The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
By: Magda v.d. Berg
It should have been a restorative and healing experience for victims of sexual abuse going to meet the international man of compassion, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They had hoped that the meeting would be a fruitful one, and they would be able to elicit some kind of promise from him to do something about their pain. Instead, according to reports from BBC, ABC and Radio Free Asia, the victims left with “mixed responses”, with some even expressing disappointment.
“Meeting the Dalai Lama was a disappointment”. Just a few years ago, such a phrase or thought would have been unthinkable. Yet, the fact these types of feelings are being reported with increasing frequency should come as no surprise to anyone. It is the result of decades of refusal from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala) to take responsibility for their people and their actions like any responsible leader or government.
The Dalai Lama with Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche, one of the lamas accused of exploiting his relationship with the Dalai Lama to sexually abuse his students
Is it possible that the reports might be inaccurate and can therefore be discredited? Not really, since the BBC is held as the gold standard of journalism, and relied upon all around the world as a source of objective information. In war-torn areas, or regions of great strife and conflict, people turn to the BBC for their news. So the fact this meeting and its unfavorable outcome captured the attention of the BBC and ABC indicates the severity of the matter and something that the Tibetan leadership should take very seriously but clearly failed to.
So while the BBC has traditionally joined other media outlets in providing unquestioning supporting for the Tibetan government, it now seems that the tide is turning as the Dalai Lama makes gaffe after public relations gaffe. But is anyone really surprised when the CTA’s reaction towards these sex crimes has been underwhelmingly lackluster, even to the point of being protectionist towards the sex predators? Let us examine the facts:
- Why do victims of sexual abuse have to beg THE man of compassion to listen and help them? The fact the BBC said the Dalai Lama was “receptive”, putting the phrase in speech marks, implies that he was not actually that receptive to the audience. In the same way you might describe a person as “interesting” to avoid saying what you really feel about them. One of those present even said that the Dalai Lama did not want to hear about their cases and that essentially, he had to be convinced. It is disturbing that the Dalai Lama and his people would have to be convinced to meet with victims of sexual abuse. The reality is that they made it complicated because they did not actually want to hold the audience and be confronted with facts , but were forced to due to public pressure and the need to appear as though they are doing something.
- Why do victims only get 20 minutes? The Dalai Lama will fly around the world to attend events hosted by these sex offenders. He will stay with them, eat their food, give teachings in their Dharma centers and endorse their organizations, and he will spend hours with sponsors. He spends hours commenting on the religious practice of others and the domestic policies of other countries. But he only granted 20 minutes to these victims who have suffered so much at the hands of people that he endorsed. On top of that, he will not do anything concrete to sanction the offenders. These victims have had their lives turned upside down by the very people he said would be safe and okay to associate with.
The Dalai Lama accepting an offering from the alleged sex offender Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche. Would the Dalai Lama accept an offering from any Dorje Shugden practitioner? What is acceptable about sexual abuse, and not acceptable about Dorje Shugden practice?
- Why does the Dalai Lama teach people to be responsible, when he himself rejects responsibility for the actions of those whom he allowed to use his name and reputation as an endorsement of their behavior? The Dalai Lama cannot claim ignorance in this matter. It is clear that the abusers used his name and their association with him in order to build trust and lure people within striking range of their criminal misdeeds. Many allowed themselves to be in harm’s way because they trusted the Dalai Lama’s commendation of these predators. The abuses were not once off and spanned many years during which time it has come to light that the Dalai Lama’s office was informed of such abuses. It is clear that these abusers are guilty of the crimes that they have been accused of. Yet, the Dalai Lama has until now refused to take any responsibility although it would have been less likely that the abuse was perpetuated had the abusers not received an endorsement from the Dalai Lama.
- Why does the Dalai Lama speak so strongly on so many other issues but he will not speak up against sexual abuse? The fact sexual abuse is universally reviled means that there will not be any damage to the Dalai Lama’s reputation if he speaks up against it and against their perpetrators; he would actually be lauded and praised for his open-minded attitude and willingness to side with the victims and prevent further victims from being harmed. The Dalai Lama will even speak up against issues that do not concern him, for example the caste system in India or the mistakes that he perceives were made by Nehru. The Tibetan leadership will publish books, videos, pamphlets, hit lists and posters against Dorje Shugden. Yet, the Dalai Lama and CTA will not do anything about a topic that directly concerns them i.e. how the Dalai Lama has endorsed the perpetrators of these sex crimes. So the fact that the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership will not say or do anything against these lamas and their actions is highly suspicious.
- Why does the Dalai Lama endorse criminals? Sogyal Rinpoche and those of his ilk are not the first offenders whom the Dalai Lama has endorsed. The Dalai Lama met with Japanese cult leader Shoko Asahara before he injured thousands in the Tokyo subway. The Dalai Lama has also accepted US$1mil to grace an event hosted by American cult leader Keith Raniere who was recently indicted on various crimes, including sex trafficking. And when the Dalai Lama was younger and living in Lhasa, he was tutored by the Nazi Heinrich Harrer. Again, this tendency of the Dalai Lama to affirm harmful people seems to be habitual. What is even more disturbing is how the Dalai Lama regards many of these people as his personal friends.
The Dalai Lama with Heinrich Harrer, who was a member of the Nazi Party. The Dalai Lama seems to have made it a habit to associate with unsavory characters.
- Why does the Dalai Lama act as the spiritual leader of all Tibet only when it is convenient? In reality, the Dalai Lama is not the spiritual leader of any of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, even the Gelug school to which he belongs which is led by the Gaden Tripa. However, the Tibetan leadership have used people’s ignorance of this fact to promote the Dalai Lama as the spiritual leader of all Tibet. And when he is interested in something, the Dalai Lama will take advantage of this ignorance to get involved. For example, he used this ‘position’ when he interfered in the recognition of the Karmapas, although the Dalai Lamas have never been involved in the process. His endorsement of one candidate over another led to a division in the Karma Kagyu school. The Dalai Lama fell back on this ‘position’ once again when he banned the practice of Dorje Shugden, although he had no spiritual right to overrule the practice of thousands of people who been received it from their personal teachers. However, when the issue becomes too difficult or inconvenient, the Dalai Lama and Tibetan leadership will refuse to take responsibility and pretend that there is nothing they can do. In the case of the Karma Kagyu division, when confronted with the results of his actions, the Dalai Lama said he would not do anything about it. Similarly, in the case of the Dorje Shugden ban, the Dalai Lama will not lift the ban even though it has divided the Tibetan community. Now, the Western world is seeing that the Dalai Lama will not take responsibility for the actions of people he has endorsed even when it concerns sexual abuse.
- Why does the Tibetan leadership attack those who hurt no one with their choices, but endorse people who actively go out of their way to manipulate, exploit and abuse the vulnerable? The CTA will publicize hit lists of Dorje Shugden practitioners who protest against the ban, but they will not do anything against these sex offenders although they clearly have the means and platform to do so. If they took just a portion of their budget allocated to attack Dorje Shugden practitioners, and redirected it towards educating these lamas on the evils of sex abuse, it would have saved so many people the heartache and devastation of becoming victims of these sex crimes. Is it not better to have a list of known sex offenders to warn would-be victims than a list of Tibetans who are criminalized just because they protest the Dalai Lama and the CTA’s autocratic ways?
Self-styled Tibetan Buddhism “expert” Robert Thurman (right) with Sogyal Rinpoche. While Robert Thurman’s daughter, Uma, has accused others of assaulting her, here her father is seen with the sex abuser Sogyal Rinpoche. Where is Thurman’s compassion and empathy for the experiences his daughter and others like her have suffered?
- Why does the Tibetan leadership have a warped view of what constitutes a crime? On the one hand, they say that Dorje Shugden practitioners are “criminals in history”. This is because they dare to defy the Dalai Lama’s ban of the practice and hence, only because they refuse to listen to the Dalai Lama, they become criminals. On the other hand, when people commit actual crimes by sexually abusing their students, those people are not accused of being criminals. No resolutions are passed in the Tibetan parliament condemning their crimes. No books are published warning people against them. For the Tibetan leadership’s information, in the real world, in the democratic world, in the world outside the Tibetan community, a crime is anything that actually hurts other people. This includes murder, theft, embezzlement and money laundering (incidentally, all things that Dalai Lama associates have been accused of). It does not include “not listening to the Dalai Lama”. So what crime do Dorje Shugden practitioners commit when they keep their personal practice and refuse to abide by the Dalai Lama’s diktats to give up the practice? Does the Tibetan leadership actually understand what a crime is?
