Mr. Lukar Jam
Mr Lukar Jam
Click on the image to read Mr Lukar Jam's statement regarding the Dorje Shugden issue. Thank you for speaking up and thank you for having the courage to want to set this right. Source: http://lukar2016.com/manifesto/
Regarding Mr. Lukar Jam
I am not very interested in politics especially Tibetan politics but this is connected to something spiritually important to millions and myself. Mr Lukar Jam is a Sikyong (Prime Minister of exiled Tibetan people) candidate. He is not a Dorje Shugden practitioner nor religious nor does he ascribe to a religion although he is Tibetan born in Tibet, but he can see religious conflicts arising that are not necessary and create horrible sentiments and segregation. He wishes very much to resolve the religious conflict created by the current Tibetan government in exile regarding the Dorje Shugden issue. So few among the Tibetans dare speak up about resolving the Dorje Shugden issue. I am glad Mr Jam is opening the doors to this because we all want harmony.
The ban against Dorje Shugden has created many conflicts, disharmony, pain, segregation, prejudice, violence and hatred towards people who choose Dorje Shugden as a worship. People say you have the freedom to practise Dorje Shugden but if that is the case then why are Shugden people spat upon and hated? Because they are goaded on by Tibetan government in exile (CTA), even in their websites. Tibetan government in exile prints/publishes all types of negative propaganda against Shugden, yet they say you have the right to practice. No government in power or exile should dictate any religion to their people. They should not encourage nor discourage any religion or faith and should give FULL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. This is a mark of democracy which Tibetans in general are coming to grips with.
Many Tibetans who are progressive can see this but many dare not speak out or they will be labeled anti-Dalai Lama which is similar to reputational suicide. Within the Tibetan society which is very archaic and not democratic, to have divergent views from H.H. the Dalai Lama immediately means you are against the Dalai Lama. As unfitting as that sounds, it is true. I respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama and love him but my views are different. This does not mean I am against him or have any ill-will towards him, but it is sacrilegious to do so within the Tibetan society. No Tibetan can have a view different from the Dalai Lama on any issue especially spiritual or they will be segregated, threatened, ostracized and penalized. All your rights as a Tibetan will be removed and you cannot even vote for a new Sikyong.
The exiled Tibetan constitution is if you practise Dorje Shugden, then you do not need to associate with Tibetans who do not. You should stay away from Tibetan schools, hospitals, government departments and even voting. Yes this is true. You can Google and read for yourself. You are not allowed to join any public events with other Tibetans or the Dalai Lama just because you practise Shugden. Tibetan government in exile encourages the segregation of Dorje Shugden people. Simple, if you practise Dorje Shugden you cannot attend any talk given by the Dalai Lama even if it is not of religious nature. If you practise Dorje Shugden then to keep the ‘samaya’ clean, we don’t attend teachings by the Dalai Lama who does not practise and that is understood. Samaya is ‘spiritual relationship’. But if the Dalai Lama is giving a general public talk, as a Tibetan why am I not allowed to attend? Because I practise Dorje Shugden. That is discrimination against me for my religious belief. Not advice but a full-out ban. As a citizen or person of the Tibetan race, when our ‘leader’ the Dalai Lama gives a speech, why is it I and many of us who practise Shugden cannot attend his public talks? Just because my religious views are different? Just take a moment and think. If the leader of your country gives a speech, you can only attend if you agree with his religious views or you are barred…does that sound right? Does that sound democratic? That is what is happening with the Tibetan people in India and around the world now. It is happening with me. If you practise Dorje Shugden you are barred to participate in anything the Tibetan exiled government hosts or the Dalai Lama’s public talks and hospitals, schools and voting. You cannot even go into some restaurants because of your religious views! The Tibetan government in exile encourages this very much so in their constitution. Google and read.
