Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden Prayer

Jun 24, 2024 | Views: 8,568

31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro composed numerous texts on Dorje Shugden

(By Tsem Rinpoche)

Dear friends around the world,

Before Dorje Shugden was widely practised in Gelugpa tradition, he was enthroned as a protector of the Sakya tradition. As stated by His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche in his work “Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors”, Sakya reliance on Dorje Shugden began with the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (1705 – 1741) who enthroned and worshipped Dorje Shugden as a Dharma protector. The supreme throneholder of Sakya school of Buddhism, Sonam Rinchen enthroned Dorje Shugden as one of the protectors of Sakya.

Later on, Sonam Rinchen passed the practice of this Dharma Protector to his son, the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro (1729 – 1783), who was believed to be the emanation of Dorje Shugden himself. During his lifetime, Kunga Lodro composed a Dorje Shugden kangsol (prayer) to invoke the blessings of Dorje Shugden. The prayer has since achieved prominence and it is still widely used today. Thus, it is safe to conclude that modern day practice of Dorje Shugden has its roots in the Sakya school. Kunga Lodro the supreme 31st throneholder of Sakya school of Buddhism wrote a supplication to Dorje Shugden included here and propitiated Dorje Shugden as a fully enlightened being.

The fact that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being was also confirmed by the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871 – 1935) who wrote, “The one known as Dolgyal is not mistaken on the path to liberation, he is by nature the Great Compassionate One.” In this instance, Dragshul Trinley Rinchen was highlighting that Dorje Shugden’s nature is as Avalokiteshvara, a fully enlightened being.

The 39th Sakya throneholder Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen who also practised Dorje Shugden and praised Dorje Shugden as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara

Above are three Sakya Trizins who relied on Dorje Shugden or referred to him as an enlightened being. It is definitely very significant that it was the Sakya Trizins who taught this, and not just any ordinary monk because the Sakya Trizins are actually the spiritual heads and throneholders of the Sakya tradition, one of the major schools within Tibetan Buddhism. This is a position equal in rank to the spiritual heads of other major traditions such as the Gaden Tripa of the Gelug school or the Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu school.

The Sakya Trizins are therefore the spiritual foundation and guide to all Sakya practitioners, of which there are many. This includes the practices that Sakya practitioners can rely on, the teachings they can study and the deities they can propitiate. If a Sakya Trizin deems a deity acceptable to himself, what else is there to say about whether the deity is acceptable for everyone else? In the case of Dorje Shugden, not one but THREE Sakya Trizins believed in him, relied on him and encouraged his practice to Sakya practitioners.

Considering the status of the author and the fact the Dorje Shugden kangsol text composed by the 31st Sakya Trizin is still widely used to this day, the practice must have borne results and was therefore deemed effective. In order for the practice to have results, it also follows that the lama who composed the kangsol text therefore maintained clean samaya with his Guru and lineage masters, because otherwise the practice would be void of blessings. It means, in relying on Dorje Shugden, he did NOT break his refuge vows as some would claim.

It further follows that Dorje Shugden practice was not a minor practice of the Sakyas as claimed by some, because one of the Sakya Trizins felt strongly enough about the benefits of Shugden practice to compose such an extensive text to be used to propitiate the deity. If the deity was a minor spirit with little benefit to sentient beings, would a Sakya Trizin spend time, energy and effort to compose such an extensive supplicatory texts for them to propitiate? Thus, it is illogical to claim that Dorje Shugden is only a minor practice within the Sakya school. Or Dorje Shugden was simply an evil being or gyelpo.

The purpose of this blog post is to increase the knowledge and bring awareness about the nature of Dorje Shugden and how he was widely practised within Buddhist traditions other than the Gelug school. I am happy to present this text below to everyone which I hope everyone will download for free. You can print it out and place it on your shrine or even gift it to friends.

May we all come under the care, protection and blessings of Dorje Shugden in this and future lives. May no leader spiritual or secular or their followers ever speak intolerantly of other faiths. May the age of enlightenment, acceptance and harmony come soon. May there be religious freedom and peace.

Tsem Rinpoche

Biography
Praise
Kangsol (part 1)
(part 2)
Gallery
Addendum

The Life and Times of the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro

When engaging in the Dorje Shugden puja, one of the places Dorje Shugden is invoked from is the protector temple at Mugchung, which is located in the Sakya Monastery

The 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro was born in 1729 at Sakya monastery. He was the descendent of Khon family bloodline and his father was the reigning 30th Sakya Trizin Ngawang Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741) who was known to have enthroned Dorje Shugden as a Dharma Protector of the Sakya School. His mother was known by her name, Sonam Wangmo.

It is widely believed that Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro was himself the emanation of Dorje Shugden. As was customary for nobility, his own father bestowed upon the young Kunga Lodro several long life initiations, Guhyasamaja initiation in the tradition of Arya Nagarjuna and transmissions of Manjushri’s mantras. He was then given the auspicious name, Ngawang Kunga Sonam Drakpa Lodro.

He then received his traditional education of reading, writing and memorization of various texts under the guidance of his father. He also received from his father various initiations and transmissions such as that of the Drubta Gyatsa collection of a hundred sadhanas and the Sakya Kabum, which is the collected works of the Sakya tradition. In addition to that, he received initiations and transmissions from the 33rd Ngor Khenchen, Namkha Samdrub (1696-1754).

A close-up of the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen

Upon the demise of his father, Kunga Lodro ascended the throne as the 31st Sakya Trizin in 1741. He continued with his studies with particular emphasis on the Lobshe transmission of Lamdre teachings with many great masters, including the 30th Ngor Khenchen, Jampa Sonam Pelzang (1689-1749) and 34th Ngor Khenchen, Pelden Chokyong (1702-1760).

When he turned of age at 14, Namkha Samdrub bestowed upon him the lay vows and gave him the name Ngawang Kunga Lodro Tenpai Gyeltsen. He later received novice vows from a lama named Khenchen Wangchuk Puntsok, who also gave him the name “Sangye” which was to be added to his existing name. Along with these masters, he also studied at the feet of Nesar Kunga Lekpai Jungne (1704-1760), the 37th Ngor Khenchen, Mingyur Gyeltsen (1717-1751) and Zhalupa Yeshe Drakpa Pelzang. Kunga Lodro became famous for his erudite mastery of the Lobshe Lamdre and he taught this to numerous students. He would be invited to teach at a number of monasteries, including Tsedong, Tubten Serdokchen and Ngor Ewam Choden. As a prolific author, his written works were collected in seven volumes. This veritable scholar also composed a 149-page Tibetan-style manuscript detailing the Sakya ritual on Dorje Shugden.

In his biography, Kunga Lodro wrote that Nesar Dorje Chang had written several texts on Dorje Shugden. In addition to that, Kunga Lodro was also aware of Morchen’s practice of Dorje Shugden as well. In his writings, it seemed that Kunga Lodro had combined the five forms of Dorje Shugden with the main figure called Duldzin or Vinayadhara. According to his descendent, the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen, it was stated that Kunga Lodro would once again take rebirth as the 37th Sakya Trizin Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899). Thus, the Sakya throneholders since the time of the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen had been Dorje Shugden practitioners especially 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro, 32nd Sakya Trizin Wangdu Nyingpo, 33rd Pema Dudul Wangchuk, 35th Tashi Rinchen, 37th Kunga Nyingpo and 39th Dragshul Trinley Rinchen.

Praise >>

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Praise to Dorje Shugden

By the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro

Commentary by His Eminence 25th Tsem Rinpoche on the Praise to Dorje Shugden

Click here to download the prayer in English (PDF)

(Excerpt from the Dorje Shugden prayer called duelzin choe ki gyalpo choepai choka phuentsog doe gu yong khil she jawa)

At the early time, entering into the teaching of the Tathagata,
you rose in the form of Vinaya-holding Bhikshu,
thus you protect all the teachings of the Sravaka-Pitaka without exception,
I prostrate to you.

Here the prayer exhorts Dorje Shugden’s previous incarnation as a great monk, who protected the teachings. This verse also refers to Dorje Shugden’s previous life as the Vinaya-holder (Dulzin) Drakpa Gyeltsen (1374-1434), he was a pure monk who had made the great aspiration to arise as a Protector of the teachings. The teachings are protected when a person learns the Dharma, practises the Dharma and then teaches it. Therefore when Dorje Shugden in his previous incarnations learned the teachings, he was able to protect them.

For example, if someone says something negative about the teachings, as you have internalised the teachings you can reply using logic. When logic is used to clear the doubt in the mind of someone else, you are protecting the teachings. The best methods to protect the teachings is not to kill or oppress those opposed to it, but to have knowledge of the teachings, and then expound that knowledge so that the ignorance in the other person’s mind is cleared.

Therefore here we see that Dorje Shugden is praised as a monk who had mastered the teachings as he can protect them without exception.

In the middle, in front of many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
having generated the aspiring and entering Bodhicitta,
you obtained the prophecy as a protector of the teaching of the Dharma,
thus you protect all the teachings of the Bodhisattvas without exception,
to you I prostrate.

This verse states that Dorje Shugden has taken the vow of Bodhicitta for the welfare of all sentient beings. Not only that but he has practised and attained Bodhicitta itself, which is the enlightened mind that aids all beings. This was done in front of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Some people could argue that even though he has taken the vow, one can regress in practice. However, as the verse explains, he attained a prophecy when he would be enlightened. That would mean that his generation of Bodhicitta was truly genuine.

In the great mandala of the ocean of Tantras,
initiated by Vajradhara, and receiving the samayas,
thus you protect all the teachings of the profound Tantra without exception,
to you I prostrate.

Here the praise mentions the many tantric teachings that Dorje Shugden received in his previous lives. These are based on the sutra teachings, which as we have seen earlier he mastered, and he was also a master of tantra. Therefore as tantra is part of the Buddhist path, he is able to protect them through his own mastery of them. Thus, the nine mothers in the entourage of Dorje Shugden assist tantric practitioners to gain spiritual attainments. The nine mothers are all emanations of Dorje Shugden.

In particular in this northern land, surrounded by a range of snow mountains,
though not directly pervaded by the sun of the Buddha, yet sustained by his compassion,
you are the protector of all those perfect schools of Dharma,
I prostrate to you.

This verse exhorts Dorje Shugden as a protector of all schools. Here he is not described as a protector of the Sakya but as a protector of all perfect schools of Dharma. Therefore anyone who practises the Dharma, in any school, if they propitiate Dorje Shugden, he will assist them. This is testament to Dorje Shugden’s quality and nature.

All the great holders of the teaching, who comment according to one’s own views,
the entire Tripitakas, the Tantras and their commentaries,
you are the very protector of all the holders of the Dharma,
acting as the fulfiller of the words of those leaders, I prostrate to you.

The great lamas who receive a pure lineage, contemplate the teachings, who practise sincerely and even commentate on the teachings to further elucidate them to their students, in order to bring clarity of mind to others are protected by Dorje Shugden. These lamas are like the sun clearing the clouds in the sky and Dorje Shugden protects them.

Dorje Shugden is not swayed by material offerings or those who make the most elaborate offerings, like an unenlightened being, but favours those who elucidate the Dharma teachings. Therefore Dorje Shugden is especially close to those lamas who teach the Dharma. This shows us he is not an ordinary protector, as ordinary protectors are not excited when someone teaches the Dharma. They are more excited when they are given abundant offerings and respect.

Here we learn that Dorje Shugden is very pleased with lamas who teach the Dharma, after they have received the teachings themselves, practised, internalised them and then gives commentaries. This doesn’t refer to anyone who simply teaches the Dharma, but those who have listened to the Dharma, and teach from experience.

Since the teaching of the Dharma is the gateway to the ending of suffering for all sentient beings, Dorje Shugden finds it the most pleasing and he is closest to these lamas. He will listen to these lamas who teach and assist them. This shows you his nature, as Dorje Shugden is happy when other peoples’ sufferings are relieved. This is not a sign of a worldly protector.

The legacy of the pandits, translators, dharma kings and ministers,
all the temples constructed by them,
you are the protector of all those seats of the Sangha without exception,
I prostrate to you.

Here it states that Dorje Shugden is the protector of the legacy of those who have learnt, practised and taught the Dharma. By this it means that he not only protects those great monastic institutions they built, but their teachings as well. This is because these teachings are of great importance for beings to be free of their suffering and gain enlightenment.

For entire Tibet, included in upper region Ngari, central region Ue-tsang, and
lower region Dokham,
you act as the very protector, refuge, supporter, and friend of all people without exception,
thus you are the very god of the snow-land country,
I prostrate to you.

In Tibet there are three provinces: Ngari, Ue-tsang and Dokham. Here Kunga Lodro is stating that Dorje Shugden is the master of all three of these provinces. Therefore he is the protector of the entire snow-land, or Tibet itself. This goes to show, even before the Gelugpa lineage arose, some of whom now proclaim Dorje Shugden to be the main protector, the Sakya masters had already stated that he is the main protector of Tibet, and not any other protector.

The great protector of all the Buddhas of this fortunate aeon,
who is the eliminator of all the forces of unsuitable Mara,
some day through showing full enlightenment as Samyaksambuddha,
you will fulfil the deed of a Tathagata, to you I prostrate.

This explains that Dorje Shugden is emanating as a Dharma protector for all Buddhist lineages at this moment and that he will continuously emanate to assist sincere practitioners. However, in the future he will take on the form of a Samyaksambuddha. This is a Buddha who manifests when the Dharma is non-existent within samsara to turn the wheel of Dharma to benefit sentient beings. Buddha Shakyamuni for example taught when the Dharma no longer exist, so therefore he is called a Samyaksambuddha.

Likewise, Dorje Shugden will appear in a form like Buddha Shakyamuni to teach the Dharma. Some people would retort that this goes to show that he is not enlightened yet, but is unenlightened. On the contrary, here it states that he will ‘show’ full enlightenment, or take on the form of a Samyaksambuddha, implying that he is already a fully enlightened being. It means he will simply take the form of a Samyaksambuddha for the benefit of sentient beings.

Therefore at the moment he has taken a form of a Dharma protector, later he will take on the form of a Samyaksambuddha. This clearly means that he is enlightened already but will take on the form of a fully enlightened being in the future.

In short, in all three times, uninterruptedly,
with your infinite secrets of body speech and mind,
all those beings who are wandering in the ocean of the cycle,
you give them the perfect state of liberation, to you I prostrate.

This clearly states he is an enlightened being as only enlightened beings can provide you with the means of achieving enlightenment. This is not an ability held by any other types of beings. He brings resources, brings practitioners to their gurus who expound the path out of suffering, blesses them so that they are able to receive and understand the teachings. In short he creates the causes for a person to become a fully enlightened being if we have trust in him and his abilities.

Thus by the power of venerating you with this ocean of melodious praise,
through generating delight, compassion, and benevolent force of your mind,
please fulfil the activity for increasing of virtues, pacifying of disfavourable
interferences,
and accomplishment of all the purposes in accordance to Dharma.

The last verse states that by praising Dorje Shugden, who is no other than a Buddha, the practitioner generates great waves of merit. From these merits generated by praising him, you supplicate Dorje Shugden to fulfil the various actions of a protector, removing obstacles, granting protection and the granting of conducive conditions for the practice of the Dharma.

When we praise someone with an ego, their ego increases. Whereas if we praise someone without an ego, an enlightened being, our merits increase. Although this verse on the surface level is propitiating Dorje Shugden for various activities in his current role of a Dharma protector, if we look deeper it once again reaffirms his status as an enlightened being as he does not have an ego. This entire praise is a clear sign that Dorje Shugden is not an ordinary being but a fully enlightened being. Similarly it was no ordinary lama who composed these words. This praise was written by the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro, a great patriarch of the Sakya School.

Click here to download the prayer in English (PDF)

Kangsol (part 1) >>

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Kangsol (part 1)

The 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro (1729-1783) composed the following 149-page Tibetan-style manuscript Dorje Shugden kangsol text. This text contains the propitiation rites that the Sakya high lamas and ordinary monks use in order to invoke the blessings and protection of Dorje Shugden. From this extensive 149-page long text, one can clearly see that Dorje Shugden is evidently not just a minor practice but a significant protector for the Sakyas. Consequently, this important Dorje Shugden text has been in use since the time of Kunga Lodro to this day.

To download the entire kangsol, please click here.

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Kangsol (part 2) >>

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Kangsol (part 2)

To download the entire kangsol, please click here.

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Gallery >>

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Gallery

Gyalpo Sum on the bottom right, according to the Sakya tradition. They are Setrap, Tsiu Marpo and Dorje Shugden. Click to enlarge.

Close-up of the thangka

This biographical thangka of the 32nd Sakya Trizin Wangdu Nyingpo reveals the fact that one of his personal protectors is Dorje Shugden

Gyalpo Sum according to the Gelug tradition. In this case, Setrap (top) and Tsiu Marpo aka Kache Marpo (bottom) reside in Dorje Shugden’s mandala

A thangka from the Nyingma tradition, featuring Dorje Shugden as the central figure, surrounded by the significant and important deities of the Nyingma tradition

A close-up of the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen

The 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro is depicted here on the Sakya lineage tree

The 32nd Sakya Trizin Wangdu Nyingpo

The 33rd Sakya Throneholder Sakya Trizin Pema Dudul Wangchuk who practised Dorje Shugden

The 35th Sakya throneholder Sakya Trizin Tashi Rinchen who also practised Dorje Shugden

The 39th Sakya throneholder Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen who also practised Dorje Shugden

This is the actual writing of the 31st Sakya throneholder Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga Lodro that is housed in the National Archives, Kathmandu. He was a great scholar and a practitioner of Dorje Shugden. Click to enlarge.

The Sakya Gyalpo Sum trio of protectors including Setrap, Dorje Shugden and Tsiu Marpo (a.k.a. Kache Marpo). These same three are being practiced within the Gelugpa lineage now. I myself have great faith in these three enlightened beings enthroned by the great Sakya throneholders of the past as well as the great Gelug masters. They are all fully enlightened appearing as gyalpos or in worldly forms to be closer in assisting the needs of sentient beings.

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Hevajra (central figure)

The 30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741) (top leftmost), the 31st Sakya Throneholder Ngawang Kunga Lodro (1729-1783) (top second from the left), Buddha Shakyamuni (top middle), Naro Kechari Vajrayogini (top right), Yellow Dzambala (middle leftmost), The 39th Sakya Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871–1936) (middle second from the left), Citipati Lord and Lady of the Charnel Ground (middle right), Panjaranatha Mahakala (bottom left), Dorje Shugden Tanag (bottom right)

Hevajra is one of the main highest yoga tantric meditational deities of the Sakya tradition and the 30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen featured as the largest of the three Sakya Trizins depicted here enthroned Dorje Shugden as a protector of the Sakya tradition. The 31st Sakya Throneholder Ngawang Kunga Lodro was his son and the emanation of Dorje Shugden who composed the Dorje Shugden fulfilment ritual text (kangso) that is used to propitiate Dorje Shugden as an enlightened Dharma Protector within the Sakya tradition up until today. Both the 30th and 31st Sakya Throneholders are highly respected and revered for their mastery of the Buddhist teachings, and their ability to teach others.

