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SteveLpool
Hi Jamgon.
My experience was different. Discussion of Urgyen Trinley Dorje was forbidden! I had bought a commentary on the Jewel Ornament of Liberation. I finished reading it and wanted to donate it to the Sangha library so others could also benefit from it but, because it had a picture of Urgyen Trinley Dorje on the inside cover and was a commentary by one of his supporters I wasn't allowed to add it to the library. The Sangha library had 'Rogues in Robes' and 'Buddha's Not Smiling', both pro-Thaye Dorje. I mentioned including Mick Brown's book 'The Dance of 17 Lives' to offer a balanced arguement and it was forbidden.
To be fair, I don't think too many centers run by followers of Ugyen Trinley have books by Ole Nydahl in their libraries. As regards other teachers in that group, I don't think they have published too many works but I doubt they would be included either. Although the bookstore of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra in Woodstock I noticed carries works by Beru Khyentse - a supporter of Thaye Dorje.
This is the same for example in Gelugpa centres which do not carry the books by NKT leader Kelsang Gyatso (and NKT centers which don't carry books by anybody
except Kelsang Gyatso!)
The reason generally given is that the teacher involved has broken
samaya (tantric commitments) and therefore is no longer a reputable source of teachings.
I have read nearly all the books that have been published on the Karmapa controversy over the years and one thing I do notice - and I am being as dispassionate as I can - that the pro- Sharmapa books tend to have much more direct and even ad hominem attacks on lamas and Ugyen Trinley supporters than their opposite. That does not mean that no criticism of Ole or Shamarpa exists in the other books but you kinda have to read between the lines. After I read Rogues in Robes for example I wanted to wash my hands it was so vile.
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SteveLpool
Personally I don't have a problem with Nydahl raising people's awareness of the rise of radical Islam. My main concern is with the people who run his centres who use his rants as justification for their own racist beliefs. The Manchester Group, which was almost exclusively Polish, made some disgracefully racist comments to me and not just about Muslims. Their binge drinking was also a problem as was their lack of inclusiveness when a native English person attended. You might say it's not Ole's problem if people misinterpret his message but actually it is his problem as the head of this organization.
From what I have read here, most of DWB Buddhist centers in the England and Ireland seem to be little more than ex-patriot social clubs for Eastern European immigrants with native English and Irish not particularly welcome. Kinda sounds more than a little hypocritical therefore if they are ranting against immigrants in a country where they are themselves immigrants, no?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2012 12:09AM by warrenz.