India Downplays Dalai Lama Remarks On ‘Intolerance’
Dear friends,
I was sent this article from a friend from the BBC News and it was surprising. In this article it seems that there are factions of the Indian government displeased with some recent comments.
Does anyone know anything more about this?
Tsem Rinpoche
“I think the article was referring to a statement the Dalai Lama made about the result of the recent elections in Bihar state. The Dalai Lama mentioned that “the majority of Hindu believe in religious harmony.” And in saying that implied that BJP party is religiously intolerant. This is seen as a veiled attack on the BJP party (ruling party of India) that lost in Bihar state elections. Apparently, BJP has a reputation of not curbing religious intolerance on a few high-profile occasions. So, BJP is downplaying the Dalai Lama’s statement because I think it makes them look bad and they are obviously not too happy with the Dalai Lama for saying that but they can’t get the Dalai Lama because he didn’t mention names”.~DLKY
The Dalai Lama said election results in Bihar showed a "majority of Hindus believed in religious harmony"
From BBC News: India
India’s ruling BJP has downplayed remarks by the Dalai Lama that are seen as criticising the government
The Tibetan spiritual leader said recent elections in Bihar state – which the BJP lost – showed a “majority of Hindus believed in religious harmony”.
He was answering a question on “intolerance” in India – an issue that has seen filmmakers, writers and actors return national awards.
The BJP has said the Dalai Lama’s remarks should not be “misinterpreted”.
The Dalai Lama did not name any political party, but his remarks are being seen as a veiled attack on the government.
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after Chinese troops crushed an attempted uprising in Tibet. Since then, he has been living in exile in India.
In recent months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government has come under pressure to act after outrage over the murders of rationalists MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare, as well as the lynching of a Muslim man over suspicions he consumed beef.
More than 50 historians have returned national and state awards, joining almost 40 writers who have done the same to protest at what they refer to as growing intolerance in India.
Scientists and filmmakers have also joined the protest, while some people in the business community have expressed concerns.
A number of writers, including Salman Rushdie, also wrote to UK Prime minister David Cameron, telling him to ask Mr Modi to act against intolerance.
The Janata Dal United party, which was a part of the “Grand Alliance” that won the Bihar elections, said that the Dalai Lama’s statement was an attack on “extremist elements” in the country.
“The statement made by him has given a strong and befitting reply to the extremist groups in India. The results of the Bihar polls show that forces of tolerance are not only active but are in a majority,” a party spokesman told the Press Trust of India news agency.
The BJP, however, has warned against “misinterpretation” of the Dalai Lama’s remarks, and said that they were no cause of concern for the party.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34829687
For more interesting information:
Dorje Shugden: My side of the story (多杰雄登：我这方面的说法)
I will not be pulled into conflict
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India has a long tradition of peace and amity. The reported remarks of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, about the result of the recent elections in Bihar state has been misquoted by some. The results of the Bihar polls show that forces of tolerance are not only active but are in majority. Dalai Lama’s comments on intolerance should not be misinterpreted as criticism of the government. A majority of Hindus preferred harmony received the support of the Janata Dal while the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) played down the statement. Referring the Dalai Lama’s remarks as an attack on ‘extremist elements’, and the Tibetan spiritual leader has been in India for long and is aware of Indian culture. The BJP tried to maintain communal harmony in the state at all costs.
As HH Dalai Lama is an icon of peace and harmony , should then look into the welfare of those Tibetans in exile, they have been sufferings, discriminated since the ban on Dorje Shugden over a period of time. May HH Dalai Lama please lift the ban for the sake of unity , peace and harmony .
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Dear all, HHDL may have offended BJP in a subtle way, but I do not think this can undermine his stature. By joining a chorus of progressive members and organizations, within and beyond India, to protest against discrimination, he has gained recognition for playing role as a Nobel Peace Price laureate. In a democracy like India, political parties come and go, but public sentiments stay. Meanwhile, this does not exonerate HHDL for not exercising an equally magnanimous and humane view on his Shugden ban. Politics is a most intriguing thing. I hope everyone could get out of this quagmire soon.
