XPost: alt.philosophy.zen, alt.religion.buddhism.tibetan, cn.culture.buddhism   
   XPost: soc.culture.indian, talk.religion.buddhism   
   From: peter.terpstra7@gmail.com   
      
   His Holiness spoke at some length about the matter of Dolgyal to the Tibetan   
   Community in New York. He said:   
      
   “I was at Dromo, Nechung and Gadong were not with us, but there was a medium   
   there, who although illiterate, was reputed   
   for giving good predictions. This is how my relationship with Dolgyal began. I   
   am also a custodian of Pabongka’s tradition, so   
   from 1950-70, I propitiated Dolgyal. In the 60s Nechung mentioned that is was   
   not good to propitiate the vagabond, Asay   
   Khenpo. I told him to keep quiet and he did and I continued the practice.   
      
   Then the Yellow Book came out suggesting that for a Gelugpa to practise other   
   traditions would arouse Dolgyal’s anger. I   
   consulted Nechung again and he told me a long story. Consequently I did a   
   divination involving special offerings to Palden   
   Lhamo, attended by the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery. He didn’t know what it   
   was about, but when I told him he remarked   
   that it had been a powerful ritual. The questions were whether I should stop   
   the practice, whether immediately or gradually. I   
   stopped. I informed Ling Rinpoche who was pleased, having earlier been very   
   apprehensive about my relations with Dolgyal. I   
   also explained everything to Trijang Rinpoche, who said divination involving   
   Palden Lhamo was infallible. He cast no doubt over   
   it and said that Nechung was very reliable too. He said there must be reason   
   for what we had learned, but he was not annoyed   
   or anything like that.   
      
   “The pro-Dolgyal demonstrators shout about religious freedom, but my   
   religious freedom was restricted while I did that   
   practice. I wanted to receive teachings of the Guhyagarbha from Khunu Lama   
   Rinpoche, but because he was apprehensive   
   about Dolgyal, Ling Rinpoche advised against it. I was only free once I gave   
   Dolgyal up and was able to receive many teachings   
   from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.   
      
   “Dolgyal is a mundane deity. Some say he is a manifestation of Manjushri,   
   but we could also say that Nechung is ultimately   
   something transcendental too. The 13th Dalai Lama warned Pabongka Rinpoche   
   that relating to Dolgyal as he did he risked   
   breaching his refuge, which is recorded in Rinpoche’s own biography. The 5th   
   Dalai Lama said Dolgyal arose from distorted   
   prayers, that he is a ghost of the dead and his function is to do harm. Many   
   other great Gelugpa masters like Trichen Ngawang   
   Chokden opposed this practice. These protestors are mistaken and full of   
   ignorance, but I don’t feel angry towards them.   
      
   “They say, ‘Stop Lying, stop lying’, but you stood behind me; I thank   
   you. The thing is it’s harmful, but whether people listen   
   to this or not is up to them. My responsibility anyway is to warn people and   
   to make the situation clear. I have never said   
   anyone has to listen to me.”   
      
   http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/1189-addressing-the-tibetan-c   
   mmunity-and-meeting-with-chinese-students   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)