Dalai Lama's office disapproves
Singapore Expo on "Buddhist Relics"
The Buddhist Channel, December 4,
2006
Relics Expo organizer "Gelugpa
Buddhist Association Singapore" not recognized by HH Dalai
Lama
Singapore -- The office of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama have expressed its concern about the so-named "The Buddha and
His Principal Disciples' Relics Grand Cultural World Exhibition",
from December 9 to 17, 2006 at the Singapore Expo, hosted by the
the "Gelugpa Buddhist Association Singapore".
Statement from HH office also states that the organizing party of
the expo - although branding itself as a Gelugpa centre, is not
recognized as such by HH the Dalai Lama nor HH the Ganden Trisur
Rinpoche (the Official Head Emeritus of the Gelugpa Tradition).
Therefore, labelling of itself as a "Gelugpa" centre is inaccurate
and misleading.
The Dalai Lama's office further clarifies that its position
is clear and consistent with regard to the worship of
"dolgyal-shugden" which it strongly considers as "worship of the
unenlightened evil spirit".
The statement further elaborates that students of the Dharma who
continue to rely upon a worldly spirit such as dolgyal-shugden
actually contradicts the Buddha's own advice against taking refuge
in samsaric spirits.
By participating in events related to the practice of this worldly
spirit, one effectively "breaks" one's Refuge Vows and will
effectively become a Non-Buddhist, negating the source and root of
all Dharmic practices, the statement continues.
In a separate announcement, the Charitable Assistance Society (CAS)
of Thousand-Arm Chenrezig have on behalf of the Tibetan Buddhist
community in Singapore urged all to adhere to the HH Dalai Lama's
office advisory.
The CAS statement further urged Tibetan Buddhist practitioners to
"....inform all other unknowing Buddhists, that, according to the
Buddha's holy Teachings as preserved in every tradition and lineage
as well as His Holiness the Dalai Lama's advice, taking refuge in
wordly-spirit, in this context, this programme's uncompromising
stand of practising and taking refuge in dulgyal-shugden,
effectively contravenes one's Refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and
Sangha."
The CAS also said the organizing party have failed to clarify or
justify the authenticity of the source of their claimed "relics",
most of which, presented as plasticine-looking coloured balls. "The
organization too claimed many of their "relics" as being originated
from Lord Buddha's blood, bones, saliva and other bodily parts,"
the statement concluded.
