about the Shugden belief

[NicholasJClark]

I'm definitely not an expert on Buddhism. I do occasionally attend services at a temple in my hometown and was very surprised to learn over time that the Dalai Lama isn't the wonderful, compassionate and god-like person that most Westerners fantasize him to be. He has banned Shugden worship and ostracized practitioners of that belief. Some people think the Dalai Lama is a hypocrite. I heard it in nutrition class that Dalai has been eating meat on and off for a very long time. Tibetan Buddhists apparently would rather not talk about it. It seems there is some embarrassment that their holy leader doesn't follow the entire doctrine. To some of them it is wrong to eat meat, that it is contradictory with the teaching of compassion for all living beings.

 

[LuisDantas]

Not sure what your point is. There are disputes and controversies inside Tibetan Buddhism, including disagreements about which practices are advisable (Shugden worship is a form of practice, not a group of people) and the Dalai Lama is indeed a human being as opposed to an Avatar of Perfection, I suppose.

No part of that information is particularly secret. I suppose the legend may grow a bit far and high and perhaps lead to shock after further learning - but that IMO only shows how we shouldn't assume too much.

 

[DreadFish]

A number of Tibetan practitioners eat meat and drink alcohol, and there have been numerous political issues amongst differing Tibetan Buddhists for centuries. None of this is too note worthy once you get a bit more familiar with some history.

 

[George-ananda]

I'm definitely not an expert on Buddhism. I do occasionally attend services at a temple in my hometown and was very surprised to learn over time that the Dalai Lama isn't the wonderful, compassionate and god-like person that most Westerners fantasize him to be. He has banned Shugden worship and ostracized practitioners of that belief. Some people think the Dalai Lama is a hypocrite. I heard it in nutrition class that Dalai has been eating meat on and off for a very long time. Tibetan Buddhists apparently would rather not talk about it. It seems there is some embarrassment that their holy leader doesn't follow the entire doctrine. To some of them it is wrong to eat meat, that it is contradictory with the teaching of compassion for all living beings.

I don't think you have shown any legitimate criticisms of the Dalai Lama here. First, many times the Dalai Lama has said an explained that he is a Buddhist and not a vegetarian. And he explains himself intelligently on this subject.

Not many of us here are familiar with 'Shugden worship' but I'm sure if the Dalai Lama is against it, he gives intelligent reasons for his position that we don't hear in the OP.

This sounds like an OP with a bone to pick against the Dalai Lama, that's all.

 

[ratikala]

namaste

I'm definitely not an expert on Buddhism. I do occasionally attend services at a temple in my hometown and was very surprised to learn over time that the Dalai Lama isn't the wonderful, compassionate and god-like person that most Westerners fantasize him to be.

Dear Nicholas

if this is the impression you have been given then I assume the center you have been visiting has New Kadampa associations , unfortunatly this one group have been profagating this kind of hatred against the Dalai Lama since 1996 , what started out as advice given from by the Dalai Lama , has been blown into the most ridiculous nightmare and has caused much hurt and some very un Buddhist behavior .

I could explain the whole situation If you are realy interested but my most sincere advice is to distance your self from any one who tries to colour your judgement on this matter .

Tibetan Buddhism has been seriously dammaged by this argument and many genuinly good hearted practitioners have been seriously missled and turned in to the angry protesters that you see on this video .

He has banned Shugden worship and ostracized practitioners of that belief. Some people think the Dalai Lama is a hypocrite.

firstly this is not entirely true it is an exageration profagated by the New Kadampa tradition , please remember that there are allways two sides to any story especialy in a dispute .

however I must add that many people have been led into this dispute without fully understanding what is going on , this is both dammaging for them and for Buddhism as a whole .

I heard it in nutrition class that Dalai has been eating meat on and off for a very long time. Tibetan Buddhists apparently would rather not talk about it. It seems there is some embarrassment that their holy leader doesn't follow the entire doctrine. To some of them it is wrong to eat meat, that it is contradictory with the teaching of compassion for all living beings.

as previously mentioned by Dread fish a large proportion of Tibetan Buddhists are not vegetarian , in the west it is much easier to be vegetarian how ever many indiginous Tibetans are accustomed to eating meat as in Tibet there are scarcely any vegetables available due to the altitude . the national diet is yak milk and butter and barley flour and small amounts of meat , ..and some apricots , in some areas of Tibet not much else grows .
apparently the Dali Lama did try to convert to vegetarianism after his arival in India but apparenty his doctors advised him against a diet change due to liver damage sustained from jaundice which he suffered during the escape from tibet to India .

one must ask why this alegation has again been used to discredit the Dalai Lama , when in truth is an alogation which could be leveled at allmost all Tibetans , one must ask why the Dalai Lama is singled out for this criticism ?
In situations like this it is very dangerous to accept only one side of the story , as one might suspect there are some ugly politics going on behind this argument , therefore it would be extremely wise to avoid getting in any way involved .

please be very carefull

with best wishes

Ratikala