Shugden High Lama Stupas in Ganden Shartse

The richly decorated stupas of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche stand precariously within the compound of the monastery that rejects Dorje Shugden, the protector deity proliferated by these two great lamas

Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche were two of the greatest Gelug lamas of our time and were therefore accorded the highest respect. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the heart son of Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche, was an erudite scholar and master of all the Tantric teachings. Also the junior tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama, he was famous for having compiled the notes of a famous lamrim teaching that Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche gave into a manuscript known today as Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. Trijang Rinpoche also gave countless initiations on the four classes of Tantra. He himself was known to be the emanation of Vajrayogini.

In his lifetime, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche did much to proliferate Dorje Shugden’s practice and life-entrustment initiation to innumerable high lamas, geshes and ordinary monks. In order to ensure Dorje Shugden’s practice was perpetuated into future generations, he also composed a commentary called Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors that enumerates the previous lives of Dorje Shugden and various other aspects of this Dharma Protector. On top of that, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was known to have found and trained Dorje Shugden oracles like the current Panglung Kuten.

The highly revered Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche did much to proliferate Dorje Shugden to become one of the most common protector practices within the Gelug tradition

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was the student of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and the Abbot Emeritus of Ganden Shartse Monastery. He was one of the greatest debaters of his generation and is best remembered for uplifting the discipline and education standards of the monastery during his tenure as abbot. He spent many years roaming the countryside and was known to be an accomplished tantric master with occult powers arising from his attainments.

Like his Guru, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche proliferated Dorje Shugden and the life-entrustment initiation to many, especially when he was traveling in the West. He was also known to have trained Dorje Shugden oracles and the current Ari Kuten is from Zong Ladrang.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, the erudite master who was one of the main lineage lamas who proliferated Dorje Shugden to many

Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche entered clear light in 1981 and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche entered clear light in 1984. In accordance with tradition, stupas were built by their students in the courtyard of Ganden Shartse Monastery to house the relics of both these eminent masters for future generations to venerate. The stupas also create merits for the current incarnations’ activities and works to be fulfilled.

Both these eminent lamas evidently promoted Dorje Shugden. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche proclaimed Dorje Shugden to be an emanation of Manjushri. However, the Dalai Lama himself has said that his Guru, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, was wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden and claims that Dorje Shugden is a spirit.

The Dalai Lama issued a ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice and forbade all his followers from associating with Shugden practitioners. Hence, all elements of Dorje Shugden worship were systematically eradicated from Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, including Ganden Shartse Monastery, except the stupas of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.

The stupas leave a huge gaping hole in the rhetoric of the ban.

  • How can Ganden Shartse Monastery evict and expel monks who practice Dorje Shugden yet keep the stupas of these great Dorje Shugden lamas?
  • How can Ganden Shartse Monastery declare that their monks cannot associate with the monks of Shar Ganden on the basis that Shugden practitioners are outcasts of society yet venerate the stupas of these great Dorje Shugden lamas?
  • How can Ganden Shartse Monastery claim that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was wrong about the nature of Dorje Shugden yet still venerate him as a lineage lama of the lamrim and many other teachings?
  • How can Ganden Shartse Monastery claim that Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was a demon worshipper yet welcome his reincarnation as long as he does not practice Dorje Shugden?

If Ganden Shartse Monastery really wanted to toe the line that the Dalai Lama has drawn, surely they should demolish and destroy the stupas and relics of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche for fear of being labeled as associating with Dorje Shugden lamas or much worse, venerating Dorje Shugden lamas?

The very fact that the stupas are still standing within the confines of Ganden Shartse Monastery shows that the implementation of the ban is selective and ultimately baseless. Perhaps, the continued existence of these stupas lend a glimmer of hope that the ban is just temporary and that reconciliation is possible in the near future.

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  1. If one day, CTA decided to send their people to demolish these stupas, i wonder will Gaden Shartse’s monks protect and defend both holy stupa? Deep down inside everyone is very respectful of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.
    i guest why almost no monks speak against CTA from Gaden Shartse, there must be an ongoing life threatening threats and warning all around. Gaden Shartse monks might be living in fear for years already.

  2. Thank you for updating us about this beautiful and holy stupa I’d this two great master, is very illogical for the CTA to keep this two stupa if they claim DS is a spirit how can a great master like Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche practice DS they are the enlighthed master that spread the teaching all around the world, and benefits countless being this is ridiculous what CTA has done.

