Arizona State Rep Will Hold Prayer Rally to Protect Phoenix
Dear friends around the world,
What I like about the USA and many democratic countries around the world is that you have full religious freedom and protected by state and federal governments. The Satanic temple would have scared many ‘religious’ people and churches back in the middle dark ages, but today we live in an age of enlightenment where everyone is entitled to practice whatever religion they prefer or even remain atheist. I find this article interesting because the Satanists have every right to practice in USA where a hundred years back they would have been condemned. USA has come along way. Yes, there are some church groups afraid and want to counter whatever they are afraid of from the Satanists, but the point is, anyone can practice what they like and the church groups are private individuals and not the government.
Within the Tibetan leaders and Exile government (CTA) in India, there is persecution of the Jonangpa sect where they don’t allow representatives from them in the Tibetan parliament in Dharamsala, India. Also no representatives are allowed from the Dorje Shugden sect of Buddhism either. In fact if you are a follower of Dorje Shugden, then you are not allowed to enter any Tibetan schools, hospitals and public sectors. It is strictly barred because of your religion. This is happening today. I am sure this will change one day soon. It has too. There are many intelligent and educated young Tibetans speaking out against this now. I hope this trend continues. Tibetans need to be united and harmonious and not divided by religion. may His Holiness the Dalai Lama bless us that there will be no more religious segregation within the Tibetan communities and may he live long.
No government should condemn any religion, path for faith of their citizens. Citizens should have the choice to choose what suits them. This is true religious freedom and reflective of a mature and advanced governance.
Tsem Rinpoche
To Counter Satanic Invocation, Arizona State Rep. Will Hold Prayer Rally to Protect Phoenix
While the Phoenix City Council in Arizona is deciding whether or not members of The Satanic Temple can deliver an invocation prayer at a meeting on February 17, State Rep. Kelly Townsend isn’t taking any chances.
She’s organizing a prayer rally to counteract whatever damage the Satanists may cause:
State Rep. Kelly Townsend
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton has approved a satanic group request should come and give Opening prayers at the City Council on February 17th of this year. Although they had a First Amendment right to practice their religion, we do not want to bow down as a government to such darkness. For all those who are concerned, come and join us as we pray for a prayer hedge of protection around the City of Phoenix while this is going on.
Forget Donald Trump and his wall on the border of Mexico. Townsend will create a “hedge of protection” around Phoenix! (And I bet she’ll try to get the Satanists to pay for it, too.)
I’m not sure what she needs protection from, given that the Satanic Temple’s “seven fundamental tenets” are about as loving and respectful of people as any religious document you’ll ever read.
But she’s an evangelical Christian. When it comes to groups that oppose her faith, she reacts first and thinks later. If Satan’s name is invoked, it must be a horrible, horrible thing.
Maybe if she actually listened to what they had to say, she’d realize she’s flipping out over nothing.
Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/01/31/to-counter-satanic-invocation-arizona-state-rep-will-hold-prayer-rally-to-protect-phoenix/
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The duality of good and evil, light and dark, righteous and sinful, is played out across the world. Sometimes, when it comes to segregating what is light and what is dark, it ends up harming more than if things are left status quo.
How does she know that prayer she does has protected them and Phoenix?
In this age of democracy and human rights and freedoms, as we look at religions carefully, we will realise that the tenets or dogma of each faith has actually been written or verbalized by a group of founding fathers. For many followers of traditional faiths, the tenets are held by them as carved in stone.
So even though the Satanist group has come to be accepted in democratic America, as a lawful group, nonetheless, there are very orthodox practitioners of certain faiths who have fixed views about words like “Satan” whom they had been taught to equate with the devil. Hence they look with horror at the prospect of this Satanist group delivering an invocation prayer at a meeting. Hence they have decided to hold a prayer rally to counter whatever “damage” the Satanists may cause.
It is a crying shame that they have not been open-minded enough about it as to find out more about this Satanist group. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be calling for a rally to form a hedge of protection ,given that the Satanic Temple’s “seven fundamental tenets” are about as loving and respectful of people as any religious document you’ll ever read!
Similarly, the issue of the practice of Dorje Shugden has been plagued by the same type of narrow-mindedness that disallows the viewing of the Shugden practice as a practice of a compassionate Enlightened Protector, an emanation of Manjushri himself!
I am Satan- I was shown that by Kelsang Gyatos about six years ago. I was horrified.
Now the military, CIA, NSA and other religious groups are murdering me with directed energy weapon, and they have been very victorious. Since I have no recollection of ever being Satan and spent over 16 years studying with Geshe’la and then targeted with what they call gang stalking electronic harassment satellite torched and it’s all them against me my life has been hell. With Geshe Kelsang I thought I would at least make future happiness. I will never see a human life again. Hard to believe but true.
In the context of religious freedom, the Satanists have every right to practice what they believe in, and the Evangelists also have the right to counter with their own prayers, if they think that is what they need and will make them feel better. Well and good, as long as they do not condemn each other for their differences in belief or resort to violence and harm. Religious practice should foster peace and harmony.
