The latest allegations against Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche claim he locked a woman in a bathroom and forced himself on her during a 2002 trip to Chile.
Sakyong Mipham
The ‘King’ of Shambhala Buddhism Is Undone by Abuse Report
The leader of one of the biggest Buddhist organizations in the West steps aside after allegations of sexual abuse, leaving followers reeling.
A message from the Sakyong
To the Shambhala Community,
In a state of complete heartbreak, I write to you, humble, embarrassed, and thoroughly apologetic for disappointing you. I feel a tremendous amount of sorrow for the pain, confusion, and anger that our sangha is experiencing. I accept accountability for this pain, and want to express my commitment to personal growth.
I fully support a third-party investigator being hired to look into claims of sexual misconduct in the Shambhala community. I feel that I must, at this time, step back from my administrative and teaching responsibilities as a leader of Shambhala to allow space for the investigation to occur.
It is clear to me that I have much more learning to do. I am committed to engaging with women and others in our community who have felt marginalized, beginning this week. I will be using this time of self-reflection to deeply listen and to better understand how the dynamics of power, gender, and my actions have affected others.
I know that some of what you are hearing may be surprising and shocking for those of you who have only known me as a teacher. I wish to share with all of you some of the challenges that I have gone through. None of this is to give an excuse for my actions, but I do wish to be open with you about my journey as a human, and give some history and context to my life and behavior.
After the passing of my father, I took on the leadership role of Shambhala at a young age, followed by my enthronement in 1995. During this period, I struggled to find my way, and fumbled with unhealthy power dynamics and alcohol. I failed to recognize the pain and confusion I was creating.
Noticing this, a group of senior students came to me deeply concerned about the way I was drinking, and it was then that I began to realize how my actions were impacting others, and affecting my ability to lead in a genuine way. At that point, I realized that I needed to change my lifestyle. Again, I am not saying that this is an excuse.
In the years following this feedback, I cut back my drinking, began running and developed a more healthy lifestyle, physically and spiritually. I committed myself to deepening my own practice and teaching path. In 2005, I met and married my wife, the Sakyong Wangmo. We established our home and began a family together. She has been a teacher and partner, helping me to open my heart in a healthy way.
Since then, I have consciously worked on improving my relationship to alcohol as well as trying to improve my general behavior and my relationship to others as a teacher and as a person. Personal development and learning is a lifelong process and I know that I must continuously apply myself and hear the feedback that I am getting. I feel tremendous regret and sadness, and I commit myself to continuing this healing.
Our teachings advise that we do not give up on ourselves or on each other. I am realizing that I have much to learn and am committed to that process. I hope that by my doing this, our Shambhala community and organization can evolve, and become a true place of kindness, respect, and dignity. I am here for you, and am thinking of you always.
With love,
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
A Message from the Office of the Sakyong
THE OFFICE OF THE SAKYONG
Last week, stories of misconduct within the Shambhala community involving the Sakyong were brought forward publicly. In light of this, the Sakyong has decided to step back from his administrative and teaching responsibilities within Shambhala during the independent investigation of these allegations. He is also stepping down from his positions and responsibilities at Naropa University.
The Sakyong fully supports a third-party investigation and wishes to provide the time and space for it to properly occur. He will use this time to enter a period of self-reflection.
The Sakyong is planning to send you a personal communication next week. He and the Sakyong Wangmo wish for you to know that they are holding you in their hearts during this challenging time.
Naropa University Statement Regarding Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
NAROPA UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Naropa University Statement Regarding Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
July 5, 2018
The Board of Trustees of Naropa University met in special session on Sunday, July 1, 2018 to discuss the serious allegations of sexual misconduct by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. None of the alleged conduct took place at Naropa, nor did they occur in the Sakyong’s performance of any role at Naropa. However, that does not
make the need for these Board actions any less important for the integrity of our Naropa Community.
The Sakyong holds the role of Naropa Lineage Holder and, by virtue of that position, is also is an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board. These positions, while largely honorific and symbolic, attempt to reflect Naropa University’s roots in, and inspiration from, the 2500 year living inheritance of the Buddhist and Shambhala
lineages.
We have reviewed the accounts presented by several women, who, at the time of the encounters were members of Shambhala International, relating abuse that occurred as recently as 2011. We find the accounts of these women to be credible and believable. The Sakyong and the Kalapa Council, the governance body of Shambhala International, the religious organization presided over by the Sakyong, have not denied
the allegations and, in part, have apologized for the misconduct. These two factors- credible allegations and some acknowledgement by the Sakyong provide sufficient basis for, and require us to take, immediate action.
Therefore the Board has asked the Sakyong to resign from both his role as an ex officio member of the Board and as the current Naropa Lineage Holder. The Board seat is created in our corporate bylaws which also covers the resignation of a member. The Lineage Holder position was created by resolution of the Board in 2000 and may be vacated or modified by action of the Board or by resignation. The Sakyong has
agreed to resign from both positions effective immediately.
We did not take this action lightly. Naropa University is legally independent from Shambhala International (and has been since 1987), and most of our staff, faculty, students, trustees and alumni do not identify as members of the Shambhala organization. But a great many do, so these complex and painful issues are very
personal to many connected to Naropa. Naropa and Shambhala International share a founder in Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche and share a vast lineage of contemplative practice and meditation in action in an unbroken stream going back to the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Thus, the transgressions of a lineage holder wound Naropa just as they wound the community in which the Lineage Holder is more actively engaged.
The imperative to illuminate and rebuke such transgressions are Naropa’s imperatives as well.
For Naropa the value of having a connection with a living Lineage Holder who represents the enerB,Y which empowers our work can be a good thing. But it is not essential to our continued ability to thrive. The absence of a Lineage Holder does not cut the connection to our lineage of contemplative and compassionate and skillful action. Thousands of people have studied and worked at Naropa over our forty- four year history. Most had no personal connection to a particular lineage or teacher. However their experience here was in no way incomplete.
The container which is Naropa University is a product of the wisdom, insight, knowledge and commitment of faculty, staff and students, and the countless compassionate and brilliant teachers, Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike, whose diligent efforts over 2 1/2 millennia created the conditions that allowed Naropa University to emerge. That is the enery field we draw upon and will continue to draw upon, and which does not disappear if a Lineage Holder must step down and the position is vacant for a time.
This statement and the actions within it are meant to address the specific unacceptable behavior by the Sakyong. However, we understand that there is muchwork to be done at Naropa and elsewhere, and that this action, while significant, does not relieve us from continuing institutional and individual sensitivity, vigilance, and
accountability in this area. All institutions, including Naropa, must honestly and meaningfully address the issues raised regarding sexual misconduct and abuse of power and the creation and perpetuation of toxic environments which give rise to them. Such events illuminate the need to redouble our commitment to transparency and equity in its broadest sense. That is work the Board of Trustees will continue to
undertake, and we will do whatever we can to encourage and support such efforts
throughout Naropa.
We do not know what further steps will be taken within Shambhala International or by the Sakyong personally. The timing of actions by Shambhala International is not ours to manage or control. We hope for an outcome that leads to healing and impactful change. Our obligation is to Naropa University, its community and its legacy. The imperative for us as individuals and communities, to recognize, take responsibly, reconcile, heal and move forward more strongly is at the heart of our mission.
Best Wishes,
Jerry Colonna
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Charles G. Lief
President
(Video) Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo & Lama Tsultrim Allione: Shambhala’s Sakyong Mipham
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo & Lama Tsultrim Allione discuss the allegations of sexual abuse by Shambhala head Sakyong Mipham. Recorded at Tara Mandala, July 1, 2018.