Blessed items from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
The compassionate lama who has brought Dharma to thousands all over the world, the most Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. An erudite scholar, master of Sutra and Tantra, hidden yogi of Heruka, holder of the Vinaya and courageous practitioner of enduring guru devotion. A great being who has used his life to work tirelessly to bring the doctrine of the 2nd Buddha Manjunatha Tsongkapa Losang Drakpa to the fortunate beings of the Kaliyuga in the form of a monk of the Shakya lineage. I pay homage.
There are many definitions of holiness in regards to an object, a person or a place. There are things that are inherently holy such as the Buddha, Dharma or Arya Sangha. Buddhas are inherently holy because they have already reached the fruition of their path, which is enlightenment. The expression of enlightenment is Dharma, and the representatives of enlightenment is the Arya Sangha, beings who are Mahasattvas. They are holy by virtue as they have the qualifications to show us the path by example and teachings.
The second type of holiness is when a ordinary person has generated the thought of loving compassion, especially bodhicitta. When that person has generated the mind of bodhicitta, then he or she is on the path of holiness as bodhicitta is the secret elixir that heals all anger, purifies negative karma and is the doorway to full enlightenment. Therefore, when someone has generated, practiced or held the bodhisattva vows, the place where that person lives, the items that person uses, the clothes that he or she wore or even leftover food that he or she had eaten becomes very holy. These are items that are venerated and sought after by aspirants on the same path. When we associate with these items they bless our minds, implants seeds of bodhicitta and open up dharmic seeds to continue on our path.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is known for his excellent teachings and multitude of books that have been translated into many languages. He is also the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union.
Whether an object or a person is inherently holy, or on the path of holiness is determined by him or her having let go of the mind that focuses on the self and instead generates the mind of bodhicitta. When one has generated a bodhicitta mind, one becomes a Bodhisattva. There are 10 stages of this mind generation. When one has become a Bodhisattva and reaches any level or stage of Bodhisattvahood, then one becomes a being that is considered holy and worthy of respect by men and gods. When we make offerings, venerate, show respect or support someone with bodhicitta we gain waves of powerful spiritual merits that ripens to expedite our path to enlightenment.
Hence, for a person who has generated bodhicitta, everything around him or her, his or her clothes, environment, leftover food, and the items that he or she used are all infused with that person’s prayers, blessings, and generation of bodhicitta. So for the rest of us, when we see, touch, or venerate these items, we also make a connection to supreme bodhicitta. These items are holy because through these items we can make a connection to the supreme mind of bodhicitta or to a being who has generated bodhicitta. Since we wish to gain the supreme mind of bodhicitta, then when we venerate or make offerings to holy objects used by someone who has generated bodhicitta, it fills our mind and environment with waves of blessings. This is the reason we go on pilgrimage to holy places like Bodhgaya, Varanasi, Tsongkhapa’s retreat cave, Pabongka Rinpoche‘s meditation cave, Milarepa’s retreat cave, etc.
Therefore, objects that we have received from highly evolved spiritual beings such as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso can be venerated on our shrine, placed inside stupas, be placed inside gompas, placed inside larger statues, be carried around or be kept near us. Atisha always kept his guru Lama Serlingpa’s hair in a stupa and carried it wherever he went. Atisha would offer on a daily basis one butterlamp to the stupa containing this relic and offer full length prostrations as well. From among his many gurus, Atisha held Lama Serlingpa of Sumatra in highest regards as he taught him bodhicitta. So to make offerings to the stupa containing the hair of Lama Serlingpa who had generated bodhicitta blessed Atisha to develop bodhicitta in his own mental continuum. Therefore we believe in Buddhism that a holy monk, nun, teacher or practitioner’s possessions (such as their statues, images, thangkas, rosaries, robes, utensils, hat, robes) that they had used becomes a holy object of veneration which we can call relics. After passing, some holy beings when cremated will show special Buddha images that naturally arise from their bone or teeth. So the ashes, bone and teeth of these great beings can be enshrined in stupas, larger statues or sacred receptacles in the temple for aspirants to venerate. Many cases in the past these types of holy relics have shown miracles in healing beings, answering prayers or manifested auspicious omens in dreams. These relics are often found in temples or holy places throughout Tibet, India, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Mongolia, Russia, Japan, China and so on.
