Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Western tulku


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep‎__EXPECTED_UNCONNECTED_PAGE__. Hey man im josh (talk) 13:14, 8 November 2023 (UTC)

Western tulku

 * – ( View AfD View log | edits since nomination)

We should not split articles by ethnicity. This is a non-neutral POV fork of tulku intended as an attack page against Western tulkus. Tulkus are tulkus. The entire system is criticized, and there are non-western examples of misidentification. Skyerise (talk) 11:23, 31 October 2023 (UTC)


 *  Merge to Tulku. No reason to have a separate article, even ignoring the obvious POV issues. AndyTheGrump (talk) 11:28, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Given the significant expansion of the article since the above, I am now less certain that merging is appropriate. I would however suggest that POV issues remain, and also that any article on Western tulku's needs to make clear that this is not the sole cause of controversy regarding tulku lineages. It might possibly be better to have a subtopic article on tulku lineage controversies generally, though that isn't without its POV problems too. AndyTheGrump (talk) 14:44, 5 November 2023 (UTC)


 * Allow me to finish the page. To reiterate what I have said on User:Skyerise's talk page, and on mine:
 * I am currently in the process of creating the page. Whether or not it should be merged cannot be surmised as.
 * It is not a POV fork as the entire page is (as it stands) original, and there was no debate on the tulku page which I forked this off from.
 * As I explained already to User:Skyerise once, I am a Shingon Buddhist and have no problem with Western tulkus. I am working from reliable sources which can, and clearly do, contain criticism from some Western academics (which I do not necessarily agree with.)
 * This AfD request is the result of a threat by the nominator, after he "suggested" I merged the (unfinished, work-in-progess) page into Tulku, he said that if I did not merge it, he would tag it as an AfD. He has taken it in his own hands and has now created a copy of the (unfinished!) page there.
 * I recommend an admin immediately close this AfD and allow me to at least finish the page before a merge or deletion discussion begins. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:33, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Why should we "let you finish" a completely misguided page that violates multiple guidelines? Skyerise (talk) 11:36, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * What guidelines does it violate? How is it misguided? You don't even know what the page will look like. I'm literally in the process of creating the page and filling out sections. Holy shit. I'm trying to assume good faith here, but it really seems like something in the page has struck a chord and you're trying to censor it. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:38, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Draft space exists for a reason. Once a main-space article is created, it is subject to possible deletion. AndyTheGrump (talk) 11:45, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * You know, I generally have no trouble creating main-space articles and filling them out that way (I did this with Long gu), I think I'll just move this to draft space so that can let me work and not drive-by tag things and revert half-done edits. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:48, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * I'm afraid to close the AfD so if you know any relevant policy that would allow me to move it into draft space, I'd much appreciate it. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:49, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Read WP:AFDTODRAFT. AndyTheGrump (talk) 11:52, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Unfortunate. I'll just keep editing. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:58, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Frankly, I think you would do better to work on improving the section in the main Tulku article. It provides all the broader context that a separate article lacks. AndyTheGrump (talk) 12:05, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * The section did not previously exist (it was created when the nominator decided to boldly merge the unfinished page) and based on the sources I have, it may double the size of the page (or dwarf the rest of the page) and I do not want the more general tulku page to be dominated by discussions of non-Tibetan tulkus. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 12:08, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * There are estimated to be as many as 500 Tibetan tulku lineages. Only 1 of these is detailed in the history section. If the history were properly written, there is no way the 3 Western tulkus you've identified would dominate the article. The fact that that history is missing is no reason to fork the article. Skyerise (talk) 22:16, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * And why should I care? I'm not editing the tulku page. I'm not forking anything because what I'm writing is entirely original. I'm not interested in re-writing the tulku page (yet). Merging the pages would immediately dominate the tulku page. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 04:57, 1 November 2023 (UTC)
 * How about listing here a few of the major sources you intend to cite, to give an indication that this subtopic merits the depth of coverage you propose? AndyTheGrump (talk) 12:14, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * If you check the Bibliography section on the page, you'll find some of my sources -- I usually add them before I start working so I don't forget them and I have them "on hand" instead of having to go and add new sources in between editing stints. Again, none of those were on the original Tulku page, they are only there because of unilateral decision to merge the page. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 12:19, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Also, note that the page is already half the size of the original tulku page (6,774 bytes vs. 14,912 bytes) and I'm not even done with the meat-and-potatoes of the page yet. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 12:21, 31 October 2023 (UTC)


