Videos Redressing the Misinformation About Dorje Shugden and the Tibetan Situation

Feb 5, 2024 | Views: 128,647
Behind-the-scenes photo of the video shooting. Click on image to enlarge.

Behind the scenes of the recent video shoot

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It is now coming to 22 years since the Dharamsala-based Tibetan government known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) went against the principles of its own democratic Constitution and banned the sacred practice of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. Not only was that act unlawful and unconstitutional, but it damaged the unity of the Tibetan people, the Tibetan Buddhist heritage and ultimately the Tibetan cause, which every single Tibetan person has literally lived for. What is strange is that everywhere the Tibetan leadership goes, they preach about Tibetan unity and yet, much of the quarrels and divisions within the Tibetan community in exile and in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) are perpetuated by CTA policies.

In the year of 2008 during a public teaching given by H.H. the Dalai Lama, he publicly condemn Dorje Shugden practitioners and has even ordered monasteries to expel monks who practise Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge. Click here to find out more about the incident.

During a public teaching in 2008, H.H. the Dalai Lama publicly condemned Dorje Shugden practitioners and gave clear instructions for the monasteries to expel monks who practise Dorje Shugden. Click here to find out more about the incident.

The CTA officially banned the Dorje Shugden practice in 1996. At first, some Tibetans believed the CTA’s reasons for the ban even though it did not make much sense to those who knew better. The deity that the CTA was disparaging was trusted and relied on by the most highly attained masters, abbots of great monasteries, erudite scholars and geshes over the centuries. They were precious vessels of the entire corpus of Buddhist practices including the Sutras and Tantras, and it is just not possible that they could have been right about everything else and wrong about Dorje Shugden. Could lamas like His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, one of the Dalai Lama’s two tutors, been correct about everything he taught to the Dalai Lama and wrong only about Dorje Shugden? This is not possible and just not logical.

An 84-year old monk was attacked by five masked men bearing knives. It all happened just because he practises Dorje Shugden. Click here to find out more.

Thus as the years went by, it became clear that the CTA’s reasons for the ban could not stand the test of reason and time. Contrary to the CTA’s promises, things failed to improve for the Tibetan community even after the ban was implemented, and yet the CTA persisted in this very harmful policy.

So while it would seem like the CTA’s religious ban has the people’s support, everyone knows that in reality the Tibetans were, and still are, simply too afraid to go against their leadership and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Anyone who dares raise questions about the CTA’s policies or way of doing things, or anyone who fails to toe the line and just do whatever the Tibetan leadership says soon finds that they have been declared to be ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ and a traitor to the Tibetan struggle. Sadly, this false accusation comes with the implied instruction for all ‘loyal’ Tibetan people to take punitive actions and teach the ‘traitors’ a lesson. It is solely because of this fear that few people dare to openly oppose the ban on Dorje Shugden.

Click on image to enlarge

Left to right: Seow Choong Liang, Phng Li Kim, Pastor David Lai and Abby Foo discussed the current state of Tibetan affairs.

In 2015, I started speaking about this controversy and appealing to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to end this religious ban. By then, there had already been a number of attempts by the CTA to change spiritual history and facts about the Dorje Shugden lineage. For example in 2016, the CTA’s Department of Information and International Relations released a 400-page publication called Shugden Protestors: Allegations versus Facts, together with a 13-minute video.

How a democratic government could use one of its departments featuring elected civil servants to interfere in religious matters and speak out against a religious belief is unheard of in any democratic nation. Can you imagine if former US President Obama had appeared in a video to speak out against voodooism, Zoroastrianism, Rastafarianism, witchcraft, paganism, Mormonism or any other religion? Whether or not the religion is good or bad is not up to a democratic government to decide; what a person chooses to believe in is totally up to them and elected officials shouldn’t be using public funds to speak up against their citizens’ personal faiths.

So my students felt it was very wrong for the CTA to do that and actually, many people do as well. When you speak to open-minded, normal, logical, educated people about this, you will find that even if they cannot understand the spiritual aspects of the conflict, all will agree that everyone has a right to pursue their own religious beliefs. So on their own accord my students decided to record and release a set of videos to correct the disinformation that was being spread in the CTA’s 2016 publication.

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

That was about one and a half years ago and as the CTA stubbornly continued with its Dorje Shugden ban, the fortunes of the Tibetan people in exile deteriorated. The Tibetan struggle has publicly lost support and even their previously steadfast supporters such as the USA and India have begun to distance themselves. It didn’t help that reputable media agencies started to discover and report many scandals created by the Tibetan government in exile and its officials, and the CTA’s top leaders continued with their infighting.

In the meantime, major geopolitical shifts occurred which compelled powerful nations to review their policies and make the necessary changes to survive and thrive. Even His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in his infinite wisdom and compassion, has begun to reach out to China, first by recognising and endorsing the China-backed Panchen Lama and then by advising the Tibetan people to stop thinking of China as the enemy. His Holiness has even asked his people to cease all conflicts based along regional and religious lines, which is very deeply-entrenched in the Tibetan psyche. But none of this will mean much if the CTA themselves do not follow through with changes in its thinking and behaviour. If the Tibetan people continue to see their leadership divided, and if their leadership continues to foster the disharmony themselves, then there will be no improvement in the Tibetan situation.

(Left to right): Martin Chow, Pastor Khong Jean Ai and Phng Li Kim. Click on image to enlarge.

Left to right: Martin Chow, Pastor Khong Jean Ai and Phng Li Kim discussed two hot topics – the Dalai Lama’s recognition of the Chinese-backed Panchen Lama and the allegation that Dorje Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies.

As the CTA prepares to celebrate the 58th Anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day in September 2018, my students felt that it is an important and opportune time to address issues that continue to undermine the Tibetan people’s lives and divide the global Tibetan Buddhist community. Their latest series of videos again redresses the damaging disinformation that the CTA has spread which fosters disharmony between Shugden-worshipping Tibetans and those who oppose the practice based on the wrong information that they have been given. This series of videos also carries with it their appeal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to intervene before it’s too late and their highest wishes for the Tibetan people.

Truly, the Tibetan people in exile are losing time and opportunities fast and it seems the Tibetan leadership are doing very little to correct it. If this continues, my worries for them will continue. I offer my prayers that unity will be restored, and for a new hope and harmonious future to be carved out of this mountain of despair that has pressed down upon the Tibetan people for far too long. I also want to thank everyone who was involved in the project – the speakers, film crew, management team, sponsors and volunteers. It always touches my heart when people speak up against injustice and misinformation out of their compassion. Please watch these videos carefully and share them with your friends. The more people are aware of the truth behind the Dorje Shugden ban and Tibetan leadership’s machinations, the quicker these divides can be healed and everyone can enjoy peace and harmony. I always wish His Holiness the Dalai Lama the best and long life as well as my deepest respects and the Tibetan people’s aspirations are fulfilled.

Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche

My student, Li Kim, is a professional television host and I'm told she hosted this series of Dorje Shugden videos very well.

My student, Li Kim, is a professional television host and I’m told she presented this series of Dorje Shugden videos very well.

 


 

#1: Insights into Tsem Rinpoche’s open letter to
H.H. the Dalai Lama

As the Dorje Shugden ban continues to lay waste to the Tibetan community worldwide and force old and new adherents to Tibetan Buddhism into conflict, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche wrote a heartfelt open letter to H.H. the Dalai Lama urging him to abolish the Dorje Shugden ban that has been raging for over two decades.

Ooi Beng Kooi who is Tsem Rinpoche’s changtso (ཕྱག་མཛོད་) and close student speaks to celebrity host Phng Li Kim about why such an appeal has become necessary. This conversation also offers insights into the Dorje Shugden controversy from the perspective of Tsem Rinpoche, that may well offer solutions to end this unholy divide that has plagued Tibetan Buddhism for far too long.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSInterview1.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #1

Li Kim: Hi Beng Kooi.

Beng Kooi: Hello Li Kim.

Li Kim: I’m Li Kim and I would like to introduce you to Ooi Beng Kooi who has been a student of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche for about how long now?

Beng Kooi: Coming on 11 years now.

Li Kim: Okay. Beng Kooi works closely with His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche and I think for this session here we will refer to Rinpoche lovingly as just ‘Rinpoche’. I understand that you work very closely with Rinpoche and you hold many positions in Kechara and you are devoted to the work that Rinpoche does.

I am very interested and I think many people are as well. On Rinpoche’s blog dated April 30th 2018, Rinpoche wrote an open letter, an appeal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Of course the letter’s on the blog. I think from the perspective of one of Rinpoche’s assistants who works closely with him, what do you think is the sentiment of Rinpoche when he wrote that letter?

Beng Kooi: Well Li Kim, for those who follow Rinpoche’s blog closely, they will see that for about two, three years now Rinpoche has been consistently writing, speaking, recording videos and giving teachings about Dorje Shugden. And more specifically, also addressing the injustice, the discrimination and the segregation that Dorje Shugden practitioners face.

So this open letter is not the first appeal that Rinpoche has made to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There have been others over the past couple of years. But perhaps this is the first time that Rinpoche has so directly, yet extremely respectfully, addressed His Holiness in this manner. And the objective of that is to lift the ban or reduce the discrimination, the segregation that Shugden practitioners all over the world face.

Li Kim: When I read it, the appeal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama was very clear and very direct to heal the divide among the Tibetan people, especially the Dorje Shugden practitioners and the non-Dorje Shugden practitioners. So many letters have been written to the Dalai Lama what, since 1996?

Beng Kooi: Yes. The first I think, the original ones probably came from the Dorje Shugden Society in Delhi, which was the first Shugden society ever established. And yes, they did send in many letters of appeal to His Holiness, to the Indian government and, if I’m not mistaken, to many other international societies around the world appealing for an end to the discrimination that they faced. Unfortunately, those letters were not particularly successful.

Others have also attempted through many other different approaches, different channels. There have been peaceful demonstrations held around the world in the West, in Europe, as well as in America.

Li Kim: Following the Dalai Lama when he does his teachings worldwide.

Beng Kooi: Yes, there have been a series of those. There was also a court case in the Indian courts taken against His Holiness in an attempt to use Indian law to end the discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners. That was a number of years ago as well.

Li Kim: There is something that I think many people perhaps ask and maybe you can shed some light. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the teachers of Rinpoche. And obviously by keeping his choice of practising Dorje Shugden, he is on opposite sides of the Dalai Lama. But yet Rinpoche has never once spoken harshly or badly against the Dalai Lama. In fact he still holds the Dalai Lama in such high regard. How does His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche balance this? It’s obvious that the Dalai Lama says, “No, you cannot practise.” And given all the resolutions, you know, against this, how does Tsem Rinpoche manage this? It must be emotional.

Beng Kooi: It’s very difficult. Rinpoche finds himself in a difficult position, kind of like between a rock and a hard place. In 1979 in Washington, New Jersey, Rinpoche received teachings on the Eight Verses of Mind Transformation as well as the oral transmission of the Mani mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And since young, Rinpoche has always had a natural respect, devotion to His Holiness even before meeting him. And that continues till today.

So it is without a doubt that Rinpoche has tremendous devotion for His Holiness. But at the same time, His Holiness is not Rinpoche’s root guru. Rinpoche’s root guru is His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche whom Rinpoche met in Los Angeles and from whom Rinpoche has received many, many teachings, initiations, transmissions, including the practice of Dorje Shugden and sogtae, which is loosely translated as ‘life entrustment’. So in essence, that is a commitment that Rinpoche has made to his root guru, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, which he cannot break.

So there are two things at play here. One is that there is a specific commitment that has been made to his root guru to uphold this practice. And so, by the principles of guru devotion which are foundational in Tibetan Buddhism especially, one cannot go against the promises or commitments that one has made. And that’s understood by everyone including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

So what you have here is a situation whereby His Holiness has given advice that people should refrain from the practice of Dorje Shugden for a number of reasons which I’ll not go into right now, there are too many.

Li Kim: And it would start a whole new discussion.

Beng Kooi: Yes. And at the same time His Holiness has said that those who choose to maintain their practice of Shugden despite his advice should not attend any of his secular or spiritual talks. So what Rinpoche has chosen to do is to definitely keep up his practice to which he has made a very strong commitment already, and as closely as possible follow His Holiness’s advice. And Rinpoche does not attend any of His Holiness’s talks although he very much wishes to.

Li Kim: I know. In the open letter, the part that made me want to cry was when Rinpoche wrote to the Dalai Lama and said that many people miss attending the Dalai Lama’s teachings and seeing the Dalai Lama. And then Rinpoche wrote, “I know I do.” You know, and he misses it so much.

Beng Kooi: Oh yes. There’s a common misconception out there that those who practise Dorje Shugden are against His Holiness but that’s absolutely not true. And in Rinpoche’s case, definitely not. I’ve heard in private audiences, non-public events, Rinpoche has expressed himself many, many times how much he genuinely misses His Holiness. And the one thing he would like very much is to heal this divide that separates Shugden and anti-Shugden practitioners. It’s quite an unfortunate situation.

Li Kim: Yes.

Beng Kooi: One more thing I would like to add actually, is that Rinpoche has 16 gurus and the majority of them actually practised Dorje Shugden.
Li Kim: In fact when, I think if I’m not mistaken, when Rinpoche met His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time, the Dalai Lama himself was still practising Dorje Shugden.

Beng Kooi: Oh yes.

Li Kim: Why write it now? And is there a higher chance now that perhaps the Dalai Lama will do something?

Beng Kooi: Well, it’s interesting you ask that. Rinpoche wrote the letter in April, on April 30th. And the month of April has seen many interesting events happening in the international scene. We have North and South Korea.

Li Kim: Yes, that’s pretty amazing.

Beng Kooi: Yes. And we have what looks like the beginnings of an improved relationship, or improving relationship, between India and China. And we also see His Holiness expressing fairly consistently since about, since last year actually, since November last year or so that he would like very much to return to China. And His Holiness has even sent his personal emissary on a private visit to China, possibly to have talks on how His Holiness and the Tibetan people can return. And most recently on April 25th, His Holiness has for the first time acknowledged the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu as the official Panchen Lama.

So there seems to be this general tone of reconciliation. There seems to be a trend of His Holiness wanting to heal the divide between himself, the Tibetan people and the people of China. And so it is as good a time as any, really, for Rinpoche to make this impassioned appeal to His Holiness. Because what many people don’t understand is that His Holiness is the ultimate spiritual authority for most Tibetans, perhaps even all Tibetans. And in 1996 when the ban first began, it was on the words of a single person which is His Holiness. So it goes to reason that only His Holiness can lift the ban, if you like, or completely remove the discrimination that Shugden practitioners currently face, by just making an announcement, by just addressing his people to say that, “Dorje Shugden practice is okay.”

Li Kim: Yes.

Beng Kooi: “And we don’t need to do anything about it. Let’s bring the Tibetan people together.” And this is what Rinpoche would really like.

Li Kim: Similarly like how His Holiness at the airport just says that, “He’s the official Panchen Lama.” Just one simple statement has already, more or less, kind of resolved one issue.

Beng Kooi: Well, perhaps not resolved it entirely but it’s definitely a good beginning.

Li Kim: An opening to a solution rather than further conflict. Can you explain deeper why His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche would put himself out there with regards to this whole Dorje Shugden issue? Isn’t he kind of exposing himself to be criticised, ridiculed just like how other Dorje Shugden practitioners are discriminated against?

Beng Kooi: Yes, definitely Rinpoche has faced more than his fair share of attacks, criticism, threats and all that. If you go online, you’ll see what people are saying, the vulgarities and all that. You’ll see that.

Li Kim: The name-calling and everything.

Beng Kooi: Oh yes. But I think why Rinpoche does this, Rinpoche’s purpose is very, very clear. Apart from what I’ve said before about Rinpoche wanting to heal this divide between the Shugden and non-Shugden practitioners, Rinpoche has a bigger purpose in mind as well. Where we are today with the current situation, any Dorje Shugden practitioner is automatically thought of in negative terms, whether it is as demon worshippers or…

Li Kim: Chinese dogs, Chinese spies.

Beng Kooi: Chinese dogs, Chinese spies.

Li Kim: Yes.

Beng Kooi: As misguided.

Li Kim: Ignorant.

Beng Kooi: Ignorant and so on. These mistaken accusations follow Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world. And more importantly, it also affects the good name of the Dorje Shugden lamas, for example the reincarnation of His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who was the junior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. So his current reincarnation lives in Vermont in Trijang Buddhist Institute. There are many others as well, for example His Eminence Domo Geshe Rinpoche, His Eminence Zemey Rinpoche. I mean, I could go on. There are many, many Dorje Shugden lamas out there in the world.

And the thing is, Dorje Shugden is actually a relatively minor practice. He is a Dharma Protector and his function and his purpose is to guide and protect practitioners along their spiritual path. But the main practice of Tibetan Buddhism is really to practise mind transformation, to practise the Lamrim, to practise the higher teachings like Yamataka, Vajrayogini, Guhyasamaja and so on.

So these lineage lamas who also happen to practise Dorje Shugden have tremendous knowledge to give to students and followers, have tremendous benefits to bring to the world. But unfortunately due to the situation, the Dorje Shugden situation, they are not able to.

Li Kim: Yes.

Beng Kooi: So Rinpoche has taken it upon himself to clear the name of Dorje Shugden, and in the process clearing the name of what we now term as Dorje Shugden lamas, who are actually just high lamas.

Li Kim: Yes.

Beng Kooi: So that they can fulfill the purpose for which they took rebirth which is to benefit…

Li Kim: Many, many…

Beng Kooi: Many, many, many people. So that’s really what Rinpoche is here to do. And Rinpoche is at the perfect age to do so. Many of the reincarnated lamas whom I mentioned, they’re still…

Li Kim: Young.

Beng Kooi: Young. They’re finishing up their education. The senior lamas, many of them have already passed on. And so Rinpoche is really at the perfect age and has been exposed to the traditions of both East and West, fully understands the Tibetan psyche, has lived in the monasteries, understands how Tibetans as well as non-Tibetans think, and can speak fluently in English, in Tibetan, and therefore is perfectly positioned, I would say, to do this.

Li Kim: I think what you’ve shared will give more light to many people in terms of how Rinpoche thinks and the bigger picture that he sees. Thank you for that.

Beng Kooi: What I’ve also been told by friends in Tibetan society is that many young Tibetans as well as older Tibetans have been listening to Rinpoche’s talks, going on tsemrinpoche.com which is where many of Rinpoche’s thoughts are published as well as the thoughts of his students. And many have written in or said – anonymously, most of the time – that these teachings really help them understand what is going on. And it gives them hope…

Li Kim: And comfort…

Beng Kooi: And comfort. For those who have suffered tremendously over the last 22 years since the ban began, they find comfort that someone is speaking out for them. For those who have been confused, they find that they begin to understand what is happening and not just listen to what…

Li Kim: Propaganda is out there.


Beng Kooi: Yes.

Li Kim: One-sided…

Beng Kooi: But to really examine what’s going on. And then, through logic and facts, think for themselves what’s right and what’s wrong, if you like.

Li Kim: Like you said, you know, Rinpoche is at the perfect age and position where his methods of delivering messages and having people think logically, and making sound decisions or wise decisions, he appeals to both the young and the older generations. He kind of fills this gap.

Beng Kooi: Yes. And what people say as well is that they really appreciate how Rinpoche is extremely respectful to His Holiness and I think that’s something any Tibetan can identify with. And so it’s also very encouraging for us, the students of Kechara, to hear that what we are doing is having some effect out there.

Li Kim: Not just some. I think a lot of effect. I think that many people out there, there are millions of viewers and visitors to Rinpoche’s blog, so I don’t think it’s a little effect. I think it’s pretty substantial. And the work of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche does and indeed reaches out to many, many people giving them understanding, giving them comfort and sometimes humour.

Beng Kooi: Definitely.

Li Kim: Yes. Alright, thank you very much for your time.

Beng Kooi: You’re welcome. It was a pleasure.

Close transcript


 

#2: What the Dalai Lama’s recognition of the
China-backed Panchen Lama really means

For over 20 years, H.H. the Dalai Lama’s government in exile and various governments of the world have referred to the alleged abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as proof of China’s abuses of human rights. Further, many claim that the candidate installed by the Chinese government as the 11th Panchen Lama is not legitimate.

In a recent and startling statement by His Holiness, it would appear that a divine play has been at work all this while, both with the Panchen Lama issue and the Dorje Shugden controversy. In this video, Phng Li Kim, Pastor Khong Jean Ai and Martin Chow discuss the significance of the Dalai Lama’s uncommon wisdom.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSPanchenLama2.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #2

Li Kim: Hi I’m Li Kim. Today I have with me Pastor Khong Jean Ai and Mr Martin Chow. We are going to talk to you about a very interesting video taken as the Dalai Lama arrived at Kangra Airport in Dharamsala on April 25th, 2018 which happened to coincide with the 29th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In this video you will see and hear the Dalai Lama recognise for the first time the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu as the official Panchen Lama. Before we go further into the significance and importance of this video, Martin would you like to share a bit of the background of the Panchen Lama?

Martin: Sure Li Kim. The Panchen Lama commands a very prominent position in the minds of the Tibetan people and indeed Tibetan Buddhism. The Panchen Lama is widely regarded as being the emanation of the Buddha Amitabha, just like the Dalai Lama is recognised as being the emanation of the Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. In that sense, both are Buddhas and therefore the Panchen Lama is the spiritual equal of the Dalai Lama.

The lineage of the Panchen Lama began in the 17th century with a teacher of the 5th Dalai Lama. Now what is important to remember is that when the Dalai Lama escaped Tibet in 1959, the Panchen Lama – then the 10th Panchen Lama – chose to remain behind in Tibet because he realised that the Tibetan people who could not escape and who were forced to remain in Tibet would be without a leader. So he chose to remain in Tibet so that he could be of comfort to the minds of the Tibetan people who were going under tremendous stress at the time. And being in Tibet also meant that he could be of help directly to the Tibetan people.

Now it is very well known that the 10th Panchen Lama suffered tremendously and even spent some time in prison. But over time, he was able to win the confidence of the Chinese government and in that way, he was able to create better conditions for the Tibetan people. And then along the way too, he was able to help revive Tibetan Buddhism slowly.

So you see, the Panchen Lama is actually a very important position in Tibetan Buddhism and the Panchen Lama to the people in Tibet and China is what the Dalai Lama is to the people or to the Tibetans in exile. What is also significant about the Panchen Lama is that the Panchen Lamas are responsible for recognising the Dalai Lamas and vice versa. So, in the absence of the Dalai Lama, this is a very, very important position.

Li Kim: Right, so to put it quite simply, the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama are of equal significance among the Tibetan Buddhist community. Now that we’ve understood a little bit about the role of the Panchen Lama, how about Pastor Jean Ai you elaborate further on this controversy that surrounds the Panchen Lama role?

Pastor Jean Ai: The controversy that you’re referring to centres on the fact that there are two Panchen Lama candidates, one that was recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. And after this young boy was recognised in May of 1995, he subsequently disappeared a few days later and for the last 22 years, his whereabouts have remained unknown. Some maintain that he has been under house arrest, others say that he has been killed.

The other candidate was recognised by China using traditional methods as well as the Chinese leadership’s independent methods. His name is Gyaltsen Norbu and he was recognised and enthroned in November of 1995.

So this year, when the Dalai Lama made his statements in this particular video, it was done on the 29th birthday of the Dalai Lama’s candidate Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. And to this day, the boy, as I mentioned, his whereabouts have remained unknown and the pro-Tibet groups maintain that he is the world’s youngest political prisoner.

The pro-Tibet groups have also used this entire controversy to vilify the Chinese government, to make them look bad for violating human rights. But what the Dalai Lama has said in his video actually is a change in stance because all along His Holiness has also maintained – staunchly maintained – that the Panchen Lama candidate he recognised is the real one and the one that was recognised by China is fake.

Li Kim: Right. I guess the next question, or relevant question, to ask you is looking at the video taken on April 25th, what are the significant key points that this video highlights?

Pastor Jean Ai: The first significant key point is His Holiness the Dalai Lama saying that the Panchen Lama candidate he recognised is alive and well and receiving a good education. What is significant about this is His Holiness also added that he received this information from reliable sources so he believes it.

The second thing that His Holiness also said, which was very significant in the video, was referring to the Chinese-backed Panchen Lama as the official Panchen Lama. And His Holiness also added that this Panchen Lama is receiving a good education from a good teacher, therefore validating and legitimising the education that he is currently receiving.

Now, His Holiness also threw in into the video a third point which maybe not many people may have picked up on, and what His Holiness actually did was refer to an example of a lama who lived over a century ago, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. And the Dalai Lama referred to Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo as an example of how an incarnation of a lama may have more than one emanation existing at the same time.

So Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, after he passed away, his subsequent reincarnation actually had five emanations which were the body, speech, mind, quality and activity emanations. And these five emanations were Dzongsar Khyentse, the 1st Palpung (Beru) Khyentse Rinpoche, Dzogchen Khyentse, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro. And of these five emanations, it is the mind emanation that will then ascend to the seat of that particular lineage.

Now what is interesting about the five emanations I’ve just mentioned is that the last one, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, after he passed away, his subsequent incarnation also had three emanations at the same time. So it is not just within the Gelug tradition or with the Panchen Lamas that a lama’s incarnation can have more than one emanation existing at the same time. The Dalai Lama was not asked about this in his video, in the interview, but he chose to throw it in anyway.

Li Kim: It was a significant point to throw in and I’m sure that normal journalists who are just covering news would not pick up on this. I think you would require a deep sense of spiritual knowledge in order to pick up the significance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama bringing up this point. Martin, would you like to add to the significance of this video?

Martin: Yes. You see, it also means that the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile known as the CTA, has been wrong for over 20 years about this issue, that they did not consider the possibility that there could be more than one emanation. And this is the government that is supposed to look after all matters to do with Tibetan Buddhism and have been advised by monks of different lineages.

For the last 20-plus years, they have maintained that the Chinese Panchen Lama is a fake Panchen Lama. And not only that, the CTA website Tibet.net is littered with a lot of literature and articles that criticise the Chinese Panchen Lama and basically ridicule China for having recognised the false Panchen Lama.

And not only have the CTA maintained that, they have rallied leaders, people, corporations and different nations behind this accusation. And they all now look quite foolish, frankly, because as the Dalai Lama has confirmed, the Chinese Panchen Lama is equally as legitimate as the candidate the Dalai Lama recognised back in 1995, that there can be more than one Panchen Lama.

Li Kim: Pastor Jean Ai, in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, I think that the 11th Panchen Lama’s role now having indication that there are two emanations, I think that in the past, in history too, that not only this role has many emanations. I think there are more that have several emanations?

Pastor Jean Ai: You’re right. Actually it concerns his immediate predecessor which is the previous 10th Panchen Lama. And it’s very well known that when the search was on for the reincarnation of the 9th Panchen Lama, that two boys were actually identified and recognised as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. But only the mind emanation, or the principal emanation, ascended to occupy the throne of the Panchen Lama.

So in the end both boys were recognised as reincarnations of the 9th Panchen Lama. One ascended to the throne of the 10th Panchen Lama whilst the other one was recognised as Panchen Otrul or “emanation of Panchen”.

And there’s a little anecdote that our teacher His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche has shared with us before, also concerning His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama and it centres on a teaching. So His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama was in a teaching once and he started laughing for no apparent reason. There was no joke being told, nothing funny was being done, no one was doing anything funny and the Panchen Lama just started laughing. So when people asked him, “Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?” His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama said, “Oh, one of my emanations somewhere else is doing something funny.”

So you can see that within the Panchen Lama lineage that there are also various, further examples whereby more than one emanation of that particular incarnation was existing at the same time. And it’s not just scripturally or within Tibet’s history that you see this incident of more than one emanation existing at the same time. Even Hollywood has picked up on this phenomena and in Bernardo Bertolucci’s film “Little Buddha”, the title character Lama Dorje, after he passes away, his subsequent incarnation actually comes back as three emanations: body, speech and mind.

And what’s interesting about this film as well, is that Bernardo Bertolucci, he hired as an advisor to the film one of the Khyentse incarnations, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche who was an advisor to the film to make sure that it was philosophically and historically accurate. So you see it within pop culture, you see it within “ancient” times, you see it within more modern times that there are multiple examples over different lineages, in different situations whereby these incarnations can come back as multiple emanations.

Li Kim: Therefore, it is not uncommon.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: Which means that now with the Dalai Lama recognising the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama as well as the one recognised by His Holiness himself, is not uncommon and therefore it would be very believable and should not have any more further dispute, yes?

Okay, one thing I’m quite curious about, Martin, is if you watch the video, nobody asked the Dalai Lama any question, any clarification. Nobody said, “So who’s the real Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama?” Nobody did. Yet, the Dalai Lama took the opportunity and brought this up himself. So, and I think that in itself is what’s making this video groundbreaking news, you know, shaking up the Tibetan and the Tibetan Buddhist community. What is the meaning there?

Martin: Well Li Kim, that is a very good observation. Now there are a few views that one can take with regard to this situation. We can say, which is a very simplistic view, that the Dalai Lama made a mistake in 1995 and recognised the wrong candidate which the Dalai Lama is now correcting. But that’s just way too simplistic.

Another very mundane view says that the Dalai Lama is simply saying whatever is necessary and taking whatever actions he needs to, to appease the Chinese government so that he can go home.

There is a third possibility and we have to remember that the Dalai Lama is not an ordinary person. He is, after all, a statesperson who has, for the last 60 years, been able to keep the Tibetan cause afloat without an army, without financial might and even without a country. And yet he’s been able to muster such tremendous support for his struggle and for the struggle of the Tibetan people.

We have to also remember that the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig, or rather the emanation of the Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. And in Tibetan Buddhism, there is this concept called ‘skillful means’ which means something or an action undertaken by a very highly-attained lama or enlightened mind which appears to be harmful or wrong at the beginning, but ultimately creates tremendous benefits for the people and for Tibetan Buddhism.

And I think this is what it is – that in 1995, the Dalai Lama recognised one candidate, one reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. We’ve already seen that there can be more than one reincarnation and it is not an unusual phenomena.

So in recognising and appearing to announce prematurely his candidate for the 11th Panchen Lama, the Dalai Lama actually created a situation where the Chinese government would then go out and look for the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, to throw their support behind this candidate, to develop and to build and to really rebuild the institution of the Panchen Lama in the embodiment of the 11th Panchen Lama. And in so doing, because the Panchen Lama does not exist in a vacuum, what the Dalai Lama actually managed to do was to get the Chinese government to rebuild Tibetan Buddhism along with it. And it is an extremely skillful way of doing that.

Li Kim: It’s like, how I would summarise it is like, a divine intervention for a much bigger cause that, perhaps, a layperson could not see.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: So and obviously now it is materialising and with the assistance of both of you putting this video into a much deeper context, people can now start to see the significance of what the Dalai Lama did.

So, understanding all this – skillful means, multiple emanations and the Dalai Lama on television recognising the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama, all this wraps up to something huge and significant. So where do you see this forward movement in terms of the Tibetan community and the Tibetan Buddhist community as well?

Pastor Jean Ai: Well, I think what is important is to take this video and put it into the context of what is happening in the wider Tibetan community at the moment. And what we’re seeing now is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is making an increasing number of overtures towards the Chinese leadership and talking much, much more about going back to Tibet.

The first example we saw was in the form of sending his personal emissary and personal representative, Samdhong Rinpoche, to China. It was a secret trip and presumably when he negotiated something with the Chinese leadership. This trip was confirmed by Samdhong Rinpoche’s counterpart, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan people Lobsang Sangay as well as a number of Indian diplomats.

The second form of overture that we’re seeing now towards the Chinese leadership is the fact that His Holiness has changed his political goals from one of rangzen which is total independence, to now one which is umaylam which is meaningful autonomy but under the rule of China. So even there His Holiness is making concessions in terms of the political goals of the Tibetan exiled community.

In the case of this video related to the Panchen Lama, when His Holiness actually recognises the Chinese-backed Panchen Lama as the official one, he is actually removing a thorn, a very large thorn, that has been in the side of the Chinese leadership for the last 22 years. Because this Panchen Lama controversy has been one of the pro-Tibet group’s largest campaigns and one that they’ve used very, very commonly and very often to vilify the Chinese leadership.

Now what I want to do is draw back on something that Martin had said earlier, and that’s regarding the symbiotic relationship between the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama where both lamas recognise one another’s incarnations. What you’re seeing now in the present situation is, well, what we’re left with is this – on the one hand, you have the Tibetans in exile who have no Panchen Lama in order to recognise the 15th Dalai Lama. And on the other hand, you’ve got China who has a Panchen Lama candidate who will be able to recognise the 15th Dalai Lama.

In this case, the Tibetan leadership in exile have no means, or no method or way of recognising a 15th Dalai Lama candidate according to the traditional system where they will need a Panchen Lama candidate to do so. In this situation actually, there are many ramifications, the first of which is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has actually begun the process of legitimising whoever China selects as the 15th Dalai Lama.

The second one is that the Tibetans in exile are now left without a leader once His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama passes away, a leader whom they would need to spearhead whatever political campaigns that they have. And if they press ahead with the recognition of their own 15th Dalai Lama candidate without a Panchen Lama to kind of legitimise this candidate, the whole recognition process is going to be one of confusion and a lot of discussion and debate and argument.

The third ramification is therefore, that His Holiness is in essence giving up the Tibetans in exile’s future and pushing it further and further under Chinese control. At the moment what we’re seeing is that China now actually has both Panchen Lama candidates under them, both the Dalai Lama-recognised candidate as well as their own.

And the fourth ramification is that it’s very disheartening for pro-Tibet groups to listen and hear what His Holiness has actually said in his video regarding the Panchen Lama. Because they’ve spent the last…well, over two decades campaigning very strongly and throwing a lot of resources and raising a lot of awareness to try and so-called “free” their Panchen Lama candidate, free him from house arrest. Now that the Dalai Lama has said that his Panchen Lama candidate is alive and well and he’s receiving a good education, in essence there is no more such campaign anymore.

Li Kim: He has basically nullified 22 years of campaigning about how wrong the Chinese are in dealing with the Panchen Lama recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Pastor Jean Ai: Removed one of the means by which the pro-Tibet groups have used to make China look bad.

Li Kim: So, in light of all these ramifications, it would look as though the future 15th Dalai Lama would be in the hands of the Chinese as well.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: And if the current Tibetan government does not, how do I say, find ways to reconcile with China, to reach out and find positive means to get things working with them, we’re going to have a big group of Tibetans outside of Tibet, China living without a leader and probably ending up going everywhere else. And then the Tibetan community further, shall we say, disintegrates into small pockets of…

Pastor Jean Ai: Scatters

Li Kim: Scatters. Yes, ‘scatters’ would be a better word than ‘disintegrate’. It is quite troubling, if we understand deeply, what will happen to the future of the Tibetans.

So Pastor Jean Ai, after you have highlighted the four ramifications of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s actions with the Panchen Lama, it might even lead us to start thinking, what else could be happening here? Given the fact, what Martin had said earlier, that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not any ordinary person and that there are skillful ways in the actions he takes, so I’m starting to ask if this perhaps is also another form of a skillful way, whereby perhaps the Dalai Lama could be paving the way to return to China gradually but surely. Is that a possibility?

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes, that’s certainly a possibility. It may be that His Holiness, who actually sadly is losing quite a lot of influence and popularity on a global level, is now making a final play to return to Tibet before he no longer has much influence in this relationship between China and India that we’re seeing is growing and that we’re seeing is becoming more positive.

Li Kim: Right, I think everything is a possibility when you take into account the powers of the divine and how they interact and how things will play out. So, talking about how things will play out, where do you see this huge development with the recognition of the Chinese Panchen Lama going? How do you see this impacting the Dorje Shugden issue?

Pastor Jean Ai: So Li Kim, how I see this impacting the Shugden community is that the Dalai Lama has softened his stance on many things over the last few years, most recently now with the Panchen Lama issue. Now with the Panchen Lama issue, it affects all Tibetans because it concerns Tibet’s second highest lama. And therefore, for the Shugden community, what we are thinking is that if His Holiness can reverse his hardline stance on the Chinese Panchen Lama and accept him as the official Panchen Lama, there is a possibility and it brings hope to the fact that His Holiness may also similarly reverse his stance on the Shugden ban.

Martin: I would like to add to Pastor Jean Ai’s point, if I may. Both the Panchen Lama’s case and the Dorje Shugden issue have a very close similarity. In both cases, you see that there’s a pattern of the Dalai Lama first creating what seems to be a controversy. So, in 1995 when the Dalai Lama created what I would refer to as the Panchen controversy, it resulted in China investing heavily in promoting the institution of the Panchen Lama which has since been revived. And in that way, Tibetan Buddhism was revived in China.

Now in the same way, the Dalai Lama created a controversy surrounding the Dorje Shugden issue. As a result, the name ‘Dorje Shugden’ spread everywhere. In fact wherever the Dalai Lama went in the world, the name ‘Dorje Shugden’ would follow. And when people research and look into who this Dorje Shugden is, then this is how they become connected with the deity. So you see this very skilful pattern that the Dalai Lama first created what seemed to be controversies but both resulted in the tremendous spread of Tibetan Buddhism.

Now, perhaps the Dalai Lama has seen how Tibetan Buddhism has been revived in China and so it is time now, with this recent announcement, to put an end to the Panchen Lama controversy. Similarly, perhaps it is time for the Dalai Lama to also put an end to the Dorje Shugden controversy because after all, the Dorje Shugden lineage has in fact spread very, very much in the last two decades.

And after all, it doesn’t make sense for the Dalai Lama to now say the Chinese Panchen Lama is the correct one, is the main emanation, is the official Panchen Lama and then go on to say that this emanation of Amitabha, however, is a demon practitioner. It doesn’t make sense to say, “This is the right Panchen Lama, but he is wrong in his practice of Dorje Shugden”. So probably it is high time for the Dalai Lama to reverse his stance on the Dorje Shugden issue which has created tremendous problems and suffering for a lot of people around the world.