The 39th Sakya Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen was a renowned master, erudite scholar and lineage holder who also taught hundreds of scholars, masters and great practitioners. He was an ardent practitioner of Dorje Shugden and proliferated the practice throughout the Sakya tradition. Aside from the three aforementioned Sakya throneholders, there were many other great Sakya throneholders who practised and proliferated Dorje Shugden Tanag and these include the following:

33rd Throneholder and Mahasiddha Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)

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The 31st Sakya Throneholder Ngawang Kunga Lodro (1729-1783) (central figure)

Hevajra (top left), Naro Kechari Vajrayogini (top right), Panjaranatha Mahakala (bottom left), Dorje Shugden Tanag (bottom right)

The 31st Sakya Throneholder Ngawang Kunga Lodro was the son of the 30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen. He was considered to have been an emanation of Dorje Shugden at that time and an erudite scholar, accomplished Tantrika and a great lineage holder of the Sakya tradition. He was the teacher of hundreds of scholars, masters and great practitioners. He composed the 149 page Dorje Shugden fulfilment ritual text (kangso) that is used to propitiate Dorje Shugden within the Sakya tradition even until today. He is also known as a lineage holder of the Naro Kechari Vajrayogini practice within the Sakya tradition. Aside from Kunga Lodro, there were many other great Sakya throneholders who practised and proliferated Dorje Shugden Tanag, the special form of Dorje Shugden within the Sakya tradition, who rides on a black horse. These great masters include:

30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741)
33rd Throneholder Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)
39th Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871–1936)

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Dorje Shugden Tanag (central figure)

The 39th Sakya Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871–1936) (top left), Naro Kechari Vajrayogini (top right), Panjaranatha Mahakala (bottom left), Citipati Lord and Lady of the Charnel Ground (bottom right)

Dorje Shugden Tanag literally means ‘Dorje Shugden riding on a black horse’. He is a unique form of Dorje Shugden that arose within the Sakya tradition, is one of the earliest forms of the protector deity and is propitiated as an enlightened Dharma Protector.

The 39th Sakya Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen was a renowned master, erudite scholar and lineage holder. He taught hundreds of students who became scholars, masters and great practitioners by following his teachings. He was also a great practitioner of Dorje Shugden and proliferated this practice throughout the Sakya lineage. Aside from Dragshul Trinley Rinchen, there were many other great Sakya throneholders who practised and proliferated Dorje Shugden Tanag within the Sakya tradition. These great masters include:

30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741)
31st Throneholder Sachen Kunga Lodro (1729-1783)
33rd Throneholder and Mahasiddha Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)

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The 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (main figure)

The 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen, Hevajra, Vajrayogini, Mahakala of the Doors, Palden Lhamo, Gonpo Tramsuk (Brahmarupa), Dzambala and Sakya Dorje Shugden Tanag.

The 30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen enthroned Dorje Shugden as a protector of the Sakya tradition and establish the Dorje Shugden Tanag lineage. Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092–1158) was the first of the Five Founding Fathers of the Sakya Lineage.

Aside from Sonam Rinchen, there were many other great Sakya throneholders who practised and proliferated Dorje Shugden Tanag, the special form of Dorje Shugden within the Sakya tradition, who rides on a black horse. These great masters include:

31st Throneholder Sachen Kunga Lodro (1729-1783)
33rd Throneholder Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)
39th Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871–1936)

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The 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (main figure)

Buddha Shakyamuni, Hevajra, Vajrayogini, Mahakala of the Doors, Gonpo Tramsuk (Brahmarupa),and Sakya Dorje Shugden Tanag.

The 30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen enthroned Dorje Shugden as a protector of the Sakya tradition and establish the Dorje Shugden Tanag lineage. Furthermore, Hevajra and Vajrayogini are the main higher tantric practices of Sakya tradition. In addition, Mahakala of the Doors is the main protector of the Sakya School and Gonpo Tramsuk (Brahmarupa) is an emanation of 4-face Mahakala as those who are uninitiated within the Sakya tradition are not allowed to behold the face of this Mahakala.

31st Throneholder Sachen Kunga Lodro (1729-1783)
33rd Throneholder Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)
39th Throneholder Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871–1936)

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6 Sakya Trizins (central lama figures)

37th Sakya Trizin Kunga Nyingpo (top left), 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (top middle), 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (top right), 31st Sakya Trizin Sachen Kunga Lodro (middle row left), 33rd Sakya Trizin Padma Dudul Wangchug (middle row middle), 35th Sakya Trizin Tashi Rinchen (middle row right), Mahakala Panjaranatha (bottom left), Vajrayogini (bottom middle), Sakya Dorje Shugden Tanag (bottom right)

The 30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen enthroned Dorje Shugden as a protector of the Sakya tradition and establish the Dorje Shugden Tanag lineage. The 31st Sakya Throneholder Ngawang Kunga Lodro was his son and the emanation of Dorje Shugden who composed the Dorje Shugden fulfilment ritual text (kangso) that is used to propitiate Dorje Shugden as an enlightened Dharma Protector within the Sakya tradition up until today. Both the 30th and 31st Sakya Throneholders are highly respected and revered for their mastery of the Buddhist teachings, and their ability to teach others.

33rd Throneholder and Mahasiddha Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)

Addendum >>

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Addendum

Over the course of history there have been a number of Sakya Trizins who practiced and propagated Dorje Shugden. These include:

30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741)
31st Throneholder Sachen Kunga Lodro (1729-1783)
33rd Throneholder Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)
39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871-1935)

Therefore, of the 42 supreme throne holders throughout the history of the Sakya tradition, six of the thrones holders are confirmed to have practiced Dorje Shugden. They are known to have built chapels to him, composed prayers and pujas (kangsols) to him and propagated his practice amongst their disciples. The entire Sakya lineage and their sacred practices such as the 13 Golden Dharmas of Sakya, the Lamdre – the Path and its Fruit, the tantric practice of Hevajra, and other numerous teachings and practices have descended down through these six lineage holders who have proven themselves to be highly attained and erudite incarnations. From these great lamas, the teachings have been passed down to the current throne holders, lamas, and great practitioners of the Sakya tradition.

If someone were to say that these six Sakya thrones holders were wrong or mistaken for their propitiation of Dorje Shugden, for their composition of liturgical texts to him, or for the building of chapels in his honour, then they are saying the Sakya throne holders were ordinary. They were fallible, were not erudite, did not have high spiritual attainments, could be mistaken, and therefore we should not rely on them. If they were just ordinary men adorned with brocade silk hats and expensive robes, while sitting on big thrones, then what is the point to call them lineage holders or masters?

What is the point to practice the ‘tainted’ Sakya tradition in modern times? They were definitely very attained and not ordinary human beings by far. If these six Sakya lineage holders could have made such a huge mistake, then the entire Sakya lineage that has passed through them is tainted and without blessings. So according to that line of thinking, if we were to practice the Sakya lineage today, there will be no blessings and no results. This is because the Sakya lineage as it exists was passed down through these six throne holders without exception. This is neither logical nor possible as they were highly attained masters.

The holy Sakya Monastery, mother monastery of the Sakya tradition. Above the monastery, slightly to the right, you can see the multi-tiered Mug Chung, the most sacred temple to Dorje Shugden within the tradition. When we invoke Dorje Shugden, this is one of the places we invite him from. The Sakya throne holders cannot have been mistaken about Dorje Shugden’s benefit in Dharma practice.

Now, the Tibetan leadership is fond of saying that if you practice Dorje Shugden, then you break your refuge and your divine connection with the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Consequently, you will be damned to take rebirth in the three lower realms, as an animal, a spirit or in one of the hell realms. If that is the case, these six great Sakya throne holders must have taken rebirth in the three lower realms too. But this is impossible! They all practiced Dorje Shugden and there is a lot of research and evidence that confirms this. Some even composed long pujas to Dorje Shugden which are still in use today. In actual fact these six great Sakya throne holders were highly attained beings, and they were definitely not ordinary.

It is because of their extraordinary spiritual attainments, that they were easily able to discern which formless beings were Buddhas and which were negative beings that caused harm. They would have known that Dorje Shugden is definitely not negative and therefore, they had encouraged Dorje Shugden’s practice and composed pujas and prayers to him. They had the clairvoyance to see the very nature of Dorje Shugden, or they could use their wisdom to debate and determine the nature of Dorje Shugden by way of logic. I am sure they did both and arrived at the same conclusion. The simple deduction is that Dorje Shugden is not a harmful being and that is why these six erudite masters both practiced and promoted Dorje Shugden within the sacred Sakya lineage.

I myself have tremendous faith and respect for the exalted Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871–1936), the 39th Sakya Trizin, and the other five throne holders too. I pray they bless me so I may gain full enlightenment. When I see Dragshul Trinley Rinchen’s photo, I feel as if I have met him or had the great honour to have practiced his teachings in a past lifetime. In any case, great faith arises spontaneously in me for Dragshul Trinley Rinchen as it does for other great masters such as Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche and other great masters of their respective lineages.

Tsem Rinpoche

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Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltsen with Manjushri and Dorje Shugden. Sakya Pandita is considered to be one of the Five Founding Fathers of the Sakya Tradition. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.

Hevajra, one of the main Highest Yoga Tantras practised in the Sakya tradition, together with Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.

Questions & Answers

Precious Dorje Shugden statue made by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama

Question 1: I read the post about Dorje Shugden’s practice in the Sakya lineage. I am from the Sakya tradition and until I saw your post, I never knew that Dorje Shugden was relied upon by the Sakyas. That must mean it’s only a minor practice right?

Having read the post on Dorje Shugden’s practice within the Sakya lineage, you will see that many Sakya lineage masters relied on Dorje Shugden or were seen to be one with Dorje Shugden.

The fact that it is conveniently not acknowledged as a common Sakya practice today cannot negate the rich presence of Dorje Shugden in the lineage history and his status as a Sakya protector regardless of whether it is a minor or major practice. And whether minor or major is not the point. The fact is that IT WAS PRACTISED. And it wasn’t being practised by some lama with no name, no attainments, no reputation or no rank but it was being practised by the head of the WHOLE LINEAGE – the Sakya Trizins (aka the Sakya throneholders) themselves.

If everything else the Sakya Trizin did was authentic, then his Dorje Shugden practice was also authentic. So if you look at the level of the practitioner being the lineage head of the Sakya tradition, that validates the Dorje Shugden practice within the Sakya tradition as authentic.

So whether minor or major, the fact is that Dorje Shugden was and still can be considered a Sakya practice.

Question 2: But His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Sakya Trizin both say that Dorje Shugden is a gyalpo (king spirit). If you say that Dorje Shugden is practised by the Sakyas, why would the Sakya throneholders rely on a gyalpo?

That is exactly our point! In the Sakya tradition, Dorje Shugden was originally practised together with Setrap and Tsiu Marpo (also known as Kache Marpo) as the Gyalpo Sum (Three Gyalpos). Gyalpos are spirits of monks who broke their vows and samaya with their lamas.

The Sakya Gyalpo Sum trio of protectors including Setrap, Dorje Shugden and Tsiu Marpo (a.k.a. Kache Marpo). These same three are being practiced within the Gelugpa lineage now.

Why would the Sakya high lamas need to rely on gyalpo spirits? It doesn’t make sense as these high lamas have their own abilities for protection and blessings, and there are other enlightened Protectors in the Sakya lineage that they can rely on. So why did they rely on Dorje Shugden along with Tsiu Marpo and Setrap? Because he is an enlightened being. He is an enlightened being manifesting as a gyalpo. Just like Avalokitesvara manifests as the Dalai Lama. Or Amitabha manifests as the Panchen Lama. Or how Heruka Chakrasamvara manifests as Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and so on. When these great beings manifest in nirmanakaya form (tulku), they are subject to the impermanences of a human body. Enlightened beings can manifest as a demon, ghost, animal, human, god, demi-god, gyalpo, bamo, bridge, food and anything that will serve a purpose to benefit. Never limit the abilities of enlightened beings.

If you refer back to the post on Dorje Shugden practice in the Sakya lineage, you’ll also see that Dorje Shugden was relied upon by the masters and throneholders of the Sakya lineage. For example, one such throneholder who worshipped Dorje Shugden was the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro.

Another Sakya throneholder who wrote about Dorje Shugden was the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen who stated in his diary that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara and that his own father, the 37th Sakya Trizin Kunga Nyingpo (19th century), was an emanation of Dorje Shugden.

So you asked if Dorje Shugden is a gyalpo and how can Sakya throneholders rely on a spirit. Well, let me ask you this – how is it possible that a gyalpo spirit can reincarnate as a Sakya throne holder? Wouldn’t this mean that the entire lineage stemming from Kunga Nyingpo has been corrupted?

How is it possible that a Sakya lineage master would compose a protector liturgy to invoke a gyalpo spirit?

All of this is clear evidence that Dorje Shugden is NOT a gyalpo (or king spirit) in nature but only in emanation, because the throneholders of the Sakya tradition encouraged his practice, and created and composed new methods for practitioners to rely on. Some of them were even reincarnations of Dorje Shugden himself, coming back as Sakya throneholders to lead the whole lineage.

Tsangpa Karpo, the peaceful emanation of the enlightened protector Setrap

Question 3: Speaking of Gyalpo Sum, I was told that Setrap used to be practised by the Sakyas. Nowadays, the Sakyas don’t rely on Dorje Shugden and only a few Gelug monasteries rely on Setrap. Because of this, some say this shows that Setrap is not enlightened and not accepted by mainstream Buddhism. Is this true?

This is far from the truth.

Setrap is indeed a mainstream protector given the fact he is the protector of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Gaden is one of the three largest monasteries of Tibet together with Sera and Drepung, which are collectively known as the 3 pillars of the Gaden tradition. Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug lineage founded Gaden Monastery, making it the heart of the tradition. Setrap would not be enthroned in Gaden Shartse if he was not enlightened, not powerful or minor.

The heads of the Gelug tradition, known as the Gaden Tri Rinpoches are enthroned as such solely at Gaden Monastery. Their thrones must be in Gaden Monastery and this represents their spiritual authority over the entire Gelugpa tradition. Since Setrap is practised at the heart of the Gelugpa tradition it is an established and mainstream practice.

Excerpt from the Oracles and Demons of Tibet that states Tsangpa Karpo is the peaceful aspect of the Dharma Protector Setrap. Click to enlarge.

Furthermore, Setrap is also the Dharma protector of Nyeari Khangtsen of Drepung Loseling Monastery and also worshipped in the great Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, as part of the liturgies invoking various other Dharma protectors.

On top of that, one of the state oracles of Tibet is the Tsangpa oracle (Lamo Tsangpa).This oracle takes trance of the protector Tsangpa Karpo, renowned to be the peaceful aspect of Setrap according to Oracles and Demons of Tibet by Rene de Nebesky-Wojkowitz. This is one of the oracles that the Dalai Lama consults on official state matters for the governance of the Tibetan people prior to the death of Tsangpa Karpo medium. I have included the excerpt from Oracles and Demons of Tibet, highlighting the fact that Tsangpa Karpo is the peaceful form of Setrap. Tsangpa Karpo is one of the state protectors of Tibet and speaks through an oracle of Tibetan government ranking.

Setrap or Dorje Setrap, the wrathful form of Tsangpa Karpo

Given all of this, it can certainly not be claimed that Setrap’s practice is not mainstream. In fact as shown it is a very pervasive practice, from the level of an ordinary monk in Gaden Shartse, all the way to matters of state.

Setrap’s status as an enlightened being reflects Dorje Shugden’s own nature as an enlightened being. It has been mentioned before that Setrap and Dorje Shugden are part of Gyalpo Sum of the Sakya tradition. This trinity comprises of Setrap, Tsiu Marpo and Dorje Shugden.

In the Gelug tradition, Tsiu Marpo is known as Kache Marpo and both he and Setrap reside within the mandala of Dorje Shugden. So if Setrap is enlightened, why would Setrap abide in a so-called lower deity’s mandala? Why would an enlightened being abide in an unenlightened being’s mandala? He would not; that is to say, since Setrap is an enlightened being, and an enlightened being would not reside in an unenlightened being’s mandala, therefore Dorje Shugden is enlightened just like Setrap.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama making offerings to Setrap in the special Setrap chapel of Gaden Shartse Monastery.

Setrap statue in Gaden Shartse Monastery. Setrap has been the protector of Gaden Shartse Monastery for 600 years. Setrap, Dorje Shugden and Kache Marpo work very closely together.

Setrap taking full trance of the senior Gaden Shartse Oracle. This oracle can also take trance of Dorje Shugden and Tsiu Marpo (Kache Marpo). The oracle being able to take trance of the Gyalpo Sum trio shows their intimate connection with each other since their Sakya beginnings. The three of them have been taking trance of this oracle in Gaden for over five decades. There was no issues prior to the ban of 1996.

Below is a Sakya thangka featuring Gyalpo Sum – Setrap, Dorje Shugden, Tsiu Marpo. Following on from that is a Gelug thangka featuring Setrap and Kache Marpo residing in Dorje Shugden’s mandala. As you can see, all three deities are closely related in both the Sakya and Gelug traditions.

Gyalpo Sum on the bottom right, according to the Sakya tradition. They are Setrap, Tsiu Marpo and Dorje Shugden. Click to zoom in on the yellow box for more details.

Gyalpo Sum according to the Gelug tradition. In this case, Setrap (top) and Tsiu Marpo aka Kache Marpo (bottom) reside in Dorje Shugden’s mandala.

Question 4: So are there any lamas these days who are closely associated with Setrap? Maybe if I know about the quality of the lamas, it’ll help me understand Setrap’s nature as an enlightened being.

Setrap was brought over to Tibet from India by Lotsawa Loden Sherab, which is a well-known fact amongst those who know about Setrap’s practice. Loden Sherab’s spiritual reincarnation lineage is very much recognised and is today known as Dagyab Kyabgon Rinpoche as one of the incarnations of this master. He is still very much respected in divisions of Gaden Shartse Monastery. He will give teachings in Nyeari Khangtsen of Gaden Shartse Monastery but not to the whole monastery.

Those who are uninformed label Setrap as an unenlightened being. This contradiction in viewpoint really doesn’t make sense for a number of reasons. The first is that the spiritual incarnation lineage of Loden Sherab is respected BECAUSE he brought the practice of Setrap over from India, so the practice did not originate from a non-valid source.

Secondly would such a high incarnate lama really bring an unenlightened protector all the way from India and spread his practice? This doesn’t make sense, as surely he would rely on an enlightened protector. Why spend time, effort and energy establishing something unenlightened, if there is a pantheon of enlightened protectors he can propagate? Based on this, you will understand that Setrap is therefore enlightened, on the basis that no lama would be respected until today for spreading the practice and lineage of an unenlightened deity.

If people want to believe that Setrap is unenlightened, then they must also believe that Loden Sherab isn’t a high lama and he has no attainments since he could not recognise that Setrap is unenlightened, but mistakenly thought that he is an enlightened Dharma protector.

So if we follow this course of reasoning, it can only mean two things. The first is that Setrap really is in fact an enlightened protector, which the whole of Gaden Shartse and its eminent teachers will attest to. Or secondly, that Setrap is not enlightened, Loden Sherab was wrong and the whole of Gaden Shartse Monastery and its eminent teachers have all been mistaken in their propitiation.

The second reasoning cannot be true because if all of Gaden Shartse was wrong about Setrap, this would negate all Buddhist practice from Shartse, AND it would negate Shartse’s opinion of Loden Sherab as a lama to be respected.

Dorje Shugden Tanag (Dorje Shugden riding a black horse) tsa-tsa from the Sakya lineage

Question 5: The current Sakya Trizin says it is bad to rely on Dorje Shugden and that he is a spirit. This means that if you rely on Dorje Shugden, you break your refuge vows because Buddhists are not supposed to rely on spirits. But the previous Sakya Trizins practised Dorje Shugden…what’s going on? Does this mean they’re not Buddhists? Who did I take my refuge vows from? How can someone give me refuge vows if they don’t have refuge vows themselves?!

According to the logic of those who denounce Dorje Shugden as an evil spirit, people who practise Dorje Shugden have broken their refuge vows. In this case the Sakya Trizins mentioned above and others in the lineage had broken their refuge vows many hundreds of years ago (since the 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 37th, 39th Sakya holders all practised Dorje Shugden). This would mean the transmission of the entire corpus of Sakya teachings has been corrupt since that time. Since the basis of all teachings and practices is the refuge vows and how well we keep them, if the refuge vows are broken, then suffice to say it is logical to conclude no attainments, realisations and enlightenment can be gained. Since seven of the Sakya throneholders practised and encouraged Dorje Shugden to their lineage and disciples, any transmissions given by them afterwards would be nullified of its potency. Therefore if you wish to say Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, you will be undermining the lineage that has been passed for generations within the Sakya throneholders.

