December 18th, 2011 was a historical day as it was the long awaited, much anticipated official opening of Serpom Monastery. Serpom is located in South India, a five-hour pleasant drive from Bangalore. Built by the kind donations of sponsors and devotees, it has taken a few years to construct and now houses over 800 monks.
Sera Mey Monastery has many Khamtsens of which one is Pomra Khamtsen which was the largest in Sera Mey Monastery. Pomra has over 800 monks and its principal Dharma protector for hundreds of years is Dorje Shugden. The growth of learning, study, and practice was very successful in Pomra Khamtsen as attested by the many scholars, tulkus, abbots, and masters it has produced for centuries. In 1959, it was the abbot of Sera Mey (who hailed from Pomra Khamtsen) and also 30 monks from Pomra who acted as bodyguards to personally escort His Holiness the Dalai Lama out of Tibet into India for safety (see video: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=1239 ).
Within Pomra Khamtsen there is a famous shrine to Dorje Shugden and various other protectors such as Jowo Chingarwa, Setrap and Kache Marpo. The oracle monk blessed and trained by His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche also resides in Pomra Khamtsen. The oracle monk will take possession of Shugden or Kache Marpo to answer the questions of both Sera Jey and Sera Mey Monasteries prior to the ban. Thousands of lay people would congregate yearly to hear the advice of Dorje Shugden and Kache Marpo via the oracle in trance. The trances were famous and accurate and was an integral part of the benefits Pomra Khamtsen has to offer to the public and Buddha Dharma. When Dorje Shugden or Kache Marpo took trance, high lamas, incarnate tulkus, abbots, administrators, scholars, attendants would all come to make offerings, pay homage, and ask their questions or simply just to get a blessing. Because Dorje Shugden and Kache Marpo are enlightened protectors the holy Sangha will invite them to take trance within the Monastery in the presence of the Sangha.
Yearly during Losar or Tibetan new year's, four protectors will take trance in Pomra Khamtsen. Dorje Shugden, Setrap, Jowo Chingarwa and finally Kache Marpo to bless the Sangha/lay people, accept offerings and give highly sought after accurate prophecies for the Monastery. The lay people very much sought the blessed rice given by these protectors which can be used for protection, healing, averting negative weather conditions, spirit afflictions or simply as a powerful blessing.
The monks lived in peace in harmony with Buddha's teachings till recently when His Holiness the Dalai Lama ordered a ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden. When the ban was forced on Sera, Gaden, Drepung and the whole Tibetan exile communities, many were confused. How can a deity practiced by the highest lamas such as Gaden Tripas, powerful incarnate Tulkus, Abbots, Mahasiddhas and Sangha suddenly be bad. How can such an 'evil' being escape the notice of so many elite and attained Sangha for hundreds of years till now suddenly. Many were confused. How can hundreds of attained masters be wrong in trusting Dorje Shugden and only the Dalai Lama is correct in asserting Dorje Shugden is harmful? Even the all knowing Panchen Lama himself practiced Dorje Shugden and has a special Chapel for him within Tashi Lunpo (see here: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10969 )?
The ban increased in intensity where the Dalai Lama forced the Sangha to choose sides. Those wishing to practice Dorje Shugden must be expelled from the Monasteries (see video: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=1466 ). Those who give up their practice handed to them by their root gurus may stay in the Monastery. Forced swear-ins within the monateries were enforced and for the first time Sangha were forced to take an oath against Dorje Shugden (see video: http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=10777 ). This tore the spiritual communities apart. They could not turn against the advice given to them by their root gurus but at the same time they could not disrespect the Dalai Lama. A famous saying was whispered throughout the communities, "If you stand up you hit your head, and if you sit, you hit your behind."
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The Kalachakra Experienceby VOAKunleng18,170 views
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