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Top image caption: For many decades, the American Presidents have had a close relationship with both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and with the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala. This is not the only parallel between Saudi Arabia and Dharamsala.

It was recently brought to my attention that there are many parallels between human rights abuses committed by the Tibetan leadership, and abuses committed by other governments in the world. In particular, my contact wished to highlight a documentary on the lucrative relationship between Western nations such as the United States and United Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon viewing the footage, it quickly became clear that there is indeed very little difference between Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy labelled autocratic by some, and the exiled Tibetan leadership which is headquartered in Dharamsala, North India.

The motivation behind this post is not criticize Saudi Arabia or examine the Saudi kingdom’s activities and interests. Instead, it is to examine the information presented in the documentary, and compare it against what is widely known about the Tibetan leadership’s abusive activities against their own people. It is also to highlight to readers how such abuses will be readily ignored by countries who claim to be democracies, because there is some kind of economic incentive for them to do so. While these nations may expound democratic principles, and promote freedom of speech and freedom of worship as universal human rights, over time it becomes increasingly clear that these values are only upheld when it is convenient and financially beneficial for them to do so. As a result, we will see that the are many parallels between the relationship that the West has with Saudi Arabia, and the relationship that they have with the exiled Tibetan leadership.

 

Inside Saudi Arabia: Butchery, Slavery & History of Revolt

 

 

Parallel #1: Both societies are ruled by one absolute leader

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the same family (the House of Saud) have ruled the country since its founding in 1932. Within the Tibetan community, the Dalai Lamas have ruled Tibet as an absolute ruler since 1642 after the Mongols established this institution as the indisputable rulers of the Tibetan people.

In both instances, there is no opportunity for anyone to consider that they could possibly become the rulers of the country. Unlike in a true democracy where a child can dream of becoming the next President or Prime Minister, succession of true power in Saudi Arabia is hereditary through the House of Saud. Meanwhile, among the Tibetans, no one can ever become the ruler of the Tibetan people unless they are the next Dalai Lama.

 

Parallel #2: Elected officials are mere figureheads with no real power

According to the documentary, publicly elected officials in Saudi Arabia have little real power and can be overruled by the King at any time. Within the Tibetan community, it is the exact same situation. There exists an unquestioned faith and unwavering reliance on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This means that any publicly elected official such as the Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay can easily be overruled by anything the Dalai Lama says, whether directly or in passing. Laws can be rolled back, policies changed and people targeted on the basis of “the Dalai Lama said so”. Thus, practically speaking, in both Saudi Arabia and in the Tibetan community, publicly elected officials can easily be overridden and overruled by the absolute ruler.

Over the years, fewer heads of state have been willing to meet with the Tibetan leadership. Despite His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s ongoing popularity with the media, perhaps they have realized that there is little to gain in meeting with him, and it would be more prudent for them to befriend China instead of antagonise them.

 

Parallel #3: Public dissension is not tolerated

In Saudi society, any forms of dissension are not tolerated and protesting against the government is illegal. In fact, any sign of dissent is immediately quashed, and brutally and violently suppressed. The Tibetan equivalent of this is a leadership that directs physical harm towards their political and philosophical opponents. Those perceived as being against the leadership and their diktats have been threatened, poisoned, stabbed, beaten, been killed in suspicious car ‘accidents’, and had their houses stoned and properties seized. They have even had riots organized against them if they dare to speak out, let alone act, against the leadership.

 

Parallel #4: Alternative views are treasonous

The Saudi leadership is known for their intolerance of alternative views, and draconian censorship laws are in place to ensure that only the government’s views and policies are publicized. Anything that does not tow the leadership’s version of events is viewed as treason and sedition. The same can be said of the exiled Tibetan leadership, where there is near-universal intolerance for any views that do not match His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s.

If anyone should have the temerity to express views that differ from the Dalai Lama’s, they are immediately labelled as ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ and as committing treason against the Tibetan leadership. This means even if they are teenagers simply asking questions, they are fair game for any consequence that befalls them, physical and violent or otherwise. This type of intolerance towards views that do not match the Dalai Lama’s is prevalent in Tibetan society, and it is encouraged and bolstered by the Tibetan leadership. They either remain silent whenever such intolerance is expressed, or they fund websites and publish books and documentaries demonstrating intolerance against their own people’s choice of faith.

 

Parallel #5: Everyone will know if you protested

Those who protest against the Saudi leadership will find their names published on a list so that, according to the documentary, they can be hunted down and / or arrested. Similarly, within Tibetan society, it is well known that Dorje Shugden protestors who refuse to comply with the leadership’s diktats on giving up the practice, will be targeted for harassment. Those who have the courage to protest against the Tibetan leadership are advertised as anti-Dalai Lama. Thereafter hit lists with their photos, names and personal details such as their addresses are widely circulated throughout the Tibetan settlements, and published on the Tibetan leadership’s website.

To objective observers of the situation, it is clear that there is no reason to circulate such lists other than to ensure that violence is directed against the protesters who, hopefully with the threat of violence, will be intimidated into silence. No true democracy in the world would ever dream of behaving in such a manner. Imagine the uproar there would be if the President of the United States, or the Prime Minister of Great Britain published such a list on their website, pointing out every single person who has had the audacity to express views that differ from their own!

 

Parallel #6: Alternative media is not tolerated

Since questions to the leadership and alternative views are not tolerated, there is even less tolerance (if that were possible!) for alternative media outlets. The draconian censorship laws of Saudi Arabia have already been mentioned, whereby all alternative forms of media are suppressed and all mainstream channels are the leadership’s mouthpieces. Internet is heavily monitored and censored, while newspapers and TV channels must promote government-approved news and information.

The Tibetan community faces a similar situation when it comes to oppression of the free press. There are no alternative platforms for news and were it not for social media and the Internet, it would be difficult for the Tibetan community to access different streams of information. Those that try to publicize alternative views through a more traditional route face pressure and death threats.

