Thursday, December 18, 2008

Ten Simple Reasons why Dorje Shugden is a Buddha


1. Dorje Shugden is the last incarnation in a lineage of enlightened Masters


Dorje Shugden arose from an incarnation lineage of enlightened Teachers. As the highly realized Master, Tagpo Kelsang Khedrub Rinpoche, said:

You have manifested in different aspects
As Indian and Tibetan Masters,
Such as Manjushri, Mahasiddha Biwawa, Sakya Pandita,
Buton Rinchen Drub, Duldzin Dragpa Gyaltsen, Panchen Sonam Dragpa, and many others.

Their life stories are explained in the book Heart Jewel. Since his lineage is enlightened, Dorje Shugden is a Buddha too.

2. Dorje Shugden could not be subdued by the 5th Dalai Lama or other Lamas

When Ngatrul Dragpa Gyaltsen, the last human incarnation, manifested as the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden (as he had predicted he would do), the 5th Dalai Lama initially developed the mistaken idea that he was a spirit and tried to subdue him through performing wrathful fire pujas. Although he and many high Lamas tried to destroy Dorje Shugden, they were not able to because he is a Buddha. This is explained by Tagpo Kelsang Khedrub Rinpoche in his praise of Dorje Shugden, Infinite Aeons:

Then, although four undisputed powerful Tantrikas,
With concentration, began wrathful rituals to strike you down,
Through the power of having completed Guhyasamaja's two stages,
You would not be silenced, and showed signs of heroism; praise to you!

3. Dorje Shugden’s form teaches the paths of Sutra and Tantra

Dorje Shugden's form teaches the complete stages of the path of Sutra and Tantra, and such qualities are not possessed by the forms of worldly beings.

He appears as a fully ordained monk
to show that the practice of pure moral discipline is essential for those who wish to attain enlightenment. In his left hand he holds a heart, which symbolize great compassion and spontaneous great bliss – the essence of all the stages of the vast path of Sutra and Tantra. His round yellow hat represents the view of Nagarjuna, and the wisdom sword in his right hand (like the one held by Manjushri and Je Tsongkhapa) teaches us to sever ignorance, the root of samsara, with the sharp blade of Nagarjuna’s view. This is the essence of all the stages of the profound path of Sutra and Tantra. He rides a snow lion, symbolizing the four fearlessnesses of a Buddha.

Explanation of his remaining features can be found in Heart Jewel, as can the specific
enlightened function of each of the thirty-two Deities of his mandala, which are explained in a prayer written by Sachen Kunlo, one of the great Sakya Lamas.

Only enlightened beings display a meaningful aspect that teaches the entire path to enlightenment. Therefore, Dorje Shugden is a Buddha.

4. Dorje Shugden is the incarnation of the five Buddha families

Dorje Shugden is the incarnation of the five Buddha families and appears in five forms that symbolize the five families. These forms are explained in Heart Jewel and are called 'the five lineages of Dorje Shugden'. The principal Deity, Duldzin Dorje Shugden rides a snow lion. Vairochana Shugden is white and rides an elephant. Ratna Shugden is yellow and rides a palomino horse. Pema Shugden is red and rides a turquoise dragon. Karma Shugden is dark red and rides a wrathful Garuda bird. These forms also symbolize Dorje Shugden's attainment of pacifying, increasing, controlling and wrathful actions and his main form as Duldzin symbolizes the supreme attainment – enlightenment itself.

Since Dorje Shugden is the manifestation of the five Buddha families, there is no doubt that he is the same enlightened nature as Buddha Vajradhara.

5. Dorje Shugden is the same nature as Manjushri, Je Tsongkhapa, Mahakala and Kalarupa

Dorje Shugden is the same nature as Je Tsongkhapa – they are the same person performing different functions. Many Dorje Shugden sadhanas state that Dorje Shugden is the embodiment of the “Guru, Yidam, and Protector”, where “Guru” refers specifically to Lama Tsongkhapa. When we practice the sadhana of Dorje Shugden, we are indirectly practising the Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa. Gelugpa practitioners who have a sincere trust in Dorje Shugden will have no difficulty in generating unshakeable faith in Je Tsongkhapa and his teachings.

