Understanding the Case Against Shukden: The History of a Contested Tibetan Practice

by Gavin Kilty

Overview

Leaders of the Dalai Lama’s tradition illuminate the issues surrounding the Shukden controversy.

Before the twentieth century, the figure of Shukden, or Dölgyal, was an obscure one in the pantheon of Tibetan Buddhism’s many oracles and protectors. But after individuals within the Geluk tradition began to promote and disseminate the practice, division arose among Buddhists of different sects. Later, incidents within the exile community, as recounted in this book, prompted the Dalai Lama to investigate the practice more deeply. The fruits of this research are presented here, as are the statements made by His Holiness about it over the past forty years. Understanding the Case against Shukden uncovers the historical context behind this contentious practice, which dates back to the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama in the seventeenth century, and clarifies why the present Dalai Lama has been so vocal in countering it.

Understanding the Case against Shukden is a clarion call for unity among the Tibetan people and a vision for a more harmonious Tibetan Buddhist community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614295549
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	03/12/2019
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	360
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Gavin Kilty has been a full-time translator for the Institute of Tibetan Classics since 2001. Before that he lived in Dharamsala, India, for fourteen years, where he spent eight years training in the traditional Geluk monastic curriculum through the medium of class and debate at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics. He has also received commissions to translate for other institutions, such as the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Teachings, Tibet House Germany, The Gelug International Foundation, and Tsadra Foundation.

Table of Contents

Foreword Lama Zopa Rinpoché vii

Translator's Preface xiii

Introduction 1

Homage and Commitment to Compose 11

Part 1 Seventeenth Century: Drakpa Gyaltsen and the Fifth Dalai Lama

1 The Rise of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen 15

2 Two Works by Drakpa Gyaltsen 33

3 The Great Fifth and Drakpa Gyaltsen 43

4 The Death of Drakpa Gyaltsen 47

5 Cremation and Other Postmortem Matters 61

6 Rituals against Dölgyal 69

Part 2 Eighteenth Century: The Sakya Tradition

7 Dölgyal in the Sakya Tradition 79

8 Sakya Masters Who Relied on Dölgyal 91

9 Origin of the Names of Dölgyal 99

10 How the First Sakya Practitioners Praised Dölgyal 103

11 Sakya Scholars Who Have Restricted Dölgyal 111

Part 3 Twentieth Century: Phabongkha Rinpoché

12 Restrictions on the Practice of Dölgyal from All Four Traditions 119

13 The Early Life of Kyabjé Phabongkha 127

14 The Thirteenth Dalai Lama's Regard for Venerable Phabongkha 133

15 Kyabjé Phabongkha's Connection with Dölgyal 139

16 Venerable Phabongkha's Pledge and Remorse 147

17 The Passing of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama 151

18 The Meeting between the Ninth Panchen Lama and Phabongkha 155

19 Kyabjé Phabongkha's Visits to Tsang 165

20 Takphu Vajradhara and the Life-Entrustment Practice 173

21 Unfortunate Events Connected with Dölgyal 189

Part 4 Today: Dölgyal in Exile

22 An Invocation of Dölgyal Ascribed to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama 199

23 Dölgyal and the Tenth Panchen Lama 203

24 Advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama 1978-98 209

25 Advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama 2000-2010 233

26 Support Given by Kyabjé Trijang Rinpoché and Kyabjé Ling Rinpoché 261

27 The Incarnation of Trijang Rinpoché 273

28 The Criminal Acts of the Shukden Society 279

29 A Discourse on Dölgyal by the Hundredth Ganden Throneholder 285

30 Resolutions and a Referendum 291

31 The Final Position of the Eight Geluk Monasteries 297

32 Dedication and Colophon 303

Notes 305

Glossary 319

Bibliography 323

Index 331