Mr Lukar Jam also bravely speaks up about the rampant corruption within the Tibetan leaders (CTA) and how this needs to change immediately. I’ve included his thoughts in short on this. You can read further here, copy and paste the link: http://lukar2016.com/manifesto/
Imagine if President Obama said if you are Catholic then you are not allowed to join in any benefits such as citizenship, welfare, voting, schools, medical in the US? He would not last two minutes. But this is happening within the Tibetan society. If this is not happening why would I and so many of us say it is and stand up to make this known, jeopardizing ourselves? Because it is true.
Mr Lukar Jam is very progressive, far reaching in thinking and very fair. That is why he will never be accepted and elected into the position of Sikyong. Because it’s a divergent view and a view different than the CTA’s and especially H.H. the Dalai Lama’s views. But having said that, I think he has made waves with his progressive encompassing religious views. He has other views about China and Tibet/China relations which I don’t agree on, but that does not matter. We can still respect and be friends with people who have views radically different than ours. Why not? I like the fact he can think broadly, full stop. I don’t mind I don’t agree with all his views because everyone is different.
We need more Tibetans like him who are moderate, fair, democratic and really speak their mind intelligently, politely and respectfully. The fact he is not accepted or respected is a reflection of how Tibetan mainstream society is perhaps ‘educated’ so far to not have any divergent views different than the Dalai Lama’s or his government which he controls fully. I wish Tibetans, H.H. Dalai Lama well and long life always. My views are different but my heart is with you as it always has been.
I hope to hear more from this progressive and fair Tibetan man. Good Luck Mr Lukar Jam. You can read what his views are on Dorje Shugden in the picture above.
Tsem Rinpoche
P.S. This is just a sample of the reactions given when I practise Dorje Shugden: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=58841
The Dalai Lama’s website regarding Dorje Shugden: http://www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden
The Central Tibetan Administration’s website regarding Dorje Shugden: http://tibet.net/dolgyal-shugden/
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Tibetan government’s member of parliament Tenpa Yarphel also says it’s time to stop discriminating against Dorje Shugden people. Please click here for more details: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=191497
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1553623764.mp4
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1553623813.mp4
It is very courageous for Mr Lukar Jam to speak freely about the quandary of Tibetan refugee under the command of Dharamsala. The community is deeply segregated in the past 20 years due to the bias and unfair policy imposed by CTA. Many Tibetans suffered but dare not speak up. Mr Lukar Jam spoke about the solemn plight of things where Shugden practitioners are not allowed to join any public events with other Tibetans but also about the rampant corruption by members of CTA. We should show support to people like Mr Lukar Jam for willing to take risk and speak up for greater good.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
It is good to see that Mr Lukar Jam has decided to speak out on behalf of all the Tibetans.
The CTA can go really hard on people who speak up against the ban, that’s why a person like Mr Lukar Jam is special. Why do i say special? Because Mr Lukar Jam puts his fear of prosecution and mistreatment aside, who else in the world would dare to head straight on when there is prosecution and mistreatment to suffer should he fail?
Failure is not something wrong… Failures can teach us something important. Take for example Thomas Edison, he failed more than a thousand times and yet he kept going until he found the answer. Upon his discovery of making a light bulb he quoted: “I have not failed 10000 times, i have just found 10000 ways that don’t work” Thus it is important to keep going and not worry about failure Mr Lukar Jam is a perfect example of the type which never gives up.
I hope that more people will come up with the confidence of Mr Lukar Jam to voice up against the ban.
I have to say, Lukar Jam is very brave to go up against the Tibetan establishment. They have been known to enact violent repercussions against anyone who dares to defy them, and they are most certainly not above a smear campaign.
Although I am not interested in politics, stories about Lukar Jam and the Sikyong elections fills my news feed so I can’t help but glance at some of the stuff. I have seen the names people call him, the images they photoshop of him, the announcements some monasteries about how they are glad to announce his speeches have been cancelled, etc.
Exactly what they do to Dorje Shugden practitioners, to be honest.
If the Tibetan leadership want to progress into the 21st century and they want to make sure their community survives after the passing of His Holiness, then they need to develop genuine democracy. They need leadership programmes that will train people who will be capable of guiding Tibetan society once His Holiness is gone (in a thousand years’ time).