Both Je Tsongkhapa (‘peaceful Manjushri’) and Dorje Shugden (‘wrathful Manjushri’) are manifestations of the Wisdom Buddha Manjushri, as are the Dharma Protectors four-faced Mahakala and Kalarupa. Therefore, they are all the same enlightened nature.

6. Dorje Shugden’s mandala Deities are the same nature as the body mandala Deities of Lama Losang Tubwang Dorjechang

The Deities of Dorje Shugden’s mandala are the same nature as the Deities of the body mandala of Lama Losang Tubwang Dorjechang, who is in essence Je Tsongkhapa.

Lama Losang Tubwang Dorjechang is the principal object of refuge in the blessed Gelug practice of Offering to the Spiritual Guide (Tib: Lama Chöpa), which comes from Manjushri’s Emanation Scripture. In this practice we visualize within his body the thirty-two Deities of Guhyasamaja. These thirty-two Deities manifest as the thirty-two Deities of Dorje Shugden's mandala, indicating that Dorje Shugden is the same nature as Je Tsongkhapa and Guhyasamaja and thus a fully enlightened being.

Of the Deities of the five lineages of Dorje Shugden explained above, the principal Deity is Duldzin Dorje Shugden, who is the manifestation of the aggregate of consciousness of Lama Losang Tubwang Dorjechang. The remaining four lineages are manifestations of Lama Losang Tubwang Dorjechang’s remaining four aggregates. Je Tsongkhapa himself therefore manifests as an enlightened Protector and retinue to protect his Ganden tradition.

7. The practice of Dorje Shugden was taught by Je Tsongkhapa in Tushita Pure Land

Dorje Shugden arose as the principal Protector of Je Tsongkhapa's doctrine over 300 years ago, at the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, who composed the first verse of praise to him. However, the current system of empowerment and worship is more recent and comes from a great Lama called Tagpo Kelsang Khedrub Rinpoche. Lama Tagpo went to Tushita Pure Land where he met Je Tsongkhapa and requested a teaching. In response, Je Tsongkhapa lifted up the cloth covering the front of the golden throne on which he was sitting, and the five lineages of Dorje Shugden emerged. Dorje Shugden then transmitted the practice to Lama Tagpo, just as Maitreya had transmitted five major philosophical treatises to Asanga in Tushita Pure Land in earlier times.

Lama Tagpo later transmitted these instructions to Pabongkhapa Dechen Nyingpo, who passed them on to Trijang Dorjechang Losang Yeshe -- spiritual father and son. From Trijang Rinpoche, they passed to our present day Gelugpa Teachers.

8. Dorje Shugden has been relied upon by the highest Lamas, who themselves have been recognized as enlightened

Well-regarded Gelugpa practitioners of Dorje Shugden include the 5th Dalai Lama, Kelsang Thubten Jigme Gyatso 1743-1811 (a tutor to the 9th Dalai Lama), Losang Thubten Wangchuk Jigme Gyatso 1775 – 1813 (head of the Gelugpa in Mongolia), Ngulchu Dharmabadra, the Indian master Shakya Shri Bhadra, the 11th Dalai Lama 1838 - 1856 (who installed Dorje Shugden as the Protector of the Gelugpa tradition), Gyara Tulku Rinpoche, Tomo Geshe Rinpoche (regarded by the 13th Dalai Lama as an emanation of Je Tsongkhapa), Serkong Rinpoche (regarded by the 13th Dalai Lama as Vajradhara),Tagpo Kelsang Khedrub Rinpoche, Pabongkha Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche, Ling Rinpoche, Khangsar Rinpoche, Tathag Rinpoche (in charge of the Tibetan Government after the death of the 13th Dalai Lama), Zong Rinpoche, Lobsang Tamdin, Ribur Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Losang Tharchin, Lati Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, Khensur Rinpoche, Khechog Rinpoche, Dagyab Rinpoche, Gelek Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Yongyal Rinpoche, the 14th Dalai Lama (until he was in his forties), Dagom Rinpoche, Gonsar Rinpoche, Gangchen Rinpoche and others.