Even if someone did not generate bodhicitta but they held their monk or nun vows very well, then objects or relics from these people would be worthy of veneration because the Vinaya vows held by monks and nuns originated from the sacred Buddha Himself. So those holding these vows well will have planted the seeds to full enlightenment or progressed vastly on their path to enlightenment due to the blessings of these vows. So robes, cups, utensils, personal items or their possessions would be sought after objects of veneration, blessing and worthy of respect. Objects or possessions from our gurus are very precious. I have hair from the head and goatee of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and it is kept near me always. I had a pouch made and used to wear the sacred hair of my root guru Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. These sacred items can bless an environment and the beings therein greatly. In my personal monastery called Tsem Monastery in Kham, Tibet, we have a tooth of Tsongkhapa as our main relic and many pilgrims would come to pay respects to this holy tooth prior to 1959. In Tibetan, ‘tsem’ is the honorific word for tooth. So Tsem Monastery means the Monastery of the Tooth Relic (of Tsongkhapa). Being that I am from this monastery, I am Tsem Rinpoche or the lama from Tsem Monastery. There is another very famous tooth relic monastery in Kandy, Sri Lanka. In this sacred temple, there is the tsem or tooth of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni which blesses the whole country. I have visited this place which is around three hours’ drive from the capital of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Beautiful country. One must visit this temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka to pay homage to Buddha’s tooth one day. Beautiful temple and so many people every day come to venerate the tsem of the Buddha.
The reason we requested some holy items from people like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is because we believe that they have generated bodhicitta and held their monk vows very well. I have holy items from many various great lamas. Through their practice of bodhicitta, these great lamas like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche themselves have become an object worthy of veneration. Since they are holy and infused with great bodhicitta, any items from them would be a tremendous blessing. Their items will further bless our prayer hall and all those who enter it. I will place these items in a very special area.
Therefore, both Kechara House and I are very honoured that the most Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche has accepted our requests for holy items from him that will be placed in various parts of Kechara House for people to venerate and generate merits. These holy items are shown below so you can see and be blessed. I would like to offer my deepest appreciation and humble thanks to Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for conferring these holy items to all of us. I wanted to share this with all of you. I know you will rejoice. As I am a junior sangha member, receiving a senior sangha member’s holy items is a great blessing to me. I must thank Venerable Dekyong for arranging all of this. I thank my assistant Beng Kooi for requesting on my behalf very much. Om Svasti!
Tsem Rinpoche
This is the card that came from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s assistant to my assistant Beng Kooi or Beng for short. Beng is one of my main assistants and good friend too.
A blessed Maitreya statue (left) and Medicine Buddha statue (right) from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s personal possession. How blessed we are.
A closer look at the Maitreya from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
A closer look at the Medicine Buddha statue from Venerable Geshe-la
Such a holy gift for Kechara and myself, this is the shamtab (lower skirt robe) of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso himself, worn and blessed by him who is a pure monk of the Shakya lineage. As I mentioned personal clothing or robes from senior sangha is extremely blessed and very sought after. I will respectfully put pieces of this robe in various areas of our Kechara like in stupas and statues.
A khata and some rice that was blessed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. I am very honored and we are blessed.
Long Life Prayers for Geshe Kelsang Gyatso 格西格桑嘉措的长寿祈愿文
For all of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche’s students and supporters all around the world, these are some beautiful prayers to recite for the long life of this great master.
One was composed by the junior tutor of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the previous Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. The other prayer was composed by the King Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden in trance of the Choyang Duldzin Oracle.
Since all realisations depend on the blessing and guidance of our teachers, long life practices dedicated to our teacher are very precious. They purify the relationship between teacher and disciple, and create the causes and conditions needed for our teachers to live long.
I really encourage his students to recite these prayers to generate the merit for Geshela to live long. And by praying for the guru’s long life, one will also create the causes to be blessed with longevity. May Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche have a long life and good health, and continuously turn the wheel of Dharma with his erudite scholarship and practice for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Within the Gelug school of Buddhism, high level oracles of various protectors are often used. The deities (Dorje Shugden, Setrap, Tsangpa, Dorje Yudroma, Chodar, Nechung, Gadong, Shinjachen, Tseringma, etc.) take trance of specially trained people and speak. They often give predictions of the future and past that are highly accurate.
