Due to the ban the Dalai Lama has enforced, Dorje Shugden practitioners may not associate with non-Dorje Shugden practitioners in any way, shape or form. A large group of monks wishing to continue their practice of Dorje Shugden, had to separate from Sera Monastery in order to carry out this directive. They have formally started a new monastery called Serpom Norling Monastery nearby. They currently have many qualified Geshes and altogether 500 monks.
The article below was written by Ron Cook.
With the release of the book ‘A Great Deception – The Ruling Lama’s Policies’ many will conclude that the Western Shugden Society is intent on destroying the reputation of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Such a conclusion is both specious reasoning and absurd. This is because the Dalai Lama has completely savaged his own reputation. His innumerable contradictory words and activities are the poison that is solely responsible for any downfall. Like any self-destructive celebrity the Dalai Lama need only look in the mirror to find the source of all his problems.
If one does a little research it is easy to find example after example of conflicting statements coming from the mouth of the Dalai Lama. For example, is the Dalai Lama a religious leader or politician? The Dalai Lama provides his answer: “To be interested in religion you have to be involved in politics.”1 He has also said things like, “Political institutions and religious institutions should be separate; it is safer if they are kept away from each other.”2 Then during the same interview, and only moments later, he contradicts himself by saying “…politics and religion should be combined.”3 How does advocating blending ‘church and state’ foster a good reputation? Historically the combination has only produced intense suffering and injustice. His advocacy is no doubt due to his previous stewardship of Tibet prior to his 1959 exodus. “We are punished for feudalism. Every event is due to one’s karma.”4 This was the Dalai Lama’s response to a question as to why Tibetans had lost both their independence and why they were having no success in regain it. Does he remember who the feudal lord of Tibet was?
Does being on the CIA’s payroll enhance or discredit the reputation of a supposed fully omniscient Buddha of Compassion? Is collecting millions of dollars for a ‘free Tibet’ while at the same time abandoning independence and instead seeking autonomy within China not a contradiction? Why was their no referendum from six million Tibetans? Again, does this enhance or discredit his reputation? Does being a spokesperson for Apple Computers or guest editor of the fashion magazine Vogue, help increase his reputation as a pure spiritual practitioner? How does saying that Shoko Asahara, [leader and convicted murderer of the Japanese AUM Cult] has a ‘mind of a Buddha’ provide him with a credible reputation? Does attending Hollywood parties and staying in the world’s most luxurious hotels accord with the vows and commitments of a ‘simple Buddhist monk?’ Does supporting India’s testing of nuclear weapons an admirable quality of a Nobel Peace Prize recipient? Does saying ‘I am half Marxist, half Buddhist’ win favour with Marxists, Buddhists, or anyone for that matter?
The Dalai Lama said the following at a speech at the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, Dharamsala, May 29, 1991:
“Now, when we try to become a complete democracy, the present election system becomes a bit of a problem. We have used the word ‘secularism’ in our draft charter. Experts interpret this word differently. But in our Charter the word is defined in Tibetan as remey …(it roughly means that the state will not discriminate among different religions). Therefore, if our constitution is based on this principle, it, for all practical purposes, incorporates the essence of all religions, whether we give it the name of religion or not. However, if we use the word religion, we will be narrowing the scope of this constitution. On the contrary, if we use the phrase ‘natural and innate spiritual qualities of human beings,’ it will embrace the whole of humanity.”
In a speech to the Lithuanian Parliament, October 1, 1991 the Dalai Lama said:
“Of course, sometimes religion has been used to create divisions and problems between people. That is very unfortunate and sad because I believe religion should do the opposite: it should develop harmony, compassion and understanding among people. The fact that there are differences should not create conflict. It is useful to have different religions so that people can practice the religion that best fits their mental disposition.”
Apparently such altruism applies to all of humanity except Dorje Shugden practitioners. How does expounding such noble policies like this (and then invoking a systematic persecution and attempted purge of Dorje Shugden adherents from the Tibetan and Buddhist communities around the world), enhance his reputation? Considering the fact that at the time of these speeches he had already been advising his followers not to practice Dorje Shugden for over a decade, makes these words particularly hypocritical.