If that is really the case then the current Sakya Trizin has received and is practising a false and inauthentic lineage. Therefore we should not listen to any of the current Sakya masters who received transmissions of a false and inauthentic lineage. This is the conclusion according to the people who preach that the current Sakya Trizin is correct on Dorje Shugden, and all of the previous lineage masters were wrong to rely on Dorje Shugden.

Of course, all of this would not be true if critics of Dorje Shugden practice realised that it undermines the foundation of THEIR own spiritual practice and basis for attainments when they say Dorje Shugden is a spirit.

Even a cursory examination of these comments, with logic applied, shows that Sakya practitioners who accuse Dorje Shugden of being a spirit do not really understand the implications of their inflammatory comments.

Question 6: I’m not sure what to think anymore. The previous Sakya Trizins said Dorje Shugden is good, and the current one says Dorje Shugden is bad. This whole “who is right, who is wrong” thing is confusing me. I don’t know whether the previous Sakya Trizins are correct, or the current one is correct about Dorje Shugden. Isn’t this dangerous for the Sakya lineage? The Sakya Trizin talking about how Dorje Shugden is bad is making me doubt our Sakya lineage lamas.

The current Sakya Trizin’s negative comments on the nature of Dorje Shugden is at complete odds with the faith that many previous Sakya Trizins have shown in Dorje Shugden. So which one is it? Is Dorje Shugden a minor practice? Is Dorje Shugden a gyalpo spirit practice and so the previous Sakya Trizins broke their refuge vows AND invalidated the whole Sakya lineage by relying on him? Or is Dorje Shugden NOT a spirit practice, but actually the worship of an enlightened being?

Or were all the previous Sakya Trizins wrong and only the current Sakya Trizin is correct about Dorje Shugden being a so-called spirit? Or is the current Sakya Trizin wrong, and the previous ones correct?

To put it simply – are the historical Sakya Trizins and masters wrong, or is the current Sakya Trizin wrong?

If you call into question Dorje Shugden’s validity within the Sakya lineage, you can’t do it without creating doubt in people’s minds about the Sakya lineage masters, their decisions and who is correct – the lineage masters or the current Sakya Trizin.

The renowned Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen

Question 7: I heard that the current Sakya Trizin previously relied on Dorje Shugden. This was told to me by monks who were living in Buxa refugee camp in India with him. During that time, everyone lived in such close proximity, everyone knew what everyone was practising. Is there any definitive way of knowing who practises what nowadays? Is there any definitive way of knowing who practised Dorje Shugden in the past? The senior and elderly monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery mention very clearly Sakya Trizin practised Dorje Shugden. It was not one of his main practices but he definitely practised.

Some people might claim to know what various lamas do and do not practise. I don’t think this can be very accurate. Tibetan Buddhist lamas of all traditions are known to keep their personal yidam and protector practices hidden, even from their own students. To categorically state that a lama does or does not practise a particular deity cannot be a reliable statement.

Even if the current Sakya Trizin does not practise Dorje Shugden, it has been proven that the previous Sakya Trizins HAVE PRACTISED. In fact, seven of them have been prominent practitioners of Dorje Shugden, inclusive of Kunga Lodro (31st Sakya Trizin) and Kunga Nyingpo (37th Sakya Trizin) who are even known to be emanations of Dorje Shugden. So it would still be truthful to say that Dorje Shugden is a Sakya practice.

The current Sakya Trizin should not criticse Dorje Shugden in any manner because his great forefathers practised and encouraged the practice, and even composed texts. For 57 years, the current Sakya Trizin was very quiet regarding the Dorje Shugden issue. He remained quiet about Dorje Shugden until 2008, while the main Sakya Monastery in Tibet continued to practise Dorje Shugden. If the current Sakya Trizin says Dorje Shugden is negative, then he has automatically invalidated seven of the Sakya throneholders prior to him. Not only have these seven throneholders passed down the lineage that has come to him (which he has been disseminating to the world), but this lineage includes the Dorje Shugden practice. Sakya Trizin remaining quiet for 57 years (until 2008) and then suddenly speaking up could be due to political pressure to conform to the exiled Tibetan government. It is possible therefore that he was browbeaten into speaking. By doing so, the current Sakya Trizin invalidated seven supreme Vajradhara-like Sakya throneholders that were his own forefathers.

Addendum

The subject of the protector Tsangpa Karpo (a.k.a. Lamo Tsangpa) and his oracle was briefly mentioned in the Question and Answer section above. Below are some pictures of the oracle in trance of Tsangpa Karpo, who is the peaceful form of Setrap, as well as a news article about the passing of the oracle himself.

The Tsangpa oracle passed in 2003 and since that time, a new oracle taking trance of this deity has not emerged. It is said that this is a sign of the deity’s displeasure with the Tibetan leadership and with the current state of affairs of the Tibetan government in exile.

The medium, Tsewang Namgyal, taking trance of Tsangpa Karpo (Lamo Tsangpa). Tsangpa Karpo is the peaceful form of Setrap and through the oracle, has been consulted by the Tibetan leadership on state matters for hundreds of years.

Since the Tsangpa medium’s passing in 2003, a new oracle taking trance of this deity has not emerged, perhaps a sign of the deity’s displeasure with the Tibetan leadership.

Phayul’s statement on the Lamo Tsangpa medium. Click to enlarge.

Source: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=4118&t=1

Tsiu Marpo

A protector with an intimate link to the Sakya lineage and Dorje Shugden is the protector Tsiu Marpo. Tsiu Marpo has a long history within Tibetan Buddhism and was propitiated in a triad of protectors known as the Gyalpo Sum or the Three Kings, together with Dorje Shugden and Dorje Setrap. Christopher Paul Bell has written an excellent thesis on Tsiu Marpo, which can be downloaded by clicking the button below.

Click here to download Tsiu Marpo: The Career of a Tibetan Protector Deity

For more interesting information:

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114 Responses to Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden Prayer

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Samfoonheei on Jul 12, 2024 at 1:04 pm

Dorje Shugden was enthroned as a protector of the Sakya tradition centuries ago and only later widely practised in Gelugpa tradition. All these was stated by H.H Trijang Rinpoche in his work “Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors. The throne holder of Sakya school of Buddhism, Sonam Rinchen enthroned Dorje Shugden as one of the protectors of Sakya. The practice of this Dharma Protector was later passed to his son the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro who was believed to be the emanation of Dorje Shugden himself. Interesting facts. He even composed a Dorje Shugden prayer or Kangsol to invoke the blessings of Dorje Shugden. The prayer has since been well known and it is used to this day. The 39th Sakya throneholder Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen who also practised Dorje Shugden and praised Dorje Shugden as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. Not only one but three Sakya Trizins who relied on Dorje Shugden and they referred to him as an enlightened being.
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting sharing so as more and more practitioners know the truth and only truth that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being

Samfoonheei on Feb 24, 2021 at 1:29 pm

Interesting read of this history of how Dorje Shugden practice came into light . Since Dorje Shugden was introduced into the Sakya tradition, there have been many Sakya throne holders that practiced Dorje Shugden. Out of the 42 supreme throne holders throughout the history of the Sakya tradition, six of the thrones holders are confirmed to have practiced Dorje Shugden. They have built chapels to him, composed prayers and pujas (kangsols) to him and even propagated his practice amongst their disciples. They cannot be wrong and in fact as confirmed by the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being. Dorje Shugden kangsol (prayer) to invoke the blessings of Dorje Shugden composed by him is still widely used today. Dorje Shugden must be a powerful Dharma protector that Sakya tradition have been long relying. It has proven that Dorje Shugden is not a minor practice. Interesting read , may more people read this post to understand better.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post .

Valentina Suhendra on Dec 10, 2018 at 10:54 am

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

Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 26, 2018 at 12:30 pm

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

Pastor Niral Patel on Nov 25, 2018 at 5:26 am

“The 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche of Bhutan and Dorje Shugden” blog post which was published June 8, 2018 already has exactly at the moment 152,744 views!! Over 150k views!!! Amazing!! The views will keep growing as time elapses of course.

This indicates many Bhutanse and Buddhists around the world will now know that Dorje Shugden is connected to Bhutan and their Kagyu Lineage. Dorje Shugden was promoted by the highest lama of Bhutan namely the 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche himself. So Dorje Shugden will help and protect anyone and is not sectarian as they accuse him to be. People in the Kagyu school of Buddhism also practised Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden assisted them lovingly. Dorje Shugden being an emanation of Manjushri will help anyone who calls upon him regardless of their background and religion.

Good job to our writers, researchers, editors, technical team, supporting team and Kechara people who promoted this blog post on social media. Now more will come to understand how pervasive Dorje Shugden is in all the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism although the Tibetan leadership in-exile tries to hide this truth. Thank you everyone for promoting Dorje Shugden to benefit many. We were all very harmonious before the unethical ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Since the inception of the ban in 1996, there has been no benefits and instead so much disharmony among Tibetan Buddhists around the world. Many hundreds have spoken up about this point where we want harmony back. There should never be a ban against any spiritual practice.

Tsem Rinpoche

Blog post- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=160863

—

于2018年6月8日发表的《不丹国第四世夏仲仁波切与多杰雄登》的博文至今已经有 152,744次的浏览量！！也就是超过了15万次的浏览量！！这个数字肯定还会随着时间而增长。

这表示很多不丹人和全世界的佛教徒现在已经知道了多杰雄登和不丹以及他们的噶举派传承是有紧密联系的。多杰雄登是被不丹的最高级别的喇嘛夏仲仁波切本身所推崇的。这显示了多杰雄登是会帮助和保护任何人的，而祂不是像他人所指控那样的充满宗派主义。佛教的噶举派的修行者也修持多杰雄登，而多杰雄登也很怀爱地帮助他们。多杰雄登是文殊菩萨的化身，祂将无视任何宗教和背景地去帮助任何召唤祈请祂的人们。

我们的写作、搜集资料，编辑、技术、辅助等的人员们和推广这篇博文的克切拉人们，你们做得好！虽然流亡藏人领袖们尝试掩盖事实，但现在更多的人将了解到多杰雄登在所有藏传佛教的传承中是多么的普及了。感谢大家努力推广多杰雄登以造福大众。在这个不道德的多杰雄登禁令出现之前，我们都是很和谐融洽的。自从禁令在1996年开始之后，它为全世界的藏传佛教徒没有带来任何利益，而只有更多的不和谐。成千上万的人已经对该禁令发声，要求重建和谐。对于任何心灵修行，是从来就不该有任何禁令的。

詹杜固仁波切

博文网址: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/l/cn/dorje-shugden/the-4th-zhabdrung-rinpoche-of-bhutan-and-dorje-shugden-cn.html

Beatrix Ooi on Nov 25, 2018 at 1:18 am

His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche’s incarnation is in Lhasa visiting. He is visiting the 350-year-old Trode Khangsar chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden. He is paying homage to the powerful statue of Dorje Shugden housed in this sacred chapel. Both the chapel and statue of Dorje Shugden were commissioned by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama. The Great 5th Dalai Lama also composed a prayer to be recited daily to Dorje Shugden.

Dagom Rinpoche’s previous lives were great masters, scholars and practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Now this new incarnation of Dagom Rinpoche is offering gold on the face of Dorje Shugden in homage and worship to this very sacred statue of Dorje Shugden housed in Lhasa for the last 350 years. This is a very traditional Tibetan method of paying homage to holy images, which is by offering gold with prayers.

The Tibetan leadership wrongly says if you practise Dorje Shugden you will take rebirth into the three lower realms. Hundreds of lamas from the Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa schools of Buddhism have practised Dorje Shugden and their incarnations returned. Many of the incarnations are recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. So this shows if you practise Dorje Shugden, only benefits come and no harm will come. The very fact Dagom Rinpoche’s incarnation is back, is clear evidence that Dorje Shugden’s practice is beneficial.

May Dagom Rinpoche’s current incarnation live a very long life.

Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com

YouTube High resolution video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THbGknXcLbo

Trode Khangsar – A 400 year old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=92148[/color]

_____

尊贵的扎贡仁波切的现任转世正在拜访拉萨。他拜访了一座供奉给多杰雄登并且拥有350年历史的护法殿”布旦康萨”。他在向这座神圣护法殿里的强大多杰雄登像顶礼。该座护法殿和多杰雄登圣像是由第五世达赖喇嘛指示而造的。伟大的第五世达赖喇嘛也亲笔撰写了多杰雄登的每日祈愿文。

扎贡仁波切的前几世都是伟大的上师，学者兼多杰雄登的修持者。现在扎贡仁波切的现任转世在为这尊已经安奉在拉萨350年并且非常神圣的多杰雄登圣像的脸上供养金漆，以示顶礼和膜拜。这种供养金并祈愿的做法是西藏为圣像顶礼非常传统的做法。

流亡藏人领袖们说如果你修持多杰雄登就将投生三恶道，那是错误的。佛教派系——萨迦派、噶举派、格鲁派的上百名喇嘛们都修持了多杰雄登，而且他们也都转世回来了，而其中有很多转世还是达赖喇嘛亲自认证的。这明显显示了如果你修持多杰雄登，是百利无一弊的。扎贡仁波切转世回来了，就已经是很确凿的证据显示多杰雄登的修持是有利的。

愿今世的扎贡仁波切健康长寿。

詹杜固仁波切
blog.sina.com.cn/zhandugu

YouTube高清视频- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THbGknXcLbo

拉萨400年历史的多杰雄登护法殿—布旦康萨- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=92148

https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1543075725.mp4

Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 23, 2018 at 4:03 am

Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden

This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.

The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.

Tsem Rinpoche

DS-MO-choyang.pdf

Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 20, 2018 at 12:38 pm

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is in Dharamsala, which is broken into two parts. Upper Dharamsala is where the Dalai Lama’s palace is located with his audience room and main prayer hall. It is also the location of the Dialectics School, Gaden Shartse’s guesthouse, restaurants, tourist hotels and main tourist areas.

A short ride down takes you to the lower part of Dharamsala where the Tibetan government is located. It is the location of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Nechung monastery, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, the Tibetan arts centre…it’s all in one area. And the reason why it’s split into upper and lower Dharamsala is because the area is mountainous.

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives was established by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government to preserve all the ancient texts – both secular and spiritual – of Tibet and in the process, translate them into various languages like English. This book, Overview of Buddhist Tantra, by Panchen Sonam Drakpa was one of the books translated into English. What’s very interesting is that the book very clearly says that Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s previous life is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, one of the five main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa. It also says that after that, he was Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen.

So the book is basically saying that Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen – the three Drakpas – are of the same mindstream.

Now that’s very peculiar because if Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s previous life is Panchen Sonam Drakpa, the renowned composer of 45 volumes of Dharma texts, the abbot of three monasteries AND the 15th Gaden Tripa, the holder of Lama Tsongkhapa’s throne…if that’s the case, how can Panchen Sonam Drakpa take rebirth as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and become an evil spirit and have a negative mind?

Prior to Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, he was Panchen Sonam Drakpa and before that, he was Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, a heart disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa. How can a heart disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa reincarnate as the erudite master Panchen Sonam Drakpa, and then die and reincarnate as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen…and then Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, due to a bad and negative prayer, become the evil spirit Dorje Shugden? How is that possible? Logically, it’s not.

What’s incredible is that all of this was printed by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives under the Dalai Lama’s guidance. They contradict themselves because on one hand, the Tibetan leaders say Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit. On the other hand they’re printing a book saying that Panchen Sonam Drakpa, whose later incarnation became Dorje Shugden, is of this illustrious mindstream.

So how can the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which is under the auspices of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government, print the translation of a book composed by the previous incarnation of a so-called evil spirit? How can they then say in the book that Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s previous life is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, and his next life was Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen?

Prior to the Dorje Shugden ban and controversy, everyone in Tibet knew that Dorje Shugden is Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, that Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen is Panchen Sonam Drakpa, and that Panchen Sonam Drakpa is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen. The three Drakpas, they are one mindstream emanating again and again to benefit other beings.

And as we all know, Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen became Dorje Shugden so it totally doesn’t make sense to call him an evil spirit, then highlight all of his previous lives as erudite masters, and publish all of this information under their own library. So you can see the contradictions. You can read all of this for yourself in Overview of Buddhist Tantra, which was printed by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.

—–

OVERVIEW OF BUDDHIST TANTRA

GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE CLASSES OF TANTRA,
CAPTIVATING THE MINDS OF THE FORTUNATE ONES

rgyud sde spyi’i rnam par bzhag pa
skal bzang gi yid ‘phrog ces bya ba bzhugs so

BY
PANCHEN SONAM DRAGPA
(Pan-chen bSod-nams grags-pa, 1478-1554)

O Choje Sonam Dragpa Pel! (Chos-rje bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal!)
In the vast expanse of Your bodhi-mind,
The mind that the Buddhas have lauded for as many as
one hundred times,
You have developed “merit” shining like the sun.
Through Your skill in learning, debate and writing,
As illuminating as one hundred thousand sun rays,
You have developed in You a complete knowledge of
the entire sutras and tantras,
Resembling a garden of flowers in full bloom.
The power of Your speech is like the sun;
The fame of your name has reached the three realms of
this world.
O Sonam Dragpa, the teacher of teachers!
I bow down at your feet.

In the vast garden of Your great teachings,
The intelligent young people gather for
The ‘six ultimates’ and the ‘four modes of transmission,’
Just as they are attracted to
The one hundred thousand types of nectar
Dripping from a flower of one hundred petals.
May I be able to experience
The taste of the secret tantra!

Panchen Choje Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen Chos-rje bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal), the holder of sutra and Vajrayana teachings, was a master whose outstanding learning and spiritual accomplishments are well known by all the learned ones in Tibet. His first incarnation came in the form of one of the five prestigious disciples of Lord Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa) and became known as Vinaya Holder (Dulzin) Dragpa Gyaltsen (Gragspa rgyal-mtshan). Then came Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal), the author of the present text. The next was Nagri Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen (mNga’-ris sPrul-sku Grags-pa rgyal-mtshan). In this way, a line of his incarnations, each with the Dragpa (gragspa) surname, followed successively.

Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) was born in the 14th century in Tsetang (rTsed-thang) in the Lhoka (Lho-kha) region of Central Tibet. He entered the great seat of learning, Sera Thekchenling (Se-ra theg-chen-gling) monastic university, where he became the personal disciple of spiritual master Donyo Dangden (Dhon-yod dang-ldan) and His Holiness the Second Dalai Lama Gedun Gyatso (dGe-‘dun rgya-mtsho). Under them, he studied the entire teachings of sutra, tantra and their commentaries, and became known for his outstanding learning. He also received from them the empowerments, reading transmissions, guides and instructions of the entire body of spiritual training. On becoming the fully blessed one, the Dalai Lama appointed him the abbot of the Loseling (Blo-gsalgling) college, one of the four colleges of Drepung (‘Bras-dpung)- the most prestigious monastic university in Tibet before 1959, with over 10,000 monks on its register. He continued to be the abbot of this college for the next six years; and after him the tenure for each of his successors in this position was fixed for a period of six years, a rule that is followed even today.

He was then appointed the head of the Gelugpa (dGe-lugs-pa) order, the throne holder of Gaden (dGa’-ldan), thus becoming the 15th regent of Lord Tsongkhapa (Tsong-khapa), the second Buddha. In his eulogy to him, Khedrub Gelek Pelsang (mKhas-grub dGe-legs dpal- bzang) says:

O Lama, the second successor of the Unsubduable One,
The regent of the Lord of Dharma,
You are the one who made the virtuous qualities thrive;
You are the one who ascended to the golden throne uplifted
by the fearless lions.
May Your success thrive forever!