Very high lamas such as Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche, Khalkha Jetsun Dampa Rinpoche of Mongolia and many others are well known to train up these oracles to take trance. They are watched under strict supervision and when the training is complete, these high lamas will then authorise their authenticity. Choyang Duldzin Kuten of Gaden Monastery was personally trained by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. The current Panglung Kuten of Sera was trained by both Domo Geshe Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche. It took Trijang Rinpoche five years of personal supervision to prepare this now famous and very powerful oracle. Tseringma in Dharamsala was trained by Khalkha Jetsun Dampa Rinpoche, the highest lama of Mongolia. And Gen Nyima of Gaden Jangtse Monastery was also renown for his ability to train oracles.
The very attained and high lamas not only teach but have many other mystical qualities such as divination, clairvoyance and other special abilities attained through tantra, such as those enshrined in the Six Yogas of Naropa. They can train oracles and perceive special formless beings such as the protectors and have them speak through specially trained oracles.
致全球各地格西格桑嘉措的弟子和追随者们：
以下为几篇祈求这位大师长寿的祈愿文。
其中一篇祈愿文由至尊第十四世达赖尊者之副经师，即前世的嘉杰赤江仁波切撰写。另一篇祈愿文则为多杰雄登大护法降神秋阳杜津神谕时所撰。
既然所有的觉悟都源自我们上师的加持和引导，于是祈请上师长久住世的修持法是何其珍贵。这些修持法能在上师与弟子间的关系起除障之效，并且创造我们上师长久住世的善因及所需的条件。
我真心鼓励大师的弟子们能念诵这些祈愿文，为上师能够长久住世累积福德资粮。在祈愿上师长寿的同时，弟子们也为自己种下长寿的善因。祈愿格西格桑嘉措长寿健康，并且以其渊博的学识和清净的修行长转法轮，利益一切有情众生。
西藏佛教格鲁派常聘用可降多位护法且德高望重的神谕。这些护法（多杰雄登、金甲衣、白梵天、金刚玉灯女、措达、乃穹、噶东、信嘉芊、次仁玛等等）透过已接受特殊训练的神谕而说话。他们经常给予的预言和忠告都是非常准确的。
帕绷喀仁波切、赤江仁波切、托摩格西仁波切、蒙古呼图克图喀尔喀杰逊丹巴，以及许多德高望重的高僧都以训练神谕而闻名。这些神谕皆受到严谨的监督，而且当训练完成后，这些高僧就会认可他们的正确性。
甘丹寺的秋阳杜津固登乃由嘉杰赤江仁波切亲自调教；色拉寺的现任庞隆固登由绰摩格西仁波切和赤江仁波切指导，而赤江仁波切更用了长达五年的时间亲自指导，并为今日这位著名及极具威力的神谕做准备；达兰萨拉的次仁玛则由蒙古最具威望的大师喀尔喀杰逊丹巴亲自栽培。甘丹绛孜寺的根尼玛也因擅于栽培神谕而著称。
具高成就的高僧大德不仅能授法，更拥有许多不可思议的能力如占卜、神通及其他透过密续修持而得的特殊能力，如被记载在那洛六法中的大师们。他们能栽培神谕，还可以感应特殊的无形众生如护法神，然后借经过训练的神谕之口请护法神说话。
For more interesting information:
- The Dorje Shugden category on my blog
- A Gift from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
- Visiting His Holiness Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche in Vermont
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Wow…..merely looking at those holy and infused great items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a blessing. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing those rare precious pictures for us. Thanks Beng Kooi too to have holy items from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Kechara is so honoured to have received such sacred and holy items.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso a Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, scholar, author and founder of the New Kadampa . He was a world-renowned meditation master who holds the very essence of Buddha’s teachings in his heart. He had transmitted a profound wisdom and compassion way to the people of the modern world. A teacher who taught thousands regardless of nationality, culture, and to anyone easily understand through his teachings and applying them to their modern daily life.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands for this sharing.
Great blessing able to see holy and infused great items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche even though its just pictures. Wow …all these holy items are place in various parts of Kechara House for people to venerate and generate merits. We have Rinpoche and Beng Kooi to thanks not easy after all to have holy items from someone like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. How blessed Kechara and honoured to have received sacred and holy items from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands for this sharing, as anyone merely looking at the beautiful holy blessed Maitreya statue and Medicine Buddha statue is a blessing
Wow so fortunate to receive precious blessed items from the most Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. He is a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism. Having any items from Holy high Lamas would be a tremendous blessing for any one . Due to Rinpoche’s kindness and compassion Rinpoche has requested blessed items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche to be kept at various part of Kechara for people to venerate and generate merits.
