The 14th Dalai Lama’s prayer to Dorje Shugden
Dear friends around the world,
What is interesting is His Holiness the Dalai Lama is considered as the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, therefore a highly realized and attained being. Whether the Dalai Lama is 10 years old or 70 years old, his mindstream is the same and attained. Attainments cannot go backwards and at any age or any lifetime (incarnation) as he is highly attained. If this is the case when His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed the prayer to Dorje Shugden years ago, his mindstream was the same mindstream as now. So how can he make a mistake that back then he saw Dorje Shugden as a superior being and now he doesn’t? I don’t mean disrespect to His Holiness the Dalai Lama with this, but examining the situation only.
If Dalai Lama has been worshipping Dorje Shugden for decades, consulted his oracles, composed prayers for Dorje Shugden, then how can he finally and suddenly see Dorje Shugden as negative? How could Dorje Shugden have ‘fooled’ or ‘misled’ such a high being as the Dalai Lama for so many years? That does not make sense. Since Dalai Lama is a highly realized being, he should be able to see Dorje Shugden as a superior being or a negative being from the very first time they ‘met’. This ability is inherent in highly attained beings such as H.H. the Dalai Lama. If we are to hypothetically say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can make mistakes, then this puts us all in a quandary because he saw Shugden as superior in earlier years but later as malevolent. Does this make sense? Because if he can make a mistake once, he can hypothetically make another one. So the ban and his current negative views about Dorje Shugden perhaps can be wrong? I am just presenting some hypothetics.
People with clairvoyance when they come across a formless being, they can tell immediately if the being is good or negative. This does not change. It does not make sense the Dalai Lama saw Dorje Shugden as a very high being in Dungkar Monastery and then later in 1996 suddenly he said Dorje Shugden is not good and then institute the ban against Dorje Shugden? That would mean Domo Geshe Rinpoche who is highly realized is wrong too and for many incarnations wrong also? And hundreds of other highly realized practitioners are wrong also for 400 years? How could Dorje Shugden have fooled so many for so long until 1996? Does not make sense at all. Domo Geshe Rinpoche worshipped Dorje Shugden for many incarnations. His incarnations never went wrong or to the three lower realms, but returns again and again. This clearly proves Dorje Shugden’s practice does not send us to the three lower realms. How can Dorje Shugden be a superior being when His Holiness was younger and then later became a malevolent being needing a ban against his worship? Not logical.
This is the prayer to Dorje Shugden as composed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at Dungkar Monastery of Domo Geshe Rinpoche. It is good to recite daily or when in need of help. You can see in the prayer His Holiness enthrones Dorje Shugden as the “supreme collected nature of all Gurus and Protective Deities and requests to grant siddhis” (attainments). Ordinary spirits cannot grant siddhis therefore in this prayer, Dalai Lama recognized Dorje Shugden as a superior being who can grant two types of siddhis. Ordinary and extra-ordinary siddhis. His Holiness surely could not be tricked by a spirit. His Holiness saw Dorje Shugden as a superior being embodying the gurus and Protective Deities who can grant two types of siddhis.
Tsem Rinpoche
A Propitiation of Mighty Gyalchen Dorje Shugden, Protector of Conqueror Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings
By the Supreme Victor, the Great 14th Dalai Lama
HUM
Glory of the wisdom, compassion and power of infinite Buddhas
Miraculously powerful protector of Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings
Arisen as a lord of all wrathful worldly hosts
Come from the abodes of Tushita, Kechara (Paradise or pure land), and so forth!Prostrating with devotion of body, speech, and mind
I confess all mistakes and faults in which
Out of delusion, I have contradicted your holy mind:
Accept with forbearance and show your smiling face!Arising from the sport of non-dual bliss and void
Are offerings and torma of flesh and blood heaped like a mountain
First portions of milk, yogurt, beer and tea swirling like the ocean
Auspicious signs and substances and various animals
Peaceful and wrathful ornaments, enemy-destroying weapons and armor
Amassed samaya substances, outer, inner, and secret, without exception!Having fulfilled your heart commitment and purified degeneration
By making these actually arranged and visualized offerings
Increase Lozang the Victorious One’s Teachings
And the life span and activities of the Teachings’ upholders!
Further the happiness of beings in the Gaden [Podrang] dominion!Especially pacify all harm to us, the yogis and entourages
That arises because of previous karma and immediate conditions
And spontaneously accomplish, just as we wish
All good things, both spiritual and temporal!Grind to dust without remainder
Enemy hordes that think and act perversely
Towards the teachings and lay and ordained people
With potent, accurate, powerful great vajra fire!Especially, cause the saffron-clad community of Dungkar Monastery
Brightly beautiful in bonds of pure morality
To soar the path of immortal liberation
On unified wings of Sutra and Tantra!In brief, we enthrone you, O Deity, as the supreme
Collected nature of all Gurus and Protective Deities!
From densely gathered clouds of the four activities
Pour down a cool rain of the two siddhis!
This, A Propitiation of Mighty Gyalchen Dorje Shugden, Protector of Conqueror Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings, entitled Melody of the Unceasing Vajra ’s composition was urged, not only by the vajra prophecy of the great emanated Dharmapala himself, but also on behalf of the general community by the master of the Dungkar Dratsang and all of its officers, with offerings. Accordingly, the one called Holder Of The White Lotus, Bearer of the Buddhadharma, Ngawang Losang Tenzin Gyatso Sisum Wangyur Tsungpa Mepa De (14th Dalai Lama) composed it at Dungkar Monastery with spontaneous auspiciousness.
All benefit and bliss! Siddhi Rastu
Domo Geshe Rinpoche, at whose Dunkar Monastery His Holiness composed these inspiring verses, was one of the greatest Mahasiddhas in Tibetan history. A greater example of saintliness and, mind you, non-sectarian compassion would be hard to find. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang said of him, “We are exactly the same”, and Domo Geshe put his Monasteries in Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s care before he passed on. The 13th Dalai Lama praised him as Je Tsongkhapa incarnate. Both the 13th and the 14th Dalai Lama praised Dungkar Monastery’s oracle, through which they obtained very valuable advice in difficult times.
This prayer shows beyond the shadow of a doubt the enlightened origin and the “holy mind” of the King Protector as seen by His Holiness. No “ghost” can come from Tushita and Kechara, Maitreya and Vajrayogini’s pureland. No “ghost” can cause you to “soar the path of immortal liberation on unified wings of Sutra and Tantra”!
(Extracted from the internet)
This is the last picture of the His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama taken in Tibet prior to the cultural revolution. The year was 1951, His Holiness Dalai Lama was at Dungkar Gonpa (Dungkar Monastery), in the Chumbi Valley near the southern Tibetan border with Sikkim and Bhutan, poised for a possible flight to India.
Surrounded by many of his entourage and the Kalon who fled with him, His Holiness blesses a golden urn containing sacred relics of Gautama Buddha, which the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka has brought for him to sanctify. It was here at Dungkar Monastery of Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s, His Holiness Dalai Lama composed the prayer to Dorje Shugden.
(Extracted from the internet)
After Domo Geshe Rinpoche Ngawang Kalsang the founder passed away in 1936, the Dungkar Monastery’s administration requested the central Tibetan government for permission to embalm his body. Although only the bodies of the Dalai Lamas and the Panchen Lamas were customarily embalmed and sealed in large stupas, the request was granted. The Regent Reting Rinpoche’s decree read, “In Southern Tibet, including Sikkim, etc., Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s activities were exactly like those of Je Tsong Khapa. In accordance, we will allow Rinpoche’s body to be preserved.” The holy stupa was consecrated in 1938 by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche Dorje Chang and remained an object of veneration until it, along with the entire Dungkar Monastery, was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution.
(Source: http://www.domogesherinpoche.org/domo-geshe-rinpoche-ngawang-kalsang.html)
Under the direction of Domo Geshe Rinpoche the Dungkar Monastery became the seat of the famous and respected Dorje Shugden oracle that was consulted by people from all over Tibet. At the crossroads between India and Tibet, Dungkar Monastery also became known as a stopping place for most Tibetan and foreign dignitaries who were on their way to and from Lhasa. Thus, Dungkar Monastery was open to international contact in a way that was unusual for Tibet at that time.
When His Holiness the Thirteenth Dalai Lama returned from India in 1912 he stopped in Domo area, and a meeting took place between His Holiness and Domo Geshe Rinpoche at Kangyur Lhakang in Galingkang. One morning His Holiness mentioned to his attendants that he expected a very special visitor that afternoon. That day Domo Geshe Rinpoche, who always looked like a simple monk, brought special delicacies to offer to His Holiness and spent a long time in private talks with him. In the evening, His Holiness asked his attendants if they had seen the very special person who had visited him in the afternoon. They said that they had only seen a monk in tattered robes. His Holiness replied, “That is too bad. I saw Je Tsong Khapa himself.”
Many years later, in the 1950s, the Dungkar Monastery twice hosted His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and his government for extended periods of time. It was during these visits, the prayer to Dorje Shugden was composed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The throne of Domo Geshe Rinpoche in Dungkar Monastery
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at Dungkar Monastery or White Conch Shell Monastery.
This is the famous oracle of Dorje Shugden in Dungkar Monastery in full trance of wrathful form of Dorje Shugden. Due to the blessings of Domo Geshe Rinpoche, this oracle was famous for his clear prophecies. People from all over Tibet, Mongolia and North India would travel to Dungkar Monastery to consult Dorje Shugden. Domo Geshe Rinpoche was a very devoted practitioner of Dorje Shugden, Tsongkapa, Vajra Yogini and Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava. There was no conflicts. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had consulted this famous oracle of Dorje Shugden while staying in Dungkar Monastery. Because the words from Dorje Shugden was clear and concise and accurate, Dalai Lama developed great respect for Dorje Shugden and composed the special prayer.
This is the same oracle monk taking trance of the peaceful Dorje Shugden in Dungkar Monastery. When Dorje Shugden took trance in peaceful form, he can stay longer and speak more. In the wrathful form, the stay will not be long. Dulzin Dorje Shugden in peaceful form always wears the robes of a monk and pandit’s hat. Dorje Shugden’s previous lives as Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, Dulzin Drakpa Gyeltsen etc. were great scholars hence in peaceful form he wore the robes of a monk and the pandit’s hat of a scholar.
In this form of trance, Dorje Shugden can give extensive Dharma talks lasting many hours quoting from scriptures without looking at any texts, do extensive rituals and even confer initiation. Even if the oracle monk out of trance was not learned, but in trance of Shugden, it was completely different. The oracular prophecies of Dorje Shugden were highly sought after whether in the wrathful or peaceful forms. This oracle was specially blessed and created by Domo Geshe Rinpoche in Dungkar Monastery.
Tsem Rinpoche
His Eminence the 1st Domo Geshe Rinpoche who built and founded Dungkar Monastery.
His Eminence the 2nd Domo Geshe Rinpoche
The 3rd and current incarnation of His Eminence Domo Geshe Rinpoche. This incarnation was both confirmed by the current Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden oracle in trance.
World Peace Buddha and Protector Dorje Shugden
Here’s something extra, not only did the 14th Dalai Lama compose prayers to Dorje Shugden, but so did the Great 5th Dalai Lama!
His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama
Prayer by the 5th Dalai Lama to Gyelchen Dorje Shugden
HUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinocerous leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamo’s of the charnal grounds, praise to you!Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favorite 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!
Even the composition of this short praise and propitiation brought benefit. Thus, although undisputed great Tantric masters tried to subdue him by burning him in the fire through their rituals, his display of miraculous power only grew greater. (from ‘Music Delighting the Oceans of Protectors’, page 105).
His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama wrote this propitiation after realizing that Dorje Shugden was not a harmful spirit, as he had first assumed because of the disturbing appearances that manifested after Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s death.
As Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang explains, such displays as that of trying unsuccessfully to subdue the Dharmapala, serve to bring out the greatness in both the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden who, in the process, showed his having mastered Guhyasamaja’s two stages, amongst other signs.
The Great Fifth not only wrote this prayer, but even crafted a famous and still-existing statue of Dorje Shugden with his own hands.
His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama composed prayers, and also made a statue of Dorje Shugden. The Dorje Shugden statue is now housed at Gaden Pelgyeling Monastery, Nepal. I had the fortune to have audience with this holy statue. Even the 5th Dalai Lama revered Dorje Shugden. The 5th Dalai Lama and 14th Dalai Lama are the same mindstreams and both are Avalokitesvara. In that case they cannot be mistaken if they see Dorje Shugden as a superior being and also composed prayers to Dorje Shugden. The 5th Dalai Lama also commissioned a chapel to be built in Lhasa dedicated to Dorje Shugden. This chapel still exists today and attracts thousands of pilgrims. It is called Trode Khangsar. I will blog about it in the near future.
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
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H H the 14th Dalai Lama a highly realized and attained being is considered as the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The 14th Dalai Lama did composed the prayer to Dorje Shugden years ago and he can’t be wrong in seeing Dorje Shugden as a powerful Protector those years. Only later and he doesn’t and even banned the practice. The Dalai Lama have the clairvoyance to know if Dorje Shugden is good or negative when come across. Many highly attained Lama had been coming back and again has
proves Dorje Shugden’s practice does not send us to the three lower realms. Example Domo Geshe Rinpoche worshipped Dorje Shugden for many incarnations and his incarnations never went wrong . Infact returns again and again. HH the 5th Dalai Lama did composed prayers, and even made a statue of Dorje Shugden. He also built a chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden. The 14th Dalai Lama did propitiated Dorje Shugden and did compose prayers to Dorje Shugden as well. Dorje Shugden practices has been around for decades, it cannot be wrong to say that Dorje Shugden is evil.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing , get to the bottom of this banning for more people to know and understand better.
Many highly attained Lamas and many more have been relying Dorje Shugden for decades and some of them had even practiced Dorje Shugden their whole life. Dorje Shugden is a Dharma Powerful Protector who is also an emanation of Manjushri. Dorje Shugden practices has been around for more than 400 years ago. H. H 14th Dalai Lama has been propitiated Dorje ,Shugden and even composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden till the banning of it. Dalai Lama have the clairvoyance to know it’s a very beneficial practice. Dorje Shugden arose as a Dharma Protector to benefit sentient beings. Even the 5th Dalai Lama manifested great remorse and composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden and also built a chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden. These truths are not new at all but have been overshadowed by malicious anti-Shugden propaganda over decades, There did not verify the truth at all. This Dorje Shugden’s practice has been passed down from a lineage of erudite masters. They cannot be wrong.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing so as more people will get to the bottom truth.
H. H Dalai Lama a highly attained being is considered as the incarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. For decades before the ban H. H Dalai Lama has been worshipping Dorje Shugden and even consulted his oracles, composed prayers for Dorje Shugden as well. How could HH Dalai Lama make a mistake at that time when he saw Dorje Shugden as a powerful Protector but later as malevolent. It was Dorje Shugden that helped and saved him route to freedom during the Chinese invasion in Tibet. Dalai Lama with his clairvoyance should not have mistaken Dorje Shugden as a demon. In his prayers , he did enthrones Dorje Shugden as the “supreme collected nature of all Gurus and Protective Deities and requests to grant siddhis” too. Many incarnations have been returning again and again have proven that Dorje Shugden ‘s practice does not send us to the three lower realms.
Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This is something I don’t understand. In the beginning, the 14th Dalai Lama was practising Dorje Shugden and he did not say anything about Dorje Shugden. Suddenly in 1996, he banned everyone from practising Dorje Shugden saying Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit.
Dorje Shugden is a practice given to the Dalai Lama by his teacher, Trijang Rinpoche. Trijang Rinpoche would never harm the Dalai Lama by giving the Dalai Lama the practice of an evil spirit. This does not make sense at all. Is the Dalai Lama implying his teacher was not good and wanted to harm him when he said Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit?
It cannot be both the Dalai Lama and his teacher are right about Dorje Shugden. Is Dorje Shugden an evil spirit like what the Dalai Lama said or Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Buddha Manjushri like what Trijang Rinpoche said? I think as a student, we have to have 100% trust in our teacher.
