Reuters Investigation on Dorje Shugden Inaccurate?
Dear friends around the world,
I came across this article written by Justin Whitaker. The points he brought up are logical, well thought out and important for both Dorje Shugden practitioners and also those who do not practice Dorje Shugden. As a Buddhist scholar, Mr. Whitaker has shown us the results of an unbiased review of the current ban on Dorje Shugden. Here are some points that you may want to pay extra attention to while reading Mr. Whitaker’s article as he points out the false accusations that plague Dorje Shugden practitioners:
- There is no Shugden sect, only Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why is this point important for us to understand? Because when you group all Dorje Shugden practitioners into one basket and go all out to ‘criminalize’ them, it causes much suffering to many innocent people. It is just like claiming all Muslims in the world are part of ISIS, or all Christians condone witch-hunts.
- Do your research; not all information on the Internet is reliable even if it’s from a reputable news website such as Reuters. In this article, Mr. Whitaker points out clearly the lack of substantial evidence in the article by Reuters. One should consider, how can the words of one informant (whose reliability has not been proven) and the lack of evidence behind the claims that “Shugden practitioners are ‘anti-Dalai Lama'”, be used to vilify 4 million Dorje Shugden practitioners worldwide?
- Saying that the discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners are acknowledged by some Dalai Lama supporters is not enough. This issue has caused much difficulties on both sides. As such, the world media’s lack of attention in addressing the issue of Religious Freedom will not bear positive results.
I advice everyone to take some time to read this article a few times to digest the meaning behind what was written. I hope that more unbiased and neutral Buddhist scholars and writers such as Mr. Whitaker will produce objective articles such as these, as they are important to educate the public and show that suppression of Religious Freedom by anyone for any reason is not the right way.
Please copy and paste this link to another browser to read the Reuters article: http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/china-dalailama/
Tsem Rinpoche
P.S. Reuters is a established media portal and respected as well. So whatever they have published against Dorje Shugden and linking Dorje Shugden practitioners with smearing Dalai Lama in cahoots with China could be because they were misled by the people they interviewed perhaps. I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. I would respectfully request Reuters to not be one sided and see both sides. Dorje Shugden practitioners are not simply speaking up against the Dalai Lama to smear him. We gain no benefits from this. Dorje Shugden’s practice has been around for 400 years and it will not go away. It would be good for interested media to interview both sides to have an unbiased view of the situation. I personally do not have any negative thoughts or intentions towards Dalai Lama ever but I don’t agree with the Dorje Shugden ban. I wish very much that the West, Dalai Lama, China, Dorje Shugden practitioners and everyone can live in harmony. But this can only happen through understanding and talk and interaction. I think more Dorje Shugden practitioners should be interviewed to be fair. I would like to think Reuters has been misled as it’s possible because is an issue that is with Tibetans far from the UK where Reuters originate from.
5 things We Learned (and Didn’t) from the Reuters Investigation into the Buddhist “Shugden” Sect, China, and the Dalai Lama
December 23, 2015 by Justin Whitaker
For students of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dorje Shugden issue is a treasure trove: involving a mysterious protector deity, capable of bestowing great wealth and threatening violence to foes, exposing a fault-line within the best known school of Tibetan Buddhism, with the widely-loved Dalai Lama caught in the middle, and now the secretive world of China-Tibet politics seeping in. For adherents to Tibetan Buddhism it exposes deeply held allegiances and the fears or concerns associated with potentially breaking century-old bonds of lineage. For secular Buddhists it points out how deeply problematic many traditional Buddhist beliefs and practices can be.
For those with time, the authoritative scholarly take on the Shugden Affair is the 1998 two-part article by Georges Dreyfus: The Shudgen Affair: Origins of a Controversy Part I (and Part II). My own brief summary of the controversy, originally posted last August after a wonderful panel discussion hosted by SOAS in London, is as follows:
Shugden, in short, is a ‘protector deity’ historically associated with the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. His supposed power has led to great devotion by a number of esteemed Buddhist teachers, foremost among them Pabongkha Rinpoche (1878-1941), whose works helped shape Geluk thought and practice in the 20th century. However, while consistently asserting its political and religious dominance, the Geluk school was itself founded based on teachings from other schools and has a long history of adopting and endorsing practices from other schools.
