Quay wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 3:17 pm
Aryjna wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:27 am... if he has renounced the whole thing and gone against his lineage for whatever reasons justified or not, why would he want to give teachings anyway? And if he is giving teachings, does he teach Vajrayana, or personal stuff unrelated to lineage?
In the Vajrayana system he is the lineage. He teaches Shangpa Kagyu including the empowerments and practices. So no, he has not renounced the lineage or gone of on a wild tangent.
narraboth wrote: ↑Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:00 am
I am puzzle how a highest status tulku in the temple can be abused by lower ranking monk like a common child. Not saying that it's impossible but the power imbalance that often seen in other sexual abuse was not there....
You've got the answer to your own question in that first sentence. He was recognized as a tulku and the reincarnation of the previous Kalu Rinpoche then sent to a monastery where he was indeed treated like a common child. Monks are human and have to deal with things like jealousy, politics, and all kinds of things a cloistered institution can bring with it. Including rape.
The power imbalance is simple to see: a child among grown men.
I've known Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche since he was about 6 years old, when I first met him. I have been to Sonada monastery several times. I also know many of the previous Kalu Rinpoche's disciples, Western and Asian.
I would not say Rinpoche was ever treated as a "common child." Rinpoche's father died when Rinpoche was rather young, and his root guru, Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche, also passed away before Rinpoche was in retreat. I would think these events would have left their mark. I also know Lamas who were in retreat with Rinpoche at Mirik Monastery. I am not saying things did or did not happen, I do not know, but I've heard many versions of several stories, and I think events may be perceived in different ways. The tradition of "discipline" in monasteries, even with young Tulkus, would be seen as primitive or barbaric by those of us who grew up in the "modern West." Corporal Punishment is being phased out at most monasteries, but change is slow.
As I said earlier, I am not going to advance gossip or take sides here, but I will say that Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche has clearly been endorsed by His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, in writing, as the holder of the previous Kalu Rinpoche's transmission and he has not "gone against his lineage" in terms of Dharma transmission, etc. However, Rinpoche himself said that he mostly wasted his retreat in sleep, though he practiced Chenrezig a lot. He himself said this, in San Francisco several years ago, during his first West Coast appearances after his retreat. I heard this with my own ears. As for the accounts Rinpoche has given of his mistreatment in retreat and at the monasteries, and as for the accounts of the monastic body reflected in that letter, I would simply say that there is a clear difference of opinion regarding what has taken place, and how things were perceived by various parties. This is an ongoing struggle, honestly, and unless there is a complete investigation, etc., I don't think things will be resolved. It's sad that the monastic body or someone associated with administration felt the need to write that letter, but they must have felt there was a need. They allege that their source of funding for food and survival was blocked, amongst other allegations. The allegation that some Lamas who were disciples of the previous Kalu Rinpoche were removed from centers is true, I have some knowledge of this. However, there may have been some good reasons for this removal. Kalu Rinpoche himself has written and spoken about this, on the internet, in the past.
Not knowing everything, and hearing various sides of all of these stories, I can only say that, for me, personally, I am not going to get swept up with either side of the struggle. I respect Yangsi Rinpoche as the holder of lineage, but I am not Rinpoche's disciple. I am concerned regarding the monastic body at Sonada, but I cannot vet their account, as I have no access to all of the information that would be needed to verify the allegations. There are a lot of stories. I would think that, if this continues to play out publically, there will have to be a proper investigation. I do not know if that will happen.