Li Kim: Thank you Martin and of course Pastor Jean Ai. The both of you have jointly given us a much deeper understanding to this video taken on April 25th, 2018 and the significance of what the Dalai Lama did in that video, what he said. The actions of the Dalai Lama with regards to recognising the Chinese Panchen Lama is huge. It’s tremendously significant. I think we have not even begun to grasp the magnitude of his actions.

Ladies and gentlemen, after what was shared here by Martin and Pastor Jean Ai, it is our wish to shed more light and depth into this video, into what His Holiness the Dalai Lama did by recognising the Chinese Panchen Lama as the official Panchen Lama. What does that all mean? Maybe the true meaning and essence may not materialise immediately, but we hope that what has been shared here will facilitate your understanding of it.

The Tibetan community is plagued by division. Lots of infighting. You have rangzen versus umaylam. You have Lobsang Sangay versus Penpa Tsering. You have U-tsangpas versus Khampas, this Karmapa versus that Karmapa, and of course Dorje Shugden versus non-Dorje Shugden. Till what end will there be more things to be disharmonious about? There is enough suffering in the world and I don’t think that the Tibetan community needs to add on more.

With the actions of the Dalai Lama now, the Tibetan people and, more importantly, the Tibetan government needs to have a look at the true essence of unity, harmony and the true essence of practising what the Dalai Lama preaches which is compassion. End the divides and start with ending the Dorje Shugden ban. If today the Dalai Lama can reverse his stand on the Chinese Panchen Lama, similarly and instantaneously he can do the same with the ban. And on that note, I thank you for watching and may all Dorje Shugden practitioners pray for that to happen.

Close transcript


 

#3: The sad truth about the Tibetan state of affairs

It has been almost 60 years since the Tibetan people lost their homeland. In that time, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has pursued a strategy of singular reliance on H.H. the Dalai Lama to muster the support of global governments to help the CTA regain Tibet.

It is a strategy that has been proven to be unsuccessful and yet the CTA appears unable to adjust its thinking to meet new challenges. They have persisted in their failed strategy despite losing traction for the Tibetan cause thanks to financial scandals instigated by CTA officials themselves, as well as poor handling of public relations, insensitivity towards the citizens of their various host nations, and recent shifts in geopolitics.

This video discusses some of the CTA’s ineptitudes and more ignoble practices that have resulted in the Tibetan people in exile facing an increasingly bleak future.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSSadTruth3.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #3

Li Kim: Hi, I’m Li Kim. And today I have with me three friends, Choong, Pastor David and Abby. What we’re going to talk about is interesting. It’s basically the state of Tibetan affairs. So let’s see, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and since then he’s been championing the cause of a “Free Tibet” which I understand as China to return Tibet to him, back to him and his government, right? 59 years later, we haven’t seen…I mean there is progress but maybe not about that cause. They’re not close to getting back Tibet, and things aren’t as rosy as everyone would like it to be. So, I think it’d be a good time now for us to kind of like talk about what’s going now in Tibet, what’s happening with the Tibetans and what it looks like for the future.

Choong: Yes, things have certainly changed from when the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959. It looks like when he first fled Tibet to India, and I think it was President Nehru who welcomed him to India at that time, the reason for India and the Western countries receiving him in a very friendly way…

Li Kim: Open arms, kinda like…

Choong: Open arms, welcoming him and in later years making him like the icon of peace, compassion, human rights, was because, if you remember, the Western countries were fighting against communists back then. So in supporting the Dalai Lama, in welcoming him, in making him an icon, the West was actually indirectly having this war of words, war of…

Li Kim: War of words? Okay…

Choong: War of words, war of image, that they were holding a higher moral ground compared with China or even Russia at that point in time.

Li Kim: Okay so, you’re saying that taking a higher moral ground, they used… I mean, for lack of a better word, right? They used the Dalai Lama as the, what did you say? Icon, mascot?

Choong: Icon, victim.

Li Kim: Victim. Okay, so that they all kind of look good championing him. But the thing is, I don’t think anyone sent in any…

Abby: Troops?

Li Kim: Troops to help, like, “Come, let us work with you. Let’s take back your land from China.” I don’t think so. Why is that?

Pastor David: That’s because, it’s very simple. That time, especially prior to the takeover…

Li Kim: Don’t you like the word ‘invasion’?

Choong: Invasion (laughter)

Li Kim: So hostile.

Pastor David: So what happened was before that, Tibet was relatively a hermit country, kingdom ruled by the Dalai Lama and so they had hardly any international relations with any countries. So when the takeover came, invasion whatever it is you would call it…

Li Kim: When they lost their land.

Pastor David: Exactly. So when they asked for help, no one came to their aid, unfortunately. They didn’t see that there was a need or they didn’t know much about Tibet. It was this mysterious place. So what happened was nobody came. So in the end, what happened was the Dalai Lama himself had to flee Tibet to exile into India. From there, he started his campaign to free Tibet which, from the start, it was easy because he had, as Choong had mentioned, his moral high ground and he had the world supporting him, especially the Western countries, the free world as they say, against communism. So there was some kind of a background, a backdrop of moral support.

Li Kim: So he was kind of like…so what the both of you are saying is, they used the situation with China taking over Tibet and this monk having to run and hide, so to speak, so they used that situation to kind of poke at China for being…what? Lack of human rights?

Choong: Yes. Remember, also during that same decade, what was happening in Southeast Asia was that America was involved first in the Viet Nam war and then in the Korean war. So they were too busy, they didn’t have resources to spread around. You know, the circumstances at that point in time, like Pastor David said, Tibet had no prior…

Li Kim: Exposure.

Choong: Exposure or diplomatic relations so it was very difficult for anyone to justify stepping in militarily into Tibet.

Li Kim: What did you just say?

Choong: Militarily.

Pastor David: Militarily.

Li Kim: Oh, didn’t send in the troops. Militarily. Okay, so what’s the situation now though? I mean what’s happening? You have Tibetans in exile and then you have those who remained in Tibet, China. So what’s happening with the Tibetans these days?

Pastor David: Okay, 59 years down the road, let’s look within the Tibetan settlements in India because when they entered into India, they formed some settlements, land that was given by the Indian government for them to reside. And what happened was, in the beginning it was good in the sense that the Dalai Lama was able to travel and made a name for himself because he was kind of like the champion of “Free Tibet”. But things have changed since then. So within the Tibetan communities, in the beginning, a lot of Tibetans were escaping across the border, but that seems to have trickled down in recent years. Trickled down means getting less and less.

Choong: But before that, Pastor David, I’m a money man.

Li Kim: Really?

Choong: Well, I was, I’ve retired. So one point I would like to make is that, say in the last 30 years since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, it was very easy for them to raise…

Li Kim: 59 years.

Choong: Well, the first 30 years, maybe 40 years, it was very easy for them to raise funds. They played the victim card. Holding moral high ground, it was very easy for them to raise funds and they did because they set up lots of organisations globally in the rich countries, which were very successful in raising funds for the Tibetans in exile and these are not…

Li Kim: In supporting the Tibetan cause at that time.

Choong: That’s correct. Not only from private citizens but also from governments. So they were very well-funded for the first 40, 50 years.

Li Kim: So the people did, shall we say, enjoy a period of settling down in the new place, security, safety, even stability for a while.

Abby: I want to add to what Pastor David said. Actually the Central Tibetan Administration’s spokesperson, his name is Sonam Norbu Dakpo, he confirms that there are fewer Tibetans coming into India from Tibet. So it’s because China is, how to say… the Tibetan situation in China is getting better. So less and less Tibetans travel to India because last time, they wanted to travel to India because they were seeking for a better life but now fewer Tibetans are coming into India. This is confirmed by the Central Tibetan Administration itself.

Li Kim: So let me get this straight. 59 years later, there are less people wanting to leave Tibet, China to India.

Abby: Yes.

Li Kim: And to the contrary, you have them actually leaving India to go elsewhere.

Abby: Yes

Li Kim: Why is that? I mean conditions, have they deteriorated since the time when you said it was better? How?

Choong: Yes. One of the factors is the status of the land where the settlements are located. Because in 1959 when they moved to India, India was very kind to allocate land to them but these were for a 99-year lease. And if you do the math, it is now…

Li Kim: It’s quite a short time left…

Choong: It’s now maybe 30 years left? So I would be worried about that if the land you are actually on is so uncertain moving forward.

Li Kim: And I think also they have maintained refugee status. They didn’t become Indian citizens. I mean, not all became Indian citizens. Does that have a play on opportunities and employment or career opportunities? Does that give them less of a benefit or advantage because of their situation?

Pastor David: You brought up a very good point. Within the Tibetan community, they have been hoping to return to Tibet for such a long time. So the situation has deteriorated quite badly in the sense that a lot of people have given up hope. So they have always been in the mode where they are refugees and they are championing this. It’s almost…59 years is probably about two generations perhaps?

Li Kim: It’s a long time.

Pastor David: And it’s a very long time to maintain this hope.

Li Kim: So what you’re saying is that they didn’t opt to become Indian citizens because they wanted to maintain their refugee status because in their heads, in their hearts, they were going home.

Pastor David: That’s right.

Li Kim: So whatever arrangement was very temporary.

Choong: Yes. For many, many years, there was actually great hope to return to Tibet. If I’m not mistaken, right up till the 1980s whereby there was actually Nechung, you know…the state oracle took trance and Nechung basically indicated that within five years, the Tibetans in exile will actually return to Tibet, China.

Li Kim: Which would have made it 1990, 1991.

Choong: By 1990, yes. So can you imagine, from 1959 right up to 1990, no one did anything to better themselves or to plant themselves more solidly in India or even becoming Indian citizens.

Abby: So that’s why we can see that Amchok Rinpoche, who is the previous personal biographer of the Dalai Lama and also a confidante of the Dalai Lama, returned to Tibet in 2016 and he took up Chinese citizenship. So even a person so close to the Dalai Lama also lost hope and so you can see that he returned to Tibet and even took up Chinese citizenship. And this says a lot about how great the disappointment and hopelessness is, [that] most of the Tibetans are [feeling].

Choong: Without Indian citizenship, the Tibetans in India cannot work for Indian organisations or outside their settlement.

Li Kim: They don’t have an equal opportunity kind of thing so they kind of just have to stay confined within their settlements.

Choong: That’s right.

Li Kim: And what kind of jobs would…I mean I’ve visited. Without sounding insulting, they sell sweaters, arts and crafts, things like that.

Pastor David: Because of the government policies, the Tibetan government in exile’s (CTA) policies, they’re basically on the verge…they’re always planning to return to Tibet actually. They’ve never encouraged much human development within the community, so unemployment is extremely high. As a result, for the young, next generation of Tibetans coming out, a lot of them…not that there’s anything wrong with sweater sellers but that’s the norm. And then a lot of…a host of social issues comes out of this.

Li Kim: So you actually have a deterioration of standards of living?

Pastor David: Yes.

Li Kim: So if you’re saying that unemployment is high, then the next thing that we can assume is that children are also probably not going to school or maybe there are more school dropouts or less opportunities to go to school, or something like that?

Choong: Well the present-day situation is such because when they first expanded, settled down in India, the schools and all that, and monasteries were catering to an influx of Tibetans which has now dried up. And in fact, the Tibetans in India themselves…

Abby: …are leaving India. Yes. Because you can see in one article posted on the Hindustan Times on 5th April, it says that the Central Tibetan Administration themselves…

Li Kim: 5th April this year, 2018?

Abby: Yes. They confirm the trend that many Tibetans are leaving India and migrating to the West. And now, actually, there are more Tibetans choosing to go back to Tibet. So again, the government itself is admitting this kind of trend.

Choong: So today, you see empty schools.

Li Kim: Not because there are no schools provided but there’s no population to attend.

Choong: That’s right.

Li Kim: Right, right.

Pastor David: There are people leaving and no new Tibetans are coming from China, Tibet.

Li Kim: This will also affect monasteries. That means there’s also no new people joining the monasteries.

Choong: It’s the same for monasteries. In fact, from what we know, the enrolment in monasteries consists of more and more Nepali and also…

Abby: Ladakhis.

Pastor David: Indians.

Choong: Indians. Those from Northern India.

Li Kim: So if that’s the situation and also sadly, we also read a lot of news with the Dalai Lama not being as welcome as he used to be before…

Abby: Yes, that’s true.

Li Kim: I think there have been some incidences where his visits were turned down.

Abby: For the most recent case, I think the French President Mr. Macron said that to meet the Dalai Lama without consulting the Beijing government will trigger a crisis with their China relationship. So it’s quite a serious thing to meet the Dalai Lama. And in 2017 which is last year, the Australian Prime Minister Mr. Turnbull also said that he’d decided not to meet the Dalai Lama. And many more countries like Taiwan also barred the Dalai Lama from entering the island in 2012. Also Mongolia has the same thing, right?

Choong: Yes, I remember the Mongolian episode.

Li Kim: Oh yes. I heard it was quite bad.

Choong: Because Mongolia had this financial crisis because they’d spent too much money investing during the boom years of the minerals. And when prices came down, they were saddled with a huge amount of debt. And China actually came to help because China has lots of money, I presume.

Li Kim: Such strong statements.

Choong: But the funny thing is that after China came in to help them, they had the gall to actually allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit Mongolia.

Li Kim: And I think Mongolia suffered a little bit of, shall we say, “scolding” or something. The Chinese did react and threatened to withdraw financial aid, right?

Choong: Yes, and because of that, today the Dalai Lama is actually not welcomed in Mongolia.

Abby: Since 2016. And he is not welcomed even for religious purposes. And we know that the Dalai Lama and Mongolia are very close. I think since many, many lifetimes, they are very close.

Li Kim: Also, you were mentioning this the other day. Even the support from the Indian government towards the Tibetan refugees is also declining.

Pastor David: Yes, that one is quite interesting because that’s a recent development earlier this year when the foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale issued a memo requesting the government officials to not attend a big Tibetan-Indian celebration called the “Thank you India” celebration.

Li Kim: Okay. That means the Tibetans were…

Choong: Thanking India for hosting them for almost 60 years.

Li Kim: So it was the Tibetan government organising an event to say “Thank you India”?

Abby: A huge event that was supposed to be hosted in a stadium that can fit 5600 people.

Li Kim: Wow

Pastor David: Yes, so it started from there because what happened was the event was stadium-wide.

Li Kim: Stadium-sized.

Pastor David: Stadium-sized event.

Li Kim: Meant for stadium-size.

Pastor David: In Delhi, New Delhi, the capital of India. But it was cancelled and relegated to Dharamsala where it was a much scaled-down event.

Li Kim: Oh dear.

Pastor David: Yes. So that was basically…

Li Kim: That’s a real slap in the face.

Pastor David: That was a snub, that was a big snub.

Li Kim: A big one.

Pastor David: So what happened was because of that, there were other reactions as well, other things that were cancelled. Aside from the “Thank you India” celebration, there was the Parliamentarian…

Choong: Yes, they had scheduled a World Parliamentarian meeting on Tibet some time in late April, April 25th if I’m not mistaken.

Li Kim: This year?

Choong: This year.

Li Kim: And when was the last one?

Choong: 1995. So it was going to be a big one because they haven’t had it for a very long time.

Li Kim: And even that was cancelled?

Choong: And that was cancelled too.

Abby: And the Tibetan Uprising Day, that protest also was cancelled in India as well as in Nepal. The Tibetan Uprising Day.

Li Kim: Hold on, let me…so many occasions. The Tibetan Uprising Day is not a protest day though. The original…

Pastor David: Actually it was a commemoration of when, during the Chinese time when they were still in China (Tibet), they surrounded the Summer Palace, Norbulingka, to protect the Dalai Lama. And it became a symbol of freedom for Tibet. And what happened was, usually on that day in recent years, it has been a day of protest.

Li Kim: Right.

Abby: Protest against China, yes.

Pastor David: Freedom for Tibet protest. So what happened was…

Li Kim: Which is protest against China. So politically correct he is.

Pastor David: So what happened was India had cancelled or does not allow any form of protest.

Choong: Nepal too.

Abby: Yes, as well as Nepal. The government is also doing the same thing. And there was one Tibetan man, he held a Tibetan flag and…

Li Kim: Where was it? In Nepal?

Abby: In Nepal. And then he took a picture and then he was arrested because of this. Because now Nepal and China are getting very close to each other because Nepal needs help from China. So Nepal definitely doesn’t want to offend China by allowing Tibetans to create issues in Nepal.

Choong: China today is not China in 1959, not China in 1970, not even 1980.

Li Kim: So what is China now?

Choong: China today stands shoulder to shoulder with the largest economies of the world like America.

Abby: That’s true.

Choong: So obviously, if you’re the big boy on the street, everyone needs to be friends with you.

Li Kim: They have financial strength and they also have the so-called population to give you the volume of consumption too.

Abby: For example Mercedes Benz, earlier this year, they had an advertisement and they quoted words from the Dalai Lama. And the Chinese people saw this and they got very angry because they said, “How can you support the Dalai Lama and quote his words?” So Mercedes Benz, because they want to secure their business in China, Mercedes Benz had to apologise to China. And not only Mercedes Benz, big companies like JW Marriott and GAP and all these, they also apologised to China because they listed Taiwan and Hong Kong as countries. So to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong are their territories. It’s not a country, it’s not an independent country. So this offended the Chinese also, and the Chinese people…it’s actually the netizens who are getting angry, it’s not even the government that’s angry. So they really want to secure the business in China and they apologised for this.

Li Kim: So they apologised.

Abby: Yes.

Pastor David: So there is the China issue, it’s huge, amounting to huge pressure; the problems within the Tibetan society, social politics or rather the Tibetan government and the issues that they have; and then there’s one more very big thing that plays on the Tibetan mentality within the settlements, that is the Dalai Lama himself because he is not young. You see, in Tibetan society the Dalai Lama is the king, or rather the sole refuge for the Tibetan people because that’s how they see the Dalai Lama. They see him as an emanation of Chenrezig, they see him as also a human being. And what happened is, he’s also the symbol of Tibetan freedom and he is aging. And because of that, a lot of people are fearful and it often evokes…because when the Dalai Lama, when there’s news about when he goes and sees the doctor, people are afraid.

Li Kim: So there’s a sense of insecurity that should anything happen to him, they are left without a leader to fight their cause.

Pastor David: Exactly.

Abby: Because the government itself is also having a lot of problems. I’m talking about the Central Tibetan Administration. I’ve heard that there are quite a lot of scandals. Maybe Choong can tell us a little bit.

Li Kim: You like money and you like scandals. C’mon.

Choong: They come together.

Li Kim: Yes, they come together, right? Money and sex are always the scandals.

Choong: Well, that too. Yes, scandals-wise it’s been a busy year. I think two things stand out as far as scandals are concerned. One is the emissary for the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Dhonden, was actually asked to resign. I’m not sure whether he was fired or not, it wasn’t very explicit but he stepped down from his position in some of the Dalai Lama’s organisations in America. And the reason for that was that people had been pointing out that as a monk, he shouldn’t be…

Li Kim: Engaged in inappropriate activities. I know you were dying to use the sex word, right? Alright.

Choong: So that’s one. There was also this scandal that was uncovered by Penpa Tsering who was the previous speaker of the Tibetan Parliament. He was, I think two years ago, appointed to be the Dalai Lama’s representative to North America. After he took his position in America, he was going through all the papers that they had and discovered that one of the financial transactions between the Office of Tibet and the Tibet Fund was not correct. What he saw was not correct because on paper, it was treated as a loan very clearly, but yet when the people in the Office of Tibet talked about it, they talk about it in terms of, actually, a grant. So he was the one who sort of blew the whistle on this.

Li Kim: What was the disturbing amount he blew, though?

Choong: 1.5 million US dollars which was used to buy an office.

Li Kim: That’s a lot of money to be confused between a loan and a grant.

Choong: Yes.

Li Kim: Wow.

Choong: And the accounts were actually audited so you can’t say that it’s this or that. It has to be one.

Li Kim: So what happened? Did he get fired?

Choong: He got fired by the present leadership of the CTA.

Li Kim: That’s not very nice.

Choong: And most recently, I’ve read that…

Li Kim: What are you, a stalker? He’s a scandal stalker.

Choong: I find all these things very interesting because it’s very pertinent if you are trying to forecast what’s going to happen next. And he has actually filed a lawsuit against the CTA.

Li Kim: Let’s see how that pans out. So you have a situation with China growing and things are not that great for the refugees in India. They are either going back to Tibet, China or they are leaving to go elsewhere like Switzerland, France, Canada and it’s quite scary. I mean the Tibetan people are really getting all scattered. And then of course, the recent news, which may even add on to the insecurity and fear onto the Tibetans in exile in India, is the reset between India and China. Who would like to…okay, between the two of you, I know one of you is dying to talk about it.

Choong: Yes, since Pastor David talked about the banning of “Thank you India”, it happened around the same time. So it’s no coincidence that it happened at the same time because for many years now, there has not been a very good relationship between India and China. But there was pressure for them to reset the relationship but it did not happen till recently and that coincided with the memo from the foreign secretary Gokhale.

Li Kim: It’s kind of pretty self-explanatory, you know? You start to repair relations with China, there’s no way there’s going to be much approval for Tibetan matters.

Choong: It really looks like the Indian government and the Chinese government have already made their decision to repair relationships and move forward, which resulted in the Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kunming.

Abby: No, Wuhan.

Choong: Wuhan, to visit President Xi Jinping.

Li Kim: Yes, it was all covered in the news.

Pastor David: Actually on that note, there’s also something else to that effect which is there’s a growing resentment from the Indians themselves.

Li Kim: Okay, so we’re not on governments now, we’re just talking about the regular population. Okay.

Pastor David: That’s right. So in order to illustrate that, I’ll share with you what I experienced when I entered into a Tibetan settlement in India.

Li Kim: You mean, the Indian nationals are having a growing resentment towards the Tibetan refugees?

Pastor David: Yes. So what happened was when I was on the way to Bylakuppe, one of the Tibetan settlements in Southern India, outside of the settlement is what you’d expect from an Indian village where it was poor, it was rundown and, I mean, you expect that.

Li Kim: Poverty-stricken.

Pastor David: In a sense. But the moment you enter into the Tibetan settlements where it’s supposed to be a refugee place, right? The Tibetans are technically refugees, although that’s not what the Indian government calls them, but you don’t feel that. You don’t feel that. When I enter, I see houses with big compounds with high walls, I see satellite dishes on top of bungalow houses, I see good schools with gates with the names in Tibetan and English, Tibetan Children’s Village.

Li Kim: So you see money.

Pastor David: Yes, and well, the reason why I went to the Tibetan settlement was actually to visit the monasteries. And then when you enter the monastery, it’s gilded, it’s painted, there’s Buddha statues gilded in gold, big donation boxes. You see lots of monks, you see..

Li Kim: And they do receive quite a lot of donations from…

Pastor David: Within the Tibetan community…

Li Kim: And also overseas.

Pastor David: Yes. So this plays on the Indians because how come these Tibetans have leaped over the Indians, improved economically over the Indians throughout all these years? And they are supposed to be refugees. They don’t have rights, they don’t pay taxes, they don’t have a lot of the rights as of an Indian national. So this is what the Indians see. And then on top of that, there’s the reset of India-China relations. And of course, to a lot of Indians, what’s the stumbling block? The Tibetans, because this is the thorn in the side of China. So a lot of this plays into the Indian psychology and there has been backlash on the Internet, on social media as well as, what I have heard of is a recent protest in the state of Arunachal Pradesh last year, late last year 2017.

Li Kim: A protest against?

Pastor David: The Tibetans.

Li Kim: That means wanting them to leave?

Pastor David: They’re not happy with them being in India.

Li Kim: Oh dear.

Pastor David: That’s right. So they’re not happy with them being in India and receiving this sort of aid from being refugees.

Li Kim: So in light of everything that we’ve shared here, where’s the future?

Pastor David: That’s a very good question.

Li Kim: What is your opinion?

Pastor David: I see that’s why a lot of Tibetans have been losing hope and a sign of that is a lot of them are leaving. And they see also that the Tibetans are doing much better in China, Tibet. So a lot of them have been trying to get back into China, Tibet. A lot of them have also been trying to go to other countries. Some have naturalised as Indian citizens. A lot of them have gone to Nepal. But overall, I think the best in the interest of Tibetan culture, religion…


Li Kim: Yes, preserving culture, what else? Religion, language, tradition.

Pastor David: That’s right, would be to go back to Tibet.

Li Kim: Because I think at the rate they’re going, leaving and dispersing, can you imagine little, little pockets of Tibetan communities around the world? It’s not very united. I think people, a population should be together and I think that gives strength and unity.

Choong: It’s very practical to think that you know, as a Tibetan, actually China would be the best place to locate yourself because you have friends, relatives, you have connections, you also have the numbers and the ability to, like you said, keep your traditions, your culture, your language.

Li Kim: Your language, your religion.

Choong: Religion, all that comes with being Tibetan.

Li Kim: And I think if that happens and the Dalai Lama does return to Tibet, he can reconnect back with his people.

Abby: And the Dalai Lama does want to go back to Tibet and he has been saying this since, I think, many years back. Recently he’s said it more and more. And I think it is the best, like the two of them say, the best is to return to Tibet.

Choong: Recently, not only the Dalai Lama said it again and more emphatically, but he was actually echoed by the President of the CTA Lobsang Sangay, who quoted the three dreams that the Dalai Lama had. And the last one was being back in the Potala Palace.

Abby: And meeting the Tibetans there.

Choong: And meeting the Tibetans. So the President of the CTA actually talked about this a lot in the press recently.

Li Kim: But it’s going to take a lot more than just talk by the CTA, if they are going to honour the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I think that the CTA will have to stop all this nonsense against China, the things they say, what they do and tying in the Chinese spy thing with Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Choong: They have to unite the Tibetans, you know?

Li Kim: Yes, it’s just starting to look really, really ugly with more and more topics for divide. Hello? Why does China want to have anything to do with you if everything you do just divides, divides, divides and causes disharmony and discord. You know what I mean?

Abby: Like the Karmapa. Tibetans in India have three Karmapas. It’s very divisive.

Choong: You have three Karmapas, you have two Panchen Lamas.

Abby: Then you have the Dorje Shugden controversy. Again, they keep separating the Tibetans. And the regionalism also.

Li Kim: Oh yes, and the rangzen versus…

Choong: Umaylam.

Li Kim: And the rangzen versus umaylam thing.

Abby: Regionalism is also one thing. The Amdowas don’t like the Khampas, the U-tsangpas don’t like the Khampas, all these things.

Pastor David: It doesn’t matter what umaylam, rangzen, freedom or self-autonomy for Tibet. Their language has always been antagonistic against China so that must change.

Li Kim: Yes, that must change. Because who would welcome, I mean, who’s going to welcome somebody who’s going to bite your hand into your home? Right? It doesn’t make sense.

Choong: And in fact, His Holiness the Dalai Lama actually recently made sort of like an opening gesture, an opening statement if you like, because he actually acknowledged that, in a roundabout way, acknowledged that there are actually two emanations of the Panchen Lama, including the Chinese-appointed one.

Li Kim: And I think in that video, he did say that the Chinese-recognised Panchen Lama is the official Panchen Lama.

Abby: And he’s receiving a good education from a good teacher.

Li Kim: And that the other Panchen Lama recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is well, and also receiving a good education.

Abby: A normal education.

Li Kim: Correct.

Choong: So the mending of the relationships between the Tibetans in exile and China has, to me, definitely started.

Li Kim: It has.

Choong: And led by His Holiness himself.

Li Kim: Correct.

Choong: So what are the rest of the Tibetans doing about it?

Li Kim: Correct, correct. I mean, they can’t let the Dalai Lama do all the work. The CTA has to back the Dalai Lama by behaving themselves. You know what I mean? I guess we all agree that to preserve the Tibetan people, culture, tradition, language, religion, that for now, given the fact that 59 years on, they’re not anywhere close to achieving their cause, maybe it’s time to review that cause. Change it with the times because obviously, 59 years later, things have changed. You can see North Korea and South Korea meeting, I mean whoever would’ve thought that? You have China and India looking to reset relations. And I think it’s also a time that maybe the CTA should look at healing the divides within the Tibetan people as well. And for us of course it’s always the Dorje Shugden issue. So I guess we all wish for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, for his wishes to come true. And may there be unity and harmony for the Tibetan people returning to Tibet to preserve, most of all, language, culture, tradition and religion. Thank you for watching and I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself like we have.

Abby: Thank you, Li Kim.

Pastor David: Thank you.

Close transcript


 

#4: Correcting common misunderstandings
about Dorje Shugden

In imposing a religious ban, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has put forth a number of reasons to explain its persistent and intense persecution of a large percentage of Tibetans based simply on their religion. This persecution and the hatred that accompanies it has spilled over into the global sphere and is being played out wherever Tibetan Buddhism is being practised.

However, when examined, each of the CTA’s justifications for denying Shugden Buddhists their most basic human rights is proven to be hollow. As this video demonstrates, even ordinary lay people can easily debunk the CTA’s reasons with nothing more than logic and common sense.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSMisunderstandings4.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #4

Li Kim: Hi, my name is Li Kim and I am a Dorje Shugden practitioner. I am sure many of you have heard many things that many people are talking about out there against the practice of Dorje Shugden and more, against the Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why? Where is the source? What information is there to prove and show that all these allegations set forth by the Tibetan government are true? Is Dorje Shugden an evil spirit? Is the practice bad? Ah, are Dorje Shugden practitioners Chinese spies? As ridiculous as all this sounds, it is still out there and many people are still talking about that.

So I think that we all practise the freedom of speech. Now we should practise the freedom of acquiring accurate, logical, reasonable information. So, it’s time to hear what other people have to say, what Dorje Shugden practitioners have to say. So stay with me and join me to hear and learn and acquire accurate information about what you should think about Dorje Shugden and his practitioners.

 


 

Interview with Lew Kwan Leng
Systems Architect
Director, vajrasecrets.com

Li Kim: If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a little bit of your time to ask you an important question. The people quote His Holiness the Dalai Lama as evidence that the Dorje Shugden practice is wrong. Would you like to share your thoughts on this?

Lew: Okay, when people quote the Dalai Lama saying this, they are referring to him as the secular leader of Tibet. Some even call him the King of Tibet. When he is regarded as the secular leader of Tibet, he is considered even higher than his Guru Trijang Rinpoche by rank. And whatever advice he gives people, it has a lot of effect because he’s the authority. However, we all know that the leaders of countries around the world, they do and they can make errors in judgement.

Let’s take as an example, the US President Donald Trump. Many people criticise him for making an error in judgement in his immigration and trade policies which have caused negative effects on many people. As such, the question is not whether Dorje Shugden is the correct or the wrong practice. But the question we should be asking is, can the Dalai Lama, as a secular leader, can he make an error in judgement when he advises people about the Dorje Shugden practice?

Li Kim: I think that’s a very interesting twist to the situation by raising this question, and I think it is a good question simply because we want to make people think and we want to make people look deeper into all these allegations made against the Dorje Shugden practice. Thank you so much for your time.

 


 

Interview with Pastor Lanse Chiah (M.D.)
Buddhist Pastor
Chinese Language Editor, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: It is popular belief that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig. So if he says that the Dorje Shugden practice is wrong, then the Dalai Lama must be correct. What are your views on this?

Pastor Lanse: In a spiritual sense, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig, whereas His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is Vajrayogini. Both of them are Buddhas with the same attainments and who share the same mission of liberating us from our worldly sufferings. The Dalai Lama says Dorje Shugden is a worldly spirit, while Trijang Rinpoche says Dorje Shugden is the Buddha Manjushri. So if he says that Dorje Shugden is a spirit then we are saying that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, who is one with Vajrayogini, is wrong. In other words, we’re saying that a Buddha is wrong. How can one Buddha be right yet another Buddha be wrong? It doesn’t make sense.

So in addition, the 5th Dalai Lama used to practise Dorje Shugden during his early age. Both the great 5th Dalai Lama and the young 14th Dalai Lama, who share the same mindstream with the current Dalai Lama, they used to write prayers for Dorje Shugden. So if we say that Dorje Shugden is wrong, then we are saying that the previous Dalai Lama could have made mistakes. So in this case, what other mistake did he make? And how do we draw a clear line?

So, it is either the Buddhas are all right or the Buddhas can make mistakes. If we say the Buddhas are right, then both His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche must be right too. But why do they appear to be in conflict with each other in their view of Dorje Shugden? If the Buddhas can’t make mistakes then perhaps the whole issue is not about Dorje Shugden anymore. During his time, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche predicted that in the future, both His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden might appear to be in conflict with each other but in actuality, they are working hand in hand to achieve a higher goal. So it must be us, the ordinary viewer who perceives the object wrongly due to our own attachment and projections.

Li Kim: Not to mention ignorance.

Pastor Lanse: Yes, exactly. A good example to explain how our perception deceives us is a very famous example of the young lady and old maid visual illusion. During the test, we showed a group of people a young lady’s photo and another group the photo of an old maid. Those who were shown pictures of the young lady will see the visual image, perceive the visual image as a young lady, while the other group who saw the picture of an old maid will perceive the picture as an old maid. Okay, so the truth is no one is wrong, it is a specially-designed artwork to explain how our mind perceives things.

Li Kim: So therefore Pastor Lanse, what you are saying now is that if a mind, and to make it worse, is ignorant and uninformed and naive, if a mind is constantly fed with a certain stimuli, may it be visual, audio or just information, it is a matter of time that the mind will start to understand and perceive this as real, as a fact, regardless of whether rubbish or non-facts are being fed in. The fact that it is constantly stimulating the mind, the mind will start to believe in it.

Pastor Lanse: Yes, exactly. It is how our minds work. So our perceptions are all dependent on how our sensory systems react or respond to environmental stimuli and how our brains interpret this information. So like what you said, if you can’t even figure out the trick behind the visual illusion, then how are we going to be so sure that our viewpoint on this Dorje Shugden issue is solid? And who are we to judge the activities of enlightened beings?

Li Kim: That’s an interesting view that you have and that how, given all the information that’s available especially now with the Internet, people don’t verify facts. People don’t do their necessary due diligence before they spread information. And it’s a good angle that you have shared, that will make people think more. To start actually asking ourselves, is the issue really just about Dorje Shugden or is it a play of the mind?

 


 

Interview with Beatrix Ooi
Content Executive, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: People say that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit that can harm the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As a young practitioner, what are your views on this?

Beatrix: First of all, many people believe that His Holiness is Chenrezig or Kuan Yin, who is the Buddha of Compassion. Since he is Chenrezig, how can a Buddha possibly be harmed by Dorje Shugden or any evil spirit? The Buddhas do not have the karma to be harmed. If the Buddhas can be harmed, why do we even pray to them for protection, wish-fulfillment and peace of mind?

Based on what I’ve learned from Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings, the zen or what we call the long shawl of a monk, has the power to dispel spirits. By the power of the vows which one holds, no evil spirits can harm them. So technically speaking, we do not have to become a Buddha in order to be protected. The fact that His Holiness is a pure monk and has been holding his vows strictly should protect him from the harm of any evil spirit.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is 82 years old now and he is still extremely alert, healthy, very sharp and so eloquent. From what I know, for the past 20 years or so, His Holiness has been saying that the practice of Dorje Shugden shortens his life. I sometimes find myself wondering, if Dorje Shugden is so evil would His Holiness the Dalai Lama still be so healthy as the great King of Tibet and be able to travel around to teach? This brings me to believe that what people are saying about Dorje Shugden being an evil spirit and causing harm to His Holiness is not true.

Li Kim: Thank you very much for your time Beatrix and of course for a very clear point-of-view on your stand.

 


 

Interview with Pastor Niral Patel
Buddhist Pastor
Senior Writer, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: People say that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit and harms practitioners. As a Buddhist pastor, what is your perspective of this?

Pastor Niral: First off, let me say that Dorje Shugden is not an evil spirit that harms practitioners and I can actually explain this to you in two ways. First, from the point of the very principles of Buddhism itself and second, from the point-of-view of the enlightened masters. Now first, the very fundamental practice of Buddhism is actually taking refuge. Taking refuge in the Three Jewels, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. So what is taking refuge? Taking refuge is having full and complete faith and reliance on the Three Jewels, and a benefit of that is being protected from spirit harm. So to say that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit and can harm practitioners actually contradicts refuge which is supposed to grant you protection.

Secondly, if we are afflicted by spirit harm, we seek help from the enlightened masters such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche and many others. And the reason we seek their help is because they have spiritual attainments, and part of those spiritual attainments is the ability to perform powerful exorcisms, cure spirit harm and provide protection. So to say that Dorje Shugden harms practitioners is actually to discredit the spiritual attainments of these very masters. So basically there would be no point in going to these spiritual masters for teachings, for guidance or for protection.

So therefore these are the two ways, if we say that Dorje Shugden harms practitioners, we actually contradict the fundamental principles of Buddhism itself and, at the same time, discredit the spiritual attainments of the masters that we seek out.

Li Kim: Thank you Pastor Niral for your explanation. So basically what you have said from your explanation is that all these allegations against Dorje Shugden practice and statements that say that he is an evil spirit and harms practitioners is basically nonsense.

Pastor Niral: Correct.

Li Kim: I like that very much, and I think that should clarify a lot for many people out there who are confused.

 


 

Interview with Abby Foo
Senior Chinese Translator, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: People say that Dorje Shugden is a harmful demonic spirit. What are your thoughts?

Abby: This is not true and very illogical because Tibetan Buddhism is known to be the most powerful to subjugate evil spirits and demons. For example, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) has subjugated a harmful evil spirit named Nechung and made him a protector that protects the Buddhadharma. And since then, Nechung has been a Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Protector for the past 1300 years, keeping his promise to Guru Rinpoche to protect the Buddhadharma. Also, contemporary high lamas like Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and Domo Geshe Rinpoche are also known to have the ability to subjugate evil spirits and demons. So it is proven, with time, that high lamas can indeed subjugate evil spirits and demons.