HH 14th Dalai Lamais considered to be incarnations of Avalokiteśvara, a Bodhisattva of Compassion. While Dorje Shugden is an enlightened Dharma Protector who manifested about 400 years ago from a lineage of erudite masters. Dalai Lama have the clairvoyance to see that Dorje Shugden will do no harm and it’s a beneficial highly being . Dalai Lama has even composed prayers for Dorje Shugden at Dungkar Monastery of Domo Geshe Rinpoche. It had seen proven that Dorje Shugden is not an original beings. Many Highly lamas had propitiated Dorje Shugden for decades before the ban. They could not be wrong even consulted his oracles.
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
A Daily Request for Wealth, Peace and Protection
Composed by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
In the heavens there are myriad manifestations of the divine. All those manifestations specifically show us different aspects of divinity in order to be of benefit to all living beings. All the rupakaya forms of the divine have compassion, skillful means and wisdom. We invoke upon them whether we are happy, sad, down, lost, fulfilled, confused, empty, and during the whole range of emotions we constantly experience due to an untrained mind.
Understanding our nature, Great Wisdom Being Dorje Shugden, therefore all the more so, please hold us close to your bosom as an only child to a parent.
Though the manifestations of the divine need no offerings and gifts from us, we offer you supreme Manjushri Dorje Shugden a libation of tea, incense and mantras, in order to ask you to bless us, to be a part of our lives, to abide in our dwellings and to give us signs, omens and portents of both good and bad. When the negative arises, quell them immediately. Please increase the positive for my weary and worn mind as I lay my hopes in you.
When difficulties, problems and confusion arise, we ask you, who is but the culmination of all that is powerful, holy and omniscient to bless myself, family, loved ones, environment and even my pets. May I see wisdom, find hope, and be at peace.
I request you, O Divine Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, who wears a round dome hat and the three robes of a saffroned bhikshu, who wields a sword of liberty, justice and wisdom and clutches a wish-fulfilling jewel, who rides on a supreme lion of subjugation of all that is negative, to fulfill my wishes. I understand my wishes may not be the best, so I surrender to your wisdom for the outcome though it may not be what I have in mind. Please bless myself and everyone that we may enter into the supreme city of liberation.
Great Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, I request you sincerely from my heart to be a part of my life, bless my home, and grant me wisdom, solace and comfort, that I might be of service to others without agenda, and that I may focus out onto others and not be fixated on myself, creating more problems for all that I hold dear.
Bless me to become kinder, wiser, more compassionate, tolerant and very forgiving to all those who hurt and love me. In order to become close to you, Dorje Shugden, we must surrender the banal. We must abandon fixed views, projections and rigidity. Lastly, in my final moment when I leave this plane of existence, only the positive actions I have done will matter as everything and everyone will be left behind. Let me realise this and act upon this now! At this crucial moment, please may I have a vision of yourself, the powerful and merciful Dorje Shugden, to take me to where I may course in the sky to continue my journey of spiritual waxing.
I offer you saffron-coloured tea and my faith to fulfill my prayers and gain siddhis. By reciting your mantra, may healing, peace, love, long life, protection and perfect view of sunyata arise.
Mantra of fulfillment, peace and wisdom:
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
(It is good to recite this mantra daily as much as you like or your timing allows.)
I dedicate this supreme heartfelt prayer to the all-knowing Celestial and Supreme Protector Dorje Shugden, that I may quickly become a being of light, compassion, love and enlightenment.
Please play the audio included here to follow along with the prayer.
OR
Follow on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-OSudd323A
For more information, go to: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=61394
https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1538813324.mp4
Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Video 1: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Explains Dorje Shugden Initiation and Benefits (With English Subtitles)
Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFMvlxAqtc&feature=youtu.be
Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)
In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzKSJgK618&feature=youtu.be
For more information: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/kyabje-zong-rinpoches-advice-on-dorje-shugdens-practice.html
Many come to Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia to make offerings and prayers to the increase form of Dorje Shugden who appears like a prince and rides on a golden horse. Many report having their wishes fulfilled and return many times. Am happy to see this. Tsem Rinpoche
You can learn more about this form of Dorje Shugden here: https://bit.ly/2wxQyes
and
See video of this chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEK35F_O5Hg
COMPASSION at its best: His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained in Ladakh, 31 July 2018:
“Usually at the beginning of an empowerment there is a ritual to drive away interferences. But I no longer feel it’s consistent to regard some beings as evil forces. At the start of each day I cultivate altruism, but in the evening we say, ‘May the evil forces be driven away.’ There seems to be a contradiction here that I’m no longer keen to comply with. I’m not highly realized, but I have great confidence in the power of Bodhichitta.”
Source: https://bit.ly/2wVsqSb
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This latest statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is excellent. I fully believe in his compassion and I hope he will fully implement it.
All negative beings take rebirth with negative minds due to deep attachments. The attachments result in negative states of rebirth and angry minds that carry out harmful actions, like spirits or hungry ghosts who can be very bothersome because they are very angry as they died in the state of attachment in their former rebirths.
Indeed we need to generate compassion towards these beings, especially the formless type, as it would be the best remedy to stop their harm. We can recite mantras with love and bless them with it. While reciting prayers, we can meditate on them being at peace. When we generate compassion towards these harmful interferences of the formless type, many of them will calm down and stop their harm and even go away. Some of them, you can talk to them and subdue their harm and they will stop harming completely if they feel your love. That is how you can help them.
Many high masters of India and Tibet generated great compassion towards certain ghosts, spirits or interferers and subdued them in this manner and even made them into protectors of regions. I’ve witnessed this with one of my lamas where he subdued a female spirit that crossed over the Himalayas. After making the spirit promise it will not harm others, my lama gave the spirit a drink to seal the promise.
Since the Dalai Lama has manifested saying Dorje Shugden is negative (although many high lamas disagree), then he can apply this method to Dorje Shugden. He can ‘subdue’ Dorje Shugden by generating tremendous love, prayers and talking nice to Dorje Shugden who will be ‘subdued’. Then people are henceforth ‘free’ to practice Dorje Shugden without more discrimination, segregation and being called degrading names for practicing this protector.
Give peace a chance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama can generate great love towards Dorje Shugden and all the hundreds of thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners that love the Dalai Lama and miss him like I do. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama bring peace and heal the rift with Dorje Shugden practitioners.
May His Holiness live very long and always be healthy,
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Reading- https://bit.ly/2wWQGUh
Beautiful and precise prayer by HH the 14th Dalai Lama to Dorje Shugden years ago. Dalai Lama has been worshipping Dorje Shugden for decades and even wrote prayers to Dorje Shugden. Thousands of highly attained masters over centuries have seen Dorje Shugden as a fully enlightened Buddha, they cannot be wrong. The Dalai Lama is clairvoyance enough to see Dorje Shugden as a very high being and not an evil. The Great 5th Dalai Lama also composed prayers to Dorje Shugden and even built a chapel in Lhasa dedicated to Dorje Shugden. It seem The great 5th Dalai Lama did made a statue of Dorje Shugden with his own hands which is housed at Gaden Pelgyeling Monastery, Nepal.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
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
Dear Kecharians and friends,
Last night, I gave a teaching to a group of people who were in Kechara Forest Retreat. I shared with them the correct way to pray for our loved ones and why we shouldn’t “demand” Dorje Shugden with fulfilling our wishes but let Dorje Shugden decide what is the best outcome. He has infinite Manjushri wisdom beyond our own and we should trust this wisdom. Sometimes what we pray for is not what should be fulfilled. Sometimes what we don’t want turns out to be the better result in the future.
I also shared with them about a beautiful monk, Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche, who was jailed and badly tortured by the soldiers for 19 years, starting back in 1959 in Lhasa, and yet he has no anger towards his torturers. He was released and had resettled in Nepal where I met him. For the remainder of his life, he spent his time in meditation, retreats and pujas for the public until he passed. He was glowing, happy and very proud of the fact he was a student of His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, which he told me when we met. He did full meditations on Vajra Yogini and short puja to Dorje Shugden daily in his small room in Kathmandu, Nepal where I had to honor to join in his prayers. He told me he was very happy to have his room to do his meditations, pujas and prayers openly. Whatever happened to him, he accepted as part of his karma and he spent much time in prison meditating and quietly teaching dharma to his other cellmates. He was very much respected in prison in Lhasa because he never showed anger, always meditated and consoled others, giving them great strength. He endured much hardship, torture and beatings but he never lost his monk vows. His full understanding of karma helped him not feel any anger or bitterness towards the soldiers. He told me that daily, he would meditate that the karma of others in prison would come to him. That all the torture and abuse he received was so others in prison did not have to suffer this. He said suffering for others was what kept him going and made him be able to endure the pain.
We are not bound by our experiences. We are bound by our choice. I also reminded those were present about the good person inside each and every one of us, and how we should not “bury” this good person with our excuses because the more excuses we give, the deeper this good person is buried and soon the layers of excuses will make it very difficult for us to find this good person. We are all beautiful good people and we should not let it get lost by lying, laziness, lack of integrity and procrastination. We all have a choice. If we have to make excuses, we should choose to make excuses to be a winner. When we win, we make ourselves happy and those around us happy.
The teaching session went well and it was spontaneous, and I requested the people who live and work in and around Kechara Forest Retreat for the talk. We had some good laughs to during the talk.
Thank you,
Tsem Rinpoche
‘If we trust in karma which exists, then there is no reason for anger’.
~ Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche
“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
This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953
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
Nice short video of a new LED signage reminding us of who we can go to for blessings in case of need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwrkaKUoH0
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
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
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
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.
How can a nun curse someone they do not even know and wish the person to die quickly and be born in hell? What kind of nun is this? Shocking! What more she’s cursing a Buddhist teacher and a monk?! Is this the face of Bhutanese Buddhist?
This is so shameful for her as a nun, her teacher, her monastery, her country and her King. A sangha should not behave in such a manner. A Sangha should carry enlightened Buddha’s teachings of compassion and wisdom to benefit all sentient beings.
A Sangha is not supposed to promote hatred and certainly should not be cursing or wishing another person to die. That wish itself is already breaking one of the vows.
A Sangha is one of the 3 Jewels, an object of refuge. They should not behave like an uncivilized person with so much hate. This is how bad the Tibetan Leadership has spread their lies and hate about Dorje Shugden and Shugden Buddhist practitioners.
Enlightenment is not a switch you can turn on and then off. When one is enlightened, you cannot regress to being unenlightened or samsaric anymore it is not possible.
Like the binary code, it is either 1 or zero, enlightened or unenlightened.
The 14th Dalai Lama as an emanation of Chenrezig cannot make mistakes, but he can manifest mistakes for higher purposes. This is such a beautiful and powerful prayer and praise to Dorje Shugden that we can be most assured that it unmistakenly comes from a fully enlightened and most compassionate being. The mind-stream of the Dalai Lama that has come from 13 previous lifetimes of Dalai Lamas cannot be making a mistake here about Dorje Shugden, whom he describes as the “Glory of the wisdom, compassion and power of infinite Buddhas”. Furthermore, the 14th Dalai Lama is not the only one who composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden. The 5th Dalai Lama had also composed a prayer which is also posted in this article.
Furthermore, it was his previous incarnation the 13th Dalai Lama, who had Dorje Shugden enthroned. The beautiful part is that this prayer was composed by the 14th Dalai Lama in Dungkar Monastery, the monastery of Domo Geshe said to be the incarnation of Lama Tsongkhapa!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing your thoughts and views to conclude that it is not logically for a highly attained being such as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to mistakenly acknowledge and recognize Dorje Shugden as an enlightened Dharma Protector, whom we can 100% rely on for blessing, protection and advice, but contradictory since 1996 until now, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has segregated Dorje Shugden practitioners away from the monastery and split the Gelug lineage into non-Shugden and Shugden practitioners. Owing to the ban of Dorje Shugden, Dorje Shugden practitioners were being discriminated, abused, disallowed from receiving formal school education, not allowed to be treated in hospital and officially banned from attending the talks given by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama because Dorje Shugden was claimed to be unenlightened, harmful spirit and causing Tibet to lose its independence.
When both His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed the prayers to Dorje Shugden with full of praises in between a gap of more than 3 centuries, this has proven that Dorje Shugden practice is valid enough to be reliable and free from any inaccuracy or doubt as there are many high masters and lamas have been practicing Dorje Shugden since 400 years ago until now. Ever since from the beginning when Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen has arisen as wrathful Dharma Protector to safe guard Nagarjuna’s Middle View as taught by Lama Tsongkhapa, to protect the Buddhist teachings and to grant blessing and protection to the practitioner, there is no evidence to show that Dorje Shugden has done any harm to the practitioners or causing anyone to take rebirth in the three lower realms. Further, the important chapel Trode Khangsar, which was built by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama and dedicated to Dorje Shugden, has shown the respect given by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama to Dorje Shugden and also marked the importance of Dorje Shugden practice during our current degenerate age.
May the ever compassionate His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama officially lift the ban of Dorje Shugden and allow for religious freedom for the growth of Buddhadharma. May all the practitioners able to practise the Buddhadharma and Dorje Shugden peacefully and safely without any discrimination and pain.
Humbly with folded hands,
kin hoe
The 14th Dalai Lama is a highly attained lama and emanation of Chenrezig. He would have known who Dorje Shugden is and therefore composed a prater to Dorje Shugden. Besides it is proven that people who practice Dorje Shugden does not go the lower 3 realms but instead experience so many benefits in their spiritual path, for example the famous Domo Geshe who is a renown and reputable attained lama have reincarnated. So this break the allegation from many that says Dorje Shugden is an evil practise and bring harm is not true.
May the ban on Dorje Shugden be lifted very soon so many more can benefit from Dorje Shugden practise. May the allegation all be cleared and Tibetan leadership stop the discrimination on Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Great message every Tibetan especially must read!
This is a powerful picture of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and the current incarnation of Trijang Rinpoche meeting together in the year 2000 when Trijang Rinpoche was 18. All three lamas are Dorje Shugden practitioners. In fact Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen was the one that first encouraged my practice of Dorje Shugden when I was 16 years old when I joined his beautiful Thubten Dhargye Ling centre in Los Angeles. I lived with Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen for 8 years before proceeding to Gaden Monastery in South India. Later Kyabje Zong Rinpoche came to our Los Angeles centre and granted sogtae (permission ceremony) to practice Dorje Shugden for life as requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen. Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen had tremendous faith in Trijang Rinpoche. Kyabje Lati Rinpoche was innovative, dedicated and very much focused on bringing dharma to many. He had tremendous faith in Dorje Shugden as I had the honour to meet him many times. He would seek advice from Dorje Shugden many times via the oracle of Gaden Monastery. Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen and Kensur Kyabje Lati Rinpoche have since passed away while the current Trijang Rinpoche is a perfect lineage holder and practitioner of Dharma while he keeps Dorje Shugden as his personal protector as he has done so for many lifetimes. This is a powerful and beautiful picture of three great lamas of Buddha’s lineage and also of Gaden Monastery.
~Tsem Rinpoche
I was pleasantly surprised to read this comment by Suzy on Tsem Rinpoche’s YouTube channel. Suzy clearly is someone who is intelligent and honest enough to see beyond her own prejudice (borne out of old ties) to recognize the goodness of an important Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s It is refreshing to see more people like Suzy thinking about the Shugden controversy and seeing gaping holes in the reasons the Tibetan leadership proffered for the religious ban.
It is very confusing that H.H The Dalai Lama wrote a prayer for Dorje Shugden and then said Dorje Shugden is a spirit and can harm his life. It’s very contradicting.Anyway,i hope H.H The Dalai Lama will get this controversy straightened out and lift the ban soon. Thank you very much Rinpoche for sharing this article to clear the doubts that people might have over the nature of Dorje Shugden._/\_
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
The 5th and 14th Dalai Lama are great Lamas, in their own time. They both had
to endure very difficult circumstances. The 5th Dalai Lama was heading a nation that had experienced some form of civil war in Tibet and he had to show strong leadership and also find ways to reconcile a country that was torn by the war.
