Our Lama vs the Dalai Lama – The Underlying Reasons For the Ban

By Pastor David Lai | Dec 10, 2018 | Views: 4,312

(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor David)

Introduction

The Dorje Shugden controversy began when the Dalai Lama made successive attempts to wrongly assert the nature of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden to be a harmful spirit. He had since issued numerous statements to the effect of banning the practice of Dorje Shugden. The following is a discussion of the underlying reasons for those who choose to abide by the ban on Dorje Shugden and those who continue the practice of Dorje Shugden.

The heart of the Dorje Shugden controversy lies in the dispute on the nature of this Dharma Protector. The Dalai Lama claims that he is a spirit while practitioners claims that he is an emanation of Manjushri.

In order to support this allegation that Dorje Shugden is a spirit, one has to be prepared to dismiss all the traditional teachings, as taught by the great lineage masters such as Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. These teachings are amongst the greatest dharma that forms the foundation of Gelugpa education, and assert that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri.

In spite of the unimaginable consequences of such allegations, the Dalai Lama went as far as to make the claim that his teacher (Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche) was wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden during a television interview (see below). If the Dalai Lama is right about his allegation, it would shake the very foundation of the entire Gelug tradition as the lineage was founded on the transmission of teachings from an authentic teacher to disciple since the time of the Buddha.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DalaiLamaGurusWrong.mp4

All Tibetan Buddhist traditions must be able to trace the authenticity of its teachings to a correct and valid source. If one of the successive masters of the lineage was wrong about a particular aspect of the teachings, it undermines the entire lineage because it casts doubts upon other aspects of the lineage as well. Every other teaching, transmission and practice that descended from the master could be mistaken as well.

On top of that, worshipping a spirit would mean that great lineage masters such as Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche had broken their refuge commitments. The refuge vows and commitments are the foundation for higher vows, practices and teachings. One of the main commitments is to only take refuge in the Three Jewels – the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Therefore, the higher vows, higher practices and teachings of these lamas are all invalidated, since they took refuge in Dorje Shugden, allegedly a spirit and worldly being. In other words, the entire Gelug lineage is undermined as most current lamas have received teachings, initiations and transmissions from these great lineage masters who taught that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri.

A picture of the Panglung Oracle. It was this oracle that gave the pronouncement for the Dalai Lama and entourage to leave Tibet in 1959.

Furthermore, there are more allegations that Dorje Shugden’s practice shortens the Dalai Lama’s life and harms the Tibetan cause. However, it is traditionally believed that a high lamas’ lifespan is actually determined by the samaya or spiritual bond between the teacher and his or her students. Therefore, heavily broken samaya can create the cause for the lama to have a shorter life. This means that the student has not kept his or her vows, commitments and promises made to the lama. What this infers is that Dorje Shugden’s practice that had for centuries been worshiped as part of the tradition and commitment to the lama suddenly became a danger to one’s samaya with the Dalai Lama. How can a practice, that is such a part of the tradition that has upheld the lineage, suddenly be the cause of broken samaya?

Furthermore, the Dalai Lama embodies the Tibetan cause and therefore any harm towards the Dalai Lama would also mean an intention to harm the Tibetan cause as well. On the contrary, Dorje Shugden on two occasions in Tibetan history acted to safeguard the Dalai Lama’s life. Dorje Shugden via the Panglung oracle had been the one to initiate the formation of the Chushi Gangdruk band of Khampa warriors that later escorted the Dalai Lama in his great escape out of Tibet. And it was the Panglung oracle who took trance of Dorje Shugden at the request of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche during the final hours and gave the instructions that he should leave Tibet immediately. Therefore, Dorje Shugden saved the Dalai Lama’s life and that means that he had safeguarded the hopes of the Tibetan cause.

For High Lamas, Geshes and ordinary practitioners to accept these allegations about Dorje Shugden, it would require one to accept the ban on face value. However, this would not be enough for the educated and informed, as they would immediately see through the faults and shortcomings of the ban. Therefore, we should explore the underlying reason why High Lamas, Geshes, ordinary monks and practitioners would accept or reject the ban.

For Those Who Abandon The Practice

As it was mentioned earlier, the followers of the Dalai Lama have to take the Dorje Shugden ban on face value and basically ignore the contradictions and the dire spiritual implications of the ban itself. The Dalai Lama being the spiritual head of Tibet, is the highest-ranking lama and he definitely outranks any High Lama or Geshe who may be our teacher.

The great Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche is a lineage master who asserts in his writings and teachings that Dorje Shugden is Manjushri.

Therefore, it almost seems as if those who follow the Dalai Lama’s ban on Dorje Shugden are doing so because the Dalai Lama outranks their very own lamas who taught them Dorje Shugden’s practice in the first place. This has severe implications for our spiritual bond or samaya with our teacher because it is our teacher and not the Dalai Lama who gave us precious teachings, vows, commitments and initiations. Even if the Dalai Lama is our teacher, he cannot simply negate the spiritual commitments we have with our previous teacher.

If one has a simple Geshe as one’s teacher alongside the Dalai Lama, both should be considered equal in our practice. There is no higher-ranking Guru in our practice. According to the 50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha, if we cannot engage in Dorje Shugden’s practice because we choose to abide by the ban, we have to return to the teacher who had given us the practice to explain and seek permission to give up our practice. If the teacher is no longer alive, we are bound by the commitment for life and we cannot simply give up the practice if we want to truly advance in our spiritual practice.

However, there are some who understand this point and who still choose to abandon the practice. In forsaking the spiritual aspect of the guru-disciple relationship, it must be to gain some sort of reputation or monetary benefit through this association and adherence to the Dalai Lama’s ban. If one is seen to be associated with the Dalai Lama, it would boost one’s perceived Dharma ‘currency’ and propel one into a ‘higher’ spiritual circle and this would make it easier to raise funds and for people to offer assistance. This means forsaking one’s samaya with the lama who had given the practice to you and hence, any spiritual dimension to this direction is gone. One would have traded one’s spiritual commitments for the benefits of the high rank that the Dalai Lama provides.

For Those Who Maintain The Practice

For Dorje Shugden practitioners, who decide to follow through with the lama and Dorje Shugden, they can easily see the faults in the reasons given to justify the Dorje Shugden ban. They cannot ignore the contradictions and implications of upholding the ban and are not swayed by the high public status of the Dalai Lama because the Dalai Lama cannot simply override the instructions and samaya that one has with one’s lama.

The junior tutor of the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche also asserts that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri.

Hence, the rank of the Dalai Lama would hold no sway in the decision to maintain one’s Dorje Shugden’s practice. For a Dorje Shugden practitioner, maintaining the samaya that one has with one’s lama is of paramount importance. This is because one’s spiritual practice is of the utmost priority and the underlining reason for this is to gain real spiritual attainments and enlightenment.

However, there are implications of going against the Dalai Lama’s ban on Dorje Shugden and that comes with the price of being ostracised within the Tibetan community if one is Tibetan. Furthermore, if one is influential and regarded as a threat, personal information could potentially be put on the Tibetan leadership’s hit list, which is published on their own website. This would undoubtedly incite lynch mobs and the threat of physical violence. The price is high but one would be able to keep and maintain one’s samaya and thus be able to gain attainments.

Conclusion

The 14th Dalai Lama went as far as to make the claim that his teacher (Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche) was wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden during a television interview.

It seems that those who uphold the ban on Dorje Shugden may not be doing so simply out of pure devotion to the Dalai Lama. They may have a vested interest in securing a picture with the Dalai Lama or other ways to appear close to him in order to appear legitimate and credible in the eyes of the public.

This would definitely translate to dollars and cents in terms of sponsorship and funding for their respective organisations. So, there are those who are really looking to profit from their connection with the Dalai Lama and are adhering to the ban as a political move in order to further their own agenda. On the other hand, those who continue to uphold and practice Dorje Shugden have chosen to face being ostracized and harassed for their spiritual conviction rather than appearing to be politically correct.

Kyabje Denma Gonsa Rinpoche on guru devotion

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DenmaGonsaRinpocheGuruDevotion.mp4

Translation:

At this time, we see guru devotion in the great monasteries, it is like a vessel leaking. At this time, in the four great monasteries, I see the first [in guru devotion] is Tashi Lhunpo. I am not flattering. The better one is Tashi Lhunpo monks.

Before, Sera has a lot of monks joining…

(video breaks abruptly)

…What I am teaching you today, this is correct or not correct, you must examine. If it is correct, you must practice. If it is not correct, then you can discard it. That is okay.

In brief, you all must carefully examine Lama Tsongkhapa’s Dharma. Apart from that, at this time, Lama Tsongkhapa’s Dharma is like a butter lamp in the strong wind. It has very nearly extinguished, like that. Now you all must carefully examine Lama Tsongkhapa’s Dharma, must carefully examine Lama Tsongkhapa’s Dharma. Do you understand?

If you practise the Protector [referring to Dorje Shugden], you do the practice. If you don’t practise, you don’t do the practice. This is no problem. If you practise, say it very clearly – “I do the practice.” If you don’t practice, say it very clearly – “I don’t do the practice.” Don’t be two-faced.

Must have unity and solidarity. Do you understand? Then good. Then it will be useful that we are monks and stay in the big monasteries. [meaning if they are monks but have no unity, it will not be useful]

At night, all our virtues we must dedicate to enlightenment and the growth of Buddha Dharma, and all the holy masters’ long life, and make aspirational prayers for the growth of Lama Tsongkhapa’s combined sutric and tantric Dharma and for it to remain for a long time. Do you understand?

And if you are a Dorje Shugden practitioner, make aspirational prayers for Dorje Shugden’s blessings to spread all around the world. If you are not a Dorje Shugden practitioner, make aspirational prayers for all protectors’ blessings to be timely and for the Buddha Dharma to grow.

Then good. Then all of you work towards mental unity and pure vows. Please practise well. That’s all, thank you. Finish.

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94 Responses to Our Lama vs the Dalai Lama – The Underlying Reasons For the Ban

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Yee Yin on Jan 18, 2019 at 11:15 am

Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for writing this article. Some of us are very new to Tibetan Buddhism and do not know a lot about it, especially the Guru and Disciple relationship. If we practice Tibetan Buddhism, it is very important to maintain a very close relationship and loyalty to our Guru because he is the one giving us guidance and teachings.

Before I know a lot about Tibetan Buddhism, Iike everyone else I knew about the Dalai Lama first. I thought he represents all Tibetan Buddhists and what he says means everything. But after visiting Rinpoche’s blog, I started to learn more and understood that this is not the case. Our teacher is the one who loves, cares and guides us to become a better person, he is more important to any other lamas with big names. We should never forget his kindness and should always follow what he says.

When I started to practice Dorje Shugden, I also had some friends who told me the Dalai Lama said this is not a good practice and we should not do it. I had my doubt. But I observed and saw that Dorje Shugden followers are not evil at all. The teachings of the Dorje Shugden lamas such as Tsem Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche and Pabongka Rinpoche do not deviate from what the Buddha had taught us. Besides, they have contributed so much to the preservation and spreading of Buddhism, how can they be evil? I respect the Dalai Lama but he is not my teacher, so I don’t have to listen to him. I will continue to practice Dorje Shugden.

Loh Yun Seen on Jan 8, 2019 at 9:58 am

I first came to know about the controversy when my sister warned me not to practice Dorje Shugden as she was told by her Guru that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit instead of a Dharma Protector and the practice itself will bring its practitioners to a wrong path while turn them evil.

In facts, I have been hesitated on the practice of Dorje Shugden when I first heard about such warning but after some thought, I started to doubt such warning instead. I doubted such warning not because of my vow to the Guru as I have just started to get to know about Tibetan Buddhism and the practice of Dorje Shugden at that time and I know nothing about such vow, but because of the facts that I observed with my very own eyes.

Through my volunteering with Kechara Soup Kitchen, I have this opportunity to get to know a lot of practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Instead of meeting evil people as my sister warned me, all the Dorje Practitioners I ever met are all kindhearted and dedicated people who are willing to spend their own free time and give up their own enjoyments just to assist those homeless and poor people who have nothing to do with them at all.

I am not qualified enough to talk about the ban from spiritual aspect but my experiences as mentioned have nonetheless enabled me to clarify with others who are also in doubt why such ban is not making sense from a secular aspect.

james on Jan 3, 2019 at 5:45 pm

This ban by HHDL is political motivated or for his own agenda. I have only known Dorje Shugden for several months, but i am very confident that he is a true protector. I love to recite his mantra OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA. I feel blessed and am fortunate to be able to practice.
Thank you H.E Tsem Rinponche for sticking to this practice and share his teachings.

Pastor Chia on Dec 20, 2018 at 9:18 am

Dorje Shugden practice lineage have authentic source from highly attain gelupa lama pass down to their discple until now. There many prove of this practice cannot went wrong. Frist, many lama who practicing Dorje Shugden their incarnation come back. If they praticing evil spirit , their incarnation should go to the three lowel realm. That strong prove that Dorje Shugden must be enlighten being, which we can trust and take refuge with. Not a evil spirit.

If Dalai Lama is Chenrezig emanation. How he can harm by spirit. This is not logical. Without knowing much Dorje Shugden background, we can’t simply said Dorje Shugden is bad without further checking.

I am glad my lama told me straight forward, if my motivation is to practice Dorje Shugden, he will welcome me as his student. If is just interested in politic, he will not accepting me as student. That show my lama is concern his student for the spiritual attaiment not involve all the samsaric politic. Thank for Pastor David sharing this wonderful article about Dorje Shugden.

Mingwen on Dec 19, 2018 at 8:54 am

The only way for people to decide/judge if the practice of Dorje Shugden is bad or good is to explore it instead of blindly accepting any comment from the others.

Personally, I do not have a relationship with H.H the Dalai Lama & I’ve received the teaching of Dorje Shugden from H.E Tsem Rinpoche. I’ve been practicing Dorje Shugden for 3 years and so far I can only experience positive results without any side effect.

I’m grateful to meet H.E Tsem Rinpoche & the great Dharma protector Dorje Shugden. Both of them help me to transform my life positively.

