Statement

The FPMT Inc. board of directors are pleased to be able to share with you an update on what is being done in the organization, especially regarding the steps taken in the area of safeguarding, that is, protecting all those at FPMT centers, projects and services from abuse.  The recommendations of two safeguarding organizations, Faith Trust Institute (FTI) and Thirtyone:eight, have been implemented, and a significant amount of work accomplished in the last year.

As you will see, the safety from all kinds of abuse of all those who interact with FPMT centers, services and projects in any way is being taken very seriously. On all levels, efforts have been made, and continue to be made, to ensure that safety.

The first two points below are related to actions mentioned in our February update, taken following the Dagri Rinpoche investigation, for which we commissioned FTI.

Therapy Support: In our last update we explained that we had reached out to each of the five victims who shared their testimony with FTI during the Dagri Rinpoche investigation to offer financial support for therapy, even when their experience did not occur in an FPMT center: this funding is all now provided to those who wished to receive it.

Processing Other Complaints: As mentioned in the February update, additional complaints related to other FPMT teachers and FPMT affiliate staff were submitted to FTI during the course of their investigation of Dagri Rinpoche. The FPMT Inc. board established a subcommittee to review these complaints, working closely with any affiliates concerned. We have now concluded a review of these complaints. A summary of the steps taken and conclusions reached are outlined below with the intention to be as open and transparent as possible about these complaints, while also respecting the need for confidentiality. Therefore, in the interests of the individuals and affiliates concerned, the specifics of situations that have come to the FPMT safeguarding subcommittee, comprised of board members and IOF staff, will not be made public. We ask for your understanding of this approach, as it is very challenging to give details and at the same time uphold the requirement to protect confidentiality of those involved.

• A complaint was received from a third party individual outlining an allegation that a lay teacher and a lay teacher assistant each had an intimate relationship with an individual who was their student, while that student was engaged in a study course in the center. This complaint was shared with the center concerned, which established a committee to review and investigate the details of the allegations. The investigation process included interviewing the alleged victim, who submitted a written testimony that no relationship had taken place during the time that the student was studying in the center. The committee concluded that there had been no breach of the FPMT Ethical Policy. FPMT Inc. also updated our guideline regarding ethics and protecting from abuse with further guidance about relationships, in order to provide greater clarity on this topic.
• An anonymous complainant alleged harassment, retaliation, and the creation of a hostile work environment by a former staff member in an FPMT center. Neither the complainant nor the staff member concerned work at the center any longer. To prevent similar situations in the future, the center reported to us that they have done an extensive review of their policies and procedures for staff management, and for managing complaints and protecting from abuse, and continues to make updates and improvements to those policies and procedures. These include improving staff communication policies and establishing committees for ethics and human resources, to ensure that clearly defined reporting protocols and safeguarding procedures are now in place.
• An anonymous complaint was received about a former staff member in an FPMT center having had inappropriate images on a computer. The center was already familiar with the issue as this claim had already been made several years earlier to the center. At that time, the center had the computer reviewed by an independent IT analyst; no evidence to support the allegation was found. Upon receiving notice of the same complaint – this time through FPMT Inc. – the center, exercising an abundance of caution, sent the computer to a company specializing in criminal technology investigations; they found no evidence to support the allegation.
• An anonymous complaint was received related to inappropriate habits of speech of an FPMT registered teacher. As the complaint did not specify a location, the details of the complaint were reviewed by the Teacher Services Committee, which then issued a formal warning to that teacher, and the committee will continue to monitor reports from their teaching program.
• An anonymous complaint was received outlining dissatisfaction about how a complaint was processed and managed by an FPMT center and International Office, including a recommendation to improve our complaints procedure to allow a formal process to raise complaints in a way that feels fair, confidential, and safe at local, national and international level. This recommendation was reviewed and assessed for incorporating into the new Protecting from Abuse Policy and complaints procedures.

Then, in response to recommendations we received from FTI and Thirtyone:eight during our safeguarding audits, the following steps have been taken in order to help enable those in leadership positions in the FPMT organization maintain safe and healthy environments in their center, project, or service. It is our sincere hope and belief, that with the support of all involved in our community, these steps will be of help to us all.