I am glad to come across this post and understand a little much better of Holy blessed items .Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands.
Dear Rinpoche,
In Penang, NKT is very famous and it has a centre here too. Little did I know about the founder and I am extremely happy to know a little bit more about Him. This article reminded me that it is very good that we have blessed items especially blessed by those who are on the path of Buddhahood, specifically those who has generated Bodhicitta. Besides this, we can also venerate blessed items from those who have held their monks/nuns vows well too. Really happy that KFR is truly a sacred and very blessed holy place to be in. It is my biggest wish to be there.
Sorry for my ignorance, there was a time when I received a blessed small purse from Rinpoche. I wondered what was that. Fast forward to now, I am using that to store my holy Dharma items that I carry it wherever I go. I will value this and many more.
Thank you Rinpoche.
May Rinpoche be happy and well always.
Holy beings, like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who are highly attained, will have planted seeds of Enlightenment or progressed vastly on their path to Enlightenment. They have held their Vinaya vows very well and generated Bodhicitta . Hence, holy items from them will be infused with bodhicitta and become objects worthy of much veneration, and bring tremendous blessings. Relics from holy beings are also imbued with tremendous blessings. Famous relics include Lord Buddha’s tooth relic housed in a monastery in Kandi ,Sri Lanka. Another famous relic is the tooth of Tsongkhapa in Tsem Monastery, Kham, Tibet.
Rinpoche himself has kept very preciously holy items such as hair that he received from Zong Rinpoche .
When holy sacred items are placed in specific places they will bless these places and the environment . Rinpoche and Kechara expressed sincere appreciation and are deeply honoured to have received sacred and holy items from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Rejoice that Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s spiritual items are now in Kechara. May these items from this most blessed teacher, inspire and help Kechara to be as beneficial to the world as Geshela’s work to the world.
随喜上师尊贵的詹杜固仁波切可以得到尊贵的格西格桑嘉措这些殊胜的礼物，而且还放在克切拉里好让大家有机会的受到这些圣物的加持。因为上师的慈悲心与安排，我们才有机会接触这些圣物的加持。
感谢仁波切于此博文与大家分享此喜悦。除此，本人也从此博文明白与了解除了佛、法和僧是至高无上的圣物以外，一个普通人如果有了慈悲心、菩提心以及遵守与持出家戒或菩萨戒，他们所住的地方，他们所用过的东西包括衣物或是吃剩的食物都是非常殊胜而且可以加持我们，让我们种下菩提心和开启我们佛法的种子,以便我们可以更称心的踏上菩提道。
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing the holiness of items and why objects used and belonged to highly evolved spiritual beings become holy. As Kechara member, we are fortunate to receive holy items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who brought Dharma to thousands all over the world. These holy items will definitely bring blessings to many who come to Kechara.
We are so fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to make connections with sacred holy items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union and known for his excellent teachings and books. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso had previously presented a beautiful Green Tara to His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche.
Holy items from honorable Arya Sangha are sought after because they are the representatives of enlightenment as they have the qualifications to show us the path by example and teachings. Similarly, holy items from an ordinary person has generated the thought of loving compassion, especially bodhicitta, are also sought after. Bodhicitta is the doorway to full enlightenment. The holy items from a person with bodhicitta will bless our minds, implants seeds of bodhicitta and open up dharmic seeds to continue on our path.
When we see, touch, or venerate these holy items, we also make a connection to supreme bodhicitta. It is the same reason we go on pilgrimage to holy places like Bodhgaya, Varanasi, Tsongkhapa’s retreat cave, Pabongka Rinpoche‘s meditation cave, Milarepa’s retreat cave, etc.
It is only through the loving kindness and blessing of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche that we have the great opportunity to venerate holy items of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. We must cherish this opportunity and make offerings to these holy items. Thank you so much, Rinpoche.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
My understanding is Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is a Gelugpa Geshe. You say that he is a monk of the Shakya Lineage. Isn’t this confusing and misleading ?
Dear Van Vorheis,
A monk of the Shakya lineage means Shakyamuni. Shakya is short for Shakyamuni. The lineage of Vinaya (monk/nun vows) arise from Buddha Shakyamuni Himself. So it is a poetic way of saying someone belongs to the lineage of Shakyamuni when they are ordained. Whether you are Gelugpa, Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, Theravadin, Mahayana, if you are a monk, your vows come from Buddha Shakyamuni so therefore you are of the Shakya lineage. Certainly you shouldn’t think it’s misleading. Hope this helps. TR
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing.To become enlightened, the person must have bodhicitta. Tsem Rinpoche requested blessed and holy items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso to be placed in Kechara house is to generated bodhicitta motivation (mind)for all Kecharian and visitors when everyone see it or make offering to the holy items.
