Notes from the meeting with the Kalapa Council by Dan Phillips, Center Director 7/2/18
Here is my big picture take:
The Kalapa Council began with some comments and then the Sakyong joined (I don’t think they knew that he was going to) and offered a sincere apology and expressed his profound sadness (you could see it in his face). The Council followed with their individual stories of having seen the drinking and known of the sexual indulgence.
They indicated that most of that ended around 2002, whenthere was an intervention, although it did happen occasionally up until 2011.
There were some questions to the Council. They began simply enough talking about the need to have more transparency, and became more pointed naming the Council as being complicit and saying that there are many who think that they should resign.
There was a point made that we need to not miss the intersectionality of all kinds of making some people lesser in our community.
The call ended (over one and a half hours) with the Minister of Social Engagement saying that she and most of the people she works with feel isolated from the Council and that she has not been able to meet with them.
I think that at this point everyone is doing the best that they can, but the manner in which the Sakyong’s advisors have functioned has not allowed for muchinput from most people (this was at the Sakyong’s direction, at leastto some extent). There is a great deal of anger.
I have no doubt that the members of the Kalapa Council felt the level of frustration being expressed. And, I fully expect change. I am not certain that anyone is clear what form that will take.
Email from Shastri Sue Gilman to the Kalapa Council after the meeting 7/2/18
Dear Council,
There was deep love ofShambhala underneath everything that was said. Broken hearted love of the community was everywhere.
One of my meditation students said there is terror under her anger because this could bring us down completely and then her children will not have access to these teachings. This is someone who is sending her son to Sun Camp for the first time this summer.
Generally, here is what people feel is our only hope for survival as a community:
The Sakyong must step down until full investigations have happened.
The Kalapa Council has to dissolve and a transitional governing body put in place.
The monarchy needs to go.
This needs to happen now, not in a month.
There is lots more, of course, but I know there are many voices wanting to be heard.
Thank you so much for your honesty and openness today.
Much love and appreciation to you,
Sue Gilman, Shastri