Quantcast
Channel: Dorje Shugden and Dalai Lama - Spreading Dharma Together
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 580

CTA’s Subtle Discrimination

$
0
0

The Dalai Lama at the Jangchub Lamrim teachings in December 2013

In recent months, after the International Shugden Community (ISC) organized a series of peaceful demonstrations against the Dorje Shugden ban across USA and Europe, the Shugden issue is once again in the limelight and has received extensive media coverage all over the world. While the ISC received much needed attention towards their efforts in lifting this unjust ban, the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) also received their fair share of media attention regarding the Dorje Shugden issue.

When questioned about the existence of such a ban and accusations of discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners, a typical reply from the the Dalai Lama or members of the CTA would be:

No there is no ban, no one is discriminating them (Shugdenpas).

Such blatant lies may be taken at face value by the Dalai Lama-loving faction. However, the discerning reader seeks out the truth behind the matter, and we at DorjeShugden.com bring you recent and current proof of discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners, some of which are instigated on a large scale by none other than the Dalai Lama and his administration.

 

Proof of Discrimination

While the CTA proudly declares that no ban is being imposed, Shugden practitioners living in exile communities beg to differ. Various establishments in the Tibetan refugee settlement of Bylakuppe openly deny entry to Shugden worshipers as a sign of their allegiance and support for the Dalai Lama and CTA.

“Dolgyal Practitioners Not Welcome”

Outside a statue shop in Bylakuppe, Tibetan Camp No. 1

Closeup of the anti-Shugden sign

As if prohibiting Shugden practitioners from patronizing non-Shugden shops wasn’t enough, the CTA found an ingenious way of discriminating against establishments owned by Dorje Shugden practitioners, right under the nose of human rights organisations and international media. During the Dalai Lama’s Jang Chub Lamrim teachings in Sera Monastery which took place in December 2013, participants were instructed only to patronize establishments that displayed the official Jang Chub Lamrim banners, and to avoid entering any premises without it.

No banner, no entry. The Jangchub Lamrim banner became synonymous with pro-Dalai Lama (anti-Shugden) establishments.

Yet, when questioned by international media, the Dalai Lama and CTA blatantly denied the existence of the ban and the discrimination that arose as a result. Instead, the CTA claimed that the very act of denying entry to Shugden practitioners (mind you, based purely on their religious beliefs) was in fact an act of freedom. Clearly, the Tibetan administration values the truth only when convenient, and freedom and human rights are misconstrued to serve their own ill motivation.

 

Kyabje Phabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Day

The Great Gelug Master, Kyabje Phabongka Rinpoche

While the Jangchub Lamrim teachings were in full swing in Sera Monastery, Dorje Shugden practitioners who were banned from attending the Dalai Lama’s teachings celebrated Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Day next door in Serpom Monastery.

The Parinirvana Day of a great master is an extremely significant day in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. For those unfamiliar with Vajrayana Buddhism, Parinirvana is not viewed as a day of death, but is considered to be the day of enlightenment. Great practitioners consider the moment of death to be the best opportunity to gain enlightenment. Thus, Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Day is an auspicious and important celebration for the monks of Serpom Monastery.

We were chanting the mantra Migtsema loudly when a Sera monk came to our monastery to ask what we were doing. So we told him we are celebrating Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana today. Later that day, we found out that the Sera monks too went to get offerings and did a puja to celebrate Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana, it was Dalai Lama’s instruction as Pabongka Rinpoche is also the lineage master of Sera. - A monk from Serpom Monastery

Given that Pabongka Rinpoche is a staunch Dorje Shugden lama (and therefore an enemy of the Tibetan state) why would the Dalai Lama encourage the monks of Sera to celebrate his Parinirvana Day? Conversely, if Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Day is to be celebrated (thus signifying that he has attained enlightenment), then how can his teachings on taking Dorje Shugden as the enlightened protector of the Gelug lineage be wrong?

Thus the Dalai Lama’s advice to Sera monks to celebrate Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Day was met with confusion, especially given that the Dalai Lama had just endorsed the latest anti-Dorje Shugden book during one of the Jangchub Lamrim teachings – a book that completely opposes Pabongka Rinpoche’s teachings. The contradiction must have been too much for the Sera monks and after the teachings, hundreds of newly distributed anti-Shugden books were found piled up in the trash.

Doubts arising against the Dalai Lama’s stance on Dorje Shugden? Sera monks threw away hundreds of anti- Shugden books in the aftermath of the Jangchub Lamrim teachings

Truly, the ban on Dorje Shugden has done nothing but create confusion and harm, even in the monastic environment. Even the simple fact that Sera Monastery’s failed to celebrate Pabongka Rinpoche’s Parinirvana Day until prompted by the Dalai Lama is a clear sign that tradition has fallen by the wayside, and only the sycophantic wish for the Dalai Lama’s approval remains.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 580

Trending Articles