This pluralistic tendency is, it seems, at the heart of the earliest phase of the ‘Shugden controversy’. This is because Shugden is said to oppose the incorporation of teachings from other schools. The matter is further complicated by the existence of lineages within schools whereby certain teachers, such as Pabongkha, will have students devoted to them and their teachings over and above others.
Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama, who has played both significant political and religious roles for the Tibetan Government in Exile, has sought to unify Tibetans of all schools. As such, he and others found it necessary to stop worshiping Shugden. The result has been a split in the Geluk school between a conservative group seeking to maintain Geluk purity or orthodoxy/orthopraxy, and others wishing to move toward greater inclusiveness. In part because the Dalai Lama is so greatly revered by Tibetans, the vast majority have sided with him and have stopped worshiping Shugden. Some have gone so far as to forbid Shugden worshipers from entering their shops, monastic institutions (with the Dalai Lama’s support), and medical facilities.
From there, things have become (even more) complicated, with a long list of accusations and counter-accusations with Shugden being associated with physical violence and tied to the murder of three monks in the late 1990s, and Shugden worshipers countering that the Dalai Lama, who they see as the source of the current controversy, is a fake and a liar.
(Also if you have time, do watch the presentations and read comments about that panel here.)
On to the Reuters Investigation
- We learn that though the title is bold and clear, the evidence is still murky and confused. While the title “China co-opts a Buddhist sect in global effort to smear Dalai Lama” and introduction, “The Dorje Shugden movement gets clandestine support from the Communist Party” are clear and confident, the investigation as a whole seems to lack a smoking gun. Instead, they rely on an informant, Lama Tseta, who offers his personal account of China’s backing for the Shugden movement’s protests of the Dalai Lama, but no hard evidence. They also quote an Indian Interior Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, who again asserts that authorities there “are aware that the Shugden sect receives funds from China” and a US State Department advisor who says, “the Chinese have fostered this Shugden worship as a way to split Tibetans.” It has long been asserted that the Chinese government is supportive of certain Shugden worshipers, as was commented on this blog 18 months ago: “[Shugden worshipers in Tibet] cooperate with Chinese officials and get their funding from a special organ of Chinese government called “United Work Front” whose main duty is to contain and control the minorities especially Tibetans from dissenting the oppression and occupation. The leader
of Shugden [in Tibet] very often are invited and are guest of Chinese embassies.” We don’t find anything new in the Reuters article concerning this; just more people making similar allegations along with a Communist Party document stating that the Shugden issue is “an important front in our struggle with the Dalai clique.” This shows nothing more than an affinity, a common enemy, as it were, and of course Chinese officials deny any role and, “Reuters has no independent evidence of direct Chinese financing of the protests.” - We don’t learn that Shugden worship is not a homogeneous activity, in fact it is probably wrong to speak of it as a particular “Buddhist sect”. There is no one Shugden worship leader and at least three independent groups have been identified by Tibetologist Thierry Dodin (watch his talk on 20th century Shugden worship here). When the Dalai Lama ended his support for Shugden worship, most Tibetans followed suit, but different groups and independently individuals did not. So China’s support of one group there does not translate to support for solitary Tibetan practitioners in the Himalayan mountains or other Shugden worshipers elsewhere.
- We have learned that the noisy protests have drawn the attention of major media outlets, “On the Dalai Lama’s 2015 tour of the United States, many media outlets (including Reuters) carried reports covering the demonstrators and their grievances.” And we learn that China has taken note of that, religious-affairs official Zhu Weiqun quoted as saying that the international media was “less and less interested in the Dalai Lama.”
- We don’t learn that many Shugden worshipers are also devout followers of the Dalai Lama. Or at least they were up until recently. As Dr. Martin Mills explains based on his fieldwork in Ladakh in the 1990s, the “controversy” around Shugden didn’t cause much of a fuss early on, as it was seen as an outside political issue. They were quite happy to worship the Dalai Lama and Shugden. Unfortunately, by 2003, he goes on to explain, the issue had been so internationally polarized that they felt they could no longer continue their Shugden practices.
