Should there be a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state? Part 1
Within Tibetan society, it is rare to find someone who will speak openly because the Tibetan leadership, sorry to say, does not support or encourage many freedoms. Aside from the suppression of religious freedoms, another freedom that they suppress very heavy-handedly is freedom of speech and expression. Many Westerners will find this difficult to digest because the Tibetan leadership says they are a so-called democracy. Also, it’s not easy to associate censorship and no freedom of speech with a community that has been protesting for the last 60 years. But I lived in the settlements of India for many years and there are many nuances about Tibetan culture and mannerisms and goings-on that takes some time to notice and understand, which the media does not always cover effectively.
Mr Lukar Jam himself was recently the target of violence when a poem he composed in memory of a deceased friend was perceived to be anti-Dalai Lama.
Tibetans know that if you speak, do or think anything against the leadership’s policies, you will automatically be singled out, segregated and discriminated against. If you are a Westerner and you don’t agree with the leadership, they will keep one eye closed because you’re a potential sponsor or will speak up, but if you are Tibetan you will be considered a deserving target for violence and vulgarities from them, and they will publicly denounce you. So one thing I admire about Mr Lukar Jam is that he is very brave because not only does he talk very openly about his thoughts, but he does it about something that is “controversial” which is the Dorje Shugden issue. I am not interested in politics and I never have been. All I am interested in is the freedom to practise whatever religion I choose. In this case, it just happens to be the Dorje Shugden practice. So I’m speaking on just that and not any of the other ideas he has.
So I like what Mr Lukar Jam says because he is fair and objective. Mr Lukar Jam is saying all Dorje Shugden practitioners are not the same and so they should not be treated in the same way. Similarly, all non-Dorje Shugden practitioners are different so they should not be treated the same way either. I like that approach because it recognises that everyone has a different motivation for their involvement.
Actually, one thing Mr Lukar Jam keeps talking about is how the segregation is intentional and so my thought is, since the Tibetan leadership is firm that they do not want us involved with mainstream Tibetan society, perhaps Dorje Shugden practitioners should separate because they are already segregated. I am sure many of us don’t wish this but when I examine the situation, what other choice do we have?
- We cannot give up our practice because that would be breaking our commitment to our teachers. But because we cannot give up our practice, the Tibetan leadership are intentionally keeping us separated from everyone else. We are segregated in all facets of daily life as it is, since 1996 when the ban started.
- The Tibetan leadership call us so-called demon worshippers. They degrade our faith, encourage people to harass us, label us ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ so that violence and vulgarities are directed against us. This is intended to browbeat us into giving up our practice, which has not worked.
- We are not allowed in mainstream Tibetan schools, shops, restaurants, hospitals and monasteries. We can’t have jobs in the Tibetan government unless we swear out from the Dorje Shugden practice. And we are banned from seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is our leader. We are not allowed to attend his talks, whether secular or religious. Why not the secular talks that concern Tibetans? (Yet people of any other non-Buddhist faith face no such problems)
Mr Lukar Jam speaks objectively and truthfully in this interview. I don’t like politics and don’t engage in it, and don’t agree with all of Mr Lukar Jam’s views but on this Dorje Shugden issue, his perspective is a refreshing change.
- So we are clearly rejected from mainstream Tibetan society. The discrimination against us is extensive, violent and worst of all, created and sanctioned by the leadership. And when this leadership does everything they can to destroy our spiritual practice, what choice do we have but to live separately if we want to protect our physical wellbeing and our faith? We have no other way to live. Like other groups persecuted in the past for their religion such as Mormons, Puritans, Wiccans, Pagans, Jews, Zoroastrians, various sect of Islam (Shia, Sufi, Ahmadis, Salafis), Sikhs, Baha’i, Voodoo, Bon, Karma Kagyus during the time of 5th Dalai Lama, Coptic Christians, Witchcraft, Yazidis, Dalits of India, Mandaeans and many more, they find a way to continue. In history, people being persecuted for their religion either go underground, move away or become an independent state. There are religious groups in the world who are fighting for that even now. So whether we believe in their religion or not, does not matter. They should be respected equally because they are humans and no segregation due to their religion should occur or be enforced. Dorje Shugden practitioners are being persecuted now.
- All of this segregation, separation and discrimination is solely on the basis of our religious choice. There is no other reason why children of Dorje Shugden practitioners cannot enter mainstream Tibetan schools. There is no other reason why some Tibetans have access to medical services, and other Tibetans like the Shugden people are denied medical treatment.
- At the same time, in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), Dorje Shugden practitioners are not harassed on the basis of their faith. Dorje Shugden practice is not banned and in fact, the Chinese government gives everyone the same religious freedoms, regardless of what they believe in. That means that there is equal religious freedom for Dorje Shugden practitioners as with other religions in Tibet, as compared to within the exiled Tibetan settlements in India and Nepal.
So overall, it appears that if Dorje Shugden practitioners were to remain in Tibet where there is religious freedom as long as you follow the law, it would be safer for them as China seems to be respecting religious freedoms within Tibet. What I mean is they allow religion, full stop. If Tibet remains a part of China, then Dorje Shugden practitioners will not be discriminated as well as other sects in Tibet.
