Comments on: Angry White Buddhists and the Dalai Lama: Appropriation and Politics in the Globalization of Tibetan Buddhism

By: Aidywan

Aidywan — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 11:52:02 +0000

I’m a white Buddhist, not affluent, converted into Mahayana, was always dubious but in awe of Vajrayana, eventually settled on Theravada but practice as a solitaire unattached to tradition or order. No jewelry beads either. I had no idea the situation was as scary as it is and happy not to be a party of it. Compound things are impermanent.

By: Ygrain

Ygrain — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 22:15:38 +0000

Fascinating essay — thank you very much for posting it. As someone who’s watched her mother go down the rabbit hole of NKT, I was simultaneously intrigued, saddened, and dismayed while reading this piece. It’s just depressing to really think about what’s become of the logical faculties and ability for compassion in an otherwise very intelligent, kind, and loving person, and in what context.

I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a family member of someone who’s become involved in the NKT who is unconcerned about what happens in this group. No dissent is allowed, group-speak and group-think are de rigueur, and any mention of the Dalai Lama results in vehement and hateful condemnation.

Over time, I’ve begun to wonder if the NKT might be funded or otherwise supported by the Chinese government. Their mutual goal of destroying the credibility of Tibetan leadership in exile seems a little too convenient not to be linked in some way. I wonder if anyone has done serious investigative work on this subject?

By: Critical thinking, creativity & the problem with beliefs: The NKT, Rigpa and SGI | Post-Traditional Buddhism

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:53:25 +0000

[…] forms, but is somehow believed to be above and apart from it. Ben Joffe in his excellent piece for Savage Minds (recently republished at Tricycle) states that ‘Kelsang Gyatso came to believe that he alone […]

By: juliolins

juliolins — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 20:58:13 +0000

http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/tag/nkt-survivor/

By: J.Violetta

J.Violetta — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 10:44:05 +0000

Hi Ben, Thank you for the very astute breakdown on this movement and political tension and especially for including the racial and entitled aspects of it. The issue I would like to push you on is to not only describe this as a question of as you put it, "Where does religion end and culture begin?" but what role do the Shugden supporters play in the further epistemicide of Tibetan knowledge. Part of the epistemicide of non-Euro centric knowledge systems is to deny them epistemic status, it is important to not fall into this trap and recognize there is more than culture at stake here. Surely, you agree Tibetan philosophy arising from and within Buddhism is more than culture, and as you make clear here the actions by Western Shugden supporters are contending issues that challenge more than cultural and religious practices here. Also, I would caution you from painting Buddhists as evangelists especially compared to Christian evangelism. I agree Tibetan Buddhism presents and provides itself as an accessible route to end suffering but it does not impose itself on non-Buddhists to convert. As you note Tibetan Buddhism is broadly practiced as being open to non-Buddhists to become familiar with and then decide to convert, or not, or to practice without converting even. Tibetan Buddhists do not recruit non-practitioners like Christians do.

By: joanneclark7

joanneclark7 — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:48:57 +0000

fadeout, it is interesting that you should mention the SOAS conference. Here are a few facts about that conference:

First, the ISC YouTube version of the conference was heavily censored/edited. One entire speaker, an ex-NKT student, was deleted completely and some comments of the moderator were edited out. Why are NKT students never given the full truth?

Second, Rabten, the main speaker for the ISC/NKT took off his Buddhist robes to appear very reasonable and mild-mannered in his suit and tie, saying that the protesters just wanted the “discrimination/suffering etc. to end, just wanted dialogue. However, he ended his talk with a list of ISC demands (not goals), what needed to happen in order for the protests to stop. And then he pointed to the book on the table beside him, saying that there was more information there if anyone was interested. The title of that book? “False Dalai Lama: Worst Dictator in Modern History.”

So what is Rabten’s goal? Ending alleged discrimination or maligning the Dalai Lama, destroying his work in the world? You talk about making one’s goals clear before dialogue. Well, I think Rabten made his goal clear at the SOAS conference. Here is a clear statement on page 3 of that horrid ISC publication:

“Therefore, from a spiritual point of view there is no one who is more evil than this false Dalai Lama. We sincerely wish for the doctrine of Je Tsongkhapa to be free from being harmed by this enemy.”

So that’s the goal– strip the Dalai Lama of his lineage, his spiritual position in the world.