And we all know for a fact that since the 5th Dalai Lama’s time, there are many, many high lamas who have tried to subjugate the so-called Dorje Shugden evil spirit. But they failed. For example, Mindrolling Rinpoche, the famous Mindrolling Rinpoche, he did a series of powerful fire pujas to bind Dorje Shugden, but in the end he failed. Why is this? Are the high lamas incapable or incompetent to bind an evil spirit like Dorje Shugden, as they say he is? So this is not possible and we know this is not true. So this only leads to one conclusion that Dorje Shugden is not a harmful, evil spirit but he is a Buddha so he cannot be subdued. After all, if Dorje Shugden is such an evil, harmful spirit, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other high lamas should just subdue him instead of keeping on talking about how scary he is, so that everyone can have peace of mind, but we know that this is not the case.

Li Kim: Thank you so much for your time. So from what you have said, it is clear that Dorje Shugden is not an evil spirit because he can’t be subdued.

Abby: Yes.

Li Kim: As such, he must be a Buddha. So I trust that what you’ve explained will clear many people’s minds of all these false allegations. Thank you again for your time.

Abby: Thank you.

 


 

Interview with Cindy Hew
Advocate & Solicitor
Writer, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: People say that Dorje Shugden is a harmful demonic spirit. I wanted your opinion because, I’m not saying you’re old, but being more mature and therefore not so easily influenced and having studied the law, what is your perspective?

Cindy: I strongly disagree, just because it’s illogical. Another angle to look at this wrong view is why Dorje Shugden is being singled out. Assuming that Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, which he is not, but hypothetically speaking, even if Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit, he’s not the only evil spirit in existence.

Li Kim: That’s true.

Cindy: And we know that for a fact. Within the Buddhist cosmology, there are six realms, one of which is the hungry ghost realm. And in it, there are an infinite number of evil spirits. Further, Dorje Shugden is not even said to be the most harmful evil spirit around, so why pick on Dorje Shugden?

Hence there has to be another reason, a hidden agenda as to why the continuous attack on Dorje Shugden. After all, why kick up such a big fuss over a common ghostly phenomenon? Let me ask you this question. Why is Dorje Shugden clearly isolated and singled out by the Tibetan leadership to be condemned? Are those spiritual or political implications?

Li Kim: I think that’s a very good question, in fact very valid for people who wish to truly understand. And if you look at it spiritually, it is hard to believe that it is a spiritual reason. I think it’s more otherwise.

Cindy: Well, I believe there’s a political reason to it and why do I say that? Well, let me state the facts as how I see them. The Tibetan leadership has promised the Tibetans in exile the return to Tibet for decades now. But factually, it is obvious that they are nowhere near there. To make things worse, the Tibetans in exile are in dire straits and they are no better than how they were when they first arrived in India following the Dalai Lama into exile in 1959.

So, the Tibetan leadership have to explain themselves and they conveniently used Dorje Shugden as a scapegoat to cover up their failures to date. Why else would a so-called democratic leadership spend so much time and resources to unconstitutionally persecute a religious practice and criminalise its practitioners? Especially since every unsubstantiated allegation by the Tibetan leadership against Dorje Shugden has been logically debunked.

Li Kim: You have raised some very strong points and very valid in today’s time for people who are tired of what others are saying about Dorje Shugden and his practitioners. Asking whether there is another agenda is very valid, and to state the situation as it is today, where things aren’t great, and most of all promises have not been fulfilled. It’s really time to question, and I think you have raised some very good questions. For those of you who want to think more, consider what Cindy has asked. What is the agenda? What is this really about?

 


 

Interview with Pastor David Lai
Buddhist Pastor
Author and Senior Writer, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: People are saying that the practice of Dorje Shugden will result in a negative rebirth. What are your views on this?

Pastor David: I disagree with this statement for the simple logical reason that in the past, there were many great high lamas who practised Dorje Shugden and also practitioners as well. Many of these high lamas have passed away and have taken rebirth and the thing is, they have taken a human rebirth. They have taken rebirth as the incarnations of their predecessors, so they have been recognised, especially by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I’ll give you an example, like His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, and this is the junior tutor of the Dalai Lama himself and he had been a great, prolific teacher spreading the Sutra and Tantra teachings and especially Dorje Shugden. So he has taken rebirth, human rebirth and there are many others. For example there is Zong Rinpoche, there is the Panchen Lama, there is Geshe Rabten. All these are lamas who not only practised Dorje Shugden but they also proliferated the practice. So they have taken a human rebirth instead of negative rebirths.

Li Kim: So what you’re explaining here is that when, for example, high lamas reincarnate to a human form and then are further recognised as the reincarnations of their predecessors, that’s considered a positive rebirth.

Pastor David: That’s right.

Li Kim: And then, a negative rebirth would be for example?

Pastor David: There is what we call the three lower realms which is animal, hungry ghost and hell beings. So that’s a negative rebirth. But they have taken human rebirth so it totally defies the statement. And the interesting part about this is that these high lamas were recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself, the one who originated this statement that Dorje Shugden practice leads one to a negative rebirth.

So basically, based on what I’ve just said regarding all these high lamas, Dorje Shugden high lamas who have taken rebirth, their very presence as incarnations of their predecessors is living proof that defies the statement that Dorje Shugden leads to a negative rebirth. So it’s safe to have that conclusion that it’s not true.

Li Kim: Based on what you have explained from your view, this statement that says that Dorje Shugden, the practice of Dorje Shugden will lead to a negative rebirth is highly inaccurate.

Pastor David: That’s right.

Li Kim: Thank you very much for your time.

 


 

Interview with Pastor Antoinette Kass
Buddhist Pastor
Occupational Therapist

Li Kim: People say that Dorje Shugden practitioners are on China’s payroll to create problems for Tibet. What are your views on this?

Pastor Antoinette: This is not correct. Dorje Shugden people want to practise Dorje Shugden and they are not on China’s payroll and they do not want to create problems for Tibet for sure. So the practice of Dorje Shugden dates back to about 400 years. On the other hand, the issue with Tibet and China goes back only about 60 years. So there is no correlation between the Dorje Shugden practice and the problems with China for Tibet.

Then also, Dorje Shugden practitioners live all over the world and they for sure don’t want problems for Tibet. There are many high lamas who practise Dorje Shugden such as His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and do you want to say they are Chinese spies? I mean, it makes no sense at all.

For me personally, I have supported the Tibetan cause back in my country for a number of years. And I have supported the Tibetan Children’s Village. I was in the Friends of Tibet for several years. And after having received the Dorje Shugden practice some years ago, there’s no reason for me to change this, to change my views on Tibet and to stop my support towards Tibet and the Tibetan people.

Li Kim: From what you have shared, it is your opinion that these claims are nonsense. They are inaccurate. They are incorrect because people around the world, Tibetans around the world do not want to have these constant problems that are caused simply because of allegations made against Dorje Shugden practitioners. So you do not think that it is logical for Dorje Shugden practitioners to be any Chinese spy.

Pastor Antoinette: What I just want is, I want to do my practice freely. I don’t want to be called names on social media.

Li Kim: I believe ‘Chinese dog’ is very commonly used even…you know, obviously you’re not Chinese.

Pastor Antoinette: Yes, obviously.

Li Kim: Yet they can still use that on you.

Pastor Antoinette: Yes, they do.

Li Kim: That’s how, I guess, that is how illogical their thinking process is, the people who are making accusations against Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Pastor Antoinette: Yes, that’s right.

Li Kim: Thank you Pastor Antoinette for your time.

Pastor Antoinette: Thank you Li Kim.

 


 

Interview with Seow Choong Liang
Investment Banker
Researcher, tsemrinpoche.com

Li Kim: People are saying that Dorje Shugden practitioners are on China’s payroll to create problems for Tibet. What are your views on this?

Choong: Well, I think it’s very much a generalisation. You know, we read about all sorts of crime every day in the newspapers; murders, rapes, corporate crimes but certainly if you think about it, if murder happens in America and it’s reported, does that mean that all Americans are murderers? No. Obviously not. Similarly, if for example, if you hear of, say, a church leader embezzling funds from a church, that doesn’t mean all church leaders are embezzlers.

If you put that in context with Dorje Shugden and the Tibetans in general, I’m sure, you know, in the world today there are good people, there are bad people. If a Tibetan for example, for whatever personal reason, works in the interest of the Chinese, you cannot definitely say that all Tibetans work for the Chinese; it’s just illogical.

If you apply that to Dorje Shugden practitioners, as you said in your question – the same. Whereby if, for whatever personal reason, a Dorje Shugden practitioner receives some form of financial aid from the 1.3 billion Chinese…there must be some person that is generous enough to aid this particular Dorje Shugden practitioner, you cannot generalise the same for all Dorje Shugden practitioners. What the Tibetan leadership is doing now in generalising and calling all Dorje Shugden practitioners as “dogs of the Chinese”…

Li Kim: That’s right, actually “Chinese dogs” is very common.

Choong: Yes.

Li Kim: They use it very, very commonly against the Dorje Shugden practitioners, yes.

Choong: Correct, that’s right. And all of them, we’re all receiving financial aid, funds from China? That cannot be logical. That cannot be possible. So what I would like to say to your question is that personally also, I’m a Dorje Shugden practitioner as you know, and I can say for sure that I don’t receive any money from China. And I’m sure that is the same for many, many, many other Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Li Kim: Right. So basically, what I understand from what you have expressed is that people have a tendency to generalise. They see something happen and then they generalise and they make it like it’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And sometimes these generalisations are just baseless and there’s insufficient evidence to make such a generalisation. And similarly, there may be a small population of Tibetans who may receive funds or have financial connections with China and these Tibetans need not be Dorje Shugden practitioners, or they may be Dorje Shugden practitioners. So to generalise like what they have done now, to say that “All Dorje Shugden practitioners are on China’s payroll to make trouble for Tibet” is actually very, very inaccurate.

Choong: Yes. It makes them look stupid.

Li Kim: Thank you for your time and for sharing your thoughts with me.

Choong: Thank you Li Kim.

 


 

Interview with Wee Sock Wan
Business Analyst
Human Resource Manager, Kechara House

Li Kim: People say that Dorje Shugden practitioners are on China’s payroll to create trouble for Tibet. What are your views on this?

Sock Wan: I don’t really agree with this opinion. You see, by linking Dorje Shugden practitioners with China or the Chinese government, the Central Tibetan Administration or sometimes we call them the CTA, they are actually creating a distraction for what they have not done for the Tibetan people in exile for the past 60 years. They have been a very ineffective leadership so far.

Li Kim: That’s true.

Sock Wan: So, the way they talk about Dorje Shugden practitioners is baseless and really racist, the comments that they have made. This is so that they can stir up the adverse sentiments of the Tibetan people towards Dorje Shugden practitioners. It’s the only way they can hide what they have not done so far. By also saying that about Dorje Shugden practitioners, the CTA is not helping in any way by further inciting the antagonism between China and Tibet. So the wish of the Dalai Lama to become part of China as an autonomous region, they will not achieve this objective. so CTA is totally against what His Holiness wants to do. If the CTA genuinely wishes to solve the problem, they could have just removed the ban. By doing so, they could heal the divide between China and Tibet and also the division within the Tibetan community. And also then, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes to return to China could materialise.

Li Kim: Okay, so you are of the view that all this talk about Dorje Shugden practitioners being on China’s payroll to create trouble for Tibet, is basically a smokescreen. A cover-up.

Sock Wan: Totally.

Li Kim: To distract people from realising how inefficient the CTA government has been.

Sock Wan: Yes.

Li Kim: I can see that. And also you feel that if there are so many complaints about these kinds of allegations about Dorje Shugden practitioners being on China’s payroll, what you think is just lift the ban.

Sock Wan: Yes, it’s as simple as that.

Li Kim: And the CTA actually has the authority to just lift the ban

Sock Wan: Correct.

Li Kim: So there will be no more problems to talk about.

Sock Wan: Yes, that’s correct.

Li Kim: So they created the problem so that they can talk about the problem, and then cover up the real problem which is their inefficiency.

Sock Wan: Yes. No one community stays as refugees for 60 years.

Li Kim: Correct.

 


 

Li Kim: Now that you have heard what many people say out there which is obviously nonsense, saying that Dorje Shugden practice is wrong, claiming that Dorje Shugden practitioners are paid by the Chinese to make trouble for the Tibetans, all these baseless accusations only prove how much discrimination there is against Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Tibetan government wants you to believe all these allegations. They have not made the effort to give you logic, reason, evidence even, to prove what they are claiming. Therefore, let me ask you: if these questions are out there, are in your head, where are you going to find your answers?

Are you going to the source where all these allegations started? It’s not the right way. You should go and explore and I hope that these videos that I have shared with you, of what other people have to say, will shed light, logic, reason and, most of all, compassion on your thoughts towards the practice of Dorje Shugden and of course Dorje Shugden practitioners.

This is the time to be united and harmonious, not to have further division. The Tibetan people do not need any more problems and the Tibetan government needs to recognise that. And so for all of us out there who may or may not be directly involved with the plight, the suffering of Tibetans, it is only important to be humane and understand it correctly. There is nothing wrong with the practice of Dorje Shugden, and most of all Dorje Shugden practitioners are not criminals, they are not Chinese spies. They are only people wanting to be free to practise what they believe. On that note, I thank you for listening. Most of all, I plead that you think logically and with reason and, most of all, with compassion.

Close transcript


 

#5: Disproving allegations that Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies

The false accusation that all Dorje Shugden practitioners are working for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against H.H. the Dalai Lama is the foundation of the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) religious ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden. It is also how the CTA justifies not only its persecution of Shugden practitioners worldwide, but also its order for all loyal Tibetans and their supporters to vehemently oppose Shugden devotees with all means possible.

In this video, we see how the CTA successfully politicised a sacred religious practice and turned it into a tool of oppression. The video also exposes the CTA’s adroitness in leveraging post-truth and the sentiments of the Tibetan people. However, the CTA’s minor success in propagating this false narrative has been a costly approach, damaging their credibility as global media observes, records and publicises their habit of manipulating the Tibetan people. Ultimately this loss of credibility impacts negatively on the Tibetan people’s dream of freedom.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSChineseSpy5.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #5

Li Kim: Hi, I’m Li Kim. Today we’re going to talk to you about a sensitive yet widespread allegation. An allegation that states Dorje Shugden practitioners as Chinese spies. Together with me are Pastor Khong Jean Ai and Mr Martin Chow.

Before we proceed into the details of this topic, let me first talk to you about the Dorje Shugden ban. This is not any new news to anyone but let’s have a look at the basis of that ban. Since 1996, the ban was all about the practice of Dorje Shugden being bad for Tibet, that it would shorten the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and it is clearly stated in the resolution of 1996, the resolution of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile. There are many things they say here with regards to the practice of Shugden but I would like to highlight this. “We would like to clarify that if individual citizens propitiate Shugden, it will harm the common interest of Tibet, the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and strengthen the spirits that are against the religion.”

Now, so it makes it very clear what all this anti-Shugden sentiment is about. In 1997, the resolution continues to be against the Shugden practice. In addition they add, “The joint disinformation campaign of China and a small number of Shugden activists should be challenged within the framework of law.” And then again, “The Chinese government’s politically-motivated support to a handful of Shugden activists and their disinformation campaigns in Tibet and outside world should be challenged effectively.”

So therefore from 1996 to 1997, the ban which originally started because it harms the Dalai Lama and the cause of Tibet, suddenly within a year transformed to include China, to include saying that China is involved, therefore stating that Dorje Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies, Chinese funded. When a government’s resolution states this, it becomes fact. Name me a government who doesn’t put facts into their resolutions, that doesn’t put law into their resolutions.

So when people read this, what do they understand? “Ah, this must be fact.” “Oh, it is enforced so therefore it is law.” So what has happened? From writings like this, the media has reported and articles have been written globally to narrate, to say, to implicate, to state that Dorje Shugden practitioners are involved with the Chinese or the Chinese are funding the Dorje Shugden practitioners. Martin, how much of all this is true, especially coming out from the media?

Martin: Well Li Kim, in a word, none of it is true. Now, what we have here is a very good example of post truth and fake news which have become quite common. We keep hearing about that in the news recently. But in 1996, when this first came out, as you correctly said, a lot of people assumed that it was true, that the practice of Dorje Shugden would harm the Tibetan cause, would harm the life of the Dalai Lama and is in fact a political tool of the Chinese government.

Let’s start by understanding what post truth is. Post truth politics is this political culture where debates are framed based on an appeal to emotions which are disconnected from facts. Which means these are the debates that would arouse certain sentiments – anger, fear of the people – and in so doing, the purveyors of this post truth or fake news sidestep the need to show proof, evidence and factual documentation to back up what they say.

One good example of this is Brexit where in the UK, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU. Now, the post truth culture is such that it was said that the EU membership was costing the British people some 350 million pounds every week. And that was repeated over and over again to the point where the British people in fact voted to leave the EU membership. And it was only after the decision was made that they realised that they had no idea what they voted for.

Now, in very much the same way, this suggestion that Dorje Shugden people work for the Chinese, are traitors and are spying for China, is this CTA invention, a propaganda that has been allowed to circulate very, very freely. Now what is interesting is that in these 20 years when this allegation of Dorje Shugden people being Chinese spies has been spread very widely, it’s around the same time when the CTA has created a number of controversies, for example with the two Karmapas, with the rangzen versus umaylam debate, and also with the Panchen Lama issue, as to which is the real Panchen Lama. So together with these, accusations of Dorje Shugden people being Chinese spies have come together, and in that confusion, the Tibetan people forgot to ask, “What is the CTA doing to get them home and how has the CTA broken promises after promises for over 60 years?”

So it is a very sneaky way for the CTA to get people focusing on certain things charged with emotions. And it is very emotional because anything to do with China would strike a very, very sore point with the Tibetan people. And that was leveraged to the hilt in this accusation.

Li Kim: So, what you’re saying Martin, if I understand you, is that the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, North India is appealing to the emotions of the people and inciting emotional responses that nullify logical thinking.

Martin: Very much so.

Li Kim: That nullify the need to ask for evidence or facts.

Martin: Correct.

Li Kim: That’s actually pretty dangerous for a government.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: Pastor Jean Ai, earlier I mentioned how the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala had amended or added to their resolution from 1996 to 1997. So my question here is, why was there a need to change justifications to ban a religion?

Pastor Jean Ai: Well, what you mentioned about the progression of the resolutions, Li Kim, is reflected in how the ban has actually progressed since it was first enforced in 1996 all the way up to the present time. In this you can see that multiple resolutions have actually been passed in the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, each one condemning Shugden practitioners but each one also progressively changing the content of each resolution.

You’ve seen multiple initiatives on the part of the Central Tibetan Administration who are the Tibetan leadership, to enforce and institutionalise the segregation and the discrimination that they direct towards Dorje Shugden practitioners. And throughout this entire last 20 to 22 years, the Central Tibetan Administration have actually changed their reasons for implementing the ban and to justify the ban. It’s changed many, many, many times. And each time they’ve presented a new reason for justifying the ban, it’s always been proven false.

So first they started by saying that His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his life would be shortened, his health would be harmed if people continue to practise Dorje Shugden. Well, in the present day, His Holiness is a very healthy 83-year-old and does not show signs of aging or slowing down. He’s bright, he’s alert, you know, much, much what many 83-year-olds would want to be health-wise.

Then the Tibetan leadership changed their reasoning for implementing the ban. They said that by continuing the practice of Dorje Shugden, you harm the Tibetan cause. Well, a lot of people have given up Dorje Shugden. The Tibetan leadership have been very successful in implementing the ban. And yet they are no closer today to making sure that their Tibetan people can go back to Tibet. So clearly, getting rid of the Dorje Shugden practice from the community has no bearing on whether the Tibetan leadership are successful in accomplishing their political goals or not.

So despite everything that the CTA have directed towards Shugden practitioners, even by 2008, many monasteries were still continuing to practise Dorje Shugden because they just did not see that there was any spiritual basis for banning the practice. And as a result, this led His Holiness the Dalai Lama to enforce even stronger sanctions against Shugden practitioners, going so far as to expel monks from the monasteries if they refused to give up their Shugden practice.

Then 2014, 2015, 2016. What you see is the Tibetan leadership releasing videos, publishing books, sponsoring publications all directed against Shugden practitioners. And all of them make mention of how Shugden practitioners have this so-called alleged link to the Chinese leadership. But I hate to tell you this, they’ve never produced a single shred of proof or evidence to back up their assertions.

Li Kim: Based on what you’re saying, the CTA – Central Tibetan Administration – is really putting a lot of effort to upkeep this Dorje Shugden ban.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: And to constantly fuel it.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: To constantly incite it, provoke it, to keep it alive, to keep up the hostility, to keep up the discrimination, which also results in violence and a lot of suffering for the Tibetan people. They spend a lot of time and effort doing this, in fact getting themselves even… you know, like you said, releasing videos, getting media coverage. It is a lot of effort to put into a cause to cover up the real thing which is their lack of efficiency, their broken promises. It’s pretty scary if you ask me.

Anyway, after Pastor Jean Ai has shared how this ban was developed and, shall we say, progressively enforced in India, I would like to know now how did this whole Chinese spy allegation get so blown out of proportion?

Martin: That’s a very good question, Li Kim. We have to remember that whilst news outside China is more easy to access, that what happens within China is a bit more difficult for people to read and understand. But when the Dalai Lama imposed this ban in 1996, we have to remember that the Dalai Lama wasn’t just a king. He was a god and a king to the Tibetan people. So whatever the Dalai Lama says is, in fact, law or has always been regarded by the Tibetan people to be law which they have to obey, both as a decree from a king and also as a spiritual instruction for someone who regards the Dalai Lama as a Buddha.

So with this, the instruction to stop and to make people stop the Dorje Shugden practice was carried into China, into the Tibet Autonomous Region. And what is interesting is a report by the Human Rights Watch 2004, and we have to bear in mind that this is not a document, these are not documents and research done by Dorje Shugden people or people who have any interest but…

Li Kim: Fully independent.

Martin: Very independent and in fact, it is slightly against China. But what is interesting is that it does document that there was a ban that the Dalai Lama imposed in 1996. And as I’ve just said, whatever the Dalai Lama says translates into law. So within Tibet, within the Tibet Autonomous Region, there was this split between people who chose to carry out the Dalai Lama’s instructions and the people who chose to carry on with the Dorje Shugden practice. Because we have to remember that it is a very ancient practice that has been passed down over many centuries and it’s not so easy to give up.

So what you have here is a situation where there was this division and unrest. And the Human Rights Watch report also documented that there were people strongly advocating the Dalai Lama’s stance on Dorje Shugden and they were preaching, they were taking steps to make the other people stop or to abandon the practice. All this translated into social unrest within the TAR – Tibet Autonomous Region – and a lot of communal disturbances, precisely what China fears the most. What China fears most is unrest like this that will spread to its border regions and then create a whole, huge mess for China. And by 2004, we already see that there’s considerable unrest because of the Dorje Shugden issue.

Now 10 years later, this has been brewing for a whole 10 years. So the Chinese government did what any government would do, which is to take steps to pacify the unrest and disturbances. Now to that end, the regional Chinese government put up some documentation, some literature to say that because the Dorje Shugden issue has become the source of unrest, it is now necessary for the Chinese government to address this issue as a matter of priority. Their objective as I mentioned before is to stop the unrest.

Li Kim: From growing to become a huge mess.

Martin: Precisely, because it’s just been brewing up over 10 years. Now we have to remember that all this is picking up from what Pastor Jean Ai has said, that from 1996 there has been this ongoing effort, escalating effort, on the part of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Li Kim: Very progressive.

Martin: Correct. To continuously inflame sentiments surrounding this issue. And that is played out in a bigger way in the Tibet Autonomous Region. So of course, the government stepped in to just say, “We have to put a stop to that.” This literature has been taken and misinterpreted on purpose by the Central Tibetan Administration as a smoking gun to say that the CCP, the Chinese government is behind this practice, which is quite ridiculous. We have to remember the Dorje Shugden practice began in the 17th Century, a long time before the Sino-Tibetan conflict.

Li Kim: Very long time.

Martin: And also, a very interesting point is that this accusation of Shugden people working for the Chinese only became common in around 2014, not before. So we have to remember that they didn’t start banning this practice because it was found that Shugden people were working for the Chinese government. It kind of like evolved into that because they ran out of other credible reasons. And it was a long time, a long time after the Dalai Lama imposed the ban before they decided, “Okay, we’ve got no more excuses so we’re just going to say something which we know is going to get the Tibetan people upset, going to get them angry. Something which we will not have to come out with any proof because it is such a highly charged issue.”

Pastor Jean Ai: Picking up on what Martin said, 2014 is also the year that the Tibetan leadership officially proclaimed Dorje Shugden practitioners as “criminals in history”. And the basis of the ban therefore shifted from the practice being harmful to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, over to Shugden people being Chinese spies.

So they stated this… Actually it’s captured within the resolution that they passed in 2014 by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and it actually reads regarding Shugden practitioners, “They are being deceived by the Chinese government through monetary and material incentive and are used as political tools”. And then goes on to say, “Further recognises also the Dolgyal followers and others – whose have caused grave harm to the faith and polity of Tibet under the Chinese government’s ploy and in violation of the law of Karma – as criminals in history”.

So ‘Dolgyal’ being the derogatory term that they use to refer to Shugden practitioners. So the sequence of events in that year alone, you see, is this: you have the International Shugden Community protestors who start protesting against the ban in February of 2014. And then a month later in March 2014, you have the Tibetan Parliament in Exile issuing this resolution claiming that these protestors and all Shugden practitioners in fact are “criminals in history”. In May 2014, the Tibetan Parliament then issues two hit lists, essentially, lists of Shugden practitioners – prominent Shugden practitioners – who had the courage, in our view, to protest against the ban, but in their view had the nerve to protest against His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And in this list…

Li Kim: And therefore warranted to be on the hit list.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes, warranted to be on the hit list, warranted to have violence directed against them and this list contained pictures of the protestors, it contained personal information leading up to even details of their home addresses. So it’s very clear to see that there’s been a very concerted and consistent effort to malign and to label Shugden practitioners as so-called Chinese spies.

Li Kim: And criminals.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: Wow, very, very malicious indeed. In 2015, you also have the media picking up news of this and, in my opinion, blowing it out of proportion but hey, let’s have a look at it objectively. The media picks up information and then apparently gives evidence by having witness statements saying that, “Yes, it is true, the Chinese government is paying Shugden practitioners to go ahead full steam, and continue to go against Tibet and go against the Dalai Lama.”

Surprisingly, these articles are actually quite convincing. They have so-called witnesses who have made statements and printed to say that, to confirm it, to confirm that such transactions are taking place to finance the movements of the horrible Shugden practitioners.

Pastor Jean Ai: And one such witness was a monk by the name of Lama Tseta who claimed that he was a very prominent Shugden practitioner who was very well-connected. He gave testimony saying that he has proof that Shugden practitioners have direct links to the Chinese leadership, received funding and support from the Chinese leadership. He filmed this video in 2015 and this video was widely publicised and promoted by the Tibetan leadership.

And Lama Tseta even added a dramatic bit at the end, when he cried to show his loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That scene, sorry to say, was widely mocked by both anti-Shugden groups and pro-Shugden practitioners because it was contrived, to say the least.

Li Kim: Well, I think it was, you know, if everyone can accuse everybody for everything then you can say this is definitely a CTA-funded video.

Pastor Jean Ai: Of course.

Li Kim: Definitely, and the crying too.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes, and speaking of CTA-funded videos, the video was actually filmed by a gentleman by the name of Dhamchoe Nyima, in his home no less, and Dhamchoe Nyima is a former employee of the Tibetan leadership up till 2014-2015, in that period. But since then, he has actually changed his stance towards Lama Tseta. He’s changed his stance towards the Tibetan leadership because he’s grown to be so disillusioned with all of the scandals that he sees around him and he’s come to the point where he now calls Lama Tseta a liar and a “society destroyer”, I quote and….

Li Kim: So he’s the person who filmed the video.

Pastor Jean Ai: Yes.

Li Kim: Of Lama Tseta saying everything and giving “evidence”. I see.

Pastor Jean Ai: And you really have to wonder if it’s a video that you can trust because first of all, Lama Tseta in the video admits that he took money from the Chinese leadership. Then he says that he was a Shugden practitioner and now he’s not a Shugden practitioner; he has proof but he has never actually shown this proof. So you have to wonder, can you really trust a person who keeps changing his story and is very inconsistent with his story?

The fact that he…well, Lama Tseta himself said he has proof of his allegations that Shugden practitioners are connected to the Chinese. And that’s something that has actually led to Dhamchoe Nyima’s disillusionment because Dhamchoe Nyima actually asked Lama Tseta for this proof repeatedly, you know, over a period of time and Lama Tseta was never able to produce that proof.

And so Dhamchoe Nyima is someone who was employed by the Tibetan leadership. Even he believes that when you make an allegation or you make an accusation such as “Shugden practitioners are connected with the Chinese”, you need to show proof and evidence. You don’t just walk into a court of law, make an accusation against someone and then expect the judge to hand down a sentence based purely on your word. You actually need to show evidence proving that someone is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. And Lama Tseta has never been able to do that.

Because Dhamchoe Nyima witnessed that, it has actually led to him basically disbelieving the Tibetan leadership’s assertion that Shugden practitioners have some kind of links with China. And what you see here is that the Tibetan leadership are extremely keen to condemn Shugden practitioners…

Li Kim: At all costs!

Pastor Jean Ai: At all costs, yes.

Li Kim: Including falsifying information.

Pastor Jean Ai: Including falsifying information, including not doing their due diligence on people coming out of woodworks, making wild claims and accusations that have no basis whatsoever.

Li Kim: And creating their own definition of law to define who are criminals.

Pastor Jean Ai: Exactly.

Li Kim: Whoa, preposterous.

Martin: I just want to add on to what Pastor Jean Ai has said. It is really quite ironic that here we have the CTA saying Dorje Shugden people are taking money from China. And the only hardcore evidence of any Dorje Shugden person ever receiving money from China is in the case of Lama Tseta. So he is confirmed by his own admission to be a Chinese spy, to be Chinese-funded and a traitor to the Tibetan people.

Li Kim: Yes, yes.

Martin: And the paradox is, it is upon the testimony of this that they are now incriminating and punishing other people who have not and have never and will never take money to mortgage their religious practice for any political gains.

Li Kim: The media continues to cover these Dorje Shugden protests that take place following the Dalai Lama. And, you know, the way it is portrayed, is that all this is to undermine the Dalai Lama. And then on top of that, it gives a very bad impression that Dorje Shugden people are like a sect, like mobs. What can you add to that?

Martin: Again this is a very good example of the CTA being an administration that relies heavily on post truth. The reality is there has never been a Dorje Shugden sect ever, or a Dorje Shugden group as is alleged by the CTA now.

You see, the Dorje Shugden practice has always, from the beginning, been only one practice in Tibetan Buddhism, not the only practice. It is even safe to say that it is a considerably minor practice compared to a whole lot of other practices that one would receive from one’s teacher in practising Tibetan Buddhism.

So there has never been, in history, a group, a Dorje Shugden group with its own identity which is separate, which is apart from Tibetan Buddhism. We have to remember, Li Kim, that Tibetan Buddhism is 1,300…over a thousand years old and since that time, there have not been many new inventions to Tibetan Buddhism. You don’t just create new lineages and new practices. In fact, all the practices have been passed down over hundreds of years.

If there was such a thing as a Dorje Shugden sect or a Dorje Shugden cult which is different to Tibetan Buddhism, we would have heard of it. But we don’t hear of anything like that. There was never, in the spiritual history of Tibetan Buddhism, was there ever a Dorje Shugden sect. It was only after the Central Tibetan Administration coined this term and labelled Shugden people as being Chinese spies that this so-called sect appeared.

Li Kim: Is born.

Martin: How did that happen? And here you have to really understand what is going on here. That calling it a sect, calling it a cult, calling it a group is their way of saying, “Avoid these people because they’re anti-Dalai Lama, they’re anti-Dharma, they’re anti-Tibetan Buddhism.” Again, it comes under post truth and fake news.

Li Kim: It is… I think it’s also a way of adding a lot of definitions so that, at the end of the day, the Dorje Shugden practitioners just become outcasts and outcast completely from Tibetan Buddhism. Completely.

Martin: Correct. It’s very interesting and here we have to refer to something which Mr Lukar Jam said. Mr Lukar Jam is a Tibetan who was one of the candidates for the post of the Sikyong, the Presidency of the Central Tibetan Administration. And what he said… and bear in mind this is not a Dorje Shugden practitioner saying this, Lukar Jam said that you cannot take a monolithic view towards Shugden practitioners.

Essentially what he means is you cannot, it is wrong to group them altogether and say, “Isolate them” and just call them a sect. And Mr Lukar Jam also said that there may be some who have been colluding with China, who have taken money from China, like Lama Tseta who admitted he has.

And then there are those who are practising Dorje Shugden by tradition, something which has been passed down in the family from the teacher for a long time. And these people practise Dorje Shugden but they also love the Dalai Lama. They are not to be put together and it is wrong to put them together. But the very idea, the very suggestion that as long as you belong to one religion or one group, you’re instantly tarnished, you’re instantly bad, is illogical.

Li Kim: Yes, very.

Martin: Yes, it is like saying just because you belong to a certain religion, you are immediately a terrorist. Just because your skin is of a certain colour, you are very highly likely to be a criminal, to be stopped, to be cuffed, to be interrogated. Just because you belong to a certain gender, you are instantly weaker, you cannot command as high a position and pay as someone of other genders. And just because you have a certain sexual preference, you are immediately sinful, you are dirty, that the community should shun you, that you should be avoided and excommunicated. All these suggestions are really obscene and to say this, and then to say that all Shugden people are traitors, are against the Dalai Lama, work for the Chinese, it’s just a really obscene assault on everyone’s common sense. And it is ridiculous for the Central Tibetan Administration, supposedly a democratic administration, to even suggest that.

Li Kim: Not only suggest, Martin. Continue to fuel it year after year, adding more and more, you know, fire.

Martin: Yes. If we take the view that no one should be judged on the colour of their skin, their gender, their preferences or nationality, as we all agree should not be the case…

Li Kim: If one was truly democratic.

Pastor Jean Ai: That’s right.

Martin: Correct. Well, democratic is right but if one has common sense, logically it does not stand that just because you are of a certain religion, just because you are of a certain skin colour, you are immediately bad. The whole thing is just insane.

Pastor Jean Ai: It also goes that everything that Martin’s talked about, if you have any respect for basic human rights, that you would not segregate people on any of the points that Martin has raised.

Li Kim: Personal choice.

Pastor Jean Ai: Exactly.

Li Kim: Freedom of choice.

Pastor Jean Ai: Exactly. And to add to what Martin has raised earlier, that Dorje Shugden people who protested were in the hundreds and they do not represent the four million Shugden practitioners that exist all around the world. Martin had earlier raised and talked about a gentleman by the name of Mr Lukar Jam. And Mr. Lukar Jam was not the only person who said that Shugden practitioners are not a homogenous group.

Another author, a Buddhist author by the name of Justin Whitaker wrote on the website Patheos.com that there is no one single Shugden organisation that functions as an umbrella organisation representing the views or the opinions or approach to practice of all Shugden practitioners around the world.

And certainly, we here at Kechara under the guidance of our guru His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, Tsem Rinpoche and Kechara have never participated in a protest. And therefore to say that all Shugden practitioners around the world have the same approach towards campaigning against the ban or even have the same approach to how they wish to maintain their practice of Dorje Shugden, it would be erroneous to assume that all of us are singular in this view.

Li Kim: I agree. Well, I definitely don’t have associations with China because I’m a Dorje Shugden practitioner. For business, yes, you know, for business, yes. But I don’t get paid to practise Dorje Shugden.

Martin: Let me just jump in here, just to say that the Central Tibetan Administration, for the good of their cause and for the reputation of the Tibetan people, should really stop saying this because this habit of simply accusing opponents of being Chinese spies has been noticed, has been observed and picked up by global news.

The Huffington Post wrote about it and more recently medium.com, which is a very dynamic website based in the US, have noticed how the CTA would very, very easily label people as Chinese spies and have done so over time, just to get people to oppose the people that the CTA is trying to target. So they should really, really stop saying this because it really makes them look ridiculous, it undermines the credibility of the Tibetan cause and it makes a mockery out of everything that Tibetan Buddhism stands for, which is logic.

Pastor Jean Ai: Quite frankly, using the word ‘Chinese’ to insult someone else is, in essence, a racial slur. It’s nothing more than that, to say that someone is bad to be Chinese.

Li Kim: Everything that you have shared… I mean, I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s going, “What? Seriously?” It’s mind-blowing how ridiculous it is, I mean, we as in Dorje Shugden practitioners are accused of being Chinese spies. You know, on social media it’s even nastier than that, “Chinese dogs” yes? It’s rude, it’s horrible, it’s inhumane.

Dorje Shugden practitioners are accused of undermining the Dalai Lama but if you think about it, the work that the CTA is doing, investing their time, effort and a lot of money probably, to keep on promoting this Dorje Shugden ban and the things they’re doing to this date in 2018, and publishing and putting things out there without evidence, is insulting. And if they want to talk about undermining, they are undermining the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I mean, telling lies? Having no compassion? You know, dividing people? It’s horrible, yes?

And also, I was just thinking, as ironic as it is, what’s his name, the one who, the tattle-tale, Lama Tseta. Before he said, “Oh, I don’t practise Shugden”, was he ever confirmed? He obviously testified against himself. He is a Chinese spy. He received money. Was any action taken against him since it’s the law in the resolution that he’s a criminal?

Pastor Jean Ai: Nothing. He’s just been promoted and celebrated.