Possible hypothetical solution for Dorje Shugden Tibetans
At the present time, the Tibetan leadership (Central Tibetan Administration located in Dharamsala, North India or CTA) are asking for autonomy of Tibet within China. If and when the exiled Tibetan leadership are successful in their bid for autonomy and they receive this with Tibet, then all the Tibetans inside Tibet and those returning to Tibet from the outside will be under the CTA, who will continue to discriminate against Dorje Shugden practitioners for their practice, just as they are doing now in exile. If that’s the case, then if and when there’s autonomy under the CTA, perhaps Dorje Shugden practitioners should seek sub-autonomy within Tibet. They should have their own Dorje Shugden spiritual leaders (just as the Bon, Jonangs and Tibetan Muslims do) who practise Dorje Shugden led by our own spiritual/secular heads elected by us. They should seek autonomy from Tibet.
In conclusion, what I am saying is if Tibet remains in China, the Dorje Shugden people will be safe as they are now. China is moving towards allowing all religions to be practised. But if Tibet is granted the Middle Way (autonomy) as proposed by the Dalai Lama, then the CTA will continue to discriminate against Dorje Shugden people at which time Dorje Shugden practitioners should seek to perhaps separate from Tibet to not be controlled by the CTA. Dorje Shugden Tibetans returning to an autonomous Tibet should seek sub-autonomy from Tibet so the discrimination against them by the CTA will stop. If the CTA gives equal representation of Shugden people in government and stops the segregation, then this separation is not necessary. I am not interested in separation or remaining a part of Tibet per se but freedom to practise without segregation.
The Tibetan leadership have made it clear over and over again throughout the last 20 years that Dorje Shugden practitioners are not welcome among the Tibetans. So although it is painful for us to do so, perhaps we should do what the Tibetan leadership say and go all the way to separate from mainstream Tibetan community, even asking for our own autonomous state within the Tibetan community. Even if you need medical attention, you are banned from receiving medical help just because you are practicing Dorje Shugden. Loseling is a monastery and it is suppose to be practicing compassion, love and care for the needy. No medical help at all. Why do the Tibetan populace do this? Who started it? Who began this human rights violation which is discrimination due to religion? The answer is the Tibetan leadership in exile located in Dharamsala, North India.
In every civilised democratic country, there is representation for every strata of society – colour, gender, religion, etc. So why is it within the Tibetan parliament there is no representation for the Dorje Shugden people who number into the thousands? They are Tibetans after all. Why are Dorje Shugden people not given seats in the exiled Tibetan parliament to contribute to the direction of the future of the Tibetan people as a whole? Dorje Shugden people are Tibetans and so they should be in the parliament and government as Tibetans, and not segregated due to their religious preference. But they are not represented whatsoever in the CTA of Dharamsala because there is a ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Although they are not allowed in mainstream Tibetan monasteries in India and Nepal, nor are they allowed in the Tibetan settlements, they are still Tibetans and deserve representation. The simple fact they are not represented in the Tibetan parliament of Dharamsala shows a distinct and conscious segregation. Simply put, a ban against this group of Tibetans.
The bottom-line is that this situation is just complicated, confusing and totally unnecessary due to the ban on Dorje Shugden. If there were no ban, none of this would even need to be discussed. So in reality, all Tibetans should be united because we are all human beings but the Tibetan leadership does not see it that way. So even though separation is not what I want at all, I don’t see any other choice because I will not give up my practice of Dorje Shugden. And since the Tibetan leadership want to separate Shugden practitioners from everyone else, and will not allow us to assimilate with mainstream society, they are forcing us into this situation which I am only presenting hypothetically. Even some of the Western supporters of various Tibetan schools of Buddhism bash Dorje Shugden practitioners on the internet and bar them from their centres. This is totally against democracy and the spirit of compassion, tolerance and acceptance which the Buddha taught. You do not need to be Buddhist or even accept Buddha to be allowed in any Buddhist place of worship. But Dorje Shugden Buddhists are barred from the Dalai Lama’s temple, the main monasteries and their affiliates around the world. Even those in democratic countries!
These are just my thoughts and I am sorry if they offend anyone but really, what other choice do we have as segregated Dorje Shugden practitioners? This is just something to think about. I am not planning to start a new movement or political movement. Or be some separatist. This is all hypothetical. But Dorje Shugden people are discriminated by the current Tibetan leaders in exile and they encourage this among their foreign Buddhist converts with their anti-Shugden sub-websites, pamphlets, books, condemnations, videos, planned social media paid attacks and public talks all over YouTube. Like I said, I am not interested in politics and I do not agree with everything Mr Lukar Jam said but although his segment was short (less than 5 mins), I found his perspective on the Shugden issue created by the Tibetan leadership and approach to be quite refreshing regarding the Dorje Shugden people’s plight.
I wish the Dorje Shugden discrimination and hatred would stop and it has to start with the Tibetan leadership making public statements to put an end to this. Their silence is their consent to this discrimination. The CTA must stop their distribution of their anti-Shugden books, pamphlets, close down the sub-websites and cease their public condemnation against Dorje Shugden which is infringement of religious freedom. The CTA has paid groups of people in both India and other countries to have planned negative propaganda attacks on social media against Dorje Shugden practitioners. They wish to damage their reputations and therefore invalidate their voices that speak up against this discrimination. I have suffered social media attacks done by paid social media attackers of the CTA for years now. If all these stop, then we can reconcile as one people again. I should not be discriminated just because I practise Dorje Shugden as it’s a religion. This practice and meditation was given to me by my personal aged teacher over 30 years ago. Please do listen to the five minute video below by Mr. Lukar Jam.