The 14th Dalai Lama leads the Tibetan nation in exile, and leads a nation of exile who do not have a country at all.
Both of them are very strong individuals and have great wisdom/insight to be
able to weather so much difficulties. I do not think the Avalokiteshvara will make a mistake of not recognizing Dorje Shugden as demon, not during the first time and then of course not later as well. The 14th Dalai Lama has his own bigger
purpose to manifest such a controversy.
HH 14th Dalai Lama’s prayer to Dorje Shugden is one of the best encompassing prayers that I have come across. It is a beautiful and precise prayer that has all the essence of a long puja prayer with everything from invocation to dissolution.
Besides the prayer there is so much information that perhaps the Dalai Lama can make a mistake in invoking the ban on Dorje Shugden.
Whatever the reasons, I sincerely request the Dalai Lama to lift the ban and stop all the sufferings. It has been too long.
It really does not make any good sense, that the Dalai Lama can praise Dorje Shugden and in the next moment call it a spirit. The Dalai Lama after Great 5th could have figured out that Dorje Shugden was a spirit.
Why wait until the 21st century to proclaim Dorje Shugden as a spirit?
From my understanding, the points that stand out are: H.H. Dalai Lama is very well known all over the world. He was the secular and spiritual leader of Tibet. He writes books for the public, has dialogue with other religions and scientific people. He travels the world to promote Buddhism. And this article shows clearly that he practiced Dorje Shugden for many years and he wrote this prayer to Dorje Shugden.
His Holiness stands for peace and has received the Nobel Peace Prize! He himself and his position advocates compassion, peace, dialogue and so on. So how is that H.H. gives the order to segregate and divide his own people in their basic rights? They have to endure heavy punishments for their religious choice like having to leave their monastery, not being able to get any teachings from their Guru, not being able to even meet their family and friends. Basic human needs like not get treatment at the hospital, being refused work at the government places, not being able to travel how they like, to name a few, are refused to Dorje Shugden practitioners. In what way will this ever benefit someone?
If high masters have improved teachings from their masters, like what was quoted – did they force the changes onto everyone with such punishments?
Or was it that over time there were seen improvements for all – that the goal was to benefit instead of punishing what doesn’t please?
Yes, H.H. changed his views many times over the years and I hope he will change his view on Dorje Shugden practitioners soon.
The suffering of Dorje Shugden practitioners is real for 20 years now! To advocate dialogue with science and other religions is great but please don’t look away and forget about the many many Dorje Shugden practitioners. We beg H.H. Dalai Lama to end the ban on Dorje Shugden practitioners now.
I find this article making a lot of sense although I may sound bias. Regardless, we can always look at the points presented and use our logic to understand. There are 2 points in the article that totally negates HH The Dalai Lama’s claim that Dorje Shugden is a harmful spirit.
1) “Since Dalai Lama is a highly realized being, he should be able to see Dorje Shugden as a superior being or a negative being from the very first time they ‘met’. This ability is inherent in highly attained beings such as H.H. the Dalai Lama.”
2) “Domo Geshe Rinpoche worshipped Dorje Shugden for many incarnations. His incarnations never went wrong or to the three lower realms, but returns again and again. This clearly proves Dorje Shugden’s practice does not send us to the three lower realms.”
For the followers of HH The Dalai Lama to not see that the above points immediately make their stance for HH totally illogical, it only shows how fanatical they have become at the expense of Dorje Shugden practitioners. Forget about being spiritual. Any decent human being will never support any sort of discrimination, making others suffer regardless of whether the King, President or Prime Minister of a country, Pope and so on demands us to do so. How can any decent leader stay quiet when his or her people are suffering due to discrimination???
So it’s ok to be right about one’s belief and let others suffer just because they don’t agree with your belief and your supposed “evidence” to justify your belief??? What kind of a leader is that?
If anyone supports a leader who condones suffering for those who do not agree with his or her point of view, then the same people should also tell others to stop fighting for women’s equality. They should also tell Black Americans to stop fighting against racial discrimination. They should burn portraits of Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela who dared to fight for their people’s rights.
My point. All of us can believe in whatever we want. But NEVER hurt others or create sufferings for others just because we don’t share similar beliefs. Otherwise, you are no different from the extremists who kill millions. I’m sure if you get a chance to ask them why they would kill millions, they would give you many reasons why they are right to do so.
在Tenzin Peljor与Tenzin Gyeche的交谈，让我对达赖尊者的疑惑，就是
~如果雄登是魔，为何那么多不同门派的高僧大德难道收复不了一个魔吗？我完全没有怀疑高僧大德的高尚的修行，那么在这疑点可证明了雄登不是魔！
~在达赖尊者的公开平台，修行雄登法门的讯息与请愿是关闭和不透明，不让没修行雄登法门的人接触，那证明有意图不让其他没修行雄登法门的人知道其他真相。
~未成为护法时的”涅宗“在几百年前都被降伏为护法，如果雄登是魔，为何第五世达赖喇嘛尊者和其他高僧不把雄登降伏，还要等到现在一直宣扬雄登是魔，不把他降伏呢？
~在频视里，达赖尊者说到，赤江仁波切是可以修持雄登法门，其他人是不允许的 ！这为何道理呢？
~Tenzin Gyeche还说到，在第五世达赖尊者允许修持其法门，还亲手制造了雄登法相供大家供养，直到现在还不断地让大众供养，为何又会在19年前才出此禁令呢？那是证明了在这几百年以来，达赖尊者会那么疏忽吗？达赖尊者乃是观世音菩萨的化身，几百年后才发觉问题，那是不可能的事 ！
还有，从第五世达赖尊者期间直到现在，从来没听过修持雄登法本和祈愿文里，有一句要伤害或让达赖尊者短命等等的文句！而且，从来没有一个修持雄登法门的高僧大德，祈求雄登诅咒他人或尊者，让他人遇害！
在此，希望雄登禁令可以和平，和谐，尽早解除，让更多的修行者和人们不再受禁令带来的痛苦。
OM BENZA WIKI BITTANA SOHA
感恩 合十
YEO KWAI GIN
Dear Tsem Tulku,
someone sent me the link to this post and I feel compelled to respond to it. Please forgive me if it hurts your feelings. This is not my intention. My intention is to correct the underlying misunderstandings of the post and to give the discussion a broader and saner perspective.
I think you make it too hard for yourself and others (you mislead yourself and others) by assuming that all the masters – including HH the Dalai Lama – are totally enlightened (omniscient) and therefore can’t make errors. This is typical Tibetan Dharma propaganda and there is no proof whatsoever for such claims. By claiming totally enlightened status for the Dalai Lama or your lineage lamas you ascribe to them an infallibility they highly likely didn’t possess. These recognised Tulkus or high lamas are most often mainly highly gifted people with immense good karma and dedication to Dharma practice, their lineages and sentient beings. Of course they have also certain high realisations but this doesn’t make them free of errors. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is very clear about this and he openly admits his own errors as the great Indian Pandit Atisha has admitted openly his own errors. Similar to as Atisha rejected the false view on emptiness by his most precious guru, Serlingpa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama rejects the false view on Shugden by one of his his most precious gurus, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. It would be good to become more realistic and to see masters as sentient beings who can make also errors otherwise you make one knot after the other in your and your students’ minds and nobody is really helped by claims that don’t match reality or that distort reality and confuse the mind.
It would be a first step to reality to accept that masters can err. That’s why also Je Tsongkhapa wrote in his commentary on the tantric vows that if your master gives an “improper and irreligious command” don’t follow it. Tsongkhapa quotes the Vinaya Sutra: “If someone suggests something which is not consistent with the Dharma, avoid it.” Also the writings on Sutra and Tantra by Tsongkhapa make clear that tantric masters can err and can even go astray. A student must be able to see such faults and to respond wisely to it. By claiming in the literal sense total enlightened status to the gurus you construe them to be unfailing and you go against the scriptures and what past masters like Atisha or Tsongkhapa did. Tsonkhapa distanced himself from Ven. Rendawa’s Madhyamaka view and he rejected Rendawa’s view that the Kalachakra is not authentic. Atisha when critisised by his most important master, Serlingpa, about his Madhyamaka view answered to Serlingpa – who followed Chittamatra school: What ever you say: I will not give up my view and the more you talk about your Chittamatra view I’ll see more more clearly that my Madhyamaka view is correct. – To see your master as totally enlightened is a tantric training and is not meant to be understood in the literal sense. As you can see the most important Lamas of the Gelug school, Atisha and Tsongkhapa, found faults in their teachers’ views.
If you have really have respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, why don’t you read his comments and think about their meanings? For instance in his commentary about the Heart Sutra His Holiness gives the following interesting perspective which is worthwhile to reflect:
As I said already, this is in line with what Atisha and Tsongkhapa did: they corrected the views of their own beloved teachers and corrected errors and misunderstandings.
However Atisha was nevertheless grateful to Serlingpa and honoured him as his most important master. Similarly His Holiness still has deepest respect for Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche as he told and explained different times and he has explicit dreams of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche which show his deeply felt devotion.
There are other examples were masters corrected or refuted or rejected the views of their masters, His Holiness the Dalai Lama states:
see http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden/comments-about-dolgyal-2015/gelug-conference/gelug-conference-continued
Other examples you’ll find here:
see http://www.berzinarchives.com/bioghaphies/short_biography_lama_tsongkhapa.html
(Just as a note: the incarnation of your master Kyabje Zong Rinpoche does NOT practice Shugden and he has abandoned that practice.)
I wish you and your students all the best,
TP
Hi Tenzin Gyeche,
thank you for your reply. Due to time limitations I reply only very briefly and only to a basic point.
True, if the gurus can be wrong, then the Dalai Lama can also be wrong. For instance, he can be wrong in having relied on Shugden and he can be wrong in having distanced himself from the practice. He can be right or be wrong in putting restrictions on Shugden worship too or in how he deals with the whole issue.
However, as a Buddhist and master, he should give good reasons for his decisions/actions so that a student can check how reasonable/unreasonable, well/ill thought out, in line/not in line with scriptures etc his arguments are. He did this and its up to the student to check and to draw his or her own conclusion.
Your basic “logic” is as fallacious as that of Tsem Tulku is fallacious – also the logic of Gonsar Rinpoche is fallacious who argues in the same unreasonable way. Because a guru made one or some errors this doesn’t mean that he erred in all of his deeds and in all of his teachings or judgements. Atisha made errors and openly confessed them for instance, does this make him unreliable?
Tsongkhapa insists that a qualified student of the Mahayana must have the intelligence to discriminate erroneous from valid teachings (this implies not to accept erroneous teachings), and that he must also be unbiased. If the student is biased – if the student takes sides out of attachment or aversion – the student will see faults where there are qualities or qualities where there are faults. So it IS a student’s task to check and to judge the teachings of the guru. That’s why Tsongkhapa also says, that if the teaching is not in line with the Dharma or Vinaya don’t accept it but do it in a way that you don’t loose trust in your teacher. To NOT accept teachings at face value or out of authority or tradition but only after you have carefully checked them is also what the Buddha said.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in line with the scriptures, good reasoning and past masters argues: “I am of the opinion that Phabongkha and Trijang Rinpoche’s promotion of the worship of Dholgyal was a mistake. But their worship represents merely a fraction of what they did in their lives. Their contributions in the areas of Stages of the Path, Mind Training and Tantra teachings were considerable. Their contribution in these areas was unquestionable and in no way invalidated by involvement with Dholgyal … My approach to this issue (i.e. differing on one point, whilst retaining respect for the person in question) is completely in line with how such great beings from the past have acted.”
Now, if you argue that the past masters can’t have erred. You are putting yourself into a deep dilemma and you have to follow black and white patterns of thinking. What about the historical point that already the 13th Dalai Lama rebuked Pabongkha Rinpoche for spreading this practice? The 13th DL can’t have erred, can he? The 13th DL scolded Pabongkha for violating the refuge vows in the way how he spread and used Shugden practice. Pabongkha Rinpoche had to excuse to the 13th Dalai Lama, admitted and confessed his errors in a letter to the 13th DL and promised him to stop to spread it. However, ignoring his own promise Pabongkha spread it even more after the death of the 13th DL. So, was Pabongkha wrong or was the 13th DL wrong? Had Pabongkha higher realisations than the 13th DL? And why did Trijang Rinpoche ignore the strong Anti-Shugden stance of the 5th and 13th DL and introduced the practice to the 14th DL, contributing to a potential conflict in the spiritual life and actions of the 14th DL?
It all boils down that masters can err and that a student MUST have to check if advice or practices are in line with the dharma, scriptures and reasoning. You seem to totally ignore or refuse to think about what I wrote already in my first comment. Instead you just write a comment to convince yourself of your own narrow ideology, which is that the masters can’t err and if they erred they must have erred in all what they did and said but this cannot be, therefore they have never ever made an error in the first place. What a non-sense. Such an argument, as I demonstrated above is not in line with the scriptures and it is not reasonable.
With respect to realisations: there are certain levels of realisations. Therefore, on the basis of the level of realisations, there can be also different views, perceptions and judgements. Therefore, there can be views that are more in line of reality and views that are less in line with reality. This is just as it is.
To see the guru as a Buddha is a training, it is not meant literally that the guru is unfailing or omniscient and that he can never err.
Dromtönpa for instance had to leave a guru who went insane. After he left him he met Atisha. It is better to leave an insane guru than to follow an insane guru because a student will degenerate following a misleading teacher.
Tsongkhapa: “Distance yourself from Vajra Masters who are not keeping the three vows, who keep on with a root downfall, who are miserly with the Dharma, and who engage in actions that should be forsaken. Those who worship them go to hell and so on as a result.” (see Tantric Ethics: An Explanation of the Precepts for Buddhist Vajrayana Practice by Tsongkhapa, ISBN 0861712900) – p. 46
Tsongkhapa in his Devotional Prayers:
Now if you say because the Kalachakra Tantra says that you should see your guru as a Buddha, he must be a Buddha and can never err, then you are not knowledgeable in the Kalachakra Tantra because it says also that you can distance yourself from your teacher when he has obviously too many faults. If he has too many obvious faults he can’t be a Buddha, who says this? The Kalachakra Tantra. For the Kalachakra Tantra regarding this, see either Dr. Alexander Berzin – an expert of the Kalachakra Tantra: http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/e-books/published_books/spiritual_teacher/pt3/spiritual_teacher_15.html or see the Kalachakra Tantra and a commentary here: https://thedorjeshugdengroup.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/leaving-a-guru-e28093-discriminating-bad-from-good-gurus2.pdf
Here is even more about that topic: http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/tag/root-guru/
I think for the time being, I can’t contribute more to the discussion and I fear it will get circling as long as you or others cling to the wrong idea “the guru is unfailing, he cannot have erred, if he had erred he could have erred in other cases too, this cannot be, therefore he didn’t err from the start.”
I wish you and others all the best,
TP
Hi Tenpel,
Thank you for your comment. Just let me ask you one question – can His Holiness the Dalai Lama make mistakes?
If His Holiness can make mistakes, then how is it possible he did not make a mistake with the ban?
Thank you.
Hi Elena,
of course he can make mistakes. He said himself that he made a mistake by practicing Shugden.
However, he carefully analyzed the canonical status of Shugden, using different methods – (1) historical evidence, (2) political reason, (3) spiritual insight – and came after thorough scrutiny to the conclusion that Shugden practice creates obstacles and problems and that taking refuge in him is contrary to the Buddhist refuge (which was already said by the 13th Dalai Lama who scolded Pabongkha Rinpoche for spreading the practice).
You can find here historical speeches by the 14th Dalai Lama why he changed his stance on Shugden and what Trijang Rinpoche said about his findings: http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2015/05/27/why-did-the-14th-dalai-lama-change-his-stance-on-dorje-shugden-dholgyal/ It would be good to read this as a basis for a sane discussion.
With respect to “the ban”, there is no overall ban as this phrase wrongly suggests.