Li Kim: Oh, been promoted. Wow. So in today’s time and age, obviously the CTA has not been updated how to treat people. Alright. I would like to add, this Chinese spy label used by the CTA is not unique to only the Dorje Shugden people. It is an old trick to incite violence and segregation towards anyone that the CTA considers to be not politically-inclined with their views, or people they perceive to be political opponents such as Lukar Jam, Rangzen activists, Mila Rangzen (an outspoken Tibetan), Member of Parliament Sharchok Cookta and Dudjom Rinpoche.

So back to the issue at hand, there has been no documented, legitimate evidence presented to prove any Dorje Shugden practitioner as a Chinese spy. Hearsay by a monk, self-incriminating by the way, does not count as evidence. It is racist to use the term ‘Chinese’ in this context all across the board. There are millions of practitioners who have nothing to do with China and would not appreciate being labelled a “Chinese spy” or even a “Chinese dog”.

Interestingly, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is making overtures to get closer to China. So, is the CTA going to start labelling him a Chinese spy too? With this, I will conclude this discussion and leave you with the knowledge to recognise facts and logic versus false allegations and prejudice.

Close transcript


 

#6: Proof that the Central Tibetan Administration
is not a democracy

The Dalai Lama’s government in exile, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) proclaims itself to be a democratic system of government. It further proclaims that its struggle with China is that of a liberal nation against an oppressive Communist regime. But how much of the CTA’s democracy is real and authentic?

Celebrity host Phng Li Kim explores the characteristics of true democracies and examines whether the CTA truly upholds the basic principles of democracy that it insists is enshrined in the Tibetan Constitution. As the CTA gears up to celebrate what it hails to be its 58th year as a democratic government, hard questions need to be asked as to why a supposedly democratic country bears such tremendous resemblance to its own feudalistic self. Is democracy merely another CTA ruse?

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSConstitution6.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #6

Hello, my name is Li Kim. Today, I will share with you why there is no democracy for Dorje Shugden practitioners, clearly because the Central Tibetan Administration, CTA in short, in Dharamsala, North India is not truly democratic. The actions and resolutions made by the CTA towards the Dorje Shugden practice and practitioners are far from democratic. In fact, it is blatantly discriminatory and prejudiced. The executives of the CTA either have no conscience or are simply ignorant with how to apply democracy. Before I go further, please bear with me as I share with you the essence of a democracy. As this is not a political science seminar, I will spare us the lengthy details and summarise the key ingredients of a democracy.

Instead of quoting you lengthy definitions, I will quote Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. He said it best in his short and precise phrase, “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” The element of freedom is one fundamental principle in a democracy. And to uphold this freedom, there is constitutional government, human rights and equality before the law. This must apply for the public good, which means for the many and not only for the privileged few. Democratic governments consist of officials or representatives who are elected by the citizens to make political decisions, formulate laws and administer programmes for the public good. Again I repeat, for the majority and not just the few. So when you read on the CTA’s website, which is accessible to the public, to the world in fact, resolutions that prohibit and forbid the worship of Dorje Shugden who the CTA deliberately insult with the derogatory term Dolgyal which means ‘evil spirit’, what are you to think? How are you supposed to think? Is this democratic? Where is the fundamental principle of freedom? Yes, I am aware that it says “You can choose” on the website. I know, but what I want to highlight is the clear threat of punishment if you exercised the freedom of religion, simply by quoting what’s on the website.

“Having said this, it is up to individuals themselves to decide as they like. We cannot force anyone to do anything against his or her wish. However, we would like to emphatically plead to the Shugden-worshippers that they should stop taking tantric initiations and teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

Ladies and gentlemen, we need to understand that in the hearts and minds of all Tibetans, the Dalai Lama is their spiritual leader, their king. To not hear or see him is punishment. It is frightening to a normal Tibetan. And of course he or she will give up their freedom to choose Dorje Shugden. And I must add this one because it is just too disturbing for me to keep quiet. In the CTA’s website, there is this resolution.

“People should send as much report as possible so that the local government and concerned central government departments of India are kept informed of the activities of Shugden supporters.”

Seriously? Is it a crime to practise your religion that it must be reported to the authorities? And to add on, send as much as you can. Is there nothing else to do? In other democratic societies, matters of church and state are separated. Religious freedom is a guarantee in the constitution.

Let me read you some examples and we can compare.

United States. Constitution of the United States.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Clearly, church and state separated.

Australian Constitution Act.

“The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.”

Is that the same with the CTA? No. In fact if you practise Dorje Shugden, you can’t have a job with the government departments or its affiliates. You know, so if you practise Dorje Shugden, no work for you.

Next one. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

“Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of conscience. Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of religious belief and freedom to preach and to conduct and participate in religious activities in public. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall not restrict the freedom of religious belief, interfere in the internal affairs of religious organisations or restrict religious activities which do not contravene the laws of the Region.”

Freedom of religion sounds like that ladies and gentlemen.

Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

“All citizens are equal before the law. They are equal in rights, freedoms and general duties, without discrimination based on religion, belief, sex, origin, race, colour, language, disability, social class, political or geographic affiliation or any other reason. Discrimination and incitement of hatred is a crime punished by Law. The State shall take necessary measures for eliminating all forms of discrimination, and the Law shall regulate creating an independent commission for this purpose.”

This is what democracy sounds like. Is it the same for the CTA? Yeah, in the Charter, but when it comes to inciting hatred against the Dorje Shugden people, I don’t see no law punishing the perpetrators.

I’m going to read out the Constitution for Canada.

“Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.”

Now, like I said, this is not a political science class.

Last one, my last example. The Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation.

“No person may be discriminated against, in particular on grounds of origin, race, gender, age, language, social position, way of life, religious, ideological, or political convictions, or because of a physical, mental or psychological disability. Freedom of religion and conscience is guaranteed. Every person has the right to choose freely their religion or their philosophical convictions, and to profess them alone or in community with others. Every person has the right to join or to belong to a religious community, and to follow religious teachings. No person may be forced to join or belong to a religious community, to participate in a religious act, or to follow religious teachings.”

People in Switzerland can choose and they have the right to attend teachings. But on the website of the CTA, sorry! If you practise Dorje Shugden, you cannot attend the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Ridiculous, don’t you say?

What can I say? Reading the rights on religious freedom from other countries only makes it so clear that what is happening to the Dorje Shugden practitioners by the CTA is wrong. Not only just wrong, it is unlawful. Let me take you one step further. Let’s look at the Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile. Article 6. Article 6 is Recognition of International and Local Law. So,

“All laws, ordinances, regulations, administrative and executive orders of the Tibetan Administration-in-Exile shall conform to the generally accepted principles of international law and in particular comply with the local laws of the host countries.”

This means that for example, those who are living in Switzerland or Canada, I have read you their constitution, the Tibetans in exile who are living there should not bring with them all their bad attitude of discrimination, attacking Dorje Shugden practitioners. They cannot bring that with them to the countries that practise religious freedom. Now, going back to the Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile. In Article 6, they say that they have to comply with international law.

So let’s just read the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

Freedom. Choice.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

Is the CTA granting such rights to Dorje Shugden practitioners? No. So the CTA, the government, is in Dharamsala, North India, which means India is the host country, which means the Tibetan government needs to comply with the Constitution of India, which says:

“The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to – access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.”

What is happening in the Tibetan settlements in India? There are signs like this that say, “No entry to you. You are not welcome because you practise Dorje Shugden.” Continuing in the constitution of India.

“No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.”

Like I said earlier, it states on CTA’s website that if you worship Shugden, you are reminded not to. Basically you won’t get a job with the government, you won’t be able to work, hold any position in the offices of the CTA. That’s what it means. As nicely as they write it or as correctly as they write it, that’s what it means.

“Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.”

So why not DS practitioners? Why not? I can go on and on and on, but I think you get the picture. So my question is, “Is the CTA in compliance with their own Charter?” Let’s have a look at two more examples. Article 9. Equality Before The Law.

“All Tibetan citizens shall be equal before the law and shall enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth in this Charter without discrimination on grounds of birth, sex, race, religion, language, lay or ordained status, social origin, rich or poor.”

Is that for Dorje Shugden practitioners? No, no, no! Dorje Shugden practitioners don’t get to enjoy the rights of Article 9.

Article 10. Religious Freedom.

“All religious denominations are equal before the law. Every Tibetan shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. These religious rights include the freedom to manifest one’s beliefs, to receive initiation into religious traditions, and to practise with matters relating to religious commitment, such as preaching or worship of any religion, either alone or in community with others.”

So why not for Dorje Shugden practitioners? Hello? CTA? You are writing this in your Charter and it doesn’t seem to be what you’re executing or what you’re implementing. Clearly, there is something very wrong here. Are these articles in the Charter applicable to ALL Tibetans in exile EXCEPT Dorje Shugden practitioners? This is injustice. This is discrimination. There is no democracy for Dorje Shugden practitioners.

President Lobsang Sangay of the CTA delivered a lecture at Emory University School of Law on April 9th, 2018. He spoke about the Tibetan people’s transition to secular democracy. Interesting, right? What he delivered was all good and dandy if you were not a Dorje Shugden practitioner. Hence, I think the lecture should have been called, “The Execution of Selective Democracy”. On the side, let’s practise some severe discrimination. That’s what I think of course.

Let me explain a little bit further, bear with me, why the CTA’s lack of democracy towards the Dorje Shugden practitioners… Not lack actually, let me correct myself, why there is no democracy for Dorje Shugden practitioners. I’m going to go into this very quickly.

Social Welfare. Article 16 of the Charter.

“The Tibetan Administration-in-Exile shall endeavour to secure appropriate means of providing sources of livelihood, happiness and mental and physical well-being for the Tibetan people. Those policies shall include the promotion of equal opportunity and adequate means of livelihood, equal pay for equal work, either within the Tibetan Administration or any other institutions under its jurisdiction, and equal taxation in accordance with the amount of income.”

Like I said earlier, you don’t get to work for them if you worship Dorje Shugden. Equal? Equal is like this, not like that! Like, everyone else up here, Dorje Shugden practitioners down here! Hello? And, what happiness when you have signs like this in shops. Sorry, you practise Dorje Shugden. No entry for you. You are not welcome. Another example. Not welcome. Stay out. Get out. Bye bye, you practise Dorje Shugden.

Education and Culture. Article 17.

“The Tibetan Administration shall abide by the United Nations’ declarations of the rights of the children and shall provide all Tibetan children in exile, who have reached school age, the opportunity for primary education.”

No, no no! That’s not what is given to Dorje Shugden practitioners. You practise Dorje Shugden, no school for you. Stay home. No school for you. No shopping. No school. Ah! No medical care. We’ll come to that. Here you go. No education for you, you practise Dorje Shugden. Please do not come in and explore the teaching program. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is their spiritual teacher. Attending his talks is education, it’s culture. But no, cannot, not you. You practise Dorje Shugden, no teachings for you.

Last one. Article 18. Health.

“The Tibetan Administration shall endeavour to promote adequate health, medical and sanitation services, and provide free medical treatment for the needy. It shall conduct special medical care programs for immunisation and chronic illnesses and educate people on environmental issues.”

Oh no no no! You practise Dorje Shugden, please enjoy bad health. There’s no medical care for you, stay out. Get sick, we don’t care. Another one. Clinic. But not for you, you practise Dorje Shugden. Not for you, stay sick, be sick.

After you hear all that, doesn’t it make you kind of sick in your stomach? Lobsang Sangay goes around the world, places, travels to talk about democracy. Seriously? I don’t know. I think my stomach will turn, but nevermind that. Let’s just talk about what’s available online, just in case they can’t really access the Charter and get a copy of it. No, can’t get a hard copy. Let’s just have a look. This is what they have online. Can you please tell me which government on this planet puts in so much effort, dedicates one whole section on Dolgyal? Dorje Shugden, how bad it is and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Now over here, you will notice 1996, 1997, 2014. They’re very progressive, they’re very dedicated to update this part of the website. They’re very committed to ensure you take notice so that you can maintain and upkeep your discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Upkeep the fact that there’s no democracy for them. You know, the way they write it has improved. They bring in the Dalai Lama a lot. They are compliant to the Dalai Lama. They are listening to the advice of the Dalai Lama. In a real democracy, church and state are separated. In this “democracy”, bring in the church, mix up the state so that we get to be right, so that we practise no democracy for Dorje Shugden practitioners. Here is the best part, the way they write it. You know, listen to this one.

“Recognition should be given to those who followed Shugden in the past out of ignorance, but have now given up the practice; efforts should be made to ensure that they do not suffer as a result of having given up the Shugden practice;”

What is the Tibetan government trying to say? Dorje Shugden practitioners are ignorant? They practise out of ignorance? And the way they write it, “Yes, you are recognised, you’re honoured for giving it up.” And then they say, you must be careful for your safety now. What are they saying? Shugden practitioners are violent? And that if you choose to follow the Dalai Lama, they are going to beat you up? But the way it’s written here, they are inciting. The way it’s written here, they’re provoking that to happen. Even if it doesn’t happen, when you read this, it will happen.

Oh, talking about dedication. Yeah, dedication, dedication! Constant updates. This is updated, let me see, 2014 and now they pull in the Chinese. They say that you know Dorje Shugden are Chinese spies, online you hear ‘Chinese dogs’. Which government on this planet has a website that is so dedicated to just one singled out religion? Condemning it. Making sure discrimination is upheld. I don’t know any, except the Central Tibetan Administration’s website.

This is not democracy, ladies and gentlemen. It’s cruel. It is filled with discrimination. It’s unkind. There is no need to uphold any good moral ground, to look good and feel good and preach that you practise democracy when there is in reality, a group of people about 4 million of them known as Dorje Shugden practitioners, who do not receive the equality and fairness of democracy.

On behalf of the Dorje Shugden practitioners, I ask, no, in fact, I firmly demand that the CTA review their standards of executing the true meaning of a democracy. Be fair. Give equal rights to all your citizens. Be sincere when you give them the choice to choose their religious practices. Do not penalise them when they do. Start by removing all this discrimination against them from your website. On this note, I pray for the unity, harmony and happiness for all Tibetan people, most of all, for the Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Close transcript


 

#7: My humble thoughts on the
Tibetan self-immolations

Over 150 Tibetan people have given up their lives by setting themselves on fire as a means to protest China’s occupation of their homeland. This is without doubt a very painful, sensitive and difficult subject to discuss because many lives have been lost in the genuine belief that suicide by fire has a beneficial impact on the Tibetan struggle.

While there is no question about the courage and sacrifice of the Tibetan people who have self-immolated, the reality is that the Tibetan people are already a disenfranchised group and every single Tibetan life is valuable and necessary to keep the unique Tibetan culture, religion and language alive.

The Central Tibetan Administration argues that it does not encourage Tibetan self-immolations but it continues to glorify and even subtly encourage the Tibetan people to kill themselves. Pastor Khong Jean Ai takes on this difficult subject in the sincere hope that no more Tibetan lives are unnecessarily lost from this point forward.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSSelfImmolation7.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #7

Hi, my name is Pastor Jean Ai and today, I will be speaking about a topic that’s slightly controversial but probably no more so compared to the Dorje Shugden issue.

As a Malaysian, the topic of self-immolations does not directly affect me but as a previous supporter of the Tibetan cause, I have some concerns about what I observe in the Tibetan community today. So it is not that I am trying to impose my opinions, nor do I wish to hurt anyone. It is certainly not my intention to belittle the sacrifices of people who have lost their lives. But I am generally and genuinely concerned about this unnecessary loss of lives.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines self-immolations as a deliberate and willing sacrifice of oneself, often by fire. Historically, the term has been used to refer to acts like starvation or hara-kiri but since the 1960s, it has been used to almost exclusively refer to suicide by fire.

For most people, the first time they ever saw a self-immolation was during the Viet Nam War when the image of a monk, Venerable Thich Quang Duc self-immolating was widely publicised. The image of a calm, dignified monk meditating and not flinching while he was on fire, moved everyone who saw it. The American President at the time, John F. Kennedy, said that no single image in history has generated so much emotion as that one. Meanwhile the American public were so shocked, it compelled them to pressure their government to withdraw support for the Vietnamese leadership at the time who were persecuting Buddhists.

In more recent times, the act of self-immolations has become identified with the Tibetan cause. Since 2008, over 150 Tibetans have self-immolated to express their desperation and suffering over their lack of political progress. However, their actions have come to be seen as less effective than Venerable Duc’s of Viet Nam. This is because in spite of the self-immolations, very few countries around the world have responded to the tragic loss of Tibetan lives by increasing their financial, political and moral support for the Tibetans.

This had led people to ask, are self-immolations acceptable? The act of self-immolations can be examined from two perspectives – secular and spiritual.

From a secular point-of-view, when you engage in any form of protest, you do so because you want to bring about a particular result. So if that form of protest is not gaining the desired result, you have to wonder if it really makes sense to continue in the same way, instead of changing tactics. Although over 150 Tibetans have given their lives, world leaders have either maintained or even reduced the amount of support they give to the Tibetans. For example, India who is the Tibetans’ greatest benefactor, and who should theoretically be more sympathetic towards the Tibetan plight, continue to maintain their One China Policy in spite of these self-immolations.

So if even India is not moved, why do Tibetans continue in this act?

Observers have also examined the Tibetan self-immolations from a spiritual point-of-view because the Tibetans are famously Buddhist.

As Buddhists, we believe in the preciousness of human life. It is the first chapter of the Lamrim, which is the book studied by the vast majority of Tibetan Buddhists all around the world.

Buddhists talk about the preciousness of human life because it endows us with the mental and physical capacity, and the environmental factors to study, understand and practise the Dharma.

So from a Buddhist perspective, everything about self-immolations is not acceptable. As a lay Buddhist, it is one of your refuge vows not to take the life of another sentient being and that includes yourself. And as an ordained Buddhist, it is one of your core ordination vows not to take any life. So once you break that core vow, unfortunately you’re no longer a monk.

Secularly and spiritually speaking therefore, there is very little reason to continue with self-immolations. Secularly, it is not getting the Tibetan community the results they want and spiritually, it does not match their Buddhist culture and principles.

So now the question is – why has the Tibetan leadership allowed it to continue for this long? After the 20th, 30th self-immolation, why didn’t the government speak up strongly against it to stop it, and to tell their people that it is not working to pressure world leaders to increase their support for them? And what are they doing now to stop more Tibetans from giving up their lives?

Unfortunately, it seems that not much, or rather not enough is being done. I have some friends who live in the Tibetan settlements and they’ve told me, it’s frustrating for them to see the self-immolation memorials because it makes the self-immolations look good. There is one in Delhi’s Majnu-Ka-Tilla Tibetan Settlement for example, and another in Dharamsala. And these kinds of memorials kind of glamourise the deaths and therefore encourage people to follow in the self-immolators’ footsteps because they know, they will be celebrated for their act which they feel demonstrates their loyalty to Tibet. All of this will only lead to more Tibetan lives being lost and my friends just don’t want to see this happening anymore. They would rather have more Tibetans “live to fight another day”, than to give up their lives now.

Friends have also told me that people do wonder why the Tibetan leadership spends money on these memorials, when perhaps they should be using it, using this money to build schools, to fund hospitals, to establish libraries to help improve the lives of the Tibetans in exile. Why tell someone you love them after they’ve died, when you can show it to them while they are alive?

Now all of this has led to speculation that the Tibetan leadership do not actually want to speak up against the self-immolations because it serves some sort of purpose for them. As we have seen with their recent scandals, such as the missing 1.5 million dollars, the Tibetan administration is quite money-driven. Hence people are talking and saying, that the Tibetan leadership allows these self-immolations to keep happening because it keeps the Tibetan cause relevant in modern times, when the world is already dealing with so many other geo-political issues. So as long as the Tibetan cause remains relevant, and Tibetans continue to die in the name of Tibet, it means people will continue to donate and sponsor their government.

But the sad fact is, these 150 over deaths have not led to much. In fact, day by day, support for the Tibetan leadership continues to decrease while the world opts to form positive bilateral relations with China, arguably the world’s most powerful economy today.

So again, we go back to the question – why do the Tibetan leadership allow the self-immolations to continue, when the only thing it seems to be doing is reducing the number of Tibetans? After all, Tibetan lives are much, much more precious than any money their leadership can receive.

If we give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps the Tibetan leadership did try to stop it but people are not listening. However, it is very difficult for me to believe that they have run out of ideas to try and stop the self-immolations. Take the Dorje Shugden ban for example. The Tibetan leadership have printed books, brochures, filmed videos, hung up posters all telling people over and over again to give up Dorje Shugden. They’ve spoken out so strongly against the Dorje Shugden practice, they’ve even gone so far as to expel monks from their monasteries if they refuse to give up Shugden.

So how come the Tibetan leadership have not gone to the same lengths when it comes to self-immolations? That is the question many people are asking.

People are also saying that when so many Tibetans have self-immolated, it actually reflects the lack of hope they feel in their Tibetan leadership. The fact is, within effective governments where people have their voices heard, the population does not need to self-immolate in protest. They have proper, democratic channels through which they can make their voices heard. It’s only in autocracies and authoritarian regimes, or when the people are desperate because no one knows their suffering, that they have to resort to such extreme acts of protest which involves giving up their lives.

In his press release regarding self-immolations, my teacher H.E. Tsem Rinpoche said that “the act of setting oneself ablaze is not one that should be glorified, politicised or encouraged as a means of accomplishing personal or political agendas.” As Buddhists, we should reject all forms of violence and use our precious human lives to seek more positive ways to create the change we want.

Rinpoche urged the Tibetan leadership to speak up more strongly against the self-immolations. Rinpoche suggested that they can make announcements and send representatives to all the Tibetan settlements. Educate people on why they should stop self-immolating, because Tibetan lives are precious and giving it up is not helping to raise awareness or support for the cause.

Rinpoche has also respectfully requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama to speak up firmly and ask Tibetans not to destroy their own lives, and to achieve their cause through peaceful means. After all, if His Holiness has spoken up strongly against the practice of Dorje Shugden, he can also do the same against self-immolations.

In summation, I offer for you Rinpoche’s actual words of request:

“I humbly request the Tibetan leadership and governments around the world to end needless suffering. Please be more compassionate. Please open your hearts. Please use love, compassion and wisdom to heal conflicts and make the world a better place. We can find more positive ways of making change in society. We must educate people on this strongly and stop all acts of self-harm which cause more suffering on top of what people already face in life.

I offer my heartfelt and deepest prayers for all those who have self-immolated for a cause they strongly believe in. I send my heartfelt prayers, tears and anguish along with condolences to their families and friends.”

Again, all of this is being said out of concern, as someone who formerly supported the Tibetan cause. It is not being said with the intent of hurting anyone or diminishing the significance of their sacrifice. I hope the Tibetan leadership will come together soon to protect and preserve the Tibetan culture and religion, starting first with protecting and preserving their people’s lives. Thank you very much for listening.

Close transcript


 

#8: Healing the Divide: Respect the Dalai Lama and respect Dorje Shugden

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) portrays Dorje Shugden practitioners as a cult when, in reality, there is no such thing as a ‘Shugden cult’. It is a term the CTA coined in its effort to marginalise the adherents of this 400-year old Buddhist practice, who have become attrition in the CTA’s politicisation of a precious religion.

More astute observers have surmised that there are those like His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche and his students, who may be vocal about their opposition to the grave injustices suffered by Dorje Shugden practitioners but do so without foregoing their practice of respect, tolerance and compassion for all, including towards those who persecute you. In this segment, Pastor Khong Jean Ai discusses the importance of not giving in to anger and to respect both H.H. the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden, as the unsurpassed Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang had counselled.

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSHealingTheDivide8.mp4

CLICK FOR TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO #8

Hi, my name is Pastor Khong Jean Ai and I am a student of H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche here at Kechara in Malaysia.

For the last 20 to 30 years, the Tibetan leadership have divided their community on many issues. There is the issue of the two Karmapas, there is the issue of the Panchen Lamas and of course, there is the issue of Dorje Shugden.

Thanks to the Tibetan leadership’s enforcement and encouragement of these divisions, not only has the community divided according to their opposing views, but the monasteries have also split as well.

For example, within the Dorje Shugden issue, Gaden Shartse Monastery split into Shartse which does not practise Dorje Shugden, and Shar Gaden Monastery which does practise Dorje Shugden.

Sera Mey Monastery gave up their Shugden practice and the monks who refused to abide by the ban were expelled and forced to form Serpom Monastery which does practise Shugden.

And while the Tibetan leadership may be okay with the many schisms and divisions within their community, I think that it’s pretty disturbing that after 600 years, anyone can be okay, justify or excuse the fact that great monastic institutions are split in two.

Is this the vision that Lama Tsongkhapa had for the monasteries?

There are a lot of people who think that the time for healing has come but with the divisions and hatred so deeply entrenched, most people don’t know how to go about this healing process. So what I’m going to talk about today may not necessarily be the most popular opinion but I figured hey, with so many exciting geopolitical changes taking place globally, isn’t it time we try something new? Everything else that’s been tried for the last 20 years has pretty much failed.

So if you look at what’s going on in the world today, many opposite sides are coming together to try and move forwards towards a harmonious future. And how are they going to do that? Through mutual respect. In our case specifically as Shugden practitioners, this means seriously considering why it is important to respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama as part of our reliance on Dorje Shugden.

Most of you will not believe that I am telling the truth, thinking, “Oh, she practises Shugden, of course she would say that.” So let me offer you a little proof that doesn’t come from me, but from people who are clearly and obviously not Shugden practitioners.

In 2015, in the aftermath of a Reuters article, there were a number of people who spoke up against the inaccuracies they perceived in the article.

Two of these critics were Justin Whitaker, a Buddhist author and Lukar Jam, a candidate in the 2016 Sikyong Prime Ministerial elections. Both said that it is a fallacious belief that Shugden practitioners are a homogenous group who share only one view of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

They said that in essence, there are three main groups. The first group does not say anything, preferring to maintain their practice in silence. Another group outright protests against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and because of them, a lot of attention and awareness has been brought to the ban on Dorje Shugden. The third and final group speaks up against the ban but they continue to advocate respect for His Holiness. And we at Kechara, under His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s guidance, fall under this third group of people and I would like to share with you the reasons why.

The first reason is that being respectful of the Dalai Lama proves that there is nothing wrong with Shugden practice and that you don’t become rude or mean when you do the practice.

People accuse Dorje Shugden of being spirit worship, saying that the practice leads you further away from enlightenment because Buddhists are not supposed to pray to spirits.

On the other hand, we Shugden practitioners maintain that Shugden practice brings us closer to enlightenment because Dorje Shugden is Manjushri.

Since that is our position, it is therefore our responsibility to consider how our behaviour reflects our practice, how the world at large will view our behaviour, and how that view will affect our campaign to lift the ban.

So we say that Dorje Shugden practice brings us closer to enlightenment but what does that actually mean? The most basic definition is that we become kinder, gentler people. It means that we become respectful to everyone, whether or not they will treat us in the same way.

We can also talk about this from the perspective of conventional and ultimate view. Conventional view is seeing things for how they appear, while ultimate view is seeing things for what they really are.

Now applying this to a real-life situation, it means if you engage in outwardly disrespectful behaviour, most people will automatically surmise it is because you are an inherently disrespectful person.

Maybe you have your good reasons for being disrespectful. Maybe it is because you are trying to shock people or create some sort of ruckus, so everyone pays attention. But because most of the world operates from conventional view, they will never know that ultimately good motivation of yours. They will only see what is put in front of them and so in this conventional world, when we disrespect His Holiness the Dalai Lama, our behaviour as perceived by the wider community may not match their projection of a Buddhist practitioner.

In being rude and vulgar, or appearing violent, third party observers who don’t know any better will immediately associate our behaviour with our Shugden practice. This means if we are rude, they will think that Shugden taught us to be rude. If we are mean-spirited, they will blame our behaviour on Dorje Shugden.

So it is important for us to bear this in mind. That most of the world operates from a conventional view and therefore respecting His Holiness the Dalai Lama helps to show that when we practise Dorje Shugden, it turns us into nicer, kinder people. That it was Dorje Shugden who inspired us to tolerate adversity with patience.

Look, he’s the guy whose name is being dragged through the mud. And if he can tolerate that with dignity, why can’t we?

The second reason for why it is important to respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama is that being respectful of His Holiness proves that Shugden-practising high lamas are right because their students are a reflection of their teachers.

Even though this may be a reductive, over simplistic approach, again according to the conventional view of the world, that is the approach most people will use. Like father, like son and like mother, like daughter.

Let me give you an example that will make things clearer. Take for instance, Penpa Tsering, the former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile and the former Dalai Lama’s representative or donjo to North America.

In 2014, while addressing a crowd of Tibetan students, Penpa Tsering told everyone that Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche died coughing blood.

He intentionally lied to a new generation of Tibetan youth who don’t know any better, and changed their perception of one of Tibet’s greatest lamas of living memory.

In doing so, Penpa Tsering perpetuated a cycle of destruction and hate in order to further his political agenda, to appear that he is fervently supportive of the Tibetan leadership’s ban on anything related to Dorje Shugden. He planted the seeds of hatred and disharmony inside impressionable young minds and taught the children how to discriminate and divide.

Back then, and even now, we say that Penpa Tsering’s poor behaviour reflects his lack of practice, or the inability of his teacher to impart any kindness or consideration into him. We say Penpa Tsering is this way and makes such ignorant remarks because his teacher did not teach him very well.

So how come that logic applies to him, and it doesn’t apply to us? When we behave badly, it doesn’t reflect well on our teachers either, just like how Penpa Tsering was a bad reflection of his guru due to his poor behaviour.

The other real point is that we get upset when Penpa Tsering makes such derogatory remarks about Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche because he’s our lineage guru. Think about how strongly we feel when people insult our lineage masters.

And then think about His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the fact that he is the guru and lineage master of people who hate Dorje Shugden. How will they feel when we insult their teacher, His Holiness the Dalai Lama?

So when both sides are insulting each others’ teachers, and wounding one another with weapons of the tongue, how can reconciliation between the two sides be possible?

Instead of focusing on how to hurt each other, we must focus on the core issue and that is, there is a ban and it is wrong on all levels, whether spiritually, or purely from a human-to-human level. No one has any right to tell a person what they can or cannot believe in, and to use force to impose that view on them.

Now, when I talk about respecting His Holiness the Dalai Lama, that respectful attitude can arise from two premises. The first premise is that we should always be respectful of another human being, any human being.

The second premise is that we should be respectful because His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig.

Look, maybe the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig, maybe he’s not. Either way, it cannot harm us to view him as an attained being because:

  1. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns out to be ordinary, at least we did not accumulate the negative karma of offending or hurting the feelings of another sentient being.
  2. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns out to be an extraordinary being, then luckily we did not accumulate the negative karma of denigrating a Buddha.

Our great Shugden lamas always counsel us to never lose respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and this is something that as Shugden practitioners, we must follow. In my 20 years of relying on Dorje Shugden, I have never heard of one single Shugden lama who has been truly disrespectful of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The advice to respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama started with His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang in his seminal written work Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors, and has continued up to the present day with our teacher, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche and even Dorje Shugden. If Dorje Shugden himself counsels us to respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama, would it not make sense that in the grand scheme of things, it is important for us to do so?

At the end of the day, regardless of how we intend to get there, what is our ultimate goal? Why do we practise the Dharma and what are we trying to achieve? Whether you rely on Shugden or not, everyone’s ultimate goal is actually enlightenment so whatever we do, we always have to remember that it is our spirituality that is at stake. And when we denigrate the opposite side, it may feel satisfying for the moment but it will not be beneficial for our spirituality in the long run.

We say we practise Dorje Shugden to protect our spiritual path, to give us a chance to alleviate our sufferings and that of others. Well, we can start that here and now, with our body, speech and mind, by carrying through what our own Protector has advised us. Therefore to respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama is to respect our own spiritual practice and progress, and that is what our teacher H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche has always taught us.

Thank you for listening today to these thoughts that I have to share. My name is Pastor Khong Jean Ai and I spoke about the importance of respecting His Holiness the Dalai Lama and how we as Dorje Shugden practitioners should always do so. I gave you two main reasons, as well as talked about it from the perspective of conventional and ultimate view.

May His Holiness have a long life, may the Tibetan people always have harmony amongst themselves and may they always have great spiritual teachers to continue turning the wheel of Dharma.

Thank you.

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Addendum

Central Tibetan Administration’s Website

Below is a screenshot of Tibet.net, which is the Tibetan leadership’s website. In it, they have a section with “information” about Dorje Shugden which is designed to promote hatred, negativity and direct vulgarities towards Shugden practitioners. What kind of democratic leadership has a section like this on their site targeting a religious group? Imagine the uproar there would be if the American or Canadian, or any other democratic government had sections like this on their site for the public!

CTAWebsite

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) website which has a section on Dorje Shugden. What kind of democratic government has sections on their website which target a religious group? Click to enlarge.

 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Website

This is a screenshot of DalaiLama.com which is the official website of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. When this section exists on His Holiness’ website, it actually emboldens Tibetans to discriminate against and segregate Shugden practitioners. This section is basically the Dalai Lama’s ‘endorsement’ of such behaviour; when anti-Shugden individuals see this, they think it is okay to segregate against the practice “because the Dalai Lama said so”. I don’t think the Dalai Lama would agree with this but the webmaster and shadow writers behind his website should not put this type of anti-Dorje Shugden section which subscribes to discrimination against a group because of religion. In the 21st century, this is not fitting of a great spiritual leader like His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Do not discriminate tolerate; is the way to go.

If the Dorje Shugden ban is just advice and not a ban, then why is a section like this necessary on any website?

DalaiLamaWebsite

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website which has a section on Dorje Shugden. This section emboldens Tibetans to discriminate against Shugden practitioners because it is the Dalai Lama’s endorsement of such behaviour.

 

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Resolution Stating Government Employees Should Not Rely on Dorje Shugden

In 1996, the Tibetan leadership passed a resolution stating that all departments (and ergo their employees) should not rely on Dorje Shugden (point 8). The resolution also stated that individuals who do engage in its worship will harm the Dalai Lama’s life and the so-called Tibetan cause. That being the case, how will anyone within the Tibetan settlements and government be able to openly engage in Dorje Shugden practice after that, if their worship has been widely labelled as anti-Dalai Lama, anti-CTA and treasonous? To openly practice after that will leave them open to criticism, vulgarities, harassment and discrimination, as Dorje Shugden practitioners have been for the last 20 years. So they will be left with three options: to give up the practice (which many will not do), to practice secretly, or to give up their jobs.

A screenshot of tibet.net, showing the 1996 resolution which proclaimed that departments under the Tibetan leadership should not propitiate Dorje Shugden and that doing so will harm the Dalai Lama's life.

A screenshot of tibet.net, showing the 1996 resolution which proclaimed that departments under the Tibetan leadership should not propitiate Dorje Shugden and that doing so will harm the Dalai Lama’s life.

 

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Resolution Naming Dorje Shugden Practitioners as Criminals in History

This is a screenshot of tibet.net, the Central Tibetan Administration’s official website, which shows the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s unanimous resolution dated 17 March 2014 naming Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals in history (point 3, paragraph 2).

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile passed a resolution on 17 March 2014 naming all Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals in history.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile passed a resolution on 17 March 2014 naming all Dorje Shugden practitioners as “criminals in history”. On what basis can the Tibetan leadership condemn all Dorje Shugden believers, including the elderly, infirm, young, and those not of Tibetan nationality, as criminals?

 

VIDEO: Dalai Lama bans Dorje Shugden practice
and expels monks

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was recorded in Drepung Monastery in 2008 clearly stating that those who refused to give up their Dorje Shugden practice should be expelled from the monasteries. His Holiness even said that if people found it difficult to fulfill this instruction, that they should say that the Dalai Lama told them to expel Dorje Shugden practitioners.

My question is this: if giving up Dorje Shugden practice is just advice, and it is up to us who we wish to rely on, then why are there such heavy repercussions for people who choose to keep the practice? As a result of His Holiness saying this, thousands of Shugden monks were expelled from the monasteries, and were forced to set up their own monasteries where they would be able to continue their Dorje Shugden practice.

 

VIDEO: Gaden Monastery Attacked

Since the inception of the Dorje Shugden ban 20 years ago, the CTA (Central Tibetan Administration) continues to organize a hateful campaign against Dorje Shugden practitioners. In doing so, the Tibetan leadership has gone against the very core teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on compassion and tolerance and thereby, misled the world over the nature of their activities. The Tibetan leadership pursues huge sponsorship and financial aid from the West in order to run its operations but they actually channel these funds towards campaigns that suppresses religious freedom within the Tibetan communities through various means to instigate violent suppression against Dorje Shugden practitioners.

This video footage shows clearly how Dorje Shugden practitioners have lived their lives in fear for the last 20 years due to the ban on Dorje Shugden. Although the Tibetan leadership and supporters have continued to use various violent and underhanded means to segregate and discriminate Dorje Shugden practitioners, the practitioners themselves have not fought back. Instead, they continue to uphold their peaceful reliance on their Dorje Shugden lineage lamas and especially the practices and teachings they have received in relations to the protector deity. The main part of the video was filmed in 2000 and it shows 3,000 lay and ordained Tibetans heading towards Gaden Shartse Monastery in South India in order to riot against a group of Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Disclaimer: This video belongs to a third party. Permission was granted for us to upload here. This video is not being used for any commercial purposes, it is being used for educational purposes only.

 

VIDEO: Dorje Shugden practitioner rejected
from Gaden Shartse Monastery Guest House

A Dorje Shugden practitioner enquiring about room rates at the Gaden Shartse Monastery Guest House in Majnu-ka-tilla, Delhi was rejected by the hotel staff and asked to leave.

 

VIDEO: France 24 reports on the Dorje Shugden issue

France 24 is a reputable news network based in France, known for their objective reporting style. They covered the Dorje Shugden issue extensively, surely a reflection of the seriousness of the issue for them to devote so much airtime to it. In their video, France 24 captured on film the discrimination against a Dorje Shugden monk.

VIDEO: Al Jazeera reports on the Dorje Shugden issue

Based in the Middle East, Al Jazeera was formed in response to the heavy influence of Western culture on the media. They are known to cover controversial topics that other news agencies may be reluctant to cover, and provide hard-hitting, objective coverage of current affairs.

