DNA TEST CONFIRMS KARMAPA FATHERED A CHILD, SOURCE SAYS
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Acourt-mandated paternity test has proven conclusively that the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje fathered a child with a woman, according to a source close to the Karmapa. The woman, Vikki Han, alleges that the sex was non-consensual and she has engaged a lawyer for a civil rape case. At the same time she is pursuing child support and alimony in a separate case in the Canadian courts.
A trial date of July 2022 that had been set by the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Canada has been postponed, the source close to the Karmapa says. According to that source, the Karmapa’s lawyers requested that postponement after receiving the results of the paternity test. The Karmapa took the paternity test in London at the end of January of this year, the source says. The test confirmed that the Karmapa was the father of a girl born to Vikki Han on June 19, 2018 in Canada, according to the source. The postponement gives time for the two parties to come to a settlement out of court. Such an out-of court settlement would allow the records of the paternity test to remain sealed.
Vikki Han is one of three women thus far who have publicly alleged that they had secret intimate relationships with the Karmapa and/or were sexually abused or assaulted by him. The other two women are Jane Huang and Wu Hang-Yee. (See links below for their allegations.) The Karmapa has not publicly denied any of the allegations.
A Canadian resident, Han was a disciple of the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism of which the Karmapa is the supreme head. Han was holding vows of celibacy at the time that she became pregnant. In his online teachings the Karmapa continues to appear dressed as a celibate Buddhist monk, as can be seen on his Youtube channel.
THE IMPREGNATION
In May 2021, news reports of Han’s allegations began to circulate after public documents were filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Canada. In those documents (available here) Han alleged that the Karmapa impregnated her while she was engaged in a retreat at a “monastary”, referring to a women-only retreat house at Karme Ling Retreat Centre in Delhi, New York. Karme Ling is a centre run by Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD), the Karmapa’s North American seat in Woodstock, New York.
Han says she had aspired to become a nun and had taken celibacy vows for the duration of the traditional Karma Kagyu three-year-three-month retreat. She says on October 14, 2017, the Karmapa entered her private meditation cell during that retreat and sexually assaulted her while the two were left alone in her room, the court documents claim. This assault left her pregnant with the Karmapa’s child, Han alleges in the court document. Han abandoned the retreat and her plans to become a nun, it continues.
She subsequently informed the Karmapa, the 2021 court document says. It also references extensive text and audio messages exchanged between her and the Karmapa during her pregnancy and the first year of their daughter’s life. In his communication with Han, the Karmapa appeared to acknowledge that the child was his and expressed his intention to care for her and the child, the court document states.
The Karmapa had $350,000 CAD and $420,000 USD transferred to her throughout 2018 through various third parties, the court documents indicate. Later, in January 2019, shortly after allegations of sexual and secret relationship with two other women emerged in Chinese-language press, the Karmapa recorded an announcement (watch it here) in which he stated that he was physically and mentally unwell. He says he was in “retreat” in an undisclosed location in the company of undisclosed persons. At that time, the Karmapa cut off all contact with Vikki Han, the court documents say.
In 2019, Han subsequently engaged Canadian attorneys to pursue child support, acknowledgment of paternity and a paternity test, according to the same court document. In May 2021, the court found in favour of her application to file additionally for alimony.
THE PATERNITY TEST
According to sources, the Canadian court later mandated a DNA test to ascertain whether or not the child was fathered by the Karmapa, as Vikki Han alleged.
The Karmapa gave his DNA for the paternity test in January of this year in London, according to a source close to the Karmapa. The results of the DNA test confirmed Han’s assertion that the Karmapa is indeed the father of her young daughter, according to that same source.
After the paternity test established the validity of Han’s claim that the Karmapa was the father of her child, the source says that the Karmapa’s lawyers in Canada requested for the court case in Canada to be postponed, allowing time for the parties to come to a settlement out of court. In the event such an out-of-court settlement is reached, the results of the paternity test can remain sealed and would not have to be revealed publicly in court. If a non-disclosure agreement is also signed, none of the information surrounding the alleged sexual assault or intimate relationship between the Karmapa and his disciple will be disclosed to the public.