 * Note: This discussion has been included in the list of Buddhism-related deletion discussions.  Spiderone (Talk to Spider) 12:17, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * If the page creator wants to draft, we can send it there. Seems to have some coverage above, I'd let it incubate there. Oaktree b (talk) 15:43, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * I no longer prefer draftifying.--MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 06:27, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Draftify on creator's wishes. Seems like the least harmful solution for now. Not seeing any reason this doesn't have a chance to be notable. Skarmory   (talk •   contribs)  18:49, 31 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Comment: I just want to note that Skyerise has been merging the pages as I work on Western tulku; and incorporating the prose I write on the more general tulku page. Normally this would be fine as there be a section on Western tulku, but since Skyerise has been calling for a merge or deletion and claiming the Western tulku page is a POV fork and an attack page, I thought I should point this out:  It is incredibly deceptive as someone who isn't diligent in looking at page histories won't be aware that I didn't fork the page and that the prose is original to Western tulku.
 * There is some of this now; but the tulku page is fast being drowned out by discussion of Western tulku, which is exactly what I did want to do and hence why I intended it as a separate page. Anyway, I stand by the claim that the clandestine merge is willfully deceptive. The claim is that I forked Western tulku out of Tulku as an attack page, and to substantiate this, Skyerise has been merging the pages without following WP:MERGEPROP (which is contradictory to the AfD proposal since clearly he thinks the page has useful content.) The AfD, anyway, is the result of a threat that if I did not merge the page as per his suggestion, he would mark it for deletion. I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but this has been incredibly frustrating to try and create a page in good faith and be disrupted by redundant drive-by tagging, clandestine merges, AfD threats, among other things.
 * There is some of this now; but the tulku page is fast being drowned out by discussion of Western tulku, which is exactly what I did want to do and hence why I intended it as a separate page. Anyway, I stand by the claim that the clandestine merge is willfully deceptive. The claim is that I forked Western tulku out of Tulku as an attack page, and to substantiate this, Skyerise has been merging the pages without following WP:MERGEPROP (which is contradictory to the AfD proposal since clearly he thinks the page has useful content.) The AfD, anyway, is the result of a threat that if I did not merge the page as per his suggestion, he would mark it for deletion. I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but this has been incredibly frustrating to try and create a page in good faith and be disrupted by redundant drive-by tagging, clandestine merges, AfD threats, among other things.
 * There is some of this now; but the tulku page is fast being drowned out by discussion of Western tulku, which is exactly what I did want to do and hence why I intended it as a separate page. Anyway, I stand by the claim that the clandestine merge is willfully deceptive. The claim is that I forked Western tulku out of Tulku as an attack page, and to substantiate this, Skyerise has been merging the pages without following WP:MERGEPROP (which is contradictory to the AfD proposal since clearly he thinks the page has useful content.) The AfD, anyway, is the result of a threat that if I did not merge the page as per his suggestion, he would mark it for deletion. I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but this has been incredibly frustrating to try and create a page in good faith and be disrupted by redundant drive-by tagging, clandestine merges, AfD threats, among other things.

--MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 05:20, 1 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Comment: The primary reason not to separate Western tulkus from the tulku page is that Western tulkus are an integral part of the tulku system. They are part of the continuation of Tibetan tulku lineage into which they were recognized. The tulku article will be providing a summary of the history of each tulku lineage. These Westerners will be covered at part of their respective tulku lineages. To split the article is to take the Western tulkus out of the historical context of their lineages.


 * The second reason not to split the article is that Western tulkus are not like Plastic shamans. Western tulkus are made by high Tibetan lamas. While there is criticism about these Western tulkus, the Westerners are not at fault. The fault is in the system itself and the criticism, at least from the Tibetan side, is not about the shortcomings of the Western tulkus, but rather accrues to the high lamas who made them. Splitting the article seems to be an attempt to isolate these lamas from any criticism of their actions by making the article solely about the perceived faults of the Westerners themselves, out of context of the system and individual decisions of lamas to recognize them.


 * Western lamas and their faults simply reflect the faults of the system and the lamas who made them. This is best presented in a unified article. Skyerise (talk) 12:29, 2 November 2023 (UTC)
 * They aren't an integral part of the tulku system. They're a marginal part of it and there are only a handful of Western tulku while there are literally hundreds of Tibetan tulku. Western tulku, on the other hand, have generated a disproportionate amount of (English-language) literature regarding the globalization of Tibet Buddhism, which threatens to overtake the original tulku article as the Western tulku article is now over half the length of the older one...although it's now hard to gage since has been copying prose and references. That is why I created a separate article instead of adding to the older one.
 * Anyway, none of your other points are relevant, especially not to a deletion discussion. At best your argument is for merging, which you've already attempted (and your clandestine merge I still find to be incredibly deceptive.) You abandoned the merge proposal when you opened this AfD, following through on a threat after I declined to merge the article I was working on because you were offended. You keep referring to splitting the article and how this has something to do with "criticizing Western tulku", as if I've forked an article out to dunk on them -- which I haven't -- everything is entirely original and reflects the sources I have on hand. I'm sorry the sources offend you but that's what they say. A significant amount of the literature published is critical and I've done my best to attribute those opinions to their respective authors. If you don't like that, go publish your own research responding to them. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 16:40, 2 November 2023 (UTC)