An excerpt from the Phayul article regarding a newspaper’s closure. Click on the image to read the full article.

For example, one alternative newspaper, Mangtso which was published by Amnye Machen, found itself the recipient of death threats after they attempted to report on Tibetan politics in a critical manner. Their distributors were targeted, as were their staff and journalists. In 2001, the paper was finally pressured to close when His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself publicly expressed his displeasure with its reporting. The whole saga was covered on both Phayul and the essayist and intellectual Jamyang Norbu’s website.

Thus, as mentioned in Parallels 1 to 3, public dissension is not tolerated and the Dalai Lama can override everything. In the Tibetan community, the Dalai Lama’s word is law and once he expresses his displeasure at something, it is only a matter of time before everyone takes it as their cue to vehemently and blindly attack the subject of His Holiness’ displeasure.

 

Parallel #7: Despite overwhelming evidence, Western media ignores the atrocities

News about Saudi Arabia generally falls into a few categories. The news either focuses on the Middle Eastern kingdom’s oil wealth, gapes in awe at their financial excesses and ostentatious spending, or links their activities with terrorism. Unless there is some political agenda, news that focuses on the human rights violations of the Saudi leaders is generally glossed over, or dismissed as hysterics and the work of overbearing liberals who know nothing about the ‘real’ world.

Meanwhile the Western media continues to ignore the atrocities committed by the Tibetan leadership against their own people, and fails to report on them. They fawn over the Tibetan leadership, in particular His Holiness the Dalai Lama, preferring to focus on his disarming giggle and self-effacing manner, instead of the obvious violations of human rights against Dorje Shugden practitioners that were initiated by the Dalai Lama himself.

 

Parallel #8: USA and UK ignore human rights violations in favor of economic benefits

The documentary also covered the lucrative relationship between the USA and the UK, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In particular, the documentary noted that these Western governments willfully choose to ignore the Saudi leadership’s human rights violations, in favor of striking economic deals with them in order to gain financial benefits.

Similarly, the Tibetan leadership also benefit financially from these same Western governments’ willful ignorance of the harm caused to Dorje Shugden practitioners. Despite clear evidence of human rights violations, the Tibetan leadership continues to receive funding from the American and British governments.

Letter from Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher to Lobsang Sangay. A long time supporter of Tibetan democracy, here he makes reference to what the Tibetan leadership should be spending their US government funds on.

 

Parallel #9: The relationships are political trump cards

In the case of Saudi Arabia, they were used by the Americans as a political trump card against the Communists and then the Israelis. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is also a military base for the Americans, who have stationed a large number of troops there since the 1960s to protect their oil interests and throughout the last few decades, during times of elections, Saudi Arabia has also been used against the American people. Since the 1960s, not a single a Presidential campaign has gone by when candidates have not claimed that Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia need to be held accountable for their role in terrorism.

In reality, state-sponsored terrorism by the Saudi government has gone relatively unchecked. For example, the tragic events of Sept 11 had links to the House of Saud. Yet while this connection has gone largely unaddressed, the same event (Sept 11) has been used to justify attacks against other Middle Eastern nations. These attacks were carried out on the pretext of liberating these nations from ‘terrorism’ but in reality, these nations who were ‘liberated’ had less connection with the Sept 11 event than the Saudi kingdom themselves.

And just like how Saudi state sponsored terrorism has largely gone unchecked, the Tibetan leadership continue to commit atrocities against their own people without any accountability. The Americans and British who turn a blind eye to Saudi human rights abuses, also turn a blind eye to Tibetan human rights abuses. This is done for the right to use the Tibetans as a political trump card against the Chinese government. So while these governments fund the Tibetan leadership even though they suppress people’s human rights, they do so to retain the Tibetan leadership’s favor and thus be able to use them as a tool against the rising power and influence of the Chinese leadership.

 

Parallel #10: Human rights violations are backed by US government

How the Saudi government commits acts of violence against their own people was also examined in the documentary, which noted that the American government equips the Saudi kingdom’s acts of violence against their own people by selling them arms and weapons.

In the Tibetan equivalent of this, there is a strongly persisting rumor that the Tibetan leadership’s perceived ‘opponents’ are dispatched with poison provided to them by the CIA back in the 1960s. This poison came into their possession when Tibetan guerrillas were trained by the CIA to resist Chinese Communist incursions into their land. Ever since then, it is strongly alleged by both anti-Shugden and pro-Shugden individuals that this poison has been used to dispatch of the Tibetan leadership’s opponents. Well-placed sources have said that this poison comes in two forms. There are those of the fast-acting variety that deliver death swiftly, and those of the slow-acting variety that take many months for the poison to work. Symptoms, when they present themselves, closely mimic other ailments (for example stomach issues) and thus do not arouse suspicion.

 

Conclusion

There are clear similarities between the Saudi and Tibetan leadership in terms of their treatment of their own people, and their relationship with Western democracies. In this case, the term ‘democracy’ can only be used loosely for what these ‘democracies’ really believe, that human rights violations against the marginalized and disenfranchised of another society are perfectly acceptable, just as long as there is some incentive and benefit for themselves. For these Western nations, ignoring these abuses means economic benefit for their own countries; addressing it and doing something about it would mean they lose a valuable source of income.

As for the Tibetan leadership that claims they are a democracy, the parallels outlined above clearly demonstrate that since they left Tibet in 1959, they have made very little progress away from their feudal autocratic past. For the right price, their people’s freedoms and human rights can be bought by the highest bidder who takes home the prize – Tibetan sovereignty and the right of the Tibetan people to decide their own fates and futures for themselves.