These Lamas themselves have all been recognized as realized, holy beings, with many thousands of Tantric disciples who revered them as living Buddhas.


The later Lamas were all direct or indirect disciples of the great Pabongkha Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche. The 14th Dalai Lama says that Pabongkha Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche were “wrong” to worship Dorje Shugden, but they have been recognized as emanations of Heruka and Amitabha respectively, and were the principal upholders of Je Tsongkhapa’s Gelug doctrine in their time; so how can they be wrong?

9. Dorje Shugden performs the twenty-seven deeds of a Buddha

The highly realized Master, Tagpo Kelsang Khedrub Rinpoche, composed a verse of praise:

With deep faith I prostrate to you, Vajradhara Dorje Shugden.
Although you have already attained the Buddha ground
And engage in the twenty-seven deeds of a Buddha,
You appear in various forms to help the Buddhadharma and sentient beings.

These twenty-seven deeds, explained in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, range from showing living beings the way to enter the spiritual path to liberation up to guiding them to the final attainment of Buddhahood. Since Dorje Shugden performs all these twenty-seven deeds, it is clear that he is a Buddha.

Some people say that Dorje Shugden has harmed practitioners who have strayed from the Ganden tradition, but there are no examples of this forthcoming, whereas there are many examples of how Dorje Shugden has protected living beings. For example, Dorje Shugden was responsible for the Dalai Lama being able to safely travel from Tibet to India in 1959.

Even today, there are many Buddhist practitioners with their own stories to tell of how they have been protected by this Dharma Protector. Dorje Shugden's name means 'Vajra Possessing Strength', indicating that he has great power and strength to spread Buddhadharma and to help people in these degenerate times.

10. Relying upon Dorje Shugden leads to supramundane results

The difference between a Dharma Protector and a worldly protector is that the former is an enlightened being whereas the latter is not. Worldly protectors have no ability to flourish the Buddhadharma nor to protect Dharma realizations in a practitioner's mind. As a Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden’s principal function is to protect our Dharma practice, not to help our mundane affairs.

Dorje Shugden always helps, guides, and protects faithful practitioners by granting blessings, increasing their wisdom, fulfilling their virtuous wishes, and bestowing success on all their virtuous activities. Dorje Shugden does not help only Gelugpas; because he is a Buddha, he helps all living beings.

Dorje Shugden has removed obstacles and created the conditions for the extraordinary growth of Je Tsongkhapa's teachings, and most importantly realizations of those teachings, in this current age. Je Tsongkhapa's doctrine is now spreading to countries throughout the world. For example, any spiritual success enjoyed by NKT and FPMT practitioners is due to the blessings of this Buddha. (Lama Yeshe, the founder of the FPMT, relied sincerely on Dorje Shugden throughout his life.)

Those who rely upon Dorje Shugden know that their spiritual realizations come from his blessings. However, as with a relationship with any holy being, this is something that can only be experienced by someone who relies on him with strong faith over a long period of time, steadily building their connection with him.

Gyara Tulku Rinpoche from Drepung Loseling Monastery wrote a prayer of gratitude, whose sentiments are shared by Dorje Shugden practitioners worldwide:

First you gave me a highly qualified Spiritual Guide
Under whom I studied and practised Dharma.
When through following misleading advice I came close to entering wrong paths,
You immediately hooked me back into the correct path.

O Duldzin, King of the Dharma, I thank you for your kindness.
Your body is the synthesis of all Sangha Jewels,
Your speech is the synthesis of all Dharma Jewels,
And your mind is the synthesis of all Buddha Jewels.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have been trying to rely on Dorje Shugden as my Dharma Protector for nine years now, and my life just keeps getting more and more meaningful. Time after time, virtuous wishes which I had thought to be impossible have been fulfilled, and whenever I have wanted to undertake some activity to further my practice or give spiritual help to others, all obstacles have fallen away and all necessary conditions have come easily to hand. I don't have much money, and have plenty of challenging situations, but my happiness increases as the days and years go by, thanks to the kindness of my Lama in giving me Buddha Shakyamuni + Je Tsongkhapa's teachings, and of Dorje Shugden in protecting and nurturing my practice. I know many other Dorje Shugden practitioners and this is their experience too. I know of not one person who has received or inflicted harm through relying upon Dorje Shugden. Anyone with experience of doing this practice and receiving Dorje's compassionate blessings would see the ridiculousness of such a suggestion. Shugden practitioners see him as a Buddha in dependence upon valid reasons, and so he functions as a Buddha. Therefore for us he is a Buddha. Others see him in less pure ways, of course this is bound to happen. We can all choose how we discriminate objects, and it is up to each of us to choose the most beneficial way.
To deny this and assert that Dorje Shugden is impure regardless of how he is viewed, would seem to contradict Buddha's essential message on dependent relationship and fly in the face of Nagarjuna's view of emptiness.

