Dialogue, Dorje Shugden Controversy, HH the Dalai Lama, New Kadampa Tradition, Religion

by tenpelAugust 4, 20145:21 pm

Panel Discussion at SOAS: The Shugden Controversy and the 14th Dalai Lama

Here is a copy of an announcement of a conference at SOAS at the 15th August 2014 in London.

The Shugden Controversy and the 14th Dalai Lama

Date: 15 August 2014Time: 6:00 PM
Finishes: 15 August 2014 Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Vernon SquareRoom: V211
Type of Event: Panel Discussion
Series: Tibetan Studies Outreach Lecture Series

This event will address the controversy surrounding the propitiation of Dorje Shugden in the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. Although many members of the school have ceased to honor Shugden and regard his propitiation as problematic, a vocal minority sees him as an essential component of Geluk orthodoxy. The latter now understand themselves as minority discriminated against on religious grounds. This workshop will include presentations by traditional exponents of both sides of the controversy and by academic authorities. The discussion is moderated by Dr Nathan W. Hill, Lecturer in Tibetan and Linguistics at SOAS. Speakers include:

Kelsang Rabten (International Shugden Community): ‘Refuting the claim of Tenzin Gyatso as an authentic Dalai Lama’
Geshe Tashi Tsering (Jamyang Buddhist Centre): ‘Refuting the claim of Dugyal (Shugden) as a protector in the Tsongkhapa tradition’
Carol McQuire (former member of New Kadampa Tradition): ‘Shugden ‘practitioners’ or Shugden ‘followers’?‘
Dr Martin A. Mills (University of Aberdeen): ‘Human rights and the Shugden ban amongst Himalayan communities’
Thierry Dodin: ‘From Lhasa to Singapore: History and function of Shugden worship’
John McBretney (International Shugden Community): ‘The suffering of Shugden Buddhists within the Tibetan Exile Community, and the Dalai Lama’s role in this’

Organiser: Dr Nathan W. Hill
Sponsor: London Ney

Live stream: http://livestre.am/2qeD

Free tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-dorje-shugden-controversy-and-the-14th-dalai-lama-tickets-12409026733

http://www.soas.ac.uk/cia/tibetanstudies/events/15aug2014-the-shugden-controversy-and-the-14th-dalai-lama.html

Updates

Thoughts & Observations: The SOAS Panel Discussion “The Shugden Controversy and the 14th Dalai Lama” – Part 1

52Comments

Add yours

1

Joanne on August 4, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Reply

Wonderful to see Carol involved in this– and Mills as well– and what a good opportunity for reconciliation…
- 2
  
  tenpel on August 4, 2014 at 8:07 pm
  Reply
  
  Hopefully this is only a start of a series of discussions!
  - 3
    
    jigmeyeshe on August 5, 2014 at 11:38 pm
    Reply
    
    Now updated: Kelsang Rabten (International Shugden Community): ‘The suffering of Shugden Buddhists within the Tibetan Exile Community, and the Dalai Lama’s role in this’
    - 4
      
      tenpel on August 5, 2014 at 11:49 pm
      Reply
      
      Thank you. I updated it and I don’t add any sarcastic comment …
      - 5
        
        jigmeyeshe on August 6, 2014 at 12:26 am
        Reply
        
        [Laughter…..!]
        
        6
        
        tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 12:29 am
        Reply
        
        I am looking forward for the titles of Prof. Mills and Thierry Dodin …
7

Khedrup on August 6, 2014 at 6:00 am
Reply

I wonder which wardrobe Rabten will pick out for his role as “defender of the oppressed”- robes or civvies?
- 8
  
  tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 9:08 am
  Reply
  
  I wouldn’t wonder if he even uses the yellow upper robe – which a Rabjung doesn’t have permission to wear. The NKT Rabjung monks and nuns even wore the yellow upper robe during the protests as if they were giving a Buddhist teaching …
9

TDamdul on August 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Reply

I don’t see any Speakers (shugden practioners – especially Geshelas) presenting the case for shugden as an enlightened Buddha. That is the WHOLE issue!!
- 10
  
  tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 8:02 pm
  Reply
  
  I assume that will be included in Geshe-la’s talk but rather maybe as a side track.
11

Sam Hoff on August 6, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Reply

Tenpel,

If you know any people that are going, can you ask them to ask Rabten which websites he organizes…
- 12
  
  tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 9:24 pm
  Reply
  
  Why is this important?
  - 13
    
    Sam Hoff on August 6, 2014 at 9:49 pm
    Reply
    
    You don’t see why that’s important?
    - 14
      
      tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 10:17 pm
      Reply
      
      yes, i don’t see that.
      - 15
        
        Sam Hoff on August 7, 2014 at 5:27 am
        Reply
        
        http://arebuddhistsracist.com/
        
        16
        
        tenpel on August 7, 2014 at 11:26 am
        Reply
        
        Sorry, I lost the thread of the discussion … I deleted the reply which didn’t match your question.
        
