Buddhism

by tenpelAugust 31, 201811:30 am

It’s time to let these activities come to an end…

Dear Friends in the Dharma and dear friends of sentient beings,
I will gradually stop my engagement here on the blog and in general regarding the abuse of power, cultish structures, sexualised violence and the harm been done to the faithful – to vulnerable, open-minded seekers – in the name of Buddhism.

These activities can come to an end because things have changed. There is far more awareness and information about these matters and more and more people take responsibility and really care. There are new Buddhist grass roots initiatives, who increase awareness about the problems we face in Buddhist communities in the West, people who work for changes and for healing and who don’t tolerate the serious shortcomings that exist.

This month a three year research on abuse in Buddhism has started in Germany. The research is 100% funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. This research will give the whole situation a proper professional direction and a verifiable data base. The research results will be available for the public.

For a while I will work in the background a bit doing some networking. From time to time I might post a guest post or I might post a post with important updates (less important updates I will post under this post in the comment section.)

Taking responsibility started for me in 2004 with my German website www.buddhistische-sekten.de. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with these topics nor did I become a monk to engage in these topics. However, I think there was a need at that time and now there is a need for me to let go and to let things unfold as they are. As a psychologist said in April this year to me: “if it stinks, it needs fresh air.” Now the shit has hit the fan, it seems to be all over the place. Ignoring or running away from our problems will be far harder.

Without naming names, I would like to say thank you to all those who supported, encouraged or helped me over the last years.

This blog and my websites will continue to be online and especially my websites, www.info-buddhism.com and www.info-buddhismus.de, might get new articles from time to time.

I will continue to engage as best as I can in providing personal support for survivors of abuse or survivors of Buddhist cults. What will gradually come to an end are the blogging activities. (Though I might make an exception with my neglected German blog.)

Thank you all!
May all your spiritual wishes be fulfilled and may you always be supported and surrounded by genuine, truly compassionate spiritual or mundane friends.

Maha Metta,
Maha Mudita,
Tenzin

149Comments

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1

matthewoconnell on August 31, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Reply

Bravo Tenzin! You’ve done a great service to the world of Western Buddhism through highlighting and recording much of its troubling aspects. I for one appreciate what you’ve done over the years and wish you well going forwards. I hope you will keep the website up for years to come.
2

Rob Hogendoorn on August 31, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Reply

Kudos to Tenzin Peljor for a job well done!

It’s completely understandable that you might want to move on to other things, and I have no doubt that your engagement with Buddhism will express itself in other areas of life. Godspeed!

About the German academic research project into sexual abuse by Buddhists: do you have further references to this project or the leader(s) of this project?
- 3
  
  tenpel on August 31, 2018 at 12:47 pm
  Reply
  
  Hi Rob, thank you.
  
  I will put you in contact via email with the researcher. Pls send me a reminder via email. The research will get a website and a form for survivors of abuse. As soon as this is online, I’ll post it here and on Facebook.
  
  Congrats to you. I saw you are on the panel on the ARR meeting in Denver this year:
  
  https://papers.aarweb.org/program_book?page=1&keys=buddhism&field_session_slot_nid=All
  
  A18-105:
  
  Buddhism in the West Unit and Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Unit
  Theme: From Rape Texts to Bro Buddhism: Critical Canonical and Contemporary Perspectives on the Sexual Abuse Scandals in Western Buddhism
  Sharon A. Suh, Seattle University, Presiding
  Sunday – 9:00 AM-11:30 AM
  
  Convention Center-Mile High 2B (Lower Level)
  
  Since the 1980s, Western Buddhism has been rocked by a series of sexual scandals that have cut across sectarian lines but have been particularly dominant in Zen and Tibetan Buddhist “convert” communities. Revelations of these scandals have occurred in two main waves: the first in the 1980s and the second between 2010-present. Although mainstream and Buddhist media have addressed such scandals, they have not engendered much scholarly attention. This panel aims to spur an academic conversation, offering multiple perspectives on the scandals: the canonical sources that have been adopted and ignored in responding to the abuse, cultural differences between Asian and Western Buddhism that have played a fundamental role in the scandals, the construction of power and authority that is inextricably linked with abuse, and the impact of Internet and new social medias on exposing the scandals.
  
  Amy P. Langenberg, Eckerd College
  Pleasure is Consent: A Study of Rape Texts in the Vinaya
  
  Wakoh Shannon Hickey, Notre Dame of Maryland University
  Teacher Misconduct in American Zen: A Cross-Cultural and Inter-Religious Analysis
  
  Emily Cohen, Faith Trust Institute
  Sexual Abuse by Zen Teachers in the United States: Naming the Patterns
  
  R.M. Hogendoorn, Maasland, ZH, Netherlands
  The Making of a Lama: Interrogating Sogyal Rinpoche’s Pose as a (Re)incarnate Master
  
  Ann Gleig, University of Central Florida
  From Sweeping Zen to Open Buddhism: Sex Scandals, Social Media, and Transparency in Western Buddhism
  
  Responding:
  Sarah Jacoby, Northwestern University
  
  Business Meeting:
  David McMahan, Franklin and Marshall College
  Scott Mitchell, Institute of Buddhist Studies
  
  Here is another update from the WhatNow Blog:
  
  SOGYAL RINPOCHE & THE JIMMY SAVILLE PROBLEM
  
  Kindest regards and thank you for your contributions and work,
  T
- 4
  
  tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 10:32 am
  Reply
  
  Hi Rob and all those interested, details about Dr Miram Anders‘ research can be found here: http://buddhismus-kontrovers.info/einige-updates-zum-thema-missbrauch-in-buddhistischen-gemeinschaften-zu-anderen-kontroversen/#Forschung. The official website is not yet online due accessibility necessities for handicapped people. The questionnaires can be already requested via her email address as given on the blog. The questionnaires are in English and German.
5

Friend on August 31, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Reply

Dear Tempel,

Thank you a lot for all what you did with your blog.
It was very helpfull and beyond my wishes to see the abuses shown and discussed in clear light for the safe of all practitionners and others interested in that subject.
Thank you in the name of the Dharma and good luck for your life 🙂
Best regards and Sarwa Mangalam on your path towards enlightment 🙂

Djamyang Goeunpo,
Your Friend in the Dharma
6

Tashi Tsering on August 31, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Reply

Thank you, Tenzin. It is quite extraordinary what you have accomplished. I touch my head to the bottoms of your feet. I send strong positive energy to you and to each of us who has benefited to carry it further following the example you have set.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
7

suzanne o'meara on August 31, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Reply

thank-you very much for all your help & time & will still wait for future help wherever . many thanks & best wishes.
8

Brian on August 31, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Reply

Well said everyone, best wishes to all.
9

Kungyal on August 31, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Reply

Dear Tenzin,

Thank you for everything, this spot on the internet, this blog has been a light in the darkness, you provided a voice for the voiceless when we needed it the most and you did everything you could to give to other cases the light they needed.

I want to thank you for the bottom of my heart for this place and this listening you gave to many OKC survivors that came forward.

indeed it is time to move forward, in 18 days, OKCinfo team will have some news to share, it will either be good or bad or half-way in the middle, it will be to each one of us to accept the verdict or to decide to bring the battle to new fronts, from my side I already started to move-on from the battle to the healing and I hope many of my fellow comrades will manage to do the same.

Sometimes winning a battle is about knowing when to let it go !

best of luck to everything you do,

K
10

Bruno on August 31, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Reply

With many, many thanks to you for all you have done and do to let through light into darkest corners of misuse of power and spiritual status. You show for sure how Buddhist faith is abused by leader Teachers and their protectors and enablers. You have helped for sure to give a voice to the many harmed and still being ongoing harmed by those leader Teachers and those who protect and enable the doctrines and methods of abusing Faith. Many thanks. Sadhu.
11

Julia Lovert on August 31, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Reply

Thank you Tenzin. You did a great work. It helps many people.
Kind regards and best wishes.
12

Simon on August 31, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Reply

Thank you for all you have done for the spiritual community. You are a true practitioner dealing with real issues in a real and fair manner. Blessings to you on your continual journey.
13

Alan JW on August 31, 2018 at 9:06 pm
Reply

Tenpel: It’s certainly emotionally very draining, writing and blogging about cultish groups some of us have had long associations with, in the past. I understand the need to let go – perhaps temporarily.
I hope articles written by a small group of us will indeed stay on this website, even if it becomes completely inactive.
In England there is more cult-awareness and debate – I sense – but little real, substantial reform.
Anyway, good luck!
14

wifties on August 31, 2018 at 11:03 pm
Reply

Thank you Tenpel for all the hard work you have put in over the years to help others who have fallen prey to abusive so-called “Buddhist” teachers and to help many more others to avoid such misfortune, through becoming aware of the hidden dangers…
15

robert heffernan on September 1, 2018 at 3:15 am
Reply

Thank you for all you have done Tenpel.
The seeds you have planted over the years have grown into a full garden with a host gardeners. I’m glad you can tend your other orchards of practice now to allow the those fruits to ripen for yourself and others.

Blessings to you and please toss us some sweet (or tart) nourishing morsels now and then.
R ;() B
16

Moonfire on September 1, 2018 at 4:41 am
Reply

Thank you for all you have done to shed light on this serious issue. I very much appreciate your support and insightful blog posts.

This is a great initiative and I hope it has beneficial results.
17

Ralph Edsell on September 1, 2018 at 5:29 am
Reply

To Whom It May Concern: Please send my email to Oane Bijlsma.

I’m a serious writer living in California, I’m doing a lot of study of spiritual teachers abusing their power.

My teacher is J. Krishamurti. I am 67 years old, I suffered a massive stroke 15 years ago while I was an English professor

in San Diego.

Sincerely, Ralph Edsell

443 Enclave Cir., #101

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

rjedsell@sbcglobal.net

_____

From: Tibetan Buddhism – Struggling With Diffi.Cult Issues [mailto:comment-reply@wordpress.com] Sent: Friday, August 31, 2018 3:31 AM To: rjedsell@sbcglobal.net Subject: [New post] It’s time to let these activities come to an end.

tenpel posted: “Dear Friends in the Dharma and dear friends of sentient beings, I will gradually stop my engagement here on the blog and in general regarding the abuse of power, cultish structures, sexualised violence and the harm been done to the faithful, to vulnerabl”
18

buddhistphilosopher on September 1, 2018 at 9:54 am
Reply

Happy journeys, Tenzin. This blog has been a great benefit and I have no doubt that your continued work will be as well. It was a joy to get to know you a bit and an honor to have one of my writings shared here.

Please do keep in touch and hopefully one day we’ll meet in person – Justin
19

dialogueireland on September 1, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Reply

Rob and Tenpel what type of idiots do you think we are? You are part of the clean up gang to allow this Hindu Tantric sexual cultist group called Lamaism by Hegel. You are now congratulating each other when you are out trumping trump in the idea you are any other than trying to save this sordid couple sex system headed by the feudal tyranny of the Dalai Lama who himself is part of this sordid sex game. Then that vile and disgraced Sogyal Rinpoche has run away from his erotic temple project in Dozchean BEARA. He literally has run away and his name has been removed from their website. Like the Catholic Church you are trying to do an inside job to turn this around. Under the guise of reform and reconciliation you are allowing this abuser to go free. He needs to be handed over to the police and the violated people need to press charges not meditate these criminal acts away. The Dalai Lama also has known for years and has not acted. He is an accessory to the crime.
https://dialogueireland.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/tenzin-peljor-ordained-by-the-dalai-lama-and-connected-to-ringu-tulku/

Also now he is in bed with the Communist party of China.
https://dialogueireland.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/western-tibetan-buddhists-the-new-manchurian-candidates/
Hand over the sexual and violence practioners to the police. The next time the Dalai lands in Ireland we will have to have him arrested as a accessory to crime. We are legion you two are now on the menu to be outed.
- 20
  
  Rob Hogendoorn on September 2, 2018 at 7:13 am
  Reply
  
  Your’e high on conspiracy, low on reality, I’m afraid, Mike Garde.
  
  Apparently, you’ve taken Chris Chandler’s ‘theories’ in ‘Enthralled: The Guru Cult of Tibetan Buddhism’ hook, line and sinker.
  
  Unfortunately, Chandler’s self-published, pseudo-academic ‘theorizing’ and ‘reporting’ is less than credible. That’s why I refused to review it for your website when asked (by you).
  
  Anyone can read the book him- or herself, and determine if my estimation was right or wrong.
  - 21
    
    dialogueireland on September 2, 2018 at 1:28 pm
    Reply
    
    Glad to see you are still there Rob. High on conspiracy. No, yourself and Tenpel are a double act to keep the believers believing. I got onto Tenpel’s case years ago as I referenced in my earlier comment.
    
    I contacted you in May of last year and was already totally aware of the cover up for 20 years of Sogyal Rinpoche and the failure of the Dalai Lama to report his crimes to the police. What I was not familiar with was the detail which Chris Chandler had about Lamaism after 30 years of personal experience including cases of criminal sexual activity. I did not know where you were at. I suggested you speak directly to her. My expertise is in cultism not Buddhism. You played for time as the Sogyal story unfolded, and when I sent you the PDF of the book you did not review it but rubbished it. I saw your approach as a breach of trust and had no wish engage with you.
    
    The “reality” is your project is saving Private Ryan Lamaism.
    1. Note Sogyal has disappeared and not one police force has featured yet. Internal Canon Lamaist law seem to be the order of the day. Tenpel claims to be looking into cults, what he means is the NKT.
    
    I did not take Chris’s theories, but her eye witness accounts as true. I was aware for years of Mary Finnegan, Joanne and others role in denying the whole TB project has nothing to do with Buddhism. Remember I heard Mary speaking at the LSE in 1997 about writing a book exposing Sogyal. The only book she has written was about tryst with David Bowie.
    
    No I did not take the book hook line and sinker. I was aware of the material for twenty years before I even heard of Christine. In fact you are like person who supports the North Korean State when a person escapes. You wish to destroy a whistleblower. You told me you had not read the book. You clearly are not an academic but a hack defending the status quo. You are an enabler and put your beliefs above the victims. It is the role of the police to investigate crime and it is clear from the Dalai Lama down no one is being handed over anywhere. I hope you will actually write a review of the book.
    I will publish if you wish your reply to me indicating you had not read the book. How you can say she is theorising when you consciously refused to read the book. The book is based on her personal experience and clearly as she is a whistleblower you must do all in you power to destroy her. I did not ask you to review it for DI but as it addresses the issues of the abuse of power. You clearly did not want to face what it brought up. I wanted to see whether you were real about assault and battery of victims. Now I see your role is to do your own thing.
    
    It is a joke to say that people can read the book. You have done all in your power to destroy Chris’s reputation when you never read it yourself. Totally hypercritical.
    - 22
      
      tenpel on September 2, 2018 at 3:03 pm
      Reply
      
      Hi Mike,
      ha ha, I don’t have a case nor am I a case except for some conspiracists 😉
      
      I checked a bit on Chris’ book by reading its description:
      
      It is all the same: a Tantric cult of mass manipulation and thought-control, designed to undermine the reasoning abilities of educated westerners, changing their values, perceptions and behaviors; turning them into obedient devotees and change agents for the lamas; no longer able to think and act for themselves.
      
      I fear, Bob is right such claims are basically generalising conspiracy ideas.
      
      However, the rejection of conspiracists interpretations of reality does not deny Chris’ or others’ experiences or what she and others witnessed or the pain she and others have gone through or all the possible mental or physical turmoil.
      
      There are of course Buddhist cults and manipulations, there is the abuse or the misrepresentation of (Buddhist) concepts or ideas – which can work, if properly understood, under certain settings in healthy, liberating ways – for the selfish ends of manipulative gurus. There is for sure harm, manipulation and pain. But, there is also the exact opposite to that.
      
      What I don’t give in are these generalisations and conspiracy theories you, Chris and others (eg IndyHack) seem to fall prey. Reality, motivations, relationships, religion, Buddhism or Buddhist teachings – including Vajrayana and gurus – are a bit more complex than a narrowed down portray as a big pot of deception and manipulation with blind sheep following evil minded insane manipulative gurus who all want to control the world or Western students (though there are some who fit that description very well or to a certain degree – but not all of them!).
      
      The question is how aspects and patterns of reality are put together,
      how much you understand the dynamics, complexity, underlying patterns and exceptions of a complex system etc. what motivation and net of information (or misinformation) drives you, and how much critical awareness there is also of your own faults, limitations or blind spots – up to if there is intellectual or moral integrity.
      
      I wish you, Chris and IndyHack all the best.
23

Rob Hogendoorn on September 2, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Reply

I have a hard copy of Chris Chandler’s book here, Mike, which she herself sent to me. Perhaps you forgot. I’ve read it for two thirds.

Since it was extremely repetitious and the exact opposite of parsimonious, by that time, skimming the last third, it became completely obvious the last third amounted to more of the same. You might be very impressed with all of that, I was not.

Still, I’d encourage others to read it too,and make up their own minds. It’s a bit of a chore, but I’m not perfect and perhaps I’ve missed something really important.

As far as our correspondence is concerned, here’s my message (dated 25 October 2017) to you after I’d read the two thirds:

“I’ve made up my mind about Chris Chandler: her work is not worthy of my attention, nor yours.

I also think your involvement with Chandler, and the presentation of some of her views (in particular https://dialogueireland.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/david-bowie-mary-finnegan-and-the-marketing-of-tibetan-lamas/ ) on Dialogue Ireland is seriously hurting your credibility and that of the website.

Whatever the good cause might be, Chandler’s writing brings much more harm to it than benefit.

Let’s leave it at this, because I can’t be bothered to spend more time on Chandler’s thought than I already have.

I wish you well, but this is our goodbye: I’ve far too much work investigating sexual abuse on my plate to be distracted by this type of clutter.”

That same day (25 October 2017), I responded to your reply, which I would be glad to share, as follows:

“No, I’m not inside the cult of Lamaism. I never was.

It’s just that there’s good research and reporting and bad research and reporting: this is the bad kind.

You yourself said that you can’t judge the (de)merits of Chris Chandler’s work, which was the reason to consult me.

And now, suddenly, your judgment is better than mine? I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t fly.

I’ve taken to trouble to look into it, and my call is: you hurt your own credibility and that of Dialogue Ireland by identifying with Chris Chandler’s work.”

