Frankly, I don't buy the Dalai Lama saying he can do nothing. YES, he bloody well CAN do something!!! He can help Western dharma students set up an ethics guideline, which states clearly "Do not fuck your students! Do not grope your students! Do not sexually harass your students! Do not use your body, speech or mind to indulge your lust in any way whatsoever on or with your students!"
That way both students of the dharma AND the lamas/teachers teaching know, openly, transparently, what the rules are.
Come on, how difficult would that be for him???!!!
All the DL has said is "Sogyal is disgraced." Or some variation of the victim, who is in a state of loss and trauma from having been abused, and a sangha in total denial, publicize the sexual abuse. That is agonizingly difficult for the victim and the sangha because it means a mega complex loss for that student, public humiliation, being reviled by fellow sangha for even talking about having been sexually abused by the holy teacher. It is trauma after trauma for the victim. That is really not right. It's an ethics abuse on top of ethics abuse. Layers of misery for the victim.
Prevention of the abuse in the first place is obviously and logically the right place to start this, not AFTER the abuse has occurred!
Sexual abuse by Tibetan lamas will, I believe, terminate the validity - or any trust - in Tibetan lamas.
ARNET — When Chögyam Trungpa fled the 1959 Chinese Communist takeover of his homeland of Tibet, he hiked nine months over the Himalayas before flying to India, then England and finally here to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, where he set up Karmê Chöling, the first Tibetan Buddhist meditation center in the United States.
Trungpa’s eldest son, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, appeared to have learned from the past upon inheriting his father’s role as leader of what has mushroomed into the worldwide Shambhala community, one of the largest Buddhist organizations in the West. The 55-year-old has promoted himself as a loving husband, father of three daughters, marathon runner and author of books on such subjects as “Lessons for Training Body and Mind.”
But now the Sakyong — a Tibetan word literally meaning “earth protector” or, more loosely, “king” — has taken leave as independent investigators review allegations that he, like his father, has abused alcohol and had sex with followers, all while a circle of fellow men witnessed and covered up the misconduct.
“In a state of complete heartbreak, I write to you, humble, embarrassed, and thoroughly apologetic for disappointing you,” the Sakyong states in a recent letter to the Shambhala community. “I will be using this time of self-reflection to deeply listen and to better understand how the dynamics of power, gender, and my actions have affected others.”
In a separate statement, his lawyer adds that while the Sakyong apologizes “to people who have expressed feeling harmed by my conduct,” his client “categorically denies that he has ever participated in any activity that could be construed as a ‘sexual assault,’ attempted or otherwise, sexual contact with minors, or any other criminal offence.”
The news has hit hard at Shambhala (the word means “source of happiness”) and its more than 200 sanghas (or spiritual communities) in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. But it has especially shaken followers at Karmê Chöling in the tiny town of Barnet, where the Sakyong’s father planted the first U.S. seeds of Tibetan Buddhism long before Trungpa’s peer the Dalai Lama became a household name.
The 700-acre Karmê Chöling meditation center is located in the Northeast Kingdom town of Barnet. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger
“Understandably everyone at Karmê Chöling is feeling deeply affected, angered and saddened by this news,” executive director Myra Woodruff wrote in a letter to the editor of the local Caledonian Record. “It is a time of great uncertainty.”
Ten employees and eight volunteers have left Karmê Chöling since the Sakyong’s announcement — some in personal response to the allegations and others for reasons unrelated to them — resulting in six current open positions and everyone else working harder to continue the year-round programs at one of Shambhala’s four largest rural retreat centers.
Karmê Chöling also is wrestling with a separate Buddhist Project Sunshine investigation by a Canadian Shambhala practitioner who says she was sexually abused as a child. Her recently published study includes a claim by a man identified with the pseudonym “Keith” who says he was 15 when an older male sangha member raped him at the Vermont center in 1983.
“Keith” says he revealed the incident two decades later in 2003 to Shambhala International, which reportedly didn’t contact police but instead offered the accuser the opportunity to meet with his alleged attacker for internal “mediation.”
“Keith” declined the offer, the report says, although he is said to now be sharing his story with “the appropriate authorities,” as there’s no statute of limitations on filing claims of aggravated sexual assault of a minor in Vermont.
