A Sad State of Affairs
Public relations and marketing have been very powerful tools for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) over the last 60 years. From their headquarters in Dharamsala, North India, the Tibetan leadership have used these tools to further their own self-interests and, exploiting most people’s ignorance, they have portrayed their community as pitiful refugees who are well-deserving recipients of foreign aid.
I say this without meaning to cause offence, but to shed some light on the hard truths that everyone needs to face. I say this as someone who was formerly passionate about supporting the so-called Tibetan cause, who saw with my own eyes how easily people are swept away by the romantic notion of Tibet as an idyllic Shangri-la where everyone is tolerant, forgiving and kind. I myself bought into the story that the community is oppressed and they need our help. In reality however, things are far from perfect and the only ones doing the oppressing these days are the CTA themselves. So in writing about this, I hope to share with people a different angle and perspective about the Tibetan leadership and the community that very few know, or want to know about. The truth can be painful but knowing the truth also helps us to come up with real solutions to fix real problems.
So we already know about the recent self-created scandals that the CTA are currently dealing with, but these scandals are just the tip of the iceberg. All is not well in the Tibetan settlements and the CTA has worked hard to keep it under wraps, fearful that the international community may stop financially supporting an administration that has failed their people so badly.
Nevertheless, people talk and so my friends in the settlements tell me that:
1. Fewer Tibetans are coming from Tibet
More are opting to stay in Tibet because the living conditions there have dramatically improved over the last few years. For example, while the CTA have failed to create adequate economic opportunities for their people in exile, employment opportunities are aplenty in China which is rapidly industrialising and modernising.
Education in Tibet, both secular and monastic, has also improved in recent years and the Chinese leadership have allocated billions for the regeneration of the monasteries and this key aspect of Tibetan culture. This is in stark contrast to the CTA who not only leaves their monasteries to fend for themselves, but even makes life harder for them by encouraging monastic schism and in-fighting, thereby driving sponsors away.
Foremost however, is that life in Tibet is getting better because it has undeniably more freedom compared to life in exile. This especially applies to Dorje Shugden practitioners — in Tibet, the government in areas like Markham have made it illegal to discriminate against anyone on the basis of their religion, whereas the CTA has done the opposite and institutionalised segregation against Shugden practitioners. For example, the CTA circulated memos to various departments instructing them not to issue identification documents to asylum-seeking Shugden practitioners arriving in India from Tibet. This is to prevent them from accessing the welfare that the Indian government offers Tibetan refugees, thereby making life so difficult for these Shugden practitioners that they are forced to return to Tibet.
Since there is no denying that Tibet is home, more and more Tibetans are thinking, why give up the security and comforts of home for the uncertainty and insecurity of a life in exile? As a result, fewer Tibetans are opting to leave Tibet for India.
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) school
2. Because fewer Tibetans are arriving in India from Tibet, classes are emptying
In Dharamsala where the main Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) school is located, there is a huge enrolment deficit caused by the older generation of Tibetans graduating and a dramatic decline in the registration of new Tibetan pupils. To ensure that foreign sponsors do not see this and to keep up the facade of a vibrant school environment, the CTA has taken to combining classrooms so that foreign visitors are under the impression that TCV schools continue to thrive and therefore there is a need to continue sponsoring them. The CTA have also even begun to admit students from Nepal and India, when even as recently as a decade ago, these ‘foreign’ students would have found it impossible to gain entry into Tibetan schools.
3. The enrolment deficit is also being felt in the monasteries
In Gaden, Sera and Drepung, the population of monks is dropping for similar reasons to the Tibetan schools. Not only are there no new monks joining them from Tibet, but many monks and geshes are leaving India to return to Tibet. They are being attracted back by the improved conditions there — monasteries are receiving funding from the government in Beijing, and the monks themselves have the freedom to focus on their religious studies as long as they abide by the country’s laws.
4. There are less monastic politics in Tibet, so they can focus on their studies.
In Tibet, the monks do not have to fulfil the obligations that the CTA imposes on the monasteries in exile. Geshes, for example, can focus on teaching instead of enforcing the undemocratic Dorje Shugden ban which many of them do not agree with anyway.