He continued to be the throne holder for the next seven years, during which time he promoted the spread of Lord Tsongkhapa’s (Tsong-kha-pa) precious teachings, the Gelug (dGe-lugs) tradition, across the land in all directions. He also paid special attention to the practice of monastic rules and the learning and meditation of Buddhism in the monasteries such as Sera (Se-ra), Drepung (‘Bras-spungs), Kyomolung (sKyo-mo-lung), Phagmo Chode (Phag-mo chos-sde), Nyeding (Nye-sdings), Ödna (’Od-sna) and Chöde Rinchen (Chos-sde rin-chen) etc. and improved them to a great extent. He taught the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso (bSod-nams rGya-mtsho) as the latter’s spiritual master. It was from him that the Dalai Lama received the name Sonam (bSod-nams).

His contributions in the literary field are enormous; and, indeed, they are the most valuable of all his contributions. Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa) has rightly said:

Of all one’s deeds,
The ‘deeds of speech’ are the most valuable.

Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) was a person with an extraordinary talent for teaching, debate and writing. In his colophon to Bu mey chi don zab don sel wey dron mey (dBu ma’i spyi don zab don gsal ba’i sgron me), he wrote:

In the field of teaching, I am [next to none!] Knowing that
I would outdo them in this field, Arya Asanga and his
brother transmigrated into another realm.

In the field of debate, I am [next to none!] Knowing that
I would find out the areas they had contradicted and
that I would examine them and put forth my arguments,
the logician Dignaga (Digh-naga) and Dharmakirti tactfully
bypassed me.

In the field of writing, I am [next to none!] [In my eyes,]
Arya-sura was just good at spreading the works, which
are like ‘disputes~ between an insect and a field.’

I am the learned man. Peerless in the field of teaching,
debate and writing!

For some this passage might sound utterly nonsensical, but the most learned master of our age, the talented teacher, logician and writer, the late tutor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Yongdzin Trijang Dorjechang (Yongs-‘dzin Khri-byang rDorje-‘Chang), said: “Now, some people of our time, who consider themselves learned scholars, think that this is utter nonsense; but they are wrong.”

Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) wrote over 45 volumes of books dealing with many different subjects, such as the commentaries on the sutras and tantras, the saddhana manuals of the tutelary deities, history, religious history and so forth. Among these, one that is very important for all who wish to learn and meditate on the path-of the practical aspect of Buddhism in general and that of Vajrayana in particular is the Leg shey gyu de chi nam par shagpa kelsang gi yi trod (Legs bshad rgyud sde spyi’i rnam par bzhag pa skal bzang gi yid ‘phrod). In this book, he has explained precisely how the four tantras differ from one another. He has also fully described the stages of the two spontaneous path practices of the Vajrayana tradition, dealing with the ‘six ultimates’ and the ‘four modes of transmission’, thus interpreting without mistake the intention of Adhi-Buddha Vajradhara.

May the reprint of this text, which the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is publishing herewith, bring peace and happiness in this world!

Prof. Nawang Jinpa
St. Joseph’s College
Darjeeling
January 24 1996

Panchen-Sonam-Dragpa-Overview-of-Buddhist-Tantra-4.pdf

JOY KAM on Nov 20, 2018 at 3:15 am

All enlightened beings are worthy of homage and worship. They are the best beings to take refuge in and we should offer them our prayers as we can put our full confidence in them. Of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I personally find that Manjushri is extremely important. This is because what keeps us in samsara (cyclic rebirth) is our total ignorance and misunderstanding of the reality of existence. What is necessary to penetrate this deep ignorance that keeps us bound in a perpetual state of reincarnation is wisdom. We need many types of wisdom which can be acquired by relying on Manjushri as our yidam (meditational deity). By focusing on his meditation, practice, mantra and path we can gain wisdom in order to have the tool to penetrate the reality of existence. Therefore, Manjushri is an extremely important Buddha for us to focus on and take refuge in.

Tsem Rinpoche

(Photograph: this is the beautiful outdoor Manjushri statue who is in a teaching pose. He is floating above a koi fish pond nestled among lush greenery in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia)

每一位觉者都能成为我们朝拜、膜拜的对象。他们是我们至高、至好的皈依，我们应该向他们做祈请，并且对他们生起全然的信念。在众佛菩萨之中，我个人认为文殊菩萨极为重要。这是因为使我们身陷娑婆（轮回）的是我们自身的无明，以及对实相的曲解。智慧是一种必要，它能穿透我们深不见底的无明，那个使我们受困于无止境投生的无明。我们需要多种智慧，而依止文殊菩萨作为我们的本尊，即能使我们成就多种智慧。透过文殊菩萨的观想、修持法门、心咒及修行道路，我们能成就智慧，拥有了知实相的“器具”。故此，专注于文殊菩萨的修持法门、皈依他，对我们而言都极为重要。

詹杜固仁波切

（相片：这尊户外文殊菩萨像呈转法轮姿。他被茂密的草木环绕，安坐在马来西亚克切拉禅修林的鱼池之上。）

Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai on Nov 8, 2018 at 12:10 pm

Appliqué thangka of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, who is the previous incarnation of Dorje Shugden. The thangka dates possibly to the 19th Century, and it can be found in Erdene Zuu Monastery, considered by many to be the most important and oldest monastery in Mongolia. In the lower portion of the thangka are Yellow Dzambala, Six-Armed Mahakala and Kalarupa. Learn more about Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s life here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/who-is-tulku-drakpa-gyeltsen.html

Chris on Nov 7, 2018 at 1:04 am

Dorje Shugden was first enthroned by the 30th Sakya Trinzin Sonam Rinchen as a Dharma protector. He is being practised together with Setrap and Kache Marpo in the Sakya lineage. They are known as the Gyalpo Sum, the three kings. Then the practice of Dorje Shugden went to Gelug and he became the primary protector for the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa.

In the Sakya tradition, there is evidence of numerous Sakya Trinzins who practised Dorje Shugden and some of them even composed powerful prayers to Dorje Shugden which are still being used until today. If Dorje Shugden is being practised by many Sakya Trinzins who is the head of the Sakya lineage, he must be a powerful Dharma protector that we can rely on.

Since he is founded by the Sakyas and then the lineage spreads to Gelug, the accusation of Dorje Shugden being a sectarian deity is false. Even now, there is evidence of him being practised in the Nyingma sect as well. Take a look here. https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-in-nyingma-pemayangtse-monastery-sikkim.html

Pastor Shin Tan on Oct 29, 2018 at 6:57 pm

This beautiful painting (thangka) is in Sakya Monastery in Tibet’s protector chapel. It is Dorje Shugden Tanag or Dorje Shugden riding on a black horse. This is the Sakya version of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden is originally Sakya and still practiced in Sakya and came to Gelug and Kagyu practitioners later.

Anonymous on Oct 23, 2018 at 8:29 am

Also, sorry to but my doubts, but how come this prayer has no mention of the name “Shugden” and could be a prayer to any protector? Could we have the text where this prayer comes from in Tibetan instead of arousing suspicion on it being a prayer to a different protector? That might be helpful. Thanks.

Anonymous on Oct 23, 2018 at 8:27 am

Okay, but even if the Sakya Trizins practiced the protector, that doesn’t make it any better. Yes, there are high lamas that practice the Bamo Sum, but does that mean that it should therefore be practiced by everyone else? All I’m saying is that if the claims of Shugden being a minor protector are true, then seeing how only the most advanced lamas practiced this instead of lay people, it does make sense that this protector is not something to mess with and is only reserved for the higher lamas just like the Bamo Sum are. Just saying…

Pastor Han Nee on Oct 22, 2018 at 3:51 pm

Thank you Rinpoche for this blogpost which shows unmistakenly that Dorje Shugden is NOT a minor practice. He was enthroned as a Dharma Protector of the Sakya tradition by the 30th Sakya Trizin(1705 – 1741), even before the Gelug tradition embraced Dorje Shugden and widely practised him.

The Sakya Trizins, as spiritual heads and throneholders of the Sakya tradiiton, are the main spiritual guides of the Sakya practitioners. Hence, it is logical that these practitioners rely on them to guide them as to the practices of deities that they can propitiate. The fact that these three Sakya Trizins , with full conviction, believed in and relied on Dorje Shugden as a Dharma Protector, the 30th Sakya Trizin, Sonam Rinchen, having enthroned him and the 31st Sakya Trizin, Kunga Lodro (believed to be an emanation of Dorje Shugden),having composed a Kangsol (prayer) to Dorje Shugden to invoke his blessings, which is widely used till today, show so very clearly that Dorje Shugden is, without doubt, an Enlightened Protector. The 39th Sakya Trizin, Dragshul Trinley Rinchen, has even written that , “The one known as Dolgyal is not mistaken on the path to liberation, he is by nature the Great Compassionate One.” This shows that he is convinced that Dorje Shugden’s nature is that of a fully Enlightened Being, one in nature with Avalokiteshvara.

The Sakya Trizins are the Heads of the Sakya tradition. Three highly attained Masters, who were Sakya Trizins propitiated and relied upon Dorje Shugden as a Protector clearly because of the many blessings and benefits that he had conferred on them. If Dorje Shugden were not an Enlightened Protector but a spirit, and if these highly realised beings had worshipped a spirit, would they have reincarnated back as Sakya Trizins to continue the unbroken lineage of Sakya Trizins until now? Wouldn’t they have been reborn in the Hell realms?

Samfoonheei on Oct 17, 2018 at 1:07 pm

Sakya tradition have been long relyed on Dorje Shugden since the 17 centuries with the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen who enthroned and worshipped Dorje Shugden as a Dharma protector. Its has proven that Gelugpas are not the only sect who practice Dorje Shugden. They are confirmed to have practiced Dorje Shugden. They are have built chapels , composed prayers and pujas to him and even propagated Dorje Shugden practice . They cannot be wrong after all. Dorje Shugden is definitely not evil or spirits , those High Lamas will have the clairvoyance to see the very true nature of Dorje Shugden. That is as Avalokiteshvara, a fully enlightened being which is confirmed by the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen. The 31st Sakya Trizin who composed the Dorje Shugden kangsol text is still widely used to this day.
Interesting read which I do enjoyed reading from time to time to understand more so as to increase my knowledge.
Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this interesting write up.

Valentina Suhendra on Oct 6, 2018 at 7:26 pm

A Daily Request for Wealth, Peace and Protection

Composed by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche

In the heavens there are myriad manifestations of the divine. All those manifestations specifically show us different aspects of divinity in order to be of benefit to all living beings. All the rupakaya forms of the divine have compassion, skillful means and wisdom. We invoke upon them whether we are happy, sad, down, lost, fulfilled, confused, empty, and during the whole range of emotions we constantly experience due to an untrained mind.

Understanding our nature, Great Wisdom Being Dorje Shugden, therefore all the more so, please hold us close to your bosom as an only child to a parent.

Though the manifestations of the divine need no offerings and gifts from us, we offer you supreme Manjushri Dorje Shugden a libation of tea, incense and mantras, in order to ask you to bless us, to be a part of our lives, to abide in our dwellings and to give us signs, omens and portents of both good and bad. When the negative arises, quell them immediately. Please increase the positive for my weary and worn mind as I lay my hopes in you.

When difficulties, problems and confusion arise, we ask you, who is but the culmination of all that is powerful, holy and omniscient to bless myself, family, loved ones, environment and even my pets. May I see wisdom, find hope, and be at peace.

I request you, O Divine Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, who wears a round dome hat and the three robes of a saffroned bhikshu, who wields a sword of liberty, justice and wisdom and clutches a wish-fulfilling jewel, who rides on a supreme lion of subjugation of all that is negative, to fulfill my wishes. I understand my wishes may not be the best, so I surrender to your wisdom for the outcome though it may not be what I have in mind. Please bless myself and everyone that we may enter into the supreme city of liberation.

Great Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, I request you sincerely from my heart to be a part of my life, bless my home, and grant me wisdom, solace and comfort, that I might be of service to others without agenda, and that I may focus out onto others and not be fixated on myself, creating more problems for all that I hold dear.

Bless me to become kinder, wiser, more compassionate, tolerant and very forgiving to all those who hurt and love me. In order to become close to you, Dorje Shugden, we must surrender the banal. We must abandon fixed views, projections and rigidity. Lastly, in my final moment when I leave this plane of existence, only the positive actions I have done will matter as everything and everyone will be left behind. Let me realise this and act upon this now! At this crucial moment, please may I have a vision of yourself, the powerful and merciful Dorje Shugden, to take me to where I may course in the sky to continue my journey of spiritual waxing.

I offer you saffron-coloured tea and my faith to fulfill my prayers and gain siddhis. By reciting your mantra, may healing, peace, love, long life, protection and perfect view of sunyata arise.

Mantra of fulfillment, peace and wisdom:

OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA

(It is good to recite this mantra daily as much as you like or your timing allows.)

I dedicate this supreme heartfelt prayer to the all-knowing Celestial and Supreme Protector Dorje Shugden, that I may quickly become a being of light, compassion, love and enlightenment.

Please play the audio included here to follow along with the prayer.

OR

Follow on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-OSudd323A

For more information, go to: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=61394

https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1538813324.mp4

Pastor Shin Tan on Sep 28, 2018 at 7:03 am

8 pictures of the Sakya Monastery to share, where Protector temple Mug Chung is located. This is the monastery where Dorje Shugden was enthroned first as a Dharma protector in Tibet over 400 years ago by the highest Sakya throneholders and masters. Since then when people are doing Dorje Shugden prayers and pujas, they invoke his holy wisdom presence from Mug Chung Protector Chapel in Sakya Monastery in Tibet.

Pastor Adeline Woon on Sep 24, 2018 at 3:19 am

Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be

Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)

In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be

For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html

Joy Kam on Aug 13, 2018 at 2:23 am

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

Edward Ooi on Aug 10, 2018 at 5:23 am

For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 asssistants of his mandala.

Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.

Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-

1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-

– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.

2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.

3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.

4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.

5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.

6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.

7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.

These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.

Dorje Shugden mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=131570

Dorje Shugden’s benefit and practice: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62422

Dorje Shugden’s origins: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=106424

Dorje Shugden chapel in His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=68698

*Stand not included

Pastor Adeline Woon on Jul 25, 2018 at 4:52 am

Sakya tradition’s thangka of Dorje Shugden sitting on a throne within his palace with his four emanations and high Sakya Lamas nearby. Tsem Rinpoche

Joy Kam on Jul 21, 2018 at 1:58 pm

Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.

Pastor Adeline Woon on Jul 20, 2018 at 9:44 pm

Here we see a Bhutanese woman confirming that His Holiness the 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche wrote prayers to Dorje Shugden. At first people did not believe that Zhabdrung Rinpoche actually composed the prayers, but people went to check with their monastic authorities, and they confirmed that the prayers were real. Before this, she had vehemently said that there were no such prayers and that she would go to check and then prove that the prayers were false. She must have gone to check and ask about Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s prayers to Dorje Shugden. As we said, the prayers are real but she still cannot accept the fact, even with all the proof.

Some Bhutanese feel like they cannot openly acknowledge that the article on Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s composition of prayers to Dorje Shugden is true, because it would mean that the Je Khenpo and Bhutanese sold and betrayed their own lineage. So even though they now admit that they prayers are real, they keep saying that he is just a minor deity and in any case, the Je Khenpo banned the practice. But if Dorje Shugden was just a minor deity, why would both Zhabdrung Rinpoche and Drubwang Tenzin Zangpo have composed such extensive prayers to Dorje Shugden? If Bhutan’s founding fathers like Zhabdrung Rinpoche promoted the practice of Dorje Shugden, why is someone like the Je Khenpo, whose position was originally created by the 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, banning the practice? Why do they want to go against what Zhabdrung Rinpoche did? If they do that, why do not they ban the entire country of Bhutan, because he founded that too.

They also claim that thangkas of Zhabdrung Rinpoche with Dorje Shugden are fake. However, there is no such thing as a fake thangka, because when someone has faith, they commission it, place it on their shrine and accept it. How can a thangka be fake when it has been individually commissioned? There is no rule or guideline what someone can or cannot put on a thangka. It is up to a person’s personal choice. That means there is no such thing as a fake thangka.

This woman came back on social media and confessed that the prayers are real. Even though she was still shocked, angry and dismayed, she told the truth. She could have kept quiet but she did not. Through all her debates and denials, she still had the honesty to leave a comment and admit that the prayers were real. When people can accept something, even though it may make them uncomfortable or angry, it means that they are practicing the Dharma. Dorje Shugden was practiced by the 4th Zhabdrung, and even though it may be an uncomfortable thought to some, it is clear and proven to be the case.

The 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche of Bhutan and Dorje Shugden
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-4th-zhabdrung-rinpoche-of-bhutan-and-dorje-shugden.html

不丹国第四世夏仲仁波切与多杰雄登
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-4th-zhabdrung-rinpoche-of-bhutan-and-dorje-shugden-chinese.html

འབྲུག་གི་ཞབས་དྲུང་བཞི་པ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་དང་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན།
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-4th-zhabdrung-rinpoche-of-bhutan-and-dorje-shugden-tibetan.html

Tsem Rinpoche on Jun 27, 2018 at 6:32 pm

You will see two ancient Sakya thangkas with Dorje Shugden, Tsiu Marpo (Kache Marpo) and Setrap included. As Dorje Shugden was worshipped within the Sakya for sure. Beautiful paintings. Dorje Shugden was prevalent in the Sakya in Tibet.

Pastor Niral Patel on Jun 15, 2018 at 11:38 pm

The section from Christopher Paul Bell’s “Tsiu Marpo the Career of a Tibetan Protector Deity” that mentioned Tsimar is another name of Tsiu Marpo. He mentioned that Tsimar name was given by Padmasambava

Lum Kok Luen on Nov 3, 2017 at 3:30 pm

Last night (2 Nov), 2017), we had a blog chat session on this posting and immediately after the chat, Rinpoche appeared live on FB. It was just so conducive to further reinforce my understanding on the entire DS ban saga which, unfortunately, prevailed until today and still we find no abatement.

Rinpoche’s thought expressed in the FB live session is just so, so logical. I love the part where Rinpoche posed a “food for thought” – how come no high Tibetan lamas, tulkus, dakas, dakinins don’t get together and conduct rituals to bind DS consciousness and send him into the light. Rinpoche mentioned there are Tibetan Buddshist rituals that can do this and it will solve the DS issue once and for all. There is no need to spend so uch money and resources from the CTA to suppress DS practitioners, to keep saying that HH the Dalai Lama will be harmed (if He is Avalokiteshvara, then He has no karma to be harmed), and even no need to segregation and ALL Tibetans will be united once and for all. I think this is a wonderful thought to ponder on and perhaps the CTA guys should do it. If they were to do this and if they fail, then the CTA guys will lose complete credibility.

If we look at Christianity (as what Rinpoche said in the video), Jesus Christ taught all His disciples to love thy enemy. If the enemy slaps you on your right cheek, turn your face for the left cheek to be slapped too. In the Lojong teachings, we as Buddhists, must always have equanimity, no bias, no attachment and no aversion/ anger. The advocacy of the CTA towards DS practitioners runs at complete odds against the Lojong teachings. Where is the logic? It makes no sense at all.

From what I read above in the article, there were 6 Sakya Trizins who practiced DS. These 6 are the Lineage holders and by virtue of not one, but 6 of them practiced DS and no harm were caused, doesn’t this provide further strong evidence that DS is not and will never be a spirit?

Thank you Rinpoche for all the teachings and sharing on the DS ban saga, and all these further solidifies my conviction and determination to be a stronger Buddhist to alleviate myself and others out of samsara.

Humbly yours,
Lum Kok luen

Cc on Nov 2, 2017 at 11:49 pm

Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.

All the Trizin’s has been practising and lineage is never wrong on practising DS.
With so much evidence that has been proven that Sakya do practise DS and DS is not spirits
.
Hopefully the ban will be lifted up and may there be harmony among all school and lineages.

???

Valentina Suhendra on Oct 23, 2017 at 12:02 am

Great message every Tibetan especially must read!