Writing two autobiographies and consulting on a movie revolving around his early years in Tibet has certainly enhanced his reputation. Unfortunately no authentic Buddhist spiritual leader would ever consider wasting their time fawning about themselves because it directly contradicts Buddha’s teachings on self-centeredness. Similarly, does including on his official website lists of both his honors and awards and all the politicians he has met, indicate anything more than an egotistical proclamation?
The unsavory words and actions of the Dalai Lama are so extensive that the book A Great Deception could not possibly explore them all. It only focuses on some of the most egregious contradictions. Followers of the Dalai Lama may be outraged by what they read but they merely suffer from the self-deception of seeing the emperor’s new clothes. No doubt it is unbearable to entertain the thought that they have been utterly deceived by a master political and spiritual illusionist. No matter what evidence is presented they will likely choose to remain in denial, and apply blind faith. However, they should keep in mind that the Western Shugden Society and others would have no justifiable or corroborated basis for criticism had the Dalai Lama not provided it in overabundance. The undeniable truth is that Dalai Lama destroyed his reputation many years ago.
1 Interview by Paul Vallely, ‘The Independent’ Saturday, 9 December 2000
2 Extract from All You Ever Wanted To Know From His Holiness The Dalai Lama On Happiness, Life, Living, and Much More: Conversations with Rajiv Mehrotra, 23 January, 2010.
3 Ibid.
4 Interview by Johan Hari, ‘The Independent’ 7 June, 2004.
This is a new video that I put together to help spread the truth about the Dalai Lama on the web and promote the Western Shugden Society website.
The Ganden Tripa or Gaden Tripa is regarded as the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. This news about the Ganden Tripa was posted today by a TK on the dorjeshugden.com forum. I’ve edited this post for length and clarity.
“The term of office for the current Ganden Tripa has finished. He has successfully finished his term. He now has the title of His Holiness Ganden Trisur Rinpoche Lungri Namgyal. He primarily resides in France although he has a ladrang in Ganden Shartse, Nepal and Yangthing, Tibet.
Ganden Trisur Rinpoche belongs to the Dokhang Khangtsen house of Ganden Shartse Monastery formerly. He studied and received his Geshe degree in Ganden Shartse and later he became the Ganden Tripa.Ganden Trisur Rinpoche
Ganden Trisur Rinpoche has never journeyed to Ganden Shartse Monastery to swear in or take the oath to forsake Dorje Shugden. In a stunning turn around, he has officially left Gaden Shartse Monastery and joined Shar Gaden Monastery. Ganden Trisur’s assistant was sent to speak with the current Gaden Shartse Abbot about him leaving Shartse Monastery.
Ganden Trisur’s throne in Shartse will remain although he has left the monastery completely. HH Ganden Trisur Rinpoche was a student of Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang.
This eventful move will embarrass the Tibetan Government in exile and also teach them a lesson. Not everyone is afraid of them and there are high ranking lamas who will stand up for what they believe in. With time, more and more monks will defect to Shar Gaden Monastery and remain loyal to their lineage, lamas, and practices.
In Sera, Gaden, Drepung, Tashilungpo, Gyuto and Gyurme Monasteries take a “fake oath”, as they put it, to temporarily quiet down the Tibetan Government in Exile and their unjust/undemocratic persecution of Dorje Shugden devotees.
They stand up in front of the congregation (fearing expulsion from the monastery) and read the words that ’swear’ they abandon Dorje Shugden and will not be associated with Dorje Shugden devotees in any manner. The monks say they just read the words and do not feel anything from their heart. It is pure persecution. Many monks don’t dare to speak out against the Tibetan Government, even though they are opposed to the ban. Ganden Trisur’s recent move will give strength to many who have been persecuted up until now.”
This version a little longer, but I think the additional clips tell the story more clearly. My hopes are that this video will give a glimpse of the truth about the Dalai Lama to people who don’t have time to watch some of the longer documentaries about the controversy.