- Why does the Tibetan leadership want to damage the reputation of Tibet? Whatever the CTA wants to insist about how much they have done towards the Tibetan cause, the reality is that no one has done as much as His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The reality is that the entire welfare of the Tibetan cause rests on the Dalai Lama’s name and reputation. With each successive gaffe by the Dalai Lama, the damage to the Dalai Lama’s reputation only makes it harder for the CTA to raise funds and raise awareness. So perhaps the CTA does not really care about Tibet after all? It is clear they will do nothing to protect the future of the Tibetan cause by protecting the reputation of the man upon whom all of it rests. In the same vein, the CTA portray themselves to be defenders of the Buddha’s teachings but in fact their complicity in these crimes harm the Buddhadharma.
- Do the Tibetan leadership truly love the Dalai Lama? Thanks to the CTA’s ineptitude, refusal to deal with the sexual abuse and hiding behind the Dalai Lama’s name, they have left their leader exposed, opening him up to the world for questioning. Now that people know the Dalai Lama endorses sex abusers, it puts him at risk of being accused of every tragedy being used to his advantage. It leads people to wonder if the Dalai Lama’s silence over self-immolations is his complicit approval for the suicides and deaths of his people. It leads people to wonder if his silence over the schisms in the Karma Kagyu is his approval for the division of the school.
Tulku Lobsang, who is accused of sexual abuse, seen here with the Dalai Lama. Tulku Lobsang’s name was included in the complaint that four people presented to the Dalai Lama in the Netherlands, alleging that a group of Tibetan lamas had been sexually abusing their students. Tulku Lobsang would not be included if the accusers did not have proof of his crimes.
What can the Dalai Lama do?
It is interesting that the Dalai Lama will meet the victims. It is good that he has ‘denounced’ the abusers. But the question on everyone’s lips is, what will the Dalai Lama himself do about all of this? Because a simple denouncement in such a serious matter does not rectify the situation.
If the Dalai Lama does nothing, then while it might sound good when he asks victims to report their abusers to the authorities, it is actually nothing more than his refusal to get involved. He brushes the responsibility back on traumatized victims to do something; the responsibility is on them to get justice and he himself will do nothing more. No wonder the victims left the audience with mixed reactions, when the Dalai Lama is staunchly refusing to do anything more about these crimes. It is very similar to the Pope in the Catholic Church and his treatment of the abusers, whereby he is forced by public pressure to do something, and not because he personally appears to find something wrong with or disturbing about their actions.
The Dalai Lama is not exactly a shy and retiring wallflower. He has in the past strongly condemned Dorje Shugden practitioners and initiated many campaigns against them. Therefore, relating to the sex offenders he can, as he has done to Dorje Shugden practitioners:
- Repeatedly and strongly denounce Sogyal Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham, Gangten Tulku, Lama Norlha, Lama Yeshe Nyingpo, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Tenzin Dhonden, Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche, Tulku Lobsang and Lama Ogyen Kunzang Dorje in his teachings and gatherings.
- Segregate these sex abusers from the Tibetan monasteries, schools, hospitals, restaurants and shops.
- Call for their books to be removed from bookstores.
- Force their location to be reported at all times, so potential victims can be aware and protect themselves. In the West for example, sex offenders are required to report to their local authorities and have to wear an ankle monitor.
- Have a section on his website condemning these sex offenders. He has this section against Dorje Shugden practitioners on both his official website and the CTA’s website.
- Call for people to stop going to them to receive teachings. Given their crimes, why should people go to them to receive teachings on compassion, renunciation and cutting attachments?
- Call for the monasteries to expel them. Why should the other practitioners who have not broken their vows be exposed to or be associated with such behavior?
- Warn Tibetans, in the Tibetan language, against associating with them.
- Demand that they offer restitution to their victims. After all, these abusers broke the faith and trust of their victims who were genuine and sincere in their practice. What could be more destructive to Buddhism than destroying people’s faith in it?
- Use the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile to enact laws amongst the exiles that provide stringent measures to punish this behavior or prevent future abuses.
The 41st Sakya Trizin with Sogyal Rinpoche. Why do lamas continue to associate with sex offenders like Sogyal and continue to be friends, because this behavior endorses their actions to the public and their students?
Thus the question these victims of sexual abuse should really be asking is why the Dalai Lama does not do any of the above for Sogyal Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham, Gangten Tulku, Lama Norlha, Lama Yeshe Nyingpo, Lama Choedak Rinpoche, Tenzin Dhonden, Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche, Lama Ogyen Kunzang Dorje and Tulku Lobsang who have harmed them? And the question everyone should be asking is why he feels so comfortable denouncing Dorje Shugden lamas, but he will not repeatedly denounce these abusive lamas who are dangerous? Being so harmful to Buddhism, and so damaging to people’s faith, they warrant much stronger denouncements from the Dalai Lama so he can warn the vulnerable. The Dalai Lama’s public denouncement of these offensive and abusive lamas is nowhere near loud enough, strong enough or thorough enough. He can, and should, be stronger and more vocal in denouncing and segregating them from Tibetan communities worldwide, so they have nowhere to hide and have to face up to their crimes. After all, he does this to Shugden people and surely these abusive lamas are much more dangerous and destructive to Buddhism than Dorje Shugden practitioners?
Or perhaps the Dalai Lama is just a closet sexist. In the last few months, he has made comments about how he should be reborn as an attractive woman, otherwise it is useless (i.e. it is useless to be female unless you are attractive). It is precisely this chauvinistic approach that allows for others to follow suit. Combined with his silence, this approach enables his abusers and protects them because everyone assumes they are the Dalai Lama’s friends, and therefore beyond reproach. Therefore unless the Dalai Lama does something stronger, people will not dare to sanction those he has endorsed, in the same way it took decades for Hollywood to act against the powerful Harvey Weinstein despite widespread knowledge of his crimes. It was the industry’s silence that allowed Weinstein to continue abusing young actresses.
Another photo of Robert Thurman and Sogyal Rinpoche getting quite chummy. It appears they have a close relationship. Why does Robert Thurman and others like him endorse the criminal actions of people like Sogyal by associating with them?
Is the Dalai Lama’s charm wearing off?
So now the world knows that the Dalai Lama is not interested in protecting sex abusers, how does the CTA want to explain it away this time? When they failed to regain Tibet, they blamed people’s worship of Dorje Shugden, saying that it upset Palden Lhamo and harmed the life of the Dalai Lama. Which god will they blame this time, for this sexual abuse scourge that has taken over the Tibetan community?
As a spiritual leader in his community, the Dalai Lama is failing people who look to him for spiritual guidance. How will the victims feel now they have approached Tibetan Buddhism’s supposed highest authority, and not received the support they had been seeking? How many will be disheartened and potentially give up their practice, or give up their faith in the lamas? In refusing to sanction these abusers, the Dalai Lama is damaging Tibetan Buddhism by allowing them to continue operating despite the fact they have been found to be guilty.
And as a secular leader in his community, the Dalai Lama is failing his people because he refuses to sanction someone for committing a secular crime. Even political leaders will rebuke and refuse to associate with people who have committed crime. How many more people will be at risk of abuse, because these abusers are allowed to get away scot-free?
Whether secular or spiritual, the bottom line is that when given a choice of behaving as politician or spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama consistently opts to be political, encouraged by a Tibetan leadership that acts only when it benefits them. So can the Tibetan leadership really be that inept? Perhaps the Dalai Lama is not at fault for any of this. Perhaps it is the Tibetan leadership’s repeated failure in their duty of care, to check out and thoroughly vet these people before they push the Dalai Lama to associate with them. Is it that the Tibetan leadership are so blinded by the riches and bank accounts of these people, that they become blind to their faults and actions too?
Either way, someone has to be held responsible, whether it is the Tibetan leadership or the Dalai Lama himself. Hundreds of victims of sexual abuse are counting on it.
[BBC] Dalai Lama meets alleged abuse victims
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45521075. Click to enlarge.
[ABC] Dalai Lama meets alleged victims
of abuse by Buddhist gurus
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/dalai-lama-meets-alleged-victims-abuse-buddhist-gurus-57820565. Click to enlarge.
[RFA] Dalai Lama Meets in the Netherlands
With Sex Abuse Victims
Source: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/meets-09142018173444.html. Click to enlarge.
[Hindustan Times] ‘Nothing new’: Dalai Lama says he knew about sex abuse by Buddhist teachers
Incredibly, the Dalai Lama admits that he knew about the abuses all along – for the past 25 years in fact – but did nothing. This must be a troubling revelation for the victims of sexual abuse, who relied on the Dalai Lama’s word and reputation as a measure of who they can and should not trust.