- We learn that Shugden devotee’s complaints about discrimination have been acknowledged by “Some Dalai Lama supporters” but that they claim the discrimination is not systematic or encouraged by the Dalai Lama; and that seems to be enough to say nothing more on this point in the article. As Columbia Professor Robert Barnett states elsewhere though: “When speaking to the media or to their general followers, the protest leaders explain their concerns about whether Tibetan followers of Shugden are persecuted because of their beliefs, which they phrase in terms of human rights. This is a reasonable concern to raise, since there have been reports of serious tensions within the Tibetan community over this issue. Accounts by both sides are liable to exaggeration or evasiveness, and, absent independent research, the details remain hard to verify. But this question, as it stands, deserves a reasoned response.”
All in all, after reading it a few times I was impressed by the breadth of coverage in the Reuters article, but more work should have been done to differentiate Shugden worshiping groups and individuals. There is no “Shugden” sect. There is also no direct evidence that the Chinese government is funding anti-Dalai Lama activities via one Shugden worshiping group or another. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, and there has been for years. And if you follow Tibetan Buddhist history and politics, this should be no surprise.
Without differentiating various communities of Shugden worshipers and giving a voice to make freedom of religion their primary concern, the article may go too far toward vilifying entire communities of people (Geluk Shugden worshipers in remote Ladakh for instance) who have nothing at all to do with China and less to do with Western anti-Dalai Lama protesters.
If you look at some of the comment threads on recent posts here you’ll get some of the vilifying extremist rhetoric that can be found on both sides of the discussion, but you’ll also find people engaged in constructive, civilized conversation – yes, that can happen in blog comment sections. I’d direct you to comments from Tenpel/Mick, Torin, Kelsang Chogma, Steve Rogers, Karze, Luna Kadampa, and many others in my May 14, 2014 post, “New Kadampa / Shugden followers protest Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize,” June 9, 2014 post, “The Shugden Cult, Dalai Lama Protests, Race, and Genocide” and the above mentioned post with videos academics, Shugden community members and ex-members at “Contentions Tibetan Buddhist deity worship discussed in London panel.”
I post this in the hopes of drawing out more discussion – perhaps clarification of points or facts or evidence I have missed – and seeing if a great number of individuals from both sides can’t continue the conversation and seek to come together. I highly recommend Dr. Mills’ videos above and writing on the situation as it conveys great sensitivity. He concludes his second talk (linked above): “The manner in which this dispute has been carried out by both sides has been counterproductive to the goals of both. We need to think better than this.”
Dorje Shugden (aka Dolgyal Shugden)
[Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/americanbuddhist/2015/12/5-things-we-learned-and-dont-from-the-reuters-investigation-into-the-buddhist-shugden-sect-china-and-the-dalai-lama.html]
Click to enlarge
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- China officially supports Dorje Shugden
- Reuters Anti-Dorje Shugden Report Backfires
- When Reuters becomes a tool of oppression
- 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
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
PURE DEMOCRACY is democracy in which the power is exercised directly by the people rather than through representatives. Its much different in this case. Reading this article and all comments tells us a clear pictures what had actually happened in this Dorje Shugden controversy. In democratic countries, the government does not interfere with religion.People have the freedom to practise any religion they want. Dorje Shugden’s practice has been around for 400 years and it will continue as practitioners could see and understand the benefits of relying on the practice. Everyone of us should given the freedom of religious belief. Peace and harmony can only be maintain through understanding and interaction or maybe a dialogue between parties involved . I am sure Dorje Shugden practitioners and everyone in the communities can live in harmony. Be to fair the right to freedom of belief , interviews on both sides instead just listening one sided. No one should ever suffer, be segregated, assaulted, hurt, degraded, hated and biased for their religious beliefs. Once for all these controversy should be solved for the sake of peace and harmony. Thanks Justin Whitaker for speaking up and standing up for what you believe in for readers to have a better understanding rather then reading what Reuters had published.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
亲爱的朋友们，
西藏产生了许多有助于我们得到精神庇佑、取得智慧和更高层次之觉悟的强大禅修法、仪式和教诲。总括来说，西藏产生了许多有助于我们在修行上取得提升的强有力方法。多杰雄登是一个天使，一位圣人和一名护法战士。他的崛起始于350年前，当一位高度觉悟的西藏高僧履行本身的承诺，化身为特别的护法，赐予我们守护、智慧、物质需要、出入平安（平日外游和神游时）和灵修上的觉醒。任何人都可以随时随地在任何时候念诵适合自己的祈愿文。当你需要特别的帮助时，你可以随时念诵任何一篇祈愿文。当你感到沮丧、恐惧或仅是需要加持时，你也可以持诵这些祈愿文。在念诵任何祈请文后，你应该接着念诵多杰雄登的心咒：嗡 班杂 维格 毗札那 娑哈 Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha。
要祈请多杰雄登这位特殊、觉悟和觉醒的天使赐予加持和庇佑，你无需是佛教徒或任何宗教的修行者。他总是没有分别或偏见，充满慈悲和慈爱地帮助一切众生。神圣是没有界限的，圣者会帮助有求于他的任何人。
以下附上英文、中文和藏文的祈愿文。
愿你平安，常受庇护和加持。
尊贵的詹杜固仁波切
更多关于第五世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2zsC3tG
更多关于第十四世达赖尊者和多杰雄登护法的内容 — https://bit.ly/2r4aaDN
第五世达赖尊者为多杰雄登护法在拉萨建造的护法殿（布旦康萨）— https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden
This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.
