Shugden as your tools to escape from your failure to govern your people and fulfill your selfish agendas.
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
Comments such as this one left by ‘Suzy in Hawaii’ on Tsem Rinpoche’s YouTube channel is becoming common. After demonizing Dorje Shugden for twenty years, the Tibetan leadership is fast losing its supporters to logic and better information. In this comment Suzy writes honestly how she held on her jaundiced view of Shugden only because the words of the Dalai Lama colored her judgement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s
Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, TibetOver 400 years ago a great and learned lama Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was famed in Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and China for being very saintly and compassionate. He resided in his residence (Zimkhang Gongma Ladrang) in Drepung Monastery. His root guru was H.H. the Omniscient 4th Panchen Lama and his close dharma brother was the 5th Dalai Lama.
The 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had a very close and dharmic relationship and often went to receive teachings together from the 4th Panchen Lama. They were close in age. They both became very learned and well known. During this time, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as a Dharma King of Tibet. But more people went to see Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for teachings, initiations and divinations. This made the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama feel threatened that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s fame might usurp the power of the 5th Dalai Lama. So they had a khata forced down his throat. At that moment, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen dissolved his psychic winds and generated the wish to be a great guardian of Buddha and Tsongkapa’s teachings. As his consciousness dissolved, he entered ‘bardo’ as a dharma protector of the highest order (jikten depey sungma). Many signs were seen throughout Lhasa at this time and the earth was said to have shaken in Lhasa. This event was already predicted to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s previous incarnation when he was one of the 8 main disciples of Lord Tsongkapa the Supreme Master and he served Tsongkapa directly by building Gaden Monastery.
When the 5th Dalai Lama heard what his scheming and power-hungry attendants had done, he was very distressed. He was very sorry Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was murdered and dishonored as he was a great dharma master. The 5th Dalai Lama composed an apology to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. In Lhasa, tens of thousands gathered for the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s holy body. During the cremation, the 5th Dalai Lama’s apology was read out at which flames spontaneously arose from the body of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen commencing the cremation. From the body, during cremation, a powerful whirlwind of smoke tunneled into the sky for all to see as this was an indication Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s consciousness has arisen as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. The Dharma Protector Setrap immediately recognized this new protector Dorje Shugden and ‘enthroned’ him as a powerful Dharma Protector in the realm of the Buddhas. From this, Setrap and Dorje Shugden are closely connected and very close working hand in hand always. After the cremation, the great 5th Dalai Lama built a Dorje Shugden chapel on the spot the cremation took place and named it Trode Khangsar. The 5th Dalai Lama commissioned the statue of Dorje Shugden in this chapel and had monks installed in the chapel to do continuous propitiations to Dorje Shugden. Trode Khangsar Chapel was a commemoration to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who was wronged and also a celebration of his consciousness arising as the World Peace Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
This Trode Khangsar Chapel still exists now in Lhasa where many make pilgrimages there. It is in good condition and was recently renovated. It is over 400 years old and a testimony to the respect the Great 5th Dalai Lama had to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who arose as Dorje Shugden.
I have visited this holy chapel in Lhasa years back. I’ve never heard of it till I was in Lhasa and by chance, I was told about it which I was happy to visit. I could not find the place but strangely a bunch of pilgrims from Amdo told me they would show me how to get there in Lhasa.
This short video is a short clip of this holy Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa today commemorating Dorje Shugden, built by the great 5th Dalai Lama. The great 5th Dalai Lama even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden which is still available today and we can recite to invoke the blessings, protection, and assistance of World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
Tsem Rinpoche
Read more: Trode Khangsar – A 400-year-old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/trode-khangsar-%E2%80%93-a-400-year-old-dorje-shugden-chapel-in-lhasa.html
Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTybDwTeLAM
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The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje ShugdenHUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!
Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinoceros leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamos of the charnel grounds, praise to you!
Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favourite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!
Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!
Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!
From: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/the-5th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden
Tibetan prayer from: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-14th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html
If people wear badges and are identified as Dorje Shudgen practitioners, there is no benefit for the practitioners whatsoever, but just a way for people to identify them and ostracize them. Wearing such a bade only brings more misery for the person wearing it, that discrimination and more ostracization can be heaped upon them .
This badge of shame, has the marks of the dark days of Hitler’s oppression of the Jewish people. With the Jewish people during the dark days that the Nazi’s came to power, they wore badges that identified them as being of the Jewish descent. The Jewish badge was just a convenient way for the Nazis to identify the who were the Jews, and when it came round to imprison and exterminate the Jewish people, it was a simple matter of rounding up those people who wore badges.
