Idealizing any human community as capable of doing no wrong is illusion - and it prevents all of us, including members of that same human community- from honestly
facing the reality of their lives and protecting their own members most vulnerable to abuse - women and children and those who lack social power for other reasons.
To be labelled a 'model minority' may seem beneficial but can be an immense burden.
From a discussion forum by and for the emigre Tibetan community:
[www.phayul.com]
Corboy:
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 capable of being mistaken, incapable of being uninformed or misinformed, incapable of making mistakes and (gasp) capable of ignoring
the presence of colleagues and supporters who are abusers of money, sex, power and
abusers of children --
This kind of idealism is itself an 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 imagination?
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?
facing the reality of their lives and protecting their own members most vulnerable to abuse - women and children and those who lack social power for other reasons.
To be labelled a 'model minority' may seem beneficial but can be an immense burden.
From a discussion forum by and for the emigre Tibetan community:
[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
Corboy:
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 capable of being mistaken, incapable of being uninformed or misinformed, incapable of making mistakes and (gasp) capable of ignoring
the presence of colleagues and supporters who are abusers of money, sex, power and
abusers of children --
This kind of idealism is itself an 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 imagination?
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?