This is a new video that I put together using clips from various news reports about the Dalai Lama’s ban on Dorje Shugden. I wanted to point out the fact that the Dalai Lama was receiving a human rights award while at the same time engaging in religious persecution against his own people.
Below are some of the best reviews of A Great Deception – The Ruling Lama’s Policies from Amazon.com. The book is now available in the US from the Independent Publishers Group. If you’ve read the book, feel free to post your own review in the comments section below or better yet write your own review on Amazon.com
Review by Michael-James B. Weaver
This book advocates a spiritual solution to a political problem that has plagued Tibetan society for the past 15 years, the Dorje Shugden controversy. Walking in the footsteps of the Buddha, high Lamas should renounce involvement in political affairs. Buddha spoke of his renunciation in this way: “Bodhisattvas should follow my example. I renounced my kingdom and attained complete enlightenment. You must be aware of how close the relationship between renunciation of the world and the eventual attainment of supreme enlightenment is.” Buddha’s father offered to abdicate the throne in favor of his son’s rule, to which Buddha replied, “Father, I am no longer the son of one family, one clan, or even one country. My family is now all beings, my home is the Earth, and my position is that of a monk who depends on the generosity of others. I have chosen this path, not the path of politics. I believe I can best serve all beings in this way.”
It is readily apparent throughout this book that the Western Shugden Society is *no* fan of Communist China, a “totalitarian regime” that “invaded” Tibet and has now “occupied” it for more than 50 years. Still, primary blame for the “catastrophic decline” of Buddhadharma in Tibet over the past few hundred years, which ultimately precipitated the loss of the country to the Chinese, rests solely on the unholy mixing of religion and politics which the book calls ‘Lama Policy’. The current Dalai Lama’s political ambition to become the unprecedented spiritual head of all Tibetan Buddhists, his unfailing adulation of Mao, and his fascination with ‘half-Buddhist, half-Marxist’ communism (seriously retarding his exile government’s democratization) are all given heavy treatment in the book. Many Tibetans feel personally betrayed by the Dalai Lama, who unilaterally handed over the cause of Tibetan independence to the Chinese as early as the 1980s, without consulting either the Tibetan parliament or his people. Once Tibetan nationals started to realize that their hopes for a ‘Free Tibet’ had been ruined, the Dalai Lama’s scapegoating of Dorje Shugden practitioners began… and for the past 15 years this clintonesque misdirection has worked amazingly well, albeit to the detriment of the Tibetan exile community’s internal trust, peace, and harmony.
The book puts forth a most intriguing thesis, which is touched on throughout various chapters as it retraces the history of the Dalai Lamas; the implications will be earth-shattering for many Tibetan Buddhists, yet liberating for many others including myself. That is, “a great deception” has been perpetrated since the death of the Fourth Dalai Lama, in that no one who has carried this title since–from the Fifth to the current Fourteenth–has actually fulfilled the First Dalai Lama’s promise to his root Guru, Je Tsongkhapa, who was the founder of the Gelugpa tradition: “From now until I attain enlightenment I shall seek no refuge other than you… I pray that, with my mind free from the influence of attachment and hatred, I may strive to maintain your doctrine and cause it to flourish without ever giving up this endeavor” (translation in the book Heart Jewel by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso). The first four Dalai Lamas are presented as pious, holy men who lived “exemplary lives of pure moral discipline and spiritual practice,” and so there is no doubt about their authenticity.
In sharp contrast, the so-called Fifth Dalai Lama’s military escapades (including sectarian suppression of the Jonang, Kagyu, and Bön traditions), political intrigues (including the assassination of his spiritual ‘rival’, Dragpa Gyaltsen), and abhorrence of his root Guru the Panchen Lama call into doubt whether he was really the reincarnation of the Fourth Dalai Lama at all. Rather, “Many Gelugpa lamas believe that Dragpa Gyaltsen, and not Losang Gyatso, was the actual incarnation of the Fourth Dalai Lama and that when Dragpa Gyaltsen died he became a Protector of Je Tsongkhapa’s Ganden tradition” (i.e., he manifested as Dorje Shugden). Indeed, it would be interesting to know how pervasive this interpretation is amongst contemporary Shugden Lamas, because it helps to explain so much, for example, why the earliest rituals to Dorje Shugden identified him as an emanation of Avalokiteshvara (see the Dorje Shugden History website), and why it is that the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Dalai Lamas weren’t particularly noteworthy, to say the least.