The Dorje Shugden ban has driven the monasteries apart and split the Sangha community in two, and an increasing number of monks and nuns are starting to see this and hold the Tibetan leadership responsible for the split. Ironically, it is under the Chinese leadership that the Sangha community has the freedom to engage in genuine Sangha activities, instead of having to enforce political initiatives. So these days, the monks in exile are so tired of having to follow the CTA’s policies that Shugden and non-Shugden monks have begun meeting up with each other anyway, in spite of the ban.
For example, during Jamyang Gunchoe (winter debate), Shar Gaden monks were observed going next door to Gaden Shartse Monastery to receive teachings from the old geshes there, so they could prepare for their debates. During Losar (Tibetan New Year), Gaden Shartse monks were observed going next door to Shar Gaden Monastery to pay their respects to the high lamas there, and vice versa.
These monks grew up together and studied together; they lived, ate, worked and slept together and were literally the same, singular community of monks until the CTA forced them apart with the ban. What the CTA did with the Dorje Shugden ban to force this community apart was undeniably wrong; what these monks are doing, which is trying to be harmonious in spite of a difference in opinions, is not. It remains to be seen whether the monks will be punished but certainly everyone will be watching to see if once again, the Tibetan leadership will clamp down on religious freedoms as they have so often done over the last 60 years.
5. Gaden Shartse Monastery, especially, has suffered a great deal due to the Dorje Shugden ban
At the aforementioned Jamyang Gunchoe, the monks of Gaden, Sera and Drepung Monasteries come together to debate on topics like Tsel Ma Namdrel (English: Commentaries on logic; Sanskrit: Pramana Vartikka). Note that Shar Gaden and Serpom monks will gather separately for their own winter debate sessions, since they are Shugden-practising monks and not allowed to join the wider community of Sangha.
A friend told me that during the recent winter debates, while Sera and Drepung were able to send perhaps 30-40 monks to participate, Gaden Shartse was only able to send five to six monks who were “bullied” by the larger crowd from the other monasteries. It was an embarrassing situation for Shartse, which has always had the smallest number of monks and yet has managed to produce luminaries and renowned scholars such as His Holiness the 101st Gaden Tripa Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. Politics has torn this great institution apart which personally, I find difficult to witness because it is my teacher’s monastery.
Imagine not being able to go home for over a decade, and being cut off from everyone you know. Imagine hearing about close friends passing away, and not being able to see them before they pass because of a ban discriminating against your religious practice that keeps you separated from everyone you know. Rinpoche has not been able to return to Gaden Shartse for the last 12 years because Rinpoche would be forced to swear out of his Dorje Shugden practice if he were to return. That is something that Rinpoche would find impossible to do because it was a practice given to him by his root guru His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. Similarly, personal safety and security will be an issue — due to Rinpoche’s respectful but vocal opposition to the Dorje Shugden ban, it has made Rinpoche a target for violence and vulgarities by anti-Shugden supporters of the Tibetan leadership.
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche meeting the current incarnation of H.H. Zong Rinpoche in Gaden Shartse Monastery
6. The monks do not like the ban on Dorje Shugden but cannot do or say more
My friend told me that many people do not agree with the Dorje Shugden ban and, in fact, personally have no bad feelings towards Shugden practitioners. It is the CTA who continuously instigates hatred against Shugden practitioners, and forces non-Shugden practitioners to stay apart from Shugden devotees. And while the monks wish they could say or do more against the ban, many of them have relatives and families still living in the Tibetan exiled settlements. There would be repercussions levied against them if any of the monks should speak up against the Dorje Shugden ban. These repercussions could even extend to their relatives inside Tibet, where the CTA has contacts and supporters who would be able to instigate trouble against them.
7. Many monks have disrobed and left the settlements for a life in the West
These monks found themselves trapped between a rock and a hard place and have been completely disheartened as a result of all the conflict that the CTA has instigated in the Tibetan settlements. Some monks gave up their practice and tried to stay silent, but remaining in the monasteries meant that from time to time, the CTA would still try to force them to speak against Shugden practitioners.