Personally I'm very content with the way my precious Guru has taught me to view Dorje Shugden, and I'm enjoying the opportunity the present situation affords to deepen both my faith in this heart jewel of Protectors and my appreciation of my Teacher and my good fortune.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this inspiring article, what a beautiful holiday gift. Check out also this really moving article:

http://truthaboutshugden.wordpress.com/some-thoughts-on-the-history-of-a-practice/

The author points out:

What about Ngulchu Dharmabhadra? Ngulchu Dharmabhadra is a lineage guru in Je Tsongkhapa’s Ganden ear-whispered Mahamudra lineage, and in his collected works he refers to “Manjushri Dorje Shugden” and identifies him as having arisen from the continuum of great beings that includes Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, Panchen Sonam Drakpa and Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen.

Please keep up the good work! With the blessings of our Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, may the doctrine of Je Tsongkhapa flourish for ever more.

Anonymous said...

Yes, looking at that article Fiona mentions, combined with this article, has filled me with even more faith in my root Guru, lineage Gurus and Dharma Protector. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled into this living, working Buddhist tradition (thanks to the guiding blessings of Dorje Shugden) and I know deep in my heart that it will take me all the way to enlightenment.

The author of "Some Thoughts on the History of a Practice" says:

"Finally, it looks like we are talking about the cream of the Gelug tantric tradition. When one considers all the great beings that have venerated this supreme emanated protector, it gives tremendous faith, and also forces one to examine the Dalai Lama’s words and actions. This Dalai Lama presents the issue as though it were extremely clear cut, and would have it that the great yogis of the past all agree with him, but in fact it is much, much more complex than he lets on. Even his historical evidence is very shoddy."

Lineageholder said...

Thank you so much for this. How could it be any clearer that Vajradhara Dorje Shugden is a Buddha?

In this time of the five degenerations, wandering in the darkness of confusion and following misguided advice from a person in a saffron robe, many people are led into the path of disparaging the Root and Lineage Gurus of Je Tsongkhapa's glorious tradition.

However, the Great King Duldzin continues to protect and nurture them no matter what they say and how wrong their views are. How glorious is our Great Protector who has no enemies and who regards everyone like his only child!

Thom said...

All of the attributes that have been mentioned within the commentary are without doubt true and sincere. Shri Dorje Shugden has all the qualities of a Buddha.
It is easy to compare his attributes to those of his inferior, Dalia lama. Dalia lies and deceives to obtain his own personal ambitions.Dalia divides and chides the sentient beings. Dorje Shugden creates the circumstances for clarity and perfection for all people. Dalia lama witholds material and spiritual benefits for the sentient beings. Dalia lama eats meat and causes the suffering of sentient beings.
Dorje Shugden is a being of blissful light and love.
Dalia is a being cloaked in darkness and secret plots to undermine the sentient beings. Dalia uses small Black Magic to stun his benefactors into submission of his Will.
Dorje Shugden shines light and hope in the lives of the sentient beings.Dorje Shugden protects us from the dark activities of this Dalia lama.
Dorje Shugden is the Protector of the Times.

Unknown said...