In response, Shambhala International tells Buddhism’s Tricycle magazine, “These allegations are not only unfounded, but they each are based on speculative and unsubstantiated claims made by a single unnamed source.”
The Sakyong’s lawyer adds “the allegations are vague, unsourced and uncorroborated” and if the report’s author “has information about the abuse of a child, any child, by anyone, she should contact law-enforcement authorities immediately.”
Karmê Chöling, which was not informed of the “Keith” allegations before they were reported to its larger parent organization, has not commented specifically on them. It has, however, issued a public statement on its website about the broader subject of abuse.
“Karmê Chöling is committed to providing a safe place for people of all backgrounds, genders, race, age and physical ability, free from harassment, mistreatment and discrimination,” Woodruff writes. “We do not condone such harmful behaviors by any leader in Shambhala, including the Sakyong.”
“For those who have suffered harm, we feel great empathy,” she continues. “It is vital that women, men and people of all genders can feel safe to speak out when they are harmed and receive support, not skepticism, for their bravery.”
Chögyam Trungpa (right) appears with author and activist Allen Ginsberg in Colorado in 1972. Archive Photo
Back when Trungpa first settled in Vermont in 1970, he attracted a few dozen followers to an old dairy farm in Barnet, population 1,642, that has morphed into the 700-acre Karmê Chöling meditation center.
The Sakyong, who periodically visits and teaches in the state, has carried on his father’s Buddhist teachings while casting them in a contemporary light. He has plugged into the internet to spread his message, be it through social media or YouTube and hosted events such as an Imagining Peace Conference with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to combat street violence.
“I’m encouraging our community to be more socially engaged and responsible,” the Sakyong told reporters in 2014 when he expressed his appreciation to Vermont by presenting the state with the first “Friend of Shambhala Award.”
“This award honors the people and institutions of Vermont for their commitment to the inherent dignity and worth of the human being,” began the citation accepted by then Gov. Peter Shumlin at a Montpelier ceremony.
This fall at Karmê Chöling, staffers are reviewing internal policies surrounding discrimination, care and conduct. They’re also awaiting the findings of an external third-party investigation of Shambhala that is inviting people to report claims of sexual assault or misconduct by any teacher or leader in the worldwide community.
“We hope that these processes will bring to light previously unspoken or unattended stories of harm so that proper steps can be taken to address them,” Woodruff says.
In the meantime, staffers are meditating on the appropriate next steps.
“We are working hard to anticipate and plan for how Karmê Chöling can meet the challenge of uncertainty; change what needs to be changed; and preserve the essence of the beautiful gem that is Karmê Chöling,” Woodruff says.
“Karmê Chöling exists to inspire people to discover their basic goodness and manifest it in community and the world as enlightened society,” she adds. “We succeed by creating a safe, sane, uplifted and welcoming environment for all who come to this beautiful land in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.”
The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles tods@dorjeshugden.com.
By: Shashi Kei
Not so long ago, towards the end of 2017, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most famous lamas, Sogyal Rinpoche, the author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and the head of the international Rigpa Buddhist organization was again accused of sexual assault and physical abuse which he allegedly inflicted on his female students. It was not altogether a shock because allegations of Sogyal Rinpoche’s sexual improprieties and abuses go as far back as 1994 when a $10 million lawsuit was filed against him by a ‘Janice Doe’. She accused Sogyal Rinpoche of sexually assaulting her as a means of purifying her “bad family karma”. Since then, the Tibetan lama has not been able to shrug off an on-going string of accusations of sexual offences and charges of misconduct but the Rigpa organization grew nevertheless, and fame and success continued to follow Sogyal Rinpoche.
In 2011, Lama Choedak Rinpoche publicly apologized for having multiple sexual relationships with his female students. Source: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/ index.php?id=49,10104,0,0,1,0#. WzZrA9gzYUt. Click to read the full article.