So my final thoughts: I wish the Tibetan people in Tibet and outside of Tibet happiness and a good resolution to their wishes concerning Tibet. I respect China and their wishes. I hope that both the Tibetans and China can come to a conclusion mutually beneficial for both peacefully. I wish the leadership in China will be able to continue bringing China to greater heights and I wish His Holiness the Dalai Lama long life. I wish China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama can become friends and Dalai Lama returns to Tibet. I basically wish all to have happiness.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche
[Read Part 2 here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=142868]
Transcript
The Dorje Shugden issue has become political and made so big which is unnecessary. In reality, it should be a small issue within the Tibetans. Within the Tibetans, it’s a Gelugpa issue and it becomes even smaller. Then you can reduce it down further to a protector worshipping issue, whether to have this protector not. Which means if you want to worship or not, it is up to you. If you do it that way, it becomes smaller.
Instead of making the issue smaller, we made it bigger, bigger and bigger. Then people associate this Dorje Shugden practice with that if you practice Dorje Shugden, then you are against the Dalai Lama. Being that the Dalai Lama is the spiritual and secular head of the Tibetans, if you practice Dorje Shugden, it is made out that you are against the Dalai Lama. Then you become wrong because you are presumed to be against him. And then you are connected to the Chinese government. Nobody is trying to solve this issue but they are making this issue bigger, like making the fire bigger. So that is why this issue still exists.
Then those who practice Dorje Shugden, we separate them and we put them into one group. Whenever you see his followers, you think, “They are bad and hateful.” This kind of politics for separation must end. That is wrong. We put them all into one group, and we label them as negative in a political view. So anyone who practices Dorje Shugden is automatically bad and estranged from the Tibetan community as a whole. We have to stop that kind of political view, to put them into one group and separate them from other Tibetans due to their worship of Dorje Shugden.
There are people who practice Dorje Shugden and respect the Dalai Lama, and they respect the Tibetan government. They don’t criticize the Dalai Lama, they don’t criticize the Tibetan government. They stay quiet and they don’t make any trouble.
Then there’s the second group of Dorje Shugden practitioners who said that the Tibetan government didn’t treat us well, and they don’t agree with the Dalai Lama. That’s the second group, and they protest. If people want to protest, if people want to say something, that’s their rights. And if they protest, we shouldn’t be surprised, they have the right to protest.
Then there’s the third group, that perhaps they are connected, or they get money from China, it is assumed. And that’s very little (a very small group). Then our government said that we should suppress this Dorje Shugden group. And the people follow along because the Tibetan government said so. Then the people who follow along, some understand, some don’t understand, some are just following along and they don’t really understand the issue.
There’s all types of people. Then some people said they are Chinese spies, of course there are Chinese spies in their group and everywhere because the Chinese want to divide us. This is not exclusive to Dorje Shugden people.
Within Tibetans, you have some monks, the sangha who are sincere and they practice sincerely. Then we talk about clean Samaya with the Dalai Lama, for a lot of ordinary Tibetans it doesn’t matter. We don’t understand all that stuff. Then there are Tibetans who play politics and they show us they are against Dorje Shugden and speak up against the Dorje Shugden people to be famous and gain favors or look good.
This is purely political. It becomes something political because this Samaya thing becomes associated with you being against the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan government separate them, the Dorje Shugden people and the Tibetan people. This can be solved. When we don’t solve this, it becomes worse and worse. “We’re good, they’re bad.” If that’s all you talk about, then the issue won’t be solved. My thinking is that the Dorje Shugden issue is made big, but we can make it small.
We should not separate people. We should not separate. If I am elected into office, I am sure I can solve the issue and unite everyone.
For sure there are people who are pro-Chinese, for sure. Within the Dorje Shugden people, there are definitely people who are pro-China, definitely. So people who worship Dorje Shugden, people who have faith in the Dalai Lama, people who are pro-China, we shouldn’t mix this up. If we keep doing this, we will not be able to solve this issue. I feel I can solve the Dorje Shugden issue for sure. If I’m elected, I can solve the Dorje Shugden issue. I can solve this, but you have to have courage. I don’t think this issue is that big, if we really want to solve it.
When Mr Lukar Jam was campaigning in the 2016 Sikyong (Tibetan Prime Minister) race, this was his manifesto regarding Dorje Shugden practitioners. Because he advocated for fair treatment of Dorje Shugden worshippers, he received a lot of criticism from his political opponents who claimed he was anti-Dalai Lama. But for any open-minded observer who reads this, they will quickly see it is not the case. Click to enlarge.
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- Mr. Lukar Jam
- Will the Dalai Lama agree with this?
- They want to kill me
- I can speak up now about Shugden
- Comparisons of the Dorje Shugden Ban With Historic Persecutions
- To Sum It Up
- They were not wrong
- My Father
- It Wasn’t Easy in New Jersey, but My Cousins/Aunts Helped…
- The Dalai Lama Speaks Clearly About the Dorje Shugden Ban
- My pleas to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Dalai Lama, China & Dorje Shugden | 达赖尊者、中国和多杰雄登
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story | 多杰雄登：我这方面的说法
- Tibetan Leadership’s New Anti-Shugden Video
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.
Dorje Shugden’s main mantra 多杰雄登主要咒语
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for peace 平和咒语
For gaining attainments through the energy of Peaceful Shugden, peace of environment and mind, harmony in one’s abode and dwelling area, and calming of disasters
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SHANTI SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for health 福寿安康咒语
For long life, increasing life, healing of disease and protection from diseases
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA AYU SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritual
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG
Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positive
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO
Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile places
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1544345059.mp4
Dear friends,
Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.
Enclosed are the prayers in English, Chinese and Tibetan.
May you be safe, protected and blessed.
Tsem Rinpoche
More on the Great 5th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2w7KHv6
More on H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden – https://bit.ly/2QdaL4n
Chapel (Trode Khangsar) built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa – https://bit.ly/2zBTd8M
—
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
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.