Evidence of the Ban

Over the years, my students have collected evidence of the ban against Dorje Shugden. Personally, I find it quite disappointing and sad that they have been able to collect so much evidence because it just goes to show how widespread and pervasive this ban has become. As you can see below, notices banning Dorje Shugden practitioners can be found just about anywhere in the Tibetan settlements. Whether a Dorje Shugden person is trying to access healthcare or enter a restaurant, or try to buy something from a shop, they are banned everywhere and refused service. How is this just ‘advice’ when the repercussions of practising Dorje Shugden are so violent inside the Tibetan communities and settlements?

 

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91 Responses to Videos Redressing the Misinformation About Dorje Shugden and the Tibetan Situation

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  1. Tsem Rinpoche on Feb 21, 2019 at 6:30 am

    With deep devotion to the guru, higher meditational insights will arise. Because of not having higher meditational insights, one will not realize the need to have devotion to the guru in order to gain higher insights. They are interdependent.~Tsem Rinpoche

    With deep devotion to the guru, higher meditational insights will arise. If one does not have deep devotion to the guru, it is a clear sign one does not have higher meditational insights.~Tsem Rinpoche

    meme temp

    Good meme

  2. Valentina Suhendra on Dec 10, 2018 at 3:23 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


  3. Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 27, 2018 at 3:03 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

    Prayer to Shugden by 5th Dalai Lama English

    14th Dalai Lama prayer to Shugden English

    5th-Dalai-lama-prayer-to-shugden

    Shugden by 14th Dalai Lama

    Prayer to Shugden by 5th Dalai Lama Chinese

    14th Dalai Lama prayer to Shugden Chinese

    5th dalai lama

    Dorje Shugden

  4. Pastor Niral Patel on Nov 25, 2018 at 5:40 am

    “The 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche of Bhutan and Dorje Shugden” blog post which was published June 8, 2018 already has exactly at the moment 152,744 views!! Over 150k views!!! Amazing!! The views will keep growing as time elapses of course.

    This indicates many Bhutanse and Buddhists around the world will now know that Dorje Shugden is connected to Bhutan and their Kagyu Lineage. Dorje Shugden was promoted by the highest lama of Bhutan namely the 4th Zhabdrung Rinpoche himself. So Dorje Shugden will help and protect anyone and is not sectarian as they accuse him to be. People in the Kagyu school of Buddhism also practised Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden assisted them lovingly. Dorje Shugden being an emanation of Manjushri will help anyone who calls upon him regardless of their background and religion.

    Good job to our writers, researchers, editors, technical team, supporting team and Kechara people who promoted this blog post on social media. Now more will come to understand how pervasive Dorje Shugden is in all the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism although the Tibetan leadership in-exile tries to hide this truth. Thank you everyone for promoting Dorje Shugden to benefit many. We were all very harmonious before the unethical ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Since the inception of the ban in 1996, there has been no benefits and instead so much disharmony among Tibetan Buddhists around the world. Many hundreds have spoken up about this point where we want harmony back. There should never be a ban against any spiritual practice.

    Tsem Rinpoche

    Blog post- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=160863

    于2018年6月8日发表的《不丹国第四世夏仲仁波切与多杰雄登》的博文至今已经有 152,744次的浏览量!!也就是超过了15万次的浏览量!!这个数字肯定还会随着时间而增长。

    这表示很多不丹人和全世界的佛教徒现在已经知道了多杰雄登和不丹以及他们的噶举派传承是有紧密联系的。多杰雄登是被不丹的最高级别的喇嘛夏仲仁波切本身所推崇的。这显示了多杰雄登是会帮助和保护任何人的,而祂不是像他人所指控那样的充满宗派主义。佛教的噶举派的修行者也修持多杰雄登,而多杰雄登也很怀爱地帮助他们。多杰雄登是文殊菩萨的化身,祂将无视任何宗教和背景地去帮助任何召唤祈请祂的人们。

    我们的写作、搜集资料,编辑、技术、辅助等的人员们和推广这篇博文的克切拉人们,你们做得好!虽然流亡藏人领袖们尝试掩盖事实,但现在更多的人将了解到多杰雄登在所有藏传佛教的传承中是多么的普及了。感谢大家努力推广多杰雄登以造福大众。在这个不道德的多杰雄登禁令出现之前,我们都是很和谐融洽的。自从禁令在1996年开始之后,它为全世界的藏传佛教徒没有带来任何利益,而只有更多的不和谐。成千上万的人已经对该禁令发声,要求重建和谐。对于任何心灵修行,是从来就不该有任何禁令的。

    詹杜固仁波切

    博文网址: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/l/cn/dorje-shugden/the-4th-zhabdrung-rinpoche-of-bhutan-and-dorje-shugden-cn.html

    Zhabdrung

  5. Beatrix Ooi on Nov 25, 2018 at 1:49 am

    His Eminence Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche’s incarnation is in Lhasa visiting. He is visiting the 350-year-old Trode Khangsar chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden. He is paying homage to the powerful statue of Dorje Shugden housed in this sacred chapel. Both the chapel and statue of Dorje Shugden were commissioned by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama. The Great 5th Dalai Lama also composed a prayer to be recited daily to Dorje Shugden.

    Dagom Rinpoche’s previous lives were great masters, scholars and practitioners of Dorje Shugden. Now this new incarnation of Dagom Rinpoche is offering gold on the face of Dorje Shugden in homage and worship to this very sacred statue of Dorje Shugden housed in Lhasa for the last 350 years. This is a very traditional Tibetan method of paying homage to holy images, which is by offering gold with prayers.

    The Tibetan leadership wrongly says if you practise Dorje Shugden you will take rebirth into the three lower realms. Hundreds of lamas from the Sakya, Kagyu and Gelugpa schools of Buddhism have practised Dorje Shugden and their incarnations returned. Many of the incarnations are recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. So this shows if you practise Dorje Shugden, only benefits come and no harm will come. The very fact Dagom Rinpoche’s incarnation is back, is clear evidence that Dorje Shugden’s practice is beneficial.

    May Dagom Rinpoche’s current incarnation live a very long life.

    Tsem Rinpoche
    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com

    YouTube High resolution video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THbGknXcLbo

    Trode Khangsar – A 400 year old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa:
    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=92148[/color]

    _____

    尊贵的扎贡仁波切的现任转世正在拜访拉萨。他拜访了一座供奉给多杰雄登并且拥有350年历史的护法殿”布旦康萨”。他在向这座神圣护法殿里的强大多杰雄登像顶礼。该座护法殿和多杰雄登圣像是由第五世达赖喇嘛指示而造的。伟大的第五世达赖喇嘛也亲笔撰写了多杰雄登的每日祈愿文。

    扎贡仁波切的前几世都是伟大的上师,学者兼多杰雄登的修持者。现在扎贡仁波切的现任转世在为这尊已经安奉在拉萨350年并且非常神圣的多杰雄登圣像的脸上供养金漆,以示顶礼和膜拜。这种供养金并祈愿的做法是西藏为圣像顶礼非常传统的做法。

    流亡藏人领袖们说如果你修持多杰雄登就将投生三恶道,那是错误的。佛教派系——萨迦派、噶举派、格鲁派的上百名喇嘛们都修持了多杰雄登,而且他们也都转世回来了,而其中有很多转世还是达赖喇嘛亲自认证的。这明显显示了如果你修持多杰雄登,是百利无一弊的。扎贡仁波切转世回来了,就已经是很确凿的证据显示多杰雄登的修持是有利的。

    愿今世的扎贡仁波切健康长寿。

    詹杜固仁波切
    blog.sina.com.cn/zhandugu

    YouTube高清视频- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THbGknXcLbo

    拉萨400年历史的多杰雄登护法殿—布旦康萨- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=92148


  6. Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 23, 2018 at 4:59 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

  7. Tsem Rinpoche on Nov 20, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is in Dharamsala, which is broken into two parts. Upper Dharamsala is where the Dalai Lama’s palace is located with his audience room and main prayer hall. It is also the location of the Dialectics School, Gaden Shartse’s guesthouse, restaurants, tourist hotels and main tourist areas.

    A short ride down takes you to the lower part of Dharamsala where the Tibetan government is located. It is the location of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Nechung monastery, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, the Tibetan arts centre…it’s all in one area. And the reason why it’s split into upper and lower Dharamsala is because the area is mountainous.

    The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives was established by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government to preserve all the ancient texts – both secular and spiritual – of Tibet and in the process, translate them into various languages like English. This book, Overview of Buddhist Tantra, by Panchen Sonam Drakpa was one of the books translated into English. What’s very interesting is that the book very clearly says that Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s previous life is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, one of the five main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa. It also says that after that, he was Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen.

    So the book is basically saying that Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen – the three Drakpas – are of the same mindstream.

    Now that’s very peculiar because if Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen’s previous life is Panchen Sonam Drakpa, the renowned composer of 45 volumes of Dharma texts, the abbot of three monasteries AND the 15th Gaden Tripa, the holder of Lama Tsongkhapa’s throne…if that’s the case, how can Panchen Sonam Drakpa take rebirth as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen and become an evil spirit and have a negative mind?

    Prior to Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, he was Panchen Sonam Drakpa and before that, he was Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, a heart disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa. How can a heart disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa reincarnate as the erudite master Panchen Sonam Drakpa, and then die and reincarnate as Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen…and then Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, due to a bad and negative prayer, become the evil spirit Dorje Shugden? How is that possible? Logically, it’s not.

    What’s incredible is that all of this was printed by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives under the Dalai Lama’s guidance. They contradict themselves because on one hand, the Tibetan leaders say Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit. On the other hand they’re printing a book saying that Panchen Sonam Drakpa, whose later incarnation became Dorje Shugden, is of this illustrious mindstream.

    So how can the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which is under the auspices of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government, print the translation of a book composed by the previous incarnation of a so-called evil spirit? How can they then say in the book that Panchen Sonam Drakpa’s previous life is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, and his next life was Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen?

    Prior to the Dorje Shugden ban and controversy, everyone in Tibet knew that Dorje Shugden is Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, that Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen is Panchen Sonam Drakpa, and that Panchen Sonam Drakpa is Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen. The three Drakpas, they are one mindstream emanating again and again to benefit other beings.

    And as we all know, Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen became Dorje Shugden so it totally doesn’t make sense to call him an evil spirit, then highlight all of his previous lives as erudite masters, and publish all of this information under their own library. So you can see the contradictions. You can read all of this for yourself in Overview of Buddhist Tantra, which was printed by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.

    —–

    OVERVIEW OF BUDDHIST TANTRA

    GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE CLASSES OF TANTRA,
    CAPTIVATING THE MINDS OF THE FORTUNATE ONES

    rgyud sde spyi’i rnam par bzhag pa
    skal bzang gi yid ‘phrog ces bya ba bzhugs so

    BY
    PANCHEN SONAM DRAGPA
    (Pan-chen bSod-nams grags-pa, 1478-1554)

    O Choje Sonam Dragpa Pel! (Chos-rje bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal!)
    In the vast expanse of Your bodhi-mind,
    The mind that the Buddhas have lauded for as many as
    one hundred times,
    You have developed “merit” shining like the sun.
    Through Your skill in learning, debate and writing,
    As illuminating as one hundred thousand sun rays,
    You have developed in You a complete knowledge of
    the entire sutras and tantras,
    Resembling a garden of flowers in full bloom.
    The power of Your speech is like the sun;
    The fame of your name has reached the three realms of
    this world.
    O Sonam Dragpa, the teacher of teachers!
    I bow down at your feet.

    In the vast garden of Your great teachings,
    The intelligent young people gather for
    The ‘six ultimates’ and the ‘four modes of transmission,’
    Just as they are attracted to
    The one hundred thousand types of nectar
    Dripping from a flower of one hundred petals.
    May I be able to experience
    The taste of the secret tantra!

    Panchen Choje Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen Chos-rje bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal), the holder of sutra and Vajrayana teachings, was a master whose outstanding learning and spiritual accomplishments are well known by all the learned ones in Tibet. His first incarnation came in the form of one of the five prestigious disciples of Lord Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa) and became known as Vinaya Holder (Dulzin) Dragpa Gyaltsen (Gragspa rgyal-mtshan). Then came Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal), the author of the present text. The next was Nagri Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen (mNga’-ris sPrul-sku Grags-pa rgyal-mtshan). In this way, a line of his incarnations, each with the Dragpa (gragspa) surname, followed successively.

    Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) was born in the 14th century in Tsetang (rTsed-thang) in the Lhoka (Lho-kha) region of Central Tibet. He entered the great seat of learning, Sera Thekchenling (Se-ra theg-chen-gling) monastic university, where he became the personal disciple of spiritual master Donyo Dangden (Dhon-yod dang-ldan) and His Holiness the Second Dalai Lama Gedun Gyatso (dGe-‘dun rgya-mtsho). Under them, he studied the entire teachings of sutra, tantra and their commentaries, and became known for his outstanding learning. He also received from them the empowerments, reading transmissions, guides and instructions of the entire body of spiritual training. On becoming the fully blessed one, the Dalai Lama appointed him the abbot of the Loseling (Blo-gsalgling) college, one of the four colleges of Drepung (‘Bras-dpung)- the most prestigious monastic university in Tibet before 1959, with over 10,000 monks on its register. He continued to be the abbot of this college for the next six years; and after him the tenure for each of his successors in this position was fixed for a period of six years, a rule that is followed even today.

    He was then appointed the head of the Gelugpa (dGe-lugs-pa) order, the throne holder of Gaden (dGa’-ldan), thus becoming the 15th regent of Lord Tsongkhapa (Tsong-khapa), the second Buddha. In his eulogy to him, Khedrub Gelek Pelsang (mKhas-grub dGe-legs dpal- bzang) says:

    O Lama, the second successor of the Unsubduable One,
    The regent of the Lord of Dharma,
    You are the one who made the virtuous qualities thrive;
    You are the one who ascended to the golden throne uplifted
    by the fearless lions.
    May Your success thrive forever!

    He continued to be the throne holder for the next seven years, during which time he promoted the spread of Lord Tsongkhapa’s (Tsong-kha-pa) precious teachings, the Gelug (dGe-lugs) tradition, across the land in all directions. He also paid special attention to the practice of monastic rules and the learning and meditation of Buddhism in the monasteries such as Sera (Se-ra), Drepung (‘Bras-spungs), Kyomolung (sKyo-mo-lung), Phagmo Chode (Phag-mo chos-sde), Nyeding (Nye-sdings), Ödna (’Od-sna) and Chöde Rinchen (Chos-sde rin-chen) etc. and improved them to a great extent. He taught the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso (bSod-nams rGya-mtsho) as the latter’s spiritual master. It was from him that the Dalai Lama received the name Sonam (bSod-nams).

    His contributions in the literary field are enormous; and, indeed, they are the most valuable of all his contributions. Tsongkhapa (Tsong-kha-pa) has rightly said:

    Of all one’s deeds,
    The ‘deeds of speech’ are the most valuable.

    Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) was a person with an extraordinary talent for teaching, debate and writing. In his colophon to Bu mey chi don zab don sel wey dron mey (dBu ma’i spyi don zab don gsal ba’i sgron me), he wrote:

    In the field of teaching, I am [next to none!] Knowing that
    I would outdo them in this field, Arya Asanga and his
    brother transmigrated into another realm.

    In the field of debate, I am [next to none!] Knowing that
    I would find out the areas they had contradicted and
    that I would examine them and put forth my arguments,
    the logician Dignaga (Digh-naga) and Dharmakirti tactfully
    bypassed me.

    In the field of writing, I am [next to none!] [In my eyes,]
    Arya-sura was just good at spreading the works, which
    are like ‘disputes~ between an insect and a field.’

    I am the learned man. Peerless in the field of teaching,
    debate and writing!

    For some this passage might sound utterly nonsensical, but the most learned master of our age, the talented teacher, logician and writer, the late tutor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Yongdzin Trijang Dorjechang (Yongs-‘dzin Khri-byang rDorje-‘Chang), said: “Now, some people of our time, who consider themselves learned scholars, think that this is utter nonsense; but they are wrong.”

    Panchen Sonam Dragpa Pel (Panchen bSod-nams grags-pa-dpal) wrote over 45 volumes of books dealing with many different subjects, such as the commentaries on the sutras and tantras, the saddhana manuals of the tutelary deities, history, religious history and so forth. Among these, one that is very important for all who wish to learn and meditate on the path-of the practical aspect of Buddhism in general and that of Vajrayana in particular is the Leg shey gyu de chi nam par shagpa kelsang gi yi trod (Legs bshad rgyud sde spyi’i rnam par bzhag pa skal bzang gi yid ‘phrod). In this book, he has explained precisely how the four tantras differ from one another. He has also fully described the stages of the two spontaneous path practices of the Vajrayana tradition, dealing with the ‘six ultimates’ and the ‘four modes of transmission’, thus interpreting without mistake the intention of Adhi-Buddha Vajradhara.

    May the reprint of this text, which the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives is publishing herewith, bring peace and happiness in this world!

    Prof. Nawang Jinpa
    St. Joseph’s College
    Darjeeling
    January 24 1996

    PSD1

    PSD2

    PSD3

    PSD4

    PSD5

  8. Sally on Nov 17, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    Thank you Tsem Rinpoche and the team who have made these videos available for us to learn more about the Dorje Shugden controversy. The Dorje Shugden controversy has created doubts in people’s mind. Not only that, some people decided not to follow Vajrayana practice because they think Vajrayana Buddhism is mixed with the politic.

    When I first started the practice, I was not aware of the ban. One of my friends told me about it and asked me to be careful. I did some research myself and learned quite a lot from the blog of Tsem Rinpoche. There are many proofs indicating Dorje Shugden is not a demon. I am glad I learn the truth and did not give up the practice.

    Tsem Rinpoche’s students have done a good job in making these videos. They have explained the issue very clearly and how it has affected many. It is important to learn the truth and be firm of the practice. If we think this is a very beneficial practice, we should do our part to spread the truth to let more people know about it.

  9. Valentina Suhendra on Oct 6, 2018 at 4:56 pm

    A Daily Request for Wealth, Peace and Protection

    Composed by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche

    In the heavens there are myriad manifestations of the divine. All those manifestations specifically show us different aspects of divinity in order to be of benefit to all living beings. All the rupakaya forms of the divine have compassion, skillful means and wisdom. We invoke upon them whether we are happy, sad, down, lost, fulfilled, confused, empty, and during the whole range of emotions we constantly experience due to an untrained mind.

    Understanding our nature, Great Wisdom Being Dorje Shugden, therefore all the more so, please hold us close to your bosom as an only child to a parent.

    Though the manifestations of the divine need no offerings and gifts from us, we offer you supreme Manjushri Dorje Shugden a libation of tea, incense and mantras, in order to ask you to bless us, to be a part of our lives, to abide in our dwellings and to give us signs, omens and portents of both good and bad. When the negative arises, quell them immediately. Please increase the positive for my weary and worn mind as I lay my hopes in you.

    When difficulties, problems and confusion arise, we ask you, who is but the culmination of all that is powerful, holy and omniscient to bless myself, family, loved ones, environment and even my pets. May I see wisdom, find hope, and be at peace.

    I request you, O Divine Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, who wears a round dome hat and the three robes of a saffroned bhikshu, who wields a sword of liberty, justice and wisdom and clutches a wish-fulfilling jewel, who rides on a supreme lion of subjugation of all that is negative, to fulfill my wishes. I understand my wishes may not be the best, so I surrender to your wisdom for the outcome though it may not be what I have in mind. Please bless myself and everyone that we may enter into the supreme city of liberation.

    Great Bhagavān Dorje Shugden, I request you sincerely from my heart to be a part of my life, bless my home, and grant me wisdom, solace and comfort, that I might be of service to others without agenda, and that I may focus out onto others and not be fixated on myself, creating more problems for all that I hold dear.

    Bless me to become kinder, wiser, more compassionate, tolerant and very forgiving to all those who hurt and love me. In order to become close to you, Dorje Shugden, we must surrender the banal. We must abandon fixed views, projections and rigidity. Lastly, in my final moment when I leave this plane of existence, only the positive actions I have done will matter as everything and everyone will be left behind. Let me realise this and act upon this now! At this crucial moment, please may I have a vision of yourself, the powerful and merciful Dorje Shugden, to take me to where I may course in the sky to continue my journey of spiritual waxing.

    I offer you saffron-coloured tea and my faith to fulfill my prayers and gain siddhis. By reciting your mantra, may healing, peace, love, long life, protection and perfect view of sunyata arise.

    Mantra of fulfillment, peace and wisdom:

    OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA

    (It is good to recite this mantra daily as much as you like or your timing allows.)

    I dedicate this supreme heartfelt prayer to the all-knowing Celestial and Supreme Protector Dorje Shugden, that I may quickly become a being of light, compassion, love and enlightenment.

    Please play the audio included here to follow along with the prayer.

    OR

    Follow on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-OSudd323A

    For more information, go to: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=61394

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/chat-videos/chat-1538813324.mp4


  10. Valentina Suhendra on Sep 20, 2018 at 2:38 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

  11. Valentina Suhendra on Sep 14, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    Many come to Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia to make offerings and prayers to the increase form of Dorje Shugden who appears like a prince and rides on a golden horse. Many report having their wishes fulfilled and return many times. Am happy to see this. Tsem Rinpoche

    You can learn more about this form of Dorje Shugden here: https://bit.ly/2wxQyes

    and

    See video of this chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEK35F_O5Hg

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  12. Cynthia Ng on Sep 14, 2018 at 10:07 am

    感谢仁波切与团队的用心制作,和我们分享了非常详细和容易明白的讯息。这些不为人知的事实如今真相大白,还给多杰雄登持修者一个真相,还给这么多年在承受痛苦的雄登人们一个自由与尊重的权利。

    这么多年的争议是时候停止,因为这些争议造成了分离,纠纷,互相伤害,自焚事件等等,这些都是不必要的伤害。任何修行都是提倡慈悲,爱与包容。宗教是不分肤色,宗教,年龄和性别之分。宗教的修持也并不是带给满足个人利益或是政治利益,然后让众生受尽苦头。

    在在这一系列的视频分享中,所有的解释都很逻辑,也给了很多强而有力的分析有关于多杰雄登护法的修持和所有的历史解释。多杰雄登护法是一位证悟智慧佛,根本不会伤害任何一个众生, 多杰雄登护法带给人们的只有利益和帮助。禁令的发生确实带来又太大的伤害,这已经是带给了好几十年的痛苦。禁令必需要解除,让众生不再受苦。

    达赖喇嘛认证了中国的班禅喇嘛确实是天大的好消息,班禅喇嘛是一位雄登护法持修者,这也是间接的说明达赖喇嘛承认雄登护法修持。

    祈愿所有传承上师健康长寿,也让更多人都可以继续修持多杰雄登护法。

  13. Pee Bee Chong on Sep 14, 2018 at 9:15 am

    Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. 

The CTA has officially banned the Dorje Shugden practice since1996 and have been consistently providing disinformation to the public and Tibetan people in Exile. The ban has divided the Tibetan community, the Tibetan Buddhism and causing tremendous sufferings to Tibetan people and DS practitioners. Thank you Rinpoche and teams for the series of videos which providing correct and factual information to the public. May more people know about the history and actual facts with regards to DS practise and the bans. May DS ban be lifted immediately.

    With folded hands
    Pee Bee Chong

  14. Pat ng on Sep 14, 2018 at 8:06 am

    Thank you Rinpoche and Team,
    With compassion and wisdom you have shared so much info and the truth of this controversy. It is very clear that the CTA hv done so much damaged to the Tibetans and also to Dorje Shugden practitioners both in politics and spirituality. May HH Dalai Lama quickly lift the ban and all be given the freedom to practice whatever they believe in and also equality to all. May all tibetans get to return to their homeland and be united with their family, relative and friends and live happily forever.May everyone’s spiritual path be fruitful and meaningful to benefit others

  15. Frederick Law on Sep 14, 2018 at 12:37 am

    After watching the 8 video redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden, it is clear that Dorje Shugden is an Enlighten Dharma Protector who is no other than the emanation of Wisdom Buddha Manjushri.

    With so many facts, logic being discussed and presented, its definitely presented a strong evidence that Dorje Shugden practice does not harm the practitioner, nor does it harm His Holiness the Dalai Lama life, and not even the so called harm to the Tibetan cause which is being spread by the Tibetan Leadership.

    Instead when you look at the facts, you be surprised that all the allegations against Dorje Shugden is baseless and false, it is created by the Tibetan leadership to divert the attention of the world for their failure in taking care if the Tibetan community and also failure to get back Tibet. Worst still alot of infighting, and so many scandals within the Tibetan government.

    It also warm my heart to know that His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama recognizes the China backed Panchen Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama, as it proves the decade long relationship between China and HH is thawing, and it indicates that whatever China is doing by promoting Tibetan Buddhism in China with the leadership of Panchen Lama benefitted so many. If you look at it, the current Panchen Lama is also a Dorje Shugden practitioner, If His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognizes the current Panchen Lama, means HH is also agreeing to the practice of Dorje Shugden too.

    Many thanks to those involve in making these videos, especially to the Host Li Kim, and other speaker who presented many strongs evidence and facts to show the world who Dorje Shugden really is and that the ban on Dorje Shugden practice is simply wrong.

    Thank You,

    Frederick Law

  16. Kent kok on Sep 12, 2018 at 10:35 pm

    感恩詹杜固仁波切, 也谢谢整个制作团队的用心制作, 整个过程的真相让大家可以更了解整个多杰雄登的争议和藏人行政中央的课题。

    那么多年来我们一直不停听到多杰雄登禁令, 让人不禁对藏传佛教却步。 而藏人行政中央一直炒作多杰雄登课题以掩饰他们的丑闻和办事不利。 希望大家都可可以把视线转移到多杰雄登课题上。

    60多年至今, 藏人行政中央在藏人课题上一点都没有进度。 那么多年过去了, 也离印度政府租借土地的期限越来越近。 藏人行政中央难道期望他们炒作的课题可以掩饰他们的过错到永久吗?

    趁现在还有时间的时候就应该踏实解决所有多杰雄登课题和其他具争议性的课题,整个过程就是政治的个人利益,和權力,国家没有和平,让人民在人受苦,妻离子散,希望西藏政府尽快给西藏民族和平,
    快乐,安居乐业。

    谢谢,
    Kent kok

  17. Valentina Suhendra on Sep 11, 2018 at 1:14 am

    In the emerald forest there lies magical beings and powerful entities of old. There are beautiful gentle creatures of the forest such as deers, rabbits, owls and so on. Faeries, little people, elves, dwarves, trolls and other magnificent worldly and other-worldly beings of mystical origins who nurture and look over the natural world call this place their home. These supernatural beings, who remain hidden to ordinary view and are rarely seen together, have gathered to herald the arrival of the World Peace Guardian Dorje Shugden within the ethereal realm. Paying homage to the divine king they welcome him, the supreme being whose body shines with the light of magnificence and abides in benevolent wisdom. He who has come from the pinnacle of the celestial dimensions, he has the dominion over men and gods. All beings in this and other worlds have gathered to pay homage and to receive blessings, abundance and counsel.

    Shugden the divine king, at last has drawn near,
    He offers a new life so clear,
    With a silent prayer he offers the golden stair,
    Sing praises, does the emerald forest all cheer.

    Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha

    To see other beautiful portrayals of Dorje Shugden, click here: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz

    ds

  18. Pastor Shin Tan on Sep 9, 2018 at 4:15 pm

    COMPASSION at its best: His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained in Ladakh, 31 July 2018:

    “Usually at the beginning of an empowerment there is a ritual to drive away interferences. But I no longer feel it’s consistent to regard some beings as evil forces. At the start of each day I cultivate altruism, but in the evening we say, ‘May the evil forces be driven away.’ There seems to be a contradiction here that I’m no longer keen to comply with. I’m not highly realized, but I have great confidence in the power of Bodhichitta.”

    Source: https://bit.ly/2wVsqSb

    ———————————————-

    This latest statement by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is excellent. I fully believe in his compassion and I hope he will fully implement it.

    All negative beings take rebirth with negative minds due to deep attachments. The attachments result in negative states of rebirth and angry minds that carry out harmful actions, like spirits or hungry ghosts who can be very bothersome because they are very angry as they died in the state of attachment in their former rebirths.

    Indeed we need to generate compassion towards these beings, especially the formless type, as it would be the best remedy to stop their harm. We can recite mantras with love and bless them with it. While reciting prayers, we can meditate on them being at peace. When we generate compassion towards these harmful interferences of the formless type, many of them will calm down and stop their harm and even go away. Some of them, you can talk to them and subdue their harm and they will stop harming completely if they feel your love. That is how you can help them.

    Many high masters of India and Tibet generated great compassion towards certain ghosts, spirits or interferers and subdued them in this manner and even made them into protectors of regions. I’ve witnessed this with one of my lamas where he subdued a female spirit that crossed over the Himalayas. After making the spirit promise it will not harm others, my lama gave the spirit a drink to seal the promise.

    Since the Dalai Lama has manifested saying Dorje Shugden is negative (although many high lamas disagree), then he can apply this method to Dorje Shugden. He can ‘subdue’ Dorje Shugden by generating tremendous love, prayers and talking nice to Dorje Shugden who will be ‘subdued’. Then people are henceforth ‘free’ to practice Dorje Shugden without more discrimination, segregation and being called degrading names for practicing this protector.

    Give peace a chance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama can generate great love towards Dorje Shugden and all the hundreds of thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners that love the Dalai Lama and miss him like I do. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama bring peace and heal the rift with Dorje Shugden practitioners.

    May His Holiness live very long and always be healthy,
    Tsem Rinpoche
    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com

    Reading- https://bit.ly/2wWQGUh

  19. Judy Chen on Sep 1, 2018 at 10:41 pm

    These articles and videos clearly clarify the ban on Dorje Shugden is merely a political agenda to segregate and disharmonise the Tibetan people. There are just to many unsubstantiated accusations on the Dorje Shugden and its practice as mentioned in the videos.

    After almost 60 years in exile , CTA has not fulfilled their promises and failed the Tibetan people by looking into their welfare, improving their living standards, providing education and etc. Instead CTA has caused segregation, Dorje Shugden practitioners not allowed to work in government departments and related offices, no medical and health care was provided, ban from entering into certain premises and livelihood was badly affected. This is actually violating human rights.

    Religious practice should be a freedom of choice and should not be controlled by any government or political agenda,

    It is clearly mentioned and proven that Dorje Shugden is not a demon and practicing Dorje Shugden will not harm H.H. the Dalai Lama and neither will it harm Buddhism and Dorje Shugden practitioners.

    Hence, may H.H. Dalai Lama, please remove the ban against Dorje Shugden.
    With folded hands, we humbly plea that the ban be lifted.

    Thank you
    Judy Chen

  20. Disappointing on Aug 23, 2018 at 8:59 am

    Why does Bhutan’s lama Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche behave and dress in a way that makes people lose faith in Buddhism and it’s teachers? ? Why do some Bhutanese accuse other lamas badly when they pray to Dorje Shugden. Look at Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche who makes so many lose faith in Buddhism as that is worse than anything else. Why doesn’t the Je Khenpo of Bhutan tell Dzongsar Kyentse to behave nicely and like a teacher? Why Je kenpo ban Dorje Shugden in Bhutan but does not ban bad lamas like Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpoche? ?Why is Dzongsar Kyentse Rinpocihe friends with the evil Sogyal Rinpoche? Why does Dalai Lama keep quiet about them? Dorje Shugden people do not hurt Buddhism. But Dalai Lama’s silence against bad lamas hurt Buddhism.

    dscn0209

    PH058detail

    270a307b7dd395359427076a7c7e1206--lamas-ghosts

    bcacbda65d162bae3b1a9dd0b4bf1439--buddhist-wisdom-tibetan-buddhism

    Dzongsar kyentse tattoo

  21. Yap Yoke Chim on Aug 20, 2018 at 7:43 am

    回看歷史,多杰雄登 禁令至今己22年。在这段期间有多少修持者被牺牲了性命,幸福,家庭,教育,福利,人權及平等。
    而不修持者及流亡海外的藏民相信CTA和达赖尊者会給他们帶耒一个更美好的未来,那知至今都只是夢幻泡影。
    达赖尊者說修持 多杰雄登 会让他折寿,但他己庆祝了83岁的寿誕,今日身体比你我都健康。CTA又说修持 多杰雄登 会仿害到藏独。但如今在中国一带一路政策之下,西藏的整个大环境已改变。在今年4月25日达赖認证中国的班禅喇嘛,可見达赖也想盡快回歸故鄉。
    多杰雄登的修持己有400年的歷史,而达赖尊者的上师都修持 多杰雄登。而尊者本人也曾經修持·若說会伤害到他,这又怎么說的过去呢?而他的上师 赤江仁波切 也己轉世到回耒·這又说明什么呢?
    若上师所傳授的法门是錯的,試问达赖尊者今日又如何可以成为西藏的精神领袖及藏民心中的佛?
    CTA將在2018 年9月慶祝58週年的藏独記念日。这很讽刺!
    現今还是有藏民与出家人自焚为訴求,CTA沒有想方设法去阻止,反而还立碑記念,等於是鼓励其他人仿效。
    尊贵的詹杜固仁波切在2015年开始向达赖尊者提出解放禁令与争議。我们之所以一再提出多杰雄登这个具争议的宗教事件是想让国際社会各方人仕及藏族人民知道整个事件的耒龙去脈与真相,不要再被CTA为了个人政治利益而被蒙騙。应该是还原真相的时候了!
    我相信上师所说,达赖尊者是观世音菩萨的化身,我个人認为他所做的一切背后一定有隐藏一个重大的动机。或許是想將之置之於死地而后生。
    上师一再強調要尊重达赖尊者,不可恶言向相或辱骂,就算对方的追隨者如何辱骂,詛咒仁波切或什么的?我们都以礼相待,以真相以他们辨之。也顯示仁波切的修养与大度。我们也謹記上师的教誨以德報怨来让国际社会看清真相,誰是谁非?
    其实同个地球,生为人類,不論肤色,无論信仰何种宗派,只有不同,没有高底。

  22. wong yen pin on Aug 17, 2018 at 4:16 pm

    視頻 5
    一切所謂的“指控”或是“間諜”等的字眼,
    我們都不應該把“藏傳佛教”或是“佛教”政治充滿攻擊性。佛教教育的是慈悲,怎么会变成带有政治的话题,不应该还没把事情看清楚,无论是什么我们的不应该只是听消息,流言就把这个事件放大,什么間諜,你们有证据吗?又怎么可以随便指控他人造成伤害。本来就是一个充满藏傳佛教美麗的文化会成为政治化招人攻擊,有点不可思议。

    視頻 6
    尊貴的尊者是1989年的諾貝爾和平獎得主,那為什麼CTA 能夠在代表西藏流亡同胞的網站上,禁止因為您修多杰雄登法門,就不能出席达赖尊者的佛法开始讲座。
    什么道理来的,又说是观音菩萨的化身,又不让众生去听佛法。听起来很不逻辑。
    观音菩萨不是来普渡众生吗?大慈大悲吗?
    还有分你修持什么法门,就不能出席达赖尊者的佛法开始讲座。你觉得CTA这样的做法有逻辑吗?合情合理吗?
    佛教宣言宗教是自由,不分种族,肤色,性别,语言,所有人都有权利选择自己的修行。难道修持多杰雄登法门,就应该被不公平的对待吗?没自由,说话的权利。这是什么道理。

    視頻 7
    我非常贊同這視頻中的一段話:如果尊貴的尊者不鼓勵在有關“修持多傑雄登護法”的課題上,那麼尊貴的尊者應該對於自焚事件發表強烈的指著。

    所有生命都是宝贵,越来越多藏人透过自焚来表达 对西藏流亡领导层和多杰雄登禁令不满。
    自焚却不能改变什么,而且西藏流亡领导层却对自焚问题无动于衷,非常可悲。藏人领导不仅对自焚行为保持沉默,不仅劝阻自焚无效
    什么事情导致藏人要杀生或是自尽来表达对
    杀生西藏流亡领导层。

    西藏流亡领导层一直打压修行多杰雄登著,修多杰雄登难道错了吗?宗教没选择的自由。
    争取自己前景难道也错了吗。一个国家没有办法给藏人前景希望。
    一直打压藏人,活在恐惧绝,每天在恐惧绝望中度过一天又一天一年望最后走上绝望之路。以生命来换起希望,宗教修行的自由和藏人的前景…………….。对西藏流亡领导层的不满。

    可惜藏人自焚行动却没引起西藏流亡领导层的关注反而无动于衷,可悲可悲。

    在佛教杀生或是自尽都不鼓励,生命是可贵希望藏人珍惜生命。

    请求达赖尊者和西藏流亡领导层可以多多关注这件事,不要让藏人白白的牺牲。
    而你们却无动于衷。
    希望你们可以用慈悲,爱心,宽容来解决一切的事给藏人希望,自由和公平的待遇。

    視頻 8
    多杰雄登法门已经传承百年的歷史,每个人都有自己的喜欢的修持法门,自己的选择没对或是错是个人的因缘。

    这么多传承法门都没有问题

    为什么百年的歷史的多杰雄登法门,也有很高僧大德在修的法门,会有这么多的不让同或是批評攻击说多杰雄登法门不好。
    每个人都可以选择不一样的传承法门,有分别吗?也是佛陀教法之一,只是不同传承法脉,有什么错。

    其实我们都应该尊重他人的修持法,不管什么传承都应该尊重他们的选择。他们所修持的多杰雄登法也没有伤害谁。不管哪个传承法脉我们都应该尊重,在尊重过程就会带来和平和谐的共处。

    谢谢
    YenPin

  23. wong yen pin on Aug 17, 2018 at 2:20 am

    谢谢詹杜固仁波切, 谢谢整个制作团队, 让我们可以更了解整个多杰雄登的争议和藏人行政中央的课题。

    視頻1
    視頻上提到,尊貴的詹杜固仁波切是很尊重達賴尊者的。
    多傑雄登護法的禁令已經20多年了。
    仁波切跟所有的多傑雄登修持者,高僧大德,都希望能够以和平的方式来处理有关于多傑雄登護法的禁令。
    仁波切與没有中伤達賴尊者,非常尊重達賴尊者,只是希望以公平和平的方式来一起讨论有关于多傑雄登護法的禁令,希望可以早日解决这个问题。祈願達賴尊者長壽,接受仁波切的和平請求。

    視頻2
    大家都都相信尊貴的達賴尊者是觀音菩薩的化身,
    为什么这么多年来我们一直不停听到多杰雄登禁令, 让人对藏传佛教有怀疑。不是佛陀所教慈悲是错的,修行多杰雄登禁难道是错了,宗教信仰不是自由的吗?
    为什么藏人行政中央一直借多杰雄登禁令炒作,掩饰他们的丑闻和办事不力,对藏族人民的不公平的待遇。

    視頻3
    在這視頻中,有提到重點西藏流亡者在印度,已經渡過60年岁月,西藏流亡者所成立的領導团队CTA, 在接近60年的日子,他們有认真思考过藏族人民的未来,何去何从與印度政府的99年之約已经过了60年,剩下時間不多,该如何找一个安定的未来,領導团队CTA到底有没有真实的想想这个问题。

    視頻4
    修持多傑雄登護法會傷害到達賴尊者,藏传佛教里都相信達賴尊者是观音菩萨的化身, 怎样会被多傑雄登護法“傷害”呢,
    观音菩萨是我們佛教徒皈依的對象,薩大慈大悲观音菩萨,法力又怎麼会抵抗不了多傑雄登護法的“傷害”呢?多傑雄登護法修持者,听从自己上师給的教法,和修持多傑雄登護法的法門,过了怎么多年多傑雄登護法的法門,都没有对達賴尊者,造成伤害,82歲依然健康,平安,多傑雄登護法的何来“傷害” 達賴尊者,大家觉得逻辑吗?