The question is rather about valid cognizers … How valid is the view that Shugden is a Buddha, a vow breaking, harming spirit but also a manifestation of Manjushri, a hungry ghost or a dangerous spirit that creates discord and schism in spiritual communities (as H.E. Tai Situ Rinpoche said).
A valid cognizer by nature is incontrovertible. The question is rather whose perception and investigation got really hold of its object and is a valid cognizer? Hard to say, that’s why everybody has to check for themselves …
However, my point is not so much about valid cognizers but the fallacy going along with projecting infallibility to the gurus.
Best wishes,
TP
it does not make any sense to assert that the Dalai Lama can make mistakes but that he is unmistaken with the Shugden ban, especially when you see the terrible effects it has created. These are not the actions of a realised being, it would seem, as Buddha would never create the conditions for others to suffer. It becomes clear that we cannot accept anything that the Dalai Lama says unless it accords logic and with the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Tenpel,
It seems we are all in agreement that Lamas can make mistakes. The Dalai Lama said that he made a mistake by practicing Dorje Shugden. He could also be mistaken about his “mistake” in practicing Shugden, meaning to say that he is mistaken about Dorje Shugden’s demonic nature when in fact Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being.
If we focus on determining who is at fault, who made mistakes, who is wrong, there will be no progress on the Dorje Shugden issue.
The real issue here is how Dorje Shugden practitioners are outcast and discriminated against as a result of their beliefs. This has been going on for decades. Shugden practitioners have been expelled from monasteries, have their homes set on fire, been stabbed, endured name calling, endured abuse etc etc etc because the Tibetan population at large thinks they are Chinese spies or that they want to harm the Dalai Lama’s life.
The real MISTAKE that the Dalai Lama has made is not to put a stop to such abuses and discrimination. That is undeniable no matter how we choose to analyze it. There can be no good or right in condoning acts of discrimination and violence against a group of people just because they do not agree with the Dalai Lama’s view on Shugden.
Forget about theological arguments on who is right or wrong about Dorje Shugden’s nature. Let’s just look at the horrible abuse of human rights and religious freedoms that Shugden practitioners have to endure and lets talk about whether it is right or a mistake to treat them in this way.
Dear Tenzin Peljor,
If you are saying that HH Dalai Lama can make mistake, then he can make mistake previously, he can make mistake now, as well as in the future. So, how could you be so sure about his current view about Dorje Shugden is not a mistake?
If we go down the road to say highly attained lamas will make mistakes, it is surely never ending on one’s argument just to say who is right and who is wrong. After all, you & I are not enlightened and we are not in the position to judge.
The current issue about the Shugden ban is that there are a lot of discrimination, segregations and harms towards the Shugden practitioners. Shugden monks are expelled from Monasteries, their family and friends could not get in touched with them or will be labelled and get the same kinds of treatments. They will also have to enduring name calling, curse being accused as Chinese spies, enduring abused, they are not allowed to go in hospital, get education, go to grocery shops or businesses, restaurant etc etc etc. It is definitely violated human rights and religious freedom. Why one can tolerate and respect other religions but cannot respect a mere Shugden practitioner who just want to practice the practice given by his/her Guru and of no interest on any politics or power or harm anyone?
Buddha teaches compassion, loving kindness to all sentient beings. The Shugden people are getting treatment worse than the hungry ghost or hell realms beings. The three lower realms being can also enter any monasteries and get blessings or transferring of merits by high lama or three jewels but not the Shugden practitioners. Do you think Buddha would be agreeing to this discrimination, segregation and abuse?
For me who are not a Tibetan, out of no where and I also received vulgar words and cursing on my own and my Guru’s social media page. I was called Chinese Pig, Chinese Dogs, liars, devils etc just because of my protector practice. Are you agreeable to this too? Are you agreeing to these abuse and curse : https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/will-the-dalai-lama-agree-with-this.html
The point is not who is Dorje Shugden or who is right and who is wrong. The point is that everyone should be respected for their belief and religious practice. That’s why the ban need to be lifted. That’s why we sincerely appeal HH Dalai Lama could put a stop to the discrimination and abuse by asking his followers to respect others.
We do not need you to agree and follow our religions and practices, we just need to be respected and allow to believe what we want to believe.
Om Mani Padme Hung
Thank you and kind regards.
If we agree that HH Dalai Lama can make mistakes, then we can assume that He also makes mistakes about the ban towards Dorje Shugden. Given all the masters can make mistakes, then I would rather listen to my Guru who has been very kind to me all these years. (I am not saying HH Dalai Lama is not kind, just that He didn’t teach me any Dharma).
One of the things that bother the most is the discrimination and outcast of Shugden practitioners. There is a ban, and it is not wrongly suggested. There are signs in Tibet to shun Shugden practitioners. My guru has to face with verbal abuses EVERYDAY on the internet just because He is a Shugden practitioner.
My question is, why would HH Dalai Lama endorse such actions? Why would HH Dalai Lama asks His disciples/people to be kind to everyone, but when His disciples/people are harsh/violent against Shugden practitioners, HH Dalai Lama kept quiet? Why didn’t HH Dalai Lama stop the abuse and discrimination? Why HH Dalai Lama allows signs against Shugden practitioners everywhere?
Tenzin Peljor,
Let’s go back to your initial posit – the Dalai Lama can be wrong and therefore all gurus can be wrong. Well Tenzin Peljor, you are promoted as a teacher and guru. Since gurus can be wrong, you can be wrong too so why should anyone take note of what you say? If you’re not perfect, then no one should follow you as a model of spiritual progress since you are no better nor any different compared to us.
Again, returning to your initial posit – all gurus, including the Dalai Lama can be wrong. But like the Dalai Lama can be mistaken, everything you Tenzin Peljor therefore say, conclude and assert can also be mistaken too. Therefore we are not beholden to keep the same opinions as you.
And since the Dalai Lama can be wrong, then Tsongkhapa can be wrong. So why bother quoting them? Ashvagosha whom the Dalai Lama quotes said that you view your teacher as perfect; is he wrong too, and is your view correct that gurus can make mistakes? And based on that, is the Dalai Lama wrong to quote Ashvagosha?
For you to call your perspective a ‘saner’ one is based on your projections that what you say and what you have interpreted is through the lens of sanity. What I see from MY ‘saner’ perpective is someone who is being selective with his scriptures, and using largely copy and paste methods to overwhelm people. A mark of someone who truly understands a subject is that they can convey something complex using relatable, understandable terms. Are you trying to impress people with your knowledge, or are you actually trying to communicate a point?
Who are you to judge what is a mistake and what isn’t? Is your view perfect that you have interpreted the teachings correctly? And since you say the Dalai Lama can make mistakes, is His Holiness’ view perfect that he has interpreted the scriptures correctly and come to the right decision about Shugden?
If you want to start down that road, then it opens up the potential for all of His Holiness’ actions to potentially be mistakes. So what conclusion do you follow and what do you not follow? If you are in a position to judge what is right and wrong, and employ your “critical inquiry” as Joanne Clark has mentioned, then why do you need a teacher at all since you know best, since your conclusions (based on critical inquiry of course) will always trump your teacher’s advice, and since you know better than your spiritual guide?
If there is no overall ban, then you had best write to Sera Je and ask them to end their badge campaign, as well as campaign for all Tibetan settlements to remove their signs. It seems futile to impose a badge campaign to discriminate between Shugden practitioners and non-Shugden practitioners if there’s no ban / policy to uphold. You should also campaign for the dissolution of the wall separating Gaden Shartse and Shar Gaden, and then dissolution of the division between monasteries; all of the monasteries should be joined back together again, and the khamtsens reunited WITHOUT any conditions like “give up your practice of Shugden”.
How does Joanne know the Dalai Lama that well to assume that his loyalty is to the value of critical inquiry? How does she know His Holiness well enough to assume he doesn’t have other reasons? And why does she also impose the assumption that everyone should hold the same loyalties as His Holiness? Are we not allowed to exercise our own freedom of thought to direct our loyalties wherever we want?
By the way, I do find arrogant that anyone assumes we have not accessed nor read the Dalai Lama’s anti-Shugden speeches, which by the way are available elsewhere on the Internet. Employing my critical inquiry, the fact that you link to your blog leads me to conclude you are only here to direct traffic to your own site. But isn’t it nice to know you are actually welcome to debate here and that your comments, although asserting views different to ours, are not deleted? 😉
Pastor Jean Ai
I agree with your point that people can make mistakes. Hence, I believe that His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a mistake on the Dorje Shugden ban. This is my choice and chosen path, to practice Dorje Shugden.
My problem is that clearly no one who is refuting Tenpel’s points has read the Dalai Lama’s reasons for coming to his decision on Shugden. For example, one of the reasons His Holiness sites is the fact that previous Dalai lamas had already warned on the dangers of Shugden. So the Dalai Lama clearly states that his loyalty towards the lineage of the Dalai Lamas was just as important as his loyalty towards his teachers. He had no choice but to make a choice and decide between the positions of Trijang Rinpoche and the 13th Dalai Lama. To do this, he had to bring in his foremost loyalty, which is to the value of reasoning and critical inquiry, as Tenpel has shown. The Dalai Lama then researched and reasoned and came to his decision. Has anyone who criticizes him read the results of his research and reasoning? I have read that and I have also read the points of view expressed by Shugden worshippers and I have reflected on them– this is the approach Buddha, Tsongkhapa and Atisha recommend, not blind devotion.
For every quote that Tenpel has given to illustrate his point that teachers can make mistakes, 100 others can be given to illustrate that the Guru is faultless. We could argue and debate till the cows come home on whether Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being or a demon. At the end of the day, I will not be swayed because I follow the teachings and instructions of my teacher, and you’ll follow yours, I’m sure.
So why focus on the differences in beliefs as to whether Dorje Shugden is a Buddha or not (he is of course) when we should be dealing with the real problem of DISCRIMINATION and ABUSE against those who disagree with the Dalai Lama’s point of view?
The Christians, Muslims, Hindus etc worship different gods, have different beliefs, follow different spiritual practices. Should we come down on them, berate them, discriminate against them, abuse them, burn their houses, not allow them to enter our shops and businesses, spread rumours about them just because they think Buddhism is idol worship or because they worship an unenlightened being?
In the exact same way, Dorje Shugden practitioners firmly believe that Dorje Shugden is a deity worthy of worship. So why do so many people feel it is necessary to do such things against Dorje Shugden practitioners when it would be completely and utterly unacceptable to do the same to those of other religions? Since when has it become acceptable to enforce one’s religious views on another person, and to do so with viciousness, violence and worse?
So the real issue is not the theological differences but the acts carried out against those who have different beliefs. And it has got to stop. The Dalai Lama has turned millions of people against Dorje Shugden practitioners with his statements. Shugden practitioners have suffered tremendously as a result.
The Dalai Lama can just as easily stop the discrimination and abuse by asking his followers to “live and let live”. That would be the right thing to do and that is what we are asking for. Not for everyone to agree on religious beliefs but to allow everyone to believe what they want to believe.
Hi Tenzin Paljor,
I have some questions for you too.
1. Quoting from what you have posted above:
That’s why also Je Tsongkhapa wrote in his commentary on the tantric vows that if your master gives an “improper and irreligious command” don’t follow it.
My question is, is it proper or religious to expel monks away from monasteries just because they practice Shugden that SUDDENLY deem to be wrong or evil? Is it proper or religious to put down someone’s “God” or “Buddha” by calling and emphasizing them as evil spirit or devil?
If you say His Holiness was wrong with His Shugden practice decades ago, then the ban or the “advise against” Shugden could be wrong too, wrong because of “improper and irreligious”.
Buddhism is about compassion, tolerance, acceptance and equanimity. But in this Shugden issue, we all see segregation, discrimination, hatred, separation, last but not least, religious chauvinism… Just like how you want to “debate” with us with the intention to tell us “you should stop praying already”… If you practice tolerance and acceptance, we practicing Shugden bring what harm to you? You might say, Dorje Shugden will harm His Holiness’s life, but is this statement proper or religious? It sounds superstitious more than religious.
2. Quoting from what you have posted above:
Thus, the Buddha gives us his permission to critically examine even his own teachings. Buddha suggests we make a thorough inquiry into the truth of his words and verify them for ourselves, and only then “accept them, but not out of reverenced”. Taking direction from statements such as these, ancient Indian monastic universities, such as Nalanda, developed a tradition whereby students would critically subject their own teachers’ scholastic work to analysis.
My question is, why when Tsem Rinpoche and other lamas that practice Dorje Shugden being attacked, humiliate, and labeled as traitor when they disagree with His Holiness’s view on Shugden? Why the monks in Gaden and Sera monastery in India have to be expelled when they disagree with His Holiness view on Shugden? Why not debate and discuss but expel and “advise against” Shugden practice was given to them?
3. You may quote the examples of Lord Atisha and Tsongkhapa of how these 2 masters go against their masters, but one thing to remember: their outcome is beneficial for the Dharma.
But like what you wrote on the above, “His Holiness rejects the false view on Shugden by one of his his most precious gurus, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.” it creates the ban, creates segregation, separation, disharmony, intolerance among the Buddhist… all these are not beneficial for the growing of Dharma at all and all these pain and fear and hatred are taking place within the Tibetan communities in India while we are discussing this issue comfortably infront of our PC.
My conclusion is that if you want to say His Holiness was wrong with His Shugden practice decades ago, look at what is wrong with the ban on Shugden practice too! Don’t be selective. You can say it is not a ban it is just an advise, whatever it is, pain is pain, segregation is segregation, disharmony is disharmony…there is something very wrong with this issue because it is not beneficial to anyone.
One last thing, how do we know if we really understand the definitive meaning of what His Holiness is manifesting? I will not think I know it all, I will do as what you have shared on the above:
Do not rely merely on the person, but on the words;
Do not rely merely on the words, but on their meaning;
Do not rely merely on the provisional meaning, but on the definitive meaning; and
Do not rely merely on intellectual understanding, but on direct experience.
I will continue to practice the Dharma and totally believe in the teachings which teach us compassion, tolerance, equanimity and acceptance. I will continue to see His Holiness and my lama as flawless Buddha and I truly believe His Holiness has a greater purpose with this issue, we should just follow the Buddha’s teachings to be a kind and compassion person.
I lack time to fully engage in a discussion, however, good that there is a discussion …
Just one point which I stumbled upon while scrolling through the discussion, “My question is, is it proper or religious to expel monks away from monasteries just because they practice Shugden…”
I think you miss the point. There was an unequivocal majority vote within the monasteries – the Stick Referendum, based on the Vinaya – to separate from those who wish to continue Shugden worship. Every (religious or mundane) community can decide and vote what is acceptable or not acceptable within their community. This is a common thing and nothing sinister or discrimination.
Since Shugden practice is considered by many to invoke problems and especially schism and discord in communities, communities can decide to not accept such practices in their boundaries in order to keep the community or harmony intact. To speak about rights must also include the rights of those who have a different stance than you. A majority vote against Shugden worship in a monastic community is perfectly fine as far as I can see. However, to ban Shugden practitioners from shops for the public is discrimination, wrong and against the Indian constitution …
For some background and differentiated information see the interview with Prof Barnett here: http://info-buddhism.com/Dalai_Lama_protests_Shugden_Robbie_Barnett.html
About the Stick Referendum here: http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2008/08/11/the-stick-referendum-against-buddhist-and-democratic-principles/
I will take time hopefully next week to read more and to reply in detail … just caught the para at the end of your comment “I will continue to practice the Dharma and totally believe in the teachings which teach us compassion, tolerance, equanimity and acceptance.”
Well, this is great but if you do that you will face some difficulties because Shugden KILLS and MAKES SERIOUSLY sick those who practice non-Gelug teachings. While the Mahayana Sutras clearly state that a Bodhisattva receives, transmits, practices and upholds ALL THE DHARMAS there are in order to help sentient beings, Shugden kills those Gelugpas who do that. Therefore, there is a contradiction in practicing Shugden and following the teachings about love and compassion, the Sutras, and non-partisanship (the latter was stressed by Tsongkhapa as a main qualification of any Mahayana student). How can you reconcile what Trijang Rinpoche wrote in “Music Delightening …” with your approach of love and compassion for all sentient beings? He wrote about Shugden in that text:
Why should someone be killed for practicing Dharma from other schools? Tsongkhapa and Atisha learned the Dharma from different masters of different schools, they were totally non-sectarian.