THE MONEY
The source close to the Karmapa says that the Karmapa has ordered additional monies paid to Vikki Han in the past year. This is on top of the $350,000 CAD and $420,000 USD paid during her pregnancy and the months after the infant’s birth, as alleged in the court document. The more recent payments bring the total paid to Han to around $1,000,000 USD, the inside source says.
However, according to the source close to the Karmapa, Han is seeking in excess of $7 million USD from the Karmapa, as well as her substantial legal fees. The deal under discussion would settle both the civil rape case in New York and the child support and alimony case in British Columbia in Canada, the source says. Should an agreement be reached, the source says that the likely outcome is that the outstanding cases in New York and Canada would both be settled out of court, and no information would be made public.
In the meantime, the inside source says that Han also had her lawyers initiate legal proceedings in New York against Karma Triyana Dharmachakra for its role in Han’s alleged assault and impregnation while attending a three-year at its Karme Ling retreat centre. The source says that the New York court had found in favour of Han in those proceedings which are presently in an initial stage. (Dozens of documents from that pending case in New York courts can be downloaded and read here and here). Although the court system in British Columbia does not allow public access to documents from cases in family court, the date of new filings in the child support and paternity case in Canada can be monitored here, by entering Dorje for last name and O for first name. The most recent update to the case files was made on May 19, 2022.
THE OTHER WOMEN
The two women who report having been sexually abused by the Karmapa are Jane Huang of Taiwan and Wu Hang-Yee of Hong Kong. Wu was living as a Buddhist nun in India under the Karmapa’s guidance for much of the time she says she was engaged in a secret sexual relationship with the Karmapa.
(Youtube videos with English-language descriptions of the allegations by Jane Huang and Wu Hang-Yee can be viewed here and here. More information on their allegations are related here with some of the extensive Chinese-language available on this blog as well). The Karmapa has not denied these allegations.
Last edited by tenpel on July 8, 2022 at 9:47 p.m. CET
Another heartbreaking and faith shattering revelation. Only have faith in the Buddha and his teachings.
[…] DNA Test Confirms Karmapa Fathered a Child, Source Says – 2021/07/07 […]
the money…. 7 million dollars, when they often won’t even pay their translators or pay them peanuts. these people are not only sexual predators but also stingy narcissists.
Please Adelaide, let’s try to have a sane, fair, kind and reasonable discussion. Thank you!
adelaide”s comment looks reasonable given the facts.
It’s generalising, it uses a I/they dichotomy “these lamas”, isn’t it?
I don’t think such (frustration based [as it appears to me]) generalising statements can contribute to a constructive discussion which I look for here on the blog. (Though of course, I can understand the frustrations and experiences behind it very well, I think.)
If expressing a frustration is “reasonable” might need some further investigation
Why is this “trusted source” anonymous? If the accusations are proven then let’s see the proof. Otherwise it’s just more salacious gossip. Even the Courts have not proven rape; only (supposedly) that the Karmapa fathered a child. But because of a secret whisperer we all need to line up and condemn the Karmapa and wow, all the other Lamas while we are at it?
Thank you Lynne for your comment.
I would have preferred that this article had been posted by an established newspaper and not on my blog. But the author and his inner source fear repercussions (retaliation/retributions) for themselves and at the same time they see a need for making people aware.
Since I’m quite familiar now with repercussions in the Tibetan Buddhist sphere – having experienced massive bullying and ostracising – I can understand why they want to be anonymous and I totally respect this decision.
I hadn’t posted the article if I would not trust 100% the author who I know for quite a long time, having received correct information from them in the past, and experienced and observed that person to be a very trustworthy and honest person.
Having laid open now the situation as been known by these two people, the Karmapa can clarify the situation. The “secret whisper” is the result based on the decision for a cover-up on the Karmapa side. It’s not my responsibility. I see it as my responsibility to break the silence. Because of the silence and the out of court settlement in the US all the abuse by Sogyal Lakar continued for so many years with so many more victims. Think about that. So many people have been deceived, abused and led astray for decades until the silence finally was broken by the insiders who wrote the letter, bringing the decade long abuses to the light, putting a halt to it, enforcing an independent investigation which affirmed almost all of the allegations – the same holds true or the same patterns can be seen within Shambhala or FPMT …)
Yes, of course, rape in this context is an allegation. And in general it is very hard to prove an allegation of rape. Moreover there can be many nuances and details – e.g. if the sexual activity was based on free will or not is not necessarily clear for either the (alleged) victim or the (alleged) perpetrator at the time of the event – and only these two people know the truth and even, knowing the truth, the truth can be distorted in their very own perception. So, even at court, yes, it’s very hard to prove an allegation of rape.