So on the one hand, existing monks are disrobing, returning their vows and becoming lay people. On the other hand, fewer monks are coming to India from Tibet, because conditions there have dramatically improved. Add that to the fact fewer young Tibetans want to be ordained; as a result of the CTA’s politics and interference, the monasteries’ reputations have suffered so badly among the Tibetans, that parents now use ordination as a threat to punish their children i.e. if they do not behave, they will be sent to the monastery to become monks.
To top all of this off, many monks are returning to Tibet because the conditions there have improved. As a result, the Tibetan monasteries in India are emptying out and to maintain numbers, they are being forced to recruit new monks from India and Nepal. However, many of these monks disrobe when they are older; some who go back to their homes in India and Nepal for short holidays never return because their families pressure them to remain, get jobs and work to provide for everyone. Many of the Indian and Nepali monks also find it difficult to tolerate the ongoing discrimination against them by the ethnic Tibetan monks, because they are not ‘real’ Tibetan monks.
8. All of this monastic turmoil shows just how important it is to have a good abbot
It has been said by many of the monks that the last great abbot that Gaden Shartse Monastery had was His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Dakpa Tenzin (Kensur Mara) who was forced to resign because he acted out of compassion for the Dorje Shugden monks.
When the ban was imposed, Gaden Shartse was going to splinter in two because the Shugden monks were being forced to leave and establish their own monastery, Shar Gaden. Upon hearing about this, Kensur Rinpoche made a fair split of Shartse’s properties and assets. This was nothing sinister on Kensur Rinpoche’s part — everything that a monastery possesses, is equally owned by all of the incumbent monks. Therefore when half the monks are being forced to leave to form their own community, it is only right that they take with them the half of the assets that belong to them.
Kensur Rinpoche Dakpa Tenzin himself does not personally practise Dorje Shugden so it was not that he supports Dorje Shugden, has any vested interest in supporting the monks or was coerced into helping them. The only reason Kensur Rinpoche allowed this split of the assets is because it was the right thing to do. And because Kensur Rinpoche acted in accordance with the Vinaya (rules from the Buddha which govern monastic conduct), the CTA punished him for his fair and objective behaviour and forced him to resign.
After this incident, Shartse’s subsequent abbots were known to be no more than the CTA’s puppets. Since Kensur Rinpoche Dakpa Tenzin, Shartse appears to have suffered a series of abbots who do not have the monastery’s best interests at heart, and have failed to garner the respect of the monastic community. I was told that the current Shartse community have no respect for their present abbot, whom they dislike but are unable to say or do much about because he was selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has the reputation of being self-serving, raising funds and finding sponsors only for himself while leaving the monastery to fend for itself.
He also has the reputation of being politically-motivated, doing and saying things that will endear him to His Holiness the Dalai Lama so that he is in a favourable position to gain more sponsorship and higher rank. My friends have known about him for decades and tell me that he has always been like this; he has been gunning for the abbot position for as long as they can remember, even when he was the principal of Gaden Shartse’s school.
9. Everyone is trying to escape to the USA but they are no longer accepted
It has become known that the American embassy in Delhi is rejecting those who hold the yellow book. The yellow book is an identification and travel document issued by the Indian government identifying its bearer as a Tibetan refugee and protectorate of India. For the last 60 years, yellow book holders have found it very easy to get American visas to travel to the United States, where they seek asylum upon arrival.
In recent times however, this openness has been retracted. The Trump administration has become aware that Tibetans have been traveling to America and violating the terms of their visas by overstaying. Some overstay by throwing away their visas to engage in unreported employment where they are paid cash-in-hand; others overstay by marrying American citizens to get them on a fast-track to a green card.
As a result, these days, yellow book holders are automatically rejected for American visas regardless of the strength of the applicant’s supporting documents (which are often forged). This has pushed Tibetans to try and get European visas instead, but Europe has also somewhat retracted their support for the Tibetans — Switzerland, Sweden and Italy are just some of the countries who have announced they will no longer be accepting the yellow book or Tibetan refugees as easily as they once did. Hence, to get to Europe, Tibetans with funds are resorting to the black market, paying off underground agents to get them to Europe using fake passports via Bangkok, Turkey, Greece and then Spain.
