Victim Blaming Disguised as Dharma

Bob Thurman recently did a podcast on abuse in Buddhism, and though he said some  things that some may find helpful in the examination of the issues raised by abuse in Buddhism, I think we need to talk about the part where he fosters one of the ideas that enabled abuse and victim blaming in …

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Helpful Words on Devotion, Samaya and Pure Perception from Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

In June 2019, Damcho Dyson, Tahlia Newland and Jacki Wicks are delivering a paper together on Sogyal Rinpoche's abuse and the fallout it caused as part of the  Sakyadhita International  Association of Buddhist Women's 16th International Conference. Jacki emailed Tenzin Palmo asking about an aspect of the conference and also asked what her  thinking was on things like …

Dangerous Ideas that Support Abuse

Orgyen Tobgyal promotes violence In Paris last year at the Rigpa Centre, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche publicly said about spiritual teachers, "Such great beings, whether it coresponds to western ideas or not, if they kill someone, it's fine.Whatever they do is for the benefit of sentient beings" and "Beating hard increases wisdom." Click here to see …

The Dalai Lama and the Empowerment of Students

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's recent meeting with some survivors of abuse by Tibetan Buddhist lamas led to some articles emphasising that he had known about abuse in Tibetan Buddhism for decades. This led to a rise in anti-Dalai Lama sentiment, particularly the accusation that he should have done more to stop it. On fact …