The New York Times on Tibetan elections
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai)
Mudslinging Trumps the ‘Middle Way’ in Tibetan Exiles’ Election
By GEETA ANAND | MARCH 23, 2016
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/24/world/asia/dalai-lama-tibet-dharamsala.html
DHARAMSALA, India — It is often said that the lower the stakes, the more vicious the politics. And so it might be said of the just-concluded campaign for political leader of the Tibetan government in exile, which, given the exalted status of the Dalai Lama, was a bit like voting for the vice president to a sitting president.
The final round in the second election for a leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, as the exiled Tibetan government is known, concluded last weekend, though the results will not be known until April. Still, the proceedings showed just how hard it is to build a democracy under the leadership of a man who, though 80 years old, semiretired and dedicated to democratic principles, is revered as a Godlike figure by Tibetans.
Largely absent from the discussion in the campaign was the question of how to win freedom for the nearly six million Tibetans living in China, an issue that has consumed the exiled Tibetan community for almost six decades. It is viewed as disrespectful to the man the Tibetans call His Holiness to question the “middle way” strategy that he set in motion nearly 30 years ago, in which he softened his demand for independence, instead seeking self-governance within the Chinese government. It has been an effort to draw China into a dialogue that by most accounts has failed.
Instead, the election devolved into mudslinging and sycophancy. The hot topics were the audacity of the current political leader, Lobsang Sangay, who is running for re-election, to have his portrait displayed in the Washington office, and the drinking habits of his opponent, Penpa Tsering, the speaker of the exiled parliament.
The campaigns “have been tearing each other apart, harping on petty, trivial issues,” said Dhardon Sharling, 34, a member of the parliament, “when all we should be talking about is how we will resolve Tibetan’s issues, how we’ll take the Sino-Tibetan dialogue forward.”
Mr. Sangay, 48, was on the defensive from the start of his re-election campaign, forced to answer at every stop why he had put his own portrait on the wall of the group’s new Washington office instead of a picture of the Dalai Lama. It did him little good, it seemed, to explain that his portrait had been hung in the basement, and that there were 13 other pictures of the Dalai Lama in the Washington office.
The current Dalai Lama, who is part of the lineage of spiritual leaders of the Tibetan people that dates back to the 14th century, has been championing the cause of democracy for his people since he fled to India in 1959 after China claimed Tibet and began a campaign to repress its religion and culture. (He has refrained from commenting in this campaign, and few people know how closely he was following the dialogue on the elections. His secretaries did not respond to requests for interviews.)
He set up his residence and an exiled government outside of Dharamsala, in northern India. And as he promoted the cause of freedom for the people he had left behind, he gradually relinquished his own political authority. An exiled parliament was set up, a cabinet, and finally, in 2011, the job of an elected political leader, known as the sikyong, a role similar to prime minister.
Even as he gave up his political role, the Dalai Lama retained his position as the spiritual and cultural leader of the Tibetan people. A democratic election for a people without a country is a complicated affair, with voting in more than 40 locations in India, and dozens more around the globe. Registered voters number about 88,000, fewer than in most mayoral elections in the United States.
Mr. Sangay, in an interview in his Dharamsala office, where a life-size picture of the Dalai Lama hangs behind his desk, lamented the endless controversy over the portraits in Washington. “It’s the number one question I’m asked, the number one issue I clarify,” Mr. Sangay said.
In an interview, Mr. Tsering, 50, criticized Mr. Sangay for allowing his own portrait to be displayed, saying his opponent had been “brought up in a very Western style,” in which “image is very important.”
Mr. Tsering blamed his opponent’s supporters for circulating a picture of him at a book party years ago, drinking with friends. “They made it seem like I am always drinking, creating the impression I have a problem,” he said. Someone demanded at a campaign event that he pledge to give up alcohol if elected political leader, which he refused to do, he said, because he does not have a drinking problem.
Even as the free-for-all ensued in the election, a 16-year-old killed himself in early March by settling himself on fire in Dehradun, India, an eight-hour drive from Dharamsala, a reminder of the deep frustration in the exiled community over the lack of progress in winning any measure of freedom in Tibet. One hundred and forty-four Tibetans have killed themselves in this way during the past 20 years.
Despite the absence of their candidates in the election final, there is a vocal minority of voters who refuse to support the middle way strategy, favoring a fight for full independence.
Lukar Jam Atsok, 44, a writer who was imprisoned in China before escaping into India years ago, ran in the preliminary contest for political leader, arguing that the Dalai Lama could be considered a traitor for having given up full independence for Tibet in his negotiations with the Chinese.
“If a person does not believe in independence, whether he’s my father or the Dalai Lama, I do not agree with that person,” he said in Tibetan in an interview. “I am not saying the Dalai Lama is a traitor, but if you consider the political history, then he is one.”
But far from promoting a dialogue, Mr. Atsok’s comments prompted his public condemnation from Mr. Sangay and Mr. Tsering, and he was removed from the final vote. The election commission announced the day after the preliminary ballot that only the top two candidates would remain in the final election, eliminating Mr. Atsok. Sonam Choephel Shosur, the chief election commissioner, said that the only concern was to make the final a two-way runoff, and that the commission had decided on that before the votes were counted in the preliminary round.
Ms. Sharling, the lawmaker, said regardless of the motivation, the election commission’s behavior “made the election smell foul.” She said that Mr. Atsok had gone too far in his criticism of the Dalai Lama, but that pro-independence voices needed to be heard.
“This is binary thinking and is wrong,” said Ms. Sharling. “I fight against it and I get labeled anti-Dalai Lama.”
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai)
Dear friends,
The New York Times recently published this article providing succinct coverage of the ongoing Tibetan elections. Unlike the Reuters special report, the New York Times coverage was accurate and balanced, using easily identifiable sources of information to highlight aspects where the Tibetan electoral process has fallen short.
The way in which the campaigns have been carried out reflects the petty nature of those involved. Instead of focusing on real issues which affect the Tibetan people, for example education and the preservation of Tibetan culture, the campaigns degenerated into exercises of character assassination.
One would expect that an event of such importance for the Tibetan people would be conducted with some decorum. If however an event of such importance can degenerate into mud-slinging and name-calling, where none of the pertinent issues were discussed, do we need to wonder how day-to-day proceedings in the Tibetan parliament are conducted? Do we need to question why the Tibetan leadership have failed to achieve any of their socio-political objectives over the last 60 years, and have failed to secure the welfare of their people?
Supporters of the Tibetan leadership may argue that democracy is new to Tibetan society, hence the struggle to implement it among their people. If we examine this statement from another angle however, it can also be said that the current state of Tibetan politics reflects an ongoing pattern of corruption and scandal that was brought over from Tibet. After all, pre-1959 Tibet was hardly a model of democracy and there are reports aplenty of a feudally-led, medievally-minded system of punishment and justice.