Sogyal Rinpoche’s story is not an isolated one. In 2011, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, who is the leader of the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra, was forced by members of his community to make a public apology for multiple sexual relationships he had with his female students. In yet another case, The Guardian newspaper in October 2017 published an articlethat exposed how the Dalai Lama’s personal emissary, Lama Tenzin Dhonden extorted money in exchange for audiences with the Dalai Lama and endorsements by the Tibetan spiritual leader. Tenzin Dhonden’s transgressions went beyond financial offences and it soon became clear that he freely engaged in affairs and relationships with women, a clear violation of his monk vows.
Even before these scandals had a chance to subside, we now see reports that yet another Tibetan Buddhist lama has been accused of sexual abuse, carnal misconduct and even allusions to rape. The lama in question this time is Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the leader of Shambhala International.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the latest in a string of Tibetan Buddhist lamas linked to allegations of sexual misconduct. Sakyong Mipham recently made a public apology for sexually assaulting three of his female students and engaging in coercive sexual relationships with others.
What is surprising is how you never hear the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which claims to represent all Tibetan people in the world, publicly censure or denounce these offenders no matter how serious their crimes are. Neither does the Dalai Lama’s office, which behaves like an absolute authority on spiritual matters under the Tibetan Buddhist ambit, denounce these lamas and their actions. They never speak of how much damage has been inflicted on innocent people seeking spirituality under the Tibetan Buddhist auspice.
The CTA has a Department of Religion & Culture which, according to the CTA’s official website, claims that its function is to oversee religious and cultural affairs. The question that therefore arises is this – if the CTA is claiming ownership over Tibetan Buddhism as it is wont to do, and uses the religion to garner public support in their fight with China, how come the CTA does not do its job and take responsibility for the conduct of these lamas and Tibetan Buddhist teachers it is exporting all over the world?
For all the scandals involving Tibetan Buddhist lamas, the CTA has not said one word about any of them. Neither has it apologized for its failure to oversee the conduct of these Tibetan Buddhist representatives; pledged to reign in errant lamas, teachers and representatives; expressed any concern and offered solace to the victims of these wayward Tibetan lamas; or publicly rebuked them as enemies of the Dharma and traitors to the Tibetan people’s efforts to regain their homeland. Surely the bad conduct of these highly influential Tibetan lamas would have a tremendous negative impact on how the public perceives Tibetan Buddhism. Yet, the CTA does literally nothing to curb such offences. Very unfortunately for Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people, the CTA focuses all its attention on persecuting Dorje Shugden worshippers just because it is a religious practice the Dalai Lama chose to ban for reasons neither he nor the CTA have been able to articulate logically. On the CTA’s official website, it unleashes its unabashed hatred for all Dorje Shugden practitioners in such an unrestrained way that it makes a complete joke out of its claims to be a democratic government.
Instead of warning the public to be wary of deviant Tibetan Buddhist lamas and teachers who are known to be causing harm to their respective communities and to the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism, and who are even accused of cheating, physical abuse and rape, the CTA instills fear of Shugden practitioners in their people, labelling them destroyers of the Buddha’s teachings and traitors of the Tibetan people.
The CTA’s hit list of Dorje Shugden practitioners. Click image to enlarge. Taken from http://tibet.net/2014/05/list-of-dolgyal-followers-who-protested-against-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-in-us-and-europe/
Instead of publishing a list of known sexual offenders and those teachers who are proven to have abused and taken advantage of their students, the CTA publishes a hit list of Dorje Shugden practitioners with the implied instruction that these people should be marginalized, excommunicated and even assaulted.
Instead of creating a section on its official website to provide advice to victims of abuse and provide an avenue for complainants to voice their concerns and grievances, the CTA dedicates an entire section of its official website to pages upon pages of negative indoctrination and disinformation about Dorje Shugden aimed at demonizing Shugden Buddhists just because of their religious beliefs.
Instead of producing literature to guide aspiring Tibetan Buddhist practitioners on how to avoid abuse by bad teachers, the CTA spends time and sponsors’ money producing books, videos and literature that blatantly distort facts and Tibet’s spiritual history just to support the CTA’s illegal religious ban.
Instead of using its state instruments to enact and implement laws and guidelines that penalize and expel those lamas who have been proven to be guilty of crimes, breaking their monastic oaths and also the law, the CTA uses its parliament to criminalize a religious practice and endorse a witch-hunt against Shugden Buddhists.
