Huffington Post: When Machiavelli Dons Tibetan Robes
Just two weeks after the Huffington Post wrote its first exposé of the Dorje Shugden controversy on November 14, 2017, they have published a follow-up. The Huffington Post, widely known as HuffPost, is an immensely popular digital media group that has won many awards for its commitment to deliver fair and balanced journalism. HuffPost is known to publish stories that are free from the political persuasions of any existing power structure. So when a media outlet of this calibre covers the Dorje Shugden issue, it comes after a careful and objective examination of the facts.
Finally, after staying buried for over 20 years, the very damaging Dorje Shugden ban is getting the news coverage it deserves. Damaging because it has caused so much division and disharmony in Tibetan society, as well as the Buddhist community globally. Some people may call it a dispute or a controversy to try and downplay its harm but let’s call it what it really is: in 1996, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), in other words the Tibetan leadership, imposed a religious ban on a large percentage of its own citizens by playing on the Tibetan people’s loyalty and devotion towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Personally I do not know how the CTA had hoped to ban a religion that is practised by over four million people around the world and for them to expect people to stay silent and not speak up. Whenever people’s rights are suppressed, whether it is religious or otherwise, there will always be those who will be brave enough to speak up and voice their disagreement. And that is how the CTA’s anti-Dorje Shugden activities became noticed. Today, more and more people are questioning why this is happening and why it is allowed.
Since the inception of the religious ban in 1996, the CTA has never provided sound reasons for its actions against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Instead, as this Huffington Post news report recognises, the CTA relied on an old Amnesty International letter as proof that there was no wrongdoing. And in that way, the ban was able to go on, even though the Amnesty letter has since been shown as being taken out of context. Amnesty themselves never said that there was no evidence of wrongdoing, but that the Dorje Shugden issue is outside their mandate.
This is also something HuffPost has identified because now they are examining the validity of Amnesty’s reasons not to pursue complaints made by victims of the Dorje Shugden discriminations. It is unfortunate that Amnesty concluded the Dorje Shugden issue as a religious one, and not a human rights issue because it has affected millions over the last 20 years. Clearly the parameters of Amnesty’s mandate are outdated because it was constructed at a time when religious discrimination was not at the forefront of global consciousness. Perhaps it would serve Amnesty’s mission better in the modern era to review their parameters, so that they might afford greater protections and lend a voice to more groups of the oppressed. So I hope many more news media groups will investigate the Dorje Shugden matter now and allow the truth to be exposed naturally. It cannot be in this day and age that the free press remain silent when such obvious injustices are being imposed on a group of people.
So yes, now people like Martin Desai are questioning why the CTA has been allowed to proceed with this ban unchecked. Things have degenerated to such a state where the CTA have a free hand to label all Dorje Shugden practitioners globally as “criminals in history”, as per the 2014 resolution passed by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile. Such a term is an affront to the sovereignty of other nations from whence Shugden practitioners originate. For example, the majority of my students are from Malaysia where there is religious freedom. How can the CTA have the temerity to override Malaysian sovereignty and label Malaysian citizens as “criminals” when they are not? Or to override American sovereignty and label American Shugden practitioners as “criminals” when they are not?
To say Shugden people are “criminals in history” is a sweeping statement that conveniently paints Dorje Shugden practitioners as law-breakers, to make it easier to vilify them when in actuality, the phrase could not be further from the truth. Dorje Shugden practitioners are merely exercising their right to religious freedom, and they are as law-abiding as any other people. Don’t tell me everyone who supports His Holiness the Dalai Lama is perfect and law-abiding, and there isn’t a single law-breaker amongst them. And exactly what law are Shugden practitioners breaking anyway? In order for someone to be considered a criminal, they need to have broken the law. What did Dorje Shugden worshippers from all over the world collectively do to be considered “criminals in history”? This is something the Tibetan leadership have never addressed, but instead irresponsibly incited a kind of moral panic by using the phrase without basis or proof.
The Tibetan leadership’s supporters may say that our supposed ‘crime’ is to be “demon worshippers” but my point is, so what? So what if someone chooses to engage in spirit worship? Dorje Shugden practice is certainly not spirit worship but even if it were, it is everyone’s prerogative to practise whatever they wish, and no one should call them names, label them, segregate and discriminate against them, or impose sanctions on them for their choice. That is real religious freedom — to have mutual respect between two groups even if there are differences of opinion in each other’s faith.
And the phrase “criminals in history” only serves to reinforce the separation that the CTA has imposed on the Tibetan community for the last 20 years. The separation can be observed most obviously in the monasteries splitting between Shugden and non-Shugden. To add salt to the wound, the CTA then uses the existence of Shugden-reliant monasteries to claim that there is religious freedom since “Shugden people have their own monasteries.” But the truth is that prior to the ban, these monasteries did not exist because there was no enforced distinction between Shugdenpa and non-Shugdenpa, and everyone was under the same roof. And so, these Shugden monasteries exist today because the Tibetan leadership forced the main Gelug monastic institutions to expel Shugden monks. And therefore for reasons of survival, the expelled monks had to reestablish themselves as a new monastery to preserve their lineage and practice of Dorje Shugden, and not because they had religious freedom.
To be honest, I don’t think that the monasteries really wanted to expel anyone. I was there in Gaden Shartse Monastery when the ban was first imposed. I had friends in the monastic administrations of Gaden, Sera and Drepung (the three main monasteries) and I saw how they were slow to implement the ban because they knew it was wrong and they knew the ramifications. But after His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a clear statement saying monks had to be expelled, the monasteries had no choice but to clamp down as the Tibetan leadership were watching them very closely.
Then the Tibetan leadership stepped it up a notch by emphasising over and over again that if you don’t give up the practice, it will harm His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life. I have addressed this before that it’s not possible for Dorje Shugden to harm anyone, let alone the Dalai Lama, because Dorje Shugden is a Buddha. But what saddens me about this false assertion is that it’s a clear indicator how people these days are being manipulated into doing things that appear to be good, but in fact are divisive. The Tibetan leadership plays on people’s loyalty, love and devotion for the Dalai Lama, and their sense of protectiveness towards him, and uses that to suppress a religious group.
So thank you to HuffPost for publishing this article, to begin to right the ship. 20 years of abuse arising from a ban with no basis, has been 20 years too long, especially when it has been bolstered by mainstream media who have (for reasons I do understand) just found it easier to side with the world-famous Dalai Lama. Besides, it does not suit someone of the Dalai Lama’s calibre to speak against any religious faith and to allow its publication on his personal website (DalaiLama.com). No advice is necessary from the Dalai Lama regarding any spiritual path for anyone. It’s a personal choice, a personal choice that should not be persecuted in the way Shugden people are. After all he has espoused for most of his adult life the importance of tolerance, compassion and understanding among all humans, and to put aside all differences. Having ‘advice’ on his personal website against the Dorje Shugden belief simply does not gel when people of all religious backgrounds – be it Druids, witchcraft, voodoo, Wiccans, Jehovah Witnesses, Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Taoists, Jews, Muslims, Kabbalist, Satanists, Baha’i, Scientologist et. al. – can all meet with the Dalai Lama and attend his talks. Only Shugden people may not.
Imagine if the Pope on his personal website condemned any one religion or advised against them? It is simply not acceptable for any world leader, be it spiritual or secular, to ‘advise’ or condemn anyone’s faith leading to this group being segregated and hated. This is exactly what is happening now. When the Dalai Lama ‘advises’ against a certain faith, he is inadvertently endorsing hatred, violence and segregation that will ensue as a result, because he has many Tibetan followers who will carry his will into action. What else do people expect when a world famous and influential leader such as the Dalai Lama speaks against a certain practice? The power of celebrity endorsements has huge influence on the public.
That is why it is better His Holiness does not advise or speak against any religion but tolerates and accepts. Can you see someone not allowed to join in the Dalai Lama’s public talks in the monasteries because he is a Satanist, Kabbalist or follower of voodoo? That would not make sense. The Dalai Lama is supposed to embrace everyone based on the fact that we are all humans and deserve the same respect. Certainly attending a talk by the Dalai Lama, whether Buddhist in nature or secular, should not be restricted based on your religion or lack of it. The Buddha after all allowed everyone, including non-humans, to attend his talks and certainly the foremost Buddhist monk, His Holiness the Dalai Lama should emulate the Buddha.
Anyway, it also came as a surprise to me to read that the Huffington Post report had quoted me again. I have spoken out peacefully against the ban because I do not wish to see the Tibetan people being further divided. Most of all, it pains me to see Tibetan Buddhism’s reputation stained and the great masters’ works sidelined because of this ban. I do not do it for any political reasons or because I was told to say something or because I was paid to do it.
I do it because as long as the Dorje Shugden issue exists, many lamas and teachers will not be able to manifest their full activities to turn the wheel of Dharma to benefit others. Wherever they go, they will always be stained by the stigma of being a Shugden practitioner and none of their other qualities are given a chance to shine. People are being deprived of a connection to the Dharma because of this controversy, because Dorje Shugden lamas who are erudite, learned and practised have had their names blackened. I will continue to speak out for those who don’t have a voice but I do not mean any offence to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as this is a philosophical difference and it has nothing to do with my respect for him.
Once again, I must thank the Huffington Post for this report. I hope that the CTA will quickly realise that such prejudice and religious bigotry have no place in the modern world especially when the Tibetan people themselves are seeking freedom. May this article be followed by many others, to swiftly lift the veil of darkness and ignorance that has surrounded this ban for far too long. May the high lamas be able to manifest their full activities as soon as possible.
Tsem Rinpoche
More from HuffPost on Dorje Shugden
- November 14, 2017: Shugden Acolytes Decry Ostracism Within Buddhist Ranks
When Machiavelli dons Tibetan robes
Martin Desai, Contributor | Journalist and financial investigator | 11/28/2017 07:40 am ET
H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama holds hands with Lobsang Sangay (L) the present Prime Minister of the CTA, and ex-Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche.
In the collective imagination of the West, Tibet is a lost Eden, a promised land which geopolitical fantasy has transformed into the embodiment of the eternal struggle between good and evil as it strains under the Chinese yoke.
But while China’s occupation of the country since 1950 has been punctuated by acts of repression and brutality, pre-occupation Tibet was certainly no Shangri-La, wrote philosopher Slavoj Zizek in a 2008 article in monthly news magazine “Le Monde diplomatique”.[1] Indeed it is widely documented that prior to Chinese occupation, the country was a feudal basket case where corruption was rife, peasants were effectively slaves and only the highest-placed monks and most powerful warlords could ever aspire to any sort of political or economic power.
While numerous human rights organisations have been quick to condemn heavy-handed Chinese rule in Tibet, they have been slower to look at accusations of discrimination and ill-treatment within the Buddhist communities which have developed around the diaspora of exiled Tibetans in India and elsewhere.
Indeed, observers have been strangely silent concerning an increasingly acrimonious dispute among Buddhists about a devotional practice which dates back over three centuries but has only relatively recently become the focus of controversy. Those on one side claim their rights to religious freedom and other more earthly liberties are being trampled, while those on the other accuse their opponents – devotees of the Buddhist deity Dorje Shugden – of being sectarian demon worshippers.
At the origin of the controversy lie a number of declarations from the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, to the effect that devotion to Dorje Shugden encourages division among Buddhists and endangers “the cause of Tibet”. Some Shugden devotees have claimed that these declarations amount to a de facto ban on their practice which has led to many practitioners being denied access to health care, education and travel and being shunned and even threatened and attacked within their communities.
Pro-Shugden efforts to draw attention to their plight, most notably via an appeal to humanitarian group Amnesty International in the 1990s and a complaint brought before the High Court in Delhi, India more than a decade later, have been unsuccessful, however.