Protecting from Abuse Policy:  A Protecting from Abuse Policy was developed and has been put out as a new FPMT policy, with a training course designed to unpack and support the policy. We are also reviewing whether additional new guidelines related to complaints about FPMT teachers may be needed in order to supplement the Protecting from Abuse policy. Our aim in providing these new resources, in addition to the current ethical policy and guidelines, is to help provide learning, tools, and strategies to better ensure protection from abuse in FPMT affiliates, and to help ensure that any complaints can be appropriately reported, processed, and resolved.

Protecting from Abuse Training: Alongside the new policy, a new online Protecting from Abuse training course was developed and launched. This training is mandatory for all in leadership positions within the FPMT organization, including registered teachers, and has been reviewed by Thirtyone:eight and other stakeholders within the FPMT organization. It includes guidance regarding sexual abuse, healthy boundaries, power imbalance, and crisis intervention. The training course is currently being provided in English, while being translated into several languages, including Tibetan. Additionally, FPMT Foundation and Teacher Development Service Seminars will refer to and make use of the new Protecting from Abuse policy and training.

FPMT Inc. Policies: We implemented a number of new policies specifically for FPMT Inc., including updating our complaints procedure and confidentiality policy. We implemented additional internal steps to ensure that clear pathways are described for making and processing complaints, as distinct from requests received for spiritual advice.

Education Materials: Guru Devotion: We have received various requests to have additional guidance and materials available about Guru Devotion, and have implemented steps to develop further guidance in this area.

FPMT Inc. Board of Directors: The FPMT Inc. board worked extensively on the Dagri Rinpoche investigation and the adjudication of the findings from the report.  This was a difficult and challenging process. The board made efforts to conclude the initial work to the stage where the final report from FTI was received and adjudicated, and that those initial conclusions were all accepted. Due to various reasons, some board members resigned at that time. We thank them sincerely for all their effort and for the invaluable contribution they made under such challenging circumstances. New board members have accepted to join the board, as was recently announced. Our intention is to have a mixture of ordained and lay individuals, a gender balance, and a good range of professional skills and FPMT organizational experience.

To find out more about current FPMT policies and guidelines instituted to uphold a safe, respectful environment in local FPMT centers, projects, or services, please visit Safeguarding in FPMT Entities. This leads to our public information about Ethics and Protecting from Abuse in the FPMT organization, and includes links to our policies, including the FPMT Ethical Policy.

 We are sincerely grateful to all those who have contributed to the process of making these changes and improvements, directly or indirectly through their feedback or input. We want to express our deep thanks for the support of all involved in our community for the implementation of these important new policies.

Here is a further update on the steps we’re taking to help enable the FPMT organization to offer the safest environment possible, with robust protection from harm and abuse, and with clear and appropriate processes in place to report and resolve any complaint.

This is a very important area which we always seek to improve. The current steps are responding to and enriched by the learning provided and recommendations made as part of the investigation process into misconduct on the part of Dagri Rinpoche by the two safeguarding organizations commissioned by FPMT Inc., Thirtyone:eight and FaithTrust Institute.

• A new online Protection from Abuse training presentation is in the late development stage. This will be mandatory for all in leadership positions within the FPMT organization, including registered teachers, and is currently being reviewed by Thirtyone:eight.  It includes guidance regarding sexual abuse, healthy boundaries, power imbalance, and crisis intervention. Once finalised, the training will be translated into key languages, including Tibetan.
• Alongside the new training presentation, we will be providing new Protecting from Abuse policy, which the training presentation is designed to unpack and support. This policy will include input and recommendation received during our safeguarding audits.
• We are also in the process of reviewing what should become new policy and guidelines related to FPMT registered teacher behaviour, including how complaints against teachers should be processed.

Our aim in providing these new resources, in addition to current ethical policy and guidelines, is to help provide learning, tools and strategies to better ensure protection from harm and abuse in FPMT-affiliated centers, projects, and services, and to make sure that any complaints can be appropriately reported, processed and resolved.

