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Dear Philip Strumolo,

You can use any space you like that is available to you, as long as it is a respectable area. Actually, there is no way to offend the enlightened beings, as they are above all emotions and concepts. However, from our side we should be as respectful as possible when setting up an altar space for the representations of the enlightened beings.

If you are using a space that has been used for something else before, you should clean it well. And then you purify it with incense reciting the mantra "Om Ah Hung" are you do so. So, you light incense, and then wave it over the space while reciting the mantra. Then you can set up the altar there.

If you are making offerings on the altar, then you can use the same procedure to purify and bless the offerings once they are made. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Philip Strumolo,

I'm glad you have come across Dorje Shugden practice. It is indeed a very powerful practice that can help in all areas of our lives. You can start the practice by following this particular post: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/starting-on-dorje-shugdens-practice which includes a short but effective prayer and the mantra of Dorje Shugden. If you recite this every day you will most certainly see a difference in your life for the better.

There are other things that you can do such as set up an altar. But you should follow the above prayer for some time before you set up an altar: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/setting-up-a-tibetan-buddhist-altar. Altars are extremely beneficial for our lives as they provide us with a stable environment, beneficial energies and a focus for our prayers.

If you want to go deeper into the practice, there is an article here:http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/diamond-path-a-daily-sadhana-of-dorje-shugden. This article provides you with longer daily prayers to make a stronger connection with Dorje Shugden and get the most benefit from the practice. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Hello Ken,

It's nice to see you asking more questions here. They are both actually the same mantra but with slight variations, which may be due to the fact that they were passed down through different practice lineages. Both mantras are equally as powerful in invoking upon the enlightened energies of Wangze. For our own practice purposes, we follow the variation as taught to us by our guru. If you have a guru, then you should consult him/her and practice according to which mantra they teach you. If you have a connection with the guru, the blessings of the mantra and practice flow through the guru, so it would be better to follow the mantra they teach.

For us here, our guru is His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, who has taught us the mantra: OM BENZA WIKI BITANA WANGSHA GURU OM. Therefore this is the variation that we use in our practice.

If you do not have a guru, you can follow whichever variation you find more affinity with during your Wangze practice. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Ken,

Thank you for your question. The syllables Om and Ho are not the same pronunciations as the syllable Hung. They are meant to be recited as they are written. There are many different types of mantras and not all of them end in Hung. The syllables in each mantra will have its own individual meaning, depending on which deity the mantra is associated with. Usually the syllable Hung can also be spelt HUM (is being transliterated directly from the Sanskrit rather than the Tibetan) but they are in fact the same syllable. I hope this helps.

Hello Ken,

Thank you for the clarification. Unfortunately, we do not have an English translation of this particular Request for Activities prayer at this time. But there are translations of equally powerful prayers, as I mentioned earlier.

Dear gurumart,

Thank you for your question. I hope that your prayers are answered soon, and you are able to learn the Dharma as you so wish. Since, you know Lama Gangchen, who is a very qualified and authentic teacher, perhaps you should get into contact with his centre and ask for my guidance. You seem to have a connection with Lama Gangchen, so you should nurture this connection because it is a very good one.

In regards to which practice you can do, the joint practice of Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden is extremely beneficial. We have a short practice available here: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/diamond-path-a-daily-sadhana-of-dorje-shugden It is a lot shorter than the full Kangso text to Dorje Shugden, and can be done on a daily basis. This will be very good for you. There is a video here that explains how to engage in practice to make it easier for you: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/media/how-to-begin-dorje-shugdens-practice

Alternatively, there is an even shorter prayer available here: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/starting-on-dorje-shugdens-practice if you recite this prayer, then you can concentrate on the recitation of Dorje Shugden's mantra.

Either of these will be extremely beneficial as a daily practice for you to engage in. I hope this helps.

Thank you

Dear Trip Out,

Thank you for your question. As a practitioner of Buddhism from the Gelug tradition, I do not have a relationship with His Holiness the Karmapa. This is because the Karmapa is the supreme head of the sacred Karma Kagyu tradition, as i have not received teachings from this tradition before, I have no connection apart from my deepest admiration for the Karmapa as the holder of his tradition.

In regards to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, even though we belong to the same lineage, I also have no relationship with the Dalai Lama, apart that His Holiness is one of the teachers of my Guru, but not my Guru's main teacher. I hope this helps answer your question. If it does not, please do ask more. Thank you.

Dear Ken,

If you are referring to the prayer to known as Dothey composed by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, then yes. It is also known as the Request for Activities of Gyalchen Dorje Shugden. You can find the text here: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/request-for-activities-dothey

The above page also has a commentary to the prayer. It is a very powerful prayer invoking on the energies of Dorje Shugden into our lives, and was written by one of the greatest masters of recent history. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Tenzin Gejor,

I am very sorry to read that you suffer due to contracting polio when you were younger. What the Buddha taught is that life can be full of a lot of suffering. Some people go through a lot of suffering but what the Buddha taught is that we can use this suffering to further our spiritual path.

When we are dealing with problems in life, we need to do two things. The first is to seek physical help and the second is to seek spiritual help. In your case, if your problems are linked to your physical health condition, you should seek medical help. At the same time, you can engage in the practice of Dorje Shugden, which you can find here:www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/diamond-path-a-daily-sadhana-of-dorje-shugden

When you engage in the practice of Dorje Shugden sincerely, this can help to make things in life smoother and clear obstacles for you. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Ken,

Thank you for your question. The mantra that you have mentioned is associated with the main form of Dorje Shugden, also known as Lord Duldzin. The main form of Dorje Shugden has more than one mantra, as you have found out. The main form of Dorje Shugden encompasses all of his activities.

