Breakaway Buddhist sect holds protest against Dalai Lama in UK

LONDON: A group of Buddhists from the International Shugden Community today held a protest against the Dalai Lama, accusing him of religious persecution, even as the spiritual leader pleaded for religious tolerance and harmony.

Fresh from an appearance at the Glastonbury music festival, where he spoke about the need for action on climate change, the Tibetan spiritual leader strongly condemned those who justified killing by using religion.

In front of a small audience inside a new Buddhist centre for religious tolerance and harmony, the Dalai Lama said all religions were sources of forgiveness and tolerance.

"Now that it is a factor for division and killing, we have a responsibility to promote religious harmony...killing in the name of religion is totally wrong," he said.

He spoke following Friday's deadly attacks in Kuwait, France and Tunisia, where at least 18 British tourists were killed by an Islamist radical.

The Dalai Lama, 79, suggested that praying for divine guidance to deal with practical political problems was not enough.

"We pray to God as if it his problem but all these problems are our responsibilities, it is logical we take responsibility to solve these problems. God gave us free will," he said.

As he spoke the demonstrators outside kept on drumming and chanting against the spiritual leader at the Aldershot Football Club, Hampshire.

Throughout his remarks, the chants and drumming of hundreds of followers of the International Shugden Community, a breakaway sect, could be heard.

Mainstream Buddhist groups dismiss Shugden claims of persecution as unfounded, accusing its followers of "aggressive, misleading and unethical behaviour". An alliance of 10 UK Buddhist organisations has issued a statement formally dissociating themselves from today's protests.

Shugden members accuse the Dalai Lama of trying to ostracise those who follow the spirit known as Dolgyal or Shugden. ISC supporters have organised noisy demonstrations outside his speaking engagements across North America, Europe and Australia. Aldershot was no exception.