• FPMT Foundation Service Seminars will refer to and make use of the new Protecting from Harm and Abuse policy and training.
• We are working on how to more clearly communicate that any spiritual advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche is given purely from the perspective of personal spiritual practice and to ensure that clear pathways are separately outlined for processing any complaints or allegations independently from any spiritual advice.
• We have already shared the FaithTrust Institute’s Summary Report with the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and have invited their input and recommendations.
• We have reached out to each of the victims who shared their testimony with FaithTrust Institute during the Dagri Rinpoche investigation, to offer financial support for therapy and have fulfilled some requests received so far and are awaiting some additional responses.
• FaithTrust Institute’s investigation also provided an opportunity for concerns to be expressed about other members of the FPMT community. The FPMT Inc. board is sharing details of the complaints regarding two FPMT teachers and one director with the boards of the relevant affiliates for investigation. The FPMT Inc. board will review the result of their local investigations, and act on them as appropriate. Another complaint received by FaithTrust Institute is related to inappropriate habits of speech of an FPMT registered teacher. As the complaint didn’t specify a location, we reviewed the information provided and have issued a formal warning to that teacher and will continue to monitor reports from their teaching program.

We sincerely wish that all of us involved in the FPMT organization will continue to contribute to the necessary reflections and changes that will help us to better prevent harm and abuse, and to process complaints appropriately and fairly: particularly after taking the training and reviewing the new policy and guidelines in the coming months.

To find out more about current FPMT policies and guidelines instituted to uphold a safe, respectful environment in local FPMT centers, projects, or services, please visit Safeguarding in FPMT Entities. This is part of our information about Problem Solving in the FPMT Organization, and includes the FPMT Ethical Policy, which was implemented in 2000, and which restricts sexual relationships between teachers and students, and harassment of any kind.  On that same page is a further important guideline, about guru devotion in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

The Board of Directors of FPMT Inc. sincerely apologizes for the suffering experienced due to any gaps or shortcomings in our previous procedures, or in our responses to the allegations received, regarding the sexual misconduct and spiritual abuse committed by Dagri Rinpoche. We are grateful to the victims who came forward with their statements. We are also grateful to FaithTrust Institute (FTI) for their work, which enabled us to reach conclusions about Dagri Rinpoche’s actions and to remove him permanently from the Tibetan Teachers’ list. 

As was announced in our statement of November 20th, we also wish to share our main concerns about some of the broader assumptions and conclusions made by FTI in their draft Summary Report, in order to help our FPMT community have a full understanding of this process. Our concerns are not related to the statements of victims and the conclusion of guilt. Unfortunately FPMT Inc. did not have an opportunity to discuss with FTI our concerns about some of the conclusions they arrived at, and FPMT did not have representation presented for discussion and consideration for inclusion in the FTI final Summary Report.  This is because FTI unexpectedly informed us that their work with FPMT was concluded after the community statement was published. To read about these concerns, please click on the link at the bottom of this page.

Although this was outside its scope, FTI’s investigation has provided an opportunity for concerns to be expressed about other FPMT teachers/leaders.  Where the complaint states the individual being complained about, we will forward the complaint to the relevant affiliate’s board, and we will then follow up and review the result of their local investigations.

This situation has highlighted various issues that our organization takes very seriously. It has always been FPMT’s mission to provide safe and dependable environments. We recognize and accept the need and importance for a number of changes to be made, not only regarding policies and processes, but also regarding our culture at large. We sincerely wish that all involved in the FPMT organization can contribute in the coming months to these necessary reflections and changes that will help us to better prevent harm and abuse and to process allegations and complaints appropriately and fairly throughout the entire organization.

We will be further improving FPMT policies and processes regarding protecting from abuse (safeguarding). We are taking seriously all the recommendations of FTI and Thirtyone:eight, and will do our best to implement improvements as soon as possible. The implementation of Thirtyone:eight recommendations started in May 2020, and significant progress has been made. As for the 15 recommendations included in FTI’s recent report, many have already been completed and others are in progress.

One important development in progress is that we are creating an online Protection from Abuse training program, that will be translated into key languages, and mandatory for all in leadership positions within the FPMT organization. This training will provide learning, tools and strategies to better ensure protection from harm in FPMT-affiliated centers, projects, and services.

New and updated safeguarding and teacher policies and guidelines are in development, with significant feedback gathered from FPMT Registered Teachers and Regional/National Coordinators. This input is helping us to fulfil and expand on the recommendations of Thirtyone:eight and FTI.

We will be following up regularly to update you with our progress on implementing the various recommendations from Thirtyone:eight and FTI,in particular the Protection from Abuse training and related policies.

Our gratitude goes to each of you for your understanding and for your support in facing these challenges, and continuing to work together to make each and every single part of the FPMT organization a safe and harmonious place.

