THE DALAI LAMA’S PROCLAMATIONS ON
SPIRITUAL TEACHERS WHO ABUSE THEIR POWER
The following quotes are from the article "Toward A New
Spiritual Ethic," by Kate Wheeler; March/April 1994 edition of Nexus. [The Dalai Lama’s own words are in bold.]
"At a symposium with 22 Western Buddhist teachers, the Dalai
Lama had strong words for teachers who abuse their power—and students
who give theirs away."
"A teacher who behaves unethically or asks students to do so can
be judged as lacking in ultimate insight, His Holiness said. ‘As
far as my own understanding goes, the two claims—that you are not
subject to precepts and you are free—these are the result of incorrect
understanding.’ No behavior is free from consequences. For this
reason, true wisdom always includes compassion, the understanding that
all things and beings are interconnected with (and vulnerable to) each
other."
"’Even though one’s realization may be higher than the
high beings,’ His Holiness said, ‘one’s behavior should
conform to the human way of life.’"
"When teachers break the precepts, behaving in ways that are
clearly damaging to themselves and others, students must face the
situation, even though this can be challenging. ‘Criticize openly,’
His Holiness declared. ‘That’s the only way.’ If there is
incontrovertible evidence of wrongdoing, teachers should be confronted
with it. They should be allowed to admit their wrongs, make amends, and
undergo a rehabilitation process. If a teacher won’t respond, students
should publish the situation in a newspaper, not omitting the teacher’s
name," His Holiness said. "The fact that the teacher may have done many
other good things should not keep us silent."
The following quote is from the article "Small ‘cottage cults’
drawing more converts in United States," by Richard Read in the
Oregonian, Sunday, July 15, 2001:
"The Dalai Lama, the high lama of Tibetan Buddhism, advises potential
converts to check a guru's qualifications carefully and to view a teacher
as a spiritual brother or sister. ‘The best thing is,’ the Dalai
Lama said in an interview last February, ‘whenever exploitation, sexual
abuse or money abuse happen, make them public.’"
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