Tsem Rinpoche on Sep 30, 2017 at 5:40 am

Sonam Tsemo

At the age of 41, on the eleventh day of the Tibetan month of Malpo in the Male Water Tiger year (1182), the great Loppon Sonam Tsemo directly entered Sukhavati. As he passed into parinirvana, he manifested two different aspects of his body for the benefit of beings. The first aspect is described in the Supplication with a Mournful Melody: “During the evening of the tenth day, the two holy brothers performed a tsok offering. The next morning Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen visited his brother’s room and found only a Dharma robe left behind, for Loppon Sonam Tsemo had departed to the Kechari realm without abandoning his body. Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen, with great fervor, recited the Supplication with a Mournful Melody and through it he received a special prophecy which emerged from the Dharma robes like the sound of a bee.”

The second aspect was described by an old woman who witnessed Loppon Sonam Tsemo depart. Standing on a rock at the holy spring near Sakya known as Chumik Dzingka, his body ascended gracefully into the sky, still holding his dog. Even today the footprints of Loppon Sonam Tsemo and the dog can be clearly seen in the rock, left for the benefit of living beings as a field from which to accumulate merit. This holy site was decorated by the great master Mantradhara Ngawang Kunga Rinchen. Other accounts say that he ascended from Gorum Library near Chumik Dzingka spring. A stupa containing his holy relics was erected there.

http://www.hhthesakyatrizin.org/tradition_founder2.html

And another version:

Biography: Sonam Tsemo

Sonam Tsemo, 1142-1182, also called Lobpon Sonam Tsemo (bsod nams rtse mo) of the Khon family was the second of the Sakya Jetsun Gongma Nga, (sa skya rje btsun gong ma lnga) who were the five founding patriarchs of the Sakya order. He was also the fourth Sakya throne holder, although he served as active head of the monastery for only a few years. His mother was called Machig Odron (ma gcig ‘od sgron). Like his father he remained a layman throughout his life, although he never married or had children. He was identified as the reincarnation of the Indian scholar Durgachandra (or Durjayachandra) the master of Drogmi Lotsawa Shakya Yeshe’s (‘brog mi lotsawa shakya ye shes) teacher Viravajra, in India.

During his childhood, Sonam Tsemo’s main teacher was his father Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (sa chen kun dga’ snying po), who was the first Sakya patriarch and the third throne holder. His studies with his father focused on esoteric topics, and it is said that he could recite fourteen esoteric scriptures, including the Hevajra and Samvara tantras by the age of sixteen. He received oral Lamdre (lam ‘bras) instructions from Sachen during this time. After Sachen passed away, Sonam Tsemo’s education was strongly inflected by the Indian monastic model. At seventeen he went to the Kadampa monastery Sangpu Neutog (gsang phu ne’u thog) to study Madhyamaka philosophy and epistemology with the great master Chapa Chokyi Sengge (phya pa chos kyi seng ge). This teacher had disciples from several of the most prominent families in Central Tibet and Sonam Tsemo’s biography claims that he became the most accomplished of the students. He studied with this master on and off for eleven years and became well versed in Mahayana texts such as Pramanavinischaya and Bodhicharyavatara. Sonam Tsemo also received some instruction from the Indian or Nepali Acharya Shri Anandagharba.

Sonam Tsemo’s work Chola jugpai go (chos la ‘jug pa’i sgo), which he composed at the age of twenty-six at Nalatse, was extremely influential on the work of his nephew Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (sa skya paN+Di ta kun dga’ rgyal mtshan), the fourth Sakya patriarch and a widely renowned scholar. Sonam Tsemo’s written works address topics including the Bodhicharyavatara, a schematization of the tantra; an explanation of the last two chapters of the Hevajra root tantra; a commentary on the Samputa tantra; instructions for reading Sanskrit, and commemorative texts for his main teachers.

Sonam Tsemo first gave the Lamdre teachings in Sakya at the age of twenty-eight. Many famous masters attended the teaching, and he became renowned as a clear and skilled teacher, but his biographical data reflect a career more focused on study, practice and composition of texts than on teaching. His few close disciples included his brother Dragpa Gyaltsen (rje btsun grags pa rgyal mtshan), Ngodrup (dngos grub), Chagkyi Dorje (lcags kyi rdo rje), and Tsugtor (gstug tor). He was the active Sakya throne holder for only three years, after which he passed the responsibility on to his younger brother Dragpa Gyaltsen, in order to devote the rest of his life to study and retreat.

Sonam Tsemo passed away in 1182 at the age of forty. The details of his death are unclear, but it is recorded that his body disappeared and he left nothing but his robe and a footprint behind.

https://www.himalayanart.org/search/set.cfm?setid=400

Tsem Rinpoche on Aug 19, 2017 at 9:22 am

The Sakya Throneholder that did practice Dorje Shugden:

30th Sakya Throneholder Sonam Rinchen (1705-1741)
31st Throneholder Sachen Kunga Lodro (1729-1783)
33rd Throneholder Padma Dudul Wangchug (1792-1853)
35th Throneholder Tashi Rinchen (1824-1865)
37th Throneholder Kunga Nyingpo (1850-1899)
39th Throneholder Dragshul Thinley Rinchen (1871-1936)

“The fact that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being was also confirmed by the 39th Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen (1871 – 1935) who wrote, “The one known as Dolgyal is not mistaken on the path to liberation, he is by nature the Great Compassionate One.” In this instance, Dragshul Trinley Rinchen was highlighting that Dorje Shugden’s nature is as Avalokiteshvara, a fully enlightened being.”~39th Throneholder Dragshul Thinley Rinchen (1871-1936)

Photos: 39th Throneholder Dragshul Thinley Rinchen (1871-1936) of Drolma Podrang and grandfather of current Sakya Trizin

MartinC on Feb 9, 2017 at 5:21 am

What a refreshing change! ‘Suzy in Hawaii’ who clearly can think for herself and see beyond her own old prejudice discovers the goodness and beauty of the Dorje Shugden practice. What an uplifting account from an honest and spiritual person- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s

Sanche on Oct 23, 2016 at 8:09 pm

Dear Pastors and all participants,

Thank you for all your wonderful work, research and kindness in bringing dharma to so many via this blog. You are deeply appreciated. We in Mexico really do not have a center nearby and this website is a great resource for us. Thank you very much. Please ignore the detractors. Muchos Gracias! Viva la Tsem Rinpoche!

- Anne Ong on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:42 pm
  
  Hello Sanche,
  
  Thank you for dropping by and showing keen interest in Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. Hope you great time reading the articles too.
  
Tay BT on Oct 23, 2016 at 5:33 pm

Tsem Tulku ,

To increase the general knowledge of your pastors etc.:
read http://www.mtac.gov.tw/pages/93/Gene%20Smith.pdf.Have you yourself read this article by Gene Smith?

Since some of your pastors are so concerned about “sources”.
I need to point out that Trijang Rinpoche’s Music Delighting…
does not contain all there is regarding Ngatrul Trakpa Gyaltsen,Ngawang Lozang Gyatso and Tibetan Buddhism.

Tsem Tulku : your group would benefit from information to be garnered from Kundeling Rinpoche.

om hrih sthrih vikritanana hung phat.

Tay BT
5:31pm 23-10-2016

- Sanche on Oct 23, 2016 at 5:40 pm
  
  Tay BT,
  
  Why don’t you go and teach at some centre or open your own and all the responsibilities that go with it and spout your knowledge there.
  
  Why don’t you open your own blog site and record all your great wisdom in it. Why do you keep goading people on? Bored? Lonely? Need attention?
  
  Sanche
  
  - Anne Ong on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:53 pm
    
    Yes,Sanche. We are all here to learn and share dharma with a friendly manner.
    
Tay BT on Oct 22, 2016 at 3:16 am

Tsem Tulku ,

Please explain to David Lai about the parts dealing with shugden – Dalai Lama and the tibetan government; and compare and contrast with what is in the book Great Deception.
Guru is supposed to lead the way.

There are some “mistakes” in the mantras on tsemtulku.com

Tay BT
3:15am 22-10-2016

- Sanche on Oct 23, 2016 at 5:41 pm
  
  Tay,
  
  No one is interested in what you have to say. Go get a drink and chill out.
  
- Sanche on Oct 23, 2016 at 5:42 pm
  
  The pastors ARE DOING A GREAT JOB! I commend them all. Keep it up!
  
Tay BT on Oct 22, 2016 at 3:01 am

The moment of truth is — when Pastors are contradicted and they react adversely?
Is this true?

Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 7:16 pm

Pastor Niral Patel ,

Your answer is the best so far, based on what I have seen as at 7:13pm 20-10-2016.Who asked David Lai to come in?

My reply to your entry was to develop the topics further.Going deeper .

Tay BT
7:16pm 20-10-2016

Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:24 pm

Dear Choong ,

As for the basics I feel that it is safer to say Lam gyi tsowo nam sum (Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Je Tzongkhapa),bodhicitta plus 4 seals of Buddhism and the four reliances.
Then your tantra/Mahayana dharma is on sure footing.

Tay BT
6:24pm 20-10-2016

Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 3:49 pm

May you all be well and happy plus Lama Atisa’s tonglen.

Tay BT
3:49pm 20-10-2016

Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 9:30 am

But if this website is only for the glorification of the Dalai lama and Shugden : then I need to ask Tsem Rinpoche —
would that be allowed to overwhelm the truth as per 21st century
freedom and access to information as it appertains to Dalai Lama and Shugden???
Censorship may betray bias.Must be careful.

on a ra pa ca na dhi
dhi dhi dhi
om hri sthrih vikritanana hung phat
om vajra vetali agaccha agaccha hung jah svaha

- Anne Ong on Oct 20, 2016 at 1:11 pm
  
  Dear Tay BT,
  
  May i ask where are you from and what do you mean?
  
  - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 3:45 pm
    
    Dear Tsem Rinpoche ,
    
    Yes ,”Love is a many splendoured thing”, isn’t it?
    But is it true that you love shugden and the Dalai Lama?
    The Dalai Lama does not love shudgen.
    If I may venture further : do you “LOVE” Shugden and Dalai Lama EQUALLY or is there a certain predominance somewhere?
    
    Could you please confirm what the Trijang Labrang said about their requests to the Dalai Lama(13 January 1999 Lozang and Ven Choezed la )?
    As Trijang Choktul is also Ganden Shartse (and you are also connected to Ganden Shartse?) , could you please confirm the above?AND what were the Dalai Lama’s response?
    It would be nice if there are posts by Trijang Choktul(now layman).
    I mean the “insider stuff”, the inner circle stuff”.Come on lah.Don’t be like this.
    
    “The gift of truth excels/is victorious over all other gifts”.
    
    Om a ra pa ca na dhiih
    Om Vag-Isvari mum
    Om vak-ye dam nama
    
    Tay BT
    3:38pm 20-10-2016
    
    Dear Anne Ong,
    
    Where are you from and from what perspective(s)are you asking ?
    Better for you to ask Tsem Rinpoche— he knows what I am asking–isn’t it?
    
    Declare your motive(s) in the light of “I take the precept not to tell lies or untruths”.
    
    Tay BT
    3:19pm 20-10-2016
    
    - Anne Ong on Oct 20, 2016 at 4:37 pm
      
      Dear Tay BT,
      
      Yes,we love the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden as equally.
      
      Sorry,I don’t really get your point regarding your question about Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche?
      
      I think you spend so much time commenting,so I am curious what is your motivation? May i ask what are you trying to discover from all your questions?
      
      - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:55 pm
        
        Sorry your reply is not helpful.
        
        You can ask all the rest to join in, but you(all) will be exposed .
        Providing answers that makes me wonder really.
        
        Tay BT
        6:53pm 20-10-2016
      - Joy on Oct 22, 2016 at 5:20 pm
        
        Hi Anne Ong,
        
        Welcome to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. Yes you are right we love the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden. That is the correct view and attitude to have as Rinpoche has always taught us no matter what to always be respectful of the Sangha for we do not have the wisdom to see beyond our limited projections.
        
        You bring forth very good questions on one’s motivation. It is true whatever we do, we need to set the right motivation, follow with right actions, this will then bring forth a better, more positive results where everyone learns and can rejoice.
        
        Thanks again for your comments.
Anne Ong on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:48 pm

Thank you very much Rinpoche and blog team for taking in so much time and effort for this interesting write up. It is very in detailed and clear explanation about Dorje Shugden Sakya Lineage practitioners.And Gelugs are not the only sect who practice Dorje Shugden. and therefore,there is no sectarianism in practicing Dorje Shugden by Gelugpas, as it was also mentioned in this video taping mentioned by Pastor David and Martin Chow.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v52s_pF2A4o

Mary Anne Thomas on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:32 am

Dear Tay BT,
I am appalled at your rude comments here on the blog, putting down Pastors and yet you end your comments with holy mantras. This gives a very bad impression of Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism as many people from around the world visit this blog where they come into contact with Tibetan Buddhists or practitioners.

Buddhism advocates humility and is against arrogant or haughty attitude. This is a sign of ego and can impede Dharma learning . The Platform Sutra tells a story about how the Sixth Patriarch, Master Hui Neng, of the Chinese Zen Sect reprimanded a follower for his arrogant attitude. That follower felt self-conceited about his knowledge of a major Buddhist sutra and knowingly or unknowingly kept his head above the ground while bowing to the master. At that point, the master gave him a lecture that his lack of humility suggested that having a great knowledge of the sutra fettered his mind rather than liberating it. In other words, when religious knowledge, like other knowledge, adds to “intellectual arrogance” and self-conceit, it becomes an impediment to what religious practice is supposed to attain. Elsewhere in the Platform Sutra, the Sixth Patriarch teaches that behaving humbly and according to propriety is a merit and a desirable moral quality that comes from insight into the spiritual reality. Humility in this sense is both a prerequisite for liberation and salvation from the deluded ego and a manifestation thereof.

Why does Pastor David need to redeem himself? As far as I know, the Pastors in Kechara are ordinary lay people who have committed their lives to serving others and they worked very hard providing their service without any charges. They do not claim to be qualified Geshes nor Buddhist scholars, so why are you condemning them? Who are you to comment on others when you fail to practice Buddhist humility?

When you said to make sure others’ statements are credible first, my opinion of your source of reference, “A Great Deception : The Ruling Lama’s Policies” published by the Western Shugden Society (WSS),is not really what I would call a credible source. Many see it as a propaganda piece against the Dalai Lama. You can perhaps quote the original source of the information, and point out which information is relevant in the spirit of sharing, instead of just pointing out a book title. The WSS group does not represent Buddhism and monastics well, a group of monks/ nuns screaming “Dalai Lama Stop Lying” accusing Dalai Lama of lying gives a bad impression of Buddhist monastics.

Please treat this place of sharing and learning of Buddhism with respect.

Sarva Mangalam.

- Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 8:13 am
  
  Please Mary Anne Thomas — abuse exists because of alleged authority , alleged authority that “cannot be challenged “.This exists in some outfits including Tibetan Buddhism , even Chinese Buddhism!Since you mentioned Hui Neng who was illiterate.
  
  Sorry , have you actually read what is inside the book .
  
  I do not want to argue with your “close-minded ” attitude .
  
  Sorry , your childish / immature statements are not going to affect
  me.
  I suggest you do more manjushri — ask shugden now.
  
  And please Tsem Rinpoche and co — what is this?
  
  Trijang Rinpoche said that he gave Dala Lama Tenzin Gyatso the Shugden transmission / initiation but the latter said he never received it.
  
  So , once again : Tsem Rinpoche : is this how “gold is tried by fire” , at this website?
  
  om hri sthrih vikrtanana hung phat.
  om vajra vetali agaccha agaccha hung jah svaha.
  
  - Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 4:22 pm
    
    Dear Tay BT,
    
    You stated this:
    “Trijang Rinpoche said that he gave Dala Lama Tenzin Gyatso the Shugden transmission / initiation but the latter said he never received it.”
    
    First of all may I know your sources?
    
    I would also tend to believe, based on inferential logic, that HH Dalai Lama did receive the Dorje Shugden transmissions.
    
    This is because:
    
    Trijang Rinpoche was HH Dalai Lama’s tutor (teacher, Guru) and is recorded to have given HH many transmissions, with witnesses, such as Heruka Five Deities according to Ghantapa, Vajrayogini according to Naropa, the empowerment of the Body Mandala of Heruka and taught generation stage and completion stage of this Tantra; the complete oral transmission of the Collected Works of Je Tsongkhapa, plus discourses on the Guru Puja, Gelugpa Mahamudra and Yamantaka Tantra; the Lamrim Chenmo and the 800-verse Prajnaparamita Sutra, the oral transmission of the Collected Works of Gyaltsabje and Khedrubje; the generation and completion stages of Chittamani Tara and of Vajrayogini according to Naropa, and empowerments into the 16 Droplets of the Kadampas; many long-life empowerments to the Dalai Lama, along with initiation of Guhyasamaja and teachings on Wheel of Sharp Weapons and Lojong (training the mind), and major empowerments into 62 Deity Heruka according to Luipa.
    
    Now the Dorje Shugden practice in Ganden came from Lord Tsongkhapa to Duldzin Dragpa Gyaltsen to Takpu Pemavajra to Pabongkha Rinpoche to Trijang Rinpoche.
    
    As you know Dorje Shugden is the main protector of Je Tsongkhapa’s teachings on the Wisdom of Emptiness. So why would anyone doubt that Trijang Rinpoche would have given such an important practice that he received from Pabongkha Rinpoche, having given so many other important transmissions and commentary as per the above?
    
    Remember, Guru; Yidam; Protector. These are the basics.
    
    - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:14 pm
      
      Dear Tsem Rinpoche,
      
      Dear Choong ,
      
      Why do you ask me for the source?You should know this by now?
      Be less suspicious and dive into the facts , please.
      Faham tak?Harap maklumlah.
      Don’t tell me you are not familiar with the Trijang – Dalai Lama split?It is serious and STILL ongoing right now.
      
      Then I need to ask: how is it that you do not know ?
      But Tsem Rinpoche definitely knows.The thing is : does Tsem Rinpoche want to say like it is or not?Yes , please don’t be shy to say like it is , Tsem Rinpoche.Please read this right now, clearly huh!Yes , how is it?Reading right?Read nicely.
      
      OK .Thank you for your reply, Choong.
      
      OK — could you please ask your sources and guru :what is the earliest Shugden mantra(s)?Please provide a detailed and thorough expose on this and all the sadhanas of Dorje Shugden.Why not do this once and for all.But it must be accurate and precise , which includes dates .
      The Tagpu version is more like a visionary teaching.
      It is good to go downto the root as deep down as possible .
      Also Dorje Shugden in all the Gelugpa (Tibetan and Mongolian) institutions.
      
      Tay BT
      6:08pm 20-10-2016
      
      - Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:48 pm
        
        Dear Tay BT,
        
        Have you read this:
        
        http://www.dorjeshugden.org/blog/the-hidden-name-of-dorje-shugden-in-the-kangyur
- Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 11:39 am
  
  Mary Anne Thomas ,
  
  “Be a good girl”.
  
  True study of the suttas /sutras / practice leads to deeper surpassing mental clarity and depth ; and it is inevitable that various “spin strategies” would be revealed and exposed.
  How are your four reliances ?
  Your Hui Neng stuff must be qualified with the Hwa Shang – Kamalasila debate.
  
  So you celebrate “sacredness” in this website by making
  biased and “shameful” statements?Is this how you celebrate the sacredness of this website?
  “Mary Mary quite contrary – how does your garden grow?”
  “Is it with biasness and spin all arranged in a row or how many rows are there?”
  
  om a ra pa ca na dhi
  dhi dhi dhi
  Om hri sthrih vikritanana hung phat
  om vajra vetali agaccha agachha hung jah svaha.
  