Justin Cheah on Dec 19, 2018 at 4:35 am

With due respect, even the claims of practising Dorje Shugden will harm Dalai Lama’s life seems very “ridiculous as we will Dalai Lama as Chenrezig and His Holiness can control His own death and do not suffer harm that way.

The fact that Dalai Lama have been doing this practice himself since he was raised in the monastery under the great tutelage of masters such as HH Trijang Rinpoche and I am sure it doesn’t take long for master himself The Dalai Lama to realise if he is doing a wrong / spirit practice.

And when all the previous High Lamas who practices Dorje Shugden returned as human form to continue the lineage is a good example of doing Dorje Shugden practice does not make you go down to three lower realms. The message sent across Tibetan Buddhism about the bad of doing Dorje Shugden is very harmful and misleading.

It has since caused families to break, friends became enemies, children or families engaging in Dorje Shugden do not get to access schools, hospitals etc which is unnecessary. It has become an issue to human rights now. The ban is very ennecesary and breaks Tibetan community apart.

As a matter of fact, Nechung the Protector His Holiness have been consulting is non enlightened as well and proven to have been giving incorrect advises and yet His Holiness is still relying all these years. Worse is when Dorje Shugden have been given the scapegoat tag to be blamed for CTA’s own failure to regain Tibet’s control despite clearly it wasn’t the case.

People have to understand these strong points before jumping into conclusion of Dorje Shugden is bad but the whole ban is illogical.

June Kang on Dec 19, 2018 at 12:42 am

400年前就已经有几百万人修持雄登法门至今。而尊者达赖声称多杰雄登是一个邪灵，那 400年以来几百位雄登法门利益众生的高僧大德全都错了吗？如果说多杰雄登是一个邪灵，至尊赤江仁波切、至尊帕绷喀仁波切、班禅喇嘛和数以千计的佛教大师们都修持多杰雄登护法也都破了皈依戒，我们再不能将他们视为合格的传承上师，也不能在修持他们所传授给我们的任何密续传承如金刚瑜伽母、胜乐金刚、大威德金刚等等，而且所有的密续传承都将变成无效，你认为逻辑呢？又如何解答有些大师乘愿而來再次的利益众生，逻辑又在哪？所有发生的事实都在证明多杰雄登是证悟护法，他既不是邪灵，也不是恶魔，相反的，他是文殊菩萨、智慧佛的化现，因此他是一位圆满证悟者。

Tek Lee on Dec 19, 2018 at 12:11 am

Dorje Shugden practice has been practiced by the high Lamas in the lineage for the past many years. How come in recent years only H.H The 14th Dalai Lama said it’s wrong to practice Dorje Shugden? If The Dalai Lama is right about this, so the whole lineage is wrong, including H.H The 14th Dalai Lama’s Guru, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche? This really doesn’t make sense. Just say H.H The Dalai Lama is the emanation of Chenrezig and this is the divine play among the Buddhas, where the Dalai Lama actually doesn’t get any bad karma by saying so. But the Dalai Lama’s followers and the government that the Dalai Lama set up, CTA (Central Tibetan Association) already imposed many kind of ridiculous ban on Dorje Shugden practice. They even set up law and rules that if they find out any Dorje Shugden practitioners, they’ll be penalized and discriminated. This statement by H.H The Dalai Lama really created a lot of conflict, controversy, discrimination and segregation. Maybe H.H The Dalai Lama didn’t mean that way when he said this, but he should do something to stop all the chaos that caused because of this statement.

Julia on Dec 18, 2018 at 11:57 pm

In this article had explained very clearly that those who abine in the ban and go along with HH Dalai Lama rather than keeping the samaya with the guru are those practicing the eight worldly concerns. They want to be Dalai Lams’s friend to look good, so that easier to get funds. They will be praised by the Dalai Lams and CTA. Their live are much comfortable then those who practicing Dorje Shugden.

Being sangha they broke their samaya, put down lineage gurus, wronged their lineage practice, discriminate their owm dharma brother and sisters. If what Dalai Lama said about Dorje Shugden is right, then why are those not practicing Dorje Shugden behaved like evil. Because they agree with Dalai Lama doesn’t mean you can swear to other lamas who are not.

Vivian Ong on Dec 18, 2018 at 11:35 pm

It was shocking to hear that Dalai Lama himself said that those practitioners for 300 years were wrong, the danger of this spirit worship can cause the Tibetan Buddhism to degenerate and there was also no harm being done on the Dorje Shugden practitioners. There are so many highly attained lamas who practices Dorje Shugden and their reincarnations have been coming back again and again to teach. If Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, how come these high lamas reincarnations come back? All these high lamas are keeping their guru devotion hence they still hold on to their Dorje Shugden practice which benefits them. Others must listen, check out and read up more before making illogical conclusions about Dorje Shugden.

pammie yap on Dec 18, 2018 at 10:31 pm

In any lineage, there has to be authentic and traceable valid source. Our Guru, H.E Tsem Rinpoche’s lineage came from pure untainted lineage of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche which is also the same lineage as HHDL. If people who don’t practice Dorje Shugden keeps saying that the lineage is wrong then whatever lineage that came down from those great masters are wrong too. How can that make sense? Then all the blessings, teachings and transmissions to HHDL and all of us will not have results because the lineage is wrong. But that is definitely not the case since anti Dorje Shugden and the CTA said that Dorje Shugden practice harm HHDL and our life. His Holiness is still healthy and alive so how does that make sense. Our practice has results and we are still practicing. Whatever the CTA is saying, clearly they are lies.

nicholas on Dec 18, 2018 at 10:12 pm

The reasoning that imposed by the Tibetan leadership on Dorje Shugden ban are totally illogical. How can the protector practice harm His Holiness if His Holiness is the emanation of the compassionate Buddha Chenrezig. And since we believe His Holiness is a high lama and also the emanation of Chenrezig why don’t His Holiness resolve the problem from the root which is to subdue Dorje Shugden instead of implementing the ban to created more suffering to the practitioners? Once Dorje Shugden is gone it prove that this protector is not an enlightened being and it also help the practitioners to see to true nature of him. But why until today only the practitioners that being tortured?

The only reason that can explain is that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened beings and there is no way to be subdued. Due to this the Tibetan leadership can only impose the unjust ban to the people.

Lin Mun on Dec 18, 2018 at 10:09 pm

There are just so many points to prove that the allegation towards Dorje Shugden is a spirit is wrong. Tibetan Buddhism stress on lineage, origins and transmission teaching from the lineage master. How can the lineage master such as Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche be wrong in giving Dorje Shugden practise. If it is so, then HH Dalai Lama would be wrong too since he follow the teaching from his Guru, HH Trijang Rinpoche.

If Dorje Shugden is indeed a spirit, then all the high lamas would have broken their vow and reborn in the lower realms. But many highly attained lamas reincarnate and continue to spread the dharma for example, HH Trijang Rinpoche, HH Zong Rinpoche and many more.

Therefore it is important for us to understand the ban and the real reason it is initiated by CTA , of which is driven by personal agenda.

Andrea Lai on Dec 18, 2018 at 10:08 pm

Dorje Shugden had been practiced by many high lamas for hundreds of years and these great erudite masters came back life after life. I found it illogical that practice Dorje Shugden will shorten DL life as he had been claimed, but surprisingly HH still staying very healthy until today. From my understanding of Buddhism, once we have take refuge from Guru, we have to follow what our Guru said. This is to show our loyalty and commitment to our Guru and nothing can change it, like being sealed. The purpose of us having a Guru is to guide, nurture our mind, transform to be better and eventually into full enlightenment.

Pastor Henry Ooi on Dec 18, 2018 at 9:44 pm

Since the Dalai Lama publicly said his teacher, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, is wrong, I read it as Trijang Rinpoche’s teachers are also wrong, their teachers are wrong too, going all the way back to Lama Tsongkhapa. Therefore because Trijang Rinpoche is wrong, hence all his students are also wrong, including the Dalai Lama. That would mean, the Gelug tradition is based on wrong teachings by and from wrong teachers. Surely the Dalai cannot claim he is right and would have a wave of followers and students attending his teachings. I wonder if this would be the beginning of a new lineage with support from none other than the Central Tibetan Administration. Just saying.

Pastor Shin Tan on Dec 9, 2018 at 9:10 pm

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

Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 27, 2018 at 7:54 am

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

Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 23, 2018 at 7:15 am

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

Pastor Adeline Woon on Sep 24, 2018 at 3:17 am

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

Joy Kam on Aug 13, 2018 at 1:53 am

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

Edward Ooi on Aug 10, 2018 at 8:30 am

For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 assistants of his mandala.

Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.

Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-

1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-

– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.

2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.

3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (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

Pastor Adeline Woon on Jul 25, 2018 at 3:07 am

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

Joy Kam on Jul 25, 2018 at 2:24 am

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

Joy Kam on Jul 21, 2018 at 1:48 pm

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.

Samfoonheei on May 23, 2018 at 8:11 pm

Dorje Shugden been practiced for 300 years by many great masters not until the ban instituted by the Tibetan Leadership (CTA.) Only now ,suddenly that Dorje Shugden is negative, harmful and will hurt HH Dalai Lama. Ridiculous ….to say that for four hundred years so many great lamas and practitioners were wrong in their practice. If Dalai Lama says all his Gurus were wrong, what make Dalai Lama right? HH Dalai Lama, has previously practiced Dorje Shugden and even wrote a praise to Dorje Shugden. How can it possible Dorje Shugden could have harmed him.
Our Guru Rinpoche has this practice bestowed by his root guru who practiced for his whole life. The ban of Dorje Shugden is illogical and should be lifted for the harmonious o the people. The Tibetan Leadership (CTA) has instituted this ban against Dorje Shugden for the last 20 years. Many families are torn apart and lamas ,monks and practitioners had to break away from their monasteries. Many has suffered discrimination and segregation due to that. The Tibetan leaders should have a peaceful dialogue to resolve this issue once for all. May HH Dalai Lama please lift the ban.
Thanks Rinpoche and Pastor David Lai for such an informative article for us to understand more on Dorje Shugden’s ban.

Valentina Suhendra on Oct 22, 2017 at 11:33 pm

Great message every Tibetan especially must read!

MartinC on Feb 9, 2017 at 5:00 am

This comment by Suzy posted on Tsem Rinpoche’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-4lIwxph4&t=11s) speaks volumes of how the public is beginning to look beyond false rhetoric to see the goodness of this very important deity. Suzy confessed that she tried to avoid recognizing the beauty of the Shugden practice due I guess to old loyalties but the truth cannot be buried forever. Have a read.

Anne Ong on Nov 4, 2016 at 3:31 pm

Thank you Pastor David for sharing your thoughts so patiently to explain the reasons for the ban on Dorje Shugden.
I heard that HHDL is promoting DS from banning dorje shugden practice since beginning,on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GRrTKbmkSg
I don’t believe that Dorje Shugden is harmful and can shorten the Dalai Lama’s life,otherwise the Dalai Lama won’t be still alive and kicking. Afterall,it was “ the Panglung oracle who took trance of Dorje Shugden at the request of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche during the final hours and gave the instructions that he should leave Tibet immediately. Therefore, Dorje Shugden saved the Dalai Lama’s life and that means that he had safeguarded the hopes of the Tibetan cause.”
As for myself, I prefer to stick to Guru devotion and listen to my Guru’s advice all the way . Stick to one Guru and only one advice. And politics is not my cup of coffee. 🙂
Thank you Pastor David for this interesting and informative post and I hope that the ban will come down soon.

Joy Kam on Oct 14, 2016 at 1:22 pm

Oh definitely it is 100% for their profits and benefit… what else could it possibly be? Why on earth would you cause “division” in your own people, which is already divided and so few, if you have nothing to gain from it?

Let’s not even talk about spiritually keeping pure to the practice of Buddhism that does not allow spirit worshipping because then what about Bon and Nechung (or maybe not Nechung/Nyatrul see>>> https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-spirit-nyatrul-magic-mischief-and-misery.html)? Isn’t that spirit worshipping and isn’t that even worst seeking “help” and advice from a spirit? AND if the Tibetan Leadership claims that Nechung has been bound by Guru Rinpoche, then why can’t they just simply bind Dorje Shugden? You mean Dorje Shugden is such a powerful evil spirit, even more powerful than all the Buddhas and Boddhisattvas and Dalai Lama? Whatever the silly excuses and illogical reasoning, anyone who can think will right through it all.

Wan Wai Meng on Oct 8, 2016 at 11:17 pm

Samaya is not something that can be bought or sold or replaced like one going to 7-11. Samaya to our teacher is of paramount importance, once the guru student relationship has been sealed. To give up a practice, because it would be uncool or disadvantageous to upkeep would not be beneficial at all.

If Ra Lotsawa had given up on Yamantaka practice because people say no Buddha can be in a form of a Bull head, then by today the Yamantaka practices would not exist for today’s practitioners. As we can tell from lore or teachings, Yamantaka practitioners realised ones, are not only powerful, they bring a lot of benefit to sentient beings. If Ra Lotsawa had given into popular opinion then, the Gelug tradition would have been bereft of this practice. Je Tsongkhapa the master scholar,was a Yamantaka practitioner too . with practice and realisations, the Yamantaka practice was further validated by Je Tsongkhapa who is one with Manjushri also.

Tsem Rinpoche on Sep 15, 2016 at 3:24 am

Trode Khangsar Chapel in Lhasa, Tibet

Over 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

__________________________________

The 5th Dalai Lama’s Prayer to 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 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

Pavara Lam on Sep 11, 2016 at 10:06 pm

How can hundreds and thousands of monks worship a false deity/demon for 300 years without noticing? Surely if Dorje Shugden was a demon some high lama’s would have subdued him… But the weirdest thing is that those who practiced Dorje Shugden always got their wishes granted.
So my point is how can a demon fool hundreds of high lamas without getting caught? If the CTA wants to make a ban they should at least use a real reason and not some false rumours from nowhere.

Thank you Pastor David for this interesting and informative post and I hope that the ban will come down soon.