Another point: what is creating suffering? The Buddhist answer is: clinging and ignorance. What is the cause of suffering in the Shugden issue? The Buddhist answer is: clinging and ignorance.
My questions are not long or complicated. They seem long because I quoted what you wrote. Well you can take your time to answer, I will wait. 🙂
How convenient to say Shugden kills and harms Gelugpas who practice non-Gelug teachings.
Answer me then, Music Delighting was written even before His Holiness “advise against” the practice of Dorje Shugden and when His Holiness Himself practicing Dorje Shugden decades ago, I am sure He had read about this also because Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang wrote “Music Delighting” in year 1967. Why is that at that time, His Holiness is OK to accept Shugden? Why is that other lamas who say Shugden is evil NOW didn’t say Shugden is evil back then? Why all the high lamas, abbots, geshes or learned monks who used to practice Shugden back then didn’t say anything when they read what is written in “Music Delighting” like what you have posted?
Reason is, because any sane person can see the definitive meaning of the scripture/text, not only the literal/provisional meaning because if this is not the case, why back then no one say Shugden is evil since the text was written in 1967 and Shugden practice has exist much earlier than “Music Delighting” was written. Why Shugden is evil after 1996 and after His Holiness wrote a prayer for Shugden?
Another question. If you want to take the meaning of scripture/liturgy by its literal meaning, or the provisional meaning, answer me is that the practice of Palden Lhamo, Kalarupa(Damchen Chogyal), and Mahakala ARE VIOLENT AND NOT EVEN BUDDHIST WAY? Because there are words like “kill”, “destroy”, “blood”, “gore” in their prayers!
If Shugden is this evil and harmful, why don’t all the high lamas just bind him and destroy him so that Shugden can never harm people anymore? Buddha and enlightenment attainments cannot win over a spirit like Shugden, is this what you mean?
It is so funny to see people who are living in 21st century still believe in a spirit can kill a person. I am shocked that you are one of them.
“To say the Nyingma lamas can be hurt by Dorje Shugden, to say the Dalai Lama can be damaged or his life shortened by Dorje Shugden, in the monastic debate courtyard, you will be defeated within a few minutes with logical debate. How can a great Nyingma master, any great Nyingma master, be harmed by a spirit, a ghost, an evil being? If they can be harmed by evil beings, a ghost or a spirit, then they are not great masters, are they? We go to great masters to seek refuge, we go to great masters to receive teachings, we go to great masters to protect us from harmful beings. So if these great masters can be harmed by evil negative beings, then they’re not great masters, they’re not attained. Then that means Dorje Shugden can hurt the Buddha himself, can hurt Tsongkhapa.” ~ Tsem Rinpoche | read full article here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/who-is-dorje-shugden-to-me.html#top1 You will find more answers here. Have a good day.
PS: I am waiting for your answers still.
Hi Abby,
I just saw your post and wanted to offer some correction:
Trijang’s ‘Music’ text did indeed appear in the late sixties and was more or less instantly controversial. The Dalai Lama began distancing himself from the practice very shortly thereafter, this is well documented. The ‘Shugden issue’ did not begin in 1996 with the NKT’s involvement, it began in the seventies.
I practice Shugden myself. And at the same time I see the Dalai Lama’s reasons for concern and they are valid. The ‘killing’ attributed to Shugden in the texts goes back to Tagpu Rinpoche’s vision and the praises he composed based upon it. One should also understand the context of Tibetan Buddhism during Je Pabongkha’s time, his Gelug reformation and the sudden introduction of Shugden as a major dharmapala (which he had not been previously). This practice went hand-in-hand with a more conservative, ‘sectarian’ approach, in which it was strongly advised not to mix different traditions. Again, the reasons for this are primarily power, the struggle for supremacy, the sudden ‘threat’ of the Rime movement, etc.
The real reason we are all writing here is due to the ridiculous and racist campaign launched by the ISC (by the NKT) that has faked proof of discrimination, attempted to undermine faith in the Dalai Lama (a serious tantric downfall, btw) and have unwittingly played into the hands of the Chinese who continue a violent suppression of Tibet (I say this having been a very happy practitioner within the NKT)
In conjunction with this, your group have launched an incredibly savvy media-ad campaign promoting Shugden all over the world as some kind of flower-power Buddha of Peace. THESE are the reasons this subject has blown out of proportion, and why we’re all discussing it!
As for the theme of this chain: Of course guru’s can be wrong. The list of names dropped by Tenzin Gyeche represents all kinds of scholars and masters of differing traditions, schools, etc. They can’t all be right on all of their points!
At the same time I agree, if we say Guru’s can be wrong, obviously so can HH Dalai Lama, wherefore his advice against Shugden can also be wrong. It is a personal opinion. I think clearly the “democratic” vote was a mistake.
Tenzin Paljor,
I think you know very well that the teachings can be definitive and interpretive. This aspect of the teachings is interpretive and many lamas like Kyabje Zong Rinpoche had long explained that Dorje Shugden is not punitively out to harm those who mix the teachings. The stories told in Music Delighting text serves as a cautionary tale that was told in the traditional sense. It is not to be taken literally that Dorje Shugden is out to punish. If you are going to quote traditional tales told in the text, please bear in mind that they are traditional tales and most of the time, they involved highly attained beings and they could be enacting a ‘divine play’.
Do you expect us to believe that Dorje Shugden would harm us just because we practice non-Gelug Dharma? What about Chinese Mahayana practices? What if we recite the Heart Sutra in Chinese? Would Dorje Shugden harm us because of that? There are some practitioners in asia maintain their traditional Buddhist practices and even ancestor worship after they have adopted Dorje Shugden practice.
There are no cases of anyone being harmed and in fact, all we hear is that Dorje Shugden practice is efficacious, saves lives and has benefitted many people. Therefore, I do not see where you are coming from as what you say in the text is very different from what people experience in their practice.
I recite Chinese sutras, have gurus and blessings from other Vajrayana schools, the teacher whom I am most indebted to mixed Buddhism and Daoism in the practices he has given me, I practise Shugden too. So far nothing happens to me. My career has improved and I have just been blessed with a wonderful baby girl.
Tenzin Peljor,
Obviously what you are trying to convince people is not working. On Tsem Rinpoche’s blog here there is a blog post aptly named DORJE SHUGDEN:MY SIDE OF THE STORY and this single blog post has over 150,ooo views. You can see here- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/who-is-dorje-shugden-to-me.html
Tsem Rinpoche is just one Dorje Shugden lama and there are so many more speaking out in Nepal, India, the West, China, Tibet, Mongolia. They are becoming less worried about the threats from CTA. This trend will only increase. There are many Shugden lamas who are in their teenage years now being trained for the future generations in India and Tibet and some in the West, so this will only grow. Your propaganda with all your ‘scholarly’ quotes will not win anyone over. Your quotes is to hide and confuse us and it does not. It does not impress us either. Since you say all lamas can make mistakes, then don’t quote any lamas to back up your point. You are shooting blank bullets by saying lamas and even Dalai Lama can be wrong. If they can be wrong, why quote and rely on them? They all can make mistakes and therefore unreliable. Even don’t quote Tsongkapa as in your books, he can be wrong too.
I included pictures my nephew has saved for me for you to see that even this blog site of Ven. Kyabje Tsem Rinpoche has over 6 million views. The respect Kyabje Tsem Rinpoche is winning in Tibet and the West and among many Tibetans in India is growing very big. The outreach of one single Dorje Shugden lama like Kyabje Tsem Rinpoche is reaching to millions that you cannot possible reach. Whatever Dalai Lama and his ‘government’ want to say is just for short term. Their time is ending soon I am sorry to inform this. Nothing lasts. The Dalai Lama is elderly and without him the Tibetan so called ‘government’ will not last. It’s over soon. (I thank my nephew to help me to type all this and correct my writing)
Good luck to you. One day soon, you will feel lost and wonder what you were fighting for all these years. You will feel disillusioned about the Tibetan leaders/leadership as so many thousands of Tibetans have already. You will feel disillusioned about your words against Dorje Shugden. remember Yamantaka was heavily spoken against when Ral Lotsawa brought him to Tibet. Even Ral Lotsawa had to use powerful siddhis to destroy and kill the enemies of the dharma. Just like 5th Dalai Lama had to use the Mongol leaders to crush and kill his enemies to establish his rule. So don’t talk about Shugden killing people. Do you know anyone in YOUR life that you know personally that has been killed by Shugden? I doubt it.
If Tibetans were really loyal to Dalai Lama from the depths of their hears, they would never leave India and stay nearby Dalai Lama. The very fact many Tibetans have immigrated to the West shows you they have no hope in Dalai Lama and Tibetan ‘government’s’ leadership for the future.
You don’t have to practice Shugden, but you don’t have to speak against him either. You are from East Germany and you live in united Germany now. How many political differences East and West Germany had for decades and hurled insults at eachother? Now you are unified and one people. Does that now feel good? Well you should help unify the Tibetan people and not divide them with the Shugden issue. Shugden Tibetans and Tibetans are all Tibetans. Unite all Tibetans including Shugden Tibetans, pro Dalai Lama Tibetans, Muslim Tibetans, atheist Tibetans, Bonpo Tibetans, Middle Way believing Tibetans (umay lam), full freedom believing Tibetans (rangzen). The Tibetan govt should accept all Tibetans and stop dividing them. They should NEVER talk about the Shugden issue as a government. Shame on them for being shortsighted and that is why they cannot get their country back after 50 years because they are shortsighted. In Germany you have Jews, Muslims, Christians, aethiests, Buddhists, witchcraft people, druids and all of that. You have people against your leaders and pro your leaders and they all speak up and yet they are still all Germans and not segregated and separated due to difference in opinions. All of you are STILL GERMANS AND SHOULD BE UNITED. So should Tibetans. You being a foreigner of Tibet should not encourage further division by using Dorje Shugden. Don’t divide us with Shugden issue.
My friendly advice to you,
Tenzin Yeshe Gyeltsen
Thank you for your comment as well as references you shared.
It is good to know that the greats of the Gelugpa lineage practice what the the Buddha taught, which is to examine the Dharma teachings and not accept them based on blind faith. I also notice that despite the differences in opinion between these great sages like Atisha and Lama Tsongkhapa and their Guru, neither side impose their philosophy or principals on others. I see this as what is being practice by Tsem Rinpoche in this blog: Rinpoche shares his opinion in an open and transparent manner so that anyone who has interest is able to learn and apply what they feel would benefit their spiritual journey. If readers have differences in opinion, they are of course free to share in constructive manners like you are doing. BTW, thank you for your sharing from which I have also gained information from 🙂
However, one matter that I find that anyone Dharma practitioner would stand together on is the need to end the suffering fellow Dharma brothers and sisters have to ensure as a result of the ban on Dorje Shugden. Perhaps interpreted inaccurately, Dalai Lama loyalists discriminate, suppress, threaten and act violently towards Dorje Shugden practitioners – lay and ordained. Those who believe Dorje Shugden is bad can certainly steer clear of his practice. However, there is no need to invade the privacy of those who choose otherwise. If they feel the need to impose and prevent Dorje Shugden practitioners from exercising their freedom to religion, where is the limits? Where do we draw the line? As global citizens, if we accept this breach of human rights, we are consenting to the same practice of discrimination towards other faiths, race and creed.
The view of a Guru being infallible is to set us on the path to receive tantric practices as you say, which I assume would be beneficial to the student. However, our expectations from the Guru in different scenarios etc arise from our minds and its habituation. None of the Guru would claim to be perfect and stated in the 50 stanzas of Guru Devotion, one of the trait of a Guru is humility. In fact, great masters always claim to “flawed”. I do not think the point here is not just whether Gurus can or cannot makes mistakes but to reflect on how we react to these mistakes or non-mistakes. I understand Rinpoche’s message, besides always encouraging the practice of Guru devotion, is also acting to prompt practitioners to think for themselves and ultimately, act in accordance to the teachings of Buddha.
Diversity in our world and the choice to accept and to live in harmony with this richness is what makes the Earth sustainable. As many faiths always look to Nature as a tangible form to illustrate the teachings, I think we can follow this wise direction as well. So, practice Dorje Shugden or not, love the Dalai Lama or not is a private and personal choice of each. However, protecting the sanctity of the precious human life, is the responsibility of all men and women who declare a spiritual priority.
Dear Tenzin Peljor,
I have seen this kinds of ‘debates’ before where a self-appointed dissenter purposely calls into question a belief system of another, creates malcontent and then suckers everyone into defending the dissenter’s assumptions that are baseless to begin with.
You have written a whole essay here and thrown in names of Lama Tsongkhapa and Atisha as a shallow attempt to substantiate an argument which in essence cannot be defended, which is this – regardless of what you may or may not think about any person’s faith/religion, what gives one person the right and authority to discredit and disrupt the religious practice of another. This is the only question we need to address.
There are many different religions in the world and for each religion, anyone can find any number of faults in the said religion and tear it apart. Similarly there are any number of people who can justify why it is a valid religion. And within the same religion, there can also be many differing views and approaches and more often than not, the views are not in accord. Ultimately a religion is a function of one’s own experience. What has it got to do with you?
You may say His Holiness the Dalai Lama finds against the practice of Dorje Shugden. I note that His Holiness has been a believer of Shugden for as long as His Holiness has advised against the practice. And in addition, you have claimed that His Holiness is definitely prone to errors. So why is His Holiness the Dalai Lama only correct when it suits you and not when it doesn’t? Who and what determines when His Holiness has made and error and when he has not? You?
In any case, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said his opinion of Dorje Shugden is merely an advice and if that is correct, why are you here to push the said advice to the point of suggesting that not accepting the advice is to oppose the Dalai Lama. Then it is not advice but coercion.
Is it your opinion that Dorje Shugden is the ONLY religious practice that is wrong and the other religion in the world including witchcraft and satanic practices, all correct? If not, then why is it that you have never spoken against any other religious practice other than Dorje Shugden? Why are you making such a concerted effort to suggest that the Dorje Shugden practice is wrong? What is your interest in insisting that my religion is wrong? Who asked you anyway? If you disagree with any religious practice, then it is a simple matter of not practicing that religion.
Does your own religious practice and ritual involve condemning the faith of others? I was informed by some who are familiar with you that you have made a career out of bashing Dorje Shugden and has dedicated an entire website to this task. I am not sure if that is true or not but I do find it odd if that were to be the case. I have never heard of any serious practitioner of any religion whose religious ritual is to condemn the faith of others as opposed to prove that his religion is true by his own behavior and actions.
Your writing seem to want to hint that it is written by someone who is scholastic and yet I cannot reconcile how a supposedly scholarly practitioner of the Dharma would be so focused on the ‘faults’ of others instead of working on one’s own mind. I cannot see how bashing any person’s religion establishes yours to be the right? And if you are not insisting that yours is the right way, then what qualifies you to comment on the religion of another?
Finally, you reiterated the holy words of the Buddha-
Do not rely merely on the person, but on the words;
do not rely merely on the words, but on their meaning;
do not rely merely on the provisional meaning, but on the definitive meaning; and
do not rely merely on intellectual understanding, but on direct experience.
And against those holy words I see that in fact you are asking Shugden practitioners not to trust their own direct experience with the deity and instead, place trust in the words and interpretive meanings of another, such as yourself.
I don’t know you and I have not heard anything about your scholarly works or publications if any. But if you wish to claim to have an intellectual understanding of some scholarly works, I note that you in fact have zero understanding that Dorje Shugden practitioners such as myself continue to abide by our Protector because of our direct experience of how he has brought us closer to the Buddha’s teachings.
Why quote the Buddha only to distort the meaning to suit your argument? If you truly believed the Buddha, you would have understood that the Buddha taught many different Dharmas and countless students have been liberated by abiding by their own respective and direct experience of methods prescribed by their respective Gurus.
