Holding out for a hero

[uberreiniger]

In today's news, Batman was arrested for beating up his mother and sister.

The Barenaked Ladies' Disney-sponsored foray into children's music was aborted by their lead singer being arrested for cocaine possession.

The Dalai Lama's current speaking engagements in the U.S. are being protested by adherents of Dorje Shugden, an allegedly fierce and frightening Buddhist deity. The Shugdenpas accuse the Dalai Lama of showing his trademark kindly face to the Western world while trying to oppress and ostracize their sect among Tibetan Buddhists. Theological squables are inevitable in any religion; that part isn't as sad as what happened outside Radio City Music Hall following the Dalai Lama's speech there. Five hundred audience members who had come to hear the Dalai Lama speak responded to the Shugdenpa protestors by throwing things and spitting at them. The police had to intervene, busing the protestors away from the site for their own safety.

So that's at least five hundred people who apparently didn't take the Dalai Lama's messages to heart.

"Hero" is a word invented by the Greeks to describe a group of legendary figures who performed great acts of courage, the best of whom were rapists, murderers, and alcoholics.

It's something to think about.

Comments

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

The Dalai Lama's current speaking engagements in the U.S. are being protested by adherents of Dorje Shugden, an allegedly fierce and frightening Buddhist deity. The Shugdenpas accuse the Dalai Lama of showing his trademark kindly face to the Western world while trying to oppress and ostracize their sect among Tibetan Buddhists. Theological squables are inevitable in any religion; that part isn't as sad as what happened outside Radio City Music Hall following the Dalai Lama's speech there. Five hundred audience members who had come to hear the Dalai Lama speak responded to the Shugdenpa protestors by throwing things and spitting at them. The police had to intervene, busing the protestors away from the site for their own safety.

Ah yes, the New Kadampa cult, Shegdenpa worshippers actually worshipped a deity that built around the slaughter of the other Buddhists groups in Tibet. So, yes, actually, there is some truth in their claim. However, New Kadampa is guilty of it too.

::laughs:: That's a lot of to buddhism than most people know, particularly vajrayana.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I was hoping I'd get the opportunity to discuss this with you since I figured you'd have more information than most. I didn't know of Dorje Shugden before this news broke, but I know enough about the great diversity of Buddhism to not be surprised that such a cult exists. I'm not in any position to make assumptions about what the Dalai Lama is or is not doing in regards to them, but I could understand a man who says the things he says not wanting their influence in his monasteries.

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

He's in a hard place, because Gelukpa, his order were the Dorje Shugden worshippers, but the face wasn't just for outsiders, it was an internal Tibetan movement, divisive deities were frowned on in exile.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. He is in a difficult position alright. Nobody wants to be the bad guy, especially the Dalai Lama.

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

What's interesting is the Shugdenpa started a movement in Tibetan Buddhist called New Kadampa, which is generally recognitized as a cult, but is one of the "converting" forms of Buddhism like Soka Gakkai and Nichiren.

To give you a picture of how much influence they are beginning to have: They're the only buddhist group in Macon, Georgia. Most of the people involved have NO IDEA of the sectarian history, but they get brought out to protests and whatnot.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Well, the best destructive sects usually maintain their integrity by making sure new converts don't know the full story. So I'm curious, what exactly do the Shugdenpa believe that make them so prone to conflict with other sects?

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

That the other three Schools outside of the Gelukpa sect as well as two schools that they did wipe out and the groups like Chan and Pure Land they forced out, should not exist. The Spirit was a "wrathful bodhisatva" who killed the protector deities of the other Buddhist groups. Basically, a God of sectarian war.

Not so good when you need to build a united front post-exile. I mean, there are many of the bloody painted wrathful BOdhisatvas kept around.

It's the "one true way" type of Buddhism that develops periodically.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Followers of the god of sectarian warfare demand religious tolerance... somewhere a writer at The Onion is wishing he'd thought this up.

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I know.

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

IF you're wondering where I got my information from since you have some screened comments by a someone who seems to be advocating New Kadampa on your blog: It was "Prisoners of Shangrila" by Dr. Donald Lopez Jr. More information that doesn't mention the historical warfare between Sakya and Gelukpa in a direct way is: http://www.antishugden.com/

Here's what the New Kadampa say, to be fair, here: http://www.kadampa.org/en/buddhism/the-dharma-protector/

And a note, I think all Vajrayana Buddhists are deluded.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

That person is a sock puppet. I know exactly who they are and I apologize for the trolling. I trust your knowledge on the subject far more than I do theirs.

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

You don't have to apologize for people challenging me, but I am glad its a troll you know, rather than a Buddhist spammer.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I'd rather it was a Buddhist spammer. Alas, I think the odds of a genuine follower of Dorje Shugdren just happening to find my journal on the day I just happen to say something about Dorje Shugdren are quite slim. Especially when theirs is a journal with no friends and no entries.

[skepoet.livejournal.com]

True enough.

[anirishspitfire.livejournal.com]

Wait a second... I thought Batman was an only child! XD

There are true heros out there in every culture and country, and I mean individuals who are heros by our modern standards, not ones touched by the gods who ran around in leather loin clothes being tragic and falling in love with their relatives... :D

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

There's no shortage of heroes. It's just important to remember that even the best of us can fail to meet expectations. We have to be there to lift each other back up.

[anirishspitfire.livejournal.com]

In that case, I certainly must agree! ^_^