Rinpoche tashi delek
We should fulfil the will of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for an autonomous Tibetan state.
Dear friends,
This meme is powerful. Who you hang around with and the types of attitude they have is who you will be influenced by many times and who you will become in the future. Look at your friends and the people that always surround you to know who you will become.
Tsem Rinpoche
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
Lukar Jam’s statement on solving the Dorje Shugden issue is very logical. Separation within the Tibetan people is done, when there shouldn’t need for it to be like this. No one within the CTA has sat down to discuss and solve this, but instead, made it bigger and bigger. Why are Dorje Shugden practitioners ostracized within their own community, why are they discriminated against? If the Tibetan leadership can accept all other religions, gender, sexual orientation, etc, why can’t they accept DS practitioners? What is their intent to have mixed religion and politics, to reach a stage like this in its discrimination against DS practitioners?
It makes sense what Rinpoche wrote here – even now, DS practitioners are discriminated against.. If the CTA has autonomy of Tibet, Shugden practitioners would still be condemned, it would make no difference. So having a separate autonomous DS state makes sense, to allow full freedom for DS practitioners. But then again, IF and when CTA has autonomy of Tibet, then they would prove their theory wrong, because they said that Dorje Shugden practice hinders their fight for gaining Tibet back. Either ways, DS practitioners are used as the CTA’s scapegoat.
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
Respect each other’s religion is the basic and fundamental value which a person shall possess. Banning the practitioners of Dorje Shugden from having and enjoying their basic needs for example medical treatment is really cruel and inhuman. The action of CTA is truly against the fundamental principle of Buddhism. Last but not least, Dorje Shugden is a Dharma Protector and not a demon; and I am one of those whose lives have been saved by Dorje Shugden.
Dear Rin Lee,
Thank you very much for dropping us your comment and sharing your support for Dorje Shugden practice. Here are more Dorje Shugden topics for your best interest. https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/dorje-shugden
Warmest Regards,
Anne Ong
20 years of being suppressed, segregated, discriminated and harassed, having an autonomous Dorje Shugden state is liberation to all dorje shugden practitioners. It’s definitely a good idea. Living under the ruling of so-called democratic CTA, it’s known that there’s no freedom of religion, speech and expression so long you’re practising DS. Why CTA must label their own people just by their faith? DS tibetan, Kagyu Tibetan, Ningma Tibetan, half tibetan, gay tibetan, lesbian tibetan, indian tibetan, poor tibetan, rich tibetan and so on, they are all tibetans, why CTA must segregate their own people using different labels and with the labels, further divide the community? Don’t you think this is one of the biggest reasons why Tibet still cannot get back their country? no unity how to fight the “enemy”? Of course you lose. And for 60 years in-exile, a government body has to consult a spirit Nechung for advice on how to rule the country? if Nechung is so powerful and accurate, why are u still in exile?
It’s encouraging to see some open-minded and smart Tibetans are starting to speak up now. More should join the force to demand for a more democratic system of governance.
Bottom line is CTA is just using DS as a way to separate their people, to distract the Tibetans from seeing how inefficient and incapable they are in getting Tibet back. After 60 years of struggle, they are still refugees in India. His Holiness wants the middle way approach, ie getting the autonomous region status for Tibet but CTA is not in any way supporting His Holiness. China is open for discussion but CTA themselves is refusing to have a dialogue with them. If CTA really cares about the welfare of the Tibetans, they will do what is the best for them. After 60 years, the Tibetans in India are still stateless.
The Dorje Shugden issue has been blown out of proportion as described by Mr. Lakar Jam. It is small issue but made political by the CTA to gain power to continue ruling the Tibetans at the expense of Tibetans who practices Dorje Shugden. It is unfair to group all Tibetans who practice Dorje Shugden as the same because everyone is different as explained by Lakar Jam. There are those who practices Dorje Shugden and also respects the Dalai Lama.
So the idea of having a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state is beneficial so that the suffering by the people for the last 20 years can end. Only if the CTA seeks autonomy instead of independence from China. As you can see, China has developed Tibet to be prosperous and advanced since they took over. Tibetans in China has religious freedom and the freedom to live however they want.
感谢仁波切的分享与教诲
我觉得今天无论在那一个的派系佛法传承中（大乘，小乘，金刚乘等等…）都不应该有区别心，伟大的佛陀佛法教诲，是教导我们拥有“菩提心”，而不是“区别心”
在菩萨戒中，那有不公平对待一切众生的道理，今天倘若真的需要被帮助的人，而你视而不见，或是您一直在“毁谤”其他的传承或他人的老师，那么您不是违背了您所受持的“菩萨戒”了吗？
在多杰雄登护法的课题中，最长见的问题中，普遍的都是，您修持多杰雄登就是反达赖喇嘛尊者的人，可是在我们漫长的佛法学习的过程中，我们的上师尊贵的詹杜固仁波切从来就没有教导过我们要反抗，诋毁，伤害达赖喇嘛尊者，或是任何的一位僧伽，反之，上师要我们必须尊重所有的僧伽众，不能毁谤三宝，帮助有需要的人，培养我们的菩提心，要我们学习修心八诵，菩提道次第广论等等，我们也从来没有因为修持多杰雄登而伤害任何的一个人，所以我真的不明白，修持多杰雄登就是等于伤害达赖喇嘛尊者的说法是怎样成立的？
谢谢
Jerry
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
Very interesting …..Lukar Jam is one brave man who speak openenly about the Dorje Shugden issue and bringing harmony amongst the Tibetan. He spoke objectively and truthfully throghout his interview. The Dorje Shugden issue is getting out of propotion.. instead of solving this small issue , they (CTA )are making this issue bigger and bigger.