The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.
Tsem Rinpoche
DS-MO-choyang.pdf
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 asssistants of his mandala.
Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.
Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-
1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-
– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.
2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.
3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.
4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.
5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.
6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.
7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.
These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.
Dorje Shugden mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=131570
Dorje Shugden’s benefit and practice: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62422
Dorje Shugden’s origins: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=106424
Dorje Shugden chapel in His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=68698
*Stand not included
His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama
Tibetans commonly refer to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama as the “sun and moon” of Tibetan Buddhism. They are the center of Tibetan Buddhist civilization, which draws to its sphere of influence millions of non-Tibetan practitioners. The Panchen Lama’s incarnation line began with the 16th abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1570 – 1662). He was bestowed the title of Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama after being declared as an emanation of Amitabha.
After being given the title, his three previous incarnations were posthumously also bestowed the title, making Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen the 4th Panchen Lama. He became a teacher to many Tibetans, Bhutanese and Mongolian religious figures, including His Holiness the 4th and 5th Dalai Lamas, and the 1st Jetsun Dampa of Mongolia. A prolific author, Chokyi Gyeltsen is credited with over a hundred compositions, including a number of commentaries and ritual texts that remain central in the Gelukpa tradition today. Along with his role as a teacher of the Dharma, the Panchen Lamas are usually responsible for the recognition of the rebirths of the Dalai Lamas, and vice versa.
The 10th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Trinley Lhundrub Chokyi Gyeltsen (19 February 1938 – 28 January 1989) continued both the spiritual and political roles of his predecessors. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, his contemporary, was even heard to say and echo the Panchen Lama’s own words that the Dalai Lama would safeguard Tibet from the outside while the Panchen Lama would safeguard Tibet from the inside, as he never left Tibet after the political troubles of 1959. He was truly loved by the Tibetans, all the way until his passing. When he taught, thousands of people would attend, not only from his own Gelug lineage, but masters and practitioners from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
At his sprawling monastery of Tashi Lhunpo, he has a special chapel specifically dedicated to Dorje Shugden, where prayers and rituals are performed on a daily basis. In his great omniscience the Panchen Lama held Dorje Shugden as the principal Dharma protector of the monastery. He also personally propitiated Dorje Shugden among other Dharma protectors, and even wrote extensive prayers and rituals to Dorje Shugden. These rituals and prayers are contained within his ‘sung bum’ or collected works, which are provided here. As such a great lama, with an erudite and clear understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, a teacher to millions in both Tibet and China, from an established incarnation line and an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha, he could not be mistaken about his practice of Dorje Shugden.
His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama is known for his composition of commentaries and practice texts that are still in use by contemporary Buddhist practitioners both in Tibet and across the world. One of these is a powerful ritual composition propitiating the compassionate Dorje Shugden.
