The Dalai Lama blesses monks from Sydney's Tibetan community moments after arriving in Sydney.
Photo: Kate Geraghty
About 50 members of a Buddhist splinter group have begun a protest against the Dalai Lama at Sydney Olympic Park, where the Tibetan spiritual leader is hosting a day of meditation teachings today.
He arrived in Sydney this morning.
Members of the Western Shugden Society, many of them Buddhist monks and nuns, were chanting "Dalai Lama, stop lying" and "Dalai Lama go away".
The society, which followed the Nobel Laureate across Britain and Germany, accused the Buddhist leader of suppressing their religious freedom and of being a religious dictator.
"The Dalai Lama has come to Australia to talk about love and compassion but he is not practising what he is preaching," a spokeswoman for the group, Kelsang Lhachog, said.
"In India, thousands of innocent monks have been expelled from their monasteries, supporters denied food and travel visas, families ostracised and temples destroyed because of this man.
"We must demonstrate because the Dalai Lama has refused to engage with us."
The protesters' cries were met with jibes from a handful of those attending the event.
One audience member accused the protesters of being paid by the Chinese Government.
Others attempted to shout over their cries.
"It's sad that these people have been sucked into supporting Djore Shugden," one Dalai Lama supporter, Karma Phunstok, said.
"This is a peaceful man, they should not be protesting."
Hundreds of Dalai Lama supporters were pouring into the Sydney Superdome past the protesters.
They were subjected to weapons searches with metal detectors before being allowed past the two metre-high steel security fence.
A member of the Sydney Tibetan Community, Lobsang Lungtok, said the protests were disrespectful to the Dalai Lama, who was simply in Sydney to lead five days of meditation teachings.
"It is their political right to protest but we will not engage with them," Mr Lungtok said.
"His Holiness has advised us not to face off with them and we will abide by his wishes."
The Shugden Society worship a Buddhist deity known as Dorje Shugden, who has been denounced by the Dalai Lama as a heretic.
This has led to a bitter division between the two groups, with members of the Shugden society claiming that they have been ostracised in Tibet and across the West.
Happy to be here
On his arrival in Sydney this morning, the Dalai Lama was greeted by a large and colourful contingent of Sydney's Tibetan community.
He said he was "looking forward to meeting the Buddhist community and the Australian public".
Looking relaxed and fresh even though his flight was delayed by 12 hours, the Buddhist leader stopped to greet many of the wellwishers who were decked out in traditional garb and who carried white scarves for the Dalai Lama to bless.
The president of the NSW Tibetan Community, Tenzin Gaden, said he hoped the Dalai Lama's visit would raise awareness of the plight of the Tibetan people, who were under Chinese rule.
"This is not a political visit, but just having him here is a huge boost for the Tibetan people," Mr Gaden said.
Other members of the community said they were disappointed that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would not meet their leader during his visit.
"It is sad that Mr Rudd is feeling pressure from China," one supporter, who did not wish to be named, said.
"Mr Rudd has lost some dignity, I think, by bowing to them."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/dalai-lama-arrives-in-sydney/2008/06/11/1212863684475.html?s_cid=rss_news