The book is a damning account of the Fifth, Thirteenth, and current Dalai Lamas’ theocracies and their failures as political and spiritual leaders. And, although the book is heavily sourced, it is intended merely as a starting point for journalists and scholars to dig even deeper. In a sense, exposing the Dalai Lama’s “open secrets” to the world in this way is like giving us permission to look past the facade and not feel blasphemous for doing so: the authors invite the world again and again to scrutinize the Dalai Lama’s actions just as they would any politician, and not be mesmerized by the celebrity of this ’simple Buddhist monk’. For these Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama can no longer hide behind the mask of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, for his actions simply do not merit it: even the current Dalai Lama’s militant campaigns, political intrigues, and abhorrence of his root Guru (whom he never acknowledges) are laid bare, a haunting replay of the Great Fifth’s samsaric life.
Nevermind the fact the Dalai Lama has never had the ecclesiastical authority to ban prayers to Dorje Shugden, what this book makes transparent is that neither does he have the *moral* authority. Of course, the Dalai Lama’s Buddhist teachings and lectures are spectacular, which is a testament more to the wisdom and kindness of his unsung Spiritual Guide, Trijang Rinpoche, a Dorje Shugden practitioner who arguably was the greatest Tibetan Buddhist master of his generation. The Dalai Lama often says that we have to choose between himself or Dorje Shugden, which in effect amounts to choosing either the Dalai Lama or the late Trijang Rinpoche; for many Shugden practitioners this has been a difficult but clear choice, and this book makes it crystal clear.
Review by Aaron Pearson
What a fantastic read. I couldn’t put this book down. Once you get past the first couple of chapters, which makes some quite strong accusations against the Dalai Lama and his `religious ban’ on a group of Buddhists, the book starts to unravel the background behind these claims – and there’s a lot of information to back them up. The book has almost 400 references to various resources so it does seem pretty credible after all.
The book gives a lot of interesting facts about the previous Dalai Lamas, a lot of which I didn’t know about. Particularly interesting was the chapter on the present Dalai Lama, with new information about his escape from Tibet, about his dealings with the CIA, and other things like the fact that members of his family are part of his Government – it’s quite an eye-opener.
The main point of the book is to put pressure on the Dalai Lama to stop his ban against Buddhists who follow a deity called Dorje Shugden. I understand that he claims there is no ban, but when I looked into some of the references in the book I found some video footage of the Dalai Lama referring to the ban as `his’ – see the Western Shugden Society website, under ‘videos’. On the same website I also found some footage from a TV News Channel of a Buddhist monk being refused entry to a local shop because he is a follower of Dorje Shugden. With all these claims I read saying that there is no ban, this type of evidence seems pretty hard to ignore. It seems like a pretty clear cut case of religious discrimination when you can’t even go into a shop and buy some groceries because of your religious beliefs!
What I came away with was a feeling that the image of the Dalai Lama I had previously was a bit superficial. I knew he’d won the Nobel Peace Prize, that he is the head of the Tibetan Government etc. and on that basis I had him down as a good guy, fighting for World Peace, but I now realise I didn’t really have anything to back this up with. This book takes things to a whole new level. There are pictures of him shaking hands with Chairman Mao, with ex-Nazi SS soldiers, with the Aum Cult leader (responsible for the Japanese train gassing) and more. Now I’m not saying I think he’s a Nazi, but when you put all of this together, my image of him being a ‘holy man’ is now looking a bit dubious. Well, that’s my take on it anyway.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of controversy and to anyone who is interested in finding out about the Dalai Lama’s background – everything other than what he would want you to know of course. And to anyone who won’t read the book because they don’t feel comfortable that the ‘holy’ Dalai Lama is finally being brought into disrepute, if this information is true, you might want to think about the suffering of the Buddhists in Tibet who are being discriminated against – if we continue to turn a blind eye to these types of reports, then maybe no one will ever find out the truth behind these claims?