And exactly who it is did the Dalai Lama hear about 25 years ago was abusing their students, and did he anything about it? If he did not act against it, then that is a quarter of a century of the Dalai Lama allowing these perpetrators to continue their crimes unchecked and without consequence. This, combined with the Hindustan Times interview, only reaffirms the conclusion of the victims’ meeting with him – the Dalai Lama will not help them, and is not interested in helping them.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/dalai-lama-i-knew-of-sex-abuse-by-buddhist-teachers-since-1990s/story-238DdgDwzQYU5rDfTSgl8M.html. Click to enlarge.
[Inquirer News] Dalai Lama knew sex abuse by
Buddhist teachers; it’s ‘nothing new’
Another article confirms that the Dalai Lama knew about these abuses all along and chose to do nothing about it. Where is his compassion for these victims of abuse? Who should these victims go to for help, if not the Dalai Lama who often acts as the head of all Tibetan Buddhists?
And once again, the Dalai Lama pushes the responsibility on to others, saying that “religious leaders should pay more attention”. But is the Dalai Lama himself not a religious leader? In fact, the Tibetan leadership positions him as the head of all Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, although this is not necessarily the case.
So how come, as the supposed head, the Dalai Lama is not paying attention and doing something? How can he ask others to ‘pay more attention’ when he himself is not doing so? Why does the Dalai Lama devolve the responsibility onto other religious leaders? Does he not consider himself a religious leader? If that is the case, then perhaps the Dalai Lama should stop getting involved with religious issues in the Tibetan community and focus only on his own personal matters.
Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1032920/dalai-lama-knew-sex-abuse-by-buddhist-teachers-its-nothing-new. Click to enlarge.
[Quartz] “You have given me ammunition,” the
Dalai Lama tells Buddhist abuse victims
While this article attempts to paint the Dalai Lama in a more positive and proactive light, it also states the fact that the Dalai Lama knew about the abuses for 25 years and did nothing about it. It also attempts excuse the fact the Dalai Lama did nothing before by saying he has “ammunition” now.
The truth is that as the God-king of Tibet whose word is law, the Dalai Lama never needed “ammunition” to act. And even if that were the case, these allegations were reaffirmed in 2011 when Sogyal Rinpoche was exposed in a documentary as being a sexual abuser. Was that not enough so-called “ammunition” then?
Now, after a 20-minute meeting with some of the victims, the Dalai Lama has agreed to their demands but it remains to be seen whether or not he will actually fulfill them. After all, the meeting was a very short one considering the gravity of the topic they were discussing, and the Dalai Lama has given speeches longer than the meeting he had with the victims.
Source: https://qz.com/1392837/the-dalai-lama-to-buddhist-sex-abuse-victims-you-have-given-me-ammunition/. Click to enlarge.
Further Media Coverage
The various incidents of sex abuse have caught the attention of Western media who have written extensively about it. This has been going on as far back as 1989, when a teacher associated with one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist organizations in the world was caught intentionally transmitting AIDS to his partners. Since that time, the Tibetan leadership has remained silent whenever they have been faced with a sex scandal.
Yet, when someone refuses to give up Dorje Shugden practice, the CTA will tell all and sundry about the lama’s supposed ‘crime’ of refusing to abide by the Dorje Shugden ban. Their refusal to give up the practice is framed as an anti-Dalai Lama act of disloyalty, and therefore criminal. But what actual law does practicing Dorje Shugden break that makes it a crime? And how come the CTA is so vehement about condemning Shugden practitioners, but will say nothing when people abuse women and break actual laws?
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)
and their stance towards sexual abuse
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Video: “In the Name of Enlightenment -
Sex Scandal in Religion” – About Sogyal Rinpoche
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The New York Times
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/21/us/buddhists-in-us-agonize-on-aids-issue.html
The Independent
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/abuse-alleged-at-monastery-for-tibet-exiles-698788.html
The Guardian
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/oct/08/tibetan-lamas-buddhism
The Guardian
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2011/jul/01/lama-sex-abuse-sogyal-rinpoche-buddhist
Sogyal Rinpoche
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has referred to Sogyal Rinpoche as “a good friend”.
These are perhaps the most well-known incidents of sexual abuse to hit the headlines and rock the Tibetan Buddhist community in recent times. Sogyal Rinpoche was the subject of a documentary in 2011 detailing his alleged crimes, and also the subject of a lawsuit that was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. Despite all of this, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership continued to associate with him and make public appearances with him, thereby endorsing his activities and behavior.
In more recent times, the exposé against Sogyal Rinpoche by his own senior students has been so thorough and public, that he was forced to resign. A few months later, he announced that he was diagnosed with cancer. He has not been seen publicly since. While his victims continue to suffer the trauma of his abuse, and while he remains in hiding, the CTA has not issued any statements against his behaviour or disassociated themselves from him. How come they are silent over these atrocities, but are so vocal against Dorje Shugden which is not illegal anywhere in the world? How come they force people to disassociate from Shugden practitioners, and enforce segregatory policies against them, but have not disassociated themselves from someone who has been accused of abusing women for decades?
Lion’s Roar
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.lionsroar.com/letter-to-sogyal-rinpoche-from-current-and-ex-rigpa-members-details-abuse-allegations/
The Telegraph
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/sexual-assaults-violent-rages-inside-dark-world-buddhist-teacher/
Medium (Part 1)
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://medium.com/@tahlianewland/harvey-weinstein-and-sogyal-rinpoche-a-study-of-responses-part-1-management-f7413d904c0b
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://medium.com/@tahlianewland/harvey-weinstein-sogyal-rinpoche-a-comparison-part-2-culture-1fcc5bfc7599
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Yet another leader of another large Tibetan Buddhist organization has been forced to step down after being accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with his students. In his statement, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche took responsibility for everything, basically all but admitting to the actual acts. Still, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has enjoyed the Dalai Lama’s and the Tibetan leadership’s endorsement for many years, again despite the fact that rumors about his impropriety have existed for years. The Tibetan leadership will endorse anything, no matter how illegal it may be, if it has the potential to be financially lucrative. But as long as someone practices Dorje Shugden, they are bad and evil, no matter how much benefit they bring to others, just because they refuse to abide by the Tibetan leadership’s ban on the practice.
Tricycle
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/sakyong-mipham-rinpoche-sexual-abuse/
Think Progress
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://thinkprogress.org/buddhist-leader-sexually-assaulted-students-report-finds-0d08e17cedd9/
Lion’s Roar
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.lionsroar.com/report-alleges-sexual-misconduct-by-leader-of-shambhala-community/
Tricycle
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/shambhala-leaders-resign/
The New York Times
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/11/nyregion/shambhala-sexual-misconduct.html
CBC.ca
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/new-allegations-surface-against-shambhala-leader-1.4743325
Tricycle
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/sakyong-mipham-rinpoche-sexual-assault/
Gangten Tulku
Hollywood actor Richard Gere with not one, but two lamas accused of sexual misconduct (Gangten Tulku and Sogyal Rinpoche).
As the head of 22 monasteries in Bhutan, Gangten Tulku is in a position of influence. He was even pictured with Hollywood actor Richard Gere, together with another sex offender, Sogyal Rinpoche. And while Gangten Tulku’s inappropriate activities are not as public as Sogyal Rinpoche’s, nevertheless within certain circles, his affairs have become very well-known. These are most notably recorded by Christine Chandler on her website extibetanbuddhist.com and in her book Enthralled: The Guru Cult of Tibetan Buddhism. Ms. Chandler is a trained social worker and psychologist, who specializes in the areas of sexual abuse and dysfunctional systems.
In an email to one of our sources, Ms. Chandler writes:
All of the residents who were Tibetan Buddhists, studied with all the lamas in Crestone. So I did about four or five 10 day retreats with Gangten. I was never close to him, but we all practiced and studied with all the Lamas there. During one of his drupdens, a really long mantra chanting experience, — he was very good at creating altered states of mind through mantra- a Bhutanese dance troupe that had been performing, was complaining about him groping the young Bhutanese women.
This information is mirrored in her book, in which she writes:
I also attended several retreats with a tulku from Bhutan, a master at creating altered states of mind through mantra chanting in his retreats. This high Bhutanese lama was the same married tulku, who was later called out by Tsultrim Allione for groping female Bhutanese dancers.
Source: Chandler, C. (2017). “Crestone, Colorado”, Chapter 22 of ‘Enthralled: The Guru Cult of Tibetan Buddhism’.