In 1998, Amnesty declined to undertake an in-depth investigation into abuses alleged to have occurred in Tibetan settlements in India, noting that: “None of the material AI has received contains evidence of abuses which fall within AI’s mandate for action — such as grave violations of fundamental human rights including torture, the death penalty, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary detention or imprisonment, or unfair trials.”[2]
Shugden detractors jumped on Amnesty’s refusal to investigate further, saying it vindicated their claims that reports of ostracism within the Tibetan Buddhist community had no factual basis. But what the Amnesty letter actually said is that the allegations by Shugden practitioners – namely that their freedom of worship was under attack – lay outside of Amnesty’s approved ambit.
“While recognizing that spiritual debate can be contentious, Amnesty International cannot become involved in debate on spiritual issues,” the humanitarian group said.[3]
Even so, and despite the passage of almost 20 years since this communication – during which period animosity has festered on both sides – Shugden opponents continue to refer to the Amnesty letter as conclusive proof that Shugden devotees do not face discrimination of any kind within the broader Buddhist community. The Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala officially cites the letter as a proof of no wrongdoing in a special section of its website dedicated to the issue[4], warning in the same occasion against Dorje Shugden practitioners and listing the identity of Tibetan practitioners who protested.[5]
In 2010, a complaint to the High Court in Delhi, India by the Dorje Shugden Devotees Charitable and Religious Society against the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala and the 14th Dalai Lama, respectively, was rejected with similar arguments as Amnesty International: on the grounds that it “pertains to matters of religion with which the Union of India is not concerned.” The Delhi court also said it could not address certain aspects of the complaint since they came under the jurisdiction of the courts in Himachal Pradesh, where Dharamsala is located.[6]
Referring to the above cited cases, Buddhist academic Robert Thurman, Chairman of the Tibet House, father of Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman, and called “ The Dalai Lama’s man in America” by the NY Times Magazine[7], wrote in 2014 that both Amnesty and the Delhi High Court have rejected what he calls the “false claims” of Dorje Shugden supporters that they have been denied certain human rights.[8]
The pro-Shugden website Gilded Cage sees things differently: “Actually they said there was insufficient evidence at that time, which is not surprising in a climate where anyone speaking out against the Dalai Lama would be shunned and possibly suffer physical harm. Amnesty International was also unable to comment on issues which do not fall within their narrow remit of torture and imprisonment.”[9] The Shugden allegations would effectively lie outside this remit since the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala does not have a dedicated police force or lock people in prisons.
What does seem clear is that both sides of the divide are lax in documenting their allegations, giving little clarity to their arguments. For example, U.S. businessman Len Foley, who acted as a spokesman for the now disbanded International Shugden Community, said those who practiced open devotion to the deity cannot hold office in the exiled government and cannot get approval from the government to travel. “They’re in fear of their lives,” Foley was quoted as saying in an October 2014 article.[10] “We’re here speaking on their behalf.”
Foley does not offer any explanation of why these people should be in fear of their lives, nor any evidence that this is the case, a lapse some readers were quick to pounce on. For example, the German anti-Shugden blogger “Tenpel” – also known as Tenzin Peljor, a Media Contact of the Tibetan Government in Exile for Shugden affairs[11] – says these allegations are exaggerated and misleading. “Shugden people get access to health centres, medical treatment, schools, they have their own monasteries, land, they get travel documents etc.”
Even so, Tenzin Peljor may have unwittingly offered a less publicised insight into what is happening behind the scenes when he admitted in the same breath that “there were a few cases where over-zealous Tibetans denied some of those basic rights but there is not any policy by the Tibetan Government in Exile or the Dalai Lama to do so.”
This looks like the sort of doublespeak which Machiavelli’s Prince himself might have uttered.
H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in Wisdom Hall, Kechara Forest Retreat, that houses the world’s largest Dorje Shugden statue.
The “over-zealous Tibetans” denying basic rights to others may be a reference to a directive issued by the Department of Health at the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA, the Tibetan government in exile) telling its employees to give up their Dorje Shugden practices or resign from their jobs; or to one from the CTA’s Department of Religion and Culture, demanding the eradication of Dorje Shugden monks in certain monasteries; or the one barring the issue of travel documents for Dorje Shugden practitioners; or the resolution pertaining to the expulsion of Dorje Shugden practitioners from a monastic university; or that which declares Dorje Shugden practitioners to be ‘criminals in history’; or many other registration forms explicitly excluding Dorje Shugden practitioners from administrative processes and cultural events… [12]
Moreover, were the Dalai Lama to openly call for the ostracism of Dorje Shugden practitioners, it might be seen as an open violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and could potentially alienate a number of supporters; whereas criticism of the practice, seen as an effective edict by his followers, would have practically the same effect, but without the bad publicity.
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, the Malaysian based spiritual advisor to the Kechara Buddhist Temple and a Shugden practitioner and advocate, expressed his worries about the development of the situation for Shugden practitioners in a way aligned with Western values:
“You shouldn’t show prejudice to anyone because of their colour, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, handicaps, age, beliefs or religious choice. If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.”
[1] https://mondediplo.com/2008/05/09tibet
[2] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/document/?indexNumber=ASA17%2F014%2F1998&language=en
[3] ibid
[4] http://tibet.net/important-issues/dolgyal-shugden/
[5] ibid
[6] http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/dhcqrydisp_o.asp?pn=59051&yr=2010
[7] https://tibethouse.us/friends/robert-a-f-thurman/
[8] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-thurman/dalai-lama-protests-_b_6096576.html
[9] https://gildedcagearticles.com/shugdenscapegoat/
[10] http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/why_do_people_want_to_protest.html
[11] http://tibet.net/important-issues/dolgyal-shugden/
[12] http://www.dorjeshugden.com/press/proof-of-discrimination/
Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/when-machiavelli-dons-tibetan-robes_us_5a1d5773e4b05df68936d02e
More from HuffPost on Dorje Shugden
- November 14, 2017: Shugden Acolytes Decry Ostracism Within Buddhist Ranks
Original Article
The original article on Huffington Post. Click on image to enlarge.
Addendum
Central Tibetan Administration’s Website
Below is a screenshot of Tibet.net, which is the Tibetan leadership’s website. In it, they have a section with “information” about Dorje Shugden which is designed to promote hatred, negativity and direct vulgarities towards Shugden practitioners. What kind of democratic leadership has a section like this on their site targeting a religious group? Imagine the uproar there would be if the American or Canadian, or any other democratic government had sections like this on their site for the public!
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) website which has a section on Dorje Shugden. What kind of democratic government has sections on their website which target a religious group? Click to enlarge.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Website
This is a screenshot of DalaiLama.com which is the official website of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. When this section exists on His Holiness’ website, it actually emboldens Tibetans to discriminate against and segregate Shugden practitioners. This section is basically the Dalai Lama’s ‘endorsement’ of such behaviour; when anti-Shugden individuals see this, they think it is okay to segregate against the practice “because the Dalai Lama said so”. I don’t think the Dalai Lama would agree with this but the webmaster and shadow writers behind his website should not put this type of anti-Dorje Shugden section which subscribes to discrimination against a group because of religion. In the 21st century, this is not fitting of a great spiritual leader like His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Do not discriminate tolerate; is the way to go.
If the Dorje Shugden ban is just advice and not a ban, then why is a section like this necessary on any website?
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website which has a section on Dorje Shugden. This section emboldens Tibetans to discriminate against Shugden practitioners because it is the Dalai Lama’s endorsement of such behaviour.
Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Resolution Stating Government Employees Should Not Rely on Dorje Shugden
In 1996, the Tibetan leadership passed a resolution stating that all departments (and ergo their employees) should not rely on Dorje Shugden (point 8). The resolution also stated that individuals who do engage in its worship will harm the Dalai Lama’s life and the so-called Tibetan cause. That being the case, how will anyone within the Tibetan settlements and government be able to openly engage in Dorje Shugden practice after that, if their worship has been widely labelled as anti-Dalai Lama, anti-CTA and treasonous? To openly practice after that will leave them open to criticism, vulgarities, harassment and discrimination, as Dorje Shugden practitioners have been for the last 20 years. So they will be left with three options: to give up the practice (which many will not do), to practice secretly, or to give up their jobs.
A screenshot of tibet.net, showing the 1996 resolution which proclaimed that departments under the Tibetan leadership should not propitiate Dorje Shugden and that doing so will harm the Dalai Lama’s life.
Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Resolution Naming Dorje Shugden Practitioners as Criminals in History
This is a screenshot of tibet.net, the Central Tibetan Administration’s official website, which shows the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s unanimous resolution dated 17 March 2014 naming Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals in history (point 3, paragraph 2).
The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile passed a resolution on 17 March 2014 naming all Dorje Shugden practitioners as “criminals in history”. On what basis can the Tibetan leadership condemn all Dorje Shugden believers, including the elderly, infirm, young, and those not of Tibetan nationality, as criminals?
VIDEO: Dalai Lama bans Dorje Shugden practice
and expels monks
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was recorded in Drepung Monastery in 2008 clearly stating that those who refused to give up their Dorje Shugden practice should be expelled from the monasteries. His Holiness even said that if people found it difficult to fulfill this instruction, that they should say that the Dalai Lama told them to expel Dorje Shugden practitioners.
My question is this: if giving up Dorje Shugden practice is just advice, and it is up to us who we wish to rely on, then why are there such heavy repercussions for people who choose to keep the practice? As a result of His Holiness saying this, thousands of Shugden monks were expelled from the monasteries, and were forced to set up their own monasteries where they would be able to continue their Dorje Shugden practice.
VIDEO: Gaden Monastery Attacked
Since the inception of the Dorje Shugden ban 20 years ago, the CTA (Central Tibetan Administration) continues to organize a hateful campaign against Dorje Shugden practitioners. In doing so, the Tibetan leadership has gone against the very core teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on compassion and tolerance and thereby, misled the world over the nature of their activities. The Tibetan leadership pursues huge sponsorship and financial aid from the West in order to run its operations but they actually channel these funds towards campaigns that suppresses religious freedom within the Tibetan communities through various means to instigate violent suppression against Dorje Shugden practitioners.
This video footage shows clearly how Dorje Shugden practitioners have lived their lives in fear for the last 20 years due to the ban on Dorje Shugden. Although the Tibetan leadership and supporters have continued to use various violent and underhanded means to segregate and discriminate Dorje Shugden practitioners, the practitioners themselves have not fought back. Instead, they continue to uphold their peaceful reliance on their Dorje Shugden lineage lamas and especially the practices and teachings they have received in relations to the protector deity. The main part of the video was filmed in 2000 and it shows 3,000 lay and ordained Tibetans heading towards Gaden Shartse Monastery in South India in order to riot against a group of Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Disclaimer: This video belongs to a third party. Permission was granted for us to upload here. This video is not being used for any commercial purposes, it is being used for educational purposes only.
VIDEO: Dorje Shugden practitioner rejected
from Gaden Shartse Monastery Guest House
A Dorje Shugden practitioner enquiring about room rates at the Gaden Shartse Monastery Guest House in Majnu-ka-tilla, Delhi was rejected by the hotel staff and asked to leave.
VIDEO: France 24 reports on the Dorje Shugden issue
France 24 is a reputable news network based in France, known for their objective reporting style. They covered the Dorje Shugden issue extensively, surely a reflection of the seriousness of the issue for them to devote so much airtime to it. In their video, France 24 captured on film the discrimination against a Dorje Shugden monk.
VIDEO: Al Jazeera reports on the Dorje Shugden issue
Based in the Middle East, Al Jazeera was formed in response to the heavy influence of Western culture on the media. They are known to cover controversial topics that other news agencies may be reluctant to cover, and provide hard-hitting, objective coverage of current affairs.
Evidence of the Ban
Over the years, my students have collected evidence of the ban against Dorje Shugden. Personally, I find it quite disappointing and sad that they have been able to collect so much evidence because it just goes to show how widespread and pervasive this ban has become. As you can see below, notices banning Dorje Shugden practitioners can be found just about anywhere in the Tibetan settlements. Whether a Dorje Shugden person is trying to access healthcare or enter a restaurant, or try to buy something from a shop, they are banned everywhere and refused service. How is this just ‘advice’ when the repercussions of practising Dorje Shugden are so violent inside the Tibetan communities and settlements?
