His Holiness the Dalai Lama: As Buddhists we don’t take spirits as objects of refuge. We take refuge in the Three Jewels.

Collated Comments His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made about Dolgyal 2015
Long Life Empowerment and North American Long Life Offering in Gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
New York, USA, 10 July 2015
His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “You’ve asked me to do something and now I’ll ask you to something in return. You alluded to the Shugden problem. This is not a new story. It goes back to the 5th Dalai Lama. Inauspicious events took place then, as they did again during the 13th Dalai Lama’s time. The concerned spirit describes itself as the ‘perfidious spirit of the Gelugpa’. Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

In Response to the Shugden Protestors’ Allegations

Some recent visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America, Europe and Australia have attracted protests from a vocal group calling themselves members of the International Shugden Community. Carrying banners and shouting defamatory slogans, such as “False Dalai Lama, stop lying,” these protestors appeared intent on denigrating the name of the Dalai Lama. As such, their activities have become a source of concern for millions of Tibetans and Buddhists worldwide. In particular, to the Tibetans inside Tibet, who struggle to save their culture, language and identity under difficult circumstances, the sight of their revered spiritual leader being subjected to insults is a source of deep sadness. (Nonetheless, at gatherings of Tibetans in Vancouver, Birmingham, Boston, and New York in October/November 2014, His Holiness advised Tibetans not to feel angry towards the Shugden protestors.) Continue reading »

One of the principal reasons why His Holiness the Dalai Lama advises against this practice is because of the well-documented sectarianism associated with it.

Clarifying His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Stand on Dolgyal/Shugden

12 July 2015
On 7th July, the final day of official celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday in Orange County, California, representatives of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (OHHDL) invited the International Shugden Community (ISC) to meet and explain what they are accusing His Holiness of lying about. The office is concerned that many among the Shugden protestors may be poorly informed about the Shugden issue and His Holiness’s stand with regard to it. The office’s intention is less to try to convince those who already understand the issue but continue to protest, and more to reach out to those who have been misinformed about it. Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: I began to advise people about Dolgyal, making clear that how they responded was up to them. I did not insist on what others might do. Many Tibetans and Westerners understood the history of the practice and stopped doing it. There were several great masters who staunchly opposed the Dolgyal practice in the past (…).

Collated Comments His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made about Dolgyal 2014

Final Day of Lam Rim Teachings at Ganden Jangtse Monastery
Mundgod, Karnataka, India, 28 December 2014

The description of hungry ghosts, that their mouths are like the eye of a needle, while their necks and throats are as thin as the needle, reminded His Holiness of the case of a Namgyal Monastery monk called Choenze Goshak who was born as such a spirit. He was someone who often used to visit Trijang Rinpoche when His Holiness was at the Norbulingka in Tibet. The Namgyal Monastery chant master intervened and asked Trijang Rinpoche what had happened. It seems Choenze Goshak favoured some spirit to whom a shrine was dedicated and prepared some small shoes to offer there. As a result, when he died, although it may have seemed that the spirit was helping him, in fact he ended up being reborn in the retinue of that spirit. Continue reading »

Who better to reveal the truth than we who were once inside the organisation?

Declaration concerning the demonstrations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama

We, the undersigned, as former members of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT), and ex-practitioners of Dorje Shugden, are appalled and saddened that those who were once our NKT sangha demonstrate against and defame His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Inaccuracies and distortions of what we know to be the truth have been published as fact. Continue reading »

Since 1978, the religious leader of the Tibetan people has been publicly emphasizing that the invocation of Shugden has degenerated to a cult practice with strongly sectarian characteristics...