As it is, there is no such programme to train leaders AND no single lama that everyone will listen to. Instead of focusing on the welfare and future of society, everyone is too busy jostling to see what they can squeeze from Western donors. So sadly, the events of the last sixty years demonstrate that the Tibetan leadership are not really interested in the progress of their people. If they were, they wouldn’t waste so much time on suppressing the views and faiths they don’t agree with. Don’t like Dorje Shugden? Suppress it. Don’t like Lukar Jam? Suppress him.
Democracy is about being open-minded, tolerant and accepting of new ideas. And so if cause resembles effect, and the effect is a leadership that continues to suppress everything, then their motivation was never to foster open-mindedness and tolerance to begin with.
Dear Rinpoche,
I think it is really courageous of Mr. Lukar Jam to step up and acknowledge that Shugden issues have been blown out of proportion and it should not be the focus of CTA.
I think he has gone out of convention and may offend some people too by voicing his opinion. But I truly respect him for that. We need more leaders like him.
Valentina
I respect Mr Lukar Jam for his courage to speak up and point out the issues. Tibetan people should be more like Mr Jam and speak up, no one else can save their society other than themselves. I know that it’s not easy because there are some consequences, but I don’t think we should be afraid to tell the truth.
What he mentioned is right, Dorje Shugden is a small issue and why is the Tibetan leadership making it such a big issue? Dorje Shugden is a religion, a belief, a choice. No one is forcing anyone to do His practise nor should anyone try to stop the practitioners from doing the practise. Religion is a choice and all of us should have the rights to choose our own beliefs.
Like what the Central Tibetan Administration claims, if there’s no discrimination nor segregation, then why can’t Dorje Shugden practitioners enter shops, hospitals, schools, restaurants and etc that are government operated? If this is not discrimination then what is it?
Tibetans need more people like Mr Lukar Jam. You can try to garner foreign support but by the end of day it should not be the foreigners or outsiders who stood up for Tibetan affairs, it should be the Tibetan people. Hopefully Mr Lukar will inspire more Tibetans to stand up and speak out.
Taking a non-religious stance allows Mr Lukar to draw attention to the human rights aspect of the Shugden issues that is currently causing dissension among Tibetans.
Of course I would not neccesary agree on all of Mr Lukar’s views. There is no world leader that has policies and views that please and suit everyone. The important point is look at the main aspect of his principles. Mr Lukar sees and acknowledges the religious conflicts that are not necessary and has created horrible sentiments and segregation among Tibetans and bravely speaks up about the rampant corruption within the Tibetan leaders. Tibet definitely needs more people like him who are moderate, fair, democratic and really speak their mind intelligently, politely and respectfully. Generally, the world needs more leaders with these attributes.
Although I do not like politics, I have to applaud Lukar Jam’s statement that “…we cannot have a monolithic view of Shugden worshippers as there are different types of Shugden practitioners. Also there are those who are trying harm the Tibetan cause in the name of loyalty to the Dalai Lama and in the name of fighting the Shugden worshippers”. This is a very good response to the Tibetan Parliament in Exile’s resolution where Dolyal (derogatory name for Dorje Shugden) followers are made criminals just because of their religious belief. How can a “government” make such a sweeping statement and condemn people just because of their religious belief?
In Point 3 of the 17 March 2014 resolution of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (Tibetan Parliament in Exile), it says:
(3) Recognises clearly the actions of Dolgyal followers as a political tool to create discord within the Tibetan community under the influence and deception of monetary gains, and to denigrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama with baseless allegations. The Parliament would like to make it clear that the issue has nothing to do with religious freedom. 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.
What is the proof that ALL Dorje Shugden followers want to denigrate His Holiness and under the influcence and deception of monetary gains? There are many Dorje Shugden lamas and practitioners who made huge impact and contributed to the Tibetan community in exile by building and supporting the monasteries, the poor, building schools/ hospitals, providing spiritual services and many more!