For more interesting information:
- Huffington Post: Shugden Acolytes Decry Ostracism Within Buddhist Ranks
- Dorje Shugden – The Protector of Our Time
- Dorje Shugden: Our Personal Stories
- Dear Dalai Lama, please read this
- Dear Dalai Lama, With Folded Hands
- Why so rude?
- 700 Meet A Buddha (七百人幸睹佛现)
- Great Masters Speak about Tsem Rinpoche
- Dorje Shugden Retreat: A powerful practice to fulfill wishes
- Dorje Shugden People Do Not Go to the Three Lower Realms
- Why Accepting Dorje Shugden Is Good for Tibetan Democracy
- Why can’t the Dalai Lama ‘bind’ Dorje Shugden?
- H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s first live streaming!
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- Manjushri Nagarakshasa comes to KFR!
- They were not wrong
- Can Tibetan Lamas Make Mistakes?
- My plea to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- My plea to His Holiness (Tibetan) | ངའི་༧གོང་ས་མཆོག་ལ་སྙན་ཞུ་ཞུ་རྒྱུར།
- The Fourteenth Dalai Lama & Dorje Shugden | ༧གོང་ས་ཆེན་པོ་སྐུ་འཕྲེང་བཅུ་བཞི་པ་མཆོག་དང་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན། | 十四世达赖尊者与多杰雄登
- The Fifth Dalai Lama & Dorje Shugden | ༧གོང་ས་ལྔ་པ་ཆེན་པོ་དང་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཤུགས་ལྡན། | 第五世达赖尊者与多杰雄登
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story
- Should there be a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state? Part 1
- Should there be a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state? Part 2
- To Sum It Up
- The Buddhist Divide – An Unholy Campaign against Religious Freedom
- Tibetan Leadership’s New Anti-Shugden Video
- Updated: Dorje Shugden Teaching Videos
- The Dalai Lama Speaks Clearly About the Dorje Shugden Ban
- Nechung – The Retiring Devil of Tibet
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Great reading this post by Martin Desai of Huffington Post that brought out the truth of the illegal ban to the world. Huffpost an American news aggregator and blog, with localized and international editions, publishing a fair and logical article on the religious discrimination issue. It’s the Dorje Shugden controversy that’s have been going on along long time ago. For over more than 20 years Dorje Shugden people had been suffering from discrimination and segregation for their practice. Thank you Martin Desai for high lighting this injustice issue and sharing it is to the world. Thank you Huffington Post for publishing. Those who practice Dorje Shugden are being denied of service from hospitals and clinics. Some even are not allowed to work in government sectors. There’s more proof to support that it has happened like checking into hotel as in this post . Reading this article will tell all.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们，
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说，西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使，一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前，当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺，化身为特别的护法，赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安（平日外游和神游时）和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时，你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时，你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后，你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒：嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑，你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见，充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的，圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安，常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿（布旦康萨）— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
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
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
“If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can be harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he be harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, young Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s tutor Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe
DON’T MISS THIS! FANTASTIC NEW GREAT STUFF! High quality videos redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden practice and people and the current sad Tibetan situation and why they are losing ground in the world. Powerful and truthful – CLEAR VIDEOS – https://bit.ly/2LJbo35
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.
Isn’t this just lovely?! Look at these cute Tibetan kids singing praises to Dorje Shugden during Losar celebration in Tibet! Great blessings to all – Click to watch! ???
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1519938132.mp4
Will the CTA (Tibetan govt in exile) and their supporters in East and West say voodoo is evil and cannot be practiced too? Will they advise against Voodoo and say its a demon’s practice and people who practice are bad too? Truth be told, no one has the right to say anything about anyone’s religion. Listen to what this man says in the short snagged clip because he speaks well and with the truth.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1519934791.mp4
Watch the rest of the video on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0_syJQBteA
This excerpt of the Swiss Television documentary presented in 1988 is a painful reminder of the hypocrisy and the sad reality of the oppression, discrimination, and ostracisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners. For 20 years, Dorje Shugden practitioners have endured this and no one supported their fight as the Tibetan leadership in exile continues to undermine their effort by denying the existence of this ban, and silencing their voice by peer pressure, flooding the media and fooling the general public with accusations that Shugden practitioners are political tools supported by the Chinese government to create discord within the Tibetan community. Please listen to their plea and please share this video far and wide to end this injustice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gis2vaURT40
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this exciting news that our voice has been heard and speak out for other helpless and silent Sugden practitioners. I am very sad and down everytime I heard the news of CTA manipulated the ban torturing Sugden practitioners in Tibetan settlement in india for their selfish benefits. Their basic and fundamental needs has been deprived such as refused to get treatment in hospital, children can not go to school etc. What did they do? They did not kill and involving in robbery, they are just loyal to their Guru’s instruction to practice Dorje Shugden praying. Is it wrong? Did they harm anybody? CTA has been manipulating the ban behind His Holiness Dalai Lama to exaggerate the ban to cause suffering of its own people. The ban is definitely needed to lift immediately. I will help my Guru and my lifetime Protector to spread the news till the unfair ban is lifted.
I must say that it is great to read such a post by Martin Desai of Huffington Post that brought out the truth of the illegal ban to the world. After close to 21 years of sufferance by the Shugden Lamas and practitioners, may more news agencies pick up on this injustice that Tibetan Leaders practice whilst petitioning for justice over their lost of country. As the Tibetan Leaders losses more of their “refugee” appeal and China becomes more entrenched into the World’s economies, Western media will dare stand up to the popularity or should I say protected “darling”, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Without the strength of His Holiness’ appeal, CTA will just become nobodies as they had wasted the time, effort and opportunity to be a voice heard on equal standing as Head of Country. I do sincerely hope that the Tibetan Leaders will take this as a wake up call to remove the illogical ban and restore the unity to their people. Shugden practitioners had always respected His Holiness just as our Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has always been respectful, even through such sufferance from vulgar abuses of defamatory accusations and even death threats. No one should have to go through such abuse when in this day and age, human rights include religious freedom. Thank you Martin Desai for picking up on this injustice and having the courage to tell it as it is to the world. Thank you Huffington Post for publishing the truth to the world. May we stop religious discrimination and promote respect in acceptance of another’s peaceful religion. May the courage of our Guru spread to give rise to the people who feared harsh punishments for voicing out their rights to pray. May the blight on Protector Dorje Shugden practice be lifted for many in need to gain the peace they seek.
Dorje Shugden people had been suffering for over 20 years and it is refreshing and exciting to see an international website and blog, Huffpost publishing a fair and logical article on the issue. For over 20 years, Dorje Shugden people had been suffering from discrimination and segregation for their own community because of their choice of belief. It was said that Tibetan Leadership had “advice” against the practice and there was no ban. It is certainly untrue with all the evidence of the ban’s existence. Dorje Shugden people are being barred from any H.H Dalai lama’s talk, both secular and spiritual while any other people from any other religion or social background can join. Dorje Shugden people are being denied of service from hospitals and clinics. Dorje shugden people are not allowed to work in government sectors. This is no longer a harmless “advice” because people are being punished by not following the “advice”. It is a straight out ban on Dorje Shugden practice.
This is definitely a great breakthrough for all of us practitioners of Dorje Shugden, and students of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche.
At least the situation of those who are victimised by the ban of Dorje Shugden can be placed on an international platform for all to witness.
Very factual and objective article by Huffington Post.
Thank you.
Full respect to Martin Desai for being such a professional journalist and for portraying this 20 years issue in its fairest entirety.
He has rightly put the concluding remarks – bring down the ban for it has not created any good but harm only.
We, at Kechara will continuously speak up for the Tibetans all over the world who are condemned based on their religious preference/ practice. This is not right and It has to stop. Lord Buddha taught us 2,600 years ago that there should be no bias, attachment and anger towards all. We must practice equanimity.
I wish that Huffington Post will continue to bring such articles constantly to offer to the world a balanced view of this serious and long outstanding issue. It has caused no benefit but harm, suffering, segregation, malice, and violates basic human rights.
Please, we humbly request, Your Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to end the ban and allow reconciliation amongst all together as humans.
Lum Kok Luen
“To be labelled Machiavelli denotes a very negative connotation, specifically referring to politicians who are very sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code.
Wow ! That’s how Martin Desai sees the Tibetan Government CTA and the heads behind it !” Quote from Kecharian Grace Leong in her comments.
It is so authentic of Ms. Grace Leong to have such an impression and communicated so well in her powerful written comment.
Another description in perfection is when Mr. Martin Desai titled his article in the Huffington Post.
Appropriately illustration of CTA, a pretender of who they should be.
Even, a renowned online publisher Huffington Post managed to identify what is wrong and what is right. Freedom of religion is clearly covered under the law Universal Declaration of Human Right by Article 18.
So if the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) does not follow, what is the point of having a law and government? Aren’t they supposed to take care of the nation’s welfare?
Once again, I would like to thank Mr Machiavelli Dons and the team for the brilliant research about the Dorje Shudgen issue
It’s a uplifting and powerful news from The Huffington Post exposing of the Dorje Shugden controversy for the last 20 years. Thank you HuffPost for specking on behalf of millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners out there. Finally the pain and sufferings by the practitioner made known and reveal through the post. Many families are divided and many are suffering silently . There are many more untold, ugly incident happening cause by the ban. It will be encouraging to have more of these powerful post so as more and more people get to know and understand about the unlogical move involving the CTA and the ban on Dorje Shugden controversy Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this great news and Martin Desai , Huffpost for the second post.
To be labelled Machiavelli denotes a very negative connotation, specifically referring to politicians who are very sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code.
Wow ! That’s how Martin Desai sees the Tibetan Government CTA and the heads behind it !
This is a breakthrough, having a writer from a renown media like HuffPost sharing his personal non bias views of the suppression which Dorje Shugden practitioners have had to suffer the last 20 years ! Sigh (with relief) ! Finally, someone can see, feel and even express in writing the unmitigated injustice that has been done on a group of people who chose to embrace a religious practice which the CTA and Dalai Lama claim as evil, despite that every reason they gave to justify it have been refuted logically and substantially . This injustice has been totally illogical and absolutely unnecessary.
H.E Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has been one of the most consistent and vocal crusader in the cause of removing this ridiculous ban that has ONLY brought pain to many Dorje Shugden practitioners and their families and friends. As Rinpoche so rightly said
“You shouldn’t show prejudice to anyone because of their colour, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, handicaps, age, beliefs or religious choice. If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.”
Martin Desai picked the most appropriate statement to close his article.
If the CTA and its leaders cannot bring any benefit to people, the least they can do is STOP BRINGING HARM to people !! Bring the Ban down immediately !!
Glad to see that HuffPost have another article to reveal the truth on what’s happening for the Dorje Shugden ban.
Thanks Mr Martin Desai for writing such a fair and well written post. ??
That’s the spirit of media that revealing the truth without bias! Thank you so much HuffPost & Mr Martin Desai! Keep it up! ??
Agreed with Mr Martin Desai that how could Tibetan Leadership use “criminals in history” to all the Dorje Shugden practitioners in all over the world? It’s a sweeping statement. First of all, what law have all of them broken that causing them to be called “criminals”? If someone break any law, he/she should be bring to court and we can’t just call them criminals without any proof.
I do hope that with more people aware of what’s happening, it will put pressure to the Tibetan leadership to end this discrimination, segregation ban on the Dorje Shugden practitioners that caused so much suffering to the Dorje Shugden practitioners. ?
About 4 million people are Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world and this figure shows that DS practice is no longer a minor practice. Personally, I think there would be more religions are truly spirit worship, and why CTA did not take actions against them but DS practitioners? Recalling the event of The 5th Dalai Lama contracted Mindrolling Lama to destroy DS. However, DS cannot be subdued because he has same nature as Manjushri and also Yamantaka. Since then The 5th Dalai Lama realized DS is not a spirit.