禁止的意思是什么？就是「不许可，限制行动，制止，阻止.，应该避免，禁忌。」
当法王达赖喇嘛这边廂跟西方記者说他没下达什么禁令，但另一边廂却通过一些政治管道向寺院施压要僧人佩載徽章以識别是否有修 #多杰雄登 。这意謂什么？会造成何种後果？
若是不依的人，会被如何对待？去到市场有錢買不到東西，有病不受理，要接受異样的眼光，孩子不能上学，被人隔離，就像你患了什么世紀傳染病，人見人怕。而造成如此可怕後果的原因，竟然是因为你选擇了一个而他人又不認同的修持。而下达这个指.示的人，却是一位全世界万人景仰的法王。他誏大部份的人失望，受苦及失去生命，誏人难以理解。
新年伊始，许个愿，愿 #多杰雄登禁令快速解除。誏修持者早日撥开濃雾見青天。愿法王本着一颗佛心，諦造一个平等且人人都能依自已所喜欢的修持傳承与信仰。
佛陀的教诲一直以来都是以众生皆平等。每个众生就算目前是一只动物，但他们皆有佛性，总会成佛的一天。因此，所有的经书和传授佛法的上师，都会力劝人们皈依三宝与持素戒等等。
在现实社会，一个国家必须持有公平的心态而设立法律来确保个人应有的权益与国家的安全。也因为如此，一个国家重要的领袖者，都会以民为主，他的每一个决定都必定顾虑到多方面而达到一定的平衡。
此博文所分享有关色拉傑寺宣布使用徽章的事件，本人觉得如果这徽章只是像我们目前的普通学校来分辨此校的学生，其实这是有助于校方的行政与管理方面和保障学生们的身份和安全到达学校就读。但是，如果此徽章的用途不在于此，那就另当别论。
坦白说，自从1996后，所有持修多杰雄登的僧侣或在家人，受尽西藏流亡政府的打压，失去了人民最基本的信仰自由。而色拉傑寺在此时欣然公布所有在此寺学习的僧侣必须戴上此徽章来分辨他们的身份和有持修多杰雄登的僧侣，简直是雪上加霜。有时候，我在想难道当地的学佛者忘了佛法最根本的道理了？那就是要有慈悲与菩提心，善待一切的众生，证上无等的智慧。而这一点，我相信普通的经书都可以阅读到。如果要更进一步的了解，我们也可以参考藏传佛教格鲁派的高僧大德，至尊加杰帕绷喀仁波主要的教诲《掌中解脱》。里面有讲述以24天包涵了八万四千的法来帮助我们证上无等的智慧。
感谢仁波切，还有Pastor David 和Joy 的分享。此博文让我们看到在一个富有佛法的地方尽然也会发生自我矛盾的时候。
衷心的祈愿达赖尊者可以尽快为多杰雄登修行解禁。多杰雄登的信徒不再受歧视而是尊重。
谢谢。_/\_
I was told but my precious Guru, H.E. The 25th Tsem Rinpoche that Buddhist monk robe is very pure, sacred and it represent the vows who wear it. Hence it shows no identity of who you are but a monk or nun which means whoever wears a robe are equal. The robe that wore by the holy and pure Lama also commonly served as a relics to his students. I am very sad to know that this badge is being forced to pin on the monk robes so that they will called themselves more “DISTINGUISH” than others because they are PRO-DALAI LAMA.
I doubt those who come out with this idea know about the real purpose of wearing the monk robe which started by Lord Buddha himself 2500 years ago. placing this badge on their robe is not only a sign of discrimination, it’s also an insulation to all the monks in the Sera Jey. They are being forced to do something that against their vows. They are being forced to do what is against their practice and what they believed in.
I do not blame those who took the badge and pin on their robe because they do not have a choice. They have to follow what have told to do so that they can remain in the monastery and continue their monastic study.
Why CTA doing this to the monks? So much of suffering created for the sake of their own benefits. The whole idea is not even for Tibet anymore but money. What a shame!
The core of the issue never sway from the discrimination imposed by the Tibetan leadership on Dorje Shugden practitioners. The badge mandated by Sera Jey is evidentially one of those unjust rulings that instead of promoting peace, love and harmony, it spreads hatred, discrimination and suffering. These actions are blatantly against the teaching of Buddha and Lam Rim, not to mention against basic human rights and freedom of religion.