This paragraph in the book references some Bhutanese dancers being groped by a married tulku and although the married tulku’s name is not given, based on Ms. Chandler’s emailed reply, it can be safely concluded that the married tulku is Gangten Rinpoche. More importantly, this time the paragraph directly credits Lama Tsultrim Allione as the source of these claims about Gangten Rinpoche. Ms. Chandler writes that:
Allione had been raising women’s issues in the Tibetan sanghas quietly, before. But when she started complaining, openly, about a certain visiting tulku from Bhutan and his sexual gropings of young, Bhutanese women in a travelling dance group, after they came to her objecting, this Bhutanese high lama let her know that she had gone too far and she had better shape up, or be literally banished from the Tibetan Lamaist scene. She would no longer have the Tibetan lama ‘seal of approval,’ as a respected female Tibetan Buddhist teacher; helping the lamas spread Tantra in the West if she kept on complaining about their sexual abuses. This would destroy her niche in the Tibetan “Dzogchen” teacher circuit.
Source: Chandler, C. (2017). “The Dakinis and Their “Spiritualized Feminism”.”, Chapter 18 of ‘Enthralled: The Guru Cult of Tibetan Buddhism’.
Again, this references the groping of female Bhutanese dancers and again, it draws a connection to Lama Allione. Ms. Chandler says that Lama Allione was eventually browbeaten and threatened into silence. Given what we know about how the Tibetan leadership condones the abuse through their silence, and refuses to give their support to the victims, this conclusion is no surprise. It is merely another instance of power play at work, whereby the abuses surrounding Gangten Tulku are hushed up and brushed under the rug, while Lama Allione is silenced and forced to stop speaking up. An email from a close student of Lama Allione confirms this conclusion, saying:
Yes, unfortunately Gangten Tulku is one of the worst offenders. He has a history of abuse of female students, and I recently discovered that it’s a bit of an open secret that he’s also abused young monks in his monasteries. He’s been largely ousted from American dharma circles due to his impropriety, but still has a presence in Europe and Bhutan.
It would be logical that a close student of Lama Allione would be privy to the allegations about Gangten Tulku’s improper behavior, given their proximity to her. Once again, the Tibetan leadership shows that any behavior exhibited by a non-Shugden lama is acceptable, and they will not do anything to protect the victims (or even those trying to expose the abuses) as long as the lama does not practice Dorje Shugden. However, once a lama does practice Dorje Shugden, they become justified and open targets for vulgarities and abuse, simply because of their religious choices.
ExTibetanBuddhist.com
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://extibetanbuddhist.com/this-sexual-abuser-hollywood-doesnt-want-you-to-see/
ErikJampa.com
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.erikjampa.com/single-post/2017/11/11/Calling-Out-the-Guru-from-Afar-On-Dzongsar-Khyentses-Sex-Contract-and-Subsequent-Backlash-from-the-Buddhist-Community
Lama Norlha
Lama Norlha with the CTA-endorsed 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje
Here are even more allegations concerning yet another lama, regarding sexual impropriety and inappropriate relationships with students. Where is the Tibetan leadership’s voice in all of this? How come they are not funding and publishing statements, brochures, booklets and pamphlets that counsel and caution against this, but they will pay for videos, books, websites, etc. against Dorje Shugden?
If the CTA only speaks up against Dorje Shugden because they do not condone the practice, does it therefore mean that through their silence over these sexual allegations, the CTA condones this improper behavior?
Lion’s Roar
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.lionsroar.com/kagyu-thubten-choling-addresses-sangha-about-lama-norhla-rinpoches-sexual-misconduct-with-students/
Tricycle
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/kagyu-thubten-choling-monastery-working-sex-impropriety/
Lama Yeshe Nyingpo
In the comments section of this post, people are cautioned against attending this teacher’s events, saying that he has been expelled from his monastery and has been banned from teaching under the Karma Kagyu banner. How come the Tibetan leadership do not speak up against this?
Little Bangkok Sangha
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: http://www.littlebang.org/lama-yeshe-nyingpo/
Lama Choedak Rinpoche
Lama Choedak Rinpoche with the Dalai Lama
A married teacher admits to several affairs, then leaves for retreat instead of facing the consequences. A teacher is supposed to unite families, and not be the factor that breaks relationships and drives loved ones apart.
While the Tibetan leadership has no comments about the importance of remaining faithful to one’s spouse (i.e. a private choice), they have plenty to say about people who opt to retain their Dorje Shugden practice and refuse to give it up in accordance with the ban (i.e. another private choice). How come the CTA feels qualified to comment on and police one private choice, but do not apply the same level of interference when it comes to other choices which are actually harmful? The hypocrisy is staggering.
BuddhistChannel.tv
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=49,10104,0,0,1,0#.W2Zc-i2B19I
Tenzin Dhonden
Tenzin Dhonden (left) was the Dalai Lama’s personal emissary to the United States
This monk, the Dalai Lama’s former emissary to the United States, was found to be selling access to the Dalai Lama. In this way, he ended up associating the Dalai Lama with a cult organization, NXIVM. For a US$1 million “donation”, he orchestrated the Dalai Lama’s appearance at a NXIVM event, where the Dalai Lama gave a talk attended by the group’s leader Keith Raniere who has recently been arrested and indicted on several charges including sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit forced labor.
Tenzin Dhonden himself has also been accused of improper relationships and contact with women through his connection with NXIVM, although he is supposed to be a monk.
Someone who represents the Dalai Lama can sell access to His Holiness and have relations with women although he is a monk, and the Tibetan leadership will never say anything because it brings them money. But when a person protects their religious freedom and refuses to abide by the ban on Dorje Shugden, and refuses to give up the practice, the Tibetan leadership turns them into pariahs and paints them as deserving targets of violence and vulgarities.
FrankReport
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://frankreport.com/2016/02/13/should-lama-tenzin-be-defrocked-is-dalai-lama-to-blamed-for-endorsing-keith-while-tenzin-was-sleeping-with-sara-bronfman/
The Guardian
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/27/dalai-lama-tenzin-dhonden-tibet-monk-corruption-accusations
The Guardian
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the whole article. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/29/tenzin-dhonden-dalai-lama-corruption-celebrity-investigation
Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche
Rigdzin Namkha Rinpoche with Sogyal Rinpoche, both of whom have been accused of sexual abuses
Many allegations have been made about his sexual impropriety with Nepalese nuns. Because none of the women have been willing to come forward to confirm them or denounce him, they remain as allegations. However, as the saying goes, where there is smoke, there is fire and people who have not been in compromising positions with people will never be accused of improper sexual conduct.
Complaints have been lodged about his conduct to the Office of the Dalai Lama, to no avail. Rigdzin Rinpoche also happens to be the only lama who came close to recognizing the American teacher Tara Wangchuk, who says she is the reincarnation of the Dorje Shugden lama Domo Geshe Rinpoche, a claim which has been widely discredited. It is said that Wangchuk grew close to him, wanting to use of his connection with the Dalai Lama in the hopes it would lead to a formal recognition. Even back then, members of her group complained about his “overt sexual presence” and “feelings of discomfort around him”. Ex-students have been active on social media complaining about his conduct, and implied that he has made use of his relationship with the Dalai Lama to continue unchecked.
Cropped for brevity. Click to enlarge and read the full post. Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1459918927422287/permalink/1590324004381778/
Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/3pcnxe/rigdzin_namkha_gyatso_rinpoche/. Click to enlarge.
Lama Ogyen Kunzang Dorje
In 2016, following a 20-year trial, a Belgian national by the name of Robert Spatz a.k.a. Lama Ogyen was found guilty of rape and other sexual abuse, child kidnapping with aggravating circumstances of torture and money laundering, amongst many charges. During the trial, it was revealed that some members of the organization had been forced to make large financial contributions to the community, which Robert Spatz personally benefited from. He was tried in absentia, and given a suspended jail sentence of 4 years and his organization Ogyen Kunzang Choling (OKC) was also found guilty on a number of charges and ordered to pay damages to some 30 plaintiffs in civil proceedings.
Spatz appealed the verdict and as a result, an entire website has set up by the victims seeking justice: https://www.okcinfo.news/en/ Interestingly, the Dalai Lama visited OKC in Brussels in 1990, at the height of the abuse. OKC continues to operate unfettered and the Dalai Lama has never once condemned Spatz, an act which would surely help the victims in their quest for justice.
L’Avenir
Source: https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20180425_01161205/robert-spatz-un-imposteur-un-escroc-un-esclavagiste-des-temps-modernes-et-un-violeur. Click to enlarge.