So what we are really witnessing is a modern and insidious form of colonialism. On the one hand is a leadership willing to sell their people’s freedoms at the right price; on the other hand, there are buyers willing to turn a blind eye and deaf ear on the gross human rights violations that take place every day. So the question remains, what have the Tibetan leadership done for their people and what have they accomplished in the last 60 years? Politically, the Tibetan leadership have failed to institute a just and fair system of governance in the last 60 years. Economically, they have failed to provide their community with viable and sustainable sources of income. Instead of generating their own revenue, the leadership continues to rely on handouts from foreign governments. And finally culturally and spiritually, there has never been a time in the past when the people have been as fractured as they are today. Openly and publicly, religious groups fight with one another for influence and power, encouraged by the leadership who cannot resist engaging in a little mudslinging themselves. One cannot help but wonder when the day will finally come when the Tibetan leadership will feel compelled to have their people’s best interests at heart.

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32 Comments

32 Comments

  1. ET

    March 11, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    This is simply mind blowing.. although the level of atrocities by the Saudi Kingdom is on a much more inhumane level.. what the CTA does is of no difference.

    I do pray for a day where there will be no persecution to Tibetans or its people for freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

  2. James P

    March 12, 2017 at 10:10 am

    For many years, the western “powers” have been using Asian countries as their pawn, to gain mainly financially. First the westerns influence the Asian to use Democracy, a system which most Asians are not familiar with and the citizens are not familiar with. Then they choose to enforce the part of democracy they can use to their own advantage. In many cases, westerns will choose to use human rights issue to their advantage. For example, they attack China using the human rights issue, but ignore the same human rights issue when they want to use Tibet to stop the growth of China.

  3. Pema

    March 12, 2017 at 11:40 am

    It is scary to see what is going on in Saudi Arabia! Thank you for the video but also for showing so clearly the similarities. It is indeed shocking that the Western democratic countries don’t pay attention to such obvious human rights violations!

    Women in Saudi Arabia have to have the permission of their “master” to go to school or even receive medical treatment. Worse for Dorje Shugden practitioners as they even have no opportunity to get permission! They don’t get medical treatment, are not allowed to work, the children are bullied in school because of the religious choice of their parents. Practitioners cannot buy in the grocery store in the Tibetan settlement or visit a restaurant!

    It is now 2017, Dorje Shugden practitioners have no right to practice their religion, are even banned from family and friends and cannot attend teachings from H.H. the Dalai Lama.

    It is time to end this and give religious freedom to all Tibetans and Dorje Shugden practitioners.

  4. Eli Buchen

    March 12, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    CTA in its current form is not democractic at all, Saudi Arabia and CTA seem to focus on their power on certain individuals.

  5. Dharmaholder

    March 12, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Power without checks and balances is dangerous and can lead to abuse of civil rights. An authoritarian government or regime is outdated in this day and age. How sad to see such abuses of human rights still existing in some places in the world in 2017!

  6. Sara Sha

    March 13, 2017 at 8:50 am

    When I see this video, it makes me realise how nothing is samsara is real and good. Everything about it is pure suffering, selfishness, greed, power and those that have such power continues to use, abuse, dictate the lives of so many civilians. And those who do not follow them, who even dare to oppose their views, will be persecuted and executed. And the best part is that it is all funded by the West who put on a mask as the champion of “human rights”… yeah right, more like their own rights to your wealth and resources.

    Yes the Tibetan leadership sure has a lot of things in common with Saudi Arabia. I like the strangely commonalities pointed out by this author. Indeed, both still operated in a very medieval archaic form of ruling, and it is being allowed to because the Western civilisation allows it due their own greed. This explains why they do now go in to thoroughly investigate on a lot of the injustice that is created by such leadership. Now we understand that people really do have to stand up for themselves. And for all those who is stupid enough to follow them to harm another group of people, goes to show us that they too are being bought or paid.

    May those who are oppressed gain freedom and happiness. May Dorje Shugden rise again and become the world peace protector of our time.

  7. Sascha

    March 13, 2017 at 11:33 am

    We are all interdependent not independent and we all have a conciousness that itself basicly is and stays nirvana or free of luck and pain and all causes of luck and pain, because it basicly is and stays free of lastingness and non-existence due to spacecontinuum that has no end (unceasing) and no beginning (unborn).

    So conciousnesscontinuum/life or the eternal cycle of life (self arising and dissolving conciousnesscontinuum/life – cycle of breath is connected with this aspect of spacecontinuum and natural healing movement/tara aspect and how to cause and effect non-dual perception and exeprience of reality that is called different stages of samadhi) itself is nirvana but unfortuneately at some point in the past, out of this non-dual awareness, we have created the illusion of lasting and non-existent, of subject (me) and object (others), good and bad, god and devil, right and wrong, friend and enemy etc. duality within our non-dual conciousness.

    Hence there is conflict, conflict between good and bad and between good/bad and reality/non-duality itself. This creating of duality and to keep up this duality was and is the root for any conflict within mankind and nations, with nations itself and between nations, within communities and between communities, within religions and between religions etc..

    Because reality is and stays non-duality, duality is illusion, is impermanent nd the causes for it are impermanent as well, so it is possible to avoid creating duality and to overcome duality, so there is a way to avoid creating duality and to overcome duality.

    So there is a way to avoid causes of conflict(s) and conflicts as well as to overcome causes of conflict(s) and conflict(s).

    As long we are holding onto duality and go on with duality, we will fail because reality stays non-duality and duality only will fail within non-duality/reality. That’S why non-violence or wisdom and compassion (dignity) is the only way for each nation to protect oneself as well as all other nations from harm.

    To be clear to hold on to eternalism and nihilism will cause harm, so we can and need to aknowlegde our inherent dignity that is free of duality as identity and cultivate our dignity (wisdom and compassion) in order to avoid harm for ourself and others.

    Unfortenuately there is ignorance regarding non-duality and violence but there is also a way out that is non-violence/wisdom and compassion.