        Why is it so important to know that Rabten is behind this site? Do you think he is the “independent journalist currently based in the UK” that firms as IndyHack?
        
        This could be the case. Maybe then this is a good question. But I fear he won’t answer truthfully.
        
        17
        
        Sam Hoff on August 7, 2014 at 4:41 pm
        
        Of course its a good question.
        
        Isn’t it a fair guess that Rabten runs http://arebuddhistsracist.com?
        
        18
        
        tenpel on August 7, 2014 at 4:56 pm
        
        It is a fair guess. The great IndyHack, the great independent journalist, uhh 😉
    - 19
      
      tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 11:08 pm
      Reply
      
      It would be better to ask Rabten, what his view on Tibetan self-immolation is and the role of the Dalai Lama in that regard, confronting Rabten with his wrong statements he made in his videos (quoting some of them) and then to ask Prof Mills as a researcher and anthropologist what his views on this issue are. Then it becomes obvious that Rabten is a nut case in what he is claiming. It would reveal that he holds extremist and fundamentalist, wrong views that do not accord with reality but with his fantasy only. I think this would be useful. But it needs some preparation and quotes he made otherwise he might to want to fiddle around. A reasonable person with some good questions, maybe this could awaken him a bit.
      
      It will be in all ways interesting because there will be a clash of reality.
20

Joanne on August 6, 2014 at 11:03 pm
Reply

I just realized that this event is only going to go for two hours. Is that right? That seems barely enough time for the greetings and well-wishes. How on earth are five such speakers going to get anything significant achieved in two hours?
- 21
  
  tenpel on August 6, 2014 at 11:09 pm
  Reply
  
  Check here. Prof Mills is also speaking (very good!). You can do quite something in those two hours:
22

tenpel on August 7, 2014 at 11:19 am
Reply

That this is just the first in a proposed series of roundtables.

Each speaker talks for 10 minutes. Then there are open questions from the floor and the moderator chooses who should answer them.

It might be good that people go there and prepare some questions. NKT will do what ever they can to appear there as “independent Buddhists”, “neutral observers”, “impartial observers”, “independent journalists” or “concerned Buddhists” in order to establish their imagined reality as fact.

I know one case where the NKT applies this tactic: an open Buddhist house with open groups and courses, then an “impartial observer” asks a question with respect to Shugden, the course leader replies and the “impartial observer” tries to get the course leader into a manipulative discussion about Shugden, throwing complex things like the CIA etc into it …
23

tenpel on August 7, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Reply

Surprise, surprise: The self-appointed “independent journalist” indyhack (quite likely Kelsang Rabten) chose to denounce Dr Nathan W. Hill:

http://arebuddhistsracist.com/soas_university.html
- 24
  
  jigmeyeshe on August 7, 2014 at 9:17 pm
  Reply
  
  Here they also denounce Martin Mills and Thierry Dodin..
  http://arebuddhistsracist.com/human_rights.html
  - 25
    
    tenpel on August 7, 2014 at 9:21 pm
    Reply
    
    OK, then maybe I am not too bad either:
    http://arebuddhistsracist.com/the_german_buddhist_monastic_association.html
  - 26
    
    tenpel on August 7, 2014 at 9:30 pm
    Reply
    
    As far as I can see only Kelsang Rabten is qualified. The SOAS can be so happy that Kelsang Rabten honours them with a visit 😉
    Let’s keep some humor 🙂
    - 27
      
      Sam Hoff on August 7, 2014 at 10:30 pm
      Reply
      
      I hope someone asks Rabten about that website.
  - 28
    
    tenpel on August 8, 2014 at 10:43 am
    Reply
    
    The debate about Human Rights is useful.
    