That same day, I responded to your retort, which I’d be glad to share:

“So let me get this straight: you know little about Buddhism and yet you ‘know’ the difference between Tibetan Buddhism and Lamaism?

But that’s not the issue here, is it?

The issue whether Chris Chandler’s account is credible upon review.

That’s what you asked me to look into.

I think it’s not credible. And, so, it’s not the truth.

It’s dilettantism writ large, and it damages your credibility and that of Dialogue Ireland. It already has. And it will.

No amount of conspiracy thinking will redress that. Instead, it’ll make it worse.

I’ve made a sincere effort to read and evaluate the book, and these are my findings.

Deal with it or don’t, but don’t play the expert when its very apparent that you’re not.

And don’t play the fool either.

You seem hellbent on ‘proving’ something that you’ve already decided to believe: it’s a chimera, a figment of your imagination.

And I’m supposed to be your patsy? I don’t think so.

You will just have to learn to deal with criticism yourself—life’s to short to waste on trivia.”

My last reply to your response (which, again, I’d be glad to share), dated 26 October 2017, was, simply:

“I rest my case, Mike.”

After that, I blocked your e-mail address and mobile number.

Anyone can check my academic credentials, and I suggest they’d start here: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/3/522/htm. Or here (look for panel A18-105): https://papers.aarweb.org/program_book?page=1&keys=buddhism&field_session_slot_nid=All

Meanwhile, I rest my case—again.
- 24
  
  Adamo on September 4, 2018 at 11:46 am
  Reply
  
  “Even though France and Thailand have no current extradition treaty, Sogyal Lakar could conceivably be extradited on the basis of a gentlemen’s agreement between the two countries that warrants a parity of exchange. ”
  
  As far as I know is Sogyal owner of an american passport.
25

Dialogue Ireland on September 2, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Reply

Tenpel the case on you is that your origins are deeply imbedded in the DDR. I gave the background yesterday. You became a member of the NKT. You then became the cult catcher for the Lamaists. However, you see the NKT as the cult of Lamaism and you and the consort sex merchants as the true Buddhists. No you are a part of the cultism issue and are the protection racket for Sogyal Rinpoche and his enablers.

“I checked a bit on Chris’ book by reading its description:

It is all the same: a Tantric cult of mass manipulation and thought-control, designed to undermine the reasoning abilities of educated westerners, changing their values, perceptions and behaviors; turning them into obedient devotees and change agents for the lamas; no longer able to think and act for themselves.

I fear, Bob is right such claims are basically generalising conspiracy ideas.”

Of course, you agree with Rob. You are a double act. Ying and Yang. This not a conspiracy theory, but a clear statement of the thesis of her book. You will have to do better. You need to read the book and do the hard work which is examine the evidence. Rob was totally transparent he rubbished the book without reading it.

“However, the rejection of conspiracists interpretations of reality does not deny Chris’ or others’ experiences or what she and others witnessed or the pain she and others have gone through or all the possible mental or physical turmoil.”

Now show you are for real and address her concerns.
Her thesis is clear, what you call Tibetan Buddhism is in fact unreformed Tantric consort sex Hinduism with hell realms which has no connection with Buddhism. This was the view of Hegel and the Trimondis who have vast evidence backing up Chris’s thesis.

“There are of course Buddhist cults and manipulations, there is the abuse or the misrepresentation of (Buddhist) concepts or ideas – which can work, if properly understood, under certain settings in healthy, liberating ways – for the selfish ends of manipulative gurus.”

Chris is not talking about Buddhist cults, but putting forward the thesis that TB is not Buddhism but Lamaism. That is a legitimate view which you need to respond to.

“There is for sure harm, manipulation and pain. But, there is also the exact opposite to that.”

The guy I know is Sogyal Rinpoche. He has totally disappeared from Ireland. Have you managed to have him interviewed by the police in any jurisdiction? You claim you and Rob have completed your job? Have you? Please tell me one incident where these Lamas are in custody and the rights of the assaulted have been vindicated?

“What I don’t give in are these generalisations and conspiracy theories you, Chris and others (eg IndyHack) seem to fall prey.”

There is no conspiracy I am dealing in specifics. The fact you link me to IndyHack shows where you are at. It tries to link me to your intra Lamaism debates.

“Reality, motivations, relationships, religion, Buddhism or Buddhist teachings – including Vajrayana and gurus – are a bit more complex than a narrowed down portray as a big pot of deception and manipulation with blind sheep following evil minded insane manipulative gurus who all want to control the world or Western students (though there are some who fit that description very well or to a certain degree – but not all of them!).”

Here you repeat yourself and by repeating this conspiracy theory you will somehow make it stick. But you then acknowledge, (though there are some who fit that description very well or to a certain degree.”) it might be true.

“The question is how aspects and patterns of reality are put together,
how much you understand the dynamics, complexity, underlying patterns and exceptions of a complex system etc. what motivation and net of information (or misinformation) drives you, and how much critical awareness there is also of your own faults, limitations or blind spots – up to if there is intellectual or moral integrity.”

That seems like a paragraph which pretends to be intellectually challenging, but in reality is just a fog to confuse.

“I wish you, Chris and IndyHack all the best.”
Classic Western thought is based on the opposition of ideas. Lamaism is based on Guru worship and worshipping the Fuerher. No questioning is allowed. So my analysis will be regarded as negative. So you wish me well and link myself and Chris to IndyHack.
Message we are like the NKT I am nice they are negativity personified.
Until Sogyal goes to prison and you guys stop the nonsense with German state bodies we will see the Lama Consort sex criminal circus continue.
- 26
  
  tenpel on September 3, 2018 at 9:39 pm
  Reply
  
  Hi Mike, my growing up in a dictatorship with a culture of indoctrination is not a handicap its rather a qualification if you have learned from it. Unlike UK people who have no such experiences, people from the former East Block Countries can have a better sense for dictatorships and indoctrination and “reading between the lines.”
  
  I don’t see a need to respond to Chandler’s thesis on Tibetan Buddhism. For me her approach is uninformed, simplistic, undifferentiated conspiracy theory (I read parts of some of her articles where even glancing them and detecting avoidable faults which only serve to support her thesis but which are not in line with reality or facts, puts me off …)
  
  I decided to save my time and lifespan by ignoring her work, though I respect her experiences and I am really sorry for the bad experiences she had to go through and the harm she experienced.
  
  With respect to police, I made three announcements. With respect to Sogyal Lakar I am not in the position to report because I don’t have direct access to proofs of criminal acts. However, I have a part one of a criminal report to the German police and I know a bit what’s going on in France and UK regarding police investigations and of course I totally support police investigations and legal consequences as well as survivors reporting to police.
  
  I don’t link you to IndyHack, you linked yourself to him, allowing an NKT cultist to report total rubbish on me. Its fine for me but bad for your work and the reputation of your blog because you seem not to able – like with Chris Chandler – to make use of reliable sources of information. I second on that with Rob as I said already.
  
  I fear Sogyal might not go to prison, when it is correct what was told to me, he lives in Thailand and they don’t have a contract with France where Sogyal Lakar is investigated. However, I think Sogyal or any criminal lama being put in jail and facing consequences for their behaviour is a good thing. So we agree on that- but I guess with different motivations.
  
  With respect to the conspiracy theory, I gave one example from the description of the book. I could put more work into that and quote from some of Chris’s writings on your site or elsewhere but I think its obviously the case and my claim is not fiction or a baseless attempt to discredit her work but a claim based on fact. I leave the judgement with this to the readers of her work and happily restrain to spend more time with her writings and I relax as well with not providing more examples but only the one example I quoted already.
  
  Kindest regards,
  T
  - 27
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 4, 2018 at 7:09 am
    Reply
    
    Even though France and Thailand have no current extradition treaty, Sogyal Lakar could conceivably be extradited on the basis of a gentlemen’s agreement between the two countries that warrants a parity of exchange.
    
    For instance, the two countries could agree that abusive lay and ordained Buddhist teachers from Thailand and France will be extradited to their home countries, so that the accused of clerical abuse find no safe haven there. The Thai government has in fact come down on corruption and abuses in Buddhist monasteries, so any such agreement is not entirely unimaginable.
    
    I’ve always found it slightly confusing that the supposed ‘crazy wisdom yogi’ Sogyal Lakar does not mind ‘taking on the aspect’ of abusing others, but much prefers ‘taking on the aspect’ of going into hiding than going into jail.
    
    There’s an interesting asymmetry right there, which boils down to the plain truth that this ‘crazy wisdom yogi’ consistently prefers ‘taking on the aspect’ of enjoying himself with food, alcohol, sex, power, luxury, and random violence in a chalet or hotel suite rather than ‘take on the aspect’ of austerity, abstinence and penitence in a prison cell.
    
    All things considered, though, Sogyal strikes me as consistently ‘taking on an aspect’ that is eerily like that of a common criminal.
28

Ck on September 2, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Reply

Tenzin, thank you for everything that you have done to shed light on abuses of power in Buddhism and to support the survivors of abuse. I am grateful for the existence of your blog, and for the support that you personally provided to me and to others from OKC, as we worked through the healing journey. Best wishes to you as you move forward.
29

Christopher Hamacher on September 3, 2018 at 10:45 am
Reply

Dear Tenzin,

Thank you for your work. I can imagine how tiring it must be to deal not only with the scandals, but also with aggressive commenters such as “Dialogue Ireland”. All the best to you.
30

tenpel on September 3, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Reply

Dear all! I only found time just now to read all your comments.

Thank you for your good wishes and appreciation and also for your support and feedbacks and contributions over the last years – especially your moving and heart breaking testimonies or guest posts!

I am looking forward to learn how the OKC legal case turns out!
There will be the research on Abuse in Buddhism I mentioned already and I just got the yet inactive website link (details will be posted when the site is online in a new post on this blog) http://www.transtibmed.ethnologie.lmu.de All who experienced damage in Buddhist group can provide their experiences or be interviewed, survivors of sexualised violence, those been harmed by Buddhist cults or those been diagnosed with PTSD or trauma.

There other things unfolding in the background. Major updates or guest posts will be made if they seem to be important. However, I won’t write new things myself.

A big thank you to all!
31
tenpel on September 5, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Reply
Update

The Lewis Silkin report by Karen Baxter by order of Rigpa is out there:
- Lewis Silkin Report Released – WhatNow Blog
- Report by Karen Baxter for Lewis Silkin LLP by order of Rigpa: Outcome of an investigation into allegations made against Sogyal Lakar (also known as Sogyal Rinpoche) in a letter dated 14 July 2017 (50 pages)
- The full report was translated into French. The introductory sections of the report, Executive Summary and recommendations were translated into German, Spanish and Italian.
32
tenpel on September 9, 2018 at 8:19 pm
Reply
Update

One witness, a teenager who arrived at a Rigpa retreat seeking respite from depression and self-harm, was asked to strip a week after coming to work in the lama kitchen. When she refused, she alleges, she was beaten and then later forced into sex.

Speaking to the Telegraph on the condition of anonymity one of the eight original complainants described how Sogyal “taught [us] to believe we were the problem, that we weren’t seeing purely.”

Another person who assisted the investigation described how victims’ “whole lives have fallen apart. The damage is huge.”
- Why Tibetan Buddhism is facing up to its own abuse scandal – The Telegraph
33

johnlavers on September 10, 2018 at 7:09 pm
Reply

i am also losing interest in trying to move this debate forward largely because of the predatory people who seem to be here on all sides. for those who are genuinely interested in enlightened activities you are going to have to accept that most tibetan buddhism is corrupt beyond redemption and that is because most of the members as well as leaders are committed to doing unethical things to protect the dharma. one good trach i know siad when i asked: “the dharma doesn’t need protection, if it need protection then it isn’t dharma”.

having daid tnhat i wish to addfress the goblins and attacks dogs who keep popping up and trying to control these issues. mary finnegan is not a professional joutnalist. i thank here for her work on the sogyal issues but she has committed to protecting trungpa , who is much worse than sogyal, and the kagyu, who are the old kalu rinpoche scandals and the lama norlha scandal have shown themselves to be corrupt to the core. she has spent her lief around powerfull pedophile men such as david bowie trungpa and sogyal and should show significantly more compassion for victims. and you should stop attacking others who have deep knowledge of these issues such as christine chandler.(for me norhla was the worst because people i knew and trusted lied to my face about his abuses–but that’s the magyu–get used to that fact).

trungpa was interested in under age women from the beginning and was a drunk from the beginning, he was a charlatan and a megalomaniac from the beginning and everything he created is a destructive cult. none of those people can be trusted to tell yhe truth. none. they are dragged kicking and screams towards truth by each scandal–and there ave been dozens of scandals.

to simply call christine chandler delusional and paranoid is beyond the pale and shows that those who do that have no knowledge of her claims or they would rebut them with facts. i don’t go as far as she does on a global conspiracy but every tibeatn i knew believed in the shambala prophesy. hence they are all at some level promoting it and it contains all the things christine chandler claims. that they predict asian domination by a buddhist avatar and the driving of islam from asia. read the text before you go hysterical in your responses

rob hogendorn is not a professional journalist, thanks for you work but but your on going support for the attack dogs on such sites as open buddhism was both unethical and unprofessional. he states on one of his web pages that he is a house husband. nothing wrong with that but when an amatuer gets into this issue and then attacks others, again such as christine chandler, who have much greater knowledge, he is showing that his interests are to sell his book rather than deal truthfully with the wider issues. he attached himself to mary because she has signficantly more prominence and he was hoping to use her to sell books.there would have been nothing wrong with that if you had not spent so much time and effort attacking others who have much greater knowledge than you. i would say the same to mary. mary even enmgaged in mild brit racism over my name–amazing, and yes mary in nova scotia we have the right to more than one legal name and i have always y=used one of my leagl names. we can use out ancestral name, our birth certificate or our baptismal certificate. we aren’t english amd we don’t follow english law or english bigotry. the empire is over.

so that’s where we are. the leaders are unprofessional. and many others just go on similar attacks following the leader.

few of these groups have nay worth , and few can be reformed. thinking they can be reformed is the same fantasy that you you into these fake buddhist groups. time to wake up, and maybe stop attacking those who have awakened. sogyal had his first sex abuse law suit over 12 years ago–people should have awakened then.

i was very shocked by the amount of vitriol from the moderators at open buddhism, and a few other places, but what you see is what you get. these people have not done any serious dharma practice or they wouldn’t behave like this. time for those who were harmed to move on and do not listen to these unethical people. they lack the most basic insight, but they are prepared to fight like demons for their piece of territory.

finally if you want teform the only way change will occur is by bringing criminal changes and law suits. none of these groups, the kagyu (with the exception of the shangpa kagy who are attempting real reform) shambala, and trungpa group, any sogyal group, most nyingma and some sakyas and gelupas, none of them will reform on their own. if you won’t sue then expect no changes. a admire the sunshine project but the people there seem to want back in, but to a reformed group. they have to sue. if anyone wants help finding a good lawyer in canada i can do that.

oh and i remind people that in canadian law any canadian permanent resident or citizen can be charged for sexual offences anywhere in the world. more over before 2000 the age of consent for a person standing in a position of authority was 21, and it is now 18. canada has no statutes of limitations on indictable offences. none. make criminal complaints!!!

and the people trying to control thees issues and committing many egregious and unethical attacks. it is time for you to step back and reconsider why you are attacking others who are trying to end the abuse.
i wish people happiness in find spiritual aid and comfort and hope they can stop the insults and attacks on anyone with basic common sense and deep knowledge. these attcks just show you have no factual knowledge to use .
34

tenpel on September 10, 2018 at 8:37 pm
Reply

Update

»Why Don’t Victims of Sexual Harassment Come Forward Sooner?« – Psychology today
These are eight reasons why victims of sexual harassment don’t come forward.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-compassion-chronicles/201711/why-dont-victims-sexual-harassment-come-forward-sooner
35

tenpel on September 10, 2018 at 10:57 pm
Reply

Another Update

I got a note that there is a petition by some survivors of abuse to HH the Dalai Lama:
https://www.change.org/p/help-survivors-support-the-dalai-lama-s-effort-to-remedy-sexual-abuse

The video featured in the petition is from HH the Dalai Lama’s concluding speech in India, during the final session of the First Global Buddhist Congregation run by the Indian government in 2011. The speech by His Holiness was indeed remarkable. I attended the conference as a delegate (India payed all the costs, including flights, 5 star hotels, pilgrimage etc.). The final session was deeply embarrassing for me. Only male persons – except for a brief talk by Tenzin Palmo – and the Buddhist dignitaries spoke as shallow as I knew it from the Catholic church in my childhood. The more they spoke the more I wanted to hide under my chair in sheer embarrassment – at least until HH the Dalai Lama started to speak. Before him the dignitaries spoke about spreading the Dharma etc. but it was all so non-spirited and empty … His Holiness then hit the nail on its head and I started to relax hearing his sound voice and arguments. It felt like a huge release.

