Sunday, August 29, 2021

Shambhala links about its various scandals

 https://shambhalalinks.blogspot.com/2019/09/httpswww.html?fbclid=IwAR070kUlKx0THEexyhN_dAG5NGsl3uN4O91FLD-TTHMVs0VLzI8Nfw2Bn0I


September 27, 2019
https://shambhala-apology.com/
Apologies to survivors of Shambhala sexual misconduct

https://thewalrus.ca/survivors-of-an-international-buddhist-cult-share-their-stories/
Overview of the history of generational abuse in Shambhala starting with trungpa to mipham

CBC covers Shambhala

Sexual Abuse, Whiteness and Patriarchy.  A forum discussion that deeply covers problematic aspects of Shambhala.
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/26/shambhala-boulder-mukpo-sakyong-abuse-buddhist-project-sunshine/

https://entropymag.org/woven-leaving-shambhala
A very brave personal account of sexual assault and lack of support in shambhala.
Weak forced apologies only after the fact.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/h8o2in/apologies_from_two_acharyas/

https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/03/04/former-boulder-shambhala-member-to-be-sentenced-to-prison-following-guilty-plea/
From the article:  "Smith’s then-girlfriend also told police she heard Smith talking to several other men at a retreat where they discussed how “unfair” it was that laws prevented them from having sex with people younger than 18."
https://www.dailycamera.com/former-boulder-shambhala-member-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-on-child-sex-assault-case
“I heard character witnesses say they knew and didn’t do anything,” she said. “I was a child, and the adults around me failed.”

Toxic culture behind the scenes at a shambhala retreat center

Deconstructing shambhala rhetoric

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/hf1pid/open_letter_from_59_dharma_brats_to_sakyong/
A group of people who grew up as children to trungpa's original followers publish a deeply problematic submissive plea
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/hiyatq/shambhala_times_publishes_open_letter_from_dharma/
A similarly problematic "resigning" of "senior teachers" called "acharyas" publishing a letter.  Important commentary from survivors in the reddit thread
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/hmetqx/statement_of_resignation_by_acharyas/

"Growing up in this community, I witnessed the birth of a secret society of dharma practitioners who, with Trungpa Rinpoche’s help, created a deadly environment of sexual predation, classism, and blind assent.
I learned the teachings of the dharma and the actions of dharma students were two very different things."

https://www.ldmletter.com/
A schism developing between "sakyong" and "Lady Diana" (trungpa's widow) developing.
Commentary on reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/hs8k3p/letter_from_lady_diana_freeing_the_texts/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SFE3shQTNXGcj1hj8AbYtJ05wFoimOeJ/view
Larimer Country Shambhala Investigation, Public Release - Sexual Assault
Reddit discussion of the above report:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/gdxj18/public_larimer_county_sheriff/

https://radiofreeshambhala.org/2019/04/shambhala-ownership-and-control/
Shambhala legal ownership and control structure.  All roads lead to Osel Mukpo "Sakyong".
https://shambhala-process-team.org/legal-structure-of-shambhala/
Shambhala's inner circle professes "Shambhala’s articles of incorporation, which state that the purpose of the organization is to support and facilitate the teachings of the Sakyong lineage of Shambhala under the leadership of the Sakyong."
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/gkheu6/a_letter_to_students_of_sakyong_mipham_rinpoche/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/bzt7a8/former_shambhala_teacher_caroline_contillo/
Shambhala trained meditation instructor renouncing the rape culture they endured

https://youtu.be/NAyO0detH5k
Student group to Shambhala Mountain Center experience sexual harrassment and minimizing.  Commentary on this report, https://www.patheos.com/blogs/americanbuddhist/2020/01/shambhala-buddhist-community-faces-new-allegations-in-chapman-student-investigation.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/i98v3e/whistleblowing_crosspost_discussion_in_shambhala/
Code of Conduct Process Team member lends support to man encouraging acceptance of "romantic relationships" between men and boys.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/eo7vb5/strange_negative_experiences_at_smcrequest_for/fehvkyy
First hand recollections of what it was like to grow up in Shambhala and experience Shambhala Mountain Center and other Shambhala Land Centers.

