Western Shugden Society Explained
| Western Shugden Society |
| Abbreviation: | WSS |
| Predecessor: | Shugden Supporters Community |
| Type: | Non-governmental organization |
| Vat Id: | (for non-profit org) --> |
| Headquarters: | Unknown. Official address given, "Studio 177, 56 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RG UK", is a rented mailbox |
| Website: | www.westernshugdensociety.org, |
| Owners: | --> |
| Parent Organization: | International Shugden Community |
| Affiliations: | New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) |
The Western Shugden Society (or WSS) was a campaign group that advocates Dorje Shugden, and which dissolved itself,[1] along with its parent organisation, the International Shugden Community, after a 2015 Reuters investigation[2] determined that the religious sect had the backing of the Chinese Communist Party[3] and had emerged as an instrument in Beijing’s long campaign to undermine support for the Dalai Lama.
Aims
According to their website,[4] the aims of the WSS are
- To free practitioners who rely upon the enlightened deity Dorje Shugden and their families from suffering;
- To restore peace and harmony between Shugden and non-Shugden practitioners;
- To re-establish the common spiritual activities of Shugden and non-Shugden practitioners in Tibetan monasteries;
- To free Buddhism from pollution by politics
Academic views
Robert Barnett of Columbia University is critical of the WSS:
Dissolution
A 2015 Reuters investigation determined "that the religious sect behind the protests has the backing of the Communist Party" and that the "group has emerged as an instrument in Beijing’s long campaign to undermine support for the Dalai Lama". After the Reuters investigation revealed that China backs it, the International Shugden Community halted operations and disbanded.
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Len Foley . Official and Important Statement . International Shugden Community . 15 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221113183828/https://internationalshugdencommunity.com/official-important-statement/. 2022-11-13 .
- Lague, David. Mooney, Paul. and Lim, Benjamin Kang. (21 December 2015). "China co-opts a Buddhist sect in global effort to smear Dalai Lama". Reuters. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- Web site: David Lague. Stephanie Nebehay. Group that hounded Dalai Lama disbands after Reuters exposes Chinese backing. Reuters. Reuters. 15 November 2022. March 11, 2016. "The Buddhist group leading a global campaign of harassment against the Dalai Lama has called off its demonstrations and disbanded, according to a statement on its website. The announcement comes after a Reuters investigation revealed in December that China’s ruling Communist Party backs the Buddhist religious sect behind the protests that have confronted the Dalai Lama in almost every country he visits. Reuters found that the sect had become a key instrument in China’s campaign to discredit the Tibetan spiritual leader.".
- http://www.westernshugdensociety.org WSS's official website
