Anti-Dalai Lama Buddhist group
reportedly disbands
LILLY GREENBLATT MARCH 15,
2016 Lion’s Roar
The Buddhist organization International Shugden Community, known
for its global anti-Dalai Lama protests, has announced it
will disband and cease all demonstrations. According
to Reuters,
the group posted a statement on their website on March
10 saying the International Shugden Community (ISC) will
dissolve, along with its online presence.
In December, a Reuters
investigation exposed that China had
long been financially backing the group in order to discredit the
Dalai Lama and co-opt Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Tseta, a monk and
former member of the ISC told Reuters that he had been paid by
China to organize Shugden events overseas. China’s involvement in
the group’s activities stems from a long
history of the ruling Chinese
Communist Party’s vilification of the Tibetan spiritual
leader.
His Holiness told a Reuters reporter that he was aware of the
group’s decision to disband, but that he didn’t know the reasoning
behind the dissolution. He added that Reuters’ investigation of the
group had been “very helpful.”
Shudgen has led
protests against the Dalai Lama at
events around the world for years, claiming His Holiness and
his teachings to be “false.” Western recruits of the sect have
followed His Holiness to speaking engagements across North
America, Europe and Australia.
The ISC worships the deity Dorje Shugden, or Dolgyal, who is
seen as a protector amongst the sect’s followers. His Holiness has
outwardly expressed his disapproval of revering this particular
deity, believing it to be a negative spirit.
The group’s official statement of its
termination closes with “May everybody be happy.”