Instead of using religious teaching sessions or secular public forums to rebuke errant lamas like Sogyal Rinpoche, Lama Choedak, Lama Tenzin Dhonden and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and warn people about them, the Tibetan leadership takes every opportunity to further disfigure the truth about Dorje Shugdenwhose practice is in fact ancient and holy.
Lama Tenzin Dhonden is pictured here at a party with a friend. He is alleged to have had sexual relations with a wealthy heiress. Tenzin Dhonden was the monk who represented the Dalai Lama in North America. No matter who you were, you had to go through him to secure the Dalai Lama’s presence for events, talks, Buddhist rites as well as personal audiences. Everyone had to go through him and he was well known for abusing his position and demanding donations for the Dalai Lama as well as for himself in order to fulfil such requests from the public. Since this picture was uncovered, Tenzin Dhonden has been in many major newspapers and claims have been published against him, his embezzlement and his womanizing. This is highly inappropriate behavior especially given that he is a monk and the Dalai Lama’s representative. These claims have since been shown to be true and the foundation that he worked for, the Dalai Lama Trust, has since fired him. However, since he is a major embarrassment to the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama’s office and the CTA by virtue of his proximity and association with them, no official letters or communications denouncing his behavior have been issued from any of these institutions. This shows a very clear bias that, in order to protect the Dalai Lama’s reputation, if you are his friend or if you are endorsed by him, your crimes are covered up and swept under the rug no matter how offensive or serious your crimes are. That is how the Dalai Lama’s office and the Tibetan administrative regime that he controls, operates.
To the CTA, there is nothing you cannot get away with, no matter how grotesque your crime, as long as you toe the Dalai Lama and the CTA’s line. You are perfectly fine as long as you do not oppose the Dalai Lama’s wishes and you do not have Chinese friends or a connection with China.In fact, on many occasions, the Tibetan leadership will even assist offenders by facilitating audiences and photo-taking sessions with the Dalai Lama. Such measures are often the offender’s ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card. To the Tibetan people, being seen with the Dalai Lama and having your picture taken with him is tantamount to being issued carte blancheto do as you will. We see this is true in the case of Sogyal Rinpoche and Lama Tenzin Dhonden, who were literally untouchable for the longest time by virtue of their favor with the Dalai Lama. So, instead of the Tibetan leadership being the overseer of highly influential Tibetan Buddhist figures with the capacity to inflict tremendous harm on people, it is in fact an underwriter for their misconduct.
Video: “In the Name of Enlightenment – Sex Scandal in Religion” – About Sogyal Rinpoche
As a matter of fact, it is undeniable that the Dalai Lama has played a significant role in building up the prestige and prominence of these lamas to the point that they are almost invincible and occupy positions where they can abuse their victims without much resistance. Most newcomers to Tibetan Buddhism and even those who have practiced for a number of years have no other point of reference besides the Dalai Lama’s endorsement of a certain lama. Suffice to say, many victims of these abusive lamas submit themselves to exploitation, manipulation and assault because they trust the Dalai Lama’s sanctioning of these lamas even if they do not comprehend the mistreatment and unusual methods which are usually summarily dismissed as ‘crazy wisdom’, supposedly a characteristic of highly attained beings.
The Dalai Lama therefore becomes an advocate of these bad lamas by being friendly with them, speaking highly of them, taking pictures with them (something which in the Tibetan context is as good as a formal seal of approval), attending events organized by them and continuing to support them. The Dalai Lama’s approval of these lamas is a determining factor in their rise to prominence and yet neither the Dalai Lama nor the Tibetan leadership will accept responsibility and take remedial measures to avoid more harm being inflicted by bad lamas under the protection of the Dalai Lama.