Another brave sharing of abuse growing up in Shambhala

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/the-lightness/amp/
Two women authors discuss their novel based on troubling experiences growing up in Shambhala
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/hk402t/more_than_little_dakinis_growing_up_shambhala/

http://openbuddhism.org/tibetan-buddhism-enters-the-21st-century-trouble-in-shangri-la/
In depth review of Tibetan Buddhism in the West
https://openbuddhism.org/not-the-tibetan-way-the-dalai-lamas-realpolitik-concerning-abusive-teachers/

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
A critical look at the history of Tibetan Buddhist theocracy in Tibet.

https://www.dailycamera.com/ci_32516473/shambhala-international-may-sell-marpa-house-citing-debt
Shambhala sold an apartment complex that was bought with community funds and evicted 40 residents to cover the losses incurred by the "sakyong's" sexual assaults loss of memberships.  Though owning multiple million dollar properties, "sakyong" hasn't covered anything for the financial harm.
https://boulderbeat.news/2020/05/08/boulder-landmarks-marpa-house-over-objections-of-alleged-abuse-survivors/

https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/09/24/justin-rezzonico-shambhala-boulder-mipham

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/07/what-is-shambhala-buddhism/

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/07/shambhala-sexual-abuse/

https://www.cjr.org/the_profile/shambhala-buddhist-project-sunshine.php
Overview of Project Sunshine, an independent investigation into abuses in Shambhala

https://shambhalatimes.org/2020/01/16/letter-from-ani-pema-chodron/
Pema Chodron resigns as a Shambhala Acharya due to lack of action.  Background on Pema's enabling and bystanding.  https://www.facebook.com/matthew.remski/posts/10162976946810602
https://matthewremski.medium.com/the-problem-with-pema-ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n-25c35ed4a8e7

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/shambhala-kusung-letter
Sakyong's personal staff share the abuses they endured https://tricycle.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/An-Open-Letter-Statements-16-Feb-2019.pdf

http://www.dailycamera.com/opinion-darryl-collette-enough-of-the-lies-about-naropa-and-shambhala
Naropa university has a problematic history
https://boulderbeat.news/2020/06/12/opinion-naropa-needs-to-face-the-skeleton-in-the-closet/

http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_31992200/naropa-university-removes-shambhala-international-leader-board

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/10/shambhala-mountain-center-apologizes-misconduct/

https://bbooks.info/book/the-mahasiddha-and-his-idiot-servant
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL8585128M/The_Mahasiddha_and_His_Idiot_Servant
trungpa's butler shares their experiences together.  See page 60 for animal abuse https://imgur.com/a/RpxnbQi
An excerpt from trungpa's butler's book describing trungpa's drunken drug fuelled harassment on an airplane https://www.celticbuddhism.org/potowski-av
Another story where trungpa harasses a waitress to the point of being thrown out of a bar
https://www.chronicleproject.com/at-the-redneck-bar/

https://imgur.com/gallery/iwvc6s0
trungpa supports public floggings and hundred year imprisonment.  Excerpt from Vajradhatu's Court Vision and Practice.  Also the cutting off of thumbs, https://imgur.com/gallery/DUovWgq

https://imgur.com/gallery/vj4lebS
trungpa discusses the "Rape Principle" at the 1983 Vajrayogini Talks.  More rape culture from trungpa:  https://imgur.com/gallery/6BtDThe

https://amoraobscura.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/crazy-wisdom-uncomfortable-questions/
trungpa orders his willing followers to assault a couple
https://boulderbuddhistscam.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/the-party.pdf
Interview with Brigit Meier describing being assaulted by trungpa at the infamous party

Podcast covering trungpa and the halloween party assaults, interview with participants

http://www.strippingthegurus.com/stgsamplechapters/trungpa.html
A critical review of trungpa's history

http://american-buddha.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=117
trungpa's much vaunted history of being an Oxford student called into question.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/dmq0tn/wish_i_could_figure_out_how_to_post_photos_but/
trungpa describes as the sexual desire ideal as a 16 year old girl