    谢谢
    Yen Pin

  24. Yee Yin on Aug 14, 2018 at 4:24 am

    Dorje Shugden ban was imposed 22 years ago by Central Tibet Administration (CTA). The ban went against its own democratic Constitution. It was unlawful and unconstitutional, it also damaged the unity of the Tibetan people, the Tibetan Buddhist heritage and ultimately the Tibetan cause.

    CTA claimed Dorje Shugden would harm Tibet cause when they imposed the ban even though many high lamas such as Trijang Rinpoche had trusted and relied on Dorje Shugden. How is that the high lamas were not able to see Dorje Shugden was harmful and was wrong about Dorje Shugden? Even after 22 years of ban on Dorje Shugden, things still did not improve for the Tibetans, there is still no progress in the Tibet cause. So to say Dorje Shugden can harm the Tibet cause, it is not true at all.

    Some Tibetans might find the ban to be unreasonable but no one dares to go against the CTA. If someone questions the CTA, they will be labeled as ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ and a traitor to the Tibet struggle. Because no one dares to give justice to Dorje Shugden, H.E Tsem Rinpoche started to speak about the ban in year 2015. Since then, H.E Tsem Rinpoche’s students have also made videos to provide insights on the ban to the public. The videos I must say, are very well made and they explain very well the whole Dorje Shugden issues, how the ban was imposed unlawfully. Please keep it up with the good works, the truth has to be known.

  25. Beatrix Ooi on Aug 10, 2018 at 4:57 am

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

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

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

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

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

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

    3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.

    4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.

    5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.

    6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.

    7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.

    These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.

    Dorje Shugden mandala: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=131570

    Dorje Shugden’s benefit and practice: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=62422

    Dorje Shugden’s origins: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=106424

    Dorje Shugden chapel in His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=68698

    *Stand not included

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  26. cc on Aug 7, 2018 at 7:49 pm

    ???Thank you Rinpoche and the team members for the hard work.

    Hope more people will be aware of the actual situation and be free from suffering.
    Hope the ban be lifted asap and may there be harmony and peace among all.
    CTA is merely trying to segregate Tibetan and violating human rights.

    There shouldn’t be discrimination and all practitioners should have their own freedom to practise and not blindly follow CTA.

    ???

  27. SU MING CHUAH on Aug 7, 2018 at 11:13 am

    #4: Correcting common misunderstandings
    about Dorje Shugden

    I love what Beatrix said in this interview as what she said is the FACT. If Dorje Shugden can shorten the Dalai Lama’s life as it was claimed during the ban, it is untrue cause the Dalai Lama is 82 years old, he is well/alert and healthy. I mean …when someone said it will shorten a person life, you actually will think the person will not go pass his/her 40s/50s.

    If Dorje Shugden was a demon, why can’t CTA request high lama to “kill” this demon. CTA does have a long list of very powerful lamas who has known to subdue spirits. Why not just make a call and request? So in other words, is not possible as Dorje Shugden is NOT a demon.

    And if Dorje Shugden was a demon, and the lamas who practices it before the ban, should not be reincarnated back right? But why are lamas such as Trijang Rinpoche, Domo Geshe Rinpoche and the lastest “Yangxi” of Lati Rinpoche back? I have heard that Gaden Shartse will be enthroning the young Lati Rinpoche next week. So how? Where is the logic?

    #5: Disproving allegations that Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies

    First I feel CTA should always asked themselves whether “are they still relevant ?” before they continue this manipulation of emotions of their people. They must remember that majority of the Tibetans have progress forward. No longer are the days where they could use this manipulation as Tibetans in general were not exposed.

    CTA should now work hard in improving the welfare of it’s people alike all the government who has been voted in by it’s people. They should change their mindset and stop all manipulation as Tibetans are smart people who has access to facts online & offline.

    Is time they change their way or they will be irrelevant in today’s world.

    #6: Proof that the Central Tibetan Administration
    is not a democracy

    “The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to – access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.”

    The above made a very good point in this interview…. if CTA is based in India, they should follow the law of the land which the above is from the India constitution. But why is CTA still discriminating against the Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why are these practitioners NOT allowed to attend Tibetan schools / seek medical attention from Tibetan health centers & not allowed to go for the Dalai Lama’s teachings.

    I myself is a Dorje Shugden practitioners and I am proud of it but I have been discriminated many times during the course of my Dharma work in India & Nepal. I have been rejected to stay at hostels which is run by monastery under the care of CTA. I have been literally asked very rudely NOT to associate myself with them (ie : teachers of Tibetan schools) …I mean where is the harmony ?? Isn’t the core tenets of Buddhism is suppose to promote harmony within and also externally??

    I am a Chinese and they can do this to me, I cannot imagine what suffering the Tibetans who practices Dorje Shugden has to mentally / emotionally and physically has to go through.

    #7: My humble thoughts on the
    Tibetan self-immolations

    When I first heard of cases of self immolation by the Tibetans especially the monks….I was SHOCKED! I was taught by my lama and also while growing up in a Buddhist family that suicidal is a big NO NO and will create negative karma for our next life. And in front of me, I am reading about the poor monks self immolating and worst still, CTA is proud of them. When Tsem Rinpoche spoke up advising against self immolation, we received a lot of positive feedback from the public. I wish more high lama and CTA themselves discourage this negative action publicly.

    Maybe CTA should seriously study the dharma under their respective teachers. CTA should write a statement to go against self immolation as this is NOT how one should waste their life.

    #8: Healing the Divide: Respect the Dalai Lama and respect Dorje Shugden

    Pastor Jean Ai has been working closely with Tsem Rinpoche, our lama for many years now and in fact, she grew up with Rinpoche as her family is Rinpoche’s student. And alike me, we have never heard once before that Rinpoche has asked us to be disrespectful of the Dalai Lama.

    Because of this, we , as a organisation has been attacked online and also threats were being sent towards our lama for the past few years. However, we also have many who has misconception of this Shugden issue being cleared and many has started to change their negative mindset on Dorje Shugden to a more positive ones due to the facts and information on Tsem Rinpoche’s blog which is very good. Some write to us directly, some actually come to us face to face to thank Rinpoche for being vocal in this course. Most, respect Rinpoche as Rinpoche has used the “middle path” in handling this controversy. And isn’t the middle path what Buddhism is about? I hope the haters would digest Rinpoche’s messages well instead of shooting darts into the sky without any logic or facts.

  28. Wylfred Ng on Aug 6, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    谢谢詹杜固仁波切, 也谢谢整个制作团队的用心制作, 让大家可以更了解整个多杰雄登的争议和藏人行政中央的课题。

    那么多年来我们一直不停听到多杰雄登禁令, 让人不禁对藏传佛教却步。 而藏人行政中央一直炒作多杰雄登课题以掩饰他们的丑闻和办事不力。 希望大家都可可以把视线转移到多杰雄登课题上。

    从1959年至今, 藏人行政中央在藏人课题上一点都没有进度。 那么多年过去了, 也离印度政府租借土地的期限越来越近。 藏人行政中央难道期望他们炒作的课题可以掩饰他们的过错到永远吗?

    趁现在还有时间的时候就应该踏实解决所有多杰雄登课题和其他具争议性的课题。

    谢谢

  29. Louise Lee on Aug 5, 2018 at 9:43 pm

    中国的经济实力让达赖喇嘛成了越来越多的世界领导人的政治负担。因为害怕触怒中国,他们现在纷纷回避他。教皇方济各(Pope Francis)是数十年来最大胆的教皇。但据称即便是他,也在去年12月拒绝在罗马会见达赖喇嘛。

    接着对待西藏难民非常慈悲也开始表态,要这 CTA 不可以乱来了。

    慢慢的 CTA 会失去来自外国的任何重要支持。当时,印度刚从英国的统治中解放出来,正试图与它在亚洲的最大邻国中国建立密切关系。美国则因朝鲜战争而分心,无暇给予西藏的呼吁多少关注。

    去年5月,美媒曾报道称,美国特朗普政府计划在2018年10月开始的新财年,取消对“西藏基金会”的拨款,并不再向“那旺曲培奖学金”提供资金。这一消息引发了西藏“流亡政府”的担忧。据悉,“西藏基金会”是由达赖喇嘛成立于1981年,总部设在美国纽约,长期从事反华活动,为“流亡藏人”提供资金支持。

    如果达赖喇嘛去世,根本不清楚中国境内的600万藏人会怎样?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=eVEN30zggbs

    请求达赖喇嘛站出来看看是否还有让这 CTA 团队管理治国吗? 让他们管理国家, 这肯定会灭国!

    我

  30. Pastor Adeline Woon on Aug 4, 2018 at 2:49 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

  31. MENG KIAT HENG on Aug 3, 2018 at 11:39 pm

    CTA is abusing basic human right on believing their own religion practice and people start realize what CTA do is not correct and not logic at all, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and the team behind working very hard to reveal the true and benefit for practicing Dorje Shugden. whatever CTA and Dalai Lama claimed on Dorje Shugden practice is baseless and try to STOP people from practicing Dorje Shugden. those who practice will be discriminate in many form of abuses. Hopefully this abuse and discriminate will stop immediately and give back freedom to those practitioner that affected.

    comment dalai lama post

  32. Datuk May on Aug 3, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    Whether I am a Dorje Shugden devotee or not is not even a point to consider after listening to these 8 enlightening videos on the misrepresentation and misinformation about Dorje Shugden.

    For the 4 million Dorje Shugden devotees, the information in these videos evoke from them gratitude and appreciation that what they have suffered and still suffering from the discrimination enforced on them by the Dalai Lama and His executive leaders, CTA , are illegal and baseless.

    What stand out is the audacity of CTA to use the worship of Dorje Shugden as the scapegoat for their inability to be effective in all their goals based on FREE TIBET. It is obnoxious that for the past 59 years, international donors, sponsors and contributors have given so freely and so much for a futile cause. Futile not because it has no meaning but rather hidden from justice of what is really going on. The scams that are being revealed on the members of CTA are totally unacceptable and disgraceful.

    What was most scary is how the constitution of Tibetans in exile has not a single connection to the international laws of human rights, practiced by democratic leaders and yet CTA dares to profess to be a democratic entity.

    Rectification to all the 59 years of wrong doings can be reversed with the desire of CTA to unite all Tibetans and put a stop to all the controversies created. Chief among them is the ban on Dorje Shugden which divides the Tibetan people and all Tibetan Buddhist at large.

    To repent is not difficult but to have the will to do so is what we all hope for the betterment of mankind.

  33. Carmen K on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    It has always been that the ones with the most power/influence are the ones who are able to create narratives where society is structured to fit within, and believe in it, regardless of whether they know the reasoning or not. And the only way to counter these set narratives is when there are a group of people, usually a minority, who ensures that their voices are heard, and not succumb to the oppressions they face.

    In the discrimination towards Dorje Shugden practitioners, often they are known to be traitors of Tibet, opponents of His Holiness Dalai Lama, spies working for China, violent people and so forth. These are the stories/narratives painted by people in power, ie the Central Tibetan Administration, of a group of people they want to diminish and silence. Why? So that this group can be blamed for failures The Administration has made. These are a group of people who are the chess pieces of a larger political game – why would the ‘government’ (now administration) meddle in religious affairs otherwise if not to politicise it?

    So these voices and videos that offer counter narratives to the rhetorics of the CTA is very powerful, because it offers the public another view, a view to help them think, and say “hold on a minute, this is not right”. And damn right, it isn’t.

    The right to practice the protector Dorje Shugden, is a choice that every individual is entitled to make, and not be discriminated against by the CTA/followers of HHDL, just because they choose not to practice. They have their own believes and stories, and so do Dorje Shugden practitioners, who continue steadfastly with their practices because of their stories which matter too. Dorje Shugden practitioners are not wrong to stand by their practice.

    Thank you Rinpoche and Kechara for being the voice for so many who have been silenced and remain silent out of fear.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/they-were-not-wrong.html

    DSLamaMeme-026

    DSLamaMeme-027

    DSLamaMeme-040

  34. SU MING CHUAH on Aug 2, 2018 at 11:57 pm

    #1: Insights into Tsem Rinpoche’s open letter to
    H.H. the Dalai Lama

    I have known Beng Kooi for the past 25 years. For the past 10 years, she has been one of the most pivotal assistants to Tsem Rinpoche and worked closely with Rinpoche not only for Kechara but also for all monasteries matters. What has been interviewed here is very true as I myself has experienced the discrimination / slander / threats consistently over the years due to the Dorje Shugden practice.

    In my last 10 years with Rinpoche, I have not heard from Rinpoche talking ill about Dalai Lama. In fact, all the time during teachings and audiences, Rinpoche has always always asked us to respect the Dalai Lama. And in our course/plight to always be respectful of the Dalai Lama and never ever be rude. And in return, Rinpoche has been constantly being attack online naming him Chinese Dogs and all the vulgar words were thrown at Rinpoche. I still remember in one of the teachings a few years ago, Rinpoche was sharing with us his experience when he first received his monk vows from Dalai Lama and also his teachings Rinpoche used to attend, Rinpoche teared in this particular session and said he miss attending the Dalai Lama teachings and also the monastery life.

    I am glad this video has fruition as it gives a different perspective from the close students of Rinpoche.

    #2: What the Dalai Lama’s recognition of the
    China-backed Panchen Lama really means

    Ever since the Dalai Lama gave this statement on the China Panchen Lama, many of my Tibetan friends in India and Nepal rejoices. From this statement which has been explained very well on this interview video shows that the Dalai Lama recognises the China Panchen Lama and also directly informing the world that the Panchen Lama who was allegedly kidnapped by China is doing well unlike all the others news from the Tibetans which state otherwise.

    #3: The sad truth about the Tibetan state of affairs

    Evolve or Drown – my message to CTA

    I have been travelling to India and Nepal for the past few months ever since these incidents which was stated in the interview came up. I have been tapping and sharing with the Tibetans living in these 2 countries, mainly the youth. I was shocked that they themselves do not have much respect for CTA as they don’t see CTA improving the quality of life for the Tibetan refugees in these 2 countries. Majority of the youth I spoke to were educated in the local government schools or even private ones if they can afford. They don’t attend Tibetan schools cause their parents/guardian do not see any future in attending Tibetan schools.

    This is just an example on how dysfunctional CTA has been or has become within the Tibetans and also to India & Nepal government. THANK YOU INDIA campaign was a blow to their face and if I was part of CTA, I would be looking at ways how evolve to fit the GLOBAL agenda.

  35. KarenC. on Aug 2, 2018 at 10:40 pm

    With CTA, in name there is always democracy but in practise they are not. In Tibetan society it’s always said that you have the option of practising Dorje Shugden (DS), you have the freedom to practise what you want, all tibetans share the equal rights but this is absolutely deceptive. On tibet.net (the official website by CTA), the constitution of the Tibetan government states clearly that if you practise DS, you may not attend His Holiness Dalai Lama’s teachings, gatherings and even secular talks, you may not attend the schools/hospitals, facilities that set up by the Tibetan government. Worse still, some DS practitioners among the society are even threatened and abused by the CTA or anti-Shugden people. Where is the democracy? If one claim that one is democratic, one must act and be democratic.

    All these negative talks between anti-DS people and the Tibetans must stop now because it’s harming the Buddhism. All the accusations, arguing, conflicts, online attacks, name calling and smearing, in lieu of that we should recite mantras, study the scripture, do our prayers, develop compassion and transform our mind.

    Dorje Shugden has been around for 400 years and high lamas like Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, Ling Rinpoche etc have been practising DS and in fact their rebirths keep coming back to benefit all beings. These high lamas never harm anyone, so it’s illogical to say DS practitioners are harming Buddhism, for 400 years DS was good but it suddenly became an evil since 1996, how can that be? Illogical. It’s people who says they are Buddhist but don’t control their body, speech and mind is harming Buddhism, not the Dorje Shugden people, please do not conveniently put the blame on the great Dharma protector Dorje Shugden.

    This whole DS issue is self-created by the CTA for political reasons, it is to cover their greed, ego and more so, their incapability in managing their people and country and hence after 60 years, the Tibetans are still in exile supporting an empty cause that is not helpful in any ways in getting their country back. Please lift the ban and unite all Tibetans and make Buddhism flourish again in Tibet, China.

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1533220829.mp4


  36. William Chua on Aug 2, 2018 at 10:32 pm

    For 22 years, the Tibetans and the practitioners of Dorje Shugden has suffered tremendously from the ban that was imposed by the Dalai Lama and further propagated by the CTA to be a demon. The struggles are true as we can see evidence of people fight, argue, demonstrate, riot and even self-immolate to fight for their freedom of religious practice.

    The CTA continuously brand Dorje Shugden as a demon to continue to control its people because only through its people, the CTA could obtain foreign aid and to portray themselves as a victim of invasion by China in the 50s. Foreign aid has been pouring in for the last 22 years yet they have failed to lift the standard of living of the Tibetans in exile and the officials lined their pockets with the money they receive. It was only until recently the Tibetans started to question the Government on the aid they receive. Again, instead of addressing the issue, the CTA blamed Dorje Shugden.

    In this day and age, religious freedom is a right everyone should have and no one should dictate or control whatever religion they choose to practice. The ban must be lifted.

  37. June Kang on Aug 2, 2018 at 10:08 am

    Just think deeply and logically of all the points mentioned in the videos, the conclusion was that Dorje Shugden people did not harm the Tibetan cause, and it was always the Tibetan Leadership who did it. History witnessed that the persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners has only created more schism , segregation and split amongst fellow Tibetans. Tibetans have been in-exile for about 60 years , it should not let the CTA go on to use Shugden issues to cover their failure and cause more suffering to their own peoples, the immediate action now is for Tibetans to have a chance at returning home to Tibet, one of them is the Dorje Shugden ban must be lifted swiftly.

    file DS

  38. Pastor Chia on Aug 2, 2018 at 7:25 am

    All the videoes above has made are informative and telling the truth what was happen regarding Dorje Shugden ban. I like these video are well reserch and the sametime give a lot of logic behind the ban without making false story.
    Over 22 years since H.Holisness Dalai Lama reclered the Dorje Shugden has affected many tibetan buddhism practitioner having segegation between gelupa lineage and tibetan sociaty. DS practitioner has treated badly by CTA using politicle reason to suppress DS practitioner. I wish all videos can help people who ready understand regarding DS ban clearly and have harmony in tibetan buddhism.

  39. Andrea Lai on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:58 am

    Religion is freedom choices for all people regardless of what genders, race or skin colors. These videos and articles give strong proves and provide informative messages especially to new practitioners of Dorje Shugden. May more people will gain understanding on Dorje Shugden controversy thru this article, find peace and create harmonious life in spiritual path. ?

  40. Pastor Antoinette Kass on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:11 pm

    I hope that more people learn the truth about the Tibetan Leadership in Exile and ask them why they discriminate Tibetans and people from elsewhere because of their religion. No democratic government will do such a thing. So, why do Dorje Shugden people get attacked online and called names, said that they are Chinese spies, paid by China and so on for so long now, but there is not a shadow of evidence, nothing to proof such things.

    Every religion should be respected and Dorje Shugden is practiced by many high lamas and for hundreds of year. There is no reason to say that Dorje Shugden is bad. It needs to stop and the ban and discrimination against our religion Dorje Shugden must end.

    Please H.H. the Dalai Lama, remove the unfair ban against Dorje Shugden, we humbly beg you.

  41. Joy Kam on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:38 am

    Dear Kecharians and friends,

    Last night, I gave a teaching to a group of people who were in Kechara Forest Retreat. I shared with them the correct way to pray for our loved ones and why we shouldn’t “demand” Dorje Shugden with fulfilling our wishes but let Dorje Shugden decide what is the best outcome. He has infinite Manjushri wisdom beyond our own and we should trust this wisdom. Sometimes what we pray for is not what should be fulfilled. Sometimes what we don’t want turns out to be the better result in the future.

    I also shared with them about a beautiful monk, Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche, who was jailed and badly tortured by the soldiers for 19 years, starting back in 1959 in Lhasa, and yet he has no anger towards his torturers. He was released and had resettled in Nepal where I met him. For the remainder of his life, he spent his time in meditation, retreats and pujas for the public until he passed. He was glowing, happy and very proud of the fact he was a student of His Holiness Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, which he told me when we met. He did full meditations on Vajra Yogini and short puja to Dorje Shugden daily in his small room in Kathmandu, Nepal where I had to honor to join in his prayers. He told me he was very happy to have his room to do his meditations, pujas and prayers openly. Whatever happened to him, he accepted as part of his karma and he spent much time in prison meditating and quietly teaching dharma to his other cellmates. He was very much respected in prison in Lhasa because he never showed anger, always meditated and consoled others, giving them great strength. He endured much hardship, torture and beatings but he never lost his monk vows. His full understanding of karma helped him not feel any anger or bitterness towards the soldiers. He told me that daily, he would meditate that the karma of others in prison would come to him. That all the torture and abuse he received was so others in prison did not have to suffer this. He said suffering for others was what kept him going and made him be able to endure the pain.

    We are not bound by our experiences. We are bound by our choice. I also reminded those were present about the good person inside each and every one of us, and how we should not “bury” this good person with our excuses because the more excuses we give, the deeper this good person is buried and soon the layers of excuses will make it very difficult for us to find this good person. We are all beautiful good people and we should not let it get lost by lying, laziness, lack of integrity and procrastination. We all have a choice. If we have to make excuses, we should choose to make excuses to be a winner. When we win, we make ourselves happy and those around us happy.

    The teaching session went well and it was spontaneous, and I requested the people who live and work in and around Kechara Forest Retreat for the talk. We had some good laughs to during the talk.

    Thank you,
    Tsem Rinpoche

    ‘If we trust in karma which exists, then there is no reason for anger’.
    ~ Tsawa Pulthok Rinpoche

  42. Khando on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:06 am

    This videos r very professional n truth ??? kandinche Rinpoche la

  43. Metok on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:03 am

    Thank you very much for this videos Rinpoche and to students. You are working very hard to spread the truth to the world about our leadership. I am feel sad that we have failed His Holiness and also to all sponsors who are give their money to us because they believe we can make democracy.

  44. Pastor Shin Tan on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:02 am

    This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953

    • Khando on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:54 am

      He is attack bcuz our leader r not protecting to our la gen but r telling to ppl to attack ???Sikyong la is telling to them wrong things. All our la gen r v precious becuz they r carry our memory of Tibet. Nvm if they r practice to Shukden or not.

  45. Pastor Albert on Jul 31, 2018 at 4:22 pm

    What I learned from this blog, especially this particular article is whatever was posted here, detailed researched has been carried out so that the readers can read and learn about the truth of Dorje Shugden issues that has been going on for the past 20 over years, whereby videos and articles published by CTA are all baseless accusation towards Dorje Shugden and it’s practitioners. If Dorje Shugden is really as what CTA said, he is a demon, then why can’t the CTA show some proves that he is a demon? not a single evidence?

    Why can CTA spent so much money and effort in attacking Dorje Shugden practitioners but Nil effort in improving the Tibetans living, stopping their people from self immolating? This clearly shows the motive of CTA, it is only for their own benefit and not for their people, CTA has never done anything for their people except more harm and segregations.

    • Khando on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:00 am

      I am sorry la as our leader r not good. Before I hope that when we r getting democracy we can have some good leader but now our Sikyong is making problem coming worse. Before when we have His Holiness at least he is care to our Tibetan people. Now our Sikyong is only thinking to make money. He is not Kalon Tripa for Tibetan, he is ngul nyer for self only.

  46. Tek Lee on Jul 31, 2018 at 6:14 am

    This article and videos are really very powerful as they clearly stated the current situation of what Dorje Shugden practitioners and the Tibetans are facing. Pertaining the currents issues, it’s obvious that the Tibetans in Tibet are having a way better life than those in exile. As a leader, be it of a country or an organisation, they should practice democracy, in fact, this is what the Tibetan leadership has been shouting to the outside world that they practice democracy, but on the other hand, obviously they are not, by discriminating people that have different opinion with H.H Dalai Lama and the CTA. Maybe they can cover what they were doing previously, but in the world that cyber technology is common and easy to access in this era, people know, and it’s quite easy that people change their country leaders nowadays, since many countries have changed their government. With palms folded, I hope that H.H Dalai Lama, Tibetan leadership, start to look into these matters seriously, and start to change, by lifting the ban of Dorje Shugden. ???

    UnityMeme14

    UnityMeme13

    memeen181b

  47. Mingwen on Jul 31, 2018 at 12:09 am
    The planet does not need more successful 
    people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds.

    -Dalai Lama

    May H.H Dalai Lama lift the BAN of Dorje Shugden’s practice, unite all Tibetan Buddhist & continue to share the Buddhadharma to everyone.

  48. Asyley Chia on Jul 30, 2018 at 9:29 pm

    非常感谢Li Kim和团队为全世界的人制作了一系列有关多杰雄登的影片,避繁就简的帶出重要的訊息,让大家對多傑雄登禁令更了解。
    这些影片里的內容都提出了強力反擊CTA,他們確實制度化的实行禁令,並且相信,禁令的背後隐藏着个人和政治利益。因為西藏流亡政府的种种不公平的对待,令到修持多杰雄登者饱受不公平的对待与伤害,例 医院有佈告板写着多杰雄登修持者不可进入,意思是说如果你是多杰雄登修持者如果生病了只有等死,以此类推学校也是如此,如果你是多杰雄的修持者你就一辈子成为文盲,修持多杰雄登的老僧人被石头砸,被毒打,还有很多苦不堪言的事情,我们的师父詹杜固仁波切在网上也受到辱骂和令人咋舌字眼和照片,只因我的师父是多杰雄登修持者。莫名其妙。

    自焚是自杀的一种极端形式,在佛教教诲第一就是不杀,已经违反了佛教教导,这样的举动浪费生命,错误示范又没什么作为,在这世界上生命可贵只有求生哪有求死的道理,150不是一個小數目,況且是“生命” 為什麼慈悲的尊者,CTA,與印度政府视而不见。

    联合国的“世界人权宣言”。“每个人都有权享有本宣言所载的所有权利和自由,不分种族,肤色,性别,语言,宗教,政治或其他见解,国籍或社会出身,财产,出生或其他身份。” 一视同仁,宗教信仰自由。
    希望那么精致的影片可以让更多人了解多傑雄登禁令事实才不会让其人所誤導。
    祈求尊貴的达赖喇嘛尊者尽快禁止多杰雄登禁令,无禁令,无伤害。

  49. Cynthia Lee on Jul 30, 2018 at 8:26 pm

    This is such an important set of professional videos done by so many wonderful Kecharians which covered all aspects of the Dorje Shugden issue. I can see a lot of effort put into these videos as it is well thought out and presented. The speakers are very knowledgeable of the issue and able to debunk every claims there is against Dorje Shugden. You know it’s not articulated based on conventional truth but the ultimate truth.

    I feel that this videos will bring many benefits to those who are confused, lied to by CTA, sitting in the middle unsure of what is true or untrue, and bring hope to many who suffered the ban.

    For those who are still not convinced, then please believe that Dalai Lama is Avalokiteshvara and is a Buddha and cannot be harmed by any so-called “spirit”. Practice compassion and acceptance towards everyone including Dorje Shugden practitioners.

    HHDL-chenrezig or not

  50. Wah Ying on Jul 30, 2018 at 4:47 pm

    It has been 20 years of persecution and sufferings on Dorje Shugden practitioners and the part of some non Dorje Shugden practitioners. The Dorje Shugden ban basically tears apart the whole Tibetan community, as well as Tibetan Buddhists. It’s time to stop all the unnecessary sufferings, especially with the international landscape changes and thus internal changes within Tibetan community.

    To further drag the time for reconciliation to resolve the Tibet issue with Beijing and thus the unity of Tibetan society, will definitely bring no benefits to anyone especially the Tibetan leadership. In fact by stepping out to show friendly gesture to Beijing, Tibetan leadership would win back hearts/supports of some Tibetans. As H.E. them Rinpoche always emphasises, the ban must end for the wellbeing of all and to enable the healing process to take place.

    These videos were all made professionally, from the contents, the tones and the information, all done with true passion and good motivation to clear the doubts re Dorje Shugden issues and false claims; enable more to know the truth and to restore harmony to the affected society and Tibetan Buddhist world. I believe they follow their Guru H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s teaching well that, feeding the correct knowledge, with good intention to share and spread the truth that, make these videos a success – all speakers speak with clear speech, with logic, calm minds, love, care and wisdom. one cannot find traces of malicious intention to revenge or hatred towards Tibetan leadership or whoever have created so much confusion and sufferings to millions of Dorje Shugden people around the world.

    Thank you for all the speakers, host, shooting team, all who get involved, and H.E. Tsem Rinpoche to make these videos with truth available to the world.

    The better know about the Dorje Shugden Ban and how to resolve it, I would like to share this video on “How Can the Shugden Conflict Be Resolved” with all:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4iE8xZKJfE&t=22s

  51. Alice Tay on Jul 30, 2018 at 3:50 pm

    Very power message brought up in the video that His Holiness Dalai Lama is Chenrezig and His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche who is no different than Vajrayogini. HH Dalai Lama said Dorje Shugden is an evil spirit. But Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche said Dorje Shugden is Buddha Manjushri. Nevertheless, based on records, the 5th Dalai Lama wrote prayers to Dorje Shugden and also handcrafted a statue of Dorje Shugden which is still keep at Phelgyeling Monastery today in Nepal. It makes no sense at all when a Buddha is right yet another Buddha is wrong.

    Besides, there were so many baseless accusations and one of them was If people continue to practice Dorje Shugden will harm and shorten the life HH Dalai Lama. But in actual fact, HH Dalai Lama is very healthy and recently he just celebrated his 83 years old’ birthday and does not showed sign of aging and slowing down his pride and alert. Furthermore, HH Dalai Lama is still able to recognise the reincarnation of his own guru, HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche (current incarnation known as HH Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche), who is currently resides in Vermont, USA as the spiritual guide of Trijang Buddhist Institute. If one relying on Dorje Shugden will take rebirths in the Three Lower Realms, then why did HH Dalai Lama confirm the recognition of his own guru who, in his previous lifetime relied on Dorje Shugden until he entered clear light? From this instance, we need to think deeply and it is for us to read and find out more about Dorje Shugden and the histories.

    Thank you Rinpoche and the team worked so hard to make these videos just to let us see the logic and the truth behind the ban. It’s time for CTA to “wake up” after 59 years without any significant improvement but only disappointments in the lack of caring and understanding to the people. CTA, please see and feel Dorje Shugden practitioners’ suffering. They have the right to live in peace and freedom.

    ToSumItUp-42

  52. Julia Tan on Jul 30, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    These are the most complete and educated videos about Dorje Shugden ban. Thank you everyone who put in so much time and effort to make these videos and explained so clearly about Dorje Shugden ban. It touches my heart deeply listening to Beng Kooi talked about how our teacher H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has been continuously speak up about the ban. Although Rinpoche received all types of rudeness and life threats from anti-Dorje Shugden people on Rinpoche’s facebook, twitter and blog daily yet Rinpoche never stop requesting His Holiness Dalai Lama to lift the ban. In fact, Rinpoche can choose to do nothing and stay away from all the troubles but Rinpoche didn’t. Rinpoche is very compassionate and he knew Dorje Shugden practitioners are being treated badly, being discriminated and segregated, millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners are suffering not only they cannot return to Tibet, on top of that they are being blamed as the cause of the failure and accused as Chinese’s spy. Hence Tibetans hate each other for the last 22 years, there’s no peace among Tibetans.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/this-so-called-rinpoche-wants-to-send-tsem-rinpoche-to-hell.html

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/this-nun-wishes-for-tsem-rinpoches-death.html

    Above are the two articles about how these two people (a monk and a nun) hated Rinpoche simply because Rinpoche practices Dorje Shugden. Anti-Dorje Shugden people threatened Rinpoche who’s a high lama in such an extreme hatred, they wanted Rinpoche to die. Can you imagine what kind of life the Dorje Shugden practitioners who live in Tibetan communities in India and Tibet have? For the last 22 years, they were constantly in confuse, fear and anxiety because they are surrounded with enemies who hated them. WHY the failure of CTA for not being able to FREE TIBET became the suffering of millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners.

    When the CTA failed to negotiate with China government, Tibetan were disappointed, instead of working it out and find better solutions to deal with China, the CTA chose to blame on Dorje Shugden, a deity and His practitioners. Instead of spending their time and funds to workout for better solutions, or help the poor Tibetan, CTA used their time and funds to create more physical and emotional suffering to his own Tibetan people by giving even more pressure the Dorje Shugden ban.

    Even though so much of sufferings created to the Dojre Shugden people due to the ban yet Rinpoche’s love and respect towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama never changed since day one. Rinpoche always explained to his students that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has a bigger picture of the ban. Although we do not see what Rinpcohe sees but we believe in our guru, hence we never show nor say anything not respectful about His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In our daily Sadhana, we dedicate to His Holiness the Dalai Lama long life.

    I pray everyday that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will respond to Rinpoche’s letter and lift the ban soonest so that all Dorje Shugden and none Dorje Shugden people can unite again.

  53. Phoebe Yong on Jul 30, 2018 at 9:49 am

    Thank you Rinpoche and the team who work hard for this set of videos. ?

    It is coming to 22 years since banned the sacred practice of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden. Tibetan people still living in the suffering of this discrimination. These set of videos are to correct the disinformation that was being spread in the CTA’s 2016 publication. They are very informative. It is time to clear people’s doubts about the Dorje Shugden and reviewing the truth of Dorje Shugden ban.

    The Dorje Shugden practitioners are discriminate and they are not allowed to get a job, go to school, not allowed to get medical treatment, not allowed to enter certain society and so on. This is so cruel! What kind of Democracy that CTA claims they are?

    The below from the Charter:
    Article 9. Equality Before The Law.
    “All Tibetan citizens shall be equal before the law and shall enjoy the rights and freedoms set forth in this Charter without discrimination on grounds of birth, sex, race, religion, language, lay or ordained status, social origin, rich or poor.”

    Article 10. Religious Freedom.
    “All religious denominations are equal before the law. Every Tibetan shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. These religious rights include the freedom to manifest one’s beliefs, to receive initiation into religious traditions, and to practise with matters relating to religious commitment, such as preaching or worship of any religion, either alone or in community with others.”

    https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/DSConstitution6.mp4

    I pray that the Tibetan people will be united as soon as possible.


    DSLamaMeme-085

  54. sweekeong on Jul 30, 2018 at 4:19 am

    If one has gone thru all the videos and think it is not surprising that Tibetan people in exiled has given up hope on the Tibetan leadership after six decades of broken promises. The Central Tibetan Administration has committed the classic mistake and blunder of a government of using whatever means to stay its power but did it badly.

    Why it has become this way? It is very simple. The government doesn’t listen to its people, doesn’t maintain harmony and punish its own people without hesitation. How can it be a democratic government when you make laws that discriminate against Dorje Shugden believer? You break the principle by being discriminating and on the other hand petition other countries to support the cause for Tibetan human rights?