The real religious freedom in a democratic country is respect each other faith and beliefs. But in reality, Tibetan people suffered from the ban for the past 2 decades. It should stop now. And those who are suffered from the ban, please don’t give up but to continue and stay firm with the practice that given by the guru. Always remember to keep clean samaya with guru and follow guru’s advice no matter how much difficulties or challenges have to overcome. If we want to achieve any attainment, devotion to guru is the key to lead us in the right direction.
Thank you Rinpoche sharing this interesting article and hope the truth will reveal one day.
Thank you Martin Desai and Huffpost for 2nd post to explore on the Dorje Shugden issue. Dorje Shugden people has suffered for more than 20 years because of the ban. The ban not only affected the Tibetan, it has an huge impact on all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allow to attend Dalai Lama’s teachings, online sharing of Dorje Shugden practice are being attacked, Dorje Shugden are being labelled as worshpping spirit and the list goes on. How come Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allow to choose their practice? Where is the freedom to religion?
Looking forward to more post from Martin Desai and other media on Dorje Shugden issue. May this bring awareness on the ban and its impact and may this help the Dorje Shugden ban be lifted and all can practice in peace. ???
Thank you to Martin Desai for highlighting the denial of basic human rights by the CTA to Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners. These people are going through a daily torture, of the mind and spirit, by the CTA decree that takes away their human rights as mentioned in this article. These people have done no wrong, just wanting to be left in peace to live their life and having the freedom to do as their wish so long as it is within the boundary of the law of the land where they reside. And that includes their wish to do their spiritual practice of Dorje Shugden.
I will continue to speak up for these Tibetans, and so will my colleagues in Kechara, for these poor defenceless people have no media platform to voice their suffering.
Again, I thank Martin Desai for this fair and just article and I look forward to more.
Thank you HuffPost for another exposé of the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) religious persecution. The way HuffPost is handling the Shugden conflict with professional impartiality has completely won me over.
Amnesty International (AI) said that it could not get involved in religious disputes but surely this must be the biggest cope out of all.
If that were to be true,
(i) AI would not have been involved in the Bosnia-Serbian conflict because that was a conflict between Bosnian Muslims and Serbian Christians. But Ai did,
(ii) AI would not have commented on any and all matters relating to the Israel-Palestine conflicts. But AI did and continues to do so,
(iii) AI would not have intervened in China’s attitude towards the religious sect Falun Gong and yet AI did,
(iv) AI would not have allowed itself to become drawn into the conflict between Myanmar Buddhist and Christians, and yet it did and continues to do so,
(v) AI wouldn’t have been involved in the conflict that arose in Eritrea, out of religious differences but again it did.
And there are many more examples, which clearly show that when it suited AI or the power-interests that steer AI, religious disputes are not an issue. This is hypocrisy at its best.
In fact, AI has also not hesitated to wade into the question of abortion when it can be equally argued that it is a human-rights versus religion debate.
AI’s letter in reply to the Shugden complaint is telling. In a formal complaint about discrimination against Dorje Shugden in India, AI brushes that aside and began talking about China. It said in the same letter:
AI campaigns on the grave violations of human rights in Tibet, as well as the rest of the People’s Republic of China. In 1997 a widespread crackdown on Tibetan nationalists and religious groups continued. At least 96 Tibetans, most of them Buddhist monks and nuns, were reported to have been detained during the year for peacefully exercising fundamental freedoms. A continuing “patriotic re-education campaign” in monasteries and nunneries has led to expulsions and arrests. Prison conditions remain harsh in Tibet and prisoners are often ill-treated for minor infringements of prison regulations.
Why would AI talk about China’s human rights issue when it had absolutely nothing to do with Dorje Shugden practitioners in India? [See below] The cynic amongst us might answer, its because Amnesty International aligns itself with American political interest and is a de facto political instrument used by America and the existing Western-centric power base. That being the case, it is more politically expedient to close one eye to the Dalai Lama’s government’s wrongdoing because the Dalai Lama is useful in American propaganda against China.
In any case, HuffPost did a brilliant job to expose this collusion and reopen an examination into the CTA’s crimes.
See Amnesty International’s Letter specifically the last paragraph:
“June 1998”
“AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S POSITION ON ALLEGED”
“ABUSES AGAINST WORSHIPPERS OF TIBETAN DEITY DORJE SHUGDEN”
“Amnesty International (AI) has received and studied a large amount of material alleging human rights abuses against worshippers of the Tibetan Buddhist deity Dorje Shugden. These alleged abuses are reported to have happened largely in Tibetan settlements in India.”
“None of the material AI has received contains evidence of abuses which fall within AI’s mandate for action — such as grave violations of fundamental human rights including torture, the death penalty, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary detention or imprisonment, or unfair trials.”
“While recognizing that spiritual debate can be contentious, Amnesty International cannot become involved in debate on spiritual issues.”
“AI campaigns on the grave violations of human rights in Tibet, as well as the rest of the People’s Republic of China. In 1997 a widespread crackdown on Tibetan nationalists and religious groups continued. At least 96 Tibetans, most of them Buddhist monks and nuns, were reported to have been detained during the year for peacefully exercising fundamental freedoms. A continuing “”patriotic reeducation campaign”” in monasteries and nunneries has led to expulsions and arrests. Prison conditions remain harsh in Tibet and prisoners are often ill-treated for minor”
“infringements of prison regulations.”
Thank you for providing your research on AI past human rights interventions on various countries. I cannot imagine why would AI can overlook the sufferings of the injustice human rights violations happening on Tibetan in exiled all these years. It is very sad that they brush it of as a religious dispute within the group. Now HuffPost is brave enough to report the happenings with factual information and logic. Tibetans in exiled deserve the same equal human rights as all democratic countries, not with exception.
Thank you for another powerful piece on the Dorje Shugden controversy. For the past 21 years, the unlawful ban on Dorje Shugden has caused fractions and separations among the Tibetans, not only to those in exile (India), but everywhere else around the world. The feudal thinking of Tibetans is carried forward with them since they lost their country in the 1950’s, allowing warlords and powerful monks to continue to manage the Tibetans in a dictatorial manner which further strengthen the ban of Dorje Shugden practise.
Since the establishment of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala, North India, the CTA has been relying on the generous donations from westerners to establish the Tibetan community in exile. Instead, the sums were used in discriminating the Dorje Shugden people, creating constitutions, websites, videos, printing of books and promoting the discrimination of Dorje Shugden people. These can all be seen on Tibet.net and DalaiLama.com.
To-date, their financial statements have not been made transparent and looking at the little they have done for their people in the past 60 years in exile, it is obvious that the donations were not channeled to the correct areas. In addition, the CTA officers travel extravagantly overseas, having different countries citizenships and owning properties in the west. Their wealth does not match their earnings.
The CTA is supposedly led by a prime minister who has a law degree from Havard and is exposed to democracy among many other knowledge and politics in the world. Yet, he chooses dictatorship over democracy and encourages corruptions and discrimination on Dorje Shugden people.
The image of Shangrila the media have been painting Tibet in is clearly a delusion that should be exposed and this article has neutrally done so. We hope more articles like this will be written to reveal the truth behind the CTA’s intention of banning Dorje Shugden practice.
What Martin Desai said is very very true! And it really angers me that the Amnesty chose to do nothing despite the Dorje Shugden people asking for help in the past. Amnesty suppose to be fair and help, instead they chose to be politically correct to ‘support’ the Dalai Lama and His government, the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA, previously known as Tibetan Government in Exile), giving the reason this Dorje Shugden ban issue is religious related and not a human right issue. THIS IS SO WRONG when we all clearly know since 5th Dalai Lama’s time until today, it has always been politics mixing religion in Tibet, despite they want to call themselves a democratic government now. Proof? Well, when you log on to Tibet.net, you will see CTA set a special section on Dorje Shugden(they call ‘Dolgyal’) and the CTA literally put negative writings/videos to discriminate the practice of Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden people. THIS IS THE BEST PROOF TO SHOW HOW BADLY POLITICS HAS BEEN MIXED WITH RELIGION.
BUT AMNESTY SAID THIS IS NOT A HUMAN RIGHT ISSUE when the ‘government’ clearly institutionalize the discrimination and segregation towards Dorje Shugden people. IT IS NO DOUBT A HUMAN RIGHT ISSUE.
No point to talk how bad Dorje Shugden practice is IF THERE IS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. If there is religious freedom, let people practice whatever they want to practice as long as they don’t break the laws. But to have some sort of laws/institutionalized discrimination and segregation towards Dorje Shugden people is CRIME.
Why always point at Dorje Shugden people and imply they are criminals whereas the CTA itself is committing crime of discriminating people’s religion and belief, violating human rights and have no respect for the principal of religious freedom?
Amnesty wants to be politically correct so much, this really disappointed me a lot. Just because China is not doing as ‘good’ as other countries in the West on human rights, it doesn’t means that CTA is democratic! IT DOESN’T WORK THIS WAY PEOPLE! CTA is literally harming democracy, harming human rights, harming religious freedom, solely by the fact that they are still mixing politics with religion!
I must thank HuffPost for being so fair and published such articles for different perspectives to surface and allowing another side of truth to be revealed. This is the true spirit of free speech. Good job HuffPost and thank you Martin Desai for writing this excellent piece.
Wow! A very big thank you to Huffington Post and Martin Desai who speaks up for Dorje Shugden ban. The title “When Machiavelli dons Tibetan robes” really give the Tibetan leadership a big slap on their face. Being an international media group, the article doesn’t bias any side, it beautifully says out the real situation, base on truth, facts. And, of course, indirectly, it speaks up for Dorje Shugden practitioners too. The truth can never be hidden. If Tibetan leadership never did what has mentioned before, if they didn’t “forcefully” prohibit the practice of Dorje Shugden, if they didn’t “forcefully” chase monks out from the monastery, if they didn’t say Dorje Shugden is a spirit, there won’t be anybody talking about it. If what they said was true, there won’t be anybody speak up about it, and they won’t be anybody “fight” for it. People speak up, voice out, “fight” for justice, is because there’s unfairness, there’s no human rights, and there’s no democracy. Now, let the Tibetans and those who anti-Shugden “see” and read, what is truth, what is logic. May the ban of Dorje Shugden be lifted soon.
It’s very unfortunate that Amnesty International concluded the Dorje Shugden issue as a religious one, and not a human rights issue, as they totally forget that religious freedom is part of the freedom of an individual or community. It’s an important freedom for individual in the democracy country at this day and age. By saying Dorje Shugden issue as merely a religious issue is no difference from a government or police authority saying domestic violence committed by a husband/wife to his/her partner is a domestic issue, and nothing can be done by the authority to the violence; and let the victim of violence to continue sufferings.
If the world and human rights groups like Amnesty International keep ignoring the Dorje Shugden issue or other related human rights issues, we are part of the culprit to inflict more sufferings to innocent people who just exercising the basic human rights of religious freedom.
The Dorje Shugden ban and so much sufferings have been caused to so many for the past 20 years, remind me of the saying”The world suffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people.”
We hope the HuffPost article can create more awareness and have the Dorje Shugden issue solved, cease the pain it has caused to so many people since 1996.
I agree very much with you Wah Ying. It is scary to even to just think.
“If the world and human rights groups like Amnesty International keep ignoring the Dorje Shugden issue or other related human rights issues, we are part of the culprit to inflict more sufferings to innocent people who just exercising the basic human rights of religious freedom.”
I truly thanks Huffpost for posting this 2nd news on Dorje Shugden’s ban. Even when the Dorje Shugden’s ban is so clear, and, yet, on the social media like Facebook and Twitter, there are people whom i suspect paid by CTA to attack people who posting about Dorje Shugden.
For 20 years, the Dorje Shugden’s ban have many negative impact. Not only the high lamas’ name are stain by this ban, they can’t even turn the wheel of dharma. The families in Tibet are being separated, already in exile, they become the exile within their own community. Many samaya within guru and student have broken because of this ban. So many fear, anger created because of this ban!
I thanks Huffpost for this honest report and not bow down by the effect of the power of celebrity endorsements. Finally, there is “voice to speak” for those who being silenced.
