Beware of "Tibetans Can Do No Wrong" Idealization Syndrome.
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: May 06, 2017 01:53AM
From a discussion forum by and for the emigre Tibetan community:
[www.phayul.com]
Idealizing any human community as incapable of wrongdoing is to be in delusion.
\
It is my layman's opinion that staying silent about abuses perpetrated within that community is itself a form of wrong speech.
Any human person, any human community, is capable of wrongdoing as well as capable of excellence.
To idealize any human community as incapable of wrongdoing prevents all of us, including members of that same human community - from
facing the reality of their lives.
It prevents that community from recognizing abuses perpetrated by its own members.
If abusive members of a community are idealized by outsiders and their deeds ignored within their community, those most vulnerable to abuse go unprotected.
To be labelled a 'model minority' may seem beneficial but can be an immense burden.
This is serious business for Westerners who are supporting celebrated charismatic Tibetan teachers.
The Roman Catholic Church has been in the news for years because its clergy, all the way up to bishops and cardinals, have protected child abusers and molesters.
These days, only a few ultra traditionalist Roman Catholics deny that this is happening; news coverage and legal documentation has been overwhelming.
But so far, Tibet has been idealized as Shangri-la. The Dalai Lama has been
transformed into an icon combining the attributes of Santa Claus and a sort of
surrogate "Pope" for the non Abrahamic seeker's community.
Are we ready to remember Lord Acton's reminder that all power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely?
To idealize someone as in incapable of being mistaken, incapable of being uninformed or misinformed, incapable of making mistakes and denying (gasp) that Tibetan high clergy could fall victim to the temptations of absolute power just
as much as the Roman Catholic bishops have done --
the presence of colleagues and supporters who are abusers of money, sex, power and
abusers of children --
This kind of idealistic denialism in one's followers and wealthy benefactors is itself absolute power.
What if you find out that a Tibetan emigre is beating his wife, and they're your neighbors in America?
Do you give this a pass, turn a blind eye because the poor bloke's culture should not be judged?
Besides, he's so jolly and smiling? Maybe you mistook all the screaming and yelling as your deluded conditioned thought stream?
Can you dare imagine that like most other abusive people this guy has learned that special smile so he can charm you, the gullible upper class Westerner into
ignoring what you actually know?
What if that wonderful rinpoche you took empowerment from is knowingly passing
trouble makers along in his various dharma centers, behaving no differently
than the Catholic bishops who have been outed in news as passing problem priests
from one diocese to another?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2017 09:52PM by corboy.
[www.phayul.com]
Quote
Subject: Growing Up a Girl in India
Jan 03 2014 06:41 AM
It is about time that the Tibetan community should deal with the subject of sexual harassment openly. As I know most young Tibetan girls experience terrible sexual harassment in their lives. The Tibetan men get away with this type of behaviour because most of them think this is some kind of joke and fun. It is also true that most Tibetan men don't know how to talk and treat women with respect. I can name 100s of Tibetan officials who are directly involved harassing girls and some cases would be considered rape. These men hold very senior positions in Tibetan organizations. If this had happened outside Tibetan society, it is most likely these men would be in a jail.
Thanks for writing this article
Idealizing any human community as incapable of wrongdoing is to be in delusion.
\
It is my layman's opinion that staying silent about abuses perpetrated within that community is itself a form of wrong speech.
Any human person, any human community, is capable of wrongdoing as well as capable of excellence.
To idealize any human community as incapable of wrongdoing prevents all of us, including members of that same human community - from
facing the reality of their lives.
It prevents that community from recognizing abuses perpetrated by its own members.
If abusive members of a community are idealized by outsiders and their deeds ignored within their community, those most vulnerable to abuse go unprotected.
To be labelled a 'model minority' may seem beneficial but can be an immense burden.
This is serious business for Westerners who are supporting celebrated charismatic Tibetan teachers.
The Roman Catholic Church has been in the news for years because its clergy, all the way up to bishops and cardinals, have protected child abusers and molesters.
These days, only a few ultra traditionalist Roman Catholics deny that this is happening; news coverage and legal documentation has been overwhelming.
But so far, Tibet has been idealized as Shangri-la. The Dalai Lama has been
transformed into an icon combining the attributes of Santa Claus and a sort of
surrogate "Pope" for the non Abrahamic seeker's community.
Are we ready to remember Lord Acton's reminder that all power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely?
To idealize someone as in incapable of being mistaken, incapable of being uninformed or misinformed, incapable of making mistakes and denying (gasp) that Tibetan high clergy could fall victim to the temptations of absolute power just
as much as the Roman Catholic bishops have done --
the presence of colleagues and supporters who are abusers of money, sex, power and
abusers of children --
This kind of idealistic denialism in one's followers and wealthy benefactors is itself absolute power.
What if you find out that a Tibetan emigre is beating his wife, and they're your neighbors in America?