DH.be
Source: http://www.dhnet.be/actu/faits/le-conseil-de-robert-spatz-le-gourou-de-la-secte-okc-plaide-l-acquittement-5aea0a22cd70c60ea6c2a9d0. Click to enlarge.
English
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Tibetan
Why?
September 15, 2018
Questions:
1. Why does the Dalai Lama give so much time, so little respect and so little help to the victims?
2. Why does the Dalai Lama support the lamas who sexually abuse their people by going to their centres and calling them friends? He is endorsing them. Why does he endorse them?
Tom
September 16, 2018
Questions:
1. Why does the Dalai Lama give so much time, so little respect and so little help to the victims?
2. Why does the Dalai Lama support the lamas who sexually abuse their people by going to their centres and calling them friends? He is endorsing them. Why does he endorse them?
These are simple enough questions. The fact that most Westerners do not realise is that the Dalai Lama does not really care for Western people. Tibetans have an arrogance that looks down on other races as karmically inferior. But we are needed to help him accomplish his political objectives but ultimately we are dispensable.
Remember also that Tibet was run on a feudal system and anyone that does not belong to the ruling elite are regarded as chattel to be owned and used. This sentiment still persists. This is one of the reasons you don’t hear of Tibetan lamas abusing fellow Tibetans.
The world is mesmerised by the Shangrila myth of the Dalai.
I realised that the Tibetan people have no interest whatsoever in integrating
Tenzin K
September 15, 2018
So sad to know that Dalai Lama the Nobel Prize winner are not doing anything for the victim and this silent directly telling the world he’s ok with it. Sexual abuse is a very serious issue that by right CTA and Dalai Lama should take serious action on these matter to give the victim a peace of mind and as well as for world the to know that Buddhism practice doesn’t tolerate such negative action.
Why prosecute Dorje Shugden practitioners where they have not hurt anyone but Dalai Lama and CTA can keep quite for sex abuser? Obvious reason will be the people are supporting Dalai Lama and the CTA.
The world is watching and no way Dalai Lama can escape for his action.
True Colors
September 15, 2018
On one hand you have so much proof for so many years, decades even, of abuse by the Dalai Lama’s minions 👨👦👦 yet there is nothing strong said or done about it by the Tibetan leadership.
On the other hand, because it is a convenient bogeyman, the invisible Dorje Shugden is used as a tool to divide and rule Tibetans, to divide and grab money and assets, to grab at power, to prevent a return of Tibetans to China, to break up families, to perpetuate the feudalistic society and serfdom they had in Tibet, to blame every misfortune on, to beg for money to line pockets, etc.
So it is very clear – when humans friendly to the leadership do bad deeds, keep quiet. When things fail due to incapable leadership, blame the “devil”. There is no accountability, only exploitation.
When are Tibetans and the world going to wake up to this?
Ngawang
September 16, 2018
Why? Why as the head of Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lama does not want to look into this and take action towards the predators? This is bad.😵😓
Does Dalai Lama considers himself as Tibetan people’s king or head only? He loves only his people not others?
Then if he really sees himself as Tibetan Buddhism head, then why he did not act fast and firm to condemn the corrupted people and abusive lamas; and put a stop to all these?
Why?😰😰😰
Dalai Lama avoiding responsibility
September 16, 2018
In the Sunday September 16, 2018 of the Hindustan Times of India the Dalai Lama said he knew about the sexual allegations against certain teachers since the 1990′s. That is over two decades ago and yet did nothing. That is very interesting because the reports must be about the same teachers that has been exposed in the media big time since. The question that begs to be answered is why the Dalai Lama still visited their centres, took pictures with these teachers endorsing them and gave them his support? He even accepted donations from them. Yet in the BBC report Dalai Lama was quoted as saying many times to the victims it is not his fault this all happened. He certainly had the jurisdiction to do something about it and he knew for two decades. So if it is not his fault, then whose fault is it? The Dalai Lama is slippery and trying to absolve himself of this again. It’s time he stepped up and take responsibility. Because the truth is coming out. Since the Dalai Lama loves the press so much, he has to learn, they can turn on him if they dig something out.
Pema
September 16, 2018
Now, the world sees that the Nobel Prize Winner is not doing what he teaches in his books but he keeps quiet when people are hurt and sexual abusers go on for years, even decades but the Dalai Lama says nothing.
This is a huge deception because people put so much hope in His Holiness but then for such a terrifying deed, he has no reaction.
Now, hopefully, everyone will have a new look at what is happening to the Dorje Shugden practitioners and rethink. Yes, the Dalai Lama is the Buddha of Compassion but why is his compassion not protecting innocent Buddhist practitioners from sex predators?
Why is the Dalai Lama even taking pictures with them when he knows what is going on? Isn’t he promoting them as it is a great endorsement to be seen with the Dalai Lama, isn’t it?
Anonymous
September 21, 2018
Dalai Lama is making problems
September 16, 2018
The Dalai Lama is a very shrewd and cunning politician and diplomat. He knows what kind of effect that he is playing very well. For many years the CTA has been relying on the Dalai Lama to attract resources, and he is their piggy bank.
Now the Dalai Lama is positioning himself as a political time bomb for the CTA and the Tibetan refugees that he represents. Nothing can be worse than asking African and middle eastern refugees to return to their countries because he and his people have been a refugee for almost 60 years. To make things worse, the Dalai Lama acknowledges that he knew about sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers have been around since the 1990s, and he let it slide. The Dalai Lama made this statements in the midst of the Catholic church sexual abuse allegations. For a Nobel laureate to make this kind of statement is definitely shameful.
The Dalai Lama’s statements in Europe will have a large ramification toward his international reputation. And in India, the Dalai Lama has done certain damage to his reputation by criticizing Nehru and people are still talking about this. To me, it seems that the Dalai Lama is trying to make himself unwelcome in various part of the world. Maybe he is doing this so people will push for his return to China? In light of what the Dalai Lama has created, Shugden issue will become a lesser priority for the CTA, because after this they have to do PR firefighting, and for once, they cannot blame Shugden for this.
Karma is boomeranging back to the Tibetan leadership and they will suffer now for all the problems they have created due to greed and corruption.
Betje M
September 16, 2018
Its incomprehensible that the Dalai Lama would not take the situation more seriously!
Sexual abuse should be one of the top priorities of any decent human being, let alone one who is perceived to be a leader of compassionate thought. And when it occurs within the scope of his responsibility (he is the leader of Tibetan Buddhism isn’t he?), it is even more of a let down.
I am extremely disappointed with the Dalai Lama’s attempts to fob off responsibility to the Buddhist teachers who abused their students trust and his attempts to absolve himself of any blame. 😠😠😠
If he thinks the past few decades of good press will help him sweep this under the rug, he’s got another think coming. Tibetans may be sheep who will listen to his excuses but we Westerners know better and we will NOT have the wool pulled over our eyes.
There has been an aura of magic and mysticism surrounding Tibetan Buddhism in the West but if the Dalai Lama keeps showing disrespect to the followers of Buddhist thought and especially to victims of abuse, Tibetan Buddhism is going to go down the path of Catholicism and Christianity — disillusionment and a drying up of support from the once-faithful.
alex
September 16, 2018
Why has this issue left so long without any resolution? 😔
As long as those sex abusers are out there people are being hurt. The Dalai Lama and Tibetan leadership can no longer deny not knowing and not taking any actions. One can say taking sufferings of others but here we see self denial. This doesn’t go well with reputation of compassion for all sentient beings.
It is time people speak up the sufferings of the sex victims taken advantage by deviant religious head.😠
Jingyang
September 16, 2018
The HHDL was awarded the Nobel peace prize. This represents his considerable interest in international issues of human rights and peace. But instead of standing up to help the victims, he seems to chose to avoid the issue and not bearing the responsible.. This is not what a spiritual leader should do. This is a sad thing.😥
James C
September 16, 2018
The victims are crying for help, but yet they are only given 20 minutes. HH Dalai Lama can spend hours talking about other issues, but they only deserve 20 minutes? And what solid action did Dalai Lama and His people offer? Is there any reprimand for these abusers? Are they going to just walk free?
Why is it so difficult for Dalai Lama and His people offer real solution to this? Why can’t they just reprimand them and put them in jail? Is Dalai Lama offering any solution to make sure that it does not happen again? In another report, I read that Dalai Lama said that He knew of all these sex abuses in the 1990s. It has been more than 20 years, and why is He not solving the issue, since He is regarded as the head of Tibetan Buddhism?!
The more I read such news, the more I lose faith with humanity. I was hoping Dalai Lama can help restore humanity, but things doesn’t always go the way we wanted, I supposed?
Strangely, Dalai Lama has not walked the talk in many occasions. For example, He would tell the world be kind to everyone, but turn around and discriminate the Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Is there a way out? Can Dalai Lama walk the talk to restore humanity and faith? I am praying and hoping. 🙏🙏
KR
September 16, 2018
Today His Holiness has said he knew about one of the abuse cases long time ago, and this is not something NEW. OMG.
Is he saying he is avoiding, or trying to hide, and leaving the abusive and corrupted teachers to continue their abusive acts? 😰
Cheryl
September 16, 2018
Cannot believe HH Dalai Lama knew about one of the abuse cases long time ago but still does not take action on it. 😱
When is he going to put a stop on it? Does he still want to keep quiet just like what he did for the the self-immolation of Tibetans?
Why is he OK to be friend with the abusers and not taking any action to stop them from causing more harm to others???!!!
Anonymous
September 16, 2018
I think it is time Dalai Lama should use his power or authority to fix this issue. Dalai Lama should make sure these sex abusers go to jail. It is time to show the world that you need to pay the price if you made an offence. And this article has said it rightly, Tibetan lamas are not above the law. If they break the law, they need to be punished, and go to jail if required.
The world is waiting for Dalai Lama to enforce such actions. Dalai Lama pls help the victims.
Alexandra
September 16, 2018
Dalai Lama has become more and more of a disappointment to humanity. To do NOTHING is to endorse these criminals! Or is he too ashamed to admit he was wrong about them? Dalai Lama is sooo wrong about Dorje Shugden too. Why can’t he just admit he’s wrong instead of saying it’s not his fault? 😠
Sally Westwood
September 16, 2018
Its very disheartening to read about these sex scandals but no where as disappointing as seeing how His Holiness the Dalai Lama avoided dealing with the issues. That would have helped the victims get some justice and then begin to heal. I imagine it must be very hard on the victims of these terrible acts especially of these heinous acts are committed by people they love and trust and placed high hopes in.
When a spiritual teacher like Sogyal abuses his students, its not only the body that is violated but also the mind and spirituality. Imagine going to your Buddhist teacher for refuge and instead of receiving refuge you get assaulted and abused and there is nothing you can do about it.
What angers me is how the Dalai Lama pretended not to know about this but I read earlier on the comment section that in fact he knew about this and chose not to do anything. This is also abusive.
If this is Buddhism then I don’t want any part of it and I simply do not know who to trust anymore.
Thank you for this total loss of confidence Mr Dalai Lama.
Namdrol
September 16, 2018
I think this is disgusting. Sexual crime is the worst of crime, coupled with sexual crime in religious organization, makes it million times worse. And Dalai Lama knew about but chose to ignore it and continue to give support to the perpetrators? Shockingly horrible. Why is Dalai Lama protecting these worst human who called themselves lamas, but also pressed down on Dorje Shugde people who does nothing but pratising Dharma, kindness and not harming anyone? Clearly this is hypocrisy at its highest. Shame shame shame!
Sherabz
September 16, 2018
WHAT is going on now ?
It seems the teachings from HH Dalai Lama about mindfulness, love and compassion, did not apply by the lamas/people those are following HH Dalai Lama.
We can see here clearly that the current situation is really worrying as these abusive lamas not only broken their refuge vows, but also bring so much harm to the victims. If HH Dalai Lama has taken actions seriously and immediately against these abusive lamas, these abusive lamas should stopped their negative actions, so that the number of abusive lamas should be reduced and not increasing now.
Hope HH Dalai Lama take actions on those who are really make trouble and bring harm to others in Buddhism. Without the dharma, it is difficult for the people to relieve from the suffering.
Ashi
September 16, 2018
It is totally heart breaking to come to know that the victims of sexual abuse have to beg the Dalai Lama to listen and help them. Shouldn’t the highly compassion person like Dalai Lama will be paying more attention to the sexual abuse victim? He is only gave them so little time and remain act nothing on it after the audience.
What Dalai Lama do to the DS practitioners and the sexual offenders make me totally confused. DS practitioners do not do any crime but they all being ban and harm. However those sexual offenders are treated nice and no punishment take on to them.
I thought the Buddhism should apply the compassion. I didn’t see this in this case which make me lost confident to Dalai Lama.
Jampel Sonam
September 16, 2018
Why does Dalai Lama endorse and support criminals? 😡🙁
Jampel Sonam
September 16, 2018
Why does Dalai Lama endorse and support criminals? 😡🙁
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1537112019.mp4
Dicky Lhamo
September 16, 2018
As a Dorje Shugden practitioner, I am angry at the bias how the Central Tibetan Administration deal with this matter. They claim Dorje Shugden destroy Tibetan Buddhism, what about these lamas who are directly destroying Tibetan Buddhism propagated by Gyalwa Rinpoche and many lamas in exile for many decades?
These lamas have many western students who take legal action and now the western media are all over talking about how the Dalai Lama denied it was his fault and didn’t want to hear from the victims. Even Gyalwa Rinpoche is shamed because of these Lamas. Dorje Shugden practitioners are just peacefully protesting and asking for dialogue, we do not shame Gyalwa Rinpoche with our conduct, unlike these so-called lamas. Please stop blaming Dorje Shugden practitioners, take action against these lamas please, stop being hypocrites!
Amber Sonam
September 16, 2018
The Dalai Lama is doing it again! According to the BBC report, the Dalai Lama was making it very difficult for the meeting to be held and he was refusing to listen to the victims. It took them some 10 minutes before he was willing to listen. This is very shocking to me coming from a supposed icon of peace and compassion, a Nobel Peace laureate!
As the most influential spiritual guide, a messenger of peace and humanity, instead of making things difficult for the victims, he should also be opened and have empathy for these people who have trusted their ‘lamas’ and Tibetan Buddhism. They were unfamiliar with the culture and naively went along and gave in to the abuse.
The Dalai Lama should find out from these victims and speak to them and understand what their problems are and do something about it. It is very unbecoming of him that he has offered no support and solution to the matter. As the head of the Tibetans, he should prevent similar incidents from happening again.
His behavior is unacceptable and disappointing, to say the least. 😔
snowlion
September 16, 2018
Incredibly disgusting is all I can say. What is happening with the Dalai Lama? Why is he supporting Lamas who are sexual offenders and does not do anything to reprimand or condemn or segregate them yet he will instruct monks who practice Dorje Shugden for years to be kicked out? Why so much bias and unfairness?
This is really appalling and a huge double standard! It shows how hypocritical the Dalai Lama is, sorry to say this but he is really leaving behind a not so positive legacy. No spiritual person and definitely not leader should act, condone, support sexual abuse of any kind. It is totally unacceptable, not only you rape people physically, you also rape their spiritual belief, practice and path. It is horrifying to learn that the Dalai Lama allows all this right under his nose and does nothing about it and even endorsed these disgusting Lamas. It’s beginning to sound really bad as more dirt and skeletons are dragged out and people are voicing out.
FORUM DISCUSSION >>> Why does Dalai Lama cover sexual abuse among his ranks? http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6182.0
Eli Buchen
September 16, 2018
As a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, I urge the Dalai Lama to please speak up about such abuses once and for all. It seems many of such sexual abuses started as early as 1989.
The Dalai Lama definitely has the spiritual authority, maturity and ability to expose and warn practitioners against sexual predators. The Dalai Lama musn’t leave it to the press or others to expose all these problems that exist within Tibetan Buddhism and think beyond the help and support that the Dalai Lama receives from these errant lamas and their organisation.
Every moment the Dalai Lama keeps quiet more women are at the risk , not only of being sexually abuse but also their spiritual practices. There is so much evidence of wrongdoing from these errant lamas it is not funny at all. It is so shameful for all these to happen, Buddha’s words that Buddhism will be destroyed from within is coming true. A sad day indeed for Buddhism.
SabrinaS
September 16, 2018
To me there is simply no excuse to have swept “under the carpet” the abuses of these degenerate “Gurus”. Reading of the news articles really shocked me as to how widely the abuses were. And from such a long time ago. Why are they still allowed to run the Buddhist centres all over the world and under the endorsement of the Dalai Lama? Just cause they bring in good money? My goodness, selling ancient authentic practices for a few pennies? Oh ok maybe million here or there…but still doesn’t justify degrading such precious practices that truly can help people. According to Oane Biljsma, the Dalai Lama was not even interested and then try to absolve his responsibility by saying its not his fault before finally listening to their real complains. If the Dalai Lama met them for 20 mins, with all the avoidance, I wonder how many minutes did the victims really get to present their grievances? 15mins? 10mins? 5mins? In that short time the victims were able to get their message across and the Dalai Lama is convinced. The evidences must be really damming that in such a short time the Dalai Lama changed his tune to acknowledge the abuses. But why does the Dalai Lama have to wait until November for the conference to bring up the issue? Isn’t assault and rape against so many serious enough to warrant an emergency meeting to trash out the ways to help the victims and to prevent future occurrence? Strangely cold response to people who had suffered so much physically and psychologically.
And if the Dalai Lama thinks that he is not responsible, well think again. He IS RESPONSIBLE! As the head of Tibetan Buddhism, a Nobel Peace Laureate and public figure, the Dalai Lama is responsible. He should had stopped the abuses from happening with all the clout that he carries. Any word from him and the Tibetan community fall on their back to obey. So he could have had just stopped these perpetrators from even having the opportunity to sin. Secularly he has the responsibility to speak up. Why did he keep quiet for the criminals to get away with more victims being harmed. He doesn’t know? Ahem! Aren’t he Cherenzig, with full clairvoyance? Don’t he check who he has audience with? Why allow his reputation to be tarnished and for what? Monetary gain? So shameful! Hurting Buddhism and such precious lineage.
Frustrating is why did the Dalai Lama and CTA ban the authentic Dorje Shugden practice and spent millions of dollars to demonise a 400 year old practice that had benefitted countless. What more, we are just practitioners who wish for the rights to practice, not rapist, molesters or abusers. Why is the Dalai Lama protecting criminals but harming real practitioners of Buddhism??? Why?
Utsang Nyima
September 16, 2018
Did you know Buddhist Professor Robert Thurman supports the sex abuse offender Sogyal Lakar? Sogyal Lakar has hurt numerous women and went into hiding. Thurman and Sogyal Lakar are very close and friendly. Robert Thurman is just interested in money and does not care who’s hurt. The only reason Thurman follows the Dalai Lama is for business purposes. Associating with Dalai Lama will help him sell books to make more money. Money and dollars rules Professor Thurman who is hated in the Buddhist communities as he is extremely arrogant.
Lobsang Dhondup
September 16, 2018
It is bewildering that His Holiness the Dalai Lama mentioned that he had known of sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers since the 1990s, yet nothing was done to reprimand these Buddhist teachers. After all, such abuses inflict substantial damage to the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole as compared to smaller issues like Dorje Shugden.
The Central Tibetan Administration was fervent in executing the Dorje Shugden ban, launching a documentary film, books, expelling monks, splitting monasteries and denying access to hospitals, clinics, schools, retail shops and so forth down to even publishing a hit list of Shugden activists in order to encourage violence and lynch mob. Yet, the damage done to Tibetan Buddhism by these lamas seems to be ignored and hushed. Why is the Central Tibetan Administration not doing more to warn the public about these sex offenders like posting a warning list on their website?
Tashi Wangchuk
September 16, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the Tibetan spiritual leader revered by millions of Buddhists around the world should ensure that the Tibetan spiritual leaders do more to denounce sexual misconduct and abuse of Buddhist teachers as there are far-reaching repercussions and negative impact on Tibetan Buddhism.
While His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been consistent in reminding practitioners about not practising Dorje Shugden in lieu of the social and religious problems associated with it, despite the unsubstantiated claims or justifications, the indolence of the Central Tibetan Administration in taking action to pacify the public disgust against the misconduct of these Buddhist teachers is severely lacking and appalling. The bias in dealing with these issues related to religious matter has again proven the political nature and conspiracy behind the ban on Dorje Shugden.
tashi lunggak
September 16, 2018
Dalai Lama always have explosive and shocking statement whenever he geos..and this time, it involve sex scandals which is destroying the reputation of Dalai Lama now. How can such as esteemed old lama like Dalai are doing things seem so foolish now?
Jushri
September 16, 2018
According to a write-up in Channel News Asia, HH Dalai Lama has known about the sexual abuse since the 1990s and tried to sweep it under the carpet by saying that such allegations are “nothing new”. The fact that HH Dalai Lama hasn’t said anything to these offenders could mean that HH endorses such actions. What’s even worse is how lightly HH has treated all these crimes against women. It is as if, HH did not really care about what happened to these women.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/dalai-lama-i-knew-of-sex-abuse-by-buddhist-teachers-since-1990s-10725724
Joo Won
September 16, 2018
This is explosive? No, many things happen with the knowledge of the Dalai Lama. Just whether he wants to do something to it or not. Many times he chooses not to.
On the view point of sponsorship and donation making the Dalai Lama keeps his silence. I have to blame Tibetan leaders, they get the money from so many tickets sold during each and every teachings and talks of the Dalai Lama. They are the one who get money, but the Dalai Lama does the job, give the teachings and blessings.
This is the REAL Tibetan leader, they put in no effort, but gotten lots, including money for this. What a bad leaders they are.
Yusri
September 16, 2018
Sex scandal in Tibetan Buddhism is not something new but His Holiness refuse to say anything when he clearly knows about it is just disgusting. He is the same as the perpetrator because he is indirectly supporting them. How can a monk support the act of sex abuse? Isn’t that against their vows or something?
Him keeping quiet on this whole ordeal is detrimental to the Buddhist scene and he is not protecting future potential victims from monsters like Sogyal. He should have said something or ban those lamas from having disciples or students so that they wont hurt another female student anymore. Is he suppose to be the Buddha of compassion? Where is the compassion now?
Drolma
September 17, 2018
I was not aware there are so many sex scandals in Tibetan Buddhism. It is quite easy for a Tibetan Buddhist teacher to abuse his students because, in Tibetan Buddhism, it is said that all attainment comes from the teacher, we must have 100% faith in him and do as he says. This is when some Tibetan Buddhist teachers will take advantage of his students as in the case of Sogyal Rinpoche or Mipham Rinpoche.
What is shocking is that most of these sexual abusers are not ordinary monks, they are Rinpoches who are highly regarded in Tibetan Buddhism. What they have done is very damaging to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism, people will start to lose faith and not wanting to practice anymore. But the CTA and the Dalai Lama don’t seem to see this. They are still keeping quiet about it and let these lamas continue to do what they want.
It is also very disappointing to know the Dalai Lama only spend a short 25 minutes with the victims. The victims have so many things to tell him and would like him to do something for them but the Dalai Lama didn’t really show any interest in their plight. The recent behaviours or statements made by the Dalai Lama are equally disappointing. How can a man of peace suddenly become so insensitive? Many people are starting to think the Dalai Lama is not that holy at all, funds, donations, support will start to decrease because of that. The CTA better do something about it, the Dalai Lama is no longer their money generating tool.
Celia
September 17, 2018
If only HHDL would be as vocal against such sexual abuse as he was with the Dorje Shugden ban. Considering the nature of such crime, which is nothing short of heinous, HHDL’s agreement to grant audience for such a short duration coupled with HHDL’s feeble response is but cold comfort to the sexual abuse victims.
HHDL’s attitude of “I hear your suffering but won’t do more to help prevent or stop the perpetration of such crime” is truly disappointing, if not distasteful. Especially given that HHDL
(i) knew about it and kept silent for so long
(ii) indirectly enabled the perpetrators to capitalise/ride on HHDL to perpetuate their crimes due to HHDL’s inaction despite knowing of such issues. HHDL didnt even disassociate himself until recently.
(ii) commands so much respect and has the ability to influence so many people, Tibetans and non-Tibetans alike. Just look at how the Dorje Shugden ban which was triggered by HHDL, has turned (supposedly) Tibetan practitioners against Dorje Shugden practitioners and ruined the lives of numerous Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Rabgyal
September 18, 2018
This is so disappointing to read because the Dalai Lama has spent a lot of time in the West. But it’s hard for me to believe that the Dalai Lama is entirely alone in doing all of this. I’m more inclined to believe it’s the people around him who are giving him bad advice. Lobsang Sangay is supposed to be a Harvard graduate, isn’t he? He should know better so why isn’t he giving better advice to the Dalai Lama? Does he hate the Dalai Lama? Is he out to destroy our Tibetan future?
Tashi Wangchuk
September 20, 2018
When compared to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala that does not take any responsibility for their people like any proper government normally would, China is radically different and liberal for allowing sex abuse victims to express themselves on social media, despite its heavy censorship of the Internet.
For people like Luo Xixi, whose online postings on sex abuse has garnered millions of views on Chinese social media, said that the government is gradually opening up to the #MeToo movement, a hashtag catch-phrase movement that encourages and empowers sex abuse victims to stand up against sex abuse. In China, those who are convicted of sexual abuse are severely dealt with by the law and laid off from work. The Central Tibetan Administration should take heed of how such cases are dealt with in China and not allow sex abuse perpetrators, especially Tibetan lamas to continue committing their crimes unchecked and without consequence.
Christine
September 20, 2018
It is very sad to read that there are sexual abuse in Buddhist center. Especially done by all these so call Rinpoches that have centers and published their books.
Religion center is suppose to be a safe place to find peace of mind and to be in safe place out of all this abuse. Yet, this is happening.
And more sad to say, H.H Dalai Lama not only ban those sexual abuse Rinpoches or monks, he is seem getting along with them. What is H.H doing? The only reason I can say is, H.H have been received financial aid from these Rinpoches, otherwise, H.H can strongly ban the Gelugpa lineage protector – Dorje Shugden, why not H.H ban those Rinpoches?
Come to think deeper, the ban of Dorje Shugden was imposed also maybe due to H.H have been “bought” by money. Who know.
Thupten Lungrig
September 20, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speeches create headlines nowadays not because they bring wisdom and enlightening thoughts, but rather unpleasant feelings and disapprovals. From the sexist quip in 2015, his gaffe on Nehru, and his recent comment about Europe that caused him to be labelled as White Supremacist, there is now one more to add onto the list. In order to be congenial and consistent with the image of a Nobel Peace Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been issuing statements, especially about Islam, such as redefining Jihad as an interior struggle.
More and more people are expressing their doubt, with some even directly pointing out the mistakes in the Dalai Lama’s speech. This pattern of speech of strong statements that ends up in denial or apology seems consistent with his advice concerning the practice of Dorje Shugden. With the reasons behind the ban shifted so much over time, perhaps there really was never any validity behind the ban at all.
Leo
September 24, 2018
这篇文章实在令人震撼 达赖喇嘛也无法为藏传佛教的丑闻发声了。
身为藏传佛教大家眼中的精神领导， 达赖喇嘛对于这些一波波的震撼弹也感到乏力。 达赖喇嘛在面对欧洲难民问题， 还有性丑闻问题的回应都让人感到失望， 不禁让人想到达赖喇嘛是不是江郎才尽了， 已经无法处理这些公共关系危机。
或许达赖喇嘛知道这些问题都已经是无法扭曲乾坤， 那倒不如就让他置于死地而后生， 让涉及丑闻的领袖下台， 留下真正诚心修佛的大师继续传承佛法。 而达赖喇嘛自己则选择退隐。
接下来， 人们或许会开始讨伐达赖喇嘛之前所做的奇怪决定， 例如多杰雄登禁令。 那时或许多杰雄登修持者也可以重新得到尊重， 也可以不被歧视， 安心修习多杰雄登法门。
Tenzin Shizum
September 24, 2018
After reading the whole article, it such sad to see HH the Dalai Lama supporting the sex abuser and relating to them which is bad impression for HH image and also Tibetan Buddhism, as to the world the sex abuser was not being punished for the wrong doing, but instead they are let loose to do what they are doing, and more people will felll victim to the Lama in sheep clothing.
This will lead people to stay away from Dharma centre as they will have impression that Dharma centre is a place where there are sex predetor lurking for victim 😠
Lobsang Sengeten
September 24, 2018
Such despicable and disgusting Lama that prowl weak victim for their pleasure and destroying Tibetan Buddhism with their wrongdoing!
The Dalai Lama must take serious action to punish these sex abuser who use religion to take advantage of others. They should be ban from teaching and also must disrobe and put a ban on them to go other country and publish their face and photo on the web to warn others about them.
The victim also must be given justice!
Metta jigme
September 24, 2018
It’really sad to know that all this is happening involving so many high lamas,taking advantages of practitioners who have faith and trust in Buddhism. Dalai Lama should put a stop to all this shameful act…and quickly take responsibilty to solve it.Dalai Lama please correct the wrong doings. Especially the Dorje Shugden ban so that all the lies should be revealed and please quickly lift the ban.
Sam Don
September 24, 2018
It is indeed very saddening to note that HH Dalai Lama chosen to support the sexual predators lamas and high officials more than the victims. As the highest spiritual authority of Tibetan Buddhists, how can he allows these predators to continue to hold on to their position hence posing continuous danger to other potential victims?
HH Dalai Lama, you need to pay attention to stop this sexual abuses and to set rules and guidelines to deter it.
further
Jassy Carb
September 24, 2018
NO NO NO ! This is so unacceptable!
Buddhism started by the most compassionate Buddha had to deteriorate into such a despicable state !
What is even more unacceptable is how the dalai lama and Tibetan leadership not only not condemn the so-called sexual predators but continue to support them!
I am most frustrated with dalai lama’s treatment of the victims. Where is your compassionate? Only 20 minutes!
Padma Dondrup
September 24, 2018
It is very sad to see Dalai Lama’s lackadaisical attitude towards the crime of sexual abuses. If Dalai Lama is Chenrezig, where is his compassion for the victims of these sexual abuses? If the victims were his loved ones, would he have reacted differently? Since Dalai Lama had endorsed those sexual abusers, does he not have a responsibility to protect the victims of these sexual abuses?
Dalai Lama had damaged Tibetan Buddhism ever since he initiated the ban on Dorje Shugden. If he does not proactively put a stop to these sexual abuses, no one else will want to practise Tibetan Buddhism as these sexual abusers had tarnished the reputations of the Tibetan Lamas. If Dalai Lama could denounce the sexual abusers, why couldn’t he go a step further to put them behind bars? Why allow these sexual abusers to continue their crimes causing more harm to unsuspecting victims?
Forget about relying on Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to take actions against the sexual abusers. CTA had failed miserably as a government in exile for 59 years already. It hadn’t produced anything beneficial towards the wellbeing of the Tibetans and Tibet.
The world must condemn Dalai Lama and CTA for not genuinely helping the victims of sexual abuse.
MeiLianHua
September 24, 2018
Dalai Lama should not allow the criminals to continue with this shameful act of sexual abuse.. In fact they should be punish. If not, Why punish Dorje Shugden practitioners when they didnt do anything wrong. Why impose the ban then? Where is justice?
😠
No Hope for Tibetans
September 24, 2018
Is Dalai Lama truly a monk, spiritual leader, nobel peace prize winner? He had created so many secular as well as spiritual problems. The biggest problem is the Dorje Shugden ban. Now the issue on sexual abuse!
Why should the world respect Dalai Lama anymore with so many of his negativities appearing over the year till now?
😭
Sonam Yangdup
September 24, 2018
Buddhism teach people do good but this lama do bad things and give bad name.
Religion and politics is bad for Tibet people and now this sexual abuse is very bad for Tibet name and for people in world to support us.
Please stop this immediately. Please help victims and the world to have trust in Buddhism again.
Robert Thomson
September 26, 2018
Why dalai lama become like this? I used to respect him a lot but when the unethical dorje shugden ban was imposed, it was just gone. Then there were things he said that angered a lot of people. But I think what blew my top was what the way that he handled this. CTA and dalai lama should be working hand in hand and find ways to resolve it. Not just brush it aside and treat the abused victims like that. Very irresponsible and rude. If they can put the faces of the people who practice dorje shugden on their website, then why can’t they do the same for the lamas who are being accused of sexual harassment? Why the inconsistency and double standard to others? There is absolutely no compassion nor wisdom from the nobel peace price laureate. He just makes Buddhism a lot more complicated and confusing.
Zencha
September 26, 2018
These sex offenders ought to be punished whether they are lay ppl or not. Crime is crime. Dalai Lama should take action on these offensive lamas, not only denounce, disrobed and disband them from their monastery. Those abuse victims should be given justice to proclaim of their lost dignity and trust. Moreover, it’s regarding high attained lamas, which is sacred.
On the other hand, CTA should follow the law, take initiative to investigate and catch those culprits and punish them. You can’t leave them roam freely without any prosecution? What will you do if those victims are your relatives, love ones, daughters?
Samayakeeper
September 26, 2018
By not putting in more effort to at least start an investigation into these sex allegations, the Dalai Lama has quashed the hopes of these victims, and has lost their respect for him. It is not hard for the Dalai Lama to tell the CTA to conduct investigations yet he did not. But when the Dalai Lama spoke up against Dorje Shugden, the CTA swung into action to segregate the monks who chose to continue with the practice, which also affects Tibetan lay people living in India and abroad. Strange.