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/dnf9wy/some_meandering_thoughts_about_ct_and_glorifying/
trunpga's teaching on drinking

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/dmhy42/be_aware_of_shambhala_vajrayana_secret_sexual/
Ex Shambhala Vajrayana students share disturbing sexual visualizations taught by abusers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qvbm9G1HKo
A Tibetan Buddhist Nun documents sexual assaults in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries

Adele Tomlin (an independent writer, scholar/translator, practitioner and student of Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism) describes how a Tibetan Buddhist "master" lied, manipulated, and misused Tantric "teachings" to assault her.

https://sleepyburrito.com/shambhala-crisis-timeline
A previous documenting of Shambhala abuses and institutional response over a timeline.  Last entry as of 2019-03-19

https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2018/06/30/links-relevant-to-the-current-crisis-in-shambhala-international-regarding-sakyong-mipham-rinpoches-conduct-with-women/
Another summary of articles detailing the crisis in Shambhala

https://shambhala.report/in-the-news/
Another another summary of Shambhala International related links and news articles, maintained by a Shambhala member.

http://matthewremski.com/wordpress/i-learned-yoga-buddhism-through-an-abusive-group-now-i-teach-it-what-do-i-do/
A good discussion of how to cope with learning through an abusive spiritual group.  Also contains a listing of abusive yoga and buddhist organizations.

A listing of problematic buddhist teachers and groups
A blog for problematic buddhist articles
https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism
Public discussion of Shambhala International and its history

https://communitycare.shambhala.org
Contains links to download the Wickwire Holm report and three reports from An Olive Branch, and past community announcements
https://communitycare.shambhala.org/#olivebranch
https://shambhala.org/files/2019/02/2-3-19-WH-Report-Final-Package.pdf

https://sleepyburrito.com/shambhala-crisis-timeline/2019/2/5/reflections-on-the-wickwire-holm-report-a-message-from-carol-merchasin

http://matthewremski.com/wordpress/
Provides analysis of Shambhala, use Shambhala or other key words in the search

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/americanbuddhist/2019/01/anonymous-redditor-shares-troubling-experience-in-shambhala-buddhism.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chögyam_Trungpa
Read of trungpa's death via alcoholism and the incident of trungpa ordering his personal guard to strip naked a couple against their will.

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/encounter-shadow-buddhist-america/
Tricycle article from 1990 centering on tom rich spreading AIDS to students and trungpa's troubled past
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/igkbvn/regent_anniversary/
Nancy Steinbeck quotes from her book describing tom rich's, trungpa's chosen successor, rape and abuse.



Another account of tom rich's clerical sexual abuse this time with an impact towards suicide for the victim.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lADczvoEQogpwUd1VYJtcVUgoMeLdCH2/view?usp=sharing
Independent journalist for Harper's Magazine takes a deep dive into Chogyam Trungpa's group in 1979

http://andreamwinn.com/offerings/bps-welcome-page/
Project sunshine, Carol Merchasin's review of survivor experiences is hard but essential reading

https://medium.com/@isabellemahy/this-is-a-copy-from-an-original-post-which-has-been-deleted-by-the-administrators-of-the-fb-pages-8bf8e582ea5d
Transcript of teleconference for leadership following survivor testimonials of "sakyong's" abuses.  In it there are admissions of knowingly hiding the "sakyong's" abusive history and behavior from membership and students taking oaths to him.

https://thinkprogress.org/?s=shambhala&orderby=date
Think Progress's reporting on Shambhala

https://board.shambhala.org/
Interim board for Shambhala International.  Contains links to previous announcements to the community.

https://shambhala-process-team.org/
Process Team tasked with creating processes for improving Shambhala Interational.  Contains links to Steering Committee updates, Working Group updates and announcements to the community.

http://www.trimondi.de/SDLE/Part-1-03.htm
Trigger warning.  A review of Tibetan Buddhism tantric sex practices with ages between 8 and 40.
Large tantric sexual statues inside the Shambhala Stupa:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Bq_vPm3UM