Sogyal Rinpoche was able to get away with his misdeeds for far too long by virtue of his association with the Dalai Lama. Sogyal Rinpoche invited the Dalai Lama to his Dharma centres, cultivated a friendship with him, made generous donations, and also ensured that he took many pictures and videos together with the Dalai Lama. He knew that by doing this, he would make himself very popular, even more famous and therefore, it would be easier for him to rake in the donations. From the Dalai Lama’s side, the Dalai Lama is more than happy to attend events such as this one because he wants to show an atmosphere of non-sectarian harmony. However, this association with Sogyal Rinpoche has backfired at the end of the day as Sogyal Rinpoche is now best known for molesting, accosting, and/or raping over 60 women. So the question that begs asking is, why is the Dalai Lama, his office and the CTA regime quiet about all of this? Why are there no strong statements condemning Sogyal Rinpoche’s behavior? The CTA cannot be serious if they think the public will believe that harming over 60 human beings directly is less dangerous than praying to Dorje Shugden, a so-called evil spirit (which he is not).
A clear example can be seen in the way the Dalai Lama has supported Sogyal Rinpoche over the decades and maintained a close association with him, even as Sogyal Rinpoche sexually abused and took advantage of his students. Was the Dalai Lama unaware or was it not important to him that someone like Sogyal Rinpoche was hurting people in the name of Buddhism? The Dalai Lama is believed to be the emanation of Chenrezig, a Buddha, and is therefore supposed to be omniscient and clairvoyant. The claim that the Dalai Lama is enlightened and therefore has perfect foresight and cannot be wrong is invoked time and again when it comes to the ban on the practice of Dorje Shugden. Yet, the same clairvoyance and omnipotence seem to have gone into recess when the Dalai Lama continually validates Sogyal Rinpoche, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and probably many others who have yet to be exposed.
Clockwise from top: Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche and Tenzin Dhonden. It is safe to conclude that as long as you are on the Dalai Lama’s side and take pictures with him, then no matter what your crimes are, you will be forgiven and the Dalai Lama will continue to love you. But if you practice Dorje Shugden, you will be condemned and heavily segregated by the rest of the community.
Letters from the Dalai Lama’s private secretary to Michael Roach. This shows you that the Dalai Lama and his administrative regime in exile are capable of writing very strong letters to admonish a “wayward” Buddhist teacher. They even make these letters accessible to the public in order to send a strong signal that these teachers should be avoided. Click on image to enlarge.
Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the Dalai Lama will not speak out against lamas whom he is on friendly terms with, even if they have committed crimes, simply because they are his friends. But if they are not his friends, the Dalai Lama does not hesitate to speak out against these individuals such as in the case of Geshe Michael Roach, the first American to receive the Geshe degree at Sera Monastery.
In 2006, the Dalai Lama’s private secretary, who takes his instructions from the Dalai Lama, wrote a letter to Michael Roach discouraging him from attending the Dalai Lama’s upcoming teachings in Dharamsala on account of his “keeping company with women” and “unconventional behavior”. This communication has since been made available to the public (click here for the PDF version). Yet, we do not see any signs of the Dalai Lama or the CTA doing the same for Sogyal Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche or Lama Choedak Rinpoche, even though their crimes are arguably worse than Michael Roach’s. Therefore, the question that begs asking is, if the Dalai Lama’s secretary can write to Michael Roach, why do they not write to these other teachers who are doing even more harm? Some people may argue that Michael Roach is a monk of the Gelugpa tradition and therefore is subject to stricter rules of conduct compared to monks of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions. But that is totally besides the point. Molesting, harassing, accosting or raping women is 100% wrong regardless of whether you are a monk or not, and regardless of what Buddhist tradition you come from. This is the issue that must be addressed.
It is also lamentable that after the reprehensible misdeeds of these lamas are exposed, the Dalai Lama does not retract his approval of them and allows the continuation of an implied endorsement. In the case of Sogyal Rinpoche, it was only after significant time had passed and Sogyal Rinpoche’s scandals became uncontainable, that the Dalai Lama expressed some regret but still referred to Sogyal Rinpoche as his “very good friend”. In addition, the Dalai Lama added that the only thing to do is to expose these abusive lamas and make the misdeeds of these lamas’ wrongdoing, public. However, the Tibetan leadership does not seem to heed its own advice as neither the CTA’s website nor the Dalai Lama’s website carry any warning of these very dangerous Tibetan Buddhist figures. Surely, the loudest warning should be sounded by the very authorities who placed them in a position where they could harm and abuse so many.
