Far from listening to the repeated advice that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has given until now on the worship of protector-deities, keeping in view Tibet╒s spiritual and political interests, a handful of Shugden protagonists have turned a deaf ear. Because they dislike His Holiness╒s advice, they have misapprehended his advice as being interpretative and (asserted) that everyone has religious freedom etc. Sometimes, they have directly criticised His Holiness the Dalai Lama, making many unworthy and derogatory remarks, while at other times they pretend to be criticising Tara la, secretary to His Holiness, and have cast insupportable aspersions against His Holiness to hurt His feelings. So, directly and indirectly, they have used an aggressive flood of harsh speech exaggerating and denying reality. They have presumptuously put it about that right from the Gaden Throne Holder down, many abbots and ex-abbots, lamas, tulkus and geshes are all one in being wordshippers of Dolgyal and have even issued a list of their names. Thus, they have attempted to give an impression that all the Gelugpas taken the same stand not to give up the worship of Dolgyal. They have thus issued many such whimsical documents, mixing up fish and turnips as if they were one and the same thing, and still they continue to distribute such false materials

As a result, the general public are saying that Gelugpa leaders will remain smiling even when the wind snuffs out the butter lamp or a dog eats the ritual cake offerings. What they mean is that our inactivity and failure to give the proper guidance that our seniority and position in the hierarchy behoves us to do,raises doubts in their minds. Therefore, it is quite possible that today our rightful leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the general Tibetan public might suspect that all Gelugpas have joined hands and implicitly or explicitly take a unanimous view (supporting) the worship of Dolgyal.

Therefore, it is important that it should be known that many of us here ╨ abbots and ex-abbots, lamas, tulkus and geshes ╨ have never been Dolgyal worshippers. Those who did worship Dolgyal in the past have relinquished the practice in accordance with His Holiness╒s advice and are now opposing such worship directly and indirectly, in line with the unanimous stand of the people of the three provinces of Tibet. Even if Dolgyal activists create documents sufficient to load down a dzo (a cross between a yak and a cow), with an intention to create far reaching disturbances and misunderstandings, until they run out of ink and paper we will not believe or trust them. Moreover from now on, we will completely give up ties with those who worship Dolgyal and will have nothing more to do with them, as the Tibetan saying goes: distinguish the mouth from the moustache, drink different water and live in a different place.

We therefore take an oath that we will unhesitatingly follow the advice given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the long and short-term well-being of the Tibetan people. We will ensure that none of us makes the slightest attempt, even so much as the buzz of a fly to misinterpret His Holiness╒s advice on grounds of what may be suitable or unsuitable and pass this resolution with our signatures attached:

Losang Nyima, Gaden Throne Holder,
Thubten Nyima, Jangtse Choeje
Tenpa Tenzin, ex-abbot of Gomang Monastery
Ngawang Thekchok, ex-abbot of Sera Mey Monastery
Ngawang Legden, ex-abbot of Sera Je Monastery
Jhampa Dhonyo, ex-abbot of Sera Mey Monastery
Losang Thubten, ex-abbot of Sera Je Monastery
Jhampa Yeshe, ex-abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery
Thubten Wangchuk, ex-abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery
Losang Tsering, ex-abbot of Sera Je Monastery
Losang Tenpa, ex-abbot of Gomang Monastery
Ogyen Tsetan, ex-abbot of Gyume Monastery
Losang Tenzin, ex-abbot of Gyume Monastery
Dorjee Tashi, ex-abbot of Gyume Monastery
Losang Tenzin, ex-abbot of Gyuto Monastery
Locho Rinpoche, ex-abbot of Namgyal Monastery
Jhampa Thekchok, Abbot of Sera Jey Monastery
Losang Chojor, Abbot of Gaden Jangtse Monastery
Tsultrim Phuntsog, Abbot of Gomang Monastery
Konchok Paksam, Abbot of Drepung Loseling Monastery
Konchok Tsering, Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery
Losang Rabga, representative of the abbot of Sera Mey Monastery
Jado Tulku, abbot of Namgyal Monastery
Thrinley Topgyal, abbot of Gyume Monastery
Kachen Losang Tsultrim, abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Tengye Tulku, abbot of Tawang Monastery

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Last updated: 9-April-1999