Honestly, I don’t understand much of the discussions here. Too academic for my limited mind. But for me to believe something when there is no solid proof one way or another, I will have to look at the track record of the person making the statement to see how reliable the person is.
I see that the truth is always very consistent and does not flip-flop. Jesus Christ was consistent to the end. As was the Buddha and Mohammed. Whether you like what they taught and said or not, you have to agree that their message were consistent and did not change suddenly.
With all due respects to the Dalai Lama and I am really a fan of his writings, I see a lot of sudden changes of mind. History shows that the Dalai Lama regarded Chairman Mao as a hero and then Mao became a tyrant a few years later. Then Dalai Lama said its good to fight to liberate Tibet of Chinese rule and a few years later, the Dalai Lama stopped chasing for independence. In 1993, the Dalai Lama said: “The economic system of Marxism is founded on moral principles, while capitalism is concerned only with gain and profitability. Marxism is concerned with the distribution of wealth on an equal basis … as well as the fate of those who are underprivileged and in need, and [it] cares about the victims of minority-imposed exploitation. For those reasons, the system appeals to me, and it seems fair.”
And then in 2014 in Washington he said “I develop more respect about capitalism.”
Before, the Dalai Lama wrote prayer to this god Shugden and now he says this is a spirit.
How can I be sure that if I trust what he says now about this god, that he will not change his mind again later? I am being asked to gamble with my karma. Very risky.
Sorry I don’t mean to criticize him. Just very confusing.
I think it might be helpful for people to look at the sequence of the Dalai Lama’s actions:
First, he dutifully followed his junior tutor’s advice (Trijang Rinpoche) and practiced Shugden.
Then, Ling Rinpoche– his senior tutor, who NEVER practiced Shugden– started expressing some reluctance about the practice.
Then, Ling Rinpoche advised the Dalai Lama that he couldn’t receive Nyingma tantric teachings while still propitiating Shugden, that this would be dangerous.
This concerned the Dalai Lama and he started researching and looking closer at the history of Shugden practice. He researched the writings of former Dalai Lamas about this practice. He then started advising against the practice, but in a mild way.
Then there was the publication of the Yellow Book in which horrible, gruesome predictions were made about what would happen to any Gelug practitioner who so much as touched a Nyingma text. This publication had an effect and Gelug practitioners started staying away from Nyingma practices and texts.
This is when the Dalai Lama made his move to more forcefully advise against the practice. And this part has to be seen in the context of the Dalai Lama’s role as leader of Tibet through its darkest hour– he believed that sectarianism was a vulnerability in the Tibetan culture and that it undermined the unity desperately needed if Tibetan culture was to survive and the Tibetan cause was to stand a chance. So he advised strongly against a practice that was causing dangerous sectarianism.
Because from Pabhongka Rinpoche on, the practice has history of sectarianism, this can’t be refuted.
The Shugden community complains that the Dalai Lama has divided the Tibetan people through his decision– but looking at the very divisive lies and propaganda I have seen coming from such groups as the ISC (and this website and dalailama.com) I see very little attempt from the Shugden community towards unity and peace.
Dear Joanne,
With due respect, I think you have failed to recognise that the issue have moved way beyond all that you have said. You have presented nothing new apart from the same regurgitations that are baseless and nothing more than personal opinions. No one can infringe on another’s rights based on personal opinion.
Nonthess such arguments as you have rehashed are effective in throwing the real issue out of focus.
The issue is this – what right does His Holiness have in undermining a religious practice regardless of how he feels about it, especially given the fact that His Holiness travels the world preaching tolerance and in addition, His Holiness claims his exile government to be a democracy with a Constitution that protects all rights?
And please try to go beyond the usual blatant denial and the well worn ‘there’s no ban but only advice’ approach. Given that the Tibetan government proudly publishes it’s criminalisation of the Shugden practice, it makes a mockery of the dialogue and shows insincerity.
And for the record, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche did practice Dorje Shugden (please search ‘Kyabje Ling Rinpoche does Dorje Shugden on this blog) and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche did give His Holiness Nyingma teachings while both were active Shugden practitioners. So you’re clearly wrong.
PLEASE Joanne, let’s move beyond over-used rhetoric already.
Best regards,
Martin
Good grief, Tenzin Gyeche, does it “prove” that Ling Rinpoche practiced Shugden to have an obscure audio tape of some lamas chanting the practice? I don’t think there is any proof whatsoever without a video tape of Ling Rinpoche actually chanting this practice. True, there is a video of he and Trijang Rinpoche chanting Lama Chopa, supposedly to show that the audio is accurate, but one would have to be an expert in voice detection to know whose voice is whose in the video and then compare it to the audio.
This is so much what I experience whenever I investigate the claims made by the Shugden community– flimsy evidence and outright lies. I don’t know why there is any need to scrap together flimsy evidence if your case is strong? If Ling Rinpoche were truly a devoted practitioner of Shugden as you say, then the evidence would be strong and visible, as it is with Trijang Rinpoche– you would find it in his writings and teachings and statements etc.– not in a scratchy obscure audio of some lamas chanting!
As for Pabhongkha Rinpoche, here are some quotes from him:
“… many from our own side, monks or laypeople, high or low, are not content with Tsongkhapa’s doctrine, which is like pure gold, and have mixed and corrupted this tradition with the mistaken views and practices of other schools, tenent systems that are reputed to be incredibly profound and amazingly vast but are in fact mistakes upon mistakes, faulty, dangerous and misleading paths.”
He also stated: “Apart from the doctrine of Manjughosa Tsongkhapa alone, the views of all Sakyas, Kagyus and Nyingmas are erroneous … for them liberation and the path to omniscience does not exist.”
http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/?s=pabonkha
And also from that article: “Between 1938 and 1940, Pabongkha Rinpoche made repeated requests to Kham’s Kuomintang military governor, Lui Chuntrang, to forcibly suppress local Sakya, Nyingma and Kagyu monasteries for propounding a “wrong view of emptiness.” (These letters are sourced from Volume Cha of Pabongkhapa’s collected works).”
But really, I know that you will just come up with some other obscure document or audio tape and our discussion will just reach that familiar impasse. I remember Rabten of the ISC saying once during the conference in London, “You have your sources, we have ours.” While I try to stay with sources that are peer-reviewed and more objective, I grant you your right to believe in your own database as you wish.
Dear TP, I like your quote “Tsongkhapa always based his reforms strictly on logic and scriptural references.” very much. However, as other commentators here have shown, there is not much logic or scriptural reference to your and more importantly H.H. Dalai Lama’s effort to discredit Dorje Shugden. In fact, the mere acts by the various Dalai Lamas to destroy or discredit Dorje Shugden over the last 400 years or so, has in logical fact strengthened the case that Dorje Shugden must be an enlightened being.
I took hours to read about the debate. I think Tenzin Paljor comment about HH 14th Dalai Lama made mistake on Dorje Shugden is acceptable. By accepting that I also think He made mistake not just this one. Sorry I’m not trying to be irrespecutful but Tenzin Paljor’s comment on all Lamas even highly attained Tulkus, even quoted Lord Tsongkhapa and Lord Atisha . I got very disturbed and more confused now. I started think who shall i believe in now? I need to clarify. Lord Buddha says we need to clarify if we have doubt or not understand.
My question is (I’m getting very nervous now) what about 14th Dalai Lama has been making more than just this (DS issue) mistake? I think 14th Dalai Lama made the biggest mistake of taking the advice of Dorje Shugden of leaving Tibet in 1949. It was a mistake !!! Big mistake!!! He should stay back in Tibet then Tibet wouldn’t be taken by China at that time. Then there will be no Tibetan refugees settling down in India. Then there will be no Dorje Shugden protestors funded by Chinese government’s issue now. Because of this mistake so many Tibetan left Tibet following Dalai Lama for good but ended up in India as refugees. Don’t you think so?
So if what Tenzin Peljo were saying that practicing Dorje Shugden is bad and so harmful in many ways, sorry I can’t copy everything he mentioned earlier, he also mentioned that at 13th Dalai Lama time He already realised that Dorje Shugen was harmful then why didn’t He started the ban at that time? So when He returned back as the 14th Dalai Lama, why was he still practicing? He forgot? No one reminded Him about it? If this is the case then He could have forgotten more things and have made more mistakes but no one knows about it! Wow that’s dangerous!
Then why do I have to trust the 14th Dalai Lama that He is right this time?
What about the next life he return as the 15th Dalai Lama and tells us. ” sorry it was my mistake, Dorje Shugden is not harmful at all. It was my mistake, now everyone can practice DS” then what?? CTA and all of you that are anti-Shugden practice Shugen again? Calling all monks and nuns back to the monasteries?
I believe 100% that people can make mistake. Everyone does included Dalai Lama. But then why I still want to trust Him? From 5th until 14th half way he kept coming back, But why do I have to follow or listen to a Lama that made such a huge mistake through out so many lives time? He seems to have more mistakes then all other the lamas !
Everyone knows that compassion is the basic practice of Buddhism. I beg you Dalai Lama to have compassion because everyone says you are the manifestation of Guan Yin, please lift the ban and accept us as who we are. People are suffering out there because of the ban.
So if His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a Buddha, and has been a Buddha for at least 14 lifetimes, then are people saying that:
a) a Buddha can become an un-Buddha, and the Dalai Lama temporarily became an un-Buddha to write this praise of Dorje Shugden?
b) a Buddha can make mistakes, and the Dalai Lama made a mistake when he wrote this praise of Dorje Shugden?
Either His Holiness is a Buddha and he knew full well what he was doing when he composed this praise (in which case the prayer is valid and the ban is wrong), OR His Holiness made a mistake in composing the praise (in which case His Holiness is capable of making mistakes, and therefore the ban on Dorje Shugden could be a mistake).
There is nothing about this ban that makes sense, and it amazes me that people can continue to perpetuate it knowing full well how wrong it is. And the thing is, they’re doing it “because the Dalai Lama said so”. Well, His Holiness has manifested a lot of changes in decisions and opinions over the years.
Over 30 years ago, His Holiness said Taiwan is bad; today, His Holiness says Taiwan is good.
Over 30 years ago, His Holiness spoke for full independence; today, His Holiness promotes a Middle Way.
And over 30 years ago, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Dorje Shugden is good and even wrote a praise to him. Why don’t they remember that?
How quickly people forget!
the thousand arm compassionate being of chenrezig along with the holder of the truth of thsonkappa, would never spend my life listening only to his higness nor tsem , what can say is hh only said if you want to follow shugden do not to me for further lesson, my translation to hh words is go for it worship who you will and keep alive the truth of all of the teaching so that after this second turning of the wheel is completed we may move more peacefully into the third turning of the wheel this is my translation , i remember the teaching of paul from corinth and the speaking of the tongues a trick of course someone over the border can undersand the local tongue the truth lives inside the eyes can you love from dad
The Dalai Lama if he is Chenrezig can see Dorje Shudgen for what he is, in those many lifetimes as the Dalai Lama, from the 5th Dalai Lama onwards, as the ultimate spiritual and political head of Tibet, he could have taken action against Dorje Shudgen way before the 20th Century, one must ask why did not he not so? It would have been much simpler. To suggest that it is only now the Dalai Lama after investigation in this life has concluded that Dorje Shugden is a spirit is to suggest Dalai lama wasn’t a Buddha earlier but now he is Buddha to say Dorje Shugden is spirit. Does not make any sense.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing of prayer to Dorge Shugden by HH 14th Dalai Lama. It is clear that if 13th Dalai Lama sees Domo Geshe as Je Tsongkapa, surely then the practise of Dorje Shugden by Domo Geshe would have valid and beneficial. And if 14th Dalai Lama is the same mindstream as the previous Dalai Lamas, then he too would know that the Dorje Shugden practise blesses. After all he did write this prayer to Dorje Shugden as praise to him and had consulted the oracle of Dorje Shugden who successful help HH 14th Dalai Lama escape Tibet during the invasion by China. Most importantly, such highly attained and enlightened person as HH Dalai Lama will not have the karma to be harmed.
During my recitation of this prayer towards the end of my daily sadhana, I also get a feeling that this prayer may also be a form of confession and apology to Dorje Shugden for all the sufferings cause by the ban. It is also requesting DS for continual blessings so that creation of negative karma may be controlled and pacified during the ban. Kinda an advance prayer written ahead of the future negative worldly events that will take place. Of course this is solely just my own feelings.
I pray that HH Dalai Lama will lift this ban on the practise of Dorje Shugden in the very near future as there are too much sufferings by DS practitioners already.
With folded hands, May we be blessed with Rinpoche’s good health and very very long life.
“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 harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he 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
Dear Rinpoche,
This post reminds me of the time you gave us invitations to go to India to see the current incarnation of Domo Rinpoche. For that, I thank you greatly for letting us see such a great teacher. Thank you for ‘taking’ some of my family on that journey. I was truly beneficial. Though I will admit that my eyes were not really open at that time, and even though it may still not be fully opened now, the eyelids are getting higher. And this is because of your teachings, so thank you for that. 😀 _/|\_
Your humble student,
Keng Hwa.
P.S. The Dhal in the monastery was amazing! The tastiest I have ever tasted. 🙂
一位高成就者，无论他是十岁或是七十岁，他的心识都是一样的。这是因为他已经达到证悟的境界，所以他的成就是不会倒退或停留在任何一个年龄或是时代。我们可以看到的例子就是众所周知的第十四世达赖喇嘛就是一个我们所认知的大慈大悲观世音菩萨的化身而再转世回来救渡众生。
在这篇博文里，第五世和第十四世达赖喇嘛曾经是非常尊重以及向多杰雄登护法祈祷过，而且还建造多杰雄登护法的佛像。这些虽然已经成为历史了，但这一切都会被记录下来，留传至今。就好比如，如果要认证一位高成就者的转世回来，也是要靠一些重要的记载以及神谕的开示来证实他的转世。
如果一个上师没有慈悲心，他是不会绞尽脑汁地引导他的学生步上菩提道。但是，由于业力的纠缠，学生们还是会遇上种种的障碍。而唯有慈悲与智慧高上的上师才有这个能力去引导以及启发这些学生。这位上师是绝对不会陷害他的学生反而还会让他的学生转变成为一个更好的人。
在这充满着诱惑与是非的世俗，我们的选择完全是源自于个人的智慧与思考，还有就是无人可逃避的业力。如果一个法教是帮助你还有其他人变成一个好人，你又为何要去怀疑他呢？
感谢仁波切的分享，可以让我更了解与看得更清楚。。。
Both 5th and 14th Dalai Lama wrote prayes to Dorje Shugden, it shows that Dalai Lama know who Dorje Shugden is, and definitely benefited from blessing by the Protector. Although its more than 350 years apart, but Dalai Lama mind and attainment are still the same.
The ban though has brought much problem to the Tibetan community and also the Dorje Shugden practitioner around the world, but certainly because of this ban, more and more people get to know who is Dorje Shugden, and even they have benefited directly from practice of DS. To us we might see it as a ban which are enforce for a wrong reason, but looking further, it is certainly a divine play that Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden are actually working together to bring Dharma to people who need it very much in this degenerating age.
” Things change, Kundun.”
Enlightened mind stays the same (perhaps, i don’t know), but phenomena changes constantly and activity that benefits will also change with that.
After reading through this article ,one point has mention clearly that mindstream is the same and attained. Attainments cannot go backwards and at any age or any lifetime (incarnation) as he is highly attained.H.H Dalai Lama as renounce emanation of Chenrezig for many century ago, With respect His Holiness will not make mistake by to recognise who is Dorje Shugden ready are and compose prayer and worshipping him for 400 years ago. only high attain being able to recognise another enlighten being quality. Even His Holiness make such statement and cause the ban up to Dorje Shugden, people are so easy to believe to give up his practice and said bad thing against Dorje Shugden without knowing history and back ground. People who are believe in Dorje Shugden for example His Holiness Domo Geshe Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang has incarnate back continue to turning the Dharma, is does not bring them down to three lower realm by doing Dorje Shugden practice.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article,is important to study and get understand not creating more doubt.
