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1: Introduction to Dorje Shugden

Dorje Shugden is the Wisdom Buddha, Manjushri, manifesting in the form of a wrathful and worldly Dharma Protector and has been propitiated as such by the highest Gelugpa and Sakya masters for some 360 years. While Dorje Shugden’s function is to protect the Dharma practitioner’s spiritual path by helping them overcome obstacles that hinder their dharma practice (such as health, livelihood, emotional and mental problems), his specific purpose is to protect Je Tsongkapa’s key teachings on Emptiness. Without non-conceptual understanding of Emptiness, it is impossible to attain the state of enlightenment. Therefore Dorje Shugden plays a very crucial role in the serious dharma practitioner’s life.

Dorje Shugden arose from the reincarnation line of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen, a contemporary of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen in turn is recognized as the reincarnated mind-stream that traces all the way back to Manjushri and had taken embodiment in some of the most well-recognized Gelugpa masters such as Lama Tsongkapa’s main student, Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen and Panchen Sonam Drakpa, whose works are still being used as textbooks for Gelugpa monastic education. These personages famed for their recognized enlightened mind attest to the enlightened nature of Dorje Shugden.

The worship of Dorje Shugden in the modern era was popularized by the example of the highest Gelugpa lamas such as Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, Kyabje Zemey Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche, the 10th Panchen Lama and many more, all taking Dorje Shugden as their Dharma protector. Even the 14th Dalai Lama was an ardent believer and wrote a famous praise to the deity, called Melody of the Unceasing Vajra.

Further Reading:

  1. Introduction to Dorje Shugden


2: History of Dorje Shugden

The story of the origins of Dorje Shugden is testimony to his noble purpose, which is to guard an all-important aspect of a practitioner’s quest for enlightenment – the wisdom of Emptiness. The timing of the deity’s rise also indicates present threats to the pure practices of the lineage. This section explores the rise of Dorje Shugden, the deity’s incarnation lineage, his sacred oath and his place in the Sakya Buddhist tradition.

  1. History of Dorje Shugden
  2. The Nature and Function of Dorje Shugden
  3. History & Lineage of Dharmapala Dorje Shugden by Kyabje Zong Rinpoche
  4. Lineage (The Emergence of Dharmapala Dorje Shugden)
  5. The Story of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen
  6. VIDEO: Dorje Shugden – An Illustrated Story
  7. A Sakya Tale
  8. Dorje Shugden on a Black Horse
  9. The Aspiration for Dorje Shugden to Arise is Generated
  10. The Moment for the Promise to Arise as the Uncommon Protector Has Come
  11. The Orchestrated Murder of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen
  12. The Manifestation of Dorje Shugden
  13. Recognition of Dorje Shugden by the Sakya Lineage
  14. The Enthronement of Dorje Shugden
  15. Download The First Ever Dorje Shugden Graphic Novel in the World! (English)
  16. Download Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors


3: The Dalai Lama’s Ban on Dorje Shugden

Given the fact that Dorje Shugden’s practice is a significant Gelugpa tradition, practiced and taught by the most attained masters, and given the great importance of the Protector’s role that he arose to fulfill, it is a mystery why the Dalai Lama, who himself was a practitioner of Dorje Shugden, suddenly decided to ban its practice. The Dalai Lama has not given any logical reason for the ban until this day. The Dalai Lama’s action is one of the most blatant breaches of human rights in modern history and has had considerable impact on Tibetan communities around the world, harmony within the Gelugpa tradition and the credibility of Tibetan Buddhism.

  1. The Illegal Ban On An Authentic Buddhist Practice: This article narrates the Dalai Lama’s ban and provides a good overview of the controversy.
  2. The Shugden Ban – Chronology of Events: The 1950s to 1986
  3. The Shugden Ban – Key Events 1996
  4. The Shugden Ban – Key Events 1997
  5. The Shugden Ban – Key Events 1998
  6. The Shugden Ban – Key Events 1999 to 2007
  7. The Shugden Ban – Key Events 2008: The Dalai Lama pushes for Shugden monks to be expelled from monasteries.
  8. The Shugden Ban – Recent Events


4: The Prominence of the Dorje Shugden Practice Within the Gelugpa Lineage

The Dalai Lama now claims that Dorje Shugden is a minor spirit. Although it is common for Tibetan Buddhist monasteries to perform rituals to specific local spirits, the ‘status’ of Dorje Shugden as an important deity is reflected in the fact that the highest Gelugpa Lamas of this century regard Dorje Shugden as an important enlightened Dharma Protector and propitiate him as such.


