Rigpa’s renewed apology, published in the middle of October 2021, for ‘mistakes that have been made and harm that has been caused’ is a step in the right direction, but in the video I explain why it still falls short of what is required even in terms of their own teachings. I refer to the four powers of confession that according to Vajrasattva practice – a key practice of the Rigpa sangha – are necessary for healing to occur.
I talk about the four powers here in the hope that if anyone from Rigpa does actualy watch it (unlikely, I know) then I’m talking their language. If you don’t want to hear about the four powers – and I totally understand if that’s how you feel – then use the chapter markers (which you can see on YouTube) to just listen to the key chapters – which I’ve marked. The timings are also below. And if you feel the video is useful, then please do like it on YouTube. Every like makes it get to more people.
And do let us know in the comments below how you feel about this renewed apology.
The full text of Rigpa’s Renewed Apology is here. See also the Rigpa blog post I refer to.
For more on this topic make sure you read Sandra Pawla’s post ‘Never Accept an Incomplete or Inauthentic Apology.’
See also the blog post on the Issues with the Rigpa Code of Conduct
Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction.
01:24 The teaching on the Four Powers of Confession.
03:45 How Rigpa’s renewed apology is an improvement on what they’ve offered before.
05:53 Why give a renewed apology?
06:44 Evaluation in terms of the Power of Support.
07:28 The issue with the Power of Regret. (Key chapter)
11:31 What Rigpa needs to say to satisfy the Power of Regret. (Key chapter)
16:34 The issues with the Power of Resolve and the Power of Action as an antidote. (Key chapter)
17:13 Issues with the Rigpa Code of Conduct. Why it will not keep people safe. (Key chapter)
21:33 Issues with the restorative process and grievance procedures.
23:02 The problem with premature sharing.
24:01 The cultural changes that need to occur – crazy wisdom, and feudal structures – cult dynamics and the master-slave relationship. (Key chapter)
26:32 What an apology needs in order for it to be the basis of restorative justice. (Key chapter)
28:09 Summing up how many of us feel in general about our time at Rigpa.
29:26 Why I make these kinds of videos and why it’s important for Rigpa and Tibetan Buddhism.