Kb Thapa on Aug 24, 2016 at 3:11 am

केहि जनकारी दोर्जे स्युगदेन बारेमा।
16औ शताब्दी तिर को कथा हो, जुन बेला दालाई लामा ज्यू 5औ औतर थियो त्यो बेलाको ईतिहस नै विवादित छ। र अहिले सन्दर्भ दोर्जे स्युगदेन कहिले उत्पन्न भयो भन्दा त्यहि 16औ शताब्दीमा पाचौ दालाई लामा को बेला देखि उत्पन्न भएको हो। ईतिहसको भनाइ मा त्यो बेला डक्पा ग्याल्छेन भन्ने गेलुक सम्प्रदाय को विद्धन भिक्षु थियो, त्योत्यो भिक्षु र दालाई लामा बिच सम्बन्ध ठीक नरहेको एक इतिहासको भनाई छ। ठीक बेठिक ईतिहस नै विवादित देखिन्छ। तर त्यो भिक्षु केहि कराण मर्‍यो र मरे पछि भूत भयो भनेर दालाई लामा ले अनेक किसिमको पुजा ध्यान गरे पनि केहि हुन सकेन तसर्थ गेलुगपाको सुङमा बन्ने जागृत भईसकेको अवस्था थियो तर गेलुग कुनै पनि रिन्पोछे हरुले वास्ता नगरे पछि सक्याको गुम्बा मा पुगि सक्या कुङगा ग्याल्छेन समु प्रस्थान गरि धेरै जााचबुझ गरि कुङ्गा ग्याल्छेन ले एउटा शक्ति शाली दोर्जे उठाउन लगायो त्यो दोर्जेलाई एक हातले उचाले पछि उसको नाम नै दोर्जे स्युगदेन अर्थात दोर्जे बलवान नामकरण गरेर विधिअनुसार सुङमा बनाएको हो। त्यसैले ईतिहासमा दोर्जे स्युगदेन र सक्यापाको सम्बन्ध रहेको पुष्टि छ।
तसर्थ पाचौ दालाई लामा ले विबिध पुजा गरे पनि केहि गर्न नसके पछि दोर्जे स्युगदेनको चरित्र हत्या गराउने उद्देश्यले:
དམ་མིན་དམ་བརྫུ་གྲགས་པ་རྒྱལ་མཚན་ཞེས།།
སྨོན་ལམ་ལོག་པའི་དམ་སྲི་འབྱུང་པོ་འདིས།།
བསྟན་དང་འགྲོ་བ་ཀུན་ལ་འཚེ་བྱེད་ན།།
མགོན་སྐྱབས་དཔུང་གཉེན་མ་མཛད་ཐལ་བར་རློགས།།
अर्थात:
स्रेष्ठ होईन स्रेष्ठ झै डाक्पा ग्याल्छेन भन्ने।
मिथ्या प्रार्थी भूतप्रेत रुपिले। धर्म र प्राणी सबैलाई अपघात हिंसा गरिन्छ।
शरणमा जाने नगर धुलो झै हराउने गर।
भन्ने चरित्र हत्या गर्ने प्रवचन दिनु भएको थियो, तर चरित्र हत्या होईन अर्ति-उपदेश भन्ने.गरिन्छ तर आज यहि कुरा ले दोर्जे स्युगदेन को हेतु मिथ्या प्रार्थना, भुतप्रेतको स्वभाव , सर्व प्राणीलाई हिंसा गरिने क्रिया भनेर प्रचार प्रसार गरिरहेको छ।
तर दोर्जे स्युगदेन यस्तो केहि होईन दोर्जे स्युगदेन गेलुक्पाको सुङमा हो। कुल देवता हो। दालाई लामा ज्यू ले पाचौ औतरमा जे भने त्यो पाचौ औतर कै अन्त तिर दोर्जे स्युगदेन सुङमा हो रहेछ मैले गल्ती गरेछन्, प्रायश्चित स्वरुप उहाले दोर्जे स्युगदेन लाई सोलदेव हरु रचना गरिएको प्रमाण अहिले पनि छ। र विशेष गरि स्वयम्भु भगवान पाँउ छेउमा फेल्गेलिङ गुम्बा भित्र पाचौ दालाई लामा आफ्नै हस्ताक्षर भएको दोर्जे स्युगदेनको मुर्ति अझैं हाम्रो आखाले देख्न सकिने प्रमाण पनि छ।
दालाई लामाको 14औ औतर 1933 मा जन्म भएको हो र उहाँले पनि सानै देखि 1978 सम्म दोर्जे स्युगदेन मान्दै आएको हो तर 1978 पछि राजनीतिक लेनदेनजस्ता गतिविधि हो या अन्य कारण हो।
यो औतर मै लखभख 50 वर्ष जति मान्दै आएको दोर्जे स्युगदेन लाई परित्याग मात्रै होईन प्रतिबन्ध गरिने कदम चलाउनु भयो। धेरै कडा कदम चालायो तर बिडम्बना सफल भएन र यो विषयले राजनितिक करण हुन पुगेको छ त्यसैले विदेशमा नारा बाजी हुदै छ भईरहेको छ। अब दोर्जे स्युगदेन दालाई लामाले भने जस्तो भुतप्रेत केहि होईन , दालाई लामा को मह गुरु क्याव्जे ठिज्याङ रिन्पोछे ले धेरै प्रवचन र कृति हरु रचना गरेको छ।
दालाई लामा को गुरु ले ।
དྲེགས་པའི་ཡང་རྗེ་རྡོ་རྗེ་གྲགས་ལྡན་གྱིས།།
དགེ་ལྡན་ཐུན་མོང་མིན་པའི་བསྟན་སྲུང་སྐུར།།
བཞེངས་ཞེས་ཐུགས་དམ་ཡང་ཡང་བསྐུལ་བ་ན།།
སྙིང་སྟོབས་དྲག་པོའི་ཐུགས་བསྐྱེད་མཛད་ལ་བསྟོད།།
यसको पुरा कहानी साथ व्याख्यामा
चोङखापाको शिष्या दुलजिन डक्पा ग्यल्छेन नै दोर्जे स्युगदेन बनेर सुङमा भएको हो भनेर भन्नु भएको छ।
हुन त यो दोर्जे स्युगदेन 16 औ शताब्दीमा उत्पन्न भएको हो र विवादित ईतिहास भएको हुदा आज २१औ शताब्दी सम्म पनि विवाद नै देखियो, र धेरै सम्प्रदाय को गुरुहरूले दालाई लामा को आज्ञकारी स्वरुप प्रतिबन्ध र निषेध गरिएको हो। तर ईतिहासमा सक्यापा र गेलु्कपाको सद् गुरु हरुले मानेका इतिहाँस साझी छ र अहिले कसैले प्रतिबन्ध गरिरहेका छन् भने अझै धेरै गेलुक्पाको सद् गुरुहरुले मानीरहेको छ। मान्ने गुम्बा भारत, नेपाल विशेष गरि तिब्बतमा धेरै संख्यामा रहेको छ। अब ईतिहस के कस्तो भन्ने तर्क गर्नु र स्युगदेन यो त्यो भन्नु सबै आ-आफ्नो गुरुलाई विश्वास मा लिएको वास्तविक भएको कारण यसलाई तर्क वितर्क गरि विवाद बढाउने र प्रतिबन्ध र निषेधित कदम चाल्नु यसको परिणाम ले कसैको हित हुने छैन। त्यसैले दुईहात जोडी विनम्र साथ यो विवादित विषय चर्काउनु भन्दा मौन राखी स्वतन्त्रता साथ शान्ति सद्भाव तिर विचार गर्नु नै हामी सबैको हितमा हुने छ। यहि अपिल प्रकट गर्दा छु।
हेर्नुस् कति सद्भाव छ, कति शान्ति छ। तपाई नमाने नमान्नु तर हामी मान्नेलाई त मान्न दिनु पर्यो नि, किन हामीलाई स्वतन्त्रता छैन? ? हाम्रो स्वतन्त्रता लाई निषेध गरिने? ? कस्तो बिडम्बना ।

Pastor KH Ng on Jul 29, 2016 at 11:30 pm

Integrity……in spite of all obstacles!

It is not easy sometimes and in this case to have the whole “country” and its leaders against what one has promised the Guru; it certainly difficult to uphold this promise; the promise of Dorje Shugden that ones’ Guru has given us.
The way I see it, upholding the promises to anyone; not to mention, ones’ Guru’s are the key values of being human. If we break one promise,especially to ones’ Guru, what is there to stop us from breaking another and another…?

Sometimes I think H.H. the Dalai Lama is just testing us. But I am not a Tibetan or a student of His Holiness and I do not need to follow his ban. They are others in my community who bash us for following our promise to our Guru. This is however, minor compared to what Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners, especially those in exiled faced every day. And I feel, the ban and the resulting discriminations contradict the basic teaching of Buddhism itself; which is freedom and compassion.

Shane Jayasuriya on Jun 19, 2016 at 7:26 pm

Dear pastor David, thank you for the article, Its clear that HHDL telling 300 years all masters are wrong about Dorje Shugden.. I hear and read that HHDL is promoting DS from banning dorje shugden practice since beginning. if its true, some may suffering to benefits countless beings in future of this world since ban first came to place. Its is good ban come to end soon and HHDL say he was wrong, because I think now DS practice is more popular than before the ban. Hope all this over soon. _/\_

gary foo on Jun 13, 2016 at 12:38 am

Hi Pastor David, thank you for that informative article. In fact I was having a dialogue with a loyalist of HH The Dalai Lama which the part about him being loyal to his Guru is a good thing. But what worries me most or greatly is the part where you also mention about the video where HH Dalai Lama undermines is own guru the HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who was HH junior tutor.
The extract I got from the http://www.dalailama.com on the topic of Dorje Shugden has quotes “…Similarly, with regard to Trijang Rinpoche, I don’t believe his behaviour in relation to Gyalchen was correct. I don’t visualise it as divine activity…….But the fact that I have faith in him doesn’t mean that I should have faith in everything that he did”
Now of course I am super concerned that came the Dalai Lama. Why? Because if thats true, its like, forgive me for saying this, throwing the 50 verses of Guru Devotion out the window. This 50 verses By Ashvagosha is like one of our main guides to enlightenment by full reliance on our Guru.
In addition HH sets a dangerous precedent. How many percentage of HH Trijang Rinpoce teaching does he not fully believe in? 10%? 20%? Why not make it 40% or even 70% and tadaa.. we suddenly become much more smarter than our Guru. Likewise wont his own followers than say the same thing about him (for those who take HH as their on personal Guru) e.g. the Dalai Lamas own disciple may say : ” .Although I have 100% faith in the dalai lama, it doesnt mean I have faith in everything he did.”..and there goes the fundamentals of Vajrayana…
Truly sad..I really hope those with some sense of logic and basics will study a bit what this actually means if they wish to walk the path of Vajrayana…
It is ridiculous to say I trust 100% in the great Pabongka Rinpoche but not everything he said I have faith in??????
Peace be to all.

CindyH on Jun 11, 2016 at 12:32 am

Navigating through the barrage of information on the Dorje Shugden from both sides is not easy and thus thank you for such a concise analysis of the matter in question. Undeniably, the Dorje Shugden ban has put many Dorje Shugden practitioners on the spot. Basically, for those Shugden practitioners who have received teachings and empowerments from the Dalai Lama and another teacher who is Shugden practitioner, the ban drives them unnecessarily into breaking samaya with one guru or another. For those who do not have any spiritual bond with the Dalai Lama but instead have sworn oaths to their respective Gurus who gave them the Dorje Shugden practice, the ban forces these practitioners to stumble in their practice and create serious negative karmas should they opt to adhere to the Dalai Lama’s ban and break their promise to their respective Gurus. Taking into account the above as well as considering that the reasons given to justify the ban failed to justify the ban and instead brings into question the authenticity of the entire Gelug lineage should one adopts such line of argument for the ban, it really doesn’t make sense for the ban to be in place. May this illogical ban on Dorje Shugden practice be lifted as soon as possible.

Doreen Teoh on Jun 10, 2016 at 11:38 pm

All information and facts that is stated in this blog has stated that the authenticity/lineage of teachings and Guru Samaya is the foundation of the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. As such, every students and disciples has to decide on which path that they are on, or their motivation of learning the dharma. If we, disciples study the dharma well and understands, it will be quite obvious/clear on what path that we should be taking. Doing research, ask questions and have an open mind is what we can do, as vast information and facts can be obtained thru social media and worldwide web.

it is not the sides or the flag that we have to pick when we are in dharma, as ultimately is what do we want to achieve when we learn the dharma.

Pastor KH Ng on Jun 5, 2016 at 3:58 pm

Thank You Pastor David for this very concise summary of the reasons for the ban and the reasons if those supporting and those not following the ban.
The ban has certainly been detrimental to practitioners of the Protector Dorje Shugden, as the practice has been given by their root Guru and in Dharma Practice, our direct blessings and connections to the lineage Lamas and Buddha Shakyamuni and ultimately the Dharma Jewel is through our Guru. Hence, if we rescind on our promise and samaya with our Guru, then the entire practice of Dharma is corrupted; like a drop of ink in a glass of nourishing milk. That glass can still be predominantly milk but it is corrupted.
Hence, in choosing between the Dalai Lama’s ban and our root Guru’s blessing there can be no choice but to choose the Guru, no matter how high or low our Guru’s “level”. This is the fundamental practice as stated in the Lamrim as all other attainments stems from this.

Li Kheng on May 30, 2016 at 2:04 pm

Thank you Pastor David for sharing your thoughts so patiently to explain the reasons for the ban on Dorje Shugden. Upon reflection on religious and political matters beyond the Dorje Shugden issue, these seem to be the same reasons why His Holiness is able to impose his influence in other sects of the Vajrayana school. Some students of other sects opine that the Dalai Lama uses the excuse for “unity” to gain control over other sects of Vajrayana Buddhism. This view is supported by results and consequences because not only did unity not arise from the Dalai Lama and Tibetan leadership policies and governance. Some examples include the fight over Rumtek Monastery whereby the involvement of the Dalai Lama in the confirmation of the Karma Kagyu head created division, disharmony and outbreak of distrust, violence and hatred.