  Tay BT
  11:34pm 19-10-2016
  
- Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 11:50 am
  
  Hui Neng was almost murdered wasn’t he?Please demonstrate
  your “humble” insight into Chan then.If you fail to demonstrate your “humble with more humility” insight – then what sort of purification are you capable of–if your four powers are weak I wonder what sort of Vajrasattva you practise?
  But luckily , Hui Neng did NOT have to become a “Chinese Shugden”.
  It was the Lankavatara Sutra that Bodhidharma brought to China from South India.
  
  om a ra pa ca na dhi
  dhi dhi dhi
  om hri sthrih vikritanana hung phat
  om vajra vetali agaccha agaccha hung jah svaha
  
  Tay BT
  11:47am 20-10-2016
  
  - Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 4:42 pm
    
    Dear Tay BT,
    
    You said:
    “But luckily, Hui Neng did NOT have to become a “Chinese Shugden”.”
    
    I apologize if I sound condescending but you do have to give things a deeper look.
    
    In essence, Chan Buddhism is also about a dharma path or method to realize the Wisdom of Emptiness as taught by Buddha Shakyamuni.
    
    Academicians would place Chan Buddhism in the same group as the Yogachara and Chittamatra schools because they share the same method of modelling (for the lack of a better word) “Emptiness”. And this is not different from the Madhyamaka school which also does the same but slightly differently.
    
    So when you say that Hui Neng was lucky not to have become a Chinese Shugden, it does not make sense at all.
    
    The fact is that Hui Neng was on the path and taught the path, and so are all practitioners including Madhyamikas.
    
    - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:41 pm
      
      What a lousy answer , Choong. Your answer makes me wonder what all this is actually about?
      If this is how you intend to help answer – it is better for me to decline your offer because it is not FFP and your knowledge is shallow.
      Your answer is SHALLOW .
      
      You cannot understand what i wrote , then interpret out of context. Then try and play noble!!!
      
      Tay BT
      6:38pm 20-10-2016
      
      - Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:54 pm
        
        That’s fine with me. I tried to help.
        Sorry if I did not.
      - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 7:01 pm
        
        Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:54 pm
        
        That’s fine with me. I tried to help.
        Sorry if I did not.
        
        Choong,
        
        That is why don’t think you can “any how help” lah.Kena already.
        
        But I want you to know more , in depth , info on the Dalai Lama – Shugden issue.Now I try to help.Is it OK or not?But no forcing or coercion , but must have standardlah-the higher the better mah?
        
        Tay BT
        7:01pm 20-10-2016
        
        Tay BT
        6:58pm 20-10-2016
- Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 9:06 pm
  
  Thank you Mary Anne Thomas, I really like quotes from the Platform Sutra.
  
  Yes, it is from humility that you are able to learn.
  
  🙂
  
- Pastor Niral Patel on Oct 21, 2016 at 10:06 pm
  
  Dear Mary Anne Thomas,
  
  I just wanted to thank you for leaving your comment here, despite the response that it gained from some people. It is very nice to read that the work of the Kechara Pastors contributes to the Dharma knowledge and practice of others. You are right that we are not highly trained Geshes or Buddhist scholars. We are simply putting into practice what we have learnt at the feet of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche into practice in daily life, to alleviate the sufferings of others in whatever ways each of us is able to and to bring them some form of peace of mind. Your comment is very encouraging for me, despite what others say of us.
  
  I wish you well in your spiritual journey and do let us know if there is anything we can help you with.
  
  Sarva Mangalam. May all be auspicious.
  
  - Tay BT on Oct 22, 2016 at 2:42 am
    
    Pastor Niral Patel,
    
    It is good to know and see the reality of the situation/contexts and the people involved.
    The blogs and replies and the way the replies are “worked”
    is revealing to me.The moment of truth about tsemrinpoche.com blogs.
    
    Tay BT
    2:41am 22-10-2016
    
- Joy on Oct 22, 2016 at 5:12 pm
  
  Thank you Mary Anne Thomas and welcome to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. I totally agree with what you say here. “I am appalled at your rude comments here on the blog, putting down Pastors and yet you end your comments with holy mantras.” Nobody likes listening to a rude person whether one is making the right points or not. It just turns people off and even if what you have to say is true, it falls on death ears. I thank you for speaking up and also appreciate what you said about our good Pastors who always tries their best to genuine help.
  
  “A Great Deception : The Ruling Lama’s Policies” published by the Western Shugden Society (WSS),is not really what I would call a credible source. Many see it as a propaganda piece against the Dalai Lama. You can perhaps quote the original source of the information, and point out which information is relevant in the spirit of sharing, instead of just pointing out a book title. The WSS group does not represent Buddhism and monastics well, a group of monks/ nuns screaming “Dalai Lama Stop Lying” accusing Dalai Lama of lying gives a bad impression of Buddhist monastics.”
  
  What you said about the book, I can also agree as I have read this book and I actually found it quite tabloid-ish, as if out to just smear the Dalai Lama’s good name. It would have been taken more seriously if their approach and presentation was one that is objective instead of being too heavily one sided. We are taught to be logical and to allow people to weigh the options after presenting clear evidence and facts. I found it hard to accept some of the accusations and claims the book mentions. Overall I found it quite unbelievable and like you mentioned, it seems like it was more of a propaganda piece against Dalai Lama. So I for one would not deem it credible. Also who were the authors of this book that put all the pieces together, we need to ask this as well. Are highly attained masters, scholars with track records. I mean can we trust them for not being bias? After all we are all still just human.
  
  So thank you very much for bringing that to light. Look forward to seeing more of your comments.
  
Tay BT on Oct 19, 2016 at 12:13 am

Dear Tsem Rinpoche,

How will “gold be tried by fire” here?

Tay BT
12:11am 19-10-2016

Tay BT on Oct 19, 2016 at 12:07 am

Dear Tsem Rinpoche ,

I would appreciate it if ignorant “pastors” not reply to my questions.
I have not issued any sharp statements yet to your “pastors”.
So please tell them : unless they really do their homework , don’t waste my time with “lousy answers” e.g. Pastor David Lai.

OM vajrasattva hung
om vajrasattva ah
om hri strih vikrtanana hung phat.

“the gift of truth excels/is victorious over all gifts”.

Therefore what gift of truth , Tsem Rinpoche ?

Thank you.

Tay BT
12:02am 19-10-2016

- Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 4:45 pm
  
  Do you have anymore questions which I may try to help answer?
  
  - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:33 pm
    
    Are you serious? Choong?
    Please answer all my questions.But please don’t do another Mary Anne Thomas and David Lai.Shameful.
    
    And if you need to ask Tsem Rinpoche – then do it.Don’t do a solo then problems.Choong.
    
    OK . You ask Tsem Rinpoche to say it like it is now!
    If you are really sincere in wanting to “help”.You are reading this—read nicely and properly now.Don’t waste time.
    
    I appreciate your offer to help but the help must be FFP(Fit For Purpose).
    
    Tay BT
    6:33pm 20-10-2016
    
    - Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:55 pm
      
      So… erm… what is your question?
      
      - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 7:05 pm
        
        Go and chant Shugden–ask him to increase your wisdom.How about that?Again your chanting should be FFP ?
        
        Tay BT
        7:04pm 20-10-2016
Tay BT on Oct 18, 2016 at 1:52 pm

Dear Tsem Rinpoche and Pastors ,

The fact that Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen was regarded by some Gelugpas as the actual reincarnation of the fourth Dalai Lama finds support in the following book(have you all read this book or not) :
A Great Deception : The Ruling Lama’s Policies
Western Shugden Society
Tharpa Publications US

This book has a lot of very “insider-like” information about the 5th Dalai Lama .
E.g. The 5th Dalai Lama wanted to attack Tashi Lhunpo in relation to Norbu and Sonam Rabten.

Please read this book.

Like I mentioned : the gift of truth excels/is victorious over all gifts.

Tay BT
18-10-2016 1:45pm

- Pastor David Lai on Oct 21, 2016 at 5:31 pm
  
  Dear Tay BT,
  
  I had been busy and could not respond to you earlier and I can see that you have been busy here too. From your answer, you seemed offended and I apologize that I have offended you but I stand by my answer as I have a basis to what I say.
  
  Now, remember that this is just a friendly debate discussion that we are all learning and so, there’s no need to react negatively or resort to name-calling that’s uncalled for. This is an open platform for anybody to voice their opinion and I think I have that right. And my opinion has a source and that is based on Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s writings and I have even quoted him to back what I say.
  
  Now, your opinion seemed to be heavily based on the Great Deception. I just want to ask is what is the source of the information in the Great Deception? On what basis can we believe in the ‘insider information’ contained in this book? Is it from a lama or historian?
  
Tay BT on Oct 15, 2016 at 11:55 pm

Dear Tsem Rinpoche ,

Who was it who made the decision that Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso was to be the 5th Dalai Lama?Was it the Panchen Lama?
What if Zim khang Gongma Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen was the real Dalai Lama?He was also a candidate.
Is it true that Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso(5th Dalai Lama) said that he could not recognize or pick out the belongings of the Mongolian born 4th Dalai Lama or rather Zimkhang Okma.Please correct me if I am wrong, and please add more details here.

Is it true that Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen told his attendant or disciple that if the allegations were not true smoke in the shape of a hand would be visible — and that was exactly what was seen during the cremation.

Thank you.
15-10-2016 11:52pm

- Pastor Niral Patel on Oct 17, 2016 at 11:01 pm
  
  Dear Tay BT,
  
  I would like to help answer these questions for you. It was His Holiness the 4th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen, who recognised Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso as the 5th Dalai Lama. In fact the 4th Panchen Lama was the guru of both the 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. This would have made them Dharma brothers. In fact they shared a very strong Dharma bond throughout their lives, it was marked by respect and admiration for each other.
  
  You are right that when searching for the reincarnation of the 4th Dalai Lama there was more than one candidate. Both Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen were short listed as the possible reincarnations. In the end the 4th Panchen lama recognised Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso as the reincarnation of the 4th Dalai Lama, whereas Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was recognised as the reincarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa. This was done through many tests and finally the use of dough-ball divination at Reteng Monastery by both the 4th Panchen Lama and Lingmey Zhabdrung, another great lama of the time. The divination results of both lamas recognised Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso as the genuine reincarnation of the 5th Dalai Lama.
  
  While Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was a candidate, the fact that His Holiness the 4th Panchen Lama recognised him as the reincarnation of Panchen Sonam Drakpa just goes to show that he was not in fact the reincarnation of the 4th Dalai Lama.
  
  In regards to the 5th Dalai Lama not recognising the personal belongings of the 4th Dalai Lama, this is mentioned in the 5th Dalai Lama’s in his own writings. In it he mentions that one of his tutors named Kuchupa Sangyey Sherab would always try to make him study harder to learn the teachings. If he did not then Kuchupa Sangyey Sherab threatened to tell everyone that he did not recognise the 4th Dalai Lama’s personal belongings during one of his tests. In fact, he threatened to tell everyone that the only reason he was selected as Dalai Lama was because he was related to the Tsangpa king, in an effort to appease him, thereby calming the growing tensions against the Gelugpa lineage. Interestingly, it was the 5th Dalai Lama himself who would put an end to the rule of the Tsangpa kings by unifying Tibet, with himself as both spiritual and secular leader.
  
  In regards to the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s cremation and the plume of smoke in the form of a hand, I have not come across this account before. From the accounts that I have read the plume rose after the funerary stupa finally caught fire once His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s verse of apology was read out and one of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s attendants smacked the side of the stupa with his zen, out of frustration that his lama did nothing to stop his own murder. I hope this helps.
  
  - Tay BT on Oct 18, 2016 at 8:10 am
    
    Thank you .
    
    Please allow me to point out that your statement,”it was the 5th Dalai Lama himself who would put an end to the rule of the Tsangpa kings by unifying Tibet” , is inaccurate/wrong .
    It was Zimkhang og ma Ngawang Lozang Gyatso’s secretary who asked the Mongols to invade and “take over”.They invited Gushri Khan .
    And it was “this group of people” as well who killed the Tsangpa king who was already defeated and jailed?Please correct me if I am wrong here.
    I really wonder what Panchen Lozang Chogyan may have said about all this.
    To kill a human being(s) : you break your monks vows and it is a parajika?To abet and/or cause to abet may be worse?
    
    Could you please ask Tsem Rinpoche to “spill the beans” about the allegations that were levelled against Zimkhang Gongma Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen ?
    If he was the dharma brother of Zimkhang Ogma Ngawang Lozang Gyatso why did the latter refer to him as some damsi?
    
    Is it true that the scarf that Nangso Norbu used was the same scarf that the 5th Dalai Lama offered to Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen after the latter defeated the former in a debate?
    
    Why was Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen considered such a serious threat?There are accounts that he started to overshadow the 5th Dalai Lama.
    
    Could you please ask Tsem Rinpoche about the rationale behind the rumours that Desi Sangye Gyatso was the 5th Dalai Lama’s son?
    
    Did the 5th Dalai Lama succumb to politics when he asked Sangye Gyatso to keep secret his demise?Does this not break the precept of not telling a lie , one of the 5 basic precepts?
    
    We are now in the 21st century where is there unparalleled access to information or “intelligence” on the Zimkhang Gongma-Zimkhang Ogma Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen-NgawangLozang Gyatso dispute.
    
    “the gift of truth excels/is victorious over all gifts”.
    
    Hope to hear from you and Tsem Rinpoche again.
    
    Om a ra pa ca na dhiih.
    
    Tay BT
    18-10-2016 8:09am
    
    - Pastor David Lai on Oct 18, 2016 at 6:37 pm
      
      Dear Tay BT,
      Nice to see your in-depth comments and questions here. You seemed to be asking a lot on the nitty-gritty details about the events that unfolded between the Great Fifth Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. What are you trying to uncover? Are you trying to say that the Fifth Dalai Lama is an impostor on the throne and actually Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, by right should have been the Fifth Dalai Lama? Your questions seemed to skewed in that direction. That’s what it sounds like to me.
      
      “I really wonder what Panchen Lozang Chogyan may have said about all this. To kill a human being(s) : you break your monks vows and it is a parajika?To abet and/or cause to abet may be worse?”
      – Definitely the great Panchen would have advised against it and that killing breaks monk vows. What makes you think this does not apply to the Fifth Dalai Lama or the Panchen Lama?
      
      “Could you please ask Tsem Rinpoche to “spill the beans” about the allegations that were levelled against Zimkhang Gongma Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen ? If he was the dharma brother of Zimkhang Ogma Ngawang Lozang Gyatso why did the latter refer to him as some damsi?”
      – I think there is nothing to ask. High Lamas look upon the controversial actions of certain High Lamas to be a divine play. That means they appear negative, controversial in the beginning but later, it will play out to the benefit of the teachings and the lineage in the end. Sometimes, great beings appear to be against each other, eg. Ra Lotsawa and the 13 lamas he had dispatched. Some High Lama’s realization is so great that they are able to bring about tremendous benefit even when their actions seemed damaging. In the case of Ra Lotsawa, he defended the new Yamantaka tantras and displayed the power of the Yamantaka meditations. In the case of Fifth Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, it seems to be a divine play as well. Perhaps, the Dalai Lama is pushing people to learn more about Dorje Shugden and proliferating the practice. Over time, we will see the effects of what the Dalai Lama has done.
      
      ” Is it true that the scarf that Nangso Norbu used was the same scarf that the 5th Dalai Lama offered to Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen after the latter defeated the former in a debate? ”
      – I have not heard of this and cannot comment. I don’t see relevance in checking on such details unless it is from a credible source.
      
      ” Why was Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen considered such a serious threat?There are accounts that he started to overshadow the 5th Dalai Lama. ”
      – According to Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s own writings in Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors, It was the assistants around the Fifth Dalai Lama who saw Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen as a threat and not the lama himself. Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen indeed was very famous and at one point eclipsing the Fifth Dalai Lama. Hence, the attendants and assistants became infuriated and hatched the plan to assassinate Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen.
      
      ” Did the 5th Dalai Lama succumb to politics when he asked Sangye Gyatso to keep secret his demise?Does this not break the precept of not telling a lie , one of the 5 basic precepts? ”
      – The Fifth Dalai Lama’s position was both a political and spiritual one. But you are not talking about an ordinary lama here who can have his practice degenerate. You are talking about a bodhisattva, whose actions throughout incarnations continue to reverberate with incredible benefits. Even the current Liberation in the palm of your hand as taught by Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche combines the south lamrim tradition that include the commentary by the FIfth Dalai Lama, Manjushri’s Own Words. This is just one of many great deeds of the Fifth Dalai Lama that shows he is not an ordinary being.
      
      Conclusion:
      You may or may not agree with what I have to say but I have an advice, please look at the overall beneficial works of the lama and not just focus on a few small nitty-gritty wrong-doings. You may not have the wisdom to see the actual intent of the lama at each scenario but you can always check with other High Lama who have the clairvoyance to perceive the intent and what their views of the Dalai Lama. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche thinks very highly of the Fifth Dalai Lama and the current Dalai Lama. In fact, he says…
      
      “But some who are narrow minded, not understanding this point, consider this Dharmapala to be like an ordinary worldly being and, with supposed faith in the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, disparage him; or else they indeed admire this great Dharmapala but criticize the Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama. Using either one as a reason not to admire the other and speaking badly about either in any way is the conduct of an ordinary being who, under the influence of attachment and hatred, just tries to help friends and hurt enemies…”
      
      - Tay BT on Oct 18, 2016 at 11:48 pm
        
        Dear Pastor David Lai ,
        
        “not just focus on a few small nitty-gritty wrong-doings.”, certainly exposes your ignorance about the 5th Dalai Lama – Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen relations, and the politics .Ignorance my dear Pastor David Lai.
        
        Have you actually gone into the literature or are you just using some “set piece” to answer my questions?It betrays a certain profile of stereotypical mind set.But this is just my own impression.
        
        So it is all a play then for you – even the threats to Trijang Choktrul who is now a layman , who had to flee India for the US????
        So it is another play for Tsem Rinpoche to try and get the ban lifted?And also to write so much about Dorje Shugden?
        
        OK. I feel that your arrogance is going to get in the way of having a proper discussion based on the literature that is available.
        
        So , please don’t reply unless you have more facts , not just so and so said.Weak,Pastor David Lai!
        
        Om a ra pa ca na dhi.
        Om ya ma ra ja ……..hung hung phat phat svaha
        Om yamantaka hung phat.
        Om hri strih vikritanana hung phat.
        om vajra vetali agaccha agaccha hung jah svaha.
        
        Tay BT
        11:47pm 18-10-2016
        
        There are many high lamas. In fact there may be more wonderful “ordinary geshes/people” who are better able to answer and benefit beings.
      - Tay BT on Oct 18, 2016 at 11:58 pm
        
        Pastor David Lai ,
        
        I will give you another chance to redeem yourself.First attempt—fail.Miserable.
        
        Who are you to comment when you are ignorant and fail to do your homework about the 5th Dalai Lama – Tulku Trakpa Gyaltsen and the politics?Make sure your statements are credible first before giving/dishing out ignorant advice or is this how you all work?
        
        Your title “Pastor” means nothing to me .Have you not learnt the four reliances?
        
        Go ask Tsem Rinpoche now.
        
        Tay BT
        11:57pm 18-10-2016
      - Joy on Oct 22, 2016 at 5:39 pm
        
        Dear Pastor David,
        
        I just want to say thank you for your patience and answers. I have actually learnt a lot from it and really appreciate how you have presented your points/facts which are from sources we can trust such as Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s own writings in Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors.
        
        Your explanation was very clear to me and I liked your conclusion which is a great reminder for us all to remain impartial when the moment comes which is what’s happening now, a controversy over Dorje Shugden’s practice and to our ordinary appearing to be in huge conflict with the Dalai Lama’s stand point.
        
        Many of us may not or cannot accept this of course, nor do we agree, however, we should still try our best to behave in a polite (Buddhist or not) manner at least when we are in discussion of such sensitive issues, because our aim to learn to gain knowledge instead of lay blame. We also do not want to appear just one sided, and get too emotional/personal, then we are no better than those anti-Shugden fanatics who abuse us daily with hateful discriminatory remarks. Certainly we do not need more hateful words from our so called own Shugdenpas. Being logical and objective is much more universally appealing and helps in delivering our message better in my humble opinion.
        
