Nationality

Regular posting on the forums has shown me that many people just don’t know who Dorje Shugden is. Arising from that ignorance, people on both sides of the issue have a tendency to retreat to base arguments when they find themselves with nothing else to say.

One particular base argument / insult I have faced time and time again is the accusation that I am on someone’s payroll.

From the anti-Dorje Shugden side, the accusation is that I am a Western cultist who is a Chinese spy or Communist sympathist (or some such variant).

From the Dorje Shugden side, the accusation is that I am actually anti-DS because I respect the Dalai Lama, and therefore I am on the TGIE’s payroll.

If I were paid by who both sides say I am paid by, I’d be rolling in riches by now!

It was meant to be a rhetorical question, but someone answered a question I posed on YouTube the other day – I asked why people keep going back to nationality as an insult. They said it’s easier to paint someone as “Chinese” or “Western” or “Tibetan” because it helps them to avoid debate…I should know, I used to do it too, when I attended protests for Tibetan independence insisting that ALL Chinese were evil. They’re not – there are good Chinese and bad Chinese, just like there are good Tibetans and bad Tibetans.

My points:

1. Nationality is impermanent – when you die and you’re reborn, you might not even be human. So why fight for something that ends when you’re dead?
2. Unless someone is a Tulku who is taking rebirth after consideration of where they’ll be reborn, no one has a choice of what nationality they are. So how can someone use that as an insult? It’s like saying “Well, you’re male / female” – I didn’t choose to be male / female, how is that my fault and how is my gender an insult?
3. The assumption that people are incapable of thinking for themselves beyond the conventions of their race / nationality is…perplexing. My passport does not determine my thoughts.

The nationality argument needs to stop because it’s illogical, weak and doesn’t prove anything in relation to the Dorje Shugden issue of whether he is a Buddha or not.

Simply because the Dalai Lama says he’s a spirit, doesn’t make him a spirit.  The Dalai Lama is a non-entity for many people around the world who have never heard of him; why is his word law for a few? How can Dorje Shugden be a spirit after 350 years of practice by high lamas of different Tibetan Buddhist traditions? Were they all wrong?

Similarly, simply because your lama says Dorje Shugden is a Buddha, doesn’t make him a Buddha. Like HHDL is a non-entity for many people who have never had the merit of hearing his name, Dorje Shugden is also a non-entity for many people who have never had the merit of hearing his name. Look at results, and that should give you some idea of the cause and motivation. Has Dorje Shugden helped you? Who does he help? How does he help? When you do not fulfil your sadhana commitments, when you have disappointed him, has he punished you? Or think deeper – if you have problems, is it because of Dorje Shugden or because of your karma?

Look at the lamas who practise him. Ignore your prejudices about them formed by their practice of DS. What do they occupy themselves with? What do they teach? Do the people around them become better practitioners because of their teachings? What do you always see these lamas doing? How many people have they helped?

How many people have YOU helped?

Opinions like “Dalai Lama is bad” and “Dorje Shugden is bad” are just that, opinions. Look at what each person has achieved, and compare it to what you have achieved. Ignore your prejudices and opinions about anyone – it is undeniable that both the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden have helped many many people so maybe each side deserves a little respect.

Why Blogs Suck

I haven’t quite figured out how this works yet, for example changing the synopsis of this blog to something more…relevant to what I’ll be writing about.

Having said that, reading articles like this, I’m beginning to wonder if there’s any use in blogging?

After all, opinions usually don’t change anything other than perhaps promote wrong view or lead people to becoming even more confused (how do you know your view is the right view? How do you know your motivation is the right motivation? How can you judge your own karmic consequences, let alone others?).

After recent experiences on certain forums, I’m beginning to feel debate, rather than getting bogged down in conversations focused on trading personal insults and IP addresses (wow some people have a lot of time on their hands), is the way to go.

That and I’ve seen some other blogs; informative they may be, but also incredibly verbose (my previous post may be a good example of this LOL) and impersonal! Nothing about the author and how their beliefs shape their lives; just analysis, analysis, analysis based on one point-of-view, the author’s own. For newcomers to the issue, a lack of personal experience and a focus on the politics can hamper their acceptance of Dorje Shugden.

