Proud Bhodpas Proof That There Is No Ban: Recently in one of Dorje Shugden Fanpage post (goo.gl/kqHmln) “Proud Bhodpa” an ardent anti-Shugden personality had this to say, as a means of proving that there is no religious ban against Dorje Shugden. It is an oft-repeated argument that should be pointed out for what it truly is. Proud Bhodpa wrote: “Please be kind enough to tell me. Who is banned from worshipping dogyal? Are the monks of Serpom banned from worshipping dogyal? serpommonastery.org/home1.html No. Are the monks of Shar Ganden banned from worshipping dogyal? shargadenpa.org/ No. Are the NKT banned from worshipping dogyal? https://youtube/watch?v=kaTdFH2vLJk No. Are those that attended dogyal initiations in Tibet banned from worshipping dogyal? https://youtube/watch?v=JJOniGdo1Nc No. Then, where is the so called ban. Maybe shugden followers are asking for Ray-ban”. --------------------------------End quote----------------------------------------------- It is interesting to note that Proud Bhodpa’s choice of examples used to argue that there is no ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden, actually testify to the opposite. First, Proud Bhodpa refers to the existence of two monasteries - Serpom and Shar Ganden to state that there is no ban otherwise these two monasteries would not exist. On the contrary, the fact that Serpom Monastery and Shar Ganden exist is precisely the proof that there is discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Shar Ganden arose in 2008 after monks from Dokhang Khangtsen, one of the ‘houses’ within Ganden Shartse refused to give up their traditional practice of the Protector and were literally forced out by the Tibetan leadership. Today, many anti-Shugden proponents try and portray Shar Ganden as a rogue monastery but the truth is far from that. Shar Ganden is none other than Dokhang Khangtsen forcibly expelled. Dokhang Khangtsen (commonly regarded as the ‘right hand’ of Ganden Shartse in the past, due to its tremendous contribution to the Gelugpa lineage) in turn was founded by Chojoe Lodoe Chokyong, a close contemporary of Je Tsongkhapa and the 5th Ganden Tripa, the highest seat of the Gelugpa lineage. Similarly, Serpom Monastery arose because the monks of Pomra Khangtsen within Sera Monastery were forced out due to their refusal to break their vows and abandon their faith that the Dalai Lama demanded. Pomra Khangtsen has a noble history of having Abbots of Sera hail from that house. In addition, it was 30 monks from Pomra Khangtsen that acted as the Dalai Lama’s personal bodyguards when he escaped from Chinese clutches into India in 1959. Such was the culture of Pomra Khangtsen’s loyalty to the Dalai Lama, broken only after the Dalai Lama made them chose between political correctness and loyalty to their practice. Therefore, contrary to Proud Bhodpa’s claim, these two monasteries stand as living proof that there is a ban that brought about persecutions and marginalization of Shugden monks and laity. This video of the Dalai Lama’s speech is clear in no uncertain terms, that the Dalai Lama wanted Shugden monks expelled and it is this heavy-handedness that made it necessary for Shugden monks to establish their own monasteries. https://youtube/watch?v=eTgYWidYw3U Proud Bhodpa’s approach to arguing that there is no ban is deceptive. It is very much like saying there was no apartheid and policy of segregation against colored people in America in the past because look, they had their own schools and waiting areas at train stations. Would Proud Bhodpa also point to ‘blacks-only’ schools and establishments and demand to be shown where the discrimination is since black people too were allowed to attend school albeit not with white people? Do the presence of signs that says for example ‘Waiting Room For Colored Only’ attest to there being discrimination against colored people or lack of discrimination against them? Proud Bhodpa would like you to believe that the presence of such signs mean that there is no discrimination. But that’s clearly not true as any person with a sound mind can figure out. Like Serpom and Shar, the existence of ‘blacks only’ areas is proof that there is state-sponsored oppression and discrimination as the result of a religious ban enforced both at parliamentary level as well as within the community. If Serpom Monastery and Shar Ganden are in existence today, it because they are built on Indian soil and therefore protected by Indian Law that prohibits discrimination based on religion. They exist not because of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) but in spite of it. If it were up to the CTA, these two would have been closed or burned to the ground for housing and training criminals since that is what the CTA officially regards Shugden practitioners as. Proud Bhodpa then points to the presence of Manjushri KMC in the UK and a Shugden event held in Chamdo in Tibet as further ‘proof’ that there is no ban and prohibition of practice. Again this is a show of complete idiocy. The CTA cannot ban the Shugden practice in the UK and China-Tibet because it has no jurisdiction in those countries. But, look at where the CTA has either jurisdiction or influence and you will see signs that are reminiscent of the segregation years in America. Proud Bhodpa is a very good example of the mentality of those who oppose one’s freedom to practice one’s faith. It is deceptive, shallow, regressive and completely in discord with simple but important concepts of harmony and tolerance that the Dalai Lama ironically goes around the world expounding.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:54:06 +0000
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