Do you give this a pass, turn a blind eye because the poor bloke's culture should not be judged?
Besides, he's so jolly and smiling? Maybe you mistook all the screaming and yelling as your deluded conditioned thought stream?
Can you dare imagine that like most other abusive people this guy has learned that special smile so he can charm you, the gullible upper class Westerner into
ignoring what you actually know?
What if that wonderful rinpoche you took empowerment from is knowingly passing
trouble makers along in his various dharma centers, behaving no differently
than the Catholic bishops who have been outed in news as passing problem priests
from one diocese to another?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2017 09:52PM by corboy.
Re: Beware of "Tibetans Can Do No Wrong" Idealization Syndrome.
Posted by:
Misstyk
()
Date: May 06, 2017 05:24AM
I'll kick off this discussion with a couple of facts about life in Tibetan-related culture. Bhutan, that land of the Gross National Happiness, discovered that domestic violence is rampant. Somehow, that fact had escaped their assessment of the Gross National Happiness.
[www.reuters.com]
They also discovered, on a later occasion, that child monks had venereal diseases. How does a child get an STD? This uncovered the hidden practices of child rape in the monasteries, and "thigh sex" between teen and young-adult monks. It's a sort of masturbation using a partner, that they feel technically doesn't transgress the strictures of the monks' behavior code, the Vinaya.
It was also discovered, while investigating the matter of monastic children with STD's, that said minors, as well as some older monks, were suffering from stress, and other emotional afflictions. A number of monks admitted to availing themselves of the services of psychotherapists. The silver lining in this shocking and distressing story is that to its credit, Bhutan actually has psychotherapists and counselors. Tibetans in their ethnic communities in India and Nepal are not so fortunate.
The issue of child rape in Tibetan monasteries was first blown sky-high from an insider, by the young Kalu Rinpoche, who posted a "confession" of his suffering, including a murder attempt, on youtube. It turns out, even prestigious "tulkus"--reincarnations of high lamas--are not immune to sexual abuse in monastic institutions. Following his confession, a secularized tulku living in New Jersey revealed to journalist Mary Finnigan, that he, too, had suffered this type of abuse when he was growing up in a monastery, and he remarked on how brave Kalu Rinpoche was, to go public.
To add insult to injury, although ordinary Tibetans have been sympathetic with Kalu Rinpoche's revelation, officials in the Tibetan government reacted with outrage at the news, and blamed the victim for abandoning his vows! As if he had committed a willful act. The level of personal denial is very strong in persons in power who have siblings in monasteries who may have suffered such abuse unbeknownst to their family members. Of course, denial like this only dooms hundreds--probably thousands--of children to continue suffering in this way.
Denial of such profound suffering, needless to say, contradicts Buddhist principles of compassion, and refuge vows of devoting one's life to the liberation from suffering of other sentient beings. Of course, the monk perpetrators of this abuse are oblivious to the trauma caused to the boys, and the lasting effects trauma has on victims' life trajectory.
[www.reuters.com]
They also discovered, on a later occasion, that child monks had venereal diseases. How does a child get an STD? This uncovered the hidden practices of child rape in the monasteries, and "thigh sex" between teen and young-adult monks. It's a sort of masturbation using a partner, that they feel technically doesn't transgress the strictures of the monks' behavior code, the Vinaya.
It was also discovered, while investigating the matter of monastic children with STD's, that said minors, as well as some older monks, were suffering from stress, and other emotional afflictions. A number of monks admitted to availing themselves of the services of psychotherapists. The silver lining in this shocking and distressing story is that to its credit, Bhutan actually has psychotherapists and counselors. Tibetans in their ethnic communities in India and Nepal are not so fortunate.
The issue of child rape in Tibetan monasteries was first blown sky-high from an insider, by the young Kalu Rinpoche, who posted a "confession" of his suffering, including a murder attempt, on youtube. It turns out, even prestigious "tulkus"--reincarnations of high lamas--are not immune to sexual abuse in monastic institutions. Following his confession, a secularized tulku living in New Jersey revealed to journalist Mary Finnigan, that he, too, had suffered this type of abuse when he was growing up in a monastery, and he remarked on how brave Kalu Rinpoche was, to go public.
To add insult to injury, although ordinary Tibetans have been sympathetic with Kalu Rinpoche's revelation, officials in the Tibetan government reacted with outrage at the news, and blamed the victim for abandoning his vows! As if he had committed a willful act. The level of personal denial is very strong in persons in power who have siblings in monasteries who may have suffered such abuse unbeknownst to their family members. Of course, denial like this only dooms hundreds--probably thousands--of children to continue suffering in this way.
Denial of such profound suffering, needless to say, contradicts Buddhist principles of compassion, and refuge vows of devoting one's life to the liberation from suffering of other sentient beings. Of course, the monk perpetrators of this abuse are oblivious to the trauma caused to the boys, and the lasting effects trauma has on victims' life trajectory.
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