The Dalai Lama’s influence continue to be on the wane,India still has a lot of respect for the Dalai Lama’s words now, however it seems to be on the decline. Without the Dalai Lama, Tibetan people in India, their days will be uncertain to say the least.
It is disturbing to witness the progress of humanity suffer a fall back as what we know to be fundamental human rights is now jeopardized with rising religious intolerance, suppression and discrimination.
Besides those who afflict the unjust and inhumane act of violence on the basis of religious faith and freedom of choice, those who stand by and watch are also guilty. Governments including the Central Tibetan Administration have the responsibility, authority and resources to stop and correct this wrong. They must exercise this responsibility for the better of their nation.
The first thing I would like the Dalai Lama to do is to practice whatever he says. He is openly criticizing the party who does not allow religious freedom when he himself does not allow religious freedom. What is happening to the thousands of Shugden practitioners in India? Are they treated well? No. Ans what is the cause? The Dalai Lama of course;I am not criticizing the Dalai Lama here, but rather I am just pointing out some stuff. So, the thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners are getting ostracized and mistreated everyday, that’s not all some Anti Dalai Lama people are getting death threats everyday. It seems that there are a great number of people getting death threats everyday, not just ordinary people but also high lamas and monks.
So, what is religious freedom to the Shugden practitioners? So far not much. And the sole reason for everyone suffering is due to the CTA and the Dalai Lama.
Human rights and religious freedom is a must for every country, if you don’t have those two basic things your country or state is a goner.
I know the opposition and everyone in the world is fighting for religious freedom. I strongly encourage those people to keep up the work by putting pressure on the CTA and the Dalai Lama.
Hmm, I think that HH Dalai Lama should practice what he preaches. How can he criticize when he does not allow religious freedom within his own community, with his ban on the practice of World Peace Protector, Lord Dorje Shugden? He and his government had been so intolerant that they incited their followers to discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Shopkeepers refused them entry to purchase, families segregated and kicked out, monks (even the old and the sick) were ran out of their monasteries, some practitioners were physically attacked, etc. Its really sad that a Noble Peace Prize winner can be a hypocrite so openly.
The Dalai Lama’s statement is clearly political in nature. I wish His Holiness would practise what he preaches by showing tolerance and encouraging religious harmony within the Tibetan community and remove the ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice.
This is a rather confusing comment by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As I understand it, His Holiness has already retired from all political and secular affairs and yet his comment on BJP’s electoral loss in Bihar is overtly political in nature. I have read many comments that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is still very much in charge of affairs both secular and spiritual. That being the case, I wonder why His Holiness has not taken steps to heal the Dorje Shugden conflict borne out of his government’s ban of the religion which stems from intolerance.
Therefore it is surprising that His Holiness should comment on issues of religious intolerance when his own government has yet to respond positively to accusations of the exile government’s policy of religious intolerance.
Having said that, its extremely important that India does proactively exercise a policy of religious tolerance and promote it aggressively. There has always been tension between India’s Hindus and Muslims and the last thing anyone needs is a flashpoint triggered by any sort of religious intolerance. Anti Shugden sentiments that the Tibetan exile government appears to be allowing is like tossing a grenade in a minefield.
I sincerely hope that His Holiness the Dalai Lama whom we at Kechara respect and bow our heads to, will not wait any longer to stamp out the very religious intolerance that His Holiness was commenting on.
Human rights, racial and religious Harmony are certainly the utmost importance in keeping with harmonious World Peace today. People of all walks of life, races, religions and nations are more tolerant of each other today. They are being encouraged to converge to instill religious and racial harmony in order to create World peace! Everyone of course believes and encourages to have a good religious harmony with each other, irrespective of whatever religion one belongs to! Like Pastor Tat Ming and Edwin Tan said with the worship of Dorje Shugden in Tibetan Buddhism, would it not be wonderful to have such religious harmony? His Holiness, The Dalai Lama, like all great teachers, always embodies what he teaches and practices what he preaches! Soon to be a receiver of the Liberty Medal in Recognition of his Advocacy of Human Rights in Philadelphia, U.S.A., would he not be upkeeping his policy of practicing what he teaches, by uplifting the ban of Dorje Shugden for the sake of religious harmony and loving Peace of Mind for all in a great Human family! Om Mani Padme Hung.
