HH Dalai Lama denounces Geshe Michael Roach

Jangchub

2006-06-10 13:48:58 UTC

Geshe Michael is not one of my Lama's, but I have received a teaching
on the Wheel of Life from him and Christie. It was an excellent
teaching and their purpose is to spread the Dharma, purely.

What they do, how they live, wear their hair is none of my business.
The only decision I have to make is whether or not he is a Lama to me.
After carefully considering the situation, I have decided he is not.

This doesn't mean I disapprove of their partnership, but there are a
lot of people who have a huge problem with him, and I suggest for
those people, they don't take teachings from him.

It is very inauspicious to rank the Lama of another. I suggest saying
nothing, rather than gossiping.

Post by zorro
http://www.diamond-cutter.org/references/dalai-lama-private-office.html
Dalai Lama's Private Office Denounces Geshe Michael Roach
Geshe Michael Roach's planned teachings in Dharamsala
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
In late 2005, Geshe Michael Roach invited one of his teachers, Geshe
Thubten Rinchen from Sera Mey, to give teachings to a group of students
in Northern India in July 2006. Geshe Michael Roach was to translate
the teachings for his students.
Geshe Thubten Rinchen cancelled these teachings in early 2006, citing
ill health, and Geshe Michael Roach then decided to give the teachings
himself. The venue was changed from the Kulu Valley in Himachal
Pradesh, to Dharamsala, the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The teachings were planned to coincide with public teachings by His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was scheduled to teach during the day.
Geshe Michael Roach therefore planned to teach in the evenings. This,
in itself, breaches the traditional etiquette of not teaching in the
same place and time as one's own Lama, without permission.
At this early stage, the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
knew nothing about there planned Geshe Michael Roach teachings.
Finding a Venue in Secret
Geshe Michael Roach, as well as students helping to organize the event
in Dharamsala, understood that the teachings may not be welcome, and
thus reverted to stealth in order to book a venue. They sent an
otherwise unknown Tibetan woman to offer a large deposit to the Tibetan
Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) for use of their premises. She
informed TIPA that that the teachings may be a little controversial,
but did not inform them that Geshe Michael Roach would be teaching with
his "consort". As nobody in the TIPA administration knew of the Geshe
Michael Roach controversy, they accepted the deposit.
Dalai Lama's Private Office tells Roach he is not welcome in Dharamsala
News of the planned teachings then reached the Private Office of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, who immediately cancelled the booking at TIPA.
The following correspondence then took place between the Private Office
May 24 2006 - Chhime Rigzin from the Private Office of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama wrote to Geshe Michael Roach informing of the cancellation
of TIPA as a venue, and requesting him to cancel his teachings in
Dharamsala.
May 30, 2006 - Geshe Michael Roach sends a long letter to the Private
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in both Tibetan and English,
explaining that his "realisations" qualify him to teach in such a
manner and justify his behavior with Christie Mc Nally. The letter was
signed Rev. Michael Roach.
June 5, 2006 - Tenzin Geyche Tethong, Personal Secretary to His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, replied to Geshe Michael Roach by email
informing him that he was not welcome in Dharamsala, either to teach,
or to attend the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Diamond-Cutter.org has been forwarded a copy of this letter, which is
presented verbatim below. The letter speaks for itself. It is an
unequivocal denouncement of Geshe Michael Roach, signed by the personal
secretary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama
Thekchen Choeling
McLeod Ganj - 176 219
Dharamsala, (H.P.)
INDIA
June 5, 2006
Dear Rev. Michael Roach,
This is to thank you for your letter of May 30, addressed to Chhime
Rigzin-la both in English as well as Tibetan. Chhime-la is presently
away with His Holiness and I am responding to your letter on behalf of
our Office here.
We have gone through your long explanation but still do not support
your coming to Dharmsala. If you have reached the path of seeing, as
you claim in your letter, you should then be able show extraordinary
powers and perform miracles like the Siddhas of the past. Only then
will the followers of Tibetan Buddhists be able to believe and accept
your claims.
Otherwise, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the Spiritual and Temporal
leader of Tibet having responsibility over the welfare of Tibetan
Buddhism many have often complained to Him that He should be strict
with those who are not adhering to the general norms of discipline
according to our tradition. And your coming to Dharmsala will be seen
by many as His Holiness condoning your behavior and practice.
In view of all these we advise you not to visit Dharmsala in the
greater interest of the purity of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as
clearly indicated in the letter of Chhime Rigzin-la dated May 24, 2006.
However, as for the other members of your group those who are
interested are welcome to attend the teachings of His Holiness the
Dalai Lama.
Tenzin Geyche Tethong
Secretary to H.H. the Dalai Lama