Rinpoche hardwork is want everyone nurture boddhicitta and benefits other sentient beings, we must appreciate it and practice selfleneness as a return to Tsem Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the pictures of the holy personal items of Venerable Gyeshe Kelsang Gyatso. Rinpoche’s explanation of holy items is very clear and easy to understand. The personal items of Venerable Gyeshe Kelsang Gyatso would be holy as he had given his whole life towards practising, teaching and the spreading of the holy Dharma.
Rinpoche has so kindly brought this holiness to Kechara Forest Retreat for us to receive his Venerable’s blessings. Thank you.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the teaching on the different types of holiness and why objects become holy. I think Kechara House and its students are very fortunate to receive blessed items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, a bodhisattva who has brought the Dharma to thousands of people all over the world. These holy objects will certainly bless the environment and all the beings around.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these sacred and wonderful items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, especially pointing out and explained clearly the meaning of “holiness” together with examples.
I see this kind gesture of Venerable Geshe-la to Rinpoche as an exchange of holy gifts between two Arya Bodhisattvas – something we do not come across daily. For Venerable Geshe-la to answer to Rinpoche’s request, it is a clear sign that the Venerable is very pleased with Rinpoche’s beneficial works motivated by great bodhicitta. If I may say so humbly, if the Venerable has not gained bodhicitta as mentioned by Tenpel below, He wouldn’t have appreciated Rinpoche’s work, takes the “trouble” to get these holy items prepared, consecrated and dispatch. He would not see the beneficial effects for doing so, neither will He understands the significance of it. Most importantly, He would not answer to the request since He would not care about the benefit of beings and wouldn’t dare to do so knowing His own motivation.
One may ask if the Venerable appreciates Rinpoche’s works so much, why wouldn’t He gives Rinpoche gifts on His own initiative without request? Why wouldn’t He gives always but only when request? Well, the Venerable did and here is the reference https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/a-gift-from-geshe-kelsang-gyatso.html. Please also read the message from the Venerable on Rinpoche’s works. From a secular point of view, giving gifts is to maintain a relationship, the more gifts the better, so that the giver will be benefited from the relationship. This is a gesture that arise from a selfish mind. A mahasiddha who has great bodhicitta is humble and do not need to maintain any relationship per se. Their focus is not to be benefitted but to benefit. Venerable Geshe-la already did so once without being requested, there is no reason to do again.
Rinpoche has requested these holy items for us and many people to come in the future so that we can make a connection to the supreme bodhicitta, to fill our mind with the waves of blessings. This is not because Rinpoche doesn’t has bodhicitta, but due to Rinpoche’s humbleness that He doesn’t sees Himself as one who has achieved that. Rinpoche holds the sacred monk vows continuously for more than 25 years, His online works and beneficial works through the Kechara organisation is the clear sign of His bodhicitta without which none will be manifested. Rinpoche has always wanted to be in retreats, He wishes very much to be in seclusion. Having students, centres and online works etc. may not be the methods He would like to employ to benefit others. Yet, Rinpoche did so, putting His own wish aside, so that we can be benefitted and many in the future will too as these are the methods suitable for us. This is a clear sign of bodhicitta. Think about this really, why would someone without a bodhicitta wants all the “troubles” that come with having students and centres? Why would he/she willingly goes through the hardships where he/she has no benefit from? Would you do that yourself? This too applicable to Venerable Geshe-la!
We are very fortunate to receive such blessed holy items from Venerabe Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and through the kindness our Guru, H.E.The 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, who will placed this holy items in Kechara House and Kechara Forest Retreat, many people will be able to receive blessings and collect merits.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the blessed items from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. We are blessed to have the opportunity to receive blessings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso through His holy items in Kechara premises.
Few years ago, I am very fortunate and blessed to have invited a Dharma book ‘Joyful Path of Good Fortune’ written by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The Dharma teachings given by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso are easy to comprehend and followed by lay practitioners such as myself.
May Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso live long and stay healthy to continue to benefit many people through His Dharma teachings in the West.
