The number of signatures is still growing—it’s now at 1,865—and we have added translations of the original letter into Spanish, Italian, and German. So if you know anyone who speaks any of those languages and might be interested in this issue, please let them know. The link is the same as before-- http://chng.it/cwHY8q8b -- and the links for the other languages are just above the letter.
Translations into other languages will be added as they become available.
We received a response to our letter from Venerable Roger Kunsang, CEO of the FPMT, on June 1. While the letter gives assurances that the matter is being taken very seriously, it does not give any indication that the board is now planning to conduct an independent investigation. We will continue to express our conviction that without such an investigation, many people's trust in not only this particular teacher but in the Dharma as a whole remains damaged
We feel it is crucial that we keep speaking up on this matter until concrete measures have been taken to discover the truth and to create an environment more protective of potential victims of sexual assault by Buddhist teachers. This issue is too important for the future of the Dharma and for the welfare of those who have reported their painful experiences for us to remain silent. We are grateful to you for adding your voice to ours, and ask that you consider posting this petition on your own social media and inviting your friends to sign.
Below is a link to an article that appeared recently in Tricycle magazine that is relevant to this issue, entitled “Unmasking the Guru," and a link to an article on a German website, "Buddhismus aktuell":
· https://tricycle.org/magazine/bernhard-porksen/
And here is a link to a Question-Answer session during a meeting of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Western Buddhist teachers that took place in Dharamsala in 1993. His Holiness gives a great deal of helpful advice on dealing with problems in the Teacher-Student relationship.
· Ethics in the Teacher-Student Relationship: The Responsibilities of Teachers and Students: https://info-buddhism.com/Ethics-in-the-Teacher-Student-Relationship.html