Thank you to Martin Desai and Huff Post on speaking up on the Dorje Shugden issue. It helps to promote real religious freedom and to have mutual respect for the differences of opinion in each other’s faith.Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s unanimous resolution dated 17 March 2014 naming Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals in history strongly showed no respect to their own peoples and others practitioners from others countries besides the fact that is no religious freedom. Tibetan Leadership, please respect us as a Malaysian. Thank you again to Martin Desai bring light to the Dorje Shugden issue and promote peace.
I thank Martin Desai so very much, for having the courage and insight to bring light into the Dorje Shugden issue. The Dorje Shugden is not a simple issue to understand, and I think Martin Desai did well to explain the issues from both sides of the divide.
I also agree with the article that says that Amnesty International may need new parameters to look at what constitutes a human rights violation. Dorje Shugden people for the past 20 years or so have experienced so much problems, difficulties and sufferings, I hope all Human Rights agencies existing today can re-evaluate, their standard operating procedures because there are Dorje Shugden who are being discriminated and have their human rights violation acted upon them.
I rejoice once again. Thank you Huffpost for writing this unbiased article highlighting the issues faced by Dorje Shugden practitioners. This piece of article finally shed some lights and hope to the suppressed group and now more are exposed to the truth behind this ban. It is time for this ban that afflicts discrimination, violence and great suffering come to an end. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the report published by HuffPost. May more and more people stand up to reveal the truth and protect Dorje Shugden practitioners from being continuously discriminated, mistreated, abused and attacked because of holding on to the Dharma practice given by respective lineage Gurus. And may the ban of Dorje Shugden will be lifted as soon as possible .?
Given the circumstances, it is pertinent to note the Achilles heels to Machiavelli’s “tricks” as revealed by Machiavelli himself i.e. the power of the citizens who are able to see through these manipulations. In fact, Machiavelli raised the crucialness of citizens to notice that they were being manipulated or duped into being submissive and less critical by politicians (despite his obvious lack of faith in general of the people’s abilities to “figure it out”).
Amongst Machiavelli’s “words of wisdom” to citizens (to safeguard interests and the system) are the citizens’ responsibilities to sharpen their senses and notice the ways in which power is abused and the ways in which leaders overstep and stealthily strip away freedoms and standards, particularly when such leaders start making arguments designed to pit one group of citizens against another.
Thus, for the grave injustice towards discriminated Dorje Shugden practitioners to be addressed and even be brought to an end, it is up to citizens/people to see through the dirty tricks that politicians use to get one over on them and also to manipulate them into submission as well as uncritical stance.
On that note, it is great that Huffington Post saw fit to boldly expose and address objectively controversial issues like this which some lacked the integrity or interest to do so.
I rejoice that Huffington Post highlights this discrimination, persecution, and ostracisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners that has been going on for over 20 years.
Just like what Martin Desai said, not many human rights organisations and even media talk about this issue. The Tibetan monks who are Dorje Shugden practitioners, especially the old monks, some were abandoned by their caretakers and students due to the fear of persecution by their own ‘government’ and members or society for the crime of associating with Dorje Shugden. Many families ties were broken because of this ban on Dorje Shugden practice, the great Buddhist monastic universities were seen displaying signages that disallow those who practice Dorje Shugden to even make offerings to the monks/ institution, and sadly the whole saga resulted in even monks refusing to carry out last/ funeral rites for Dorje Shugden practitioners.
In this day and age, the online media with huge reach like Huffington Post has the huge power and influence to direct the public to important matters. Journalists like Martin Desai taking the time to further investigate the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners and lending his powerful voice to the millions whom most of them have no voice, or whose voice was made unheard is very empowering.
Nelson Mandela once said, “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw,” and in the case of Dorje Shugden practitioners, they were condemned and made criminals directly due to the resolution of Tibetan Parliament in Exile in Dharamsala, India.
I hope Huffington Post continues to bravely expose the repression and oppression of Dorje Shugden practitioners and I urge more media to protect public interest against this injustice and create more public awareness about this denial of religious freedom, despite the claim that the Central Tibetan Administration is democratic.
What Martin reported is true. Many are very quick to jump on the injustice of China suppressing the Tibetans, but many are not willing to pay attention of the injustice that has happened, and is still happening within the Tibetan in exile. May be it is because of the fame of HH Dalai Lama, I am not sure.
But the lack of check and balance within the Tibetan in exile is really alarming. Many Tibetans do not know do not understand democracy, and it can be dangerous. And their government CTA purposely keep their people naive so that CTA can control them much easily.
What Dorje Shugden practitioners want is quite simple: Just a statement from HH Dalai Lama Himself to stop the segregation and discrimination. That would solve most of the issue. I sincerely wish HH Dalai Lama relieve the suffering of the segregation and discrimination.
People being discriminated just for different belief system is uncivilised. For over 2 decades of suppression and discrimination, Dorje Shugden practitioners still do not give up this practice, it shows how resilient they are due to their strong faith in this deity. In this democratic world, no leaders would ban certain deities or belief system in their countries unless it causes harm and damages to the country. To date, there’s no proof of Dorje Shugden people causing any form of damages to the society, not even in the Tibetan community. When the society heavily promote human rights to the world and demand for equality for LBGT group, animals rights, defending refugees and migrants, protecting children and women from abuse, etc… Any of the human rights organisation cares about how there are actually groups of people living under fear and suppression just because the figure they pray to is so-called “ban” by their leader? How backwards yet unnecessary?
This piece of article finally shed some lights and hope to the suppressed group and now more are exposed to the truth behind this ban. Thank you Huffpost. Looking forward to more posts in such nature soon!
Excellent expose of ostracism of the Buddhist community by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) hidden for 20 long years under the banner of ‘evil spirit worshipper’ of Tibetan Buddhism. Martin Desal of Huffpost did a good job uncovering the truth and writes without fear and favour.
While Amnesty International claims that is beyond their ambit to investigate into conflicts of religious affairs it should recognise that the issue isn’t about who is right and who is wrong in practising a particular religion but it is about violation of human rights to freedom of religion (evidences are aplenty if Amnesty cares to investigate further) which is the fundamental rights of every human being. Amnesty should not overlook this issue but should extend to cover every aspect of human rights violation including rights to religion.
The German blogger “Tenpel” is on the payroll of the CTA to counter and deflect all “allegations’ of Shugden people. There are plenty of evidence out there to support this nasty and inhumane discrimination on Shugden people which has affected everyone globally practising the deity.
It is time now this crazy ban must stop. It is also counter productive for both the CTA and Shugden people.
Once again, thank you Huffpost for writing this unbiased article highlighting the issues faced by Dorje Shugden practitioners. The so called “allegations” made against the Tibetan leadership are actually legit, they are not without proof. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) had monasteries, clinics, restaurants and shops put up signs to discriminate and ostracise Dorje Shugden practitioners merely because His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that Dorje Shugden is a demon. (See more here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/to-sum-it-up.html)
Recently, His Holiness also said that the Buddha was not born in Nepal, so should the Dalai Lama fanatics also discriminate and ostracise those who believe that the Buddha was born in Nepal since it seems only what His Holiness says is correct? My point is, His Holiness can say what he wants because it’s freedom of speech, but his fanatics should not force or criminalise those who do not share the same view as His Holiness because it is wrong and it is an infringement on human rights and religious freedom. In the 21st century, NO ONE will tolerate such barbaric acts of the Central Tibetan Administration. ?
Wow! This is such a powerful post. Thank you for being the voice of the “victims” for this group of Dorje Shugden practitioners who has been suffering for years now.
Is interesting how Amnesty International has such a narrow kind of definition on what should be investigated and what should not be. In today’s world with technology advancement , methods of torture has changed tremendously but the end result is still violence , injustice and suffering. When a prominent figure such as Dalai Lama condemning DS practitioners in the past constantly during talks, it is enough for the rest of the Tibetans to react negatively towards this group of people. Majority of the Tibetans takes whatever Dalai Lama words as “instructions” thus these practitioners suffers tremendously. And the stigma stays on
When CTA says there is no ban and DOrje Shugden practitioners has equal rights , then all of us asked, why is there a section of the Dogyal practice published onto their official website. Does not make sense at all. By publishing Dorje Shugden under their website as Dogyal (demon) wouldn’t it provoke many Tibetans who has loyalty to Dalai Lama react negatively to them?
Enough is enough, so much unnecessary suffering
Thank you for highlighting all these points so perfectly well.
Su Ming
Once more Huffpost shows that it is a true journalistic institution, bringing light to the issue surrounding the practice of the Dharma protector Dorje Shugden. This piece shows clearly what both sides think and the treatment from both sides towards each other. As Martin Desai clearly shows, the issue is a confusing one with many points of view and many accusations. However, one thing is for certain, in our day and age now persecution, oppression or discrimination in any shape or form is acceptable.
Rather than base our lives on differences and being preoccupied with these differences, we need to strive to live in peace. For Dorje Shugden practitioners, all we ask is that we are allowed the right to live, work and pray in peace and be a part of an integrated democratic society, the hallmark of which is a community that does have many differences, such as race, religion, creed, sexuality, gender, etc, but one that is brought together from a higher perspective, that of human unity.
He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation. ~ Machiavelli, Chapter 15, The Prince.
The sad reality is, the Tibetan leaders justify the use of immoral means to achieve their selfish aims.
They openly criticised Dorje Shugden practice in their official websites, and even published the name list of Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Why? For what reason?
Isn’t this action is like calling the other Tibetans to discriminate Dorje Shugden practitioners and they became the target for abuse and violence?
In this SECOND EXPOSÉ of the Dorje Shugden issue in The Huffington Post or more widely known as HuffPost, it gave yet another unbiased covers of this issue by exposing the uncalled for manners of Central Tibetan Administration in handling the Dorje Shugden practitioners.
The article also expose how the Tibetan leadership influenced their ‘friends’ in the Amnesty International to decline carrying out investigation into alleged abuses that occurred in Tibetan settlements in India. Similarly the complaint brought before the High Court in Delhi was rejected with lame excuses.
My highest respect and appreciation to Huff Post for your continue support to right the wrongs and for upholding the basic human rights of all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Thank you so much Mr Martin Desai for this unbiased article to highlight this issue. So much pains and sufferings had incurred due the unjust ban. It’s time to end it.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this blog post with the additional details.
Most of all, thank you for given us the DorjeShugden practice that benefited so many of us _/\_
Pastor Gim Lee
When I first read the article, I thought it was a little heavy-handed in the way it treated the subject. I think the writer was fair on both sides and he was only writing from what he can interpret from facts.
I wasn’t used to the fact that he was explaining based on what anybody from the outside who is looking at the Dalai Lama’s Dorje Shugden ban from an unbiased perspective. I had busy and I didn’t finished the article so that was what I felt as i was forming my opinion of the article.
One thing is for sure, the writer does a pretty decent job of summarising a rather complicated conflict and gives a rather balanced viewpoints from both sides with the likes of Len Foley and Thurman thrown in. In the beginning, it paints a rather unsavoury picture of the whole Dorje Shugden issue. Whether you buy into the ban or not, it leaves you feeling uneasy. It is because of credibility of Huffington Post, detractors would find it hard to convincingly refute or disagree.
Nonetheless, the ending was an unexpected sweeping end, with rinpoche completely transforming the tone of the article from conflict to resolution and from despair to hope. It was non-partisan, peace-making and universal and tender message of all-embracing acceptance. Rinpoche’s quote was the perfect end and perhaps a hope for the future. Wonderful work! Martin Desai for crafting another powerful article that reflect the current situation and a possible future resolution of this whole issue.
Thank you HuffPost and Martin Desai for writing and publishing the report to point out the injustice, discrimination, abuse and ill treatment endured by many Dorje Shugden practitioners ever since the ban of Dorje Shugden was officially started 20 years ago. This ban has caused the increasing hatred, disharmony and dispute among the Tibetan Buddhists community that has even affected the non-Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners as victims of discrimination to the extent of all Dorje Shugden practitioners are declared as ‘criminals in history’ by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). This declaration of Dorje Shugden practitioners as ‘criminals in history’ is baseless and not aligned with any countries’ laws and regulations, where the religion democracy is being enforced except in CTA’s own legislation.