Here is his speech from that final session:
- 36
  
  tenpel on September 14, 2018 at 5:40 pm
  Reply
  
  Here is an article about the meeting with four survivors: https://nos.nl/artikel/2250330-misbruikslachtoffers-spreken-dalai-lama-en-zijn-blij-met-toezegging.html
- 37
  
  tenpel on September 14, 2018 at 5:48 pm
  Reply
  
  Associated Press / NEW YORK TIMES
  
  ABC NEWS / AP:
  https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dalai-lama-meets-alleged-victims-abuse-buddhist-gurus-57820565
  
  Washington Post / AP:
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/dalai-lama-meets-alleged-victims-of-abuse-by-buddhist-gurus/2018/09/14/f484b35e-b813-11e8-ae4f-2c1439c96d79_story.html
  
  El Pais:
  https://elpais.com/sociedad/2018/09/13/actualidad/1536825301_647257.html?id_externo_rsoc=FB_CC
  
  BBC:
  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45521075
38

questioning is not attacking on September 11, 2018 at 3:23 pm
Reply

John in all fairness Chandler is not able to separate people not buying her arguments from personal attacks. Here and elsewhere I have seen a great deal of sympathy for her and what she suffered while working in the Trungpa household and in Shambhala. However, when people question her theories she is unable to bear this, and cannot differentiate between people disagreeing with her thesis and attacking her personally. Indeed, it is she and DI who go after anyone who questions her theory in a very personal way, rather than making sound arguments.
Even Leslie H, one of her most ardent supporters, is very upset with the way C Chandler co-opted her story and put it on questionable websites without her permission. C refused to respect the wishes of survivors to decided where their stories were published, deeply disrespectful.C’s supporters would be better off showing her how to tone done the less credible aspects of her work so the very valid points that are also there can be taken more seriously. C does not have the credentials in history, languages or anthropology to due provide evidence for some of the more out there claims.
39

johnlavers on September 12, 2018 at 12:18 am
Reply

calling people paranoid and delusional is attacking and rob h mary finnegan and others have been beating that drum for a long time. which shows their lack of factual arguments. it doesn’t matter all that much. this is a tempest in a tea pot with all the tea pot admirals apparently devoting much time and effort to their tea bag. people attracted to the cult leaders have a problem they must acknowledge if they want to move on and develop any insight. plain and simple. i do not blame the victim but you have to acknowledge how you get there and why you are attacking those who didn’t join cults but actually have expert knowledge–in my case legal knowledge. young people can get conned more easily but full grown adults devoting their lives to trying to control this issue, or trying to set rules for others on these issues is just foolishness, and it’s the same follishness that got you into the cult thrall in the first place. the rules people are particularily oddballs, but not every body gets deep effects from practice and rehash their cultural knowledge as spiritual knowledge. anglos tend to want to set the rules. for the world with their endless wars and socially and in oragnizations because that’s what their every recent ancestors did governing all over the globe. and i might add that christine chandler showed more compassion than any of these buddhist teachers or her critics by caring for the trungpas mentally afflicted son for years. show some respect for those who practice compassion and you can learn.
- 40
  
  tenpel on September 12, 2018 at 5:54 pm
  Reply
  
  John. What you do with respect to Rob and Mary is basically ad hominem as far as I can see and remember. Both are journalists. To criticise those aspects of Chris‘ work as conspiracy theory which are conspiracy theory or crude aspects of her theories which are not based in reality is a correct criticism IMO. You can do the same with Rob‘s or Mary‘s work. Point out the faults or wrongs with good arguments. I am not sure if I have to delete your first comment because it’s basically a personal attack as far as I remember when approving it. On the other hand, since Chris‘ work or way of thinking has been criticised much here too, I wondered if it’s ok to leave your criticism / attack and trust the reader to judge it. Maybe I just leave it but all future comments by anybody I would like ask for and remind: Please everybody give good arguments and don’t attack the person. Thank you.
  - 41
    
    Stardust on September 12, 2018 at 7:50 pm
    Reply
    
    “i was very shocked by the amount of vitriol from the moderators at open buddhism” I want to back this up. I know first hand that several people too who would identify as abuse survivor where shocked at how they where responded to privitaly though FB Messenger by either Mary F and Rob H, How they where threatened to be muted or blocked from open buddhism. Their vulnerablity making it difficult to speak out about this. So John good on you man. (we where both in a FB group set up in respond to the atmoshere on open buddhism)
    - 42
      
      tenpel on September 12, 2018 at 9:24 pm
      Reply
      
      Thank you. Fair enough.
      
      I remember this also. I also got notes or read comments in which survivors of abuse said they were treated badly, not taken seriously or even ridiculed – especially when their POV didn’t fit the agenda of certain people.
      
      On the other hand it was not too closely moderated and had a variety of contributors and brought a lot of people together and had also valuable information or comments / posts / input / views.
      
      However, also for me I felt more and more put off and engaged lesser and lesser. When I remember correctly at one point I also wanted to leave the group but didn’t.
      
      However, it played an important role I think in connecting and raising awareness on a larger scale.
  - 43
    
    Stardust on September 12, 2018 at 8:07 pm
    Reply
    
    And Tenpel@ Thanks dearly for your efforts to challenge FWBO/Triratna, the time you put in, clarity and compassion in which you did so. I which you all the best. I symphasize with your need to let go and move on.
    - 44
      
      tenpel on September 12, 2018 at 9:42 pm
      Reply
      
      Thank you Stardust. I think you wrote me an email. I am going to reply to it this weekend. I have some days off and was just too busy.
- 45
  
  tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 12:34 am
  Reply
  
  Hi John, I read now your comments more carefully.
  You accuse Rob and Mary of not having factual arguments but I can’t see many factual arguments given by you. Unlike that I saw Mary and Rob using factual arguments – though in the case of Mary often mixed with deep disgust if not contempt which I’ve never liked. In the case of Rob I also disagreed with certain povs or ways of addressing things or ways of putting things together / judging complex issues, but I’ve not seen him to be vitriolic so far. However, on the Open Buddhism group indeed, I recognised vitriolic, very simplistic and uninformed – quite ignorant or arrogant – comments too. But they were from different types of people and there were also good and insightful comments. It would be good to have a fair middle way approach in all of this.
  
  I agree with you, survivors have to ask themselves, what drove them into the cults but this is for sure not the very first question. It comes far later usually and its a very sensitive point. It needs some strength and distance to do that and this strength has to be built up first – which can take quite long.
  
  I also agree with you that ultimately it needs legal means. But this is difficult as long as victims fear to go through the ordeal of a legal case. Not many victims have this strength and many who tried were re-traumatised. A German magazine just wrote a longer article on that how a victim had to tell her story 7 times, and this ended deeply re-traumatising for her.
  
  Be sure, police investigation is going on in France and unlike the UK, the police in France seems to do well and is also prepared to deal with the subject matter informed and sensible as far as survivors told me. I received also a copy of a report to the German police which was passed on to the French police. The writer shared it with me and made the real names of victims anonymously. So there is something going on on the legal side but I also know that a victim who could persuade the abuse done to her doesn’t wish so and this must be respected too.
  
  I share also much of your concern about an arrogant euro centric perspective that looks down on Asian cultures feeling superior to it. I have also criticised this different times here on the blog.
  
  However, I disagree with Chris Chandler, I read some bit of her here and there, and sorry, what I read was often deeply uninformed, badly put together with the obvious aim to sustain an anti-Tibetan Buddhism agenda. What I read and the errors I saw, I didn’t found to be written in the sprit of European enlightenment nor fair nor insightful or much educational – rather, yes, delusional. [If you wish; I will take some time to give evidence to this point.] However, if you admire her work, this is up to you. Not approving her conspiracy theories (conspiracy theories which Trimondis have already propounded long before Chris [Trimondis were pointed out in a paper by Prof Jens Schlieter as conspiracists. Trimondis are in general ignored / not taken seriously by academic experts]) does in no way limit other qualities she has, like her compassion, which you mentioned or a genuine wish to protect others from harm or valid points of her work. To reject her exaggerated and misinformed conspiracy ideas also does not deny her experiences.
  
  Let’s try to be fair and differentiate the topics or qualities / faults instead of taking sides based on aversion or attachment which ends up only in forming parties who attack each other, who derive their identity by feeling morally superior, looking down on the other side and attacking it.
  - 46
    
    johnlavers on November 5, 2018 at 6:13 pm
    Reply
    
    well if you want to avoid aversion and attachment you do not make false claims of serious mental illness about those you disagree with. those claims by mary finnigan , and her dog whsitle racism about my name. are in fact factual, and show her disregrd for ethics. rob isn’t as bad but still makes these libellous claims of paranoid delusions. this is unethical. and the soul of aversion and attachment. it really is time for people to act factually rather than talk about it. the fact are there for all to se in these libelous attacks. i supose some of it is british yellow journalism, but mary wonders around the internet attacking other buddhists for not meeting her standards of lineage and pruity of practice as well. that’s no ethical. wake up tenpel, your follishness over these issues is likely why your were conned into a cult in the first place.
    
    absolutely no one need to make libelous claims or dog whistle racist attacks to make their case. if they do those things they have serious ethical problems.
    - 47
      
      tenpel on November 5, 2018 at 9:55 pm
      Reply
      
      Hi john. I agree that it’s not good ethics to label opponents as mentally unstable or mentally ill if they are not. To do so in public if they indeed are (mentally unstable or mentally ill), might be correct from content (when it’s true) but might rather be hurting – especially if the person been described reads it – and if based on a lack of compassion or based on pride or contempt, aversion etc. it is unwholesome. (Further, of course, also mentally ill or unstable person can very much contribute to a debate and can offer wisdom and compassion.) To do so to help another person to understand patterns of behaviour of another person better, could be also wholesome if done with a good motivation and if it leads to a long term benefit (by increasing compassion and wisdom in the person who finds it difficult to deal with a person – who for instance acts based on patterns common to a narcissist.)
      As far as it concerns my actions I tried to be fair to you as good as I can. Feel free to kindly point out my faults. I will try to learn from it.
      In general there are different people with different mindsets and different agendas active in these fields. Rarely you might find one whose behaviour is stainless and totally free from faults. Considering this, I try to practice peaceful acceptance while – if possible – also opposing misrepresentations, using good arguments.
      - 48
        
        johnlavers on November 7, 2018 at 11:27 pm
        Reply
        
        there is no evidence what so ever of mental illness of christine chandler, there is copious evidence that she devoted herself for years to the care of an autistic person with little payment or gain. i don’t agree with her interpretation of of the shambala prophesies, not those of the trimondi’s, but if you make a careful read of these their interpretations are not unreasonable, based on the facts.however mary finnigan has posted her defamation that chandler is a delusional paranoid many times and rob a couple of times. they are lucky chandler doesn’t live in the uk, because she could sue there for substantial damages, but more importantly this is unethical to such a degree as to make me question finnegan’s real motives . she has consistently defended the old kalu rinpoche and trungpa. i have a great deal of personal knowledge from people who were there of the old kalu rinpoche’s refsual to deal with sex offender lamas, and even promoted one. that information was banned from open buddhism, by mary. and she banned all open discussions about trungpa. this is a serious bias. especially as trungpa was much worse than sogyal. mary also shows up on sites criticizing others lineages. this is sectarian behavior.
        
        people who were attracted to these cult buddhist groups have a great deal of difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy, and should listen more to those who saw the cults for what they were from the beginning. the issue is not expecting any one to be stainless in their behavior, it is about clear violations of accepted ethics and standards of conduct in journalism as well as buddhism. those who seriously deviate from those need to be criticized and stopped from running discussions. these ethical and conduct standards are there for a reason. they help avoid the vagaries of personal faults.
        
        i am losing interest in these discussions because so few have any idea about ethical standards or about professional conduct. i have noticed that most of these commentators are uneducated people from positions of privilege and entitlement. especially anglos who did little to earn status such as educatipon of personal achievements, but rather had fun in cults, will use these cults to try and gain the status their families once had but they failed to earn because they went slumming. anglos will turn everything to re enforce their sense of privilege and entitlement, and that is prevalent in buddhism. sticking to simple ethics and showing respect for other who have achievements is an aid to avoid these problems.
        
        49
        
        tenpel on November 8, 2018 at 2:21 am
        Reply
        
        Only briefly, John. If I have ever spoken about a mental illness of Chris Chandler I have to apologise and correct myself. But as far as I remember I didn’t do that. However, that Chris and Trinondis are conspiracy ideologists or spread conspiracy theories is a matter of fact. To fall pray to conspiracy theories is not a mental illness but it reveals a lack of understanding and discrimination of complex matters. As we know, conspiracy theories can be quite wide spread but this doesn’t make them valid. Conspiracy theories are the exact opposite of enlightenment (Aufklärung).
        
        50
        
        johnlavers on December 15, 2018 at 8:40 pm
        
        i have now concluded tht most of the people who went to the cult buddhists have habits that are unethical. they specualte as the motives of others, rather than listen to the words actually said, they get insulting very quickly, again rather than deal with the facts presented, and they still want to defend their favourite teachers regardless of obvious flaws. and perhaps most importantly they make false attacks. for instance tenpel’s false claim that i made an ad homminen attack n rob hogendoorn and mary finnigan. those two have repeatly called christine chandler a parnoid delusional, and most shambla people do as well. this is false and unethical and identifying such behavior not only is not ad himminen attacking, the fact that you see it that way shows you are still deep in cult thinking. and of course mary’s defence of theworst of the worst trungpa, and the abuses of kalu rinpoche show that she is till deep on cult thinking. in addition she shows up around the web attacking other buddhist teachers, usually the ones with good education and critical thinking skills which her lineage lacks. rob on the other hand is not starry eyed about vajrayanna so his critiques are much fairer minded.
        
        there are many of these people who had their minds blown by the sixties gurus, and had little or no education or training either within buddhism or in a convention sense. few can think straight no. i am sympsthetic to the foibles og others unless they are given to constant attacks on those who have training education and skills of a special nature.
        
        so really if you are tempted to go on such attacks, which joanne clarke did on afacebook page , or tenpel with the false suggestion i made an ad homminen attack, you really need to self examine. there are well educated and trained people willing to help but attacking them will get you back into another cult.
        
        of course all the shambala people do this as well.
        
        the failure of most on line buddhist to simply observe basic manners is why i have quit
        bothering with them.
        if you want any progress in life you have to abandon these ego driven attacks.
        
        51
        
        tenpel on December 15, 2018 at 9:17 pm
        
        I wrote “What you do with respect to Rob and Mary is basically ad hominem as far as I can see and remember”. Maybe I erred. When I remember correctly, I also wrote I’ll leave the judgment to the reader. Among others your accused Rob and Mary that they are not professional journalists – but they are. They have their press IDs as journalists. Of course the quality a professional journalist displays is another matter. Similar, if someone is a professional school teacher even if you disagree with the quality of his work, he or she is still a professional school teacher.
        
        However, if you feel happier with Chris Chandler or see her work as more qualified, fine.
        
        But for me she is a conspiracy theorist. I gave my reasons already and you can ask any academically established Tibetologist of Indologist and none of them would take her writings seriously. The uncritical usage of conspiracy theorists’ writings for her work – like that from Trimondis – speaks for itself about her ability to discriminate reliable from unreliable sources of information. I can’t take people seriously who rely on Trimondis’ work. No Tibetologist or Indologist will take their twisted writings seriously.
  - 52
    
    NO NAME. on December 16, 2018 at 1:29 pm
    Reply
    
    Chris Chandler may not be crazy ( the jury is still out) but there are. Many indicators in her life that point to her own gullibility as being at the root of Her problems She has gone from Trungpa ( where. Alarm bells were ringing from very early on) to Shanbala, where the word cult came to mind almost within seconds of checking the history. From there she moved on to another questionable set up.
    Each time she practiced a level of gullibility that was second to none
    Now, after FINAL,LY realising the gullibility and naivety she demonstrated in her early choices, she launchea a massive attack on HHDL Tib Buddhism and all, it’s structures and institutions.
    Bitter and twisted? Never! This is her own show of self-hatred for her own stupidity being externalised be cause she can’t see the massive dull mindedness she practiced while searching for a spiritual guide
    Everybody’s fault except hers? Don’t think so
    - 53
      
      tenpel on December 16, 2018 at 6:37 pm
      Reply
      
      I find this quite harsh and also attacking.
      
      Basically many people who start with these things come from idealism. They want to do sth good, they want to change the world or themselves or both to the better. Usually, yes idealism goes along with nativity. But there is a striving for goodness at the start which is badly exploited and twisted by these groups / teaches – and of course, you allowed that to happen, not seeing it. But also you were blind and couldn’t see it. You cannot attack a blind for not seeing. A blind deserves compassion and understanding but not to be scolded or defamed or attacked as stupid, massive dull minded etc.
      
      Moreover, externally maybe not manny compassionate Buddhists really took care or responsibility to help her in that context, therefore being left alone with the problems. So it’s a dependent arising that also mirrors the faults of others like bystanders etc.
      
      If you wake up from the illusions, there is a lot of pain and frustration. This might be externalised, others might internalise it and blame themselves only. Everybody has a different way to deal or cope with such a situation, according to inner and outer circumstances or conditions. Instead of attacking her, I would rather stress compassion and understanding. I can’t read that in your comment. It sounds like a cold, denigrating analysis that puts her down, not seeing anything good in her.
54

Rob Hogendoorn on September 12, 2018 at 8:28 am
Reply

I’m an unafilliated academic researcher and citizen journalist. I’m a paid member registered with two Dutch professional associations of (investigative) journalists, the NVJ and VvOJ. Anyone can verify my registration with these associations. I abide by the rules of my profession, and can be held to account by the Raad voor de Journalistiek, the Dutch disciplinary jurisdiction for journalists.

My reports, findings, sources, et cetera, have been independently, objectively tested and corroborated, time and again, by journalists of authoritative (inter)national media, and I’ve not had to retract or rectify a single statement—not ever. I’d say that I’m a solid, credible source of information in the eyes of highly regarded professional journalists, and that’s more than enough for me. The only difference between them and myself is that my effort is an act of generosity.

Besides, I’ve not attacked Chris Chandler personally. I was asked to review her book, and found that it was highly repetitive and analytically weak. Chandler frames her discussion of some very real issues in less than credible conspiracy theories. She may have many talents, but scholarly and journalistic qualities—self-criticism, self-editing, and self-censorship included—as an author are not among them. As long as Chandler eschews peer review and editorial oversight, the credibility of her self-published book is unlikely to improve.
- 55
  
  Stardust on September 12, 2018 at 10:24 pm
  Reply
  
  It would imo advocate your excellent expertise and efforts if you could consider the validity of some critique towards you.
56

Mary on September 12, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Reply

I think all organizations who promote individuals as religious deities should be outlawed. It’s obvious human beings look to outward sources to relieve their suffering and self responsibility, and there will always be exploiters waiting. One solution would be to make these organizations illegal. Of course, a multi billion dollar industry would fall, but self reliance and logical thought may prevail.
Otherwise, stop making these people wealthy.
If you are curious about Buddhism the library has volumes of free literature.
Just read and resist the urge to pontificate.
- 57
  
  tenpel on September 12, 2018 at 9:39 pm
  Reply
  
  Hi Mary.
  
  Mhm. If there is a person with an extraordinary amount of qualities and knowledge, this can be deeply inspiring (her/his example) and empowering (the methods or skills s/he can teach in order to free your mind from the mind poisons, ignorance, greed or hate etc.).
  
  It’s not a solution to prohibit organisations that centre around such a person, I think.
  
