Dorje Shugden Controversy, New Kadampa Tradition
by tenpel

New Kadampa Tradition threatened to sue NBO too

 
Maybe all of this is also a bit funny. At least it is good to keep some type of humour here 😉

Not only were certain academics threatened with legal actions by NKT if they publish information the NKT do not like. After the Network of Buddhist Organisations (NBO) have expressed to the NKT—one of their members—their concern about  NKT’s public protests the NKT also threatened the NBO with legal actions. I wonder if the ASA who also expressed their concern about the NKT protests were also threatened to be sued?

The NBO wrote the following letter to the NKT

Dear

It has come to my attention that the Western Shugden Supporters group will be demonstrating at the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Nottingham, Oxford and London. Though I am aware that this group is seen as separate to the NKT, it is also well know that the majority of its members are  part of the NKT.

We at the Network of Buddhist Organisations are greatly concerned about this action and wish to request in the strongest terms that the leaders of the NKT ask their members not to demonstrate, or to organise demonstrations, against his Holiness the Dalai Lama when he  teaches in London, Nottingham and elsewhere on his UK and European tours.

To do so would be a direct breach of  the aims of the Network of Buddhist Organisations and may serve not only to bring the name of Buddhism into disrepute but also to cause damage to the NKT itself.

You may also be aware that some years ago before the NKT joined the NBO we met with Jim Belither who stated that the NKT would no longer be involved in such action. This was a great relief to us all and resulted in the NKT joining the NBO.

We understand that the NKT itself is not supporting this action but rather leaving it up to individuals to decide whether they attend or not. We would respectfully suggest that if the NKT leadership want to enhance the reputation of their organisation they should distance themselves and their organisation from any potential demonstration and  make it clear in writing that if anyone does protest, this is unofficial. We would further suggest that NKT supporters are asked by the leadership not to undertake any protest at all.

It is not for the NBO to get involved in the particular disagreements that exist but I would stress that it saddens us greatly that this unseemly action is being resorted to.

This matter will be discussed at the next NBO meeting and I hope that NKT reps will attend to talk it through with us.

With my hopes that these damaging situations can be sorted out soon.
In the Dharma

Jamie Cresswell
Chair Network of Buddhist Organisations – UK

The reply by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the final legal threat against the NBO can be read here:

Among those threatened to be sued by the New Kadampa Tradition are also INFORM, Dr Reiss, Gary Beesley, and Lama Yeshe. For the latter two see these posts:

See Also

Open Letters by Kelsang Gyatso:

Note: If someone is upset that this information or letters are posted here, this person I would like to request to consider the following thoughts. The NKT try by all means to force others to do what they wish others should do according to their own perspectives. The intimidating tactics include to threat legal actions if someone wishes to publish information the NKT leadership do not like. Sadly among the targets of NKT leadership’s intimidating tactics are  researcher or Buddhist head organisations, as well as the Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman, Lama Yeshe and former members. It was a researcher who suggested to me in an email it would be better the methods of NKT get more known in the public. I think this is a valid reason, hence the letters and information are provided here.

last update: July 14, 2010