Upon the request by Acharya Lobsang Jangchub to compose a shorter version of the prayer (sadhana) for the exhortation of activities of Dorje Shugden, Panchen Lama immediately composed an abbreviate form of Dorje Shugden’s Kangsol. This text is entitled “Manjunatha’s (Tsongkapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfilment of activities rites” or “Melodious sound of Accomplishment of the Four Activities” for short. Once the prayers were completed, he had signs and strong feelings that Dorje Shugden has been working hard to protect the Buddhadharma in general and the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa specifically.
Mirroring the abilities of one of his earlier incarnations, Khedrub Je, a disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa and master of both sutra and tantra, the Panchen Lama used his compositional skill and poetic prowess to create a masterful sadhana. Worthy of note is a praise in which the first letter of each verse is a Tibetan vowel. Such compositions are rarely seen, and have historically only been used when propitiating senior Dharma protectors such as Palden Lhamo and Kalarupa.
The Panchen Lama also stated that while composing the Dorje Shugden sadhana (prayers) he was filled with a sense of happiness and bliss. He ends the composition with not only his official title but his ordination name, Tenzin Trinley Jigme Choje Wangchuk, endorsing the validity of his work. He composed the sadhana in his own Tashi Lhunpo monastery while in the Hall of Clear Light and Bliss.
See the Panchen Lama’s writings and download: https://bit.ly/2KIfeXb
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
“If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can be harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he be harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, young Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s tutor Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe
DON’T MISS THIS! FANTASTIC NEW GREAT STUFF! High quality videos redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden practice and people and the current sad Tibetan situation and why they are losing ground in the world. Powerful and truthful – CLEAR VIDEOS – https://bit.ly/2LJbo35
Amazing post!!!!!
Dear friends, For months we have been working on this BEAUTIFUL and meaningful mural in Kathmandu, Nepal. Please click here to enjoy the many stunning pictures of this mural: https://bit.ly/2LgOj8J
Tsem Rinpoche
Sakya tradition’s thangka of Dorje Shugden sitting on a throne within his palace with his four emanations and high Sakya Lamas nearby. Tsem Rinpoche
Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
In line with the recent de-escalation in Asia, such as the reset of Sino-Indian ties, an article about His Eminence the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche offering his strong prayers and thanksgiving was published on Reuters.
Share and read the good news here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/reuters-publishes-my-reconciliation-prayers-for-asia.html
A true democracy allows everyone the freedom to exercise their human rights, including the freedom to practise any religion they want. In democratic countries, the government does not interfere with this right. Neither are democratic governments prejudiced against their citizens’ choice of religious belief. They do not force people to stop their religious practice or pass legislation criminalising people because of their religion.
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan leadership who are based in Dharamsala are the exception. They are the only so-called ‘democratic’ leadership that puts a stranglehold on its people, persecuting them for their religious beliefs. They deny the rights of Dorje Shugden practitioners for simply practicing their religion as they have done for the past 400 years. Dorje Shugden practitioners are ostracised from their own community, denied medical care, education or even employment in government offices. The CTA definitely does not live up to the right to be called a democratic administration, especially when in it inflicts suppression of people’s freedom and disrespects basic human rights.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1523907609.mp4
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1519934791.mp4
Will the CTA (Tibetan govt in exile) and their supporters in East and West say voodoo is evil and cannot be practiced too? Will they advise against Voodoo and say its a demon’s practice and people who practice are bad too? Truth be told, no one has the right to say anything about anyone’s religion. Listen to what this man says in the short snagged clip because he speaks well and with the truth.
Watch the rest of the video on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0_syJQBteA
Isn’t this just lovely?! Look at these cute Tibetan kids singing praises to Dorje Shugden during Losar celebration in Tibet! Great blessings to all – Click to watch! ???
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1519938132.mp4
It is really shoddy work by Reuters to base their allegations on one Lama’s testimony and unnamed sources, even going as far as saying they do not have hard proof that China provides financial support to Dorje Shugden groups to the detriment of the Tibetan cause and the 14th Dalai Lama.