In the pluralistic world today, we respect each other and be friends with people who have views radically different than ours. But that is not the case with the Tibetans and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). They do not allow that. You have to conform to their views and not allowed to have other views. That goes against the purpose of trying to establish a democratic Tibetan government.
Lukar Jam is practising democratic rights with a bold and courageous step, given the current vitiated atmosphere against anyone daring to speak against the view of His Holiness the Dalai Lama or the CTA. Such a candidate can bring to the open the debate and different point of view that has been silenced by the CTA and pave the way for a more forward-thinking Tibetans. Unfortunately, Lukar Jam was not accepted and elected into the position of Sikyong because of this very reason.
Dear Rinpoche ,
Thank you for sharing this post on Mr Lukar Jam. Its is refreshing to see a Tibetan to stand up and disagree with the Dorje Shugden ban openly. The tibetan community is still living in the archaic times. Although Dalai Lama is a prominent leader in Tibet, we should use logic and common sense to analyse any leader’s actions. We should not just take in any mindset or rule that they say without thinking where is it coming from.
The public should know how to think and analyze any situation and not blindly follow their leaders.
Chris
“We can’t have a monolithic view of Shugden worshippers”, says Mr Lukar. This statement shows us that Mr Lukar is an open-minded and progressive thinking politician. Even though he does not practice Shugden, yet his commitment to freedom of religion makes him respect those who do, especially those who quietly practice Shugden and, at the same time, show their respect and faith in the Dalai Lama.
He is deeply aware of the suffering of Shugden practitioners who are being ostracized and persecuted by anti-Shugden Dalai Lama loyalists.He questions these people in their aggression towards Shugden practiitoners; he says they are hurting the Tibetan cause in the name of loyalty to the Dalai Lama.
Mr Lukar wisely calls for a more nuanced and comprehensive policy to tackle this issue.
Mr Lukar should be lauded for his courage to stand up and speak against injustice and for freedom of religion.
一个国家可以和平的建立，主要的原因是这个国家的人民可以和睦相处，共同携手维护自己的家园与国家。
虽然马来西亚不是一个经济很繁荣的国家，但最起码这里的人民还可以在国泰民安之下可以得到宗教信仰自由。比方说这里的最高元首和首相都是回教徒。当有任何大节日或是演讲开放给予大众时，任何人不管你是马来人、华人、印度人，等等与不同的宗教者，都可以一一出席。这是其中一点为何本人会感到非常欣慰与感恩活在马来西亚。如果和西藏相较之下，因为我修持多杰雄登而被拒在门外，我会感到多么的无奈，也可能会觉得，难道这国家不要我了？难道因为不同的宗教信仰，就算我是多么得为人民、社会与国家着想，还是徒劳无功的！
很钦佩 Lukar Jam 先生可以站出来说出他个人对西藏与修持多杰雄登的想法。这是因为他相信，每个人都有言语发表的权利。而我们必须打开心房，张开视野去学习那些符合逻辑与拥有正面思考的知识。不要盲目地只是听从一面的说法。
在此祈愿所有曾经因为宗教信仰问题而伤害他人，不要再继续伤害他人了。反而要记得为其他人着想，利人利己。
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
It is so bravely for Mr. Lukar Jam to speak up on the Dorje Shudgen issue.
May Tibetan has more people like Mr. Lukar Jam, who are open and
accept religious freedom so that Dorje Shudgen ban will be lifted as soon as possible to reduce the suffering of Dorje Shudgen practitioners, and the lineage of Dorje Shudgen can flourish forever.
Thank you
With folded hands
Pee Bee Chong
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this article and reminded us that we should always have an open mind to accept different people’s view.
Some of the points I learned :
1) Everyone has the freedom and choice in choosing their religion. A democractic country cannot stop this right. People should have a freedom to attend any talks even if they do not agree on the points by the speaker.
