Tulku Ugen Topgyal Apologizes, Withdraws His Controversial Statement

May 31, 2020

The recent complaint raised by Tulku Ugen Topgyal against online teachings by Buddhist spiritual leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama created a huge controversy. Following strong condemnation by many individuals as well as institutions, the Tulku has on Saturday written a letter of apology and withdrawn his statement.

Tulku Ugen Topgyal, a former member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile has accused that Buddhist spiritual leaders opting to virtual teachings is a sign of beginning to the degeneration of religious values. In the statement which is doing around on the social media, he protested against His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s two-day Avalokiteshvara Empowerment (chenresig wang) that was conferred online.

Dr. Lobsang Sangay led Kashag (Cabinet) of Central Tibetan Administration on Wednesday issued a statement rebuking the senior lama’s statement. The statement expresses the cabinet’s disappointment over the remark against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and it further adds that it sees the action completely wrong. Dr. Sangay while briefing the media expressed his condemnation of the Tulku’s allegations.

In addition to many individuals, institutions and associations alike slammed Tulku Ugen Topgyal for the insensible statement directed at His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Among all, the statement from Sakya Trizin Rinpoche pointed out three reasons that support His Holiness’s online teaching; a need of hour for distressed devotees, the age of communication technology and the state of global lock down. The online teachings from the Tibetan spiritual leader is a huge shower of relief for millions of followers in these distressful times.

Tulku Ugen Topgyal has written to the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama apologising for his earlier statement. He explains that the Sakya rinpoches are his spiritual teachers and he is going to follow their directives. In addition to withdrawing his statement, he claims in the letter that he will never raise any objections against His Holiness’s online teachings in the future too.

With the spread of the Coronavirus, the world has come to stand still. People across the world has been advised to remain inside their homes and the transports have stopped with the most of countries imposing lock downs. During such time of crisis, devotees reach for their spiritual gurus. On request of followers across the world, His Holiness the Dalai Lama carried out virtual teachings in order to be able to help the devotees spiritually when they needed the most.

One response to “Tulku Ugen Topgyal Apologizes, Withdraws His Controversial Statement”

Mark Emerson

May 31, 2020

Also poor people, people who have work commitments, people who cannot afford the time and money to view a teaching in a live setting, there are so many people in far flung places who can benefit from a teaching in an online format.

For those who wish to review and study the online teaching they can download the video and go through it again and again as they wish.

I don’t see it as being a sign of the degeneration of Buddhism, I see it as progress.

A sign of degeneration would be a lessening of the number of people actually studying and correctly practising Buddhism with a view to achieving enlightenment.

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