4.1 Prominent Dorje Shugden Lamas

  1. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682): The 5th Dalai Lama enthroned Dorje Shugden as a Dharma Protector. The Great 5th Dalai Lama was also known to be a Dorje Shugden practitioner as proven through his written praises and even fashioned a Dorje Shugden statue with his own hands.
  2. His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama: The Panchen Lama incarnations are one of the most well-loved by the Tibetans, second only to the Dalai Lamas. It is well known that the Panchen Lama incarnations have continued to practice Dorje Shugden, and his traditional seat in Tashi Lhunpo still has a grand Dorje Shugden chapel. The present incarnation, the 11th Panchen Lama is also a dedicated Dorje Shugden practitioner.
  3. His Holiness Tagphu Pemavajra: An undoubted Mahasiddha whose attainments are even acknowledged by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama himself.
  4. His Holiness the 101st Ganden Tripa Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal: One of the most erudite scholars in the Gelug school in this century, H.H. Ganden Trisur ascended the Ganden Tripa’s throne, representing Lama Tsongkapa on earth between the years 2003 – 2009. Upon retiring from his term as Ganden Tripa, His Holiness Ganden Trisur left his spiritual home in Ganden Shartse Monastery to join Shar Ganden Monastery, where he was able to practice Dorje Shugden openly. H.H. Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal is one of the most recent examples of how the ban on Dorje Shugden has placed many Lamas and lay practitioners in the difficult position of having to hide their practice.
  5. His Holiness Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche: The author of the modern-day Lamrim who was hailed as one of the most attained and recognized lamas of this era.
  6. His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche: Virtually all modern Gelugpa lamas are direct or indirect students of Trijang Rinpoche. He was also the junior tutor to H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.
  7. His Eminence Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche: Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche was so highly respected that the 13th Dalai Lama, upon meeting Domo Geshe Rinpoche, declared that he had met Lama Tsongkapa himself. Domo Geshe Rinpoche has always been closely associated with Dorje Shugden as a master of the practice. Presently, the young incarnation of Domo Geshe Rinpoche is completing his studies in Shar Ganden Monastery, India.
  8. His Eminence Kyabje Gangchen Rinpoche: Kyabje Gangchen Rinpoche is world renowned for his incredible work on peace and healing. Known as the incarnation of Darikapa, one of the famed 84 Mahasiddhas, Gangchen Rinpoche is able to command thousands of loyal followers worldwide.
  9. His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche: One of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s close disciples and a great scholar, Zong Rinpoche has held various important positions including a 10-year term as the abbot of Ganden Shartse.
  10. His Holiness Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche: Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche is the first and current abbot of Serpom Monastery in India, one of the most important monasteries in the Gelug lineage. When Dorje Shugden monks were forced to choose either to abandon the practice of Dorje Shugden or leave the monastery in 2008, Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche compassionately took upon himself to guide the Dorje Shugden monks of Pomra Khamtsen and established what is known today as Serpom Monastery.
  11. His Eminence Geshe Kelsang Gyatso: The spiritual guide to one of the largest Buddhist institutes in the west known as the New Kadampa Tradition, Geshe-la is well known for his great Guru devotion to Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
  12. His Eminence Geshe Rabten Rinpoche: His Eminence Geshe Rabten Rinpoche was one of the pioneer Lamas in Europe and the teacher to many great Western scholars. Geshe Rabten’s dedication in spreading the Buddhadharma enabled him to grow a large supporting base which served as the 14th Dalai Lama’s initial platform of being introduced to the West.
  13. His Eminence Zemey Rinpoche: His Eminence Zemey Rinpoche was one of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s heart sons. This close disciple of one of the most respected Lamas in the Gelug lineage was famed as one of its most erudite scholars. Zemey Rinpoche was also one of the few who were handpicked to escort the 14th Dalai Lama out of Tibet in the 1950s. Although Zemey Rinpoche was later ostracized due to the publication of his private notes into what is now known as the Yellow Book, Zemey Rinpoche remained loyal to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama until he entered clear light.
  14. His Eminence Denma Gonsa Rinpoche: His Eminence Denma Gonsa Rinpoche was a prominent Lama in Tibet who commanded hundreds of thousands of devotees in the Denma region. The latest incarnation, the 20th Denma Gonsa Rinpoche, was recognized by both the Panchen Lama and Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche. He was enthroned in 2014 in the presence of over 200,000 followers who gathered to catch a glimpse of this holy lama.
  15. His Eminence Kundeling Rinpoche: His Eminence Kundeling Rinpoche was one of the first Dorje Shugden Lamas to protest against the ban on Dorje Shugden in 1996, when it was introduced to the monasteries. Despite suffering various threats and difficulties for being outspoken, Kundeling Rinpoche continues to fight for the rights of Dorje Shugden practitioners until today.