    Because violence does not work, because it is in contradiction with reality, we have no other coice than non-violence. So we need to stop with violence sooner or later anyway because we can’t escape reality/spacecontinuum/conciousnesscontinuum that is non-violence/protection/regeneration and healing.

    So not to continue to practice the dualism/violence that other people/groups/societies/groups/parties/governments/companies/nations etc. practice is very natural and will happen anyway. This is an unavoidable process/evolution of life/impermanence/regeneration and healing.

    So not to follow dualism/violence of public hand/economy/parties/groups/nations etc. is not against those who still practice dualism/violence but a natural process of life/reality/non-duality/non-violence. Of course for dualism/violence reality/non-duality/non-violence is thread and of course there is this conflict because of duality but there is no way out of reality/non-duality itself that is a continuum and the fact that duality/violence is impermanent and will fail anyway.

    So wisdom and compassion is and allways will be victorious and violence can’t change anything about this fact or basic freedom of lastigness and non-existence. So the best way is not to fight against wisdom and compassion (dharma) because there is no chance to conquer non-duality/reality/non-violence with violence anyway. Of course duality tries to subjugate beings with violence to the violence but impermanent violence can’t subjugate non-violence/freedom of lastingness and non-existence/wisdom and compassion itself.

    Saudi Arabia is based on god – devil duality, Tibet is based on non-duality/wisdom and compassion, so there is a huge difference between these two cultures that we actually can’t compare at all with another. We can discern that cultures that where based on non-duality are still alive and that cultures that where based on duality failed and more non-duality came into these cultural movements that is cultural evolution that will have adapt to reality that is non-duality because there is no way to escape space/reality/non-duality.

    We can and should stop to ignore the cause of all conflicts/violence that is creating the illusion of duality as well as start to become more vast and profound aware of non-duality or that reality itself is non-dual because it is free of lastingness and non-existence that includes that reality itself is protection, regeneration and healing or healing activity/non-violence and also means that it is free of god and devil, good and bad, friend and enemy.

    Here HHDL not only says that it is difficult to live non-violence but also that our non-dual awareness, our dignity, is what we all have in common and is uniting all of us. So here we can and should focus on what is uniting us that is non-duality/non-violence and this starts with to acknowledge the inherent dignity as identity.

    Here dharma is very clear about reality/non-duality/non-violence and once idenetity and how to aknowledge or how to ideneitfy ourself with what we really are by applying (basic yana) disciplin and renunceation regarding duality (4 noble truth, 5 skhandas, 12 links of interdependent origination), invoking and cultivating loving kindness/bodhichitta (mahayana) and 37 factors for enlightement/wisdom and compassion/non-dual awareness or conciousness(non-dual perception and experience of reality)/nirvana and to identify ourself with our inherent wisdom and compassion/dignity/nirvana (vajrayana) by mudra, mantra and visualisation to cultivate our wisdom and compassion for the freedom and wellbeing of ourself and all beings. Dharma is very clear about reality and about how to let freedom and wellbeing happen for ourself and others. So we are very fortuneate because of Tibet, we don’t have to do research to find out all this we can start right away to analyse the teachings and to practice non-duality/non-violence step by step to become aware of our wisdom and compassion and to cultivate our wisdom and compassion. We have the freedokm to do so anyway, impermanent violence can’t change anything about it at all.

    One conflict is that there is a culture of non-duality and that there is a culture of duality as well as history clearly shows that duality always causes and effects problems and fails and slowly becomes more non-dual because there is no way to escape reality/non-duality. Here the culture of non-duality/wisdom and compassion is only a support for all nations/economy. Of course there is this conflict of duality with non-duality but it’s impermanent, so we can and should, because our digntiy is there anaway, focus on the fact that worldwide we are all not friends nor enemies but one mankind that has many wise and compassionate aspects that need to be cultivates for the benifit of any nation itself, all other nations and mankind.

    Instead of accusing and blaming we can avoid more conflict and overcome old conflicts that are only there because of the illusion of duality by the way. Because of illusion! All the nightmare in history of manking because of illusions (duality) that we can avoid and overcome with our dignity/wisdom and compassion. So we need to let go by healing activity of mind, speech and body in order to become aware of non-duality.

    Here we are talking about to come out of the harmful cycle of peace/luck and war/pain and duality as cause of it (samsara) to finaly cause and effect freedom and wellbeing that can not happen by work but only by mindfulness/insight/awareness and understanding of non-duality. So here we are talking about science, non-dual knwoledge and education systems that are supposed to help human beings to become mindful and aware of non-duality in order to let compassion and healing activity happen in order to avoid duality, criminality, extremism, terror and war. Because of Tibet we have a real chance to let this happen, to let real evolution within mankind happen by mindfulness and becoming aware of non-duality so that mankind can recover.

    The so called nirmanakaya aspect of conciousness is one aspect of the so called three kayas or three aspects of conciousness that are and stay wisdom and compassion, however the nirmanaya aspect is like the sunrays or emanation/apearance aspect of conciousness that, by creating duality out of non-duality (that why there is also magic that distracts from reality and creates illusion that collapses as soon you realize reality and trick behind the illusion), can be temporary obscured by karma/conceptual mind/dual perception and experience of reality like clouds that dim the light (wisdom of non-duality/non-dual awareness) and warmth (compassion) of the sunrays or nirmanakaya aspect that arises from the sun or sambhogakaya aspect in the sky or dharmakaya aspect that includes all three aspects in itself but alyways stays free of duality because of that it is and stays free of lastingness and non-existence.

    So here we can and need to be aware that these cognitive and emotional obscurations (or five aspects of temporary obscurations to go into it more detailed) are impermanent and that this non-duality or wisdom and compassion is what protection, regeneration and healing is that destroys illusions/duality that is a thread for duality of course that is not the wisdom mind itself that is like the sky, sun and sunrays (that five aspects – it stays regenerating/healing transformation, non-dual, compassion, healing activity and protective non-dual continuum that is free of lastingness and non-existence (unborn and unceasing)- are and stay pure/nirvana and can’t be manipulated/destroyed at all).