  3. Sure, reject the lamas’ teachings but hang on to their relics and pretend to venerate them as some kind of holy object worthy of making offerings to.

    Reject their teachings but circumambulate their stupas to create merits.

    Reject their teachings but refer to them as the teacher of teachers.

    Reject their teachings but invoke upon their blessing during the lineage lama prayers.

    Don’t understand how the hypocrisy of this whole situation doesn’t make people sick.

  4. I seriously doubt CTA dares to bring down these 2 stupas. Just like they dare not reject the teachings of Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche, because if they do, then many of the Gelug teachings will be nullified.

    Of course, we don’t want to see these 2 holy stupas to be disturbed, and may the ban be lifted very soon!!

  5. I feel the fact that the Gaden monks have not destroyed the Stupas or many any attempts to destroy could still be an expression that certain Gaden Shartse monks do not want to go all the way to severe the ties to their pure lineage and their erudite lineage lamas.

    I hope despite there are rhetoric about Dorje Shugden is a spirit, coming out from Gaden, there could there be still be lamas at Gaden Shartse who feel differently from what the CTA and Dalai Lama have been trying to impose on all the Gaden monks. Due to the overwhelming influence and force of the 14th Dalai Lama and CTA, it is not easy to resist them, so instead of going head on, why not stay as they are, and maintain Gaden Shartse and share the dharma and do the dharma as much as they can and wait for impermanence of the ban to take place. I am sure everyone can see in this time of strife, not all sincere Gelug practitioners will stay on as a Dorje Shugden pracitioners, so it is beneficial to maintain all spiritual institutions, even those who are overtly separated from the Dorje Shugden lineage.

  6. In fact in Ganden Shartse Monastery was honest about cutting their affiliations with Dorje Shugden, they should destroy the stupa of Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche which is prominent on their monastic grounds. These two lamas were the biggest proponents of Dorje Shugden their whole lives. To keep their stupas there untouched shows hypocrisy.

    If they were to keep the stupas, it shows they have not eliminated their connection to Dorje Shugden.

    Another good point is why has the Dalai Lama and CTA not ORDERED Gaden Shartse to destroy those two stupas. All lamas who have connection to Dorje Shugden are eliminated from Dalai Lama’s favor and come under fire by CTA.

    Why are the stupas still there. Ganden Shartse Monastery should come clean and destroy those two stupas since they don’t want any connection to Dorje Shugden. Be clean!

  7. Thanks for the post. The fact that both stupa of Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche are still standing today means that they are highly revered.

    I can’t imagine what would happen when such a holy stupa is destroyed. The repercussion from negative karma would be very great.

  8. I am just really glad they have preserved these 2 Stupas. At the least it shows that there’s some tiny bit of humanity left in their minds ! It also gives some comfort and hope to the DS practitioners. If they destroy them there will be horrible repercussions !!

  9. I truly hope there is a glimmer of hope that the ban is just temporary and that reconciliation is possible in the near near future…. because it is obvious it makes no sense and everyone knows it. Every Gaden Shartse monks knows it but dare not say anything…. WHY? Why would they not because definitely they have been threatened. How sad to see the sangha being threatened due to politics. And I’ve heard the Abbot of Gaden now who is very young is being given this position because he “toes the line” with the CTA. I am sure many monk in Gaden do not like him but they’ve got no choice, otherwise they’ll get into trouble. The ban has caused so much suffering, I pray that one day all with return the way it was, where there were peace amongst all Buddhist, Dharma brothers and sisters and students being able to reunite with their Gurus like H.H. Trijang Rinpoche (the current) and H.H. Zong Rinpoche (the current).

  10. The fact that the two stupas remain standing shows that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche command great respect among the Gelugpa monks. Moreover, as explained by Ashvaghosha in “Fifty Stanzas on the Spiritual Teacher”, destroying a stupa is considered an “act of extreme disregard and disrespect for the state of enlightenment”. “A stupa is a monument in which relics of a Buddha are kept. Like your spiritual teacher, it serves as a focal point for your veneration and commitment to attaining Buddhahood.” Therefore, no one would dare destroy this symbol of enlightenment as the negative karma would be terrible.

  11. It’s not logic at all. If Dorje Shugden is really a spirit, then why venerate a high lama’s stupa that practice and rely on the “spirit” his whole life, like Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche?