No one should be discriminated by the current Tibetan leaders in exile just because they practise Dorje Shugden. CTA said that there is no ban but those practicing Dorje Shugden practitioners were not represented in the Tibetan parliament.
May the ban on Dorje Shugden and the sufferings of practitioners will end very soon.. Hoping these issue will somehow solved peacefully..
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these post.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing your points of view with us through the article as this is indeed not necessarily to be discussed at all if there is no ban imposed on Dorje Shugden’s practice. I truly respect Mr. Lukar Jam for his courage and righteousness to uphold the discriminated Dorje Shugden’s practitioners as he is willingly to put himself in danger or at risk of receiving the same discrimination when he publicly has spoken out the issues faced by Dorje Shugden’s practitioners.
A successful government should not segregate their own people at any cost because discrimination, separation and attacks will implant long term negativities into their current and younger generation’s mind, which will bring more harm rather than positive progress in their future development. If the current CTA leaders can prove themselves as a fair and caring government, wise in diplomatic skills and able to manage their own people through the 84,000 teachings of Buddha, the chances of a democratic, strong and powerful country like China to return back their own soil to the current CTA are even more higher for now.
May the leaders in current CTA will be instilled with higher attainments, clearer views and compassion for their own people so that all Tibetans will be united as one big family again. May the ban of Dorje Shugden will be lifted to end the sufferings endured by many Shugden’s practitioners. May H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama returns back to Tibet and bless everyone with equal love.
Humbly with folded hands,
kin hoe
I am happy to know and hear of Lukar Jam’s pragmatic approach to resolve the Dorje Shugden issue and bring harmony amongst the Tibetan. Now that is a practical leader the Tibetan people in exile can follow and emulate.
People in any faith, there are good or bad. I find his views very balanced and insightful. Hope someone of such stature and astuteness will be the ones who will run CTA in the future.
A formal split of the Tibetan community is the last thing most of us want however the idea is brilliant and one never knows what the future holds. I like how Datuk May in her reply to this article references the 2 Sharmapas. I wonder if anyone(s) have been engineering this split, is it predestined, it’s a choice or the chaos will continue?
I wouldn’t have any issue with 2 Tibets given freedom and autonomy from China(yes I know in a perfect world) until the CTA gets new and competent leadership to reunite all Tibetans. Let’s do it!
Thank you Rinpoche for endlessly finding amicable solutions for the sufferings of Dorje Shugden practitioners due to the ban.
It is getting more and more apparent now that the excuses that are being used by the CTA to continue the ban on Dorje Shugden is lame, inhumane and internationally unconstitutional. As said before, if any DS practitioner broke the law he/she should be punished by the law as an individual. He/she cannot be punished for their religious beliefs on Dorje Shugden or any deity for that matter. PLUS there is no valid reason/rule to put a BLANKET BAN on every Tibetan that practices Dorje Shugden !!
Because there is no logical explanation for the ban, one can only believe that it’s all done for political reasons. As Mr Lukar said rightfully , why does the CTA portray the practice of Dorje Shugden to be such a big evil thing; why does CTA blow it all out of proportion when in fact it is possible for it to be solved amicably ! Is the CTA doing this to distract people from their failure (since 1958) to obtain any of form of autonomy or rights from the China government with regards to the status of Tibet and Tibetans?
Should there be a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state ?
There are places in the world where a community live their lives based on their philosophies and religious beliefs. Auroville in Pondicherry, South of India is one such example. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity – in diversity. Today Auroville is recognised as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness, also concerned with – and practically researching into – sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind. This place was established in 1968 and is very successful and almost running at full capacity and getting harder for “newcomers” to join them in this little township. People from all over the world who have similar beliefs, come to make Auroville their home.
In Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong Malaysia, we are also building a conscious living community extending our philosophies and services to anyone who needs it, Buddhists or non-Buddhists. This was all only possible due to the guidance and blessings from our Guru, H.E Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden ! Maybe a similar concept can be established in Tibet for Dorje Shugden practitioners who are discriminated by the CTA.
I pray that the ban on Dorje Shugden will end very soon. I pray that an amicable solution will be applied soon. I pray that Mr Lukar or some like minded leader will take over to lead the Tibetans out of their dilemmas (mostly self created !)
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
This is a very interesting article to read. i think, Dorje Shugden Tibetans also have to request for own autonomous state since Central Tibetan Administrative seek for middle way. i am pretty much happy to have a separate autonomous Dorje Shugden state for DS followers under Chinese government since they have no rights provided from their own government, CTA.
Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this interesting updates. Unfortunately, I’m not good in politics and don’t like to get involved in politics. Hopefully all’s well that ends well and there is new hope for a new beginning to get the ban lifted as soon as possible. Nevertheless, I sincerely give my full support in anyway I can to get this ban off and end the sufferings for all the DS practitioners.?
Ever since H.H Dalai Lama have said that we can practice Dorje Shugden, the CTA have not remove the ban at all. Instead the CTA using the donation fund that they get to create more hatred on Dorje Shugden’s practitioners. Not only this, CTA have goes against H.H Dalai Lama’s wishes to approach China in middle way.