    So here the conceptual mind is in conflict with wisdom (non-duality) and arising compassion because of unfortuneate identification with karmic wind/conceptual mind as identity because of not being aware enough of conciousness itself that a Lama introduces you (introduction into the nature of mind/wisdom mind/mandala/rigpa) and vajrayana is about becomming and being aware of non-dual wisdom mind and to identify ourself with our true ideneity or what we really are (wisdom and compassion) and to cultivate it in order to avoid causing and effecting duality/illusions/conflict/violence and to overcome the causes of violence/suffering.

    The problem with States/Republics/Economy/Nations/Mankind is this identity crisis of human beings and this fight/violence of human beings against the true identity of human beings that is dignity/wisdom and compassion in order to keep up the violence/dualism. It is obvious that not only Europe has an identity crisis.

    Remeber, the post socialism situation on the balkan after former republic of jugoslavia and the duality/identity crisis there because of communism/socialism/dualism (that is still there because of no education about non-duality that still is a problem in europe) was also ground for populism that arised after and the balkan war that happend because of this, where also russian gov. was involved by the way who supported milosovic (fight for serbian nationalism).

    Populism now has spread across europe, media have made people aware about it, and there is a danger within europe of creating a war in europe that even might cause and effect a world war. So please stay with dignity, this is what europe can and should learn from history anyway, so please turn away from dualism, that is only about going to crash themself and another. So please turn away from communism/socialism/capitalism/racism/fashism, please don’t support harmful dualistic movements that are going to fail anyway because within reality/non-duality violence or dualism simply can’t work at all.

    Be aware of that russian and chinese people unconditional have the freedom to cultivate their wisdom and compassion/dignity and don’t need to follow a “government” that is based on duality/violence that is in contradiction with reality.

    All people around the world unconditional have the freedom to cultivate their wisdom and compassion and don’t need to support government/economy/movements that are based on duality that are in contradiction with reality.

    Any government around the world can’t escape reality or the fact that reality is non-dual, that interdependence and impermanence – due to space – is non-duality that is non-violence that is protection, regeneration and healing.

    Any government around the world, because of impermanence, is forced by spacecontinuum and elements, to adapt to reality/non-duality/non-violence, and all human beings unconditional have the freedom to cultivate their dignity/wisdom and compasson, unconditional have the freedom not to go on with the eternalism and nihilism (dualism) of public hand and economy in order to let protection, regeneration and healing for mankind, nature and animals happen.

    May you all be blessed with mindfulnes and non-dual awares/compassion for eternity. May all dharmapalas protect all teachers and students of dharma with wisdom of non-duality and compassion and may vajrakilaya destroy all harmful powers that are hostile against wisdom and compassion.

  8. Roz

    March 13, 2017 at 11:41 pm

    Blah blah blah blah “Saudi Arabia is based on god – devil duality, Tibet is based on non-duality/wisdom and compassion, so there is a huge difference between these two cultures that we actually can’t compare at all with another.” blah blah blah blah

    Big words that communicate nothing and so many words to appear wise, yet the commentator above clearly demonstrates that he or she had missed out on the point of the article entirely. Solaray’s article is clear which is that the similarities are based on a comparison of information presented in the documentary. Hence he (she?) presented 10 parallels to focus on IN CONSIDERATION OF THE DOCUMENTARY and if the commentator above had done that, they’d have gotten more out of the post than their waffling on about duality.

    One thing is very clear to this reader. The commentator above writes to satisfy themselves, to make themselves look scholarly and to make themselves look good. But if no one reads what you write because clearly you’ve missed the entire point of the article, what is the point in writing at all? All that chatter does nothing to help lift the Shugden ban. Just remember that Tsongkhapa didn’t seek to impress his listeners, Tsongkhapa sought to communicate knowledge and truth.

    Anyway enough of that. Solaray, nice article. Points well-made and they have left an impression on this reader who actually read the article, instead of used this website as a platform to host my own thoughts.

  9. sushilla

    March 14, 2017 at 6:11 am

    The Unites States of America selling military arms to the Saudi Kingdom who in return uses them to attack USA and kill its people and destroy its assets.
    The Central Tibetan Government and His Holiness the Dalai Lama befriending the Americans and accepting their donations which fuels anger in the government of China, and then asking China to return their land and allow HHDL to return to Tibet .

    Such strange, illogical and contradictory measures taken !! All at the expense of the innocent citizens and students who think that they have leaders and teachers who are wise and cares for their welfare !! In truth its all for their own greed and power !!
    Tibetans who still hold on to the believe that their leaders will lead them to freedom, please wake up and contemplate the truth that it will never happen if the same tricks and tactics are used to manage the government and the people of Tibet !!
    Don’t get distracted by controversies in Dorje Shugden or the double Karmapas or the double Panchen Lamas . All these controversies are typically to keep the Tibetans busy squabbling with each other, even to the extend of physically injuring each other. This is a very typical tactic to use for those in power to stay in power. It’s easier for them to DIVIDE AND RULE !!

  10. Tenzin K

    March 14, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    When spiritual mixed with politic it can never be right. What is see from both leaders of the country is mainly about power through religious. I believe using religious is the easy way to control as spiritual is something people hold on close and is very personal and sentiment.

    The analysis of both leaders in their country look very similar in their essence and what sadden me is other country that so called pro to human rights is just taking advantages to for their interest and of course there is always a win win situation that both parties will look for their own benefits but is towards power and materialism instead of spiritual.

