The Original Kadam Tradition and New Kadam Tradition
Kadam Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist school founded by the Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (982 - 1054). His followers were known as Kadampas: 'ka' means 'word' and refers to Buddha's teachings, and 'dam' refers to Atisha's special Lamrim instructions known as the stages of the path to enlightenment. Eventually, the Kadampa lineage was reorganised by Je Tsongkhapa and become known as the Gelug school.
The Kadampa teachers are recordedly famous, not only for being great scholars but also for being spiritual practitioners of reputed purity and sincerity. The lineages of these teachings, both their scriptural transmission and realization, were passed from teacher to disciple within Tibet, and in the modern age, with the founding of the New Kadampa Tradition, to several countries within the Western world.
Recently, the New Kadampa Tradition or NKT has come into the limelight, largely due to a disagreement between it and the Gelug school concerning one Dorje Shugden, a supposed Dharma Protector. A Dharma Protector in Tibetan Buddhism is a divine being which upholds the law and protects those who follow the Buddha's path.
The Shugden Problem
In Shugden's case, the authenticity of this figure as a Dharma Protector has been pulled into question, largely because the current 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, forbids its worship within the Gelug orders. Since Shugden is unimportant to the Nying, Kagyu, and Sakya lineages, this decision does not affect them. However, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso who leads the NKT feels the prohibition is an attack, since the Dalai Lama has failed to accurately address the evidence presented against Shugden.
The basic case is that Shugden is the wrathful spiritual emanation of an enemy of the 5th Dalai Lama, who influenced many of his followers after his death and thereby gained importance over the years. However, time and again there have been issues with Shugden's authenticity, so the 14th Dalai Lama's rejection of his status is nothing new.
Kelsang Gyatso claims the 14th Dalai Lama is targeting him to gain power over all Tibetan sects and become the ultimate power, yet this is a very fragile claim. First of all, the 14th Dalai Lama's personal character does not lend itself to intrigue. Secondly, the 14th Dalai Lama has not imposed such rules on any other sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Kelsang Gyatso's point of view can be read here: http://www.cesnur.org/testi/fr99/gkg2.htm
Whatever the problems, the case against or for Shugden is a very volatile issue.
See also
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