    If the Tibetan leadership has any ounce of compassion for the Tibetan people suffering they should shallow their ego and make the change. Time is running out.

    discrimination

  55. Vivian Ong on Jul 30, 2018 at 1:55 am

    This article and videos are very good and informative for non-Shugden practitioners who have doubts on the practice. It gives them a better understanding of the whole situation and what is happening at the moment. May this ban be lifted very very soon and may Dorje Shugden practices benefit more and more people in their spiritual path. _/\_

  56. Chon Kong on Jul 30, 2018 at 1:07 am

    謝謝團隊為大家錄製這一系列的影片,精簡和清楚的帶出重要的訊息,讓大家對多傑雄登禁令更深一層了解。
    這20多年來,居留在印度的藏人雄登修持者,因為西藏流亡政府的種種不公平,分化,歧視和不人道的政策,導致他們無論在身里或心里,飽受煎熬和痛苦。
    這一切隔離和歧視的行動,20多年來對雄登修持者所造成的傷害,外界的人可能無法想像。但是,我這幾年來,通過tsemrinpoche.com的博客上的文章及視頻報導,能深深感受到禁令所帶給他們的痛苦是非常大的。

    除了在印度居住的藏人,世界各地的雄登修持者,無論是高僧大德或是一般的修行人,也面對杯葛和歧視。這些負面的情況,有惡化的趨勢。
    我的上師尊貴的詹杜固仁波切也是受害者之一。上師的社交媒體網頁,常遭受反對修持多傑雄登的人,用不雅和粗暴的言語辱罵,警告和恐嚇。

    西藏流亡政府(CTA)常強調他們是自由民主的政府, 總是否認禁令的存在。
    但是,這8部影片所談的內容,都提出了強而有力的論點和證據,反擊CTA,他們 確實制度化的實行禁令,並且相信,禁令的背後隱藏著個人和政治利益。

    自由民主,宗教自由,是現今社會和國家必須關注和提倡的,也是多元民族,多元宗教和睦相處的關鍵。尊重不同的信仰,接受別人的不一樣,是西藏流亡政府所要做的事!
    再次感謝團隊的付出,相信這些精彩的影片可以讓更加多人了解多傑雄登禁令的課題,更不會被有心歪曲事實的人所誤導。謝謝。

  57. Lin Mun on Jul 29, 2018 at 10:30 pm

    It has been more than 20 years since CTA impose the ban on Dorje Shugden. It is ridiculous to see how much effort a supposedly democratic government spent so much resource and money to ban a religious belief. Isn’t a democratic country suppose to support religious freedom and basic human rights? But contrary, the CTA clearly shows that they are discriminating and segregating the Tibetans. Where will we find a government that discriminate his people from getting medical treatment, education, job due to their choice of belief?

    The baseless allegation that the Dorje Shugden practise brings harm to HH Dalai Lama is not acceptable. Dalai Lama is regard as the emanation of Chenrizig. A Buddha will not be harmed by evil spirit and therefore, it just don’t jive with the CTA allegation. The powerful Dalai Lama will easily subdued any evil spirit. What more when Dorje Shugden has been practised by so many high lama for more than 400 years ago. If the practise is really evil then why no high lama mention about it? And suddenly in 1996, Dorje Shugden is not allowed to be practiced. CTA can no longer lie to his people. With the many videos and rising awareness on this illegal ban, it will sure attract international attention to stop CTA from discriminating his people. I hope the day will come very soon and the CTA will remove the ban and unite the Tibetans.

  58. Pastor Shin Tan on Jul 29, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    This elderly & innocent monk in India was brutally attacked, find out why. Shocking – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=163953

    001

  59. KS Chan on Jul 29, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    This article can only be the fruit of many people who invested much hard work and sacrificed a lot of time. Thank you to the team who put this together.

    This article lays out all the facts and replies to all the arguments by anti-Dorje Shugden groups in simple, easy-to-understand language.

    The videos are not too long and contain all the hard facts but are not dry and even fun to watch.

    This article joins the long list of many more (and not just from this blog) that factually prove the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to be wrong on all counts with the ban of the Dorje Shugden practice.

    As for the CTA’s wild allegations of Dorje Shugden practitioners and pro-Shugden groups, I personally don’t think they can hold on to it much longer without appearing completely foolish for it. As it is, waves of discontent for the CTA are being seen on the ground in the Tibetan settlements in India as well as in the Tibetan diaspora.

    How much longer can they make people believe that the failure to gain self-determination is because of a protector deity?

    To the Central Tibetan Administration: please wait no longer, end the ban.

    My only wish is for the Tibetan Buddhist world to be reunited in the time of and by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. It would be a wondrous thing to rejoice.

    GANG RI RAWE KORWAI SHING KHAM DIR
    In this holy Land surrounded by snow mountains,

    PEN DANG DEWA MALU GYUNG WAI NE
    You are the source of all benefit and happiness

    CHENREZIG WANG TENZIN GYATSO YI
    May your lotus feet, O powerful Chenrezig, Tenzin Gyatso

    SHA PEI SITHAI BARDU DEN GYUR CHIG
    Remain in this world until the end of existence.

  60. CindyH on Jul 29, 2018 at 3:31 pm

    If one really examines the so-called justification for the Dorje Shugden ban propagated by the Tibetan leadership, one will find those such doesn’t hold up to scrutiny and there are a lot of piecemeal changes introduced every time such justifications are debunked. For example; if the issue was truly about Dorje Shugden being an evil spirit, then it can easily be resolved by getting the high lamas to bind such evil spirit. After all, there are so many cases where Tibetan lamas are called upon to subdue and deal with evil spirits when all else fail. Why allow for the perpetuation of so much suffering from the discrimination, segregation and disharmony as a result of this so-called demon/evil spirit?

    Further, it is very detrimental to keep repeating such false allegations as it brings doubts and not to mention disrepute to enlightened beings and Tibetan Buddhism as a whole. To illustrate, by repeatedly saying H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama’s life will be shortened with the propitiation of Dorje Shugden is clearly belittling H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama’s attainments, amongst which He has full control of His body and mind, even the ability to dictate His next rebirth. And for those who are less enchanted with talks of attainments and prefer hard facts, please ponder over the fact that H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama is still alive and well despite having practised Dorje Shugden previously and also that Dorje Shugden is still being practised to date.
    Another point to consider is that if Dorje Shugden was really an evil spirit/demon, why would H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama make an exception for the incarnation of His guru, H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche to continue with Dorje Shugden practice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWi1fJkTA9Q

    As for the baseless allegations of Dorje Shugden practitioners automatically working for China and against Tibetan cause, logically it should fall. Apart from the obvious fact there is not a single shred of valid evidence, think about how illogical that position is based on statistics and logistics. Imagine China forking out money to all Dorje Shugden people scattered all over the world and not a single invoice, receipt or trail found?

    In addition, one would note that such claims (of working for China and against Tibet cause) are explained by CTA in its resolution primarily as; Dorje Shugden being an evil spirit harms H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama who is the champion of the Tibetan cause and hence Dorje Shugden practitioners are against the Tibetan cause, anti-Dalai Lama and also siding with China. So, now that is established that H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama is and cannot be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then it is only logical that there is no basis for still falsely accusing Dorje Shugden practitioners as Chinese spies, paid by China, working for China etc and against Tibetan cause. Especially when H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama clearly in recent times had said on record that Dorje Shugden does not harm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-f8GpxvfUA

    And why is the Tibetan leadership who is supposed to be democratic policing people’s faith? After all, the Tibetan leadership professes to subscribe to democratic principle and take cue from developed nations. In line with that position, the Tibetan leadership needs to bear in mind, (i) the essence of religious freedom necessitates the respect and freedom of religion regardless of what anyone feels about one religion or another and (ii) no spiritual authority or spiritual leader can overturn or override any law or rights enshrined in the constitution. So, when will the Tibetan leadership really walk the talk? Or is it truly the case as said by many that the Tibetan leadership is only paying lip service about democracy and not caring about what is the best for Tibetans? Why indeed, the Tibetan leadership still perpetuate the baseless ban which causes so much pain and suffering to Tibetans, both Dorje Shugden practitioners and non-practitioners alike? And it is the undeniable truth that such Dorje Shugden ban causes so much anguish, pain and suffering to Tibetans, both Dorje Shugden practitioners and non-practitioners alike.

    Considering all such suffering, isn’t it better for the Tibetan leadership to remove the cause of so much suffering by removing the ban? There isn’t even the need to address who is right or who is wrong about Dorje Shugden, just make it clear to people to stop discriminating Dorje Shugden practitioners and truly leave it at the hands of people to decide their religious faith.

  61. Samfoonheei on Jul 29, 2018 at 1:33 pm

    That’s great……a powerful video to get across all corners to explain the ban on Dorje Shugden and more insight disinformation of what the CTA had said. Hopefully more and more people get to understand. The ban of Dorje Shugden is illogical as the instituted by the Tibetan Leadership (CTA) for their own political agenda. The CTA has created more sufferings and made situation more complicated. Dorje Shugden practice has been around for 400years and many highly attained Lamas has practised since then. They cannot be wrong. The CTA has claimed that they practice democracy but on the other hand they have spent millions on campaigns and websites against Dorje Shugden. They in fact have had misused the funds instead helping their own people in exile.
    I have watched all the wonderful details and well explained videos, to counter the damaging disinformation that the CTA has spread . May the ban against Dorje Shugden practitioners end soon for the sake of unity, harmony and the freedom of religious choice Thank you with folded hands Rinpoche and the speakers, film crew and many others .

  62. Chris Chong on Jul 29, 2018 at 2:32 am

    Thank you for the team to create these nice videos to counter what CTA said about Dorje Shugden ban. Dorje Shugden practitioners had been discriminated and segregated for twenty two years now and we are still suffering from the ban.

    The ban itself is totally illogical if one takes time to learn more about Dorje Shugden practice and why would H.H Dalai Lama impose such a ban. The ban has been used by the CTA to hide their failure of getting back their country while millions of innocent Dorje Shugden practitioners suffered because of that.

    Dorje Shugden practice has been around for 400years and there was not a single problem with it until H.H 14th Dalai Lama banned it. If a practice is harming the practitioners, don’t you think that they would had discovered its harming effect way way long ago? Not 1 practitioner was harmed by DS prior the ban. Not 1 high lama was harmed by DS prior the ban. Everybody practiced Dorje Shugden peacefully and the whole buddhist community was united and peaceful.

    One might say that H.H 14th Dalai Lama only realise the practice is bad now and thats why he bans it. But H.H 14th Dalai Lama is not the only highly attained buddhist masters for the 400 years. There are many highly attained masters who are the same calibre as H.H 14th Dalai Lama such as Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang RInpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche has practiced Dorje Shugden and they are fine with it. Kyabje Trijang RInpoche was also the Junior tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama. Im sure that Dalai lama’s tutor must be of the highest calibre to take on the role. So even Dalai Lama’s tutor is a Dorje Shugden practitioner. This shows that Dorje Shugden practice is not a small practice and is practiced by a lot of high lamas and not some small practice as claimed by CTA.

    I pray for the Dorje Shugden ban to be lifted as soon as possible and H.H Dalai Lama will once again reunite the buddhist community all over the world.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bj0254UG-Y&t=2292s

    Placard-009

  63. Sharon Ong on Jul 29, 2018 at 1:48 am

    It’s now 2018. What is sad is that in this day and age, there are some who still think that it is their right to oppress another’s right to religious practice. What is even sadder is when a government that claims to practice democracy thinks it is their right to ban a religious practice and goes so far as to promote this ban on its official website. One must be asking why does the Tibetan leadership impose this ban on its own people? The answer is simple – It is to distract and cover up for their failure to regain their country. Tibetans have been in-exile for about 60 years, so it is obvious that the leadership needs some form of excuse for their lack of results in achieving independence.

    The Dorje Shugden ban imposed by the Tibetan leadership is actually doing more harm than they realise because:-
    The ban has caused a split in the Tibetans. History has shown us that those countries that have achieved independence have these in common – unity and loyalty towards their leaders. The ban has effectively taken way these 2 essential ingredients that will help Tibet in gaining their independence.
    – Human rights is an important issue not to be taken lightly. This ban is a direct infringement of the basic human right to religious practice. Who would support a country that oppresses its own citizen’s religious freedom?
    – The Tibetan leadership has accused China of violating their human rights and cruelty. But isn’t the ban doing the same thing? Worse still is that the ban is imposed on its own people. The ban is violating Dorje Shugden practitioner’s right to religious freedom. And the results of this ban has given rise to unnecessary sufferings not just to the Tibetan practitioners of this protector practice but to Dorje Shugden followers all over the world.
    – By demonising Dorje Shugden, the Tibetan leadership has negated His Holiness to a mere layperson who has no compassion or power to stop and protect his own people against this so-called spirit. Almost all Buddhists know that a monk has the ability to protect and send spirits to a better place with just his robes due to his sacred vows as an ordained person.
    Tibetan high lamas are also well known for their ability to subdue evil spirits. Wouldn’t any lama with compassion send the evil spirit away to a better place or subdue it so that it will not cause any harm.
    For the Tibetan leadership to suggest that Dorje Shugden can harm His Holiness by shortening His Holiness’ life has just been debunked as His Holiness just celebrated his 83th birthday, officially making His Holiness one of the oldest Dalai Lamas in history.

    The ban has gone on for far too long now. And for Tibetans to have a chance at returning home to Tibet, the ban must be lifted swiftly, best before His Holiness passes away because His Holiness would be the one that would be able to stabilise Tibet post independence.

    These videos are the truth that the world needs to know that the Tibetan leadership has been trying to suppress. Thank you to all those involved in making these.

  64. Christine on Jul 28, 2018 at 10:29 pm

    Thank you very much for this article. This clearly shows us the conflicts between DS practitioners and the CTA, also how those devotees are affected by this ban and persecution. What is religious freedom? What are the doctrines of Buddhism ? With nearly 400 years history of propitiation of Dorje Shudgen by such many prominent high lamas and their notable disciples from previous and these days , I am so shocked to hear that all of them and including us as are lay DS practitioners (Tibetans or non Tibetans) are criminals. My dear administrators and people from CTA, do you know the definition of criminals? On top of this, we can see from CTA official website (picture attached), Dorje Shugden propitiation is violating the Law of Karma! If so, all of High Lamas from previous days were in violation of the law of Karma too? It`s just so ridiculous !

    DS1

    DS2

  65. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 9:33 pm

    His Eminence Kyabje Tsem Rinpoche of Kechara always advises we, his students, to be respectful of His Holiness The Dalai Lama and not to say nor do anything negative. All we are doing is protecting our right to religious freedom. Sure, others can voice out their opinion logically and methodically but do so by refraining from using derogatory, vulgar and rude remarks. As the below video title suggests, it is time to heal all quarters.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHvZiq9EO38

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-15-33-58-1

  66. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 9:29 pm

    https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/09/dalai-lama-neutral-on-self-immolations?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCCAE%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2012%2Fjul%2F09%2Fdalai-lama-neutral-on-self-immolations

    The above link to The Guardian mentions
    “Dalai Lama says he must remain neutral on self-immolations.”

    Then why doesn’t His Holiness The Dalai Lama remain neutral and stop talking against Dorje Shugden?

    The first paragraph states:
    “The Dalai Lama has said he cannot be negative about the spate of self-immolations by Tibetans in Chinabecause it would hurt their families.”

    Then what about families who are hurt because of the Dorje Shugden ban?

    Why don’t His Holiness The Dalai Lama speak up more and urge other Tibetans from further engaging in such an act?

    Tune in to find out:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM7scGGoRus

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-15-15-18-1

  67. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 9:21 pm

    On one hand the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) claim they practice democracy but on the other hand they rule Tibetans militarily. They continue to say there is no ban on Dorje Shugden practice but these printed materials that are publicly displayed are proof of what they are claiming that Tibetans have religious freedom is not true. They may hoodwink the poor Tibetans but not the majority of people on planet earth.

    See the proof:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IkmNJqSIz4

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-14-39-53-1

  68. pammie yap on Jul 28, 2018 at 8:53 pm

    It’s extremely sad when religion is used as tools of discrimination and segregation. Particularly when the Tibetans are already struggling without a country, and now struggling for religious freedom. Fightings and disagreements are not the way to solve Dorje Shugden ban. No ‘government’ nor leader has the right to condemn people’s choice of religion. People have the freedom to choose and practice without discrimination. Whatever it is, we should always check with logic and reasons. Why jump to conclusions before even checking the facts? Just because His Holiness said so, we still need to investigate and think thoroughly. Dorje Shugden practitioners are prohibited to attend His Holiness’ teachings, cannot hold any government post, separated from their family, removed from monasteries, being hurled vulgarities, threatened with death threats, and these are only SOME of the serious issues that need to be addressed ASAP. How long more must this ‘divine play’ go on? When will the hurt and pain end for the thousands of Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world?
    We sincerely hope His Holiness end the ban so that nobody need to suffer anymore.

    09762DE4-9F6B-4BAA-8E3C-62C91014AF92

    46F60208-52E1-42A9-B22F-8D07533F1B35

  69. Nicholas on Jul 28, 2018 at 7:04 pm

    Dorje Shugden ban has created so much unnecessary suffering not only to the Tibetans but also to all the Shugden practitioners around the world. This is because people just follow blindly the instruction from the Tibetan leadership without really checking the logic behind it. As claimed by the CTA that they are democracy but in actual they are not which shown very clearly through this ban. The contradictory has become very obvious and looking at how Tibetan leadership spend their funding to promote the ban by producing numerous materials such as book, videos and etc., how would they explain to the generous sponsors which by right the fund should channel to take care and to improve the welfare of the Tibetans. What is so important about this ban which is just robbing away the religious freedom of their people and how could this ban help the Tibetan leadership in achieving their ultimate goal which is to bring their people back to Tibetan as promised?

    The Tibetan leadership has spent so much time and fund reaping the spiritual rights of choice of their people which by right they should respect the differences and unite all their people to live in peace and harmony and this will directly contribute to make Tibetan in exile strong to achieve their goals in one voice. Time is running out and Tibetan leadership should realise this and make the effort to change for good before it’s too late.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/032.jpg

    032

  70. Tsa Tsa Ong on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:56 pm

    Watched the videos last night and everyone addressed the issues very well. CTA is not practicing democracy otherwise Dorje Shugden practitioners would have religious freedom to DS practic for the past 20 years, and wouldn’t be segregated,discrminated and ostracised . I humbly plea to H.H.Dalai Lama and CTA to make some big changes and lift this ban ASAP with compassion ?
    Kechara have done these videos professionally well. This is a MUST WATCH VIDEO. It is very insightful and clearly explained in all areas. Well done to all who is involved in these videos! Very powerful information! Thank you very much H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and everyone for sharing and shooting these videos. Great job everyone ??????

  71. Jacinta on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    Besides that, isn’t practicing Dorje Shugden is a religious matter? Shouldn’t we leave it to the authority to that particular sect/lineage to decide? If I’m a DS practitioner then I won’t have the right to speak? Where does this come from? All these are Man-made rules.

    Religious matters cannot be allowed to make us unequal before the law, right? In another word, religion cannot be made legal! It should be private affair.

    What if I’m a Christian and yet I wear Dorje Shugden pendant? Will I be persecuted? And what if those who are Buddhist and yet they chose to wear a cross? It will be ridiculous when they (especially those celebrities) are told to remove the cross that he or she is wearing on a necklace just because it is doesn’t reflect their identity well ?. Government (in this case CTA) should and must to protect their religious liberty.

    Please wake up, CTA! Persecution based on different religious faith is so yesteryear! Given all the facts and arguments that have been discussed above, what else to argue? Someone has to take the first step to mend the hurtful past and bring the family members (Tibetan) together.

  72. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    All these allegations of Dorje Shugden being an evil spirit and his practice being deemed as demonic that would result in His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s bad health, that it would harm the struggle for the Free Tibet propaganda, that Tibetans and non Tibetans alike who refused to give the practice are Chinese paid spies, and other claims by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) are just hogwash. I see it as Dorje Shugden is made the scapegoat by the CTA for their failure in keeping to the promise made to the Tibetans by the Dalai Lama for them to return to Tibet. Also Dorje Shugden is made the red herring to divert the Tibetans and the world’s attention away from CTA scandals.

    Watch for yourself:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE-mm5E0AcYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IkmNJqSIz4

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-14-21-21-1

  73. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:05 pm

    Tibetans high lamas are renowned for their spiritual attainments and mediations to dispel any negative force or demon/ghost/spirit. His Holiness The Dalai Lama is no different. So therefore how can any negative entity harm the Dalai Lama including other real high lamas? Let’s not look at the ban on Dorje Shugden but the results of it. It is an outright infringement on human rights and religious freedom. Period.

    Watch below link:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaktwUuIYLY

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-14-20-05-1

  74. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    The idea of returning to Tibet could be true in the mind of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) almost 60 years ago. But I do not think so now because CTA would not function ‘normally’ under close scrutinies by the Chinese Government. Thus this minimises the chances for CTA to milk sponsors for the Free Tibet campaign, which His Holiness The Dalai Lama is now not favouring . With the recent announcement by the Dalai Lama wanting to return to Tibet, the CTA is seen to ‘heed’ the Dalai Lama’s wish. Also the heat is on CTA because the Indian government and their people who have shown kindness to the Tibetans for allowing them to stay in India is waving.

    Read more below:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVEN30zggbs

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-14-19-22-1

    • Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:02 pm

      Correction:

      Also the heat is on CTA because the Indian government and their people who have shown kindness to the Tibetans for allowing them to stay in India is waning.

  75. Yasmin on Jul 28, 2018 at 5:50 pm

    I found this structured and clear explanation on the misunderstandings very eye opening and has definitely contributed to a wider understanding on the issue, especially upon the mention of the ban of DS as a political motive which I didn’t quite think of. Hopefully this resource will give everyone an opportunity to evaluate the DS issue with more thought.

    • Robert Halls on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:05 pm

      Yasmin, I too have just watched the videos and find so much more understanding in what is happening. It has been very disturbing to me. These videos helped me so much. The Tibetan government (CTA) must give religious freedom for real and walk the talk.

      heilbild_medi_2017_neujahr

  76. Bradley Kassian on Jul 28, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    The Ban upheld by the CTA is unethical and does not comply with religious tolerance nor the ideals of a Democratic state. Everyone has the Universal right to practice the religion of their choosing, and the practices that have been around for hundreds of years. If the CTA wants to be taken seriously they need to stop blaming their problems on Dorje Shugden and stop ostracizing those that do his practice. While I understand the underlying political nature, an olive branch of peace has come from the Dalai Lama with his recognition of the Chinese candidate of the Panchen Lama and his recommendation to stop the discord with the Chinese government and officials. I hope one day soon the injustices brought upon Dorje Shugden practitioners will come to a complete full stop and they get an apology from the CTA officials. Twenty-two years is long enough, many have suffered directly and indirectly. DS cannot harm the Dalai Lama as he is Chenrezig. Many Dorje Shugden Lamas have been reborn again in human form and teach the Dharma. They have not gone to the three lower realms for practicing DS. That argument has no logical basis and evidence to prove the contrary. The separation of Church and state is a common theme among western democracies because they recognize the inherent nature of possible discrimination and injustices by the abuse of power brought by mixing religion into politics. The CTA needs to step up to the plate and follow the edicts of a constitution that promotes well being for all people and not to ostracize minorities. In a full-fledged democracy, there is no discrimination based on religious worship. Everyone wants to be happy, no one wants to suffer. Stop with the banning of DS practitioners from holding government jobs, getting access to healthcare, trying to make a decent living. Take down the signs that are all too common in the communities that discriminate against DS practitioners. Make peace with China as their influence will continue to grow in the world. I know it’s hard, but concessions need to be made somewhere. Given the difficult past history it will be hard, but must be done. No matter the arguments, the conflicts, the disagreements of the past someone needs to take that first step. No matter what CTA you will have to do what should have been done in the beginning, sit down and talk.

    • CP on Jul 28, 2018 at 6:25 pm

      @Bradley Kassian,

      1. You have really understood situation very well. I enjoyed reading your comments.

      2. Your summary is so clear. You are a good writer.

      3. By the clear and systematic logic in the way you left the comments here, I can see you have been thinking about this with a clear head for a long time. You have come to your own conclusions after research.

      4. What you said about the CTA or Tibetan rulers in North India (Dharamsala) is absolutely true. Totally spot on. They have to give religious freedom without repercussions. You cannot say you have the freedom to practice a certain spiritual faith to your citizens and we can’t stop you, BUT if you do, we segregate and ostracize you. That is not religious freedom but black mail. That is what has been happening to the Dorje Shugden followers. So much evidence to see this.

      5. Since Dorje Shugden cannot harm Dalai Lama or anyone and the lamas that followed/promoted and taught him all have taken rebirth and returned in human form, this is proof in the pudding that Dorje Shugden’s practice does not harm. Clear and simple. Some of these Dorje Shugden lamas who passed away and their current incarnation has been found by H.H. Dalai Lama himself which is ironic. So the Dalai Lama is saying by recognizing these lamas who practiced Dorje Shugden in their previous lives, you don’t go to a bad rebirth if you practice Shugden. That is why you are back in your new incarnation and I am recognizing you. Very ironic.

      6. It is simple, the Tibetan regime in Dharamsala known as CTA headed by Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangye must walk the talk. You call yourselves a democracy, then you should behave like one. Democracies do not dictate to their citizens what religion/god/Gods/path they can or cannot follow. They do not suggest what their citizen’s spirituality should be nor meddle in it. Governments that are democratic do not get involved with religion or religious choice of their citizens. Church and state must be separate already for Tibetans and Tibetan rulers in exile in India and Nepal.

      Thanks,

      CP

      BTW, these videos by Kechara were made very professionally. The speakers were direct, assertive but not condemning in any way nor fanatical sounding. They elucidated like they are educated, level-headed and definitely they know their stuff well. Kudos to everyone involved in these videos. Great work! These will contribute to understanding for many and go a long way. Kechara really can do good work without malice. All your references to Dalai Lama and his people are always polite and professional. That really won me over.

      The videos will go a long way to clearing up many distortions about Dorje Shugden that the Tibetan regime in Dharamsala created for negative political reasons.

      1826a42175e6856d5f5e081566050373--tibetan-buddhism-buddhist-art

  77. jerry_sito on Jul 28, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    視頻 5
    這是非常讓人感到感嘆與哀傷的資訊,在視頻中所提到的種種一切所謂的“指控”或是“間諜”等的字眼,即使我們攤開所謂的“證據”也好,身為佛教徒,或是身上流著濃厚美麗色彩血液的藏族,我們都不應該把“藏傳佛教”或是“佛教”政治化與充滿攻擊性,我想這是有違背佛法最初的初衷,佛教徒,無論您的傳承是什麼,我們都不應該把一些聽來所謂的“消息”放大化,佛教徒要謹言慎行,不能妄語,然而在這視頻中,所謂的中國間諜的“證據”或“指控”確實讓人匪夷所思,讓人感到哀傷。

    視頻 6
    謝謝這一個視頻所詳細地列數了大量“民主”的訊息,尤其是非常重要的联合国的“世界人权宣言”。~“每个人都有权享有本宣言所载的所有权利和自由,不分种族,肤色,性别,语言,宗教,政治或其他见解,国籍或社会出身,财产,出生或其他身份。”,如果我沒有記錯的話,尊貴的尊者是1989年的諾貝爾和平獎得主,那為什麼CTA 能夠在代表西藏流亡同胞的網站上,禁止因為您修持莫莫法門,就不能出席尊者的座談會/法會呢?加上尊者是觀世音菩薩的化身,觀世音菩薩又怎麼會阻止或禁止任何的一切眾生來聞法呢?觀世音是大慈大悲的,CTA 正在違背着觀世音菩薩“眾生不渡盡,誓不成佛的大願。

    視頻 7
    我非常贊同這視頻中的一段話:如果尊貴的尊者不鼓勵在有關“修持多傑雄登護法”的課題上,那麼尊貴的尊者應該對於自焚事件發表強烈的指著。生命是可貴的,我們能夠在這一世獲得暇滿人身,那麼我們就應該好好運用這暇滿人身做有意義的事情,我感到非常壓抑,已經發生了那麼多的自焚(等同與自殺)的事件,150不是一個小數目,況且是“生命” 為什麼慈悲的尊者,CTA,與印度政府沒有給予強烈的阻止呢?

    視頻 8
    我非常認同這視頻中,講法師所屬說的“尊重”的定義,佛陀八萬四千法門,因眾生不同的業力或是因緣,修持的法門不同,而多傑雄登修持法門確確實實是有着數百年的歷史,傳承,依據並且得到許多高僧大德,活佛的認可的一個修持法門,為什麼我們要因為彼此所修持的傳承不同而批評他人呢?加上批評僧伽眾可說是一個非常大的惡業,所謂“無緣大慈,同體大悲”,我們應該好好珍惜與修持從自己(因緣)的上師下所得到的法門,而不是因為對方的法門與傳承與自己不同,就可以不給予“尊重”

    AuiBp8fSNfWJXsjhFxIH2Mav-yQPhoxcadqaLFQlDnyz

  78. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 4:56 pm

    “The pro-Tibet groups have also used this entire controversy to vilify the Chinese government, to make them look bad for violating human rights.” – Extract from below link:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1484&v=9UgSiAVxWI0

    Segregating Tibetans who wish to continue with their Dorje Shugden practice is also violating human rights. Now His Holiness The Dalai Lama says the Chinese-backed Gyaltsen Norbu is the official Panchen Lama. I wonder why the change of heart by the Dalai Lama after so many years of vehemently saying that Gyaltsen Norbu is not the Panchen Lama. Since there is a change of heart on this matter, why not a change of heart on the Dorje Shugden issue? Could there be more than it meets the eye and would very much affect the Dalai Lama’s household history and the CTA? I wonder. Also the Dalai Lama says that a highly realised being can have more than one incarnations – why didn’t the Dalai Lama know of this earlier and announce it? As the Dalai Lama is believed by the Tibetans to be the compassionate Chenrezig, surely he cannot make mistakes. So, if the Dalai Lama is wrong about saying that the Chinese-backed Gyaltsen Norbu is not a bona fide incarnation of the Panchen Lama, then I say the Dalai Lama is wrong about Dorje Shugden.

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-14-17-39-1

  79. Pastor Henry Ooi on Jul 28, 2018 at 4:30 pm

    Everyone has the freedom of religious practice and others do not have the right to say so otherwise yet alone threaten those who want to continue with their chosen practice. It is akin to condemnation of people’s choice of religion. This is what His Holiness The Dalai Lama is doing with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) picking up the cherries and segregating them into groups. To the CTA, the good cherries are those who heed the Dalai Lama, the bad cherries are those who hear the Dalai Lama yet want to continue with their practice because of their spiritual bond and promise to their own root guru. For this, they are branded as being disloyal and unfaithful, as traitors and being accused as Chinese spies. And because of the segregation, these loyal faithfuls now live in isolation and fear, treated as pariahs of society among their own people and even among other communities

    Continue reading below:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVo6RcsMDtw

    Screenshot_2018-07-28-14-16-18-1

  80. jerry_sito on Jul 28, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    視頻1
    如同視頻上提到,尊貴的詹杜固仁波切是非常尊敬達賴尊者的,仁波切是非常尊敬尊者的,同時尊者也是是認證仁波切是活佛(杜固)乘願轉世回來的,仁波切總是教導弟子們要邏輯性地思考有關於佛法,修持等,仁波切透過和平的方式來與尊者對談,並沒有任何不敬尊者的意思。 多傑雄登護法的禁令已經20多年了,仁波切與所有的多傑雄登修持者,高僧,大德一樣,只是希望能與和平的方式與尊者導論,有關於禁令以來所產生的種種問題,祈願尊者長壽,並且接受仁波切的和平請求。

    視頻2
    我們都相信尊貴的達賴尊者是觀音菩薩的化身,尊貴的班禪喇嘛是阿彌陀佛的化身, 在格魯傳承上除了尊貴的甘丹赤巴,達賴與班禪尊者也是格魯派重要的活佛體系,但除此之外,在格魯派也是有著很多活佛是由達賴或班禪尊者所認證的,那麼也表示慈悲的觀音菩薩與阿彌陀佛認證(承認)許多的仁波切是佛菩薩或是高僧大德的轉世而來,這裡值得一提的是,尊貴的詹杜固仁波切也是由達賴尊者所認證的。

    班禪尊者的課題就與多傑雄登的課題與爭議性,一直存在在藏傳佛教中多年,而造成了許多的分裂,我想這是大家都不願意看到的,佛教是和平與包容性以及慈悲的,在25/4/2018年達賴尊者對於現任的班禪喇嘛,提供了一個很確實的表態,這是非常好的預兆,祈願尊者長壽,並且凝聚回藏傳佛教的團結。

    視頻3
    在這視頻中,理解到的一個非常重要的重點是,西藏流亡者在印度,已經渡過了將近漫長的60年,而在這60年中,西藏流亡者所成立的領導團體CTA, 在這接近60年的日子中,他們應該時時刻刻地認真地思考,如何的安排是對目前還在印度的藏族人民最好的未來,60年是一個很漫長與巨大的數字,然而直到目前剩下不多的時間,與印度政府的99年之約,很快就要到達,希望CTA 能夠把握僅有的時間,為目前還在印度的藏族人民鋪排,畢竟我相信,他們需要一個安穩的未來或是踏足雪域之地。

    視頻4
    在多傑雄登護法修持的爭議上,最多的提問都在這視頻中一一地被邏輯性的給予了回應,而當中我想最多人的提問是,修持多傑雄登護法會傷害到尊者,然而我們藏傳佛教都相信尊者是觀音菩薩的化身,那麼為什麼,觀音菩薩會受到多傑雄登護法所謂的“傷害”呢,觀音菩薩是我們佛教徒皈依的對象,觀音菩薩大慈大悲,觀音菩薩法力又怎麼能夠抵抗不了多傑雄登護法的所謂“傷害”呢?這是非常有邏輯的,加上從禁令以來到現在,許多的多傑雄登護法修持者,依循著自己上師給予的教法,繼續修持着多傑雄登護法的法門,而多年的來,尊者當下82歲依然健康,平安也沒有受到任何所謂來自修持多傑雄登護法的“傷害”

    Meme-chi-9

  81. Made in Japan on Jul 28, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    “If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

    Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, young Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s tutor Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe

    MeWithDalaiLama

  82. justin cheah on Jul 28, 2018 at 11:50 am

    The whole ban is unnecessary and blown out of proportion really. We see so many of the Dorje Shugden practitioners suffer from the result of the ban and what i cannot understand is how extreme some can go to in order to so called maintain order of the ban to make sure people don’t continue to practice and if they don’t listen, they will get it. I have seen families being separated due to this.

    We have seen online how my Lama were abused verbally by all unknown FB and Twitter accounts. The so called ban had been going on for 22 years now and we are still waiting for the final announcement of lifting the ban by HH Dalai Lama so that all conflicts and sufferings be resolved ultimately. For all the types of jibes Rinpoche have been receiving thus far, Rinpoche has always remain steadfast and consistent in his stance against the ban which do not necessarily disrespect HH Dalai Lama.

    In fact there were open letters, memes, online social media platforms etc made to the office of HH Dalai Lama to help seek a date to talk about this issue and resolve the matter which is always the best way to do. It is more about resolving the issue rather than maintaining our stance and demand for the lifting of the ban. We see so many suffering out there. Old Monks being attack, families no longer talking to each other, netizens get attacks from cyber bullying accounts daily.

    It is really good that videos of our stance are out online and being respective to everyone, the videos produced were not rude but points were shared with an intention to rebuff whatever misplaced perceptions about the Protector like for example; Dorje Shugden being branded as evil spirit, a deity who will cause you to be born in 3 lower realms, shorten the Dalai Lama’s life etc. We are seeing so many out there doing this practice and this is inclusive of Highly respected Lamas and their reincarnations too.

    While i understand this issue includes many other hinged factors be it politics or relations with India and China. The fact that we see HH Dalai Lama has already toned down His stand quite dramatically re relations with China and Dorje Shugden, i am pretty upbeat about the fact the announcement can come real soon. I just hope all of these unnecessary sufferings will come an end very very soon. So many have benefitted from the practice and most are neutrals before this has come forward to give good reviews about how swift the help and all necessary help has been coming for relying on Dorje Shugden.

    Thank you for writing this post, i hope there are more people who will be in touch with this blog and understand the fundamental points of the irrelevant ban and it really really require immediate attention from the Dalai Lama for the benefit of many.

    A short video i found online in a nutshell.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Tik9STHYA

    Dorje Shugden uncle

  83. Lew, Kwan Leng on Jul 28, 2018 at 10:27 am

    To me, the most shocking is the fact that CTA (Central Tibetan Government or the Tibetan Government in Exile) openly discriminate Dorje Shugden practice, and even include it in their resolution. I have not heard any democratic government ever openly discriminate a certain religious practice; and openly generalise Dorje Shugden practitioners as working with China to bring the downfall of Tibet.

    This is also the first time in democratic history that a government openly blame a divine being for their failure. If CTA wants to continue to claim that they are democratic, they will need to upload religious freedom and practice no discrimination against certain religious practice. Otherwise, just throw democratic out of the window and just embrace feudalism just like how they were during the 1950s.

    CTA also has spent so much of the money donated to them to suppress the practice of Dorje Shugden. My question is, why don’t the Tibetans in exile question their democratic government how much money they received, and how did they spend the money. I would really hope CTA can spend their money in building more schools to educate their people rather than spending money in writing books and holding talks to suppress Dorje Shugden.

    If CTA is a real democratic government, the first step they must remove references of Dorje Shugden from their constitution; then they must write memo to all departments to open condemn on the discrimination of Dorje Shugden so that everyone is treated the same.

    1996Resolution

  84. Made in Japan on Jul 28, 2018 at 9:53 am

    So many Tibetans are so angry and frustrated with their exiled communities in India and very angry at their leadership in Dharamsala. But dare not speak out as it would appear to be an attack on Dalai Lama. No one wants to attack the Dalai Lama but there are so many wrongs in the exiled communities. That is why so many Tibetans are leaving for the west where they eventually lose their culture. Being in the west creates a distance with their despised leadership in Dharamsala, North India. Everyone is so tired of all the religious politics. Religion is suppose to bring peace instead more confusion and anger.

