Dalai Lama Events
Extracts from FPMT Websites
Extracts from FPMT Websites:
The Dalai Lama speaking in Zurich, August 12th 2005.
‘Some of you might know, some not, that in the Tibetan tradition there is a practice of a deity who is called Dorje Shugden, that some are following this practice, practising veneration of this deity, and that I am against this practice because it goes against my principles and those of the Dalai Lamas.
‘I am asking people who want to take initiation from me to let go of this practice and this deity.
‘The ones who want to keep their practice of Shugden should not attend any further events or ceremonies in which a teacher-disciple relationship is established with me. This is something each person has to decide for him/herself. Each person has to take care of this themselves. From my side, I don’t want this relationship to be established if it is the case that the person is keeping up the Shugden practice. I myself would engage in contradiction to the commitments I have had towards the previous Dalai Lamas, especially toward the 5th Dalai Lama, and therefore I request that if any of you are practicing Shugden for you not to attend the initiations. I have explained the reasons why I am against the veneration of Shugden and given my sources in a very detailed manner.’
From a letter by Lama Zopa, Spiritual Director of the FPMT, to Lozang Jinpa, private secretary to the Dalai Lama, April 2001:
‘The FPMT Board of Directors has just made a policy regarding the practice of Shugden.
‘FPMT will not invite anyone who practices this as a resident teacher or a visiting teacher. Of course sometimes it is difficult to say if someone is hiding the practice. Can you please inform His Holiness of this.’
From a talk given by Lama Zopa at Instituto Lama Tsong Khapa, Italy, 22nd October 2000.
Lama Zopa reads from a letter he is writing to Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, explaining about the qualities of the Dalai Lama and how we can trust the Dalai Lama’s advice not to practise Shugden. Also how to practise guru devotion, and how to give up the practice without criticizing the guru.
From a talk given by Lama Zopa at Aryatara Institute, Germany, 7th April 2001
‘Then, I want to specify one extra point, on the basis of the usual examination that is explained in the teachings. I want to add that, if you are making a new Dharma connection with a teacher, you should examine to make sure that that teacher is not someone who is against His Holiness the Dalai Lama, particularly with respect to the practice of the being called Dholgyel or Shugden. These days, that’s an extra analysis you should make. In that way, you’ll avoid problems in the future…’