This excerpt of the Swiss Television documentary presented in 1988 is a painful reminder of the hypocrisy and the sad reality of the oppression, discrimination, and ostracisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners. For 20 years, Dorje Shugden practitioners have endured this and no one supported their fight as the Tibetan leadership in exile continues to undermine their effort by denying the existence of this ban, and silencing their voice by peer pressure, flooding the media and fooling the general public with accusations that Shugden practitioners are political tools supported by the Chinese government to create discord within the Tibetan community. Please listen to their plea and please share this video far and wide to end this injustice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gis2vaURT40
When Reuters makes assertions like “China co-opts a Buddhist sect in global effort to smear Dalai Lama” or “The Dorje Shugden movement gets clandestine support from the Communist Party” , it needs to also present clear evidence that supports these assertions. The evidence presented by Reuters cannot in any way be seen as clear undeniable evidence. One monk’s words, an Indian Interior Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, and other allegations repeated from elsewhere do not constitute full proof evidence.
A “ sect” is a group that comes together for clandestine purposes. Hence it is wrong to refer to Shugden practitioners as a sect. As Mr Whitetaker says :There is no Shugden sect, only Dorje Shugden practitioners. Furthermore, how can one monk’s words be used to villify 4 million Dorje Shugden practitioners worldwide?
Investigations by an established international news agency ought to be unbiased and balanced , presenting both sides’ views and evidence from both sides. This is not the case here. Furthermore, to be more convincing and to get to the real heart of the matter, Reuters could have conducted an independent investigation.
While matters are left to languish and no follow up after this report was done, consider how in reality , Shugden practitioners continue to suffer discrimination and persecution to this day.
What is urgently required is dialogue, peaceful negotiations. Both sides must now come to the negotiating table and discuss earnestly the best way forward for unity among all Tibetan groups – including Shugden and non-Shugden people . The Tibetan leadership must now gear all its efforts to unite all so that the Dalai Lama can have a strong chance for peaceful negotiations for autonomy of Tibet with the Chinese government. Reuters and all news agencies should help by urging both parties to come together for peaceful constructive talk.
First- I do not at the D.L. the same as most people do. Just as the captain of of a ship is the last one to leave it. The D.L. was the first to leave the ship when it started going down. Many people excepted that. As Tibet was being taken over by China He never would go back. While many people set themselves o fire in protest for years. No no other country would help them either.
I live with a Female Lama. How after a big thing that went down this weekend for the retreat she was suppose to stay at two Lama’s treated he like garbage she left the retreat. The trouble with power is ego. Thinking one is better then another.
The last thing is the word Deities. I would say I think about 98 percent of all Buddhists have no clue to what real deity is. No one person on this planet proves the power of them. Never mind understand what they really are teaching and how they do that. Praying is a way for people that don’t know the truth to try to protect themselves from that.
I did not hear one master talk about the most important thing- not self or ego but a real God. If fact they know very little about death and the true world of God not the deities. The condition of the planet just proves it. Jesus said there will be many greater then He. That never happened. Just as the D.l. left his country to hideout in Canada and India. I stand by my truth no matter how many people attack me. I really don’t care what anyone else thinks. Because I know my truth. I know three Deities not by prayer either or a by a teacher.
They truly do not care if you site there and pray to Them. Read writings written by man. Or say you talk to them. The sexual abuse happening with high Lama’s and in all religious paths prove they are all corrupted. Never mind with Tibet taken over by China just shows what power is and what it does. Sadly no one wants the the truth. One of the most abused Deity is Green Tara. adding to it the 21 faces She is suppose to have. Both India and Tibet kept Green Tara and many other were not. They are only a few rally important deities that were important to this world. Just like man to create a deity for every problem they have. Sadly they do not make the problem go away.
If you really would want to talk I do a radio show once a week at least. I only put the truth out. whether people want it or not. I know most Buddhist do not believe in a real God, sorry to say. They follow deities and their own ego. Just as the Christians have no clue to who Jesus really was and what he did. He had Thomas go to India to bring His teachers there as well. That was covered up just as all truth is.
Talking about negative energy doesn’t help get rid of it it only make the people that follow it more angry.
Tommy Hawksblood My show is called Adventuresintothestrange1 I am just releasing my fourth book. Not to make money but to put truth out for anyone to hear. I write a email to the Pope and the D.L every day. After I read the STUFF they say. All the D.L can talk about is Love and compassion. It will never change the world. There will be a major destruction happening soon. Then the people that will be left will have to work together to survive. The Hopi people and Tibet people have the same prophecy. Tibet is already showing the defeat of the Tibet people. The Hopi people are among the 3/4 of one million left after 49 million were killed. Peace Tommy
I hope all these controversy and discrimination about World Peace Buddha ,dharma protector Dorje Shugden would be over as soon as possible.?