  A healthy teacher will however put people on their own feet, increase their taken care of themselves or taking responsibility for their own actions of body, speech and mind. Never manipulating them, never exploiting them or make them totally dependent and unfree, or traumatising them.
  
  As strange as it might sound but there is value in projecting the teacher and yourself as well as the world and your enemies as an enlightened being as long as this is done skilfully and the teacher and students are qualified and not mislead by such a view or a mistaken view based on misunderstandings. In the best case scenario it can bring forward even more qualities in the student. If one or both are not qualified for such a training it might become a dangerous, highly deceptive, manipulative indoctrination that gets really unhealthy and damaging.
58

mary on September 12, 2018 at 11:39 pm
Reply

Just write a book, let others accept or reject, but never set anyone up as a “wiser than thou” being.
That is the primary focus of a cult. It may be innocent in some magical universe but not on this planet.
Teach others to think for themselves, that is all they need.
59

Blueberry muffin on September 13, 2018 at 1:15 am
Reply

Moderating a fb group is a near impossible task and time consuming. OB became unmanageable very quickly, and it was impossible for mods to please all sides. When it became too much to their credit Rob and Mary closed the group rather than allow it to turn for the worst. Perhaps Rob could acknowledge criticism with a bit.more equanimity but you can also try to see the good along with the bad…..no? Shall we all say try to put yourself in the other’s shoes. Indeed no one is being paid to moderate this shall we say rather tricky discussions.
- 60
  
  tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 1:32 am
  Reply
  
  Yes, moderating an open Facebook group seems to be unmanageable. I was often not able to moderate this blog well, not to think about a Facebook group. Therefore, respect and credit to those who gave their best. I remember a discussion here on the blog on som vitriolic comments (including screenshots), Rob replied that these have been deleted.
  - 61
    
    Stardust on September 13, 2018 at 7:17 am
    Reply
    
    As we know balancing the good with the shadowstuff is hard. The shadow easily gets swept under the carpet for the sake of maintaining the good and ones personal investments. The issue adressed here involves (ethical aspects of) journalists besides reporting and researching dealing with vulnerable victums, having their own agenda and moderating FB groups on top. I think it was indeed a good idea to close OB. I was blocked there allready for a while when this happened and i appriciate the change to speak my mind here.
    - 62
      
      tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 8:10 am
      Reply
      
      Thank you for sharing stardust.
63

tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Reply

Hi John, since you seem to praise so much Chris Chandler’s work. I just saw that it were Trimondis who praise Chris’ work on Amazon.com. Ok, here some sources / reviews or opinions from academics about Trimondis:

1) “Who is afraid of the Dalai Lama? Victor and Victoria Trimondi’s “The Shadow of the Dalai Lama” (1999) as a spiritualistic conspiracy theory” – Prof Dr Jens Schlieter: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/8625/

2) Footnote in “Imagining Tibet: Between Shangri-la and Feudal Oppression: Attempting a Synthesis” by Thierry Dodin and Heinz Räther:

³⁸ There are, however, a few dissenting voices who contest the dominance of the positive image of Tibet and, instead, continue to spread the old cliches of the “feudal-hell syndrome” via the internet and some scattered publications. But the heavily dogmatic character of these circles, their marginality and the poor quality of their arguments make them negligible (see for instance: Ditfurth and Goldner, 1996, Ditfurth, 1997, Goldner, 1999, and Trimondi, 1999).

https://www.info-buddhism.com/Tibet_Between_Shangri-la_and_Feudal_Oppression.html

3) Since the German couple Herbert und Mariana Röttgen aka Victor and Victoria Trimondi (Victor and Victoress of the Three Worlds) played also an important part in the creation of the Nazi-Tibet myth, their claims are also dealt with in this work: “Nazis of Tibet: A Twentieth Century Myth” by Dr Isrun Engelhardt (a well known historian and Tibetologist): https://www.info-buddhism.com/Nazis-of-Tibet-A-Twentieth-Century-Myth_Engelhardt.html

4) “Dreamworld Tibet: Western Illusions” – by Prof Dr Martin Brauen

excerpts:

Demythologizing or new myths?

The latest anti-Dalai-Lama and anti-Tibet campaign also stems from two former Tibet enthusiasts, who claim to have contributed strongly to shaping the ‘Tibet myth’: Herbert and Mariana Röttgen, who under the significant pseudonym Victor and Victoria Trimondi (roughly translatable as ‘Conquerers of the Three Worlds’, i.e. of the Universe) have written the weighty tome Der Schatten Jes Dalai Lama (The Shadow of the Dalai Lama). It is not worth going into individual claims of the countless ones made by the two authors, as most are extremely absurd and confused. If a few are mentioned here even so, it is to show how old negative myths are brought to life again.

The book is structured as an indictment by a public prosecutor, and is supposed to be ‘a spectacular criminal history of Tibetan Buddhism’, with ‘charges, circumstantial evidence, a body of spiritual evidence and incriminating material’ against guilty parties and wire-pullers. But the ‘circumstantial evidence’ very quickly proves to consist of fallacies and false conclusions. Many exceedingly questionable Western sources are consulted, for example, Grünwedel, whom the Röttgens themselves describe as insane and paranoid, Sierksma, Evola, Serrano and a great many anonymous addresses from the Internet. Traditional texts over a thousand years old are taken word for word, without taking into account in the slightest the exegesis and development followed since they were written down. A further omission of the Röttgens consists in their not finding it necessary to be introduced to the mysteries of the texts by Tibetan masters. Most perfidious are the innumerable suggestive questions subtle insinuations and speculations, and the continual citing of alleged experts whose names the reader never finds out.

The authors convict both the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and the whole of Tibetan Buddhism and its followers. The Dalai Lima is suggestively accused of association with the Japanese poison-gas guru Asahara, the forcible suppression of the free practice of religion, involvement in a ritual murder and connections with National Socialism. He is a ‘brilliant exponent of the double game’: outwardly he is an apostle of peace, but in the nature of ritual he concentrates on the aggressive Time Tantra (Kalachakra-tantra), in which the scenario is supposedly dominated by fantasies of destruction, dreams of omnipotence, desires for conquest, outbursts of rage, pyromaniac obsessions, pitilessness, hate, homicidal mania and apocalypses. The Dalai Lama is further characterized as an oriental despot, magician, manipulator and Trojan horse, who wants to cause the downfall of Western culture. He practises techniques of sexual magic, is indeed the supreme master of sexual magic rites, and there are rumours and insinuations (one observes the vague formulation, unconfirmed by any source!) that give rise to the suspicion that the Fourteenth Dalai Lima is deliberately carrying out, or has carried out, tantric rites of killing.

Like Ipares, Strunk, Ludendorff, Wilhelmy and Rosenberg some sixty years earlier, the Röttgens construct a conspiracy theory, according to which the Dalai Lima is a world ruler and wants to establish a global ‘Buddhocracy’ by infiltrating the West with his ‘omnipotent lamas’ — one is immediately reminded of the ‘crusade of the Buddhist mendicant monks’ evoked by Wilhelmy — and in a sublime way making Western people, especially women and great film stars, part of his world-wide Kalachakra project. The persons controlled by the Dalai Lima are supposed to include among others the Green politician Petra Kelly, who has died in the meantime, and the pop singer Patty Smith.

After this it is not surprising that the religion the Dalai Lama is accepted as head of is also discredited in the most unpleasant way, with the authors not even trying any more to give the impression that they want to do justice to the complexity of Tibetan religion. Tibetan Buddhism is subsumed under Tibetan tantrism, and by that the Röttgens understand nothing good: erotic cult, energetic vampirism, ritualized sacrifice of women, the vilest abuse of women, necrophilia, ritual murder, child sacrifice, sadomasochistic gratifications and the like. They also say there is a deep inner kinship between the tantric world view and modern Fascism. Even though the Dalai Lama explains again and again that he is nor interested in the political light, the authors say that

“ideologists and theoreticians of Fascism have examined Tibet, its culture and the ritual life of the lamas in detail, and indeed almost obsessively.”

The best-known example, say the Trimondis, is the Italian Julius Evola (1898-1974). According to them the latter has outlined an ingenious portrayal of sexuality, which supposedly stems from criteria from Vajrayana, that is, from Tibetan tantrism — which is however highly questionable, there being after all no reference to Buddhist Tantras in his publications. Another modern Fascist who has found a home and a predecessor in the Shambhala myth and in tantrism is Miguel Serrano, already mentioned above. Once again, therefore, a bridge is built between ‘Lamaism’ and Fascism, and it remains unclear on which side the sympathies of the authors lie, on that of the Fascists or of their opponents. In any event, the two neo-fascists Evola and Serrano are quoted for pages and there is nothing to indicate that the authors distance themselves from them. On the contrary, Evola’s view of tantrism seems to Correspond to the Röttgens’. They also say it would be thoughtless to dismiss Serrano as a regrettable, isolated case, as he has a notable influence in the international Nazi scene and is frequently taken seriously because of his social standing as a diplomat. That his sources are extremely suspect the Trimondis/Röttgens do not mention.

Even if the alleged intimate friendship between Serrano and the Dalai Lama belongs in the land of fables, the question poses itself with ever greater intensity: why does Tibet excite so much interest on the part of the neo-fascists? What makes Tibet so attractive to them? What is so fascinating about the Shamhhala myth, that both those who foster it and those who fight vehemently against it are drawn under its spell? This is a question that we should like to turn to again in Part 5 of this book, as the answer will at all events help to unveil the mysterious appeal of Tibet.

or Prof Brauen on Trimondis’ coverage of Shambhala myth and Kalachakra Tantra

The latest, and very negative, interprecation of Shambhala comes from the Trimondi couple. For them, the Shamhhala myth carries within it an exceedingly demonic potential, which could he activated at any moment, and there exists the danger that the ‘Shambhala idea’ might develop into a pan-Asiatic vision with Fascistic character. The Trimondis also point out — correctly — that the Shamhhala myth was taken up by the Japanese leader of the Aum sect, Shoko Asahara, only their interpretation is completely erroneous. They accuse the Dalai Lama of having consciously initiated Asahara into the Shamhhala myth, so as to use him as a pawn in his plans for world domination. They suggest that Asahara is the outwardly projected shadow of the Dalai Lama. He has taken upon himself the sins of the Dalai Lama, the actual string-puller. In the process the authors fail to notice that certain Japanese had already made use of the Shambhala idea much earlier, during their occupation of Manchuria, and furthermore that in his teachings on the Kalachakra Tantra the Dalai Lama never mentions the warlike aspects of the Shambhala myth, which is tantamount to a perfidious misrepresentation when there is talk of a ‘Shambhalization plan’ of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. The fact that the apocalyptic vision of the Shambhala myth has fascinated many people, such as for example the Buryat Lama Gurjieff, who identified Shambhala with Russia, cannot be made into a reproach against the Dalai Lama or the Tibetans in general. This apocalyptic part of the myth has a marginal significance within Tibetan society, but has attracted the attention of a considerable Western and Asian public. It also cannot be denied that many who have made use of this part of the Shambhala myth for themselves have a certain proximity to Fascism. But to conclude from that that the Tibetans sympathized with Fascism is a fallacy, just as inaccurate as if someone were to claim that all Indians sympathized with the Nazis, because the Nazis in India had used for their own purposes the widespread Indian swastika.

For more buy the book or use the Amazon search function: https://www.amazon.com/Dreamworld-Tibet-Illusions-Martin-Brauen/dp/9745240516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536840350&sr=8-1&keywords=martin+Brauen+Tibet

(I read it completely many years ago.)

5) Indologist Dr. Karl Heinz Golzio wrote these reviews in German regarding Trimondis work:
„Hitler – Buddha – Krishna“ – Eine kritische Betrachtung des Buches von Victor und Victoria Trimondi – Karl-Heinz Golzio

Kritik am tibetischen Buddhismus und am Dalai-Lama-System. Zwei neue Bücher – ihre Schwächen und Stärken – Karl-Heinz Golzio

5) Dr Christian Ruch: War Hitler Buddhist? (Was Hitler a Buddhist?) – Review of Trimondis’s “Hitler, Buddha, Krishna…”

This should be good enough for a start. It doesn’t mean that all is garbage what Chris wrote or that she doesn’t have good points and facts, but – it looks like based on what I read here and there from her – she uses facts or insider knowledge just to create a negative myth or conspiracy theory. Its not a big miracle that her work is praised by Trimondis – who did exactly that – and its not a big miracle that Chris Chandler didn’t find a publisher but had to self-published her work.

Trimondis praise Chris’ book as enlightening. Well, discriminating reliable from unreliable sources of information is a key ability in the academic sphere as far as I know. I doubt what Trimondis claim so assertively, “Particularly for intellectuals and scientists, the enlightened book of Chris Chandler maybe an eye-opener to lead them out of their trance and will show them what is hidden behind the stage of the so-called Wellness-Buddhism.”, is going to happen. Unlike to Trimondis or Colin Goldner’s time, where self-appointed “researchers” published myths on Tibet (be they positive or negative) and serious or well established academics kept silent because these researchers’ work appeared just too ridiculous to even analyse or review it, at one point academics started to investigate these subject matters, corrected prevailing myths (positive and negative ones) and published rebuttals or factual correct accounts on these matters.

With respect to the Kalachakra Tantra or Shambhala myth, there is among others John Newman’s or Alex Berzin’s work. Its not so easy nowadays to fool an informed public about these matters because a lot has been published in response to such theories already.
64

Mary on September 13, 2018 at 4:54 pm
Reply

Tenpel,
You wrote – A healthy teacher will however put people on their own feet, increase their taken care of themselves or taking responsibility for their own actions of body, speech and mind. Never manipulating them, never exploiting them or make them totally dependent and unfree, or traumatising them.

I do agree with this statement, but since even our parents are imperfect people who manipulate us to accept concepts they’ve never personally examined, we should take everything with a grain of salt unless we’ve proven the validity ourselves.
I’ve experienced the “tantric” teacher, who reduces your sense of reason to a childish pulp to be remolded into some defender of a pulp fiction universe. When your spark of sanity awakens there is the same guilt you had leaving home, becoming an adult.
This perfect teacher you describe is inside somewhere, beneath the trauma, or awakened by it in some shamanic death scenario.
So perhaps the imperfect beings are the cause of the awakening, but to venerate them as such is certain sleep, lulled into childhood again. RUN.

Wishing you the best.
65

Rob Hogendoorn on September 13, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Reply

The Dalai Lama has agreed to meet with members of the #MeTooGuru initiative tomorrow, shortly after his arrival in the Netherlands.

The present number of signatures of the petition is 1,015—and counting: https://www.change.org/p/help-survivors-support-the-dalai-lama-s-effort-to-remedy-sexual-abuse

For those of you who read Dutch, news on Sogyal today: https://nos.nl/artikel/2250237-onderzoeker-over-boeddhist-sogyal-rinpoche-misbruikte-leerlingen-ernstig.html

And for those of you who read Spanish: the newspaper El País in Spain published a long article on #MeTooGuru today: https://elpais.com/sociedad/2018/09/13/actualidad/1536825301_647257.html
- 66
  
  tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 8:27 pm
  Reply
  
  Thank you Rob.
  
  It seems to be that because the request was made only 10 days before his visit, only four survivors can participate. Wasn’t it possible to plan this longer ahead, so that more survivors would have had a chance to meet the Dalai Lama, Rob?
  
  The Dalai Lama met in 2015 15 New Kadampa Survivors: https://www.dalailama.com/news/2015/interviews-in-cambridge-meeting-children-in-london
  This meeting is the first with survivors of sexual abuse. But there was also this meeting with survivors of the NKT cult. The meeting was excellent, healing and the Dalai Lama was truly compassionate, attentive and did exactly what was helpful to the persons present according to their needs (including hugs if someone started to weep… It was deeply moving.)
  - 67
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 13, 2018 at 9:28 pm
    Reply
    
    This effort is very much a grass roots, spontaneous initiative undertaken by survivors of sexual abuse themselves. In all, the present group includes ten nationalities. Likewise, the people who sign the petition hail from all over the world.
    
    Something like this could have happened just before or during any visit by the Dalai Lama anywhere perhaps, but as it happened he was about to arrive in the Netherlands.
    
    Some Dutch survivors and allies had exactly the right chemistry between them at exactly the right moment, and the rest developed organically.
    
    Perhaps awareness of sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers has been raised here to a larger extent, because we’ve had continuous news coverage of sexual abuse cases since 2013, 2014, with no end in sight yet.
    
    Also, there’s a certain authenticity and spontaneity and self-assurance involved in this group’s functioning that is somehow infectious and enthusing, and this shines through, I think.
    
    I’d say that the present effort focusses more on informing and supporting the Dalai Lama, rather than consoling the survivors.
    
    Individual group members should speak for themselves, of course, but I have the distinct impression that meeting the Dalai Lama is not a goal in and of itself for this group. I might be wrong, but community building and raising awareness seem more important.
    - 68
      
      tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 11:08 pm
      Reply
      
      Thank you for the clarification and background, Rob.
      
      This makes sense, reading the petition: “I’d say that the present effort focusses more on informing and supporting the Dalai Lama, rather than consoling the survivors.” Also I understand now that I got it wrong, that meeting the Dalai Lama was a main goal.
  - 69
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 14, 2018 at 6:50 am
    Reply
    
    Well, it was a main goal, of course, but as a means to an end, not and end in and of itself. It’s quite extraordinary that this group succeeded in being welcomed by the Dalai Lama on such short notice, and we’re grateful for the opportunity.
    
    There are many reasons to want to meet the Dalai Lama in person, but the individual survivors’ own healing and consolation were not primary among them.
    
    As the petition said, they want to offer the Dalai Lama a compilation of survivors’ testimonies—for his eyes only—and the signatures under the petition. They would also like him to to respond in person to the petition’s three other requests.
  - 70
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 14, 2018 at 7:25 am
    Reply
    
    I must say, Tenzin, that your apparent hostility strikes me as baffling. I also find it quite presumptuous to denigrate a meeting that the Dalai Lama personally, by all accounts of his entourage, was actually very happy to take. Perhaps the Dalai Lama knows better than you?
    