Thank you Rinpoche for your kindness and compassion to bless all of us through Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s holy items.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
Thank you Rinpoche ‘ s sharing . We are fortunate to have blessing from high Lama .
Isn’t it contradictory to claim Bodhicitta in a person who said about the great Bodhisattva, HH the Dalai Lama: »He (the Dalai Lama) spent his whole life only collecting the wealth of simple Tibetan People. What material help has he provided to the Tibetan people? And regarding the issue of Tibet, what has he done that is really helpful?« Doesn’t a Bodhisattva speak honestly and truthfully? How is such a slander honest and truthful? HH the Dalai Lama is also a teacher of Kelsang Gyatso. Kelsang Gyatso received teachings and empowerments from HH the Dalai Lama. Isn’t it contradictory to claim Bodhicitta and guru devotion in a person that has used a great deal of his lifetime to denounce one of his own teachers as a “liar”, “hypocrite”, “worst dictator of this modern world”, a “saffron robed Muslim”, whose nature is in reality “very evil and cruel”? Is there any case like this in Tibetan history? And didn’t Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche write in “Music Delighting an Ocean of Dharma Protectors” that such beings, who denounce the Dalai Lama over the issue of Shugden, will have a lower rebirth and act extremely non-virtuously?
You claim that Kelsang Gyatso practiced perfect guru devotion but in fact he has eradicated the name of his main teacher, Geshe Lhundup Sopa from his biography and he denies to have received teachings from the Dalai Lama though there are witnesses like Gen Lamrimpa who saw Kelsang Gyatso receiving teachings from HHDL.*
Then as a monk, you should not take what was not given. How could it happen that he “usurped”, the main centre of Lama Yeshe, Manjushri Institute at Conishead Priory, and created – even according to independent observers – “a schism”, making the center which belonged to Lama Yeshe, his own?
You claim Kelsang Gyatso has Bodhicitta but in fact he attacks in a very nasty and vile way a respected being who is a genuine practitioner of the two Bodhicittas, HH the Dalai Lama. I think a genuine practitioner of Bodhicitta does not denounce a person who is a genuine practitioner of Bodhicitta.
* http://info-buddhism.com/geshe_kelsang_gyatso.html
Dear Tenpel,
The Dalai Lama being a bodhisattva is only a matter of perspective. Why do you keep picking on Dorje Shugden people about this? If Dalai Lama was a bodhisattva then he would love, accept and embrace all people INCLUDING Dorje Shugden people. Even Jesus said to “love your enemies”. What more do we need to say about Dalai Lama and how he should love everyone.
There are so many Tibetans who don’t agree with Umay Lam (middle way) and want full rangzen (independence) from China and that conflicts with Dalai Lama. So they are called traitors and against Dalai Lama. Why don’t you attack them too. They don’t agree with Dalai Lama.
1.
You have the Rangzen freedom Tibetans who do not agree with Dalai Lama’s middle way policy with China. So they are against the Dalai Lama.2. You have the Dorje Shugden people who refuse to be bullied into giving up their practice contrary to the Dalai Lama. So they are against the Dalai Lama.
This trend of not agreeing with the Dalai Lama who can make mistakes is growing.
It seems just because you don’t believe in Dalai Lama’s view, then you are against him.
It seems like it’s Dalai Lama’s way or the highway! LOLThere are billions of Christians, Jews, Muslims who DO NOT subscribe to Dalai Lama being a bodhisattva, so why don’t you attack them or write to them? They believe the Dalai Lama is worshipping idols and false gods. Why do you still accept them but not Shugden people? Does not make sense.
There are thousands of Tibetan Muslims who do not believe Dalai Lama is a bodhisattva, so why don’t you confront them? Why do you only confront Shugden people.If Shugden lamas want to praise and respect other Shugden lamas, why does it bother you? Why do you have to say anything about someone respecting Geshe Kelsang Gyatso? Just because he does not have the same opinion as Dalai Lama? Then why don’t you attack everyone who don’t agree with Dalai Lama. If you want to dig up Dalai Lama’s past and his family past, then there is alot of dig up. Everyone has a past, so get over it!Don’t be fanatical about Dalai Lama, as he is a man and he has made many mistakes and continues to make mistakes. You will regret it later. Admire him but remember he makes mistakes. You said so.
Have a nice day and don’t forget to be fair and love everyone even if they practice Dorje Shugden.
Everyone is a sentient being and deserve equal respect NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION THEY ARE. Be a good monk Tenpel please.I have a question for you?
