NKT

 I just read the Tricycle article "The One Pure Dharma: The New Kadampa Tradition is controversial—and growing. Why?" which came out in 2018.

The complaints that people in the NKT had pressure put on them to do X, Y or Z--look we're grownups and if someone puts pressure on you--you still decide what you do. It's OK to leave an organization because they pressured you into doing things you later regret. You can't unsell your house and donate all the money to NKT. That's a big choice, not to be entered into lightly. 

One person putting pressure on you doesn't damn a sect of Buddhism. If someone tells you to sell your house and give the money to your sect, and you do it--well, you've made a choice and must own it. Can you regret it? Sure, of course. Maybe you feel exploited afterwards. A bunch of people who have felt exploited can be--that is a warning sign. But what if the idea that that woman selling a house is now robbed of her devotion by someone observing it from the outside? 

"the British Buddhist scholar Gary Beesley was forced to withdraw a book about the NKT just before its publication date." 

So the story is that the libel laws of Britain forced a book not to be published--doesn't that mean that there was libel in the book? I don't know the details of the case, but couldn't he just rewrite whatever was seen as libelous? Or was the book based on some premise that could not be removed, and was proven to be false. That controversy seems to be more about libel in Britain. Is there a whiff of censorship? I don't know. Not being able to publish something that is libelous isn't censorship. 

(Neither is the family that owns the copyright to Dr. Seuss deciding to not sell 6 minor books that had racist images, and were not making money anyway--that is not cancel culture or censorship. Americans can get awfully tetchy about imagined freedoms being impinged, but need more reading comprehension.)

It does show NKT to vigorously to advocate for their interests. That seems appropriate for this day and age. How did they know this book would be libelous?

Protesting a Dalai Lama visit in the USA seems more dodgy. Like nobody but the NKT cares of they feel slighted by the Dalai Lama. Striking back by protests--feel sectarian. 

Quotes by people who say Trijang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso would not approve of what Kelsang Gyatso has done--that's speculative and would be hard to prove or disprove. But still a gut feeling of someone who knew the previous teacher is not to be ignored either.

Could there be some jealousy at the popularity among westerners by this new tradition? Could the danger of Dorje Shugden be that the Dalai Lama feels slighted? That's more speculation, and the speculation can go the other way too, if you have reasons to believe that way. Did the NKT push to be seen as unique and sell their brand of Buddhism as the one true pure way? That's not really a traditional move in Buddhism when you think about transcendence. The transcendence of branding? So that whole thing is a wash, and perhaps it's best to stay out of that controversy. It could also be a kind of confidence. 

But would you not recommend the NKT to a friend because there is controversy in the past with the Gelugpa tradition? Could you be a part of the NKT and just not participate in the pep rallies and still respect and honor the tradition? I bet you could. What if you like the NKT because they had child care for their Sunday services? What if everyone was nice to you and you feel like you learned a lot? I'm not sure what to recommend, I'm just curious to what happens to that kind of devotion. 

Is it possible that NKT disempowering the Dalai Lama with this controversy help out China? Perhaps an unwanted consequence of defending your sect.

The idea that the spiritual life will be pure and unburdened with controversy has been disproven. Would I recommend a new person to go into that sect? I would say based on what we know, watch out for getting really into it, selling your house, and then perhaps regretting it. There are people who feel stung, gave too much time or money and then felt regret. Does that prove it's a bad organization? Something to consider.

The teachings are supposed to memorize, and be very faithful to the teachings of the teacher, not to individualize or make it their own. 

Sangharakshita went the other way on that. He said don't even try to copy me, be yourself. He allowed for his teachings to be not perfectly transmitted because he just knew it would happen anyway. Was that a right decision? I like it, but it leads to a sect in Triratna that is perpetually asking itself what it's essential teachings are. If you believe in one Dharma that's OK, because you don't have to protect a sect. And there are plenty of people who protect the sect anyway, because that just feels right to them.

A strength his that the books and program are presented well. I've read one book by Kelsang Gyatso, and it was clear and deep. He's a good translator of the Dharma to the west. Does his ego get involved, and the protection prove he wasn't enlightened after all? I'm not sure, it's possible to be enlightened and involved with controversy. Does he feel like he's been wounded in striking out on his own, and he reacted protectively? Does the heat of controversy prove there is something going on that is worth protecting?

So many questions, which I find fascinating. What is the conflict in a harmonizing and transcendental movement? When should people defend a sect and how? When established schools resent new schools? Could there be a dynamic movement that doesn't step on some toes? I've heard the warning and I think people should look into them if they're going into the NKT. I'd say look into any movement you get involved in.

And here I am, never went to a meeting at NKT, only read one book by their guru, and don't have the foggiest as to whether the deity practice is dangerous or not. But I learned a lot about NKT and if I went to them, I would appreciate their strong teaching program, but resist pressure to give them my wallet. In my case, nobody can squeeze money that I don't have. (Another plus of being poor.)

I look at their retreat center upstate NY, and I think it looks too nice. I get a little queasy when Buddhist temples and retreat centers look too nice. Here again, I can second guess myself. Perhaps they're perhaps overly materialistic in the beginning to lay a foundation for others to come.

Links

New Kadampa (Wikipedia) founded in 1991.

Kelsang Gyatso (Wikipedia) founder of NKT.

Struggling With Difficult Issues: Blog that looks at the issues.

Dorje Shugden controversy (Wikipedia)

Update 2022: I've been reading posts by the New Kadampa Tradition Survivors, and you can read them too.