  85. Pastor Antoinette Kass on Jul 28, 2018 at 2:05 am

    Nice short video of a new LED signage reminding us of who we can go to for blessings in case of need: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwrkaKUoH0

  86. Yam on Jul 27, 2018 at 8:09 pm

    Really nice, now can be more people can understand who is the Dorje shugden. Thank you

    WhatsApp-Image-2018-07-12-at-00.39.56

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  • Samfoonheei
    Friday, Mar 15. 2024 07:31 PM
    Venerable Ajahn Chah was a Thai Buddhist teacher of the Buddhadhamma and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition. Well respected and loved as a man of great wisdom, he was also instrumental in establishing Theravada Buddhism in the West. Interesting life story, how he chose to leave the settled monastic life and became a wandering ascetic. Walking across Thailand, lived in forests, caves and cremation grounds while learning from the meditation monks of the Forest of various monasteries. He wandered through the countryside in quest of quiet and secluded places for developing meditation. He even lived in tiger and cobra infested jungles, using reflections on death to penetrate to the true meaning of life. After years of wandering, Venerable Ajahn Chah established a monastery where he taught simple, practice-based form of meditation, and attracted a numerous of students including western foreigners. He was one of the greatest Dhamma teachers of the modern era. His wise teachings have continued to guide thousands of people along the path of Dharma. Venerable Ajahn Chah’s teachings of the Thai Forest Tradition gradually spread across all over the world. Several of Ajahn Chah’s Western students have since established monasteries throughout the world. Just in Thailand itself, there are more than 300 branch monasteries in Ajahn Chah’s tradition. Ven erable Ajahn Chah used his ill health as a teaching point, emphasizing that it was a living example of the impermanence of all things and reminded people to endeavour to find a true refuge within themselves. The legacy of Venerable Ajahn Chah’s teachings and legacy continues into the modern age.
    Thank you Rinpoche for this great sharing.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/venerable-ajahn-chah-the-forest-monk.html
  • Samfoonheei
    Friday, Mar 15. 2024 07:30 PM
    Wonderful blog written on the practice of Kalarupa for us to understand better. As an emanation of Manjushri, Kalarupa’s practice helps us to destroy ignorance and to develop wisdom overcoming our anger and suffering . Awesome Kalarupa manifested in multiple forms to help sentient beings who personifies enlightenment by the conquest of anger. Kalarupa also regard as one of the three main Dharma protectors of the Gelugpa is extremely fierce and ugly, and tames all kinds of spiritual ugliness. The fierceness of his iconography teaches us to remind ourselves that all the causes and effects of anger arising from ignorance are dreadful and distorted.
    Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Antionette for this detailed sharing,

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/kalarupa.html
  • Samfoonheei
    Friday, Mar 15. 2024 07:27 PM
    Nepal is a very spiritual country, having a huge Dorje Shugden mural in Kathmandu, is indeed a big achievement for Kechara. Located on Charkhal Road in Dilli Bazaar, the mural can be found midway between our two Dorje Shugden chapels which are in Putalisadak and Chabahil. It is also very close to one of Kathmandu’s largest shopping malls. Many locals , tourist will be able to connect them to a powerful deity that is so closely associated with their culture. Well the mural not only beautiful but also full of symbolism and everyone merely by seeing it is blessed. Thanks to those talented artists and generous sponsors making it a success.
    Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/travel/spectacular-dorje-shugden-mural-in-kathmandu-nepal.html
  • Samfoonheei
    Friday, Mar 15. 2024 07:24 PM
    All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. Letting go helps us to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. A reminder for us all to go of attachment and meditating on impermanence and emptiness. We are to relinquish the domination of our ego and its habits to transform ourselves. A great reminder not to waste our previous life.
    Quoted Ceasing to do evil, Cultivating the good, Purifying the heart .
    Thank you Rinpoche for sharing such a meaningful teachings with folded hands.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/pointing-the-staff-at-the-old-man.html
  • james belich
    Friday, Mar 8. 2024 09:43 PM
    Winning the lottery was part of my dreams, I tried so hard to win big but all to no avail, until I came across Dr Lucas online who made my dreams come through and made me win 10 million dollars. I was a logistics manager who lives in Lancaster, S.C. and works about an hour’s drive away, in Charlotte, N.C., I stopped at a store to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket during my lunch break, because Dr Lucas gave me all the assurance that the numbers are not going to fail after I did all he asked me to do. Dr lucas is a powerful Dr that is on a mission to eradicate poverty from people’s lives and i have confirmed that by winning $10 million with the numbers he provided for me, it is my promise to tell the world about my experience with Dr Lucas and that’s what I’m doing now, you can win the lottery fast with the help of Dr Lucas he is tested and trusted Email: Drlucasspelltemple@gmail. com or WhatsApp +234 904 794 3567 he will help you.
  • james belich
    Friday, Mar 8. 2024 09:42 PM
    Winning the lottery was part of my dreams, I tried so hard to win big but all to no avail, until I came across Dr Lucas online who made my dreams come through and made me win 10 million dollars. I was a logistics manager who lives in Lancaster, S.C. and works about an hour’s drive away, in Charlotte, N.C., I stopped at a store to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket during my lunch break, because Dr Lucas gave me all the assurance that the numbers are not going to fail after I did all he asked me to do. Dr lucas is a powerful Dr that is on a mission to eradicate poverty from people’s lives and i have confirmed that by winning $10 million with the numbers he provided for me, it is my promise to tell the world about my experience with Dr Lucas and that’s what I’m doing now, you can win the lottery fast with the help of Dr Lucas he is tested and trusted Email: Drlucasspelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp +234 904 794 3567 he will help you.
  • lee
    Thursday, Mar 7. 2024 07:06 PM
    We are members of the Buddhist Temple in Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur and we have been issued membership by the president (DATUK YIP KUM FOOK), we are very sad because we are the foundation of this Temple

    Now we can know who is always messing with people, and he always cheats money and women, he even uses Buddhism to find money.

    Also, need to be careful with his brother-in-law (Simon Low Kok Meng) because he is a spy (CID) for DATUK YIP KUM FOOK and we will write some letters to AGONG SULTAN IBRAHIM IBN ALMARHUM SULTAN ISKANDAR as soon as possible.

    From Jesmond Yap, Kepong Baru…Kuala Lumpur
  • Phoenix the Shaman Elder
    Thursday, Mar 7. 2024 01:40 AM
    The matriarchal cultures of the grandmothers have specific symbolism of animism shamanism, such as the horse, especially the blue horse, and the deer. These are two main symbols of a shaman woman and you can find them in many cultural folk lore, especially the Russian, Slavic, Siberian, Nordic, Finland, and Norway. It’s nice to see the Matriarchal Shaman Animism diety represented in Chinese.
  • Samfoonheei
    Monday, Mar 4. 2024 06:59 PM
    An inspiring act of a selfless Lama feeding strays whether its night or day. Truly an example for us all to feed those lonely strays . Yes I do agree compassion starts with feeding strays. Reading this blog again to refresh myself to do more. Strays animals generally lead a life of poor welfare on the street. Feeding strays is a compassionate act.
    Thank you Rinpoche and Anila for this sharing.


    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/one-minute-story/rinpoche-through-my-eyes-compassion-starts-with-feeding-strays
  • Samfoonheei
    Monday, Mar 4. 2024 06:56 PM
    nteresting revisit this blog again as truly inspiring reading over and over again . There’s so many inspiring nuns and female practitioner coming from different back ground, leading a more spiritual life. They are practitioners dedicated their life to religious observance and their path is illuminated by the light of compassion. Going against all odds to become one. Their devotion radiates like a thousand stars in the night sky. Here at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong Pahang we too have inspiring practitioners .
    Thank you Rinpoche for this great sharing.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/inspiring-nuns-and-female-practitioners.html
  • Samfoonheei
    Monday, Mar 4. 2024 06:55 PM
    H E Tsem Rinpoche’s Sungbum project aim to preserve the teachings and practices that have been passed from teacher to disciple in an unbroken line beginning with Lama Tsongkhapa himself . History has taught us the importance of preserving Buddha’s stainless teachings. Its important to preserve and safeguard the Buddhist tradition for future generations.
    Tsem Rinpoche is a clear and effective teacher where his stories and teachings are endlessly entertaining and inspiring. The preservation is very much needed. We are so fortunate given a chance to be involved in such a meritorious project .
    Thank you.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/the-tsem-rinpoche-sungbum-project.html
  • Samfoonheei
    Monday, Mar 4. 2024 06:55 PM
    Demons are disembodied spirits, supernatural being or spirit and unseen beings. We know they do exist and I believe they do. They have no physical form to them whatsoever. Demons do definitely exist. They are intelligent beings who are evil malicious spirits and are all dangerous entities. Valak is not to be summoned capriciously by anyone as they are dangerous beings when we invoke them having to face a heavy consequence. There are spiritual practices that we can ask for help a ritual of the wrathful Manjushri in the form of Trakze. Having a doing the practice daily without fail, consistently, as this Trakze practice has been proven to be efficacious to break the hold the Valak and other spirits. All thanks to our Guru bringing this practice to Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong Malaysia.
    Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing for us to understand better.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/science-mysteries/valak-the-conjuring-2-demon.html
  • Samfoonheei
    Monday, Mar 4. 2024 06:53 PM
    Wow ,reading all these powerful quotes had me realised much better of giving even I have little. May H E Tsem Rinpoche’s sincere advice to reach the far shore of liberation to everyone reading this blog. The most truly generous people are those who give silently without asking any in return. There is no exercise better than reaching and lifting people up. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. Well creating and lighting for others we naturally light our own way. Helping others especially those unfortunate ones, make us feel more positive about our own circumstances.
    Thank you Rinpoche for sharing all these powerful quotes.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/the-power-of-giving-18-quotes-from-tsem-rinpoche.html
  • Aarati Bhatt
    Wednesday, Feb 28. 2024 12:47 AM
    I have tried mine and my friend’s horoscope and it results same in both of our case, and not just that I have tried this on various friends and this horoscope is showing same for maximum date of birth, I think this is a bug.
  • Samfoonheei
    Thursday, Jan 4. 2024 04:11 PM
    Lama Tsongkhapa was an influential Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher and tantric yogi, whose activities led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism . Lama Tsongkhapa was hailed as the second Buddha by contemporary Buddhist masters of his time. Famous for reviving Buddhism in Tibet and revered for elevating the Dharma to all its present glory. Hence having a 12 ft Lama Tsongkhapa Statue at new Kechara Gompa (Prayer Hall) is indeed a blessing. Its truly beautiful. Merely by looking at it is a blessing .
    Thank you Rinpoche and team effort making it possible.

    https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/10-ft-tsongkapa-here.html

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Content: Tsem Rinpoche, Justin Ripley, Pastor Shin Tan, Sarah Yap
Admin: Pastor Loh Seng Piow, Beng Kooi

I must thank my dharma blog team who are great assets to me, Kechara and growth of dharma in this wonderful region. I am honoured and thrilled to work with them. I really am. Maybe I don't say it enough to them, but I am saying it now. I APPRECIATE THESE GUYS VERY MUCH!

Tsem Rinpoche

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The Unknown

The Known and unknown are both feared,
Known is being comfortable and stagnant,
The unknown may be growth and opportunities,
One shall never know if one fears the unknown more than the known.
Who says the unknown would be worse than the known?
But then again, the unknown is sometimes worse than the known. In the end nothing is known unless we endeavour,
So go pursue all the way with the unknown,
because all unknown with familiarity becomes the known.
~Tsem Rinpoche

Photos On The Go

Click on the images to view the bigger version. And scroll down and click on "View All Photos" to view more images.
According to legend, Shambhala is a place where wisdom and love reign, and there is no crime. Doesn\'t this sound like the kind of place all of us would love to live in? https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=204874
4 years ago
According to legend, Shambhala is a place where wisdom and love reign, and there is no crime. Doesn't this sound like the kind of place all of us would love to live in? https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=204874
108 candles and sang (incense) offered at our Wish-Fulfilling Grotto, invoking Dorje Shugden\'s blessings for friends, sponsors and supporters, wonderful!
4 years ago
108 candles and sang (incense) offered at our Wish-Fulfilling Grotto, invoking Dorje Shugden's blessings for friends, sponsors and supporters, wonderful!
Dharmapalas are not exclusive to Tibetan culture and their practice is widespread throughout the Buddhist world - https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=193645
4 years ago
Dharmapalas are not exclusive to Tibetan culture and their practice is widespread throughout the Buddhist world - https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=193645
One of our adorable Kechara Forest Retreat\'s doggies, Tara, happy and safe, and enjoying herself in front of Wisdom Hall which has been decorated for Chinese New Year
4 years ago
One of our adorable Kechara Forest Retreat's doggies, Tara, happy and safe, and enjoying herself in front of Wisdom Hall which has been decorated for Chinese New Year
Fragrant organic Thai basil harvested from our very own Kechara Forest Retreat farm!
4 years ago
Fragrant organic Thai basil harvested from our very own Kechara Forest Retreat farm!
On behalf of our Puja House team, Pastor Tat Ming receives food and drinks from Rinpoche. Rinpoche wanted to make sure the hardworking Puja House team are always taken care of.
4 years ago
On behalf of our Puja House team, Pastor Tat Ming receives food and drinks from Rinpoche. Rinpoche wanted to make sure the hardworking Puja House team are always taken care of.
By the time I heard about Luang Phor Thong, he was already very old, in his late 80s. When I heard about him, I immediately wanted to go and pay my respects to him. - http://bit.ly/LuangPhorThong
4 years ago
By the time I heard about Luang Phor Thong, he was already very old, in his late 80s. When I heard about him, I immediately wanted to go and pay my respects to him. - http://bit.ly/LuangPhorThong
It\'s very nice to see volunteers helping maintain holy sites in Kechara Forest Retreat, it\'s very good for them. Cleaning Buddha statues is a very powerful and effective way of purifying body karma.
4 years ago
It's very nice to see volunteers helping maintain holy sites in Kechara Forest Retreat, it's very good for them. Cleaning Buddha statues is a very powerful and effective way of purifying body karma.
Kechara Forest Retreat is preparing for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. This is our holy Vajra Yogini stupa which is now surrounded by beautiful lanterns organised by our students.
4 years ago
Kechara Forest Retreat is preparing for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. This is our holy Vajra Yogini stupa which is now surrounded by beautiful lanterns organised by our students.
One of the most recent harvests from our Kechara Forest Retreat land. It was grown free of chemicals and pesticides, wonderful!
4 years ago
One of the most recent harvests from our Kechara Forest Retreat land. It was grown free of chemicals and pesticides, wonderful!
Third picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal.
Height: 33ft (10m)
5 years ago
Third picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal. Height: 33ft (10m)
Second picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal.
Height: 33ft (10m)
5 years ago
Second picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal. Height: 33ft (10m)
First picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal.
Height: 33ft (10m)
5 years ago
First picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal. Height: 33ft (10m)
The first title published by Kechara Comics is Karuna Finds A Way. It tells the tale of high-school sweethearts Karuna and Adam who had what some would call the dream life. Everything was going great for them until one day when reality came knocking on their door. Caught in a surprise swindle, this loving family who never harmed anyone found themselves out of luck and down on their fortune. Determined to save her family, Karuna goes all out to find a solution. See what she does- https://bit.ly/2LSKuWo
5 years ago
The first title published by Kechara Comics is Karuna Finds A Way. It tells the tale of high-school sweethearts Karuna and Adam who had what some would call the dream life. Everything was going great for them until one day when reality came knocking on their door. Caught in a surprise swindle, this loving family who never harmed anyone found themselves out of luck and down on their fortune. Determined to save her family, Karuna goes all out to find a solution. See what she does- https://bit.ly/2LSKuWo
Very powerful story! Tibetan Resistance group Chushi Gangdruk reveals how Dalai Lama escaped in 1959- https://bit.ly/2S9VMGX
5 years ago
Very powerful story! Tibetan Resistance group Chushi Gangdruk reveals how Dalai Lama escaped in 1959- https://bit.ly/2S9VMGX
At Kechara Forest Retreat land we have nice fresh spinach growing free of chemicals and pesticides. Yes!
5 years ago
At Kechara Forest Retreat land we have nice fresh spinach growing free of chemicals and pesticides. Yes!
See beautiful pictures of Manjushri Guest House here- https://bit.ly/2WGo0ti
5 years ago
See beautiful pictures of Manjushri Guest House here- https://bit.ly/2WGo0ti
Beginner’s Introduction to Dorje Shugden~Very good overview https://bit.ly/2QQNfYv
5 years ago
Beginner’s Introduction to Dorje Shugden~Very good overview https://bit.ly/2QQNfYv
Fresh eggplants grown on Kechara Forest Retreat\'s land here in Malaysia
5 years ago
Fresh eggplants grown on Kechara Forest Retreat's land here in Malaysia
Most Venerable Uppalavanna – The Chief Female Disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni - She exhibited many supernatural abilities gained from meditation and proved to the world females and males are equal in spirituality- https://bit.ly/31d9Rat
5 years ago
Most Venerable Uppalavanna – The Chief Female Disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni - She exhibited many supernatural abilities gained from meditation and proved to the world females and males are equal in spirituality- https://bit.ly/31d9Rat
Thailand’s ‘Renegade’ Yet Powerful Buddhist Nuns~ https://bit.ly/2Z1C02m
5 years ago
Thailand’s ‘Renegade’ Yet Powerful Buddhist Nuns~ https://bit.ly/2Z1C02m
Mahapajapati Gotami – the first Buddhist nun ordained by Lord Buddha- https://bit.ly/2IjD8ru
5 years ago
Mahapajapati Gotami – the first Buddhist nun ordained by Lord Buddha- https://bit.ly/2IjD8ru
The Largest Buddha Shakyamuni in Russia | 俄罗斯最大的释迦牟尼佛画像- https://bit.ly/2Wpclni
5 years ago
The Largest Buddha Shakyamuni in Russia | 俄罗斯最大的释迦牟尼佛画像- https://bit.ly/2Wpclni
Sacred Vajra Yogini
5 years ago
Sacred Vajra Yogini
Dorje Shugden works & archives - a labour of commitment - https://bit.ly/30Tp2p8
5 years ago
Dorje Shugden works & archives - a labour of commitment - https://bit.ly/30Tp2p8
Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the first nun ordained by Lord Buddha.
5 years ago
Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the first nun ordained by Lord Buddha.
Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the first nun ordained by Lord Buddha. She was his step-mother and aunt. Buddha\'s mother had passed away at his birth so he was raised by Gotami.
5 years ago
Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the first nun ordained by Lord Buddha. She was his step-mother and aunt. Buddha's mother had passed away at his birth so he was raised by Gotami.
Another nun disciple of Lord Buddha\'s. She had achieved great spiritual abilities and high attainments. She would be a proper object of refuge. This image of the eminent bhikkhuni (nun) disciple of the Buddha, Uppalavanna Theri.
5 years ago
Another nun disciple of Lord Buddha's. She had achieved great spiritual abilities and high attainments. She would be a proper object of refuge. This image of the eminent bhikkhuni (nun) disciple of the Buddha, Uppalavanna Theri.
Wandering Ascetic Painting by Nirdesha Munasinghe
5 years ago
Wandering Ascetic Painting by Nirdesha Munasinghe
High Sri Lankan monks visit Kechara to bless our land, temple, Buddha and Dorje Shugden images. They were very kind-see pictures- https://bit.ly/2HQie2M
5 years ago
High Sri Lankan monks visit Kechara to bless our land, temple, Buddha and Dorje Shugden images. They were very kind-see pictures- https://bit.ly/2HQie2M
This is pretty amazing!

First Sri Lankan Buddhist temple opened in Dubai!!!
5 years ago
This is pretty amazing! First Sri Lankan Buddhist temple opened in Dubai!!!
My Dharma boy (left) and Oser girl loves to laze around on the veranda in the mornings. They enjoy all the trees, grass and relaxing under the hot sun. Sunbathing is a favorite daily activity. I care about these two doggies of mine very much and I enjoy seeing them happy. They are with me always. Tsem Rinpoche

Always be kind to animals and eat vegetarian- https://bit.ly/2Psp8h2
5 years ago
My Dharma boy (left) and Oser girl loves to laze around on the veranda in the mornings. They enjoy all the trees, grass and relaxing under the hot sun. Sunbathing is a favorite daily activity. I care about these two doggies of mine very much and I enjoy seeing them happy. They are with me always. Tsem Rinpoche Always be kind to animals and eat vegetarian- https://bit.ly/2Psp8h2
After you left me Mumu, I was alone. I have no family or kin. You were my family. I can\'t stop thinking of you and I can\'t forget you. My bond and connection with you is so strong. I wish you were by my side. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
After you left me Mumu, I was alone. I have no family or kin. You were my family. I can't stop thinking of you and I can't forget you. My bond and connection with you is so strong. I wish you were by my side. Tsem Rinpoche
This story is a life-changer. Learn about the incredible Forest Man of India | 印度“森林之子”- https://bit.ly/2Eh4vRS
5 years ago
This story is a life-changer. Learn about the incredible Forest Man of India | 印度“森林之子”- https://bit.ly/2Eh4vRS
Part 2-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4
5 years ago
Part 2-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4
Part 1-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4
5 years ago
Part 1-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4
The great Protector Manjushri Dorje Shugden depicted in the beautiful Mongolian style. To download a high resolution file: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
5 years ago
The great Protector Manjushri Dorje Shugden depicted in the beautiful Mongolian style. To download a high resolution file: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
The Mystical land of Shambhala is finally ready for everyone to feast their eyes and be blessed. A beautiful post with information, art work, history, spirituality and a beautiful book composed by His Holiness the 6th Panchen Rinpoche. ~ https://bit.ly/309MHBi
5 years ago
The Mystical land of Shambhala is finally ready for everyone to feast their eyes and be blessed. A beautiful post with information, art work, history, spirituality and a beautiful book composed by His Holiness the 6th Panchen Rinpoche. ~ https://bit.ly/309MHBi
Beautiful pictures of the huge Buddha in Longkou Nanshan- https://bit.ly/2LsBxVb
5 years ago
Beautiful pictures of the huge Buddha in Longkou Nanshan- https://bit.ly/2LsBxVb
The reason-Very interesting thought- https://bit.ly/2V7VT5r
5 years ago
The reason-Very interesting thought- https://bit.ly/2V7VT5r
NEW Bigfoot cafe in Malaysia! Food is delicious!- https://bit.ly/2VxdGau
5 years ago
NEW Bigfoot cafe in Malaysia! Food is delicious!- https://bit.ly/2VxdGau
DON\'T MISS THIS!~How brave Bonnie survived by living with a herd of deer~ https://bit.ly/2Lre2eY
5 years ago
DON'T MISS THIS!~How brave Bonnie survived by living with a herd of deer~ https://bit.ly/2Lre2eY
Global Superpower China Will Cut Meat Consumption by 50%! Very interesting, find out more- https://bit.ly/2V1sJFh
5 years ago
Global Superpower China Will Cut Meat Consumption by 50%! Very interesting, find out more- https://bit.ly/2V1sJFh
You can download this beautiful Egyptian style Dorje Shugden Free- https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
5 years ago
You can download this beautiful Egyptian style Dorje Shugden Free- https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
Beautiful high file for print of Lord Manjushri. May you be blessed- https://bit.ly/2V8mwZe
5 years ago
Beautiful high file for print of Lord Manjushri. May you be blessed- https://bit.ly/2V8mwZe
Mongolian (Oymiakon) Shaman in Siberia, Russia. That is his real outfit he wears. Very unique. TR
5 years ago
Mongolian (Oymiakon) Shaman in Siberia, Russia. That is his real outfit he wears. Very unique. TR
Find one of the most beautiful temples in the world in Nara, Japan. It is the 1,267 year old Todai-ji temple that houses a 15 meter Buddha Vairocana statue who is a cosmic and timeless Buddha. Emperor Shomu who sponsored this beautiful temple eventually abdicated and ordained as a Buddhist monk. Very interesting history and story. One of the places everyone should visit- https://bit.ly/2VgsHhK
5 years ago
Find one of the most beautiful temples in the world in Nara, Japan. It is the 1,267 year old Todai-ji temple that houses a 15 meter Buddha Vairocana statue who is a cosmic and timeless Buddha. Emperor Shomu who sponsored this beautiful temple eventually abdicated and ordained as a Buddhist monk. Very interesting history and story. One of the places everyone should visit- https://bit.ly/2VgsHhK
Manjusri Kumara (bodhisattva of wisdom), India, Pala dynesty, 9th century, stone, Honolulu Academy of Arts
5 years ago
Manjusri Kumara (bodhisattva of wisdom), India, Pala dynesty, 9th century, stone, Honolulu Academy of Arts
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  • Join Tsem Rinpoche in prayer for H.H. Dalai Lama’s long life~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYy7JcveikU&feature=youtu.be
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    5 years ago
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    5 years ago
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Just post your name and your question below and one of our pastors will provide you with an answer.

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CHAT PICTURES

And here's Mr Wong of KSK Ipoh who dropped by to pray and offered some donation to the Chapel. Kechara Penang Study Group. Pic by Siew Hong & uploaded by Jacinta.
2 days ago
And here's Mr Wong of KSK Ipoh who dropped by to pray and offered some donation to the Chapel. Kechara Penang Study Group. Pic by Siew Hong & uploaded by Jacinta.
Today's puja (16/3/2024) ended around 420pm, Jacinta was the umze of the day. Pic by Siew Hong. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
2 days ago
Today's puja (16/3/2024) ended around 420pm, Jacinta was the umze of the day. Pic by Siew Hong. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
Group photo taken after the last session, sealed with King of Prayers. Come and join us next time! Sayonara - 9-10th March 2024 - Kechara Penang DS Retreat by Jacinta.
6 days ago
Group photo taken after the last session, sealed with King of Prayers. Come and join us next time! Sayonara - 9-10th March 2024 - Kechara Penang DS Retreat by Jacinta.
Abundance altar! Fruits, flowers, Mee Koo (traditional Penang buns), Bee Hoon, sourdoughs and snacks are some of the offerings to Rinpoche, Buddhas & Bodhisattvas. Kechara Penang Dorje Shugden Retreat 9-10th March, 2024 by Jacinta.
7 days ago
Abundance altar! Fruits, flowers, Mee Koo (traditional Penang buns), Bee Hoon, sourdoughs and snacks are some of the offerings to Rinpoche, Buddhas & Bodhisattvas. Kechara Penang Dorje Shugden Retreat 9-10th March, 2024 by Jacinta.
Siew Hong, one of retreatants and an active member of Kechara Penang group proudly presented her torma to be used during the Kalarupa puja. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
7 days ago
Siew Hong, one of retreatants and an active member of Kechara Penang group proudly presented her torma to be used during the Kalarupa puja. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
Torma making was taught by Pastor Seng Piow and held one day before the retreat. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
7 days ago
Torma making was taught by Pastor Seng Piow and held one day before the retreat. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
Penang Dorje Shugden Retreat cum Puja, 9-10th March 2024 led by Pastor Seng Piow with 12 retreatants. Uploaded by Jacinta
7 days ago
Penang Dorje Shugden Retreat cum Puja, 9-10th March 2024 led by Pastor Seng Piow with 12 retreatants. Uploaded by Jacinta
The celebration ended with a Dorje Shugden puja, dedicated to all the sponsors, our loved ones and as well as for the happiness & good health for all sentient beings. May Rinpoche return swiftly too and taking this opportunity wishing all Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai from all of us, Kechara Penang Study Group. Uploaded by Jacinta.
1 month ago
The celebration ended with a Dorje Shugden puja, dedicated to all the sponsors, our loved ones and as well as for the happiness & good health for all sentient beings. May Rinpoche return swiftly too and taking this opportunity wishing all Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai from all of us, Kechara Penang Study Group. Uploaded by Jacinta.
Seen here, Pastor Seng Piow set off firecrackers - welcoming of the upcoming year with enthusiasm and positive energy. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
1 month ago
Seen here, Pastor Seng Piow set off firecrackers - welcoming of the upcoming year with enthusiasm and positive energy. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
In this pic, Pastor Seng Piow is sharing Dharma with newbies ~ Sharyn's friends. It's always good to make light offerings at the beginning of new year. By making light offerings, you are able to dispel the darkness of ignorance and achieve wisdom. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
1 month ago
In this pic, Pastor Seng Piow is sharing Dharma with newbies ~ Sharyn's friends. It's always good to make light offerings at the beginning of new year. By making light offerings, you are able to dispel the darkness of ignorance and achieve wisdom. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
One the day of Losar (new lunar year), it is always beneficial for Buddhist practitioners to get together in making abundant offerings to Buddhas on the altar to usher in goodness, prosperity and well-being of our loved ones. It's more auspicious this year as Losar and the Chinese New Year begin on the same date, 10th Feb, 2024. Back in Penang, our Kechara members came together to decorate the altar with abundance offerings for Dorje Shugden puja @3pm. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
1 month ago
One the day of Losar (new lunar year), it is always beneficial for Buddhist practitioners to get together in making abundant offerings to Buddhas on the altar to usher in goodness, prosperity and well-being of our loved ones. It's more auspicious this year as Losar and the Chinese New Year begin on the same date, 10th Feb, 2024. Back in Penang, our Kechara members came together to decorate the altar with abundance offerings for Dorje Shugden puja @3pm. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
Mr. Dared Lim was offering water bowls on behalf of Kechara Ipoh Study Group. (Kin Hoe)
1 month ago
Mr. Dared Lim was offering water bowls on behalf of Kechara Ipoh Study Group. (Kin Hoe)
Jun from Ipoh was offering mandarin oranges to Mother Tara and The Three Jewels. (Kin Hoe)
1 month ago
Jun from Ipoh was offering mandarin oranges to Mother Tara and The Three Jewels. (Kin Hoe)
Prior to our puja in Ipoh, Mr. & Mrs. Cheah Fook Wan were preparing for the offerings to the Buddhas. (Kin Hoe)
1 month ago
Prior to our puja in Ipoh, Mr. & Mrs. Cheah Fook Wan were preparing for the offerings to the Buddhas. (Kin Hoe)
On Sunday afternoon, Kechara Ipoh Study Group has carried out Mother Tara prayer recitations in Ipoh. (Kin Hoe)
1 month ago
On Sunday afternoon, Kechara Ipoh Study Group has carried out Mother Tara prayer recitations in Ipoh. (Kin Hoe)
Some of the best shots taken during Thaipusam in Penang. Swee Bee, Huey, Tang KS, Nathan, Choong SH and Jacinta volunteered. Wai Meng came all the way from KL to help out. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
2 months ago
Some of the best shots taken during Thaipusam in Penang. Swee Bee, Huey, Tang KS, Nathan, Choong SH and Jacinta volunteered. Wai Meng came all the way from KL to help out. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
Simple yet powerful ally ~ Bhagawan Dorje Shuden. Kechara Penang Study Group consists of Chien Seong, Hue, Choong SH, Tang KS, Swee Bee and Jacinta. Wai Meng came all the way from KL to help out. Uploaded by Jacinta.
2 months ago
Simple yet powerful ally ~ Bhagawan Dorje Shuden. Kechara Penang Study Group consists of Chien Seong, Hue, Choong SH, Tang KS, Swee Bee and Jacinta. Wai Meng came all the way from KL to help out. Uploaded by Jacinta.
Thaipusam in Penang. Some of the best shots. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
2 months ago
Thaipusam in Penang. Some of the best shots. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
Nothing beats having a sacred audience with our lineage lamas. It's not selfie or wefie, but we have the best 'groufie'!!! 20th Jan 2024, Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
2 months ago
Nothing beats having a sacred audience with our lineage lamas. It's not selfie or wefie, but we have the best 'groufie'!!! 20th Jan 2024, Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
Welcoming our lineage Gurus to our Penang Chapel today! Pastor Seng Piow explained the significance of having Guru Tree and introduced to us our lineage lamas, Buddhas, deities, protectors and etc.
2 months ago
Welcoming our lineage Gurus to our Penang Chapel today! Pastor Seng Piow explained the significance of having Guru Tree and introduced to us our lineage lamas, Buddhas, deities, protectors and etc.
Umze for the day was Siew Hong. She's just been with us for slightly more than a year now but she's proven her capability in leading the puja. Our Penang group members are so proud of her and her commitment in attending the weekly puja. Despite being eloquence and smart, she has beautiful chant as well. When she leads, make sure you are there to hear her chant for yourself! Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
2 months ago
Umze for the day was Siew Hong. She's just been with us for slightly more than a year now but she's proven her capability in leading the puja. Our Penang group members are so proud of her and her commitment in attending the weekly puja. Despite being eloquence and smart, she has beautiful chant as well. When she leads, make sure you are there to hear her chant for yourself! Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
Umze for the day was Siew Hong. She's just been with us for slightly more than a year now but she's proven her capability in leading the puja. Our Penang group members are so proud of her and her commitment in attending the weekly puja. Despite being eloquence and smart, she has beautiful chant as well. When she leads, make sure you are there to hear her chant for yourself! Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
2 months ago
Umze for the day was Siew Hong. She's just been with us for slightly more than a year now but she's proven her capability in leading the puja. Our Penang group members are so proud of her and her commitment in attending the weekly puja. Despite being eloquence and smart, she has beautiful chant as well. When she leads, make sure you are there to hear her chant for yourself! Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
Tara Recitation is on now at KISG - Wai Meng
3 months ago
Tara Recitation is on now at KISG - Wai Meng
Photo from Wan Wai Meng
3 months ago
Photo from Wan Wai Meng
A sea of yellow ~usually in Tibetan Buddhism yellow represents growth. We prayed that our Penang group will grow in terms of people, wealth and attainments too. _/\_ Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
3 months ago
A sea of yellow ~usually in Tibetan Buddhism yellow represents growth. We prayed that our Penang group will grow in terms of people, wealth and attainments too. _/_ Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
After Dorje Shugden puja @3pm, we had Rinpoche's Swift Return puja too. We laughed as Sis Swee Bee was commenting that Tang should smile ~ here's the reason why we laughed.  Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta Goh
3 months ago
After Dorje Shugden puja @3pm, we had Rinpoche's Swift Return puja too. We laughed as Sis Swee Bee was commenting that Tang should smile ~ here's the reason why we laughed. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta Goh
3 months ago
Today's (9/12/2023)Dorje Shugden puja led by Gordon. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
3 months ago
Today's (9/12/2023)Dorje Shugden puja led by Gordon. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
3 months ago
3 months ago
Dharma sharing by Hue before we proceeded with DS puja & Rinpoche Swift Return puja. Hue is one of the long time Kechara Penang members and he comes to puja regularly. He shared that he truly believes that Dorje Shugden and Rinpoche always there guiding him. He shared how sometimes DS will give him hints to avert troubles ahead or to alert him when he 'misbehaved'. Hope many will come to know more about this powerful Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden aka DS. Having Dorje Shugden is like having a powerful ally that will protect us day and night. Just trust Him and have faith. Kechara Penang Study Group, 25/11/2023 by Jacinta.
4 months ago
Dharma sharing by Hue before we proceeded with DS puja & Rinpoche Swift Return puja. Hue is one of the long time Kechara Penang members and he comes to puja regularly. He shared that he truly believes that Dorje Shugden and Rinpoche always there guiding him. He shared how sometimes DS will give him hints to avert troubles ahead or to alert him when he 'misbehaved'. Hope many will come to know more about this powerful Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden aka DS. Having Dorje Shugden is like having a powerful ally that will protect us day and night. Just trust Him and have faith. Kechara Penang Study Group, 25/11/2023 by Jacinta.
Kechara Penang Study Group had our weekly DS puja , led by our beloved sis Swee Bee and serkym by Mr. Lee. After that, we completed Swift Return puja also. 18th Nov 2023. By Jacinta
4 months ago
Kechara Penang Study Group had our weekly DS puja , led by our beloved sis Swee Bee and serkym by Mr. Lee. After that, we completed Swift Return puja also. 18th Nov 2023. By Jacinta
#Back2back 11th Nov 2023 Dorje Shugden puja & Rinpoche's Swift Return puja @Penang Chapel, 49 Jalan Seang Tek, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang. Every Saturday @3pm/5pm. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
4 months ago
#Back2back 11th Nov 2023 Dorje Shugden puja & Rinpoche's Swift Return puja @Penang Chapel, 49 Jalan Seang Tek, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang. Every Saturday @3pm/5pm. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
Pic: Rinpoche Swift Return puja ~ 21/10/23 Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
5 months ago
Pic: Rinpoche Swift Return puja ~ 21/10/23 Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
#Backtoback A few months back, Kechara Penang Study Group started to have two pujas consecutively on Saturday. Dorje Shugden puja @3pm and thereafter Rinpoche Swift Return puja. This can only be achieved due to the committed members from Penang. A big round of applause...... Pic : DS puja on 21/10/2023 Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
5 months ago
#Backtoback A few months back, Kechara Penang Study Group started to have two pujas consecutively on Saturday. Dorje Shugden puja @3pm and thereafter Rinpoche Swift Return puja. This can only be achieved due to the committed members from Penang. A big round of applause...... Pic : DS puja on 21/10/2023 Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
More pictures of the day! Kechara Penang Chapel & public blessings 3rd Oct 2023 by Jacinta.
5 months ago
More pictures of the day! Kechara Penang Chapel & public blessings 3rd Oct 2023 by Jacinta.
Some pictures of the public blessings taken right after the puja was completed by the monks. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta. 3rd Oct 2023.
5 months ago
Some pictures of the public blessings taken right after the puja was completed by the monks. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta. 3rd Oct 2023.
3rd Oct 2023, Tibetan monks came to Kechara Penang for chapel & public blessing, in conjunction with the arrival of H. E Tsem Rinpoche's holy statue. Thanks to Pastor Henry & Pastor Seng Piow, who guided us throughout the event. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
5 months ago
3rd Oct 2023, Tibetan monks came to Kechara Penang for chapel & public blessing, in conjunction with the arrival of H. E Tsem Rinpoche's holy statue. Thanks to Pastor Henry & Pastor Seng Piow, who guided us throughout the event. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
Tsem Rinpoche's holy statue is here! 3rd Oct 2023. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
5 months ago
Tsem Rinpoche's holy statue is here! 3rd Oct 2023. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
29th Sept 2023. Kechara Penang Dorje Shugden puja adjourned at 4.30pm with 9 attendees. Thereafter, a Rinpoche Swift Return puja was completed too. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
5 months ago
29th Sept 2023. Kechara Penang Dorje Shugden puja adjourned at 4.30pm with 9 attendees. Thereafter, a Rinpoche Swift Return puja was completed too. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
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Dorje Shugden
Click to watch my talk about Dorje Shugden....