Didn’t Buddha say whatever religion makes you a better person is good when someone asked him which religion is better?
So if people want to follow Shugden and it makes them better what’s the problem.
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
The Tibetan leadership’s smear campaign against Dorje Shugden has been going on for 20years now but instead of succeeding, there are signs that the public have seen through the Tibetan leadership’s ploy to wipe out the practice and are not beginning to embrace the Protector practice instead. One example is this very good comment left by Suzy on Tsem Rinpoche’s YouTube channel-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s
Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, TibetOver 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 ShugdenHUM
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 quite shocking to read that Reuters published a piece, that is based on hearsay and no real evidence. No evidence of Dorje Shugden people taking money from China, yet they publish it. Is there any journalistic integrity at all?
Whatever journalistic standards the West profess to have, with this piece, it all goes down the drains. On the other hand we have to thank Buddhist Scholar Justin Whitaker for pointing out that the Reuters article is to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Thank you for having the strength, courage and genuine care to stand up and speak peacefully for what you believe in. No one should ever suffer, be segregated, assaulted, hurt, degraded, belittled, cursed, hated and biased for their religious beliefs. No one should advise anyone against any religious belief. If we want to find people who hate a certain religion, we can find plenty. If we want to find people who like a certain religion or form of spirituality, there will be plenty. In the end who is right and wrong? Which religion is right or wrong. All or some or none? Therefore it is more logical to respect all religions, all faiths and all forms of spirituality. In history many have exploited religion for selfish purposes and many have not. As long as I have not, that is all that matters. I cannot and will not speak for others of my faith and what their motive is, but I know my motive. No one and no leader and no religious leader should ever hurt, segregate or speak against another religion. Time for peace. Time for harmony. Time for respect. Time to look beyond mine/your religion and be kind. Be kind to everyone. Never put anyone down because of their religion.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche.
P.S. I wish very much the people from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s views/side and people from the side of Dorje Shugden practitioners meet very soon. May they meet in peace, with kindness in the hearts and good motivation to solve this issue once and for all. We have to solve this through peaceful dialogue. I never protested against His Holiness Dalai Lama nor spoke harshly against his views ever. I have always respected his and everyone’s views. We all have to live on this earth together. You will not accept my way of spirituality and I will not accept your’s and that is okay. But we must respect each other’s spiritual faith and NEVER criticize or advise against it. We must respect also what we don’t accept. Everyone has their way. Advising against another’s religion/faith/spirituality creates so much disharmony. No more disharmony. It’s been 19 years since the ban against Dorje Shugden started. It must end please. We have so many things to argue about in this world, let’s make one less conflict. I wish this conflict to end peacefully soon. I wish His Holiness the Dalai Lama and supporters can open channels of communication and solve this issue soon. Peaceful dialogue please and soon. Thank you.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed this prayer to Dorje Shugden. His Holiness has full clairvoyance and knowledge of the nature of the deity he composed the prayer to when he was younger and when he is older as it is the same mind stream. So not logical His Holiness can make a mistake? If he can make mistakes about deities, then the mistakes cannot be limited to time span: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=61029
So many beautiful teaching videos here on the various aspects of Dorje Shugden’s practice. Kecharians really did a terrific job on this. So much needed information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=66785
Tsem Rinpoche speaks up on Dorje Shugden. The explanation is clear, logical and very humble. Everyone should take the time to listen carefully: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxC6uKHM3dY
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing.After I read the articles I feel that now DS issue are related in political issue.As we know , dharma protector all are compassion and boddhicitta. How can he make an chaos for Tibetan Buddhism.Please don’t complicated DS issue.i wish all these will be over soon.Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
Jason
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this article. I find it most interesting and a few thoughts did crop up while I was reading it. I thought it was weird that so-called experts have always called the Dorje Shugden ban as a way of unifying the Tibetan Schools because Shugden has always been labeled as sectarian.
I find that weird because I do not recall the Tibetan leadership ever saying that (please let me know if I am wrong) and I always read that the ban on Shugden is because he is a spirit and that worship can harm Tibetan independence and the very latest is that Shugden worshippers are agents of the Chinese. I actually think that this reasoning was developed to explain this irrational ban on Dorje Shugden.