4.2 Dorje Shugden Monasteries

The Dalai Lama began speaking against Dorje Shugden in the 1980’s, and in the year 2008 he escalated his ban and aggressive actions were taken to eliminate Dorje Shugden practitioners within the monastic community. During this time, various new monasteries were formed to accommodate monks who had been expelled, while some smaller monasteries were cut off from the Tibetan leadership for continuing the practice. Below are a few examples of monasteries and Buddhist centers around the world that continue practicing Dorje Shugden despite the difficulties they have faced.

  1. Shar Ganden Monastery (Mundgod, India): Formed by the monks of Dokhang Khamtsen, the largest Khamtsen in Ganden Shartse Monastery after the majority of the monks refused to give up their practice of Dorje Shugden.
  2. Serpom Thoesam Norling Monastery (Bylakuppe, India): Formed after the monks of Sera Mey Monastery’s Pomra Khamtsen refused to give up their practice of Dorje Shugden.
  3. Nyanang Phelgyeling Monastery (Nepal): A small monastery with less than 100 monks, the monastery is home to some of the most precious and holy statues which were carefully smuggled out of Tibet during the 1950s. Amongst its most precious possessions is a statue of Dorje Shugden handmade by the 5th Dalai Lama.
  4. Ganden Dokhang Buddhist Centre (Taiwan): A branch of Shar Ganden Monastery in Taiwan.
  5. XiaFeng Temple (YuZhu District, YouYang County, ChongQing City, China)
  6. Longrong Monastery (T.A.R., China): Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s monastery in Derong Country, where monks and lay practitioners continue to practice Dorje Shugden.
  7. Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (Shigatse, Tibet): The main monastery of the Panchen Lamas continues their Dorje Shugden practice until today.
  8. Sampheling Monastery (Chatreng, Tibet): The personal monastery of His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
  9. Ganden Chang Chub Choling (Canada): Established with the encouragement of the Canadian government to fulfill the needs of Tibetan refugees in the 1970s, the centre is under the care of His Eminence Zawa Rinpoche, who actively participates in many of the International Shugden Community’s protests against the ban on Dorje Shugden.
  10. Delgeruun Choira (Mongolia): The traditional seat of Zava Damdin Rinpoche, a prominent Mongolian Dorje Shugden practitioner.


5: Casus Belli – The Shugden Ban

In reality, there is no valid reason for the Dalai Lama to impose the religious ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice but he could not do so without providing any reasons. The triple murder of Geshe Lobsang Gyatso and two of his students in 1997 provided the Dalai Lama with an opportunity to portray all Shugden practitioners as violent and dangerous. In addition, the publication of Zemey Rinpoche’s private study notes was pounced upon to establish that both Shugden the deity and his practitioners were violent and therefore had to be stopped. The articles in this section factually rebut both claims and show the ban to be void of any legitimate causes.

  1. How the Dalai Lama’s Actions are Affecting Religion: The 1997 Triple Murder was wrongly blamed on Dorje Shugden as justification to criminalize his practice. The first part of this article addresses the oft-quoted accusation that Dorje Shugden practitioners were behind the 1997 triple murder. This event is falsely used to portray Shugden as a dangerous and violent cult.
  2. The Yellow Book
    • Zemey Rinpoche’s Yellow Book Incident: This is often used by anti-Dorje Shugden people to accuse Dorje Shugden of being a jealous and sectarian spirit that harms practitioners and therefore his practice should be banned. This article gives a commentary on the Yellow Book to dismiss the allegation that its contents warrant the Shugden ban.
    • The Yellow Book Controversy: This article refutes that the contents of the Yellow Book justify the Dalai Lama’s ban.