2) All of us have our own point of view and should not be influence by others who have the power. We should investigate and not follow blindly even if a very respected person have different view from us. Everyone is different and will have different opinion.
3) I respect Mr Lukar for being brave to speak up this view and promote religion fairness in Tibet. Not many people dare to be different especially if it may affect their safety and agaisnt the government.
4) I learn that we should be dedicated and have the courage to continue to fight for our right and voice our view.
5) Some of the laws set by each country are influence by political reason and it is important that we have the correct view to judge it from a religion point which is the right view.
Mr. Lukar is a very brave person to stand up on what he believes even though he does not do the practice.
Religion is very personal and I think Religious Freedom is for everyone. Why said no ban but those who practices Dorje
Shugden are shunned upon and there are segregation between those who practices and those who doesn’t?
It’s time everyone should stand up for their own rights and let the ban be lifted as soon as possible.
Each time when I read that “if you practise Dorje Shugden you cannot attend any talk or teaching given by His Holiness Dalai Lama, it always remind me the Story of Angulimala.
Angulimala had slain 999 victims, however Buddha never give up to him, Buddha did not hesitate to walk the thirty miles to meet him and save him. Why? The one thing that everyone of us has in common is everyone of us can become a Buddha.
I am a Buddhist, I practice what Buddha taught, I follow the “Lamrin Teaching”, and I did not kill anyone, BUT because my protector practice is Dorje Shugden, , I was being banned to attend His Holiness Dalai Lama’s teaching. In another words is you are stopping me to learn Dharma from a great being who can help me towards enlightenment. Doesn’t it this is against Buddha teaching?
Moreover, that is nothing wrong to practice Dorje Shudgen, this practice is more than 350 years and many high lama is also practice and has been reincarnated. So obviously the high lama who practice Dorje Shudgen reincarnation has proven nothing wrong with the practice unless you(those anti Shugden) would like to prove “karma” taught by Buddha is
Wrong.
Thank you Rinpoche for “opening up” our eyes and giving us more knowledge always so we can think bigger, better and understand the whole situation, and from there make our own decisions or conclusion.
Yes Mr. Lukar’s views are quite thought provoking especially for the CTA… and yes not all of Mr.Lukar’s view we can agree with but the ones on the injustice of Shugden practitioners and how the CTA works is certainly refreshing to hear. Indeed Mr. Lukar is quite brave, logical and brutally honest. So much so he is now labelled as anti-Dalai Lama. I guess some people do not want the skeletons in the closet exposed.
I like what Rinpoche said and yes I this should be the way of open minded, progressiveness… “We can still respect and be friends with people who have views radically different than ours. Why not? I like the fact he can think broadly, full stop. I don’t mind I don’t agree with all his views because everyone is different.”
So yeah we respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama and love him but our views are different BUT this doesn’t mean we are against him or wish bad things to happen to him at all. We are in fact merely, actually, following his advice on “religious tolerance” and “compassion for all”.
Rinpoche really gave us a lot of knowledge and insights into how the Tibetan people really think and the how the corrupt CTA works.
Anyone who has a divergent view, opposing to His Holiness is a huge problem and considered sacrilegious in the Tibetan society. They will be labelled anti-Dalai Lama immediately… I believe this is now Mr. Lukar’s nickname, unfortunately. And all this coming from an exile govt that claim Compassion is their religion?
It’s sad to see many who do not know much, especially in the western world, they will continue to be deceived by the CTA. Hopefully more open minded, educated Tibetans will speak up against the injustice, so that truth and peace can prevail once again amongst the exile Tibetans. I think it’s time for a radical change, one that brings peace amongst people not aggression and segregation.
Thank you Mr Lukar Jam for speaking up for the rights & freedom of all Shugden practitioners all around the world. In particularly Shugden practitioners among the Tibetan community, there have been too many suffering for these people & too long. These are also Tibetan people, like any other citizens in a democratic country who should be given the same rights & freedom like every other citizen of the country. Why should they be segregated, separated, deny of all social welfare & services just because their religious belief is different from the leader? This does not sound democratic at all. I wish you well Mr. Lukar Jam, please continue your courages effort to resolve the Shugden’s ban in order to bring peace & harmony to the Tibetan community & all Shugden practitioners.