Besides, I humbly request and propose to Amnesty International to withdraw their previous letter that stated the complaints made by the victims of the Dorje Shugden discriminations were invalid and not considered as human rights issue but more on religion issue. The current discrimination faced by many Dorje Shugden practitioners are getting serious and obvious enough as the hatred and negativity level towards Dorje Shugden practitioners is increasing day by day due to the falsified reasons given by CTA such as by practicing Dorje Shugden, H.H. the Dalai Lama will be harmed and His life will be shorten, Dorje Shugden practice will cause harm to Tibet and the separation of Tibetans. In fact, politics should not interfere with one’s religion practice because we are responsible to choose our personal religion practice that can determine our quality of life either in spiritual or worldly aspects. We respect and love His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and at the same time, we humbly request the Dalai Lama to lift the ban of Dorje Shugden to end the sufferings endured by many Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Moreover, Dorje Shugden is being claimed as spirit by the CTA, which is totally untrue. If Dorje Shugden is a spirit that can harm the practitioners, the four million over Dorje Shugden practitioners from around the world will never continue to pray and practice Dorje Shugden as their Dharma Protector. This is a very strong evidence to show that Dorje Shugden, which is an emanation of Manjushri, will only benefit the practitioners in every aspect in order to protect and keep the practitioners to stay along the Dharma path heading towards achieving the higher level of attainment and ultimately enlightenment according to the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the report published by HuffPost. May more and more people stand up to reveal the truth and protect Dorje Shugden practitioners from being continuously discriminated, mistreated, abused and attacked because of holding on to the Dharma practice given by respective lineage Gurus. May the harmony and unity will be restored within Tibetan community and may the ban of Dorje Shugden will be lifted as soon as possible for the growth of Buddhadharma.
Humbly with folded hands,
kin hoe
Excellent and insightful coverage of the intricacies and shadow play behind the Dorje Shugden controversy. Its rare for a journalist to look past the general perception of idyllic Tibet to uncover the murkiness behind the scenes, and for this I applaud the efforts of Martin Desai.
I hope there will be more pieces such as this from Huffpost as well as other major media portals. It’s one thing to have different opinions about religion but quite another to condemn an entire group of people for their religions choice AND turn an entire community against them.
Finally, someone has looked beyond the Free Tibet cause and saw what is really happening in Tibetan community itself. Since 1996, Dorje Shugden practitioners have been segregated and ostracised in the Tibetan community. Many families and friends, students and teachers are separated because of the ban. CTA continues to use Dalai Lama to promote peace all around the world so they can get financial support but yet they created conflict within their community and as a result, there is no peace at all.
Thank you for writing this unbiase artcle on Dorje Shugden issues with clear evidence. I hope more and more people realise how hypocric Tibetan leadership is.
When fundamental human rights are jeopardized so blatantly it is a light of hope when truth seekers do thorough research and share their finding with the public so that we become aware and informed to make sound decisions of support.
It is time for this ban that afflicts discrimination, violence and great suffering come to an end. Such atrocity can only end when the world knows of the truth and make a stand for humanity. We have ended much injustice over the history of mankind as we fought for gender equality, animal rights, environmental preservation etc.
Our journey to preserving what is correct to uphold our humanity within goes on. And right now, before us, is this opportunity to do the right thing. Share this news. It is big news when those who pledge to bring peace and protection cause fear and damage.
t is interesting that the title of this report says “When Machiavelli dons Tibetan Robes”, it present a strong connotation that Tibetan Buddhist community is in a bad shape under the leadership of Dalai Lama. The very cause that won Dalai Lama the Nobel Prize – religious harmony – had failed miserably among Tibetans for more than two decades.
Strangely, international media seems to gladly let this elude their radar, perhaps like The Amnesty, the Dorje Shugden issue has always been out of their mandate – a religious issue rather than a human rights issue. Having no dirty laundry to air, CTA continues to be the epitome of an oppressed state who promotes democracy and hence continue to enjoy generous donations and sponsorships from the West.
All the top guns involved in tihs lucrative business of getting funds from the West had obtained USA or European nations citizenship where they have houses and their children are studying or living there. So, yes, it is incredible to the high degree of unethicality by the Tibetans leadership and Dharamsala office. Therefore the word “MACHIAVELLI” is apt.
Thank you for this share. It really beggars belief to know of this Tibetan government exercising tyranny over its population instead of bringing them together.
I guess when its motto is that of “divided we fall” and play victim so that Independence is out of reach, they hope to continue their “parasitic” existence on the good people of India, America, England etc…
The sad thing is after 60 Years of “fighting” for independence, there really wasn’t much of a fight when they are so consumed by a “self prreservation order” to be refugee status. The sickening thing I understand is that they use the good funds and donations which are meant to improve their own Tibetan people to instead fund “anti-shugden” campaign.
I hope all the good people who so willingly donate to Free Tibet have a good read of all related articles that Huffington Posts produced.
I agree with H.E. Tsem Rinpoche regarding the effect of this illegal and inhumane ban on the Dorje Shugden practice. It has prevented many high lamas from manifesting their full activities and fulfilling their sacred missions in this life. What a waste! It’s about time the CTA put aside their politics and allow Shugden lamas to openly practise and turn the wheel of Dharma without fear of having their names blackened.
Thank you Martin and Huffington for bringing the issue of the ban and the controversy over the practice of Dorje Shugden out of the closet( where it had been kept for the last 20 years) into the open. What you voice here is fair and balanced , and at the same time you have raised a few real and serious concerns . One of them is why the ban has been on for the last 20 years without any steps being taken to resolve it.
As is pointed out, the 2 attempts by the victims of the ban to raise greater awareness to a ban that has brought so much suffering over 20 years to the millions of Dorje Shugden practictioners,, had met with failure. Both the Amnesty International and the Indian High court mistakenly saw it as a religious issue which was outside their domain of jurisdiction. In reality, as Tsem Rinpoche has pointed out , it is a human rights issue and should have been addressed as such from the beginning.
Religion is a personal choice and it is every person’s basic right to choose his or her own faith.No spiritual leader should criticise anyone’s choice. We , Shugden practitioners, believe that Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and an emanation of Manjushri. We have been shown time and again how our faith in Shugden has not been a misguided faith.He has given us unwavering care and protection as we practice the path of Dharma we have chosen.
Thank you Martin of Huffington Post for bringing to light and highlighting the underlying issues that are involved – the Tibetan Leadership demonising the practice of Shugden, the origin of the controversy and the criticism of Dorje Shugden as a spirit by the Dalai Lama and endangering his life and the cause of Tibet, and causing division. These issues are being played up by the Tibetan leadership, who have capitalised on the fact that the masses are devoted to the Dalai Lama and idolise him like many idolise celebrities.
Amnesty International must recognise that the Shugden ban and discrimination is not a religious issue but a human rights issue. As Huffington Post rightly points out, it is not the Chinese that are causing suffering to Tibetans, but the division and split within the Tibetan communities.
Besides the suffering and the disunity and schism created by the ban, the real concern as pointed out by Rinpoche is that the ban and the stigmatising that came with it is preventing many great erudite Shugden Lamas from spreading the Dharma everywhere to benefit others. Dharma is the only means to ultimate peace.The Dharma so painstakingly preserved may be lost because of a ban that is illogical and has no meaning and purpose.
Another piece of great journo work by Martin Desai and HuffPost! Love how Mr Desai writes but more importantly, how objective and insightful his writing is.
I thank Mr Desai for writing this as the world needs to know the truth about the Dorje Shugden ban. Shugdenpas like me have been attacked online by nameless people in the name of Tibetan Cause or the Dalai Lama. I am living in another country far away from CTA but yet the ban affects me and my fellow Shugdenpas around the globe as much as Tibetans.
To declare us to be ‘criminals in history’, just because our belief is different is just not right. It’s 2017 and this religious apartheid must stop.
The ripple effect of being part of the “criminals in history” being Shugdenpas as labelled by CTA had been felt by me even as a Malaysian. Questions had been asked of me why should I be a member of Kechara whose Founder is a Shugden Lama. Questions of how I can have faith in Dorje Shugden when His worship is banned by the Dalai Lama who is the Head of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
All these falsity had to be borne by us in Malaysia even when our national constitution permits freedom of religion.
Even though attempts had been made to right the wrong on Shugdenpas, the efforts had not been successful. This lack of success had been taken advantage of by CTA who stubbornly continues with the Ban and discrimination against human rights.
It is heart warming to see Mr. Martin Desai follow through with his original article at Huffington Post on 14th November 2017and to emphasise logical and documented explanations of the true situation by H.E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche with the current posting per Rinpoche’s further clarification in this blog.
I rejoice that the truth is now revealed and may the world not be blind to the bullying tactics of CTA.
Yes, the Amnesty International response was taken out of context. They clearly state that the Dorje Shugden issue is out of their mandate so they didn’t decline to investigate because there wasn’t any evidence of wrongdoing. They declined because within the confines of their constitution, they are not allowed to pursue the matter.
But of course, the Tibetan leadership have taken this out of context and spun it to bolster their claims about Dorje Shugden and justify their enforcement of the ban. They did the exact same thing with the memo issued by the Chinese leadership concerning religious freedoms, extracting one line from a multiple-page memo to accuse Dorje Shugden people of having a link to China.
The fact the CTA will take things out of context and twist it to suit their purposes, it supports the statement you’ve made in this article regarding their engagement of Machiavellian tactics.
Thank you again for your coverage of this issue Mr Desai, it was a pleasure to read. The objectivity is refreshing and appreciated!
It is very bad to condemn other people’s belief / faith / religion. It is also unfair to ban a certain practice of a religion because the practice may not be suitable for certain people and does not means that it is not suitable for others who finds it beneficial. By putting restriction on Dorje Shugden practitioners from going to schools, hospitals, restaurants, government offices, etc is being unfair too.
Everyone should be given their freedom to choose whatever religion they want to follow or practice and their choice should be respected as well. We are not suppose to force a person into a religion if they do not want to. Why want to call them names and bad mouth them? This is not what a religion teaches us to do.
Here, I wish the ban will be lifted very soon and sufferings of the people will end so that there is peace, love and harmony.
A big thank you to Martin Desai and Huff Post on speaking up on the Dorje Shugden issue that has clouded and destroyed the unity of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners worldwide.
The Dorje Shugden ban, though a religious subject, is a clear example of infringement of Human Rights and the Freedom of Choice that all human beings deserve. There are calls for Animal Equality, for equality of love/gender, for equality of women’s rights, and therefore, it is about time the light shines for the equality that Dorje Shugen practitioners deserve, which is no different to all the others above. Not many are willing to shine the light here, therefore this articles from Huffington Post, adds on to the beacon of light that Rinpoche has been advocating for over the past few years, giving millions across the globe hope.
What the Tibetan Leadership has done is a breach of rights, and a downright abuse of power and corruption, that has been going on for far too long. Where has all the funds they have received, supposed to be used for their cause to regain independence gone to? Why have they not focussed on issues much more imperative than the propitiation of Dorje Shugden? Where have they been for their people? Why are TIbetans still segregated? Why are they still holding refugee status after 60 years? What has the TIbetan Leadership been doing, besides gains for themselves?
Why do Dorje Shugden practitioners have to be the scapegoat for the Tibetan Leadership’s failure?
Anyone who practices voodoo, black magic, satanic, witches can attend HH Dalai Lama’s talk except Dorje Shugden practitioners. This is clearly ou tright discrimination and seggregation against Dorje Shugden practitioners like many of us in the world. In my country Malaysia, everyone has the right to practice religious freedom or any type of spirituality they wish to choose provided its law abiding. Furthermore, it makes no sense to ban a spiritual practice that has been propitiated by Tibetans for the last 400 years including the Dalai Lama himself until he issued a ban on this practice based on unfounded reasons such as Dorje Shugden is a spirit, he harms the Dalai Lama’s life and harms the Tibetan cause as claimed by the CTA. This discrimination still exists and there is proof within this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EqbhUZCgU
This post is coming on none too soon. There are many families divided and monks separated from their monasteries in these 20 years due to a religious practice. Everyone should be allowed the religious practice of their choice even though it may not be agreeable to everyone else.