The Board of Directors of FPMT Inc.

FPMT Inc. Concerns Regarding Aspects of FTI’s Draft Summary Report

Find previous updates.

In our last announcement on November 13, we stated we would publish “a summary report on the fact-finding assessment” into the claims of misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche “after we complete our remaining work with FaithTrust Institute.” 

We received a DRAFT of the Summary Report last month (October 2020), and we had hoped and expected to have the opportunity to contribute to the draft with FaithTrust Institute (FTI).  However, FTI  has recently informed us that they consider their work for FPMT Inc. to be completed. 

Therefore, as we had committed and in a spirit of complete and utter transparency, FPMT Inc. is releasing the complete, unedited draft of FTI’s Summary Report to you now. 

It is essential to note that FPMT does not agree with some of the points included by FTI in their Draft Summary Report. 

We will be providing a further update explaining and clarifying our main concerns about this Summary Report.  These comments will in no way call into question all that we acknowledged in our previous statement. We will also update about the work we are already doing, and still need to do, to fulfil the recommendations.

We want to take this opportunity to apologise again to the victims for the suffering experienced.

DRAFT Summary Report from FaithTrust Institute

Find links to past updates. 

This is an update to our previous announcements concerning our fact-finding assessment undertaken in response to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche. 

As part of that assessment, the FPMT Inc. Board has received the confidential report of the independent investigation it commissioned from FaithTrust Institute* in October 2019.

Understanding the seriousness of these allegations against a teacher who has many devoted students within the FPMT organization who have greatly benefitted from his Dharma teachings and guidance, we have taken time to carefully assess and digest the report.

The allegations against Dagri Rinpoche investigated by FaithTrust Institute date back to 2008.  They include complaints from women of groping, sexual harassment and sexual assault, both within FPMT centers and elsewhere. Some women reported they were assaulted for years. Some were ordained nuns.

Using a standard for civil legal proceedings based on a preponderance of the evidence, FaithTrust Institute concluded from witness interviews, statements and corroborating evidence that Dagri Rinpoche did engage in a pattern of intentional and inappropriate sexual behavior that persisted over many years towards women who were in his company due to his position as a trusted incarnate lama and teacher. 

Despite multiple requests, Dagri Rinpoche did not meaningfully engage with FaithTrust Institute’s investigation.  However, when he received a detailed summary of multiple victim statements from FaithTrust Institute, he emailed a written response asking for forgiveness. 

Therefore, we accept that, according to the standard applied by FaithTrust Institute, Dagri Rinpoche committed sexual misconduct, which also qualifies as spiritual abuse given his position as a spiritual teacher.

We have unanimously determined that the temporary suspension of Dagri Rinpoche from the list of registered FPMT teachers (from which FPMT centers can choose to invite to provide Dharma teachings) is now permanent. That suspension, and now permanent removal from the list, means that FPMT centers, projects, and services, cannot invite Dagri Rinpoche to give Dharma teachings at the center.

Given FPMT’s policies and procedures in place when two allegations were brought to FPMT Inc. during the relevant time, we responded to the best of our ability. We would now respond in a more robust way to any allegation of abuse by someone teaching in the FPMT organization.  We always want to improve our policies and procedures, and are grateful for the learning brought during this fact-finding assessment.  We are deeply sorry for the suffering experienced due to any gaps in our previous procedures.

We thank FaithTrust Institute for its work.  We are grateful for the brave victims who requested and assisted with the investigation.

FPMT Inc. is responsible for providing policies and guidelines for implementation by its affiliated centers, projects, and services around the world, which are separate independent legal entities. We operate within an organizational structure whereby individual FPMT centers are responsible for events at that affiliate and for investigating any allegations of misconduct.

We have already started working to implement recommendations for improving our policies and guidelines based on recommendations made by thirtyone:eight (the UK-based safeguarding charity) and will also now work to explore and implement additional recommendations from FaithTrust Institute.

We will be publishing additional updates and a summary report on the fact-finding assessment, together with the steps we are taking in further improving existing policy and guidelines to help affiliates protect from abuse. These updates will be posted after we complete our remaining work with FaithTrust Institute to clarify and finalise some of the report details and to ensure that the request for anonymity for the victims is maintained.

This ongoing work will help to insure that FPMT students, Sangha, and listed teachers maintain healthy boundaries within which all may spiritually benefit and flourish.