Hence in the 21st century, the Tibetan leadership are still unable to implement any markers of democracy – for example, elections – without incorporating some aspect of corruption. The chief election commissioner, Sonam Choephel Shosur’s statement is evidence for this – he stated that his only concern is to ensure a two-way runoff, where his real concern should actually be to ensure free and fair elections.
The New York Times article was also a platform for those who have been silenced by the Tibetan leadership. The article highlighted what is probably the most damaging accusation that can be directed against any Tibetan – anything that does not match the views of the establishment is labelled as anti-Dalai Lama, and therefore deemed evil, disloyal and unfit to succeed or lead.
The most prominent example of this is the case of Lukar Jam Atsok who had run his campaign on a platform of full independence for Tibet. This was in stark contrast to the other candidates, who made it known they supported His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach. After the preliminary ballots, Lukar Jam was removed from the election race, having already been publically condemned by the other candidates as being anti-Dalai Lama.
Similarly, Dhardon Sharling, an incumbent member of parliament, spoke about her experience in speaking up against the election commission’s behaviour. She too noted that she had been labelled as anti-Dalai Lama for daring to speak up against their rulings. Even the incumbent Sikyong himself, Lobsang Sangay, experienced this when it was intimated he is anti-Dalai Lama for not hanging His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s portrait in his Washington office.
In countries with a more mature understanding of democracy, this portrait topic would be a non-issue, being so small, insignificant and irrelevant to the welfare of the people. So the fact Lobsang Sangay even had to defend himself on this point, saying he had 13 other portraits hanging elsewhere in the office, is ridiculous. It speaks for the lack of maturity in the Tibetan leadership’s understanding of democratic principles, that such a petty topic could be used by the candidates to distract their people from the lack of discussion of the real issues. It was nothing more than a manipulation of the Tibetan people’s loyalty for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, exploiting this loyalty against them so they would be distracted from asking tough questions like “What are you actually going to do for us and our wellbeing?”
Ms Sharling’s experience also suggests a potentially growing internal conflict among members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Ms Sharling’s criticism is not the first by an incumbent member of parliament. Another recently-former member of parliament, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, recently resigned from her position as Minister of Information and International Relations so that she could freely express her dissatisfaction and opinions with the way the elections were being conducted. Ms Chhoyang’s feelings towards the elections, her passion for the Tibetan people’s future and her lack of faith in the leadership were all so strong that she felt she had to RESIGN from the leadership in order to speak freely!
For anyone to feel obliged quit so that their views can be taken seriously, and so their views can make a difference, is not a good reflection of the state of the Tibetan leadership.
Given this understanding of the state of the Tibetan leadership, it is clear to see that there is little future for the Tibetan people in exile after His Holiness the Dalai Lama enters clear light. Broad-minded, well-spoken candidates like Ms Chhoyang do not want to get involved with the establishment and do not want to run for the leadership position; those who are broad-minded, well-spoken and DO want to become a leader like Lukar Jam are ostracised and rudely denied the opportunity.
So what is in it for Lobsang Sangay and Penpa Tsering then, since other intelligent and broad-thinking individuals are opting out of the race? Why do they cling so hard to the potential to become leader of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile? One cannot help but consider the possibility of benefits and kick-backs from being in the Sikyong position, benefits which Lobsang Sangay and Penpa Tsering apparently value more dearly than other incumbent members of the Tibetan leadership-in-exile.
It would certainly explain why these two fight so hard to retain and / or acquire the Sikyong position, to the point of employing tactics like arbitrary rules designed to exclude other candidates from running. Their motivation is not for the welfare of Tibet and her people. Unlike Ms Chhoyang who quit the leadership to make an impact with her intelligent, incisive speeches to HELP the Tibetan people to decide, Lobsang Sangay and Penpa Tsering continue to fight tooth and nail for the position, strangely without ever uttering a word about what they will do for the Tibetan community!
As the New York Times points out, their manifestos and what they will do for the Tibetan community has been sidelined by petty issues like Lobsang Sangay’s lack of Dalai Lama portraits and Penpa Tsering’s supposed alcoholism. This is also how the welfare of the Tibetan community has been sidelined by the Tibetan leadership for the last 60 years. After all, if there were no perks to the position, the focus would have been the Tibetan people’s welfare. And had their welfare (and not the perks) been the focus, the Tibetan communities throughout India today would not continue to languish after 60 years with poor literacy rates, employment opportunities, and medical and social welfare.
Supporters of the Tibetan leadership should keep in mind that all of this is the result of their investment in the leadership for the last 60 years. Is it wise to continue investing in a regime that has made such little progress in their political and social goals, and a leadership that continues to malign, suppress and ostracise their own people who are deemed to be against the status quo like Lukar Jam, Ms Sharling and Shugden practitioners? If the Tibetan leadership continues to approach divergent views with hostility (much less apprehension and suspicion), they will soon find their supporters decreasing in number, virility and influence.
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- China officially supports Dorje Shugden
- Reuters Anti-Dorje Shugden Report Backfires
- Reuters Investigation on Dorje Shugden Inaccurate?
- Dalai Lama, China & Dorje Shugden
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story (多杰雄登:我这方面的说法)
- To Sum It Up
- Dorje Shugden people
- This happened in the USA
- I can speak up now about Shugden
- Mr. Lukar Jam
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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
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
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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
“The 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche of Bhutan and Dorje Shugden” blog post which was published June 8, 2018 already has exactly at the moment 152,744 views!! Over 150k views!!! Amazing!! The views will keep growing as time elapses of course.
This indicates many Bhutanse and Buddhists around the world will now know that Dorje Shugden is connected to Bhutan and their Kagyu Lineage. Dorje Shugden was promoted by the highest lama of Bhutan namely the 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche himself. So Dorje Shugden will help and protect anyone and is not sectarian as they accuse him to be. People in the Kagyu school of Buddhism also practised Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden assisted them lovingly. Dorje Shugden being an emanation of Manjushri will help anyone who calls upon him regardless of their background and religion.
Good job to our writers, researchers, editors, technical team, supporting team and Kechara people who promoted this blog post on social media. Now more will come to understand how pervasive Dorje Shugden is in all the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism although the Tibetan leadership in-exile tries to hide this truth. Thank you everyone for promoting Dorje Shugden to benefit many. We were all very harmonious before the unethical ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Since the inception of the ban in 1996, there has been no benefits and instead so much disharmony among Tibetan Buddhists around the world. Many hundreds have spoken up about this point where we want harmony back. There should never be a ban against any spiritual practice.