6: The China Factor

China is seen as the arch enemy of the Tibetan people and Tibetan Buddhism due to the way the Tibetans lost their homes and country in the 1950s. Taking this to their advantage, the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration created propaganda to incite hatred against Shugden practitioners by labeling them Chinese spies. This is part of the campaign to marginalize Shugden worshippers and force them into abandoning their religion.

  1. The Dalai Lama’s Secrets: A Precarious Relationship with China: Dorje Shugden is used as an easy scapegoat to justify the failure of the Tibetan leadership to re-establish autonomy in Tibet.
  2. Are Dalai Lama’s Critics Backed by China?: Various statements from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) presenting baseless links between China and Dorje Shugden practitioners, in an attempt to incite hate and potential violence. This article shows how Dorje Shugden is used by the CTA as a political tool.
  3. Video: People & Power: Dorje Shugden Controversy: Al-Jazeera explores the Dorje Shugden controversy in India.


7: Central Tibetan Administration Says “There Is No Ban”

To avoid accountability for multiple violations of human rights provisions, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) insists that there is no ban on the Shugden practice. Yet the following articles show clearly HOW THE CTA ENFORCES THE PROHIBITION by inciting the Tibetan public against those who do not toe the line. Would anyone go to such lengths if the “ban” on Dorje Shugden’s practice was merely advice?

  1. [Must Read!] Tibetan Leadership Publishes Hit List: In the absence of having a law enforcement unit, the method the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) uses is to incite the Tibetan people into a mob and direct them towards those whom the CTA want punished or coerced into obeying the ban. 20 Tibetans were criminalized solely on the basis of protesting against His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
  2. [Must Read!] CTA Creates Violence Again: Similarly, the Dalai Lama provokes the Tibetan people’s ire against Dorje Shugden practitioners by taking advantage of their blind allegiance to him. By falsely claiming that Dorje Shugden practitioners are enemies of the Tibetan people who wish harm on the Dalai Lama, he sets an angry mob upon those who oppose the ban, even those who are merely refusing to obey an illegal diktat. An 84-year-old Shugden monk was attacked just hours after the Dalai Lama spoke negatively about Dorje Shugden during a religious discourse in December 2013.
  3. Shocking Letter: Threatening letters were sent to various western Shugden practitioners in an attempt to scare them into submitting to the Dalai Lama’s views on Dorje Shugden.
  4. Another Threatening Letter: A pro-Dalai Lama group issues yet another subtle threatening and denigrating letter concerning Dorje Shugden practitioners.
  5. Receives A Threat Letter: is regarded as the authoritative website on the deity and frequently exposes anti-Dorje Shugden lies. Therefore it also becomes a target for abuse and threats.
  6. Breaking News: Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s Monastery in Phedong Attacked: Domo Geshe Rinpoche is a well-known Dorje Shugden practitioner and therefore becomes a target of the Central Tibetan Administration. In this video, we see ordinary Tibetans incited to forcibly take over one of Domo Geshe Rinpoche’s monasteries.
  7. Attack on Dorje Shugden Followers: A Dorje Shugden practitioner is stoned and stabbed due to his religious beliefs.
  8. An Appeal Against Violence: An overview of the violence and aggression that has plagued Dorje Shugden practitioners for the past 18 years.
  9. Dalai Lama Supporters Violently Oppress Dorje Shugden Followers in Mundgod: A news report covering the incident where 30 Dorje Shugden monks were stoned on the streets on Mundgod.
  10. Who’s the Hypocrite: The hypocrisy behind the ban on Dorje Shugden.


7.1 Institutionalized Discrimination Against Dorje Shugden Practitioners

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) does not admit to a religious ban presumably because to do so would unmask it as an undemocratic administration that preaches freedom and democracy whilst still maintaining its feudal theocratic ways. And yet the officially passed Resolutions leave no doubt that the Tibetan people were called to take action against Dorje Shugden worshippers. This section provides proof and evidence that such a ban exists and is being enforced by the Tibetan government.

  1. The Proof of Suppression of Dorje Shugden Practitioners (at a Glance): Some of the most important documents on the suppression enforced on Dorje Shugden practitioners.
  2. Proof of Discrimination: Browse through the collection of official documents from the Tibetan government, Tibetan organizations, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and even Tibetan settlement leaders that forced Dorje Shugden practitioners to give up their religious beliefs.
  3. In the Media: Browse through the collection of news articles from the start of the controversy in 1996.