    Spiritual is just a tools for both country to achieve power and nothing more than that. True spiritual will protect their people in a compassion way. I can’t comment on other religious but as a Buddhist compassion is about respect, harmony, forgiveness and protect. What we see here from both leaders are violence, dictatorship, greed and the ultimate goal is control over power. For Tibetan leaders they even use religious such as Dorje Shugden practice to separate their own people to and use it as an excuse for their failure Tibetan freedom instead of respecting their own people choices and unite them to make them stronger.

  11. Vajra10

    March 14, 2017 at 12:29 pm

    @ Dharmaholder

    Indeed, Power without checks and balances is dangerous and sad enough this is the society we are all living in, full of desires etc., POWER & MONEY.

    Some individuals just couldn’t care lesser when it comes to fulfill their desires. They can happily enjoy their results after caused harms to others without sense of guilty and sadness.

    True happiness and freedom are not based on a single individuals, they are produced when we have truly let go about what make us hold on for and having both actions and motivations to benefit people.

  12. Danny Short

    March 14, 2017 at 11:49 pm

    Both rulers have the same modus operandi, using religion to control their subjects for their own interests – power to control and for wealth.
    By labeling Dorje Shugden a demon and his practice demonic, the Dalai Lama is publicly saying his gurus and their gurus have been wrong all along. And that he is better than them since he ‘investigated’ and came to the conclusion that Dorje Shugden is a spirit. The Dalai Lama has set the precedence for other students of Tibetan Buddhism to openly say their gurus may be wrong. Guru devotion, respect, reverence has gone down the gutter.

  13. cassie soon

    March 14, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    Indeed shocking to know and see what is going on in Saudi Arabia. Absolutely no basic human rights! Seriously, that is no way to treat your people. How many people can you kill just to ensure ‘peace’ and obeisance? A country’s leader is to ensure its people grow with them and to put their interests at heart. So much wealth, but without kindness and understanding. Can one actually bring their wealth with them when they die?

    As for the CTA, for years, they still fail to unite their own people let alone, getting back Tibet. Again, no basic human rights to even choose the religion they want to practice.
    How to achieve Free Tibet when CTA keep hoping to suppress what their people think and do. Hitlist is one of the lowest they can go. It’s very pathetic for a so called ‘govt’ who does nothing but cause more problems among their people. Stirring up problems and instead of going forward, they are going backwards. All for their own selfish interests. 50 over years and where are they? Nowhere.
    Why do you fight for influence and power when there is NO country for you to ‘rule’?
    Perhaps the CTA should reroute their attention genuinely towards a goal for the better of the Tibetans and stick to it. Show some positive results for your people, instead of using dirty tricks and going nowhere.

  14. Dondrup Shugden

    March 15, 2017 at 1:18 am

    Due to the practice of medieval and feudalist manner of governance as absolute autocratic rulers, the Saudi Kings and Tibetan leaders have treated their subjects as commodities to be sold and traded off to those who will buy, all in the name of firstly enforcing the rulers’ control and the buyers for reason best suitable to their own countries.

    This is the 21st century where Human Rights and well being of humanity are advocated and fought for as the ultimate goal for the citizens of the world wherever they may be.

    In the USA and UK and the other developed world simple thing like full employment and minimum wages are fought for and gaining momentum to succeed.

    What then is happening for the Saudi Arabians and Tibetans? In order to enrich and enforce their power and control, are the leaders of these two category of people selling them short to economic powers like USA and UK, well known for their human rights agenda.

    At the same time, it is disgusting to note that the methods are same with the Saudi Kings and Tibetan leaders, but the very essence of their culture and traditions vary greatly.

    Historically the arabs are nomads who lived in barren land (until oil is founded) and had to be vicious to survive, where else the Tibetans are Buddhists under the tutelage of the stainless and untainted Dharma operate from kindness and compassion in order to generate liberation for enlightenment.

    Sad to see the atrocities in Saudi Arabia and even sadder to note what is being done to the Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners are similar, of great oppression and assassinations. How much more of the reports on such atrocities been snuffed out of knowledge to the citizens of the world where all humanity rights been won to benefit them. It is only the gangsters who practised such atrocities both the western powers and the autocrats, are privileged to know of such acts against humanity whereby they can further snuffed such information out of view. In so doing, the masses are totally unaware especially of the harassed Dorje Shugden Tibetans. After all HH the 14th Dalai Lama is such a media “darling” seemingly incapable of inflicting sufferings but who teaches to elevate sufferings. Hypocrisy?????

    Well said that “History had never been kind to Kings” and may the day where well being to mankind and religious freedom on Dorje Shugden prevails.

    For as long as the practice of Dorje Shugden is suppressed the benefit to mankind of this great Protector Buddha will be forfeited to serve a better world.

    In conclusion, the hypocrisy and lies of the western leaders in support of these autocrats in benefit of their nations is disgusting.

  15. The end

    March 15, 2017 at 3:22 am

    When the Tibetan ‘government’ in exile in Dharamshala ends and closes down, it will be good news. It will be another totally corrupt regime and evil group of people who are dismantled. Awaiting for that day to come soon.

  16. Fan Jing Jing

    March 15, 2017 at 4:03 am

    I am not surprised to read about how Arabian people has been treated by their own leaders. Many leaders are working together for one way or another to generate their own interests to fulfil their own benefits and agenda.

    Sad to see Tibetan leaders using their people’s faith, innocent and loyalty to their leader, country and religion to fulfil their own benefits and agenda. As you can see the 75 Tibetan, how they were encouraged to immolate themselves in the name of “free Tibet” and use it against China. Again they accused Dorje Shugden practitioners as China’s spies with illogical reasons and without any proof. Tibetan families and friends are forced to split and gave up their faith by strong discrimination, slender, violence, abusive among the community. The discrimination of Dorje Shugden practitioners is so strong and it’s happening not only among teh Tibetan community but all Buddhists around the world. Why do we have to give up our faith simply because H.H.the Dalai Lama displeasure about it? or this is simply to fit into the political agenda and their own benefits.

