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Letter of Resignation and Departure from Shambhala Community - Katrin Stelzel
Katrin Stelzel has been highly involved with Shambhala over the past 31 years. She was the Joint Managing Director of Shambhala Europe, the Mukpo Family European Secretary, a Transition Task Force member, a representative of the European Potrang and a member of the Shambhala Europe Treasury Council. She recently sent this letter of resignation by email to about 200 friends and colleagues, wherein she discusses some of her reactions to the developments over the past year, and
Indian & Tibetan Buddhism Free Online Course offered - Robert Thurman
Renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher and scholar Robert Thurman has worked with Columbia University to offer a course that covers the Indo-Tibetan philosophical, scientific, and psychological Buddhist traditions and their history. It is completely free, though there is the option to pay a small fee for certification available. This is an excellent example of how the dharma can be propagated openly and freely for the benefit of all. The scope of the course is very large and it p
Petition to the FPMT Board of Directors by Senior Buddhist Nuns
In the wake of the allegations concerning Dagri Rinpoche, fourteen highly respected, senior nuns have signed this letter to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) Board of Directors. Dagri Rinpoche is a senior teacher who travels and teaches on behalf of this organization. From the letter: "We know that Dagri Rinpoche has released a letter saying he is innocent of two of the allegations. However, multiple allegations have emerged, so an objective
Does Dagri Rinpoche's response to allegations embody Lojong? - Beyond the Temple
Here is an article from Beyond the Temple, penned by Joanne Clark, reflecting on the recent allegations against Dagri Rinpoche and his response to them, pictured above. It offers some thoughts on other ways Dagri Rinpoche may have responded, and concludes with the Eight Verses of Mind Training, which is an excellent Lojong text to reflect upon and incorporate into our practices. The post can be read in full here: http://beyondthetemple.com/does-dagri-rinpoches-response-to-at
Sex assault case against former teacher at Boulder's Shambhala moves to district court - Daily C
The case against William Karelis has proceeded to district court as a result of a Boulder County judge's ruling. He is set for arraignment on June 14, where he will be able to take a plea deal or proceed to trial. The defense attorney tried to call into question inconsistencies in the witness statement, however the judge ruled that issues of credibility or inconsistent statements were a matter for trial. Quoting from the article, the Boulder Deputy District Attorney Megan Bra
Open Letter to Acharyas and Interim Board - Aline Thivolle
There is an open letter circulating for signature, written by Aline Thivolle, with the intention of sending through to the acharyas and interim board. The letter can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S60B0zzxCaxD6xReZHTS0KhgqQ156EDOsFHzfXeBTsc/edit?usp=sharing The letter points out that no acharya has provided any individual, public testimony as to the claims made in any of the Olive Branch or Buddhist Project Sunshine reports, or the kusung letter, in spite
My Spiritual Teacher Committed Sexual Assault. And He Saved my Life. What Does that Mean Now? - Aart
This reflection, posted by Aarti Tejuja Lentz on her site, mirrors feelings that many of us are struggling to work through at this point. It is very well-written. Until recently, Aarti occupied a paid position within Shambhala as the Director of the Shambhala Office of Social Engagement. She offers considerations on what brought her to the Shambhala community, and how things progressed for her, and allows the reader to see how she struggles with reconciling all that has come
Tibetan Lama Dagri Rinpoche faces “Me Too” allegations
On May 3rd, a woman filed a police complaint against Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dagri Rinpoche, saying he had molested her on board a flight that day. This led to a second woman posting a YouTube video outlining an earlier experience of molestation with the teacher that occurred while she was living as a Buddhist nun in Dharamshala, and urging others who had suffered to come forward with their own experiences. There are many noteworthy similarities between the experience she re
The survivor who broke the Shambhala sexual assault story - Columbia Journalism Review
This is a great write-up from the Columbia Journalism Review about the work that was performed by Andrea Winn and Buddhist Project Sunshine, touching upon some of the ways how it was very progressive work and represents a paradigm shift in terms of how victims' experiences are not only reported, but supported, by public media works. It also discusses some of the resistance that the report encountered from traditional media, and explores the dynamics as to why the approaches m
Letter to Shambhala Leadership - Zachariah Finley
This letter of resignation, addressed to Shambhala leadership, is penned by Zachariah Finley, who was the Director of Practice and Education for the Vancouver Shambhala Centre, as well as a Scorpion Seal practitioner. In it, Zachariah voices many concerns that a lot of us have been thinking and discussing. It is very well-written and is both thorough and concise. He makes several excellent points worth reflecting on throughout, and ones that merit responses from leadership.