Such a beautiful article, how wonderful!
Dorje Shugden has definitely given me strength in my Dharma practice at times when I've been through horrendous trauma. When my brother was brutally killed in Afghanistan, I was the strength that my whole family needed - and my strength came only through my Dharma practice. I know from my own experience that Dorje Shugden helps and protects all living beings as I surely received many blessings through my sincere prayers. If he were not a Buddha, how could this happen?
I cannot speak for others but I know that my life has become more meaningful, my mind more peaceful and loving, my delusions are reducing and I owe all this to my Dharma practice - impossible without the help of my Dharma protector, Dorje Shugden. If only I could give people the gift of eyes of faith for Christmas!
Love to all and thank you for helping to keep Dorje Shugden and the pure Kadam Dharma in this world for all living beings xx

Unknown said...

Thank you for this article.

I really don’t understand why the Dalai Lama wants people believe that Dorje Shugden might harm someone if you displease him. The evidences show that it is the Dalai Lama who harm others if you displease him… and others may harm you to please him.

Probably he would also deny that he has caused people believe that Dorje Shugden might harm someone… and he would blame someone else for this, but it is evident that people is following just what he says.

So why is the Dalai Lama relying on Tibetan yellow journals and not in his Spiritual Guide and lineage Gurus?

There is no evidence in hundreds of years that this practice would be unsafe, against any order, health, morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. It is so focused on spiritual realizations of the Tradition of Je Tsongkhapa that even the 14th Dalai Lama’s brother said he did not even know this practice existed!!!

It is certainly eye-catching showing pictures of someone harmed and saying that the aggressor was someone who is a Dorje Shugden practitioner or that Dorje Shugden harmed him. But this is clearly an exaggeration and there is simply no evidence of any connection between a photo/allegations and the aggressors beliefs or that these beliefs in turn have any connection with what the aggressor did.

There is simply no connection between any harm and the Dorje Shugden practice.

It would be interesting to do the same Dalai Lama’s “test” to himself: What happens if you contradict or displease the 14th Dalai Lama?

Check what has happened to Dorje Shugden practitioners for displeasing the 14th Dalai Lama and moreover, check what his followers have done to please the DL. These are proven facts by signature campaigns, segregation walls in monasteries, with Dalai Lama’s and Tibetan Government’s documents and public statements clearly making the connection between what the 14th Dalai Lama “suggests” and “praise” with respect to the Dorje Shugden practice, the results from displeasing him or what others are doing to please him: discrimination.

No doubt that if you displease the Dalai Lama you will get into some kind of trouble. Innocent people keeps being harmed merely because they have displeased the Dalai Lama (for example, for not signing a card renouncing to their Dorje Shugden practice) or because others want to please him (for example, continuous discredit comments towards Dorje Shugden practitioners like all the smears against the NKT).

The Dalai Lama does have mundane power and he has been using it to stop the Dorje Shugden practice against Dorje Shugden practitioners’ beliefs. He has said that nobody is harming others but this practice resides nowhere else and is carried out by nobody else but such practitioners.

So maybe the United Nations should amend its declarations that discrimination should be eliminated except if necessary to please the Dalai Lama (????) It is certainly an inconvenient truth to neglect but it is a truth anyway and

“Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981

Article 3
Discrimination between human being on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and shall be condemned as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enunciated in detail in the International Covenants on Human Rights, and as an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations between nations.”

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/d_intole.htm


Now, if you are harmed or get into trouble because you have displeased the Dalai Lama… is it because he… is a Buddha? How does this works?

Check and make your own conclusions.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I am not Anonymous, just your old
Friendoftruth
____________________________

Dearest valiant people, go on with your beautiful practice! You are the innocent children of your Lamas, you are the faithful ones, keep on with your faith, practice, and your bearing witness to the wonders of this Dharmapala, the Buddha that can rescue our holy Dharma from those trying to destroy it in these degenerate times.
To bear witness, to talk of your own experience with the holy King Dorje Shugden, is probably far more beneficial than to try to convince those who got their minds poisoned by Dharamsala's falsities. Much better to pray for them than to engage them in discussions that are always an occasion for bad deeds of speech and mind.

After the long battles of this unhappy 2008 which saw the culmination of the great schism imposed by the Dalai Lama on the Gelug Sangha, I think the best in the public arena is to go on stating the truth about this matter, explaining it to people who are reading in order to get information, in order to understand the matter. But to engage in discussions with the Dalai Lama's fans has proved so far to be useless and can be harmful.
On the other hand, to explain your own experiences in the spiritual level as you are doing here might be the among the best ways to talk to those who are neutral to this matter, and they are the majority no doubt. This, and of course to go on publishing every piece of historic material that unveils the truth about the destruction of this holy lineage at the hands of the DL and his TGIE.