What bothers me and pain my heart very much is the fact that these anti-Buddhism rulings were imposed by one of the most prestige Tibetan Buddhism Monastery college. I grew up watching movies and reading stories that depict how monks from Shaolin Buddhist Temple would rather die in honor than to let villains take a life of the innocent. What Sera Jey had done shocked me to the core. Has the world become so degenerated where Buddhism institution values fame, glory and material gain over the duty to be compassion? And allow ignorance to rule instead of confronting the Shugden issue with logic, reasoning and dialogue?
To the people in Sera Jey, I hope you will come to realize that this ruling will have long and unduly negative effect on Tibetan Buddhism and on practitioners’ spiritual practice. We are already living in an era far away from Buddha’s pure teachings, full of distractions and disasters; please do not create more suffering and causes to divert us from the path.
Thank You very much, Rinpoche, Joy and Pastor David for the latest news from Sera Jey. This opens my eyes that the 3 poisons can be in any form or shape.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
It is very sad to see such discrimination from a world renowned monastery. Why would a monastery openly discriminate a group of practitioners? Is that what we condone?
I stumbled upon someone discussed about this article, and you must look at the reply from “Ani Tsultrim”. It shows either he/she is ignorance, or lazy or just blatant in denial. The announcement is on Sera Jay’s website, for Buddha’s sake, and yet they denied such discrimination.
For Ani Tsultrim’s information, the link to the announcement is here:
http://www.serajeymonastery.org/component/content/article/152-announcement/969-identity-badge-of-sera-jey.html
and I have included the screenshot for you too.
Ani Tsultrim is a perfect representation of how ANTI-DS people are.
As another prominent “champion” in We Need To Talk About Shugden Facebook Group who spread nothing but hatred, how can one trust any information disseminated by this group at all IF a NUN like Ani Tsultrim will not check out this simple blatant truth that this letter was indeed in Sera Jey Monastery’s website for validation. They refused to research, and investigate further before making baseless assumptions. This tells a lot about their claims and “deep knowledge” in the DS issue.
Lew, she probably says you hacked into the website and uploaded the letter there. This is how they will attack back with childish notion when the truth prevails and they are at the dead end.
Thank you Joy for this blogpost that highlights the issue of the latest Sera Jey Monastery ruling requiring all monks not practicing Shugden to wear a badge.You also clearly show how and why this badge is not designed for a spiritual purpose, but more to further discriminate between the Shugden and non-Shugden people.
The Sangha in a Monastery have the principal role of preserving the dharma. For that, every step should be taken to ensure that the Vinaya code is strictly kept by the monastics. Hence if there is any ruling it should have to do with the reinforcing of this Vinaya code among the monastics. As you said,”If the ruling is not meant to discriminate and is strictly for a spiritual purpose, then why not implement rulings that reinforce the Vinaya vows. Why not enforce rules that would make the monks hold their vows well especially those that make monks be harmonious with each other, behave and speak in such a way that inspire faith and respect?”.
Instead of bringing harmony among the sangha, this ruling is likely to create a greater schism and disunity among the sangha! Such further discrimination is bound to bring more suffering and anguish to Shugden people, who have already suffered much persecution and ostracism. There IS a ban on Shugden practice and there IS discrimination which has already led to much suffering, as this blogpost has clearly shown.
This is indeed a badge of shame and is going to stir more conflict and greater hatred against Shugden people.
It is sad and sadistic indeed to witness such a disturbing happening of degeneration existing in the World of Tibetan Buddhism today. I too, sincerely wish to join Spchua to pray and hope that this is not the signalling of the beginning of dark ages for Tibetan Buddhism. This “identity display through the wearing of a ‘badge of shame” inflicted upon Dorje Shugden practitioners definetely makes a cruel act to impose such sufferings on them! What actually is the main thrust of Buddhist practices in our Behaviour? As taught, firstly to tame our mental continum to become non-violent. In general, Buddhism as said in the great vehicle is primarily concerned with the altruistic compassion of helping others, and the lesser vehicle is not to harm others. Thus the root of all Buddhist teaching is compassion. As everbody knows, the chief quality of a buddha is great compassion. His great attitude of nuturing and helping others being the reason why it is suitable to take refuge in a Buddha, as I have learned. In this way, the three refuges for a buddhist, is Buddha, Doctrine and the Spiritual community – all have their root in Compasion. All religions are said to be having powerful systems of good advice with respect to the practice of compassion. Why then, such happening can exist in our Tibetan Buddhism as in this case? Can any good kind soul please explain!!! Om Benza Wiki Bitana Zoha.
