Dagri Rinpoché Thupten Lundrup Tenpey Gyaltsen, alias Thupten Jangchup, qui travaille au bureau du Dalaï Lama et qui est étroitement associé à la Fondation pour la Préservation de la Tradition Mahayana (FPMT) au Monastère de Sera Jey, est actuellement en garde à vue après avoir été accusé d’avoir agressé une femme lors d’un vol Delhi-Dharamsala. Selon des sources, ce n’est pas la première fois qu’il le fait, mais les incidents précédents ont été étouffés.
“Les personnes qui commettent des abus sexuels ne se soucient pas de l’enseignement du Bouddha. Rendez-le public par le biais des médias, même s’ils ne tiennent peut-être pas compte des enseignements du Bouddhisme sur le comportement éthique, ils en prendront probablement conscience si leur visage apparaît dans les médias.” ~ S.S. le Dalaï Lama (Ladakh, 2017)
10 Mai 2019 Tenzin GaphelDHARAMSALA, le 9 mai: Dans une autre allégation de attentat à la pudeur contre Dagri Rinpoché, une Espagnole a affirmé avoir été agressée par le haut professeur du bouddhisme tibétain il y a dix ans, alors qu’elle était religieuse. Dans une vidéo publiée mardi sur YouTube, Jakaira Perez Valdivia a affirmé que Dagri Rinpoché l’avait agressée il y a 10 ans chez lui, derrière le monastère de Namgyal, lorsqu’elle lui avait rendu visite pour lui demander conseil pour son problème de dos (douleur).
Jakaira Perez Valdivia
Elle a déclaré qu’il lui avait fallu beaucoup de temps pour s’exprimer publiquement au sujet de son calvaire, parce que des gens avaient essayé de la convaincre du contraire, que le Rinpoché l’avait fait par compassion. Elle a également affirmé que beaucoup d’autres femmes avaient également été agressées par Dagri Rinpoché. “Beaucoup de filles et de femmes; des femmes laïques, des religieuses, occidentales, tibétaines et indiennes ont été agressées par Dagri Rinpoché », a affirmé l’Espagnole en les exhortant à se faire connaître et à raconter leur histoire. L’allégation de Jakaira fait suite à une allégation similaire portée contre Dagri Rinpoché, il y a environ une semaine, par une Indienne qui avait accusé le professeur bouddhiste tibétain de l’avoir agressée dans un vol à destination de Dharamsala au départ de Delhi. «Une femme de Kinnaur âgée de 30 ans a accusé Rinpoché de l’avoir agressée le 3 mai sur un vol matinal Air India de Delhi à Gagal (Dharamsala)», ont rapporté plusieurs journaux en langue hindi, citant une complainte officielle déposée au poste de police de Gagal. Rinpoché, âgé de 65 ans, aurait été arrêté par la police pour enquête, après quoi il aurait été libéré sous caution. Dagri Rinpoché, l’un des lamas en tournée (titre pour un enseignant du Dharma dans le bouddhisme tibétain) de la Fondation pour la Préservation de la Tradition Mahayana (FPMT), donne de nombreux enseignements en Europe et en Asie. Les tentatives faites par Tibet Express pour obtenir une réponse de Dagri Rinpoché via Facebook et son adresse de messagerie personnelle n’ont suscité aucune réaction, tandis que de nombreuses tentatives d’envoi de courriers électroniques au bureau international de la FPMT et à son président / PDG via le site Internet de la fondation ont échoué. Dagri Rinpoché est la réincarnation de Pari (Dagri) Dorje Chang, un grand érudit bouddhiste de Lhassa. Il est né au Tibet en 1958 et a grandi pendant la révolution culturelle de 1966 à 1976. Après son évasion du Tibet en 1982, il étudie la philosophie bouddhiste pendant 17 ans et obtient le diplôme de Geshe Lharampa. Sa Sainteté le Dalaï-Lama, chef spirituel tibétain, a toujours dénoncé les comportements irresponsables et contraires à l’éthique de la part d’enseignants bouddhistes. “Les auteurs d’abus sexuels se moquent totalement de l’enseignement du Bouddha”, avait déclaré le Dalaï Lama lors d’un problème similaire au Ladakh en 2017, et encouragé les adeptes bouddhistes à rendre publics les comportements d’enseignants abusifs en s’adressant aux médias. «Rendez-le public à travers les médias, même s’ils ne tiennent peut-être pas compte des enseignements du bouddhisme sur le comportement éthique, ils en prendront probablement note si leur visage apparaît dans les médias», avait déclaré le Dalaï Lama.
Dagri Rinpoché est en effet un molester sexuel en série
Il y a 10 ans, elle était religieuse et Dagri Rinpoché a essayé de la forcer à avoir des relations sexuelles.
Bonjour à tous. Je m’appelle Jaki, mon prénom tibétain est Kunsang. Je fais cette vidéo sur le problème de Dagri Rinpoché parce que je n’ai pas de compte Facebook et que c’est le seul moyen de le rendre public. Toutes mes excuses aux suiveurs du «Awakening Project» (projet éveil) de mon autre chaîne YouTube, car je vous dois une vidéo depuis tant de mois et je publie celle-ci en premier. Mais je suis sûr que vous comprendrez pourquoi, et désolé aussi si je vais lire un peu, c’est juste que j’ai tant de choses à dire mais je ne veux pas que la vidéo soit trop longue, alors je veux juste me concentrer sur les points importants. Je fais cette vidéo parce que Dagri Rinpoché m’a aussi agressée il y a plus de 10 ans, alors que j’étais nonne bouddhiste et que je vivais à Dharamsala, d’accord. Je ne veux pas entrer dans les détails dans cette vidéo au sujet de ce qui s’est passé parce que c’est très long et très douloureux. Donc, si vous voulez savoir exactement ce qu’il m’a fait, vous pouvez lire ma déclaration solennelle que j’ai faite au poste de police de Kangra, elle compte 4 pages et je la partage également. Donc, vous pouvez le lire si vous le souhaitez. Vous pouvez voir ce qui s’est passé, il a mis ses mains sur moi, il a essayé de me déshabiller, c’est si long, ça fait 4 pages, alors vous pouvez le lire si vous voulez. Et après cela, après avoir fait cette déclaration, il m’a fallu beaucoup de temps pour avoir le courage de le faire, car pendant plus d’un an, des gens ont essayé de me convaincre que cela ne s’était pas produit ou que c’était simplement par compassion. Il me donnait un massage et toutes sortes de choses que vous pouvez imaginer. Je suis sûr que vous pouvez imaginer, de plus, j’étais une nonne bouddhiste et la situation est très stressante, et chaque fois, après avoir été maltraité ou sexuellement agressé, on se sent coupable, on se sent confus, on se blâme, “Pourquoi suis-je restée?”, “Pourquoi l’ai-je laissé venir près de moi?”, “Pourquoi l’ai-je laissé toucher ?”, et ainsi de suite. Donc, cela durait depuis plus d’un an et c’est normal parce qu’après un abus, il faut plusieurs années, parfois toute votre vie, pour commencer, voire même y travailler, mais certaines personnes qui me soutenaient m’avaient convaincu de faire cette déclaration et je l’ai faite. J’ai eu 2 copies certifiées conformes chez le notaire. J’en ai envoyé un au bureau de Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama et un au bureau de la FPMT et que puis-je vous dire, rien ne s’est passé. Je veux dire que le bureau du Dalaï Lama a organisé une réunion avec moi et Dagri Rinpoché, qu’il a essayé d’empêcher. Il a essayé, Dagri Rinpoché a essayé d’empêcher la tenue de cette réunion et ils ont donc organisé une réunion. J’ai essayé d’enregistrer la réunion avec le lecteur mp3 mu, ils m’ont dit que je ne pouvais pas le faire, que pour des raisons de sécurité, je devais l’éteindre. Alors, je devais l’éteindre. Je n’ai pas d’enregistrement de cette réunion, malheureusement. Et pendant la réunion, Dagri Rinpoché m’a présenté ses excuses. Il a dit que tout ce qu’il avait fait était par compassion, qu’il ne le ferait plus. Il allait être plus attentif quant à la façon de se comporter devant les femmes occidentales. C’est toutes sortes d’excuses, etc. Donc, j’ai accepté les excuses et je ne suis pas allé à la police. Et après cela, certains centres de la FPMT ont dit que Dagri Rinpoché disait que la réunion avait pour but de m’excuser auprès de lui et que je pleurais et implorais son pardon. Je ne peux pas y croire, c’est absolument fou. C’est un mensonge. Donc, cela signifie que Dagri Rinpoché, en plus d’être un pervers, c’est aussi un grand menteur parce que je ne me suis jamais excusée. Je n’ai rien à lui excuser, et c’est lui qui devrait s’excuser auprès de toutes les femmes qu’il a agressées toute sa vie. Alors, c’était la réunion du dalaï-lama, il s’est excusé, puis il a menti à ce sujet, alors ils n’ont rien fait à la fin, c’est vrai. Et aussi de la FPMT, je n’ai littéralement rien reçu que du genre, “Oh, il va bien, il te donnait un massage par compassion”, et c’est tout, ils ont collé à cette version. J’ai essayé de contacter beaucoup de gens. Certaines personnes ont apporté leur soutien, mais les institutions n’ont absolument rien fait. Non seulement après moi, mais avant moi, beaucoup de filles et de femmes – femmes laïques, religieuses, occidentales, tibétaines et indiennes – ont été agressées par Dagri Rinpoché. Je ne sais pas de quelle manière nous devons l’expliquer encore et encore. Dans mon cas, cela fait plus de 10 ans que je le dis, plus de 10 ans. Beaucoup de vies ont été détruites, la foi de nombreux pratiquants du Dharma en a été sérieusement affectée. La vie de nombreuses personnes dans le Dharma a été sérieusement affectée et beaucoup de ces victimes n’ont toujours pas réussi à surmonter le traumatisme causé par l’agression de Dagri Rinpoché. Je parle en particulier de jeunes nonnes occidentales, de jeunes nonnes occidentales que je connais et les autres le savent aussi. Mais ils n’ont toujours pas le courage d’en parler. Donc, après tout ce qui s’est passé, c’était encore pire parce que quand je suis intervenu, je suis devenu la mauvaise personne, d’accord. Quand j’ai pris la parole, je me suis dit: on m’a dit que j’étais fou, que je réagissais de manière excessive, que je voulais attirer l’attention. S’il vous plaît, sérieusement, regardez-moi. Avez-vous vu une photo de Dagri Rinpoché? Pourquoi voudrais-je attirer la personne, l’attention d’un tel homme? Allez, sérieusement! Et beaucoup de gens l’ont défendu et le défendent encore, ce qui, je pense, est complètement fou. Mais je veux aussi dire que je comprends, surtout les moines et les nonnes qui ont été ordonnés par lui, je comprends. Et s’il vous plaît, je veux demander au public de leur pardonner et de les comprendre. Parce que vous ne pouvez pas imaginer ce que c’est de penser que toute votre vie est un mensonge… Imaginez les personnes ordonnées par Dagri Rinpoché. Imaginez, pour recevoir l’ordination dans la tradition bouddhiste, dans la tradition monastique, il est très important que vous les obteniez d’un moine pur, un moine qui a des vœux purs. Imaginez que vous ayez été ordonné et qu’après cela, vous vous rendiez compte que peut-être, juste peut-être, vous n’aviez même pas obtenu les vœux. Vous n’avez jamais été moine ou religieuse, car un gelong pur ne vous a jamais donné les vœux [note: moine pleinement ordonné]. C’est … Je ne sais pas, si vous n’êtes pas un pratiquant du dharma, ni un moine ou une nonne bouddhiste, je ne suis pas sûre que vous puissiez comprendre à quel point c’est terrible et traumatisant, mais il ne s’agit pas seulement des vœux de libération , ainsi que les personnes qui ont prononcé les vœux du bodhisattva et les initiations tantriques avec lui. Ils ne peuvent pas faire face à la réalité, c’est trop douloureux. Alors pardonnez-leur s’ils le défendent, c’est trop dangereux de voir la vérité… Donc, même maintenant, après l’incident, les versions que j’ai entendues des centres FPMT indiquent qu’elles étaient d’accord avec la version de Rinpoché, qu’il souriait à la femme dans l’avion mais qu’elle s’est fâchée contre lui. Allez, à quel point vous croyez que nous sommes stupides? Comment pouvons-nous être si stupides, sérieusement? À quel point pensez-vous que les gens du monde entier sont stupides? Et les femmes qui ont été agressées, combien de temps pensez-vous qu’elles vont le supporter? Il a déjà 65 ans. Vous avez une idée du nombre de femmes qu’il a agressées tout au long de sa vie, simplement parce qu’il s’en tire, parce qu’il est Rinpoché? Ce n’est pas juste. Donc, je veux juste dire à cette femme qui a été agressée dans l’avion par Dagri Rinpoché, merci, merci beaucoup de l’avoir dénoncé. Vous avez fait ce que beaucoup, beaucoup d’entre nous n’ont pas fait ou ne pourraient pas faire ou n’ont tout simplement pas eu le courage de le faire. Merci beaucoup parce que vous n’êtes pas bouddhiste, ni occidental, et que vous ne l’aviez jamais vu auparavant, alors vous n’avez aucune raison d’avoir inventé ça. Je vous remercie. Je suis tellement désolée de ce que vous avez vécu. Je sais ce que vous avez vécu, et si vous avez besoin d’aide dans le procès en justice contre Dagri Rinpoché, contactez-moi. Je vous enverrai toutes les informations que j’ai. Je ne suis pas en Inde maintenant, mais quelque chose peut être arrangé si vous le souhaitez. Je veux aussi dire à la police de Kangra, j’ai essayé d’entrer en contact avec le journaliste qui a écrit les articles et avec la police de Ganggal et avec la police de Kangra et je n’ai pas pu, mais si vous voulez, voici la copie de mes déclarations statutaires. Si celles-ci peuvent soutenir le procès contre Dagri Rinpoché, je ferai tout ce qui est nécessaire pour cela. Et je veux aussi dire aux autres femmes, à toutes les autres femmes qui ont été molestées par Rinpoché, que je sais que vous avez été molestées par lui, et vous savez que je sais. Je sais que vous regardez cette vidéo et je sais que vous savez que vous avez été molestées et que vous n’avez rien dit. Vous savez, ceux d’entre vous savent de qui je parle, s’il vous plaît. J’ai respecté votre vie privée, tout le monde a respecté votre vie privée pendant 10 ans, voire plus. Il est maintenant temps de parler. Regardez, maintenant qu’il vient au public et que tout le monde sait ce qu’il a fait, vous n’avez plus besoin de vous sentir coupable. Vous n’avez plus besoin d’avoir honte, d’accord? Parlez, faites quelque chose, allez faire une vidéo, faites une déclaration, allez dans votre centre du dharma, écrivez une lettre au bureau de Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama, protestez si Dagri Rinpoché se rend dans votre centre, refusez d’y aller, refusez d’aller au centre du dharma s’il est là, faites quelque chose et n’avez pas honte. Ne pensez pas que dire la vérité va nuire au dharma, car le dharma cherche la vérité. Il est donc impossible de blesser le dharma si vous dites la vérité. Dites la vérité, faites quelque chose même si c’était il y a 15 ans, et si c’était comme moi il y a 10 ans, cela n’a pas d’importance. Il n’est pas trop tard parce que le mal qu’il vous a fait ne s’est pas encore dissipé. Alors, faites-le, faites quelque chose. Et je veux dire quelque chose à la FPMT. Qu’allez-vous faire maintenant? Allez-vous le laisser s’en tirer à nouveau? Combien de victimes supplémentaires? Toutes les souffrances de tous les étudiants qui ont été molestés par Rinpoché ou dont la vie et la foi et le dharma ont été blessés à cause des actes de Rinpoché, toute la souffrance de toutes ces personnes est sur vous parce que vous l’avez constamment invité à enseigner dans le centre du dharma même après que vous sachiez ce qu’il a fait, et vous ne croyiez pas les femmes, donc toutes les souffrances de tous ces étudiants, de tous ces pratiquants, de toutes ces femmes, si vous ne l’arrêtez pas maintenant FPMT, toute cette souffrance est sur vous.
Déclaration statutaire de Jaki
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Page 1 de la déclaration solennelle de Mme Jaki, déposée au commissariat de Kangra et notariée à Dharamsala. Cliquez pour agrandir ou cliquez ICI pour télécharger le PDF.
Page 2 de la déclaration solennelle de Mme Jaki, déposée au commissariat de Kangra et notariée à Dharamsala. Cliquez pour agrandir ou cliquez ICI pour télécharger le PDF.
Page 3 de la déclaration solennelle de Mme Jaki, déposée au commissariat de Kangra et notariée à Dharamsala. Cliquez pour agrandir ou cliquez ICI pour télécharger le PDF.
Page 4 de la déclaration solennelle de Mme Jaki, déposée au commissariat de Kangra et notariée à Dharamsala. Cliquez pour agrandir ou cliquez ICI pour télécharger le PDF.
DÉCLARATION STATUTAIRE (cliquer pour élargir)
Traduction de la Déclaration Statutaire transcrite de JakiMoi, Jakaira Perez Valdivia âgée de 26 an, fille de M. Juan Perez, Passeport n ° XD549842 L’Espagne, déclare les faits suivants:Vers Octobre 2008, pendant les enseignements de S.S. le Dalaï-Lama, je vivais au centre de méditation Tushita car monter et descendre de Thosamling était très inconfortable à cause de mon problème de dos. Quand j’ai appris que Dagri Rinpoché, également connu sous le nom de Pari Rinpoché, était à Dharamsala, j’ai décidé de lui rendre visite. Je l’ai rencontré une fois en Italie et une autre fois peu de temps après mon arrivée en Inde. Après la mort de mon professeur, Guéshé Jampa Gyatso, en 2007, de nombreux étudiants ont demandé conseil à Dagri Rinpoché et on m’a conseillé de le consulter pour obtenir une bénédiction ou un conseil pour mon problème de santé. On m’a diagnostiqué une hernie discale au début de cette année et j’avais très mal, essayant d’éviter la chirurgie à tout prix.Je suis arrivée chez lui derrière le monastère de Namgyal en fin de matinée, guidé par son accompagnateur dont je ne me souviens plus du nom. A cette époque, je connaissais assez le tibétain pour me rendre en audience sans traducteur. J’ai offert à Dagri Rinpoché un petit cadeau et expliqué mon problème de santé. Il a posé des questions sur ma vie et mes études. C’était donc l’heure du déjeuner et il m’a demandé de rester pour le déjeuner et ensuite de l’accompagner à la montagne de Dharamkot afin de lui faire une puja de feu. L’assistant nous a apporté des momos de viande et de la soupe. Dès que nous avons fini de manger, l’assistant a ramassé la vaisselle, puis Rinpoché lui a demandé de quitter l’appartement. Je pensais que nous partions aussi, mais lorsque l’assistant est parti, il m’a demandé de m’étendre par terre et de me déshabiller. J’ai demandé pourquoi et il a dit qu’il devait faire «du travail» sur moi. J’avais uniquement retiré mon zen et ma dongka et laissé le nulen (maillot) et le shamtab, car je pensais que s’il voulait effectuer une sorte de rituel pour me guérir, cela ne devrait concerner que cette partie de mon dos. Puis je me suis assis sur le sol. Dagri Rinpoché se dirigea vers la petite pièce où il tenait un autel et quand il revint, il avait un récipient en verre à la main. Il a dit que c’était une «substance très très sainte», en a mis dans le bouchon du conteneur, en a bu, en a rempli à nouveau, puis m’a dit de tout boire en une fois. Ce faisant, j’ai remarqué que c’était une forte boisson alcoolisée. Après cela, il a bu davantage et il a continué à boire pendant toute la «séance», de façon continue. Puis il m’a encore dit de me déshabiller et de m’allonger. Je n’ai pas enlevé plus de vêtements mais je me suis allongée face au sol. Il a commencé à réciter des prières et des mantras alors qu’il touchait tout mon dos et mettait la boisson d’alcool sur mon dos entier. Il a dit que je devrais desserrer mon shamtab car il était trop haut et couvrait tout le bas du dos (qui est l’endroit où j’ai eu la hernie). Alors j’ai desserré un peu le shamtab et dès que j’ai fait cela, il a mis ses mains sous ma robe, tout en bas de mon dos, atteignant la région de mes fesses. J’ai rapidement serré mon shamtab et lui ai dit que je me sentais très mal à l’aise. Il a dit «ne t’inquiète pas c’est bon, nous sommes frères.» Alors il a commencé à réciter plus de prières et à masser et à mettre de l’alcool sur le dos. J’aimerais souligner le fait que pendant toute la situation, il était très habile à dissimuler et à adopter une attitude discrète (récitant des mantras et des prières plus fortes) après être allé trop près de mes parties intimes. Puis il s’est accroupi avec chaque pied sur un côté de mon corps, puis s’est assis sur mes fesses, appuyant son corps plusieurs fois sur moi. Puis il m’a dit de me retourner. Il a commencé à toucher, massant et mettant de l’alcool sur mon ventre et les zones environnantes, essayant de toucher mes seins et mon bassin, ce qu’il n’a pas réussi à faire car je tenais ma chemise serrée sur mes seins d’une main et le shamtab avec l’autre. Remarquant cela, il s’est mit à rire et a dit: “Tu es une très bonne religieuse, un esprit très pur. “À ce stade, mon corps était complètement recouvert d’alcool, puis il m’a dit de m’asseoir. Je pensais que c’était fini et que j’étais sur le point de m’habiller correctement, mais il m’a dit d’attendre. J’étais assise face au mur et il était derrière moi, récitant des mantras, etc. Soudain, il m’a prise dans ses bras, essayant de toucher mes seins avec ses mains. Alors que j’essayais rapidement de mettre un bras entre ma poitrine et ses mains et d’utiliser l’autre main pour tenir mon shamtab, j’ai juste remarqué à la fin qu’il poussait son pénis contre mon dos. Quand il a lâché prise, il m’a dit de prendre une douche dans ses toilettes privées. Comme je sentais complètement l’alcool et qu’il aurait été vraiment inapproprié de sortir comme ça, je me suis approché des toilettes et il m’a donné sa serviette personnelle pour me sécher le corps. J’ai pris une douche très rapide et quand je suis sorti, il était assis sur le trône en forme de lit qui se trouve dans sa chambre. Il m’a demandé de m’asseoir à côté de lui pendant qu’il lisait des prières, il a tiré le côté droit de son dingwa vers lui pour me laisser m’asseoir de ce côté du lit. Puis il m’a demandé de toucher son bras droit, il m’a demandé de le masser. J’ai dit que je ne savais pas comment faire des massages. Puis, comme je ne le faisais pas, il se frotta le bras avec la main et les jambes (j’étais assise les jambes croisées sur le trône du lit). Puis il m’a demandé de réciter des mantras et a dit qu’il allait bénir mes chakras, il a commencé à toucher le front, puis la gorge et, alors que je mettais mes bras croisés sur ma poitrine et mon ventre, il ne s’est pas dirigé vers les ‘chakras bas’. Après cela, il m’a dit d’aller de l’autre côté de la pièce, où se trouvent les chaises, et d’attendre. Après avoir terminé sa récitation, il a téléphoné à son assistant pour lui dire que maintenant c’était correct de revenir, mais de ne pas se dépêcher. Quand il est arrivé de l’autre côté de la pièce, je me suis levée, il s’est approché de moi et a posé sa joue sur mon cou et mon visage et m’a dit doucement dans l’oreille «nous sommes des frères». Je lui ai dit “en réalité nous ne sommes pas”. Puis il se dirigea vers la pièce où il gardait l’autel et, lorsqu’il est revenu, il avait entre les mains un récipient en plastique noir dont le contenu ne pouvait être vu de l’extérieur. Puis il m’a dit que c’était l’offrande intérieure et m’a ordonné d’en boire un peu chaque jour et de la frotter également sur mon bas du dos. Tout en récitant des mantras, il en mit de nouveau une partie dans la capsule et le but, puis le remplit à nouveau et me dit que je devais tout boire en même temps, car c’était l’offrande intérieure, donc je l’ai fait, et bien sûr c’était une substance alcoolique. Il a ri et a dit: ‘Fais attention Ani-la, tu vas te saouler’, et il en a bu plus, puis il m’a donné les boîtes en plastique à emporter à la maison. Il a dit qu’il avait mis l’alcool dans les boîtes en plastique parce que sinon il aurait été inapproprié si les gens me voient porter la bouteille. Puis il a continué à boire de l’autre récipient en verre. Il m’a dit de ne parler à personne de cela et de ne pas montrer «l’offrande intérieure» à qui que ce soit. L’assistant est venu et il a insisté pour que je les accompagne à Dharamkot pour le puja de feu. Je lui ai dit qu’il se faisait tard et que je devais retourner à Tushita pour l’enregistrement au bureau. Puis Rinpoché a dit qu’ils me conduiraient. Nous sommes sortis, le gardien a arrêté un taxi et nous sommes montés à Dharamkot. Lorsque le taxi atteignit la route privée de Tushita, Rinpoché me prit la main et mit cinq cents roupies dans mon sac. J’ai dit au revoir à lui et à l’assistant très cordialement pour ne pas laisser l’assistant soupçonner la moindre chose inhabituelle. Quand je suis arrivée à Tushita, il était environ 15h00. C’est ce dont je me souviens.
Lama Zopa et Dagri Rinpoche (Fondation pour la Préservation de la Tradition Mahayana). La FPMT fait souvent la promotion de Dagri Rinpoché et il est fréquemment photographié avec le responsable de l’organisation, Lama Zopa. Maintenant que Dagri Rinpoché a été arrêté pour agression sexuelle, le FPMT va-t-il rester silencieux ou va-t-il continuer à le promouvoir en tant que source d’enseignement valable?
Lama Zopa et FPMT étaient au courant du harcèlement sexuel des femmes par Dagri Rinpoché. Ils ont dit aux gens de se taire et pourtant, ils ont quand même envoyé Dagri Rinpoché partout pour enseigner.
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Second woman alleges molestation by Dagri Rinpoche
10th May 2019 | Tenzin Gaphel | 76 ViewsDHARAMSALA, 9th May: In yet another molestation allegation against Dagri Rinpoche, a Spanish woman has alleged that she was molested by the senior Tibetan Buddhist teacher ten years ago when she was a nun. In a video posted on YouTube on Tuesday, Jakaira Perez Valdivia has alleged that Dagri Rinpoche had molested her 10 years ago at his residence behind Namgyal Monastery when she visited him seeking advice for her back problem (pain).
Jakaira Perez Valdivia
She has stated that it took her a long time to come out in the open to tell about her ordeal because people tried to convince her otherwise, that the Rinpoche did it out of compassion. She further claimed that there are many other women who were also molested by Dagri Rinpoche. “Many girls and women; laywomen, nuns, Western, Tibetan, Indians have been molested by Dagri Rinpoche,” the Spanish women alleged while urging them to come forward and tell their stories. Jakaira’s allegation follows a similar allegation levelled against Dagri Rinpoche about a week ago by an Indian woman who accused the Tibetan Buddhist teacher of molesting her on a Dharamsala bound flight from Delhi. A 30-year-old woman from Kinnaur has accused Rinpoche of molesting her on a morning flight from Delhi to Gagal (Dharamsala) on an Air India Flight on 3rd May”, reported several Hindi language news papers citing an FIR lodged at the Gagal Police station. The 65-year old Rinpoche was reportedly detained by the police for enquiry after which he was said to be released on bail. Dagri Rinpoche, as one of the touring lamas(title for a teacher of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism) of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), conducts extensive teachings across Europe and Asia. Attempts made by Tibet Express to get a response from Dagri Rinpoche through his Facebook and personal e-mail address were met with no response at all while numerous attempts to send e-mail to the international office of the FPMT and its President/CEO through the foundation’s webpage were unsuccessful. Dagri Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Pari (Dagri) Dorje Chang, a great Buddhist scholar from Lhasa. He was born in Tibet in 1958 and grew up during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 – 1976. After his escape from Tibet in 1982, he studied Buddhist philosophy for 17 years and received the Geshe Lharampa degree. The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has consistently denounced ‘irresponsible and unethical behaviours from Buddhist teachers. “People who commit sexual abuse don’t care about the Buddha’s teaching,” the Dalai Lama had said while addressing on a similar issue in Ladakh in 2017 and encouraged Buddhists followers to make the behaviours of abusive teachers public by approaching media. “Make it public through media, though they may not pay heed to Buddhist teachings on ethical behaviour, they will likely take notice if their face appears in the media” the Dalai Lama had stated.
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: http://tibetexpress.net/10307/second-woman-alleges-molestation-by-dagri-rinpoche/)
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La religieuse Thubten Chodron se prononce contre Dagri Rinpoché
Thubten Chodron, professeur occidental de bouddhisme, parle de Dagri Rinpoché dans une vidéo de 15 minutes. Elle mentionne à 01: 52-05: 06 qu’elle a également entendu des allégations. Dagri Rinpoché était le conseiller de l’abbaye de Sravasti et a également donné des conférences dans leur centre de dharma. Ces derniers jours, ils ont retiré ses vidéos et ont retiré son nom comme conseiller de leur page Web. Vidéo publiée le 10 mai 2019.