As Rinpoche pointed out calling Dorje Shugden practitioners “criminals in history” is really laying it a bit too thick, not mention that it is a resolution of the Tibetan government, in exile. Putting practitioners on the same platform as Hitler is really an affront. In doing this, they have crossed the border of no man’s land into someone else’s backyard. A religion is a religion and has nothing to do with politics. One of the formless realm and the other of the form realm, like water and oil, they don’t mix. Imposing the ban on all Dorje Shugden practitioners is really not fair as the Tibetan government is just that, Tibetan government and a government in exile at that.
That is so very wrong on many levels especially from the human level. If the Tibetan government declared themselves as democratic, they should allow freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
May more see the truth of the situation and work to reconcile the divide. Please lift the ban so that all can live in harmony, unity and peace.
Thank you, Huff Post Martin Desai, for sharing the other side of the this controversial and to the world.
Personally, I am not interested in politics but was in shocked when finding out there are segregation and disunity among Tibetan Buddhism due to a group of worshippers who simply wish to continue Dorje Shugden practice and they are not allowed to when the ban was imposed by the Tibetan Government in 1996.
My impression of Buddhism has always been calm, serene, compassionate, love, caring, kindness and almost anything but the opposites. Therefore this is very shocking. Monks and nuns were expelled from monasteries; families and friends became enemies; Shugdenpas are not allowed to patron to any premises run by anti-Shugden.
What if a Tibetan is seriously injured and need help urgently and he/ she practices Dorje Shugden? So, does it mean that the Tibetan government-run hospital won’t be excepting this case? This is simply human right-violation due to different standing in a religious view which should not have happened if there is ‘NO’ ban imposed.
Shugdenpas are no criminals and should be given religious freedom and Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and not a scapegoat for Tibetan Government for their failure to obtain independence after 60 years in exile.
Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this article with the hope that many more to come. It is important for the mass to know that Dorje Shugden has nothing to do with the Tibetan politics but has been dragged into these for their failure to gain independence after 60 years.
Perhaps the Tibetan Government-In-Exile have no intention to return to their homeland after all. Something for all to ponder.
With respect and sincere may I request H.H. the Dalai Lama lift the ban soon. Thank You.
Thank you Martin and Huffington post for highlighting the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners who have been sidelined all this while since the ban was enforced. Definitely this article will bring some hope and some comfort for the fight for freedom to have equal rights as everyone else. This article states the truth without taking sides and mixing politics with religion has cause nothing but misery to all.
Amnesty International’s decision at that time did not conclude that there is no such discrimination but it is because they see it as a religious issue and is out of their jurisdiction. However, the CTA has twisted this decision as proof that there is no discrimination. Let’s hope that Amnesty international will look into this again as an oppression of religious freedom. It has been more that 20 years people have suffered from this unjust treatment and should end now. There are more evidence that can support the case. in fact, the addendum in this article provides most, if not all, of the evidences.
Like what Rinpoche has stated above, everyone should have the right to choose their practices and should not be ostracised for their choice. The Dalai Lama is promoting kindness and peace to the world but not to his own people. Isn’t this rather perplexing?
谢谢仁波切的分享， 也谢谢Huffingtonpost的报导。 多年来多杰雄登禁令对流亡在印度的藏人的影响深远， 也因为藏人行政中央的谎言和新闻钳制令到很多媒体都没有报导有关的新闻， 而让不多人知道关于多杰雄登禁令。
文章里说得对， 人们对西藏的印象就像是人间的乐园， 那里所有人生活安宁。 不过事实真的是这样吗？ 在1959年之前， 西藏政府贪污问题严重， 而且藏人生活远远不如人们想象中那么好。 现在的藏人行政中央就如以前一样， 没有照顾流亡在印度的藏人， 而是用多杰雄登禁令来掩饰他们做事不力。
谢谢Huffingtonpost的报导， 让更多人知道多杰雄登禁令， 让人关心禁令下的受害者。因为那么多年来在网上只有詹杜固仁波切一直为多杰雄登禁令受害者发声， 为了维护和弘扬格鲁传承努力。 现在有更多国际媒体报导关于多杰雄登禁令是一件非常好的事情。
谢谢
I am sad that Amnesty International did not see it fit to take up the case of this glaring, institutionally-led discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners and those related to them, in the 1990s and right up to the 1998 decision as the article quoted.
Perhaps it was not politically correct at that time in light of His Holiness Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. It would not have jived with H.H. public and global persona as a refugee, peace and human rights ambassador.
This would have made it difficult to persuade anyone to take up a human rights and discrimination complaint against His Holiness Dalai Lama’s government in exile then, more so for an organization such as Amnesty International whose existence is rooted in supporting human rights whom the Dalai Lama is/was the poster boy for.
Fast forward almost three decades later and after so much more evidence of this discrimination has surfaced, even glaringly on the Central Tibetan Administration’s own official website, I do not see why a fresh look at this case cannot be undertaken by Amnesty International.
After all, this is what Amnesty International says about themselves:
Source: https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/
The Problem
What drives discrimination?
It is all too easy to deny a person’s human rights if you consider them as “less than” you. But how does this happen? At the heart of all forms of discrimination is prejudice based on concepts of identity, and the need to identify with a certain group. This can lead to ignorance and even hate.
Some governments reinforce their power and the status quo by openly justifying discrimination in the name of “morality”, religion or ideology. It can be cemented in national law – such as by restricting women’s freedom – despite breaking international law. Certain groups can even be viewed by the authorities as more likely to be criminal simply for who they are, such as being poor, indigenous or black.
Sometimes people are criminalized directly for who and what they are – such as being gay. Sometimes it happens indirectly – for example employers asking for a high-level of proficiency in a native language when the tasks involved do not actually require it.
In many countries racism is nourished by increasingly xenophobic responses to immigration.
Amnesty is calling for
Governments to…
• Get rid of discriminatory laws and release anyone who is in prison because of them.
• Protect everyone – whoever they are – from violence.
• Draw up new laws and build institutions that tackle the root causes of discrimination.
• Lead from the front – never exploit or use people’s discriminatory beliefs for political ends.
How about it Amnesty International? We’re waiting.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” By Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thanks Huffington Post for this article pointing out the grey area Dorje Shugden practitioners are positioned, where their basic rights are suppressed while not qualified to get help at the same time.
Majority of the Tibetan that suffered from the Dorje Shugden’s ban are not tech-savvy nor rich with knowledge nor money to speak out, they are not even able to put their suffering into valid evidence.
Although it’s just connected by the same spiritual practice, International Pro-Shugden parties are working very hard to fight for basic rights, for the Dharma brothers and sisters; and perhaps it’s more on to fight for humanity.
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is very right on the stance on religious freedom, no one should be treated like Dorje Shugden practitioners in Tibetan exile. Moreover, their leader is someone who preaches love and peace, this is ironically not right.
Despite our constant respect for HHDL, the ban over Dorje Shugden has caused so many discrimination and incovenient to me and my fellow members.
There are many Buddhist organisation and Temples in Malaysia, the rumours of this ban and the image of Dorje Shugden that has been tarnished by CTA has made much animosity within the society and other Buddhists against the Dorje Shugden practitioners, especially to a Buddhist organisation like us – Kechara House Buddhist Organisation Malaysia, where our main Dharma Protector practice is non other than Dorje Shugden himself, which we strongly believe he is the emanation of Buddha Manjushri himself. We were not welcome to some of the Buddhist organisation, some even posted a notice at their main entrance stating that Dorje Shugden practitioners are not welcome to enter their premises. I have been traveling to India, Nepal and Tibets few times, and I have witnessed the segregation and violence done to the local Dorje Shugden practitioners. Monks were segregated, Monasteries were split up, friends and family became enemies. Many were afraid for their family safety and decided to remain silence and give up this practice. I felt sad this is happening, and many people are still helpless worried for their lives and safety.
Nonetheless, I believe all this issue should be resolve by calling a dialogue between HHDL and important representatives of Dorje Shugden practitioners, we should resolve this in a peaceful manner because we are good people and good Buddhist practitioners.
I praised Martin Desai of HuffPost of highlighting this issue and report it without ant bias. Millions of Dorje Shugden people desperately looking for their freedom again, and most importantly, Tibet and Buddhist practitioners should restore our harmony.
It such an agony that back since the 1990s the Pro-Shugden efforts to draw attention to their plight, most notably via an appeal to humanitarian group Amnesty International was made, and it been 25 years or more and have prevail no results since. Thru this years, I would imagine the dispositon life of the Dorje Shugden’s practice having this plight and predicament. It is great that today, Huffpost and Martin DeSai have made this article internationally and as an independence party to spill the beans of truth.
I am a student of Tsem Rinpoche’s & a Dorje Shugden’s practioner residing in Malaysia. Our organization have been unwaveringly sharing on social media (youtube, twitter, instagram, FB) with the motivation to educate, spread the truth about Dorje Shudgden’s lineage, benefits, practices and etc., & as such our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche and our members, Pastors, or practioners receives abusive words, being called animals’ name and etc. It is indeed very damaging to have this words received, and I am highligting this issue is not expressing discontent or seeking empathy, but not able to imagine what kind of action of sufferings the Dorje Shugden’s people in the real field of life is facing.
I hope that Huffpost and the rest of the international media, or humanitarian society is able to give continuous support and have more articles, and give voices to the Dorje Shudgen’s practioner to have the freedom of choice and ease this agony for these 25 years.
Buddha never teach discrimination so should not be for people to discriminate especially if call self Buddhists. So, if really Buddhist then compassion to all even with those don’t agree worship same deity. Dorje Shugden is enlightened so should respect religious freedom and not discriminate.
The suppression on Dorje Shugden practitioners are real:
https://twitter.com/tsemtulku/status/935353809613701120
https://youtu.be/i4EqbhUZCgU
Thank you for highlighting this here. Really appreciate this Mr Martin DeSai. It is important for people to understand this issue from another angle.
Dorje Shugden often being made the scapegoat for the divide in Tibetan community highlighted by the governing body Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and claimed to be the cause for their failure to regain Tibet which I beg to differ:
1. The CTA rule is corrupt. They are the real cause of the problem. It has been 50 over years since CTA in power over the exiled community but nothing has been done.
2. Ministers and officials of CTA has big nice houses and travels but their own people has no welfare aid from its government. Money should have been spent on its people to help them to thru their lives. Tibetans in exile live with little support for their own.
3. Money should have been spent on welfare of its people in exile and pave way for peace talks with China instead of publishing books and videos to further mislead its people to further ostracise Dorje Shugden community. The way as it is, it doesnt seem to me that CTA treats Dorje Shugden practitioners as their own Tibetans. They are being treated as though they have double crossed their own government for their choice of religion which has nothing to do with politics.
4. Concentration should be towards their work to open talks with China for a possible autonomy so that exiled Tibetans can finally return home after half a decade out from their homeland and live under little welfare and literally on their own.
5. It doesn’t help when officials like it’s government officials and ministers have other country passports like for example Lobsang Sangay has a US passport. Does that mean they do not really believe in regaining Tibet cause? Then why raise so much funds from generous countries? Where did the money spent on?
6. Dorje Shugden practitioners are regarded as paid Chinese spies to spy on exiled Tibetans for no reasons. The 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche was one of the many many other people being accused as paid spies hired by Chinese government to exert pressure on Tibetan leadership (???) In hope of their people won’t believe into what His Eminence has to say. This form of accusations includes all other monks who have declared to the public of their choice of practice.
7. Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners are forced to severe ties with either Dorje Shugden or their family members, friends and face expulsion from their work including no access to facilities given to every other Tibetans and it is blatant meanwhile CTA denied and played down the claim to merely just as an advise to its people.