The Tibetan leadership is expanding its scope of influence and control beyond the religious realm as it influence citizens of Nepal and India to ignite hatred, anger and retaliation against China. This is very dangerous for the overall welfare of the entire nation as China rise to become a world super power with unquestionable politcial and economical influence. The CTA also encourage local Vajrayana Buddhist centers in Singapore and Malaysia to go against government policies that intend to uphold respect for diversity in religion and freedom to religion and speech. Additionally, CTA’s propaganda and praises to religious intolerance and insult to China also threaten the efforts Malaysian leaders are making with Chinese authorities.

This is very wrong on both spiritual and secular angles. I hope more people will become clear about this through powerful information as provided here.

Candice Loke on May 29, 2016 at 1:48 am

Thank you Pastor David Lai for this concise analysis on controversy surrounding the Dorje Shugden ban.
By highlighting the most essential fundamental on Tibetan Buddhism – guru devotion, practitioners shall be able to comprehend and examine the validity on Shugden ban, which in itself is illogical and invalid – by agreeing to HHDL’s allegation on Shugden – a devil or spirit, it would also mean the invalidity on the teachings given by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche to HHDL since Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was a steadfast Shugden practitioner. Also, If all the teachings were made invalid, should practitioners even listen to HHDL’s teachings since he was taught by “spirit practitioner”?! At a larger picture, that would mean that the Gelug lineage or even Sakya lineage who was first adopted Shugden practice, all their lineage teachings would also be made invalid since there were so many erudite masters who in the past had been practicing Shugden, were they all wrong, were they all propitiating spirit? Certainly not.
It is indeed saddening that after 20 long years, the ban is still very much enforced, and that HHDL as seen on the video was blatantly denying the existence of true sufferings experienced amongst practitioners by this illogical ban.
Please to Your Holiness, there have been so much of sufferings, there were so much blood and tears, all these would not end if the ban is not lifted. I believe you are a manifestation of GuanYin, with your great love and compassion, please lift the ban, give Sudden practitioners freedom to practice _/\_

Sincerely yours,
Candice Loke

Fong on May 25, 2016 at 5:16 pm

Thank you, Pastor David for very simple, concise and to the point article.

Cherry picking is detrimental to our practice as with time we will only choose what we are comfortable with instead of following the right teaching which may make us uncomfortable. If Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche can be wrong with regards to Dorje Shugden, then the Dalai Lama being the student would have received wrong teachings as well. So, how are we to know which of Dalai Lama’s teachings are right and which is wrong?

If I give simply up my practice which is given to me by my Guru because anothr petdon as me to, i would be breaking my samaya with my Guru. That creates a lot of negative karma, enough to propel me to lower realms. If a lama is compassionate and has Bodhicitta, he would not wish that for anyone.

“There to receive and keep such practices, one must have complete faith in the source, and the method in which it was received, by than i mean through a series of lineage lamas, and ultimately our own Guru.” So, how can I “afford” to break my samaya with my Guru? So how can I put faith in some one who cherry picks and cast doubts on the authenticity of the teachings?

Vivian Ong on May 25, 2016 at 4:16 pm

Thank you Pastor David for this write up. I was shocked to hear that Dalai Lama himself said that those practitioners for 300 years were wrong, the danger of this spirit worship can cause the Tibetan Buddhism to degenerate and there was also no harm being done on the Dorje Shugden practitioners. If so, why is there segregation between DS practitioners and non-DS practitioners? Why DS practitioners are not allowed to go to certain schools or hospitals? I hope the non-DS practitioners can see the differences. PLEASE STOP harming DS practitioners as they did nothing to harm the non-DS practitioners. Don’t talk about kindness, caring and compassion if DS practitioners still get hurt and all the rude comments being thrown onto them.

Pastor Niral Patel on May 24, 2016 at 9:29 pm

In this article Pastor David has really reiterated one of the fundamental practices within Tibetan Buddhism and that is Guru devotion, without which we cannot receive the blessings of the enlightened beings. When i first came across such statements, i could not understand why this would be the case, given the compassionate nature of the Buddhas. Surely they would help us even if we didn’t practice Guru devotion? And yes they can do.

However, if we look at the practices as they exist, the blessings and energies of the enlightened beings are carried through the transmission of the teachings and practices from one generation of spiritual practitioners to the next. There to receive and keep such practices, one must have complete faith in the source, and the method in which it was received, by than i mean through a series of lineage lamas, and ultimately our own Guru.

Given the ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden, the two options that Pastor David describes above are the only logical options available. If one does not practice Dorje Shugden, than that is fine from the outset. However there is no need to denounce those that do practice, from the greatest of lamas living now, to the lowest of practitioners. In the case of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, when criticizing his own teacher, wouldn’t this inadvertently discredit his own authority as a spiritual teacher since the reason he is held in such high regard is because of the teachings he holds. If these teachings were passed to him from a source that was not immaculate, couldn’t people argue that the teachings themselves were not pure? This is just my thinking.

Ai Nin on May 24, 2016 at 4:17 pm

Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this post.
很伤心是竟然修持多杰雄登被排斥与骚扰。试想一想如果你不是雄登修持者而您、家人、同修现有的宗教大师出禁令说现有修持法是邪靈，会威脋大师的性命。您会去了解事情的来胧去脈或只一一跟随!

更伤心的是竟然有些限随达赖尊者，支持雄登禁令只是表面而已！那只是為了某种名誉或金錢利益。就只因跟随达赖喇嘛尊者，從中容易筹集资金。这样做不是更加破坏与上师之间三昧耶吗?

一位金剛弟子不会做出以下:
1. 違反上师依止心
2. 破坏传承，自造与推翻所有上师的灌顶，上师传授的口传等等
3. 分上师的高低级，由因他只是一位格西就离开或很高级的上师就跟從
4. 破坏弟子与上师三昧耶

我们都相信达赖喇嘛尊者不是也不会做出一上动作!

我们真诚希望马上解除这不该有的多杰雄登禁令！

- wooishen on May 24, 2016 at 6:59 pm
  
  less people will go and find out the answer…
  It mean HHDL follower more are concern money and “Benefit”???
  
pat ng on May 24, 2016 at 3:45 pm

1 Dorje Shugden is not a harmful spirit because he is an emanation of Manjushri however Dalai Lama proclaimed that he is a evil spirit means that all Lamas and Geshes of the Gelug Lineage eg. Pabongka Rinpoche & Trijang Rinpoche practice are invalid and have broken all their vows and commitments .

2.Allegations that anyone practicing Dorje Shugden will shorten Dalai Lamas life seems illogical because it is only very heavy broken samaya by a student that will cause his/her lama to have a shorter life. we cannot be forced to stop our practice .We can only give up our practice with permission from our guru or else we will have to hold it forever.

3.Dorje Shugden is not harmful he have helped Dalai Lama in his great escape.That shows he has compassion and not evil.

4.Many practitioners who gave up Dorje Shugden practice or support the ban do not have the right motivation & easily swayed away for own benefits eg.reputation,monetary gain,power,politics and fame

5.Dorje shugden practitioner most importantly is Devotion to our Guru and maintaining good samaya. It’ s our Guru who gave us the teaching to help us gain attainment s and enlightenment.No other Guru have the right to stop us from practicing Dorje Shugden .

Everyone should have the freedom to choose their own Guru and Protector for their spiritual path.

Please lift the ban asap.

Thank you
Patng

Pastor Gim Lee on May 24, 2016 at 3:40 pm

This article spelled it out very clearly that the underlying reasons for those upholding the ban on Dorje Shugden practice are politically motivated and for personal gains.

First of all, despite the denial from the HH the 14th Dalai Lama’s side and from the Tibetans Leadership, there is definitely a ban on Dorje Shugden practice. There are overwhelming proofs of the ban and the violent acts against Dorje Shugden practitioners arisen from this ban.
( https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/the-dalai-lama-speaks-clearly-about-the-dorje-shugden-ban.html )

Furthermore, the reasons given for imposing this controversial ban is totally unjustifiable and illogical.

HH the Dalai Lama claimed that the nature of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden is a harmful spirit.
If it is so, why the Dalai Lama and other great masters could not subdue this “spirit” considering they are the masters of powerful Tantric rituals? And, if Buddha has no power to subdue an evil spirit, then why do we take refuge in the Buddha at all?

If the Dalai Lama was right to claim that his own tutor, HH Trijang Rinpoche, was wrong (as per his television interview here), then every other teachings, transmissions and practice he received from Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, could be wrong as well…

And, if Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (the tutor) was wrong, then the Dalai Lama himself can be wrong too because he received many teachings, initiations from his tutor.

If all the Dharma teachings, initiations HH Dalai Lama received are wrong, he will not have real attainment and so he can be wrong on the nature of Dorje Shugden as a spirit. As such, why then do we follow HH the Dalai Lama’s “advice” to abandon Dorje Shugden practice?

Dorje Shugden is being practiced by the great Gelug lineage masters such as Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who asserted that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, an enlightened Buddha.

If these great lamas, whose Dharma teachings, initiations and transmissions form the very foundation of Gelugpa education are wrong, then we are saying almost the entire Gelug lineage teachings are wrong… who is not wrong then?

The other reason given to justify the ban was that worshiping Dorje Shugden can shorten HH Dalai Lama’s life and hence harm the Tibetan cause.

The lineage masters are considered the emanations of Buddhas, and HH Dalai Lama himself is emanation of Chenresig, based on this logic, their lives cannot be shortened by a mere spirit. Hence, this justification to impose the ban on these reasons is unfounded.

As mentioned in the article, those upholding the ban surely can see through the faults of all the reasons given for the ban, and yet they still chose to abandon the practice they received from their own Lamas. They are consciously breaking their own samaya with their Lamas to go along with HH Dalai Lama and Tibetans Leadership.
The most obvious reason for this action is they put priority on getting in the good book of HH Dalai Lama and the in the eyes of the Tibetans public. From there, getting the worldly ‘gains’ in the expense of their spiritual growth.

The ban on Dorje Shugden is bringing out the worse side and the best side of Gelug practitioners as well as all the Buddhist community around the world.

We can see many Buddhist communities and organisations have to compromise their compassionate practice to go along with the “main stream” and with those holding the political power to disallow Dorje Shugden practitioners from attending their public Dharma teachings and events.

This is very sad indeed. In this degenerate age, even people in spiritual community willingly trade their spiritual practice and advancement for the sake of worldly gains. This ban on Dorje Shugden practice should be lifted as soon as possible in order for the real Dharma to grow.

No more politics please,
PGL _/\_

Cecilia Goh on May 24, 2016 at 3:21 pm

After practicing Dorje Shugden for 400 years the Dalai Lama proclaimed that Dorje Shugden is a spirit and imposed a ban on the practice. Kyabe Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabe Trijang Rinpoche teachings were practiced by practioners for years and proven to be authentic. If the statements made by Dalai Lama were correct it implies that our masters , gurus has broken their refuge commitments due to the practice. Further more Dalai Lama claimed the practice shorten the life span of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan cause. Its so illogical and absurb. It is traditional belief that the life span of the lama is determine by the samaya and or spiritual bond between the teacher and students. On the contrary Dorje
Shugden on two occasions save the life of Dalai Lama and in return he have safeguard the hopes of the Tibetan cause.

The followers of the Dalai Lama have taken the Dorje Shugden on face value and basically ignore the contradictions and dire spiritual implications of the ban itself.The Dalai Lama being the highest ranking definetely outranks any high lama. There is no high ranking in our practice. The rank of the Dalai Lama is in no position to sway the decision of the Dorje Shugden practioner as to uphold the samaya one has with the lama is of paramount importance

If one seems to be associated with the Dalai Lama it would make it easier to raise funds for their organisation, politically , fame or personL agenda.

On the other hand those who choose to practice Dorje Shugden will be harassed for their spiritual conviction. I will honour my samaya and continue my practice given by my guru.
Thank you

Regards
Cecilia Goh

LilynTan on May 24, 2016 at 3:20 pm

Dear Pastor David,

Thank you for the informative article and found that the Dorje Shugden’s ban has caused a lot of damages and misleading facts which I would like to point out:

1.Sabotage hundred years old of authentic lineage which was taught by the great lineage masters such as Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche,
who forms the Gelugpa education and declare Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri.

2.Downplay the refuge vows and commitment hold by the Great Masters.

3.High lama’s lifespan is determined by the samaya or spiritual bond between the Guru and his /her student. The causes for lama to have a shorter life is due to heavy broken samaya created by the student. It’s illogical to say that practicing Dorje Shugden can shorten his life.

4.Why would Dorje Shugden help Dalai Lama to escape Tibet safely, if Dorje Shugden is a Spirit and intent to harm him?

5.Base on the 50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha, if we cannot engage in Dorje Shugden practice because we choose to abide by the ban, we must return to our Guru who had given us this practice and seek permission to give up our practice. If our Guru no long alive, we are bound for LIFE . H.H Dalai Lama cannot override this.

It is very disappointing to see H.H Dalai Lama continues to preach religious harmony but not showing compassion towards Dorje Shugden practitioners. All that is needed is the Dalai Lama to lift the ban on Dorje Shugden.

Ai Nin on May 24, 2016 at 3:12 pm

Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David.