The decent thing for the Tibetan leadership to do would be to accept some level of responsibility and accountability. If the Dalai Lama, as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, and the CTA, as the self-proclaimed government of all Tibetan people, do not accept responsibility for those they empower, then whose responsibility does it become? Instead, both the CTA’s website and the Dalai Lama’s website continue to ignore sexual and financial scandals perpetrated by the Dalai Lama’s close friends and choose instead to victimize Dorje Shugden worshippers. The lack of transparency and sheer recalcitrance of the Tibetan leadership to admit its mistakes is a sure sign that they do not hold themselves accountable to anyone, anything, any laws or even any moral standard. The Dalai Lama should speak up stronger and condemn these teachers as people who destroy Buddhism and abuse their powers. It makes Buddhism look bad if the Dalai Lama highlights these teachers, but it makes Buddhism look worse if he does not and remain silent. These type of scandals are growing and to support the Dalai Lama knowing he is not doing something tangible about this brings the prestige of the Dalai Lama down. This will not go away. The Dalai Lama’s silence will not make this go away. The very teachers he endorses are turning out to be sexual predators that bring Tibetan Buddhism a bad name and making people lose their confidence in the Dalai Lama.
Whether it is due to its unwillingness or inability, the CTA has proven time and time again that it will not do anything to curtail abuses by Tibetan Buddhist figures. To the CTA, any crime is permissible includingmurder, inflicting physical harm, inciting violence and unrest, instigating suicide, financial and spiritual fraud, extortion, sexual assault and even rape, as long as you are not a Dorje Shugden practitioner. The only ‘crime’ the CTA is interested in prosecuting is the benign worship of a benevolent Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. That, to the CTA is an unpardonable treason no matter how devoted a Tibetan lama is to the Dharma, how well and completely he keeps his monastic vows, how much he protects the integrity of Tibetan Buddhism, how hard he works to spread the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, how well and properly he runs his Dharma centers, how firmly he adheres to his ethics, how knowledgeable and attained he is, how much he protects the Tibetan culture and tradition, or how hard he works to keep the Tibetan dream alive.
For all the Tibetan leadership’s condemnation of Dorje Shugden people, there is not even a single sexual scandal, financial scandal or any form of outage reported against a Dorje Shugden lama in the West. You would think that with all the ‘criminality’ that Shugden people are accused of, there would be quite a few exposés and investigative news reports like those which undid Lama Tenzin Dhonden and Sogyal Rinpoche. However, after over 20 years of baseless accusations, the CTA is unable to come up with anything apart from more baseless, illogical and defective accusations, a popular one being the allegation that Shugden practitioners are all undercover Chinese spies and agents.
Dorje Shugden. Click to enlarge.
The CTA would have you believe that merely by practicing Dorje Shugden, you will go to hell. But doesn’t one go to hell for committing crimes such as rape, sexual assault and inflicting physical harm onto others? Doesn’t one go to hell for creating schism in the Sangha and by breaking sacred oaths and forcing others to commit heinous crimes such as corrupting the Dharma? Why is the CTA so vocal on the practice of Dorje Shugden even IF it was a corrupt practice (which it is not) and yet so timid and accommodating on such serious crimes and sinful infractions? Is the self-practice of the benign 400-year-old Dorje Shugden ritual more harmful than rape, murder, fraud and felonies that leave countless lives damaged? Even if practicing Dorje Shugden is wrong (which it is not), which is the more serious crime? Which is the misdeed that pushes people away from the Dharma and erodes trust in Buddhism? Ponder that question and one might then begin to understand the true character of the CTA and its real agenda.
Ultimately, given that the Dalai Lama is the supreme spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, he should take much stronger action to deter errant Tibetan Buddhist lamas from further indulging in such abusive behavior. He should make very strong statements that lamas who have committed such crimes in the past and those who do such things in the future will immediately have their connections with him severed. That his recognition and endorsement of them will immediately be revoked. That they should immediately remove any forewords he may have written from their books. That they are forbidden to use any photos they may have taken together with him. That they may not hold official positions in the Tibetan administration. That they may not attend his teachings or be in his presence any more. This will be a good warning to the Tibetan Buddhist world that the Dalai Lama is serious about stamping out wayward behaviour amongst the Tibetan Buddhist clergy.
