Refutation as Strong as Lightning and Thunder | བརྒལ་ལན་གནམ་ལྕགས་རྡོ་རྗེའི་མེ་ཆར།
The Tibetan government in-exile, otherwise known as the CTA (Central Tibetan Administration), have lived in exile in the gracious land of India since 1959, when they were given safe haven. The Indian government of the time were extremely generous and allotted over 24 areas in India where the Tibetans could settle. Up until a few years ago, thousands of Tibetans were crossing the Himalayas into India to seek a so-called ‘better life’. This was until recently, as it seems that things in Tibet have improved, and many of the Tibetans who were in exile are returning back to Tibet or moving to other countries. All in all, the exodus into India has drastically reduced to basically none. This is well-accounted for in the CTA’s own writings, and you can also refer to Phayul (a Tibetan news website). The reason for this is the situation in Tibet has become better, in many, many fields: education, religion, and all of that.
The CTA in India has received tens of millions of US dollars in aid, from the US and many western countries, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. And they have been living off the money they have received from these countries for over five decades now. These countries donate to the Tibetan leadership in order to help them preserve their culture, their religion, their dance, and their way of life in India. But as in any refugee situation throughout the world, after five decades you should be able to stand up on your own feet and not require any sort of assistance from another country. After all, a country or refugee group that requires assistance from other nations and private institutions after five decades does not speak highly of their abilities to govern, of their growth, and of their drive to stabilise their people.
The Tibetan government-in-exile has done some good things but unfortunately it has been overshadowed by their very political power moves, separating people by religion, by province, and by political thought. Within religion, those who practise Dorje Shugden are biased against, alienated, kicked out of schools, and not allowed to participate in mainstream Tibetan activities. They are not even allowed to join the public talks given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on secular matters. What government would disallow a group of people based on religion not to join the talks of their leader? Well it happens within Tibetan society.
If you are from certain regions in Tibet, they promote you. When you are from other regions that do not follow their policies, they demote you, or they do not give you equal opportunity within education, government, or anything that you need from the exiled government, especially when you are from areas that do not fall in line, or toe the line of their policies.
Now when it comes to politics, in short, the Dalai Lama has talked about and promoted the Middle Way, which is autonomy, to have Tibet as an autonomous state within China, to be a part of China but be autonomous. Kind of like a Hong Kong. But the majority of Tibetans do not agree with the Middle Way or umaylam. They prefer full freedom and full independence from China, which they call rangzen. So these two groups have been heated in debate, in physical altercations, and also engaged in social media wars. A war of words.
Basically the Tibetan government-in-exile or CTA has condemned any type of free thought or political activism that differs from their own view, unlike any other democratic set-up. A sign of a democracy is when you have a democratic government and you allow many sets and types of views that may not even agree with your own. Within the Tibetan community however, if you espouse rangzen or independence, you are biased against, segregated and called the “Taliban of Buddhism”. And this is how they operate.
The millions and millions of dollars that the leadership have received in funds are not always channelled to help the poor Tibetans, or the Tibetans in need throughout India, but is channelled to their propaganda, their websites, their books, their pamphlets, and their writings against religious or political views. For example, in 2014, with a big hoo-ha and to-do in Sera Monastery, the Tibetan government unveiled a book that they painstakingly wrote and printed, and distributed all over the Tibetan communities around the world against the practice of Dorje Shugden. They called it Opening the Eye of Discernment: A Golden Key or Golden Key of Reasons and Scriptures to Distinguish the Truth from Lies (ལེགས་ཉེས་བདེན་རྫུན་རྣམ་འབྱེད་ལུང་རིགས་གསེར་གྱི་ལྡེ་མིག).
Now whether you believe in Dorje Shugden or not, why does a government need to print books, pamphlets and pay writers and scholars to research on a subject they don’t agree with? It doesn’t make sense. Religion should be a personal choice, it should not be condoned or condemned by a government. A government should be secular and separate from religion. Religion and state should be separate, this makes for a better government. But in the Tibetan government’s case, they are able to spend great amounts of money to produce books that specifically discourage other people from the practice of Dorje Shugden, which alienates people from their freedom of religion, and the right to practise what they wish. On one hand the Tibetan government says you may practise any religion you want, but if you practise the one they do not condone, you will be segregated and biased against, because they will speak against you.