When people of one faith demand and force people of a different faith to stop their practice or convert, it is very wrong indeed. It is between man and god or higher being or conscience etc., how can it be forced?
I guess people have fear of the unknown. Just as State Rep. Kelly Townsend who fear Satanist due to her limited knowledge in their practice. All she knows probably would be from the often preached “Satan is the evil, a fallen angel due to his sins”. Without investigation, she jumped on the bandwagon with the “accepted” belief. However, it does show her own level of trust in her practice as she had to publically gather the crowd for prayers to counter the Satanists’ Opening prayers. If she had been confident in God and her religious, then won’t God had protected her and her town?
It is the same the Dalai Lama’s proclaimation of Dorje Shugden being harmful to his life, the Tibetan freedom cause and not allowed into his teachings. CTA and his followers then took up the banner to ban Dorje Shugden’s practice without intelligent investigation. They heaped sufferings on the Shugden practitioners due to their own fear and lack of trust or lack of practice. So now the Dalai Lama said Dorje Shugden is and has never been harmful to his life nor the Tibetan Freedom cause. So who are the ones that stood out so ignorant?? It’s is saying you are so weak in your religious practice that our practicing Dorje Shugden will easily contaminate your minds. Shows you have no confidence in your own practice.
I find that if we had full trust in our Guru, his precious teachings and practices, then we should trust in the power of protection by our religion. This is the confidence that will allow us to accept other religions without bias no matter how different.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article that opened my eyes to the similarity in fears and discriminations within other religions as compared to Tibetan Buddhism.
As plainly shown, everyone has full religious freedom in U.S.A and protected by the State and Federal Government. Even the Satanists in Satanic temple, where eeryone is allowed to practice whatever religion they are entitled to, where a hundred years back they would have been condemned. U.S.A. has indeed come a long way to open the eyes and the minds of the people! Thank you so much Rinpoche, for sharing with us this wonderful post to open up our eyes, both Kecharians and non-kecharians alike, so as to clear off all unwarranted ignorances from our deluded minds. May Rinpoche be blessed with good health and long life to continue turning the wheel of Dharma for all sentient beings. Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.
US government is practising true religious freedom, i am surprised to hear that the Satanic Temple can deliver an invocation prayer on their meeting, and to counter act that, Arizona State Rep. will hold prayer rally. The whole thing sounds very civilised and open minded, there were no physical attack or forceful ban imposed.
Dorje Shugden practitioners should enjoy the same freedom as well. As Dorje Shugden is an emanation of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom, the practice is genuine, following the traditions passed down from High Lama such as Pabongka Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche. As these high lama has great attainment, and are Guru to many others, includes H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama, no one should have any authority to override the lineage that has been passed down, and said what we can or cannot practice.
Religious freedom.should be granted.to have a peaceful ,harmony place to leave .Great to know at least there is someone speaking up… Everyone is entitled to practice whatever religion they prefer. Arizona State Rep did what she thinks is right , she has approved a satanic group request for open prayers and organizing prayers rally to counter Satanic invocation
Practitioners of Dorje Shugden are loving,kind and respectful people who should be given freedom to practice.Dorje Shugden an enlightened Protector,who is an emanation of Manjushri have done more good and benefited many people.
May the ban on Dorje Shugden be lifted soon.
Thanks Rinpoche153 with folded hands.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post.If the Satanic Temple group uses the label ‘satan” merely to show that they are the direct opposite of the Christian faith in that they don’t believe in a god, but in practice, they are “some of the most non-judgemental and loving individuals you have ever met”, and if the Satanic Temple’s “seven fundamental tenets” are about as loving and respectful of people as any religious document you’ll ever read, then there is no reason why they should not be given freedom to practice.They are non-harming and may be kinder and even more loving people than some people in established faiths.
They may sound ‘reactionary” in motivation, and they may disagree with some aspects of practice of other established faiths . However, so long as the genuinely practice kindness and respect others and people of other faiths, and they are non-judgemental and do not criticise or insult others, they should generally be accepted by others.
Freedom of religion should be observed by all countries and governments, unless these governments have strong reasons , with undeniable evidence, to believe that certain religious groups are doing damage or harming others in their actions.
Shugden practitioners, too, practice kindness and respect others and people of other faiths. We do not put others down.Hence there is no reason why we should not be given freedom to practice a practice that has the blessings of a lineage of great Masters , a practice we have received from our teachers to help create conducive conditions and overcome obstaclesfor our main Dharma practice. It is moreover a practice of a Buddha, an enlightened Protector,who is an emanation of Manjushri and who has, out of compassion, helped and benefited greatly those who practice and propitiate Him.
I have known members of the Satanic faith and I can verify that they are some of the most non-judgmental and loving individuals you will ever meet.
Their faith is based on the principal that there is no god above man. They only use the term Satanic as a description of their faith as what they believe is usually in direct opposition of the Christian faith.
I know that State Representative Kelly Townsend is only doing what she feels is right to protect the city and people of Phoenix, and I love her for it.