10. Left with no other option, Tibetans are escaping to Nepal where there are less politics
While the ordained community leave the Tibetan settlements in search of religious freedom, the laity are leaving the settlements in search of overall freedom from the CTA. Because the US and Europe are no longer viable options for seeking asylum, many are now moving to Nepal, because it is culturally familiar to them but is perceived to have more freedom because the CTA are not welcome in Nepal.
11. Tibetans are opting to become Indians
For the Tibetans, Indian citizenship has become another means of escaping from the CTA. As a result of becoming Indian citizens, they are no longer subject to the politics of the Tibetan leadership. They are also able to access more aspects of the Indian system, economically, politically and socially. For example, Tibetans who become Indian citizens can enrol into Indian schools (which is another reason why enrolment in Tibetan schools has declined). In Dehradun for example, where approximately 2000 Tibetan refugees live, it is known that Tibetans are moving out of Dekyling and people are giving up their Tibetan registration cards to become Indian citizens.
Faced with such bleak prospects, it is no surprise that Tibetans are looking for all means of escape from the CTA. It is a sad state of affairs that after 60 years, instead of bringing their people together, the CTA’s actions have driven their people further apart than ever, and are prompting them to try and escape their leadership.
Is this what hundreds of thousands of Tibetans left China for? To live a life where they have to think about escaping their own leaders? It is clear that the CTA feels no compassion for their people who continue to suffer under the yoke of their leadership, and have to accept the repercussions of bad decision after bad decision.
So while it is easy for the Tibetan leaders to stick their heads in the sand and pretend everything is okay, in reality things are not. The world around them is rapidly changing. North Korea and South Korea have met, and are in discussions about ending the 60-year-long Korean War. India and China have met, and are in discussions about initiatives to develop huge swathes of Asia. Even here in Malaysia, the political scene has rapidly changed in the last month — a 60-year status quo is no more and it is something most Malaysians would have previously found unimaginable.
Perhaps the impossible is possible, as all of these scenarios have recently demonstrated. Perhaps the CTA will wake up and do what seems impossible now — be kind to all of their people and accept all of them equally. The sooner the CTA realises change is coming, the better prepared they will be and the sooner they can act to match these changes. It would be for the betterment of everyone, themselves and their people. At the end of the day, is that not what we all want, less suffering? For the Tibetans, their suffering and their future is in the hands of their leaders.
For more interesting information:
- How Tibetan leadership treats a sponsor (jindak)
- Attitude When Receiving Offerings
- Growing Up With Rinpoche
- 52 Years of Generosity
- Will the Dalai Lama agree with this?
- Markham makes it illegal to ban Dorje Shugden（芒康县政府立法严禁人们禁止多杰雄登的修持）
- They said NO!
- Badge of Shame
- To Sum It Up
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Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们，
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说，西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使，一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前，当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺，化身为特别的护法，赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安（平日外游和神游时）和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时，你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时，你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后，你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒：嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑，你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见，充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的，圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安，常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿（布旦康萨）— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
Indeed it is a very sad state of affairs for CTA. All their people are leaving to be out of CTA’s grasp and unreasonable control. China is spending so much to build up Tibet and there are so many opportunities for the Tibetans now whereas it was serfdom under the feudalistic rule of the Tibetan Leaders back then. Even for those who could not migrate to the US or Europe would rather move to Nepal or be Indian citizens to escape CTA. What a failure that CTA is! The thing is CTA received billions of USD in sponsorships since their exodus and yet look at their settlement. Nothing much to brag about except for the big houses for the officials. With the diminishing population, soon CTA will have no one to rule over. The Tibetan Leaders must lift the ban on Dorje Shugden practice to unite their people in harmony and acceptance, then only people will be happy to stay. If the Leaders still continue at this state, soon there will be no Tibetans as the Tibetans in China holding Chinese passports will be Chinese and the exiled having migrated will be citizens of their respective country of residence. Even Lobsang Sangay holding the US citizenship is not Tibetan, right?