Transcription (01:52 – 05:06)
“il y a quelques années, j’avais entendu d’autres allégations à propos du même enseignant, mais à ce moment-là, je n’entendais qu’un récit en seconde main ici, et un récit en seconde main là. Les personnes qui faisaient les allégations n’étaient pas identifiées, je ne connaissais pas leurs noms, je ne pouvais pas leur parler, je ne pouvais pas leur poser de questions, il n’y avait aucune enquête avec un rapport publié et donc basé simplement sur le manque d’informations, il n’y avait aucun moyen que je puisse tirer une conclusion sur le tout. Je devais le laisser très ouvert. Alors maintenant, j’espère vraiment que la police fera quelque chose, mais je pense qu’il est nécessaire que le groupe du Dharma où il enseigne, soit la grande organisation du Dharma (FPMT), où il enseigne beaucoup, je pense qu’ils devraient faire une enquête indépendante parce que sur ce genre de choses, si vous attendez simplement, cela ne s’éclaircit pas et personne ne sait exactement ce qui s’est passé. Et je pense qu’il est préférable que vous sachiez qu’un parti non impliqué mène une enquête et parle aux différentes personnes, et je pense que les femmes qui ont subi des violences devraient se manifester et s’il y a une telle enquête, parler aux gens. Peut-être qu’elles ne veulent pas être identifiées par leur nom mais qu’elles devraient au moins parler aux enquêteurs s’il ya une enquête, ce que j’espère bien, parce que, dans ce genre de choses, je pense qu’il faut obtenir des informations fiables, Car, je pense il y a quelques années ou peut-être un an, lorsque tout cela a éclaté au sujet d’un autre lama. J’ai donné toute une série de conférences …”
Adelaide Foster parle pour son amie Jaki – version en langue tibétaine
Bonjour. Cette vidéo est une réponse à l’annonce faite, à l’annonce officielle faite par Dagri Rinpoche, annonce faite le 12 mai 2019. Assez rare en fait, une lettre a été publiée en son nom, sur les deux incidents d’agression sexuelle présumés qui se sont passés en Inde. Je n’essaie pas d’influencer, je n’ai peut-être pas été assez explicite dans mes vidéos en Tibétain et en Anglais, je n’essaie pas de prouver quoi que ce soit ici, je voulais juste partager mes sentiments sur l’annonce de Dagri Rinpoche. Cette annonce qui pour le moment n’est que qu’en Tibétain. Il n’y a malheureusement aucun mot de Rinpoché en Anglais sur cet incident, jusqu’à présent. Donc la lettre de Rinpoché, de Dagri Rinpoché parle de l’incident en Inde. Comme on m’a dit que j’en ai pas assez parlé, l’incident se passe dans un avion. Que Rinpoché n’était pas assis à côté de la personne qui l’a inculpé. Néanmoins, cette personne, il a par erreur réveillé cette personne et puis cette personne a commencé à lui dire beaucoup de choses qu’il ne comprenait pas. C’est ce qui est dit dans la lettre. Donc il n’a pas comprise ce que cette femme disait. Et puis, puisqu’il n’a pas compris, il lui a sourié. C’est tout ce qu’il a fait. Néanmoins, je me souviens pas exactement, mais quelques lignes plus tard ou quelques phrases plus tard, il dit que cette personne l’a accusé de, d’avoir été touché par lui, un peu partout. Donc ma réponse dans les vidéos précédentes, en Anglais et en Tibétain faisaient la réflexion que soit l’on peut comprendre ce que cette personne dit soit on ne peut pas la comprendre, mais que malheureusement, les deux sont peu probables, en même temps. Je ne sais pas comment Rinpoché a pu comprendre et ne pas comprendre ce qui s’est passé. Néanmoins quelqu’un a bien sûr pu traduire après coup, ce qui veut dire qu’il n’était pas seul dans l’avion, ce qu’il est très très peu probable qu’il soit le seul Tibétan dans un avion qui lie Dehli à Dharamsala et que pour ne pas avoir compris il aurai fallu que personne n’aide dans cet incident. Bien sûr, je n’ai aucune idée de ce qui s’est passé vraiment passé, je n’étais pas là, je partage juste mes sentiments sur la réponse, l’annonce de Rinpoché. Un autre point sur l’annonce de Rinpoché qui m’a personnellement un peu choqué c’est que Rinpoché donc parle de Jakaira et dit que Jakaira en effet il y a environ dix ans il y a eu un problème avec elle. Qu’elle est venu apparemment trois ans après, ce qui Jakaira dément totalement, avec cette histoire-là. Moi, personnellement j’étais en même temps à Tushita à Dharamsala quand elle a été rencontré Dagri Rinpoché et cet incident a pris place, et j’ai aussi, j’étais aussi présente lors de la réaction de Jaikira qui est venu en pleurant chez moi après que Dagri Rinpoché a essayé de lui parler. Donc ce qui me dérange dans l’annonce de Rinpoché pardon, c’est que Rinpoché écrit que cette nonne, non cette tante, parce qu’il n’utilise pas le mot qui est standard à l’écrit pour une moniale bouddhiste, j’ai rarement, personnellement j’ai rarement vu le mot qu’il a utilisé pour décrire une moniale à l’écrit, très rarement. Il a le droit d’utiliser ce qu’il veut utiliser comme mot mais personnellement, c’est mon interprétation une fois encore, d’avoir vu rien que ce mot là « Ani » qui veut tante en Tibétain à l’écrit m’a surpris un peu quand j’ai lu la lettre. Après, il dit aussi que cette ani avait des problèmes d’esprit et de corps. Elle était venu chez pour lui demander de l’aide etc. Jakaira personnellement ne m’a jamais parlé de problèmes mentaux qui l’aurait conduit à demander de l’aide de Rinpoché. Depuis dix ans que j’entends sa version des faits, je n’ai jamais entendu qu’elle ait dit ça. Par contre, j’ai entendu d’une amie de Jakaira que l’attendant de Rinpoché, est venu déjà, rendre visite à cette amie, sans savoir que elle connaissait Jakaira en disant que Jakaira était folle. Donc c’est pas quelque chose de nouveau. Donc, ici, c’est une des choses qui m’a choquée, le fait de dire que Jakaira n’était pas, avait des problèmes mentaux. Une autre chose qui me choque dans cette lettre, de nouveau avec l’histoire de Jakaira, c’est que Rinpoché dit qu’il a cité moins de rendez-vous que c’est passé par la suite de cette histoire. Malheureusement Rinpoché ne dit pas que c’était moins, déjà c’était lui, son attendant, et puis il compte bizarrement aussi Jakaira et une amie de Jakaira, qui ont fait partie d’un rendez-vous, qui a donc pris place en effet après cet incident et après que Jakaira partage un affidavit, sur un affidavit pardon, sur ce qui s’était passé avec le bureau du Dalaï Lama et puis aussi avec la FPMT, la Fondation pour la Préservation de la Tradition Mahayana. Donc ces six témoins, apparemment, c’est quelqu’un qui a écrit le rendez-vous, donc ils doivent avoir des preuves écrites quelque part. Il y avait Chimila, du bureau de Sa Sainteté, d’après Jakaira, Rinpoché, son attendant, Jakaira et une de ses amies. Donc ces six témoins dont parle Rinpoché si facilement, qui peuvent l’aider, qui sont montrés d’un point de vue qui fait croire que Rinpoché, que la version de Rinpoché est juste et que Jakaira, la version de Jakaira est sans fondement n’est en fait pas du tout le cas. Donc, ces trois choses à propos de Jakaira me dérangent. C’est un avis personnel encore un fois. Et puis une dernière chose qui me dérange dans cette lettre fortement, c’est vers la fin, Rinpoché écrit que les gens qui le montrent du doigt, qui disent qu’il a fait de mauvaises choses, le font par haine et par colère et attachement et que il leur demande de ne pas accumuler un karma négatif en faisant ça. Je trouve que c’est un peu, c’est, comment dire, cette phrase me dérange beaucoup déjà, parce que parler de n’importe qui en, de n’importe quoi négatif veut, nécessairement implique une mauvaise motivation. Personnellement moi je n’ai rien contre Rinpoché, je ne le connais presque pas, c’est-à-dire que je ne l’ai jamais parlé directement, j’ai entendu beaucoup de lui, et je l’ai vu beaucoup à Dharamsala, mais je n’ai absolument rien, pas de connexion avec lui. Je ne vois pas, ce que j’aurai à gagner à malicieusement parler négativement de lui. Par contre, pendant dix ans je me suis tu sur cette histoire et le problème de l’avion et l’histoire de l’avion et de l’agression qui aurai eu place dans cet avion, m’ont tellement dérangé que je me suis dit que se taire, c’est laisser d’autres agressions se passer et qu’il fallait qu’on arrête ça là et donc j’ai commencé à parler. Et ce n’est pas donc par colère ou par haine, je n’ai aucune raison d’avoir de la haine contre Rinpoché, que je parle. Et puis, malheureusement, dire que on crée du karma négatif si on parle des choses, des agressions, ou des abus de pouvoir etc., c’est laisser non seulement ces abus, prendre place mais c’est aussi assurer que dans le future, les choses ne changent pas. Et donc, j’ai été très perturbé par cette annonce faite au monastère de Sera hier le 12 mai 2019, et cette vidéo est une réponse à cette annonce. J’espère que l’annonce en Français sera toute aussi mauvaise et que les gens pourront apprécier une telle annonce par ce qui est dit. Au revoir, bonne journée.
Adelaide Foster parle pour son amie Jaki – version en anglaise
Adelaide Foster parle en anglaise et dit que Dagri Rinpoché ne dit pas la vérité
MESSAGES DE SOUTIEN
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://www.facebook.com/celia.gradin/posts/10156601211324055)
TRADUCTION (cliquer pour élargir)
Lettre de soutien de Karma Yeshe
Je suis une amie de Kunsang. J’étais une nonne appelée Karma Yeshe et vivais dans la région de Dharamsala. Je me souviens d’avoir accompagné Ani Kunsang aux bureaux de S.S. le Dalaï Lama pour une réunion face à face avec Dagri Rinpoché et Chime La du bureau de S.S., lorsque la nonne qui était censée l’accompagner, soudainement, ne pouvait pas venir. C’était la toute première fois que je voyais ou rencontrais Rinpoché, mais j’ai entendu l’histoire de Kunsang et un autre incident où il a tenté d’embrasser une autre de nos amies, une nonne américaine. D’après mes souvenirs de cette réunion, Rinpoché était avec son assistant et il paraissait très doux et innocent, affirmant qu’il ne faisait qu’essayer d’aider Ani la. Lors de la réunion, Kunsang a été ferme dans sa version de ce qui s’est passé, elle n’a pas pleuré et elle ne s’est pas excusée (comme le prétendait Rinpoché). En fait, je pense que Rinpoché s’est excusé pour ce qu’il prétend être une incompréhension des événements. Ce n’est pas un cas isolé de Kunsang en tant qu’accusateur unique. Je pense que certaines nonnes occidentales ont déjà écrit des déclarations il y a 10 ans, et maintenant, de plus en plus d’histoires sont en train de sortir. Je me souviens que Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo était très favorable à Kunsang et aux nonnes dans les mêmes situations, affirmant qu’elles devaient s’exprimer. Bravo à toutes les courageuses victimes de tels abus qui se sont exprimées et à la femme indienne dans l’avion, son courage a été un catalyseur pour que ces histoires soient révélées!
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://www.facebook.com/celia.gradin/posts/10156601211324055)
TRADUCTION (cliquer pour élargir)
Lettre de soutien de Tenzin Yangchen
Et voici une autre lettre de soutien d’une autre religieuse (également une très bonne amie): Je m’appelle Tenzin Yangchen, Je suis nonne depuis 2009 et la plupart du temps j’habite à Dharamsala, en Inde. A cette époque, conscient de la mauvaise conduite de Rinpoché, j’ai eu une brève discussion avec Soeur Jotika pour lui demander conseil de la meilleure façon de faire face à la situation. Plus tard, j’étais avec Kunsang lors d’une réunion à Namgyal avec le secrétaire de S.S. le Dalaï Lama, M. Tenzin Takla. Je me souviens de lui nous disant que le comportement de Rinpoché était une honte pour H.H. et le dharma. Plus tard, j’étais avec Kunsang lors d’une réunion à Namgyal avec le secrétaire de S.S. le Dalaï Lama, M. Tenzin Takla. Je me souviens qu’il nous a dit que le comportement de Rinpoché était une honte pour S.S. et le Dharma. J’ai accompagné Kunsang quand elle a rencontré Ven. Robina à Tushita et je sais qu’elle a parlé du problème avec Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo et Nechung Rinpoché. Depuis lors, Kunsang a été exposée à différents types de réactions. Certains ont montré leur soutien, notamment Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, qui l’a encouragée à le signaler, tandis que d’autres, des religieuses et des laïcs ont plutôt condamné Kunsang pour ce qui s’était passé. Je me souviens de commentaires à son sujet, qu’elle n’avait pas de vision pure, quelqu’un lui a dit qu’elle irait en enfer et même d’autres sont allés voir Rinpoché pour lui exprimer leur soutien. Il y avait même des commentaires sur son apparence physique, comme si cela donnerait à un enseignant ou à quelqu’un d’autre le droit de molester, d’abuser et de nuire à autrui! La situation a affecté non seulement celles à qui le comportement de Rinpoché avait directement fait du mal, mais en quelque sorte à nous tous. Nous savons tous que ce n’est pas un cas isolé et nous devrions considérer que notre attitude de savoir mais de ne pas rompre le silence peut être dommageable pour les autres! Votre soutien serait d’une grande importance! Sincères amitiés
UNE TROISIÈME VICTIME S’EXPRIME PUBLIQUEMENT
Le 14 mai 2019, une Coréenne nommée Young Sun Shin a rendu publique son expérience avec Dagri Rinpoché. Elle a dit avoir demandé de l’aide à Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama et à Ling Rinpoché. De la part du bureau du Dalaï-lama, on lui a dit que le Dalaï-lama était très occupé. Ling Rinpoché a commenté l’incident en disant que c’était très grave mais aucune mesure n’avais été prise. Elle a vécu en Inde entre 2005 et 2009, mais après cet incident, elle est rentrée en Corée, car personne ne s’est exprimée et ne l’a protégée. Tout comme la FPMT, le bureau du Dalaï Lama et Ling Rinpoché ont choisi de balayer cet abus sous le tapis. Combien de femmes en plus Dagri Rinpoché va-t-il agresser et abuser sexuellement avant qu’il n’y ait des conséquences?
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157134479759598)
Tsawa Khangtsen tried to shift the blame for this incident onto practitioners of Dorje Shugden, when it is not relevant. Their accusation has only served to upset Ms. Shin who responded below. (Source: https://www.facebook.com/serajetsawa.khamtsen/posts/2266101596815643)
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157138231879598)
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157138344324598)
Dagri Rinpoche meets Ms. Shin whom he later molested (Source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157138344324598)
Dagri Rinpoche meets Ms. Shin whom he later molested (Source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157138344324598)
Ms. Shin’s documents showing she really was in India at the time of the assault (Source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157138344324598)
Ms. Shin’s documents showing she really was in India at the time of the assault (Source: https://www.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157138344324598)
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE: FPMT FINALLY “TEMPORARILY” SUSPENDS DAGRI RINPOCHE
Nearly a week after Dagri Rinpoche was arrested for molesting an Indian lady on a Delhi-Dharamsala flight, FPMT International finally released an official statement announcing that they have suspended Dagri Rinpoche from their list of official teachers. This means that Dagri Rinpoche will no longer be allowed to teach in or visit any FPMT centres. The suspension shows that FPMT believe the allegations of the women who are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche.
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Mise à jour concernant Dagri Rinpoché (cliquer pour élargir)
Le 14 mai 2019Mise à jour concernant Dagri RinpochéDagri Rinpoché est depuis de nombreuses années l’un des enseignants tibétains inscrits sur la liste des enseignants tibétains de la FPMT.La semaine dernière, la police indienne a reçu une plainte officielle d’une femme qui se trouvait sur le même vol commercial que Dagri Rinpoché en Inde, l’accusant d’avoir agi de manière inappropriée pendant le vol. En outre, une autre femme a récemment fait des allégations d’inconduite sexuelle contre Dagri Rinpoché il y a 10 ans, qu’elle a partagées via une vidéo YouTube. Le bureau international de la FPMT comprend que la meilleure pratique consiste à suspendre l’enseignement d’un enseignant pendant qu’une enquête est en cours, afin de protéger les étudiants et l’enseignant. L’enquête sur ce qui s’est passé sur le vol est actuellement menée par la police indienne. Nous avons donc temporairement suspendu Dagri Rinpoché de la liste des enseignants tibétains de la FPMT avec effet immédiat, en attendant la conclusion de l’enquête de police. Cela signifie que Dagri Rinpoché ne peut pas enseigner, ni être invité à enseigner, dans aucun centre de la FPMT pendant cette suspension. La suspension d’un enseignant de la FPMT n’indique pas une supposition de culpabilité. Dagri Rinpoché a envoyé au Bureau international cette déclaration personnelle concernant les allégations. En ce qui concerne les allégations formulées sur YouTube, nous avons contacté directement la femme qui a posté la vidéo. En 2011, le bureau privé de Sa Sainteté le Dalaï-Lama nous a informés qu’ils avaient reçu une allégation de cette femme contre Dagri Rinpoché. Le bureau privé nous a informés qu’ils avaient fait une enquête sur les allégations et qu’ils avaient résolu le problème avec la femme. Ils nous ont informés que Dagri Rinpoché avait compris la gravité des allégations et s’était engagé à éviter les situations qui pourraient donner lieu à des allégations similaires à l’avenir. Par conséquent, nous avons maintenu l’inscription de Dagri Rinpoché sur la liste des enseignants tibétains de la FPMT. Cependant, nous avons pris nos responsabilités envers les étudiants au sérieux et avons alerté les coordinateurs régionaux et nationaux de la FPMT sur le sujet, leur demandant d’informer tout centre qui avait invité ou envisageait d’inviter Dagri Rinpoché, afin qu’ils puissent examiner leur invitation à la lumière de ces informations. Nous avons également profité de l’occasion pour examiner les politiques et processus de la FPMT afin de déterminer si d’autres modifications étaient nécessaires pour garantir la sécurité des étudiants, des enseignants et des centres. Nous avons envoyé un rappel à ce sujet aux coordinateurs l’année dernière, car on nous avait dit que des discussions étaient en cours au sujet de Dagri Rinpoché. Nous n’avons reçu aucune plainte concernant Dagri Rinpoché depuis 2011. Notre récente décision de suspendre Dagri Rinpoché va dans le sens de l’accent mis par l’organisation de la FPMT sur le comportement éthique. Les politiques et directives de la FPMT sont mises en place pour aider les personnes en position d’autorité à maintenir un environnement sûr et respectueux dans leur centre, projet ou service local. Ceux-ci inclus:
Respecter la loi.
Politique Éthique FPMT
Guide de procédure de réclamation
Politique et directives relatives aux enseignants, qui permettent de s’assurer que les enseignements du Dharma ne sont fournis que par ceux qui sont qualifiés pour enseigner le Dharma (enseignants inscrits à la FPMT)
Lama Zopa Rinpoché a donné ce conseil aux étudiants de Dagri Rinpoché sur la manière de se à rapporter cette situation du point de vue du Dharma. étiqueté: dagri rinpoche, éthique, politique éthique
In the statement, FPMT admitted to having prior knowledge of the serious allegations against Dagri Rinpoche as far back as 2011, that the Dalai Lama’s Office were fully aware of Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual abuse, and that Dagri Rinpoche had been sternly warned to avoid similar situations in the future. FPMT also claims to have warned FPMT centres of the potential dangers of inviting Dagri Rinpoche (i.e. the dangers of Dagri Rinpoche making sexual advances on their female members and students). Given that FPMT had such foreknowledge, the big question is, why did FPMT remain quiet for so long after news of the Indian lady being molested was announced? Why didn’t FPMT give more stringent warnings to all their international members when complaints about Dagri Rinpoche began circulating again a year ago? Why was FPMT so irresponsible to not remove Dagri Rinpoche from their approved teachers list a year ago, or eight years ago? Why did FPMT try to cover up the situation for so long until now when all hell has broken loose? Shame on you FPMT for being another religious organisation that covers up sexual scandals and allows your members to be exposed to abuse by sexual predators in positions of power. FPMT will now and forever be seen as an organisation that knowingly harbours sexual predators and does nothing about it. It is unbelievably sad that so many nuns and women needed to be accosted by Dagri Rinpoche before FPMT finally decided to break their silence. FPMT should have suspended and disqualified Dagri Rinpoche a long time ago instead of sending him all over the world and allowing many more women to become victims. Dagri Rinpoche is a sexual predator of the highest degree. Now, victims and their friends are speaking up and even more victims will emerge from the woodwork. They are no longer keeping quiet. FPMT’s lame suspension of Dagri Rinpoche will not placate the public. The Dagri Rinpoche issue will not simply go away but will continue to grow and keep coming back to haunt FPMT again and again. Strong actions are what is needed now to show that FPMT are sincere and serious about making up for their mistakes. For their part in covering up Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual abuse, FPMT must issue a public apology. What Dagri Rinpoche did is a crime punishable under the law with jail time. It is high time that FPMT stop sitting on the fence to protect themselves but actively support the police investigations into Dagri Rinpoche and cooperate to the fullest extent in order to not lose even more credibility.
LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE’S SOLUTION TO DAGRI RINPOCHE’S CHARGES OF MOLESTATION AND SEXUAL ABUSE
Weeks after the FPMT’s silence on Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation charges, Lama Zopa Rinpoche finally addressed the issue, in what became a ‘teaching’. In fact, Lama Zopa only touched lightly on the Dagri issue before his talk meandered to other topics inviting listeners to forget about Dagri Rinpoche’s offences. Essentially, Lama Zopa’s explanation is that the women who were abused by Dagri Rinpoche should view him as a deity because Dagri had a couple of dreams that he went to Gaden Heaven and was in fact an extraordinary being. No, you didn’t hear it wrong. To be sure, Lama Zopa advised that because Dagri Rinpoche had dreams that he, Dagri, was extraordinary, the women should just let him do whatever he likes to them. If Lama Zopa’s view is to be accepted, then we can all do away with the law, monastic rules, vows and everything that has kept the practice of Buddhism on the straight and narrow. Everyone who commits a crime should not be required to be brought to justice, provided the perpetrator has had a couple of dreams of being a deity. According to Lama Zopa, Dagri Rinpoche’s victims are to accept this explanation and deal with the crime inflicted upon them happily. This is precisely the kind of medieval thinking, used to justify slavery and serfdom. Having said all that, this explanation is convenient because if all Dagri Rinpoche’s victims were to behold him in this ‘pure view,’ then Lama Zopa and the FPMT would have no need to deal with a very thorny issue and the inconvenient fact that they have been caught covering up for him. On his part, Dagri Rinpoche would be completely unshackled and it is frightening to think what he would do with this unrestricted immunity.
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/lama-zopa-rinpoches-advice-to-students-of-dagri-rinpoche/)
Le conseil de Lama Zopa Rinpoché aux étudiants de Dagri Rinpoché (cliquer pour élargir)
Le 14 mai 2019Publié dans Conseils de Lama Zopa Rinpoché, Nouvelles et conseils de Lama Zopa Rinpoché.Si vous souhaitez lire la mise à jour du bureau de la FPMT International concernant Dagri Rinpoché, elle est disponible ici. Ce qui suit est le conseil de Lama Zopa Rinpoché aux étudiants de Dagri Rinpoché.Enseignement de Lama Zopa Rinpoché au Centro La Sabiduría de Nagarjuna, Bilbao, Espagne, le 6 mai 2019. Photo par Ven. Lobsang Sherab. D’après ma compréhension, à mon avis, et selon mon esprit, Dagri Rinpoché est un être très positif et saint – certainement pas une personne ordinaire. Il y a très longtemps, à Tushita, à Dharamsala, Dagri Rinpoché m’a dit qu’il avait eu un rêve dans lequel il avait visité la Terre Pure de Lama Tsongkhapa (Yiga Chozin). Il disait à quel point c’était incroyable, incroyablement merveilleux, avec tous les beaux plaisirs et la vue, hou la la! Puis, au monastère de Sera Je, alors que je dînais chez lui, il m’a raconté une autre histoire. Après avoir récité les mantras de Rinjung Gyatso, il a dirigé les pujas du groupe Hayagriva à Sera Je. Pendant la puja, il était lui-même un énorme Hayagriva et tous les moines étaient très petits. Lorsqu’il m’a dit cela, sa façon de l’exprimer était de paraître humble, en disant qu’il était peut-être en train d’halluciner. Ce ne sont que quelques histoires que j’ai entendues. Mais ce n’est certainement pas un être ordinaire, quelqu’un qui a peur de la mort et des sphères inférieures. C’est certain à cent pour cent. C’est selon ma vision personnelle, selon mon esprit. Par conséquent, je tiens à dire aux étudiants qui ont reçu des initiations et des enseignements de Dagri Rinpoché que vous devriez vous réjouir à cent pour cent, peu importe ce que le monde dit, peu importe si certains le critiquent. Même après que Bouddha soit devenu illuminé, il a montré l’aspect d’avoir mal au pied quand un morceau de bois avait percé son pied. Bouddha a dit que cette souffrance était le résultat d’une inconduite sexuelle avec une femme dans l’une de ses vies antérieures, il y a longtemps. Bien sûr, même les arhats, qui n’ont pas atteint les cinq voies du Mahayana, les dix Bhumis ou la voie tantrique, n’ont pas mal. Ils sont libérés du samsara, car ils sont totalement libérés des illusions et du karma, la cause du samsara. Comment est-il possible pour quelqu’un de souffrir la douleur, la renaissance, la vieillesse et la mort s’il a totalement cessé la cause de la souffrance? Cela devient alors comme si Bouddha n’est pas vrai et que les enseignements de Bouddha ne le sont pas. Cela devient comme ça. Des êtres innombrables ont atteint l’illumination: des yogi-pandits tels que Saraha, Tilopa et Naropa, et de nombreux êtres appartenant aux quatre sectes du bouddhisme tibétain, y compris Padmasambhava et d’autres lamas de Nyingma, Marpa et Milarepa, les cinq grands lamas Sakya hautement atteints, Lama Tsongkhapa lui-même et beaucoup d’autres dans la tradition de Gelug. Avec ce raisonnement, tout devient faux. Bouddha a montré l’aspect d’un morceau de bois qui avait percé son pied et a déclaré qu’il y a longtemps, dans l’une de ses vies passées, il avait commis une inconduite sexuelle avec une femme. Il a fait cela pour enseigner le karma aux disciples, aux êtres vivants qui sont les objets à soumettre. Donc, Bouddha lui-même a manifesté la souffrance, même s’il n’a pas souffert. Cela inclut également le Dalaï Lama actuel. Vous pouvez voir que Sa Sainteté le Dalaï-Lama est tout ce qui est expliqué par Bouddha, les grands yogi-pandits et Lama Tsongkhapa. Vous pouvez voir que son esprit saint possède toutes les qualités du chemin. Son esprit saint a toutes les qualités suprêmes, toutes les qualités inexprimables au-delà du chemin, qui ont été expliquées dans les textes par Bouddha et à travers les expériences des bouddhas actuels, des éclairés, dont les qualités sont incroyablement pratiques et qui chérissent les autres comme une mère chérit son enfant le plus aimé. Peu importe si quelqu’un est riche ou pauvre, instruit ou non, Sa Sainteté considère tout le monde comme égal et donne les conseils les plus pratiques. Maintenant, même cela ne serait pas vrai. Mais ici, vous pouvez voir cela de vos propres yeux, alors comment pouvez-vous dire que ce n’est pas vrai? Les qualités incroyables des gourous de Sa Sainteté et de tant d’autres êtres saints que vous avez vus ne seraient pas non plus vraies. Il faudrait alors dire qu’il n’y a pas d’êtres saints. Donc, ces erreurs se produiraient. Vous pouvez voir par vous-même que si vous pratiquez le bouddhisme – lamrim, par exemple – votre esprit a de plus en plus de paix et devient de plus en plus saint. Comment pouvez-vous dire alors que même cela ne se produit pas? C’est la même chose que de dire que tout ce que vous avez fait, tout ce que vous avez vécu est une hallucination. Bien sûr, cela n’est pas lié à la vision de l’existence véritable. L’hallucination, dans ce cas, est que rien n’existe sous un simple nom: la souffrance, la cause de la souffrance, la cessation de la souffrance, le chemin. Rien n’existe alors: il n’ya pas d’enfer, pas d’illumination, pas de karma, pas de samsara, pas de nirvana. Puis, dans le sutra Réunion du père et du fils, il est écrit: « Bouddha travaille pour les êtres vivants en prenant la forme d’Indra, Brahma, parfois comme Mara (mais les gens du monde entier ne le savent pas). Il manifeste également le comportement, la forme d’une femme. En outre, Bouddha prend des formes d’animaux. Il n’y a pas d’attachement mais il montre de l’attachement; il n’y a pas de peur mais il montre la peur; il n’y a pas d’ignorance mais il fait preuve d’ignorance; il n’y a pas de folie mais il montre la folie; il n’y a pas de boiterie mais il montre qu’il est boiteux. Dans divers aspects, Bouddha travaille pour les êtres vivants et soumet l’esprit des êtres vivants. » S’il vous plaît, comprenez cela. Même les bouddhas éclairés travaillent pour des êtres vivants comme ça. Nous devons donc, y compris moi-même, voir les choses de manière positive. De notre esprit, de notre côté, nous devons essayer de voir le côté positif. Sinon, cela signifie que vous n’avez pas besoin de méditer, vous n’avez pas besoin de pratiquer le Dharma, de votre côté. Sinon, pourquoi avez-vous besoin de méditer? Pourquoi avez-vous besoin de pratiquer le Dharma? Sans avoir besoin de mettre des efforts de votre côté, vous vous attendez à ce que tout ce qui est à l’extérieur soit positif. Pour être en mesure de voir le gourou qui est d’innombrables bouddhas du passé, du présent et du futur, pour pouvoir réaliser cela, vous devez faire des efforts de votre côté. C’est pourquoi Lama Tsongkhapa a déclaré dans La Fondation de toutes les bonne qualités:
Le fondement de toutes les bonnes qualités est le bon et pur, parfait Gourou; La dévotion correcte envers lui est la racine du chemin. En voyant cela clairement et en appliquant un grand effort, S’il vous plaît, bénissez-moi de compter sur lui avec un grand respect.