    I get the sense that you have a hard time grasping the concept of this initiative. It doesn’t seem to fit your preconceptions of how a Dalai Lama should be treated. But that’s all they are: preconceptions. Others may have other ideas than you. In fact, they do.
  - 71
    
    Stardust on September 14, 2018 at 1:44 pm
    Reply
    
    Rob@
    Could you clarify yourself by pointing out precisely the by you mentioned prior (striking you as) baffling ”apparent hostility”? Thanx.
- 72
  
  tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 10:04 pm
  Reply
  
  Rob, as far as I got it from Oane on Facebook comment to my post* it was not the main intention to allow survivors of abuse to meet the HHDL but rather to issue forth four requests or four demands.
  
  I find the fourth request misleading and incorrect. According to Carol, El Pais has picked that up “and asks him to ‘make clear’ that abuse is against the law when HHDL has already been doing this for years.”
  
  The fourth request states:
  
  To reaffirm publicly that Buddhist teachers who commit crimes and misdemeanors, just like any other citizen, are liable to criminal prosecution and civil action.
  
  Though it states “reaffirm” it still has a taste of insinuating that the Dalai Lama has another position which he for sure has not. He explicitly stated:
  
  Recently in India, also some religious spiritual leader, oh really disgraced themselves. So now, the concerned court arrest him, like that. That’s right, I feel right. If Dalai Lama do something wrong, I think you should arrest him. [laughter] I think if [Dagyab] Rinpoche doing wrong, you should arrest him. [laughter]
  
  https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2018/06/20/hh-dalai-lama-comments-on-the-troubles-in-rigpa/
  
  * https://www.facebook.com/peljortenzin/posts/1987893471471361
  - 73
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 14, 2018 at 7:03 am
    Reply
    
    The petition spells out the survivors’ goals quite clearly, doesn’t it? https://www.change.org/p/help-survivors-support-the-dalai-lama-s-effort-to-remedy-sexual-abuse
    
    I can’t recall that the Dalai Lama ever publicly confirmed that abusive Buddhist teachers (and/or organizations) are liable to civil actions of survivors who file complaints for damages in court, for instance on the legal basis of tort law.
    
    Evidently, it’s not redundant to ask the Dalai Lama to affirm and reaffirm this view publicly regularly.
    
    Not so long ago, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse literally told Rigpa audiences that Buddhist gurus are above the law. They’re not, they never were, they never will be.
    
    So, the Dalai Lama’s view on the matter is important enough to bear repeating until the penny drops, even in Dzongsar Khyentse and likeminded lamas.
  - 74
    
    matilda7 on September 14, 2018 at 9:59 am
    Reply
    
    “RE-affirm” could be changed to “emphasise”??
  - 75
    
    concerned on September 14, 2018 at 1:51 pm
    Reply
    
    @Rob
    “So, the Dalai Lama’s view on the matter is important enough to bear repeating until the penny drops, even in Dzongsar Khyentse and likeminded lamas.”
    
    I would instead say ‘ESPECIALLY in DKR and likeminded lamas’. Interesting that DKR does not go to Dharamsala.
    The Bir lamas in particularly seem to consider themselves exempt from ethical conduct.
    
    3 suggestions for the meeting.
    1) Gather together the main points of what DKR, OT, KN have said on the matter and hand the written points to HH at the meeting for him to review later.
    
    2) Ask that a delegate actually attend the meeting in November to represent the victims.
    
    3) Express the prevalence of a strange and twisted offshoot of buddhism in the west that entirely revolves around the lama. There is absolutely no accountability and oversight for the behavior of these lamas and it clearly needs to be addressed not just from the westerners but also from the heads. The westerners are not regarded for their potential to progress on the path, but rather for their wallets, their skills, their ability to serve and satisfy the lama including sexually.
    
    Everyone: please write letters to the heads of lineages on your specific concerns before November.
    
    Thank you for your hard work-
76

tenpel on September 13, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Reply

UPDATE

Lion’s Roar: »Dalai Lama to meet with survivors of Buddhist teacher abuse«

BY SAM LITTLEFAIR | SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

Twelve survivors of abuse by Buddhist teachers launched a petition for the meeting earlier this week.

Read full text: https://www.lionsroar.com/dalai-lama-to-meet-with-survivors-of-buddhist-teacher-abuse-in-europe/
- 77
  
  matilda7 on September 14, 2018 at 10:14 pm
  Reply
  
  Tenpel & Rob, what is there to debate about? HHDL will meet with a bunch of people to discuss sexual abuse perpetrated by lamas & within TB institutions. Yet you two are having some ridiculous debate about it! Honestly, you guys, get over yourselves!
  - 78
    
    tenpel on September 14, 2018 at 11:49 pm
    Reply
    
    😉
    - 79
      
      Rob Hogendoorn on September 15, 2018 at 5:52 am
      Reply
      
      I guess it all revolves around the meaning of the word ‘reaffirm’. It means to ‘affirm again’, ‘ensure again’, ‘make clear again’.
      
      It does not suggest at all that the Dalai Lama’s view on the matter needed updating, evolving, changing, adjusting. Leaders in all walks of life publicly reaffirm their commitment to certain values, practices, et cetera all the time.
      
      It’s a very common expression. There’s not a hint of misrepresentation in it. So, I think that Tezin read way to much into this, and that he is way to protective and defensive: it’s contraproductive, I think.
      
      By now the meeting has been all over the news, worldwide: the Dalai Lama supports each point of the petition.
      
      He thinks the Mind & Life meeting on sexuality, sexual deviancy and abuse is a great idea; he will put sexual abuse on the agenda of the meeting of Buddhist leaders of all Tibetan traditions in November 2018 (inviting the survivors to submit a brief which will be distributed among the attendees) and he reaffirmed that no abusive Tibetan Buddhist teacher at all is above the law.
      - 80
        
        tenpel on September 15, 2018 at 5:08 pm
        Reply
        
        Dear Rob,
        first of all thank you for your and Oane’s as well as the other survivors’ effort, ideas and actions to bring change to the whole situation.
        
        As you know, I was supportive of a meeting with survivors and a Mind & Life Conference right from the start when I first read of it here by you on the blog. I also sent an email to one of the DL’s representatives suggesting that, adding that I find it to be a good idea. (I also informed some other people about it, trying to find more who make this idea stronger and happen.)
        
        It’s a good (creative and hopefully effective) idea too to hand over to the Dalai Lama personally written testimonies.
        
        Well done!
        
        It’s good to hear that the Dalai Lama supports each point of the petition and that he thinks the Mind & Life meeting on sexuality, sexual deviancy and abuse is a great idea and also that he will put sexual abuse on the agenda of the meeting of Buddhist leaders of all Tibetan traditions in November 2018. Even better if he is inviting the survivors to submit a summary in order to distribute this among the attendees.
        
        That he affirms or reaffirms that no abusive Tibetan Buddhist teacher at all is above the law is a thing I expected because he has never expressed differently.
        
        I am aware of the meaning and usage of the term “reaffirm”.
        Still, the term can be easily overseen by a reader of the petition. Also, to put emphasis on this in order to counter the highly questionable view of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche – though exactly one year before this meeting with four survivors, on 14 Sept 17, the Dalai Lama made explicitly clear, that he finds it good that gurus are put in jail for crimes – is using the Dalai Lama as a type of pope or judge against the view of DKR. This in itself is against the spirit of Buddhism as it has been understood and lived for centuries, Buddhism that is rather anarchic and where no one usually should play the final authority over another person because the final authority is only the Dharma one has understood and investigated oneself well. However, in monastic communities its different but here we have a monastic and a non monastic from two different Buddhist traditions. Usually they would not interfere with each other. The Dalai Lama has bent already cultural norms by naming Sogyal by name and calling him “disgraced”.
        
        It doesn’t get better when Oane tells the international press, that “What we want from him is that he is very clear about the fact that religious leaders in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition are not above the law…” – as if the Dalai Lama has ever expressed any such view or holds such an opinion or is unclear about that.
        
        So, I think you and Oane (and the signatories who agree with this) are asking the Dalai Lama something which 1) he is not upholding himself, and b) it makes him (or you as Westerners want to make him) the quasi pope of Tibetan Buddhism, basically a final and lasting authority (which is alien to Buddhism). Unlike the newspapers say, the Dalai Lama is not even the head of ANY tradition. He is not the head of Tibetan Buddhism, he is not head of the Gelug school which he belongs to. The Tibetan religious schools have all their own heads. He can approve suggested abbots of the Gelug monasteries (which belong to his own school) or the Gelug school’s head, the Ganden Tripa. However, also Gelug abbots appointed by the Dalai Lama have no problem to oppose the him – either directly or indirectly (e.g. the beating of monks, Bhikshuni ordination) or later to turn against his stances (e.g. a previous Ganden Tripa who promotes now Shugden). Still, the Dalai Lama is seen as the “spiritual leader of Tibet” and from the Tibetan diplomatic protocol he is placed the highest. Though he is seen as the “spiritual leader of the Tibetan people” and he can approve suggested abbots of the Gelug monasteries and the Ganden Tripa, the Dalai Lama is not too powerful though morally widely respected. He is a leader without real “political teeth” (no police, no army, no court, no prison … and Tibetans might nod when he says something but do the exact opposite behind his back.) It’s all a bit complicated.
        
        I just listened to the interview on BBC. You and the moderator are well informed. Thank you both for that.
        But when you ask the Dalai Lama not to meet with lamas been accused of sexual misconduct or of sexualised violence, this seems to be unrealistic – though in certain cases manageable – e.g. (as it appears [though I don’t have full knowledge what led to the decision and how the accusations were treated with at that time]) Sogyal Lakar and the inauguration of the Lerab Ling temple in France under great political pomp could have been avoided. The BBC moderator seems to have understood that because he replied to your demand that this is a police matter. When I listened and heard your demand, I had in mind, you are basically asking the Dalai Lama to be the police, the judge over the behaviour of other lamas. But this is a role he and Tibetans naturally don’t want to take. They have just a VERY different way of dealing with this. From their POV its totally up to the students to check or reject their teachers. It’s not a matter of a higher authority but a responsibility of the students alone. Of course this brings in cross cultural confusion and complications when Westerners think whoever met the Dalai Lama and has an image of such a meeting (both sides smiling) or if he visits a Buddhist centre or meets a lama or praises them, these must be somewhat reliable beings. This (Western cultural idea based) misjudgement has already caused great confusion because the Dalai Lama also met with a convinced war crime Nazi, Bruno Beger or Asahara etc. All types of conspiracy theories and misjudgements have derived from it. However, I agree with Oane, the Dalai Lama might indeed underestimate what Westerners conclude from such meetings or visits. So to make him aware of that is a good thing I think. As far as I understand it, he and Tibetan lamas with a genuine compassionate mind might have just thought to be of benefit when visiting their centres not being aware of the devastating message it has for Western students of such lamas.
        
        So basically, I think this demand (not to meet with accused lamas) is a very difficult and tricky to manage demand. Should the office run a list of lamas been accused, and who is going to investigate the claims and verifies their validity? Does Dharamsala now need a Dharma police or investigation office? If yes, this might be a Westerners’ demand but how much is that realistic considering Tibetan cultures or attitudes? Remind, the Dalai Lama is QUITE ALONE in all of this. Except Mingyur Rinpoche (who totally avoided to even use the name of Sogyal Lakar though his statement is clean clear), no Tibetan lama has really supported the Dalai Lama’s stances. The Dalai Lama is going against the stream of his culture. Also, what if someone is wrongly on the list? The pope has his people and committee for this / structures. But the Dalai Lama is not a pope and I wonder if he should emulate the pope or take on that role because Westerners demand it so? Even if he does, if this is against Tibetan culture or their way of thinking, he will continue to be alone – if not been isolated. What type of support is he getting then? In general dharmic understanding is not to be the Dharma police of others – which doesn’t mean to look away or to endorse bad teachers. Again, it’s all tricky and as I said many times already, I find it of crucial importance to put oneself into the shoes of others and to be aware of complex cross cultural issues – including my very own (euro-centric) projections onto other cultures and their ways of dealing with things.
        
        But maybe this is all also part of the Globalization of Tibetan Buddhism and as one researcher suggested, we have a social negotiation nowadays in the West what individual behaviour is acceptable and what not.
        
        Others, like Kieran for instance, and I are critical of the fourth point of the petition because the public, the uninformed reader, superficial journalists, might wrongly conclude the Dalai Lama has a different view on that or that his view is shaky and therefore an extra emphasise must be given by him (or he must be hold responsible) to make this (again) totally clear. This is what I find (potentially) misleading because of the subtext it transmits (remember, I am from East Germany, we are very used to read and understand subtexts of messages). According to Carol McQuire (I can’t read Spanish, she can) El Pais has picked up on that as a fact. To quote her “El Pais ‘asks HHDL to avoid further cases’ and says that HHDL is tied by a ‘chain reaction’ from being effective. The description veers close to blaming HHDL for not controlling the gurus and asks him to ‘make clear’ that abuse is against the law when HHDL has already been doing this for years.”
        
        So others and I see a risk that this fourth point of the petition and its stressing might turn into blaming the Dalai Lama though he has been the most outspoken and single voice over decades who empowered survivors to take action. I am critical of this fourth point because this can get quickly unfair. That’s all. (As a side note, if the DL statement will be used to oppose DRK, this might fuel old feuds between Nyingma and Gelug. Its not up to a Gelug to tell a Nyingma what is the right view. You must have this also in mind.)
        
        Ok, we discussed these points, I can rest with that and let’s see what direction the whole takes, what the outcome will be and thank you, Oane and all the others for your efforts! I also trust the Dalai Lama to act reasonably and constructive-productive in all of that.
        
        Thank you and kindest Regards,
        T
        PS: Your comment was in the spam queue. Just found it there …
        
        81
        
        tenpel on September 15, 2018 at 6:14 pm
        Reply
        
        As an addition / correction / additional information, Kieran quoted Oane from a BBC news, commenting “Come on, really?”:
        
        One of those present, Oane Bijlsma, told Efe news agency that it was “a very complicated meeting”.
        
        She said that at the beginning the Dalai Lama “didn’t want to hear” about their cases, but added that after 10 minutes of conversation he became “more receptive”.
        
        “By the end he was closer, he stopped trying to convince us that it wasn’t his fault and started to listen to what we were saying,” Ms Bijlsma said.
        
        Oane replied on FB:
        
        No, not really. That is taking what I said way further than I ever did and is not how I am quoted in all other articles or on the video’s in the Dutch News. So this is not correct. I don’t know why they state it like this. Unfortunately it is impossible to control ALL press and we sometimes we did not have time or were not asked on beforehand if the citations were right. It was a very busy and stressful day. It really DID was difficult though to stop HHDL from talking himself, especially at the beginning he did not really ask questions. He just started summing up how he already condemned bad behaviour publicly, how he encouraged people to go public etc. We have been respectful but were firm about what we there to ask and about our hope he would acknowledge how big the problem is. We also wanted him to see and hear that all of the 5 abusive teachers mentioned in our stories used (and use!) his endorsement to establish their credibility. It seemed he (and his advisors) found this difficult and unpleasant to hear initially. He indeed said we can’t blame him and that he is not the Pope. We told him we know and that we don’t blame him personally. This was very clear and he understood our position!!! He became more and more ‘real’ as we went along and started to make more personal contact. Even asking more questions. He said he agreed it to be a very good idea to address this problem at the gathering in November in Dharamsala and agreed also to the other points. I am so baffled by the people calling this an attack on the DL. I understand an article like this might make you wonder but it is one of many, the press coverage was insane, and you can easily find out all the others have another tone. Do you really think we would have been granted this meeting if we were some dumb hateful people? It was a good meeting, it’s a good start. I am very happy and grateful and think this could be really important for all victims and to maybe begin changing something. HHDL confirmed all of our three points and even said at the en “you gave me some munition to fire with!”
        
        82
        
        tenpel on September 15, 2018 at 8:46 pm
        Reply
        
        To add to the point how alone the Dalai Lama is in bringing change: I cannot remember having heard or read from any Tibetan lama supporting his stance on what he encouraged to do – which is among others to confront the teacher who behaves unethically and if the teacher doesn’t change and if you have evidence to go to the public / press. (This he said with respect to Buddhist unethical behaviour that is not criminal (or illegal) like abusing alcohol or harming students in different [non-criminal] ways.)
        
        Far more important seems to be to hear and acknowledge the roaring silence of anybody else except the Dalai Lama’s continued lone and consistent voice.
        
        There are many other very senior representatives of Tibetan Buddhism who have actively supported Sogyal Lakar and Rigpa – and still do. Amongst them is the present Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje. Many see him as the perhaps most important figure anticipating the future of Tibetan Buddhism. However, did he issue any similar statement concerning abuse, especially in the case of Sogyal Lakar? In a report on his 2014 visit to Berlin on the invitation of SR and Rigpa it is stated:
        
        His Holiness also spoke of the great benefit Sogyal Rinpoche’s work had brought, singling out his book, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, as having especially helped others. The Karmapa said in English: “In front of all the students of Rigpa with this wonderful teacher, I don’t have to say anything.” …
        
        (I was there and understood this later as a polite way – he refused to teach anything at Rigpa – to decline to interfere with the Rigpa students’ relationship to Sogyal Lakar. This is a common Tibetan approach also followed by Khandro Rinpoche. While the Karmapa refused to give a teaching at Rigpa in the Kagyue centre in Berlin he gave excellent advice, including to learn and study from the Theravada tradition, a fortune we Westerners have but which he and Tibetans didn’t have.)
        
        BTW, I don’t think that you Rob or Oane are “blaming the Dalai Lama” what I think is, there are some misunderstandings about his power and role and what he can really do as well as putting too much burden on him. On the other hand it is his responsibility to deal with that and to find a constructive way with all of this too.
        
        83
        
        tenpel on September 27, 2018 at 6:59 pm
        
        I found what the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje, said with respect to abuse…
        
        Here are H.H. Karmapa’s answers on the topic of #MeToo, aspirations to unite the Karma Kagyu lineage and the student-teacher relationship which he gave at Riverside Church, New York City on “The Journey of Compassion in Action” – a 3-Day teaching on Thogme Sangpo’s “37 Practices of a Bodhisattva”*
        
        SAYING STOP TO ABUSE AND STOPPING ABUSE IN THE LONG TERM
        
        Question: “Your Holiness, thank you so much. My question is about the ‘kleshas’: You spoke aout not having jealousy as a motivation. I wondered if you could speak about in terms of the #MeToo-Movement, of women saying STOP: That that energy of anger has a prajna aspect: I wondered what you would call that: the ‘SPOP -It’s not okay to be abusive!’ I work with clients, I’m a therapist, I don’t want to lead them in a wrong direction toward the anger, but I want to help them to know how to say STOP! – and for me that energy feels very much like anger – just the initial rising STOP-energy. Could you speak about that?”
        