*FaithTrust Institute is a multifaith, multicultural education, training and investigative organization that has assisted Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations to skillfully respond to claims that healthy boundaries between leaders and their spiritual communities have been breached.

Find links to past updates. 

As last reported in December 2019, FPMT Inc. has contracted with FaithTrust Institute (FTI) to undertake a fact-finding assessment with a review and report on findings in response to allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Dagri Rinpoche at FPMT centers. FPMT Inc. takes this matter very seriously. Harm and abuse by a spiritual teacher is antithetical to our community. Further, FPMT Inc. will not tolerate any retaliation against anyone who comes forward.

Anyone who may have experienced or witnessed harm from Dagri Rinpoche in his role as a spiritual teacher at FPMT centers is invited to contact FTI via email at confidential@faithtrustinstitute.org. FTI will continue to receive information for the assessment through March 16, 2020. After that time, they will be working to summarize the findings and complete the assessment report for the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors. The confidential report will be delivered to the Board of Directors towards the end of March 2020. After that time the Board of Directors with the help of FTI will release a summary report on the findings and recommendations for next steps to the community. We strive to be transparent as we respond to these allegations.

During the months of January and February 2020, the staff and Board of Directors of FPMT Inc. has undergone a training program around boundaries and responding to misconduct in spiritual communities. Further, the Board of Directors will be receiving additional training as they prepare to receive the report.

The Board of Directors at its last meeting also received the Summary Review of the Safeguarding Audit that was commissioned from Thirtyone:eight. There will be more information in the coming months about the next steps associated with the Thirtyone:eight audit.

If you want to contact the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors, please email Andrew Haynes: chairofboard@fpmt.org. If you have questions about the assessment process or want to speak with FaithTrust Institute, please contact Emily Cohen via the confidential mailbox listed above or call +1-206-634-1903.

Links to past updates can be found here.

As we last reported on November 14, FPMT Inc. has received a report from an individual representing three women who have outlined allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Dagri Rinpoche. This report contains what we believe to be allegations of misconduct by a teacher at FPMT centers, in violation of FPMT policies. After receiving these allegations, we have hired FaithTrust Institute to assist us in taking appropriate steps to conduct a fact-finding assessment of these complaints.

FaithTrust Institute is a national, multifaith, training and education organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA. We invited FaithTrust to conduct this assessment as they are experienced in helping religious organizations, including Buddhist communities, respond to spiritual leader abuse and sexual boundary violations. Further we believe that using an independent organization to conduct the assessment will encourage people to speak more freely.

Anyone who may have experienced or witnessed harm from Dagri Rinpoche in his role as spiritual teacher at FPMT centers, is invited to contact FaithTrust Institute. You can report your experience via email and, if you choose, participate in a confidential phone/Skype interview. All information will be held in confidence by FaithTrust Institute in the course of the assessment and report.

To contact FaithTrust Institute send an email to their confidential email address: confidential@faithtrustinstitute.org.

FaithTrust Institute will promptly follow up with you via email. If you prefer to be called, please indicate a phone or Skype number.

At the conclusion of the fact-finding and interview phase, FaithTrust Institute will provide the Board of Directors of FPMT Inc. with a confidential review and assessment of the findings, along with recommendations for next steps that FPMT Inc. can take related to the findings.

FPMT Inc. takes this matter very seriously and will not tolerate any retaliation against anyone who comes forward. Harm and abuse by a spiritual teacher is antithetical to our community. We strive to be transparent as we respond to these allegations, and plan to keep the FPMT community updated during each phase of our process with FaithTrust Institute.

If you want to contact the FPMT Inc. board regarding this, please email Andrew Haynes: chairofboard@fpmt.org.

If you have questions about the interview process or want to speak with FaithTrust Institute, please contact Emily Cohen via the confidential mailbox listed above or call +01 206-634-1903.

FPMT Inc. wishes to update the FPMT community on what actions are underway in response to allegations against Dagri Rinpoche and actions to improve safeguarding within the FPMT organization. Our previous updates on this are available here.

Dagri Rinpoche has not yet responded to inquiries from FPMT Inc. He remains suspended from the FPMT Tibetan Teachers List. His criminal case remains pending in the Indian Court system. We understand that the next scheduled Court proceeding will be held on December 2, 2019.