Through these incidents I can only said that the CTA have intention to continue separate their refugees and create chaos in their society to cover their weakness. Thus, I agreed with the hypotheses that Rinpoche have mentioned, instead letting the CTA continue to use their refugees for their own agenda, create so much suffering and hatred, to the extend the ban have seriously violet the human right’s, why not we have our own set of ruler then. Then the Dorje Shugden’s practitioners should separate totally from the main stream of Tibetan’s refugees, have own hospitals, schools and do not need to be bullied by the CTA. As we know, Dorje Shugden’s practice is not something new and practice just by few peoples only. In fact as Glenn Mullin mentioned, Dorje Shugden’s practice is a pervasive one. More than millions of people practice Dorje Shugden. Thus to have our own set of rules is not hard at all. Since the CTA already did the discrimination.
If CTA are so worried that the China wanted to separate the Tibetan. They should not have this ban. This ban has separated the refugees’ society and causes a lot of unnecessary splits within Tibetan family. It is very pity to the Tibetan refugees in India, they already a refugee; no home for them and as time goes by, some of the youngsters who are born in India might be even confuse of their identity. With the ban occur; in add on salt to the wound.
Think more carefully, who will be benefited from this ban? Not the Tibetan society, not the China. I can only see is CTA, because if their people is not unite, they can’t unite to questions the CTA the reasons they are still in India as refugees after 50 years and the reasons why the leaders are so rich compare to ordinary Tibetan.
Dorje Shugden’s pratitioners are Tibetan too. Thus, if the CTA insist to segregate this way, they are actually forcing their own people to have new set of rules within the Refugees.
What a brilliant article stating facts of the situation facing Dorje Shugden people in India and discrimination against them by the CTA. What is of great impact with this article is the false and unproven blame against Dorje Shugden and with current availability of information on the Ban and the conduct of CTA, this article presents to Dorje Shugden people food for thinking that there can be a way out of their predicament.
It is highly impossible for CTA to regain Tibet under whatever way they may decide or propose to China. The Chinese government had worked hard for the past 70 years to create a nation of China and rid China of a dysfunctional dynasty, bullying from foreign powers and basic abuse of her citizenry, would China now be open to disruption of her work while progress is still on. Even Hongkong was returned to China by the UK. Even if China is to allow the Dalai Lama and Tibetan people to return to China, it is not even remotely possible for China to permit segregation of 2 Tibets, one of Dorje Shugden people and another for non Dorje Shugden. This is not even thinkable as far as China is concerned. Unity and opportunities for all is the core of communism.
From the track record of CTA, it is possible for them in desperation to agree to a division of Tibet. Imagine 2 Tibets, like 2 Karmapas? Hmm… scary thoughts.
Although it is extremely tempting to have a separate autonomous state for Dorje Shugden, it is highly unattainable. BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS ARTICLES AND THE WISDOM THOUGHTS OF H.E the 25th TSEM Rinpoche is opening the thought process for Dorje Shugden people, not to be suppressed, repressed and depressed over the bullying, think and there is a way out. Faith in Dorje Shugden is the way out. Be strong in our faith as we do have freedom of religion granted by the Government of China. The world too, I believe, but it is just that many feel the matter too small to deal with like the opinion of Mr. Lukar Jam, amazing man of open and expansive mind.
Some people may say the manifesto re Dorje Shugden by Mr Lukar Jam is political because he was lobbying for office. I say he was fair in his statement as he was interested in fair play for all Tibetans including Dorje Shugden practitioners. Dorje Shugden practitioners are people too, not inanimate objects. For Lukar Jam to say this and being a Tibetan means a lot as he did not profess to be a Dorje Shugden practitioner, he is only interested in politics that he could use as influence for the betterment of the Tibetan people. And for this, Lukar Jam was branded to be against HH the Dalai Lama by the CTA.
The hypothesis as to should Dorje Shugden practitioners make a clean cut from those who oppose the practice, I think so. Why continue to live in a society when you are being put down, ridiculed, treated as pariahs, barred from entering public places, no freedom of practice, no human rights? This is outrageous coming from a government that is supposedly Buddhists, who supposedly are practicing loving compassion. And if this happens then it would benefit the Dorje Shugden practitioners to seek for sub autonomy in Tibet. They would be so much safer there then where they are now. China has done so much for Tibet – progress, development, standard of living for Tibetans there have improved and are improving. Dorje Shugden practitioners would greatly benefit from this. It would be good for the Dorje Shugden practitioners to send representatives to start talks with the Chinese government. There is nothing to lose, as presently the Dorje Shugden practitioners have lost almost everything but everything to gain.
For a government that professes to be democratic, a spiritual matter like the practice of Dorje Shugden, should not be politicized. It is basically about a person’s freedom of worship , and freedom of worship should, by right, be enshrined in the constitution of any democracy.Yes, Mr Lukar Jam, you are correct when you say that the worship of Dorje Shugden has been made so big because it has been politicized by the Tibetan Government.
The ban on Shugden practice has indeed made the practice of Dorje Shugden issue so big, that , following the dictates of the Tibetan Government, all Shugden practitioners should be persecuted until they give up their practice. Moreover, Shugden practitioners are immediately labelled as anti-Dalai Lama, and are deemed as being not loyal to Him, and hence should be discriminated against and persecuted. This labelling has also spawned a sadly mistaken perception that all Shugden practitioners are bad and hateful! The lack of investigation has led all anti Shugden people to discount the fact that there are Shugden practitioners who , being pure practitioners,respect both the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership and have never engaged in any subversive acts against either.
Since the Tibetan Government has dictated that all Shugden practitioners be completely segregated from the rest of the community in all facets of life, shouldn’t the Shugden practitioners break away and form a separate state?