很伤心的是修持多杰雄登竟然要遭受排斥和骚扰他们的靈修信念! 试想一想,如果您个人信念与修持遭某某各宗教大师说您目前的修持是邪靈，你会随意就放棄吗？您会尝试去了解事情的来胧去脈, 为何我，家人，同修的宗教大师如此出禁令这修持法,而不是因为他或她是大师而隨意听從。

更难过的是以上所说的那些跟随达赖尊者的背后意义並不是真正修上师依止心，不是真正持眅依戒, 那只是为了名誉或金錢的利益。也以此理由可能表面跟随达赖尊者以避开那些排斥和现有的修持多杰雄登修持者面对的骚扰。他们以支持达赖喇嘛提高个人或团体的信誉以筹集更多的
资金。如此不是更加破坏了弟子与上师的三味耶吗？

一个真正的金剛弟子是不会:
1. 破坏与上师的三昧耶 ~ 上师依止心
2. 分其上师高低级
3. 随意放棄上师传授的修持与教诲
3. 自造传承，推翻上师的灌顶、口传、所有大师的传承

我相信达赖尊者不会、不可能做出以上动作!
亲爱的反多杰雄登修持者,您们認为呢？

我们真诚希望多杰雄登禁令马上解除！

Pastor Yek Yee(月谊讲法师) on May 24, 2016 at 2:43 pm

Honestly a lot of question mark from my side, first, If Dorje Shugden is spirit or demon then what can we explained about this: Lord Dorje Shugden was being proven as emanation of Lord Manjushri or Wisdom Buddha, if we followed whatever HH Dalai Lama said about that Dorje Shugden is spirit then mean Manjushri emanation is fake or Buddha Shakyamuni is wrong too? Why I have this kind of doubt? The reason is what I knew is Lord Manjushri is Buddha Shakyamuni’s disciple at Buddha time…

Shall I request one of HHDL student give me a proper answer about this? I think when this kind of comment (Dorje Shugden is spirit…) come out, from HHDL side should have someone can answer the public like me…because it is disturbing my mind a lot honestly.

Because if Dorje Shugden is spirit, also indirectly tell many of us that many all high lamas or masters such as Kyabje Trijiang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche are wrong, whatever they are teach is wrong? Sounds like HHDL turn over the whole Gelug lineage? Another point make me feel uncomfortable is why we only can follow DL instruction even need to obey our own Guru? From what I learn from my Guru H.E.The 25th Tsem Rinpoche, we should follow whatever our Guru teaches us especially it is about our spiritual path. However what I understand from DL teaching is we can disobey our own Guru instruction? I have a lot of doubt about this…as a Buddhist I cannot accept it because I feel it is unethical…

And my Guru is so kind to me, Rinpoche teaches me a lot, how can I disobey my Guru? I respected HHDL very much, I love to read His Holiness’s book and read quite a lot…but come to this point I am very struggling and confuse…I request again one of HHDL representative should be come out and explain to us, why HHDL said like this?

Pastor Tat Ming on May 24, 2016 at 2:38 pm

The key points from this post are as follows:

1. Dalai Lama has numerous times stated that Dorje Shugden is a harmful spirit. To accept this allegation, we must dismiss the Gelug Tradition’s assertion that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri. By saying his teacher is wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden, Dalai Lama is challenging the very basis of the Gelug Tradition’s teachings which is transmitted from an authentic teacher to a disciple. If Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is wrong, it is likely every other teaching, transmission and practice transmitted by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche could be wrong too.

2. Many current lamas have received teachings, initiations and transmissions from great lineage masters like Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. By claiming that Dorje Shugden is a spirit, these great lineage masters would have broken their refuge vows as they had taken refuge in a spirit. Any higher vows, higher practices and teachings of these lineage masters transmitted will effectively be invalidated and the Gelug lineage undermined.

3. Dalai Lama said Dorje Shugden practice shortens His life and when we practise Dorje Shugden, we endanger our samaya with Him. How could the practice that had been practised for centuries by many practitioners suddenly become the cause of broken samayas with Dalai Lama?

4. Dorje Shugden had helped to protect Dalai Lama’s life by forming the Chushi Gangdruk band Khampa warriors who later escorted Dalai Lama out of Tibet to safety. Secondly, it was also Dorje Shugden who had advised Dalai Lama to leave Tibet immediately. Therefore Dorje Shugden had safeguarded the hopes the Tibetan cause instead of destroying it.

5. A disciple will break his samaya with his current guru if he abandoned Dorje Shugden to comply with Dalai Lama’s instruction. The disciple’s samaya is not with Dalai Lama but with his current teacher. Permission from his current teacher is needed if one gave up his practice. If the teacher is no longer alive, the commitment to Dorje Shugden practice is for life and the disciple cannot simply abandon the practice.

6. Many practitioners who chose to abandon the Dorje Shugden practice despite knowing that they would break samayas with their gurus, are doing it for reputation, political agenda or monetary gain through their associations with Dalai Lama.

7. For those who maintain their commitment to their lamas and Dorje Shugden, though they would suffer the implications of going against Dalai Lama, their commitment to Dorje Shugden practice will lead them to spiritual attainment eventually.

To conclude, one should maintain one’s samaya and commitment to one’s lama who gave him or her the Dorje Shugden practice. Does it justify one’s action to jeopardize one’s spiritual practice to abandon Dorje Shugden when the reasons for the unethical ban are illogical?

Yoke Chim Yap on May 24, 2016 at 2:25 pm

在这篇文章中，我们可以了解到整个事情的真象．在「多杰雄登」禁令这件事上，充满了茅盾，不合理以及混浠了众人的视綫．为何这么说呢？

1) 所有藏傳佛教都源之於傅统的傳承，都有各自的上师,包括达赖法王自已，更何况他也是格鲁派的傳承者之一。如果说这个修持是錯的话，那他自己等於否定了他上师，他自己也是错的，何能服众？

2) 如依法王所说，「多杰雄登」是邪灵，那之前的祖师又是如何可以证悟而再到回来世间说法呢？(包括至尊帕绷喀仁波切和宋仁波切）这可是有記载的。

3)达赖法王说：修多杰雄登会危害他的性命，但看回歷史，他是歷界最長命的法王，何来危害之说？这是危言耸听．真實说来决定一个上师的寿命長短，在於依止於他的学生，三眛也，戒律，是否清净？严重说也就是学生造恶业会间接縮短了上师在世间的因缘。

4)对西藏人来说，达赖法王在他们心目中是非比尋常的、在当时政治动荡中，帮助他逃出西藏是非常重要的，事关重大。請问当年帮他逃出西藏的护卫隊和时间、方向又是谁在幕後指導的？不就是「多杰雄登」护法嗎？

5)在整个西藏中，还有很多大成就者，都是智慧至上的，难道他们不知这件事的対与錯？不符合罗輯？但为什么还是接受与默默無言呢？（背後隐藏了什么动机？）
总结来说，对修持「多杰雄登」者，达赖法王已越權，（干涉学生与上师的三昧也），違反人㯼(修雄者不能上学，有病不被医，有錢買不到柬西），还有许多不人道的事，难以一一述说。
整个事件，等如一齣戲．只有达赖法王是導演，不到最後，不知他葫芦里在賣什么药？
我只有一个心愿，快结束，果竟太没天理了！

Uncle Eddie on May 24, 2016 at 2:16 pm

This Dorje Shugden controvesy started as a result of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama,s assertion that the Dharma protector, Dorje Shugden is a harmful spirit after 400 years of faithful worship! As such, all Dorje Shugden’s followers and believers must dismiss all traditional teachings of Dorje Shugden as taught by the great lineage masters like Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, which form the foundation of Gelugpa education that assert Dprje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri. The Dalai Lama had gone as far as to allege his teacher, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was wrong about Dorje Shugden’s nature, which has shaken the entire Gelug lineage which was founded on the transmission of teachings from an authentic great teacher to disciple since the time of the Buddhas. If Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche were wrong would mean they would have broken their refuge commitments. The higher vows, higher practices and teachings of these two great Lamas are all invalidated, since they took refuge in Dorje Shugden, allegely a “spirit” and worldly being. In other words, the entire gelug lineage is undermined, as most current lamas have received teachings, initiations and transmissions from these great lineage masters who taught that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri. It is said that one cannot simply negate the spiritual commitments we have with our previous teacher. Even if one has a simple Geshe as his teacher alongside the Dalai Lama both should be considered equal in one’s practice! There is no higher ranking Guru in our practice. If we cannot engage in Dorje Shugden’s practice because we choose to abide by the ban, we have to return to the teacher who had given us the practice/or to explain and seek permission to give up our practice. If the teacher is no longer alive, we are bound by the commitment for life. For those who wish to continue to uphold and practise Dorje Shugden, have to face harassment and being obstracized for their spiritual conviction instead of appearing to be politically correct.

Cynthia Ng on May 24, 2016 at 2:05 pm

1）多杰雄登禁令的开始时由达赖喇嘛连续性尝试错误地断言多杰雄登护法是一个有害邪灵。达赖喇嘛曾因为多次发出声明，有效的禁止多杰雄登的修持法。对于那些选择遵守多杰雄登修持和那些继续多杰雄登禁令的背后有很多潜在着的原因。

（2）为了这一指控多杰雄登是一个有害邪灵，那不就说明我们已经准备把所有的格鲁派传承教义放弃，放弃这么多年来由伟大的传承上师如至尊帕绷喀仁波切和至尊赤江仁波切教的教诲，这些教诲都是格鲁派最大的佛法基础教育，这些大师们并声称多杰雄登是文殊菩萨的化身。

（3）这样的指控后果是难以想象，达赖喇嘛竟然在一次电视采访中使声称他的上师赤江仁波切和有关于多杰雄登是错误的。如果达赖喇嘛坚持他的指控是对的话呢，这将动摇整个格鲁派的传承，皆因这个传承是在佛陀时代开始由上师建立口传教导给弟子的一个传承。

（4）所有藏传佛教传统必须是能够追溯佛法教义的真实性，正确性和有效的来源。如果一位直系上师的佛法教诲在某一特定方面出现错误的话，它将破坏整个传承，也因此令他人对整个传承生起怀疑。这样下去上师传给弟子其它的教诲，口传和修持可能是错误的。

（5）如果说至尊帕绷喀仁波切和至尊赤江仁波切崇拜邪灵多杰雄登的话能，那么就意味着两位大师破坏了皈依承诺。皈依承诺和皈依戒是格鲁派最基本的最高戒律，修持和教法。其中最重要的承诺是皈依三宝 – 佛,法,僧。这是最重要的承诺。文殊菩萨是格鲁派主要的本尊，如果文殊是邪灵，那么格律派所修行的是不对的。反的来说达赖喇嘛是否在制造另一个教派，也是否是在颠覆整个格鲁派的正统传承呢？

（6）多杰雄登修持者要坚守对根本上师的承诺和三昧耶，不可以因为达赖喇嘛是藏传的最高领导者身份也违背和自己根本上师的誓言。也不可以因为达赖喇嘛是我们的老师，给了我们宝贵的教导，誓言，承诺和行动，而去违背和根本上师的三昧耶。那些追随达赖喇嘛和多杰雄登禁令的人，是因为达赖喇嘛地位高于自己的喇嘛而不把多杰雄登的实践放在第一位。这行为将严重的影响和破坏我们和上师的三昧耶。即使达赖喇嘛是我们的上师，他也不能否定我们对前一任上师所许下的诺言。在上师五十颂里有言如果要放弃原有已经在修持的多杰雄登法门必须要向上师得到允许和归还所许下的诺言，那么才不会破坏和上师之间的三昧耶。如果上师已经不在世，我们也不可以随意放弃。上师和学生的灵修善因导致上师的寿命长短，严重的破三昧耶戒导致缩短上师的寿命，而不是多杰雄登持修法导致达赖喇嘛的寿命减短。

（7）很多人利用达赖喇嘛的地位和名声来达到个人或团体上的金钱利益或是个人利益，真正的修行佛法是这样的吗？我们不应该利用佛法来达到个人目的，而是要真实的实践佛法。如果有任何人反对达赖喇嘛，那么这些多杰雄登持修者和随之将付出很大的代价，他们会被排斥在藏族社区。此外，如果一个人是有影响力的，被视为威胁，他们的个人资料可能会被放在西藏的领导的打击名单，或是发表在网站上。这会导致煽动与暴力的威胁。这个付出很高，但是它可以帮助一个人的证的有成就。

（8）很多信徒只是为了达到政治利益而亲近和支持达赖喇嘛，从中达到组织的赞助和资助。

yenpin on May 24, 2016 at 2:05 pm

1）其他大师有H.H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche , 除了多杰雄登教法也给其教法，难道他们所有的教法也是错的。

2）尊贵的迖喇嘛说H.H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche ,修持多杰雄登是个错的，那么代表我们的samaya 不清静也代表传承也是错。

3）如果修持多杰雄登是邪灵，这么多高僧喇嘛都有修持多杰雄登法门，比如 H.H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche ，Zong Rinpoche，德高望重高僧喇嘛都有修持修持多杰雄登法门，难道他们不知道多杰雄登是邪灵。为什么他们还可以一次又一次的转
世回来，这就证明多杰雄登是证悟的

4）如果多杰雄登要对西藏不利，他就不会叫迖喇嘛尊者马上现在就要离开西藏。所以多杰雄登是证悟的。

5）坚持修持多杰雄者，他们守住上师给他们的法门，也守护者他们传承。遵守上师的清静samaya ，多杰雄登的禁令对他们来说是不公平的.

tong sun sun on May 24, 2016 at 1:58 pm

1．如果HH Trijang 仁波切和HH Pabongka 仁波切是错的？？
那么HH Trijang 仁波切和HH Pabongka 仁波切所传承的教诲，法门和修持都是错的？？他们的守的戒律也是假的？？整个格鲁派都是不正确的？？我们不能因为一位喇嘛`的说法而把整个门派和传承都颠倒了来支持一个人的说法。
2．如果多杰雄登是邪灵？？
那么HH Trijang 仁波切和HH Pabongka 仁波切修持的都是邪恶的，那么他们所守的戒律都应该被废除。整个格鲁教派也应该被消灭！！如果是这样那么为何他们还是被称为最崇高和最智慧的上师？他们的教诲还一直沿用至今。
3．达赖喇嘛说暴力是谣言？？
如果是谣言为何寺院被分割？？许多高僧，许多修持者被暴力对待，因为这个禁令让许多修持者被逼和自己的上师断除关系，和家人断亲情。因为这个禁令不能就医，流落街头而且生命常常受到威胁！！！而且还公开其他修持者的资料，这种种其他人都看在眼里这还算是谣言吗？
4．利益关系！！
虽然很多的追随者纷纷的亲近和支持这项禁令，但是他们最终的目的是藉由达赖喇嘛名声增加自己社团的名声，敛财，希望有这禁令成为不被攻击的对象，并不是忠于。
5．如果我们听从了这禁令会有什么后果？
在藏传佛教里依止和传承是不可分割的。弟子的所有修持都是由上师直接传承。如果今天我们听从了禁令把上师给的一切退还或是终止。这是严重的断除你和上师的三味耶是非常严重的行为。如果每个教派里每位弟子都是这行为，可想而知严重的影响着教派存亡。

Lucy Yap on May 24, 2016 at 1:34 pm

When Dalai Lama alleged that all the great lineage masters who practice Dorje Shugden were wrong,it implies that his teachers were wrong and that whatever teachings His Holiness received from them were wrong and this does not make any sense at all. This Ban has created confusion among Buddhist practitioners and tremendous sufferings for Dorje Shugden practitioners emotionally and physically. A Guru will never give a harmful practice to his students and therefore if we have taken refuge with a Guru, we must uphold the commitments for life and cannot simply give up the practice for personal gain or any political agenda.According to Ashvagosha in 50 stanzas of Guru Devotion,by disobeying the Guru is broken samaya and we will not receive any blessings.With so much evidences I am convinced that Dorje Shugden is a fully enlightened being,an emanation of Manjushri.May the ban be removed swiftly.