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
Many come to Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia to make offerings and prayers to the increase form of Dorje Shugden who appears like a prince and rides on a golden horse. Many report having their wishes fulfilled and return many times. Am happy to see this. Tsem Rinpoche
You can learn more about this form of Dorje Shugden here: https://bit.ly/2wxQyes
and
See video of this chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEK35F_O5Hg
COMPASSION at its best: His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained in Ladakh, 31 July 2018:
“Usually at the beginning of an empowerment there is a ritual to drive away interferences. But I no longer feel it’s consistent to regard some beings as evil forces. At the start of each day I cultivate altruism, but in the evening we say, ‘May the evil forces be driven away.’ There seems to be a contradiction here that I’m no longer keen to comply with. I’m not highly realized, but I have great confidence in the power of Bodhichitta.”
Source: https://bit.ly/2wVsqSb
———————————————-
This latest statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is excellent. I fully believe in his compassion and I hope he will fully implement it.
All negative beings take rebirth with negative minds due to deep attachments. The attachments result in negative states of rebirth and angry minds that carry out harmful actions, like spirits or hungry ghosts who can be very bothersome because they are very angry as they died in the state of attachment in their former rebirths.
Indeed we need to generate compassion towards these beings, especially the formless type, as it would be the best remedy to stop their harm. We can recite mantras with love and bless them with it. While reciting prayers, we can meditate on them being at peace. When we generate compassion towards these harmful interferences of the formless type, many of them will calm down and stop their harm and even go away. Some of them, you can talk to them and subdue their harm and they will stop harming completely if they feel your love. That is how you can help them.
Many high masters of India and Tibet generated great compassion towards certain ghosts, spirits or interferers and subdued them in this manner and even made them into protectors of regions. I’ve witnessed this with one of my lamas where he subdued a female spirit that crossed over the Himalayas. After making the spirit promise it will not harm others, my lama gave the spirit a drink to seal the promise.
Since the Dalai Lama has manifested saying Dorje Shugden is negative (although many high lamas disagree), then he can apply this method to Dorje Shugden. He can ‘subdue’ Dorje Shugden by generating tremendous love, prayers and talking nice to Dorje Shugden who will be ‘subdued’. Then people are henceforth ‘free’ to practice Dorje Shugden without more discrimination, segregation and being called degrading names for practicing this protector.
Give peace a chance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama can generate great love towards Dorje Shugden and all the hundreds of thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners that love the Dalai Lama and miss him like I do. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama bring peace and heal the rift with Dorje Shugden practitioners.
May His Holiness live very long and always be healthy,
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Reading- https://bit.ly/2wWQGUh
For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 asssistants of his mandala.
Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.
Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-
1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-
– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.
2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.
3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.
4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.
5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.
6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.
7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.
These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.
Dorje Shugden mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=131570
Dorje Shugden’s benefit and practice: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62422
Dorje Shugden’s origins: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=106424
Dorje Shugden chapel in His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=68698
*Stand not included
His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama
Tibetans commonly refer to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama as the “sun and moon” of Tibetan Buddhism. They are the center of Tibetan Buddhist civilization, which draws to its sphere of influence millions of non-Tibetan practitioners. The Panchen Lama’s incarnation line began with the 16th abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1570 – 1662). He was bestowed the title of Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama after being declared as an emanation of Amitabha.
After being given the title, his three previous incarnations were posthumously also bestowed the title, making Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen the 4th Panchen Lama. He became a teacher to many Tibetans, Bhutanese and Mongolian religious figures, including His Holiness the 4th and 5th Dalai Lamas, and the 1st Jetsun Dampa of Mongolia. A prolific author, Chokyi Gyeltsen is credited with over a hundred compositions, including a number of commentaries and ritual texts that remain central in the Gelukpa tradition today. Along with his role as a teacher of the Dharma, the Panchen Lamas are usually responsible for the recognition of the rebirths of the Dalai Lamas, and vice versa.