Review by C. Poulengeris
I read this book really carefully and I think it is excellent. For a long time Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama) has been doing whatever he likes with very little scrutiny from Western observers. Anyone who should dare to criticise the Dalai Lama is usually just attacked. Far better to investigate the complaints to see if they hold water. In this book the Dalai Lama’s most serious failings are exposed. It is a little bit like the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.
In any case, I would recommend this book because it is very well researched with a lot of documentary evidence. It has cast iron evidence of
1. His links to the CIA
2. His shady, shady finances. This guy has received hundreds of millions of dollars over the years for “Tibetan Independence”. Everyone knows that the Dalai Lama (against the wishes of many Tibetans themselves) gave up on Tibetan Independence years ago. What has happened to the money. It certainly hasn’t been used for the benefit of alleviating poverty amongst Tibetans!
3. How he is attempting to divide and weaken the Gelugpas (by attacking the worship of a popular deity called Dorje Shugden) so that they will then join his “Rime” (Ecunemical) movement. (The Rime movement by the way never existed until recent times, invented by, yes the 14th Dala Lama)
4. His utter failure to do anything whatsoever either for Tibet or for Tibetans in general (above and beyond some serious nepotism regarding his close family)
5. His disrespect for his own Spiritual Guide (His Holiness Trijang Dorjechang). There is documentary evidence where he says that HH Trijang Dorjechang was wrong to worship Dorje Shugen. According to Mahayana Buddhism ANYONE who directly criticises their own Spiritual Guide is creating heavy negative karma.
It is, I believe, very well researched and accurate.
Anyone who may find it hard to believe that the Dalai Lama is fallible should read this book. It exposes the Dalai Lama’s failings. As Abraham Lincoln said: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
An excellent book.
aboutwss.org – The Dalai Lama is the most famous Buddhist teacher alive – but what is the caliber of his talks? Is he the real deal – an authentic Buddhist master – or just a showman in robes? Watch this Dalai Lama talk and decide for yourself.
Today, I came across Grant Lawrence’s blog and discovered that he has been occasionally writing about the Dalai Lama’s hypocrisy for several years. Grant Lawrence works as a school counselor and mental health counselor in Gallup New Mexico. I’ve posted a couple excerpts from his articles below.
The Dalai Lama: A good showman but an empty robe
Audience member: “Can you give us an example of a leader we should look up to as a positive influence?”
Dalai Lama (after thinking for a few seconds): “President Bush. I met him personally and liked him very much. He was honest and straightforward, and that is very important. I may not have agreed with all his policies, but I thought he was very honest and a very good leader.”
The Dalai Lama has been shown to be something of a showman and a likely CIA stooge. He has previously gone on record supporting “just” wars like the one in Iraq and the War on Terror.
Unfortunately the Dalai Lama has put his own cause above the cause of humanity. The Dalai gets a great deal of US support (likely financial) for his continued discrediting of the Chinese government on the issues of Tibet. In 2007, Bush presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Medal of Freedom for his support of US policies around the world.
The people of Tibet and their treatment are an important issue. However, the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and all of those countries suffering under the policies of Global Empire (globalisation) are no less important. …
The Dalai professes compassion and care for all beings but doesn’t care for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. He promotes the idea of just wars and that the US occupations of those countries are good and decent. He also has a special fondness for the war criminal Bush.
The Dalai Lama’s connections to the CIA should be known. He was saved and paid by the CIA after leaving Tibet.
The Dalai Lama has morphed into a type of New Age Televangelist for American Empire.
He’s all show. But when it comes to delivering the goods of real compassion and moral courage he’s too busy putting on that show. I believe it is no accident that the Dalai finds such adulation here in the West and he has a history of support from the CIA. …
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