    The values of mankind that Buddha has taught has been abused in the mouth of the leaders to brainwash the people’s mind. Shall we continue to be silent, which is as bad as supporting and feed their own greed for power and money? We have a choice. We need to stop this. We shall bring peace and compassion to the people around us. We should not be discouraged. We need to act with wisdom not just follow blindly. We cannot close our own door and be a good buddhist alone. Please do not allow this to continue and spread.

  17. Geraldine Sarie

    March 15, 2017 at 5:42 am

    Whenever there are politics, there will never have peace. People merely like to overtake controlled of other people power of choices. How will there be democracy, peace and freedom for these people and their country to better development?

  18. Wisdommind

    March 15, 2017 at 7:08 am

    Reading through this article, with heavily heart and sadness know that humanitarian are certainly put down. I’m can imagine how the people living with suffering with no democrarcy , non human right and religion practice freedom existing in both country ruler control . This is true reality suffering of samsara.

  19. George Michael

    March 15, 2017 at 7:40 am

    I have heard about violence in Saudi Arabia since long time ago, but I did not expect it to be so serious and cruel. The video is really disheartening, I cannot imagine how do I feel if I’m a citizen of Saudi Arabia, it is so helpless and hopeless, it seems that my head will depart from my body anytime, and America is supporting this cruelty act from the Saudi and Tibetan Leadership.

    In fact, many country leaders around the world are working based on their own interest, but they do not go till so extreme like Saudi Arabia and Tibet, the leaders are actually hunting down their own citizen who create no harm to the country, and all these just because they want to protect their own selfish benefit.

    Both this 2 countries are using religion to split their citizen apart, how can Politics and religion mix? They are working in different aspect and it’s totally different. So sad to see this where religion are supposed to be of the benefit of others, but now it has been used by the authority to harm others, it has become a harmful tool towards the helpless citizen. The world has become so degenerate where people are taking refuge with their 3 poisons and not the 3 jewels anymore.

    If they continue with these action, not only about killing their citizen, they are actually bringing destruction to the whole country and their next generations. I hope they can realize their destructive act and turn back around.

  20. vajra-NMD

    March 15, 2017 at 11:48 am

    After reading this article, i was thinking how can politics and religion mix together? Religion isn’t teach us to become a better person? Or at the year of 2017, these are the “Ways” to runine the country?

    I don’t have much interest on political issues and the history of countries, because all of them “Involved” into Wars, Killings, Powers, and Moneys.

  21. Belinda Mae

    March 15, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    I really cannot understand that until modern days like these, the people can be so barbaric. For Saudi Arabia’s King to have all the fortune, what benefits that his people gets? Any wrong actions at anytime they will be beheaded. Can you imagine the fear in the people living in Saudi Arabia. They do not have the rights to fight for their human rights because the King rules everything. This situation is similar in Dharamsala whereby the people have no rights to choose their own spiritual practice. Anyone who practices Dorje Shugden will be attacked and not allowed to go to some public places such as schools, hospitals, etc. It is so sad to see people die because they are only fighting for their own rights and it is never granted because of the selfish ruler of the country.

  22. Tianni

    March 15, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    When religion combined with politics, it becomes an unchallengeable power. They are few people in this world possess this power, King of the Saudi Arabia and Dalai Lama are one of them. In Tibet, many people’s lives are dedicated to Tibetan Buddhism and religious customs are part of everyday life. In short, Buddhism is always set above everything in Tibet and the face of Tibetan Buddhism is Dalai Lama. Therefore Tibetan will not question on whatever Dalai Lama says.

    However as a Buddhist I would like to ask the HH Dalai Lama, how can you preach compassion and peace while watching your peoples suffer because of practising Dorje Shugden? Looking at the situation to date, the ban of dorje shugden resulted family divided, monastery split into practising and non practising of Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden practitioners were heavily discriminated against, from being denied basic amenities and crucial services such as healthcare, to being constantly harassed and attacked. Buddhism is to solve our suffering and the ban of dorje shugden created more suffering. Where is the compassion taught by Buddha.

  23. Brian Little

    March 15, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    I have heard or read stories and news of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. In fact I have heard of air stewardesses refused to join Emirates even with huge amount of pay due to the fact there have been reports stating air stewardess being sexual harassed during flights by passengers of Saudi Arabia origins. When I watched the video, it really put me off and I don’t understand why the sort of punishments can still be of existence till these days. Yes I feel for its citizens and dont even tall about what happened all these years between the “warlords of Saudi and USA government dealings. It brings me to think similar things happening in borrowed Indian soil currently occupied by CTA. Under this leadership, I felt it is still being controlled by His Holiness Dalai Lama and the system is wrong. Whatever things initiated by CTA for the past 50 years to reclaim Tibet has not gone into any fruition and instead of focusing just that, CTA are spreading lies and discriminating it’s own people (where they are supposed protect) for praying to Dorje Shugden. There are enough evidence to show that Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and not a spirit, plus will not harm HHDL’s life, but Dalai Lama’s continued silence on this matter to clear the air of the ban is baffling. I feel it’s the same type of governing people that is operating within CTA. I don’t see how CTA will be able to reclaim Tibet from China.

  24. Richard LakTam

    March 15, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    It is really very stunned and shocked to see such thing they do in Saudi Arabia. I can’t believe in the current modern era, there still have these kind of rules in a so called “rich” country. Saudi Arabia, after watching the video, only one thing came to my mind is, it’s a living hell, no human rights, no women rights, citizen have been living in fear, poverty, it’s like living a day without tomorrow. Whereas, for Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala, they put spirituality in politics, blaming that Dorje Shugden is the obstacle to Tibetan cause for independent, yet, they apply force on people who practice it. Both leadership have something in common is, they ignore human right, they can’t unite their people, they abuse their power, and that, they can’t win their people’s heart. With these, how can a country move towards democracy? And how can that country developed? People improved. They saw the old Emperor ruling fashion cannot be used to develop a country anymore, so they fought for democracy, so that the country will grow and improve. Yet, these Leaderships stay in the old style for their own personal benefit.