    Martin Mills investigated it extensively in his 2003 paper (which is now online). What the “independent journalist”, IndyHack (quite likely Rabten) totally misses is the knowledge of a Tibetologist, historian, anthropologist and the capability to reflect and to see his own bias. He himself is of course also not a human rights expert (not to speak about IndyHack’s qualification as a journalist where there is not any proof that he has any qualification or worked as such) but IndyHack is quick to draw conclusion that all academics he lists on this website are not qualified to speak about Human Rights, and his own “qualification” tells hims that the “Dalai Lama may be sued in the US and how International human rights laws apply to this issue.” He ignores the fact that the India Delhi High Court rejected in 2011 to even start a law case due to lack of evidence. Now the US will do it?
    
    The Shugden conflict started when there were a lot of problems in the Gelug monasteries. Traditionally, in such cases the Dalai Lama (who is seen as their spiritual leader) is asked for the reasons and what to do. This is a very long established tradition and a commonly accepted procedure. When he investigated he found out that the problems derive from Shugden practice. Fearing to upset some he addressed the cause in a rather indirect way (not mentioning Shugden explicitly) but then Shugden people started to lie and to claim things that were untrue (like after the Dalai Lama said that he gave up Shugden practice that he would practice it secretly). The Dalai Lama discussed the issue at that time also with two Professors from the West and all three came to the conclusion that a ban is unacceptable and no solution. On the one hand, the Dalai Lama was asked and is seen as the spiritual authority whose spiritual advice is commonly accepted, on the other hand Shugden people couldn’t accept his advice and the relating back of trouble in the monasteries to Shugden. From the very beginning, the Dalai Lama stressed, that individuals can practice Shugden. On the institutional level he recommended to stop it and finally via the Stick Referendum (which is a procedure according to the Vinaya) the majority of the monks in the monastery voted against Shugden practice in their places. (Of course, it is more complex and there are more things to be considered here.) The key point is that there are restrictions at certain places/institutions (in the case of the monasteries based on majority vote) and that there is freedom to practice it individually and at other places (like the own Shugden monasteries).
    
    Its the right of every religious institution to ban practices they see as wrong. Its the right of every spiritual leader to advice against certain practices. The rights of the individual have not been violated because Shugden adherents can practice it (and they do).
    
    The problem is rather, that Shugden practitioners are shunned by the society. This is very sad. And the causes for this situation lies (in my eyes) on both sides. However, the NKT Western Shugden movement only contributes to make the things worse, there is not any constructiveness. The CTA or the Dalai Lama, however, could state in public that it is a violation of civil rights if certain shop owners exclude (by their own will not because the CTA asked them) Shugden followers from buying in their shops. It is overdue to ease the tensions and to make some reasonable moves that pacify the situation in India. The list of Tibetan Shugden protesters who attended the recent anti Dalai Lama protests at the CTA website is a step backward and not forward.
    
    On the other hand, the organized Shugden people (and especially the NKT) are quite fanatical and it is hard to find a reasonable approach with fanatics. Maybe, Elton John gave it the right words: “Its a sad sad situation and its getting more and more absurd.”
    
    I hope the SOAS series will contribute to a better understanding or some constructive ideas and actions.
29

Khedrup on August 8, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Reply

I hope that copies of IndyHack’s tar and feather articles against Prof. Mills, Hayden, Thierry Dodin and all are printed and given to them during the panel discussion, so they can directly respond to the silly allegations.
These articles also demonstrate that the NKT has already written off the dialogue, so is not entering into in good faith. Not a proper basis for the negotiation and agreement they claim to be seeking through their increasingly hysterical protests, claims and propaganda.
30

Khedrup on August 8, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Reply

I have also heard that John McBretney wanted to attend the SOAS talk, and in fact also wanted to be a panelist, but the NKT had to choose one and in the end they picked Rabten.

I suspect, though, that John might turn up at the SOAS discussion. If he does, I’d love for someone to ask him what his problem is with Muslims? On the internet recently it was revealed that John penned and signed his name to the “Saffron-robed Muslim” letter:

The Saffron-robed Muslim? NKT Religious Discrimination Revealed!
—————————————
I have just uncovered a copy of the original NKT protest booklet, that was handed out during the 2008 protests in England. Surprisingly, this PDF was still tucked away in the files of the western shugden society website. There was no longer a link to this PDF from the main page, but through some clever use of google I was able to find it.
On page 14, you will notice these words:
“All these horrible situations have developed through the power of your evil actions. This is our valid evidence to prove that you are not Buddhist. Because of this, we also believe that you [HHDL] are the saffron robed Muslim.”
The NKT are saying that the Dalai Lama is not a real Buddhist and that he is actually a Saffron-robed Muslim. This is very offensive to His Holiness, and also to all Muslims as their religion is being used as a derogatory name for His Holiness. This is not the behaviour of sincere Buddhists to speak such words, and it is disgraceful.
Here is the link: http://www.westernshugdensociety.org/files/tibetan_situation.pdf
I have already made a copy of this ebook and it will be uploaded elsewhere on the internet, so there is no point in the NKT taking it down, if you are reading this any NKTers. I have not put words in your mouth, this is a direct quote from your ebook, which is authenticated by the fact that the very link is from your own protest website.
31