Statement of the German Buddhist Monastic Association (DBO) on the Protests against the Dalai Lama by the International Shugden Community (ISC)

Berlin, Schneverdingen, Hannover
, May 1st, 2014

, The Deutsche Buddhistische Ordensgemeinschaft (DBO) formally dissociates itself from the protests against the Dalai Lama, which are being staged worldwide, and also in Frankfurt (Main). The DBO remains of the conviction that opinions among Buddhists should be expressed in a peaceful, respectful, truthful and reasonable manner. The DBO is very concerned about the protesters’ aggressive, misleading and unethical behaviour and the false image being presented by them to the public. The DBO emphasizes that the protesters belonging to the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) are no Buddhist monks Continue reading »

The Dalai Lama And The Cult Of Dolgyal Shugden by Robert Thurman

Ever since 1997, when, according to detailed Indian police investigations, pseudo-monks who infiltrated to Dharamsala from China murdered the Venerable Lobsang Gyatso, a noted lama close to the Dalai Lama, and his two young disciples, the cult of the Dolgyal-Shugden spirit has been on the attack. The well-evidenced culprits were not tried as they escaped back into Tibet and China, but the cult continued its campaign at the behest of, and with substantial funding from, the United Front department of the People’s Republic of China, the agency handling relations with non-Chinese “minority nationalities.” The futile effort of the cult backed by the agency seeks to alienate Tibetans from the Dalai Lama, their beloved leader and even to turn world public opinion against the acclaimed Nobel Laureate and Gandhi heir. The final aim is to disrupt the Dalai Lama’s fifty-year-long nonviolent “truth and justice” campaign, to free the six million Tibetan people to be themselves in the special autonomous minority region offered them by the Chinese constitution, so far only on paper. Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Speech to an Audience Dominated by Tibetans from Tibet on 27 March 2006 During  the Spring Teachings in Dharamsala.

I thought that I would talk to you about the Dolgyal issue. Actually, I have already spoken a great deal about this over a period of time and, therefore, most of you know about it. Not just know about it, but also, regarding inside Tibet-which includes the U-Tsang region Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: (…) The problem with Dolgyal practice is that it presents the spirit Dolgyal (Shugden) as a Dharma protector and what’s more tends to promote the spirit as more important than the Buddha himself. If this trend goes unchecked, and innocent people become seduced by cult-like practices of this kind, the danger is that the rich tradition of Tibetan Buddhism may degenerate into the mere propitiation of spirits.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Advice Concerning Dolgyal (Shugden)

Following long and careful investigations, His Holiness the Dalai Lama strongly discourages Tibetan Buddhists from propitiating the fierce spirit known as Dolgyal (Shugden). Although he once practised Dolgyal propitiation himself, His Holiness renounced the practice in 1975 after discovering the profound historical, social and religious problems associated with it. He did so with the full knowledge and support of his junior tutor, the late Kyabje Trichang Rinpoche through whom His Holiness first became associated with the practice. Even within the Geluk and Sakya schools – the Tibetan Buddhist traditions to which majority of Dolgyal practitioners belong – the propitiation of this spirit has been controversial throughout its history. Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Even when dealing with the instruction of the Buddha, we are taught not to follow it blindly.

We meet here today with Ganden Tri Rinpoche, the representative of Jamgon Gyalwa (Lama Tsong Khapa), chiefly gracing us with his presence. The abbots representing the three seats of Sera, Drepung, Ganden, as well as those of Tashi Lhunpo, Gyuto and Gyumei tantric colleges have joined us; as have abbots and former abbots who are here on behalf of the various other Gelug monasteries. It seems though that the Manali representative has not been able to join us though (laughter). Anyway, as well as all of these guests I also have been able to attend this Gelug conference.The organisation of these international Gelug conferences and the general concern for the maintenance and promotion of the teaching is admirable. I would like to thank all of you for your concern and for having put in such hard work. Continue reading »

H.H. the Dalai Lama: Concerning Dolgyal with Reference to the Views of Past Masters and other Related Matters

A talk on Dolgyal by H.H. the Dalai Lama during the course of religious teachings in Dharamsala, October 1997
There may be many among you who have never been involved in the practice of Dolgyal at all. In many other cases, you may have practised it in the past, but have later given it up. With the hope of strengthening your sense of conviction about this, I have brought here some statements made by lamas in the past. I am going to read them out to you. Continue reading »

The Fifth Dalai Lama: It is well known that at Dhol Chumig Karmo a very powerful perfidious interfering spirit [Shugten] born due to distorted prayers, has been harming the teaching of the Buddha and sentient beings in general and in particular.