The “Golden Key” book was a waste of money and a waste of time, and during the unveiling of this book in Sera Monastery, the Tibetan leadership at that time challenged Dorje Shugden practitioners to come out with a counter book, challenging them to cite scriptural sources, and sources from great scholars and masters to counter what they had written in their “Golden Key” book. So here today, we have this new book by Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world that was painstakingly researched and also written, compiled and printed with the donations of many people around the world to counter the book that is against Dorje Shugden made by the Tibetan government. It is called Ending Negative Talk Against “Borrowers of the Gaden Name” Thus Entitled “Refutation as Strong as Lightning and Thunder” (དགེ་ལྡན་མིང་གཡར་ལོག་བཤད་པའི་སྨྲ་བ་ངན་པ་ཚར་གཅོད་པར་བྱེད་པའི་{{བརྒལ་ལན་གནམ་ལྕགས་རྡོ་རྗེའི་མེ་ཆར་}}ཞེས་བྱ་བ་བཞུགས་སོ།། ).
The Dorje Shugden followers who have written and printed this book do not in any way wish to disrespect His Holiness but wish to let the world know, we have the right to practise any religion we wish and no leader, either spiritual or secular, has the right to condemn or advise against the religion of our choice. So this book represents religious freedom for Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world, as well as all religions around the world. In today’s 21st century everyone should have the right to practise whatever religion they wish, whatever religion they like. And nobody should advise against, in any way shape or form, the religion of one’s personal choice as this will create disharmony in society.
This book has not been translated into English; it is in Tibetan, it is for Tibetan readers around the world and I have it included it on my blog here for Tibetans around the world to read. For English readers and Chinese readers, we have other posts that are related to what is in this book, and you can find links to these at the bottom of this post.
I would like to personally thank all the scholars, geshes, and masters who were involved in the creation of this book, to counter the wrong views that the CTA has created against Dorje Shugden. I also thank all the sponsors and donors who have contributed to the printing of this book. Again, I wish that this book brings balance, harmony and religious freedom back to a group of people who wish to practise their religion, namely Dorje Shugden, in peace, in quiet, and in harmony with every other Tibetan and every other Buddhist in the world. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/RefutationTibetanVideo02.mp4
Ending Negative Talk Against
“Borrowers of the Gaden Name” Thus Entitled
“Refutation as Strong as Lightning and Thunder”
དགེ་ལྡན་མིང་གཡར་ལོག་བཤད་པའི་སྨྲ་བ་ངན་པ་ཚར་གཅོད་པར་བྱེད་པའི་
{{བརྒལ་ལན་གནམ་ལྕགས་རྡོ་རྗེའི་མེ་ཆར་}}
ཞེས་བྱ་བ་བཞུགས་སོ།།
Note: “Borrowers of the Gaden Name” is a derogatory manner of referring to Dorje Shugden practitioners. This is the name the Tibetan leadership uses to refer to Dorje Shugden devotees. It implies that although they call themselves Gelug practitioners, they are not.
The Tibetan leadership also refers to Dorje Shugden by the derogatory label of “Dolgyal”, meaning “King Demon of Dol”. It is their way of insultingly referring to him as a spirit, and not as an enlightened protector. The manner in which they refer to Shugden practitioners and to Dorje Shugden makes it disappointingly clear that the Tibetan leadership does not consider Shugden practitioners to be equal to anyone else.
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- Tibetan Leadership’s New Anti-Shugden Video
- Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s Advice on Dorje Shugden’s Practice
- The Importance of Tibet Befriending China
- Reuters Investigation on Dorje Shugden Inaccurate?
- Reuters Anti-Dorje Shugden Report Backfires
- When Reuters becomes a tool of oppression
- China officially supports Dorje Shugden
- China’s official stance on Dorje Shugden
- Dalai Lama, China & Dorje Shugden
- Markham makes it illegal to ban Dorje Shugden
- Dalai Lama Says We Can Practise Dorje Shugden Finally!
- Dear Dalai Lama, With Folded Hands
- Dear Dalai Lama, please read this
- Can the Dalai Lama say this one day?
- Will the Dalai Lama agree with this?