        HH Karmapa: “First of all, it takes a great deal of courage to say: Stop! And there is no question that the fundamental motivation behind saying STOP, the root motivation is a good and healthy one. The mere appearance of an angry demeanour, if that is needed in the situation, does not necessarily interfer with or pollute the fundamental motivation behind saying Stop. The question remains however when saying STOP is not enough. It takes a state, a mind that is at ease to figure out the best way to deal with situations strategically. So when a person has to think carefully about what to do, about any given situation, they can’t think their way when they are totally overpowered by grief and pain. But there needs to be a certain energy to the message of STOP. Because we are not simply thinking about stopping a temporary situation, but stopping soemthing entirely once and for all.”
        
        UNITING THE KARMA KAGYU LINEAGE
        
        Question: “Your Holiness, my question is: What can your students do to fulfil your wish to unite the lineage?”
        
        HH Karmapa: “The main thing is to abstain from attachent and aversion and especially harsh speech, motivated by that, to to avoid exaggeration and denigration; and to be patient and to cultivate non-aggression. Remember that we are all of the same lineage, the same Karmapa Kagyu with the same gurus and the same yidams; and to be open-minded, not petty. And aside from that there is nothing dramatic that we can do as disciples. Someptimes people have come to me and said: ’I’m gonna support you in this.’ But then they go on and they just increase the factionalism and all the arguing and fighting. That’s no good.”
        
        TEACHER-STUDENT-RELATIONSHIP
        
        Question on the relationship between teacher and student…
        HH Karmapa: “The realtionship between teacher and student needn’t to be complicated. It actually could be extremely simple. Somehow we tend to make it complicated. Fundamentally the teacher is a spiritual friend. So there is a connection, a friendship. But the bond of friendship here is basically through dharma. So they are your friend in dharma, friend because of dharma.
        
        “So in that sense the realationship between a student and a teacher is quite normal, because it is friendship, which is normal. But we distort it somehow; we make it very very complicated – to where it alost becomes something we can’t handle.
        
        “Now with regard to the actual state of a teacher, it’s said that in the age of degeneration spiritual friends or spiritual teachers wil be combinations of qualities and flaws. But it’s not the case that we need to kind of weigh qualities versus their flaws: Put their qualities on one side of the scale and te flaws on the other side of the scale. and say: ’Let’s see: His qualities weigh 80 pounds and his flaws only weigh 40 pounds, that’s probably okay.’ It’s not like that. It’s not wether the qualities predominate or not. It’s about whether these qualities – because it is the qualities of the teacher that make them effective – wether these qualities are effective in changing you. And if the teacher’s qualities change you as an individual, work for you as an individual, then even if later on you observe defects or flaws in the teacher, it’s basically immaterial, because you still, you remain changed by their qualities. And while their qualities benefitted you and changed you in a good way, their defects are their defects. and they don’t effect you. They haven’t changed you the way their qualities have.
        
        “So the teacher’s flaws do not inhibit or in any way ruin the change that it has brought you.
        
        “As for Akong Rinpoche specifically he was a very good friend of mine. And his sudden passing was tragedy for all of us.”
        
        * Translator Yeshe Gyamtso. Transcript via Newsletter of Maitreya Institute Gutenstein Sylvester Lohninger
  - 84
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 15, 2018 at 6:54 pm
    Reply
    
    Thank you, Tenpel. There’s a whole lot I could say in response, but I’m saving those thoughts for another occasion and other media.
    
    I think the (false) ‘pope’ analogy is a very poor way of framing the issue, and misleading to boot. It’s a dead end street, rhetorically, intellectually, and ethically speaking. I think your summary of my supposed position is way off the mark, as is your analysis. Some of your glosses are in fact slightly absurd.
    
    This exiled Dalai Lama has unprecedented opportunities and powers, and he has made extensive use of them for almost 60 years. His power base derives to a large extent from the (moral) authority Westerners ascribe to him, and his near unlimited access to Western media, opinion leaders, politicians, et cetera.
    
    Such powers come with a heavy responsibility paired with public accountability, from which even the Dalai Lama is not exempt.
    
    Like any other, the Dalai Lama can’t have his cake and eat it too: he can’t credibly alternate between being as a media shy traditional Tibetan lama on certain occasions, and a media savvy modern religious leader the next—and back again, at will. And neither can the Dalai Lama’s followers. Likewise, Tibetan culture isn’t a selling point one moment, and a cover the next.
    
    With this, I’m taking leave. I expect to publish about these subjects for years to come, and the format of this blog (or Facebook) is really not my favored mode of interaction.
    - 85
      
      tenpel on September 18, 2018 at 1:58 pm
      Reply
      
      Thank you Rob. (I rewrote my reply.)
      It’s fine to disagree. And as I said, I agree with other points.
      I don’t think that the pope analogy is wrong. I asked a Prof., a Tibetologist, she agreed that the way how this is been put risks to continue the false image of the Dalai Lama as a pope which he is not. His limited powers (authority) have been also stressed by Tricycle. I gave further examples on Bhikshuni ordination, beating of monks in monasteries, and also Shugden is an example. Though in the Shugden case you could say he was more successful but then you must keep in mind he was backed by all the religious leader of the other Tibetan Buddhist schools who do not back him with this issue in any way at all and it was a decade long, extremely painful, process for all sides.
      He himself admitted and made known his limited power. Joanne gave the quote already:
      
      Because students are new to Buddhism, they may have blind devotion and obedience to spiritual mentors. Hearing about the great merit gained from making offerings to spiritual mentors, they may give them many donations and gifts—things that someone living in India would not have. The teacher becomes spoiled by the gifts and esteem of the students and if he is not careful, this could lead to his taking advantage of well-meaning students.
      I have received many letters from people in other countries asking me to do something about this, but it is not in my control. Tibetan Buddhism is not organized like the Catholic Church with a pope and Vatican administration. I cannot make someone return to India or force him to stop wearing robes. When I teach, I give clear instructions about suitable behavior for teachers, both monastic and lay. If people do not listen to me then, it is doubtful that they will heed instructions from my office or the Department of Religious and Cultural Affairs …
      
      – from 2018, The Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron, The foundation of Buddhist Practice, p. 119
      He has a power that people listen to him in the West and also among Tibetans. But this doesn’t mean that they do what he says. This is quite of a difference. Tibetans themselves as well as Western observers told me different times, that Tibetans nod when the Dalai Lama says something (e.g. differentiated collections of waste) but as soon as he disappears, they forget about it and continue as before. In general, a Tibetan lama said, this is rather a common Tibetan attitude. Tibetans describe themselves often as hard headed. The Tibetan lama told also, they didn’t listen to Padmasambhava, not to …, not to… up to not listening to the 13th Dalai Lama, and concluded its part of their culture to not obey religious authorities really. They have also a saying, „one lama one tradition“ because every lama follows his or her own ways.
      I cannot see how the Dalai Lama is not acting in a responsible way while dealing with Western (or Eastern) media or where he is shy and switching as you claim – nor did you give evidence to this claim. As far as I can see the Dalai Lama has been always very open and transparent – including the CIA stuff which he openly admitted many many years ago without hesitation to the New York Times when they asked him. I cannot find quickly the NYT article but it was around 1985/88 or so when I remember correctly. (All this does not imply he is faultless.) Now been asked by a media, he openly admits that he knew about allegations against Sogyal back to the 1993 conference. This is another example that he is not shy to say what he knows. It confirms that he is open and transparent. The question is rather what he is been asked, how deep the journalist digs while asking, and how this all is put together or what people conclude from such statements. What exactly does it say „he knew“? What did he know? That there were allegations, what allegations? That there was a court case? How much (successful) effort has been made to convince him this is all not true or Sogyal has changed for the better? etc etc. Therefore, for instance, my follow up questions would have been: 1) what exactly did you know?, 2) what led you at a later time nevertheless to inaugurate the Lerab Ling temple?, 3) Did you receive more complaints and how did you evaluate these?, 4) Are you aware that Westerners see the visit of Lerab Ling or meeting of Lamas and their centres as an endorsement of such lamas (e.g. Sogyal Lakar, Rigzin Namkha)?, 5) Would you say today to inaugurate the Lerab Ling temple was a fault? etc. – sth. like this.
      Your claims – when I understand it correctly – about the Dalai Lama being a shy and media savvy switcher according to his needs is not convincing to me. I can’t see how this is been backed by reality nor did you give evidence or examples. Rather, his openness and transparency give a good basis to really understand what drives him or why he made certain decisions – even if these were wrong decisions right from the start or in retrospect. Understanding in turn empowers oneself to act on a more informed basis, it allows to act in a more reasonable and more responsible manner.
      BTW, also you have a responsibility when you use the international media and the Dalai Lama and when dealing with survivors of abuse.
      A good outcome for all your projects,
      T
  - 86
    
    Rob Hogendoorn on September 18, 2018 at 3:42 pm
    Reply
    
    Again, Tenpel, I find your presentation of my supposed positions seriously lacking and indeed misleading. Likewise, I find your own positions and rhetoric ill-founded. This has been a recurring problem, and I’ve neither the time nor the inclination to engage in further discussion. So, with this, I’ll pass.
87

tenpel on September 14, 2018 at 2:15 am
Reply

Here is a good article on the legal possibilities and limitations for adult survivors of abuse:

“Crazy Wisdom” and the Risk of Abuse in Buddhist Groups and Yoga Schools

September 13, 2018

By Malcolm Johnson and Sue Jackson

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/crazy-wisdom-risk-abuse-buddhist-groups-yoga-schools-sue-jackson
88

Bruno on September 15, 2018 at 10:32 am
Reply

It is good to read and hear these many connected public items exposing the abuses to the press and to public. And also to see the survivors and supporters with knowledge of different Teachers and their power abuse of Devout Followers getting stronger VOICE and coming together to make progress in many ways. All are one in wish to protect from harm and expose abuses.
89

matilda7 on September 15, 2018 at 10:29 pm
Reply

Tenpel, could you please provide a link to the Facebook page where Oane made the comment above. I want to thank her for r her clear explanation of how the meeting went.
- 90
  
  tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 7:39 am
  Reply
  
  It’s in the comment section of my Facebook post. There is no way to directly link a Facebook comment. The link to the Facebook post I gave already.
- 91
  
  tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 7:44 am
  Reply
  
  BTW, as far as o experienced it myself and know it and dependent on the context / background, a meeting with the Dalai Lama starts usually that he explains his position. Then it’s clear what is his stance. Afterwards he listens to you and there is discussion.
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Joanne Clark on September 15, 2018 at 11:28 pm
Reply

Tenzin, I agree with everything you say. However, I still question how a conference on these issues with the Mind and Life Institute would work? There would have to be that elephant in the room, which is the connection between Vajrayana and these abuses in Western Tibetan Buddhist centers. During Mind and Life conferences, His Holiness draws very clear lines between the religious aspects of Buddhism that aren’t relevant to Mind and Life’s mission, and the scientific and philosophical aspects of Buddhism that are relevant. If you read the mission statement of Mind and Life, their mission is to explore the intersection between science and contemplative practice. I simply don’t see how these troubles could be addressed fully in such a context.

It seems that the goal of a conference would be to educate Western Buddhist teachers on the serious dangers of sexuality mixed into the teacher-student relationship. To do this fully, we do need Western psychologists and scientific research on the real trauma caused by such abuses. However, we also need to bring in a fuller picture of how safety can be insured, how Vajrayana can be practiced safely, how power can be balanced by critical inquiry etc. These are “in-house’ discussions in my opinion.

A conference with Tibetan and Western Buddhist teachers who teach in the west could be much more effective at addressing the full picture of what needs to be addressed then bringing in the secular approach of Mind and Life.

And Rob, here is what I wrote on Facebook in response to your statement above:

I would be interested to know where HH’s “unprecedented power” lies. The situation in Tibet has not improved, nomadic Tibetans now live in barrack style conditions. Tibetan culture is endangered. Tibetans living in India are stateless citizens. HH meets with US presidents and congress people and they smile– but the UN and the international community remains impotent to help Tibetans. I cannot see that HH’s relationship with the press has that much “power” in the context that you are using it. The press loves him for the same reason that millions of people love him– he makes them smile and gives them hope that the powers of love and compassion and tolerance will endure. If you look at the faces of everyone he meets, press, rich, poor, famous, infamous, this is what you will see. That is the sum of his “power” that I see.

And if you mean that he has power to bring greater publicity to these abuses, then I would agree. And he has done a bit of that. However, I believe that really the ball is in our court now and we have to stop pointing fingers at him for things he did or didn’t do eight years ago and start doing the hard work of bringing better accountability to Western Buddhist Centers. He simply cannot do that for us. We need to take ownership now. The Lewis Silkin Report is a great start and a great example of the power that WE have. We’re not children.
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  matilda7 on September 16, 2018 at 8:01 am
  Reply
  
  A further ‘elephant in the room’ is the silence of the majority of important Nyingma Lamas on this abuse issue which i find pretty disappointing.
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  tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 8:48 am
  Reply
  
  Joanne, only briefly and quickly some thoughts. The elephant in the room is the abuse of power and the dynamics and damages of abuse. This is not a particular Western issue but very much also a Tibetan issue, especially when also very young monks are abused (not always of course!) in a monastery. Perpetrators seem not to face consequences for this, they seem to be able to continue to teach without setting boundaries or facing severe consequences. Those who were abused might have trauma and a distorted sense for boundaries for self and others, they might be suicidal, depressed, at risk to commit suicide and then coming to the west, never having received education on this or therapy, of course they are at risk to become perpetrators themselves.
  
  This is a huge topic. As far as I know it’s also much brushed under the carpet.
  
  A mind life conference could raise awareness to the damage and dynamics also for Tibetans!!! This would be the great chance.
  
  Though I wonder if Tibetans are ready or would listen. HHDL would need the support of Tibetan survivors and abbots I guess. This conference could be a great chance on the cross cultural level to educate about the dynamics of power – the temptations of power – and the subsequent dynamics of the abuse of power, trauma and damage for victims, how it effects their life, differences in cultures (eg what might be traumatic for a westerner might not be as traumatising for a Tibetan). There is so much to explore and to learn.
  
  However, I fear there is no data on sexual abuse / sexualised violence in Tibetan monasteries (I know of researches from Buthan and Thailand – the results were rather shocking) but I didn’t hear or read about researches in Tibetan monasteries. I wonder if Tibetans are ready and HHDL would receive the necessary support. If there is no data or research then it’s even more difficult.
  
  You seem to limit abuse to western context. I would say it’s also an imported problem that might go back deep into Tibetan culture and their dealing with these things. If there is a Tulku who was sexually abused from early childhood or in his youth, and he has never received therapy or any support but was expected to be silent and such a person comes in the West to teach … highly likely problems are going to manifest for both sides.
  
  A conference, well thought out and set up, could be a big step forward for education and finally protecting potential victims.
  - 95
    
    Joanne Clark on September 16, 2018 at 9:30 pm
    Reply
    
    Tenzin, you say the elephant in the room is the “abuse of power”– and I agree. However, if you ask where that power comes from, it comes from the Vajrayana notion that lamas are perfect Buddhas who can do no wrong and cannot be criticized. And you won’t get Tibetans to budge on that one without a conference that is between Buddhists and about Buddhist practices. The conversation will always be incomplete until Tibetan Buddhist teachers concede that in some circumstances, students can and must speak out against abuse– and that teachers’ powers need to be constrained more than they are currently. I agree that there needs to be Western scientists present to demonstrate how harmful sexual abuse is– but the other side has to be addressed as well or it would be incomplete.
    - 96
      
      tenpel on September 17, 2018 at 3:57 am
      Reply
      
      ok. this might be the Dalai Lama expertise part then …
97

matilda7 on September 16, 2018 at 5:59 am
Reply

Tenpel, was it Orgyen Trinley Dorje that you heard at Rigpa Berlin, or Shamapa’s pick, Thrinley Thaye Dorje? Just checking!
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  tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 7:45 am
  Reply
  
  Orgyen Trinley Dorje.
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  matilda7 on September 16, 2018 at 7:54 am
  Reply
  
  I’m pretty surprised! Back in the late seventies Tai Situ told me that while Terton Sogyal was indeed a great lama, he had doubts as to whether this Sogyal was his actual incarnation.
  - 100
    
    tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 8:24 am
    Reply
    
    Ha ha.
    According to Ken Holmes on Facebook – a while ago:
    
    No doubt already, or in days to come, you have or will come across the breaking story of Sogyal Lakar’s students denouncing his behaviour. I think there will be enough posts to save me elaborating the details on my own timeline and re-publishing the letters and replies. It comes soon after the revelations about Lama Norlha, in the USA, of a different order but still serious.
    My contribution, or advice, is to watch one’s own mind and comments during this time, if you aspire to the bodhisattva path. The advice is clear: not to rejoice in someone else’s fall or retribution and to have as much compassion for the victimiser as for the victims. Also not to spread gossip for gossip’s sake.
    Exactly 40 years ago, the XVIth Gyalwang Karmapa predicted this. It is why Akong Rinpoche, to whom the 16th had spoken directly about Sogyal and one or two other lamas, would never have connections with Sogyal or let Samye Ling make connections. People thought this extreme at the time and said it was personal jealousy.
    I think the letter expressing the Rigpa student’s grievances was very well written, without anger, very matter of fact and sharing their own, deep hurt. His response was, to my mind, totally inadequate.
    My own very sincere sympathy goes to all the thousands of ordinary people in the Rigpa organisation who were simply dharma brothers and sisters, seeking what seemed to be a valid path. Dharma organisations should be a part of Refuge, giving security and support and protection. It will be a tough time for many and a time for our compassion and prayers and oustretched hands of friendship.
    