The fact that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed the prayer to Dorje Shugden within this incarnation itself is a solid proof that Dorje Shugden is a reliable Dharma Protector, not a spirit.
HH Dalai Lama is an emanation of an enlightened being, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion Cherenzig, it means his mindstream is the same mindstream whether he was young or old as now. He has clairvoyance and can tell immediately if a being he met is good or negative. Since HH Dalai Lama saw Dorje Shugden as a very high being in Dungkar Monastery, then he cannot be making mistake.
So later in 1996 when he said Dorje Shugden is a spirit, it means there must be a higher purpose for him to do so. A “Divine Play” as it is known. If HH Dalai Lama made mistake when he was younger, his previous incarnation cannot be making mistakes as well. Previous incarnations of HH Dalai Lama had been propitiating Dorje Shugden since the Great 5th Dalai Lama, hence, it is not logical that a highly attained being of so many Dalai Lama’s previous incarnation cannot differentiate between a superior being and a spirit.
As stated in the footnote:
“This prayer shows beyond the shadow of a doubt the enlightened origin and the “holy mind” of the King Protector as seen by His Holiness. No “ghost” can come from Tushita and Kechara, Maitreya and Vajrayogini’s pureland. No “ghost” can cause you to “soar the path of immortal liberation on unified wings of Sutra and Tantra”! “
May this heart-breaking episode of Dorje Shugden be ended soon in order for the holy Dharma to be spread widely to benefits many sentient beings.
Thank you.
Thank You for this very informative article. How is it possible that HHDL first composes prayers to Dorje Shugden and then bans the practice of Dorje Shugden.
Dorje Shugden has been practiced for 400 years – how can all these highly attained monks and practitioners be wrong? This doesn’t make sense except if it would be for a higher cause.
As stated in the article, Domo Geshe Rinpoche has founded Dungkar Monastery, which was the seat of the famous and respected Dorje Shugden oracle. Domo Geshe Rinpoche has reincarnated and His current incarnation was confirmed by the current Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden oracle in trance.
Dorje Shugden is an Enlightened Protector. H.H. the Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara. I trust my Guru who gave me this practice.
It is very confusing that why would HHDL suddenly announced that Dorje Shugden is a evil worldly spirit after so many highly attained lamas including the 5th Dalai Lama and 14th Dalai Lama himself have practice and composed praises for Dorje Shugden for 400 years. These prayers by both 5th and 14th Dalai Lama have no doubt recognising Dorje Shugden as an enlightened being.
What is the true intention of 14th Dalai Lama imposing a ban on Dorje Shugden is still unknown, but more and more are believing that His Holiness is doing this for a higher cause, more than what we ordinary people could see from the surface. It is because of this controversial that the practise of Dorje Shugden is being brought to the global level and more people including the westerners, being attracted by the Buddhism and makes the Dharma growing in the west.
The prayers from Dalai Lama are truly beautiful and explained very well the nature of Protector Dorje Shugden.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these beautiful prayers.
Khoo
“Attainments cannot go backwards and at any age or any lifetime (incarnation) as he is highly attained.”
Very true. I always have this question. How can highly attained masters say one thing now and then do something else later? I truly respect His Holiness but I just find it ‘weird’ that He composed such a beautiful prayer to Bhagwan DS then retract the truth.
His Holiness Gurus were also faithful Bhagawan DS practitioners, they can’t be wrong in practicing Him. If they are wrong, means that what they taught His Holiness are also wrong, which I doubt.
Highly attained beings like HH Trijang Rinpoche and Domo Rinpoche are back and they are still continuing their attainments and practicing Bhagawan DS.
Bhagawan DS practice do not bring us to the 3 lower realms. Or else I don’t think any of the attained beings that practiced Bhagawan DS can reincarnate.
Indeed it is baffling and illogical why the Dalai Lama decided to ban the practice of Dorje Shugden. A ban that has caused and is still causing so much hardship, pain, disputes and fights between spouses; among family members, friends, sangha members and people in general. And it is equally baffling why the Dalai Lama did not publicly stop those people who are strongly enforcing the ban and in the process causing harm to those who practice and rely on Dorje Shugden.
Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, as the Junior Tutor of the Dalai Lama (who is also the Root Guru of many Gelugpas from humble novices to the highest Lamas) introduced Dorje Shugden practice to the Dalai Lama in the 50s. Then in 1996, during a tantric initiation that the Dalai Lama was giving, he said that Dorje Shugden was an evil spirit whose actions were detrimental to the cause of Tibet. It is strange that the Dalai Lama took 30+ years to realize his mistake of doing Dorje Shugden practice. The statement that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit is unsubstantiated and contradicts the view of many spiritual masters of the Gelug tradition. Neither is there evidence to support the claims that the Dalai Lama’s health and the interests of the Tibetan people have been affected. And if the practice of Dorje Shugden is bad, then definitely we have to say that Trijang Rinpoche is wrong, and that all Gelugpa lamas in the Dalai Lama’s own lineage would be wrong too? So where does that lead us?
Whatever may be the reasons, it is definitely at the expense of sincere practitioners of Dorje Shugden who continues to live in much anxiety and in painful dilemma. I pray that all parties involved in this controversy can meet soon for a dialogue to find an amicable solution to bridge the divide between the Tibetan Buddhist community.
Dorje Shugden practice does not send practitioners to 3 lower realms. In fact, Dorje Shugden is a highly praised & attained Dharmapala and recognized by HHDL himself. Therefore we can safely practice Dorje Shugden practices. The recognition of Dorje Shugden as enlightened Dharmapala had been consistent since the 5th Dalai Lama, hence the adverse decision in 1996 could be a political driven affair.
Thank You very much Rinpoche for sharing the precious photos and explanation to dispel misinformation of DOrje Shugden for us.
With folded palms,
Stella
Reading this again, one point stood out. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama used to propitiate Dorje Shugden and even written praise to this enlightened protector. Then later on, he issued a ban on Dorje Shugden. Therefore, can we safely say that His Holiness made a huge mistake in his spiritual practice during his younger days; in a way the ban is to rectify his mistake. When the highest of the high of Tibetan Buddhism made such a huge mistake in his spiritual practice, does it mean that his lineage, his teaching and his spiritual attainment is questionable? Because now I would always wonder what other mistakes His Holiness had made and would need to rectify later on.
Also, many practitioners relied on Dorje Shugden for many years when suddenly the ban was imposed. While His Holiness, according to the tradition, can reincarnate in human form again and again, the practitioners who had been practicing DS for years are caught in a bad place – should they stopped they would have wasted YEARS of their human life and broken the sacred samaya, and should they not, they are against the highest of the high of Tibetan Buddhism. It felt as if HIs Holiness had, by virtual of the ban, condemned all DS practitioners to spiritual hell.
By now, all facts pointed to the fact that this dilemma is created by a monk who is dubbed the living Bodhisattva on earth, yet who has no intention to lift the ban nor ease the suffering. Just like His Holiness’ stance on the self immolation by Tibetan people – it is deafeningly silence thereto in violation of Buddha’s teachings.
As a conclusion, it is blind faith and ignorance that many people still believe in a monk who created hell for many Buddhist practitioners, and who had made a huge spiritual mistake in his life.
What more interesting is, the other way round. If Dorje Shudgen were to knew this why did he not inform Trijang Rinpoche or others high lama? Why cause difficulties to particioner when DS were suppose to protect and disable obstacles for practioner to learn dharmmA? Dear Rinpoche, I knew you have your attainment and guru devotion… I truly respect and appreciate you for the effort in spreading this holy teaching. I too have my due respect to DS as a protector of Ganden, however I just felt to indirectly question HHDL attain mind is just not nice. If HHDL is wrong it solely means that the whole linage starting from Trijang Rinpoche is wrong. I am sorry Rinpoche to have to said this, but the more arguments on who is right and who is wrong no longer what both parties should do, but rather to practice what your root guru teaches. And yes the teaching will be separated as predicted… And shall thn Matriya will be down to revive it again… Therefore I hope Rinpoche truly consider my opinion when doing any DS posting without indirectly hurting HHDL. Thanks.
Thank you Rinpoche of the post.
It’s obvious that HH Dalai Lama which we believe as Chenrezig has the clairvoyant to be able to see if the being is positive or negative.
The Dalai Lama has been practicing Dorje Shugden and come to a point that compose the prayer and enthrone Droje Shugden is definitely based on his ability to see him as a positive and enlightened being. If this point can be a mistake then all the teaching from Dalai Lama can be a mistake, the lineage teaching of Buddhism can be a mistake too. Then nothing about the enlightenment from the Buddha teaching we should learn and practice for,
The other point as stated in the post of the unmistaken Domo Geshe Rinpoche which is a great Dorje Shugden Lama reincarnation and being recognised is a prove of Dorje Shugden is not a spirit else should be taking rebirth in lower realm. This is quite logic and straight forward to think of.
The ban has created a great impact for the growth of the practice but it’s also created much suffering. It’s time to lift the ban for the better and the harmonious for all people directly or indirectly affected from the ban. The fact and logic had iron out the quality of Dorje Shugden as an enlightened being which a lot of people needed him the most at this degenerate time.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us the Prayers by the 14th Dalai Lama as well as the 5th Dalai Lama.
The mindstream of the holy masters are same and consistent regardless of time. HH Dalai Lama is the emanation of Cherenzig. So, his should be consistent in his mindstream. With the Dorje Shugden prayers composed by the 5th Dalai Lama, then the 14th Dalai Lama, to me, it is solid proof that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened beings and not evil spirit at all. How could Dalai Lama be wrong? If Dalai Lama is wrong, Buddha or Buddhism would be wrong too. That’s not logic right?
Therefore, I would agree with Rinpoche’s logic that HH Dalai Lama is working with Dorje Shugden to spread Dharma to many more people during this degenerate age.
I like the questions that Rinpoche has presented here for us to use our head and think logically.
It makes no sense how Dorje Shugden, assuming is a malevolent spirit, could fool not only H.H. the Dalai Lama but so many other high Lamas like, Domo Geshe Rinpoche who even the Dalai Lama sees as emanation of Je Tsong Khapa, for so long? And if that’s what Dorje Shugden did, then we’re saying that Dorje Shugden is way more smarter and more powerful than all the Buddhas because he’s able to manipulate and trick them for so long? Simple just does not make any sense which leaves only one logical conclusion that the ban on Dorje Shugden is a political propaganda.
It also allows the possible theory that HH the Dalai Lama is working hand in hand with Dorje Shugden in the most uncommon way to spread Dharma further as predicted by H.H. Trijang Rinpoche in ‘Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors’. Hence the advice given by Trijang Rinpoche to NOT ‘take sides’ when we experience this unfortunate event, for it is an illusory play beyond our us.
Unfortunately most people these days are too lazy or busy to further investigate and find out more before they easily jump on the band wagon and follow whatever is spoon fed to them.And it becomes unquestionable when the message or misinformation comes from a highly influenced source such as H.H the Dalai Lama.
It is quite amazing to see how even the most logical person would just agree/accept blindly to whatever information given to them. All you need to say is… “H.H. Dalai Lama said so.”
So many were harmed and divided. Many choose to react instead of just doing a bit more research. I hope those who come across this article would be able to think a little more before launching attacks on Dorje Shugden practitioners.
If the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig – Buddha of Compassion, then this Dorje Shugden ban would be a shameful injustice of the worst kind of apartheid in Buddhist history. More over if there was no “higher purpose”, all the sufferings are in vain. It is high time the ban is lifted so that the sufferings, disharmony and disunity amongst Buddhist stops. It’s all in H.H. The Dalai Lama’s hands to to end this.
Dear Rinpoche,
This is a precious article. It really helps to clear the doubts in people’s mind who are confused about Dorje Shugden practice. This prayer really speak by itself. But why HHDL now stopped everyone from practicing Dorje Shugden? Dorje Shugden is such a powerful enlightenment protector. He saves people’s lives. Whoever have trusted in Him, He granted their wishes if the intention is good. He helps without looking at who we are. He just help like a Buddha. Many many of us have seen how miracles happened. How can a holy protector like this being ban? One thing for sure, Dorje Shugden is not a demon who send you and me to hell but help us to achieve attainments that would bring us back again and again to practice Dharma and benefit others. Domo Geshe Rinpoche, Kybje Trijang Rinpoche, H.H. Panchen Lama and even H.H. Dalai Lama are good examples. HHDL himself wrote prayer of Dorje Shugden!
This is one of my favourite prayers everyday. Because it is short, sweet and composed by H.H. Dalai Lama. I recite it when I need help, for friends, strangers, even animals that need help. I recite it with kawang, golden drink offerings and mantras. Whenever I recite it I feel compassion from HHDL and the power of Dorje Shugden as one. This connected me to HHDL whom I have never met but I can feel His love to Dorje Shugden that’s so strong that he would actually happily recite this prayers everyday. This made me feel peace, safe and full of faith to the powerful Dharma. I believe in HHDL, I believe in my Guru H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and of course I have full faith to my holy and lovely protector who has been guarding me day and night.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this prayer with us. It is very precious and significant in deed.
Love, Julia
Dear Rinpoche,
I like how Rinpoche presents the hypothesis that highly attain and realised beings’ mind streams are always same and attained.
That being said..how can HHDL many years back praised Dorje Shugden and composed prayers to Dorje Shugden, and years later said Dorje Shugden is negative. This really is thought provoking and makes us question ourselves what is the real situation.
If HHDL is accurate, that will mean to say all the other highly attained lamas, all the lamas recognised by HHDL cannot tell if Dorje Shugden is good or bad? Then won’t it makes us wonder if whether all of these high lamas are qualified to teach and guide us, with all deepest respect….
The 5th Dalai Lama and the 14th Dalai Lama composed beautiful prayers to Dorje Shugden, this is proof enough that Dorje Shugden is recognised as a supreme Wisdom Buddha.
I have been praying to Dorje Shugden for many years, if there is even anything negative about Him…wouldn’t I be dead or deep in the trench already?
My faith and devotion to Dorje Shugden is always strong.
Dear Rinpoche,
This precious words of yours will benefit lots of people driven blind and make them question deeply. Thank you rinpoche for such dharma. I cannot really imagine how i also would have been having those negative thoughts if i have not met your teachings and your blessings. May all across this words to make them question deeply.
Thank you _/\_
Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche gave a radio interview about Shugden in Dharamsala, India, stating…
“I could not decide against him [the Dalai Lama] but nor could I stop propitiating Shugden with whom my relationship dates back to previous incarnations. I find myself in an immensely difficult situation. The followers of the Protector would not have listened to me…and no one seems to care about the difficulties I am facing…
I also don’t want the people of Chatreng, who have great expectations of me, to be disheartened. But if I continue to propitiate the Protector publicly, I would be compelled to become a sort of head of his worshippers, and this would be an offence to the Dalai Lama from whom I received my Bhikshu ordination, and has always treated me with extraordinary benevolence.
I cannot even hope to keep a low profile as they [the Shugdenpas] would not let me.
I have reason to believe that my return to India may possibly result in internal chaos, attempts on lives and other immoral activities bringing disgrace to His Holiness…
I cannot sleep and I have had health problems. I am worried about thinking what will happen next. It is quite terrifying to think that I might be a cause of disgrace instead of serving the Tibetan people and His Holiness…
Some have told me, ‘If you abandon the Protector [Shugden], there is no knowing what will happen. We will not consider you a lama [as guru]. The people of Chatreng are strange, very wild and unruly. We do not know what they may do.’
It is very clear my life might be in danger. So I have decided to leave my Labrang and disrobe, so that none of the Shugden worshippers can ask me to be their leader. I hope that this way I can respect the wishes of the Dalai Lama and still revere the protector, practicing in private and far from everyone. I intend to follow a middle way, neither for nor against Shugden. I appeal to both parties not to contact me.”
In my own Labrang I have recently witnessed a kind of factionalism and I have discovered that one person in particular was planning an evil conspiracy. This plan was to murder my assistant, Tharchin, and to implicate His Holiness’s government in exile with this odious crime. The conspirator aimed to become chakzoe [manager] of my estate. Tharchin has been very kind to me, more so than my own parents, and has taken care of me since I was three years old. As well as managing the affairs of my Labrang.