In fact, the Dalai Lama should really take the current situation seriously before the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism is utterly and completely ruined. Take what is happening to the Vatican as an example. They are coming under fire for case after reported case of men of the cloth molesting young children, and as a result are paying millions in compensation. If the Dalai Lama and the CTA continue to remain quiet, it is only a matter of time before they are held similarly accountable for the harmful actions of those under their domain. So, before it is too late, the Dalai Lama and his CTA had better take stronger measures so that the global public sees that something is being done about these criminals in robes, just as how Dorje Shugden practitioners are being punished for not heeding the Dalai Lama’s advice.
Buddhist leader sexually assaulted students, report finds
Source: https://thinkprogress.org/buddhist-leader-sexually-assaulted-students-report-finds-0d08e17cedd9/. Click to enlarge.
Shambhala Head Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche Accused of Sexual Abuse in New Report
Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/sakyong-mipham-rinpoche-sexual-abuse/. Click to enlarge.
Report alleges sexual misconduct by leader of Shambhala community
Source: https://www.lionsroar.com/report-alleges-sexual-misconduct-by-leader-of-shambhala-community/. Click to enlarge.
A series of reports of sexual and physical abuse against high-ranking Tibetan lamas and teachers are shaking Tibetan Buddhist communities around the world. What began as a trickle of complaints is slowly growing into a constant stream of very public accusations. The fury risks destroying the long-standing image of Tibetan Buddhism as a religion rooted in morality and benevolence, with the alleged actions by some of its most famous exponents seeming to be driven more by lust, greed, and corruption.
An increasing number of alleged victims have begun to come forward, raising questions about how such abuses, apparently widespread in Tibetan Buddhist communities around the world, can remain under the radar of public consciousness for so long. The developments have a striking resemblance to the case of the powerful Hollywood movie magnate Harvey Weinstein, accused after decades of being a serial sexual predator. The claims against Weinstein eventually triggered the “Me Too” movement and a flurry of similar charges against other prominent figures in the industry.
Earlier this month, the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, met a delegation of alleged victims who claimed to have been abused by previous or current Buddhist teachers. The delegation presented to the Dalai Lama the testimonies of twelve victims of these abuses. According to the Spanish news agency Efe, reported the BBC, one of the delegations claimed that at first, the Dalai Lama seemed reluctant to listen to their stories, but that after 10 minutes of conversation became “more receptive”.
The controversy threatens to plunge Tibetan Buddhism into the same kind of controversy that has involved the Catholic Church for decades. During this time, Catholic leaders have vigorously sought to minimize any suggestion that sexual abuse in its ranks was prevalent, characterizing a series of scandals that have shattered over the years as isolated incidents and stating that these were internal issues that should be addressed outside the public spotlight.
It was only since the election of Pope Francis as its head that the Catholic Church has sought to deal more transparently with the murky side of its past. In August the Pope met with several victims who had been abused by the clergy during a visit to Ireland and roundly condemned decades-long efforts from within the Church’s ranks to cover up such abuse.
A fallen star
A number of accusations have been leveled against Sogyal Lakar Rinpoche, founder of Rigpa, an international network with some 100 different centers across 40 countries. Sogyal was forced into retirement in 2017 in the wake of mounting sexual and physical abuse claims. He no longer heads Rigpa.
Sogyal, whose book “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” sold millions of copies and made him an international celebrity, long enjoyed the support and endorsement of the Dalai Lama, in return helping to fill the coffers of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Dalai Lama’s government in exile. That was despite the allegations of abuse against him, which go back more than two decades. They included a widely reported case in 1994 when an American student brought a multi-million dollar lawsuit against him alleging sexual and physical abuse, which he had perpetrated under the guise of curing her “bad karma”. Few details reached the public, however, as the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
In spite of this, the Dalai Lama continued to give his tacit endorsement to Sogyal, visiting communities under his care and appearing with him publicly on a number of occasions. For example, the two were pictured together alongside the then French first lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy at the inauguration of the Lerab Ling teaching center in southern France in 2008, reputedly the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in the west.