        So thanks again for your input, I personally thought it was good. 🙂
    - Choong on Oct 20, 2016 at 5:00 pm
      
      Dear Tay BT,
      
      They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
      
      This picture is painted on the wall of Jokhang Monastery. Tell me what do you think? Who was behind bringing in Gushri Khan as an ally?
      
      I really don’t know the exact answer but like you, I have formed some of my own conclusions just like others may.
      
      P.S. The mural shows Gushri Khan paying tribute to Desi Sangye Gyatso
      
      - Tay BT on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:50 pm
        
        Choong, be a good boylah/girl lah(what is your sex?).
        
        Ask Tsem Rinpoche to explain the whole thing.He has a lot of insider information.You need to get the info from Tibetans or westerners who have in depth knowledge.And what you want is the “insider stuff” level of information.
        Do your homework now, want or not?Quickly lah.
        
        Tay BT
        6:49pm 20-10-2016
      - Joy on Oct 22, 2016 at 4:53 pm
        
        Thank you Choong for pointing this interesting link http://www.dorjeshugden.org/blog/the-hidden-name-of-dorje-shugden-in-the-kangyur
        
        Looks like Dorje Shugden was mentioned way before even the existence of a Dalai Lama.
        
        “Dorje Shugden’s name written in the Kangyur, hidden in a passage about the names of Manjushri.
        
        The Kangyur is a collection of texts recording the spoken teachings of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Works to translate this immense text from the traditional Sanskrit language to Tibetan script had begun since the 7th Century.”
        
        This is such an amazing discovery that even Lord Buddha himself have mentioned Dorje Shugden. Buddha cannot be wrong, and if Dorje Shugden was a demon as the Tibetan Leadership claims, then why do keep unveiling more and more evidences of the opposite. It just goes to show that Dorje Shugden is indeed enlightened and what the Tibetan Leadership is trying to do, is rewrite history. Unfortunately, you cannot rewrite everything, sorry not Buddha’s words. Thanks Choong!
        
        And another amazing thing is that it was Buton Rinchen Drub, known as the great Zhalu scholar and translator, edit and translated the encyclopaedic Kangyur and Tangyur into the Tibetan language. And surprise surprise, he is also recognised as one of the previous incarnations of Dorje Shugden. It just amazes me how it is all connected one full circle.
Wan Wai Meng on Sep 19, 2016 at 3:41 am

I really do think it was fortuitous that the Sakya tradition hosted Dorje Shudgen after Dorje Shugden manifested, prior to Dorje Shudgen becoming more prevalent during Je Pabongka’s time within the Gelug tradition.

The ban on Dorje Shugden has far reaching consequences for the Gelug and Sakya traditions, if the Gelug is invalidated because of Dorje Shugden the same can be inferred to the Sakya tradition as well. In addition for the many people, who has never been Tibetan Buddhists before, the blue ocean out there, because of the ban they may never get to know about how beneficial Dorje Shugden and Tsongkhapa’s teachings to be. Hope the ban will come down really quickly, and the Sakyas will once again be able to take on the practice of Dorje Shugden.

Tsem Rinpoche on Sep 15, 2016 at 3:20 am

Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, Tibet

Over 400 years ago a great and learned lama Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was famed in Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and China for being very saintly and compassionate. He resided in his residence (Zimkhang Gongma Ladrang) in Drepung Monastery. His root guru was H.H. the Omniscient 4th Panchen Lama and his close dharma brother was the 5th Dalai Lama.

The 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had a very close and dharmic relationship and often went to receive teachings together from the 4th Panchen Lama. They were close in age. They both became very learned and well known. During this time, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as a Dharma King of Tibet. But more people went to see Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for teachings, initiations and divinations. This made the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama feel threatened that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s fame might usurp the power of the 5th Dalai Lama. So they had a khata forced down his throat. At that moment, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen dissolved his psychic winds and generated the wish to be a great guardian of Buddha and Tsongkapa’s teachings. As his consciousness dissolved, he entered ‘bardo’ as a dharma protector of the highest order (jikten depey sungma). Many signs were seen throughout Lhasa at this time and the earth was said to have shaken in Lhasa. This event was already predicted to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s previous incarnation when he was one of the 8 main disciples of Lord Tsongkapa the Supreme Master and he served Tsongkapa directly by building Gaden Monastery.

When the 5th Dalai Lama heard what his scheming and power-hungry attendants had done, he was very distressed. He was very sorry Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was murdered and dishonored as he was a great dharma master. The 5th Dalai Lama composed an apology to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. In Lhasa, tens of thousands gathered for the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s holy body. During the cremation, the 5th Dalai Lama’s apology was read out at which flames spontaneously arose from the body of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen commencing the cremation. From the body, during cremation, a powerful whirlwind of smoke tunneled into the sky for all to see as this was an indication Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s consciousness has arisen as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. The Dharma Protector Setrap immediately recognized this new protector Dorje Shugden and ‘enthroned’ him as a powerful Dharma Protector in the realm of the Buddhas. From this, Setrap and Dorje Shugden are closely connected and very close working hand in hand always. After the cremation, the great 5th Dalai Lama built a Dorje Shugden chapel on the spot the cremation took place and named it Trode Khangsar. The 5th Dalai Lama commissioned the statue of Dorje Shugden in this chapel and had monks installed in the chapel to do continuous propitiations to Dorje Shugden. Trode Khangsar Chapel was a commemoration to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who was wronged and also a celebration of his consciousness arising as the World Peace Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.

This Trode Khangsar Chapel still exists now in Lhasa where many make pilgrimages there. It is in good condition and was recently renovated. It is over 400 years old and a testimony to the respect the Great 5th Dalai Lama had to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who arose as Dorje Shugden.

I have visited this holy chapel in Lhasa years back. I’ve never heard of it till I was in Lhasa and by chance, I was told about it which I was happy to visit. I could not find the place but strangely a bunch of pilgrims from Amdo told me they would show me how to get there in Lhasa.

This short video is a short clip of this holy Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa today commemorating Dorje Shugden, built by the great 5th Dalai Lama. The great 5th Dalai Lama even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden which is still available today and we can recite to invoke the blessings, protection, and assistance of World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.

Tsem Rinpoche

Read more: Trode Khangsar – A 400-year-old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/trode-khangsar-%E2%80%93-a-400-year-old-dorje-shugden-chapel-in-lhasa.html

Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTybDwTeLAM

__________________________________

The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje Shugden

HUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!

Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinoceros leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamos of the charnel grounds, praise to you!

Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favourite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!

Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!

Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!

From: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/the-5th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden

Tibetan prayer from: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-14th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html

Shane Jayasuriya on Jun 19, 2016 at 11:08 pm

Thank you Rinpoche and team for this Article. Its good to know that sakya tradition too had practice Doje shugden, Dorje setrap and kache marpo. I like the questions and answers in this article, learnt a lot from it.

_/\_ _/\_ _/\_

CindyH on May 13, 2016 at 11:52 pm

Thank you Rinpoche and team for such a highly informative article. Through this, I now have a clearer picture on how prominent the practice of Dorje Shugden was within the Sakya tradition prior to it being “disowned” by the current Sakya Trinzin.

What stood out for me was the several interesting parallels on the reverence of Dorje Shugden between the Gelug and Sakya tradition, namely,

• Prior to the ban, there was no doubt as to the enlightened status of Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden practice goes quite far back for both traditions.

• The enlightened status of Dorje Shugden has even been attested to by the spiritual heads and throneholders of both traditions.

• Reincarnations of Dorje Shugden are found in the lineages of both traditions.

• In both traditions, there are praises to Dorje Shugden composed by highly attained Lamas. (e.g Prayer to Dorje Shugden which is composed by the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Praise to Dorje Shugden by the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro).

Based on the high esteem in which both traditions held for the practice of Dorje Shugden, it goes to show that that Dorje Shugden is not sectarian but protects and guides all who intends to pursue a spiritual path.

In addition, by claiming that Dorje Shugden is an unenlightened spirit or demon, it is in effect bringing to question the authenticity of the entire lineage of both traditions considering that;

• If Dorje Shugden really is a demon, then the high Lamas of past (and present) who has propitiated (or still is propitiating) Dorje Shugden would have broken their refuge vows.

• If those high Lamas have indeed broken their refuge vow, the sutric and tantric practices which such Lamas have passed on would accordingly be invalid and the lineage blessings would be broken.

Stella Cheang on May 13, 2016 at 1:19 pm

This was an edifying read as it provides us with many points to ponder on.

1. Often times we heard that Dorje Shugden is a sectarian practice. The fact that Dorje Shugden was a common practice within the Sakya lineage is a good enough evidence to refute the accusation. Dorje Shugden was enthroned as the protector of the Sakya tradition even before He was widely practiced in the Gelugpa tradition.
a.Sakya reliance on Dorje Shugden began with the 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (1705 – 1741)
b.The practice was passed down to the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro (1729 – 1783), who was believed to be the emanation of Dorje Shugden himself. During his lifetime, Kunga Lodro composed a Dorje Shugden kangsol (prayer) to invoke the blessings of Dorje Shugden. The kangsol is still being widely used today.
c.The list of Sakya Trizin who practiced Dorje Shugden besides Sonam Richen and Kunga Lodro are 32nd Sakya Trizin Wangdu Nyingpo, 33rd Pema Dudul Wangchuk, 35th Tashi Rinchen, 37th Kunga Nyingpo and 39th Dragshul Trinley Rinchen.

2. Sakya Trizins who relied on Dorje Shugden referred to him as an enlightened being. This is significant because of the spiritual position of the Sakya Trizins. They are not just any ordinary monk but are actually spiritual heads and throneholders of the Sakya tradition; one of the major schools within Tibetan Buddhism. This is a position equal in rank to the spiritual heads of other major traditions such as the Gaden Tripa of the Gelug school or the Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu school.

3. If the Sakya Trizin practiced Dorje Shugden and composed 149 pages worth of Kangsol for Him, it was therefore not a minor practice of the Sakyas as claimed by some. The practice must had brought benefits and the Sakya Trizin felt strongly enough to compose such an extensive text to propitiate the deity. If the deity was a minor spirit with little benefit to sentient beings, would a Sakya Trizin spend time, energy and effort to compose such an extensive supplicatory texts for them to propitiate?

4. The praise to Dorje Shugden is essential because remind us Dorje Shugden’s previous life as the Vinaya-holder (Dulzin) Drakpa Gyeltsen (1374-1434), He was a pure monk who had made the great aspiration to arise as a Protector of the teachings. The teachings are protected when a person learns the Dharma, practices the Dharma and then teaches it.

5. In the praise, it also clearly stated that He is an enlightened being as He provides you with the means of achieving enlightenment; i.e. brings resources, brings practitioners to their gurus who expound the path out of suffering, blesses them so that they are able to receive and understand the teachings.

Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article; we should trust Him fully and to create the causes for ourselves to become a fully enlightened being eventually.

Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang

- Tsem Rinpoche on May 13, 2016 at 10:23 pm
  
  Stella,
  
  I can see from your comments, you really took the time to read, digest and understand the situation. We all work hard to do research and provide information. To bring down the ban, we have to use knowledge and with knowledge what is untrue will fade in time. It is rewarding to see you take the time to understand the whole unethical ban against peaceful loving people who wish to practice their religion of Dorje Shugden without being discriminated against. There is a ban. There are stringent measures by Tibetan govt in exile to restrict and make the lives of Dorje Shugden practitioners difficult, but this is exposed now more and more. This is a comprehensive post on the ban situation: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=99652
  
  I am not proud or happy to expose them and publish all this information on my blog. But many do not dare to speak out because there are serious repercussions. Why did I speak out, because human rights violations in the form of religious bigotry is not right. Why live our lives in a way that hurts others? I do not wish to write and publish all these blog posts on what the Tibetan leadership is doing to so many. I can use my time on so many other more useful subjects. But if I don’t write, then the pain they have created in so many will continue without a resolution. I am certainly not a hero and do not enjoy all this ‘attention’ for writing/publishing all the information on this blog, but one thing for sure, it’s the lesser of the two evils. To keep quiet and watch the suffering or to speak up and hope the suffering will eventually fade. I guess I chose to speak up as unhappy as I am about it.
  
  Tsem Rinpoche
  
  - Stella Cheang on May 14, 2016 at 9:49 pm
    
    Thank you Rinpoche for this message and teaching. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It is both poignant and inspirational to see Rinpoche speak out about the ban peacefully. We will not sit still and watch our fellow Dorje Shugden practitioners suffer the abuse. I will do my best to let more people know about the truth.
    
    Humbly, my head to Rinpoche’s feet,
    Stella Cheang
    
  - Harold Musetescu on Jun 2, 2016 at 10:52 am
    
    Hello Rinpoche,
    Have you ever thought of the reasons behind the Sakya Sect choosing Dorje Shugden as a Dharmapala?
    One possible missed theory is they chose him for revenge against the Dalai Lama. Dorje Shugden was chosen by Sakya Trizin to DESTROY THE DALAI LAMA AND HIS GOVERNMENT.
    The Sakya were overthrown by the Dalai Lama and his Mongolian friend Gushri Khan and his army. They marched down from Mongolia and overthrew the Sakya who were the RULERS OF TIBET. They crushed the Sakya monk soldiers, murdered Sakya monks and destroyed their monasteries. The Dalai Lama was now the new GOD KING OF TIBET and the Sakya were OUT. The Sakya now SERVED UNDER THE RULE OF THE DALAI LAMA AND HAVE DONE SO FOR CENTURIES.
    The Sakya would have know of Dorje Shugden and all the FAILED ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY HIM by the Dalai Lama. Their enemies enemy would now be their new friend or should I say their new DHARMAPALA.
    Dorje Shugden would now be used by the various Sakya Trizin’s in rituals to try and destroy the Dalai Lama. They would do this in an attempt to regain what was taken from them by force,TIBET. The Dalai Lama WAS the enemy of all Sakya and I believe STILL IS.
    The present day Sakya Trizin is formally recognized as the holder of the SECOND highest throne in Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th Dalai Lama is the holder of the HIGHEST throne. The Sakya Trizin’s want their throne back, they want to return to the HIGHEST throne in Tibet.
    Just another version of “THE GAME OF THRONES”.
    Rinpoche we both know that BLACK MAGIC AND THEIR RITUALS have been and continue to be used to this very day. We can all understand the hatred the Tibetans hold against their Chinese masters. Why can we not agree that the Sakya would also hold hatred against their MASTER, THE DALAI LAMA AND HIS LINEAGE.
    Maybe just maybe Rinpoche this is way Dorje Shugden was chosen by the Sakya to one of their “Three Spirit Kings”.
    
Harold Musetescu on May 1, 2016 at 7:28 pm

Hello Rinpoche
Thank you for this article and your insights on Lamo Tsangpa the Oracle of Tsangpa Karpo. Lamo Tsangpa is the third highest State Oracle of Tibet with the Nechung first and the Gadong Oracle second.
Both the Lamo Tsangpa and the Gadong Oracle lineage are a family and not monastic lineage. That means that their SONS carry on the Oracle lineage upon the passing of the father.
As you mentioned Lamo Tsangpa passed away on April 24, 2003. Since his death none of his four sons has been chosen by Tsangpa Karpo as worthy enough to be his next Oracle.
There could be a reason for this not happening. In 1995 Lamo Tsangpa went into trance and publicly condemned the practice of Dorje Shugden. I believe Lamo Tsangpa lied and did not go into an actual trance. How could the peaceful emanation of Setrap condemn Dorje Shugden when it was Setrap who saved Dorje Shugden from death? We all know how Setrap the wrathful emanation of Tsangpa Karpo saved Dorje Shugden from death at the hands of Mindrolling Rinpoche during his fire puja. Setrap also lead Dorje Shugden to his new home with the Sakya. So how can Lamo Tsangpa condemn Dorje Shugden when Dorje Shugden was saved by Setrap? This is illogical and shows the corruption of Lamo Tsangpa and why none of his SONS are worthy enough in the eyes of Tsangpa Karpo to be his next Oracle.
We must remember that it was the 14th Dalai Lama who gave the State Oracle postion to Lamo Tsangpa. With that Lamo Tsangpa became a very powerful man within the Dalai Lama’s and CTA’s circles. How would he repay the Dalai Lama for his now new LIFE TIME EMPLOYMENT AS THE THIRD HIGHEST STATE ORACLE OF TIBET? BY DOING AND SAYING WHAT THE DALAI LAMA TELLS HIM TO DO AND SAY????
Finally you posted Lamo Tsangpa’s death notification and it shows how he suffered with heart disease for many years prior to his death. Could this have been caused by the Tsangpa Karpo to punish him for his public lies about Dorje Shugden.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Rinpoche for being the world leader in publicly fighting for Dorje Shugden against the Dalai Lama and his puppet CTA.

- Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai on May 3, 2016 at 7:37 am
  
  Hi Harold,
  
  Thank you for your comment. I did not know that in 1995, Lamo Tsangpa took trance and condemned Dorje Shugden. You’re absolutely right in saying that “How could the peaceful emanation of Setrap condemn Dorje Shugden when it was Setrap who saved Dorje Shugden from death? We all know how Setrap the wrathful emanation of Tsangpa Karpo saved Dorje Shugden from death at the hands of Mindrolling Rinpoche during his fire puja. Setrap also lead Dorje Shugden to his new home with the Sakya.” – that is something I’ll bear in the mind for the future.
  
  What I did hear is that many people doubt the authenticity of the current trances, and the identity of the deities inhabiting the oracles’ bodies. They say this is due to the broken samaya of the state oracles as well as the broken samaya of the Tibetan leadership that the wrong deities enter when the invocation chants are done. For example, it’s known that it’s not Pehar who takes trance of the Nechung Oracle but another spirit that’s malicious/malevolent in nature, and has been giving inaccurate prophecies over the years to lead to the decline to the Tibetan leadership’s influence.
  
  I don’t think the oracle suffered heart disease as a punishment from Tsangpa Karpo because if he’s the peaceful emanation of Setrap (who is an enlightened Dharma Protector), then Setrap doesn’t take revenge or punish? If anything, it would more likely be the fruitioning of negative karma that resulted from false proclamations (which therefore contributed to the ban)…but who knows for sure?
  
  People also have to bear in mind that enlightened beings like Dorje Shugden can inhabit an oracle, but at the end of the day the oracle out of trance is just an ordinary man. Whether or not they are a good person is dependent on their practice too.
  
  - Harold Musetescu on May 3, 2016 at 8:15 pm
    
    Thank you for your quick reply. I don’t believe another spirit enters either the Nechung Oracle or the Tenma Oracle or the now deceased Lamo Tsangpa Oracle. I believe that then do not go into trance but only pretend to. Why would they do such a thing? Ask the Dalai Lama who profits from their false pronouncements. They all owe their LIFE TIME JOBS to the Dalai Lama and the CTA. Without their FINANCIAL and OFFICIAL support they would all so be looking for new jobs. The Dalai Lama has for life times used his Oracles to threaten and bully his people and HIS Government. Just last month in April he used the Nechung and Tenma Oracles to ORDER the CTA to show more respect to the Dalai Lama and his policies. The Dalai Lama knows the faith his people place in Oracles and he is using that faith to push his way around. No I do not thing their are bad spirits at play just the old tried and true spirits of Tibetan politics and power. The only spirit that enters the Nechung, Tenma and the late Lamo Tsangpa is the evil spirit of the 14th Dalai Lama.
    
Edward Ooi on Apr 30, 2016 at 7:21 am

First of all, Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this article. I have learnt quite a lot from this article. The thing that I like most about this article is the English translation of the Dorje Shugden praise written by the 31st Sakya Trizin Kunga Lodro. I find it interesting because of the content of what he wrote and the meanings behind the praise.

