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Protesting on the Avenue of the Americas
There’s something wrong with the picture outside Radio City Music Hall. On July 17, 2008, supporters of the Dalai Lama attacked a peaceful and legal demonstration organized by the Western Shugden Society. Inside, just moments before, these same supporters, some paying upwards of a $1000.00 per seat, listened to the Dalai Lama lecture on compassion and religious freedom.
When peaceful demonstrators are attacked by an angry mob, I am reminded of what Martin Luther King once said. ”We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.” Martin Luther King dedicated his life fighting discrimination and segregation and is rightfully remembered as a true hero for freedom. The Dalai Lama, too, has allegedly dedicated his life to fight for freedom, specifically religious freedom. So what happened outside Radio City Music Hall?
Should the blame solely fall on those who physically intended to hurt the demonstrators (some even throwing glass bottles)? The weak minded who were not transformed by the spiritual teachings they paid to hear? A rogue few (in the hundreds, actually) consumed by their anger and hatred for difference. Or is the problem even more insidious and deceptive? Can the violence that erupted be the unfortunate and sad effect of a (spiritual) teaching encouraging intolerance? How does one leave a talk on compassion and go outside and riot?
Inside Radio City, on a well-lit stage, the Dalai Lama denounced the practice of Shugden, despite his own commitment to it for more than 20 years. In India, he has imposed a ban on those who seek protectorship from Dorje Shugden for their Buddhist practice. Identity cards have been issued that demand a complete renunciation of the practice, and a renunciation of those (including family members) who continue to practice despite the ban. Is this a manifestation of religious tolerance? A religious ban is systemic discrimination. And where discrimination is just, hatred is just. And love is not. If the Dalai Lama’s intention is pure, then the means to that end must also be pure. Or the vision itself is corrupt.
If the Dalai Lama does not speak out against his supporters who inflicted pain on those peaceful demonstrators, then is he not encouraging hatred and discrimination for his cause? And if so, then their violence will be their shame.
The WSS is not asking the Dalai Lama to return to a spiritual practice that was taught to him by his teachers and willingly practiced by him for more than 20 years. His choice is his. But should he not tolerate (and respect) a spiritual practice to which others are still dedicated? As Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
The Dalai Lama may have the opportunity to stand on the well-lit stages of the world and preach tolerance, but on the streets of the world his deeper message and actions of intolerance and oppression will be challenged. As Martin Luther King Jr. said on these same streets of America: “A lie cannot live.” The WSS will continue to march and be heard.
Signed, A Western Shugden Supporter