8. The real cause of why Tibet was lost in the first place was due to the corruption and the then weak Tibetan government in the first place. To be honest, there are very few who can withhold attacks by Chinese military and a weak government certainly propelled things. Dorje Shugden certainly has nothing to do on this. In fact records by old surviving monks actually spoke about how Dorje Shugden helped His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet to India unnoticed and unscathed.
People have to start ask questions on why all the above are happening and why it is important to highlight this big issue to the world so that more people to come to aware of this discrimination going on in Tibet by CTA on its own people.
The ban on Dorje Shugden practice is really unnecessary and that is the real cause of the Tibetan divide. The claims and reasoning behind the ban is really illogical and warrants scrutiny.
Thank you Huffington post for pointing out the unfair treatments towards Dorje Shugden practitioners, not only they cannot go for health treatments, schools, restaurants, hotels and other public areas or facilities, they are even being forced to split with their families, relatives and friends, when they speak about Dorje Shugden publicly, their life will be at stake, that is how CTA treat their very own citizen.
Another thing about CTA’s treatments to their citizens are those who practice Dorje Shugden, they will automatically labeled as China spy or traitor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, then eventually they will get harmed ‘legally’ or their house get break ins and things get destroyed.
It has been over 20 years since the ban, it has been over 20 years of suffering to Dorje Shugden practitioners, now the ban should be lifted so that Dorje Shugden practitioners can be treated fairly, whether the people practice Dorje Shugden or Setrap or Mahakala, or any other protectors, they are still citizen of Tibetans, they are still loyal and respect Dalai Lama a lot, so why can’t we all live harmoniously and peacefully? Why want to create havoc?
“You shouldn’t show prejudice to anyone because of their colour, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, handicaps, age, beliefs or religious choice. If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.”
This is a very powerful quote, whether they are white or black, Buddhist or Hindus, Chinese or Tibetans, Male or Female, young or old, they are still the citizen of that country, and for a country to be success, they should unite the people and not create segregation, unless the government’s intention is not to develop the country and it is something else.
A big thank you to Huffington Post for a non bias writeup to let public know of injustice!
There are many evidences of how Dorje Shugden practitioners are being mistreated, ostracized and discriminated. How can pro Dalai Lama people say that there are no ban?
If there are no ban, then why even take the time to put photos of pro Dorje Shugden practitioners on CTA’s website?
If there is no ban, why have signs at government offices, hospitals and public places prohibiting pro Dorje Shugden people to enter?
If there is no ban, why Dalai Lama do not allow Dorje Shugden practitioners attend His teachings?
If there is no ban, why do Dorje Shugden practitioners get attacked online day in day out because of the practice?
How is it what we choose to practice can affect the freedom of Tibet? If pro Dalai Lama people and H.H. can say that Dorje Shugden is a ‘devil’ then why don’t they bind Him and stop the practice? But why didn’t they do that? Because Dorje Shugden is the emanation of Manjushri who is a Buddha and they can’t ‘bind’ a Buddha.
Please read these posts for more information
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-people.html
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/will-the-dalai-lama-agree-with-this.html
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/why-so-rude.html
I am very happy to read about Huffpost’s article on Dorje Shugden’s ban once again. Thank you Huffpost for paying the attention of this 20 years controversy which has divided Buddhists apart, not just Dorje Shugden practitioners and none Dorje Shugden practitioners or those who chose to gave up due to the enforcement by CTA and HHDL.
I truly disturbed when CTA claimed that Dorje Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies at the same time we are being classified as criminal by CTA. Well, CTA need to know, that Tibetan Buddhism is all over the world today, so when they hit the ban, it’s not only affected the Tibetan but all Dorje Shugden practitioners which consist all races in the world. I am a Chinese living in Malaysia, one of the 4 millions Dorje Shugden practitioners, so am I Chinese spy to Tibetan? What is it gonna do with me and the “Tibetan cause”?
Buddhists Lamas and monks came to Malaysia, my country to give teachings, segregated the Dorje Shugden practitioners!! We are asked to sign a letter and to declare that we are not Dorje Shugden practitioners before joining their activities. If you are Dorje Shugden practitioners, you are not allowed to join but donation was welcome. Many of my friends who had the same experience. So who is dividing the Buddhists now? What wrong have we made to Tibet? Millions of donation we collected from Malaysia over the years to support Gaden monastery in India. Monks were sleeping at the corridor because the monastery cannot afford to build more hostel. We adopted monks by sending them money every month for their food, books and robes etc, so have we created any harm or dividing the Buddhists or spying the CTA or causing anything bad to the Tibetan cause? What benefit do we get to do that?
I can imagine the suffering and trauma the Dorje Shugden practitioners are facing in every where especially in Tibet and India everyday. Many chose not to say anything and even gave up because they have no choice but have a life. Many chose to segregate Dorje Shugden Lamas and practitioners so they can look good for being embraced by HHDL who has gone all over the world to talk about compassion and love. I fully understand where they come from but then they forgot about the root of Buddha’s teaching is COMPASSION. Compassion is to love all sentient beings. Why are we chant mantra to an ant but turn around you discriminated and segregated Dorje Shugden practitioners?
My faith to my Guru H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche will not change because he showed me what is real dharma and compassion. He gave me Doje Shugden practice during my difficult time and we walked through the spiritual journey together not CTA, not HHDL and not other lamas nor Dharma centres. I treasured what I am blessed with in Malaysia, our government gives us religious freedom and support on our own spiritual practice. Malaysian should not be influenced by this illogical ban of Dorje Shugden which is totally a political play by the CTA and HHDL.
I’m glad that finally there is someone that is independant really looking into the discrimination problem causes so much suffering for the Dorje Shugden practitoner that imposed by the Tibetan leadership since 1996. There are so many evidents that show how the Dorje Shugden communities are unable to access to their basic necessity because of the unjust ban. This is inhuman and totally violate religious freedom and human rights that one should entitle from their government.
No government should suppress their own people instead uniting them. What ironic or rather hypocrite with Tibetan leadership is they are seeking freedom for their people but on the other hand ostracized their own people just because of religious differences. This doesn’t make sense and not correct.
Hope this unbiase article by Huffpost which I’m thankful for would able to show the world that at this 21st century, religious discrimination still exist and need to be eliminated for world peace, harmony, unity and a better place to live for every single being live in this planet.
感谢仁波切的教诲与赫芬顿邮报报导，
超过400多年的多杰雄登护法修持法，在多杰雄登护法的禁令开始于后，当时颁布禁令的原因是多杰雄登护法会伤害尊者的性命与伤害西藏流亡政府的事业，但是多年来，出现的的事实是，出现越来越多的报导与咨询关于西藏流亡政府所给予西藏人民所制造出非常多的不和谐，与贪污等等的问题，而且达赖尊者更是公认为观世音菩萨的化身，那么观世音菩萨是证悟佛菩萨，又怎么可能会被任何的魔鬼，外道或是任何的一位护法的力量所伤害呢？
而修持多杰雄登护法者，不能出席有关达赖尊者的任何法会，灌顶与开示是铁一般的事实，已经修持多杰雄登护法更是不能进入西藏流亡政府担任任何职位，寺院/僧伽众必须被迫分裂，不能进入没有修持多杰雄登护法的寺院，即使生病严重也被拒绝进入医院，不能到没有修持多杰雄登护法的商店购买东西等等，造成人们中存在着一个非常不和谐的社会，确实事实。
尊贵的达赖尊者是观音大慈大悲的化身，寺院是普渡一切众生的道场，医院是救人生命的地方，而却因为只是修持多杰雄登护法而就不能得到观音菩萨慈悲加持，不能到寺院学习佛法，不能到医院接受治疗即使是生命危险，这是才是正真的伤害/不公平/不和谐/不民主，感恩赫芬顿邮报报导，让更多的人们明白有关于多杰雄登护法禁令所带来的种种伤害。
谢谢
Jerry
I particularly like Tsem Rinpoche’s quote towards the end “If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.” Exactly, we are so different and diverse, we differ from the person next to us in skin color, religion, culture, ethnicity, family background, gender, sexual orientation, language, height, weight, look, length of hair, etc etc. It is endless our difference from just the person next to us. In order to coexist in harmony, tolerance and acceptance are the only ways, if not, every single difference will become a conflict and it will be endless. The Tibetan leadership, who are supposedly “Buddhists”, should know better, since acceptance and tolerance are the core of Buddha’s teachings. During Buddha’s time, Buddha did not discriminate against caste and women who had lower social status back then, so why is it that now the so-called Buddhist leaders are scorning Shugden people just because Shugden people chose to stick to their practice which you do not agree with? Where is the application of Buddha’s teachings? Total hypocrisy.
i have always sensed something wrong with the Tibetan leadership, the Shangri-la like picture that they painted to the whole world is false, it is just to get donation and sponsorship. What they did to Shugden practitioners has no place in Shangri-la, it is no different than any other corrupt regime in the world, but at least the other regimes do not try to trick the public with a holier-than-thou image. Recently the election for the prime minister for the Tibetan government-in-exile was as ugly as any other elections in a corrupt country, “Machiavellian” is the exact word to describe the Tibetan leadership. Cunning, deceptive, scheming, self-serving with zero interest for the Tibetan diaspora. This article should be circulated far and wide, the world needs to wake up to the truth and save their own money from getting into the pockets of these religious con-men. ?
Thank you Huffpost for this great news to voice out on behalf of the millions of innocent Dorje Shugden practitioners. It is unbiased, every aspects discussed are based on facts and evidence.
It is hard to believe that in this 21st century, The Tibetan Government in Exile actually passed a resolution declares that Shugden practitioners are ‘criminal of history’. It means that when we practice Dorje Shugden, we are automatically become criminal of history. We don’t actually need to commit in robbery, drugs, or murder cases to be a criminal, we are a criminal when we hold on to our practice. How ridiculous is that!
It is very clear that no matter how The Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala and the Shugden detractors make their statements that there are no discrimination to Dorje Shugden devotees and there are no Dorje Shugden ban, all facts and evidence are proving they are lying. The more they are trying to manipulate, the more ugly they will be.
For anyone who came across this publish, I hope that you will look into this seriously. Please gives your support and speak up for those who are suffering merely wanted to practice their faith. Dorje Shugden practitioners caused no harm to anyone. They need your help and they deserve the basic human rights and religious freedom. Thank you.
Thank you Huff Post Martin Desai, for showing the other side of the coin and to the world. The world needs to know because for so long since, HH the Dalai Lama’s escape to India, the whole world has been sympathising with Tibet. From this sympathy comes billions of funds pouring into the exile Tibetan Government. I was one of this donors. So do we really know where all the funds go? Do we see any improvements in the welfare of exile Tibetans? No!
So where does everyone’s money goes? And when you find out there are even books published to condemn and state why Dorje Shugden is bad, distributed by the exile Tibetan leadership… you will wonder, so is this where our money goes to? It goes towards discrimination, prejudice, bigotry and all those things we as a democratic society and people swear to oppose… and little did we know we are in fact contributing to it via a government that claims they a “democratic”. Now this is totally wrong, a breach of human rights and ethics and a huge deception of a fake democratic leadership. There is no democracy when those who have an opposing voice and opinion like Lukar Jam, who tried running to be P.M. was quickly eliminated.
Definitely, the Tibetan leadership is still a feudal leadership masked as a democratic one. And it is time for the whole world to know and realise. Tibetan leadership has not only been unfair to their people, they have also been cheating the world, using the Dalai Lama and Buddhism to charm us. It is time we wake up and it is time to ask some serious questions and put an end to their corrupt, vicious, injustice which affects so many people everywhere. It also affects the survival of Buddhism as a whole. This is because, with so much segregation, there is a huge division, which causes many negative actions and repercussion to Buddhism. How can you preach compassion, religious tolerance, acceptance, peace and at the back you persecute Shugden people? That is totally wrong and unacceptable and this must end. This is just one small point I touched about the injustice and discrimination of the Shugden controversy.