Le verset dit: « Le bon gourou parfait est la base de toutes les qualités et suivre correctement l’ami vertueux est la base du chemin de l’illumination. En voyant bien, c’est-à-dire en considérant le gourou comme de multiples bouddhas passés, présents et à venir, AVEC BEAUCOUP D’EFFORT, donnez-moi des bénédictions pour pouvoir suivre le gourou avec beaucoup de dévouement et de respect. » Donc, cela signifie de votre côté, avec un grand effort. Lama Tsongkhapa a dit cela de sa propre expérience. Puisque nous (moi-même, par exemple) n’avons pas cette compréhension, nous nous attendons à ce que nous n’ayons rien à faire de notre côté. Nous nous attendons seulement à voir les qualités du gourou, à voir le gourou comme pur, en tant qu’essence de Bouddha, de l’extérieur. Cela ne se passe pas comme ça. Même si vous avez déjà vu la personne remplie d’erreurs, après avoir établi un lien avec le Dharma, vous devez pratiquer la racine du chemin de l’illumination: suivre correctement l’ami vertueux. En entraînant votre esprit à cela, vous pourrez alors voir que c’est Bouddha, ce qui signifie quelqu’un qui a totalement cessé les obscurcissements grossiers et subtils et a atteint toutes les qualités. Vous réalisez alors la racine du chemin de l’illumination: suivre correctement l’ami vertueux. À partir de là, vous actualisez les chemins gradués de l’être de capacité inférieure, de l’être de capacité moyenne et de l’être de capacité supérieure. La réalisation de la bodhichitta, puis tantrique, se fait facilement. Gourou Shakyamuni Bouddha a été illuminé il y a bien longtemps, selon le Mahayana, selon la réalité. Gelong Lekpai Garma, le serviteur de Bouddha, a servi Bouddha pendant 22 ans, mais il a toujours considéré Bouddha comme un menteur. C’est parce qu’un jour, alors que Bouddha était en tournée, une jeune fille offrit une poignée de grains dans son bol de mendicité. À ce moment-là, Bouddha avait prédit que ce karma lui éclairerait en tant que Bouddha Tseme. Gelong Lekpai Garma pensait que c’était un mensonge et que Bouddha la flattait. Il a pensé que c’était trop: “Comment est-il possible que cela se produise en offrant une poignée de grains?” Ainsi, durant toute sa vie, il vit Bouddha comme un menteur et un être ordinaire. Bouddha était un bouddha, mais il ne l’a jamais vu comme un bouddha. Il avait plus confiance en son gourou hindou. Une fois, son gourou hindou était malade et Bouddha a conseillé à son gourou hindou de ne pas manger de sucre brun. Gelong Lekpai Garma ne croyait pas le Bouddha, il croyait que Bouddha mentait. Alors, il a donc offert du sucre brun au guru hindou. Son gourou hindou est décédé et est né de nouveau sous forme de preta. Une fois, cette preta fit un bruit alors que Bouddha marchait sur une route. À la mort de Gelong Lekpai Garma, il renaça pendant des aeons en enfer. Il est important de connaître ces histoires. Merci beaucoup. N’ayez aucun regret. La seule chose à faire est de profiter de la vie, qui est très courte et peut être terminée à tout moment. Merci beaucoup, Lama Zopa Rinpoché Le 12 mai 2019, Lavaur, France. Scribe: Ven. Holly Ansett, édité par Ven. Ailsa Cameron.
Lama Zopa had a choice, to take the bull by the horns and deal with a dangerous predator’s exploits in a logical and conventional way so that everyone can see that the FPMT does not condone misconducts by members of it’s teaching fraternity, or throw the burden back on the victims and ask them to deal with it. If indeed Dagri Rinpoche is special and extraordinary it would have been easier for him to act responsibly and lead more people to the dharma and to increase the faith of Buddhist aspirants. Why ask ordinary people to think in extraordinary ways when supposedly extraordinary lamas cannot abide by even common codes of decency? However special the explanation sounds, the fact remains that the victims are human beings and experience sufferings as ordinary people do. To throw the burden back to them is to add to their suffering. If we are to accept Lama Zopa’s reasoning, then we should now inform all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche to start seeing him as an extraordinary being and to welcome being molested and touched inappropriately. Everyone, and there will be a lot of them, should be informed ahead of time, that they should just expect Dagri to sexually assault them, use them however he likes and it is their responsibility to deal with this attack and feel “blessed”.Victims of Dagri Rinpoche’s offences should be told now not to waste time and emotional energy trying to get justice in future. Imagine if we apply this explanation to all aspects of life, there would be no need for anyone to behave at all and all we would need as we like is to have dreams.
THE PUBLIC REACTS
Matthew Remski’s powerful posting analyzing the shortcomings of Lama Zopa’s statement, elicited responses from his friends that were overwhelmingly negative and critical of Lama Zopa’s reaction (La source: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.remski/posts/10161853555645602)
Pam Rubin’s powerful posting analyzing the shortcomings of Tsawa Khangtsen and Dagri Rinpoche’s statements, elicited responses from her friends that were overwhelmingly negative and critical of their reaction (La source: https://www.facebook.com/pam.rubin.7/posts/10161729794825511)
[TRICYCLE] Des nonnes demandent une enquête sur les allégations de molestation contre l’enseignant Dagri
This is the first time Tricycle, a prominent Buddhist publication, has published criticism of Lama Zopa. The first criticism came in the form of a powerful letter written by a group of prominent nuns addressed directly to FPMT and calling for an independent investigation. This letter is significant not only because of the nuns’ reputations but because it mentions there are more women who were molested by Dagri Rinpoche who are still anonymous. Being that these nuns already dare to speak up, if an independent investigation begins, it is likely that they will encourage the anonymous victims to come forward and aid in the investigation. The reality is that these nuns would not compose an open letter to FPMT if they were not absolutely surethat Dagri Rinpoche is guilty of his crimes; they would not lend their names to a campaign or movement that they did not have evidence or a basis for. They also would not call for an independent investigation if they were not already sure of the outcome.
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/dagri-rinpoche-abuse/)
TRADUCTION (cliquer pour élargir)
L’éminent moine bouddhiste tibétain a été suspendu d’enseigner à la suite d’allégations d’abus, et maintenant des religieuses de haut rang réclament une enquête indépendante sur son comportement.
Par Matthew Abrahams Le 16 mai 2019 Après avoir pris connaissance d’allégations d’inconduite sexuelle contre l’éminent professeur bouddhiste tibétain Dagri Rinpoché, la Fondation pour la préservation de la tradition mahayana (FPMT) l’a suspendu de sa liste d’enseignants, a déclaré mardi un groupe bouddhiste international. Le lendemain, dix nonnes bouddhistes de premier plan, parmi lesquelles Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, fondatrice du couvent Dongyu Gatsal Ling, et Thubten Chodron, abbesse de l’abbaye de Sravasti à Washington, ont adressé une lettre à la FPMT pour demander une enquête par une tierce partie sur les accusations. Dagri Rinpoché – un tulku [maître réincarné] de l’école de bouddhisme tibétain de Gelug et professeur itinérant qui se rend régulièrement dans des centres aux États-Unis, tels que l’abbaye de Sravasti, où il avait été désigné comme conseiller spirituel, a été suspendu après avoir été accusé dans une plainte officielle pour avoir agressé une femme à bord d’un vol Air India le 3 mai. À la suite de reportages dans les médias sur les accusations portées contre lui, une ancienne religieuse, Jakaira Perez Valdivia, a posté sur YouTube une vidéo intitulée «Dagri Rinpoché est en réalité un agresseur en série», dans laquelle elle affirme que Dagri Rinpoché l’avait agressée il y a dix ans alors qu’elle vivait à Dharamsala, en Inde. Peu après, une autre femme, Shin Young Sun, s’est exprimée, écrivant dans une publication sur Facebook le 13 mai que Dagri Rinpoché avait caressé ses seins alors qu’elle était étudiante au Sarah College de Dharamsala entre 2005 et 2009. Dagri Rinpoché a nié tout acte répréhensible. Dans leur lettre à la FPMT, les nonnes de premier rang ont déclaré qu’il y avait encore plus de femmes qui sont restées anonymes: «Certaines d’entre nous connaissent personnellement d’autres nonnes occidentales qui ont déclaré avoir été agressées par Dagri Rinpoché», ont-elles écrit. La lettre continue: Nous demandons à la FPMT d’ordonner une enquête indépendante par une tierce partie sur ces allégations et de rendre publiques les conclusions de cette enquête. Cette enquête devrait être menée de manière à ce que les plaignantes et / ou les témoins se sentent en sécurité pour se présenter et raconter leur histoire de manière confidentielle – et anonyme, si elles le souhaitent. . . Mener une enquête indépendante envoie un message clair que ce comportement ne sera pas toléré et qu’il y aura des répercussions pour les auteurs. C’est essentiel pour créer un environnement propice à la reconstruction de la confiance des élèves. Parallèlement à la lettre, un groupe de pratiquants et de religieuses ont également lancé une pétition en ligne pour exhorter la FPMT à “trouver la vérité”. Dans une déclaration publiée le 13 mai, Dagri Rinpoché a réaffirmé son innocence. Dans le cas du vol Air India, il a déclaré qu’il ne se tenait que sur l’accoudoir de son accusatrice, qui dormait à ce moment-là. Quand elle s’est réveillée, elle «a semblé fâchée» et lui a dit quelque chose dans une langue qu’il ne comprenait pas, a-t-il écrit. On lui a dit par la suite qu’elle avait porté plainte à la police. Dans son interaction avec Perez Valdivia – que Dagri Rinpoché a décrit comme “une religieuse qui souffrait de problèmes physiques et mentaux” – il a écrit qu’il n’avait effectué que “Jabtru, un rituel de purification de l’eau, et Kakgo, un rituel pour éliminer les obstacles,” pour l’aider avec ces problèmes. Il ajoute: «Après environ trois ans, elle a utilisé ces rituels comme une raison pour m’accuser de l’avoir touchée de manière inappropriée.” Perez Valdivia a répondu dans une déclaration envoyée à Tricycle le 16 mai: “Au lieu de présenter des excuses, il blâme et discrédite les victimes, la méthode la plus ancienne de s’en tirer s’est révélée efficace. Elle a ajouté qu’il avait passé toute sa vie « à s’en tirer de la molestation des étudiantes et des fidèles autour du monde grâce au silence et à la complicité de certaines institutions et du système tibétain lui-même. » Dans son article sur les médias sociaux, Shin Young Sun a également décrit une culture consistant à ignorer ou à faire taire les femmes que les enseignants auraient maltraitées, affirmant que les personnes en position de pouvoir ont fermé les yeux, y compris le bureau de Sa Sainteté le 14e Dalaï Lama. Elle a expliqué que même si elle avait personnellement pardonné à Dagri Rinpoché, elle avait choisi de s’exprimer en solidarité avec Perez Valdivia. «J’écris ce post pour d’autres victimes. Parce qu’elles . . . éprouve encore des difficultés », a-t-elle déclaré. Dans le même temps, le président de la FPMT, Lama Zopa Rinpoché, a été critiqué pour sa lettre ouverte aux étudiants de Dagri Rinpoché. Il a écrit: Dagri Rinpoché est un être saint très positif, certainement pas une personne ordinaire. . . Par conséquent, je tiens à dire aux étudiants qui ont reçu des initiations et des enseignements de Dagri Rinpoché que vous devriez vous réjouir à cent pour cent, peu importe ce que le monde dit, peu importe si certains le critiquent. Même après que Bouddha soit devenu illuminé, il a montré l’aspect d’avoir mal au pied quand un morceau de bois avait percé son pied. Bouddha a dit que la souffrance résultait d’une inconduite sexuelle avec une femme dans l’une de ses vies antérieures, il y a longtemps. Dans sa déclaration, Perez Valdivia a déclaré que le conseil était “embarrassant et scandaleux” et qu’il “excusait l’agresseur de toute ” apparence ” de faute qu’il pourrait manifester.”
JAKAIRA REPLIES
Tricycle also received a statement from Jakaira Perez Valdivia which they published. In her scathing reply, she systematically refutes and criticizes Dagri Rinpoche’s statement, FPMT’s statement and Lama Zopa’s response. In particular, she says that Lama Zopa’s response is an attempt to use karma and religion to excuse Dagri Rinpoche’s crimes. Elsewhere, Lama Zopa’s response has also been met with widespread derision for being tone deaf, out of touch and lacking in compassion or sympathy for the victims. It is time for FPMT to do more, and to agree to an independent investigation or it will appear as though they are once again attempting to conceal the truth and deceive the public. Unless FPMT comes clean and are honest with what really happened, the Dagri molestation case will forever be a stain on Lama Zopa’s and FPMT’s reputations since they have spent the past decade covering it up.
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://tricycle.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Response-statement.pdf)
Cliquez pour agrandir (La source: https://tricycle.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Response-statement.pdf)
TRADUCTION (cliquer pour élargir)
Espagne, mai 2019 J’écris ceci en réponse à la déclaration publique de Dagri R, la lettre de son monastère, à la mise à jour publiée sur le site de la FPMT et aux conseils de Lama Zopa. Honnêtement, je me répète depuis des années, j’essayais de présenter cela à toutes sortes de situations. J’étais blâmée et humiliée encore et encore, en partant des mensonges de Dagri contre moi afin de protéger sa réputation, ce qu’il fait encore et encore sans le moindre regret ou gêne. Son attitude est le résultat de pouvoir s’en tirer toute sa vie à abuser des étudiantes et des adeptes autour du monde en raison du silence et de la complicité de certaines institutions et du système tibétain lui-même. La partie de la déclaration de Dagri quand il parle de moi commence par me discréditer, en disant que j’ai eu des “problèmes physiques et mentaux”. J’ai eu un problème physique et, en ce qui me concerne, nous éprouvons tous un certain degré de détresse mentale jusqu’à ce que nous atteignions les objectifs les plus élevés .. mais nous ne pouvons pas nier que ce qu’il essaie de dire, c’est que je suis folle. Il a dit cela à plusieurs personnes il y a des années. Aujourd’hui, il fait la même chose. Au lieu de s’excuser, il blâme les victimes et les discrédite, la méthode la plus ancienne de s’en tirer s’est révélée efficace. Si j’étais folle ou mentalement instable à ce moment-là, S.S. le Dalaï Lama ne m’aurait probablement pas envoyée en tant que traductrice officielle espagnole de l’initiation et des enseignements du Kalachakra à Washington 2011 et du Kalachakra suivant à Bodhgaya, ainsi que de nombreux autres enseignements traduits pendant des années dans différentes langues. J’ai une vaste expérience intellectuelle et universitaire, suffisante pour prouver mon intelligence, mais entrer dans les détails à ce sujet serait insultant, car je ne suis évidemment pas folle. En outre, même si une personne était folle, elle aurait toujours le droit d’être entendue et protégée. Ensuite, l’agresseur dit que j’ai pris la parole trois ans après l’incident. C’est un mensonge, regardez la date dans ma déclaration statutaire (ci-jointe), il est écrit 2008. Regardez le cachet de police à la fin de la déclaration, il est écrit 11/11/2010. Il m’a fallu un an et demi pour commencer à me remettre du choc et à en parler. Tout le monde sait que lorsque de telles situations se produisent, il peut s’écouler de nombreuses années, voire toute une vie, avant que la victime puisse commencer à en parler; le moment ne devrait donc avoir aucune importance ni diminuer la gravité de la question. Après avoir discuté avec des amis et des sœurs, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo m’a finalement conseillée, en octobre 2010, de procéder comme je l’ai fait. Finalement, je suis allée voir la police de Kangra pour faire cette déclaration un mois plus tard. Ensuite, il dit qu’il ya eu une réunion avec nous deux et six témoins, c’est aussi un mensonge. À la réunion, il y avait lui et son assistant, moi et mon amie Karma Yeshe, Chime-la du bureau de S.S. le Dalaï Lama et une personne tibétaine prenant des notes. Ce ne sont pas 6 témoins comme vous pouvez le voir. Je n’ai également aucune idée de ce qu’il entend par «clarifier la vérité», car la réunion était pour lui de s’excuser auprès de moi, ce qu’il a fait, et non l’inverse, comme il a essayé de faire croire aux autres et il le fait toujours. Veuillez vous reporter à la déclaration de mon témoin Karma Yeshe. En ce qui concerne la mise à jour de Dagri R sur le site internet de la FPMT, je suis agréablement surprise d’apprendre qu’une sorte de mesure de ce type a finalement été prise cette fois. Mais je dois aussi être en désaccord avec certains des points, qui ont peut-être été causés par le manque d’information. Par exemple, où il est écrit: “Le bureau privé nous a informés qu’ils avaient enquêté sur les allégations et qu’ils avaient résolu le problème”. Je suis vraiment curieuse de savoir ce que les bureaux de FPMT et de S.S. le Dalaï Lama entendent par “enquêté” et par “résolu”. Comment ‘résoudre’ le problème de la molestation ou de l’abus? Le minimum du côté de l’agresseur serait de reconnaître les actes répréhensibles, de s’excuser, d’avoir la détermination de ne pas recommencer … et du côté des institutions, au moins supprimer le soutien à l’agresseur et cesser de le promouvoir dans le monde entier. Lorsque le Bureau a annoncé à la FPMT que le problème avait été résolu, avait-il dit que j’avais abandonné les allégations? Je n’ai jamais abandonné les allégations car je ne reprendrai jamais ma déclaration statutaire ; la FPMT l’a-t-elle même lue? Comment pourrais-je reprendre tout ça? Je ne l’ai pas fait et je ne le ferai pas parce que c’est la vérité. Donc, pour que les choses soient bien claires, les accusations n’ont jamais été abandonnées parce que je n’ai pas porté plainte, car il s’est excusé et a promis de ne pas répéter son comportement. Les allégations n’ont jamais été abandonnées car ce qui s’est passé est ce qui s’est passé et ne peut être modifié. Ma déclaration écrite à la police n’est pas une opinion mais une description des faits. Était-il correct de continuer à promouvoir Dagri, même si le bureau avait déclaré que “l’affaire était résolue”, lorsqu’une déclaration de ce type avait été publiée et ne s’était jamais rétractée? La FPMT a-t-elle jamais pensé demander à moi-même ou aux autres victimes ce que nous pensions de cela? La mise à jour sur le site Web de la FPMT ne mentionne que la femme indienne et moi-même, même s’il y a eu d’autres incidents avant et après moi. La dernière victime à prendre la parole est cette Coréenne Shin Young Sun, ancienne étudiante au Sarah College: https://m.facebook.com/yeongseons/posts/10157134479759598 Mais il y a eu plusieurs autres allégations auparavant. Même les tulkus XXX et XXX ont parlé de la mauvaise conduite de Dagri depuis les années 80 et ils n’ont pas été entendus ni critiqués, jusqu’à ce que le problème soit oublié. Il y a un témoignage anonyme d’une autre victime, une nonne, qui a été envoyé à un administrateur de la FPMT daté de 2010 et une correspondance dans laquelle il reconnaît un incident qu’il avait gardé confidentiel. Il y avait aussi une plainte à propos de Dagri R de mon ami l’avocat australien XXX liée à mon affaire en 2013, ce qui signifie qu’il y avait d’autres plaintes après 2011. En raison de tous ces différents témoignages qui ont été envoyés à cette organisation, je suis assez triste que cette question est toujours traitée comme si les seuls incidents malheureux sont arrivés à la femme indienne dans l’avion et à moi, et que, tandis que d’autres doutaient de nous, l’innocence de Dagri est toujours implicite comme une possibilité évidente! Ce n’est pas le cas, et la FPMT était au courant. Le fait que certaines victimes souhaitent rester anonymes ne signifie pas que l’agression sexuelle n’a pas eu lieu ou qu’elle peut être gardée secrète, mais c’est exactement ce qui s’est passé: manipulation, secret et peur. * Veuillez noter que le fait de garder le silence sur les abus et de continuer à embaucher un agresseur aux allégations multiples rend les institutions qui l’ont promu responsables des dommages causés aux victimes * Après tout cela, aucun d’entre nous n’a même reçu une seule excuse ou une reconnaissance d’acte répréhensible de la part de Dagri R, bien au contraire, et aucune institution n’en a assumé la responsabilité, ni ne m’a validée comme victime ou comme personne qui a dit la vérité. Tout ce que moi-même et d’autres nonnes et amies qui nous ont soutenues avons reçu n’est que blâme, honte, menaces et calomnies (certains essaient même de faire croire aux autres que victimes et témoins ne sont qu’un complot du groupe Dorje Shugden ! C’est ridicule !) au point que beaucoup maintenant encore ont peur et se figent quand il s’agit de prendre la parole. Je ne peux même pas commencer à dire comment tout cela a affecté à jamais ma vie et ma relation avec le Dharma, et il n’y a aucun besoin, car la plupart des gens qui ont un peu d’empathie peuvent l’imaginer. En ce qui concerne la lettre de Tsawa Khangtsen à ce sujet, il est ridicule de discréditer toutes les victimes, témoins et sympathisants, affirmant qu’ils sont des partisans de Dorje Shugden, possédé par les forces de Mara … Et à propos de Lama Zoplands, qui dispense l’agresseur de toute “apparence” d’inconduite qu’il pourrait manifester. Un groupe de pratiquants bouddhistes et d’enseignants du monde entier a lancé cette pétition afin de demander à la FPMT de faire procéder à une enquête par une tierce partie afin que les victimes qui souhaitent rester anonymes puissent en parler, aidez-nous en signant ceci: http://chng.it/L8BGfrf7Bs Voici la lettre qui explique la pétition: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tTd4WA93wYbSNW5Us47e3Ovw485pF8DXgl-j4oaYjUw Voici ce que dit mon témoin Karma Yeshe à propos de la réunion: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jtajwWoQiunq6U9MvXbqYJPyIQeXX0fU Voici la mise à jour de la FPMT: https://fpmt.org/fpmt-community-news/statement/update-regarding-dagri-rinpoche/ Le conseil de Lama Zopa: https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/lama-zopa-rinpoches-advice-tostudents-of-dagri-rinpoche/ La déclaration de Tsawa Khangtsen de Seraje: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3Y7Mjq91PMweTliM0F5OEJCQk5rYVgySUxURmpfODBGczE4 La déclaration de Dagri R: https://fpmt.app.box.com/s/6flpt7b4hm2bed14chgejhnd501h75i6 Ma déclaration vidéo avec des liens vers la déclaration de police: https://youtu.be/T05xLBZ_1WU Salutations distinguées à tous et merci pour l’appui considérable que nous avons reçu ces derniers jours.
BURNING NEWS: How to protect yourself from lama murta?
Ordinary Tibetans are now coming forward to offer advice to non-Tibetans on how they can protect themselves against sexual abuse and how they can prevent it from happening. This is unlike Lama Zopa and FPMT who expose vulnerable students to abusive characters like Dagri Rinpoche, by continuing to promote them as a valid source of teachings. Furthermore, FPMT and Lama Zopa have also chosen to sweep the issue of sexual abuse under the rug, and advise victims how to view the abuse AFTER they have experienced it. Clearly ordinary Tibetans like Mila Rangzen understand that prevention better than cure. It is precisely because of organizations like the FPMT that these days, students have to be warned against abusive lamas. It is precisely because of organizations like FPMT that these days, students have to be taught how to force their teachers to tell the truth. If FPMT had a culture of transparency, teachers like Dagri Rinpoche would not be allowed to get away with their abuse.
Hi, Welcome to Tibet Star. Today, the topic I have is on how to fight lama molestation. This video is especially for non-Tibetans who face this kind of problem. First thing first, never enter into a room alone with a lama, or Tulku or Rinpoche. It’s a big no-no, no. If you have to be in a room with a lama, make sure there’s a witness. Two, any time a molestation occurs, make sure you have a photo or an audio, or the best would be a video to prove your claims and also keep a diary or a journal. Write everything down with dates, timing, everything. Now, number five, make sure you go and blog about it, and then go to Youtube and talk about it, and share it on Facebook, and take the molesting lama to the media and challenge, now, this is very important, challenge him to do all of the following. Number one, challenge him, challenge him to make a statement, a press statement, a written statement. Two, challenge him to come to YouTube and defend himself. Then challenge him to do a press conference, not just a written statement where you cannot see his face and facial expression, and body language. These are very important to get some sense of whether the person is telling the truth, when people could ask questions and find out what really happened. And then challenge him to go through a lie-detector test. Now, these two are somewhat traditional. Nevertheless, they are very powerful in the Tibetan world. Challenge him to swear upon his root guru and other high Lamas that he respects. Challenge him to swear upon their lives that his claims are true, that he is telling the truth. For those non-Tibetans, this will freak out most of the Tibetans, including lamas, Tulkus and Rinpoches. When you challenge them to swear upon their root guru. Because their fear of hell is real, 18 realms of hell, to them is real, and you talk about Vajra Hell, it will scare the shit out of them. 99% of them will not be able to swear upon their root guru, and that can give you an idea whether the person is telling the truth or not. If he’s innocent, he shouldn’t have any problem in swearing upon his root guru. But if he’s guilty, 99% of the time he will not do it. 99% of the lamas, Tulkus, Rinpoches will not do it if they are guilty, because their fear of hell is real. Then, challenge him to meet you at Nechung and Palden Lhamo temple in Dharamsala. It could be done anywhere else where you have a statue of Nechung and Palden Lhamo, but do it in Dharamsala. This is symbolic, this is far more powerful. Challenge him to come, and both of you will swear before Nechung, the oracle Nechung and Palden Lhamo. This will again freak out the lama, Rinpoche, Tulku, if he’s guilty because their fear of the hell is very real. What they fear is one, the belief is that as soon as you go to, go before the Nechung and oracle is claiming to be telling the truth. So whoever is guilty, whoever lies, what happens, the belief is that within a month or so, the one who is guilty, the one who is lying will throw up blood and die. This is one fear they have. Two, while they are dead, they’re afraid that they will be reborn in hell, one of the 18 hells, or Vajra Hell. Now, what kind of signs will show if the person, the guilty person is lying is that a misfortune will strike him in the next 30 days, or sometimes 90 days, max one year. Either he could lose his limbs in an accident, or he catches some terminal disease, or he dies. Now, this fear is real, so it’s pointers. Now, when you go about it, to go about it in an ascending order, not in a descending order because that will destroy the climax, because there will be no climax at all. And so, take your time. It could be a week between each move that you take, or sometimes it could be between a couple of days between each move that you make. So make your move accordingly. Don’t throw all the 15 moves that I’m talking about on his face in a single day. Don’t do that. One at a time and build up momentum, and finally come down to Nechung and oracle, and that will scare the shit out of the lama, trust me. Now, what do you do after that? Usually when Tibetans have this kind of problems or similar problems, they take it to Nechung and Palden Lhamo, and it gets decided right there and they do not go to the court. Now, in this case, take him to the police, hire a lawyer and challenge him in the court. I know most of the points that I raised here are pretty obvious to many of the women who go through molestation, but as an insider and someone who belongs to the inner core once, these swearing in, challenging him to swear upon his root guru, and meeting at Nechung and Palden Lhamo to decide the outcome, these are unbelievably powerful. So use them. Basically what you do at the temple is you swear, you prostrate, probably three times before the statue of Nechung and oracle, and swear that you are, both of you will swear that you’re telling the truth, and whoever lies, whoever is guilty should meet with an unfortunate incident anytime soon. So, that could be losing a limb in an accident or could be an actual death, and then you part from there. Now everything is decided by the Nechung Oracle. That’s the belief system, so exploit it, of course, for your good purpose.
The FPMT’s second statement on Dagri Rinpoche’s exposé shows bad intent
Just over a week after the FPMT’s initial statement regarding Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation charges, the FPMT has come up with a second statement. Firstly, it should be noted that this second FPMT statement would not have been necessary if the FPMT had been sincere in addressing the Dagri problem from the start. Clearly, the FPMT tried to sidestep taking responsibility for its senior teacher’s abuses of innocent victims, and that sparked a huge public outcry making this second statement necessary. In its first statement, the FPMT did not even acknowledge the pain and sufferings of Dagri’s victims, which it now does after considerable arm-twisting and pressure from the public. If anyone is wondering if the FPMT is sincere about finding a proper remedy for Dagri’s victims, they should have the answer now. The FPMT now claims that it understands how difficult it has been for the victims to speak out publicly. Again if this were true, the FPMT would have provided a safe platform for Dagri’s victims to surface confidentlyand facilitated investigations by now. This was in fact what senior nuns like Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo called for, but to date apart from lip service, this has not happened.
Click to enlarge (Source: https://fpmt.org/fpmt-community-news/statement/further-update-regarding-dagri-rinpoche/)
After a casual and almost perfunctory mention of the feelings of Dagri’s victims, the FPMT spends the bulk of its second statement explaining its Ethical Policy as if to say that its commitment ends there and beyond that, it does not owe a duty of care to anyonewho comes to the FPMT for the dharma, nor is it truly interested in preserving the Mahayana tradition. A number of points need to be highlighted. This is the FPMT in the raw. Have a good look.
POINTS (click to expand)
The FPMT acknowledged that the Office of the Dalai Lama notified it of Dagri’s sexual assault against Jakaira Perez Valdivia in 2011. The fact the Jakaira Perez had to lodge a complaint with the Dalai Lama’s office is proof that she could not get anyone in FPMT to take her seriously and therefore had to resort to seeking help elsewhere. This culture remains seeing how weeks after news of Dagri’s sexual abuses broke, the FPMT is still dodging blame and toying with semantics.
The FPMT had the audacity to state that the assault on Jakaira Perez did not take place at an FPMT centre, and it implies that because of that, they do not have to take any responsibility. This is a shocking statement because it reveals the FPMT’s true character, not whether the organization and its people are doing the right thing but how it can escape liability. The fact that the assault was conducted by one of its senior teaching staff did not matter to the FPMT. In other words, it doesn’t matter what Dagri does and who he harms. The FPMT is prepared to ignore all that so long as it can escape liability and this is supposed to a centre that preserves the teachings of the Buddha? This is not an organization that is socially responsible, and its behaviour is more akin to the mafia than an organization that claims to uphold the Buddha’s teachings.
In the FPMT’s second statement, it also acknowledged that it was quite happy to shrug responsibility of its staff and expect someone else (in this case, the Dalai Lama’s office) to clean up after it. Presumably the weight of the Dalai Lama’s office come in handy to sweep the issue under the rug. What is critical is the FPMT’s acknowledgement that it did not conduct its own investigation into complaints against Dagri. This is important to note because it goes to show that the FPMT is not seeking for truth and facts to be revealed. It is not interested in protecting victims. It is not interested in rectifying flaws in its system and to make sure that further damage to innocent people are avoided and those who have been harmed receive the help they need.
We can also safely gather that the FPMT knew about Dagri’s predatorial ways, but continued to let him be on the prowl. The FPMT shows that it is not truly interested in what Dagri does, nor is it truly interested in the wellbeing of its regional centres. All it is interested in is to protect itself and hence all the FPMT did was to ‘remind’ its regional and national coordinators of complaints against Dagri but at the same time, promoting him as a credible teacher. We also see how Lama Zopa refers to Dagri as a holy being. Therefore the FPMT’s warnings are hollow and put in place for exactly situations like this so they can avoid culpability. In the FPMT’s second statement, it also confirmed that Jakaira Perez’s matter was still not dealt with adequately in 2012. A number of things become clear – the FPMT had no intentions of getting to the bottom of the Jakaira Perez incident. It is also clear that the FPMT must have continued to receive complaints about Dagri, which is why it became necessary to issue reminders to its regional and national coordinators in 2018. Why this 2018 reminder was necessary is suspicious. The pattern of serial sex offenders is almost all similar. They are habitual offenders and will continue to assault women so long as they are shielded and protected like the FPMT has been protecting Dagri. We know for sure that Dagri abused Jajaira Perez in 2011. We know of a 2013 case, and we know that FPMT felt it necessary to remind its regional and national coordinators about Dagri in 2018 and we know that Dagri molested a woman on a plane in 2019. The way Dagri brazenly attacked a woman on a plane in public indicates that he is unafraid and already out of control, thanks to the FPMT’s protection all these years that have emboldened him.