I practice Dorje Shugden, but can you be my friend? Can we go for coffee or dinner and be long term friends? Or it's not allowed by your religion and by your Dalai Lama and CTA.If you are allowed to be my friend, we don’t have to debate. If you are not allowed, then what are you following? Is religion suppose to divide people up? What kind of religious leader (Dalai Lama) tells his flock not to associate with another group of people and cutting off from family and friends? Sounds like a cult?Many Tibetans who practice Dorje Shugden are not allowed to associate with Dalai Lama and his followers. Strange. That really divides people. Why follow something that divides people on basis of religion.Is it like that in Germany?Tenzin Gyeche
Dear Tenpel,
After reading your comments, I wondered if you aren’t just bias in your views towards the side of H.H the Dalai Lama. Have you investigated why would such a highly attained and esteemed Lama as Geshe Kelsang Gyatso “attack” His Holiness if there are no truth behind his words? Have you actually gone to India where all the Tibetan refugees reside (not the priviledged ones) and witness the conditions that they live in. After so many many years and generous donations of millions (if not billions), why are they still classified as refugees? Shouldn’t they be provided with proper housing, skill training, schooling for their children and to be able to integrate themselves into their present society? Why are the real Tibetan refugees still living in poverty?
Another thing is that are you in the position or have the attainments to argue against the Bodhicitta of another? Unless you are attained, how certain are you that all these high Lamas are not in their role play (divine play) to promote the Protector Dorje Shugden practices to the world? The fact is that Dorje Shugden’s practice had become well known and adopted with much benefits to the practitioners. If its in divine play, then Gyeshe-La won’t be acting against His Holiness but in actual fact acting in tandem with him.
As far as I know, all Dorje Shugden Lamas had reincarnated to their esteemed positions and not any lower rebirths. So its clear and proven that Lord Dorje Shugden is a worthy Buddha and his practice can be relied on.
With the utmost respect to His Holiness, I am just confused as to why the Dorje Shugden practitioners needed to be excluded at all. If the Dorje Shugden practitioners were so wrong, then shouldn’t His Holiness manifest his compassionate nature to embrace them more, to give them more Dharma, etc. Bodhicitta is the lack of self and yet one of the reasons for banning Dorje Shugden is that its a threat to His Holiness’ life. Isn’t that a “Self” centered reason? And how is that practicing Bodhicitta?
What saddens me the most is that most “Anti Dorje Shugden” practitioners who claimed to be faithful students/followers of His Holiness have not been practicing what he teaches. His Holiness has dedicated his whole life to teach about Bodhicitta, compassion and love of sentient beings and yet these students had not studied deep into the meanings of his teachings but instead stay to remain shallow on the surface. This is shown by their provoking attacks on Shugden practitioners. So much bad karma generated and His Holiness will absorb due to his Bodhicitta nature which brings him illness.
“A real guru’s initiation is beyond the divisions of sects and creeds: it is the awakening to our own inner reality which, once glimpsed, determines our further course of development and our actions in life without the enforcement of outer rules.”
– Lama Anagarika Govinda, The Way of the White Clouds.
This is exactly as I had written in the last paragraph of my reply to you, Tenpel _()_
Dear Tenpel,
You have again left a comment on Rinpoche’s blog, to which I would like to point out the following: you may be entitled to your opinion, but it’s a case of simple logic that Dorje Shugden and the truth will prevail.
First of all, the people who speak ill of Shugden and are vulgar and violent towards Shugden worshippers get their authority from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They feel empowered to behave in this manner because they feel they have His Holiness’ backing.
When His Holiness has entered clear light however (and may this not happen for a long time to come), he will no longer be a factor in the Shugden ban. Therefore these people will no longer be able to act with this level of impunity. Even when His Holiness’ reincarnation returns, the young incarnation will be too young to give these anti-Shugden people the same kind of authority to act with so much violence and vulgarity.
Dorje Shugden however, is a Buddha and eternal, and reliance on him is not dependent on a physical form. So faith and worship of him will continue long after the Dalai Lama in his present form has entered clear light, and long after all of us are gone as well.
The second thing I wish to point out is that people who come into blogs like yours come with a preconceived notion that Dorje Shugden is bad. They come to find a similar view and to reaffirm a stance they already have. If Shugden practitioners come to blogs like yours, they will never be converted out of the practice. Therefore blogs like yours will not grow in readership or traffic.