Thank you for the good work and HAPPY 2009!

Unknown said...

Ten simple reasons that many are willing to forget to please the 14th Dalai Lama or simply will never hear about because this practice displeases the Dalai Lama.

Tibetans believe that united together with the Dalai Lama will win something but they are losing all, including the Dorje Shugden beautiful practice and blessings, praised by many high Lamas in Tibetan Buddhist Traditions.

The only Tibetan heritage to this world was its diverse Schools of Buddhism’s teachings and practices now practically absorbed by the Dalai Lama. Please have a little compassion for the current and next generations since for many of us there is hardly or practically there might not be other way out of suffering except through a sincere and pure Buddhist practice.

The Dalai Lama’s “cultural revolution” to remove the Dorje Shugden practice, his stepping in to appoint the head of the Schools of Tibetan Buddhism, etc. (to become himself the head of all Schools of Tibetan Buddhism) is precisely a cultural genocide. Buddhism is not in a piece of land in the East. The Chinese might have taken over Tibet, but the Dalai Lama has taken over Tibetan Buddhism (so far). He does not want anyone on top of him, not even his Spiritual Guides.

Many if not most of the Tibetans have even agreed to forsake their faith to their lineage Gurus, their diverse culture of Buddhism in order to give the Dalai Lama the power to control all Tibetan Buddhism. This seems to have happened to defend themselves from a so-called “[Chinese] conspiracy” that they see in anyone not following the Dalai Lama. (And I'm sorry but I'm not Chinese)

Simply there will not be any traditional cultural diversity if everyone must follow just what the Dalai Lama says.

And the conspiracy? There is no “conspiracy”. The Chinese have been open and very clear on what they want and what they will do regardless on whether or not the Dalai Lama is a Gelugpa, “master of or in all Traditions”, PhD Honoris Causa or the master of the universe. And they will do that alone. The only one “playing conspiracies” is the Dalai Lama.

To avoid more uncertainty regarding his succession, he might be thinking on inherit his title to a son or daughter. He is master of all Traditions anyway and in other Traditions they do that (or not? check), he has changed many traditional rules … and people actually believe “he is a master of all Traditions” and follow him blindly (… so why not?) He would do anything to avoid the Chinese conspiracy. The point is let him do that or whatever he wants but stop destroying all the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, stop the harm to innocent people caused by your followers that only want to please the Dalai Lama. Some people actually think that Dorje Shugden is a demon that should be destroyed… and many of them let others believe that, even when all know that not even the 5th Dalai Lama was able to do it!! because Dorje Shugden is a Buddha... and the 5th Dalai Lama acknowledged this and praised Dorje Shugden. (Or how Dorje Shugden "survived" 300+ years to present days?)

The Tibetans and we all just need to follow the advise and seek the blessings of our lineage Gurus or Lamas, receive the blessings of powerful Dharma Protectors such as Dorje Shugden, follow the advise of our true heads of Traditions of Buddhism, etc. to carry on with the Buddhist heritage for the benefit of future generations. Destroying all these for nothing or just to make powerful one person, who “nobody knows” who he or she will be in his or her next life is truly cultural genocide, which has actually harmed many innocent people.

Gladly many people have denounced the tragedy (like this type of Blogs.) Sadly the Tibetans still playing the Dalai Lama’s “conspiracy game” (and the “Free Tibet” which has been proven being practically a moot point, except for the power it gives to the Dalai Lama).

Happy new year!

Unknown said...

It seams all of you are well dedicated practitioners but if you want to check if Dalai Lama is right... Why don't some of you just try to displease Dorje Shugden? Try to break free of him and dedicate your time to practice Guru Rinpoche or Tara or anything else instead?

You should listen to Dalai Lama. He is saying things for your own good.
We are so far from his level of understanding and clarity. We should have at least humility, respect and trust ih Him.