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Buddhist Monks Protest Ban on Shugden Religion

Protest Calls for Religious Tolerance

By Kenneth Elder, published Jul 18, 2008
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Philadelphia-- Approximately two hundred protesters marched down the Avenue of the Arts and around City Hall after the Dalai Lama's speech on July 15th. The protesters were demonstrating against the Dalai Lama's policies regarding the Shugden religion. They called for religious tolerance and an end to the ostracizing of Shugden worshippers.

The Western Shugden Society, who organized the march, is opposed to the Dalai Lama's ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden Buddhism in Tibet. The decree to ban this particular division of Buddhism was proposed by the Dalai Lama on March 30th, 1996. The Dalai Lama has since said that he does not plan to change the status of the ban.

Reasons for the ban are unclear.

In an interview with the Tibetan Minister for the Department of Security, the Western Shugden Society stated that "[they] do not have any intention to undermine the well-being of his holiness; at the same time [they] cannot compromise [their] religious principles for the sake of political expediency."

The ban is enforced by issuing ID cards to those who take a vow not to practice Shugden Buddhism. It is then difficult for Shugden worshippers who do not have the ID to find work and join organizations. Kelsang Pema, the Western Shugden Society Press Officer, compared the ID system to the star used to mark Jews during the Holocaust.

According to the Western Shugden Society, the Dalai Llama has destroyed all Shugden Temples and shrines and has expelled all Shugden practitioners from the Tibetan community.

Despite its shortness, the march was energized, with protestors shouting, "Dalai Llama, stop lying!" throughout its duration. The march began after the Dalai Lama's speech at the Kimmel Center on the Avenue of the Arts. The marchers stayed in one unified group the entire time and were bordered by police officers and large Philadelphia Police SUV's.

Shugden Buddhism's principles are "to develop virtuous minds of love, compassion, wisdom, and spiritual protection."

The march will be happening again in Times Square, New York City.

Buddhist Monks Protest Ban on Shugden Religion
Date: July 15, 2008
Philadelphia, PA
United States of America
Takeaways
  • Marchers protest the ostracizing from Tibet of Shugden Buddhists
  • The Dalai Lama officially banned the Shugden religion in 1996
  • A protest against the Dalai Lama's ban will be happening in Times Square, New York City
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How does your issue with the NKT negate the Dalai Lama's persecution of Shugden practitioners? There is so much evidence on the web of the persecution that has happened and continues to happen, most of which hasn't been made by the NKT. See www.westernshugdensociety.org It doesn't appear to be logical to say that this issue of persecution shouldn't be looked into because of one person's, or a few people's issue with one group of Shugden practitioners, who are almost the only ones left with the freedom to practise the Shugden prayer and speak out about what is happening. Saying that this issue should be disregarded because of issues with one group of Shugden practitioners is like saying ' I have an issue with one group of Jews, therefore the holocaust didn't happen and all the evidence should be ignored'. It could be said that arguments such as those you present are just seeking to blur the issue, and take the focus off of the main issue of a so called champion of human

Posted on 09/05/2008 at 12:09:47 AM

 
I was a member of the NKT cult for a few years. During this time I was told the NKT are the only pure Buddhist tradition and its leader, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the only spiritual guide who is not corrupted by mixing politics with religion. Now we see that he is doing precisely this by having his followers stage these political protests against the Dalai Lama. In a letter to a US magazine he said that he stopped protesting in 1998 because he realised it was a Tibetan political issue not a Buddhist or NKT issue. Now he has started his campaign all over again. I for one am unhappy that he has chosen to do this and cannot see him as my spiritual guide any more. The sexual scandals and sudden resignations of senior NKT teachers is another reason I chose to take a closer look at what was really going on in the NKT. I suggest all current NKT members do the same. You have been lied to about DS and lied to about so much more.