7.2 Videos

  1. Interview with an oppressed Tibetan monk
  2. Dalai Lama encourages expulsion of monks


8: Effects of the Ban

Seeing that the Gelugpas represent a large percentage of the Tibetan community, and that most of the Gelugpas were worshippers of the deity, a ban directed at them would inevitably divide the Tibetan people. Strangely, the Dalai Lama accuses Dorje Shugden of being a divisive element and yet it should be pointed out that for 360 years since the practice was introduced into the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon, the people lived in relative peace until the ban forced a wedge between them.


8.1 Social Apartheid

  1. Evidence of the Ban
  2. The Segregation Wall at Ganden Monastery: One of the five heinous crimes that the Buddha warned against was creating schism within the monastic community. However, this is precisely what the Dalai Lama’s ban spawned.
  3. VIDEO: Forced to Abandon the Practice
  4. VIDEO: Speech on the Ban
  5. VIDEO: Further Evidence of the Ban
  6. Untouchables: Shocking Posters in Monasteries
  7. Dorje Shugden Practitioners Are Still Discriminated Against
  8. Are You Friends with a Shugden Practitioner
  9. The Shugden Dispute
  10. The Dalai Lama’s Secrets: The Baffling Stance of the Dalai Lama
  11. Tibetan Youth Questions Dorje Shugden Ban
  12. VIDEO: Ganden Monks Forced To Swear (Part 1)
  13. VIDEO: Ganden Monks Forced To Swear (Part 2)


8.2 Abuses Against Dorje Shugden Practitioners

The Dorje Shugden conflict has created such anger and hatred in the Tibetan people. In the past 18 years, the rift between Shugden and non-Shugden people became wider and is now heading to the point of intractability. It is disturbing to see that the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) would persist in its persecution of Shugden Buddhists even as they witness the Tibetan society being torn apart precisely when it has to be united for the Tibetan Cause to have potency.

  1. Why So Vulgar?


8.3 The Ban Exports Hatred and Division Worldwide

Over the years, non-action against the oppressive Shugden ban allowed it to take root and today the conflict can no longer be contained within the Tibetan Community. Division based on religion is seen worldwide where there are Shugden and non-Shugden Buddhists. As fault lines become more entrenched, it divides Tibetan Buddhists in other countries. While being hailed as a peacemaker, the Dalai Lama, by his ban, is today an agent of disunity.

  1. The World Can No Longer Ignore the Dorje Shugden Ban


9: Testimonials – Personal Accounts by Tibetans Who Have Experienced the Effects of the Ban

  1. Evidence of the Ban – Tibetans speaking up against the CTA
  2. VIDEO: Tibetan Public Talk – The True Facts Part 1
  3. VIDEO: Tibetan Public Talk – The True Facts Part 2
  4. VIDEO: Tibetan Public Talk – Banned by Dalai Lama
  5. VIDEO: Advice on Dharmapala Dorje Shugden By H.E. Kyabje Kundeling Rinpoche


10: No Choice But To Protest: The International Shugden Community (ISC)

The Dalai Lama has never provided any logical or scriptural reason for the ban. Members of the Shugden community have not been accorded the opportunity to have any dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Therefore, the only way for any hope of resolving this conflict is to protest against the Dalai Lama publicly and create awareness of the ban.

  1. VIDEO: Reuter – NYC Dalai Lama Protest
  2. VIDEO: Calling for Religious Freedom at Princeton University
  3. VIDEO: Hundreds Protest Dalai Lama’s Visit to Washington
  4. VIDEO: Dalai Lama in Rome
  5. VIDEO: Over 400 Protest in Livorno, Italy
  6. VIDEO: Buddhist Group Demands Dalai Lama Nobel Peace Prize be Revoked
  7. VIDEO: SBS News – Dalai Lama Faces Protests in Sydney
  8. Western Shugden Society
  9. Dalai Lama the Peacemaker


11: The Ban Does Not Have Any Logical or Legitimate Basis

In the process of enrolling supporters into a religious ban that is illegal and unholy, many lies have been told to justify the Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration’s actions. One obvious case is when the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament rounded up Tibetan school children with the purpose of poisoning their young minds against a religious practice. It was patently wrong for an elected politician, who is supposed to serve all Tibetans regardless of their religion, to do so.

