Claim: Dorje Shugden practitioners engage in sectarian actions
This argument is as follows: Historically, they have engaged in sectarian actions, like destroying statues of Padmasambhava. Practitioners of Dorje Shugden develop sectarian attitudes thinking the Gelugpa is superior to other traditions, most notably the Nyingma.
Answer:
- Opponents of Dorje Shugden practitioners repeat the claim again and again that Dorje Shugden practitioners engage in sectarian actions, such as destroying images of Padmasambhava – creating the impression that this is an on-going thing. What they fail to mention is when these supposed actions took place. These alleged actions took place at the time of Je Phabongkhapa, almost 100 years ago, by a handful of extremists. An important question to ask is what sectarian actions are Dorje Shugden practitioners engaging in today? The answer is none.
- It is also worth mentioning that sectarianism was not unique to Dorje Shugden practitioners, but prevalent in many quarters of Tibetan society, even by previous Dalai Lamas.
- It is inappropriate to punish Dorje Shugden practitioners today for sectarian actions they themselves did not commit. This would be like banning Christianity today due to its sectarian actions during the Inquisition.
- It is sectarianism itself which should be banned, not a given spiritual practice. The problem is not the practice of Dorje Shugden, the problem is sectarian actions. Thus it is more appropriate to direct any legislative action against sectarianism itself instead of against a specific practice.
- Deluded pride is the real cause of sectarianism, which Dorje Shugden practice does not teach. So it is inappropriate to ban the practice, but correct to speak out against pride in one’s own views.
- The whole group should not be punished for the actions of a few extremists. Just as not all Muslims are terrorists, so too not all Dorje Shugden practitioners engage in sectarian actions. It is inappropriate to punish a whole group for the actions of the alleged actions of few misguided individuals.
- It is Dorje Shugden practitioners who are the ones calling for the different traditions to mutually respect one another, and it is the opponents of Dorje Shugden practice who are currently engaging in sectarian actions. It is Dorje Shugden practitioners who are peacefully requesting an audience to dialogue with the Dalai Lama so as to bring resolution to this controversy, but he is turning a blind eye to their ostracisim from Tibetan society, even encouraging it. So where should any corrective action be directed? Who is acting in sectarian ways.
- The fact that Dorje Shugden practioners wish to rely upon the teachings of their tradition without mixing with other traditions is not sectarian, it is simply their spiritual choice. It would become sectarian only if they were to impose their way of practicing on others, which they are not doing. They just wish to be left alone to practice in their own way freely.
- Dorje Shugden practitioners do not claim that the Gelug is superior to the Nyingma. Both are considered valid, complete paths. At an individual level, a practitioner may feel that the Gelug is better for them, but this does not mean that they think it is better in any universal sense for everyone. A truly non-sectarian approach would be one in which people are free either to mix different traditions or to follow their own tradition purely without mixing, and where everyone respects one another’s views and choices. This is what Dorje Shugden practitioners are calling for. To say that it is sectarian to not mix different traditions is itself a sectarian attitude. It creates the ‘sect of those who mix traditions’ where not-mixing automatically implies being sectarian.
- The fact that Dorje Shugden practitioners wish to rely upon the teachings of their traditions without mixing with other traditions is not sectarian, it is simply their personal spiritual choice. It would become sectarian only if they were to impose their way of practicing on others, which they are not doing. They just wish to be left alone to practice in their own way freely.
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