Sometimes I find Buddhists, and by Buddhists I mean American Buddhists, and by American Buddhists I mean white American Buddhists, and by white American Buddhists I mean Jews, smug when it comes to the question of God. Having left behind the angry God of the Torah for the god–free psychology of the Buddha, they look down on us theists as throwbacks to more primitive times. So it is refreshing to find out that Buddhism is as mad as any other religion we humans invent. Case in point the Dalai Lama versus Dorje Shugden.
The Dalai Lama, as you probably know, is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. The current Dalai Lama is the fourteenth incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva (similar to a saint) who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. I am a fan of the Dalai Lama.
The Dorje Shugden is less well known, and until recently I was largely unaware of him.
There are two views as to whom or what the Dorje Shugden is. One holds that he is a wrathful aspect of Manjushri, a bodhisattva (similar to a Christian saint) of wisdom worshipped as a deity in Tibet. The other holds that he is the angry spirit of a deceased lama. Both views believe that Dorje Shugden is devoted to protecting the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha) and the world. I guess he is angry because both are so threatened.
The current Dalai Lama used to be a fan of Dorje Shugden but changed his mind, now believing Dorje Shugden to be a demonic protector who does not deserve the veneration accorded him. This is not a new battle. The Dalai Lama has taken on Dorje Shugden in at least two other life times (the fifth and thirteenth of this fourteen incarnations). I don’t know what caused the Dalai Lama to take on Dorje Shugden this time around, but I do know it is never a good idea to piss off a god or a demon, especially if they have followers.
Dorje Shugden supporters hound the Dalai Lama and protest at his talks and appearances. They claim that the Dalai Lama is seeking to spiritually cleanse Tibetan Buddhism of Dorje Shugden worship, and is thereby causing millions of Dorje Shugden worshippers needless pain and concern.
The prayer to Dorje Shugden that the Dalai Lama wants to eradicate seems benign enough: “As a devoted practitioner, I request you from my heart to overcome all unfavorable conditions, obstacles, and maras (evils), and increase my life span, merit, resources, good fortune, qualities of scripture and realization, listening, and renown.”
The problem seems to be with Dorje Shugden himself. To the Dalai Lama’s credit, he actually believes that Dorje Shugden worship is demon worship, and wants to end it. To my dismay, the Dalai Lama actually believes in demons. I thought he was all about science and stuff like that. At least that is what his followers, and by his followers I mean his Jewish followers who think they have escaped the irrationality of Judaism by following the Dalai Lama instead, always tell me.
Of course Dorje Shugden isn’t the only angry god on the block. Read the Hebrew Bible; when it comes to wrath Dorje Shugden can’t hold a candle to YHVH. Or read the Christian Book of Revelation where the Prince of Peace is one pissed off deity who makes His Dad look like a wimp.
Anyway, I wish the Dalai Lama well. If he can defeat the angry gods of Buddhism I am going to sponsor a worldwide Jewish tour for His Holiness and see if he can help us out with YHVH as well.
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8 comments:
Extensize information on this subject can be found at:
www.wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org
intricacies of the debate about "Dorje Shugden: good guy or baddie?" aside, what all those American Buddhists don't get (and it looks like you're missing, too) is that "His Holiness" the 14th DL is not acting in any way whatsoever in accordance with his all-round spiritual Father Christmas persona on this issue. the guy has *banned* (explicitly, repeatedly, in his own words: "BANNED") the practice and instigated a forced signature campaign amongst the worldwide Tibetan exile community, causing, for example: *Wanted* posters of known Dorje Shugden practitioners to be posted in Tibetan areas of Queens, NYC; over 900 monks to be expelled from their monasteries in India; children of practitioners to be refused education in Tibetan-run schools, etc., etc. - all-the-while exhorting his faithful to greater efforts at this cultural-cleansing.
however crazy the argument may seem - whoever's right or wrong - it's his totalitarian methods that are so utterly evil.
he is a man in no way worthy of having a fan in you. he's DEFINITELY not the Messiah - he's a very naughty boy.
read more at http://www.westernshugdensociety.org
The Dalai Lama is a lot more superstitious than you think. He'd love to appear rational and scientific to his Western students but in reality he seeks advice from a ghost through an oracle and throws doughballs to decide what to do. I guess the old Bon imprints from pre-Buddhist Tibet die hard, eh?
Maybe I should follow his great example and flip a coin to see what I should believe about anything?
Hi Toto,
for a good documentary on the Dalai Lama's ban of Dorje Shugden and the resulting segregation etc of Shugden practitioners, see the French TV from last week:
http://www.france24.com/en/20080808-dalai-lama-demons-india-buddhism-dorje-shugden
Oh, and there is another good (and more humorous, in a sinister sort of way) video of what Dorje Shugden practitioners are up against on the blog today: www.WisdomBuddhaDorjeShugden.blogspot.com
So Rami, in one week you have managed to ask a Christian the most livermelting question on the face of his planet AND piss off Buddhists. Way to go. You are my new hero. Me thinks I will call you, “Mashugga Man”. Forget the size changer, shape shifter or the blaster. I will take the super-hero who with just a few carefully chosen civil words can push people right in their crazy button. He is a mashugga-er. Now that is power. Use it wisely, son. ;0)
As it would appear that everyone having posted so far is pro-Shugden, I would like to give the view of those opposed to the practice.
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index.php?s=2658543cdefdfa88d7de8f87ddc6b0d1&showtopic=34974&st=0
http://www.newkadampa.com/
http://www.tibet.com/dholgyal/index.html
The first link is a 64 page thread on E-Sangha concerning the issue of Shugden and the NKT. THe second link is a good website on the controversial group supporting Shugden in the West, the NKT. The third link is a series of articles and documents on Shugden, dealing with the nature of this spirit, why His Holiness and other masters oppose the practice, the position of the Tibetan Government, in Exile, etc.
I hope this helps.
Justin
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