- Appeal to H.H. the Dalai Lama
- What you must know about China
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story
- My plea to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Shall We Hate The Jews and Those Different Than Us?
- My plea to His Holiness (Tibetan)
- Why aren’t the monasteries helping the drought?
- Stronger Bond Between Malaysia and China
- Why is she putting the Dalai Lama down?
- I’m Requesting Ordination in 1987
- They want to kill me
- What I Think of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama?
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Revisit this post again , after all these years yet the Tibetan leadership did not come to a conclusion . For the past 60 years, they have been receiving funds from around the world. The situation around the Tibetan communities had not change for the better. Same same old ways , not helping those in-exile, at least to improve their livelihood, and so forth in stead of using the funds , they used it on their own agenda. The Tibetan leadership would rather support the printing of many books against Dorje Shugden’s practitioners. There are much more worthwhile causes to channel their funds towards social development and cultural preservation of their own people and community. The Tibetan leadership gives religious freedom and that they allow Dorje Shugden practice but the other way going against it. Disappointed Dorje Shugden is made a scapegoat in these Dorje Shugden controversy. Due to this many practitioners and non- practitioners had been suffering all these years. Denied services hospitals, to attend schools or religious events, and so forth . Its time to end all these discriminations and hopeful the Tibetan Leadership will forgo the past and do more to help those communities. Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们,
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说,西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使,一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前,当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺,化身为特别的护法,赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安(平日外游和神游时)和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时,你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时,你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后,你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒:嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑,你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见,充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的,圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安,常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿(布旦康萨)— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is the leadership of the Tibetans in exile. For the past 60 years, they have been receiving financial aids from the west, Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong to survive apart from the lands India has kindly given them to rebuild their homes. However, with so much support given, the CTA still failed as a government.
The CTA only needs to manage less than 100,000 people in India. With the millions of dollars they received, they could have improved the lives of the Tibetans greatly, but they create more damages in the Tibetan community than to do good. They imposed the Dorje Shugden ban 20 years ago which separates the people into different groups. Friends and families are separated, they are not allowed to have any connection with each other at all. The ban has destroyed the unity and harmony in the Tibetan community.
After much analysis, it is concluded that Dorje Shugden is a scapegoat to cover up the failure of the CTA in fulfilling their promise to the Tibetans to free Tibet. The CTA uses the donations to produce materials to condemn Dorje Shugden and to suppress the Dorje Shugden practitioners. The monies could have been used to help improve the living standard of the Tibetans. Why would a government separate their already very small community? I think it is because the CTA is not really looking after the welfare of its people, personal interest is their priority.
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
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 assistants 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 (Avalokiteshvara, 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.
It has been 5 decades The Central Tibetan Administration stays as refugees, living with donations given by countries around the world. CTA has received tens of millions of US dollars financial aid, and also from many western countries, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong but still CTA failed to govern, to growth and stabilized their people.
The financial aid should have been used to help and improve the poor Tibetans in many ways. In fact CTA was more interested channeled the funds to their propagandas, their websites, their books, their pamphlets and their writing against religious or political views. This is totally a waste of money and time because it only brings more harm than good. Any actions that advice against the religion of one’s personal choice will only create disharmony in society.
No doubt CTA has caused harm and separation among its people. The publications to suppress and discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners indicating there is a ban. I hope that more Tibetans and leaders realized and end the Dorje Shugden issue with peace and harmony.
Recently Beng Kooi and Martin on behalf of myself and Kechara was lucky to have audience with His Holiness Gaden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal of Gaden Shartse Monastery. He lives in around Paris, France. His Holiness is 91 years old and very healthy and alert. He was the 101st throne holder for Tsongkapa and was the head of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism and was very successful during his tenure. He is a strong practitioner of both Sutra and Tantra of Je Tsongkapa’s tradition and a master of all Buddhist knowledge. He holds steadfast to his protector Dorje Shugden very strongly. So we can see even the highest throneholders who are masters of Sutra and Tantra also practices Dorje Shugden knowing the benefits.
Beng Kooi and Martin brought photo albums of Kechara Forest Retreat/Kechara and updates on Kechara and our works. His Holiness was very pleased to listen and offered some gifts back.
