https://www.change.org/p/truth-and-justice-for-women-in-relation-to-misconduct-by-10th-sangye-nyenpa-rinpoche-and-benchen-community-members?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message&utm_term=share_petition&recruited_by_id=a83a4670-9cb0-11ea-ba23-f19621e8c52e&share_bandit_exp=message-20145058-en-GB&share_bandit_var=v1
Truth and justice for women in relation to 10th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche and Benchen
The 10th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, a senior Bhutanese lama based at the Tibetan Buddhist Benchen monastery, Nepal, presents a public face as a pure, celibate and fully ordained Buddhist monk and follower of Mahayana and Vajrayana values, but his private attitude and conduct towards women he meets is the opposite. In the spirit of the genuine Buddha Dharma, and as recently publicly advised by HH 14th Dalai Lama, we believe it is important stop this dishonesty and abuse of power and raise public awareness about it in order to stop future harm to women and the teachings.
These are not allegations about the ‘secret consort’ sacred relation, but independent allegations of various women over many years feeling harmed and traumatised by conduct which involves Rinpoche actively seeking out and pursuing sexual and romantic relations and communications with women he meets at Dharma teachings and events. If they don't comply, challenge him or speak out, he also then threatens to share any intimate photos they have sent him, and/or not to contact him again or attend any of his teachings again. Then he falsely accuses these women of 'baseless and false accusations', if asked about it. Yet, there is clear evidence of many photos, audio and written messages from Sangye Nyenpa to prove these allegations. The women report not wanting to be publicly named due to fears of bullying and intimidation. When a woman (who is not a monastic) recently spoke out privately about him she was met with cyber-bullying, online defamation, identity theft and impersonation, threats to expose intimate photos and misogynist and malicious lies about her personal life and character and physical appearance.
This conduct not only goes against the spirit and vows of Buddha Dharma but also basic and widely accepted human values and ethics and respect for women in the following ways:
- Not respecting women. Disrespecting women or forcing consorts are root downfalls of the Vajrayana. If a Buddhist teacher is continually disrespecting women privately then they should not be teaching or giving Vajrayana empowerments.
- Dishonesty and hypocrisy. A fundamental premise of Buddha Dharma and of basic human ethical values is honesty and integrity. It is a root vow of a layperson and a monastic. In addition, as Sangye Nyenpa says he is a fully-ordained, celibate monk it is fundamentally dishonest to present oneself as that when one’s private actions are opposite.
- Emotional blackmail. Threatening to expose or share the intimate photos and messages of women if they speak out or challenge him.
- Telling women not to attend his teachings or contact him again if they challenge his conduct, is a breach of the fundamental premise of Dharma and the Bodhisattva vows which is love and compassion, forgiveness, friendship and inclusion. Turning people away from a Dharma centre or teacher because they speak the truth or because they act in ways you do not like goes against that.
- Falsely accusing and defaming women of lying who are telling the truth. Another example of dishonesty and lack of respect for women.
- Lack of love and compassion and breach of vows. Persistent dishonesty and disrespecting women breach the fundamental commitments of Dharma. In addition, the root of Mahayana vows is having love and compassion for all beings. These actions are not in accordance with those vows or principles.
- Not listening to or offering any honest and objective discussion or investigation of women's concerns and experiences. Ignoring, not responding, denying and refusing to meet or discuss are examples of how these actions breach basic ethical values based on conciliation, non-violence, truth and justice. Also showing how such allegations are ignored and/or covered up.
- Responses of online cyber-bullying, attacks, identity theft, impersonation, defamation, slander and silence from official channels. Rinpoche disappearing from public or private contact and Benchen monastery not issuing any response to serious allegations for several months, is an example of how such issues get treated and increase the feelings for the woman of being unheard and isolated.
- Criticising and spreading gossip about other senior Kagyu Lamas, including HH 17th Karmapa privately. There is also evidence that Sangye Nyenpa has been doing this.
Recently, one woman (an award-winning Dharma translator and long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism) who privately informed Rinpoche's sister, a senior Kagyu lama and Benchen monastery over six months ago, about her one year intimate and romantic relation with Sangye Nyenpa, got no response and Rinpoche himself 'disappeared' from contacting her (he had been contacting her daily on wechat) and did not return to Nepal as he had told her he would to meet her there. Reasons of sickness and doing retreat were cited publicly for his not returning but these are often used as convenient excuses or half-truths to hide the private reality. After informing these people privately, she faced online cyber bullying and threats and slander, and on Sangye Nyenpa's recent return to Nepal was even issued an official letter by the Chairman of Benchen Monastery, Tempa Lama stating that there would be no investigation or discussion of her experience (or the other allegations by other women) and that she was barred from going to Benchen Monastery or centres.They also issued a letter to a prestigious funding body that falsely misled them into withdrawing a grant she had been awarded for translation of a Dharma text. These actions also go against the fundamental spirit and principles of honesty, love and compassion for all beings. She has also now informed other senior Kagyu lamas and the representatives of HH 17th Karmapa in India, and other women have also informed Kagyu lamas too. However, as of yet, the silence and lack of a response to these allegations is 'deafening'.
As Sangye Nyenpa himself has still has not given any personal response privately or sought to make peace or amends, even though he has now returned to Nepal, this petition is being launched to ensure that, at the very least, such conduct immediately ceases and that an independent, fair, objective investigation of these allegations is conducted as soon as possible in a manner that is respectful to the spirit of Buddhism, non-violence, women and the truth. We hope this petition will achieve justice and conciliation for all those who feel harmed by it, and raise public awareness about it so that other women who have been similarly affected feel supported and acknowledged. Please feel free to contact us and get support if needed. Confidentiality and privacy will be maintained.
