Today we’re directing you to another blog about the issue of abuse in Rigpa. The How Did it Happen blog has posted a timeline of all the allegations of abuse over the years. When the historical context is taken into account, we can see that this letter by the Eight is not just an isolated incident.
If you’re not already aware of how long the allegations have been going on, pop over to the blog and take a look. Though nothing has been ‘proved’ in a court of law, there is certainly enough people who have spoken out about this that the situation should no longer be ignored. It needs to be fully dealt with once and for all.
Is Sogyal Rinpoche’s departure from Rigpa and the letter from the Rigpa Holding Group outlining their new initiatives (essentially an investigation, more openess and a code of ethics) a resolution for the problem of his behavior or is something else needed?
http://howdidithappen.org/history-abuse-allegations-rigpa/
Be sure to check out the What Now? References page for links to a wealth of articles in the topics related to abuse in Buddhist communities. For links to places to assist in healing from abuse see the sangha care resources page.
More personal and private support for current and previous students of Rigpa can be found in the What Now? Facebook group. Please contact us via the contact page and ask for an invite. Please use the email address you use on Facebook.
I’m confused…I thought Sogyal Rinpoche had retired.
Now is the time to take off the workboots and relax in open awareness. (Like the proverbial farmer after a deeply useful day in the fields.)
Abandon extra striving. Rest in Results…..
Some people, however, are still not believing he did anything wrong, and it appears as if he doesn’t either because there has been no apology, no vow not to repeat the actions. How can Rigpa possibly clean up its act if it doesn’t think there is anything to clean up. Every meber of the sangha needs to be quite clear that harm has occured, not just ‘appeared’ to have occured.