This is a beautiful picture and the great blessings bestowed on us from His Holiness Gaden Trisur Rinpoche Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche
October 18, 2017
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
I still love and miss His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I am hoping he will unite all of us no matter what our religion is. I know he will. His Holiness has done so much good in the world. I’ve admired him since I was a very young boy and when I met him for the first time in 1979. He came to Howell, New Jersey where I grew up. It was magical to see him. I pray one day he will accept all Dorje Shugden practitioners as was his root guru was a Dorje Shugden practitioner and invite us into his presence again with love and acceptance. I pray for his long life and continued presence in this world. I never lost hope in His Holiness the Dalai Lama to accept all of us regardless of race, religion, sect and background once again.
I place my unworthy head to his feet, Humbly, Tsem Rinpoche https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
It is really sad to see how people practicing Dorje Shugden are treated.
I really don’t get how the Dalai Lama can suddenly say that His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche is wrong after years of learning from him? If His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche was wrong about Dorje Shugden does that mean that he is wrong about everything else? If the Dorje Shugden practice was false then it means that all of Buddhism is false since no one can tell the difference between a real and fake practice. This says that hundreds upon hundreds of Buddhist are practicing a religion which holds nothing but emptiness.
I really hope that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso can stop being a hypocrite and bring down the ban immediately. _/\_
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this article. _/\_
This is a powerful picture of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and the current incarnation of Trijang Rinpoche meeting together in the year 2000 when Trijang Rinpoche was 18. All three lamas are Dorje Shugden practitioners. In fact Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen was the one that first encouraged my practice of Dorje Shugden when I was 16 years old when I joined his beautiful Thubten Dhargye Ling centre in Los Angeles. I lived with Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen for 8 years before proceeding to Gaden Monastery in South India. Later Kyabje Zong Rinpoche came to our Los Angeles centre and granted sogtae (permission ceremony) to practice Dorje Shugden for life as requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen. Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen had tremendous faith in Trijang Rinpoche. Kyabje Lati Rinpoche was innovative, dedicated and very much focused on bringing dharma to many. He had tremendous faith in Dorje Shugden as I had the honour to meet him many times. He would seek advice from Dorje Shugden many times via the oracle of Gaden Monastery. Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen and Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche have since passed away while the current Trijang Rinpoche is a perfect lineage holder and practitioner of Dharma while he keeps Dorje Shugden as his personal protector as he has done so for many lifetimes. This is a powerful and beautiful picture of three great lamas of Buddha’s lineage and also of Gaden Monastery. ~Tsem Rinpoche
Wish all Tibetan enthusiasts and supporters can see how much time is wasted because of the Dorje Shugden issues.
So much resources and time, people are wasted to upkeep a ban and discrimination that splits Tibetans and students of the Tsongkhapa tradition. May this article and the book that refutes CTA’s be a cause to end the Dorje Shugden ban. So much more can be accomplished without this ban and discrimination. May more Tibetans and leaders of the Tibetan realize the Dorje Shugden issue has no benefits and so much negative side effects. How will peace ever come to the Tibetan community in exile.
Thank you Rinpochela for sharing! ???
Thanks RInpoche and blog team for sharing this article.
It’s indeed very questionable how CTA spend their donation. I wonder what’s more important than their people’s welfare as a country should grow. Instead of taking care of the people, unite everyone to be stronger, the CTA is spending lots of resources to destroy they own ground. This is not logic at all, that to achieve something that has no meaning to the “country”. What do they get if everyone give up Dorje Shugden practice? Will CTA get autonomy or independence? None of them.
Then why putting so much efforts in it? It’s really ridiculous.
I hope CTA reads this article and Refutation as Strong as Lighting and Thunder, and feel shame about it.
May all Tibetans unite, have peace and love to each other, just like what Dalai Lama is always preaching.
Thank you.
Martin brought up some very good points of observation here. It is quite unbelievable that the Tibetan leadership would actually target their own people and discriminate against those who practice that has been around over 300 plus years.
What is most unbelievable is when I hear HH the Dalai Lama say that His Guru, HH Trijang Rinpoche who gave him this practice which HH relied upon, composed praises and prayers upon, suddenly is wrong? When HH said his Guru is wrong, that broke many people’s hearts and in my understanding his “Samaya” with his Guru. So if that is the case that means everything HH teach, any initiation he gives that came from HH Trijang Rinpoche would all be invalid, null of blessings.