Tsem Rinpoche
Blog post- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=160863
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于2018年6月8日发表的《不丹国第四世夏仲仁波切与多杰雄登》的博文至今已经有 152,744次的浏览量!!也就是超过了15万次的浏览量!!这个数字肯定还会随着时间而增长。
这表示很多不丹人和全世界的佛教徒现在已经知道了多杰雄登和不丹以及他们的噶举派传承是有紧密联系的。多杰雄登是被不丹的最高级别的喇嘛夏仲仁波切本身所推崇的。这显示了多杰雄登是会帮助和保护任何人的,而祂不是像他人所指控那样的充满宗派主义。佛教的噶举派的修行者也修持多杰雄登,而多杰雄登也很怀爱地帮助他们。多杰雄登是文殊菩萨的化身,祂将无视任何宗教和背景地去帮助任何召唤祈请祂的人们。
我们的写作、搜集资料,编辑、技术、辅助等的人员们和推广这篇博文的克切拉人们,你们做得好!虽然流亡藏人领袖们尝试掩盖事实,但现在更多的人将了解到多杰雄登在所有藏传佛教的传承中是多么的普及了。感谢大家努力推广多杰雄登以造福大众。在这个不道德的多杰雄登禁令出现之前,我们都是很和谐融洽的。自从禁令在1996年开始之后,它为全世界的藏传佛教徒没有带来任何利益,而只有更多的不和谐。成千上万的人已经对该禁令发声,要求重建和谐。对于任何心灵修行,是从来就不该有任何禁令的。
詹杜固仁波切
博文网址: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/l/cn/dorje-shugden/the-4th-zhabdrung-rinpoche-of-bhutan-and-dorje-shugden-cn.html
His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche’s incarnation is in Lhasa visiting. He is visiting the 350-year-old Trode Khangsar chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden. He is paying homage to the powerful statue of Dorje Shugden housed in this sacred chapel. Both the chapel and statue of Dorje Shugden were commissioned by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama. The Great 5th Dalai Lama also composed a prayer to be recited daily to Dorje Shugden.
Dagom Rinpoche’s previous lives were great masters, scholars and practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Now this new incarnation of Dagom Rinpoche is offering gold on the face of Dorje Shugden in homage and worship to this very sacred statue of Dorje Shugden housed in Lhasa for the last 350 years. This is a very traditional Tibetan method of paying homage to holy images, which is by offering gold with prayers.
The Tibetan leadership wrongly says if you practise Dorje Shugden you will take rebirth into the three lower realms. Hundreds of lamas from the Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa schools of Buddhism have practised Dorje Shugden and their incarnations returned. Many of the incarnations are recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. So this shows if you practise Dorje Shugden, only benefits come and no harm will come. The very fact Dagom Rinpoche’s incarnation is back, is clear evidence that Dorje Shugden’s practice is beneficial.
May Dagom Rinpoche’s current incarnation live a very long life.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
YouTube High resolution video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THbGknXcLbo
Trode Khangsar – A 400 year old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=92148[/color]
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尊贵的扎贡仁波切的现任转世正在拜访拉萨。他拜访了一座供奉给多杰雄登并且拥有350年历史的护法殿”布旦康萨”。他在向这座神圣护法殿里的强大多杰雄登像顶礼。该座护法殿和多杰雄登圣像是由第五世达赖喇嘛指示而造的。伟大的第五世达赖喇嘛也亲笔撰写了多杰雄登的每日祈愿文。
扎贡仁波切的前几世都是伟大的上师,学者兼多杰雄登的修持者。现在扎贡仁波切的现任转世在为这尊已经安奉在拉萨350年并且非常神圣的多杰雄登圣像的脸上供养金漆,以示顶礼和膜拜。这种供养金并祈愿的做法是西藏为圣像顶礼非常传统的做法。
流亡藏人领袖们说如果你修持多杰雄登就将投生三恶道,那是错误的。佛教派系——萨迦派、噶举派、格鲁派的上百名喇嘛们都修持了多杰雄登,而且他们也都转世回来了,而其中有很多转世还是达赖喇嘛亲自认证的。这明显显示了如果你修持多杰雄登,是百利无一弊的。扎贡仁波切转世回来了,就已经是很确凿的证据显示多杰雄登的修持是有利的。
愿今世的扎贡仁波切健康长寿。
詹杜固仁波切
blog.sina.com.cn/zhandugu
YouTube高清视频- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THbGknXcLbo
拉萨400年历史的多杰雄登护法殿—布旦康萨- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=92148
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
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is in Dharamsala, which is broken into two parts. Upper Dharamsala is where the Dalai Lama’s palace is located with his audience room and main prayer hall. It is also the location of the Dialectics School, Gaden Shartse’s guesthouse, restaurants, tourist hotels and main tourist areas.
A short ride down takes you to the lower part of Dharamsala where the Tibetan government is located. It is the location of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Nechung monastery, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, the Tibetan arts centre…it’s all in one area. And the reason why it’s split into upper and lower Dharamsala is because the area is mountainous.
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives was established by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government to preserve all the ancient texts – both secular and spiritual – of Tibet and in the process, translate them into various languages like English. This book, Overview of Buddhist Tantra, by Panchen Sonam Drakpa was one of the books translated into English. What’s very interesting is that the book very clearly says that Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s previous life is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, one of the five main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa. It also says that after that, he was Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen.
So the book is basically saying that Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen – the three Drakpas – are of the same mindstream.
Now that’s very peculiar because if Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s previous life is Panchen Sonam Drakpa, the renowned composer of 45 volumes of Dharma texts, the abbot of three monasteries AND the 15th Gaden Tripa, the holder of Lama Tsongkhapa’s throne…if that’s the case, how can Panchen Sonam Drakpa take rebirth as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and become an evil spirit and have a negative mind?
Prior to Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, he was Panchen Sonam Drakpa and before that, he was Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, a heart disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa. How can a heart disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa reincarnate as the erudite master Panchen Sonam Drakpa, and then die and reincarnate as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen…and then Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, due to a bad and negative prayer, become the evil spirit Dorje Shugden? How is that possible? Logically, it’s not.
What’s incredible is that all of this was printed by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives under the Dalai Lama’s guidance. They contradict themselves because on one hand, the Tibetan leaders say Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit. On the other hand they’re printing a book saying that Panchen Sonam Drakpa, whose later incarnation became Dorje Shugden, is of this illustrious mindstream.
So how can the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which is under the auspices of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government, print the translation of a book composed by the previous incarnation of a so-called evil spirit? How can they then say in the book that Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s previous life is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, and his next life was Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen?
Prior to the Dorje Shugden ban and controversy, everyone in Tibet knew that Dorje Shugden is Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, that Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen is Panchen Sonam Drakpa, and that Panchen Sonam Drakpa is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen. The three Drakpas, they are one mindstream emanating again and again to benefit other beings.
