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Dalai Lama protesters arrive at Lehigh campus

Sun, 2008-07-13 04:26 — ABN

See also this: His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Advice Concerning Dolgyal (Shugden). ABN
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By Genevieve Marshall | Of The Morning Call
July 13, 2008

Hundreds of Buddhists, some in monastic red and gold robes, gathered behind plastic orange fencing outside Stabler Arena on Saturday, chanting angrily and waving signs at the people who attended the Dalai Lama's lectures.

The thousands who purchased tickets to hear the world's most famous monk speak were confronted with masses yelling, ''Dalai Lama, stop lying!'' and ''Dalai Lama, give religious freedom!'' as they headed outdoors for lunch.

A few hundred members of the Western Shugden Society were the first protesters to appear at Lehigh University since the Dalai Lama arrived in Bethlehem last week. A spokeswoman said they believe the Dalai Lama oppresses Buddhists who worship the deity Dorje Shugden.

LINK TO ORIGINAL

Comments

Tue, 2008-07-15 04:57 — dspak08

For more information on the protests

For more information on the protests, your readers can visit the following websites which explain the situation in detail:

www.westernshugdensociety.org
www.wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.org

The Dalai Lama is a global advocate for human rights and religious freedom. The only thing the protesters are asking for is that he practice what he preaches in his own backyard by lifting his ban on the centuries-old practice of relying upon Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden

dspak08

Tue, 2008-07-15 05:06 — ABN

The question I have is why

The question I have is why haven't you guys just cooled it for this one season, which is so important for the Tibetan people? The Olympic Games will have come and gone in little over a month. Why not give it a rest for a few months to give the Dalai Lama and others a better chance in succeeding with China and the world community?

Tue, 2008-07-15 13:15 — Lineageholder

RE: The question I have is why

Hi there,

The answer is that the Dalai Lama has set the agenda for this. In February 2008 he expelled 900 monks from their monastery for practising Dorje Shugden. These monks don't have resources and it was felt that it extremely urgent to get the Dalai Lama to revoke his ban on the practice and allow the monks to return. The Western Shugden Society wrote to the Dalai Lama asking him to allow the monks to return to their monastery but he never replied. WSS made it clear that demonstrations would follow unless positive actions was taken but there was no reply, hence these demonstrations now. The Dalai Lama has it within his power to stop the demonstrations by engaging in dialogue with representatives of the WSS but so far there has been no reply to any communication.

Tue, 2008-07-15 15:49 — ABN

Even if all of what you say

Even if all of what you say is 100% true, by demonstrating now you are still putting yourselves above the needs of millions of Tibetans. It's fine to demonstrate and disagree with the Dalai Lama, but it still seems selfish to me to do so now when it is so close to the Olympics. Why not just cool it for a few months, stand back and let the world focus on the needs of millions of Tibetan people?

Fri, 2008-07-18 01:11 — Lineageholder

The future of Buddhism

I understand what you say and I do sympathize with the plight of the Tibetans. It would be wonderful if they could fulfill their wishes. However, there is something bigger at stake here: The future of Buddhism in this world. The Dalai Lama is shaping Tibetan Buddhism according to his own ideas. It began in 1961 when he tried to become the supreme head of all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. This move was rebuffed by the thirteen Tibetan settlements under the leadership of the 16th Karmarpa. The Dalai Lama has split the Kagyu school of Buddhism by interfering in the process of choosing the karma, the result of which has been two candidates. The Dalai Lama has similarly split the Gelugpa school over the Dorje Shugden issue. His real intention is to weaken the schools and bring them under control and complete the plan that he hatched in 1961.

Already many people think of him as the foremost leader of Buddhism in this world, even the 'Pope' of Buddhism and he has a lot of power to charm people. However, the danger is he is using his position to degenerate Buddhism. He is destroying the very tradition that he is giving teachings from. Buddha Shakyamuni said that Buddhism could only be destroyed from the inside and this is what is happening now. Someone has to take a stand and the Western Shugden Society are doing this. While I do sympathise with the Tibetan cause, Buddha's teachings are a perfect antidote for all suffering. If they degenerate there will be no path to freedom (Nirvana) for the people of this world. In my mind, this issue overshadows everything else.

Fri, 2008-07-18 08:12 — ABN

You say: "However, there is

You say: "However, there is something bigger at stake here: The future of Buddhism in this world."

Surely, holding off on your protests for a few months would have little or no bearing on "The future of Buddhism in this world."

Even if we accept your claims that the Dalai Lama "is using his position to degenerate Buddhism" or that "he is destroying the very tradition that he is giving teachings from," which I do not, you still have not shown why you can't just cool it for a few months and let the Tibetan people have center stage till the Olympics are over.

Surely mature religion is as advanced as mature politics? You must be able to see the wisdom of taking a back seat at least once in a while. Tibetans have been suffering for over fifty years. This is their first big chance to be on or near the center of the world stage. The Dalai Lama, for better or worse, is by far their best spokesperson. Why not just cool it till September and let the world, as much as it is able, focus on them?

I fully respect your group and believe you have the right to protest as much as you want and for whatever it is you want. But I still strongly believe that it would be better for Tibet if you would just be quiet for a few months. I also believe that it would be better for you.