Khedrup on August 8, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Reply

The list of speakers for the SOAS event has now changed, I guess NKT insisted on having more panelists. So John McBretney is now a panelist.
Someone please ask him about his racist remarks regarding Muslims, and why he used allegations of Muslimhood as a way to attack the Dalai Lama.
32

Khedrup on August 8, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Reply

New list of SOAS speakers and topics:
http://www.soas.ac.uk/cia/tibetanstudies/events/15aug2014-the-shugden-controversy-and-the-14th-dalai-lama.html

Kelsang Rabten (International Shugden Community): ‘Refuting the claim of Tenzin Gyatso as an authentic Dalai Lama’
Geshe Tashi Tsering (Jamyang Buddhist Centre): ‘Refuting the claim of Dugyal (Shugden) as a protector in the Tsongkhapa tradition’
Carol McQuire (former member of New Kadampa Tradition): ‘Shugden ‘practitioners’ or Shugden ‘followers?’
Dr Martin A. Mills (University of Aberdeen): ‘Human rights and the Shugden ban amongst Himalayan communities’
Thierry Dodin: TBC
John McBretney (International Shugden Community): ‘The suffering of Shugden Buddhists within the Tibetan Exile Community, and the Dalai Lama’s role in this
- 33
  
  tenpel on August 8, 2014 at 5:44 pm
  Reply
  
  Upated it with the free ticket link:
  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-dorje-shugden-controversy-and-the-14th-dalai-lama-tickets-12409026733
34

tenpel on August 8, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Reply

I wonder again, if any dialogue with them is possible.

Here they send (which is an act of aggression in my eyes) unrequested material about Shugden to 61 individuals. Many centers and individuals have received such material without any request and will throw it away. What a waste of time, energy and money. It serves nothing than the own ego:

http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/an-unexpected-blessing-and-gift/
- 35
  
  jigmeyeshe on August 8, 2014 at 6:19 pm
  Reply
  
  http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/the-shugden-controversy-a-panel-discussion/
- 36
  
  Joanne on August 8, 2014 at 11:24 pm
  Reply
  
  How can dialogue be possible with individuals who intentionally deceive?
37

tenpel on August 10, 2014 at 11:44 am
Reply

I think the SOAS conference might become in some respects problematic:
1) one offers fringe theorists (ICS/NKT Rabten & McBretney) a public forum and makes them acceptable on the society level.
2) The videos and material ICS spread demonstrates that they are not able to dialogue but issuing forth aggressively distorting propaganda – the material is demagogic (!) and the material is skilfully twisting facts. So far not any scientist has taken responsibility to investigate their material and to untangle this propaganda and usually scientists don’t pay attention either too much on such material.
3) The ICS will use the panel as a platform for their demagogic propaganda and it is questionable if it is really possible to guide that meeting.
4) The conference gives the self-acclaimed importance of an anoymous(!) group weight – maybe too much weight.
5) In an academic institution non academic material can be propounded.

I don’t know, the conference seem to be well intended but maybe also quite naive.
As you see, though initially I supported this idea, some serious doubts come up …

With respect to the “false Dalai Lama” talk by Rabten, this is laughable at an university. With respect to McBretney’s and the ICS’s claim of “the suffering of Shugden people” and human rights abuses, actual this is a denigration of the REAL suffering of those whose human rights are abused and who are tortured, murdered, imprisoned, killed etc. Not any Shugden person has been tortured, killed, imprisoned, they can freely travel, get their passport documents, they have access to the Indian court, they can sue the CTA, they can sue the Dalai Lama (and they tried and the court refused their claims); they have access to schools and education. Not any of these rights are denied. In some cases civil rights have been violated but there is no policy by the CTA to impose such.