And as we all know, Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen became Dorje Shugden so it totally doesn’t make sense to call him an evil spirit, then highlight all of his previous lives as erudite masters, and publish all of this information under their own library. So you can see the contradictions. You can read all of this for yourself in Overview of Buddhist Tantra, which was printed by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
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OVERVIEW OF BUDDHIST TANTRA
GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE CLASSES OF TANTRA,
CAPTIVATING THE MINDS OF THE FORTUNATE ONES
rgyud sde spyi’i rnam par bzhag pa
skal bzang gi yid ‘phrog ces bya ba bzhugs so
BY
PANCHEN SONAM DRAGPA
(Pan-chen bSod-nams grags-pa, 1478-1554)
O Choje Sonam Dragpa Pel! (Chos-rje bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal!)
In the vast expanse of Your bodhi-mind,
The mind that the Buddhas have lauded for as many as
one hundred times,
You have developed “merit” shining like the sun.
Through Your skill in learning, debate and writing,
As illuminating as one hundred thousand sun rays,
You have developed in You a complete knowledge of
the entire sutras and tantras,
Resembling a garden of flowers in full bloom.
The power of Your speech is like the sun;
The fame of your name has reached the three realms of
this world.
O Sonam Dragpa, the teacher of teachers!
I bow down at your feet.
In the vast garden of Your great teachings,
The intelligent young people gather for
The ‘six ultimates’ and the ‘four modes of transmission,’
Just as they are attracted to
The one hundred thousand types of nectar
Dripping from a flower of one hundred petals.
May I be able to experience
The taste of the secret tantra!
Panchen Choje Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen Chos-rje bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal), the holder of sutra and Vajrayana teachings, was a master whose outstanding learning and spiritual accomplishments are well known by all the learned ones in Tibet. His first incarnation came in the form of one of the five prestigious disciples of Lord Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa) and became known as Vinaya Holder (Dulzin) Dragpa Gyaltsen (Gragspa rgyal-mtshan). Then came Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal), the author of the present text. The next was Nagri Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen (mNga’-ris sPrul-sku Grags-pa rgyal-mtshan). In this way, a line of his incarnations, each with the Dragpa (gragspa) surname, followed successively.
Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) was born in the 14th century in Tsetang (rTsed-thang) in the Lhoka (Lho-kha) region of Central Tibet. He entered the great seat of learning, Sera Thekchenling (Se-ra theg-chen-gling) monastic university, where he became the personal disciple of spiritual master Donyo Dangden (Dhon-yod dang-ldan) and His Holiness the Second Dalai Lama Gedun Gyatso (dGe-‘dun rgya-mtsho). Under them, he studied the entire teachings of sutra, tantra and their commentaries, and became known for his outstanding learning. He also received from them the empowerments, reading transmissions, guides and instructions of the entire body of spiritual training. On becoming the fully blessed one, the Dalai Lama appointed him the abbot of the Loseling (Blo-gsalgling) college, one of the four colleges of Drepung (‘Bras-dpung)- the most prestigious monastic university in Tibet before 1959, with over 10,000 monks on its register. He continued to be the abbot of this college for the next six years; and after him the tenure for each of his successors in this position was fixed for a period of six years, a rule that is followed even today.
He was then appointed the head of the Gelugpa (dGe-lugs-pa) order, the throne holder of Gaden (dGa’-ldan), thus becoming the 15th regent of Lord Tsongkhapa (Tsong-khapa), the second Buddha. In his eulogy to him, Khedrub Gelek Pelsang (mKhas-grub dGe-legs dpal- bzang) says:
O Lama, the second successor of the Unsubduable One,
The regent of the Lord of Dharma,
You are the one who made the virtuous qualities thrive;
You are the one who ascended to the golden throne uplifted
by the fearless lions.
May Your success thrive forever!
He continued to be the throne holder for the next seven years, during which time he promoted the spread of Lord Tsongkhapa’s (Tsong-kha-pa) precious teachings, the Gelug (dGe-lugs) tradition, across the land in all directions. He also paid special attention to the practice of monastic rules and the learning and meditation of Buddhism in the monasteries such as Sera (Se-ra), Drepung (‘Bras-spungs), Kyomolung (sKyo-mo-lung), Phagmo Chode (Phag-mo chos-sde), Nyeding (Nye-sdings), Ödna (’Od-sna) and Chöde Rinchen (Chos-sde rin-chen) etc. and improved them to a great extent. He taught the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso (bSod-nams rGya-mtsho) as the latter’s spiritual master. It was from him that the Dalai Lama received the name Sonam (bSod-nams).
His contributions in the literary field are enormous; and, indeed, they are the most valuable of all his contributions. Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa) has rightly said:
Of all one’s deeds,
The ‘deeds of speech’ are the most valuable.
Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) was a person with an extraordinary talent for teaching, debate and writing. In his colophon to Bu mey chi don zab don sel wey dron mey (dBu ma’i spyi don zab don gsal ba’i sgron me), he wrote:
In the field of teaching, I am [next to none!] Knowing that
I would outdo them in this field, Arya Asanga and his
brother transmigrated into another realm.
In the field of debate, I am [next to none!] Knowing that
I would find out the areas they had contradicted and
that I would examine them and put forth my arguments,
the logician Dignaga (Digh-naga) and Dharmakirti tactfully
bypassed me.
In the field of writing, I am [next to none!] [In my eyes,]
Arya-sura was just good at spreading the works, which
are like ‘disputes~ between an insect and a field.’
I am the learned man. Peerless in the field of teaching,
debate and writing!
For some this passage might sound utterly nonsensical, but the most learned master of our age, the talented teacher, logician and writer, the late tutor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Yongdzin Trijang Dorjechang (Yongs-‘dzin Khri-byang rDorje-‘Chang), said: “Now, some people of our time, who consider themselves learned scholars, think that this is utter nonsense; but they are wrong.”
Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) wrote over 45 volumes of books dealing with many different subjects, such as the commentaries on the sutras and tantras, the saddhana manuals of the tutelary deities, history, religious history and so forth. Among these, one that is very important for all who wish to learn and meditate on the path-of the practical aspect of Buddhism in general and that of Vajrayana in particular is the Leg shey gyu de chi nam par shagpa kelsang gi yi trod (Legs bshad rgyud sde spyi’i rnam par bzhag pa skal bzang gi yid ‘phrod). In this book, he has explained precisely how the four tantras differ from one another. He has also fully described the stages of the two spontaneous path practices of the Vajrayana tradition, dealing with the ‘six ultimates’ and the ‘four modes of transmission’, thus interpreting without mistake the intention of Adhi-Buddha Vajradhara.