When I read this article from the BBC… a few things came to mind whiach are…
1) “majority of Hindus believed in religious harmony”, with all due respect to H.H. the Dalai Lama, but can we please replace the word Hindu with “Tibetans” and say “majority of Tibetans believed in religious harmony” and apply this on Dorje Shugden practitioners?
2) how about “intolerance” towards Dorje Shugden practitioners? why is there no mentioned about this issue which we’ve Shugden practitioners have endured for so long
3) It seems that everything that is being said by H.H. Dalai Lama these days tend to give negative connotation ever since H.H. made a huge mistake in making sexist statement puting down women saying if He does incarnate back as a women, he needs to be attractive otherwise useless!
4) Why is H.H. manifesting more and more “mistake” and “insensitive” remarks openly? Surely as an emanation of Chenrezig H.H. would know the result of His actions way before making them, no?
5) Since H.H. can make a mistake saying many insensitive, wrong things, then it is highly and most definitely possible that the ban and discrimination on Dorje Shugden and its practice could also be a big mistake.
The world is definitely watching His Holiness now and eagle eyes media are waiting for H.H. to make another wrong move, and unfortunately this will enhanced loosening their already loosen ties with the western super power nations like England etc. which we’re witnessing as we speak. Sorry to say this but it is just facts and the truth cannot be kept or modified forever, it will come out sooner or later and as we all know there is “karma”. So perhaps this is karma returning to those who has mistakenly condemned Dorje Shugden? I wonder…
I think it is high time the Central Tibetan Administration as a so called democratic administration should be smart to move quickly to correct their mistake in implementing a public discrimination on Dorje Shugden in all places and please stop denying there is ban… https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/to-sum-it-up.html
Instead apologise and announced officially the removal of all Dorje Shugden segregation and discriminating notices. Listen to good advice before it’s too late… https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/who-is-dorje-shugden-to-me.html
These are not the kind of actions a progressive ethical and democratic administration would carry out on their own people, what little that’s left as it just creates more disunit and disharmony. When you plant the seed of hatred, the results of your fruit will also be hatred.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama promotes kindness, compassion, tolerance, harmony, especially dialogue and non-violence approach to difficult issues which has won Him the Nobel Peace prize.
However, His stand on the Dorje Shugden practise is a highly controversial one. He has gone to the extend to dispel Dorje Shugden monks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnae54qIyCM which is a total contradiction with what He promotes globally.
Human beings has different mind that requires different religious practises. Hence the various religions on earth including the Dorje Shugden practise. For those of you who are new to this practise, you may like to viist https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/dorje-shugden for more information.
On behalf of the Dorje Shugden practitioners, I would like to plea His Holiness for a chance to have dialogue and lift this unnecessary ban once and for all!
“majority of Hindus believed in religious harmony”.~ His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama.
His Holiness Dalai Lama seemed to be aware that the Hindus in the Bihar state are beset by religious disharmony and intolerance.
Why is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama not concerned with the welfare of Dorje Shugden followers? His Holiness had initiated this 20-year-old ban on Dorje Shugden. The amount of sufferings is tremendous! There are so much disharmonies and intolerances within the Gelugpas, Tibetans and the worldwide Buddhist Communities due to this ban.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who is an emanation of the compassionate Buddha Avalokiteshsvara, Please lift the ban on Dorje Shugden now! Please restore love, peace and harmony in the Buddhist communities.
The World is getting “smaller”. We all know that since the advent of technology. Globalisation and the likes.
Exposure to the world wide web [internet] has given us more knowledge and news that seems “covered up”.
Religious harmony, racial harmony, human rights are all what we advocate now. Are we doing what we preach? Everywhere, people of all races, religions and nations converged, encouraging us to be more tolerant of one another. If we truly believe what we preach, peace will prevail everywhere.
Not being offensive to His Holiness, but if His Holiness believes in religious harmony… shouldn’t it be the same for Tibetan Buddhism?
Thank you.