We can engage in the specific practice and mantras of his other emanations if we have an affinity with that form, we are assigned the practice by our teacher, or we need more specific help. For example, those going through financial difficulty can propitiate the main form of Dorje Shugden using the mantra you have mentioned, but they can also propitiate his Gyenze form for more specialized help in alleviating their financial difficulties. The specific mantra to Gyenze is : OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA TSESO PALJOR LONG CHO THAMCHED PUTRIM KURU OM. You can read more about the practice here: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/dorje-shugden-gyenze-to-increase-life-merits-and-wealth

Similarly, one can propitiate the main form of Dorje Shugden for health and well-being, but if you are suffering for a specific health problem and you want help dealing with that specific problem, you can engage in the Shize form of Dorje Shugden.

I hope this helps answer your question. Thank you.

Dear Ken,

The mantra Om Benza Wiki Bitana Shatrum Maraya Phet is not the mantra of Trakze, or another form of Dorje Shugden. This mantra invokes the main form of Dorje Shugden but with the main focus of the destruction of obstacles, and inner and outer enemies. Inner enemies here refers to emotions and thoughts that lead ourselves and others to suffering. Outer enemies here refers to situations that cause ourselves and others suffering.

Trakze's mantra is Om Benza Wiki Bitana Rakya Rakya Hung. You can read more about Trakze's practice here:http://www.dorjeshugden.org/practice/dorje-shugden-trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Gejor,

Thank you for your question. As I mentioned in an earlier reply, any Dharma organisation or even normal practitioner of the Buddha's teachings seeks to help others in whatever means they can, sometimes this can take the form of financial aid, but mostly it comes in the form of care and compassion. Such as helping those who are ill, who have passed away, their families, providing emotional and spiritual support during the times people are suffering in their lives. This is exactly what a family would do. In fact within the teachings as taught by Shantideva, there are meditations in which we contemplate on the kindness of our mother and then extend that to those people who are close to us, and then to every sentient being. This generates the strong feeling of love and compassion towards all beings. This results in our working tirelessly to aid beings as best we can, in whichever way they would need.

The blessings of Dorje Shugden bestowing things like wealth and success on people is not dependent on what organisation you belong to. It is dependent on practicing the Buddha's teaching, and making a connection with the divine beings such as Dorje Shugden. His practice is so much more than one that provides you with success in life, but also protection from spirits, healing, creating conditions so that you can practice Buddhism properly and as an emanation of Manjushri can help you to develop wisdom as well.

Our sentiments are not hurt, please do not worry. We just wanted to share that Dorje Shugden's practice is so much more than gaining wealth and success. I hope this answer helps you.

Thank you.

Dear Tenzin,

Thank you for your question. You don't need to be under our roof to be blessed with success, wealth and happy life. If you practice the Buddhist path sincerely, transform your mind to be more compassionate and wise, and help other to the best of your ability, you will be blessed. The Dharma we practice comes from the great monasteries of Tibet, and in turn the Dharma from there stems back to Buddha Shakyamuni. If you are practising any form of Buddhadharma that has a lineage back to the Buddhas and great masters, then if you engage in the practices sincerely, you will surely gain benefit. It is not about which Dharma centre or organisation you belong to, but the practices themselves. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Tenzin,

It is the Buddhist way to help as many people as one can. Therefore, whether you join our community or organisation, If it is within our ability to help you in your problems in life, then we strive to do so. That is what it means to practice spirituality, to help alleviate another person's suffering. The Buddha taught to show compassion to all beings, regardless who they are. Therefore, we try to help as many people as we can. I hope that answers your question. Thank you.

Dear Tsetan Phuntsok,

Thank you for your question. I am glad you want to know more about Dorje Shugden. If you go to this link: http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/bhagawan-dorje-shugden-chapels-in-kathmandu-nepal.html, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche has opened two fantastic Dorje Shugden chapels in Kathmandu. If you are in the Boudha area, one of the chapels are very close by that you can visit and learn more. You can make offerings to the statue to gain merit and take some of the free distribution materials to learn more. I hope this helps.

Dear Shwetabh Gupta,

Thank you for your question. At the moment, perhaps you can search online for the contact details of the Delhi Dorje Shugden society. They should be able to point you in the right direction of a particular temple and or teacher located in Delhi. I am sure there is one, but I do not have the details at hand. They society will be the best ones to point you in the right direction. I am very glad to read that want to learn more about Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden. I hope this helps. Thank you

Dear Jason Tay,

Thank you for your question. I do not know of any Dorje Shugden temple based in Singapore. However the nearest would be the Kechara Buddhist Organisation in Malaysia. You can find more information about them here:http://www.kechara.com/

Dear Anthony,

Yes, this website is still active. If you do want to ask any questions of have a discussion, you can always ask here or post your question on the discussions page: http://www.dorjeshugden.org/discussions

Dear Jason Lai,

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not know of any particular Dorje Shugden temples in Thailand. The closest large Dorje Shugden temple that we know about would be Kechara Forest Retreat in Malaysia. I hope this helps.

Dear A.A.

Thank you for your question. The 6th Panglung Kuten was actually not a monk but a layman, the lineage of the Panglung Oracles was passed to his son, the 7th Panglung Kuten who is himself a monk. In fact it was the 6th Panglung Kuten who gave the Dalai Lama the advice to leave Tibet, via Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. There is not much about his life written in English, but you may find some useful information here:http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/panglung-ritroe-the-rising-house-of-power.html. This article is about the re-establishment of Panglung Ritroe, or the hermitage of the Panglung Oracles. I hope this helps. Thank you