The FPMT’s second statement also makes it very clear that they will not allow an independent investigation. The FPMT is awaiting results of the Indian investigation. In other words, the FPMT is waiting to see if they can get away with liability. The investigation by the Indian police will not cover Jakaira Perez’s case or any cases of Dagri’s abuses in the past. For all intents and purposes, this is history to the FPMT and something they have managed to get away with. As to the “professional assistance” the FPMT alluded to, it will not be a stretch to guess that experts have been engaged to spin the FPMT’s reputation out of the dirt and also the lawyers are ready to defend FPMT. Never mind if people continue to be hurt.
Lama Zopa’s attempts to wriggle the FPMT out of the Dagri mess is nothing but a cheap trick
In an orchestrated move, Lama Zopa the head of the organization issued a second statement on the Dagri Rinpoche scandal. This took place on the same day as the FPMT’s second statement on the same issue. Characteristic of spin doctors at work Lama Zopa’s first statement was, in essence, telling Dagri’s victims to rejoice that they were sexually abused by a ‘holy being’ by virtue of Dagri’s self-declaration and Lama Zopa’s endorsement. It would have been difficult for Lama Zopa to change his story after such a bold claim and so in his second statement, Lama Zopa launched into a series of stories, which infer Dagri to be on par with the Buddha Shakyamuni, the Mahasiddha Asanga and the great Getsul Tsembulwa. This itself is designed to silence Dagri’s critics and victims by continuing to imply that they are persecuting a holy being. But in his second statement Lama Zopa goes further and now directly tells victims and Dagri’s accusers that they have to subdue their own mind. Basically, it is repeat of Lama Zopa’s first statement that is, Dagri is holy being and although he has harmed innocent women, it is the victims who have to subdue their own minds rather than point out the crime and the criminal. Lama Zopa preaches monastic practices that forbid anyone from retaliating to harm inflicted upon them but as to why he would ask lay people to follow monastic rules when monks like Dagri do not have to abide by his vows, is a complete mystery. If anything this reeks of trickery.
Click to enlarge (Source: https://fpmt.org/lama-zopa-rinpoche-news-and-advice/advice-from-lama-zopa-rinpoche/lama-zopa-rinpoches-additional-advice-to-students-of-dagri-rinpoche-2/)
Conseils supplémentaires de Lama Zopa (click to expand)
Voici les conseils supplémentaires de Lama Zopa Rinpoché à l’intention des étudiants de Dagri Rinpoché. Beaucoup de gens qui ont étudié le Dharma le savent, mais d’autres ne le savent peut-être pas: dans l’enseignement du Petit Véhicule, les dix non-vertus ne peuvent devenir des vertus en fonction de leur motivation. Si l’action s’est produite, alors c’est juste la non-vertu. Mais dans le bouddhisme Mahayana, il en va différemment si les trois actions non-vertueuses du corps et les quatre actions non-vertueuses du discours se font avec une compassion incroyablement forte. Si vous préférez être né en enfer vous-même, au lieu d’un autre être vivant, vous ne serez pas né en enfer. Vous pouvez choisir comme ça. Pour les bodhisattvas, atteindre le bienheureux état de paix ou nirvana pour soi-même, est extrêmement sale. Dans les textes, il est dit que c’est comme si on crachait ou qu’on rejetait la morve sur une route. J’utilise l’exemple du papier toilette usagé avec du kaka dessus: vous le jetez immédiatement. C’est comme ça pour le saint esprit d’un bodhisattva. Mais être né en enfer pour un être vivant, pouvoir sauver des êtres vivants, c’est comme un cygne qui entre dans un étang. Le cygne est tellement heureux d’entrer dans l’étang. C’est la chose la plus heureuse et la plus excitante; c’est ce qu’ils veulent vraiment. Ainsi, c’est comme ça pour le saint esprit d’un bodhisattva. C’est l’exemple donné dans les textes. Il y a l’histoire du capitaine bodhisattva. Il y a longtemps, à l’époque où le Bouddha Shakyamuni était un bodhisattva, il était le capitaine d’un navire. Un homme sur le bateau, qui était petit et portait une lance, voulait tuer les 500 autres personnes sur le bateau. Sachant cela, le capitaine bodhisattva ressentit une compassion incroyable, car l’homme renaîtrait alors dans les mondes inférieurs et souffrirait pendant des siècles. Le capitaine bodhisattva voulait vraiment être né en enfer au lieu de l’homme. Alors, avec cet esprit de compassion incroyable, voulant protéger l’homme du karma négatif et de nombreux éons de souffrances dans les enfers, il l’a ensuite tué. En agissant de la sorte, parce que cela a été fait avec une compassion aussi incroyable, le capitaine bodhisattva s’est mis 100 000 éons plus près de l’illumination et il s’est libéré du samsara. C’est devenu une purification incroyable. C’est parce que la motivation d’une compassion”insupportable” a fait que l’action soit non seulement devenue le Dharma, mais également la cause de l’illumination. Puis le commentaire de Vajrayogini raconte comment le gourou Nagpo Chopa allait pratiquer la conduite tantrique (la dernière pratique juste avant l’illumination) dans un endroit appelé Oddiyana, près de Buxa, en Inde, où j’ai vécu pendant huit ans. Près d’une grande rivière attendait une femme qui avait la lèpre, avec du pus et du sang qui sortait d’elle. Elle était totalement, incroyablement sale. La lépreuse a demandé à Nagpo Chopa de bien vouloir la porter sur son dos pour se rendre de l’autre côté de la rivière, mais il ne lui a pas répondu et a traversé la rivière. Peu de temps après, son disciple, Getsul Tsembulwa, qui n’était pas un bhikshu à part entière, est passé et elle lui a demandé de la transporter de l’autre côté de la rivière. Lorsqu’il l’a vue, une compassion incroyable a immédiatement surgi en lui. Sans penser à la maladie contagieuse ni au statut de moine, mais avec seulement une compassion incroyable, il la porta immédiatement sur le dos et traversa la rivière. Lorsqu’il atteignit le milieu de la rivière, son lourd karma négatif qui l’empêcha de la voir comme l’être illuminé Dorje Phagmo et de ne la voir que comme un être terrible, sale et malade, a été purifié. Cette apparence ordinaire s’est terminée parce que son karma négatif a été purifié. L’esprit qui projetait cette apparence ordinaire était parti, purifié. Ainsi, cette femme était Dorje Phagmo, qui a ensuite emmené Getsul Tsembulwa à la Terre Pure de Dagpa Kachoe (la Terre Pure de Vajrayogini), dans le même corps, sans qu’il ait besoin de mourir avant. Puisqu’on devient définitivement éclairé là-bas à Dagpa Kachoe, il l’a probablement été plus tôt que son gourou Nagpo Chopa. C’était parce qu’il a généré une compassion incroyable. L’histoire de la vie d’Asanga est un autre exemple. Beaucoup de gens connaissent cette histoire. Asanga a passé douze ans en retraite pour tenter d’atteindre le Bouddha Maitreya. Il a quitté tous les trois ans, et différentes conditions se sont produites qui l’ont inspiré à chaque fois pour revenir en retraite. Une fois il a vu un oiseau voler dans et hors d’une grotte, pour aller à son nid. Les ailes de l’oiseau étaient si molles, mais là où elles touchaient, le rocher était usé. Cela a tellement inspiré Asanga qu’il a décidé de retourner en retraite pour tenter d’atteindre le Bouddha Maitreya. Quand il est descendu après trois autres années, il a vu un fil utilisé pour tailler un rocher dur. Au fil du temps, on a réussi à couper le rocher avec un tout petit fil. Encore une fois, cela l’a inspiré à retourner en retraite. Trois ans plus tard, quand il est descendu, il a vu de l’eau couler sur un rocher – une, deux, trois gouttes – et le rocher était en train de s’user, avec un trou commençant à se former. Cela l’inspira encore et il retourna en retraite. Il ne s’est toujours rien passé et au bout de trois ans, il a de nouveau quitté la retraite. Alors qu’il marchait sur la route, il vit un chien blessé, dont la partie inférieure du corps était complètement remplie d’asticots. Asanga coupa un morceau de chair de sa cuisse pour mettre les asticots, afin qu’ils eurent quelque chose à manger. Comme il ne voulait pas faire de mal aux asticots en les ramassant avec ses doigts, il ferma les yeux et tendit la langue, dans l’intention de les ramasser avec sa langue. Mais il ne pouvait pas les toucher. Quand il ouvrit les yeux, il n’y avait plus de chien blessé, mais le Bouddha Maitreya. Asanga s’est alors plaint en disant: “Pourquoi je ne vous ai pas vu pendant la retraite?” le Bouddha Maitreya a dit: “J’étais là avec vous. Regardez votre crachat sur mes robes.” Pour le prouver, il montra les marques sur ses robes où Asanga avait craché. Asanga a ensuite demandé des enseignements et le Bouddha Maitreya l’a emmené sur la Terre Pure de Tushita, Yiga Chozin, et lui a donné les cinq divisions d’enseignement (Jangchub Denma). Un matin dans la Terre Pure de Tushita est égal à cinquante années humaines. Asanga est ensuite revenu et a écrit les cinq commentaires. À partir de là, tant de personnes ont fait de l’écoute, de la réflexion et de la méditation, ont atteint le chemin et sont éclairées. (Bien sûr, plus tard au Tibet, Lama Atisha a écrit La lampe du chemin de l’éveil, que de nombreuses personnes dans le monde ont étudié et ainsi ont subjugué leur esprit et atteint l’éveil. Cela vient de Nalanda en Inde.) Dans les grands monastères au Tibet, les gens étudiaient et suivaient ces enseignements pendant de nombreuses années. De nos jours, de nombreuses religieuses dans les couvents, y compris le couvent de Kopan, ont également étudié ces enseignements. Elles sont toutes incroyablement chanceuses d’apprendre le bouddhadharma de manière aussi étendue. Elles ont beaucoup de chance d’apprendre à générer le chemin et à atteindre l’illumination. Ce ne sont là que quelques exemples des résultats de la grande compassion d’Asanga. Tous les avantages reçus par tant d’êtres, dont nous avons également bénéficié, provenaient de la grande compassion d’Asanga. Nous devons avoir une connaissance et une compréhension étendues. Par exemple, selon le Mahayana, alors que le Gourou Bouddha Shakyamuni montrait l’illumination dans ce monde, dans un autre monde, il montrait descendant de Tushita; puis au même moment, dans un autre monde, il montrait la conception; puis, dans d’autres mondes, il montrait qu’il enseignait le Dharma ou soumettait les maras. Toutes ces choses différentes se passaient en même temps. Mais selon le bouddhisme Theravadin, lorsque le Bouddha a montré l’illumination à Bodhgaya, c’était la première fois qu’il était éclairé. Même si un pays a besoin de lois et qu’un monastère a besoin de règles de vinaya, votre propre pratique est de maîtriser votre esprit. Le Bouddha a dit: “Ne commettez aucune action malsaine; engager des actions saines; et subjuguez votre propre esprit.” Si vous ne maîtrisez pas votre propre esprit, vous ne pratiquez pas le vrai bouddhisme. Extérieurement, on dirait que vous pratiquez le bouddhisme, mais intérieurement, vous ne le pratiquez pas. Il existe des cas similaires dans les monastères, où il existe une étude des principaux textes philosophiques: vous étudiez le Dharma de manière externe, mais vous n’étudiez pas de manière interne. Par conséquent, vous ne trouvez pas le bonheur dans le bouddhisme. Vous avez les mêmes problèmes dans votre esprit que vous aviez avant même de rencontrer le bouddhisme – peut-être même des problèmes plus graves. Vous passez alors votre vie à créer du karma négatif en critiquant les autres tout le temps. Je me demande pourquoi le Bouddha a dit: “Subjuguez votre propre esprit?” Dans les pratiques de Sangha, il existe une pratique appelée ge jong je sho she. Cela signifie que si quelqu’un est fâché contre vous, vous ne vous fâchez pas; si quelqu’un crie et vous gronde, vous ne le faites pas en retour; si quelqu’un vous bat, vous ne le battez pas en retour; si quelqu’un vous provoque, vous ne les provoquerez pas. Autrement, c’est comme s’il n’y avait pas de but pour que le Bouddha nous apprendre à dompter notre propre esprit. Mon plus grand intérêt est: Y a-t-il des êtres qui sont purs depuis des renaissances sans commencement, sans obscurcissements afflictifs et obscurcissements subtils? Y a-t-il des êtres vivants comme ceux-ci autres que mes gourous? Y a-t-il des êtres vivants dont l’esprit est totalement pur, sans fautes, sans obscurcissements afflictifs, sans obscurcissements subtils, de la renaissance sans commencement? C’est ce que je me demande. Peu importe ce que les gens dans le monde disent pour critiquer Dagri Rinpoché, je garde l’esprit persuadé que c’est un être saint. Je ne deviens pas comme une vache avec une corde attachée par le nez qui est emmenée par les gens et doit aller où les gens la tirent. Bien que je sois extrêmement ignorant du monde et que je n’aie aucune compréhension du Dharma, j’ai cette petite sagesse et je reste avec cela. C’est un être saint, pas un être ordinaire, comme je l’ai déjà mentionné. Quelqu’un qui pratique la patience et qui a une grande compassion en réponse à la colère ou au mal en tire un bénéfice incroyable, allant jusqu’à l’éveil. Ceux qui ne pratiquent pas le saint Dharma se mettent en colère. Vous pouvez voir que cela dépend totalement de l’esprit de la personne, sur quelle étiquette la personne assume, qui: nuit ou bénéficie, négatif ou positif. Vous pouvez l’utiliser comme bon vous semble, pour une illusion ou non. Ces actions rendent certaines personnes si heureuses; même pour l’attachement, cela les rend si heureuses. Certaines personnes qui ne sont pas intéressées à ce moment-là, qui ne l’aiment pas, se fâchent. Même en ce qui concerne les illusions, c’est comme ça. Cela dépend si vous aimez ou non quelque chose. Si vous l’aimez, alors vous êtes si heureux; si vous n’aimez pas cela, alors vous êtes si en colère. Même avec l’illusion, cela dépend de quelle étiquette vous mettez, aimez ou pas. Cela vient donc de l’esprit de la personne. Tout dépend de l’esprit de la personne, de celui qui perçoit, qui juge si quelque chose est bon ou mauvais. C’est pareil avec le kaka. Pour les êtres humains, c’est quelque chose à jeter, mais pour les chiens et même les pretas, le kaka est ce dont ils ont besoin, ce qu’ils aiment. C’est la même chose avec le durian. Certaines personnes aiment tellement le durian, mais d’autres le détestent. Donc, cela dépend du karma d’une personne et même la même personne peut aimer ou ne pas aimer quelque chose à des moments différents. En ce qui concerne les enquêtes, à ma connaissance, l’enquête est-elle d’aujourd’hui? De cette année ou de l’année dernière? Depuis son enfance? Depuis quand il a été conçu dans le ventre de sa mère? L’enquête devrait-elle porter sur sa vie passée? Dans sa vie passée, Dagri Rinpoché était Pari Dorje Chang, un très célèbre lama de Lhassa, et le gourou de Lama Yeshe. Il a donné la transmission orale du Kangyur dans les grands monastères au Tibet. Ou est-ce que l’enquête devrait être de la vie avant cela? L’enquête devrait-elle provenir de renaissances sans commencement? Alors, nous étudierons le samsara sans fin. Nous devrons atteindre l’illumination afin d’étudier les renaissances sans commencement de Dagri Rinpoché. Nous devons être éclairés; sinon, nous ne pouvons pas enquêter. C’est ma logique. Ici, il semble que seul Rinpoché ait tort et que nous sommes tous totalement purs, nous ne sommes jamais engagés dans la non-vertu. Cela devient comme ça. Dans le cas de Rinpoché, c’est tout ce que j’ai à dire. Je n’ai rien d’autre à dire. Ce cas ne s’applique pas uniquement à Dagri Rinpoché. Les gens considèrent que tout le monde dans le monde a des erreurs. Les gens critiquent même Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama, parce que Sa Sainteté donne des conseils sur les défauts de suivre dolgyal, ce que certains pensent être un protecteur du Dharma. Ce conseil provient de la propre expérience de Sa Sainteté, sur une longue période, sur des années et des années. D’autres cachent les erreurs et ne les révèlent pas publiquement car les gens les critiqueront. Mais Sa Sainteté a une compassion incroyable, alors au lieu de cacher la vérité, il la révéla. Sa Sainteté a montré ce qui est vrai et ce qui est faux, ce qui est nuisible et ce qui est utile. Non seulement Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama, mais de nombreux hauts lamas du Tibet ont mis fin à la pratique de dolgyal, tels que:
Le 54ème Ganden Tripa Trichen Ngawang Chogden – Régent de Lama Tsongkhapa, il conseilla de ne pas l’avoir dans la constitution du monastère, de ne pas le pratiquer.
Purchog Ngawang Jampa (une incarnation du Bouddha Maitreya et un grand lama de Sera)
Le 8ème Dalaï Lama Gyalwa Jampa Gyatso
Yongdzin Yeshe Gyaltsen
Thuken Chokyi Nyima
Changkya Rolpai Dorje
Yangchen Drupai Dorje
Ngulchu Dharmabhadra
Lama Chosang Chokyi Nyingje
Dodrup Jigme Tenpai Nyima
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
Le 8ème Panchen Lama Tenpai Wangchuk
Et il y en a beaucoup d’autres, de grands lamas qui ont apporté de nombreux avantages aux êtres vivants et aux enseignements du Bouddha, comme le soleil et la lune dans le monde. Tous ces grands lamas ont conseillé de ne pas faire la pratique, même en le mettant dans la constitution des monastères. Ce n’est pas seulement la vue de Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama, qui nous protège et nous guide avec tant de compassion. Il est très important d’étudier les conseils de ces lamas, donnés il y a longtemps au Tibet. En général, les gens n’ont pas beaucoup d’idée. Ils pensent que ce n’est que Sa Sainteté. Ensuite, selon ce qu’ils aiment ou pas, ils critiquent ensuite Sa Sainteté. Mais ils ne suivent pas l’analyse pour savoir s’il s’agit d’un acte nuisible ou utile. Ils ne vérifient pas ça. Ensuite, au XXIe siècle, ceux qui, comme moi, ont des esprits ordinaires très très obscurs, très ignorants et qui n’ont pas la sagesse d’analyser les choses, doivent alors dire ce grand Hérouka Kyabjé Pabongka éclairé; Kyabjé Trijang Rinpoché, mon gourou racine; Kyabjé Zong Rinpoché; Guéshé Rabten et Lama Yeshe n’ont pas pratiqué dolgyal, mais ont montré l’aspect de pratiquer dolgyal. Dans la section sur le dévouement au gourou, il y a le mot”tsul”, qui signifie”montrer l’aspect.” Ils ont montré l’aspect; ils ont agi de la sorte, mais ce n’était pas réel. Ainsi, pour moi et les êtres vivants du XXIe siècle, dont les esprits sont si obscurs et si ignorants, sans aucune sagesse pour vérifier si cela est utile ou nuisible, ils semblaient pratiquer, mais en réalité ils ne le faisaient pas. C’était un acte. Quand le bodhisattva, Digne d’Intérêt, demanda au Bouddha: “Maintenant, nous sommes guidés par vous, mais à l’avenir, qui nous guidera?” Le Bouddha a répondu: “Bonjour, je vais révéler la naissance, la vieillesse, la maladie et la mort afin de faire mûrir l’esprit des êtres.” En bref, je mentionne cette citation de ce que le Bouddha a dit. Même les arhats, qui sont libérés de l’illusion, du karma et du samsara, n’ont pas de naissance, de vieillesse, de maladie ou de mort, comment est-il possible pour le Bouddha de les avoir? Je parle de cela parce que je n’ai même pas rencontré Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo, mais j’ai lu beaucoup de ses enseignements, c’est pourquoi, de mon côté, ce sont tous des bouddhas. Donc, cela dépend de ce que vous aimez et de ce que vous n’aimez pas. Dans ce cas, les gens critiquent Sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama. Si c’est le contraire de ce que vous aimez, vous critiquez. Les gens font ça. Même le Bouddha a été critiqué par les adeptes hindous. Ensuite, il devient que personne ne soit éclairé. Il vient à ce point. Alors tous les enseignements ne sont pas vrais. Même de nos jours, et encore récemment, au cours des dernières années, tant d’êtres ont réussi à voir le gourou comme étant un bouddha, ont atteint le renoncement, la bodhichitta, la vue juste et les réalisations tantriques des étapes de génération et d’achèvement. Vous pouvez voir la logique de ce que le Bouddha a dit: “Vous les puissants, Bhikshus, savants, vérifiez mes enseignements comme on examine l’or en brûlant, en coupant et en frottant. On voit alors de l’or raffiné. Prenez les enseignements de la même manière, pas par la foi aveugle.” Donc, ce n’est pas seulement pour les débutants, pour les Occidentaux en particulier, mais cela inclut même les érudits lamas et les guéshés avec de nombreux disciples. Au Tibet, de nombreux hauts lamas, tels que Kyabje Ling Rinpoché et bien d’autres, bien qu’ils soient des disciples extrêmement dévoués à Pabongka Rinpoché, n’ont pas pratiqué dolgyal. Je m’excuse profondément si mes conseils précédents ont causé du chagrin. Quelle que soit la façon dont vous parlez, cela provoque le malheur de différentes personnes. Bien sûr, dans le monde, même si quelqu’un fait vraiment quelque chose de positif, il y en a qui le considèrent comme très négatif; alors quelqu’un fait une chose très négative et certaines personnes le prennent comme très positif. Donc, c’est comme ça. Je tiens à dire que je suis profondément désolé de toutes les personnes qui ont été blessées par les actes sacrés de Rinpoché. C’est donc une clarification supplémentaire de mon conseil précédent aux étudiants de Dagri Rinpoché. Merci beaucoup pour votre compréhension, et merci beaucoup d’avoir passé votre précieuse vie humaine et votre temps précieux à lire mon blah, blah, blah. Lama Zopa Institut Vajra Yogini, Marzens, France Rédigé par Holly Ansett, du 19 au 21 mai 2019; édité par Ailsa Cameron.
To insult victims and Dagri’s critics, Lama Zopa insists that because Dagri’s victims and critics are not enlightened, they are not entitled to investigate Dagri. According to Lama Zopa, Dagri is enlightened and therefore he is exempted from having to obey the laws of the land and observe common standards of ethics. Lama Zopa doesn’t spell it out but the assumption is that he is also enlightened and therefore he knows better about Dagri than anyone else. In Lama Zopa’s world so long as one declares himself to be an enlightened being, he is above the law. In what is no longer a surprise, Lama Zopa then brought in the Dorje Shugden issue with his own version of Tibetan Buddhist history. Over the past weeks as news of Dagri’s sexual exploits became public, FPMT personnel have attempted to blame Dorje Shugden for the mess the FPMT has dug itself into, but many people saw through the ruse. But right here, we see how mundane a trick Lama Zopa has had to resort to, attempting such a cheap sleight of hand more expected of suburban circus acts than of a supposed high lama, which is to distract attention away from Dagri’s crimes and the FPMT’s complicity by reigniting an old debate about the Dalai Lama’s Dorje Shugden controversy. It would have been easy enough for Lama Zopa to instruct for an independent investigation to be commissioned. That would have shown good faith and integrity. But instead, Lama Zopa launches into a malformation of facts and issues that basically says that Dagri’s victims have no rights because Dagri is a Buddha and can do as he pleases and Lama Zopa another Buddha endorses his crimes. In Lama Zopa’s world, there is no need to obey laws. When in trouble, blame a deity. Interestingly Lama Zopa fails to explain how a ‘common ghost’ that Dorje Shugden is supposed to be, managed to get Dagri supposedly a Buddha to commit depraved sexual acts on victims, none of whom have any connection with Dorje Shugden. Both Lama Zopa and the FPMT have now had weeks to take proper remedial actions regarding the Dagri scandal. But with this second statement, it is clear the truth is not going to see the light of day if the FPMT and Lama Zopa can help it. And yet they say Dorje Shugden is destroying the dharma.
Dagri Rinpoche is charged!
The State of Himachal Pradesh will be prosecuting Dagri Rinpoche (Dhagri Rinpoche Thuptein Jungchup). They have named him as a defendant, charging him under Indian Penal Code Section 354A for Sexual Harassment and Punishment for Sexual Harassment. The offences are listed as follows:
Sexual harassment of the nature of unwelcome physical contact and advances or a demand or request for sexual favours or showing pornography which is punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Sexual harassment of the nature of making sexually coloured remark which is punishable by imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
The first hearing was on 23 May and the next hearing is scheduled for 12 June. The case details can be viewed by the public via India’s ecourt services (https://services.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindia_v6/) by searching for the case or CNR number (HPKA120015502019).
Dagri Rinpoche’s criminal case details can be accessed by the public via India’s ecourt services. Click to enlarge.
On social media, news that Dagri Rinpoche is being charged with sexual offences has been met with positive response. FPMT should take heed that strong, decisive action against sexual offenders is always well-received by the public, and covering up (as they are doing now) is not only deeply unpopular but morally and ethically wrong. Click to enlarge.
Details regarding Dagri Rinpoche’s charge. He is being charged under Indian Penal Code Section 354A for Sexual Harassment and Punishment for Sexual Harassment.
Update on Dagri’s Case
Dagri Rinpoche’s matter is up for hearing on 12th June 2019 (tuesday). This is following the Indian Police laying formal charges on Dagri under the Indian Penal Code 354A. It was learned that Dagri’s lawyers sought leave of the court to conduct the hearing ‘in camera’ meaning to say that the hearing would not be open to the public. Obviously Dagri and the FPMT are trying to minimize publicity surrounding the case and hearing.Dagri’s case has been classified a high profile case due to his connection to the Office of the Dalai Lama and Indian news media are keeping a close watch on proceedings.
Dagri Rinpoche stalls court hearing, case adjourned
Dagri Rinpoche’s case was heard in court today (12th June 2019). The hearing, which was scheduled for 10am (North Indian time), was delayed until later in the day. Dagri Rinpoche has been charged by the Indian Police under the Indian Penal Code 354A for Sexual Harassment and Punishment for Sexual Harassment after he was arrested on 3rd May 2019 for molesting a woman on board an Air India flight from Delhi. The delay in the court hearing was due to Dagri’s transparent attempts to stall.Amongst other spurious reasons, Dagri insisted that he should have his own Hindi translator, stating that it was necessary for him to defend himself adequately.
Dagri Rinpoche’s next hearing is scheduled for 18th July 2019, over one month away. That should give him enough time to prepare for such a serious hearing.
Evidently, that was a ploy to delay the proceedings as Dagri is well-known to be fluent in Hindi, having lived in India for decades. Dagri could also have prepared for the case beforehand, either informing the court ahead of time or bringing his own translator. After all, it is not like the hearing was scheduled at the last minute, with no time for him to prepare beforehand. The fact Dagri did not take the court seriously and adequately prepare for his hearing by bringing his own translator, was nothing more than a boldfaced attempt at manipulating the Indian courts. Dagri Rinpoche clearly disrespects the Indian justice system, alongside his total lack of respect for women’s rights. His are not the actions of someone who would be able to prove their innocence in court, where he would be able to get the charges against him dismissed. At the end of the day’s shenanigans, Dagri Rinpoche’s case had to be adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for 18th July 2019. Over one month away, that should give Dagri enough time to prepare his own translator. Dagri Rinpoche has tried very hard to keep the public out of his court hearing, presumably to keep the media away from reporting more news of his crime but it has failed. There are many interested parties, from women’s equality groups to monastic communities and Tibetans-in-exile around the world. Everyone is now watching Dagri Rinpoche’s case to see that justice is served.
Well-known Tibetan activist and commentator Mila Rangzen, who is based in New York City, USA recently published this video updating Tibetans on the latest news related to Dagri Rinpoche’s court hearing. It is a strong indication that Tibetans remain very interested in the case and will continue to observe its proceedings, outcome and FPMT’s reaction. FPMT should have monitored Dagri Rinpoche when they first learned about it over a decade ago, and they should have immediately stopped promoting him once allegatons of sexual abuse came to light. If they were the responsible organization that they pretend to be, they would have distanced themselves and disassociated from him, and advised their students not to go for teachings with him or create a connection with him. Instead, FPMT did none of that, thereby exposing potentially hundreds of womento this sexual predator. The truth is that FPMT harbored and promoted a sexual predator for over a decade and now everybody knows.
Dagri Victim Jakaira’s exclusive
exposé to Tibet Star
Recently, Tibetan alternative news media contacted Jakaira Perez Valdivia, the sexual assault victim of Dagri Rinpoche and in a tell-all letter, she exposes the emotional difficulties that she has suffered as a result from her standing up to the sexual abuse from Dagri Rinpoche. Jakaira, who signed off as Jaki, gives an emotional account of how she lost everything, with all her years spent studying to be proficient in the Tibetan language wasted when she got blacklisted by the FPMT, thus losing her career as a translator. She also lost her position in the nunnery, her teachers, friends and worst, her self-esteem. The letter also repeats her earlier accounts of her knowing of other sexual assault victims and that the FPMT has been continuosly covering up for Dagri Rinpoche.