Posted on 09/04/2008 at 2:09:55 PM

 
There is a three part documentary on youtube.com about the Dalai Lama's persecution of Shugden practitioners. Here's a link to part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sOm-uQH9Y

Posted on 08/13/2008 at 9:08:01 AM

 
Below is a link to the Western Shugden Society response to the letter from the Australian Sangha Association: http://shugdensociety.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/western-shugden-society-response-to-the-australian-sangha-association/

Posted on 08/13/2008 at 9:08:24 AM

 
The WSS/NKT has repeatedly denied that Shugden practitioners were involved in any wrongdoing or violence prior to the oath taking at the major Tibetan monasteries. This is clearly not the case. You can't get much more neutral than the non-Buddhist Indian police, who had this to say about the link between Shugden practitioners and the late scholar-monk Geshe Lobsang Gyatso: An extract from the Sternstunde transcript (Swiss television) of an interview conducted with Mr. Prithvi Raj, SP Kangra on the triple murder at Dharamsala: Prithvi Raj (PR), Chief Police of Kangra District: We have identified two of the murderers, and we have clear indications that the murderers are directly linked to the Shugden association and directly connecting these murderers with the case. But so far we have not been able to arrest them. One is called Tenzin Chozin, the other is called Lobsang Chodrak. Before the murder, the principal received threatening letters from the Shugden association. source:

Posted on 08/04/2008 at 6:08:03 AM

 
It is amazing how the NKT has manipulated the same footage on its website of the counter-protest three times in a row now. I guess in a way it's good, it gives them time to manipulate and skew the old stuff. Each reincarnation of the footage has been edited with more PR music and slow motion shots. But no new information is ever presented. Don't be easily misled. The people posting this information are members of a controversial new religious movement: www.nkttruths.org www.nktworld.org

Posted on 07/31/2008 at 4:07:28 PM

 
The so called Dorje Shugen issue is a case of blatant trampling by the Dalai Lama on the human rights of many Tibetans and Westerners, that has been mostly ignored by the people of the press, either because they do not care to investigate or because they've turned apparently into Dalai Lama's fans. I don't know if someone here saw the demonstrations against the Dalai Lama at Lehigh, Pennsilvania, or other places. Between three and six hundred monks and nuns. They've been following the entire Summer tour of the Dalai Lama, from Germany to England, to Australia and finally the United States. These people are saying that the Dalai Lama is not doing what he preaches. Unfortunately what they are saying is true. The success of the Dalai Lama, beyond his charisma, comes from the teachings about universal love and compassion that he learned from his Gurus. But not only is he doing the opposite of what these sublime teachings teach, he's also been persecuting the people faithful to those

Posted on 07/30/2008 at 10:07:50 PM

 
The so called Dorje Shugen issue is a case of blatant trampling by the Dalai Lama on the human rights of many Tibetans and Westerners, that has been mostly ignored by the people of the press, either because they do not care to investigate or because they've turned apparently into Dalai Lama's fans. I don't know if someone here saw the demonstrations against the Dalai Lama at Lehigh, Pennsilvania, or other places. Between three and six hundred monks and nuns. They've been following the entire Summer tour of the Dalai Lama, from Germany to England, to Australia and finally the United States. These people are saying that the Dalai Lama is not doing what he preaches. Unfortunately what they are saying is true. The success of the Dalai Lama, beyond his charisma, comes from the teachings about universal love and compassion that he learned from his Gurus. But not only is he doing the opposite of what these sublime teachings teach, he's also been persecuting the people faithful to those

Posted on 07/30/2008 at 9:07:45 PM

 
For more information on the Dalai Lama's ban of the Buddhist practice of Dorje Shugden please visit: www.westernshugdensociety.org www.wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org If people do not give up their practice of Dorje Shugden, they lose their jobs, are denied medical care and the right to buy food, are considered national traitors, have their businesses boycotted, etc., etc., etc. All Tibetans are being forced to publicly declare a 'double-oath' that they will (1) forever renounce the practice of Dorje Shugden and (2) withold providing material or spritual support to anybody who does continue to practice. The world needs to look into what is going on.