It is not the actual reasoning that is given by those who are implementing the ban. I feel there is little with no relationship whatsoever between the two. If the ban on Dorje Shugden was really to unify the TIbetan groups, wouldn’t they just say that straight out and not complicate matters by making all sort of other allegations. That is how I see it.
Hi Pastor,
for the reasons why the Dalai Lama turned against and discouraged Shugden worship – there is no general ban nor can’t he impose a ban – you can read here his own speeches: http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2015/05/27/why-did-the-14th-dalai-lama-change-his-stance-on-dorje-shugden-dholgyal/
Rinpoche is wrong when he claims that there would be “4 million Dorje Shugden practitioners”. All academic experts have rejected that number as being exaggerated. Repeating a wrong number doesn’t help anybody and doesn’t make it more true. However, I appreciate that Rinpoche cherishes academic research. There is a lot out there many Shugden adherents have neglected to read and to think about.
Dear Tenpel,
Personally what I find odd and rather amusing is your notion that there cannot be a ban because the Dalai Lama is not authorised to do such a thing and therefore cannot impose a ban. I gather you meant the Tibetan Constitution does not permit the banning of a religion. Your assumption here is that the Tibetan leadership does indeed obey its own laws. Using your logic one can also claim that there is no crime in America because the law prohibits criminal activities. It is frightening how you think and even more so how you expect the public to go along with this idiocy.
I might be convinced that the Tibetan government in exile would obey the law if not for the fact that the same entity that professes itself a constitutional democracy also uses state apparatus, namely its ‘Parliament’ to clearly criminalize the practice of Dorje Shugden, declaring all Shugden worshipers to be ‘criminals in history’. How is this even remotely constitutional or fair or even morally right? So you see, I cannot see how the Dalai Lama and his exile government actually respects the Tibetan Constitution.
In addition, I see the same lame reasoning and defense in so many anti-Shugden sites. One I came across even claimed that there cannot be a ‘ban’ because there is no such Tibetan word. I guess there must no Wifi available to any Tibetan speaking people because I have also learned that there is no Tibetan word for ‘Wifi’ either. Call it whatever you like, there is discrimination. And that is the only point one should focus on, that there should not have been any discrimination against anyone because of his/her faith.
Finally Tenpel the clearest evidence of discrimination is perhaps, persons such as yourself who has made it a career to oppose the Shugden practice when in fact, it is not your affair what others choose to believe in. In addition, you are supposed to be an ordained monk and yet your accept assignments from the Tibetan leadership directly and indirectly, to disseminate grievous misinformation about Dorje Shugden. Why would a democratic government even do that, and how can it do that and still have the gall to call itself a democracy?
So here you are Tenpel, claiming again that there is no ban. I do not see you speaking against gender inequality, racial discrimination, oppression of minors, I don’t see your presence in the protection of the environment, or standing up for defenseless animals. Wherever you are, there is hatred against Shugden. You are here for no other reason than to propagandize against the Shugden faith and people and you saw there is no discrimination?
What is odd is how someone like you who thinks he is clever, cannot see the obvious. The Reuters piece that you seem to be celebrating and hyping up so joyfully, is actually propagating evidence of how lame and unfounded the anti Shugden campaign is. All those words by Reuters and those like you, when all that was truly necessary was for Reuter’s prime witness Tseta to produce proof that China sponsors ant-Dalai Lama activities. That would have been the only piece of news necessary to bury Shugden as you would have loved to see. Instead all I see are smoke and mirrors and carefully guarded and crafted statements.
The game is up for you and from now on, the world will see you and all your Shugden bashing friends as nothing more than biased, bigoted and incredibly boring haters.
You seems to be focus on accuracy of numbers instead of the impact of discriminations on the mind of others.
A billion, a million or one. Isn’t it still discrimination against others’ belief/faith too? Apparently this could lead anyone who read his statements that it is a small issue.
Interesting – Tenzin Peljor criticises Rinpoche’s use of “4 million” instead of being concerned about, say, the fact Reuters used a discredited source who has never shown any proof for any of his allegations.
I guess some people just have vastly different priorities.