Pee Bee Chong on May 24, 2016 at 1:19 pm

Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David Lai

There is my understand on this article:

The DS controversy began when the Dalai Lama made successive attempts to wrongly assert the nature of Dharma protector DS to be harmful spirits and issued numerous statement to ban the practice of DS.

In order to support this allegation that DS is a spirit, we have to be prepared to dismiss all the traditional teachings taught by the great lineage masters as lineage was founded on the transmission of teachings from an authentic teachers to disciples. It DS is a spirit and transmitted from lineage masters, other teachings, initiations, etc given by the lineage masters may be wrong as well. This will undermine the Whole Gelug tradition.

If DS is a spirit, lineage masters would have broken the samaya and refuge commitment by taking refuge in DS as they should only take refuge in 3 Jewels. Therefore, all higher vows and practices would have been invalid if lineage masters practice DS.

There are allegations that DS shorten Dalai Lama’s lifespan. The lifespan of a Lama depends on the spiritual bond between the Lama and students. If one is not a Lama Dalai student, how could practicing DS shorten the life of Dalai Lama? In fact, DS have saved the life of DS twice via Panglung Oracle.

For those who follow Dalai Lama instruction to abandon DS practices from their teachers because of “Lama Ranking”, they have severe implication of the spiritual bond according to 50 stanzas of Guru devotion.

For Dorje Shugden practitioners, who decide to follow through with the lama and Dorje Shugden, they can easily see the faults in the reasons given to justify the Dorje Shugden ban because the Dalai Lama cannot simply override the instructions and samaya between them with their Lamas

Thank you 
Pee Bee Chong

Chris Chong on May 24, 2016 at 1:09 pm

Dear Rinpoche ,

I have reread this post again today and I have learnt somethig new.

This is what I have learnt today:

1. All the highly attained masters had given Dorje Shugden practice and other great teachings as well. If Dorje Shugden teachings are deemed untrustworthy, this could mean that all other teachings given by the same Buddhist Lama could be untrustworthy as well. This does not make any sense because all other teachings are widely accepted but not Dorje Shugden practice.

2. The Dalai Lama even said his Guru, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is wrong about Dorje Shugden’s nature. If the allegations is accurate, this could shake the very foundation of our lineage , Gelugpa. This is because all teachings are transmitted from Guru to disciple since the time of Buddha. If we can’t even trust our Guru, how can we continue the tradition when we can’t even trust the teachings we had receive.

3. If Dorje Shugden is really a spirit, this means that those who take refuge in him by doing his practice will collect negative karma and probably will drop into the three lower realms. However, that is not the cases. Highly attained Dorje Shugden Lama had reincarnated back again and again. Example will be Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, and Kybje Zong Rinpoche. All of their reincarnation had came back into dharma and spreading the dharma. This is a solid proof that Dorje Shugden can be relied on we can definitely take refuge in Dorje Shugden.

4. There are allegations that Dorje Shugden shortens the Dalai Lama’s life. Traditionally , it was believed that broken samaya with our Guru will shorten the Gurus life. Dorje Shugden had been practiced by many high lamas for 400 years. How can this practice with long history suddenly be detrimental to our Guru in the past 20 years ? What happened to the practitioners before this 20 years ? It is impossible for no high lamas to know it’s bad effect for the last 380years.

5. It was also said that Dorje Shugden has harmed the Tibetan cause. It was Oracle of Dorje Shugden that advised the Dalai Lama to flee tibet during the last hour when the Chinese invade Tibet. Dorje Shugden practically saved Dalai Lama’s life as his palaced was shelled the next day after he fled. Meanwhile, the state oracle Nechung had given a different advise which is the Dalai Lama should stay at Tibet. If the Dalai Lama had heeded Nechung’s advise, he would be in great danger. This proves that Dorje Shugden is protecting the welfare of Tibet and the Dalai Lama. This accusation of Dorje Shugden harming Tibet and the Dalai Lama is false.

One should have a clear and logical mind to analyse the Dorje Shugden Ban. We should not blindly follow and try to be politically correct. It takes courage to stand up for what is right and what we believe in.

Dear Your Holiness the Dalai Lama, please lift Dorje Shugden Ban and stop our siffering.

Humbly,
Chris

- Pastor David Lai on May 24, 2016 at 8:20 pm
  
  Dear Chris,
  Just to point out that praying to a spirit does not result in negative karma per se. It is negative karma of broken commitments if we have taken refuge in the 3 Jewels and relied on a spirit. This is because our refuge commitment is to take refuge only in the 3 Jewels because we understood and realized the benefits of higher refuge and the faults of samsara.
  
  Therefore, we will break our refuge commitments if we rely on a spirit and once our refuge is broken, we are subject to our karmic seeds and many of which could open and we can easily take rebirth in the 3 lower realms after our death. Just thought I point that subtle point out to you.
  
Freon on May 24, 2016 at 1:08 pm

Dear Pastor David,

Thank you for this very good article that make me think further on the ban on Dorje Shugden. It is not just a ban but it have great influent on Buddhism, to me, this ban is a disaster in Dharma practice.

From the article,

1) The cause to broke the Lineage- particular Gelug Traditional
: This ban not only bring disharmony but also have a very serious influents on the entire lineage. H.H Dalai Lama has denied the teachings of His Guru. A high Lama could deny the teachings of His Guru, this mean He is breaking away from the lineage. Which the practices of Dorje Shugden have been passed down from the lineage tradition.

On this context, the actions of Dalai Lama telling us that it is ok to break the commitment and promise we have to our Guru, as he as a high lama can do that.

2) The Refuge Vows & the Samaya of Guru-Disciple: Not only influents the Gelug but other lineage: Sakya, Kaygu
: Quote from the articles:
“ The refuge vows and commitments are the foundation for higher vows, practices and teachings”
A basic fundamental practices for a Buddhist is to keeps the vows. The vows keeping are more important especially to a Sangha. Thus, when the H.H Dalai Lama said this practice was wrong, He is asking the students who have took the vows from Other Guru to break the vows and just listen to him.

On this, one of the reason we practice dharma is for the purpose of gaining higher attainment, and the attainment can only be gain by holding our vows and devoted to our guru, when we break the vows and have broken samaya, this mean we are going to gain the attainment, worst, the practices of Buddhism are on great risk where the basic refuge vows is not even fulfilled by the students.

In Sakya lineage for example, Dorje Shugden was their protector before. The moment they gave up the practices, is the lineage still intact? This can be questionable – quote from the article : “ How can a practice, that is such a part of the tradition that has upheld the lineage, suddenly be the cause of broken samaya?”

3) Money and political game
: I like the part where Pastor David questions on the intention of the people who followed Dalai Lama blindly.
If we ask, how H.H Dalai Lama activated the ban, if you have read through the history of this ban, it shows that H.H uses “violence” to activate the ban. Such as, tell the monastery to expel the monks who are Dorje Shugden’s practitioners. Hospitals will not treat patients who are Dorje Shugden’s practitioner. School students are not allowed to enter school. Families separated because of this ban. The refugees of Dorje Shugden’s practitioner are the refugees in their own refugees’ camp.

Why are people who claim they are Buddhist could do this? Why are they not protect their own dharma brothers and sisters, the Dorje Shugden’s practitioner get all kinds of insults, harms just because they practices Dorje Shugden.

Why these people that claim to be H.H Dalai Lama’s follower could do this? The only reason I can think is, if you are label as H.H Dalai Lama’s followers, you could gain everything easily as you are on H.H Dalai Lama side: sponsorship, fame, reputation. Thus they rather cover the truth than really fight for the truth. I think in this world, money and reputation is still important than protect our love ones.

4) The Dorje Shugden’s practitioner
Many people, who “stubbornly” hold on to the Dorje Shugden’s practices, are label as cult. But, I have seen they actually hold on to the truth, hold on to the humanity rights of religions freedom, hold on to the Buddha’s teachings that was hold by many peoples and lamas from the Buddha’s time. Hold on to the dharma that embraces the lineage teachings.
They knew that they have lost the popularity, they knew they care being cast out, and they knew the pain of losing the true lineage to the money and power game. But they hold on, as in the article
“This is because one’s spiritual practice is of the utmost priority and the underlining reason for this is to gain real spiritual attainments and enlightenment.”
In this, it is truly inspire to have real people around us, who are not afraid of power and money but, stand up for their loves one.

5) Actually, if we are not bias- we want to know the real issues on this ban, and willing to understand the underlying excuses that H.H Dalai Lama have gave, the illogical, the harm that this ban have bring, we will research more, do more to understand on Dorje Shugden. After all, Dorje Shugden are from the authentic lineage of the Dharma. And by understand the nature of Dorje Shugden, we could understand the dharma.

To blindly followed and agreed with a person just because he hold great power, famous, have won award, we are actually telling ourselves that these are more important than helping our beloves, learn the authentic dharma and be real to ourself.

Thank you Rinpoche for the teachings and
thank you Pastor David for this article.

Regards
Freon

Frederick Law on May 24, 2016 at 12:35 pm

1) If Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, and that all lineage Master who had been practicing Dorje Shugden for the past 400 years is wrong, it had meant that they had broken the refuge vow, and these High Lama’s would had gone to lower realm at the point of their passing. But this isn’t so, we see reincarnation after reincarnation of the High Lama’s who practice Dorje Shugden came back and continue to teach and spread Dharma. So is Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche wrong about Dorje Shugden practice?

2) The samaya with our Guru is more important, as it our Guru who are the one who directly gave us the teaching, blessings, it is for us to fulfill our commitment, as our attainment comes directly from Our Guru. So how can we say if we practice Dorje Shugden which is given by our Guru, could harm the Dalai Lama life directly? It is non-sense. What about our Guru? It harms Our Guru life more seriously as we broke the Sayama and Commitment directly without Guru.

3) Although HH Dalai Lama is the Spiritual Head of the Tibet, but this does not mean that other High Lama’s, Geshe attainment is lower than His Holiness. We should see that our Guru and Dalai Lama as equal in attainment, wisdom and knowledge, as both receive the teachings that were passed down from their Guru, which can be trace back to Lord Buddha.

4) The Student must understand that, the Samaya we have with our Guru is the most precious and most valuable thing, as the Dorje Shugden given is direct blessing from our Guru for our spiritual growth, we should not in any way broke the commitment and samaya with our Guru, and should not be afraid just because Dalai Lama said Dorje Shugden practice is wrong, we should evaluate what we had benefitted from the practice, and understand more about Dorje Shugden, not just mere rumors and false allegation.
From every angle if we look at the ban, we will clearly see that those who support Dalai Lama may not have pure intention in regards to Dharma Practice, or even understand the core of the Buddhist Teaching. Those who support the ban is merely making connection and reaping benefits of getting sponsors for their own organization and center, and ignoring the real issue behind the ban that is creating harm, separation and segregation due to the ban. Where is the core value of the compassion, tolerance, kindness that is always emphasized by H.H Dalai Lama.

5) Has spiritual Practice had become a power game, to use religion or ones practice as an agenda to ones selfish benefits? Does money, fame, sponsorship, and connection to Dalai Lama more important than the suffering of Dorje Shugden practitioner who are denied human rights, being harassed and attacked because of their practice?

Jill Yam on May 24, 2016 at 11:39 am

The Dorje Shugden controversy began when H.H. The Dalai Lama made successive attempts to wrongly accused the nature of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden to be a harmful spirit.

1) By being ‘successful attempts’ is because the Dalai Lama is the Spiritual Head of Tibet and the highest ranking Lama so he definitely outrank any other High Lama or Geshe who may also by His teacher.
No one dares to go against Him and for those who does are being ostracised and threatened.

2) How can H.H. Dalai Lama claims that His great teacher H.H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s teachings was wrong when the Gelup lineage was founded on the transmission of teachings from authentic teacher to disciple since the time of Buddha.

3) How can the Dalai Lama claims that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit when Dorje Shugden had saved His life on 2 occasionsets via the Panglung Oracle? It was the Panglung Oracle who took trance in Dorje Shugden at the request of H.H Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s to ask the Dalai Lama to leave Tibet immediately.

4) All great Masters such as H.H. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche and H.H. Trijang Rinpoche have taught that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri. So are these great Masters all wrong?

5) Where is the Guru Disciple devotion if one is to abandon the Dorje Shugden practice due to mere allegations?

Thank you Pastor David Lai for the explanation. I am a Dorje Shugden practitioner all the way.

Let’s all help to lift the Dorje Shugden Ban add soon as possible.

May all be benefitted with the blessings of Dorje Shugden.

With folded hands
Jill Yam

June Kang on May 23, 2016 at 9:33 pm

Very interesting that “According to the 50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha, if we cannot engage in Dorje Shugden’s practice because we choose to abide by the ban, we have to return to the teacher who had given us the practice to explain and seek permission to give up our practice. If the teacher is no longer alive, we are bound by the commitment for life and we cannot simply give up the practice if we want to truly advance in our spiritual practice.”

In others word :
1. The ban has caused lots of Buddhists broken the Samaya due to their teacher is no longer alive but they chooe to follow Dalai Lama and just give up the Dorje Shugden’s practice

2. we are losing many of great high lama cause “heavily broken samaya can create the cause for the lama to have a shorter life”. With this the Buddhism will be degenerated faster.