Posted on 07/23/2008 at 2:07:47 PM

 
A brief outline of the history of Dorje Shugden, its sectarian nature and the violence associated with it by a well-known Western scholar of Buddhism can be found here: http://www.dalailama.com/page.149.htm Questioning of the very scanty evidence of the NKT's claims of religious persecution can be found here: http://westernshugdensociety.wordpress.com A photo of the Chinese sponsored Panchen Lama (the monk chosen by the Dalai Lama disappeared at least ten years ago) can be found here, providing good evidence of at least the PRC government using this dispute in a PR campaign, supporting the side of the Shugden sect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvZlkSYiwjo

Posted on 07/23/2008 at 12:07:47 PM

 
Similar protests byt the NKT/WSS in Australia have been critiqued by the Australian Sangha Association, an organization representing all of the major Buddhist traditions, led by a council of 7 members from the Tibetan, Theravada and East Asian Mahayana Sangha: Australian Sangha Association statement regarding protests at the teachings of HH the Dalai Lama The ASA wishes to express its dismay at the conduct of robed members of the New Kadampa Tradition, Western Shugden Society and associated organizations during the teachings given by HH the Dalai Lama on 11-15 June 2008 at Olympic Stadium, Sydney, Australia. The Dalai Lama's teachings were attended by over 6000 people who came to be inspired by the peaceful and harmonious message of Buddhism. Instead they were met by a large, organized group of protesters dressed in monastic robes shouting slogans. Noisy public demonstrations such as these are not appropriate behaviour for monks or nuns... www.nktworld.org

Posted on 07/23/2008 at 11:07:40 AM

 
as I was saying on the last post...... ";.......but at the same time there are many people who view Dorje Shugden as an enlightened being. This reasoning applied to all holy beings." Please Dalai Lama will you stop your lies right away and bring healing back to the Buddhist faith. Please.

Posted on 07/22/2008 at 2:07:42 PM

 
Here is something to think about: Tony Blair's highest approval rate: 69% Bill Clinton's highest approval rate: 73% G.W.Bush's highest approval rate: 85% Robert Mugabe claims he has majority vote in Zimbabwe.. Mao Tsedong claimed 95% of Chinese supported him (5% are enemies). Approval rate translation: 95% The Dalai Lama claimed that 99 percent of Tibetans support him. Approval rate translation: 99%. Kim Jong-Il claimed 100% of North Korean supported him. Approval rate translation: 100% (with affectionate regards to Wendy) The Dalai Lama is unelected boss of a feudal theocracy - tolerated but not recognized by any Government in the world. How does he manage to mesmerize so many people? What IS his special skill? Concerning whether or not Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being, there can be no final conclusion through negative debate, mixing religion with political aims. This is because from the point of view of many people he is a worldly being, but at the same

Posted on 07/22/2008 at 2:07:34 PM

 
The NKT would have far more luck being heard if they stopped yelling!! No one listens when we shout. It's time the NKT began being honest about what is ACTUALLY going on regarding the 'prayer'. The PR lies and exaggerations are beyond ridiculous now. It's good to remember that just because a lie is repeated forcefully it never becomes the truth, just as the truth is still the truth even if no-one else believes us. Did the NKT really think they could keep slandering and yelling at the Dalai Lama over and over again and not upset the many thousands and thousands of people who have this amazing opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak, only to have it spoilt by the gross lack of respect and selfishness of the NKT sorry - WSS! This story is totally misleading just like all the propaganda put out by the NKT / WSS so far. Actually, Phabonkhapa also destroyed monastries, smashed statues and even had monks beaten and killed! Please google 'NKT 'and 'Tibetan Buddhism' (gelug) history

Posted on 07/21/2008 at 5:07:40 AM

 
Puuuh what a propaganda and PR campaign of NKT. How misleading and sad for them!

Posted on 07/20/2008 at 4:07:47 PM

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