May the reprint of this text, which the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is publishing herewith, bring peace and happiness in this world!
Prof. Nawang Jinpa
St. Joseph’s College
Darjeeling
January 24 1996
The way the CTA representatives conduct themselves during election time and whilst they are in power is reflective of the level of mind they have, which is quite similar to village people mentality.
A Daily Request for Wealth, Peace and Protection
Composed by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
In the heavens there are myriad manifestations of the divine. All those manifestations specifically show us different aspects of divinity in order to be of benefit to all living beings. All the rupakaya forms of the divine have compassion, skillful means and wisdom. We invoke upon them whether we are happy, sad, down, lost, fulfilled, confused, empty, and during the whole range of emotions we constantly experience due to an untrained mind.
Understanding our nature, Great Wisdom Being Dorje Shugden, therefore all the more so, please hold us close to your bosom as an only child to a parent.
Though the manifestations of the divine need no offerings and gifts from us, we offer you supreme Manjushri Dorje Shugden a libation of tea, incense and mantras, in order to ask you to bless us, to be a part of our lives, to abide in our dwellings and to give us signs, omens and portents of both good and bad. When the negative arises, quell them immediately. Please increase the positive for my weary and worn mind as I lay my hopes in you.
When difficulties, problems and confusion arise, we ask you, who is but the culmination of all that is powerful, holy and omniscient to bless myself, family, loved ones, environment and even my pets. May I see wisdom, find hope, and be at peace.
I request you, O Divine Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, who wears a round dome hat and the three robes of a saffroned bhikshu, who wields a sword of liberty, justice and wisdom and clutches a wish-fulfilling jewel, who rides on a supreme lion of subjugation of all that is negative, to fulfill my wishes. I understand my wishes may not be the best, so I surrender to your wisdom for the outcome though it may not be what I have in mind. Please bless myself and everyone that we may enter into the supreme city of liberation.
Great Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, I request you sincerely from my heart to be a part of my life, bless my home, and grant me wisdom, solace and comfort, that I might be of service to others without agenda, and that I may focus out onto others and not be fixated on myself, creating more problems for all that I hold dear.
Bless me to become kinder, wiser, more compassionate, tolerant and very forgiving to all those who hurt and love me. In order to become close to you, Dorje Shugden, we must surrender the banal. We must abandon fixed views, projections and rigidity. Lastly, in my final moment when I leave this plane of existence, only the positive actions I have done will matter as everything and everyone will be left behind. Let me realise this and act upon this now! At this crucial moment, please may I have a vision of yourself, the powerful and merciful Dorje Shugden, to take me to where I may course in the sky to continue my journey of spiritual waxing.
I offer you saffron-coloured tea and my faith to fulfill my prayers and gain siddhis. By reciting your mantra, may healing, peace, love, long life, protection and perfect view of sunyata arise.
Mantra of fulfillment, peace and wisdom:
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
(It is good to recite this mantra daily as much as you like or your timing allows.)
I dedicate this supreme heartfelt prayer to the all-knowing Celestial and Supreme Protector Dorje Shugden, that I may quickly become a being of light, compassion, love and enlightenment.
Please play the audio included here to follow along with the prayer.
OR
Follow on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-OSudd323A
For more information, go to: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=61394
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1538813324.mp4
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
Many come to Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia to make offerings and prayers to the increase form of Dorje Shugden who appears like a prince and rides on a golden horse. Many report having their wishes fulfilled and return many times. Am happy to see this. Tsem Rinpoche
You can learn more about this form of Dorje Shugden here: https://bit.ly/2wxQyes
and
See video of this chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEK35F_O5Hg
In the emerald forest there lies magical beings and powerful entities of old. There are beautiful gentle creatures of the forest such as deers, rabbits, owls and so on. Faeries, little people, elves, dwarves, trolls and other magnificent worldly and other-worldly beings of mystical origins who nurture and look over the natural world call this place their home. These supernatural beings, who remain hidden to ordinary view and are rarely seen together, have gathered to herald the arrival of the World Peace Guardian Dorje Shugden within the ethereal realm. Paying homage to the divine king they welcome him, the supreme being whose body shines with the light of magnificence and abides in benevolent wisdom. He who has come from the pinnacle of the celestial dimensions, he has the dominion over men and gods. All beings in this and other worlds have gathered to pay homage and to receive blessings, abundance and counsel.
Shugden the divine king, at last has drawn near,
He offers a new life so clear,
With a silent prayer he offers the golden stair,
Sing praises, does the emerald forest all cheer.
Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha
To see other beautiful portrayals of Dorje Shugden, click here: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
COMPASSION at its best: His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained in Ladakh, 31 July 2018:
“Usually at the beginning of an empowerment there is a ritual to drive away interferences. But I no longer feel it’s consistent to regard some beings as evil forces. At the start of each day I cultivate altruism, but in the evening we say, ‘May the evil forces be driven away.’ There seems to be a contradiction here that I’m no longer keen to comply with. I’m not highly realized, but I have great confidence in the power of Bodhichitta.”
Source: https://bit.ly/2wVsqSb
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This latest statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is excellent. I fully believe in his compassion and I hope he will fully implement it.
All negative beings take rebirth with negative minds due to deep attachments. The attachments result in negative states of rebirth and angry minds that carry out harmful actions, like spirits or hungry ghosts who can be very bothersome because they are very angry as they died in the state of attachment in their former rebirths.
Indeed we need to generate compassion towards these beings, especially the formless type, as it would be the best remedy to stop their harm. We can recite mantras with love and bless them with it. While reciting prayers, we can meditate on them being at peace. When we generate compassion towards these harmful interferences of the formless type, many of them will calm down and stop their harm and even go away. Some of them, you can talk to them and subdue their harm and they will stop harming completely if they feel your love. That is how you can help them.
Many high masters of India and Tibet generated great compassion towards certain ghosts, spirits or interferers and subdued them in this manner and even made them into protectors of regions. I’ve witnessed this with one of my lamas where he subdued a female spirit that crossed over the Himalayas. After making the spirit promise it will not harm others, my lama gave the spirit a drink to seal the promise.
Since the Dalai Lama has manifested saying Dorje Shugden is negative (although many high lamas disagree), then he can apply this method to Dorje Shugden. He can ‘subdue’ Dorje Shugden by generating tremendous love, prayers and talking nice to Dorje Shugden who will be ‘subdued’. Then people are henceforth ‘free’ to practice Dorje Shugden without more discrimination, segregation and being called degrading names for practicing this protector.
Give peace a chance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama can generate great love towards Dorje Shugden and all the hundreds of thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners that love the Dalai Lama and miss him like I do. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama bring peace and heal the rift with Dorje Shugden practitioners.