Or perhaps this is just my personal distaste for politics speaking. Because I’d  prefer to read about how Dorje Shugden brings benefit to other people’s lives, why his sadhana is so beautiful, how knowing about him has made someone happy. I’d rather read about how to do his practice, what his mandala means, what his accoutrements represent, who is in his entourage. I’d rather skip all the academic diarrhoea because at the end of the day, when his practice is world-famous (and it will be!), the practice is all that will really matter…

That’s not to say I don’t appreciate analysis but there’s always a danger of personal opinion creeping in. So yes, of course, analysis of information is always welcome but I much prefer looking at sites like dorjeshugden.com or dharmaprotector.org because there’s (a) much more clarity as a result of their structure b) the writing style isn’t so emotive or militant…

…simple reporting of the facts, and it leaves you to get on with forming your own opinion; I like that.

CONTEMPLATE THIS…

CONTEMPLATE THIS…Instead of turning away people who practise Dorje Shugden, we should be kind to them. Invite them, teach them, slowly and give them logic and wisdom without fear, then in time they give up the practice assuming it is ‘wrong’. Wouldn’t that be a Buddhistic approach to all ‘wrong-doers’? Actually Dorje Shugden practitioners are not doing anything wrong. But hypothetically, if they are, wouldn’t it be a better and more true to the spirit of Buddhism to be accepting? So those reading this website who have views against Dorje Shugden should contemplate this. Those who are practicing Dorje Shugden should forbear with extreme patience, fortitude and keep your commitments. The time will come as predicted that Dorje Shugden’s practice and it’s terrific quick benefits will be embraced by the world and it will be a practice of many beings.

Many beings who have said or thought negativities against this protector will regret and see the benefits and enlightened nature of Lord Dorje Shugden, King of the manifested deities who resides simultaneously in the Three Worlds…After all, if H.H. the Dalai Lama can say that his guru Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is wrong in this practice, then he leaves the door wide open that His Holiness Himself can be wrong also. What would make His Holiness right and His Guru wrong?? If His guru can be wrong, then disciples of the Dalai Lama can say that the Dalai Lama is wrong also. If we choose that view, it becomes messy. So we have to think that outwardly His Holiness puts his ‘reputation’ on the line to speak out ‘against’ Dorje Shugden in His skillful means to not create fear in the hearts of sectarian people who use the holy lineages of Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug against each other. As the destruction of any lineage or deterioration would set the example for other lineages. They are somehow interdependent.

We at this website respect His Holiness the Dalai Lama from the depths of our hearts and at the same time follow our golden vajra commands of our lamas we met previous to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The commitments of Dorje Shugden we have received from our root and lineage lamas prior to His Holiness must be upheld also. All those great lamas who are also the lineage lamas of His Holiness cannot be wrong. If they are, then the other practices, lineages, initiations, transmissions passed to His Holiness would be ‘stained’ by the practice of Dorje Shugden also?

So for example, His Holiness kindly confers the Kalacakra many times throughout the world. He has received this lineage from Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche’s root lama is Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche Jetsun Dechen Nyingpo recognized as the emanation of Heruka Cakrasamvara. Every great Gelugpa lama is directly or indirectly connected to this great being. Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche practised Dorje Shugden throughout his holy life. So if his practice is wrong, then he would be a wrong lineage lama to Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. If that is wrong, then His Holiness is passing practices that are so called ‘impure’ to many today. That is impossible. His Holiness is definitely pure as well as His lineage lamas, for example Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche. Even His Holiness could not override any master of any school of Buddhism or any sect, otherwise His Holiness would put Himself in the position of being eventually overridden also. Who would want to do that? All the many lineage masters who practiced Gyelchen Dorje Shugden in their previous incarnations are back and studying/teaching again. Many have been recognized by the oracle of Dorje Shugden and His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. So why are they back?? Shouldn’t they have taken unfortunate rebirths??