The 10th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Trinley Lhundrub Chokyi Gyeltsen (19 February 1938 – 28 January 1989) continued both the spiritual and political roles of his predecessors. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, his contemporary, was even heard to say and echo the Panchen Lama’s own words that the Dalai Lama would safeguard Tibet from the outside while the Panchen Lama would safeguard Tibet from the inside, as he never left Tibet after the political troubles of 1959. He was truly loved by the Tibetans, all the way until his passing. When he taught, thousands of people would attend, not only from his own Gelug lineage, but masters and practitioners from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
At his sprawling monastery of Tashi Lhunpo, he has a special chapel specifically dedicated to Dorje Shugden, where prayers and rituals are performed on a daily basis. In his great omniscience the Panchen Lama held Dorje Shugden as the principal Dharma protector of the monastery. He also personally propitiated Dorje Shugden among other Dharma protectors, and even wrote extensive prayers and rituals to Dorje Shugden. These rituals and prayers are contained within his ‘sung bum’ or collected works, which are provided here. As such a great lama, with an erudite and clear understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, a teacher to millions in both Tibet and China, from an established incarnation line and an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha, he could not be mistaken about his practice of Dorje Shugden.
His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama is known for his composition of commentaries and practice texts that are still in use by contemporary Buddhist practitioners both in Tibet and across the world. One of these is a powerful ritual composition propitiating the compassionate Dorje Shugden.
Upon the request by Acharya Lobsang Jangchub to compose a shorter version of the prayer (sadhana) for the exhortation of activities of Dorje Shugden, Panchen Lama immediately composed an abbreviate form of Dorje Shugden’s Kangsol. This text is entitled “Manjunatha’s (Tsongkapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfilment of activities rites” or “Melodious sound of Accomplishment of the Four Activities” for short. Once the prayers were completed, he had signs and strong feelings that Dorje Shugden has been working hard to protect the Buddhadharma in general and the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa specifically.
Mirroring the abilities of one of his earlier incarnations, Khedrub Je, a disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa and master of both sutra and tantra, the Panchen Lama used his compositional skill and poetic prowess to create a masterful sadhana. Worthy of note is a praise in which the first letter of each verse is a Tibetan vowel. Such compositions are rarely seen, and have historically only been used when propitiating senior Dharma protectors such as Palden Lhamo and Kalarupa.
The Panchen Lama also stated that while composing the Dorje Shugden sadhana (prayers) he was filled with a sense of happiness and bliss. He ends the composition with not only his official title but his ordination name, Tenzin Trinley Jigme Choje Wangchuk, endorsing the validity of his work. He composed the sadhana in his own Tashi Lhunpo monastery while in the Hall of Clear Light and Bliss.
See the Panchen Lama’s writings and download: https://bit.ly/2KIfeXb
Dear Kecharians and friends,
Last night, I gave a teaching to a group of people who were in Kechara Forest Retreat. I shared with them the correct way to pray for our loved ones and why we shouldn’t “demand” Dorje Shugden with fulfilling our wishes but let Dorje Shugden decide what is the best outcome. He has infinite Manjushri wisdom beyond our own and we should trust this wisdom. Sometimes what we pray for is not what should be fulfilled. Sometimes what we don’t want turns out to be the better result in the future.
I also shared with them about a beautiful monk, Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche, who was jailed and badly tortured by the soldiers for 19 years, starting back in 1959 in Lhasa, and yet he has no anger towards his torturers. He was released and had resettled in Nepal where I met him. For the remainder of his life, he spent his time in meditation, retreats and pujas for the public until he passed. He was glowing, happy and very proud of the fact he was a student of His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, which he told me when we met. He did full meditations on Vajra Yogini and short puja to Dorje Shugden daily in his small room in Kathmandu, Nepal where I had to honor to join in his prayers. He told me he was very happy to have his room to do his meditations, pujas and prayers openly. Whatever happened to him, he accepted as part of his karma and he spent much time in prison meditating and quietly teaching dharma to his other cellmates. He was very much respected in prison in Lhasa because he never showed anger, always meditated and consoled others, giving them great strength. He endured much hardship, torture and beatings but he never lost his monk vows. His full understanding of karma helped him not feel any anger or bitterness towards the soldiers. He told me that daily, he would meditate that the karma of others in prison would come to him. That all the torture and abuse he received was so others in prison did not have to suffer this. He said suffering for others was what kept him going and made him be able to endure the pain.
We are not bound by our experiences. We are bound by our choice. I also reminded those were present about the good person inside each and every one of us, and how we should not “bury” this good person with our excuses because the more excuses we give, the deeper this good person is buried and soon the layers of excuses will make it very difficult for us to find this good person. We are all beautiful good people and we should not let it get lost by lying, laziness, lack of integrity and procrastination. We all have a choice. If we have to make excuses, we should choose to make excuses to be a winner. When we win, we make ourselves happy and those around us happy.