Dorge sugden is my choice.om benja wiki bitana sohaa.
Dear Joy,
Thank you for sharing the news lah. It is very sad to know and unbelievable that such great monastery decided to implement such badge system though they might be sure of consequences. All teachings are without contradictions (lamrim) and knowingly they came up with this system. There is no way that this would say about not having ban and discrimination of shugden practitioners.
We are getting to see and know the same things happening which happened to jews and blacks during second world war. 🙁
When this is going to stop and be cleared for the benefit of all…. _()_
Dear Pema,
You are right! When is this kind of discrimination ever going to end? Therefore we should never stop voicing it out and standing up for this injustice and to do it peacefully. We need to keep sharing and speaking up until this bad situation changes and stops. Just like how racism ended in America where the blacks were heavily discriminated. Then there is also the discrimination on gay people who fought very hard to gain their rights as human beings which now in USA they’ve even passed the legislation in court for same gender marriage to be allowed and to be legitimate. Hence, we need to keep voicing out until such horrible discrimination stops… for the sake of Peace and Harmony for all.
Thank you Pema.
This badge is truly a badge of shame. Those who wear it should be ashamed because they are promoting segregation and discrimination against Shugden practitioners who are their dharma brothers. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t this tantamount to abandoning the Dharma? Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche had said in “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand” that “we abandon Dharma any time we favour our own tenets and disparage the rest.” Pabongka Rinpoche said that “abandoning the Dharma is an extremely heavy misdeed, as we are told in the ‘King of Single-Pointed Concentration Sutra’ and other sutras.”
Thank you Joy for sharing the news on this new implement of Sera Jey Monastery.
It is unbelievable that one of the top three prestige Gelug monastic university is willing to implement such a discriminating rule. This badge wearing rule is similar to what had been enforced by Hitler to single out Jews to be a victim of the discrimination of the community and his tortures. It is extremely unethical, unjust and in no way conform with the Buddha’s teaching and any human right constitution.
Even without the badge, Dorje Shugden practitioners had been discriminated, attacked and treated very badly. I cant even imagine how would the violence escalate when Dorje Shugden practitioners can be easily identified.
Thank you Chris for your comment… yes you are right, already without having a badge to discriminate them, they are already having a hard time just to survive. And on top of that the Tibetan Leadership (Central Tibetan Administration – CTA) continues to deny the fact that there is a ban or any discrimination on Shugden practitioners… well, if this is not clear enough evidence then what is? If CTA was really a democratic govt. who cares for their people, they would do something about this.
To see this being implemented by Buddhist whose very core practice is suppose to be “compassion” for all sentient beings is truly disgusting and so very very shameful to say the least. They have basically put themselves in the same ranks as the Nazis who were prejudice against Jews and basically killed millions of them in the Holocaust. So we really need to get this news out to the world, to different media so that the same tragedy does not repeat itself. We can no longer be a by stander to such injustice because this is totally a bridge of our religious freedom. We need to help them, we need to SPEAK UP and STAND UP for what’s right and we need to do it peacefully but loudly and firmly.
Thank you Joy sharing this post.
It’s sad to see the discrimination on Shugden practice come to this stage where badges implemented to further segregate the practitioners. I strongly agree with what had mentioned on this post that if it’s an advice by His Holiness the Dalai Lama then why should be identify who practice or not.
If the advice is not meant to give negative impact why should it be segregated in such a way? Buddha’s teaching is for everyone and why this right has been taken away just because we practice Dorje Shugden? Why suddenly compassion and harmony no longer practice by the Tibetan leaders but only practicing the old age of cruel segregation and discrimination towards their own people. Why the Tibetan leaders have not come up with a great idea of uniting their people but instead coming up with al sort of enforcement just to destroy their people which lead to further destroy Tibet which already lost their country.
If this badges is to promote the unity and harmonious of the people I strongly agree and support but if it’s just to create more suffering to the people it’s just another backward action from the people that never learn from the past which they just live with the past for the downfall of themselves.
This badges implementation should stop as it show very clearly that it does not respect religions freedom and humans right.
Dear Rinpoche
I sincerely pray this is not going to be the signal of dark ages of Tibetan Buddhism, academicial is the fundamental pilar of up holding the greatness knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism.
It’s so sad to see this actually happened, it’s more sad to see leader of current Tibetan Buddhism becoming this degenerate.
It’s extremely sad to see His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama, direct or indirectly encouraging the whole pilar of Tibetan Buddhism work towards degeneration.
Om Mani Pedme Hung