To Dondrup is powerhungry imposter:
I'm so sorry you've been through this too.
11 - You've experienced it, so I don't know what I can add.
23 - Peter Young (PY) spent several years ingratiating himself with Penor Rinpoche, using guile, money and favours to those in Penor Rinpoche's (PR) inner circle. The culmination of this was being awarded robes.
PY is exceptionally skilful at manipulating all sorts of people, and as far as I can tell, manipulated enough of PR's inner circle that they vouched for PY.
PY basically failed as a martial arts teacher, and knew he needed something else to earn his living, so turned to "religion" in order to give himself some new credibility and something to hide behind.
I also believe, from what I saw, that many in PR's circle were overawed by Peter Young's power over Western students, although a few were clearly alarmed at his manner with us.
One shouldn't underestimate the worldly ignorance of monks in India, or the corrupting influence of money in monastic institutions. They have high costs that need to be met somehow.
While PY claimed he was "ordained", I believe PR was clear that he offered the robes like an honorary degree as given by Universities in the West. I don't think it was meant as an ordination. I'm not sure though.
However, at the time, one person immediately did tell us students who were there that she was disgusted by PY being awarded the robes. She told us that she wasn't going to say anything, but was so disgusted she felt she had a duty to do so.
Sadly, I was so brainwashed, I was entirely shocked by what she said, and therefore couldn't assess it objectively.
Good that you're learning not to pay any attention to them, to remove your focus from them.
Stay strong.
I'm so sorry you've been through this too.
11 - You've experienced it, so I don't know what I can add.
23 - Peter Young (PY) spent several years ingratiating himself with Penor Rinpoche, using guile, money and favours to those in Penor Rinpoche's (PR) inner circle. The culmination of this was being awarded robes.
PY is exceptionally skilful at manipulating all sorts of people, and as far as I can tell, manipulated enough of PR's inner circle that they vouched for PY.
PY basically failed as a martial arts teacher, and knew he needed something else to earn his living, so turned to "religion" in order to give himself some new credibility and something to hide behind.
I also believe, from what I saw, that many in PR's circle were overawed by Peter Young's power over Western students, although a few were clearly alarmed at his manner with us.
One shouldn't underestimate the worldly ignorance of monks in India, or the corrupting influence of money in monastic institutions. They have high costs that need to be met somehow.
While PY claimed he was "ordained", I believe PR was clear that he offered the robes like an honorary degree as given by Universities in the West. I don't think it was meant as an ordination. I'm not sure though.
However, at the time, one person immediately did tell us students who were there that she was disgusted by PY being awarded the robes. She told us that she wasn't going to say anything, but was so disgusted she felt she had a duty to do so.
Sadly, I was so brainwashed, I was entirely shocked by what she said, and therefore couldn't assess it objectively.
Good that you're learning not to pay any attention to them, to remove your focus from them.
Stay strong.