  25. Camillia

    March 16, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    It is no secret that the USA and the West are highly selective in their diplomatic policy. But this is beyond the normal diplomatic policy as I believe the USA (especially) and some parties of the Western governments are using Saudi and Tibetan in exile as their puppets to control and stir chaos in geo-political boundaries that are out of reach but contain succinct economical benefits, hence cannot be left unmonitored and “uncontrolled”; unlike some poor African or South American countries. They are some clever tactics for much disruption had been created as a result of the master & puppets play. Many had suffered, families broken, war erupted and state administration collapsed are evidences of the damage, all at the expenses of the puppets’ home front and own people! How sad, to be the puppet, used and manipulated by a foreign master to turn against own people so that it serves the master’s devious aim to create disharmony and damage, in all aspect, socially, economically or politically. As Buddhist, I find it against Buddhist principles that the Tibetan in exile leadership rather be used to constantly create disharmony among own people than work with the Beijing government to create a harmony and stable environment where Buddhism can grow? Let’s assume the Tibetan in exile is being ill advised by the not so far-sighted advisors; but it still baffled me why the Tibetan in exile leadership, who are Buddhist and followers of the King of Buddhism, Dalai Lama, willing to stick to the USA and the West. Is this not a betrayal of the basic Buddhism tenets? Is this not degeneration of Buddhism? Is it not blood money that those donation monies coming from the USA and the West help created so much abuse and violence in the Dorje Shugden community? It just felt like some people already living the life of an animal without going to the animal realms for selling their dignity to foreign masters!

  26. Doreen Park

    March 17, 2017 at 11:41 am

    For the last 60 years, the exiled Tibetan Government has failed to ensure the economic security and well-being of the people they have been governing. There have been more human rights violation and abusive activities against their people than effort to address the economic and social woes of their people.

    Democracy is just a word touted by them to describe their system of government. There is nothing democratic in the way they have governed their people.Take their anti Shugden stance . See how they have discriminated against and persecuted with violence a group of practitioners, who just wish to practice a practice given to them by their root Gurus.

    No voice of dissent has ever been entertained, nor any alternative media. All these have been squashed with violence and vehemence. Yet , the Western powers have conveniently chosen to turn a blind eye to the overwhelming evidence of the Tibetan leaderships’s abusive activities and their violation of human rights of their people. This is because it is not to their political or economic advantage to do so. Such is the sad but true state of things.

    When will the Tibetan leadership ever be compelled to work with the best interests of their people at heart? How can they see their repressive ways as helping in any way?

  27. Sierra

    March 19, 2017 at 2:23 am

    Interesting article. Good comparison of 2 supposedly very different situation and government. Quite insightful of Solaray.

    Thank you for the article as it does give us food for thought that there are more countries in that self same situation that masquerade as democracy or call themselves democratic.

  28. SabrinaS

    March 22, 2017 at 5:04 pm

    What a fitting comparison! Tibetan leadership governed exactly like the dictatorship under monarchy rule. There is no room for differing views nor freedom of choice. I find it strange that Tibet being a country predominantly imbued in Buddhism and spirituality could rule with such heavy handed self interest. A contradiction to Buddha’s teachings of equanimity, non-attachment, abstinence, compassion, etc. This feudalistic method is now brought into India who provided land for the Tibetans in Exile for a duration of a 100 years. Yet, instead of integrating their rule with the Laws of the host country, CTA does not practise human rights nor religious freedom and discriminate, persecute and segregate Shugden practitioners. And CTA expect the sympathy of others whilst accusing China of the very same misdeeds they do to their own? Does it make sense for CTA to keep attacking China, the country that CTA wish to have dialogue with for autonomy rule?

    The thing is, right next to Tibet, we have another country under monarchy and yet command respect due to fair rule. The country of Bhutan, also steep in Buddhism, rule their people with equality and their measurement of success is the level of happiness of her people. The royal families are so revered due to their humbleness, their easy interactions with their people without prejudices and strict rule against crimes of any kind. CTA will do well to emulate the governance of Bhutan who put their people first. Strength is in unity, not segregating your own people by placing a illogical ban on an authentic 400 year old protector practice of Dorje Shugden. CTA, when will you stop pandering to your Western sponsors and look towards reaching out to China where Tibet is within her borders, a fact accepted by most Leaders of the World. It is wiser to work from within for a better future then to push your way in without support. Care for your people and lift the ban on Dorje Shugden practice which brought so much sufferings to your people.

  29. Adam

    March 28, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    Interesting article that puts Western governments to shame. The parallels between Tibet’s and Saudi Arabia’s policies are clearly defined, and the author did an excellent job in highlighting what western powers would rather you didn’t see – that their much-vaunted principles of democracy and human rights are only enforced when convenient. And that the true principle that governs western superpowers is none other than economic, financial and political gain.

  30. Pema Norbu

    September 15, 2017 at 11:11 am

    Please look at this clear video of His Holiness the Dalai Lama asking the monasteries to expel monks that practice Dorje Shugden. Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTgYWidYw3U

  31. TseringD, Delhi

    October 29, 2017 at 8:27 pm

    Nechung is ZUMA 👎 before I m think he is one of d best when I m watch dis video By Geshe Dorjee la but now I m think is not d truth n he is lie to Tibet people we r not back to Tibet yt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIDZLzXIgW8 Chithue Tenpa Yarphel la tq for talk about truth of Nechung . I m watch to this video many time la https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if2dFMKIr_8 n after I hear you talk I m not belief to Nechung

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