And what are the demands, clearly written in Rabten’s talk? End the so-called “ban”, allow Shugden monks and nuns to be allowed back in their monasteries. The Dalai Lama, in his position as spiritual leader of the Tibetan people made his decision regarding Shugden practice after years of research and investigation and soul-searching. I guarantee that you, just like every other NKT student, have not read those reasons. The monks of Sera Jey monastery decided that they could not worship side by side with Shugden worshippers through a democratic referendum. The Dalai Lama decided that it would infringe on samaya for Shugden worshippers to attend his spiritual events. It seems to me that imposing their demands on the Dalai Lama and the monks and nuns who don’t worship Shugden is an infringement of their religious rights. It’s a demand, posed as a condition for dialogue, and backed by the artillery of that horrid ISC publication and loud, rude protests– thereby making dialogue impossible.

By: matthewoconnell

matthewoconnell — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:36:31 +0000

Thank you Carole. Yes, how ignorant of me to have missed the author intro at the beginning. Your own lines of interest are fascinating still. Have you made any of your ethnographic work on the CIA available to the general public?

By: Carole McGranahan

Carole McGranahan — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 11:51:07 +0000

Clarifying for anyone reading that “Carol M” in the above comment is not me, but a different person.

By: fadeout32

fadeout32 — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 07:08:44 +0000

Hi Joanne, thanks for following up. It’s interesting information but the first episode sounds unfortunate and the second seems murky (I won’t tell you who I am but trust me). When genuine opportunity to talk has arisen the ISC has engaged (see SOAS) albeit in a slightly worried manner 🙂 as I think the inclusion of Carol M made them question what the event was really intended to do. I for one was pleased by the even handedness of the moderator. Is my assessment really that unbalanced? In addition I remain unconvinced that clarity of purpose precludes dialogue. Understanding what someone wants would normally be considered a good start no? Also, 18 years and that’s all you get?! “Kinda lame” as I would say if I were a surfer.

By: joanneclark7

joanneclark7 — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 01:32:48 +0000

And fadeout, this is the second proposal of dialogue/resolution that was not followed up by Shugden community leaders:

http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2014/12/16/concerning-the-protests-at-the-teachings-of-hh-the-dalai-lama/

and

http://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2014/12/18/concerning-the-protests-at-the-teachings-of-h-h-the-dalai-lama-a-resolution-proposal-ii/

Further details forthcoming.

By: joanneclark7

joanneclark7 — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 01:06:19 +0000

fadeout 32, The first time Shugden leaders pulled out of dialogue was in 1996. (I heard a rumor that the reason they pulled out was because a man died of heart attack on the train they were traveling on and they took it as a bad omen, but I don’t know if that’s true.) I will be at liberty to disclose details of the second time soon. Here is a link to efforts at dialogue by the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile over the past almost 20 years:

http://www.dalailamaprotesters.info/?p=2527

By: fadeout32

fadeout32 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 23:50:36 +0000

Hi Joanne, please can you provide some evidence of the offers of dialogue as I would be very interested to see them.

By: joanneclark7

joanneclark7 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:37:40 +0000

And fadeout, are you really suggesting that the Dalai Lama should engage in dialogue with people who have denied that he is a legitimate Buddhist teacher, who believe he is connected to the sarin gas attacks in Japan and claim that “there is no one more evil than this false Dalai Lama” and who wish that “the doctrine of Tsongkhapa be freed from this enemy?”

Does that sound reasonable?

By: joanneclark7

joanneclark7 — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:12:40 +0000

Just an fyi, Fadeout– twice, dialogue was offered to leaders of the Shugden community. Twice, it was the Shugden community who backed out. That is fact. My impression always is that they are not interested in dialogue.

Also, another FYI, the “demands” given over and over by protest leaders include a demand that Shugden monks and nuns be “allowed back into their monasteries.” What on earth is that supposed to mean? Will statues of Shugden be placed on the shrines of those who believe he is an evil spirit? Will pictures of His Holiness be bowed to by those who claim he is an evil dictator?

The Shugden monasteries are currently thriving, well endowed, modern and beautiful. It seems to me that the demands of the protests are simply for the sake of show, simply part of the agenda to malign His Holiness.

So I would add to the article above the following observation. Naive, white, privileged Buddhists, who have no knowledge of the situation on the ground in India– and no knowledge of the dynamics of Tibetan culture and heart, are being used as pawns in a vicious strategy to undermine Tibetans at their heart source. Haven’t they suffered enough?

By: Carole McGranahan

Carole McGranahan — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:25:24 +0000

Thanks for the link, Matthew, and glad to know about your work. This article is not by me though, it is by Ben Joffe. I’m just the Savage Minds ‘host’ for the article!