Shugten-Dolgyal Historical References: The Fifth Dalai Lama, Trichen Ngawang Chokdhen (1677-1751), Phurchok Ngawang Jampa (1682 – 1762), Yongzin Yeshi Gyaltsen (1713 – 1793), Thukan Lobsang Choekyi Nyima (1737–1802), Phabongkhapa Dechen Nyingpo (1878–1941), Jigme Dhamchoe Gyatso (1898–1947).

Folio 157 (front and back) of the autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682) called Dukulai Gosang, Volume Kha, Lhasa Publication:
It is well known that at Dhol Chumig Karmo [1] a very powerful perfidious interfering spirit (dam sri)[2,] born due to distorted prayers, has been harming the teaching of the Buddha and sentient beings in general and in particular. The harmful activity has intensified since the firebird year (1657) and (the spirit) has been successful in many of his missions. However, hardly anyone has taken any action, as if this did not concern him or her. So, at the end of the earth-bird year (1669) a new house was constructed at Dhol Chumig Karmo and articles were placed there in the hope that it would become a place for the Gyalpo to settle. However, his harmful activities only intensified and recently many lay and ordained people have been afflicted with diseases and a few monks have died. Therefore, all the monks unanimously decided that a fire ritual should be performed. Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Until we reach a point where we understand the most inconceivable secrets, we must go along with what conventionally appears to us as disciples.His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Until we reach a point where we understand the most inconceivable secrets, we must go along with what conventionally appears to us as disciples.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: position of protectors.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama made the following remarks clarifying the position of protectors in the Gelugpa tradition during an explanation of the Offering to the Spiritual Master at the main temple in Dharamsala to a large gathering of Tibetan and Western disciples in 1986.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama “..Concerning the Gelugpa protectors, there are protectors of the people of the three scopes: Mahakala, Vaishravana and Kalarupa. In the centre of the row is six armed Mahakala, the wrathful aspect of Avalokiteshvara, who protects practitioners of highest scope. Continue reading »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama: "Propitiating Dolgyal does great harm to the cause of Tibet...”

Kashag’s Statement Concerning Dolgyal

(Cabinet of the Tibetan Government in Exile – Dharamsala – May 31, 1996)

After nearly forty years in exile under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the chances of achieving our goal of freedom for Tibet continues to improve. Tibetans stand out among all the refugees in the world for their unique achievements. This is no doubt the result of the Tibetan people’s courage and perseverance in attempting to restore the freedom of their country, which they enjoyed for more than two thousand years of its recorded history. However, we are yet to achieve the ultimate triumph. Obstructive factors of various kinds, emanating from beings of both the form and formless realms, continue to hinder our efforts. Continue reading »

The Chinese government’s politically-motivated support to a handful of Shugden activists and their disinformation campaigns in Tibet ...

The Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies’ Resolutions

Resolutions Passed Unanimously  in June 1996. (Parliament in Exile)

1. In the interest of Buddhism and the Tibetan national cause, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has openly advised against the propitiation of Shugden.On behalf of the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet, the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies would like to express our thanks and gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and make a pledge that we will abide by his every advice. Continue reading »

HH the 100th Ganden Tri Rinpoche, Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche

Contemporary Scholars – The 100th Ganden Tripa (Ganden Throneholder)

Statement of His Eminence The 100^th Ganden Tri Rinpoche (Head Of the Gelugpa Sect) regarding the worship of gods and protectors

As stated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his recent speeches regarding the worship of gods and protectors, the six major monasteries summoned gatherings at every level – monastic assembly, monastic administrators, monastic sections, individual monks – wherever deemed necessary. Continue reading »

The Shugden Affair: Origins of a Controversy (Part I) (Written by Georges Dreyfus)

In recent years the community of Tibetan Buddhists has been agitated by an intense dispute concerning the practice of a controversial deity, Gyel-chen Dor-je Shuk-den (rgyal chen rdo rje shugs ldan). Several Tibetan monks have been brutally murdered, Continue reading »

Keeping the Ge-luk Tradition Pure – The Shugden Affair: Origins of a Controversy (Part II) (Written by Georges Dreyfus)

We now begin to understand the main message of the founding myth of the Shuk-den practice. Continue reading »