The teaching session went well and it was spontaneous, and I requested the people who live and work in and around Kechara Forest Retreat for the talk. We had some good laughs to during the talk.
Thank you,
Tsem Rinpoche
‘If we trust in karma which exists, then there is no reason for anger’.
~ Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche
“If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can be harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he be harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, young Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s tutor Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
DON’T MISS THIS! FANTASTIC NEW GREAT STUFF! High quality videos redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden practice and people and the current sad Tibetan situation and why they are losing ground in the world. Powerful and truthful – CLEAR VIDEOS – https://bit.ly/2LJbo35
Nice short video of a new LED signage reminding us of who we can go to for blessings in case of need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwrkaKUoH0
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Amazing post!!!!!
Dear friends, For months we have been working on this BEAUTIFUL and meaningful mural in Kathmandu, Nepal. Please click here to enjoy the many stunning pictures of this mural: https://bit.ly/2LgOj8J
Tsem Rinpoche
Sakya tradition’s thangka of Dorje Shugden sitting on a throne within his palace with his four emanations and high Sakya Lamas nearby. Tsem Rinpoche
Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
How can a nun curse someone they do not even know and wish the person to die quickly and be born in hell? What kind of nun is this? Shocking! What more she’s cursing a Buddhist teacher and a monk?! Is this the face of Bhutanese Buddhist?
This is so shameful for her as a nun, her teacher, her monastery, her country and her King. A sangha should not behave in such a manner. A Sangha should carry enlightened Buddha’s teachings of compassion and wisdom to benefit all sentient beings.
A Sangha is not supposed to promote hatred and certainly should not be cursing or wishing another person to die. That wish itself is already breaking one of the vows.
A Sangha is one of the 3 Jewels, an object of refuge. They should not behave like an uncivilized person with so much hate. This is how bad the Tibetan Leadership has spread their lies and hate about Dorje Shugden and Shugden Buddhist practitioners.
This is so true about the mess CTA has created for many spiritual traditions in India. CTA clearly goes against the Dalai Lama’s edict, if you cannot help at least do not harm.
All the negative things happening with CTA and the people living in exile is wheel of sharp weapons returning on them, years of schismatic policies and corruption, myself first type of policy has resulted in this.
Thank you Pastor and Rinpoche for sharing.
It is sad that so many monks unrobe and gave up their vow. So many of them become refugees and running to other countries.
All tibetan should reunite and pray that the ban be lifted and stop all the discrimination , separation among all practitioners. Stop all suffering.
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The Tibetans suffered when they escaped from China and started a new life on a foreign land. They have to start living from scratch in India. International help in financial resources poured in to support the Tibetans refugees. After almost six decades one would expect they are much better of now and their living standard improves greatly.
Unfortunately it is unexpected that things are not looking good and now the state of affairs have deteriorated further. Tibetan leadership has benefitted themselves so much that the common Tibetan communities suffered tremendously. The fact that Tibetans are so eager to India are very disturbing. Many have given up hope of their situations to be improved and left for a better place. This is very sad and I hope more people voiced their dissatisfactions. We shouldn’t close a blind eye towards the mistreatment of Tibetans by their own leaders.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for writing this article. It is not something pleasant to read, but unfortunately, we need to know the current state of things so that we are not delusional.
Of all the things you mentioned in the article, what struck me the most, is that the need of a good abbot. Come to think of it, this is a monastery, and the abbot is the person who will uphold the principal, direction and discipline. If the abbot focus on the welfare of the monks, the academics, the syllabus, etc, then the monastery will grow and many will benefit. But on the other hand, if the abbot gets in the politics, taking sides, to be political correct, then the monastery will lose her credibility and reputation.
I wish Tibetan in exile all the best, but unfortunately, with the lack of leadership secularly, and from spiritual point of view, the people are divide by many issues such as two Karmapas, Dorje Shugden, 2 Panchen Lamas, etc, it is not helping the Tibetans in exile. But nonetheless, I wish all these issues can be resolved, and people will gain faith again in Tibetan Buddhism.
