By Tenzin Menkyi
DHARAMSHALA, July 1: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said it was his duty to make things clear but to listen or not to is their choice with regard to the propitiation of the controversial deity called Shugden. The Tibetan leader was speaking at an event Monday to inaugurate the first Buddhist temple in Aldershot UK founded by the Buddhist Community Centre UK (BCCUK).
Followers of the deity held banners reading, “Stop Lying, Dalai Lama” outside the venue barricaded for the security of the Tibetan leader who says he himself propitiated the deity but that he quit after he found out through examination that he was wrong. “Until the early ‘70s I propitiated this spirit, but one of the results was that my right to receive teachings from other traditions was restricted because of fear of what this Shugden spirit might do. I decided to investigate, reading particularly the 5th Dalai Lama’s biography and other writings. When I gave up the practice I became free to explore other Buddhist teachings; while I still did it I had no such freedom.
The Tibetan leader gave a piece of advice to the protesters, among which both Tibetans and westerners were present, to do more research before accusing him of lying. “Whether they listen to me or not is up to them. These young people in monastic robes shout, ‘Stop lying’, but they don’t know the full history of the issue. They should do more research on its effects,” said the Tibetan leader.
“There is no ban on their practice. If you go to South India you’ll find people who propitiate this spirit Dolgyal or Shugden have their own monastery beside the larger Tibetan monasteries. This matter has been controversial for almost four centuries. Over the last 80 years since the passing away of the 13th Dalai Lama it has flared up and is strongly associated with sectarianism,” added the Tibetan leader who appeared on Sunday at the Glastonbury music festival alongside Patti Smith to greeted by the crowd on his turning 80 later next week.
“They shout, ‘Stop lying’, but I’m confused what it is they think I’m lying about. This tradition is very sectarian and it was only after I disassociated myself from it that I was able to take teachings from masters like Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Chogye Trichen Rinpoche,” said His Holiness.
On 17th June, Buddhist Organisations in the UK issued a joint statement against the Shugden practitioners. The statement declared that they formally dissociate themselves from the protest against His Holiness the Dalai Lama which were staged by International Shugden Community as they call themselves.
The UK Buddhist organisations who signed the statement had expressed their respect and support for His Holiness’ stance on promoting mutual respect and admiration between Buddhist traditions. It assured the Tibetan leader of their confidence in him and his advice on the divisive and dangerous nature of the worship of Dholgyal/Shugden.
Protests by members of International Shugden Community has now become a routine at venues of talks or events attended by the Tibetan leader who maintains that the propitiation of the deity leads to differences among various traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Tibetan leader began his US tour earlier today with moderated discussion hosted by the George W. Bush Presidential Center and SMU in conjunction with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. His Holiness will also participate in a series of events including celebrations of his turning 80 or the Ghyatoen.