Transcript of Jakaira’s letter
Dear Tibet Star, As I mention in the video description, I didn’t enable the comments because I am tired of hearing people defending him all these years and I’m just not putting up with this nonsense anymore, I have already gone through all this before and it wasn’t easy. I don’t have the physical time or the emotional space and energy to deal with people who want to shame me again and again. There’s enough harm already and exposing myself like this was already a very big step. I need to protect my emotional stability and carry on with my own life, this issue is very absorbing, for the first three weeks after the news, I didn’t even have the time to do normal tasks of my daily life. I need lots of energy at my work, I need to concentrate, even kind comments stir up my emotions a lot. You must understand that that person ruined my life. Because of the slander I lost everything, I couldn’t work as a translator in the FPMT centers after all those years of studying Tibetan. I could not stay in the nunnery, my abbess didn’t support me, and betrayed me by presenting her apologies to him, like if I was an embarrassment. I didn’t have much money and I finally had to give back my vows to get a normal job in the west, also, because I couldn’t see myself anymore as a representative of a system that had failed me. I lost friends, teachers, and many of the best years of my life. I became an outcast, my self-esteem was destroyed and I’m still a bit damaged. Even though I’ve rebuilt my life from scratch, it wasn’t easy. I’m lucky to have a new life now, but most victims are still too traumatized to speak up. From the other two victims I know of, one has completely shut down and disappeared, and the other one has been working on cancelling his teachings here and there (Australia and New Zealand) for years, but not publicly. I guess they saw what happened to me at the time and couldn’t handle it. I know a total of 6 concrete victims, 5 of which I know personally, but the trauma is too deep, they won’t expose themselves like I’ve done. That is why the nuns from the petition have requested a private investigation, so that victims can speak up anonymously and have their identity protected. I guess my friend Adelaide has a similar feeling, she was the only nun at IBD with 30 monks in her class for almost 13 years. She was going to be the second geshema after Kelsang Wangmo, but she had to quit. She was abused multiple times by monks, almost raped once, good she knew martial arts. Yours, Jaki
Nuns send second appeal letter urging FPMT to conduct an investigation
In an update posted on Change.org’s petition Call for investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche, a second letter was sent to FMPT’s CEO Ven. Roger Kunsang and the FPMT board calling the FPMT to open an impartial investigation of sexual abuse by Dagri Rinpoche in FPMT centers.
Click to enlarge
The senior nuns who started the petition wrote in the update that they “have heard of other women with stories to report, so it is clear that there is a need for third-party professional persons who are experienced in such procedures, and with whom these women can share their experiences anonymously.” The letter to the FPMT’s CEO and board was ended with them saying, “the Buddhist sangha is entrusted by the Buddha to safeguard the Dharma, and we would be remiss in our duty if we did not continue to call on the FPMT board to take immediate steps to protect the Dharma, restore people’s trust in Tibetan Buddhism, and behave with the compassion and ethical integritythat the world expects of the Buddhadharma. Nothing short of an independent investigation will be sufficient to do that at this point.” The petition has nearly 3,000 signatures, but since the FPMT’s second update on Dagri Rinpoche on 24th May, there is no news or action announced by the FPMT on what they will do to protect the safety and dignity of women.
Dagri stalls court proceedings again today
by asking for another adjournment
Dagri Rinpoche appeared in the Kangra Court No. 2 again today (18th July 2019) supposedly to defend himself against Indian Police’s charges for Sexual Harassment and Punishment for Sexual Harassment (Indian Penal Code 354A).
Click to enlarge
This case was first listed to be heard on 12th June 2019 and then again on 18th July 2019 after Dagri feigned not to understand Hindi and English and begged to have a translator. Clearly that was just a ruse because for years the FPMT has facilitated Dagri’s travels to FPMT centres worldwide to teach in English. He is also well known in Dharamsala to be able to converse in Hindi.
Today, Dagri’s court hearing was stalled again when it became a problem that the Prosecutor did not bring along a translator. The case was made that both parties – Dagri’s side and the Prosecutor’s side – should each have a translator to avoid any mistranslation. Why this was not raised previously is dubious.
In any case, Dagri’s lawyer Mr Neraj Mehra was instructed to agree to the postponement. The next hearing is now set for 26th August 2019.
This itself shows that Dagri is not confident of his own innocence.
More information will be posted here in due course so stay tuned.
FPMT Board says YES to third party investigation into sex harassment allegations, Lama Zopa (still) says NO
Inside sources within FPMT have revealed that the FPMT board at their recent Board meeting had resolved in favor of conducting independent third party investigations into Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual abuse allegations. Insiders also say that FPMT’s CEO Ven. Roger Kunsang defied the FPMT’s Board resolution and approached Lama Zopa, who is the organization’s spiritual head, for a mo (dice) divination.
Click to enlarge
Lama Zopa’s mo divination showed that the third party investigation would be “VERY BAD” for FPMT and because of it, the FPMT CEO defied the Board’s decision and vetoed the investigation.
What it really means by Lama Zopa’s mo divination is that Dagri Rinpoche IS guilty of sexual harassment which the third party investigation would reveal and confirm, and that is why the investigation would be very bad for FPMT.
As a leading Buddhist organization with centers around the world, FPMT has a moral responsibility to keep the public and their members safe and therefore FPMT should not continue to cover up cases of sexual harassment and protect FPMT teachers who abuse their positions.
FPMT CEO and Lama Zopa’s decision to withhold a third party investigation is a decision that will allow FPMT teachers who are sex predators to continue, putting FPMT’s female members and the public in danger of more sexual harassment.
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For those of us who have held hope that the Foundation For the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) might provide some leadership in resolving troubles of abuse within Western Tibetan Buddhist Centres, this has been a hard week. We have held hope because the FPMT’s code of ethics, signed by all teachers teaching at FPMT centres, has demonstrated a clarity about students’ needs not seen in other Tibetan Buddhist institutions.
Here is an example:
“FPMT is committed to promoting safe environments wherein the dignity of every individual is respected. Everyone participating in FPMT-related activities has the right and shall be free from harassment of any type, be it sexual harassment, intimidation, bullying, or other forms of harassment. Everyone coming into contact with the FPMT network shall be treated with dignity and respect.”
And this:
“Sexual relationships between Dharma teachers and students while a student is attending the teacher’s teachings, course or retreat are prohibited, and are strongly discouraged at all other times as long as there is a Dharma teacher-student relationship. Please see below for a policy specific to Dharma teachers. Others in positions of authority are also strongly discouraged from entering into sexual relationships in situations where there may be a real or perceived power imbalance. As well, no teacher, volunteer, staff member, or other representative of the hosting center shall make sexual advances to any participant during a teaching, course or retreat.”
This is the clear language students have been seeking from other Buddhist organizations. Sadly, however, a woman has recently claimed that the FPMT failed to honestly and appropriately address her allegations that Dagri Rinpoche, a teacher at FPMT centres, sexually assaulted her while she was a nun at Thosamling some years ago. This claim followed a recent allegation made to police in India by a woman who claimed that Dagri Rinpoche molested her while on a plane. According to The Tribune Newspaper (India), “the Gaggal police detained him before he was released on bail.” There are also claims that more women have been abused by him, though these have not been made public or verified.
In the first testimony, that given by Jakaira Perez Valdivi on Utube video, there is a disturbing description of the effort made by Dagri Rinpoche and the FPMT institution to undermine her story, effectively silencing her. She claims that Dagri Rinpoche lied to others about having apologized to her and that the FPMT labelled his actions as “compassionate massage” and not sexual at all. According to Jakaira’s story, his actions included fondling her breasts and pushing his genitals against her—not something that can be called “compassionate massage.” According to her, he apologized to her, but then lied and claimed that she apologized to him.
At best, the FPMT has failed to validate her concerns and failed to resolve a situation that has badly damaged her wellbeing and spiritual path. At worst, they are covering up a crime. At best, Dagri Rinpoche’s actions, as described by Jakaira and the recent allegation from the woman on the plane, disqualify him from ever teaching in an FPMT centre. At worst, they are criminal. Will he continued to teach at FPMT centres? Why has nothing been done to resolve the situation for Jakaira and why has he continued to teach at FPMT centres?
The FPMT say that these two incidents did not occur at an FPMT facility, project or institution and so the ethics policy does not apply. However, he has continued to teach at FPMT centres and the failure of this institution to act responsibly in the context of carefully screening their teachers and hearing the needs of survivors demonstrates a lack of fiduciary care and due diligence in my opinion. These problems are not fixed by simply finding loopholes.
And this is the big problem. In the current climate, with students from Rigpa, Shambhala and other Buddhist institutions still traumatized from disclosures of sexual abuse by their leaders, every Buddhist institution is called upon to be diligent regarding the behaviours of teachers. There should be no compromising on this, no finding loopholes or making excuses or quick fixes. It is one thing for a student to come to terms with the fact that a well-respected Dharma teacher is abusive. However, when the harm becomes institutionalized, when Tibetan Buddhist institutions fail to come forward with appropriate measures of validation, compassion and resolve, and continue to validate the integrity of that teacher, then the situation turns critical. This has happened in Rigpa, Shambhala and too many other Buddhist centres who are scrambling only now to put together flimsy codes of ethics.
The following letter from within the FPMT, from the Center Services Director of the FPMT International Office in Portland Oregon, reflects this sentiment. It appears that there is little appetite within the International Office for simply finding those loopholes in the Ethics Policy:
Dear Friends,
It has come to our attention that there are newspaper stories and social media accounts circulating stating that a lady in India has made a report to the Indian police accusing Dagri Rinpoche of molesting her on a flight in India.
As Dagri Rinpoche is currently an FPMT registered teacher, we at International Office are following this story closely and awaiting any additional updates and reports about the outcome of the accusation.
We understand that Dagri Rinpoche believes he is innocent of the accusation and is preparing a personal statement in response to the accusation.
Although the alleged event did not take place at an FPMT center, if the investigation results do determine that the accusation is correct, then we would follow the guidelines described under Administering the ETHICAL POLICY, in the ETHICS AND ETHICAL POLICY section of the Affiliates Area and it could impact Dagri Rinpoche’s inclusion on the FPMT registered teachers list, as per the FPMT Ethical Policy.
While we are awaiting any conclusions on this story, we send our prayers for all parties involved in and affected by this story.
We are sure that this will remind all of the importance of our responsibility to uphold ethical behaviour, especially by those of us who manage and teach at FPMT centers, projects and services.
Warmly,
Claire
Claire Isitt
Center Services Director
Statements such as this from within the FPMT’s establishment are encouraging. Indeed, the FPMT statement on the need for centres to take strong measures in instances of abuse is clear and strong within their ethical policy, though perhaps it can be amended to account for this situation. If it had been followed, Jakaira might have received the validation she needed. Here is how they describe those measures:
Misconduct on the part of persons in positions of power or trust can undermine the integrity of the organization, causing demoralization and loss of faith. Hence, the behaviours described in the Ethical Policy below are prohibited, and a center, project, or service’s grievance procedures should be put into effect if a breach occurs.
Each individual in a position of authority, within their area of responsibility in the FPMT organization, is also required to act on any appearance or complaint of misconduct. It is crucial that such individuals identify and express concerns about conduct that may be harmful, so that procedures for dealing with problems can be implemented.
FPMT’s Ethical Policy applies to all activities, interactions, or communications including those on-line, on social media, by telephone, in person, or by any other means as long as the activity, interaction, or communication in question concerns or pertains to FPMT-related actions, duties, or responsibilities.
We also need to be clear that we should have very little reason to doubt Jakaira’s story. In fact, if we hear FPMT make such a statement as to the “compassionate massage” of a monk alone with a nun (as she alleges they said), that should be enough to cause us to question their viewpoint! And statistics show that false allegations of sexual assault are rare and that most victims of sexual assault choose not to report — because they fear not being believed and becoming re-traumatized by a brutal system. These statistics are important because until women are believed and validated, there will be no change to a very widespread culture of abuse in institutions both East and West. We are in a “MeToo” movement where the problem will simply not go away without institutional change, without acknowledgement from all concerned that there is a systemic, serious problem.
Last November, some 130 former and current students of Tibetan Buddhism signed a letter addressed to over forty lamas from all four lineages. We translated this letter into Tibetan. Attached to this letter was a translation into Tibetan of another letter, that written by eight former senior students of Sogyal Lakhar, in which they outlined his serious physical, psychological and sexual abuses over decades. We asked only one question in the letter. We simply wanted to know whether or not lamas found these behaviours acceptable—e.g. behaviours of beating and sexually abusing students, using student donations to live a lavish lifestyle etc. As of this writing, six months later, we have had only two responses.¹
We wrote that letter with the intention of receiving better clarity on how we, as long-time Dharma students, could move forward on our spiritual paths after abusive situations—and how we could insure better safety within Western Dharma Centres. We neither want to be abused on our spiritual paths nor do we not want to practice in an environment of abuse. Many of us sat silent while Sogyal Lakhar spent hours of his teaching time viciously maligning and insulting students. We are horrified that we turned our back on harm as we sat through these tirades. The letter was written sincerely, from our hearts, with no ulterior motive other than stopping harm and knowing where safety lay. To many of us, the lack of response from forty lamas is in fact a very brutal and non-compassionate response. A lack of caring.
Tahlia Newland and I also wrote a letter to HH Dalai Lama in which we told him that we had written these letters to lamas and why. We explained also that the Vajrayana had been used to justify abusive behaviors and to silence students with threats of hell if they objected. We explained that many were questioning the Vajrayana now and many needed better clarity. We asked him to please bring the matter up at the meeting scheduled for Tibetan Buddhist leaders last November. We received a response from his office two days later, asking us to forward the matter to the Kalon of Religion and Culture and to CC His Holiness. We did that. Shortly after, the meeting was postponed and we fear that now, there will be little hope of this topic being raised if the meeting is ever held. The kalon has not responded to us either.
I believe that abusive behaviors within the context of the Vajrayana make this situation particularly critical—and particularly in need of strong leadership that can provide clarity. Though some FPMT teachers are amongst those who haven’t replied to our letter, many of us have nonetheless held out a hope for this organization because of its strongly worded ethics code—and because of the responsible and thorough approach to Dharma in the FPMT educational programs, their responsible approach to the Vajrayana.
I would like to add to this my desire that FPMT seek now to sincerely and compassionately reach out with support to Jakaira Perez Valdivi and others who might have made similar claims of harm from FPMT teachers that are not known to us. Publicly, a statement from the FPMT on how they intend to address this situation and others like it would be very helpful towards insuring that a growing group of disillusioned Dharma students do not lose trust in the good intentions of the FPMT. Trust demands better transparency and this has been lacking. Most of all, I truly believe that the code of silence that has ruled within Tibetan Buddhist culture in the West needs to end if the Dharma in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition is to thrive.
In this video Adelaide Foster counters Dagri Rinpoche’s letter rebuking the sexual allegations against him. But as she says clearly in Tibetan, he is not telling the truth in what he wrote.
Looks like there are now a lot of activists taking notice of Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation of women for decades and FPMT’s cover up of the situation. This letter is a call for action to be taken to protect others. Comment taken from here: https://www.dagririnpoche.com/dagri-rinpoche-fpmt-cover-up/#comment-2
More victims and witnesses are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche. Attached here are two more testimonies in support of Jakaila (Kunzang), the Spanish lady whom Dagri Rinpoche molested years ago.
FPMT’s Head Office has finally caved in to public pressure and issued a statement, which is very interesting because it shows clearly that Jakaira Perez Valdiva (a.k.a Kunsang) of Spain was correct. She filed a report with the Dalai Lama’s Private Office and they held a meeting to mediate between her and Dagri Rinpoche (a.k.a Thupten Lhundrup Tenpai Gyaltsen / Thupten Jangchup). So, Jakaira Perez Valdiva was molested by Dagri Rinpoche and both the FPMT and Dalai Lama’s Private Office knew about it and they hushed it up.
Nearly a week after Dagri Rinpoche was arrested for molesting another woman, an Indian lady on a Delhi-Dharamsala flight, the statement was released announcing that they have suspended Dagri Rinpoche from their list of official teachers. This means that Dagri Rinpoche will no longer be allowed to teach in or visit any FPMT centres. The suspension shows that FPMT believe the allegations of the women who are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche.
1. It is one thing to know about it, but it is another thing to hush it up and keep it quiet. The horrible thing about this whole issue is that the FPMT, instead of eliminating him from their list of teachers at an earlier time, continues to send him all over the world, allowing many more women to become his unsuspecting victims. For this, FPMT is wrong and they should issue a public apology and own up. In the truest sense of the word, what they are doing is a crime, punishable by law and in some countries punishable by sentencing to jail.
Because it was in India and they know that India is somewhat corrupt, they were able to pay off certain authorise and keep it quiet, after all Ms. Jakaira did report it to the police. Now that everyone is back in their respective countries and there is the power of social media, FPMT has been shamed into acknowledging everything they knew happened. But they continue to send him on their teaching rounds at their centres.
2. FPMT should have long ago suspended and disqualified Dagri Rinpoche from teaching, which they did not. And it is surprising that they would allow their own members around the world to be subjected to this type of blatant sexual abuse. It was reported in Dharamsala that many western nuns were molested and accosted by Dagri Rinpoche, but the FPMT and Dalai Lama’s Private Office kept quiet about it. Now more women, victims and friends are speaking up and not keeping quiet anymore. It is extremely bad news for FPMT and is something that will not go away in the near future but continue to grow. FPMT from now on will be seen as an organisation that harbours sex predators and does nothing about it, but covers it up and keeps it hush-hush.
3. The very fact that FPMT Head Office has suspended Dagri Rinpoche from their list of teachers, it shows they believe the allegations made by these women who are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche. Although FPMT said they temporarily suspended him, it has to be a permeant suspension instead. And FPMT better go to the respective countries that the offenses were made in and make official reports with the authorities there, if they want to save themselves. If FPMT continues to do nothing to placate the public they will lose even more credibility. So far FPMT have already lost a lot of credibility, I wonder if they risk losing more? Dagri Rinpoche is a sexual predator of the highest degree and more victims are going to speak out if the FPMT sits on the fence or tries to protect themselves. It will all be revealed. FPMT better take harsh measures to show they have done something and perhaps when the victims hear this, the healing process may begin.
Two more close friends of Jakaira Perez Valdiva (a.k.a Kunsang) have come out in support of her and have decided to speak up. Ms. Jakaira, a woman of Spanish descent, recently published a tell-all expose of her abuse at the hands of Dagri Rinpoche (a.k.a Thupten Lhundrup Tenpai Gyaltsen / Thupten Jangchup) over 10 years ago in Dharamsala, when she was a nun.
These two friends are credible witnesses and they were present when Ms. Jakaira spoke with the Dalai Lama’s Private Office, FPMT and Dagri Rinpoche. This shows that Ms. Jakaira, when she was a nun, was really accosted, molested, and sexually manhandled by Dagri Rinpoche. These two women have come out to stand for their friend’s rights, and to speak about a crime. This proves that Ms. Jakaira did indeed tell the truth.
The FPMT and Lama Zopa covered all this up, along with the Dalai Lama’s Private Office and this is quite despicable. The Dalai Lama’s Private Office and FPMT rely heavily on western donations to survive and pay their bill all these years. Western donations allow FPMT to live in the lap of luxury and have their big temples and golden statues. Yet, when one of their registered teachers abuses a westerner, instead of paying back the kindness of westerners by terminating Dagri Rinpoche and ensure that he is taken to the law, they hide it. Lama Zopa is coming out with advice for Dagri Rinpoche’s students outside of the monastery on how to view him now, amidst the revelation of the scandal. Why would Lama Zopa teach people how to view Dagri Rinpoche if Dagri Rinpoche was not guilty? You can see that Lama Zopa believes that Dagri Rinpoche is guilty. More witnesses will come out of the woodwork to further the truth which has been revealed and it will only get bigger.
Third victim of Dagri Rinpoche to come forward, Ms. Shin Young Sun, refutes Sera Je Monastery’s Tsawa Khangtsen ridiculous statement falsely accusing her of spreading lies about Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual exploits. Sera Je Monastery goes on to further accuse the people sharing this news of being prejudiced against Dagri Rinpoche. https://bre.is/7jNfD5VC1
If Lama Zopa Rinpoche did not believe that Dagri Rinpoche was guilty of sexually abusing his students, why did he then issue a statement of advice to all his students on how to view the offender?
In response to a swell of complaints about Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation charges and the FPMT’s cover-up, Lama Zopa dictated an eloquent Dharma talk.
But if you listen to it very carefully, after a few lines, Lama Zopa is already distracting you away from the real issue, which is the fact that Dagri Rinpoche has been exposed for molesting and abusing women for a long time.
Lama Zopa wants us to view Dagri Rinpoche as an extraordinary being and close our mind to what really happened. However, if we viewed all sexual predators as extraordinary beings and keep up that faith, then we don’t need the law at all. Everyone who commits a crime is henceforth to be regarded as being ‘extraordinary’ and we are just simply to hold them with a good view. Then people like Dagri Rinpoche can continue to commit more crimes without any limits or restrictions.
But the truth of the matter is, whether Dagri Rinpoche is an extraordinary being or an ordinary being, is not the issue. The issue is that he inflicted criminal acts upon ordinary beings who only have ordinary views and, as a result, suffer very much like all ordinary people do when they are harmed. How can you tell ordinary people to have extraordinary views about a sex crime that has hurt them and shames their family?
So Lama Zopa should address the actual problem and “call a spade a spade”. And he must address the issue at hand directly, that is, Dagri Rinpoche is dangerous and he has harmed many people. Lama Zopa should advise his students and all victims to speak up and report what has been done to them. Lama Zopa should create a compassionate environment for the victims to speak up and receive support at a difficult time. Victims should not be told to view Dagri Rinpoche’s actions as extraordinary and just forget the whole thing because this will allow Dagri Rinpoche to continue doing what he has been doing and harm more women. I shudder at that thought of Dagri Rinpoche having complete immunity for all the things he could do to female students and nuns.
Shall we now apply the logic in Lama Zopa’s speech to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche’s exploits that he will commit eventually and say, “Hey, when he molests you, you just think about it this way, okay?” “You just view him as an extraordinary and allow him to abuse you because he had two dreams about himself going to Gaden heaven and being some deity.” “Because of these dreams, he is an extraordinary being and whatever sexual molestation that he inflicts on you should be taken happily.” Shall we say this to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche to pre-empt them?
If so why not send this letter to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche, because there is going to be a lot more of them?
Why not send this letter to every female Buddhist aspirant who will become Dagri Rinpoche’s student through FPMT, and tell them that when they get molested next time, to just think about his sexual assault in this way and not get angry. Don’t report him. Just keep offering yourself up to Dagri Rinpoche because whatever he’s doing to your body is beneficial to you! Shall we say this to all future female students of Dagri Rinpoche? No, we should not. Lama Zopa’s advice to students is not appropriate towards the victims and their families. The onus of responsibility should be on lamas to behave properly, not to harm their students physically and spiritually. It should not be on new and aspiring Buddhists to accept being abused and then told to maintain a pure view of their abuser.
Facebook Users Reacted to Dagri Rinpoche’s Sexual Harassment Allegations
Since Dagri Rinpoche was reported to the Indian police earlier this month for molesting an Indian lady, two other victims have decided to speak up. Dagri Rinpoche’s history of sexually harassing women has attracted many negative comments from social media users such as Facebook. Not only they condemn Dagri Rinpoche’s inappropriate conduct, but also FPMT cover-up of the issue.
Is Lama Zopa’s Response to Dagri Rinpoche’s Sexual Misconduct Allegations Acceptable?
Lama Zopa’s response to Dagri Rinpoche sexual misconduct allegations disappointed many. Instead of consoling the victims and addressing the confusion, chaos, and heartache caused by Dagri Rinpoche’s inappropriate behavior, Lama Zopa discussed Dagri Rinpoche’s spiritual attainments. Please find below the reaction to Lama Zopa’s advice on the matter.
The Public React to Dagri Rinpoche Sexual Misconduct Allegation
Things look bleak for Dagri Rinpoche. After Ms. Shin Young Sun, Dagri Rinpoche’s third victim shared about how Dagri Rinpoche molested her ten years ago, his upcoming teaching sessions in London and Leeds are canceled.
In the meantime, Sera Jey Tsawa Khangtsen, where Dagri Rinpoche came from, tried to deflect from the issue by claiming that this is a Shugden issue. Another evidence that Sera Jey Tsawa Khangtsen does not have any intention to console and address the victims of that. Their main concern is looking good.
Alison Ong originally posted this comment below to the Facebook fanpage of the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM). They purport to be the council of Malaysia for all Vajrayanists but very few people in Malaysia believe in them, and even fewer support them.
Alison’s comment was in response to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s statement which used the Dharma to whitewash and cover up sexual abuses committed by Dagri Rinpoche, a registered teacher in his organization Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).
VBCM have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, VBCM have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
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[[ALISON ONG'S COMMENT]]
If Lama Zopa Rinpoche did not believe that Dagri Rinpoche was guilty of sexually abusing his students, why did he then issue a statement of advice to all his students on how to view the offender?
In response to a swell of complaints about Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation charges and the FPMT’s cover up, Lama Zopa dictated an eloquent Dharma talk.
But if you listen to it very carefully, after a few lines, Lama Zopa is already distracting you away from the real issue, which is the fact that Dagri Rinpoche has been exposed for molesting and abusing women for a long time.
Lama Zopa wants us to view Dagri Rinpoche as an extraordinary being and close our mind to what really happened. However, if we viewed all sexual predators as extraordinary beings and keep up that faith, then we don’t need the law at all. Everyone who commits a crime is henceforth to be regarded as being ‘extraordinary’ and we are just simply to hold them with a good view. Then people like Dagri Rinpoche can continue to commit more crimes without any limits or restrictions.
But the truth of the matter is, whether Dagri Rinpoche is an extraordinary being or an ordinary being, is not the issue. The issue is that he inflicted criminal acts upon ordinary beings who only have ordinary views and, as a result, suffer very much like all ordinary people do when they are harmed. How can you tell ordinary people to have extraordinary views about a sex crime that has hurt them and shames their family?
So Lama Zopa should address the actual problem and “call a spade a spade”. And he must address the issue at hand directly, that is, Dagri Rinpoche is dangerous and he has harmed many people. Lama Zopa should advise his students and all victims to speak up and report what has been done to them. Lama Zopa should create a compassionate environment for the victims to speak up and receive support at a difficult time. Victims should not be told to view Dagri Rinpoche’s actions as extraordinary and just forget the whole thing because this will allow Dagri Rinpoche to continue doing what he has been doing and harm more women. I shudder at that thought of Dagri Rinpoche having complete immunity for all the things he could do to female students and nuns.
Shall we now apply the logic in Lama Zopa’s speech to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche’s exploits that he will commit eventually and say, “Hey, when he molests you, you just think about it this way, okay?” “You just view him as an extraordinary and allow him to abuse you because he had two dreams about himself going to Gaden heaven and being some deity.” “Because of these dreams, he is an extraordinary being and whatever sexual molestation that he inflicts on you should be taken happily.” Shall we say this to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche to pre-empt them?
If so why not send this letter to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche, because there is going to be a lot more of them?
Why not send this letter to every female Buddhist aspirant who will become Dagri Rinpoche’s student though FPMT, and tell them that when they get molested next time, to just think about his sexual assault in this way and not get angry. Don’t report him. Just keep offering yourself up to Dagri Rinpoche because whatever he’s doing to your body is beneficial to you! Shall we say this to all future female students of Dagri Rinpoche? No we should not. Lama Zopa’s advice to students is not appropriate towards the victims and their families. The onus of responsibility should be on lamas to behave properly, not to harm their students physically and spiritually. It should not be on new and aspiring Buddhists to accept being abused and then told to maintain a pure view of their abuser. http://tiny.cc/werr6y
In response to Alison Ong’s comment above, Nicole Sia Mei Yee, one of VBCM’s members and supporters posted this comment below.
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[[NICOLE'S RESPONSE]]
If you think you are so smart, reveal yourself. Don’t create phantom profiles ( 1 person create multiple profiles on social media ) with the intention to insult. This is the attitude of a coward. Characteristics of coward people,
1) Create phantom profile with a Lama picture or some bombastic Tibetan name.
2) Used an innocent person’s picture as profile picture
3) Raised concern over certain issue. Pretending to be civic minded but with bad intention in their cow brain
4) Attention seeker. Always strive to be in the limelight
5) Dare not show themselves in public or be brave to comment fearing they will be hit or cannot bear the humiliation
its obvious you have low self esteem.
You this kind of people, you forget the root teachings of Buddhism but try to claim like you are very concerned over social moral crimes. Internally you know nuts. In your heart, when you see innocent lives being claim by ISIS, you think
- oh my! i wonder where they will be reborn next life
- why don’t they have dharma inside them
- i wish i can help the innocent victims
but you fail to understand, you yourself is planting the seed of hatred. You yourself is planting negative imprint in people. You think you are doing a great job alerting the public but have you analyse yourself what you see and read on social media, it it verified? Have you think from all directions? Is the news real or just false claim?
Buddhist organisations and women leaders all over the world like Tzu Chi, Fo Guang, Haitao Life, Tenzin Palmo, Plum Village, Srawasti Abbey and many more are striving to inspire and educate young adults to ease their mind. Alleviating the burden in their heads. Help them from depression, suicide, family issue via their programs and social work. And here you are waking up every morning checking out whats the best way to inflict hurtful comments and finds it amusing. Think about your actions and look at yourself in the mirror. Compare your face with people from the positive side.
People like you, when you can’t achieve what you want, when your actions goes out hand and you land yourself in deep trouble, you think “aisk…i think Buddhism is not the suitable religion for me, the centre is not suitable for me to practice, Nobody help me when i am in trouble. So corrupted and unfair. Not only that, my boss and colleague in office also abuse me. Why am i suffering all this? I think i better switch to another religion and start all over again.”
Trust me, people like you will never find happiness in any religion you embrace as long as you have a negative intention inside you. Besides that, you wont even find happiness in your love relationship or smooth undertaking in your career or business. Think about it.
Lastly, to be fair. VBCM is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. They don’t receive any form of salary and also like any lay person have a family and career to look after. VBCM don’t receive any strong support from government like Fo Guang Shan or Maha Vihara. Don’t expect them to take lead in whatsoever moral issues and act like an activist. If they run into sticky situations, are you there to help? You ask yourself personally, are you a good leader yourself in your personal life, as a partner, as a parent and career before you insult organisations for their poor leadership. VBCM is just a representative of a small Buddhist minority group within Malaysia with His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama and many more leaders from the 4 traditions as their guide.
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
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To Nicole,
I am a real person. Whether you know me or not doesn’t matter. What matters is what I have to say, which is of value, to protect our sisters and daughters from bad people regardless of what their titles are.
Things have happened to me before in Dharma centers but when we speak up, they silence you. You tell me to reveal myself but I am not the one hiding. Why don’t you reveal more about yourself on your Facebook account? Why not? Why can’t everyone see your profile or any details about you?
But most importantly, and let’s not distract from the issue at hand, but this is not about me. The issue is about the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM) and why it failed to do the right thing, and why the VBCM promoted a sex offender and could not tell a proper monk from a sex offender. THAT’S the issue.
