I am very sad about this unproductive discussion. What Orgyen Tobgyal said is his opinion and I am 100% sure that it comes from the love of Dharma. A criticism is another point of view and I am sure that the Dalai Lama knows how to deal with it.
It is not helpful to condemn critical words. The love behind it is often more obvious than silence. That’s how I met Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche. His criticism is love and the Dalai Lama can see that.
Please stop sterile discussions.
Sigrid Gritli Brink-Oehmichen
Germany
2 June 2020
Copyright © 2023 Sigrid Gritli Brink-Oehmichen
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily that of Tibet Sun
Sigrid: Calling His Holiness ‘Destroyer of Dharma’ sure doesn’t sound like something that was said out of love. Unless your definition of love is bit twisted and perverse.
This is very troubling, especially when Sogyal Lakhar and his cohorts use the same logic to justify his excessively abusive behavior as ‘crazy wisdom’ done out of ‘love’ for the benefit of his students. As far as I understand all of Buddhism is founded on the principle of non-harming and the development of compassion and kindness towards others. Not vice versa.
Also if all this is unproductive, sterile and pointless as you say, then why are you even here in this forum expressing your thoughts and lending your covert-support for your lama? By your same logic, that too should be pointless. Yet you are here, like everyone else, because you want to defend your lama and his un-bikshu-like behavior.
And believe me Tenzin Kalsang, it’s not just Tibetan society that’s divided. Every other society on this earth is divided along various fault lines (based on religion, race, gender, class, political views, this, that and etc). Look at what’s happening in USA right now. Human beings are tribal in nature and that’s how it is and it has nothing to with our society being small and more narrow-minded. Even the so called educated and liberals of the world are as biased and bigoted as anyone else (à la CNN and BBCs of the world).
While I certainly don’t condone the death threats and threats of violence against Orgyen Tobgyal, I can totally understand people’s anger towards his arrogance and flippant attitude.
Discussions are pointless like flogging a dead pony. Tibetan refugee society is sharply divided along tribal and sectarian lines, with families, clans, individuals owing loyalty to particular lamas.
If an individual tries to think openly and expresses an opinion that diverges from his tribe’s loyalties, he will be ostracized, and preyed upon like lampreys.
In this case, refugee laity owing loyalty to Ugyen Topgyal Rinpoche will support him, no matter what. Similarly, refugees owing loyalty to Dalai Lama will always support him, no matter what.
Nothing whatsoever — pursuation, force, deception — will change it. When Dalai Lama caused controversy with his remarks about refugees in Europe needing to return to their countries, about his successor (if female) must look attractive, about UK being made home by too many Indian nationals, none of Dalai Lama’s devotees came to express dissent. Similarly, when Ugyen Topgyal Rinpoche’s people from Bir fought with Dharamshala people on the TCV football field about 15 years ago due to his encouragement, none of Bir shichak people condemned the monk.
So the situation in exile, and its mishmash of loyalty bonds, is fossilized. Debate is impossible. This is something that foreigners won’t easily understand unless they have closely observed this small society.
Sigrid, I don’t think you understand the nature of an opinion. If the comments of Orgyen Tobgyal are an opinion, then they do not fall into the realm of facts. Therefore, another opinion contradicting his opinion is perfectly acceptable, as long as it is not personal. That is the nature of an opinion.
Saying it is “another point of view” automatically infers other points of view that oppose it, and invites them.