  1. The Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Caught Lying About the Ban: Attempts to poison the mind of young school children.
  2. Basis for the Dorje Shugden Ban Proven False
  3. Abolish the Dorje Shugden Ban to Further the Tibetan Cause
  4. Refuting the Dalai Lama’s Statements Concerning Dorje Shugden
  5. The CTA Violates Its Own Constitution
  6. Tibetan Youth Questions Dorje Shugden Ban
  7. Uncovered Truth: How Dorje Shugden was actually behind the Dalai Lama’s escape out of Tibet to India in 1959.
  8. Samdhong Rinpoche and the CTA Scam
  9. CTA Defends Shugden Hit List
  10. Definitive Proof of the Ban and Discrimination against Dorje Shugden
  11. The Dark Side of the Dalai Lama
  12. Why does the Dalai Lama Prosecute Shugden but not the Bon Religion?
  13. Court Case Against the Dalai Lama Concludes No Victory, No Defeat Either
  14. Shugden Ban is Illegal and Unconstitutional
  15. Chushi Gangdrug Made To Swear Against Dorje Shugden: Proof that Dorje Shugden saved the Dalai Lama and is thus not a Chinese spirit.
  16. Have the Lamas Made A Terrible Mistake?


12: Dorje Shugden is a Major Practice in Tibetan Buddhism

In order to downplay the severe impact the Dalai Lama’s religious ban has had on the Tibetan community, the Central Tibetan Administration claims that Dorje Shugden is practiced only by a small minority that represents the fringe of the Tibetan Buddhist community. To the contrary, Dorje Shugden was a core practice of the Gelugpas, who constitute the majority of the Tibetan population.

The reality is that the Dalai Lama’s actions have split the Tibetan Buddhist community and affected an estimated four million lives. Yet, this atrocity has escaped prominent attention by the world media and human rights watchdog organizations. By contrast, the oppression of Timor East, which has since won its independence, attracted the attention and support of the world. This can only be explained by the global popularity of the Dalai Lama, who has successfully branded himself as ‘a simple Buddhist monk’ to deflect attention from the fact that he is a political gamesman of the highest caliber.

  1. Over 400,000 Tibetans Made A Pilgrimage to Shugden Monastery in Chatreng: During the Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations in 2014, more than 400,000 Dorje Shugden devotees from Chatreng and neighboring villages in Tibet made a pilgrimage to Sampheling Monastery, the traditional seat of Trijang Rinpoche. This is just one segment of the population of Shugden practitioners whose lives have been affected by having their religious practice declared a criminal act.
  2. Denma Gonsa Rinpoche’s Enthronement: Approximately 200,000 Shugden practitioners attended the enthronement ceremony of the present incarnation of Denma Gonsa Rinpoche, a number higher than the total population of Tibetans in exile. This event itself indicates that (i) Shugden practitioners are not some small cultish fringe of Tibetan Buddhism and (ii) contrary to the Dalai Lama’s claim, it is not true that worshipping Dorje Shugden will cause the practitioner to take rebirth in hell.
  3. 20,000 in Chamdo and Kongpo: 20,000 Dorje Shugden practitioners gathered in Chamdo and Kongpo.
  4. So Who is Telling the TRUTH? Glenn H. Mullin wrote in his book that Dorje Shugden is one of the most popular Protector Deity practices within the Gelugpa School. This is proof that Shugden Buddhists are not a minority.
  5. The Dalai Lama Imposes A Ban On Shugden
  6. True Harmony Or A Change Of Tune
  7. Is the Dalai Lama Preying on Tibetans’ Spiritual Fears and Superstitions?


13: Seeing the Ban in the Proper Light

Shugden Buddhists do not oppose the Dalai Lama. In fact, many Shugden Buddhists’ devotion to the Dalai Lama remains intact. However, the matter of the religious ban is an issue far more serious than human rights being violated. The Dalai Lama’s ban calls for Shugden Buddhists to commit serious downfalls that would harm not only themselves but also their teachers.