    When asked what the 16th Karmapa said about Sogyal Rinpoche, Ken Holmes replied:
    
    That his conduct would cause a lot of damage to dharma in the time to come … that bit is for sure (London, 1977) …. whether he actually told Akong Rinpoche that it was good to avoid association with him or whether that was implicit, I don’t know.
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Einige Updates zum Thema Missbrauch in buddhistischen Gemeinschaften & zu anderen Kontroversen – Buddhismus im Abseits on September 16, 2018 at 10:42 am
Reply

[…] Punkt vier der Forderungen habe ich allerdings Vorbehalte, zu denen ich mich auf Facebook und in einem Kommentar auf meinem englischen Blog kritisch äußerte. Dort gibt es in den Kommentarbereichen diverse Standpunkte und […]
102

Gido on September 16, 2018 at 12:24 pm
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A big problem is that those in the Tibetan section who sound reasonable like Tenzin or Thubten still believe that there were and are or could be ANY teachers with secret wisdom connected to actual mystical powers. Even the Dalai Lama does. This is religious insanity. Nobody presents those people, of course, nobody has proof. It is time to end this whole charade and say that no teacher in the world will give you what the accused here pretended to have. NO ONE. So stop claiming it and stop looking for it.
- 103
  
  tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 12:41 pm
  Reply
  
  Whom do you mean with Tenzin or Thubten?
  
  In my own case it’s not a belief or religious insanity to see, conclude or to accept (after experiences and investigations) that for instance there is clairvoyance. I know two Tibetan Buddhist teachers (one a monastic Gelug Geshe, the other a non-monastic Nyingma yogi) who had clairvoyance. (Both sadly are dead.) For me, based on experiences, observations and investigation, it’s a matter of fact, that there can be a person who has this siddhi (or that there are people, also non-Buddhists of course, who have healing siddhis) – a fact I acknowledge, try to understand and put into perspective. For instance, clairvoyance can have limitations and it’s better to be aware of that. Therefore, even if there is the very rare case of a clairvoyant lama, keep in mind, he (or she) can badly err.
  
  Therefore, for me this is not a big problem. The big problem are projections, to deny things that exist or to superimpose or project things that do not exist.
104

tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 3:24 pm
Reply

Updates

Here is an interesting transcript of the interview of NOS with HHDL and some interesting comments, including quoting from Batchelor that HHDL didn’t sign the final statement by the WBTC 93 (though he took an active role in it).
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=495521684246927&id=1459918927422287&ref=m_notif

verbatim transcript of the exchange between reporter Nicole le Fever (NOS) and the Dalai Lama during the Meet & Greet in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam today (15 September 2018).
“Nicole le Fever: “Your Holiness, yesterday you had a meeting with four victims of sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers. What did you learn from them?”
Dalai Lama: “I already know these things, nothing new. But, particularly in Dharamsala… during the Western Teachers Conference in 1993, I think more than ten years… twentyfive years… the Western Buddhist Teachers Conference at Dharamsala. So, someone mentioned, I think most probably Sogyal Rinpoche, with these, how to say, about problems, sexual problems.
Thubten Jinpa: “Allegations were made at that conference.”
Dalai Lama: “So, I told self-discipline as far as Buddhists and also some other people… the original teacher, in our case the Buddha, made very clear that self-discipline and sexual misconduct, I think even lay people…”
Thubten Jinpa: “This ethics related to sexual behaviour does not apply just for the monastics alone. Buddha himself spoke about the lay practitioners’ sexual ethics as well.”
Dalai Lama: “So, these people, they don’t care about Buddha’s teaching. So, now the only thing is: make public, these things. Then people may be concerned about their shame, their embarassment. So, I told, so yesterday also I mentioned, since many years ago I already mentioned that: ‘Now you make things clear, so very good, I don’t care.’ Then also, you see, I mentioned, in the Winter, in November, all the important religious leaders of Tibetan traditions gather in Dharamsala. So at that time, you see, they should appeal, I suggested. So, I think the religious leaders, I think, should pay more attention, like that.”

The „I don’t care“ means that if a lama does something wrong, and it is publicised, he does not care that the info gets out and makes them look bad.

However, even if he didn’t sign this final statement from the ’93 WBTC, he had an active role in it and he made clear points, encouraging students to take action, to go to the public. (For details see here: https://info-buddhism.com/Ethics-in-the-Teacher-Student-Relationship.html
I heard also, but can’t remember the source, that in the 1993 conference Sogyal was also an „elephant in the room“.

Deutsche Welle (DW) reports on that too:

Dalai Lama admits he knew about Buddhist teachers’ sexual abuse
The Tibetan spiritual leader told Dutch TV he has known about the sex crimes in Europe since the 1990s. He was presented with written accounts from 12 alleged victims from Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Dalai Lama, during a four-day visit to the Netherlands, has confirmed he was informed about sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers against their followers in Europe.

“I already did know these things, [it’s] nothing new,” the Dalai Lama said in response to a question on Dutch public television NOS late on Saturday.
“Twenty-five years ago … someone mentioned about a problem of sexual allegations” at a conference for western Buddhist teachers in Dharamshala, a hill town in northern India, he added.
105

Gido on September 16, 2018 at 5:27 pm
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In the video “Confusion within Tantra” Thubten C. quotes a teacher: The adept is ready when e.g. he can remotely let an apple drop from the tree and by mindpower alone attach it back.

No one can do this.

You now speak of clairvoyane. No one needs any sexual initiation for that, I guess. But according to the standards, how could a clairvoyant teacher show this ability to a non-clairvoyant disciple? Wouldn’t that lead to misunderstandings? How would the disciple know without being initiated?

Clairvoyance, too, is not shown in a scientific sense. There are high prizes for those who can demonstrate it, for decades. No one has succeeded.
- 106
  
  Friend on September 16, 2018 at 7:08 pm
  Reply
  
  Is it clairvoyance to see that Tantric Buddhism is not compatible with the evolution of species and mankind through paleolithic and neolithic various climates?
  It seems quite impossible to reproduce in time and space such “impermanent” causes and conditions that enable such a being like Man to appear in three other continents around Sumeru mount or “Shambala” .
  In fact, at the time of Buddha and not so far from now, people had no idea of the hasardous way the world went to become as we see it today.
- 107
  
  tenpel on September 18, 2018 at 1:07 am
  Reply
  
  Hi Gido. Thank you for the clarification. No, you don’t need a “sexual initiation” for clairvoyance. You need a certain high level of concentration and for this you need a mind that is free of the five hindrances of concentration which include sense desires.
  
  I was a translator of one of the nyingma yogi and lived with him for a month, interacting and translating daily. Since I translated the interviews and often spoke with the people afterwards. Thereby I got to know his powers as well as the limitations of his powers. Just a few examples: he knew a person is a school teacher without having ever met her, he knew that two people killed a frog (which caused a certain problem) without never having met them, he knew physical problems (eg. stones in the kidney and how many and what size, I saw the person many years later she said the x-rays and treatment she undertook after the visit confirmed all he said.) … you don’t need a initiation to witness that 😉
  (BTW, there are different kinds and strengths of clairvoyance.)
  
  Yes, “Clairvoyance, too, is not shown in a scientific sense” but I’ve seen and witnessed it, I checked it with the people who were involved. So for me its a fact. I don’t mind if it’s a fact for scientists. On the other hand, its only a side issue. Its not really what makes the Buddha’s teachings important. It can even cause more problems. More important are compassion and wisdsom + a calm mind and ethics.
  - 108
    
    Gido on September 18, 2018 at 5:07 am
    Reply
    
    First, those examples of “clairvoyance” seem insignificant to me. Knowing the profession of s.o. or that they killed a frog, really? Even the kidney stones need to be confirmed by x-ray or ultrasound before treatment, so what’s the use of all that? You seem to be easily impressed. If there were people with valid clairvoyance, how could those Tibetans be surprised when the Chinese raided them?
    
    Second, how would you know that a person is free of the five hindrances incl. sense desires? You quote what is written, then you assume that s.o. who knows those things must be free of desires – without being able to really see into the mind of such a person and understand if those things are actually related. They are not. This is just a self fullfilling prophecy. By showing those “powers” there is indeed a desire stated, the desire to be known as s.o. who has overcome desire. The desire to be acknowledged as a certain guru in the Buddhist context. This desire is mirrored in those who admire the guru.
    
    One example: My physician just correctly predicted I have gastritis which the gastroscopy then confirmed. He also confirmed that he still has desires and no intent to drop them.
    - 109
      
      tenpel on September 18, 2018 at 10:50 am
      Reply
      
      These were different people, the one who was a teacher, the couple with the frog. He knew also where they both killed the frog – actually two frogs.
      
      It’s easy to judge from afar. We, a group of four, witnessed that and for us it is a fact. Similar with the Geshe.
      
      I don’t want to convince you or make it rational or digestible for you. I just wanted to mention that I have a different stance on that than you.
110

tenpel on September 16, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Reply

UPDATES

Top Tibetan Buddhist leaders to hear sex abuse allegations against lamas in the West?

(TibetanReview.net, Sep16, 2018) – Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has, on Sep 14, reportedly undertaken to raise the issue of Tibetan Buddhist masters’ alleged sex and related emotional abuse of their students in the West during the upcoming November meeting in Dharamshala of the top leaders of all the religious schools of Tibet. The Dalai Lama was stated to have given the assurance to four claimed victims representing a group of 12 during a meeting in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

…

for more see: http://www.tibetanreview.net/top-tibetan-buddhist-leaders-to-hear-sex-abuse-allegations-against-lamas-in-the-west/

RFA tells names:

Tibetan lamas named in the complaint presented on Friday included Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche of the Swiss-based Rigdzin Community.; Tulku Lobsang of the Nangten Menlang Center in Vienna, Austria; Sogyal Rinpoche of the Rigpa organization, an international community with over 100 centers worldwide; and Robert Spatz, a Belgian citizen also called Lama Ogyen Kunzang Dorje, sources told RFA’s Tibetan Service on Friday.

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/meets-09142018173444.html

Namkha Rinpoche: https://m.facebook.com/groups/1459918927422287
111

tenpel on September 17, 2018 at 2:34 am
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Another Update, Tricycle:

DALAI LAMA MEETS WITH #METOO SURVIVORS

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama agreed to meet with four survivors of sexual abuse by Tibetan Buddhist teachers during his trip to the Netherlands. Earlier in the week, 12 victims of sexual abuse from various communities wrote and circulated a petition calling for the meeting, which gathered more than 1,000 signatures. Organizing under the banner #MeTooGuru, the petitioners called for the Dalai Lama to hear their “compilation of survivors’ testimonies in person,” to hold “frequent dialogues” on sexuality and sexual abuse, and to “reaffirm publicly that Buddhist teachers . . . are liable to criminal prosecution and civil action.” Although the Dalai Lama is considered to be the spiritual representative of Tibetan Buddhism and his voice is influential, his authority is limited. His support would be an important public relations victory, but would not ensure concrete changes to Buddhist institutions around the world.

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/buddha-buzz-weekly-sept-15-2018/
112

Gido on September 18, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Reply

It’s not necessary to convince me. I have experienced that kind of “clairvoyance” myself and thus can say three things:
It is not special.
It is not linked to giving up each and any desires.
And it cannot convincingly be shown under scientific conditions.

The last point is the reason is why those Geshes do not undergo scientific evaluation, contrary to the Dalai Lama’s openness to science and all the tests that guys like Ricard allowed during meditation.

But the other two points are important to deconstruct religious myths and the power of the teacher.
113

tenpel on September 18, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Reply

UPDATE

Sadly, the OKC case was lost due to technicalities.
For details see:

I cannot say much, except that it makes me deeply sad and I had wished for the survivors and their healing process a clear sentence and judgment from the court for a case that is as clean clear as a cloudless sky.
114

Mary on September 18, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Reply

Clairvoyance “clear vision”. To be differentiated from projections, imagination and fantasy. Remote viewing is a common experience. Understanding what you view is rare, having clear vision is exceedingly rare and isn’t necessarily visual.
Just saying.

Have a nice day.
115

tenpel on September 19, 2018 at 12:49 pm
Reply

UPDATE

Here is a good article by Lion’s Roar on the meeting, which quotes a lot Oane Bijlsma:

https://www.lionsroar.com/dalai-lama-meets-with-survivors-of-abuse-by-buddhist-teachers/

For me it seems to be the most balanced and optimistic piece.

Good results indeed when this becomes true (making it a topic of the Nov meeting of religious leader and a spearpoint theme in Mind & Life conference).
116

Rob Hogendoorn on September 20, 2018 at 7:29 am
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Multiple sources say that Lerab Ling was raided by the French police on Wednesday. It is neither wise nor compassionate to consider yourself above the law. #Rigpa #MeTooGuru @SogyalRinpoche pic.twitter.com/8Nxd7ENZAm

— Sogyal Truth (@SogyalTruth) September 20, 2018
- 117
  
  tenpel on September 22, 2018 at 5:13 pm
  Reply
  
  Thank you Rob. Anything new about the raid, any article or so or confirmation?
  
  Here is an interesting article by the Hudgell Solicitors: “Rigpa investigation highlights the risk of unchallenged, ongoing abuse within religious groups” https://www.hudgellsolicitors.co.uk/news/abuse/rigpa-investigation-highlights-the-risk-of-unchallenged-ongoing-abuse-within-religious-groups/
118

tenpel on September 26, 2018 at 12:31 am
Reply

Here is another article by Joanne Clark: The Dalai Lama and the Empowerment of Students

and two interesting comments by Moonfire:

A letter is vital. I’m hoping to have the Tibetan translation of the letter by the 8 ready to send out before November. Accompanying that would be a request for each lama to make a statement for this blog on their position on the abuse. Once that letter is composed and refined through discussion in the What Now? Fb group, I’ll post it here so you can all let me know if you want your name on the bottom.

So the group letter is happening, and I’ll be asking HH to read it out at the meeting so that anyone who didn’t get it will hear it and it can be the basis of the discussion. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to use some of what you said above as a starting point for what to say.

Afterwards, we will publish here (on a page that is easy to find for later reference) any lama responses and will also leave a list of those who did not comment, so everyone will be able to see which lamas to avoid. We can speak with our money, and not go to teachings by lamas who do not categorically make a public statement against lama abuse.

So watch this space.

And:

I think by saying ‘he my very good friend’ he was indicating that he knew him well, then “but he disgraced” was indicating that nevertheless he was a discgrace. The two seem contradictory, but just as others can see both the good and the bad in Sogyal, so too can the DL.

The Buddhist way is to consider everyone your friend and to have compassion for all, the perpetrator and the victim. Tsoknyi Rinpoche also said that though he agreed with Mingyur Rinpoche that the abuse was not acceptable, Soygyal was his friend. I guess it’s like a family member, an uncle perhaps, who you were good friends with and then you discovered that he beat your aunt and cousins. He’s still your uncle, you still get on well, but perhaps rather than having nothing more to do with him, you talk to him about it and try to get him to get help. Turning away doesn’t actually help the situation.

I have heard that some of the other lamas had talked to him about his behaviour, including Dudjom Rinpoche way back in the 70s, but he didn’t listen. The problem was that the students now running Rigpa allowed his behaviour to continue and worsen. They didn’t stop it, even after HH made it clear that it was up to us to expose the behaviour. It took us 15 years to actually do that, and it was 8 voices together that had the power to shake it up sufficiently for the truth to come out.

So instead of looking to him to fix this, instead of complaining about what he hasn’t done and what he did that we don’t understand, we need to come together and make it quite clear that we will expose every lama with questionable morals and we will make sure that students avoid those lamas. That’s the way we will rid TB of abuse, not by expecting HHDL to do it for us.

He is only one voice; he needs us to add our voices to his, not to turn him into an enemy.
119

Rob Hogendoorn on September 26, 2018 at 7:07 am
Reply

During his meeting with the four survivors in Rotterdam on 14 September 2018, the Dalai Lama invited them to write an appeal which he would help submit to the religious heads of all Tibetan schools and traditions in November 2018.

These four are members of the group of twelve survivors who succesfully took the initiative to petition the Dalai Lama with four specific requests (https://www.change.org/p/help-survivors-support-the-dalai-lama-s-effort-to-remedy-sexual-abuse).

Until now, this petition—notice that the title runs as ‘#MeTooGuru – Support the Dalai Lama’s effort to remedy sexual abuse’—was signed by more than 2,100 people world wide. The Dalai Lama, in turn, has granted each of the four requests made, the first of which was that he would accept in person a booklet with survivors’ testimonies penned for his eyes only.

I’m the liaison for this group. We’re currently determining what such an appeal should look like, and we’ll engage in drafting one shortly.