Below is a beautiful prayer to the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden as composed by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama in the mid 70’s..His Holiness at that time and now is of the same mindstream, free of mistakes as He is the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Those of you who have tremendous obstacles, fearful situations, desperate predicaments, financial woes that hinder your dharma growth and practice should engage in the tremendously quick and efficacious practice of Dorje Shugden. It must be combined with pure Guru devotion, consistent practice of one’s yidam, holding one’s vows and words of honor, no harm should be done to others, respect of all lineages and lineage lamas, teachers and masters. Forgive and forbear those who show enmity and disdain. For that would please the holy mind of the Dharmaphala King of the Three Lokas, Gyelchen Dorje Shugden. Even if one has no confirmed practice, lama or vows, still with good motivation, if one propitiates this holy protector, one can see the benefits. Like anything with time, the help, and mystical intervention of this supreme being will be felt more and more obvious. Especially if one is on the path of the cultivation of Lam Rim realizations. Put your energies not into worry, despair, depression, unnecessary wastage of time, but channel it into the modernly adapted yet supreme practice of this protector.

MELODY OF THE UNCEASING VAJRA

A Propitiation of Mighty Gyalchen Dorje Shugden,
Protector of Conqueror Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings
By the Supreme Victor, the Great 14th Dalai Lama

HUM

Glory of the wisdom, compassion and power of infinite Buddhas
Miraculously powerful protector of Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings
Arisen as a lord of all wrathful worldly hosts
Come from the abodes of Tushita, Kechara, and so forth!

Prostrating with devotion of body, speech, and mind
I confess all mistakes and faults in which
Out of delusion, I have contradicted your holy mind:
Accept with forbearance and show your smiling face!

Arising from the sport of non-dual bliss and void
Are offerings and torma of flesh and blood heaped like a mountain
First portions of milk, yogurt, beer and tea swirling like the ocean

Auspicious signs and substances and various animals
Peaceful and wrathful ornaments, enemy-destroying weapons and armor
Amassed samaya substances, outer, inner, and secret, without exception!

Having fulfilled your heart commitment and purified degeneration
By making these actually arranged and visualized offerings
Increase Lozang the Victorious One’s Teachings
And the life span and activities of the Teachings’ upholders!
Further the happiness of beings in the Gaden [Podrang] dominion!

Especially pacify all harm to us, the yogis and entourages
That arises because of previous karma and immediate conditions
And spontaneously accomplish, just as we wish
All good things, both spiritual and temporal!

Grind to dust without remainder
Enemy hordes that think and act perversely
Towards the teachings and lay and ordained people
With potent, accurate, powerful great vajra fire!

Especially, cause the saffron-clad community of Dungkar Monastery
Brightly beautiful in bonds of pure morality
To soar the path of immortal liberation
On unified wings of Sutra and Tantra!

In brief, we enthrone you, O Deity, as the supreme
Collected nature of all Gurus and Protective Deities!
From densely gathered clouds of the four activities
Pour down a cool rain of the two siddhis!

This, A Propitiation of Mighty Gyalchen Dorje Shugden, Protector of Conqueror Manjusri Tsongkhapa’s Teachings, entitled Melody of the Unceasing Vajra ’s composition was urged, not only by the vajra prophecy of the great emanated Dharmapala himself, but also on behalf of the general community by the master of the Dratsang and all of its officers, with offerings. Accordingly, the one called Holder Of The White Lotus, Bearer of the Buddhadharma, Ngawang Losang Tenzin Gyatso Sisum Wangyur Tsungpa Mepa De composed it at Dungkar Monastery with spontaneous auspiciousness.

All benefit and bliss! Siddhi Rastu

Domo Geshe Rinpoche, at whose Dunkar Monastery His Holiness composed these inspiring verses, was one of the greatest Mahasiddhas in Tibetan history. A greater example of saintliness and, mind you, non-sectarian compassion would be hard to find. Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang said of him, “We are exactly the same”, and Domo Geshe put his Monasteries in Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s care before he passed on. The 13 th Dalai Lama praised him as Je Tsongkhapa incarnate. Both the 13 th and the 14 th Dalai Lama praised Dungkar Monastery’s oracle, through which they obtained very valuable advice in difficult times.

This prayer shows beyond the shadow of a doubt the enlightened origin and the “holy mind” of the King Protector as seen by His Holiness. No “ghost” can come from Tushita and Kechara, Maitreya and Vajrayogini’s pureland. No “ghost” can cause you to “soar the path of immortal liberation on unified wings of Sutra and Tantra”!

Seeing this, we think it is safe to conclude what this conflict is not about. And who knows, maybe it is not a conflict at all, except in our conflict-hungry minds that can’t stand the notion of interdependence and cause and effect?

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!