The NKT/ICS are a highly aggressive, self-serving propaganda group, that exaggerate the own sufferings that are laughable in the light of the real sufferings of so many in this world. Never ever has the NKT and their front groups, like the ICS, engaged to do anything that is not related to them but really out of concern of the suffering of others that do not belong to the own idendity. The whole campaign is therefore a real expression of a group narcissism, that can be promoted and staged now at the SOAS.

I wish good luck for the meeting, nevertheless, I doubt, that it will be productive or constructive. Another point is: why is only ONE Tibetan speaking there? Is Shugden a Western problem? Do Westerners have the authority to speak about Tibetan problems or are Westerners again patronizing Tibetans, speaking on their behalf as if Tibetans were incapable of speaking for themselves? Maybe it would be good to invite a caliber as Jamyang Norbu, so that there are at least two Tibetans …

Sorry. But maybe it is good also to look from a less enthusiastic angle on it 😉
38

Joanne on August 10, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Reply

Tenzin, I totally agree with all your points. As an FYI to everyone, I have started a blogsite on all of this. I have observed the Shugdenpas tactic of putting their point of view on many online venues, in order to give a perception of it being widespread, so I thought it would not hurt to have some repetition on our side. My intention is only to address the campaign against the Dalai Lama– particularly to expose the deceit. So any contributions are welcome! The web address is http://www.dalailamabigtruth.com So far, I’ve only put up one blog, which is a dressed-up version of something I’ve already posted here.
39

Sam Hoff on August 10, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Reply

Tulkus are almost never the literal rebirth of the previous person. It seems only clueless westerners take it literally. The famous picking of the objects by the Dalai Lamas is purely ritualistic.

Dudjom Rinpoche, for example, attained rainbow body. So how can a Buddha have a rebirth?

There are bardo procedures for anyone to be reborn as a tulku. That’s mean you and I can be reborn as tulkus.
40

tenpel on August 11, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Reply

Update
There are some changes in the format. The participation in discussion will be timed and held only between the speakers on the panel. There will be NO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

I think that change of the structure is well done and contributes to a constructive atmosphere.
41

TDamdul on August 12, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Reply

http://www.reting.org/openletter.html

“Is it to be that the 14th Dalai Lama will be the one who gives in to Shugden, who takes the soft way out of dealing with the problem, who allows those who have faith in him to fall to the lower realms because the repercussions of the truth may debase his own temporal power? Will you pay just lip service to this matter without exposing the real truth?”

Reting Rinpoche versus Taktra Rinpoche and more – Turbulent times just before Communist invasion.
(Refuting ‘Tenzing Gyatso” as the authentic Dalai Lama has its origins with Taktra Rinpoche’s (political) group. They had their own candidate. Just thought this would be helpful in understanding Kelsang Rabten’s talk)
42

tenpel on August 13, 2014 at 12:13 am
Reply

The two sides of New Kadampa Tradition and Gen Kelsang Rabten – NKT-IKBU National Spiritual Director for New Zealand and Australia who is currently residing in Hong Kong as the NKT’s Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Centre Hong Kong.

• Examination of Bad Conduct

Deceivers, well-mannered and smooth talking;
Should not be trusted until scrutinized.
Peacocks have lovely forms and pleasing calls,
But their food is extremely poisonous.

• Commentary: The beautiful, well-groomed appearance of those who deceive others is pleasing simply to behold. One is enchanted upon hearing their suave words.

But they are not to be trusted until they have been thoroughly investigated; they must be identified as cunning, bad-natured people, always sizing up others.

The peacock possesses a beautiful rainbow-hued body and a very sweet voice, but its food is a powerful poison found in dangerous, precipitous places.

Sakya Pandita

Verse 152 • Ordinary Wisdom • Sakya Pandita’s Treasury of Good Advice • Translated by John T. Davenport • Foreword by His Holiness Sakya Trizin • Wisdom Publications • 2000 • Boston

Gen Rabten is a pure disciple who has trained under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for more than fifteen years. His deep faith in Kadam Dharma and the sincerity of his practice are deeply entwined within his teachings, inspiring many people to embark on a meaningful and rich spiritual life.
43

tenpel on August 13, 2014 at 12:44 am
Reply

UPDATE

The whole discussion will be recorded and publish on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/LondonNey/videos. You can subscribe to this channel, so you will be notified when they are uploaded and ready for watch.
44

tenpel on August 14, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Reply

Update

Live stream: http://www.livestream.com/tibetan?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=ui-play&utm_campaign=click-bait&utm_content=tibetan
45

Joanne on August 14, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Reply

When I picture Rabten standing up there in front of adults, in front of academics, so that he can provide “research” proving that the Dalai Lama is not the Dalai Lama, my mind just shuts down– it feels like watching one of my kids’ plays when they were in a really bizarre, silly mood– except in this case, no one will be laughing. I imagine a sort of stunned silence will greet him when he’s finished, as if to say, Are you for real?
- 46
  
  tenpel on August 14, 2014 at 7:07 pm
  Reply
  
  Maybe someone has a good sense of humor.
  