    Why even the current Trijang Rinpoche is given special permission by HH Dalai Lama to practice Dorje Shugden? Is the Dalai Lama is too compassion to his tutor, so he has some privilege? Or how could you let your tutor to practice a “spirit”‘s practice, which may bring harm to him? Emm…

  12. Ridiculous, Gaden Shartse has now abandoned the practice of Dorje Shugden, then why still keep the stupas of the two high lamas who practiced it strongly? Weren’t the stupa stained by the “demon”? Why not demolish the two stupas? That should be the right thing to do isn’t it?

  13. Relic of highly attained masters are totally precious and undoubtedly irreplaceable. Although the monasteries want to be on the good side of the authorities and the Tibetan leadership has successfully pinned the blame for the loss of Tibet to Dorje Shugden, they have not yet completely lost their minds. Removing these stupas and the priceless items inside would cause consequences that no one can afford to bear.

    A few disparaging comments here and there is not great but the damage is still somewhat repairable. But destroying is stupa is equivalent to destroying the mind of the Buddha.

    So, this shows us that whatever, the CTA and Dalai Lama say, they still believe that Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche are enlightened whose legacy is fundamental and essential to the entire gelugpa lineage.

  14. Hi

    I want to emphasise other things. I think the stupas of Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche are not the only traces of Shugden practitioners left in Gaden. Throughout the years, Gaden monastery has been receiving donation in huge amount from Dorje Shugden practitioners and Dorje Shugden Lama, I think if they want to clean themselves, they should return all these donations. How about the throne of the 101st Gaden Tripa who after his tenure admitted that he is a DS practitioners. Don’t forget that Gaden Monastery was established by Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen who was the previous incarnation of Dorje Shugden.

    Gaden Monastery will never be cleaned of Dorje Shugden influence because Dorje Shugden practice is part of their legacy and history.


  15. This is one of the greatest examples of the Tibetan Administrations double standards. Here you see two of the most notable master of the past, both great Dorje Shugden practitioners, venerated despite the fact that they practice Dorje Shugden. Other pracitioners are persecuted because they are are considered incorrect in their practice. Therefore both Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche were both wrong, and their stupas should be removed. This has not happened.

    Another example of how the Tibetan Administration use certain tactics, including the ban, to control their peoples. But their hypocrisy is evident from the outset. This needs to stop for the Tibetan people to have true democratic freedom.

  16. Why have tow great Lamas stupa there in Gaden when you kick out and abandoned all Dorje Shugden Lamas and all your dharma brothers and sisters? This is how two face the CTA is and how they have caused even the sangha to split and to become like worldly institution where politics is more important that spirituality. So they condemned Dorje Shugden Lamas and monks and say they are all dirty, so why have two strong Dorje Shugden Lamas’ stupa there? They might as well demolish it since to them these two high lamas made a mistake and worshipped a demon? So why not also return all the things that has been sponsored by all the Shugden lamas since they are considered dirty. Why keep their sponsorship but condemn them?

  17. Shartse should get rid of their stupas, get rid of their prayer halls built using Shugden lamas money, give back all of the statues sponsored by Shugden lamas, and burn all of the books written by Shugden practitioners.

    Same goes for Jangtse, Sera Me and Sera Je and Drepung Gomang and Loseling, Gyuto and Gyume, and all the small monasteries and nunneries in between. TCV should knock down the buildings built when Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was the headmaster and all of the kids who received their education and graduated during his tenure should have their certificates revoked.

    Stop singing the Tibetan national anthem too, while you’re at it!

    Does all of this sound ridiculous? That’s because it is. How are Shugden lamas contaminated, but their works and money not? Shugden lamas have contributed a great deal to the reestablishment of the Tibetan community in exile and their works should not be forgotten just because they’re now pariahs.

  18. This is for sure interesting. The holy Stupas from these high Dorje Shugden Lamas standing in Ganden Shartse.

    How come that the samaya with these high lamas does not count compared to the samaya with the Dalai Lama? It is illogical and the very fact of these stupas in Ganden shows that this is the truth.

    Thank you for pointing this out and keeping us update all the time.
    May the ban end without delay. So many are suffering for so long already.

  19. The Tibetan leadership does only what is convenient for them and not what benefits the community and country. They oppose the practice of Dorje Shugden, instigate violence against Dorje Shugden practitioners and very ironically, they didn’t have these two great masters’ stupas removed and this have people wondering what is the reason.