May His Holiness live very long and always be healthy,
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Reading- https://bit.ly/2wWQGUh
The Tibetan Government has been doing their evil ways since the 5th Dalai lama’s era. They have been eliminating potential threats to His Holiness’s power and fame and removing them using dirty tricks if not murdering them. This has happened quite frequently in the history of Tibetan politics.
One of the most famous “threat” to His Holiness Dalai Lama’s position was during the era of the 5th Dalai Lama. Back then, the His Holiness had just formed the government and hence it was not stable yet. His Holiness’s attendants and followers are extremely sensitive and would do anything to make sure His Holiness stays in power. At that time, there is another lama with the name of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who is very famous and learned and is comparable to His Holiness. He has a lot of audiences and a lot of powerful people went to seek his advice and soon the number of people seeking audience is even more than His Holiness. Hence, the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama plotted the assassination of the High Lama. They succeeded in the end and the lineage of the high lama was banned to avoid his incarnation being found.
This is how evil the Tibetan Government was even in the ancient times. It has not been different ever since and now the current government has created a lot of schism in the Buddhist world in various sects. In Kagyu sect, they created 3 Karmapas to fight for the throne and the followers in the sect have since been fighting with each other supporting their own choice of Karmapa. In Gelug, the ban the practice of Dorje Shugden calling him a demon and cause a lot of disharmony and segregation.
All of these are done just to split the Tibetans up so that there will not be a large group that is strong and powerful enough to threaten their power. So all these democratic talks are fake and just a name they label themselves to get more sympathy and donation from democratic western countries.
Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s murder:
Murder in Drepung Monastery: Depa Norbu
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for sharing this article and your comment about Tibetan Leadership. There is clearly no democracy element in this government. Mr Lukar has been removed from election just because his statement is against Dalai Lama. In a democratic country everyone has the freedom of speech and protect his people. But all these are contrary in Tibetan Leadhership which it brings shame to them. They can’t keep putting this wrongdoings aside. Their people will realise and fight against the discrimination and unjust action. A good government is a government that care for the people and take all measures to develop the country. Thank you New York Times for publishing the true state in the Tibetan in exile government.
Is very heartbreaking to read about how the Tibetan leardership ( CTA ) mixing religion with politics for their own agenda. Due to their selfishness, many of the Tibetan in exile suffered over the decades and worst still with the banning of Dorje Shugden made as scape goat. The Tibetan leadership have been exploiting their people more than 60 years. They are still unable to improve the situation and still depending on funds which they misused it instead for the people welfare . The New York Times article highlighted the truth about what is really happening with the exile Tibetan leadership. The New York Times published this article providing concise details of the on going Tibetan elections. That’s great as more people will be aware and speaking up against the behaviour of the Tibetan leadership .
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for sharing this .
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
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
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.
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
Since Tsem Rinpoche began speaking openly about Dorje Shugden and imparting accurate and invaluable information about the Protector, there has been noticeable shift in the attitude of the public towards the Protector. This comment by Suzy on Rinpoche’s YouTube channel is yet another indicator that despite the ban persisting, people are now beginning to see the benefits of this ancient and holy practice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s
Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, Tibet
Over 400 years ago a great and learned lama Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was famed in Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and China for being very saintly and compassionate. He resided in his residence (Zimkhang Gongma Ladrang) in Drepung Monastery. His root guru was H.H. the Omniscient 4th Panchen Lama and his close dharma brother was the 5th Dalai Lama.
The 5th Dalai Lama and Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had a very close and dharmic relationship and often went to receive teachings together from the 4th Panchen Lama. They were close in age. They both became very learned and well known. During this time, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as a Dharma King of Tibet. But more people went to see Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen for teachings, initiations and divinations. This made the attendants of the 5th Dalai Lama feel threatened that Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s fame might usurp the power of the 5th Dalai Lama. So they had a khata forced down his throat. At that moment, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen dissolved his psychic winds and generated the wish to be a great guardian of Buddha and Tsongkapa’s teachings. As his consciousness dissolved, he entered ‘bardo’ as a dharma protector of the highest order (jikten depey sungma). Many signs were seen throughout Lhasa at this time and the earth was said to have shaken in Lhasa. This event was already predicted to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s previous incarnation when he was one of the 8 main disciples of Lord Tsongkapa the Supreme Master and he served Tsongkapa directly by building Gaden Monastery.
When the 5th Dalai Lama heard what his scheming and power-hungry attendants had done, he was very distressed. He was very sorry Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen was murdered and dishonored as he was a great dharma master. The 5th Dalai Lama composed an apology to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen. In Lhasa, tens of thousands gathered for the cremation of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s holy body. During the cremation, the 5th Dalai Lama’s apology was read out at which flames spontaneously arose from the body of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen commencing the cremation. From the body, during cremation, a powerful whirlwind of smoke tunneled into the sky for all to see as this was an indication Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen’s consciousness has arisen as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. The Dharma Protector Setrap immediately recognized this new protector Dorje Shugden and ‘enthroned’ him as a powerful Dharma Protector in the realm of the Buddhas. From this, Setrap and Dorje Shugden are closely connected and very close working hand in hand always. After the cremation, the great 5th Dalai Lama built a Dorje Shugden chapel on the spot the cremation took place and named it Trode Khangsar. The 5th Dalai Lama commissioned the statue of Dorje Shugden in this chapel and had monks installed in the chapel to do continuous propitiations to Dorje Shugden. Trode Khangsar Chapel was a commemoration to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who was wronged and also a celebration of his consciousness arising as the World Peace Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
This Trode Khangsar Chapel still exists now in Lhasa where many make pilgrimages there. It is in good condition and was recently renovated. It is over 400 years old and a testimony to the respect the Great 5th Dalai Lama had to Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen who arose as Dorje Shugden.
I have visited this holy chapel in Lhasa years back. I’ve never heard of it till I was in Lhasa and by chance, I was told about it which I was happy to visit. I could not find the place but strangely a bunch of pilgrims from Amdo told me they would show me how to get there in Lhasa.
This short video is a short clip of this holy Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa today commemorating Dorje Shugden, built by the great 5th Dalai Lama. The great 5th Dalai Lama even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden which is still available today and we can recite to invoke the blessings, protection, and assistance of World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden.
Tsem Rinpoche
Read more: Trode Khangsar – A 400-year-old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/trode-khangsar-%E2%80%93-a-400-year-old-dorje-shugden-chapel-in-lhasa.html
Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTybDwTeLAM
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The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to Dorje Shugden
HUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!
Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinoceros leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamos of the charnel grounds, praise to you!
Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favourite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!
Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!
Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!
From: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/the-5th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden
Tibetan prayer from: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-14th-dalai-lamas-prayer-to-dorje-shugden.html
It is in the best ‘self’ interest of the people within CTA to keep their people, the Tibetans in exile who are ignorant and not aware of the reality of how dire their situation truly is.