It is weird that, people fight even in a religion, like this world has not enough sufferings.
Rinpoche and Kecharians are not into politics, we are here to practice mind transformation. Unfortunately Dorje Shugden faith was made into an issue for political interest. This has created a lot of sufferings among Tibetan DS practitioners. The sufferings was since 20 years ago!
No one politician among the Tibetan refugees has said something so neutral and straight to the point before. Finally someone sees that DS ban creates a lot of problems in Tibetan society. The ‘government’ is not being fair, promotion of harmony, respect and tolerant is close to zero. They say they are the follower of HHDL but it is very clear that they are not following what HHDL preach, ie compassion.
I really hope Mr Lukar Jam will win in this election. With his new ideas, new method, new plan for the Tibetans, there might be some good results. If the old one does not work, time to change!
This is good news. Finally someone speaks up and expresses that what happens to Dorje Shugden practitioner is out of proportion.
How can a government behave in such away again his own people?
Only Dorje Shugden practitioners are bad? They can not eat in the same place, be treated by the same doctor and buy there food in the same shop but have to travel far away to buy regular objects and worse have to travel far to find medical care!
Thank you for speaking up on this topic and may the ban be solved swiftly.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Mr Lukar Jam is really exceptional. Not only does he dare to openly “challenge” CTA and Dalai Lama’s stance on Dorje Shugden, but he challenges them in many ways as well.
I do not agree with all his views as well, but it shows the kind of level of thought that Mr Lukar Jam is able to have. It is unbelievable and it shows how advance his thoughts are. We are in the 21st century and it is necessary to have advanced thoughts like that.
When things are fully ruled by one person and no one dares to oppose, at times, the decision that is being made might be wrong. When it is wrong, there will only be more harm then good that is done.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the latest related to Dorje Shugden’s news. Mr. Lukar Jam is definitely very brave to talk his thoughts out, especially on current hot issues of Dorje Shugden. I hopes too, many tibetan will open up their mind and see what have the discrimination brought to them , to the Buddhism. Nothing but confuse. I hopes, many more Tibetan could see the true problems where, Dorje Shugden’s issues have been use as an excuses for the politician to get favor. To reserved the culture of Tibet, to unite the Tibetans is not to discriminate them, but, to solve the problems together. What is good to cast out own people who are already a refugees? What political power to gain?
It is so very refreshing to hear Mr. Lukar Jam’s view on Dorje Shugden worship.
It is the respect that he has for religious freedom that makes Mr. Lukar Jam such a needed leader for the Tibetans in exile. A different way of looking at the world today instead of the old fashioned archaic and feudalistic manner of the Tibetan people.
Sad to think that it is his progressive thinking that will prohibit him being elected as the Sikyong. How do the Tibetans wish to progress without a different leadership.
Mr. Lukar has at last opened the doors for some people in power among the Tibetan community to dare to think otherwise, smartly and find solutions to the many problems that face them. Let the progress continue and have the injustice to Shugden devotees be removed and the Ban be lifted.
The Obama example is a good one! Imagine any leader in the world to ban the people who have different religion and make a war againt them.How the audience in the world will criticise him/ her. And for whoever to win a Nobel Peace prize, it’s hard to relate the person or the organization to any kind of war that hurt people physically or mentally.
Politics are played by relatively a small group of people. But their decisions can influence and change the whole nation. And if their decisions are made with their peronsal agenda/ ego, then the result could be ugly as many innocent will be hurt.
With or without religion, as a leader to a team/ company/country, his/ her people follow the leader with the hope that he/she will bring them a life with happiness and safety, not harm or hatred. Simple as that.
Please don’t hurt the peole who pratise DS as they are not any less than the people who do not practise DS or who do not practise anything!
Christine