Powerless to intervene?
The Dalai Lama’s objection that given his predominantly spiritual role, he is unable to interfere in the day-to-day running of Tibetan Buddhist communities, rings hollow.When it comes to more arcane doctrine, he has had no qualms about condemning worship of the Dorje Shugden deity, a practice he has condemned as a “danger to the cause of Tibet” and he considers heretic and antagonist to his power. The Dalai Lama asked Shugden acolytes to refrain from attending his teachings, effectively ostracising them from Buddhist society, with the backing of the CTA which went as far as issuing directives against them. In 2014, the CTA legislated to criminalize the worship of this deity and produced a list of people who have voiced their disagreement with the Dalai Lama’s religious prohibitions. Both the Dalai Lama and the CTA’s official websites carry the same Dalai Lama pronouncements on Shugden. On the Dalai Lama’s site, they are regarded as religious decrees and on the CTA’s site, law.
What has stopped the Dalai Lama raising similar objections against leaders accused of sexual depravity and misconduct? For the CTA, it cannot argue, like the Dalai Lama does, that its role is purely spiritual. It would certainly have had the political authority within the Buddhist community worldwide to denounce sexual abuse wherever it was proven, to aid and encourage investigations of abuse and to withdraw moral and practical support from errant spiritual and political leaders. Instead, the CTA has abjectly failed to take responsibility for those who wield power within its ranks or their actions.
More widespread than thought
Sogyal’s abuse is not an isolated case. In fact, similar incidents have also been reported in other Tibetan Buddhist communities worldwide. Project Sunshine, an initiative that has worked to expose sexual violence in Buddhist communities, raised further allegations of sexual assault by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the leader of Shambala International, as well as some other leaders of the community in August this year. Headquartered in Halifax, Canada, Shambala has some 165 centers worldwide. Former Shambala disciple Christine Chandler has denounced certain spiritual leaders as “Buddhist enablers of sexual abuse”. Shambala International and a lawyer for Sakyong Mipham have denied the Project Sunshine allegations.
Another widely cited case of abuse emerged in 2011 when Lama Choedak Rinpoche, the leader of the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra, was forced by members of his community to make a public apology after admitting to multiple sexual relationships he had with his female students.
Elsewhere, the Dalai Lama’s personal emissary Lama Tenzin Dhonden, who was dismissed last November amid corruption allegations, also allegedly breached his monastic vow when embarking on a widely publicized affair with Seagram heiress Sara Bronfman.Yet he was not disrobed at the time but was only dismissed last November when a series of corruption allegations – including complaints that he demanded cash for securing access to the Dalai Lama – made him too hot for the spiritual leader to keep on. Like Sogyal, Dhonden’s transgressions were over a period of time.
One reason why such behavior went unchecked for so long is that abusive spiritual leaders were often able to put the onus on their victims, making them believe they deserved the punishment or even needed to be subjected to abuse in order to gain further enlightenment.
As former Rigpa students wrote to Sogyal Lakar in an open letter: “If your striking and punching us and others, and having sex with your students and married women, and funding your sybaritic lifestyle with students’ donations is actually the ethical and compassionate behavior of a Buddhist teacher, please explain to us how it is” (quoted in Behind The Thanks, a book by Tibetan Buddhism scholar Mary Finnegan).
Such behavior is a far cry from what Rigpa founder’s own advice to teachers in his famous book, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. In it, Sogyal wrote that “…true teachers are kind, compassionate, and tireless in their desire to share whatever wisdom they have acquired from their masters, never abuse or manipulate their students under any circumstances, never under any circumstances abandon them, serve not their own ends but the greatness of the teachings, and always remain humble.”
Easier said than done, as the saying goes, especially if there is no censure or sanction for acting otherwise. Today’s students of Tibetan Buddhism may hope their future leaders are able to live by such precepts, as well as just articulating them… but they could be forgiven for being just a tiny bit skeptical, especially when it is clear that the Dalai Lama has thus far shirked the role of a martinet of these precepts. About the author: *Dr. Andrea Galli, principal investigator at swiss east affairs