There are no high levels or low levels negotiation between, China and CTA, so what kind of hope is there for the Tibetans in exile?
I also think, there is a calculated reason why the 2 candidates did not have clear manifestoes of how they wish to benefit the Tibetan, they have no idea and no method to benefit and make things better for the Tibetans in exile, sixty years of being in exile and nothing to show for it.
Not only that, the CTA creates more difficulties for the Tibetans with the Dorje Shudgen issues, the 2 Karmapa Issues, and more recently issues with Drukpa Kagyus monasteries being taken over Karma Kagyus, the list goes on and on. Relying on CTA is just going to be a bigger and deeper hole for the Tibetans in exile. Unless and until we do away with the CTA, Tibetans in exile will have no hope and no peace.
Dear Pastor Jean thank you for this article, Its sad to see corrupted selfish minds within the exiled Tibetan government doing harm to its people and Buddha dharma. Om Benza wiki bithana soha
Dear Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai,
Thank you for sharing this article. It is sad to see that religion had been used as a weapon in political affairs. Due to the selfishness of those people, innocent and faithful devotees have to suffer.
Tibetans have to have a sense of logical thinking and not blindly follow their faith. Because of their ignorance of what is actually happening around them, this gives those despicable people a chance to manipulate them.
Ay Dorje Shugden Ban be lifted as soon as possible.
Chris
Thanks Pastor Jean Ai for sharing. From the articles, I found out that CTA really no democracy at all.Mr Lukar jam Atsok been removed from election after he said Dalai Lama is traitor in political. Lukar Jam Atsok always promote independence of CTA .
From the New York Times, it show that Tibet leadership can’t bring much welfare to Tibetan but corruption is getting higher.why tibetan still trust on Dalai Lama?i wish Tibetan will have a better future by change of leadership .
It is clear to note from the observations of the New York Times report on the democratic election of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) there is no choice for the Tibetan people in exile. My opinion is based on the following points:
1) No one except those who are supposed to be supportive of the existing policies are allowed to be candidates for election to office.
2) Both Lobsang Sangay and Penpa Tsering are sitting high level officers of the existing government.
3) Any new candidates that have a notion of what can be different from the last 60 years are not allowed to stand for election.
4) No news of the real manifesto of the candidates are known except of their personal lack of good conduct. If good conduct is to be considered a virtue for public office, these 2 will probably not qualify.
5) Resignation of clear thinking Tibetans from the government as they are not impactful in what is right for way forward in negotiations with China.
Democracy is non existent in this whole pretence of free election and I believe the plight of Tibetans in exile will be soon be an issue that the world will see as just an excuse for corruption and disorder. History will repeat itself and Tibetans in exile will have a future as they have seen of the last 60 years. Very sad.
Tibetan elections are said to still reflect an ongoing pattern of corruptions, scandals and character assasination, purportedly brought over from Tibet since pre-1959. Tibet was seen to be hardly a model of democracy, but said to be still having feudally-led medivally system where no election exists without incorporating some aspects of corruptions and unnecessary conflicts. It is said that China is seen moving towards an excellent direction and needs time to work out her democractic principles according to her culture, and not that of the West. China it seems in the past had been accused of suppressing religion, but now seems to give freedom to practise any religion, including our powerful Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, which is said to be totally a free and private matter for religious followers or practitioners! China being the biggest economy in the World, officially is known to be an atheist country, but moving towards a more open stance on the liberty of religious practice! Openly shown, 1.2billion people of China have the freedom of religion, with no suppression to whoever they want to practise, even our great protector, Dorje Shugden if anyone so wish. But here on our side, the Ban still exist! Nevertheless, the whole world’s attention is now centered to see a good transformation of Tibet. With China’s awakening and compassionate intentions, Tibet will have a good chance to be restored back to its normalcy, with more autonomous civil rights than before! With such good hope and expectations,may the ban on Dorje Shugden be lifted and end soonest possible for the benefits of all beings! Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
Lobsang Sangay has been the Sikyong since 2011 and despite all the promises he made to free Tibet, there is yet any sign of such possiblity. As for Penpa Tsering, he was the Speaker of the Tibetan government and most of the news surrounding him is, his alleged personal vices. No wonder the New York Times have to be so forthwright with their report on this current elections. Plus all these undemocratic methods of labelling others “Anti Dalai Lama”. If the Tibetan government and the Dalai Lama truly want to benefit Tibetans then there should open discussion on all the possible issues that are wrong and hence not helping the Tibetans acquire their freedom . There should be no ego protecting tactics like the ones they are using now by not allowing people to express their opinions.
If mistakes were ignorantly made in the past, amend them. Make positive changes to remove all these high handed methods of pretending they have the solutions and power but in actual fact not.Be humble. Do not discriminate against others like the Dorje Shugden practitioners. Do not create confusion by recognising double Panchen Lamas and double Karmapas. What politics is there that the CTA can play when their representation is but a speck of dust on this Earth !! Be real and do the real things to help your fellow Tibetans know the truth that they have to learn to move on in the best possible manner and NOT LIVE IN THE PAST !! I feel sorry for those who still hold on to the hope of physically having Tibet “free”.
The freedom is in the mind. The trap is self made. I hope and pray the Tibetans understand this and free themselves from the trap they created for themselves.
As for the CTA, please have mercy on your people. If you cannot do good the least is please do not add on more sufferings for your people. I am glad the New York Times wrote an honest piece of news to share with the world that will make people think deeper instead of just sympathizing ignorantly.
With folded hands.
A good analyzing article by New York Times. I hope the exiled Tibetan government remain calm and not labeling New York Times as another “Chinese-paid-media”.
What we can see from one election for a leader of the exiled Tibetan government:
1. There is lack of democracy within the exiled Tibetan government, or even authoritarianism is exist within the system as we can see people who questioned or expressed their disagreement towards the governance, like Dhardon Sharling and Lukar Jam Atsok are labeled as “anti-Dalai Lama”
2. Lukar Jam Atsok, former Sikyong 2016 candidate had been excluded from the elections via rules arbitrarily imposed by the Election Commission because of his daring comments on Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way” policy. There is NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH or FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
3. In order to freely express dissatisfaction and opinions with the way the elections were being conducted, a recently-former member of parliament, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, recently resigned from her position as Minister of Information and International Relations.
4. In the whole process of this election campaign, there’s NO MENTION of how to win freedom for the nearly six million Tibetans living in China, an issue that has consumed the exiled Tibetan community for almost six decades. Whether it is full independence or self-governance within the Chinese government, this is not the main point, important issues for example the welfare and future prospects of their own people are not being addressed, but petty, trivial issues are being “debate”, such as Lobsang Sangay’s photo is hung on the wall instead of Dalai Lama’s picture; Penpa Tsering’s drinking habit.