  1. Theological Implications of the Dalai Lama’s Religious Ban


14: International News Covering the Ban

  1. Al-Jazeera Reports: The Dalai Lama, The Devil Within: One of the earliest reports on the Shugden controversy. Al-Jazeera, a news media famed for circumventing censorship, tells the story as it is.
  2. France 24 Reports: The Dalai Lama’s Demon: The Dorje Shugden Controversy as reported by France 24 clearly illustrates how Dorje Shugden practitioners are deprived of fundamental human rights e.g. medical attention. We see how a once-peaceful little town is torn by separation due to the ban imposed by the Dalai Lama.
  3. Al-Jazeera Reports: Samdhong Rinpoche was caught lying about Dorje Shugden practitioners: This is a collection of video clips on the recent documentary by Al-Jazeera titled ‘The Dalai Lama, The Devil Within’ that highlights Professor Samdhong Rinpoche’s blatant lies.
  4. Oslo, Norway Peaceful Demonstration Coverage: Compilation of news reports, videos and pictures from the Dalai Lama’s visit to Oslo, Norway in May 2014. The peaceful demonstrations conducted by the International Shugden Community received much media attention and the truth behind the Dorje Shugden ban was transparently communicated in various Norwegian media.
  5. Rome, Italy Peaceful Demonstration Coverage: Compilation of news reports, videos and pictures from the Dalai Lama’s visit to Rome, Italy in December 2014. The International Shugden Community gathered for a peaceful demonstration as the Dalai Lama arrived to attend the 14th World Summit of Nobel Prize Laureates. Every media channel that covered the summit inevitably wrote about the demonstrations and the suppression as well as oppression resulting from the Dalai Lama’s decision to impose a ban on Dorje Shugden.
  6. Birmingham Peaceful Demonstration Coverage: As the Noble Peace Laureate gave talks about harmony and compassion, peaceful demonstrators consisting of sangha members, Tibetans and international Buddhists ask His Holiness to lift the ban that has caused suffering to millions of people, especially within his own community of Tibetans in exile.
  7. Vancouver Peaceful Demonstration Coverage: The Dalai Lama travels to Canada to meet with students and celebrities to teach about “educating the heart” while his own people are ostracized and deprived of fundamental basic needs like education and medical attention.
  8. Hamburg Peaceful Demonstration Coverage: The coverage of the peaceful demonstration in Hamburg reflects the character of Shugden Buddhists and their practice.
  9. 700 protesters in Washington DC demand religious freedom: Many of the Tibetan protestors suffered tremendously as a result of the ban, yet patiently stood in the cold to request the Dalai Lama to lift the ban and allow them to return to their families.
  10. Mixing Religion and Politics: The Dalai Lama’s ban on Dorje Shugden Prayer: A compilation of news coverage by Al-Jazeera and New York Times
  11. VIDEO: Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden controversy: The issue of Shugden was covered by Australian News Channel in June 2008. The international community was surprised at how an icon of peace is causing division in the Tibetan society in exile and the monastic community.
  12. Video: Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden (Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3): This important and comprehensive Swiss documentary highlights the issues revolving around Dorje Shugden and the Dalai Lama. Listen to the painful and tearful encounters of steadfast Dharma practitioners as they face the Dorje Shugden ban. They suffer alone and with little hope as the threat is coming from within, imposed by their trusted leader to whom they pledged alliance.
  13. VIDEO: Contradictions in Dalai Lama’s speeches on Dorje Shugden: The Dalai Lama forcefully says he is happy that Shugden monks have been expelled from the monasteries. He also encourages further expulsion of monks who refuse to abandon their faith in Shugden. His tone with his own Tibetan people is starkly different from the speeches he gives in Western countries of openness, dialogue and tolerance.


15: Additional Reading

  1. The Dalai Lama Denies the Truth About His Teachers
  2. Dalai Lama Will Stop Condemning Dorje Shugden
  3. The Dalai Lama’s Secrets: The Other Side of the Dalai Lama
  4. Dalai Lama: Whatever “fierce spirit” you choose is up to you
  5. Tibetan Buddhism Erosion From Within Or Without? The fight for Tibet is not for a country but for a greater cause of humanity, preservation of culture and tradition, and the precious Buddhadharma. However, if the fighters of this cause are inflicting oppression, suppression and threat to the very thing they claim to protect, is there credibility behind the quest for Tibetan freedom? Is the destruction of Tibet’s hope caused by the visible enemy, China, or parties closer to home?

(Click to download this information kit in PDF format)

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