Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Photo via Festival of Faiths on Flickr.A new report from Religion News Service details financial troubles facing the Shambhala Buddhist community in the wake of revelations of sexual misconduct by the head of Shambhala, Sakyong Mipham and several teachers in the community.
The report includes allegations against the organization’s head, Sakyong Mipham, and founder Chögyam Trungpa, as well as other leaders in the community.
An open letter signed by six former personal attendants to Sakyong Mipham says that the leader of the Shambhala Buddhist community “has consistently shown a disturbing pattern of behavior,” including sexual misconduct, psychological abuse, and misuse of organizational funds.
According to the Interim Board of Shambhala, the investigation shows that up until 2005, Sakyong Mipham’s behavior included “frequent sexual contact with women who were his students.”
William Karelis allegedly assaulted a 13-year-old who he met through his position as a teacher in Shambhala.
The Great Stupa at Shambhala Mountain Center. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.The Sheriff’s Department in Larimer County, Colorado, has confirmed that it is investigating possible criminal activity alleged to have taken place at Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.
After 23 years, the meditation center has plans to move into a smaller space.
Pema Chödrön. Photo by Liza Matthews.On Saturday, famed Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön released a statement responding to an allegation that she once dismissed a woman’s report that she was raped by a Shambhala Center director.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Photo via Festival of Faiths on Flickr.Previous reports detailed nine allegations of sexual harassment and assault in Shambhala, including by the head of the organization.
The news site ThinkProgress has reported an allegation of sexual misconduct against Buddhist teacher Lodro Rinzler.
