Comments on Robert Barnett’s interview on Protests against the Dalai Lama over Dorje Shugden I thank Robert Barnett for making a very clear analysis of many of the issues surrounding the protests against His Holiness the Dalai Lama, particularly in analysing the role of His Holiness in the wider context and the complex contradictions in the claims made by the protesters. I think it’s important to clarify further what the distinctions are between Western and Tibetan practices of Shugden and how this ‘disaster’ is defined. Western Shugden followers engaging in the demonstrations are overwhelmingly the students of Kelsang Gyatso of the New Kadampa Tradition. Here the ambiguity arises. The NKT state that ‘Je Tsongkhapa’s lineage’ will be destroyed without Shugden practice. As the NKT do not study any of Je Tsongkhapa’s works their claim is at best unfounded – what they fear is the ‘denigration’ of their own tradition, based on Kelsang Gyatso’s Shugden as a core practice. Tibetan Buddhist practitioners do not have Shugden as their central practice but as one amongst many. I would say that it could be possible that the ‘label ’placed on Shugden could have been deliberately ‘exaggerated’ – from being a protector to being a Buddha – precisely so that Western followers of Kelsang Gyatso will engage with Shugden as a ‘Human Rights’ issue, and as their practice – created by Kelsang Gyatso – is highly edited from Tibetan versions, the Dalai Lama’s decision then appears incomprehensible and worthy of contempt. Also, within Vajrayana practice it is considered essential to avoid interacting with those who disparage your spiritual teacher. Therefore many Tibetans will not trade with Shugden practitioners. The shop keepers gain nothing as they lose trade. In the Indian context this is perfectly appropriate behaviour and certainly not illegal. We should be careful not to think that we can superimpose a ‘definitive’ ‘Human Rights’ perspective on this. As to the ban? How can asking your own students not to do a practice be a ban? In which case, Kelsang Gyatso has banned the practices of any other teachings than his own including all other tantras, texts and studies and, of course, other protectors. All Gelug schools practice a wide variety of tantric and protector practices, tuned to the needs of different individuals. The NKT practice very few. I have been told that no Shugden practitioner has presented themselves for election so far. If this is the case, how can prejudice be the cause of non-election? The premise becomes absurd. If no one is elected once they have stood for election, then is this necessarily caused by prejudice? But this question is also out of place as long as no one stands to be elected. That it is a lack of knowledge or direct interaction with Shugden practitioners that leads to the idea that cooperation and interaction with them is the only possible political solution. Precisely because it was not possible over a long period of time, the division of monastic property was peacefully executed and, since then, has been a viable solution to the conflicts in India. The area of conflict has, instead, shifted to areas where Tibetan monastic institutions have no control but also, ironically, where there is complete freedom of religion and no limitations whatsoever on Shugden practice. It is this contradiction – why Westerners and Westernised Tibetans should be demonstrating ‘for’ people who have been without conflict for the last few years – that astonishes most Tibetans who see the demonstrations (as well as the exaggerated and irrelevant claims against His Holiness that Robert Barnett clearly describes). Only the Chinese connection which has a need to provoke Tibetan disunity can justify demonstrations in the West. In fact, the timing of the 2008 demonstrations against His Holiness with the extreme repression in Tibet could be seen as deliberately provocative, deflecting the media focus around His Holiness. Or is it an internal issue within the NKT that has caused them to restart the demonstrations as no change has occurred in exile Tibetan policy or practice since 2008…? Why stop demonstrating for 6 years if their campaign is so valid and important? info-buddhism/Dalai_Lama_protests_Shugden_Robbie_Barnett.html
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 06:38:25 +0000
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