I don’t agree that that is a viable option. Working in that direction will somehow make Shugden practitioners as political. It is more important to see that the trend in China is the other way round – there in Tibet, China,Tibetans are given the freedom of practising Dorje Shugden. In fact, China’s policy for its people is freedom of religious choice .
It is time the Tibetans in exile realise that they have to speak up, and stand up for their rights and their freedoms. It is time that they be less ignorant and be more informed, that they investigate and find out the truth about Dorje Shugden, and not blindly follow the dictates of the Leadership.After all, as the electorate they hold the power of vote to vote people like Lukar in. The winds of change are blowing their way.For a government that professes to be democratic, a spiritual matter like the practice of Dorje Shugden, should not be politicized. It is basically about a person’s freedom of worship , and freedom of worship should, by right, be enshrined in the constitution of any democracy.Yes, Mr Lukar Jam you are correct when you say that the worship of Dorje Shugden has been made so big because it has been politicized by the Tibetan Government.
The ban on Shugden practice has indeed made the practice of Dorje Shugden issue so big, that , following the dictates of the Tibetan Government, all Shugden practitioners should be persecuted until they give up their practice. Moreover, Shugden practitioners are immediately labelled as anti-Dalai Lama, and are deemed as being not loyal to Him, and hence should be discriminated against and persecuted. This labelling has also spawned a sadly mistaken perception that all Shugden practitioners are bad and hateful! The lack of investigation has led all anti Shugden people to discount the fact that there are Shugden practitioners who , being pure practitioners,respect both the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership and have never engaged in any subversive acts against either.
Since the Tibetan Government has dictated that all Shugden practitioners be completely segregated from the rest of the community in all facets of life, shouldn’t the Shugden practitioners break away and form a separate state?
I don’t agree that that is a viable option. Working in that direction will somehow make Shugden practitioners as political. It is more important to see that the trend in China is the other way round – there in Tibet, China,Tibetans are given the freedom of practising Dorje Shugden. In fact, China’s policy for its people is freedom of religious choice .
It is time the Tibetans in exile realise that they have to speak up, and stand up for their rights and their freedoms. It is time that they be less ignorant and be more informed, that they investigate and find out the truth about Dorje Shugden, and not blindly follow the dictates of the Leadership.After all, as the electorate they hold the power of vote to vote people like Lukar in. The winds of change are blowing their way.
To put it bluntly, the Central Tibetan Government cannot be considered a democratic ‘government’ and it is a bit fuzzy as to what they are. When it suits the CTA to pitch their plight to democratic countries, they frame their struggle as that of a victimised democratic nation against a Communist juggernaut
However, when the Tibetan people in exile begin to express themselves as people with rights and various freedoms entrenched within the Tibetan Constitution, they are told that they cannot. And to actually exercise their democratic rights such as the freedom of speech and freedom of religion, is tantamount to treason against the God-King and the State.
But we have been through all these people and logic and common sense do not seem to apply here. Let’s consider instead this hypothetical issue that this thought-provoking post has raised.
Assuming China and the CTA come to some détente and the Tibetans are allowed to return to Tibet. Will CTA allow Tibetans who include Dorje Shugden in the pantheon of deities they worship to join the other Tibetans to return from diaspora? Or will citizenship be based on having a religion acceptable to the Tibetan leadership?
This is a question everyone who have been supporting the Tibetan freedom cause should be interested in lest they inadvertently support the CTA to become yet another regime with dictatorial traits.
The case of the ban on the worship of Dorje Shugden should also be of interest to all Tibetans. In fact, the issue is not whether you agree or disagree with the practice of Dorje Shugden or any other religion. The issue is whether you wish to support the creation of a precedent that the CTA can arbitrarily decide what thoughts the citizens can have, what thoughts are treasonous, what opinions are illegal and what god the people are allowed to pray to? If the Tibetan people are fine with that, then they should not longer have an issue living under the Chinese government who are portrayed by the CTA to be just as oppressive.
Clearly, the Dorje Shugden issue will not be settled so long as the CTA keeps fanning the flames of hatred against a people simply based on their religion. The same government can surely not guarantee liberty of any sorts.
What Lukar Jam said is right. The differences of spiritual choices is a small issue, in fact it’s not an issue as in any country their people have their right of choice and their leader will uphold democray and respect the differences to unite their people. The Tibetan leadership is looking for freedom from China but on the other hand suppressed their own people for their difference’s in spiritual practices in this case is Dorje Shugden practice to divert the attention of their failure to bring their people back to Tibet.
If CTA is looking for freedom so to Dorje Shugden practitioners and it make sense that the autonomy (middle way) is not just for CTA but also for Dorje Shugden practitioners. How would CTA negotiate for freedom which the world can see how they discriminate their people. One think for sure CTA can do is to stop Dorje Shugden discrimination by showing the world that they respect differences and worth to appeal for the best interest for their people else they hold no weight in whatever they seek for.
On one hand, the Tibetan leadership, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), claimed herself to be suppressed by China and ripped of their freedom, but on the other hand, CTA herself suppressed Dorje Shugden practitioners, and ripped of the people’s freedom to practice.
What Mr Lukar Jam said, is just to correct the wrong doing of CTA which suppressed the freedom of practice. If CTA wants to continue to position herself as a democratic government, then CTA should stand to be corrected. But look at what happened to Mr Lukar Jam? The people threaten him and his family, and CTA kept quiet about it, and in a way, CTA is encouraging violence towards different voices.
In my opinion, CTA still have a very long way to democracy. Or shall I say, CTA has no interest to implement democracy but just to use democracy as a way to trick the western countries for donations, because most western countries do not investigate what is really happening in the Tibetan settlements.