    They are also very biased obviously, as long as you practise Dorje Shugden, you are opposing the Dalai Lama and you should be ostracised and burn in hell, this is what they are telling Dorje Shugden practitioners. Why is it His Holiness is the only Lama that counts and even His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang is being targeted? HIS PREVIOUS LIFE WAS THE DALAI LAMA’S TUTOR!

  20. The most obvious thing is that there are many Dorje Shugden images and holy items in these two holy stupas as well! The anti-Shugden people are too afraid to see the truth. The reason they continue to live in denial is because they know for a fact that many Dorje Shugden lamas have contributed a lot for the monastery.

    If they were to demolish these 2 stupas, they have to start to demolish the monastery, the buddha statues, the monks squatters etc. because Dorje Shugden lamas were the ones who raise funds, build temple and accommodation at the very beginning. It is obvious that the anti-Shugden people wish to enjoy the fruit of the Shugden lamas and conveniently ditch them for their own benefits. If Dorje Shugden is truly evil, and we must not associate with them, the anti-Shugden people should really demolish everything, start all over again and be “clean”!

  21. This is a weird position when the highest lamas of your tradition are outcasts because of a religious issue regarding a protector-deity. I think lamas and practitioners have to re-assess their priorities and allegiance. Aren’t samaya of paramount importance? What happens when your lineage lamas have broken refuge because of worshipping a spirit? Does that mean all their teachings and lineages are invalidated because of that act?

  22. I just thought of something interesting after reading the article and the comments here. Actually shouldn’t the non-Shugden practitioners be the ones to leave the monastery instead of chasing the Shugden practitioners out? After all, everything within the confines of the monastery would have been sponsored by Shugden practitioners to the Shugden Lamas. So actually its the non-Shugden practitioners grabbing things that are not theirs as robbers/marauders. And yet, they think that they are real practitioners with such shoddy foundations?
    And they accuse the Chinese of grabbing Tibet whilst they themselves are also guilty of the same actions.
    I would suggest the non-Shugden practitioners to go get their own sponsors or ask CTA to part with their donations to build new monasteries so as to have a “clean” start to their practice.

  23. No surprises to see that the anti-Shugden people landed themselves in a catch-22 situation. It is either the lineage masters like Trijang Rinpoche or Zong Rinpoche were wrong, since they are Dorje Shugden practitioners, which effectively render many of Gelugpa teachings null & invalid, or it is baseless to ban Dorje Shugden practice. When we look deeper into the issue, it is illogical to continue learn and practice Dharma and teachings from any of the Gelugpa lama, which include Dalai Lama himself, because all their teachings were passed down from teachers who were Dorje Shugden practitioners. It cannot be that some parts of the teachers’ teachings are correct while another parts are wrong. Who are we to judge which part is correct (or wrong)?

    Hence, it is better to drop the baseless ban & claim against Dorje Shugden, let’s restore Dharma practice within Gelugpa school back to 20 years ago where everyone focused on Tsongkhapa’s teaching, Lam Rim, Lojong and more important things. Please do not degrade Buddhism into petty squabble on Protector practice.

  24. These double standards clearly show the Shugden ban’s baselessness. It is ridiculous, they ban the lamas, monks and practitioners who practice Dorje Shugden, segregate them from monastery and at the same time they continue to keep the stupa of the High Lamas whose proliferate Dorje Shugden for future generations to venerate?
    This big question mark needs to be answered.
    The Dorje Shugden’s ban should be lifted immediately. The dialogue between Tibetan Leadership and the Shugden leaders have to be made immediately.

  25. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, is the junior tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama.
    It is not easy to become a tutor and especially become a tutor of 14th Dalai Lama. When Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche was assigned to that position, he was responsible to educate the young Dalai Lama, to ensure that he received the proper education to widen his knowledge and exposure so that 14th Dalai Laman is not just a Buddhist master, but also a powerful leader.

    If the people claimed that Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is wrong because of his practice in Dorje Shugden, then 14th Dalai Lama should face the same thing too. This is due to 14th Dalai Lama was learned from his tutor, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
    Then, we should think over again who is correct now?

  26. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, is the junior tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama.

    Then, we should think over again who is correct now?


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  28. Dear Dalai Lama,













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