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/how-to-respond-to-sexual-abuse-within-a-yoga-or-spiritual-community
Karen Rain and Jubilee Cooke's excellent article on how organisations should respond to sexual abuse.  Karen Rain discusses problematic reporting and language around sexual assualt.
https://medium.com/an-injustice/understanding-sexual-violence-in-context-2b8dc5453ded

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YGeweth7zkG2TAe64HGYZKs7HUPwq0wx/view
An open letter on abuse in Dharma Ocean, group led by former trungpa student and Shambhala Acharya, Reggie Ray's.  Analysis of Reggie Ray's manipulative "apology":  http://matthewremski.com/wordpress/reggie-ray-flips-his-own-abuse-crisis-into-his-own-ultimate-dharma-teaching/
Analysis of Reggie Ray's trauma bond with trungpa:
http://matthewremski.com/wordpress/reggie-ray-spiritualizes-the-terror-of-disorganized-attachment-in-relation-to-trungpa/
A site compiling resources to support those leaving dharma ocean.
https://leavingdharmaocean.com/

https://abuseintibetanbuddhism.blogspot.com/?m=1
Links to abuses across Tibetan Buddhism

http://beyondthetemple.com/reginal-ray-transmitting-trungpas-lineage-of-abuse/
Cut the lineage here, now. No matter how wise they might sound, do not quote abusers or teachers who were once their students unless that person has made a public statement denouncing their teacher’s abuse and vowing not to continue it. To stop lineages of abuse from taking deeper root in the West, we have to stop seeing having Trungpa as a teacher as some kind of respected qualification.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rthqxj8vpsgdvow/Letter%20July%202019.pdf?dl=0
Jessica Bizub has resigned as center director of Milwaukee. She has just made public her letter to the IB from earlier this year.  Jessica's betrayal in Shambhala has been woven into course material for Harvard religion course. https://pluralism.org/meditation-on-misconduct.  Her story is told in these two PDFs, A Case https://drive.google.com/file/d/161gmOG_j8rdDuZRU3zZUztUrwFk6-C0w/view?usp=sharing, B Case https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mZPWZ2eGjt4-wkQ0VMk7pLY0l0EYeVPw/view?usp=sharing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/woman-marriage-relationship-buddhist-1.6031624
shambhala attributes the Kagyu as one of its Tibetan Buddhist lineage streams. Here the current leader of the Kagyu stream is facing accusations of corruption.
https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/karmapa-lawsuit/
https://engagedharma.net/2021/05/23/the-lama-and-the-pimp/

https://engagedharma.net/2015/03/19/sociopathic-buddhism-contemporary-western-buddhism-as-a-moral-failure/
A criticism of unengaged passive individualistic privileged buddhist practice

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/11/622/htm
Silencing and Oblivion of Psychological Trauma, Its Unconscious Aspects, and Their Impact on the Inflation of Vajrayāna. An Analysis of Cross-Group Dynamics and Recent Developments in Buddhist Groups Based on Qualitative Data, by Anne Iris Miriam Anders
"Sakyong"'s central non-profit tax exempt "charity", the "Sakyong Potrang".
American incorporation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-sakyong-foundation,204832237/
Canadian incorporation: https://www.charitydata.ca/charity/the-sakyong-potrang-canada/828964882RR0001/
Shambhala's own survey captures lots of significant complaints:  https://shambhala-process-team.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Sense-of-Shambhala-Survey-Part-4-Qualitative-Findings-Accesible-format.pdf
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShambhalaBuddhism/comments/hsht83/shambhala_survey_results/
Some shambhala demographics, largely only appealing to the older generation, not appealing to the younger generation:
Age: The responses to this survey suggest that we are an ageing community. Over 90% of respondents are over 40; 60% of members (and 55% of all respondents) are over 60. Youth are barely represented here: hardly any respondents are under 25, and fewer than 10% are under 40. (see Table 1.3.)
Size of Shambhala membership as of 2019-05

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