While anyone is welcome to write a letter about sexual abuse by Tibetan Buddhists teachers to the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, only the original group can honour the Dalai Lama’s personal request to the four survivors in Rotterdam, of course. In doing so, naturally, the members of this group shall speak on their own behalf and that of those who signed their petition.
120

tenpel on September 27, 2018 at 11:30 pm
Reply

More Updates:

1. Süddeutsche Zeitung (Michaela Haas): Dalai Lama: “Ich bin nicht der Papst”
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/dalai-lama-ich-bin-nicht-der-papst-1.4147557

2. Pema Chödrön apologizes for dismissing allegation of sexual assault from young woman – Lion’s Roar
https://www.lionsroar.com/pema-chodron-apologizes-for-dismissing-allegation-of-sexual-assault-from-young-woman/
121

tenpel on November 2, 2018 at 2:31 am
Reply

UPDATES Noah Levine

Leaked Internal Report: Famous Buddhist Leader Noah Levine Was Accused of Rape and Assault – Jezebel

Details of allegations against Noah Levine reported after leak of internal report – Lion’s Roar

Leaked Against the Stream Report Challenges Previous Accounts – Tricycle

Updates New Kadampa Tradition

The One Pure Dharma: The New Kadampa Tradition is controversial—and growing. Why? By Judith Hertog (Tricycle)
- 122
  
  tenpel on February 24, 2019 at 4:23 pm
  Reply
  
  Update Noah Levine
  
  Spirit Rock, Jack Kornfield, withdraw Noah Levine’s authorization to teach – Lion’s Roar
  - 123
    
    tenpel on April 12, 2019 at 5:33 pm
    Reply
    
    Another Update Noah Levine
    
    Leaked Internal Report: Famous Buddhist Leader Noah Levine Was Accused of Rape and Assault – Jezebel
124

Brian on November 2, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Reply

While the time may indeed have come to wind down the activities of this site, one can’t help but notice that China–which is always said to take the long view of history– remains busy supporting their colonial enterprises and projecting soft power. A music album” Dorje Shugden” by Su Xiao Di ‘dropped’ as they say last January.

https://www.amazon.com/Praise-to-Dzambala/dp/B07B32L7V9/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&qid=1541179143&sr=8-37&keywords=shugden

Meanwhile, Tsem’s devil cult has put up for sale a new series of images depicting Dolgyal magically appearing amongst ‘primitive’ Africans which I personally find blatantly racist. I suspect young Africans, working in science, technology and medicine to develop their continent economically would not be happy to be depicted as backward spear-chuckers. This Tsem-sponsored ‘artwork’ now being sold on Amazon is an absolutely deplorable example of ethnocentric Han chauvinism.

https://www.amazon.com/Naropas-Cave-Shugden-Depicted-African/dp/B07H4MN59T/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1541179033&sr=8-14&keywords=shugden
125

Predictable on November 3, 2018 at 8:12 pm
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Shame the comments from nkt supporters in the comments section of the Tricycle article. Gaslighting and trying to silence rather than reaching out. NKT still just doesn’t get it and only wants to hear from you if you think they’re great.
- 126
  
  tenpel on November 4, 2018 at 2:48 pm
  Reply
  
  Unlike in the past, at least, it are not so many. I replied to two comments.
127

matilda7 on November 4, 2018 at 2:18 am
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Haven’t yet read the article but perhaps those in the know could enlighten me as to how this New Kadampa group got to be so cashed up? They have a centre in the middle of the high-rent CBD – how can they afford it?
- 128
  
  tenpel on November 4, 2018 at 2:24 pm
  Reply
  
  They got “cashed” up by manipulating their followers to do extraordinary much “voluntary work” (more than members initially intended to do, being pushed beyond their limits), or, by “inspiring” followers to give their money, property and will to the NKT (including “inspiring” family members to make their will for the NKT. The NKT had a official leaflet for this, titled “Where there is a will, there is a way”). Other ways to generate income and value include for instance: buying ruined assets, like castles, making followers to rebuilt these (for free), asking / suggesting followers to get state benefit instead of going for work and to put their time, energy and money into the renovations of these buildings. The state benefits of such voluntary workers is gained by the NKT also by asking them for extraordinary high rents when they live in such assets, castles or NKT centres and with these high rents, the interests of the loans for buying these assets are paid. Further, state benefits or private money go into the NKT via paying for their spiritual programs. Especially monastic residents are badly exploited in many ways and might have only very little money for themselves because all goes into the NKT via different means. On top of it the NKT leadership pressurise usually also people to give loans and their savings to the NKT – while often not being very diligent or committed to pay back such loans, so that loan givers often “transfer” their loans into a “gift” for the NKT because they are tired of asking or feel stingy or attached for insisting to pay it back. (I experienced this and witnessed this all myself!)
  On top of that also an NKT Summer Festival (or NKT festivals in general) are big businesses. For instance, when Kesang Gyatso gave a Vajrayogini empowerment in Germany during an NKT summer festival the profit was more than 1.000.000€. From that the NKT bought the castle Schloss Sommerswalde in Schwante. For such NKT festivals ordained nuns and monks have to pay all the fees (no reduction is usually been given to ordained members), they have to work for free without compensations, further, ordained or lay people who live at such places of festivals as residents have to provide also their rooms for free for visiting and paying guests while the residents’ rents for the room is taken at the same time. If you investigate more closely, the NKT is one of the most successful feudal systems there are. They squeeze everything out of the people and community financially but do not give things in the same way back. Of course older monks and nuns who have worked for NKT for decades for free is not been taken care of by the NKT. Some had to run gofundme campaigns. NKT might argue, this is alright because they get the “pure dharma”. But it’s a business model with one single financial winner, the NKT. Money for spirituality.
  There might be variations in details according to country and place but these are some basic general patterns on how they generate income and were able to buy and rebuild a lot of assets, now worth many millions. Those who did the work and put all of their money and energy into these things might have already left the NKT and other naive followers continue to allow to be exploited that way in order to
  “create a lot of merits”.
  
  For some details on the growth of NKT see these two links:
  
  Growth and financing: https://info-buddhism.com/new_kadampa_tradition.html#Growth_and_financing
  
  https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2015/09/15/who-is-demonstrating-against-the-dalai-lama-questions-and-answers-about-the-new-kadampa-tradition/
- 129
  
  Brian on November 4, 2018 at 10:28 pm
  Reply
  
  NKT parasites go where the money is: The Hamptons, Hollywood and so on. You don’t see them opening missions in poor ghettoes like the The Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa, do you? Theres no money there, flipping real estate is where its at.
  - 130
    
    tenpel on November 5, 2018 at 2:47 am
    Reply
    
    To be fair, the NKT leadership goes where the money is. Common NKT folk might still be idealistic but are blind and can’t see the problem…
  - 131
    
    Brian on November 7, 2018 at 2:25 pm
    Reply
    
    But Tenpel, clearly the NKT leadership is able to manipulate its minions to work for free and pay feudal tithes for the political and expansionist mission of Head Office. Slave labour and tax exempt status–what a cynical formula for success! Those who obey whatever their masters demand are foolish.
132

tenpel on November 25, 2018 at 1:04 am
Reply

Some updates

1) The meeting of Tibetan religious leaders at the end of Nov 2018 in Dharamsala was cancelled

The meeting of religious leaders in Dharamsala – planned for the end of November – has been postponed indefinitely. Topics been planned to discuss were among others the succession of HH the 14th Dalai Lama as well as sexual abuse by Buddhist clergy. The reason been given for the cancellation is the passing away of Kathok Getse Rinpoche, the 7th supreme head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration cited that many lamas and representatives of the Nyingma tradition were unable to participate because of the passing away of Kathok Getse Rinpoche.

https://tibet.net/2018/11/13th-religious-conference-of-the-schools-of-tibetan-buddhism-and-bon-tradition-postponed-indefinitely/?fbclid=IwAR07LTlQrcL_0H_ChtYq9RojwI1PIMFlQW0v22Vrbfg2tJ5xUq-jPTz7SPw

2) Problems of Buddhism in China

The decline and fall of Chinese Buddhism: how modern politics and fast money corrupted an ancient religion
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/2165088/decline-and-fall-chinese-buddhism-how-modern-politics-and-fast?fbclid=IwAR0G2uZi4nW_e1mhrsT7wvzIOWHEZwsnIeSsClcUZwUwHG_oIYj_NQWSC5M

Leader of Taiwanese Buddhist youth group expelled over sex and drugs scandal
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/2174356/leader-taiwanese-buddhist-youth-group-expelled-over-sex-and-drugs

From August 2018: Top Chinese Buddhist monk Xuecheng faces police investigation after #MeToo sexual harassment claims upheld
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2160975/top-chinese-buddhist-monk-xuecheng-faces-police-investigation

3) Email to Lamas by Rigpa Survivors + Responses by Lamas
https://whatnow727.wordpress.com/2018/10/21/an-email-to-lamas/

First Response: Dakpo Rinpoche Replies to the Letter
https://whatnow727.wordpress.com/2018/11/19/first-response-dakpo-rinpoche-replies-to-our-letter/

Helpful Words on Devotion, Samaya and Pure Perception from Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
https://whatnow727.wordpress.com/2018/11/21/helpful-words-on-devotion-samaya-and-pure-perception-from-jetsunma-tenzin-palmo/

A second response to the email (by Ato Rinpoche) exists but was not yet posted. Stay tuned …

4) Dennis Lingwood / Sangharakshita (and his death) + Abuse in Triratna

Sangharakshita obituary: Controversial Buddhist convert who deserted the army and was plagued by sex allegations after founding an influential order in Britain
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sangharakshita-obituary-r0ghw72tg

Abuse in Triratna By Malcolm Johnson and Sue Jackson
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abuse-triratna-sue-jackson/?published=t

The following information was compiled by M.:

A short (6 min 40 s) obituary on Dennis Lingwood broadcast on BBC Radio 4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000128v
starts 13:58, ends 19:38

Sangharakshita
Born 26 August 1925; died 30 October 2018, aged 93.
Last Word spoke to writer and teacher of Buddhism Dharmachari Vishvapani.
Some quotes:

From BBC “Going for Refuge” at 18:27:
“Critics from orthodox schools feel so strongly that Lingwood’s [Sangharakshita’s] teachings break Buddhist rules of sexual conduct, and undermine family life, that, for the first time, they have agreed to speak out.” [this is from the 1992 BBC (East) TV programme about the FWBO https://youtu.be/yH77W4G4ei4%5D

Presenter Matthew Bannister at 18:39:
“The allegation was that Sangharakshita had encouraged male students to explore homosexuality with him, even if that was not their orientation. One student told the BBC he had been unable to enjoy what he called a normal sexual relationship for many years after leaving the group. Vishvapani believes Sangharakshita was naive about his power over the students.”

Vishvapani at 19:02
“I don’t think he had much sense of the kind of power dynamic between him as a teacher, and them as the students, and the result has been really, quite disastrous for his legacy, for his reputation. In the end, he acknowledged that it had been unwise, and actually quite unethical in the end for him to have acted like that. So he did, I think, see that that behaviour had caused quite a lot of pain and distress for people.”

I don’t think that Dennis was so stupid not to realise the power differential and the power he has. Seems to be just another attempt to whitewash history …
- 133
  
  Stardust on November 25, 2018 at 12:04 pm
  Reply
  
  How did he for example aknowledge ánything in his memoirs about his time with MD..?
  They just keep spinning out their whitewashing narrative. It is sickening.
134

Adamo on November 26, 2018 at 9:14 am
Reply

The reply of Ato Rinpoche her: https://whatnow727.wordpress.com/
- 135
  
  tenpel on November 26, 2018 at 9:28 am
  Reply
  
  Thank you. Here the precise link:
  https://whatnow727.wordpress.com/2018/11/26/ato-rinpoche-replies/
136

NO NAME. on November 26, 2018 at 9:21 am
Reply

The Adhisthana kula must now think that because Dennis is dead, they can breathe a sigh of relief. However, since he is dead one cannot be charged with slandering him. So, now it is possible for someone with an in depth knowledge of the decades of abuse and evidence to support their allegations, to list all that they know about the extent of the abuse. In this respect, this means they are worse offf because now the true extent of what they covered up ( suicides, mentall illness, coercion, rape, systematised abuse, internationally replicated) can be told. Far from this being the end of the scandal it is the point at which the truth can now be told fully. Munisha, Kulananda, Vishvapani, Subhuti, et al must be finding it hard to sleep.
And to add a little humour to the debate, have a look at the letter of commiseration from the EBU, placed on their webpage next to a summary of the recent annual conference where the topic was dealing with abuse in Buddhist communities. And which monkeys grind the EBU organ? Why, it’s Triratna’s answer to Goebbels, Munisha, the well known liar and cover up artist of Triratnas League of Pervert Protectors.
137

Tcheupel on April 23, 2019 at 9:01 pm
Reply

Hi Tenpel,
I recently discovered the blog by accident, checking for triratna. You may be well informed but that’s not the case of all ! Your blog was very eye opening and the quality of comments and moderation is rare in the web of today.
I would like to thank you very much for the hard work and encourage you to keep it online. I am sure the web snowballing effect will keep it a precious ressource for many years.
I a wish you a good rest and to keep your very vows pure until the end of this life. 🙂
- 138
  
  tenpel on April 24, 2019 at 11:09 am
  Reply
  
  Thank you. Good to know. Actual two posts on Triratna were taken down because of some inaccuracies. They had together about 600 – often valuable insider – comments. A person wanted to rewrite them and with reposting these we also wanted to provide the comments again in a pdf because of their valuable information. So, I used your comment to request the person to finish the editing. (I got also a legal threat about one of these posts.) Take care, t
139

tenpel on May 1, 2019 at 8:42 pm
Reply

Here is a really brillant and helpful interview with Prof Bernhard Porksen by Ursula Richard, the former editor in chief of the German Buddhist Union‘s magazine “Buddhismus Aktuell”. It has been translated into English and was just published by Tricycle. It’s one of the rare cases that an interview published first in Germany makes its way later to America.

“Unmasking the Guru: Our new digital world has made it impossible to believe in infallible teachers. What comes next is up to us.” – Interview with Bernhard Pörksen by Ursula Richard

Here is a brief excerpt:

The first reaction is usually a phase of institutional self-protection and institutional narcissism, during which attempts are made to save the organization’s image, keep the scandal out of the public eye, play it down internally, and warn members against spreading unverified rumors. Hush money may flow. The victims may be discredited as untrustworthy and psychologically unstable; they may even be threatened. Media reports may be rejected as sensationalism or targeted smear campaigns.

If these measures turn out to be unsuccessful, the next phase is an often rather vague statement of remorse, issued directly by the master in a sort of publicly celebrated purification ritual. Next, the master announces a personal retreat, a period of withdrawal and self-examination, and expresses despair over having—without having wished to do so—possibly harmed male or female students. What makes these humble gestures unsatisfactory and reveals them as sheer strategy is the fact that anything from injuries to a crime like rape is recast along the way as a problem of perception on the part of the victim. What really happened remains hazy, but the master is sorry if someone feels injured, because of course he loves his students more than himself.

Whether events will be reconstructed objectively—for instance, by employing an independent law firm to review the accusations and publish the results of its investigations—will depend on the power structure inside the organization. Generally the faction of investigators will fight with the group of hushers-up and trivializers, who may fear the loss of their influence and their livelihood in the maelstrom of the scandal.
- 140
  
  Stardust on May 1, 2019 at 10:09 pm
  Reply
  
  That is rather well summed up and seems pretty applicable to Triratna too.
  They do seem to have a solid power structure, despite the claim, quoted from the Adhisthana blog, that ”From the outside Triratna can look like a homogenous organisation, but from within for much of our history it’s looked more anarchic and un-systematic, relying on personal connections with each project or centre financially and legally independent.”.Although on some level they imo are indeed this mess, the College of Privat Preceptors is eventually in controle. With the cultic core still intact not much can truly change. They assimilate and distort critical information and feedback in a seemingly but in reality deveiving ‘open’ and ‘transparant’ way, with lengthy twisted documents. Even feedback from within the Order itself, like that from the Interkula who recommended to ‘’hire an external party trained in investigating misconduct in religious organizations to conduct an inquiry into past misconduct, and implement that party’s recommendations.’’ which seems to have simply been ‘discusssed’ but dismissed.
  - 141
    
    Stardust on May 2, 2019 at 5:01 pm
    Reply
    
    Correction: College of Public (not Privat) Preceptors. Triratna has Privat Preceptors too, who are trained by Public Ones, correction: ones… 😉
142

tenpel on May 7, 2019 at 1:27 am
Reply

Somethings are too good to be true: “the Buddha Boy”‘s bad end:

THE DARK SECRETS OF NEPAL’S FAMOUS BUDDHA BOY
They called him a miracle. A divine presence. The young spiritual leader quickly rose to power — leaving a bizarre history of death and violence in his wake

https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/the-dark-secrets-of-nepals-famous-buddha-boy
143

Adamo on May 10, 2019 at 8:48 am
Reply

A “good to read” article on “Buddhadharma”:

https://www.lionsroar.com/guru-model/
- 144
  
  tenpel on May 10, 2019 at 11:24 am
  Reply
  
  It is. It is been transparent into German too and will be published by a German Buddhist magazine. I found the Pörksen interview and this one a good combination on the subject matter.
  - 145
    
    tenpel on May 10, 2019 at 12:18 pm
    Reply
    
    Ps. I should mention that there are allegations against Dagri Rinpoche (and some on how FPMT has handled it.) The former is already in the news. The latest article is this one: https://www.tribuneindia.com/mobi/news/himachal/tibetan-monk-in-eye-of-metoo-storm/770574.html
    There are two anonymous comments with some details at the end of the discussion thread here: https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2017/10/10/the-dalai-lama-on-abuse-by-buddhist-teachers-or-gurus/
    The FPMT responded yesterday in a newsletter, saying they investigate into it. The newsletter said, Dagri Rinpoche denies the airplane incident allegations and wants to give a statement to it. The newsletter mentioned only the airplane case but not former instances of – as it seems – allegations of a similar type which allegedly have been reported to the FPMT too.
    It is claimed by the former nun in the video that there are several instances of offences by Dagri Rinpoche but it is not clear if they all were reported to the FPMT or if only some of them or only one of them were reported. In the newsletter, the FPMT said, they will follow the FPMT guidelines and linked to the ethical policies and safeguarding guidelines of the FPMT.
    
    I hope FPMT reaches out to potential or actual survivors with compassion and true care – not with pity (looking down on them) or downplaying what was hurtful / molesting as a “compassionate massage” – as well as offering financial support for therapy if that is what is needed. Also support for confused or pained disciples of Dagri Rinpoche might be needed. And of course I hope this is all dealt with honesty, truthfulness, impartial compassion and sound judgment. True leadership is required now.
    - 146
      
      tenpel on May 10, 2019 at 12:46 pm
      Reply
      
      Another PS: the FPMT newsletter didn’t ask other potential victims to come forward. I think this should be done if they want to really investigate this subject matter properly. Also communication about how many reports they have received already and how they dealt with them might be useful for transparency and to keep alive or restore faith.
147

Magali on May 11, 2019 at 8:00 am
Reply

Why did the FWBO change its name to tiratna after the scandal first broke in national news?
- 148
  
  tenpel on October 14, 2019 at 2:57 pm
  Reply
  
  People say, rebranding because of the bad name …
149

tenpel on October 14, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Reply

Here is an interesting article by Matthew Remski, predicting future cults because of the uncertainty of time: “To Eco-Activists Being Introduced to Buddhism as a Support Practice: a Note of Caution”

	Tenpel on A Timely and Important Book…
	tenpel on The Monk Who Had No Confidence…
	Mike on The Monk Who Had No Confidence…
	tenpel on Fact-finding results in respon…
	tenpel on The Monk Who Had No Confidence…
	Mike on The Monk Who Had No Confidence…
	crazyplantwomanakama… on Fact-finding results in respon…
	Tenpel on Fact-finding results in respon…

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