However, the DNA test, the result of the paternity test or the money transfer are not “secret whisper”. These can be easily established as hard facts.
I don’t want and I don’t ask anybody to condemn the Karmapa. This is not really the way I think or act. I never condemn a person nor think that condemning is a wise or compassionate or good spiritual response in such matters. As I mentioned very often here on the blog, I used to quote a German Benedictine monk, Anselm Grün: “The one who condemns others has not yet met himself.“ For me it’s not at all about condemning why we put up this post.
About my general approach see my post “A Call for Impartial Compassion”, https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2020/12/09/a-call-for-impartial-compassion/
and “CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE & BUDDHIST WAYS OF DEALING WITH ABUSE”, https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2018/07/15/clergy-sexual-abuse-buddhist-ways-of-dealing-with-abuse-triratnas-whitewashing-terminology/
Of course you know me and my way of thinking – I thought at least. I don’t take these things lightly.
Also, so far, as far as I am aware, my blog has reported correctly on such cases. I haven’t made grave errors. In cases where for instance I (initially) refused to post a comment containing a serious allegation (e.g. against Namkha Rinpoche or a rape allegation against Ole N.) because only one person made the allegations, I took individual care by for instance communicating my decision and reasons or connecting with a professional journalist/magazine or making aware of allegations after more victims and similar abusive patterns became public …
The only false allegations I was faced with in all those years I recognised before posting anything at all. I gave the person who made the allegations really a lot of time and listening. After having listened carefully the allegations of abuse didn’t make sense to me. I told her that and asked her directly: “Was there any sexual activity between you?”, she replied “No!” Then I told her why I cannot see what she reported on a factual level as abuse. She got very angry at me and stopped the communication with me. Four years later, she wrote an email to me and thanked me for the clarity as well as for my listening. She said I was totally right in my judgment and she had projected based on unstable and distorting mental conditions.
(This doesn’t mean I could gravely err, it means, I am careful. Moreover, errors I openly admit and correct. This also doesn’t mean that allegations of abuse are all mental fabrications. It means, each case is different and needs careful investigations/analyses and differentiation.)
PS: I should add: besides having experienced massive bullying in the Tibetan Buddhist sphere – up to loosing the places or even the community where I lived and contributed to, I have also experienced a lot of support and people who shared their experiences, insider knowledge, offering also advice, guest posts, research results, practical help, appreciation, gratitude, respect, time, love, compassion, critical feedback, legal and financial support.
A friend and supporter wrote to me: “The abuse and cover ups and hypocrisies must be made visible, and Buddhists of sincere heart must come together and insist on better conduct, better ethics, better honesty and real refuge. Maybe we did not originally hand the power to those who abused it, but finally, if we do not act to expose the abuse, we will be entrenching their power and therefore we will be somehow complicit in the abuse. I am so tired of communities who re-harm survivors and prioritize the welfare of the powerful. The whole paradigm of how we configure our Dharma has to change is we are going to have healthy communities. It cannot only be for the good of the lamas.”
Note, I edited a bit my two recent comments to make either a point or example more clear or to give a fuller list on certain points or to remove grammatical or spelling errors. Thx for your patience.
You say that you don’t condemn. However, the title of your blog post uses the word “diffi-cult”. It seems to me that making this kind of joke quite clearly establishes your intention — and bias.
Thank you for your comment!
It’s a word play and it reflects reality.
Many Buddhists in the west have experienced and spoken of the New Kadampa Tradition for instance as a cult. And I myself was a member of two Buddhist cults. Some people left these cults with complex trauma or post traumatic stress disorder – I suffered from PTSD after I left “my” “cults”. So, what you – likely out of a lack of knowledge (and probably also own bias) – call “bias” is for me and many other people just a description of the reality as we’ve experienced it, and sorted it out. Actually, if you consider the harm we’ve experienced, the rather playful title could also indicate that I (or we) am/are not anti-cult fanatics. Actually, you could read the About to see how this blog started: https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/impressum/
Then you have more context instead of judging just based on a word play in the title.