You are right, VBCM is only a very small group. The VBCM is a group of lay people who have very little real knowledge of the Dharma. They have no spiritual qualifications and no training and background whatsoever to be deserving of being a “Buddhist council”. And yet, the VBCM does not behave humbly or beneficially but instead has a history of having a big mouth, poking into the business of other centers and hurting many people in the past. Why is the VBCM even trying to control Tibetan Buddhism in Malaysia when it has no right and no qualifications to do so? No one is asking VBCM to regulate, watch over, mediate, police, comment, update and govern on Tibetan Buddhism in Malaysia. No one asked them to do it and they are just doing it on their own. Anyways, they are not even doing a good job because they are not qualified. There is no need for VBCM in Malaysia whatsoever. People do not even have enough time to run their own centers, find donations to pay bills, upkeep and so forth, so why should they donate manpower to VBCM? They already have enough to do in their own centers.
The VBCM committee is always the same, with the same people voting each other into the committee all the time and this has been witnessed firsthand, that is why VBCM never grows. VBCM’s current committee wants to hold on to their damaging policies and the way they are now, and never allow change or growth. Hence they keep the committee members rotating just among themselves. This is how they conspire with one another to hang on to what little “power” they wish to exercise. Don’t forget Losang Dragpa Center’s (LDC) Pek Chee Hen is also involved with VBCM and LDC. Of course you only promote each other.
You are also wrong to say they are volunteers. People like Ms. Tee have been paid a high salary by the Kuan Yin Contemplative Order (KYCO)/Tony Wong for many decades now, including travel expenses. So in fact, none of them are working for free unless they have some way of making money fall out of the sky for them. And what do they do to earn this money? What do they do to deserve being a “Buddhist council”? Absolutely nothing except to cover up for sex monks, discriminate against teachers, centers and practices.
VBCM covered up the sex monk Shi Zhao Liang who was proven to be guilty of his sexual assaults on young boys. The VBCM did nothing and said nothing. First, they said Shi Zhao Liang is not a Vajrayana monk so it’s not their business. But protecting young and innocent children should be EVERYONE’S business so that was just a lame excuse. Now they also do not say anything about the Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ sex scandal. Isn’t Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ a Vajrayana monk? So how come the VBCM is still quiet? How come the VBCM did not hesitate to promote a sex offender on their Facebook page and when the person they promoted was exposed for his sexual offences, VBCM just remained quiet and hid? Why didn’t the VBCM take responsibility for promoting the wrong person? Why do they not apologize? Look how little ‘likes’ and comments they get on their Facebook page and their name is the VAJRAYANA BUDDHIST COUNCIL of ALL Malaysia? Why is that? Because they have not been doing a good job and people see through that and do not support. We see that and we do not support, and we save everything they do and watch them carefully.
You say so much and yet clearly the intention is to deflect attention from the fact that Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ is a confirmed molester of women. Three female victims have come out. They and their witnesses have all spoken publicly and are confident enough to show their faces to back up their testimonies. If what they said were untrue, would they have shown their faces and opened themselves up to be sued? FPMT is rich and a big organization and can sue easily so this is not something made up or imagined. Lama Zopa and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) knew about all the many reports regarding Dagri and kept it quiet for many years. Lama Zopa even told people not to talk about it. Dagri has given initiations, teachings, commentaries and transmissions and so many people are now lost and don’t know what do. They have lost faith in Dagri because they trusted him, took refuge with him, donated to him, donated to his monastery and his khamtsen (Tsawa Khamtsen) and now they are lost. Think of them. There are many more victims in the spiritual sense besides the three women who have come out. All these invitations, empowerments and teachings carry no blessings because Dagri broke his vows and so everything he has given is void and invalid. Dagri is simply not trustworthy. So the issue here is Dagri and why FPMT, LDC and VBCM covered for him. Just to let you know, there are other monk teachers in FPMT organization that have had inappropriate relationships with female students and touched female members, that have been hushed up. FPMT Amitabha Buddhist Center (ABC) in Singapore has had many students leave due to this happening with their resident teacher and it was hushed up. Many of them are very angry and now looking for ways to make this public.
So you should not be asking me why I am speaking up. You should be asking VBCM and LDC why they wanted to bring this type of monster into our country to molest our sisters and daughters. Are you agreeable to sex predators coming to our country and assaulting our sisters and daughters? Is that what you want? Of course we dare to speak up. And it does not matter if how we speak up is agreeable to you or not. In this Internet age, everything we say can be easily verified if you do some light research. Lama Zopa even came up with a statement of how to ‘view’ Dagri’s offences in the last few days. Why? Because Dagri is guilty and Lama Zopa knows that. But to avoid liability in spiritual, legal and reputational terms, Lama Zopa has to advise victims and concerned people how to conveniently ‘view’ the situations or it will become a massive PR disaster for FPMT and LDC. He has to advise people in a way to placate their anger, hurt and loss of faith. It is not working though. Many are speaking up against Lama Zopa unfortunately. Just go to his Facebook page and read the comments, if they have not been deleted by now.
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
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[[Continuation of Alison Ong's reply]]
On the Dagri scandal and on promoting a sex predator, VBCM is as quiet as mouse. But in the past, they tried to act like ‘authorities’ of Tibetan Buddhism. What gives the VBCM the right to say who is good and who is not good, and which center and teacher is genuine or not genuine? Which practice is blessed or not? What is the VBCM’s so-called authority or expertise based on? Just because they have attended a few teachings and taken a few pictures with the Dalai Lama does not give them the right to do anything in Malaysia. Many people take pictures with the Dalai Lama but that does not mean they immediately become qualified authorities in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has taken pictures with mass murderers like Shoko Asahara who is also a cult leader. The Dalai Lama has also taken pictures with Keith Raniere, another cult leader. Both are now in jail. As I said, just because you take photos with Dalai Lama does not authorize you to govern the Tibetan Buddhist followers in Malaysia. It also does not give you instant wisdom. You make mistakes too. VBCM likes to splash their pictures taken with the Dalai Lama all over their unsteady website (sometimes it exists and sometimes it’s gone) and Facebook pages. They do this all the time to fool the Malaysian public into thinking that they are so holy, so learned and have the Dalai Lama’s backing. Well they are not holy, not learned and the Dalai Lama will take pictures with everyone, even his security guards. Splashing their pictures all over the place on social media does not convince the public that VBCM has any authority to judge and sanction any teacher, tradition, center, temple, practice and tradition. VBCM committee are just ordinary lay persons who are not Dharma teachers and not knowledgable. It will do them well to remain silent and just practice the Dharma they claim to protect. Even the great monks of Brickfields who are learned masters from Sri Lanka meet all monks of all traditions, peoples, centers, traditions and do not discriminate nor do they criticize, and they are real sangha and learned. If they do not discriminate, who are VBCM to do so? Ms. Tee Siew Seet, Mr. Pek Chee Hen and so forth are the core of VBCM and Ms. Tee likes to hide behind other committee members of VBCM to do the dirty works for her so she does not get into trouble and make her Sifu Tony Wong look bad.
VBCM has no knowledge, learning and authority to be the VAJRAYANA BUDDHIST COUNCIL OF MALAYSIA. You are right, they are not backed by any of our Government Departments because they are not qualified to be backed up. The VBCM is not backed up by anything and even you can see that it is nothing but a shell. Many of us will not keep silent about VBCM because they have no authority to judge other teachers, centers and lineages in Malaysia. They have no right to say who is bad and who is good. I have as much right as the VBCM but I don’t interfere in matters that do not concern me. The VBCM has in the past opposed centers inside and outside Malaysia and have tried to sabotage teachers trying to come into Malaysia or within Malaysia. What gives them that right? If they have the right because they are a member of the public, then so do I. I don’t need a ‘big’ name and big banner to say what is right and wrong. I only need to speak the truth and without fear. Anyway, on what basis does the VBCM decide which lama is good or bad? On what grounds and guidelines? And with what qualifications do they judge by? Just a few committee members ‘certifying’ and ‘authorizing’ which lama and center is good or bad in Malaysia? That’s absurd and fake. And we are supposed to follow what these unqualified fellows dictate and ignore our rights as citizens of our free nation? But when a lama is found out to be sexually molesting women and VBCM has promoted these lamas past and present, they remain quiet. Cowards that they are.
The people behind VBCM only dare to say things anonymously on Facebook. They only post as VBCM and do not reveal who is doing the postings. This is why none of the committee post the same things on their own Facebook pages. And why is there no transparency? Which of the committee have been deleting critical comments, which one of them have been hiding comments they don’t like? Which one of them deleted comments that shared facts that the VBCM doesn’t want the public to know? Which one of the committee is promoting this lama or that center? No one knows which person from within VBCM is doing this on their Facebook page, so they are anonymous and act while hiding behind anonymity. They should identify themselves at the end of each post and state who they are and take responsibility and be ready to be held accountable. So they are the ones that are anonymous and they have a banner of being a council? How can council members hide?
VBCM acts like a commercial marketing company and all they do is promote lamas on their Facebook pages without any care or screening. On the one hand, they presume to tell others who is a proper lama and yet evidently some have turned out to be sex offenders but VBCM keeps quiet. VBCM is not qualified to manage Vajrayana Buddhism in any way. No one is qualified in Malaysia to do so and no center should do so, lest people start looking deeper into them. Even if VBCM is claiming to carry out the Dalai Lama’s wishes, they are not qualified to do so. The Dalai Lama’s advices, wishes and concerns do not need to be enforced by anyone. It is up to the individual to follow them or not. Buddhism is an open religion and not militaristic or controlling so don’t make it that way. Buddhism is not like the Vatican where the Pope controls everything. The Dalai Lama is not the Pope and he has no Vatican. We Malaysians have full religious freedom and the Vajrayana teachings we follow are up to us. Although I respect the Dalai Lama very much, I do not have to follow everything he says. I have my own discerning wisdom, intelligence and free will. By not following everything that the Dalai Lama says does not make me his enemy. So don’t make me his enemy. It just simply makes me a proud citizen of Malaysia who exercises my free choice.
The question everyone should ask over and over again is who authorized the VBCM to judge who is good and not good. Just because they claim they follow the Dalai Lama’s teachings does not give them the right or qualification to be a moral compass. If VBCM are such good followers of the Dalai Lama and REALLY PRACTICED WHAT HE TAUGHT, the committee of the VBCM would be highly attained already. They should be healing people, they should be advanced in their meditations and they should be teaching the Dharma to many people by now. None of that is happening. That means the people in the VBCM don’t practice well and they are just like the rest of us. NOT PERFECT. In that case, they should not pretend that they are better than the rest of us and tell us what gurus we should follow or not follow.
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
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[[Continuation of Alison Ong's reply]]
If the VBCM had any qualifications or if had any decency or sense of civic responsibility, it would not have promoted a dangerous sex offender like Dagri. What the VBCM did was just wrong. It was dangerous for the VBCM to do that. How can anyone trust the VBCM and what they say now? VBCM making that mistake shows they are not qualified to screen teachers coming into Malaysia. They are not qualified to be a council of any sort. They should keep quiet and practice Dharma deeply instead of trying to be a council and assume to tell the rest of us what to do. Dangerous. They told us to get teachings from Dagri and look how that worked out. It worked out badly. More and more witnesses are speaking out. Dagri is a molester and preys on innocent women while hiding behind maroon robes. Dangerous. Because the VBCM makes dangerous mistakes, I as a member of the public will speak up and report. In fact, everyone should be asking the VBCM why it promoted a sex predator and then when exposed, just turned away instead of acting responsibly? Why did FPMT’s Malaysian branch LDC promote this molester? They should apologize and be honest and not just change their advert regarding Dagri’s coming quietly and not say anything. Shame.
Instead of doing the proper thing, the VBCM deleted and hid posts by the public that warned others of Dagri. On the one hand the VBCM claims to be a council and to be a source of accurate information, but on the other hand they hide and delete important posts and comments. The VBCM should never delete posts unless they are vulgar. I have personally screenshot many posts they have deleted and hidden so there is a record of the VBCM’s cover-ups. They even block accounts so where is the transparency and honesty? Why not let the public exercise the right to say what they like especially when it is on important issues like this dangerous Dagri? VBCM’s Facebook page has so little interaction already so why block people, hide and delete comments? How come they can tell the public what they want but the public cannot respond and tell them what the public wants and feels? We can be telling the truth too even if we don’t ADVERTISE our photos taken with the Dalai Lama, you know?
You asked why I speak up and monitor the situation? It’s because the VBCM failed to perform its job and duty to inform the public. In fact VBCM is not qualified for any duties in regards to Vajrayana Buddhism. So we the public have to stand up and make a stand. I repeat, the VBCM failed. Remember, FPMT has suspended Dagri. Why suspend him if the allegations are not real? After all the public outcry, the FPMT became afraid. They have always known the allegations are real. Dagri was arrested in North India by the Indian police and that is real. It is real. He did molest the Spanish lady and that is real. He did grab the breast of the Korean lady and that is real. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo said to speak up as she is aware of Dagri and what he did. The Dalai Lama said, “People who commit sexual abuse don’t care about the Buddha’s teaching. Make it public through media, though they may not pay heed to Buddhist teachings on ethical behaviour, they will likely take notice if their face appears in the media.” That is why we are speaking up. But why isn’t the VBCM speaking up? Why use the Dalai Lama as their claim to ‘authority’ but ignore the Dalai Lama when it is their own loss of face at stake? And how come you and VBCM do not even think about the damage done to Dagri’s victims? Where is your moral compass? What about the poor ladies who came to Dagri in full faith and trust and were horribly molested and it destroyed them? What about them? Do you have any sympathy for them? They have sworn statutory declarations and witnesses to this. They have gone to the police. They are open about it. They are not asking for compensation or money but just an admission, an apology so they can heal, so that potential victims will not become victims. FPMT, LDC and VBCM must think of the victims.
VBCM is covering for Dagri because the LDC is a part of VBCM. VBCM should disclose openly that the LDC invited a ‘teacher’ of doubtful character, exposing the public to danger. Why does VBCM protect the LDC instead of the Malaysian public? Very biased. Is it because you have members of LDC in the VBCM? Doesn’t this show that the VBCM only acts in its own self-interest? Why scold me when you should scold VBCM and LDC?
It is strange you and VBCM attack those who do the right thing and defend those at fault. Dagri has touched many women without their permission. That is wrong. For sure, we are not speaking up because we are disgruntled with our centers and teachers and giving up on the Dharma. We are very happy with our lives and our spiritual practice. We don’t have to be in any center to become spiritually evolved. We are speaking up because we haven’t given up on the Dharma. We are stopping monsters hiding behind religion to victimize women. Why don’t you think about the women, the victims? Why must the victims suffer more to protect VBCM and LDC’s face? Why? Think of the victims.
When you stop to think about it, the VBCM’s ONLY claim to fame is that some of them have taken photos with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. So have I and I have also donated many times to his causes and teachings and will continue to donate. But that does not mean the Dalai Lama is perfect. He is a good person, good monk and knowledgeable but he makes mistakes too. Just look at the people he has endorsed such as Shoko Asahara and Keith Raniere. If you have no idea who they are, just Google those names and the Dalai Lama and you will see that the Dalai Lama has also made mistakes. And the Dalai Lama himself said that if he has made a mistake, I do not need to follow along the mistake but take his other teachings and apply it. The Dalai Lama has said, “If the spiritual master is following a wrong path, which is contrary to mainline teachings, the student should be able to take a stand and not blindly follow that path.” It is not improper to tell your guru he is wrong when he is wrong. It does not affect guru devotion. So Lama Zopa has made mistakes but that doesn’t mean I no longer regard him as a good person. I don’t need to follow men in robes blindly. But I must be discerning and open my eyes and be alert always. High lamas can make mistakes and they will continue to. That is fine, but they must own up to it.
The bottom line is, LDC has promoted a sex offender and is still promoting him. I, as a good member of society who values the truth and who understands the importance of the situation, am simply bringing this to their attention and to the public’s attention. Why does it have to be this way? Because if you bring it to their attention in an open and direct way, they will brush you off to save their own skin and face and because they do not want to lose revenue and income from events such as the one they wanted to bring Dagri in for. Of course having Dagri at LDC will bring money, new members and more resources, or so they hoped. Too bad.
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
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[[Continuation of Alison Ong's reply]]
Bottom line is VBCM has no right to tell us what lamas and practices are good or bad because they have no basis and no qualifications and they should keep quiet. Even when a lama like Dagri is bad, they have the chance to exercise their councilship but they do not. Shame. Their motivation is not genuine, that is why they don’t speak up when necessary. No one respects the VBCM and it is reflected in the lack of support in person and online.
We will keep speaking up and we will keep sharing our opinions with the public after we do thorough research always. We are simply the concerned public who do not want more women being abused in the name of religion. We know how that feels.
Also, do you want to take a chance and leave your daughters and sisters with Dagri in a room? I wouldn’t!
CC
H.H. the Dalai Lama
FPMT/Lama Zopa
All Malaysian Buddhist centers
Religous department of Tibetans in Dharamsala
Buddhist Scholars
Malaysian government
Media
Buddhist forums
Monasteries in India and Nepal
Dharma centers around the world
The news on Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual molestation is big, and growing bigger still, all around the world.
Public Outcry Against FPMT’s Cover up of Dagri Rinpoche’s Sexual Misconduct
FPMT’s reputation as an organization that protects and promotes sexual predator is growing, and the members of the public are disturbed with what FPMT has done.
In the online petition titled “Call for investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche”, more people are calling for FPMT to stop covering up Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual misconduct, protect the victims, and investigate Dagri Rinpoche’s misbehavior.
In 2011 + 2012, FPMT’s branch in Malaysia (LDC) invited Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ to give pujas, oral transmissions and initiations. Now how do they feel? So many people have gotten empty transmissions, false teachings and rotten initiations from a sex offender teacher Dagri Rinpoche? What do they do now? Ask for a refund? How about when they lose faith in him? Do they go to vajra hell? It’s inevitable isn’t it due to FPMT’s negligence. How do FPMT make up for sending a dangerous sex monk to give teachings and initiations to the public when they knew about him and covered up all the victims complaints. Lama Zopa knew about Dagri Rinpoche victims’ complaints. Now it will get bigger and bigger. Karma is coming back to FPMT for all the lies and coverups. Shame. Shame. Shame.
A group of prominent Buddhist nuns has asked the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) to launch an independent, third-party investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dagri Rinpoche.
Signatories include well-known Western Buddhist nuns such as Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Bhikshuni Karma Lekshe Tsomo, and Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron.
Dagri Rinpoche, a teacher in the Geulgpa tradition, based in Dharamsala, India, has played an important role in the FPMT. The FPMT has already suspended him from teaching following multiple allegations. The group of Western nuns has now asked for an “objective and impartial investigation of the charges.”
I have been reading up with all that had happened with the latest Dagri Rinpoche molestation case. I cannot believe there is so much going on, especially with the way FPMT, their spiritual head, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the monastery had responded. They are clearly downplaying the abuse, which is uncalled for in this day and age.
You guys should read what Jakaira, one of the victim’s responded to these parties. It is obvious that she is quite upset with the way they had dismissed her and the other abuse victims. This is quite shocking to read about and does not put FPMT, Lama Zopa or the monastery in good light. As Jakaira has said, they are all liable to the damages inflicted on the victims because they choose to side with the abuser, Dagri.
Nuns Push for Investigation into Molestation Allegations against Teacher Dagri Rinpoche
The prominent Tibetan Buddhist monk has been suspended from teaching over abuse allegations, and now senior nuns are calling for an independent probe into his behaviour.
After becoming aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against the prominent Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dagri Rinpoche, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) suspended him from their list of teachers, the international Buddhist group said in a statement on their website on Tuesday. The following day, ten senior Buddhist nuns—including Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, and Thubten Chodron, the abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington—sent a letter to FPMT calling for a third-party investigation into the accusations.
Dagri Rinpoche—a tulku [reincarnated master] in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and a touring teacher who regular visits centers in the United States, such as Sravasti Abbey, where he had been listed as a spiritual advisor—was suspended after being accused in a formal complaint of molesting a woman onboard an Air India flight on May 3. Following media reports of the charge against him, a former nun, Jakaira Perez Valdivia, posted a video on YouTube entitled “Dagri Rinpoche is indeed a serial molester,” in which she claims that Dagri Rinpoche molested her ten years ago while she was living in Dharamsala, India. Soon after, another woman, Shin Young Sun, stepped forward, writing in a Facebook post on May 13 that Dagri Rinpoche groped her breast while she was a student at Sarah College in Dharamsala between 2005 and 2009.
Dagri Rinpoche has denied any wrongdoing.
In their letter to FPMT, the senior nuns said there are even more women who have remained anonymous, “Some of us personally know other Western nuns who have reported that they were molested by Dagri Rinpoche,” they wrote. The letter continues:
We urge the FPMT to commission an independent, third-party investigation into these allegations, and to make the conclusions of this investigation public. This investigation should be conducted in such a way that plaintiffs and/or witnesses feel safe to come forward and tell their stories confidentially—and anonymously, if they so wish . . . Holding an independent investigation sends a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated and there will be repercussions for perpetrators. This is crucial in order to ensure an environment in which students’ trust can be rebuilt.
Along with the letter, a group of practitioners and nuns have also started an online petition to urge FPMT to “find the truth.”
In a statement released on May 13, Dagri Rinpoche reasserted his innocence. In the case of the Air India flight, he said he was only steadying himself on the armrest of his accuser, who was sleeping at the time. When she woke up, she “appeared angry” and said something to him in a language he did not understand, he wrote. He was later told that she had filed a complaint to the police.
In his interaction with Perez Valdivia—whom Dagri Rinpoche characterizes as “a nun who experienced some physical and mental problems”—he wrote that he only “performed Jabtru, a water purification ritual, and Kakgo, a ritual to remove obstacles” to help with her with those issues. He adds, “After about three years, she used these rituals as a reason to accuse me of inappropriately touching her.”
Related: Will Sanghas Learn from the Scandals in the Buddhist World?
Perez Valdivia responded in a statement sent to Tricycle on May 16, saying, “instead of apologising he’s blaming and discrediting the victims, the oldest method proved effective to get away with abuse.”
She added that he has spent his “entire life getting away with molesting students and devotees around the world due to the silence and complicity of some institutions and of the Tibetan system itself.”
In her social-media post, Shin Young Sun also described a culture of ignoring or silencing women whom teachers have allegedly abused, saying that those in positions of power have turned a blind eye, including the office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. She explained that although she has personally forgiven Dagri Rinpoche, she chose to speak out in solidarity with Perez Valdivia. “I write this post for other victims. Because they . . . still experience the hardships,” she said.
Related: Sex in the Sangha . . . Again
FPMT head Lama Zopa Rinpoche, meanwhile, has received criticism for an open letter he sent to Dagri Rinpoche’s students. He wrote:
Dagri Rinpoche is a very positive, holy being—definitely not an ordinary person . . . Therefore, I want to tell the students who have received initiations and teachings from Dagri Rinpoche that you should definitely one hundred percent rejoice, no matter what the world says, no matter if some people criticize him. Even after Buddha became enlightened, he showed the aspect of having pain in his foot when a piece of wood went through it. Buddha said that the suffering was the result of sexual misconduct with a woman in one of his past lives, a long time ago.
In her statement, Perez Valdivia called the advice “embarrassing and outrageous” and said it “excuses the abuser from any ‘appearance’ of misconduct that he may manifest.”
There is a change.org petition asking FPMT to take responsibility and conduct an independent investigation of widespread sexual molestation by high-ranking teachers within their organisation. Will the Tibetan leaders finally act on the crimes committed rather than sweep them under the carpet?
Prominent Buddhist nuns issue statement calling FPMT to conduct an independent investigation after growing number of women have come out accusing FPMT teachers of sexual harassment and molestation.
According to reports from ex-FPMT members, sexual abuse is common in FPMT centres around the world.
The prominent nuns behind the statement are:
(1) Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, India
(2) Bhiksuni Jampa Tsedroen, PhD University of Hamburg, Germany
(3) Bhikshuni Karma Lekshe Tsomo, PhD
Professor at the University of San Diego, USA, and founder of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women
(4) Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, Abbess of Sravasti Abbey, USA
Disgusting. This is the example and tone that FPMT have set for their people, which is to EXCUSE SEXUAL ABUSE. Embarrassing that this Western organization allows their people to use cultural differences as a justification for abuse or a lack of reaction. This reaction is so illogical because:
(1) FPMT are Western-based so they should know how to react and that is, to not sweep it under the rug
(2) The first victim is an Indian and Dagri spent most of his life in India so what cultural difference is there??
(3) Not to forget but it’s ILLEGAL to abuse women so the point on cultural differences is irrelevant. It’s ILLEGAL, plain and simple.
Really embarrassing that FPMT would go along with this. It’s not human, let alone Buddhist.
Qu’est-ce qu’il faut qui arrive avant qu’on arrête ces prédateurs!
Je n’aurai jamais cru que des moines peuvent faire de telles choses et ceux qui sont au courant ne l’arrêtent pas!!
There is a new update from the FPMT and Lama Zopa just published (on 24 May) and it’s so sad that even now, neither FPMT and Lama Zopa are doing anything to take these allegations seriously. Quite the opposite, Lama Zopa is still protecting Dagri Rinpoche, still saying that he is “a holy being” and asking people to accept that him sexually molesting people is some form of divine act for the good of the victim.
Unlike 5 years ago, Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay is not invited to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony this time. It is clear that PM Modi of India snubs the Tibetan leadership once again in favour of deeper ties with China. The Tibetan leadership finds itself increasingly isolated as nobody wants to offend China by lending any support to the ungrateful Tibetans.
PM Modi snubs Tibetan leadership for swearing-in ceremony
By Tenzin Dharpo
May. 30, 2019
DHARAMSHALA, May 30: The Indian Prime Minister who is fresh off of a massive win in the Indian Lok Sabha elections has done a U-turn by not inviting exile Tibetan government’s President to the swearing in ceremony due to be held later today, in a bid to not anger Beijing.
The President of the exile Tibetan government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration, Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s absence today at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi marks a stark contrast to 2014 when the elected Tibetan leader was seated in the former rows at the ceremony when PM Modi was sworn into office the first time around.
The invitation to Dr. Sangay in May 2014 drew strong objection from the Chinese government who lodged an official protest censuring New Delhi’s disregard for the so-called ‘One-China policy’. Many said at the time that the invite was posturing at most, of Modi’s intent to India’s neighbor and biggest rivals both in Asia and global arenas.
The New Delhi-Beijing relations post the Doklam stand off and Wuhan summit has meant that India has given a cold shoulder to the exile Tibetan set up, thereby taking a step back in using the much-touted ‘Tibet card’. The shift in policy has markedly been seen on the ground with New Delhi issuing an advisory to senior leaders to avoid His Holiness the Dalai Lama or pushing the CTA to shift the “thank you India” ceremony from New Delhi to Dharamshala last year.
The head of the Tibetan polity who extended pleasantries to PM Modi on his win, however may have anticipated the snub. Days after Modi’s historic election win, Sangay flew to the United States and is scheduled to return on June 5 to India next week. http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=41474&article=PM+Modi+snubs+Tibetan+leadership+for+swearing-in+ceremony
Finally, Dagri is being brought to the court. The first hearing was done on 23rd May while the next hearing is scheduled for 12th June. I wonder if the FPMT is paying for his court case and if they will deny the law further by saying he is an emanation of some high being and settle it outside of court. I wish victim number 4 step forward to bring this case to the next level too!
The Tibet Star video report is really accurate, it’s so clear that Dagri Rinpoche is trying to stall the court case by lying!
No one who is innocent will behave like that, he is surely guilty! I hope the Indian courts will serve the women he molested justice and put him in prison!
Watching this Tibet Star report: http://www.dorjeshugden.com one will realise how much negative karma one will get by hurting another being and it was almost institutionalise by a Buddhist organisation like FPMT. Er, so sad.
Watching this Tibet Star report: https://youtu.be/14Bb4I2FHX4 one will realise how much negative karma one will get by hurting another being and it was almost institutionalise by a Buddhist organisation like FPMT. Er, so sad.
It’s pathetic that FPMT are trying to cover up the truth by pressuring people to shut down their Facebook groups. What’s wrong with people having good, open and honest discussions about something that HAS to be talked about? The culture of silence that they enforced allowed Dagri Rinpoche to keep abusing more people over 10 years, and now they’re doing it again. FPMT really hasn’t learned their lesson. Or did they pressure the group to shut down because there is something they want to hide so FPMT would rather stop the discussions now, just in case something is inadvertently revealed?
Looks like there’s no freedom of speech in FPMT. Looks like FPMT don’t care about justice for the Dagri’s victims. Looks like FPMT only care about their financial bottomline. How ‘Buddhist’.
According to this senior student of FPMT, there are still traces of Dorje Shugden within FPMT and he says Lama Zopa Rinpoche is just like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The ban has really messed things up. No one is good enough because everyone has a Shugden history 🤦
Dagri Rinpoche court case has now proceeded after three times postponements for consideration of charge, and now at the stage of presenting the evidence for prosecution.
After receiving more reports of sexual harassment cases of Dagri Rinpoche,
- The FPMT Board announced that they have engaged FaithTrust Institute (FTI) to conduct an independent assessment of sexual misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche in FPMT centres that even named Dagri Rinpoche as the suspect of the investigations.
- The FPMT Board made an announcement that a confidential email address for victims and informants who want to contact FaithTrust Institute.
DorjeShugden.com is humbled and honored to receive the support and approval of Shar Ganden Monastery, one of the two great Dorje Shugden institutions in South India.
We thank you for your encouragement and we will continue our efforts to peacefully bring down the ban on Lord Dorje Shugden’s practice.
The 1ST EVER ILLUSTRATED STORY of how Dorje Shugden came to be.
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.…Instead of turning away people who practise Dorje Shugden, we should be kind to them. Give them logic and wisdom without fear, then in time they give up the ‘wrong’ practice. Actually Shugden practitioners are not doing anything wrong. But hypothetically, if they are, wouldn’t it be more Buddhistic to be accepting? So those who have views against Dorje Shugden should contemplate this. Those practicing Dorje Shugden should forbear with extreme patience, fortitude and keep your commitments. The time will come as predicted that Dorje Shugden’s practice and it’s terrific quick benefits will be embraced by the world and it will be a practice of many beings.
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Sonam
May 12, 2019
It’s amazing how rude FPMT behaves after covering up for Dagri Rinpoche… Search audacity…
Hope Gomez
May 12, 2019
Source:
http://www.taooflightyoga.com/index.php/blog/will-the-fpmt-stand-by-its-code-of-ethics
Will the FPMT Stand by its Code of Ethics?