Therefore, whatever practices people received from HH, they will not gain any attainments from practising it. So in actuality, the Dalai Lama should not even be giving out practices.
Yes, why would a government spend so much money to actually print out thousands of books to discredit a religion and to do this in a democratic land? Isn’t that a violation of human rights?
The fact that this book has to even be produced tells us that there is no such thing as religious freedom or freedom for that matter in the Tibetan Society. Basically, everyone does what the Tibetan leadership wants. Or is it just because the Gelugpa school of Buddhism is where HH is from, therefore it is easier to suppress as the other schools will not dare to say anything because it does not affect them? Probably the later.
I greatly rejoice that so many Geshes and scholars and people have come together to painstakingly compile this powerful book to counter the wrong information and wrong view on Dorje Shugden. Even the way this book is being presented is virtuous as the motivation set forth is to clear the misleading information about Dorje Shugden and not in any way to disrespect His Holiness. This book represents religious freedom for Shugden practitioners and I hope through this book, may the peace and harmony of Tibetan people be restored like it was before the sudden ban on Dorje Shugden practice. May everyone enjoy their human right to practice whatever they believe because religion is a personal choice.
It is so heartening to be informed that until recently, “things in Tibet have improved, and many of the Tibetans who were in exile are returning back to Tibet, or moving to other countries, thus all in all exodus in India has drastically reduced to basically none!” The situation in Tibet has become better in many, many fields, like education and Religion, just as a matter of mention! It has been emphasized that in the past, Tibetan Government in-exile and its people in India which have had received tens of millions of U.S. dollars in Aid from the U.S. as well as from other western and eastern nations. like Japan, Taiwan and Hongkong. Tibetans as such must have been living off the money over five decades up to now, but without any changes/improvements to their culture, their religion and their way of life in India. Though the Tibetan Government-in-exile (or The CTA) has been mentioned to have done some good things, but was clearly seen and said to have been “Overshadowed” by their powerful over-emphasized political moves like, seperating and dividing their own people through “religion politics”, political thoughts and province. It has also been alleged that most of these “Aid-funds” have also been challenged to aid the Government-in exile’s “Propaganda activities” in their websites, for printing of pamphlets, books and their writings against religious and political views in support of their above-mentioned activities. The Government-in-exile have also acted biasely against their own people of origin, the Tibetans who worship or practice Dorje Shugden, apart from all other outside-practitioners, on whom the CTA has derogatorily named as “Borrower of the Gaden Name”. The Tibetan Leadership have also referred to Dorje Shugden by the derogatory label of “Dolgyal”, meaning “King demon of Dol”- one of their most wretched insulting way of referring Him as a spirit and not as an Enlightened Protector or The Emanation of Lord Manjushri, on whom everyone worships and adores! The manner in which the Tibetan Leadership-in-exile refer to Shugden practitioners and to Dorje Shugden makes it disappointedly clear that the Government-in-exile does not consider Shugden practitioners to be equal to anyone else. From the bottom of our hearts, we as Dorje Shugden worshipers, truly and gratefully give thanks to our Tsem Rinpoche for getting together with all compassionate scholars, Geshes, and religious masters in creating this essential Book to counter the wrong view imposed by the CTA against our compassionate Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. Om Benza Wiki Bittana Soha.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this great news. It is so heartwarming to know that so much effort has been put into compiling the book “Refutation As Strong As Lightning and Thunder” to counter the negative implications by the CTA on Dorje Shugden practitioners. Politics can never mix with religion and so as religion and state should be separate but respect each other makes a better government.Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world did a marvelous and appeling researched to counter what was made against Dorje Shugden by the Tibetan government.I hope that with what is shared in this article, many more will understand and Tibetans get access to this new book on Dorje Shugden. There will come a day when there will be a global movement against the CTA’s actions on this Dorje Shugden discrimination and injustice. _/\_
As I see the whole situation of the CTA and their ability to govern the more I feel disgusted. On the side of CTA, life is good. Normal governments are answerable to budgets, GDP and how much the government can make and how much it can spend. On top of it, governments are answerable to the people. That is the normal state of affairs for international governing bodies.
