Understanding the Case Against Shukden: The History of a Contested Tibetan Practice

By: Gavin Kilty

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Synopsis: Leaders of the Dalai Lama’s tradition illuminate the issues surrounding the Shukden controversy.Until recently, the figure of Shukden, or Dölgyal, was an obscure one in the pantheon of Tibetan Buddhism’s many oracles and protectors. But after a small faction within the Geluk tradition began to promote and disseminate the practice, sowing division among Buddhists of different sects, the Dalai Lama decided to investigate the practice more deeply. The fruits of this research are presented here, as are the statements made by His Holiness about it over the past fifty years. Discover the historical context behind this contentious practice, which dates back to the Fifth Dalai Lama in the seventeenth century, and learn why the present Dalai Lama has been so vocal in countering it. Understanding the Case against Shukden is a clarion call for unity among the Tibetan people and a vision for a more harmonious Tibetan Buddhist community.