Saturday, 11 May 2019
By Joanne Clark
For those of us who have held hope that the Foundation For the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) might provide some leadership in resolving troubles of abuse within Western Tibetan Buddhist Centres, this has been a hard week. We have held hope because the FPMT’s code of ethics, signed by all teachers teaching at FPMT centres, has demonstrated a clarity about students’ needs not seen in other Tibetan Buddhist institutions.
Here is an example:
“FPMT is committed to promoting safe environments wherein the dignity of every individual is respected. Everyone participating in FPMT-related activities has the right and shall be free from harassment of any type, be it sexual harassment, intimidation, bullying, or other forms of harassment. Everyone coming into contact with the FPMT network shall be treated with dignity and respect.”
And this:
“Sexual relationships between Dharma teachers and students while a student is attending the teacher’s teachings, course or retreat are prohibited, and are strongly discouraged at all other times as long as there is a Dharma teacher-student relationship. Please see below for a policy specific to Dharma teachers. Others in positions of authority are also strongly discouraged from entering into sexual relationships in situations where there may be a real or perceived power imbalance. As well, no teacher, volunteer, staff member, or other representative of the hosting center shall make sexual advances to any participant during a teaching, course or retreat.”
This is the clear language students have been seeking from other Buddhist organizations. Sadly, however, a woman has recently claimed that the FPMT failed to honestly and appropriately address her allegations that Dagri Rinpoche, a teacher at FPMT centres, sexually assaulted her while she was a nun at Thosamling some years ago. This claim followed a recent allegation made to police in India by a woman who claimed that Dagri Rinpoche molested her while on a plane. According to The Tribune Newspaper (India), “the Gaggal police detained him before he was released on bail.” There are also claims that more women have been abused by him, though these have not been made public or verified.
In the first testimony, that given by Jakaira Perez Valdivi on Utube video, there is a disturbing description of the effort made by Dagri Rinpoche and the FPMT institution to undermine her story, effectively silencing her. She claims that Dagri Rinpoche lied to others about having apologized to her and that the FPMT labelled his actions as “compassionate massage” and not sexual at all. According to Jakaira’s story, his actions included fondling her breasts and pushing his genitals against her—not something that can be called “compassionate massage.” According to her, he apologized to her, but then lied and claimed that she apologized to him.
At best, the FPMT has failed to validate her concerns and failed to resolve a situation that has badly damaged her wellbeing and spiritual path. At worst, they are covering up a crime. At best, Dagri Rinpoche’s actions, as described by Jakaira and the recent allegation from the woman on the plane, disqualify him from ever teaching in an FPMT centre. At worst, they are criminal. Will he continued to teach at FPMT centres? Why has nothing been done to resolve the situation for Jakaira and why has he continued to teach at FPMT centres?
The FPMT say that these two incidents did not occur at an FPMT facility, project or institution and so the ethics policy does not apply. However, he has continued to teach at FPMT centres and the failure of this institution to act responsibly in the context of carefully screening their teachers and hearing the needs of survivors demonstrates a lack of fiduciary care and due diligence in my opinion. These problems are not fixed by simply finding loopholes.
And this is the big problem. In the current climate, with students from Rigpa, Shambhala and other Buddhist institutions still traumatized from disclosures of sexual abuse by their leaders, every Buddhist institution is called upon to be diligent regarding the behaviours of teachers. There should be no compromising on this, no finding loopholes or making excuses or quick fixes. It is one thing for a student to come to terms with the fact that a well-respected Dharma teacher is abusive. However, when the harm becomes institutionalized, when Tibetan Buddhist institutions fail to come forward with appropriate measures of validation, compassion and resolve, and continue to validate the integrity of that teacher, then the situation turns critical. This has happened in Rigpa, Shambhala and too many other Buddhist centres who are scrambling only now to put together flimsy codes of ethics.
The following letter from within the FPMT, from the Center Services Director of the FPMT International Office in Portland Oregon, reflects this sentiment. It appears that there is little appetite within the International Office for simply finding those loopholes in the Ethics Policy:
Dear Friends,
It has come to our attention that there are newspaper stories and social media accounts circulating stating that a lady in India has made a report to the Indian police accusing Dagri Rinpoche of molesting her on a flight in India.
As Dagri Rinpoche is currently an FPMT registered teacher, we at International Office are following this story closely and awaiting any additional updates and reports about the outcome of the accusation.
We understand that Dagri Rinpoche believes he is innocent of the accusation and is preparing a personal statement in response to the accusation.
Although the alleged event did not take place at an FPMT center, if the investigation results do determine that the accusation is correct, then we would follow the guidelines described under Administering the ETHICAL POLICY, in the ETHICS AND ETHICAL POLICY section of the Affiliates Area and it could impact Dagri Rinpoche’s inclusion on the FPMT registered teachers list, as per the FPMT Ethical Policy.
While we are awaiting any conclusions on this story, we send our prayers for all parties involved in and affected by this story.
We are sure that this will remind all of the importance of our responsibility to uphold ethical behaviour, especially by those of us who manage and teach at FPMT centers, projects and services.
Warmly,
Claire
Claire Isitt
Center Services Director
Statements such as this from within the FPMT’s establishment are encouraging. Indeed, the FPMT statement on the need for centres to take strong measures in instances of abuse is clear and strong within their ethical policy, though perhaps it can be amended to account for this situation. If it had been followed, Jakaira might have received the validation she needed. Here is how they describe those measures:
Misconduct on the part of persons in positions of power or trust can undermine the integrity of the organization, causing demoralization and loss of faith. Hence, the behaviours described in the Ethical Policy below are prohibited, and a center, project, or service’s grievance procedures should be put into effect if a breach occurs.
Each individual in a position of authority, within their area of responsibility in the FPMT organization, is also required to act on any appearance or complaint of misconduct. It is crucial that such individuals identify and express concerns about conduct that may be harmful, so that procedures for dealing with problems can be implemented.
FPMT’s Ethical Policy applies to all activities, interactions, or communications including those on-line, on social media, by telephone, in person, or by any other means as long as the activity, interaction, or communication in question concerns or pertains to FPMT-related actions, duties, or responsibilities.
We also need to be clear that we should have very little reason to doubt Jakaira’s story. In fact, if we hear FPMT make such a statement as to the “compassionate massage” of a monk alone with a nun (as she alleges they said), that should be enough to cause us to question their viewpoint! And statistics show that false allegations of sexual assault are rare and that most victims of sexual assault choose not to report — because they fear not being believed and becoming re-traumatized by a brutal system. These statistics are important because until women are believed and validated, there will be no change to a very widespread culture of abuse in institutions both East and West. We are in a “MeToo” movement where the problem will simply not go away without institutional change, without acknowledgement from all concerned that there is a systemic, serious problem.
Last November, some 130 former and current students of Tibetan Buddhism signed a letter addressed to over forty lamas from all four lineages. We translated this letter into Tibetan. Attached to this letter was a translation into Tibetan of another letter, that written by eight former senior students of Sogyal Lakhar, in which they outlined his serious physical, psychological and sexual abuses over decades. We asked only one question in the letter. We simply wanted to know whether or not lamas found these behaviours acceptable—e.g. behaviours of beating and sexually abusing students, using student donations to live a lavish lifestyle etc. As of this writing, six months later, we have had only two responses.¹
We wrote that letter with the intention of receiving better clarity on how we, as long-time Dharma students, could move forward on our spiritual paths after abusive situations—and how we could insure better safety within Western Dharma Centres. We neither want to be abused on our spiritual paths nor do we not want to practice in an environment of abuse. Many of us sat silent while Sogyal Lakhar spent hours of his teaching time viciously maligning and insulting students. We are horrified that we turned our back on harm as we sat through these tirades. The letter was written sincerely, from our hearts, with no ulterior motive other than stopping harm and knowing where safety lay. To many of us, the lack of response from forty lamas is in fact a very brutal and non-compassionate response. A lack of caring.
Tahlia Newland and I also wrote a letter to HH Dalai Lama in which we told him that we had written these letters to lamas and why. We explained also that the Vajrayana had been used to justify abusive behaviors and to silence students with threats of hell if they objected. We explained that many were questioning the Vajrayana now and many needed better clarity. We asked him to please bring the matter up at the meeting scheduled for Tibetan Buddhist leaders last November. We received a response from his office two days later, asking us to forward the matter to the Kalon of Religion and Culture and to CC His Holiness. We did that. Shortly after, the meeting was postponed and we fear that now, there will be little hope of this topic being raised if the meeting is ever held. The kalon has not responded to us either.
I believe that abusive behaviors within the context of the Vajrayana make this situation particularly critical—and particularly in need of strong leadership that can provide clarity. Though some FPMT teachers are amongst those who haven’t replied to our letter, many of us have nonetheless held out a hope for this organization because of its strongly worded ethics code—and because of the responsible and thorough approach to Dharma in the FPMT educational programs, their responsible approach to the Vajrayana.
I would like to add to this my desire that FPMT seek now to sincerely and compassionately reach out with support to Jakaira Perez Valdivi and others who might have made similar claims of harm from FPMT teachers that are not known to us. Publicly, a statement from the FPMT on how they intend to address this situation and others like it would be very helpful towards insuring that a growing group of disillusioned Dharma students do not lose trust in the good intentions of the FPMT. Trust demands better transparency and this has been lacking. Most of all, I truly believe that the code of silence that has ruled within Tibetan Buddhist culture in the West needs to end if the Dharma in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition is to thrive.
ashrao
May 12, 2019
In this video Adelaide Foster counters Dagri Rinpoche’s letter rebuking the sexual allegations against him. But as she says clearly in Tibetan, he is not telling the truth in what he wrote.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1557694075.mp4
ashrao
May 12, 2019
Looks like there are now a lot of activists taking notice of Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation of women for decades and FPMT’s cover up of the situation. This letter is a call for action to be taken to protect others. Comment taken from here: https://www.dagririnpoche.com/dagri-rinpoche-fpmt-cover-up/#comment-2
Amber Sonam
May 14, 2019
More and more news about Dagri Rinpoche and his sex crimes is surfacing. More truths about his scandalous behaviour are coming out.
Tashi
May 14, 2019
Wonder who is behind the website? It’s going everywhere
Tashi Pema
May 14, 2019
Shame on you Dagri, your crime is being exposed now. You will not get away with what you are going to see.
Tashi Pema
May 14, 2019
Other Buddhists are very angry… take a look!
Anne
May 14, 2019
More victims and witnesses are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche. Attached here are two more testimonies in support of Jakaila (Kunzang), the Spanish lady whom Dagri Rinpoche molested years ago.
Carmen
May 14, 2019
FPMT’s Head Office has finally caved in to public pressure and issued a statement, which is very interesting because it shows clearly that Jakaira Perez Valdiva (a.k.a Kunsang) of Spain was correct. She filed a report with the Dalai Lama’s Private Office and they held a meeting to mediate between her and Dagri Rinpoche (a.k.a Thupten Lhundrup Tenpai Gyaltsen / Thupten Jangchup). So, Jakaira Perez Valdiva was molested by Dagri Rinpoche and both the FPMT and Dalai Lama’s Private Office knew about it and they hushed it up.
Nearly a week after Dagri Rinpoche was arrested for molesting another woman, an Indian lady on a Delhi-Dharamsala flight, the statement was released announcing that they have suspended Dagri Rinpoche from their list of official teachers. This means that Dagri Rinpoche will no longer be allowed to teach in or visit any FPMT centres. The suspension shows that FPMT believe the allegations of the women who are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche.
1. It is one thing to know about it, but it is another thing to hush it up and keep it quiet. The horrible thing about this whole issue is that the FPMT, instead of eliminating him from their list of teachers at an earlier time, continues to send him all over the world, allowing many more women to become his unsuspecting victims. For this, FPMT is wrong and they should issue a public apology and own up. In the truest sense of the word, what they are doing is a crime, punishable by law and in some countries punishable by sentencing to jail.
Because it was in India and they know that India is somewhat corrupt, they were able to pay off certain authorise and keep it quiet, after all Ms. Jakaira did report it to the police. Now that everyone is back in their respective countries and there is the power of social media, FPMT has been shamed into acknowledging everything they knew happened. But they continue to send him on their teaching rounds at their centres.
2. FPMT should have long ago suspended and disqualified Dagri Rinpoche from teaching, which they did not. And it is surprising that they would allow their own members around the world to be subjected to this type of blatant sexual abuse. It was reported in Dharamsala that many western nuns were molested and accosted by Dagri Rinpoche, but the FPMT and Dalai Lama’s Private Office kept quiet about it. Now more women, victims and friends are speaking up and not keeping quiet anymore. It is extremely bad news for FPMT and is something that will not go away in the near future but continue to grow. FPMT from now on will be seen as an organisation that harbours sex predators and does nothing about it, but covers it up and keeps it hush-hush.
3. The very fact that FPMT Head Office has suspended Dagri Rinpoche from their list of teachers, it shows they believe the allegations made by these women who are speaking up against Dagri Rinpoche. Although FPMT said they temporarily suspended him, it has to be a permeant suspension instead. And FPMT better go to the respective countries that the offenses were made in and make official reports with the authorities there, if they want to save themselves. If FPMT continues to do nothing to placate the public they will lose even more credibility. So far FPMT have already lost a lot of credibility, I wonder if they risk losing more? Dagri Rinpoche is a sexual predator of the highest degree and more victims are going to speak out if the FPMT sits on the fence or tries to protect themselves. It will all be revealed. FPMT better take harsh measures to show they have done something and perhaps when the victims hear this, the healing process may begin.
Carmen
May 14, 2019
Two more close friends of Jakaira Perez Valdiva (a.k.a Kunsang) have come out in support of her and have decided to speak up. Ms. Jakaira, a woman of Spanish descent, recently published a tell-all expose of her abuse at the hands of Dagri Rinpoche (a.k.a Thupten Lhundrup Tenpai Gyaltsen / Thupten Jangchup) over 10 years ago in Dharamsala, when she was a nun.
These two friends are credible witnesses and they were present when Ms. Jakaira spoke with the Dalai Lama’s Private Office, FPMT and Dagri Rinpoche. This shows that Ms. Jakaira, when she was a nun, was really accosted, molested, and sexually manhandled by Dagri Rinpoche. These two women have come out to stand for their friend’s rights, and to speak about a crime. This proves that Ms. Jakaira did indeed tell the truth.
The FPMT and Lama Zopa covered all this up, along with the Dalai Lama’s Private Office and this is quite despicable. The Dalai Lama’s Private Office and FPMT rely heavily on western donations to survive and pay their bill all these years. Western donations allow FPMT to live in the lap of luxury and have their big temples and golden statues. Yet, when one of their registered teachers abuses a westerner, instead of paying back the kindness of westerners by terminating Dagri Rinpoche and ensure that he is taken to the law, they hide it. Lama Zopa is coming out with advice for Dagri Rinpoche’s students outside of the monastery on how to view him now, amidst the revelation of the scandal. Why would Lama Zopa teach people how to view Dagri Rinpoche if Dagri Rinpoche was not guilty? You can see that Lama Zopa believes that Dagri Rinpoche is guilty. More witnesses will come out of the woodwork to further the truth which has been revealed and it will only get bigger.
Javier Gonzales
May 14, 2019
So far 3 victims but it seems more are coming out.
Alexis
May 15, 2019
Third victim of Dagri Rinpoche to come forward, Ms. Shin Young Sun, refutes Sera Je Monastery’s Tsawa Khangtsen ridiculous statement falsely accusing her of spreading lies about Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual exploits. Sera Je Monastery goes on to further accuse the people sharing this news of being prejudiced against Dagri Rinpoche. https://bre.is/7jNfD5VC1
Amber Sonam
May 15, 2019
If Lama Zopa Rinpoche did not believe that Dagri Rinpoche was guilty of sexually abusing his students, why did he then issue a statement of advice to all his students on how to view the offender?
In response to a swell of complaints about Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation charges and the FPMT’s cover-up, Lama Zopa dictated an eloquent Dharma talk.
But if you listen to it very carefully, after a few lines, Lama Zopa is already distracting you away from the real issue, which is the fact that Dagri Rinpoche has been exposed for molesting and abusing women for a long time.
Lama Zopa wants us to view Dagri Rinpoche as an extraordinary being and close our mind to what really happened. However, if we viewed all sexual predators as extraordinary beings and keep up that faith, then we don’t need the law at all. Everyone who commits a crime is henceforth to be regarded as being ‘extraordinary’ and we are just simply to hold them with a good view. Then people like Dagri Rinpoche can continue to commit more crimes without any limits or restrictions.
But the truth of the matter is, whether Dagri Rinpoche is an extraordinary being or an ordinary being, is not the issue. The issue is that he inflicted criminal acts upon ordinary beings who only have ordinary views and, as a result, suffer very much like all ordinary people do when they are harmed. How can you tell ordinary people to have extraordinary views about a sex crime that has hurt them and shames their family?
So Lama Zopa should address the actual problem and “call a spade a spade”. And he must address the issue at hand directly, that is, Dagri Rinpoche is dangerous and he has harmed many people. Lama Zopa should advise his students and all victims to speak up and report what has been done to them. Lama Zopa should create a compassionate environment for the victims to speak up and receive support at a difficult time. Victims should not be told to view Dagri Rinpoche’s actions as extraordinary and just forget the whole thing because this will allow Dagri Rinpoche to continue doing what he has been doing and harm more women. I shudder at that thought of Dagri Rinpoche having complete immunity for all the things he could do to female students and nuns.
Shall we now apply the logic in Lama Zopa’s speech to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche’s exploits that he will commit eventually and say, “Hey, when he molests you, you just think about it this way, okay?” “You just view him as an extraordinary and allow him to abuse you because he had two dreams about himself going to Gaden heaven and being some deity.” “Because of these dreams, he is an extraordinary being and whatever sexual molestation that he inflicts on you should be taken happily.” Shall we say this to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche to pre-empt them?
If so why not send this letter to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche, because there is going to be a lot more of them?
Why not send this letter to every female Buddhist aspirant who will become Dagri Rinpoche’s student through FPMT, and tell them that when they get molested next time, to just think about his sexual assault in this way and not get angry. Don’t report him. Just keep offering yourself up to Dagri Rinpoche because whatever he’s doing to your body is beneficial to you! Shall we say this to all future female students of Dagri Rinpoche? No, we should not. Lama Zopa’s advice to students is not appropriate towards the victims and their families. The onus of responsibility should be on lamas to behave properly, not to harm their students physically and spiritually. It should not be on new and aspiring Buddhists to accept being abused and then told to maintain a pure view of their abuser.
http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/dalai-lama-offices-dagri-rinpoche-molests-women/
Palden Tsering
May 16, 2019
Facebook Users Reacted to Dagri Rinpoche’s Sexual Harassment Allegations
Since Dagri Rinpoche was reported to the Indian police earlier this month for molesting an Indian lady, two other victims have decided to speak up. Dagri Rinpoche’s history of sexually harassing women has attracted many negative comments from social media users such as Facebook. Not only they condemn Dagri Rinpoche’s inappropriate conduct, but also FPMT cover-up of the issue.
Palden Tsering
May 16, 2019
Is Lama Zopa’s Response to Dagri Rinpoche’s Sexual Misconduct Allegations Acceptable?
Lama Zopa’s response to Dagri Rinpoche sexual misconduct allegations disappointed many. Instead of consoling the victims and addressing the confusion, chaos, and heartache caused by Dagri Rinpoche’s inappropriate behavior, Lama Zopa discussed Dagri Rinpoche’s spiritual attainments. Please find below the reaction to Lama Zopa’s advice on the matter.
Palden Tsering
May 16, 2019
The Public React to Dagri Rinpoche Sexual Misconduct Allegation
Things look bleak for Dagri Rinpoche. After Ms. Shin Young Sun, Dagri Rinpoche’s third victim shared about how Dagri Rinpoche molested her ten years ago, his upcoming teaching sessions in London and Leeds are canceled.
In the meantime, Sera Jey Tsawa Khangtsen, where Dagri Rinpoche came from, tried to deflect from the issue by claiming that this is a Shugden issue. Another evidence that Sera Jey Tsawa Khangtsen does not have any intention to console and address the victims of that. Their main concern is looking good.
Lee
May 16, 2019
(Part 1)
Alison Ong originally posted this comment below to the Facebook fanpage of the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM). They purport to be the council of Malaysia for all Vajrayanists but very few people in Malaysia believe in them, and even fewer support them.
Alison’s comment was in response to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s statement which used the Dharma to whitewash and cover up sexual abuses committed by Dagri Rinpoche, a registered teacher in his organization Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).
VBCM have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, VBCM have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
—–
[[ALISON ONG'S COMMENT]]
If Lama Zopa Rinpoche did not believe that Dagri Rinpoche was guilty of sexually abusing his students, why did he then issue a statement of advice to all his students on how to view the offender?
In response to a swell of complaints about Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation charges and the FPMT’s cover up, Lama Zopa dictated an eloquent Dharma talk.
But if you listen to it very carefully, after a few lines, Lama Zopa is already distracting you away from the real issue, which is the fact that Dagri Rinpoche has been exposed for molesting and abusing women for a long time.
Lama Zopa wants us to view Dagri Rinpoche as an extraordinary being and close our mind to what really happened. However, if we viewed all sexual predators as extraordinary beings and keep up that faith, then we don’t need the law at all. Everyone who commits a crime is henceforth to be regarded as being ‘extraordinary’ and we are just simply to hold them with a good view. Then people like Dagri Rinpoche can continue to commit more crimes without any limits or restrictions.
But the truth of the matter is, whether Dagri Rinpoche is an extraordinary being or an ordinary being, is not the issue. The issue is that he inflicted criminal acts upon ordinary beings who only have ordinary views and, as a result, suffer very much like all ordinary people do when they are harmed. How can you tell ordinary people to have extraordinary views about a sex crime that has hurt them and shames their family?
So Lama Zopa should address the actual problem and “call a spade a spade”. And he must address the issue at hand directly, that is, Dagri Rinpoche is dangerous and he has harmed many people. Lama Zopa should advise his students and all victims to speak up and report what has been done to them. Lama Zopa should create a compassionate environment for the victims to speak up and receive support at a difficult time. Victims should not be told to view Dagri Rinpoche’s actions as extraordinary and just forget the whole thing because this will allow Dagri Rinpoche to continue doing what he has been doing and harm more women. I shudder at that thought of Dagri Rinpoche having complete immunity for all the things he could do to female students and nuns.
Shall we now apply the logic in Lama Zopa’s speech to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche’s exploits that he will commit eventually and say, “Hey, when he molests you, you just think about it this way, okay?” “You just view him as an extraordinary and allow him to abuse you because he had two dreams about himself going to Gaden heaven and being some deity.” “Because of these dreams, he is an extraordinary being and whatever sexual molestation that he inflicts on you should be taken happily.” Shall we say this to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche to pre-empt them?
If so why not send this letter to all future victims of Dagri Rinpoche, because there is going to be a lot more of them?
Why not send this letter to every female Buddhist aspirant who will become Dagri Rinpoche’s student though FPMT, and tell them that when they get molested next time, to just think about his sexual assault in this way and not get angry. Don’t report him. Just keep offering yourself up to Dagri Rinpoche because whatever he’s doing to your body is beneficial to you! Shall we say this to all future female students of Dagri Rinpoche? No we should not. Lama Zopa’s advice to students is not appropriate towards the victims and their families. The onus of responsibility should be on lamas to behave properly, not to harm their students physically and spiritually. It should not be on new and aspiring Buddhists to accept being abused and then told to maintain a pure view of their abuser. http://tiny.cc/werr6y
Lee
May 16, 2019
(Part 2)
In response to Alison Ong’s comment above, Nicole Sia Mei Yee, one of VBCM’s members and supporters posted this comment below.
—–
[[NICOLE'S RESPONSE]]
If you think you are so smart, reveal yourself. Don’t create phantom profiles ( 1 person create multiple profiles on social media ) with the intention to insult. This is the attitude of a coward. Characteristics of coward people,
1) Create phantom profile with a Lama picture or some bombastic Tibetan name.
2) Used an innocent person’s picture as profile picture
3) Raised concern over certain issue. Pretending to be civic minded but with bad intention in their cow brain
4) Attention seeker. Always strive to be in the limelight
5) Dare not show themselves in public or be brave to comment fearing they will be hit or cannot bear the humiliation
its obvious you have low self esteem.
You this kind of people, you forget the root teachings of Buddhism but try to claim like you are very concerned over social moral crimes. Internally you know nuts. In your heart, when you see innocent lives being claim by ISIS, you think
- oh my! i wonder where they will be reborn next life
- why don’t they have dharma inside them
- i wish i can help the innocent victims
but you fail to understand, you yourself is planting the seed of hatred. You yourself is planting negative imprint in people. You think you are doing a great job alerting the public but have you analyse yourself what you see and read on social media, it it verified? Have you think from all directions? Is the news real or just false claim?
Buddhist organisations and women leaders all over the world like Tzu Chi, Fo Guang, Haitao Life, Tenzin Palmo, Plum Village, Srawasti Abbey and many more are striving to inspire and educate young adults to ease their mind. Alleviating the burden in their heads. Help them from depression, suicide, family issue via their programs and social work. And here you are waking up every morning checking out whats the best way to inflict hurtful comments and finds it amusing. Think about your actions and look at yourself in the mirror. Compare your face with people from the positive side.
People like you, when you can’t achieve what you want, when your actions goes out hand and you land yourself in deep trouble, you think “aisk…i think Buddhism is not the suitable religion for me, the centre is not suitable for me to practice, Nobody help me when i am in trouble. So corrupted and unfair. Not only that, my boss and colleague in office also abuse me. Why am i suffering all this? I think i better switch to another religion and start all over again.”
Trust me, people like you will never find happiness in any religion you embrace as long as you have a negative intention inside you. Besides that, you wont even find happiness in your love relationship or smooth undertaking in your career or business. Think about it.
Lastly, to be fair. VBCM is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. They don’t receive any form of salary and also like any lay person have a family and career to look after. VBCM don’t receive any strong support from government like Fo Guang Shan or Maha Vihara. Don’t expect them to take lead in whatsoever moral issues and act like an activist. If they run into sticky situations, are you there to help? You ask yourself personally, are you a good leader yourself in your personal life, as a partner, as a parent and career before you insult organisations for their poor leadership. VBCM is just a representative of a small Buddhist minority group within Malaysia with His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama and many more leaders from the 4 traditions as their guide.
Lee
May 16, 2019
(Part 3)
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
—–
To Nicole,
I am a real person. Whether you know me or not doesn’t matter. What matters is what I have to say, which is of value, to protect our sisters and daughters from bad people regardless of what their titles are.
Things have happened to me before in Dharma centers but when we speak up, they silence you. You tell me to reveal myself but I am not the one hiding. Why don’t you reveal more about yourself on your Facebook account? Why not? Why can’t everyone see your profile or any details about you?
But most importantly, and let’s not distract from the issue at hand, but this is not about me. The issue is about the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM) and why it failed to do the right thing, and why the VBCM promoted a sex offender and could not tell a proper monk from a sex offender. THAT’S the issue.
You are right, VBCM is only a very small group. The VBCM is a group of lay people who have very little real knowledge of the Dharma. They have no spiritual qualifications and no training and background whatsoever to be deserving of being a “Buddhist council”. And yet, the VBCM does not behave humbly or beneficially but instead has a history of having a big mouth, poking into the business of other centers and hurting many people in the past. Why is the VBCM even trying to control Tibetan Buddhism in Malaysia when it has no right and no qualifications to do so? No one is asking VBCM to regulate, watch over, mediate, police, comment, update and govern on Tibetan Buddhism in Malaysia. No one asked them to do it and they are just doing it on their own. Anyways, they are not even doing a good job because they are not qualified. There is no need for VBCM in Malaysia whatsoever. People do not even have enough time to run their own centers, find donations to pay bills, upkeep and so forth, so why should they donate manpower to VBCM? They already have enough to do in their own centers.
The VBCM committee is always the same, with the same people voting each other into the committee all the time and this has been witnessed firsthand, that is why VBCM never grows. VBCM’s current committee wants to hold on to their damaging policies and the way they are now, and never allow change or growth. Hence they keep the committee members rotating just among themselves. This is how they conspire with one another to hang on to what little “power” they wish to exercise. Don’t forget Losang Dragpa Center’s (LDC) Pek Chee Hen is also involved with VBCM and LDC. Of course you only promote each other.
You are also wrong to say they are volunteers. People like Ms. Tee have been paid a high salary by the Kuan Yin Contemplative Order (KYCO)/Tony Wong for many decades now, including travel expenses. So in fact, none of them are working for free unless they have some way of making money fall out of the sky for them. And what do they do to earn this money? What do they do to deserve being a “Buddhist council”? Absolutely nothing except to cover up for sex monks, discriminate against teachers, centers and practices.
VBCM covered up the sex monk Shi Zhao Liang who was proven to be guilty of his sexual assaults on young boys. The VBCM did nothing and said nothing. First, they said Shi Zhao Liang is not a Vajrayana monk so it’s not their business. But protecting young and innocent children should be EVERYONE’S business so that was just a lame excuse. Now they also do not say anything about the Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ sex scandal. Isn’t Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ a Vajrayana monk? So how come the VBCM is still quiet? How come the VBCM did not hesitate to promote a sex offender on their Facebook page and when the person they promoted was exposed for his sexual offences, VBCM just remained quiet and hid? Why didn’t the VBCM take responsibility for promoting the wrong person? Why do they not apologize? Look how little ‘likes’ and comments they get on their Facebook page and their name is the VAJRAYANA BUDDHIST COUNCIL of ALL Malaysia? Why is that? Because they have not been doing a good job and people see through that and do not support. We see that and we do not support, and we save everything they do and watch them carefully.
You say so much and yet clearly the intention is to deflect attention from the fact that Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ is a confirmed molester of women. Three female victims have come out. They and their witnesses have all spoken publicly and are confident enough to show their faces to back up their testimonies. If what they said were untrue, would they have shown their faces and opened themselves up to be sued? FPMT is rich and a big organization and can sue easily so this is not something made up or imagined. Lama Zopa and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) knew about all the many reports regarding Dagri and kept it quiet for many years. Lama Zopa even told people not to talk about it. Dagri has given initiations, teachings, commentaries and transmissions and so many people are now lost and don’t know what do. They have lost faith in Dagri because they trusted him, took refuge with him, donated to him, donated to his monastery and his khamtsen (Tsawa Khamtsen) and now they are lost. Think of them. There are many more victims in the spiritual sense besides the three women who have come out. All these invitations, empowerments and teachings carry no blessings because Dagri broke his vows and so everything he has given is void and invalid. Dagri is simply not trustworthy. So the issue here is Dagri and why FPMT, LDC and VBCM covered for him. Just to let you know, there are other monk teachers in FPMT organization that have had inappropriate relationships with female students and touched female members, that have been hushed up. FPMT Amitabha Buddhist Center (ABC) in Singapore has had many students leave due to this happening with their resident teacher and it was hushed up. Many of them are very angry and now looking for ways to make this public.