But CTA is different, they don’t need to manage budgets, welfare and the well being of their citizens who have been refugees for the last 60 years. CTA gets free money, so money is easy, why not spend on propaganda against Dorje Shugden practitioners.
With this huge propaganda against Dorje Shugden, CTA creates disunity and disharmany. In this way CTA created a blanket of safety and protection on being questioned on their inefficiency. CTA have led their people on the path of debating over the issue of right and wrong over Dorje Shugden and thus blinding them from the real problems of poor governance.
On the other hand, Dorje Shugden devotees spend much time and efforts to refute the wrong that is being done to their Enlightened Protector.
Shame on CTA who waste their time and money on a baseless ban and wasting resources to prove their wrongful discrimination and illegal ban on Dorje Shugden are in order.
Once again, the CTA acts in ways to ignite further dissent among their own Tibetan people. Despite having read many articles and knowing without a doubt the cruel actions of the CTA, it still blows my mind how they can consistently and vehemently act in ways inflammatory and against peace and harmony among Tibetans. When a government acts in ways which cause harm to its people there can be no doubt they are driven by only profits and gains. Ironically, the management of the CTA is deeply fuelled by inefficiency and ineffectiveness thus rendering it a constant recipient of global funding. Sigh…
I hope that with what is shared in this article, many more will understand and Tibetans get access to this new book on Dorje Shugden. There will come a day when there will be a global movement against the CTA’s actions on this Dorje Shugden discrimination and injustice. This movement can only happen when we, practitioners and non-practitioners and as humanitarians, make a stand for human kindness and true freedom of choice.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this great news. It is so heartwarming to know that so much effort has been put into compiling the book “Refutation As Strong As Lightning and Thunder” to counter the negative implications by the CTA on Dorje Shugden practitioners. Politics and religion do not go hand in hand. Everybody should have the freedom to choose whatever religion they want to practice and not be compelled by anyone. We are so blessed that our kind Guru, Tsem Rinpoche has shared the practice of Dorje Shugden with us which has benefited so many. May the ban on Dorje Shugden be lifted soon so that many more people can benefit from this practice.
With folded palms.???
There is a number of observations to be made here:
1. What is immediately clear is that the Tibetan people do not have religious freedom or in fact any freedom under a democracy they are supposed to be under. Looking at how unscrupulous the CTA is, I am sure they would hesitate to misuse the powers of the police and army to persecute those they perceive to be enemies. Butt in the absence of these, the CTA resorts to slander, character assassination and propaganda to turn the Tibetan people against their enemies.
2. The CTA has no hesitation engaging in sacrilegious acts including distorting the truth contained within the Dharma, for their own gain. The monies the CTA have been receiving to preserve the Tibetan culture including Buddhism is in fact used to destroy it.
3. The fact that the CTA has to produce an anti-DS propaganda book in 2014, almost 20 years after officially banning the religion says clearly that the Tibetan people are in fact not convinced of then CTA’s or even the Dalai Lama’s reasoning. I think the Tibetan leadership continue to struggle with justification of the Shugden ban and hence felt a need to bolster its hold on the people.
Clearly the CTA has lost a lot of credibility. I am glad now the Tibetans can read about the deity and judge for themselves.
Politics can never mix with religion and so as religion and state should be separate but respect each other makes a better government.Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world did a marvelous and appeling researched to counter what was made against Dorje Shugden by the Tibetan government.They compliled,written and printed into books,with the donations of many people around the world.They wanted religious freedom for all practitioners around the world and to live harmony,peacefully without discrimination.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these information,so as more people are aware of what the CTA has created on the ban of Dorje Shugden.
“Refutation as Strong as Lightning and Thunder”book will somehow made to tell the truths of it.
May the ban on Dorje Shugden be lifted soon to end the sufferings of many sentient beings in exile.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this news. It is heartwarming to read about the great effort to create the book Ending Negative Talk Against “Borrowers of the Gaden Name” Thus Entitled “Refutation as Strong as Lightning and Thunder” in order to counter an illogical schism amongst the Sangha and practitioners. May Tibetans and all Buddhist stay united to promote and practice Buddhism according to Buddha’s teaching without putting each other down. May the discrimination against Dorje Shugden be truly lifted soonest.