Lies In Robert’s Thurman’s Huffington Post Article Thurman Lie #2: There is No Ban on the Dorje Shugden Practice. Thurman’s purveying of falsehood did not end there. In the same article, Thurman blatantly denied that there was even a ban on the religious practice. He wrote, The worship of their [Shugden practitioners] chosen deity was not “banned” by the Dalai Lama, since he has no authority to “ban” what Tibetan Buddhists practice. As most of the Dalai Lama’s communications in instructing the ban were in Tibetan, Thurman gambles on the fact that most people in the English-speaking world would not be able to read the Tibetan language. But here is ample proof of the ban: From a booklet entitled ‘Selected Addresses of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the issue of propitiating Protector Deities’, published by Sherig Parkhang, Dharamsala, July 10th 1996 from the address by H.H. the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, May 5th 1996, p175: ‘It may have been about ten years ago. While giving a Lamrim teaching at Drepung I once gave my reasons for issuing the ban (Tibetan: dam.bsgrags).’ P183, of the same document cited above: ‘In this way came the reasons, on account of which I have issued the ban (Tibetan: dam.bsgrags) in recent times. In banning (this reliance on Shugden), many came forward and declared that henceforth they will abide by my injunctions. I happily thank and appreciate their gesture.’ From a letter to Ganden Shartse Monastic College, from the Tibetan exile government’s Department of Religion and Culture, Dharamsala, 5th May 1996: ‘A letter of the Private Office of the Dalai Lama dated 30th March 1996, with a video cassette of the Dalai Lama’s address given in the Spring during the Lamrim teachings forbidding (Tibetan: bsten gsol mi chog pa) reliance on Dhogyal as well as an emphatic address (Tibetan: bka’ slob nan pebs) has been sent (to the monastery).’ From a letter to the Abbot of Sermey Monastic College, Bylakuppe, from the Private Office of HH the Dalai Lama, March 30th 1996: ‘As you are aware, the great 13th Dalai Lama had issued a ‘ban’ on the worship of Dorje Shugden on the basis of the Great 5th Dalai Lama’s secret visions. In addition to our government oracles pointing towards danger to the health of H.H. the Dalai Lama, as well as the cause of Tibet due to the worship of Shugden, after this ‘ban’, this observation is also the conclusion reached by His Holiness after years of observation.’ (See Note 1 – Original Tibetan version) Note: The statement claiming that the 13th Dalai Lama issued a ban on the Shugden practice is also false. It has been clearly documented that the 13th Dalai Lama himself relied on Dorje Shugden’s oracles advice for important matters pertaining to the State of Tibet. The Tibetan term ‘dgag.bya spyi nan shugs cher bstsal.rje’s or “strong prohibition emphatically proclaimed” was used in Report No. 28/7.8/1997 by the exile Tibetan version of [India’s most secret police] RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) of the Department of Security in Dharamsala: ‘His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in view of the present and future pros and cons on Tibetan politics and religion, through various religious investigations, has given repeated talks about the need to give up reliance on Dolgyal. Specifically, after issuing an emphatic ban at his spring teachings of 1996, most of the Tibetans living in exile and within Tibet, who are gifted with intelligence and patriotism, have respectfully compiled and appreciatively mended their faith accordingly. This deserves to be applauded.’ (Note 2: Original Tibetan version) As Ursula Bernis, a world respected scholar and Tibetologist also highlighted, the word ‘bkod.‘doms’, “order to stop,” thus “ban” is used in Resolution No. 21 of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies prohibiting Dorje Shugden in very strong terms, to the extent of “never ever” permit the practice. In addition, Resolution No. 21 refers to the 13th and 14th Dalai Lama’s use of the word ‘bkag.’gog’, “order” and “prohibition” “to stop” or “to take out forcibly.”The official English translation of Resolution 21 as it appears on the Dalai Lama’s website is careful not to carry the word “ban” but point 6 of the Resolution stated that the practice is indeed forbidden. In January 1998, in a documentary by Swiss TV ’10 vor 10’ the Dalai Lama was questioned by Swiss journalist Beat Regli, who pointedly asked, “why was the [Shugden] ban enforced..” The Dalai Lama answered, “Traditionally Tibetan Buddhism is such a profound tradition. The danger of such practice is for Tibetan Buddhism to degenerate into spirit worship”. The Dalai Lama did not deny that there was in fact a ban on the religious practice although it is interesting to note that he did not offer the same reasons for the ban as he did to the Tibetans i.e. the worship of Shugden would shorten his life and adversely affect the Tibetan people’s effort to regain their country. Such a reply would be deemed ridiculous to the western mind. All the above information showing definite proof of a religious ban somehow escaped Thurman’s detection even after 17 years. Clearly Thurman’s objective is not to seek Truth but to continue in spreading a lie in an effort to diffuse pressure from mounting questions as to why such a blatant breach of human rights has been allowed. Ironically and quite perversely, Thurman insisted that the Dalai Lama was only “exercising his religious freedom” by rejecting those who refused to succumb to the ban (which Thurman regarded as “advice”). In Thurman’s world, religious freedom is applicable to an oppressor of a person’s right to practice his religion, but the same is not applicable to the victims of such an oppression. In all of Thurman’s statements, there is only a single truth i.e. that the Dalai Lama indeed does not hold any “authority” to effect a religious ban, although this fact was mischievously proffered by Thurman as the reason why the Dalai Lama could not have banned the religious practice. The assumption here is that the Dalai Lama would not breach the Tibetan Constitution nor violate international conventions on human rights preserved in a multitude of instruments and treatises. By the same token, the wealth of evidence that such a religious ban has been imposed and is still being enforced, demonstrates irrefutably that the Dalai Lama has in fact committed such unlawful violations and now, Thurman is lying in his desperate and unctuous attempt to cover up the Dalai Lama’s crime.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 12:01:57 +0000
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