So you should not be asking me why I am speaking up. You should be asking VBCM and LDC why they wanted to bring this type of monster into our country to molest our sisters and daughters. Are you agreeable to sex predators coming to our country and assaulting our sisters and daughters? Is that what you want? Of course we dare to speak up. And it does not matter if how we speak up is agreeable to you or not. In this Internet age, everything we say can be easily verified if you do some light research. Lama Zopa even came up with a statement of how to ‘view’ Dagri’s offences in the last few days. Why? Because Dagri is guilty and Lama Zopa knows that. But to avoid liability in spiritual, legal and reputational terms, Lama Zopa has to advise victims and concerned people how to conveniently ‘view’ the situations or it will become a massive PR disaster for FPMT and LDC. He has to advise people in a way to placate their anger, hurt and loss of faith. It is not working though. Many are speaking up against Lama Zopa unfortunately. Just go to his Facebook page and read the comments, if they have not been deleted by now.
Lee
May 16, 2019
(Part 4)
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
—–
[[Continuation of Alison Ong's reply]]
On the Dagri scandal and on promoting a sex predator, VBCM is as quiet as mouse. But in the past, they tried to act like ‘authorities’ of Tibetan Buddhism. What gives the VBCM the right to say who is good and who is not good, and which center and teacher is genuine or not genuine? Which practice is blessed or not? What is the VBCM’s so-called authority or expertise based on? Just because they have attended a few teachings and taken a few pictures with the Dalai Lama does not give them the right to do anything in Malaysia. Many people take pictures with the Dalai Lama but that does not mean they immediately become qualified authorities in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama has taken pictures with mass murderers like Shoko Asahara who is also a cult leader. The Dalai Lama has also taken pictures with Keith Raniere, another cult leader. Both are now in jail. As I said, just because you take photos with Dalai Lama does not authorize you to govern the Tibetan Buddhist followers in Malaysia. It also does not give you instant wisdom. You make mistakes too. VBCM likes to splash their pictures taken with the Dalai Lama all over their unsteady website (sometimes it exists and sometimes it’s gone) and Facebook pages. They do this all the time to fool the Malaysian public into thinking that they are so holy, so learned and have the Dalai Lama’s backing. Well they are not holy, not learned and the Dalai Lama will take pictures with everyone, even his security guards. Splashing their pictures all over the place on social media does not convince the public that VBCM has any authority to judge and sanction any teacher, tradition, center, temple, practice and tradition. VBCM committee are just ordinary lay persons who are not Dharma teachers and not knowledgable. It will do them well to remain silent and just practice the Dharma they claim to protect. Even the great monks of Brickfields who are learned masters from Sri Lanka meet all monks of all traditions, peoples, centers, traditions and do not discriminate nor do they criticize, and they are real sangha and learned. If they do not discriminate, who are VBCM to do so? Ms. Tee Siew Seet, Mr. Pek Chee Hen and so forth are the core of VBCM and Ms. Tee likes to hide behind other committee members of VBCM to do the dirty works for her so she does not get into trouble and make her Sifu Tony Wong look bad.
VBCM has no knowledge, learning and authority to be the VAJRAYANA BUDDHIST COUNCIL OF MALAYSIA. You are right, they are not backed by any of our Government Departments because they are not qualified to be backed up. The VBCM is not backed up by anything and even you can see that it is nothing but a shell. Many of us will not keep silent about VBCM because they have no authority to judge other teachers, centers and lineages in Malaysia. They have no right to say who is bad and who is good. I have as much right as the VBCM but I don’t interfere in matters that do not concern me. The VBCM has in the past opposed centers inside and outside Malaysia and have tried to sabotage teachers trying to come into Malaysia or within Malaysia. What gives them that right? If they have the right because they are a member of the public, then so do I. I don’t need a ‘big’ name and big banner to say what is right and wrong. I only need to speak the truth and without fear. Anyway, on what basis does the VBCM decide which lama is good or bad? On what grounds and guidelines? And with what qualifications do they judge by? Just a few committee members ‘certifying’ and ‘authorizing’ which lama and center is good or bad in Malaysia? That’s absurd and fake. And we are supposed to follow what these unqualified fellows dictate and ignore our rights as citizens of our free nation? But when a lama is found out to be sexually molesting women and VBCM has promoted these lamas past and present, they remain quiet. Cowards that they are.
The people behind VBCM only dare to say things anonymously on Facebook. They only post as VBCM and do not reveal who is doing the postings. This is why none of the committee post the same things on their own Facebook pages. And why is there no transparency? Which of the committee have been deleting critical comments, which one of them have been hiding comments they don’t like? Which one of them deleted comments that shared facts that the VBCM doesn’t want the public to know? Which one of the committee is promoting this lama or that center? No one knows which person from within VBCM is doing this on their Facebook page, so they are anonymous and act while hiding behind anonymity. They should identify themselves at the end of each post and state who they are and take responsibility and be ready to be held accountable. So they are the ones that are anonymous and they have a banner of being a council? How can council members hide?
VBCM acts like a commercial marketing company and all they do is promote lamas on their Facebook pages without any care or screening. On the one hand, they presume to tell others who is a proper lama and yet evidently some have turned out to be sex offenders but VBCM keeps quiet. VBCM is not qualified to manage Vajrayana Buddhism in any way. No one is qualified in Malaysia to do so and no center should do so, lest people start looking deeper into them. Even if VBCM is claiming to carry out the Dalai Lama’s wishes, they are not qualified to do so. The Dalai Lama’s advices, wishes and concerns do not need to be enforced by anyone. It is up to the individual to follow them or not. Buddhism is an open religion and not militaristic or controlling so don’t make it that way. Buddhism is not like the Vatican where the Pope controls everything. The Dalai Lama is not the Pope and he has no Vatican. We Malaysians have full religious freedom and the Vajrayana teachings we follow are up to us. Although I respect the Dalai Lama very much, I do not have to follow everything he says. I have my own discerning wisdom, intelligence and free will. By not following everything that the Dalai Lama says does not make me his enemy. So don’t make me his enemy. It just simply makes me a proud citizen of Malaysia who exercises my free choice.
The question everyone should ask over and over again is who authorized the VBCM to judge who is good and not good. Just because they claim they follow the Dalai Lama’s teachings does not give them the right or qualification to be a moral compass. If VBCM are such good followers of the Dalai Lama and REALLY PRACTICED WHAT HE TAUGHT, the committee of the VBCM would be highly attained already. They should be healing people, they should be advanced in their meditations and they should be teaching the Dharma to many people by now. None of that is happening. That means the people in the VBCM don’t practice well and they are just like the rest of us. NOT PERFECT. In that case, they should not pretend that they are better than the rest of us and tell us what gurus we should follow or not follow.
Lee
May 16, 2019
(Part 5)
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
—–
[[Continuation of Alison Ong's reply]]
If the VBCM had any qualifications or if had any decency or sense of civic responsibility, it would not have promoted a dangerous sex offender like Dagri. What the VBCM did was just wrong. It was dangerous for the VBCM to do that. How can anyone trust the VBCM and what they say now? VBCM making that mistake shows they are not qualified to screen teachers coming into Malaysia. They are not qualified to be a council of any sort. They should keep quiet and practice Dharma deeply instead of trying to be a council and assume to tell the rest of us what to do. Dangerous. They told us to get teachings from Dagri and look how that worked out. It worked out badly. More and more witnesses are speaking out. Dagri is a molester and preys on innocent women while hiding behind maroon robes. Dangerous. Because the VBCM makes dangerous mistakes, I as a member of the public will speak up and report. In fact, everyone should be asking the VBCM why it promoted a sex predator and then when exposed, just turned away instead of acting responsibly? Why did FPMT’s Malaysian branch LDC promote this molester? They should apologize and be honest and not just change their advert regarding Dagri’s coming quietly and not say anything. Shame.
Instead of doing the proper thing, the VBCM deleted and hid posts by the public that warned others of Dagri. On the one hand the VBCM claims to be a council and to be a source of accurate information, but on the other hand they hide and delete important posts and comments. The VBCM should never delete posts unless they are vulgar. I have personally screenshot many posts they have deleted and hidden so there is a record of the VBCM’s cover-ups. They even block accounts so where is the transparency and honesty? Why not let the public exercise the right to say what they like especially when it is on important issues like this dangerous Dagri? VBCM’s Facebook page has so little interaction already so why block people, hide and delete comments? How come they can tell the public what they want but the public cannot respond and tell them what the public wants and feels? We can be telling the truth too even if we don’t ADVERTISE our photos taken with the Dalai Lama, you know?
You asked why I speak up and monitor the situation? It’s because the VBCM failed to perform its job and duty to inform the public. In fact VBCM is not qualified for any duties in regards to Vajrayana Buddhism. So we the public have to stand up and make a stand. I repeat, the VBCM failed. Remember, FPMT has suspended Dagri. Why suspend him if the allegations are not real? After all the public outcry, the FPMT became afraid. They have always known the allegations are real. Dagri was arrested in North India by the Indian police and that is real. It is real. He did molest the Spanish lady and that is real. He did grab the breast of the Korean lady and that is real. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo said to speak up as she is aware of Dagri and what he did. The Dalai Lama said, “People who commit sexual abuse don’t care about the Buddha’s teaching. Make it public through media, though they may not pay heed to Buddhist teachings on ethical behaviour, they will likely take notice if their face appears in the media.” That is why we are speaking up. But why isn’t the VBCM speaking up? Why use the Dalai Lama as their claim to ‘authority’ but ignore the Dalai Lama when it is their own loss of face at stake? And how come you and VBCM do not even think about the damage done to Dagri’s victims? Where is your moral compass? What about the poor ladies who came to Dagri in full faith and trust and were horribly molested and it destroyed them? What about them? Do you have any sympathy for them? They have sworn statutory declarations and witnesses to this. They have gone to the police. They are open about it. They are not asking for compensation or money but just an admission, an apology so they can heal, so that potential victims will not become victims. FPMT, LDC and VBCM must think of the victims.
VBCM is covering for Dagri because the LDC is a part of VBCM. VBCM should disclose openly that the LDC invited a ‘teacher’ of doubtful character, exposing the public to danger. Why does VBCM protect the LDC instead of the Malaysian public? Very biased. Is it because you have members of LDC in the VBCM? Doesn’t this show that the VBCM only acts in its own self-interest? Why scold me when you should scold VBCM and LDC?
It is strange you and VBCM attack those who do the right thing and defend those at fault. Dagri has touched many women without their permission. That is wrong. For sure, we are not speaking up because we are disgruntled with our centers and teachers and giving up on the Dharma. We are very happy with our lives and our spiritual practice. We don’t have to be in any center to become spiritually evolved. We are speaking up because we haven’t given up on the Dharma. We are stopping monsters hiding behind religion to victimize women. Why don’t you think about the women, the victims? Why must the victims suffer more to protect VBCM and LDC’s face? Why? Think of the victims.
When you stop to think about it, the VBCM’s ONLY claim to fame is that some of them have taken photos with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. So have I and I have also donated many times to his causes and teachings and will continue to donate. But that does not mean the Dalai Lama is perfect. He is a good person, good monk and knowledgeable but he makes mistakes too. Just look at the people he has endorsed such as Shoko Asahara and Keith Raniere. If you have no idea who they are, just Google those names and the Dalai Lama and you will see that the Dalai Lama has also made mistakes. And the Dalai Lama himself said that if he has made a mistake, I do not need to follow along the mistake but take his other teachings and apply it. The Dalai Lama has said, “If the spiritual master is following a wrong path, which is contrary to mainline teachings, the student should be able to take a stand and not blindly follow that path.” It is not improper to tell your guru he is wrong when he is wrong. It does not affect guru devotion. So Lama Zopa has made mistakes but that doesn’t mean I no longer regard him as a good person. I don’t need to follow men in robes blindly. But I must be discerning and open my eyes and be alert always. High lamas can make mistakes and they will continue to. That is fine, but they must own up to it.
The bottom line is, LDC has promoted a sex offender and is still promoting him. I, as a good member of society who values the truth and who understands the importance of the situation, am simply bringing this to their attention and to the public’s attention. Why does it have to be this way? Because if you bring it to their attention in an open and direct way, they will brush you off to save their own skin and face and because they do not want to lose revenue and income from events such as the one they wanted to bring Dagri in for. Of course having Dagri at LDC will bring money, new members and more resources, or so they hoped. Too bad.
Lee
May 16, 2019
(Part 6)
Alison penned the comments below in response to Nicole Sia Mei Yee’s attempt to protect the VBCM’s refusal to speak up against Dagri Rinpoche although the Indian police arrested him for sexual assault. VBCM and their co-conspirator Losang Dragpa Center have traditionally been extremely discriminatory towards others but in this Dagri incident where he has been found to sexually assault women, they have been silent. They have not spoken up against Dagri Rinpoche or the FPMT who covered it up for 10 years.
The original comment exchange may be found on VBCM’s Facebook Fanpage but be warned, VBCM has a history of deleting or hiding posts because they do not believe in speaking the truth: https://www.facebook.com/ONEvbcm/posts/10156597455989335
—–
[[Continuation of Alison Ong's reply]]
Bottom line is VBCM has no right to tell us what lamas and practices are good or bad because they have no basis and no qualifications and they should keep quiet. Even when a lama like Dagri is bad, they have the chance to exercise their councilship but they do not. Shame. Their motivation is not genuine, that is why they don’t speak up when necessary. No one respects the VBCM and it is reflected in the lack of support in person and online.
We will keep speaking up and we will keep sharing our opinions with the public after we do thorough research always. We are simply the concerned public who do not want more women being abused in the name of religion. We know how that feels.
Also, do you want to take a chance and leave your daughters and sisters with Dagri in a room? I wouldn’t!
CC
H.H. the Dalai Lama
FPMT/Lama Zopa
All Malaysian Buddhist centers
Religous department of Tibetans in Dharamsala
Buddhist Scholars
Malaysian government
Media
Buddhist forums
Monasteries in India and Nepal
Dharma centers around the world
The news on Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual molestation is big, and growing bigger still, all around the world.
Dagri Rinpoche’s teachings around the world are being cancelled:
https://www.facebook.com/carol.mcquire/posts/10161953935340145?comment_id=10161954361765145
Links to news talking about this issue:
1) https://www.tibetsun.com/news/2019/05/08/tibetan-lama-dagri-rinpoche-faces-me-too-allegations
2) http://www.tibetanjournal.com/senior-tibetan-lama-faces-allegations-of-sexual-assault/
3) https://medium.com/@alexandernazzarro/dalai-lama-offices-dagri-rinpoche-molests-women-cb3c5f8f1b1a
4) https://hindi.news18.com/news/himachal-pradesh/dharamsala-women-molested-in-delhi-to-kangra-filght-old-men-arrested-hpvk-1953835.html
5) https://www.jagran.com/himachal-pradesh/kangra-tibbati-man-tease-with-women-in-delhi-kangra-plane-19191754.html
6) https://news.raftaar.in/kangra-crime-news-state-tibbati-tease-with-women-teasing-plane-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%86-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%9B%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%9B%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC/detail/ec9e4e49c2ba67cd2459f42005974c12
7) https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/crime/molestation-with-female-passenger-in-delhi-kangra-flight
8) https://www.bhaskar.com/himachal-chandigarh/shimla/news/30-year-old-woman-accused-65-year-old-man-for-molesting-her-in-air-india-flight-01537189.html
9) https://www.facebook.com/palden.gyalpo.5/posts/680924665671499
10) http://bangchen.net/42968/22/58/
11) http://tibetexpress.net/10307/second-woman-alleges-molestation-by-dagri-rinpoche/
12) https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/myanmar-journalists-freed/
13) http://timesasian.com/archives/6801
14) http://timesasian.com/archives/6838
15) http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=41433&t=1
16) https://www.lionsroar.com/prominent-tibetan-lama-accused-of-molestation-by-two-women/
17) https://himachalabhiabhi.com/latest-news/dagri-rinpoche-denies-sexual-assaults-allegations.html
18) https://thetibetstar.com/2019/05/13/breaking-news-is-dagri-rinpoche-guilty/
19) https://www.tibetwebsite.com/prominent-tibetan-lama-accused-of-molestation-by-three-women/
20) https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/tibetan-lama-dagri-rinpoche-suspended-from-teaching-after-molestation-allegations
21) https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/tibetan-monk-in-eye-of-metoo-storm/770574.html
Tenzin Palden
May 16, 2019
Public Outcry Against FPMT’s Cover up of Dagri Rinpoche’s Sexual Misconduct
FPMT’s reputation as an organization that protects and promotes sexual predator is growing, and the members of the public are disturbed with what FPMT has done.
In the online petition titled “Call for investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche”, more people are calling for FPMT to stop covering up Dagri Rinpoche’s sexual misconduct, protect the victims, and investigate Dagri Rinpoche’s misbehavior.
https://www.change.org/p/buddhist-followers-call-for-investigation-into-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-by-dagri-rinpoche/c
Amber Sonam
May 16, 2019
In 2011 + 2012, FPMT’s branch in Malaysia (LDC) invited Dagri ‘Rinpoche’ to give pujas, oral transmissions and initiations. Now how do they feel? So many people have gotten empty transmissions, false teachings and rotten initiations from a sex offender teacher Dagri Rinpoche? What do they do now? Ask for a refund? How about when they lose faith in him? Do they go to vajra hell? It’s inevitable isn’t it due to FPMT’s negligence. How do FPMT make up for sending a dangerous sex monk to give teachings and initiations to the public when they knew about him and covered up all the victims complaints. Lama Zopa knew about Dagri Rinpoche victims’ complaints. Now it will get bigger and bigger. Karma is coming back to FPMT for all the lies and coverups. Shame. Shame. Shame.
Penjor T
May 16, 2019
A group of prominent Buddhist nuns has asked the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) to launch an independent, third-party investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dagri Rinpoche.
Signatories include well-known Western Buddhist nuns such as Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Bhikshuni Karma Lekshe Tsomo, and Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron.
Dagri Rinpoche, a teacher in the Geulgpa tradition, based in Dharamsala, India, has played an important role in the FPMT. The FPMT has already suspended him from teaching following multiple allegations. The group of Western nuns has now asked for an “objective and impartial investigation of the charges.”
Lhamo Gyed
May 17, 2019
Have you guys seen this?
I have been reading up with all that had happened with the latest Dagri Rinpoche molestation case. I cannot believe there is so much going on, especially with the way FPMT, their spiritual head, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the monastery had responded. They are clearly downplaying the abuse, which is uncalled for in this day and age.
You guys should read what Jakaira, one of the victim’s responded to these parties. It is obvious that she is quite upset with the way they had dismissed her and the other abuse victims. This is quite shocking to read about and does not put FPMT, Lama Zopa or the monastery in good light. As Jakaira has said, they are all liable to the damages inflicted on the victims because they choose to side with the abuser, Dagri.
Very shocking and sad…
Do read her letter….
SabrinaS
May 17, 2019
Wow Amazing! This is getting bigger and bigger.
Nuns Push for Investigation into Molestation Allegations against Teacher Dagri Rinpoche
The prominent Tibetan Buddhist monk has been suspended from teaching over abuse allegations, and now senior nuns are calling for an independent probe into his behaviour.
After becoming aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against the prominent Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dagri Rinpoche, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) suspended him from their list of teachers, the international Buddhist group said in a statement on their website on Tuesday. The following day, ten senior Buddhist nuns—including Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, the founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, and Thubten Chodron, the abbess of Sravasti Abbey in Washington—sent a letter to FPMT calling for a third-party investigation into the accusations.
Dagri Rinpoche—a tulku [reincarnated master] in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and a touring teacher who regular visits centers in the United States, such as Sravasti Abbey, where he had been listed as a spiritual advisor—was suspended after being accused in a formal complaint of molesting a woman onboard an Air India flight on May 3. Following media reports of the charge against him, a former nun, Jakaira Perez Valdivia, posted a video on YouTube entitled “Dagri Rinpoche is indeed a serial molester,” in which she claims that Dagri Rinpoche molested her ten years ago while she was living in Dharamsala, India. Soon after, another woman, Shin Young Sun, stepped forward, writing in a Facebook post on May 13 that Dagri Rinpoche groped her breast while she was a student at Sarah College in Dharamsala between 2005 and 2009.
Dagri Rinpoche has denied any wrongdoing.
In their letter to FPMT, the senior nuns said there are even more women who have remained anonymous, “Some of us personally know other Western nuns who have reported that they were molested by Dagri Rinpoche,” they wrote. The letter continues:
We urge the FPMT to commission an independent, third-party investigation into these allegations, and to make the conclusions of this investigation public. This investigation should be conducted in such a way that plaintiffs and/or witnesses feel safe to come forward and tell their stories confidentially—and anonymously, if they so wish . . . Holding an independent investigation sends a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated and there will be repercussions for perpetrators. This is crucial in order to ensure an environment in which students’ trust can be rebuilt.
Along with the letter, a group of practitioners and nuns have also started an online petition to urge FPMT to “find the truth.”
In a statement released on May 13, Dagri Rinpoche reasserted his innocence. In the case of the Air India flight, he said he was only steadying himself on the armrest of his accuser, who was sleeping at the time. When she woke up, she “appeared angry” and said something to him in a language he did not understand, he wrote. He was later told that she had filed a complaint to the police.
In his interaction with Perez Valdivia—whom Dagri Rinpoche characterizes as “a nun who experienced some physical and mental problems”—he wrote that he only “performed Jabtru, a water purification ritual, and Kakgo, a ritual to remove obstacles” to help with her with those issues. He adds, “After about three years, she used these rituals as a reason to accuse me of inappropriately touching her.”
Related: Will Sanghas Learn from the Scandals in the Buddhist World?
Perez Valdivia responded in a statement sent to Tricycle on May 16, saying, “instead of apologising he’s blaming and discrediting the victims, the oldest method proved effective to get away with abuse.”
She added that he has spent his “entire life getting away with molesting students and devotees around the world due to the silence and complicity of some institutions and of the Tibetan system itself.”
In her social-media post, Shin Young Sun also described a culture of ignoring or silencing women whom teachers have allegedly abused, saying that those in positions of power have turned a blind eye, including the office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. She explained that although she has personally forgiven Dagri Rinpoche, she chose to speak out in solidarity with Perez Valdivia. “I write this post for other victims. Because they . . . still experience the hardships,” she said.
Related: Sex in the Sangha . . . Again
FPMT head Lama Zopa Rinpoche, meanwhile, has received criticism for an open letter he sent to Dagri Rinpoche’s students. He wrote:
Dagri Rinpoche is a very positive, holy being—definitely not an ordinary person . . . Therefore, I want to tell the students who have received initiations and teachings from Dagri Rinpoche that you should definitely one hundred percent rejoice, no matter what the world says, no matter if some people criticize him. Even after Buddha became enlightened, he showed the aspect of having pain in his foot when a piece of wood went through it. Buddha said that the suffering was the result of sexual misconduct with a woman in one of his past lives, a long time ago.
In her statement, Perez Valdivia called the advice “embarrassing and outrageous” and said it “excuses the abuser from any ‘appearance’ of misconduct that he may manifest.”
Sabrina
May 17, 2019
There is a change.org petition asking FPMT to take responsibility and conduct an independent investigation of widespread sexual molestation by high-ranking teachers within their organisation. Will the Tibetan leaders finally act on the crimes committed rather than sweep them under the carpet?
Sabine
May 17, 2019
Prominent Buddhist nuns issue statement calling FPMT to conduct an independent investigation after growing number of women have come out accusing FPMT teachers of sexual harassment and molestation.
According to reports from ex-FPMT members, sexual abuse is common in FPMT centres around the world.
The prominent nuns behind the statement are:
(1) Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, founder of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, India
(2) Bhiksuni Jampa Tsedroen, PhD University of Hamburg, Germany
(3) Bhikshuni Karma Lekshe Tsomo, PhD
Professor at the University of San Diego, USA, and founder of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women
(4) Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, Abbess of Sravasti Abbey, USA
(5) Bhikshuni Sangye Khadro, FPMT teacher, USA
(6) Bhikshuni Tenzin Tsepal, FPMT teacher, USA
(7) Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi, FPMT teacher, USA
(8) Ghetzulma Carla Tzultrim Pemo Freccero, Italy
(9) Ghetzulma Lucia Tenzin Ciotzo Bani, Italy
(10) Venerable Tenzin Nordron, USA
Chuck
May 22, 2019
Disgusting. This is the example and tone that FPMT have set for their people, which is to EXCUSE SEXUAL ABUSE. Embarrassing that this Western organization allows their people to use cultural differences as a justification for abuse or a lack of reaction. This reaction is so illogical because:
(1) FPMT are Western-based so they should know how to react and that is, to not sweep it under the rug
(2) The first victim is an Indian and Dagri spent most of his life in India so what cultural difference is there??
(3) Not to forget but it’s ILLEGAL to abuse women so the point on cultural differences is irrelevant. It’s ILLEGAL, plain and simple.
Really embarrassing that FPMT would go along with this. It’s not human, let alone Buddhist.
Carine
May 25, 2019
Mais, c’est incroyable! C’est fou!
Qu’est-ce qu’il faut qui arrive avant qu’on arrête ces prédateurs!
Je n’aurai jamais cru que des moines peuvent faire de telles choses et ceux qui sont au courant ne l’arrêtent pas!!
Allez, c’est sérieux!!???
Genevieve
May 27, 2019
There is a new update from the FPMT and Lama Zopa just published (on 24 May) and it’s so sad that even now, neither FPMT and Lama Zopa are doing anything to take these allegations seriously. Quite the opposite, Lama Zopa is still protecting Dagri Rinpoche, still saying that he is “a holy being” and asking people to accept that him sexually molesting people is some form of divine act for the good of the victim.
Genevieve
May 27, 2019
Meanwhile, the FPMT is saying that Dagri Rinpoche is okay to be a teacher because the Office of the Dalai Lama said so.
Luckily, people today are not so easily fooled.
Ngawang Jigme
May 31, 2019
Unlike 5 years ago, Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay is not invited to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony this time. It is clear that PM Modi of India snubs the Tibetan leadership once again in favour of deeper ties with China. The Tibetan leadership finds itself increasingly isolated as nobody wants to offend China by lending any support to the ungrateful Tibetans.
Dagri #MeToo
May 31, 2019
Finally, Dagri is being brought to the court. The first hearing was done on 23rd May while the next hearing is scheduled for 12th June. I wonder if the FPMT is paying for his court case and if they will deny the law further by saying he is an emanation of some high being and settle it outside of court. I wish victim number 4 step forward to bring this case to the next level too!
Click here for the court case details https://services.ecourts.gov.in/ecourtindia_v6/
CNR: HPKA120015502019
Gavin Kilty
June 2, 2019
Michael Richards has been caught saying Lama Zopa teaches “crap” !
See it at https://i.imgur.com/kpsvtFK.jpg
Peter Kedge
June 16, 2019
The Tibet Star video report is really accurate, it’s so clear that Dagri Rinpoche is trying to stall the court case by lying!
No one who is innocent will behave like that, he is surely guilty! I hope the Indian courts will serve the women he molested justice and put him in prison!
https://youtu.be/dgLyQb_0UR8
Graham Robert
July 6, 2019
Watching this Tibet Star report: http://www.dorjeshugden.com one will realise how much negative karma one will get by hurting another being and it was almost institutionalise by a Buddhist organisation like FPMT. Er, so sad.
Graham Robert
July 6, 2019
Watching this Tibet Star report: https://youtu.be/14Bb4I2FHX4 one will realise how much negative karma one will get by hurting another being and it was almost institutionalise by a Buddhist organisation like FPMT. Er, so sad.
Greg Latif
July 11, 2019
Lama Zopa’s advice has made a lot of people lose faith in him regarding Dagri Rinpoche’s molestation victims.
Ben
July 12, 2019
It’s pathetic that FPMT are trying to cover up the truth by pressuring people to shut down their Facebook groups. What’s wrong with people having good, open and honest discussions about something that HAS to be talked about? The culture of silence that they enforced allowed Dagri Rinpoche to keep abusing more people over 10 years, and now they’re doing it again. FPMT really hasn’t learned their lesson. Or did they pressure the group to shut down because there is something they want to hide so FPMT would rather stop the discussions now, just in case something is inadvertently revealed?
Looks like there’s no freedom of speech in FPMT. Looks like FPMT don’t care about justice for the Dagri’s victims. Looks like FPMT only care about their financial bottomline. How ‘Buddhist’.
Lhungtok Choekhorling
July 12, 2019
Lhungtok Choekhorling has updated their website with announcement of Dagri Rinpoche being suspended from FPMT
Logi
July 15, 2019
According to this senior student of FPMT, there are still traces of Dorje Shugden within FPMT and he says Lama Zopa Rinpoche is just like Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The ban has really messed things up. No one is good enough because everyone has a Shugden history 🤦
Carol Macquire
August 29, 2019
$5,000 for 6 weeks course in FPMT! Looks like this is a private club for the rich and privileged!
Tenzin Paljor
August 31, 2019
FPMT reply to Dagri Rinpoche victim, Jakaira Kunsang, reveals claims of sexual abuse and FPMT cover-up as genuine
See the full post on FPMT Wallahs – Old and New facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2387411328211489/permalink/2405187776433844/
Tenzin Paljor
August 31, 2019
Leaked letters from the FPMT expose another sexual abuse victim by Dagri Rinpoche and more cover ups from the FPMT leadership
Read the full post and the comments on FPMT Wallahs – Old and New facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/2387411328211489/permalink/2407272092892079/
Tenzin Paljor
January 31, 2020
Dagri Rinpoche court case has now proceeded after three times postponements for consideration of charge, and now at the stage of presenting the evidence for prosecution.
After receiving more reports of sexual harassment cases of Dagri Rinpoche,
- The FPMT Board announced that they have engaged FaithTrust Institute (FTI) to conduct an independent assessment of sexual misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche in FPMT centres that even named Dagri Rinpoche as the suspect of the investigations.
- The FPMT Board made an announcement that a confidential email address for victims and informants who want to contact FaithTrust Institute.
You can read this for yourself on the FPMT website: https://fpmt.org/fpmt-community-news/statement/dec-20-2019-update/