Rinpoche’s blog however, draws a huge AND mixed crowd (7.3 million so far). Some of these people hate Dorje Shugden; when they read the blog, they may or may not come back, depending on how virulent their hate is.
Others already practice and like Dorje Shugden; Rinpoche’s blog will serve to educate and add to their knowledge. There’s yet ANOTHER group who are neutral towards Dorje Shugden and/or know absolutely nothing about him; they come to the blog to partake in the hundreds of other topics Rinpoche writes about and is interested in. There’s a chance that the neutral group will read Rinpoche’s articles and watch the videos, and be converted to practice. Or, at the very least, learn more about Dorje Shugden and not hate him (but not rely on him either).
In general therefore, there’s a higher chance people will be converted to Shugden worship, than people being converted to hate Dorje Shugden.
I just wanted to point this out as you seem very intent to draw the conversation, discussion and therefore traffic away from Rinpoche’s blog, usually to your own platform where comments are moderated and discussions are not held freely. By the way, it says a lot when you moderate what you write and what comments people are allowed to leave on your blog, and Rinpoche doesn’t do so even though Rinpoche is supposed to be the one doing the wrong thing.
Thanks!
Dear Tenpel,
I think you are taking Geshe Kelsang’s statements regarding the Dalai Lama out of context. First of all, he had made those statements in reference to the Dorje Shugden ban and was not meant to target the Dalai Lama for schismatic talk. Your argument is running on the assumption that Shugden lamas like Geshe Kelsang and practitioner are just making up the whole Shugden issue and the problems and sufferings that all Shugden practitioners especially those in the Tibetan communities in India is just make belief.
Therefore, your argument is fundamentally flawed and biased. You have not taken into consideration the whole message Geshe Kelsang and many Shugden lamas are saying. No Shugden lama want to target the Dalai Lama in any way. Why would they want to do that unless what they are saying regarding what they are experiencing about the Shugden ban is real. Please understand everybody respects the Dalai Lama for all that he has done for spreading Buddhism and everything that he stands for.
Despite the fact that Rinpoche and all of his students are Shugden practitioners but all of us have the highest regard for the Dalai Lama. This is evident in Rinpoche’s talk, ‘My Side of The Story’ and everything that he had expressed to us students have been consistently with the highest regard and respect for the Dalai Lama. I hope that is clear to you.
Dear Tenpel,
You seem very biased in all your comments on this blog. I find it interesting that you have not posted a comment, that I have personally seen, that is positive or constructive in any manner here. All your comments seem to be on posts, where you can argue your point, which is inevitably very one sided and biased. This makes it seem the only reason you come on this blog is to engage in a tirade against Dorje Shugden practitioners. I’m simply going on logical analysis of the posts that you have commented on. Wouldn’t dialogue better serve to remedy the current situation?
Personally, I believe what His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche has stated about Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Geshe-la has played an amazing role of bring the Dharma teachings all over the world, and has changed the lives of so many people for the better. I have read some of his works, and they are very accurate portrayals of the Dharma in a contemporary manner, very suitable for practitioners in this day and age. Just as His Eminence has done with this blog. I read this blog when I was first in England, and then decided to join Kechara because the Dharma on this blog was logical and matched everything I had ever read on Buddhist practice.
That being said, it is clear from a Buddhist perspective, that Dorje Shugden practice is a legitimate practice within Tibetan Buddhism. And His Eminence has done an excellent job of explaining this through the multiple blog posts and video teachings. It is very logical, very precise. Over the course of your comments it seems clear that you have taken the standard stance against Dorje Shugden, which inevitably includes mention of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It seems like you think we are against His Holiness, and this could not be further from the truth. Did you know that at the end of every single puja done in Kechara, and even the daily sadhanas of members, we recite a verse praying for the long life of His Holiness? Why would we have anything against His Holiness? He is Avalokiteshwara himself. The logic on this blog will overcome the limited and very narrow views held by some in the end.
How wonderful, and inspiring, thanks for sharing!
Kechara is indeed fortunate to receive many precious blessed items of veneration from high lamas. The latest addition from the most Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
Many blessed objects were put inside the Vajrayogini Stupa in Kechara Forest Retreat when it was being built. Do circumambulate the stupa on your next visit to Kechara Forest Retreat.
Thank you Rinpoche for your blessings and hard work from the writers team to provide dharma teaching and sharing here.