 * Keep The subject is notable, and has received its own coverage independent of the main tulku tradition. If it were merged most of it would probably be WP:UNDUE there. Johnbod (talk) 03:30, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * The coverage is not independent. All coverage describes the tulku system and also involves the Tibetan lamas who created the Western tulkus. The Western tulkus themselves are the current lineage holders of the Tibetan traditions which they hold. They are not distinguished as inferior within Tibetan Buddhism itself. They are not only Tibetan Buddhists, they are recognized functionaries of the religion, members of specific schools, and typically have been students and practitioners within the system for decades before being recognized (unless recognized shortly after birth). Article singles out and attacks "white people". Skyerise (talk) 10:38, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Most of the coverage is independent; indeed rather more so than most coverage of Tibetan religious subjects in English, which tends to be "in universe". The rest of your points don't bear on this Afd. This article has obviously got under your skin, for reasons I don't really understand. Your behaviour around this article has been disgraceful, and I'd strongly advise you to show some restraint. Johnbod (talk) 17:43, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * The whole basis for this article is racist. That's what's disgraceful. Skyerise (talk) 18:31, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * 


 * Comment. I have struck some of my earlier comments here and I am going to refrain from discussing this outside of this page (since it has flowered out into numerous other pages) but I would like to make a sort of master-comment. I no longer want this page draftified because I fear that when I do finish the page, most of what I have written will have been merged into the older Tulku page. First, in regards to particular arguments:
 * "We should not split articles by ethnicity." There is no policy on this and indeed for certain topics splitting by "ethnicity" is necessary for a topic such as this one...where a religious, feudal concept is transposed on to the modern west.
 * "This is a non-notable topic." This is not original research and there are a number of studies dealing with this phenomena, in particular:
 * See also
 * In other words, there is plenty of reason to treat Western tulku separately. Further, per merging the pages would give WP:UNDUE weight to Western tulku.
 * "This is a POV fork." Every criticism of Western tulku given here is properly attributed in accordance with WP:BLP. There is no evidence that the page is non-neutral past irrelevant musing on the relationship between Western tulku and their masters.
 * Next, I want to point out that this entire AfD proposal is in bad faith. Since the beginning, User:Skyerise has engaged in disruptive editing, including:
 * Threats;
 * Refusal to assume (or accept) good faith;
 * Canvassing;
 * Purposefully creating edit conflicts, as they did not want to "let [me] finish" a completely misguided page per their own words;
 * Censorship, removing mentions of race where it is present in the original source; and
 * Merging against policy (i.e., without consensus), which is especially deceptive since they have been falsely claiming it is a fork which was split off the older Tulku page.
 * I think that it is important to note that according to their user page, Skyerise is a western Tibetan Buddhist. This isn't exactly a conflict of interest but it seems to me to be a pretty clear-cut case of attempted censorship and POV-pushing based on Skyerise's personal offense taken at the criticism academics have levied against certain Western tulku or the concept of "tulku envy".
 * Apologies for the long comment, but this is incredibly stressful and I have to deal with white Buddhist rage enough as it is.--MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:43, 4 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Purposefully creating edit conflicts, as they did not want to "let [me] finish" a completely misguided page per their own words;
 * Censorship, removing mentions of race where it is present in the original source; and
 * Merging against policy (i.e., without consensus), which is especially deceptive since they have been falsely claiming it is a fork which was split off the older Tulku page.
 * I think that it is important to note that according to their user page, Skyerise is a western Tibetan Buddhist. This isn't exactly a conflict of interest but it seems to me to be a pretty clear-cut case of attempted censorship and POV-pushing based on Skyerise's personal offense taken at the criticism academics have levied against certain Western tulku or the concept of "tulku envy".
 * Apologies for the long comment, but this is incredibly stressful and I have to deal with white Buddhist rage enough as it is.--MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 11:43, 4 November 2023 (UTC)


 * More censorship where their preferred version of the page has no critical analysis of Western tulku.--MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE IS REAL EMO!(talk or whatever) 00:27, 5 November 2023 (UTC)


 * Keep significant coverage in WP:RS, all of whom are independent, contrary to spurious claims above. I have collapsed a lengthy discussion above as it mostly discusses conduct and not the article, even though I agree with the relevant comments. AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 10:33, 5 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Keep This seems to be a notable separate topic that would be largely a coatrack on the main Tulku article. Hemiauchenia (talk) 02:56, 8 November 2023 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.