The Tibetan Leadership claimed they are democracy but on the other hand they do not provide freedom for their people to choose their religious practice freely. Not only that, the Tibetan leadership imposed a ban on Dorje Shugden practise. The Tibetan Leadership call the sincere and innocent Dorje Shugden’s practitioners as demon worshipers, denounced them publicly and encourage vulgarities and violence against them. Is this democracy?
Practicing any religion is a personal choice and never a political issue. As the saying goes
“…no government has the right to tell people how to worship and certainly not the right to discriminate against them or persecute them for the way they choose to express their faith…”- Senator Joseph Lieberman, 1998
I wish all the discrimination and segregation towards Dorje Shugden’s practitioners will come to an end. I sincerely wish that the Tibetan leadership will communicate with Dorje Shugden people, making a public statement to resolve this issue peacefully.
From my point of view as a Malaysian and as a Dorje Shugden follower, Lukar Jam is clearly pragmatic in his political approach in resolving the DS issue and reuniting the Tibetan Community. However, once he had touched on the most sensitive area (the policy on DS) hell broke loose – Lukar Jam is classified as an anti-Dalai Lama and he has been de-capacitated.
While I agree with Rinpoche that if the Dalai Lama succeeded in returning to Tibet on procuring autonomy for Tibet, DS practitioners should secure a sub autonomy state therefrom but I figure out this dream will never materialise on 2 realistic counts:
(1) China will never grant autonomy to Tibet and the 14th Dalai Lama will never get to return to Tibet as China stands firm that the Dalai Lama is a separatist.
(2) Even if Tibetans managed to secure autonomy of Tibet I doubt the anti-Dalai Lama stigma on DS practitioners will easily be erased off and could secure a sub DS state.
After tested and having failed his attempt on the recent election campaign, Lukar Jam who is young, modern, capable and courageous, should continue to stand out further by gathering all the Tibetan DS practitioners around the world and lead under a separate flagship (since CTA does not want to do anything with DS practitioners) to return to China and enjoy the full benefits and status of her citizens without having to fight and be ostracized by the CTA.
When the numbers of DS practitioners outside Tibet join Tibetans in China, they will become the mainstream practitioners as there are millions of DS practitioners living in China and thus makeup the numbers. Why be ostracized, made pariah; suffer uncertainty and hardship by a group of minority outside Tibet whose time is running out any time now??? DS practitioners must do something for yourselves and thus benefitting others for the time has come for this Protector of Peace to manifest in a stronger presence riding in the tidal wave of growth and success of China.
This is my humble and honest opinion. I do not wish to offend anyone.
Such an interesting and inspiring opinion. Thank you.
It beggars belief that a government would choose to discriminate against a segment of it’s own people. What are the reasons for doing that? Are they deemed subversive? From what I read, it does not appear to be so. Hence there must be other reasons for this segregation. Reference to Tibetan Leadership : the government or Dalai Lama or both? I find it a little confusing as from my little understanding of Buddhism and Tibetan issue. Dalai Lama is meant to be the embodiment of kindness and an emanation of the Compassion Buddha – so why would he chose to practise discrimination? And if he is a Buddha emanation, why is there a fear for his life. Surely, a Buddha is indestructible.
Besides, there seems to be no congruence between:
a) the Dalai Lama professing his religion to be kindness; and
b) an outright discrimination by his government against Dorje Shugden practitioners
As to whether there should be a separate autonomous Shugden State, I felt that there should not necessarily be one. Not because I do not hear the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners but I think the ‘state’s and it’s people should unite and be one instead of a divided one. A government that so outwardly practises discrimination ought to be challenged by world governments and if necessary, sanctions imposed to curb this unruly state behaviour.
For those who jump on the band wagon of harassing Dorje Shugden practitioners, they seem like:
i) a very ignorant group of people; or
ii) opportunists/profiteers out to make a quick buck on the back of others misfortune
Fair people of the world should rise up against these sort of people. I am really and genuinely sad for the Dorje Shugden practitioners and I plead with leaders of those nation that support the Tibetan government in exile. Please open your eyes to see the sorry state of affairs of the Tibetan people and stamp your foot against such tyranny.
Hi Steve Jones,
This segregation, hatred and violence against the Dorje Shugden people since 1996 is difficult to believe. But you should see this video where the Dalai Lama himself is asking for Dorje Shugden monks to be expelled from the Monasteries and that he rejoices when this is done. He orders this and wants all Dorje Shugden people expelled. There is no religious freedom. Watch this short clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQa0mZEtRGA
You can see how Tsem is attacked on social media simply for being a Shugden practitioner. This is his only ‘crime’. This was started by the Dalai Lama as you can see in the video. And the government under him continue this persecution. Must read: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/will-the-dalai-lama-agree-with-this.html
More awareness is necessary as to what is happening.
Dear Rinpoche,
I totally agree with what Mr Lukar Jam said. Dorje Shugden issue is MADE big by the CTA. It is totally unnecessary because it is actually a very small problem. It was blown up because CTA wanted to use this issue to divert public’s attention away from their failure to unite Tibet over the years.
Dorje Shugden issue is a religious freedom issue that was turned into a political issue. How is one’s choice to practice a certain deity is being viewed as being against the Tibetan government? That does not make sense. Anyone should have freedom to choose their religion and their belief system without the fear of being labeled anti-government. From this issue, i can see that Tibetan government clearly had blown up Dorje Shugden issue for their own gain because it is certainly not in the best interest of Tibetans.
I hope CTA will stop dividing its own people and creating disharmony which is totally uncalled for.
Humbly,
Chris