Update - Sunday 30th July 2023
Dear Supporters,
We are pleased to announce that we have received official confirmation by email from Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, Abbot and Chairman/ Director/ Trustee of Kagyu Buddhism Ireland, that Kagyu Buddhism Ireland will work with An Olive Branch in conducting the investigation into the allegations of abuse & ethical misconduct.
As there seems to be some confusion as to An Olive Branch’s role, please follow this link to read about An Olive Branch’s approach to allegations of ethical misconduct.
“An Olive Branch serves as a neutral entity, ready to help after there has been an ethical breach by a member of an organization’s leadership. We offer a deliberate, multi-step process of listening and education.”
“Our process includes working with the organization’s board, listening to the statements of both the accused and the accuser, and gathering the perspectives of members and leaders.”
“We work collaboratively with the hierarchy of the organization and, if needed, the insurance company, local mediation services, and any attorneys involved”
For the avoidance of doubt, An Olive Branch is not a mediator for or representative of Project Sangha. The core group of survivors, practitioners, and allies that make up Project Sangha simply agree with the two foundational concepts of An Olive Branch that:
- “All 501c3 organizations in the United States* must have a governing board that carries out its fiduciary responsibilities which include establishing and enforcing an Ethics Policy and a Grievance Procedure.” *(and by implication, all organisations registered with the Charities Regulator in Ireland)
- “A sexual relationship between a spiritual leader and his/her students is never ethical.”
Thank you for all of your support and hard work so far. We look forward to updating you with future developments by means of this petition.
For more informal updates/ Barbie memes/ Sinéad O’Connor tributes, please follow us on our Instagram @projectsangha which is our only social media page.
With gratitude,
Project Sangha