  Humor is the best cure (dictators hate it if people laugh about them, or just if people laugh. It irritates them. Humor doesn’t fit the narrow cosmos of a true fanatic, they take themselves too seriously – a result of an over-strong ego and clinging. This can happen also to a non fanatic, when you take yourself and your views and ideas too seriously. That’s why, humor IS CURE.)
  
  Maybe the best is if people start to laugh when Rabten explains his theory about “the false Dalai Lama”. As if this were a comedy show and he wants to entertain people. 😉
  
  “I have never once in my life seen a fanatic with a sense of humor, nor have I ever seen a person with a sense of humor become a fanatic, unless he or she has lost that sense of humor. Fanatics are often sarcastic. Some of them have a very pointed sense of sarcasm, but no humor. Humor contains the ability to laugh at ourselves. Humor is relativism, humor is the ability to see yourself as others may see you, humor is the capacity to realize that no matter how righteous you are and how terribly wronged you have been, there is a certain side to life that is always a bit funny. The more right you are, the funnier you become.”
  
  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65260.How_to_Cure_a_Fanatic
  (pages 88-99, see comment section, I didn’t read it)
  - 47
    
    Ani Tsultrim on August 16, 2014 at 2:21 pm
    Reply
    
    How true, Tenpel: I imagine a group of 400 or so Dalai Lama supporters facing demonstrators, with a megaphone of their own, and just laughing. That’s all, just laughing. Loudly. It makes me giggle just to think about it.
48

Sahaja on August 16, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Reply

I wonder why only NKT/ISC people representing the Shugden point of view? There are other lamas and groups who continue to practice Shugden – though many of them don’t seem to want to have much to do with GKG or the NKT/ISC (nor GKG and the NKT with them)
- 49
  
  tenpel on August 16, 2014 at 2:14 pm
  Reply
  
  Its a bit like in the school; the attention goes to those who are the noisiest and most aggressive.
  
  The ICS’s dominance in this matter is coming from the attention by the media and based on their highly professional and expensive media campaign and protests. And the media attention is derived from the fact that the ICS/NKT people are surfing in the wind shadow of the fame of the Dalai Lama. Its just too attractive to the media, “spectacular” 😉 Now, if the NKT/ICS dominate the debate whom do you think people will invite to speak? The NKT had the chance to appoint a Tibetan Shugden practitioner to the SOAS conference but because they are not truly speaking for Tibetans they nominated two of their own people.
50

Thoughts & Observations: The SOAS Panel Discussion “The Shugden Controversy and the 14th Dalai Lama” – Part 1 | Tibetan Buddhism :: Struggling With Diffi·Cult Issues on August 16, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Reply

[…] about “The Shugden Controversy and the 14th Dalai Lama”. This blog discussed it a bit here (see comment section). I would like to write a review and add some thoughts, comments and […]
51

Ani Tsultrim on August 16, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Reply

I do hope there will be follow-up SOAS panels. Next time, I would hope that the moderators would stop the presenters if they veer off their stated topic. I was unhappy that Rabten was allowed to change the subject, so to speak. But isn’t that the way propagandists operate? Lie, deflect, mislead, change the subject, and control. The NKT always seeks to control the conversation, no matter where it takes place–in the centers, in the street, on the internet. Fortunately, there are more and more people speaking out against their propaganda, and will continue to do so.
- 52
  
  tenpel on August 16, 2014 at 2:54 pm
  Reply
  
  Well said. Well said. I totally agree.

	tenpel on Karmapa Agrees to Multimillion…
	Stardust on Whitewashing, Dishonesty &…
	tenpel on Whitewashing, Dishonesty &…
	anonymous on Whitewashing, Dishonesty &…
	Alan J.W. on Whitewashing, Dishonesty &…
	tenpel on Karmapa Agrees to Multimillion…
	anonymous on Whitewashing, Dishonesty &…
	Tim on Whitewashing, Dishonesty &…

The Shugden Controversy and the 14th Dalai Lama

Updates

Rate this:

Share this:

Like this:

Related