3.Most of the great lineage masters’ teaching have no power and blessing because by “worships” a spirit they broke the refuge vow and indirect the entire linage is wrong especially the Gelup Lineage

Therefore, what is the benefit you gain from ban the Dorje Shugden practise, my dear ANTI-SHUGDEN friends. Doesn’t is this ban created more negative karma???

JerrySito on May 23, 2016 at 8:40 pm

感谢黎讲法师的分享

祈愿多杰雄登禁令能够早日解除，因为多杰雄登的禁令已经深深地影响与动摇了整个格鲁传承的根基。

达赖尊者说，修持多杰雄登护法会减短他的寿命，可是达赖尊者是观世音菩萨的化身，又怎么可能被去区区一位“护法”的关系就能够减短他的寿命呢？

多杰雄登护法在当时也帮助了达赖尊者逃离了西藏，然后在有今天的藏人行政中央政府，那么是多杰雄登护法阻碍了西藏人民的发展呢？还是多杰雄登护法造就了西藏人民一个政府？

因为多杰雄登禁令的缘故，造就了寺院与僧侣们的分离，这才是大大的动摇了格鲁传承的根基呀

ThankYou
jerry

Doreen Teoh on May 23, 2016 at 7:32 pm

Back to basics i would say that this articles as clearly stated that the first basis of being a Buddhist practitioner is that ” refuge vows and commitments are the foundation for higher vows, practices and teachings. One of the main commitments is to only take refuge in the Three Jewels – the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha”. If Dorje Shugden is Demon, so the lineage of Lamas have broken their basis vows, and all the blessings is gone.

By knowing this, i can firmly and ascertained that Dorje Shugden is NOT a SPIRIT but an enlightened dharma protector that have come to be with us sentients beings to assist and help all sentient beings to attain enlightenment.

Wah Ying on May 23, 2016 at 7:31 pm

When we are told that HH Trijang Rinpoce and HH Pabongka Rinpoche who are the lineage master of Gelug lineage, who practices Dorje Shugden, an allegedly spirit, has lost their refuge, that means they have lost their refuge vows – as Buddhist we take refuge only in Three jewels; this also means they have lost their Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Tantra vows. If they have lost the basis of all their vows, then all their practices will have no result. If that’s the case, they are actually not even a Buddhist, not to say an object of refuge or a qualified teacher.

With this, all the Gelug lineage masters like Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche who have transmitted so many important teachings to their students and the vows they have given, the teachings and vows all are ineffective and carry no blessings at all; with the blessings they carry down was broken once they have broken their vows.

From here we can go down to say teachings like Yamantaka, Cittamani, Vajrayogini and all tantric teachings; together with all the sutra teachings given by these lineage master are ineffective, carry no blessings. Therefore, the whole Gelug lineage is ineffective. We would face very serious consequences when we believe all the mentioned lineage lamas are wrong, Dorje Shugden is a spirit, Dorje Shugden practice is wrong and should be banned. Thus the ban on Dorje Shugden is not something affecting the Dorje Shugden practitioners or non-Dorje Shugden practitioners, but affecting the whole Gelug lineage.

Wan Wai Meng on May 23, 2016 at 6:47 pm

The Dorje Shugden ban threatens the validity of the entire Gelug Lineage, not because it has any basis, but because all Gelug lamas and monks learnt from Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche. So if Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche were wrong, by worshipping a spirit, all they have taught, to all their students will not have any blessings of the lineage. Hence the assertions of the Dalai Lama that Dorje Shudgen is a spirit is a danger to the Gelug lineage. Dorje Shudgen is definitely not a spirit because you cannot pray to a spirit and get a good rebirth, and you also a spirit could have arisen from Tulku Dragpa Gyeltsen, who arose from a line of erudite and peerless masters. Any monks who holds his vow cannot be affected by a negative spirit, this includes the Dalai Lama as well. How can Chenrezig be harmed by a mere spirit.

- Lew on May 23, 2016 at 7:33 pm
  
  This is indeed a very logical reasoning about the validity of teaching. If indeed Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche are practicing a spirit, then both of them would have lost their refuge vows and there would be not blessing in all the teachings that they have passed on.
  
  If this is the case, this is indeed disaster for Gelug lineage. Did the HH Dalai Lama’s students even think of the consequences of such accusations?
  
  And if Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche both practiced spirit in their previous lives, how can they reincarnate as a high lama?
  
  Thank you Pastor David Lai for sharing such interesting yet important logic.
  
Beng on May 23, 2016 at 6:42 pm

Thank you Pastor David for this article which highlights a very important and subtle point – that IF we believe that Dorje Shugden is indeed a spirit, then the entire Gelugpa lineage is 100% destroyed and non-existent. I think it is very important to understand this point in more detail because it shows very clearly how damaging the Dorje Shugden controversy is to EVERYONE.

1. If Dorje Shugden is indeed a spirit, then the fact that Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche both practiced this deity means that they lost their refuge vows. Why? Because in the refuge commitments it states that: “We shall not go for refuge to teachers who contradict Buddha’s view, or to Samsaric gods.”

2. Having lost their refuge vows, it would mean that Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche no longer have any vows as the Refuge Vows are the basis of holding all other vows. Therefore, it would mean that Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche also do not hold the Bodhisattva Vows, the Tantric vows and even the Vinaya vows. If they lost their refuge, they are not even monks let alone Buddhists!

3. If Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche have no vows, it would mean that EVERY SINGLE TEACHING or Vows they have transmitted to their students have no power and no blessings because they had nothing to pass on in the first place.

4. Moreover, as there is hardly any Gelugpa lama alive today who has not received teachings directly or indirectly from Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche, it would mean that every practice being transmitted by Gelugpa masters has ZERO BLESSINGS.

**shock! horror!***

Therefore, it is foolish to claim that Dorje Shugden is a demon yet happily continue practicing other teachings that were taught by Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche and believe that any attainments will arise from it.

And His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s allegation that Dorje Shugden is a spirit is extremely dangerous as well as clearly false. And the ban on Dorje Shugden has extreme ramifications if one truly studied and understood how the blessings of the lineage works and is being transmitted.

I hope this little sharing helps.

- WeiTheng on May 23, 2016 at 7:40 pm
  
  Thank you Pastor David for sharing this article.
  
  The points that Beng shared are very shocking and frightening. If Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche were all wrong, that means what i have been studying and practicing for years are ZERO and bring no attainment!!
  
  How to find a Guru from Gelug who is not tinted? Even HH Dalai Lama’s teachings are tinted because his teachings comes from Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche too??!!
  
  Therefore, it is definitely not logical at all to say that Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche were wrong.
  
- Cynthia Lee on May 23, 2016 at 7:42 pm
  
  If indeed Trijang Rinpoche did lose his refuge vows and he is therefore not a monk or Buddhist because he “worships” a spirit and every single teaching he gave to his students have no power or blessings, then all the teachings and transmissions which the Dalai Lama have given to thousands and thousands of followers have no power and blessings. Unless of course, they believe it’s all part of a bigger picture. Otherwise, why would anybody support this notion?
  
  Therefore it’s a lose lose situation with this ban imposed on DS with the underlying reason he is a spirit. This negative view on DS must be cleared.
  
graceleong on May 23, 2016 at 5:38 pm

Why should there be “competition” between different sects within the same religion ? It is most ridiculous, totally unjustifiable and absolutely not comprehensible !!
The causes created are unhealthy as families and friends split up, threatening the harmony of the whole community, causing distrust and conflicts and more !!
Reasons given by the anti Dorje Shugden side to stop this practice is weak,unsubstantiated and merely regurgitating the words of HH the Dalai Lama without any real understanding of the facts. In fact they resort to using foul language and expressing anger to prove that they are right !! That is not Dharma; that is not Guru devotion !!
Thank you PDL for the sharing !!

Martin on May 23, 2016 at 2:09 am

To many, the Dorje Shugden issue has become very confusing especially with various versions of what is true and what is not, competing for the audience’s attention. In addition to numerous negative propaganda floating around in the web, the CTA has launched at least 2 books on this issue which to people who are in the know, are blatant distortions of facts and history and yet many will lap up the misinformation therein simply because the books were endorsed by certain notables.

However, there is one simple way to see who is telling the truth, and that is by asking ourselves which ‘side’ of the divide compels us to a belief that is consistent with the basic principles of Vajrayana. All great Mahasiddhas, pandits, scholars and practitioners from all traditions and over history have one thing in common – all hold the belief that the Guru is the foundation of all attainments. We are taught that the Guru is Vajradhara and Vajradharma, and is the sum of all Buddhas. It cannot be more clear that that.

Therefore when we are told to disobey the Guru and to discredit the Guru, we know something is not right regardless of how famous that person is who is telling us to abandon the foundations of our practice.

Sharon Ong on May 22, 2016 at 5:26 pm

1) We know for a fact that HH the 14th Dalai Lama’s teachers rely on and practised Dorje Shugden. In the short clip, HH the 14th Dalai Lama mentioned that all the high masters who practise Dorje Shugden are wrong. Does this not imply that his teachers are wrong and that whatever teachings HH has received from them are also wrong?

2) The ban has created a lot of confusion and pain for many Buddhists especially those practising Tibetan Buddhism. How can we reconcile the differences between HH Dalai Lama, one of the most respected Buddhist figures and our Guru, the source of all our attainments? Going back to the basics, as pointed out by Pastor David – According to the 50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha, if we cannot engage in Dorje Shugden’s practice because we choose to abide by the ban, we have to return to the teacher who had given us the practice to explain and seek permission to give up our practice. If the teacher is no longer alive, we are bound by the commitment for life and we cannot simply give up the practice if we want to truly advance in our spiritual practice.

For me, it’s simple. I know that Guru will not give me a harmful practice. In fact, all practices that my Guru has given to us serves to help us in our spiritual path. If Dorje Shugden is harmful, many high lamas who have been practising this protector would not have come back in perfect human form to continue their beneficial work. A good living example would be HH’s own teacher, HH Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche.

Thank you for this post, Pastor David. May the ban be lifted soon.

- sweekeong on May 23, 2016 at 7:13 pm
  
  Dear Sharon,
  You brought a good point that our guru will not give us harmful practices. If one choose to view Dorje Shugden as harmful it implies that His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche gave a harmful practice to His Holiness Dalai Lama. Why would Trijang Rinpoche do that to his students? Is it to gain something by causing harm to students? It implies our lineage masters don’t have good motivation, they teach Dharma and transmit practice for the purpose of self gain? To the lineage masters, such as His Holiness Pabongka Rinpoche and His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, who have sacrificed so much to bring Dharma teachings and practices to so many it doesn’t make sense for me. In fact with so much evidences I am very much convinced that Dorje Shugden is a fully enlightened being.
  
Su Ming on May 22, 2016 at 4:12 pm

” On the other hand, those who continue to uphold and practice Dorje Shugden have chosen to face being ostracized and harassed for their spiritual conviction rather than appearing to be politically correct”

I like how Pastor David Lai concluded on the above cause this is what is happening to us right now. Is amazing how when we stuck to our belief and faith that we get ostracized & harassed especially my Guru, Tsem Rinpoche

Recently, we heard news of Rinpoche’s birth father death and due to the Dorje Shugden issue, Rinpoche nor his close assistants who are in contact with the family was not informed until 3 months later when Rinpoche heard in passing.

And this is the results of the ban. It separates family especially within the Tibetans. What happened to Rinpoche is just the crust of the effect of the ban on Rinpoche. There are many more and there are many more Tibetans who suffer due to this.

Pastor Antoinette Kass on May 22, 2016 at 7:45 am

It is very sad to see that after so many year the ban on Dorje Shugden is still going on. The ban is like Pastor David wrote is not what is taught in Tibetan Buddhism. The Guru / Disciple relation and the Lineage where the teaching is coming from, is most important. Yet, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Governement in Exile, CTA is not at all refering to a lineage.

How can even the Dalai Lama override his own teacher? This makes no sense and it is creating so much damage within the Tibetan population and the different sects of Buddhism.

This ban is not relying on the values shares by Tibetan Buddhism. Dorje Shugden as an emanation of Manjushri is a Buddha and there is no reason to ban Him.

May the ban on Dorje Shugden come down quickly.

Thank you Pastor David for sharing this important post.
Pastor Antoinette

Sofi on May 20, 2016 at 11:33 pm

Thank you Pastor David for the contrast between practitioners who are loyal to the Protector Dorje Shugden practice and those “loyal” to the 14th Dalai Lama.
It would be so easy to give up the practice of Dorje Shugden as it is clear that there are much to be gained by siding the Dalai Lama. However, authentic practitioners chose to keep their Guru/disciple samaya clean by keeping their lineage practice, even when knowing they will face much discrimination, segregation, deprivation of their human or religious rights, verbal/physical abuse, etc.
The Dalai Lama in the video had point blank denied the abuse suffered by the Dorje Shugden practitioners even when the interviewer had said he personally saw the abuse. If the Dalai Lama said his Guru, H.H Trijang Rinpoche was wrong to practice and confer the Dorje Shugden practice, then what blessings does the Dalai Lama receive from his lineage masters and in turn what blessings does his students/followers receive? Even worse, all teachings that the Dalai Lama received from his Guru must be wrong and yet the Dalai Lama continues to teach and confer initiations given by his Guru. Will his students/followers gain any real attainments if it is wrong and without the blessings.
Protector Dorje Shugden had guided and blessed the Dalai Lama during his escape from China and yet the Dalai Lama could turn against him and declare him a “spirit” out to harm him and the Tibetan cause. If Dorje Shugden was out to harm the Dalai Lama, he would have advised him to stay in Tibet, to be captured by the invaders and there will be no Tibetan cause.
Well, I for one would definitely choose to follow my Guru as he is the Buddha who has selflessly blessed me with teachings and guidance in my practice towards path of enlightenment. Wouldn’t you?
May the Dalai Lama swiftly manifest his true compassionate nature of Buddha Avalokitesvara, to lift the wrongful ban on Dorje Shugden practise and to bring unity amongst Tibetan Buddhist practitioners.