I get shocked when I read through all the facts above. Many People know TIBET because of H.H Dalai Lama but not many people knows what exactly happening in Tibet today.
Religions discrimination caused many people in suffering and some will leave their homeland forever in order to remain their own religion practices.
Dorje Shugden practitioners are the people who been sufferings in mental or physical which caused by the Ban on Dorje Shugden practices.
CTA should stop all the baseless accusations to the Dorje Shugden practitioners. Please stop all these in order to bring back unity of Tibetan. H.H Dalai Lama should take some recovery actions to reinstall harmony and peace among Tibetan.
Thanks Pastor Jean Ai putting so much effort in disclosure of the current situation of Tibet.
Jason
It is really very sad to know about the situatuon of the Tibetan community. I sincerely pray and hope the CTA would amend their ways and also lift DS ban that is causing so much suffering for all Tibetans and DS practitions. Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for highlighting the plight of those Tibetans in exile living in India refuges settlement. ?
Reading this article is heartfelt by many I am sure. I could imagine the suffering, pain, sorrow and disappointment the Tibetans had went through all these while under the Tibetan leadership or the CTA. Time has changed more Tibetans are looking for better jobs opportunities else where. Some even goes back to Tibet for better education and so forth. The Tibetan Leadership by now should have realised the damage done for the past years. They need to change for the better as India and other countries has given them more than enough . They got to accept the fact that the ban on Dorje Shugden has caused so much suffering on both sides. It s should end for the sake of the people.
Thank you Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai for highlighting the plight of those Tibetans in –exile living in India refuges settlement. May HH Dalai Lama please lift the ban on Dorje Shugden soon. My all the people out there free of suffering and the CTA please change for the better.
I must say, a well rounded article where I am instantly being updated on problems surrounding Dorje Shugden practitioners and the Tibetan’s struggle as a whole. As a Malaysian, for the past few weeks I’ve been focusing much on Malaysian’s news and opinions from those experts, columnists, economists, journalists and so on. Although oblivion is bliss but with the constant feeding of facts and surprises, the people of Malaysia shouldered with great responsibility to make the right choice through vote casting, once and for all. Some who were being oppressed under the previous regime started to voice up and help shaping the choices made by the people before that fateful day. Maybe, what the Tibetan needed is someone powerful enough to stand up and make that change, in a peaceful manner.
With this in mind, now I can see clearly for myself on the reasons why in social media, Rinpoche is being targeted daily in brutal manners from all corners. It is more about “ Doing the right things than doing things right”.
It is disgusting to know how the monks were being treated, exploited and oppressed for selfish political gain by some and this should come to a stop. They should practice BuddhaDharma without fear and coercion. What is the purpose of “monk debating” afterall? They should be given the right to speak for themselves. However, due to “Fear” for not only their life but for their loved ones, these voices often go unheard. With the positive changes happening now around the world, particularly in Asia, “Hope” arises again! It is hope that give rise to changes and I hope we all, particularly the Tibetans should speak for themselves. If not now, when?
For those who are not Tibetans, we can’t help much if the people themselves not willing to accept and change. Please look at those points given above and do something. Speak to your friends, loved ones or even those who are willing to hear. If everyone of us can influence just one or two people, it’s more than enough. Give them facts and logic, and hopefully one day they can understand the whole scenario. I do hope His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama can go back to Tibet as well. It’s not so much of fulfilling His wish but it’s more than that. How blessed to those who can gaze upon Him, even once! Hopefully with this positive moves, His Holiness can also bring about a change in DS practice, the successions of those Lamas and Tulku, uniting the Tibetans and many more. Let’s bring back the peace, love and hope.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai
Monasteries and monastic orders have been established to preserve the Dharma so that the benefits of the tenets of Buddhism are not lost for generations to come.
The monastic orders are cherished for their devotion to serve humanity with their learned knowledge of the Dharma.
It is truly a sad state of affairs with what is happening, whereby political agendas have stunted the growth of the Dharma with less monks and also more giving up their vows to migrate.
With the insights highlighted in this article, I hope that Tibetans will do something to enhance their culture and heritage as a Buddhist nation and not permit their Leaders in CTA destroy something so precious.