In my opinion, I would say that the current Sakya Trizin is wrong about the issue of Dorje Shugden. Sakya Trizin are known to be teachers to their own son/grandson, so by saying that, isn’t he just spreading bad news of his forefathers? Also, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 37th and 39th Sakya Trizin are all Dorje Shugden practitioners. The 39th Sakya Trizin even stated that his father, the 37th Sakya Trizin is an emanation of Dorje Shugden himself. If all these Sakya Trizin (the ones that I have listed) all practice Dorje Shugden well, they do not break their vows. What about the current one? The current Sakya Trizin says that he does not practice Dorje Shugden and also says that Dorje Shugden a Gyalpo, does this mean that all of the previous Sakya Trizin (who practices Dorje Shugden) are wrong? How can all of the 7 Sakya Trizin that practices Dorje Shugden be wrong and the current Sakya Trizin is the only one who is correct about Dorje Shugden? It is just not possible. Also, how can the 37th Sakya Trizin be an emanation of sole called Gyalpo? It is just not possible, if it is doesn’t it mean that the Sakya lineage has already lost their blessings? This is just wrong.

To this day, this is something that I still don’t get. The Dalai Lama is Chenrizig himself, but why is he raising all these disharmonious events to make people turn their back on their own kind? Dorje Shugden is obviously an enlightened being so why is he still against DS practice? Even if Dorje Shugden is a Gyalpo, is it a really good reason for him to create so many havocs? If Dorje Shugden is truly an evil Gyalpo, Dalai Lama could have just eliminate it. Then why is he talking more than what he should be doing? The answer shows clearly that Dorje Shugden is not a Gyalpo or an evil spirit Please Dalai Lama, lift the ban up. For our fellow DS practitioners in India and Nepal. Shouldn’t this be what the Dalai Lama should be doing all along? To promote religious freedom? Then please lift the ban up quickly, lift up the discrimination that DS practitioners face every day. Thank you for reading.

Pastor Adeline on Apr 28, 2016 at 9:35 am

The above article is another thorough and logical teachings of Rinpoche on the Dorje Shugden practice in the Sakya lineage.

The CTA and many anti-Shugden people like to degrade Dorje Shugden by calling Him dogyal, a king spirit from Do, claiming His nature is a spirit. It is true that Dorje Shugden together with Setrap and Tsui Marpo (Kache Marpo) are referred to as the gyalpo sum, the three spirit kings, by name in both the Sakya and Gelug lineage but that doesn’t mean that their nature is a spirit. Before Dorje Shugden was propitiated in the Gelug lineage, the 30th Sakya Trizin Ngawang Sonam Rinchen first enthroned and accepted Dorje Shugden as a protector. Trizin is a throne-holder, same as Tripa used in the Gelug school for Gaden Tripa; both are lineage holders, the person who kept the lineage teachings, practiced and taught it to others unmistakenly. A person of this calibre would have the wisdom to tell whether Dorje Shugden’s nature is enlightened or not.

An enlightened Buddha is limitless; he has the abilities to manifest and emanate in different forms according to the needs of his audience. Not like most of us, some spiritual practitioners can recognize these emanations due to their spiritual attainments. These attainments are the results from the practice of the Buddha’s teachings thus allowing the said practitioners the clarity to recognize any emanations of the Buddha. This clarity is the quality that the Sakya Trizin and Gaden Tripa possess. They have the ability to absorb the massive corpus teachings of the lineage, practice them and gained attainments from them without mistakes. Therefore, they have the clarity to tell Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri though He emanated as a king spirit by type and by name.

The name gyalpo is what the CTA held on firmly, ignoring the ability of a Buddha and the lineage masters. When CTA insisted Dorje Shugden is a spirit, they directly put down the lineage and the lineage masters and deny of their clarity of mind and spiritual attainments. Dorje Shugden was enthroned, praised, propitiated by SEVEN Sakya Trizins, some of which is the emanation of Dorje Shugden, and some wrote lengthy kangsol and prayer. Their actions are the clear evidence of Dorje Shugden’s nature, and His practice as a major one.

As a Dorje Shugden practitioner, seeing the evidence presented on this post, I have gained stronger faith in Dorje Shugden. I choose to believe in all the lineage masters and highly attained beings, including my Guru, His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, for they have the clarity to see the truth as compared to the ordinary people at the CTA who are still deluded by the three poisons.

Pastor Antoinette Kass on Apr 27, 2016 at 11:16 pm

Dear Rinpoche,

Thank You for this extensive post about Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden. The 30th Sakya Trizin Sonam Rinchen (1705 – 1741) enthroned and worshipped Dorje Shugden as a Dharma protector.

And not only one Sakya Trizin encouraged his practice but three Sakya Trizin! How could three Sakya Trizin be mistaken? So it is clear that not only the Gelug sect relied on Dorje Shugden but also the Sakya sect.

The many beautiful pictures and the whole Kangsol show also evidence about Dorje Shugden’s enlightened nature.

I will read the post again especially the question and answer part. The fact that the practice of Dorje Shugden is about 350 years tells us a lot about his nature. Indeed, Buddhism is fully relying on lineage. Nothing is just made up. Yet, H.H. the Dalai Lama is going against his own teachers by speaking out a ban against Dorje Shugden. In the same way the current Sakya Trizin cannot speak up against Dorje Shugden as this would speak against the lineage of the Sakya Trizins.

May the Dalai Lama make up his mind and end the ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners quickly.

with folded hands,
Pastor Antoinette

Pastor David Lai on Apr 27, 2016 at 5:40 pm

I think this article is fantastic because it reveals powerful information that highlights the practice of Dorje Shugden within the Sakyas. The info shows how deeply Dorje Shugden was practiced within the Sakyas that even the highest patriarchs, Sakya Trizin would compose such extensive texts on Dorje Shugden. Not only that, 2 Sakya Trizins are traditionally considered to be incarnations of Dorje Shugden himself – 31st Kunga Lodro and 37th Kunga Nyingpo. This goes to show Dorje Shugden is not a mere spirit.

On the other hand, what makes me wonder is why no scholarly lama or disciple within the Sakya tradition has considered these points along with many others mentioned in this text? The fact is if we undermine Dorje Shugden as a minor practice, we are undermining the Sakya throneholders themselves and their legitimacy to uphold the lineage because they literally prayed to a spirit. What happens if we break our refuge by relying on a spirit? All good knowledgeable Buddhist would know that refuge is the basis for all teachings and practices. Hence, how could anybody within the Sakya tradition claim that Dorje Shugden is a spirit when he was relied within the Sakya school for hundreds of years.

Vinnie Tan on Apr 27, 2016 at 3:15 pm

Thank you Rinpoche for this great article. It indeed shows that the Sakya lineage has been doing Dorje Shugden practices from the time of the 31st Sakya Trizin till today. It also make sense to why would the Sakya Trizin say something that is not the case of his true practices.

Since Dorje Shugden is first enthroned in the Sakya lineage even before the Gelugpas started to do the practices, it shows clearly that Dorje Shugden is not sectarian. How can this protector be sectarian when the practice is being done by different lineages?

Through the article it has made me think further what is the purpose to this ban and why did the Sakya Trizin even go against his own practices. Why is it so important for him to say that he does not do the practice when it is evident that during exile and while he was situated in Buxa refugee camp, he did the practices of Dorje Shugden and it is known by all older monks that were at the same camp as well. Why go against what you do and say that you did not. It is interesting that maybe because of the political pressure that he may have received that forced him to speak up only in 2008 and not immediately when the ban on Dorje Shugden first came about in 1996. I find it very interesting to the reason of why Sakya Trizin spoke against the practice.

Thank you Rinpoche for this amazing article that will help clear many questions that people have in their minds.

Pastor Loh Seng Piow on Apr 27, 2016 at 1:58 pm

Such a thorough research on Dorje Shugden in the Sakya lineage. Previously we have heard about Dorje Shugden being practiced in the Sakya lineage here and there, and this article gathered all information and proved beyond doubt that Dorje Shugde has been a very core Dharma protector practice in the Sakya lineage for a very long time. Therefore, to deny and put down this practice, is to break all refuge in the Sakya lineage, simply because so many forefathers of the Sakya Trizin practice Dorje Shugden. The key to gaining attainments in Dharma practice, is to rely on a proper lineage, and it is not being politically correct. So never trade Dharma attainments with being politically correct even at the cost of one’s life.

Beatrix Ooi on Apr 27, 2016 at 11:31 am

This article has definitely cleared up a lot of questions about Dorje Shugden especially in the Sakya lineage. Dorje Shugden was first enthroned in the Sakyas before he became a ‘Gelug’ protector. In fact, Dorje Shugden protects just any sincere dharma practitioner from any sect, he is not sectarian at all as many who oppose the practice claimed.

It’s fuuny how the Sakya Trizin tries to cut all connection with Dorje Shugden when it was one of his forefathers who enthroned Dorje Shugden as the protector of the Sakyas. In the Sakya thangkas, Dorje Shugden is depicted as riding a horse. With the current Sakya Trizin saying that Dorje Shugden is bad, it’s like calling those forefathers who practised Dorje Shugden bad. If Dorje Shugden is a gyalpo which he’s not, that would mean that the forefathers have broken their refuge vows. Therefore (with all the respect and I do not mean any disrespect), whatever the Sakya Trizin teaches now would have loosen the attainments, so why is he still teaching?

There are a lot of conflicts and contradictions just on this matter alone, may the ban be lifted very swiftly and may all the doubts, bad names, untruthful information about Lord Dorje Shugden be cleared very swiftly.

Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai on Apr 27, 2016 at 9:02 am

Thank you Rinpoche for this powerful blog post on the Sakyas’ relationship with Dorje Shugden. In the face of overwhelming evidence related to the Sakya reliance on Dorje Shugden, how can anyone deny that Dorje Shugden was a practice of the Sakyas? It is even painted on the walls of their monastery and you don’t paint deities you don’t like INSIDE your monastery, do you?

Aside from the 149-page Shugden kangsol that was written by the 31st Sakya throneholder, the part of this post that made the greatest impression on me is the sheer number of Sakya lineageholders who relied on Dorje Shugden.

There have been 41 Sakya Trizins to date, seven of whom relied on Dorje Shugden, viewed him as an enlightened being and/or were emanations of Dorje Shugden themselves. This number goes up to 8 if you consider the fact the current Sakya Trizin himself used to participate in Dorje Shugden pujas when he was living in Buxa refugee camp.

That means 20% of Sakya throneholders has had some kind of relationship with Dorje Shugden, which is a significant number!

So how can anyone say that the Sakyas NEVER relied on Dorje Shugden?

How can anyone claim that Dorje Shugden is sectarian when, for hundreds of years, he was propitiated by the Sakyas for blessings and protection too? Would he have remained a Sakya practice for so long, if he hadn’t been effective in granting them what they were praying for? No, they wouldn’t have waited for hundreds of years before realising he’s no good and kicked him out.

If he was actually a spirit or a demon as some people claim, then are those people saying that the Sakya tradition did not have a single master with clairvoyance who could suss out Dorje Shugden’s true nature?

This is a post we should bookmark and promote, to let everyone know that Dorje Shugden protects all equally if the practitioner is sincere and if the propitiation benefits one’s spiritual practice, regardless of whatever lineage that practice is rooted in.

Joy on Apr 27, 2016 at 8:42 am

This is such a powerful blog post and so much evidence that the Sakyas not only perpetuated to Dorje Shugden, but DS was an integral part of their practice. If DS was a demonic spirit and if DS was bad, would the Sakya master write praises, prayers and liturgies to Dorje Shugden? Surely not. To sudden say that Dorje Shugden is wrong is to like saying that all these great Sakya masters are wrong too. So if they are wrong then why continue to pay respect to their lineage masters who probably gave them tainted wrong teachings? It would be invalid therefore whatever practice you do will have no blessings and no effect.

The picture of the 39th Sakya throneholder Sakya Trizin Dragshul Trinley Rinchen is truely regal. His Eminence really looked like a very highly attained Lama and he also practised Dorje Shugden and even wrote praised to Dorje Shugden as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. So is He wrong as well?

So this is now clear evidence of how close the Sakyas were with Dorje Shugden and before the ban, everyone was really friendly, harmonious and there were no issues. So it just goes to show that the ban and discrimination on Dorje Shugden is wrong and it is being used by the Tibetan administration to cover their own failings such as promising its people that Tibet will be independent from China.

Also if DS was a “minor” practice then why on earth did the Sakyas make Dorje Shugden and the other protectors of Sakya’s to be ‘the Sakya Gyalpo Sum trio of protectors’ which includes… Setrap, Dorje Shugden and Tsiu Marpo (a.k.a. Kache Marpo). These three protectors are being practiced within the Gelugpa lineage now.

These are great to learn up so that when the next time someone spews saying Sakya do not practice, we can surely point them to this blog that has been well researched, with so much details. Thank you all those who worked so hard for many days to accomplish this master piece of an article.

kb thapa on Apr 27, 2016 at 6:23 am

This is very interesting article and well researched. Good to know Dorje Shugden was practiced by the Sakyas as well and Dorje Shugden has been accepted by the Sakyas, Nyingmas and the Gelugpa wow..We can see that Dorje Shugden was not only practiced by high lamas in monasteries but the wide community and the different schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Now suddenly there is ban on Dorje Shugden how come suddenly protector become evil does’t make scene to me, hundreds of years practice is wrong . If its true all the high lamas and including Dalai lama who recognized him as protector, Why their reincarnation keep coming back according CTA tradition they supposed to go hell because they practice DORJE SHUGDEN..

Pastor Niral Patel on Apr 26, 2016 at 5:18 pm

This post really does clear up some questions that I have had in regards to the Sakya Lineage, after reading the Sakya Lineage and Dorje Shugden post (https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-sakya-lineage-dorje-shugden.html). Thank you for sharing the rich and wonderful history of Dorje Shugden’s practice within the Sakya Lineage.

Despite being practiced so prominently within the Sakya lineage, this history has been sidelined due to the political climate within the Tibetan government. This is sad and sorry state of affairs. Politics should never be involved with religious practices.

The fact that Dorje Shugden, Setrap and Tsui Marpo/Kache Marpo were practiced within the Sakya tradition before coming to be practiced within the Gelug tradition goes to show just how beneficial their practices actually are. They have such a close relationship between themselves, and it just goes to show the close relationship that the Sakya and Gelug lineages had with each other too!

Valentina Suhendra on Apr 26, 2016 at 11:39 am

Dear Rinpoche

Thank you for this strong post on Dorje Shugden practice in Sakya tradition. I agree with what was said in the article that Dorje Shugden practice was very prominent within Sakya tradition, considering the fact that the 31st Sakya Trizin himself composed the 149 page kangsol to Dorje Shugden.

Before the ban, everyone lives peacefully and Dorje Shugden practice was not an issue. Nobody say that this practice is sectarian or exclusive to Gelugpa. I would like to point out specifically that the reason that Dalai Lama camp said to ISC as to why DS practice is bad is because the practice is sectarian:

“One of the principal reasons why His Holiness advises against this practice is because of the well-documented sectarianism associated with it.”

http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/clarification-12-07-2015

Now that the practice is proven to be not sectarian or an exclusive Gelug practice, this allegation that “support” the existence of the ban has been negated. It does not make sense why the ban should still be in existence.

Valentina

Chris Chong on Apr 26, 2016 at 8:44 am

Dear Rinpoche,

Thank you for sharing this information on the relationship of Sakya lineage with Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden was propitiated together with Dorje Setrap and Tsiu Marpo as the Gyalpo Sum. This shows that Dorje Shugden is being placed onto the same level as enlightened Dharma protectors, Setrap and Kache Marpo. Hence, Dorje Shugden have to be an enlightened being himself.

I also learnt that there are solid evidence of a few previous Sakya Trizin to rely on Dorje Shugden. Sakya Trizin is the throne holder in the Sakya tradition which is on the same level as Gaden Tripa in Gelug and Karmapa in Kagyu. Lamas of this calibre are Highly Attained and not possible for them to be fooled by a spirit.

When I came to the question section, there is one question that questioned the validity of Setrap being an enlightened being. I find it absurd because why are we doubting the Buddhas one by one. Are we better than the Buddhas now? If we keep questioning the Buddhas, it will never end we will never had any progress in our spiritual path. We should have faith in our Gurus whom we had examined before we form the relationship. When the Guru give us any practice, we should have 100% faith in it and let no one influence you away from it.

Humbly,
Chris

- Martin on Apr 26, 2016 at 4:27 pm
  
  Dear Dr. Chris,
  
  You made a very astute observation, that these days it seems to be ok to question the divinity of enlightened beings that have been revered by highly attained masters for centuries. On the face of it , this is a combination of ignorance and sheer arrogance. The more cynical amongst us might even suggest that seeing that it is politically correct these days to oppose Dorje Shugden, everything associated with the Protector is correspondingly bad.
  
  For me, it is the sign of the degeneration of our time – that what is good is seen as bad and conversely what is bad is hailed as good. Therefore the world does not look at samsaric activities and go on the forum to discuss their demerits , instead they talk a Buddha down. Not that an enlightened being can be diminished by anything human beings do against them. At the end of the day the negative force accrue to those who engage in these wrong views and bad speech.
  
  This and many articles on this blog provide very definitive evidence and information about Dorje Shugden and thank goodness for that. Imagine if we never knew or had the wrong view of the very Dharma Protector that we badly need now.
  
sweekeong on Apr 26, 2016 at 4:31 am

I have heard about the Sakya lineage practicing Dorje Shugden but the information presented here is so detail and well researched. It is even amazing that 7 generation of Sakya throneholder had practiced Dorje Shugden. It would not be a minor practice as so many naysayers have claimed. How is it possible Dorje Shugden is a spirit? Unless… the Sakya throneholders can made mistake themselves? I wouldn’t think so because practitioners from Sakya also achieve results from their practices. Therefore the teachings and practices transmitted from Sakya throneholder is valid.

- Tsem Rinpoche on Apr 26, 2016 at 6:33 am
  
  Dear Swee Keong,
  
  Our team and I worked very hard on this blog post with research late into the night and into the next morning. The information we are sharing is very clear and concise and detailed because we wanted to give more information to everyone. Understanding clears ignorance. True that 7 generations of Sakya throneholders practiced Dorje Shugden. Many do not know this. But here it is.
  
  I am glad you enjoyed and learned from the post. I must thank the hardworking team that assisted in every aspect of this informative blog post. Tsem Rinpoche
  
  - Harold Musetescu on Jun 10, 2016 at 5:08 am
    
    Hello Rinpoche
    
    A further piece of information on your blog about the Sakya Sect and it is about “Dayisun Tngri.” Who is Dayisun Tngri, he is a Mongolian WAR GOD that was used by the 5th Dalai Lama to fight the Sakya Sect. Please google his name and you will find a wikipeda entry on him. Dayisun Tngri is described as a “Mongolian War God, of a protective function to whom captured enemies were sometimes sacrificed…..the fifth Dalam Lama composed invocations to this deity.” Why would “the 5th Dalai Lama compose invocations to this deity”? Who would he invoke Dayisun Tngri against since there were no external enemies to Tibet. Could it have been against the Sakya,Jonangpa,Dri Kung and Karma Kaygu who he fought against in his battles to totally control Tibet. Did the 5th Dalai Lama on see internal enemies that Dayisun Tngri would be invoked to destroy.
    Did captured Sakya soldier monks fear that they would be sacrificed to Dayisun Tngri??
    This Dalai Lama who is the emanation of the Buddha of Compassion invokes a murderous Mongolian War God to sacrifice captured enemies(Sakya,Jonangpa,DriKung and Kaygy monks)to. What a murderous Dalai Lama and a murderous linage he has.
    One other piece of information for you. Were the Jonangpa destroyed by the 5th Dalai Lama over their corrupt teachings of over a REJECTED CONSORT. Before the 5th Dalai Lama was married to his father her family gave her over to Taranatha the head of the Jonangpa to be his CONSORT. After roughly 6 months she was returned to her family by Taranatha as an unsuitable CONSORT. Could the 5th Dalai Lama have destroyed the Jonangpa out of revenge for this preserved reject of his mother by the Jonangpa leader?
    
    Harold

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