Carmen Koo on May 20, 2016 at 6:24 pm

For those who has abandoned their practice of Dorje Shugden – If Dorje Shugden is a “spirit” as claimed by the Tibetan Leadership and the Dalai Lama, how did Dorje Shugden “harm” them while they were practising Dorje Shugden over the years?

For His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who previously practiced Dorje Shugden and even wrote a praise to Dorje Shugden, how is it possible that Dorje Shugden can and could have harmed him or shorten his life? How is it possible a “spirit” can harm a monk, let alone His Holiness, known to be an emanation of Chenrezig.

For someone to encounter spirits, their immediate natural response/feeling is that they would be afraid of the unseen. But in the case of Dorje Shugden’s practice, it has instead been politicised, and made into a mockery for lamas/monks/practitioners who are still practising, because they are labelled Chinese dog, Chinese spy etc, like how Tsem Rinpoche has been hurled with these accusations. Therefore, beyond the advice of Dorje Shugden being a spirit and hence no one should practice it, the ban has instead forced it into a political movement that has not only segregated practitioners of the Gelug tradition but denied many off the freedom in religion.

chris chong on May 20, 2016 at 12:22 am

Dear Pastor David,

Thank you for your informative post on the Dorje Shugden ban. In Gelug lineage, we put put a lot of emphasis on holding vows and keeping our samaya clean. That is how many highly attained master achieve what they achieve.

When the Dalai Lama put a ban on Dorje Shugden, he is forcing Dorje Shugden practitioners to break their vows and samaya. Those who broke their samaya and vows will have no advancement in their spiritual practice and will collect alot of negative karma. Hence, this ban is illogical because why would the Dalai Lama want to deviate any true faithful dharma practitioners from their spiritual practice?

Thank you Pastor David for presenting this information in a clear and straight forward way.

Chris

nicholas on May 19, 2016 at 8:43 pm

I like the logical explanation that being shared in this blog on this topic. Pastor David has shown a very clear picture of both side of people that choosen to abandon the practice and to maintain the practice. It’s very obvious that in our spiritual journey where we have taken refuge from a guru we should follow all the way what the guru teach and advice. Devotion to our guru is very important. Devotion is one of the main key for our spiritual success. If we can say our own guru is wrong then how can we know other guru is right? Are we at the attaint level to judge? Are we better than our Guru that have taught us what we know now? If we are not then how can we disparage our kind Guru who has compassionately teach and care for us.

Following a genuine guru which has an authentic lineage, their teaching consists great blessing which lead all way the back from Buddha Shakyamuni.
For the people that chosen to abandon their Guru and their practice, one already considered broken samaya and how can one practice be fruitful by following another Guru? It doesn’t make sense.

It’s sad seeing people exchange their devotion and dharma with dollar and cents. They would rather join in the political move to create more suffering for others than focus on ultimate attainment which will free themselves from their own suffering and others.

Dorje Shugden ban has created much negative impact than positive. From the reasoning by the Tibetan leaders it doesn’t make sense and only creating unnecessary separation and weaken the unity of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners.

I respect the people that continue with the practice even they have to go through tremendous suffering. What they believe and practice is pure devotion and pure dharma.

The Tibetan leaders should have a peaceful dialogue to resolve this issue for the benefit of their own people and this issue has been in the eye of the world. Tibetan leaders actively asking for freedom but why not start from their own to give religious freedom to their people and show to the world that the Tibetan leaders sincerely and genuinely practice freedom among themselves.

Pastor Han Nee on May 19, 2016 at 3:43 pm

Thank you Pastor David for showing very clearly how the two “sides” are drawn.The Dalai Lama and his followers say that worshiping Dorje Shugden is worshiping a spirit. This would mean that his teachers, and their teachers,like Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, are spirit worshippers. It is simply mind-boggling for me to try and imagine that Pabongka Rinpoche, who gave the 24 Days Lamrim Teachings, which Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche transcribed into the book “Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand”, the Dharma text, which we are currently studying in Kechara House,and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche are spirit worshippers! Do Spirit Worshippers teach us about how to develop Bodhicitta and realise Wisdom?

Our Lama , who like his Gurus , believe that Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, supports Guru Devotion as a basic tenet of Tibetan Buddhism. Our Lama’s Root Guru was Zong Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche’s Root Guru was Trijang Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche’s Root Guru was Pabongka Rinpoche. It is through Guru Devotion and an unbroken samaya with their root Gurus, that all the precious lineage teachings of Je Tsongkhapa, have come down to us unbroken and unsullied.Our Lama believes that spiritual advancement and attainment will only be realized through holding a clean samaya with one’s Guru. Breaking that samaya, disparaging one’s guru, as the 50 Verses on Guru Devotion says, will surely lead one to the Lower Realms.

So it is clearly a matter of choice. Do we want to keep our samaya with our root Guru clean and risk being politically incorrect and be ostracised and persecuted, or do we want to play politics and and up in the fires of Hell for broken samaya and for disparaging our root Gurus?

shelly tai on May 19, 2016 at 1:59 pm

Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David Lai for this clear explanation of the Dorje Shugden ban. I think whatever the worldly gain that this people who pro Dalai Lama is very incorrect because we as a spiritual practitioner what we really want is our attainment or spiritual advancement not worldly gain so for these people who break their guru samaya with their root teacher I don’t think they are very sincere with their practice, so I hope by all means and ways please the Dorje Shugden will lift as soon as possible that way it will release the suffering of these people who uphold the Dorje Shugden practice.

Stella Cheang on May 19, 2016 at 1:31 pm

For the Tibetan in exile society where serfdom was just a recent past and still going through fascism albeit under guised, it is no wonder that they bent easily in the face of threat and oppression. People would rather comply with an illogical ban and abandon their spiritual promise than risk being at the bottom of the society and being spit upon. Many view HHDL as their spiritual guide hence his decree to abandon Dorje Shugden did not come as an issue for them. But this is a misguided understanding.

Pastor David put here very plainly the correct view: “If one has a simple Geshe as one’s teacher alongside HHDL, both should be considered equal in our practice. There is no higher-ranking Guru in our practice. According to the 50 Stanzas of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha, if we cannot engage in Dorje Shugden’s practice because we choose to abide by the ban, we have to return to the teacher who had given us the practice to explain and seek permission to give up our practice. If the teacher is no longer alive, we are bound by the commitment for life and we cannot simply give up the practice if we want to truly advance in our spiritual practice.”

Hence, for those who abandon Dorje Shugden practice for whatever reasons they choose to believe in, please know that you have forsaken your precious samaya with the lama who had given the practice to you and hence, any spiritual dimension to this direction is GONE.

I choose to believe and trust my lama because He places His spiritual practice and samaya with His guru at the utmost priority of His life. Even at the face of being ostracised within the Tibetan community and being physically threaten. His action is out of pure devotion to His Guru and possesses no vested interest in pursuing a popularity contest. When we find a Guru who possesses these qualities, we must never forsake our Guru, as stated in the 50 Stanza of Guru Devotion by Ashvagosha.

Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this clear and concise write up. I hope those for had deserted their Dorje Shugden lama and practice get to read and understand it, and seize any opportunity to mend their samaya with their lama.

Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang

Lester on May 19, 2016 at 11:11 am

Concise and clear article! Thanks Pastor. Now all that is needed is for the viewership of this blog to expand exponentially. 🙂

Jace Chong on May 19, 2016 at 10:48 am

Thanks Rinpoche and Pastor David Lai for such an informative article to give readers more understanding on Dorje Shugden’s ban.

The consequences of following the ban discard the validity of the whole Gelug lineage, and that’s the one of the most precious thing in our practice to enlightenment if we are a Gelug practitioner.

I don’t understand the reason to accept the ban for the face value; just like I don’t understand the bookshops in FPMT still selling Liberation From The Palm of Your Hands and many of Lama Yeshe’s books, who the authors are the pure practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Since FPMT gives up Dorje Shugden practice to follow the ban from Dalai Lama, can they still practice the lineage by saying that our lineage Gurus practicing spirit?

Another point that mentioned, according to Dalai Lama, practicing Dorje Shugden shorten his life and it’s a threat to Tibetan cause. Dorje Shugden is practiced for 300 years, did it shorten Dalai Lama’s life and threat Tibetan cause for the last 300 years? I found this point is illogical and sound like a threat for superficial followers who didn’t really think.

For those who maintain and abandon the practice, it’s a juggling in between keeping samaya with your Guru or following the the famous Dalai Lama which equals to fame and fund. For me, it’s like a cross road to choose over your spiritual path or samsara.

I really wish Dalai Lama lift the ban as soon as possible because the ban doesn’t make sense at all. If Dalai Lama says all his Gurus were wrong, what make Dalai Lama right?

Pastor Adeline on May 19, 2016 at 4:58 am

The thing that Tibetans or Tibetan Buddhists tend to mix up is their devotion to their root guru and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In the history and culture of Tibet, it seems that His Holiness has been held in high regard where his words override one’s root guru, who in comparison, actually guides, leads, teaches, cares and make an impact on one’s life.

His Holiness is a spiritual leader of Tibet who oversees the religious matters of Tibet, more specifically, only that of the Gelug tradition. This role is more like an administrative role that makes sure harmony or rime is being practiced within all traditions to bring peace to Tibetan Buddhists. He does not provide personal guidance, nor does he has time to guide individuals on a personal level and overseeing their spiritual growth.

This nature is what we have to see clearly and understand, so we are not confused between his role and that of our root guru. It is obvious that we hold the samaya with our root guru who confers teachings to us and guides us gradually on our path to enlightenment. If he gives us Dorje Shugden practice, we go all the way with it. By doing so, we create the cause to lift the Dorje Shugden ban!

SPChua on May 19, 2016 at 1:46 am

Dear Pastor David

Simplicity, clarity, systematic, strict to the points that easy to read, easy to understand and very very relevant to the key issues and contradictions arised just because of the ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice.

Thank you Pastor David.
Thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you everyone that upholding the purify and precious lineages of Gelug, of Tibetan Buddhism because you insist on Guru Devotion, insist on not breaking samaya, insist on keeping the unbroken vows, insist on practicing Dorje Shugden. You are greatest of them all!

Wah Ying on May 19, 2016 at 1:04 am

Thank you Pastor David for this concise and clear article on Dorje Shugden ban. Dorje Shugden ban is never an ethical one. To support the ban, to stand by HH Dalai Lama’s side, to abandon your practice or to keep harming those who keep their practice of Dorje Shugden, never never tell you are a good follower of HH Dalai Lama or you are a good Tibetan who love your country or who care so much of HH Dalai Lama.

“It seems that those who uphold the ban on Dorje Shugden may not be doing so simply out of pure devotion to the Dalai Lama” — Pastor David summed it up well.

Of course there are some followers out there who devote to HH Dalai Lama, but would it be better if as a Buddhist one analyses the situation in a more logical and reasonable way, open one heart to diverse opinions and views. Without follow blindly, one could always avoid to act in ways that hurt another person who has different faith from you. Buudhism never teaches us to be cruel, rude or discriminate another person, including another Buddhist who practices different faith from you.

It’s time to stop hiding behind the name of devotion to HH Dalai Lama or love and loyal to Tibet, in order to justify and legitimate your acts of hurting/condeming/accusing/threatening those who keep their Dorje Shugden practice. There will be more and more people can see through the real reasons behind the acts, because more and more Dorje Shugden people willing to speak up and stand up to the unethical ban on Dorje Shugden practice.

Datuk May on May 18, 2016 at 11:40 pm

Thank you Pastor David for this very eloquent and learned way in analysing the invalidity of the Dorje Shugden ban.

Besides all the logical explanations you have expounded so very clearly, the saddest thing about this ban is the deprivation of many who fear to practise Dorje Shugden. This fear certainly removed simple lay people from the peace and protection of this practice. Very sad indeed. Buddhism is about removal of fear and this ban is certainly a contradiction to freedom of such fear.

Sarah Yap on May 18, 2016 at 11:15 pm

Thank you Pastor David for writing such a clear article about the issues surrounding Dorje Shugden.

It is incredibly unfortunate that the issue of Dorje Shugden have blown so out of proportion and such a huge rift within the Gelug School of Buddhism have caused much suffering, and worst of all, a threat to Lama Tsongkhapa’s lineage.

Just like what Rinpoche said in ‘My Side of the Story’, this ban is like forcing someone to choose between their mother and father. How can anyone do such a thing as both are equally important and cherished? Even if we view it in a secular point of view, if one’s parents were to split due to differences, in regular circumstances one would at least try to work things out and keep good relations for the sake of the children; and intentionally bad-mouthing the other party would be viewed as irresponsible. Is this not the case? That the intolerance towards Dorje Shugden practitioners is truly due to irresponsible people being placed at the helms of Tibetan Buddhism/Governance.

In the past, when people were more interested about the truths of reality and path to liberation, debates would be held between those of opposing views and the one emerge victorious will adopt that school of belief. Just as how Khedrup Je, got off the throne after listening to Lama Tsongkhapa’s teaching, people of the past have such deep respect for the truth, that is void of self interest, ego and all that is considered one as mental defilement. Such is the level of Dharma practitioners of the past.

Today, of course things are different. The world today shows us that everyone’s beliefs must be respected, and that is beautiful too. But when it comes to the Dorje Shugden issue, this view is thrown out of the window, and Shugden practitioners labelled bad for no good reason, or at least reasons that one cannot emerge victorious if an official debate is held to prove the validity of the practice.

At the moment, at the very least that I can request of all those Dorje Shugden haters, if you can’t accept logic and spiritual explanations that have been revealed clearly by Rinpoche in the many blog posts that Rinpoche have published… then please, at least conform to what the current norm and respect our Religious Freedom to practice. For that to happen, the ban on Dorje Shugden must be removed. Life is so short, dont choose to harm Dorje Shugden practitioners, we have done nothing to you.

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Our Lama vs the Dalai Lama – The Underlying Reasons For the Ban

Introduction

For Those Who Abandon The Practice

For Those Who Maintain The Practice

Conclusion

Kyabje Denma Gonsa Rinpoche on guru devotion

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