Nyejung Chodzin, I also read that word “difficult-cult” as a reminder that these troubles are not simple or easy, not black and white. Neither extreme positions of blind devotion and denial on one side or reactive hostility on the other are helpful in facing the truth of these troubles. Neither are truthful.
As Tenzin says, he and others, including myself, have been harmed because of our involvement in toxic Dharma communities. The only way to resolve these troubles and prevent future harms is to tell the truth and question systemic problems that make students vulnerable.
HH the Dalai Lama himself has advised that we publicize misbehaviors committed by lamas. He recognizes that covering these things up is not going to make them go away, not going to prevent harms or help us to build healthy Dharma communities. This isn’t about slandering anyone.
I was disappointed in Karmapa’s first public statement after allegations of his sexual misconduct became known. In this statement, he made no mention of the allegations. Instead he spoke of this being his “obstacle year” and promised to further his work of bringing more tantras to the West. Of course, I don’t know if he was referencing the allegations when he spoke of “obstacles” but it reminded me of the large amount of deception I witnessed during my time in KTD, the inability to address problems honestly and directly.
I also know, from working with Tenzin for ten years now, that he will readily revise anything on this blog that is shown to be in error. In fact, in my first comment on his blog years ago, I pointed out an error he made in regard to a statement on HH Dalai Lama’s website. He immediately fixed the error. His commitment to truth is very big.
Yes, Joanne, I also feel very disappointed with how he deals with this topic. No mentioning of the allegations in his public talks.
I‘m really wondering how this whole Kagyu community manages to sweep these very heavy allegations completely under the carpet. This is disastrous. I know they are all accumulating white Tara mantras for Karmapa to dispell his ˋˋobstacles´´.
I mean this is the West, not Tibet!
[…] by /u/z4py [link] [comments] Read […]
The post was updated and two links were added. Dozens of documents from that pending case in New York courts can be downloaded and read
here https://trellis.law/case/36025/EF2022-182/Vikki-Hui-Xin-Han-v-Karma-Triyana-Dharmachakra-Monastery-Inc-Karma-Kagyu-Institute-Inc
and
here https://unicourt.com/case/ny-sue1-vikki-hui-xin-han-v-karma-triyana-dharmachakra-monastery-inc-et-al-1658274
This news is absolutely devastating for all Karma Kagyu practitioners, — actually beyond that and even beyond Tibetan Buddhism. If true, this is indeed shattering: the huge sums being used to cover this up (where is all that money coming from?), the wearing of monastic robes and speaking of how much he values his parents as his first spiritual teachers (and how does he care for his own young daughter?), the abuse of women while claiming to be the champion of women and nuns…. and on and on.
As others have said, I also respect the integrity of Tenzin Peljor, and there does seem to be a lot of documentation of the legal stuff, but I think we must all now contact our centres and our senior lamas and perhaps even the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and ask them to call on His Holiness the Karmapa to share the results of the paternity test publicly. If he says he has not taken one yet, then we should call on him to take one now in an openly supervised way, and make the results public, for the good of his students, and the good name of the Buddhadharma. This is urgently needed so we can know what to do with all the ocean of doubts that are surging up now in our minds, and the ones that were already there since all the stories that came out last year.
The silence is just not acceptable, and no bodhisatva should leave his disciples in turmoil like this. The possibility that this could all be covered up with millions of dollars that we all know the centres and monasteries could put to virtuous uses is just too awful to consider. And none of this even begins to consider the harm done to the women themselves, which actually should come first.
Beyond just Karma Kagyu, we need to get our leaders to address this terrible stain on the image of Buddhism by getting to the truth. Not to protect its reputation, since that is a worldly aim and can lead to coverup, but because people to be able to fully trust in the Dharma in order to practice it. And that trust has to be based on the truth, not on lies and deception.
At the same time, since there has been no space opened for discussion in our centres, I would really like to hear what other practitioners feel about all this.
Thank yo for your comment.
To add another point, I just found this post by me on FB, where I quoted the Karmapa on abuse: