Earlier this week we reported on the recent decision of Tibetan Buddhist teacher Sogyal Rinpoche to “enter a period of retreat and reflection” following accusations of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse from longtime students.
This isn’t the first such case of unethical behavior to come to light this year. Lama Norlha, 79, the abbot of the Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery in Wappingers Falls, New York, issued a taped apology for his own sexual misconduct, presented at a community-wide “disclosure meeting” in April. At that meeting, statements were read by six women (three were present, and three had their statements read in absentia) regarding their relations with Lama Norlha. Two women had come forward in December of last year. Lama Norlha, it turns out, had been sexually involved with students for decades.
Related: “Sex in the Sangha . . . Again”: Four teachers discuss the systemic issues that have led to sexual abuse in Buddhist communities
Kagyu Thubten Choling’s board hired outside consultants to lead the meeting, the sangha said in a statement sent to Tricycle. The statement also outlined how the dharma center is responding to the accusations:
There are three areas in which we focused our attention. The first was to acknowledge what took place and prevent further student-teacher sexual relationships. One of the first steps taken was to have the teacher placed on leave of absence, and he has since stepped down. The second was to work with people and specialists inside and outside of the KTC community (including professionals in this field) to institute policies to address the needs of everyone involved, including the creation of an Ethics Policy and Protocol for Maintaining a Harmonious Environment for Spiritual Practice that prohibits student-teacher sexual relationships as well as addressing other types of misconduct that could potentially occur. Third, we have worked to heal our community and move forward, using this event as a painful spur to put dharma principles into action in everyday events.
Kagyu Thubten Choling also said that they have been working with therapists with Buddhist backgrounds and are developing workshops on the “appropriate boundaries in teacher-student relationships,” as well as the “importance of using dharma ethics in all interactions.”
Related: The Buddha Stain: Tricycle’s editor on troubled Buddhist communities
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Or, these institutions could refer the victims to local State’s Attorneys so that the crimes could be investigated, and provide them with private counsel so that victims could sue for the damage caused by the wrongful sexual violations and abuse.
One commenter in an article cited above said “A major cause of sexual abuse is imbalance in a teacher’s practice.” No. What we are seeing in the communities is men who are using their positions of power and influence over people to commit sex crimes. Any reasonable investigation of the some of these offenders shows a pattern of abuse of power, in order to violate students. Many of these students report significant trauma, and we know some victims of sexual abuse by “Buddhist” teachers have committed suicide.
The more that the Buddhist community cloaks these abusive patters in “imbalance of practice” themes, the further these abusers will thrive, and the more that victims will understand that they have no recourse, and no safe sangha in which to practice. The trauma and abuse will only continue.
The Buddha was very clear on these behavioral issues. Measure one’s responses to these abusive acts by teachers against what the historical Buddha taught on the subject. In modern times, see these abuses as a pathology, and a crime, and take these abuses seriously. Refer the offenders for prosecution. Provide support for the victims. The victims deserve at least this much.Buddhism deserves better than these vague, self-serving, lassez faire responses from Buddhist sanghas.
I really like all of your points. The article points out that many of these abuses are “allowed” because of hierarchy. Perhaps its time for people to re-examine their need for hierarchy in these communities. Tradition shouldn’t be a valid excuse if the organization of the community itself is enabling harm to come to others.
Anagarika Dhammapala, you really made very valid points here !
Sometimes I think Buddhism has a body problem. Maybe a useful question to ask is what if Buddha was a young attractive woman? How would a diverse but largely patriarchal religion respond? What new challenges might this Buddha face? Would many current Buddhist leaders be up to the task of learning from this Buddha? Also this leads me to my next point, is enlightenment that is not part of the world really any kind of enlightenment at all? Surely a major point of being a teacher is both fully taking on board your beliefs, really believing them and also having the wisdom and compassion to not abuse your students. If you cannot do this yet, then perhaps your are not a teacher or a leader at all.
Why don’t you all do some investigative reporting…maybe we can circumvent these issues before the Lama reaches 80 years old. Investigate the Gyalwang Drukpa and Orgyen Thrinley Dorje…and follow the money. Who are these Gyalwangs?? Lama Norlha never approached me in any kind of decadent or sexual manner–so, I don’t know. When I was there the only people who had personal access to him were the translator, the secretary and the monk attendant. I had a problem with the translator and secretary–if they are the accusers–hmmm…they should tape an apology to the Sangha also. They had tremendous power in the Monastery and Dharma Centers. They controlled the finances. They were given personal cars and world travel airfare and accommodations by the Monastery. No one else had access to transportation or the finances. Furthermore, I see this as opportunity for the people who did engage in the daily grind of Dharma work–the cooks, the chopons, the umzes and so on to rise up–but, instead they have brought in “new” lamas from Sherab Ling. This is very bad. Whatever Lama Norlha did wrong, there will be that much and so much more going wrong with Sherab Ling Lamas.
Disgusting to hear such allegations more so against bhudhist monks. It can’t be entirely untrue. Some how I have always been against those monks and tulkus(reincarnate lamas) who marry for some reason or the other. Many of them have now become materialistic and would be seen always in the female company. Itis against the basic tenets of Buddhism.
Are these sexual events criminal in character? If so, are police involved? if not, are the teachers at fault above the law? The victims must have a legal right to compensation,
and through legal means they should be redressed.
Indeed, therefore nobody takes these “internal investigations” seriously , abusers just retire and dharma bussiness as usual goes on …
Looks like there ain’t much difference between Buddhists and Catholics afterall. Or that religion (not philosophy or spirituality) is in and of itself nothing more than an obstacle to God/Brahman/Enlightenment/what-have-you meant to control and dominate.
Maybe if we try to understand Scripture (Christian, Buddhist, Chinese…) in their historical context we won’t do stupid things like force men to remain celibate their whole lives, which IMO ought to count as a crime against humanity.
Problem is that religious institutions do*t care much about the victims of abuses . In many cases compassion is only lip service !
As always I am the last one to know. But what is the endgame as a Buddhist? Mahayana sangha is really about basic teamwork and sportmanship if you read between the lines. If one got knocked down from the team, the one left standing should remember the endgame and step up to help instead of leaving the scene. But if you happened to be in the horizontal position, you have to admit that and not pretending to be strong when you are weak and hurt. Start from where you are and bring yourself back up. Perfection is dualism.