With my own ears I heard this person discussing on the telephone a plan to assassinate Tharchin. It is really a matter of great sadness and surprise, especially since the person involved in this ploy has been very close to me as well. If he succeeds in his plan, it would be a cause of great trouble for the Labrang, as well as a cause of disgrace to the Tibetan government and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
These are not lies, but true facts which I want everyone to know. That is why I made this statement.”
Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche concluded his message urging Shugden followers to stop seeking him, “I do not wish to be in touch with you.”
Another Buddhist wrote recently about the misleading Shugdenite statement above…
“Your post is misrepresenting and contorting the facts. Also you should know, that Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche is moderate in Shugden worship, he does not force anybody to practice it and leaves the decision to the other person.
You also should know that Kelsang Gyatso, head of NKT, does not acknowledge Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche to be the reincarnation of Trijang Rinpoche and that there are no contacts between NKT and TBI or Kelsang Gyatso and his former teacher.
Also you should know that Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche is concerned himself about fanatical Shugden followers and escaped them when they tried to murder his assistant, with the aim to put the blame for the assassination into the shoes of the Dalai Lama. and the TGIE. (Tibet Government in Exile)
Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche concluded his message urging the followers of Dorje Shugden to stop seeking him. He said: “I do not wish to be in touch with you…”
After this statement Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche moved to the United States of America, where he lives only with his closest students.
Since Trijang Chogtrul Rinpoche states that “These are not lies, but true facts which I want everyone to know.” I think it is appropriate to quote here what he said himself in the interview with the Dharamsala radio station.”
(an NKTite responded to this comment by saying (falsely) that the Trijang Buddhist Institute is nothing more than Shugen practitioners, (falsely) that the Ganden Tripa feels that Dorje Shugden practitioners are perfectly valid to “represent and transmit” the Gelug Dharma, that Kelsang Gyatso rejoices whenever anyone has the good sense to recognize the Dorje Shugden practitioners have been among the cream of the Gelug Sholars and Yogis of the past several hundred years (false).)
(from another NKTite….”no wonder why trijang chocktrul rinpoche has distance him self from the DL his lies have become unbearable for many, all i see is a man clinging to to much power in an attempt to unite all the schools under his directorship this is shameful.” Another NKT falsehood. Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche web site praises the Dalai Lama.)
(it has been reported that Kelsang Gyatso was told by Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, Kelsang Gyatso’s purported root guru, that he will not take rebirth (reincarnate). Also, The “internal” NKT constitution consists a passage which states that Tulkus are not accepted within NKT. Thus, NKT does not recognize rijang Chocktrul Rinpoche as a legitimate reincarnation, and presumably not a legitimate Shugdenite as well.)
This is very interesting. On the onset of things and the Ban plus all the protests around the world, I cannot help but think of the hypocrisy behind the Ban. There was a point in time that I did question the 14th Dalai Lama but I always remember that HHDL is the emanation of Chenrezig. With that in mind I am looking for a deeper meaning. This article does indeed make me think more. It is like the duality of life. There is dark and light in every situation.
Having composed this Praise in the presence of another erudite master Domo Geshe Rinpoche is not a mere accident. It is powerful and shows full clarity that Dorje Shugden cannot be a demon/spirit. I do not find it possible that such attained Lamas can be wrong. Not to mention we have great Lamas like Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche…and the list goes on, who practise and rely on Dorje Shugden.
Ok there is a Ban. The right question is why is there a Ban? And not conclude Dorje Shugden is a demon.
I feel for the people who have suffered tremendously from this Ban and also those who have lost their families and lives because of this Ban. I pray that the Ban be lifted. I believe that whatever is the higher reason of HHDL it should be achieved by now. More people must speak up. Shugden practitioners need to know people care and are making a stand for them.
I practise Dorje Shugden and I am grateful for this. If there is any demon in question, it is the one in myself and with my daily prayers of this praise by HHDL I am protected and blessed.
This article as well as a few others reiterates how “inconsistent” the reasons brought forth to label Dorje Shugden as bad. Those reason can easily be countered by real and logical explanations. This being done with pure intention to speak the truth and not to put anyone down. Lord Buddha has always advised his students to study and contemplate and not just have “blind faith”. Thank you Rinpoche for highlighting all the important facts and events to help us learn.
Hi Dylan
Enlightened beings can also choose to be reincarnated in human form :)Cheers
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article that will clear of doubts . It shows to proof that HH Dalai Lama actually support Dorje Shugden. I hope and pray that HH will very soon reveal his support .
The Dalai Lama ‘ unbroken reincarnate lineage is a source of inspiration for all of us. Here is a being who could have it’ easy’ hanging out in the pure lands but he chose to manifest in harsh tibet.
The dalai lama being the highest scholar of the land due to his unparalleled wisdom and insight, Cannot be thinking Dorje Shugden as a Buddha one moment and demon in the next.
Dorje Shugden and dalai lama association began during the time of the great fifth dalai lama. Is it logical that chenrezig Cannot identify demon from Buddha? Highly unlikely, over so many life times?
Furthermore one would only write a praise to Dorje Shugden out of deep reverence and appreciation. What person would write a powerful prayer to Dorje Shugden if they did not think it was beneficial especially a high lama like the dalai lama?
It’s the same scenario: some people used to compose prayers to you, also.
But now…
the picture of His Eminence the 1st Domo Geshe Rinpoche is probably the scariest thing I’ve ever seen!
Nice article and good arguements (for debate sake) by your Eminence. The pictures accompanied go very well with the article.
It is indeed impossible for the Dalai Lama now and the Dalai Lama during the young days or previous incarnations to have different mindstream. As they are all the Dalai Lama.
I too agree that it is impossible for the Dalai Lama to be wrong by composing the prayers to Dorje Shugden not only once, but twice. Once during the 5th Dalai Lama’s time, and once during the 14th Dalai Lama’s time. It is also impossible for the lineage gurus to all be wrong about Dorje Shugden. If that is so, then the lineage that we are getting now is also not pure but it is wrong as well. Since the lineage lamas like Ling Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Pabongka Rinpoche are all wrong in practising Dorje Shugden practice, means the teachings that are given would be wrong as well.
Since Ling Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche are the Dalai Lama’s guru, then it would make the Dalai Lama wrong as well. Reason being that the Dalai Lama has gone through teaching by high Shugden monks. It would make him wrong as well.
With that, it would also make Domo Geshe Rinpoche wrong, and he would not be seen by the Dalai Lama as Je Tsongkhapa. If Dalai Lama really saw him and recognise him as a high lama, then that would make the Dalai Lama once again wrong. This is because, how can the Dalai Lama recognise a Shugden lama to be highly attained when it is said that through Dorje Shugden practice one would go to the three lower realms? It just does not make any sense at all.
Personally, I believe that the ban is being manifested by the Dalai Lama to see how would people be reacting based on the ban. I feel that through the ban we can see how ugly the human nature is when not being controlled and changed. There are so many people that hide behind things to do nasty acts and also defame others due to this. Even to the extend of threatening others just because they feel that it is correct to be doing so in order to stop Shugden practitioners from doing their practices.
From here, you can not only see how shallow the human nature is, but also how deep into samsara we have fallen.
If the ban does not act as a form of manifestation, then why did the 5th Dalai Lama together with the 14th Dalai Lama both composed prayers for Dorje Shugden. Even so, why did the 5th Dalai Lama even hand crafted a famous statue of Dorje Shugden?It just does not make any sense for the ban if we do agree that the Dalai Lama has the same mind stream with the previous incarnations and current incarnation.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this informative post on Dorje Shugden which will help clear many doubts of others who are uncertain about Dorje Shugden. There is no doubt that the Dalai Lama showed great respect and composed the prayers to Dorje Shugden in Dungkar monastery. This is clear evidence that Dorje Shugden is an Enlightened Being. I like Rinpoche’s logic on mindstream and that attainments cannot go backwards thus it is illogical for the Dalai Lama to acknowledge and made prayers to Dorje Shugden and later denounces HIM as a spirit.
I hope that those who have negative views of Dorje Shugden will read and understand better on the real truth instead of condemning for the wrong reasons.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for more teachings and logical explanations to help us think further and deeper on this subject.
I agree with what Rinpoche hypothesizes. How can attainments suddenly disappear? Since the Dalai Lama’s mindstream is the same, and attainments cannot disappear, it is impossible that suddenly the Dalai Lama backtracks on what he once regarded as superior and now presents to the public inconsistencies to examine this “mistake” he made. By the same logic, if really, what Dalai Lama presents forth is right, that he had indeed made a “mistake” in his worship and regard of Dorje Shugden, then it shows that attainments can falter. And if gaining attainments is the foundation to propel one towards achieving enlightenment and if it is ephemeral, that would thus mean that the state of enlightenment is transient as well because the foundation to it is impermanent. So all that Buddha taught would completely be thrown out of the window, because, by the same logic, Buddha’s attainments could have faltered as well so, all that Buddha taught, could be based on mistakes He made too! That would be very scary. But of course we all know that isn’t the case. 🙂
Examples such as that given of Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s unmistaken reincarnations returning, it proves that practising Dorje Shugden does NOT bring one to the three lower realms, as opposed to when you worship a spirit, or practice something which causes suffering to others and destroys the doctrine of Buddha Dharma and creating wrong views, which would all definitely take one to the lower realms. But since highly realised lamas like Domo Geshe Rinpoche have returned in perfect form and conditions, it destroys the notion that Dorje Shugden is spirit worship and harmful to one because they had spent their lives spreading Dorje Shugden, and propagating the Dharma in its most authentic form.
Additionally, like what Dalai Lama said in his prayers, where Dalai Lama enthrones Dorje Shugden as the “supreme collected nature of all Gurus and Protective Deities and requests to grant siddhis” (attainments), shows that Dorje Shugden is fully enlightened to guide one to achieving attainments in one’s spiritual path towards enlightenment otherwise why would Dalai Lama, in his praise, request Dorje Shugden to grant attainments when Dorje Shugden was not able to to begin with? And if Dalai Lama would humble himself and write a praise to request Dorje Shugden to grant siddhis, Dalai Lama is infact, in his deepest humility, portraying this being as being much more attained than he himself is and is proving that Dorje Shugden is enlightened to be able to grant siddhis because Dorje Shugden has already gained all attainments needed to reach the state of enlightenment.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing on The 14th Dalai Lama’s prayer to Dorje Shugden.With the endorsement of so many Highly attained masters and Dalai Lama in the past and present.We have very clear and documented proof that Dorje Shugden is definitely an Enlightened Protector of Dharma and not an simple wrathful spirit as claimed by many.
It would not make sense for highly attained dharma masters who hold their vows to worship a lowly spirit in order to gain bodhichitta.
As far as I know,only those that are bound by attachment to greed and power, worship spirits in order to gain materialistic selfish gains .
We certainly hope the ban and misunderstanding on the Dorje Shugden could be lifted in the nearest future.In order for more people to gain access to such to such beneficial practice. In order for those who seek a swift and compassionate protector, Dorje Shugden, to aid and lead them towards the path of enlightenment.
From what I have observed and witnessed with my own eyes, Dorje Shugden is definitely not a harmful ‘spirit’. I have met so many people whose lives were literally saved by this great Buddha, and I have even heard stories of His miraculous power, there’s NO WAY that He will harm people. Having to say that, I’m not saying His Holiness the Dalai Lama is wrong and I’m right, of course not. His Holiness is an enlightened being, and sometimes enlightened beings can see things that we can’t see. His Holiness could have implemented the ban to serve a greater purpose, who knows..? But of course, this is just my personal opinion. Despite of these rumours, critisism, schisms etc, I will be loyal to my protector because I only believe what I see with my own eyes.
Pardon me. The Dalai Lama is not an enlightened being. He is a learned human being. If he is oredi enlightened, he would have broken the cycle and attained nirvana instead of being reincarnated again right? Cheers.
Dear Dylan,
So sorry for my late reply, have been quite busy with my work.
From an ordinary view, it would seem that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an ordinary monk or a highly learned one. That is because we cannot recognise what enlightenment is. The Buddha Himself said that He would return as Gurus. So if the Buddha is enlightened and returned as the Guru, wouldn’t the Guru also be enlightened? Although outwardly He may look like an “ordinary Guru”. I hope you find my answer or rather opinion useful 🙂 Thank you 🙂 Cheers!
Here are some of my thoughts:
1) Rinpoche mentioned that mindstream and attainments will not go backwards. So when HHDL announced that Dorje Shugden is not enlightened, His statement contradicts what He did in this lifetime – He composed a prayer to Dorje Shugden. So why praises Dorje Shugden on one hand, and denounces Him on the other hand?
2) There’s another statement that says, if we practised Dorje Shugden, we will go into three lower realms. It doesn’t make sense, what about High Lamas like HH Trijang Rinpoche and Domo Geshe Rinpoche? They reincarnated as humans and are living amongst us today.
3) This article has made people realised even better about the fact that HHDL is actually contradicting himself, but definitely not in such a way to put HH down. It will make people think why is the ban implemented by HH when He Himself who had also written a prayer for Dorje Shugden. And some who have affinity, I think they will realise that there’s a higher purpose behind the ban.
4) I just learnt that Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s body was actually embalmed but not cremated. And in the article, it says that only the bodies of Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas are allowed to be embalmed. I think that this is quite self-explanatory, Domo Geshe Rinpoche who practises Dorje Shugden for so many lifetimes is not an ordinary Lama. Its also sad to learn that His holy body was destroyed in the cultural revolution.
5) I’m awed by the fact that in 1912, when the 13th Dalai Lama returned from India and stopped at Domo Rinpoche’s area, HH saw Domo Geshe Rinpoche as Je Tsongkhapa himself while the others don’t. I find this very fascinating because this was how HH viewed Domo Geshe Rinpoche, its very touching.
Dear Beatirx,
Your thoughts are so well expressed. I have learnt reading your comments. Thank you.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this precious post on Shugden and clearing the doubts that people might have over the nature of Dorje Shugden. It is very clear that the Dalai Lama revered Dorje Shugden to be an emanation of Manjushri during his stay at Dungkar monastery. It is clear that the Dalai Lama composed that prayer out of admiration of Shugden’s qualities and of the accuracy of the Dungkar oracle.
I have read in other sources that the Dungkar oracle was very famous for the accuracy of the predictions. There is also another source about Domo Geshe Rinpoche and the Dungkar oracle and that is Alexander David-Neel’s book, the Way of the White Clouds. It was written at a time when Tibet was relatively unknown in the West and Domo Geshe Rinpoche was described in such a way that he became the archetype of Tibetan lamas. It is one of the few books of that generation to perpetuate the mystique of Tibetan Lamas. Many Westerners have encountered Buddhism by reading this famous classic.
I love and agree with Rinpoche’s line of logic with regards to Dalai Lama and Shugden. I think that the Dalai Lama is somehow working with Dorje Shugden to spread Buddhism in the world despite what it may appears right now. What it is, I will not give up Shugden as I have only received the benefits and don’t see how he could be a spirit. No spirit can take trance as a lama and give teachings, advice, rituals and initiations. Dorje Shugden must be enlightened and the incarnation of the High Lamas of Dulzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen.
get a grip pastor lai , mr bear , way of the white clouds is by lama govinda .What else have you got wrong ?
Thank you for your correction and an opportunity to practice patience.
As Dorje Shugden Practitioners, we would say our Sadhana daily and at times due to time limitation we will do a shorter version. When doing a shorter version, I would also say the 14th Dalai Lama prayers to Dorje Shugden as it encompasses the total essence of the whole Sadhana. It is very well versed with all essence for a practitioner to recite.
With the very clear explanation of the mindstream of the Dalai Lamas, incarnations after incarnations of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, by Rinpoche, I believe the Ban is of a purpose higher than what I being unattained can foresee or envisage.
But with the facts mentioned in this article, it is in my mind that worshipping Dorje Shugden can only bestow merits and siddhis on me.
This article further enhances my faith and belief in Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden. With much appreciation.