These 4 points above show the lack of democracy within the exiled Tibetan government and how authoritarianism is being practiced when there are punishments towards the people who disagree or even merely questioning their governance as their governance does not bring results but bring worries to the Tibetans in exile.
People always see Dorje Shugden issue is just a religion issue, yes it is a religion issue BUT IT IS ALSO A POLITICAL ISSUE. As we can see the pattern of how the exiled Tibetan government will “punish” people who have different view or stance.
Thus we see the exiled Tibetan government allowing the discrimination and segregation towards Dorje Shugden practitioners and even implementing the unethical ban on Dorje Shugden practice. Yes, the Dalai Lama may “advise” people not to practice Dorje Shugden, but it DOES NOT MEAN the exiled Tibetan government is free to use this as a mean to oppress their own people, as a government to all people, they should protect all of the people regardless their religion and belief.
I agree with Pastor Jean Ai that there is a “lack of maturity in the Tibetan leadership’s understanding of democratic principles”. Well said. The election campaign was reduced to mud-slinging and name calling. Reminds me of the current preliminary election campaign in the U.S., especially on the Republican side. When political leaders avoid the real issues and focus on attacking their rivals on a personal level, it shows their motivation.
It is crystal clear the Tibetan leadership use their power to put down anyone whom they deem as not toeing the line, like for example, Mr Lukar Jam Atsok. Another example is the ridiculous ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden. In the latter case, it is not only one person the Tibetan leadership put down, but hundreds of thousands of innocent people. And for what? Just because these people refused to stop their religious practice.
Lukar Jam being a writer was too vocal against the Tibetan leadership and too close for comfort. Hence his political career was abruptly ended. I hope Lukar Jam has started planning for a political comeback.
The Tibetan leadership has given the impression to the world that they only want candidates who are apple polishers, candidates who would not squeal on them. The Tibetan leadership want loyal candidates who kowtow to their demands, and who are immoral to want a slice of the big creamy cake.
Tibetans can forget what their leadership can do for them, the leadership are too busy taking care of themselves. The people may close an eye if the Tibetan leadership get fatter but the least they can do is to do more to benefit their people instead of dividing them especially with the Dorje Shugden ban.
Madam Dicki Chhoyang publicly said she will speak more after the elections. I wonder will she? And when?
A couple of points came to mind:
The Tibetan exile community consist of not more than 200,000 population whereas there are about 6 million Tibetan people in Tibet, China. It is somewhat unclear to me how a movement that sits outside of Tibet China and have not yield any form of progress in world stage in the past 6 decades, can be considered as still taking the fight for the freedom of 6 million Tibetans seriously. Perhaps this explain the silence on the Sino-Tibet issue.
While the democracy process could be rather new to the Tibetan in exile community, the trivialness of the election campaign is mind-blogging. To think that this is a body empowered to bring 6million of Tibetans to freedom, but does nothing to secure the welfare of Tibetans. To make matter worse, the election process is tainted by mudslinging. In a nutshell, it is not hard to summarize that the election process and the demonstration of democracy by having a Sikyong is to revere the spiritual and culture leader, HHDL himself.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for sharing the insights on the on-going Tibetan election. This New York Times report seems more analytical and neutral by comparison to the Reuter’s piece.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Finally a newspaper reporting on REAL NEWS! Unlike Reuters, NY Times really highlighted the truth about what is really happening with the exile Tibetan leadership and giving us a lot of identifiable examples as evidences. This is just a glimpse of how the Tibetan Leadership have been operating and how they have been manipulating their people, using the Dalai Lama’s name and exploiting people’s loyalty to the Dalai Lama as a means to control and influence them for their own benefit. It really tells us a lot about their ruling and their mindset which is NOT democratic at all and with this kind of leadership, it is no wonder they lost their country. Sorry to say this, but I doubt even if Tibet got her independence back, she would be ruined with this lot running the country as one defends about putting his picture on the wall and the with his alcoholic gatherings. Great examples.
One good thing that’s coming out of this ridiculous ‘undemocratic’ corrupted election is that Tibetans ARE SPEAKING UP and they now DARE to. Perhaps this is a good thing and why the Dalai Lama stepped down as a political/secular leader and started implementing the Sikyong position. I suppose more and more people are fed-up, especially those who are educated, the youths, the newer generation, those living abroad, they will stand up now because…
1) they know the Dalai Lama is not going to live forever (sorry to say, but this is reality)
2) they’ve already lost everything, what more can they lose?
3) they are already in exile and are refuges, and some migrated to other parts of the globe hence they are already not ‘Tibetan’ citizen, hence they have more freedom of speech
4) they’ve come to the realsiation that the future of Tibetans lies in their own hands, the choices they make now and the kind of life they wish to live and the kind of leaders they choose to lead them will either bring them down or bring them up… and so far sorry to say they’ve failed in all areas and on top of that they continue to DIVIDE their own people by
1) banning people’s religious practice (Dorje Shugden)
2) condemning, suppressing (and perhaps even threatening) those who have an opposing view from the Dalai Lama or anyone who dare to speak up for that matter like Mr. Lukar Jam and Ms Sharling as stated in this article.
Now the world can get a clearer picture of the so called “compassionate” “democratic” Tibetan Leadership and perhaps from this really help look into the the corrupted leadership and really help Tibetans. Hopefully a change will come soon as more and more dare to speak up, and with that broad minded fair leaders will arise to genuinely work for their people and help preserve their culture.
The New York Times article on the Tibetan election is written with broader view of the whole issue plaguing Tibetan, a non bias reporting and with sources that is more credible, compared to Reuters report on Dorje Shugden and China issue which is biased and full of personal agenda of the journalist.
The recent Tibetan Election of the Sikyong, Tibetan version of Prime Minister is marred by charachter assasination, name calling between two Sikyong candidates. what makes it even worst is the way the electoral system that is being conducted in unfair manners, where the candidate such as Lukar Jam who is consider Anti- Dalai Lama was removed from the election, having publicly condemned His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
You see, the two running candidate Penpa Tsering and Lobsang Sangay who are vying for the Sikyong post uses immature manner to tarnish the name the other. They are too focus on their own personal agenda, forgotten the fight for the rights of their own community, how to improve the education and welfare of the Tibetan people in exiled.
These are the people who uses their authority to their own people, suppress the religious freedom of Dorje Shugden practitioners. Who never find methods to resolve the 19 years old issue on the ban on Dorje Shugden. 60 years in exile, 60 years of bad governance that has torn the Tibetan community apart, and continue to degenerate the beauty of Tibetan Buddhism due to their own selfish agenda.