Since our last update posted on August 12, 2019, FPMT Inc. has received a report from an individual representing three women who have outlined allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of teacher Dagri Rinpoche. This report contains what we believe to be allegations of misconduct in violation of FPMT policies.

FPMT Inc. is committed to responding according to our policies and investigate possible misconduct by a trusted teacher within the FPMT organization. Therefore FPMT Inc. has contracted with FaithTrust Institute, a US, multifaith, training and education organization, to conduct an independent assessment regarding allegations against Dagri Rinpoche. FaithTrust was retained to conduct this assessment as they are experienced in helping religious organizations, including Buddhist communities, respond to allegations of abuse and sexual boundary violations. Further we believe that using an independent organization to conduct the assessment would enable people to speak more freely.

Women (or men) who may have experienced harm from Dagri Rinpoche will be able to report their experience to FaithTrust Institute. We will soon announce FaithTrust’s confidential mailbox, inviting those with concerns to come forward and take part in this assessment. Dagri Rinpoche will also be requested to participate and to respond to the allegations. When the assessment has been completed, FaithTrust will provide FPMT Inc. with their report and recommendations, which will form the basis for further action by us.

FaithTrust Institute will also conduct training for FPMT Inc. leaders on best practices for healthy boundaries in spiritual student/teacher relationships and best practice in responding to allegations of misconduct.

In addition a safeguarding audit is being undertaken for FPMT by the UK-based safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight. Work began on this safeguarding audit in August, and we expect their report later this month. Our purpose in commissioning this audit is to invite this experienced safeguarding body to scrutinize the policy and guidelines related to protecting adults and children (safeguarding), which FPMT Inc. has provided for its affiliated centers, projects, and services. Any gaps and areas for improvement that the audit identifies will help us to improve the policies to better protect and support students and teachers.

FPMT Inc. is the international office responsible for providing policies and guidelines for implementation by its affiliated centers, projects, and services in 40 countries around the world. Each affiliate is an independent legal entity and is financed locally.

FPMT International Office and the FPMT Inc. Board of Directors continue in our commitment to help FPMT centers, projects, and services uphold a safe and respectful environment, where people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others. Our commitment to these values is reflected in the FPMT Ethical Policy.

Next Steps: Safeguarding Audit

FPMT Inc. has now commissioned Thirtyone:eight, an experienced UK safeguarding charity, to conduct an independent review of our safeguarding policies and guidelines. Thirtyone:eight calls this a Safeguarding Audit.

Our purpose in commissioning this audit is to identify gaps and areas for improvement in our policies and guidelines in order to enable centers to better protect and support students and teachers. This will include creating safer and more supportive environments for people making complaints of unethical behavior and improving the organization’s response to such complaints.

Thirtyone:eight’s remit is to look at safeguarding practices in the FPMT organization at the international, national, and local levels. At the international level, the audit will look at safeguarding practices at the level of FPMT, Inc. At the national level, the audit will look at safeguarding practices within different countries. Finally, the audit will look at safeguarding practices at a sample of specific FPMT centers.

Thirtyone:eight expects their audit to take two months to complete.

FPMT Inc. will share recommended improvements to our existing safeguarding policy and guidelines with FPMT regional and national coordinators, who will work with local directors and board members to establish how best to implement these within the framework of national laws and cultural appropriateness. We will then formally update FPMT policies and guidelines accordingly.

Dagri Rinpoche

The Indian police investigation of the allegation against Dagri Rinpoche is moving through the Indian court system. We understand that the next court date is August 26.

We want to remain respectful and to not disregard Dagri Rinpoche’s many years of valued teaching in FPMT centers. However, due to the current court case and the allegations made to us, which are detailed in our update of May 24, we continue to believe that the appropriate response at this time is for Dagri Rinpoche to remain on suspension from the FPMT Tibetan teachers list.

We are aware that some individuals and organizations are taking advantage of the allegations against Dagri Rinpoche to disseminate misinformation and gossip, and to create disharmony. Therefore, please rely on our “Updates Regarding Dagri Rinpoche” page for FPMT Inc.’s responses. We are committed to being as transparent and forthcoming as possible in our communications and statements.

It is FPMT Inc.’s priority to continue to build the organization into a more compassionate and wise network, in accordance with both spiritual and worldly conventions.

FPMT International Office is continuing to follow the two approaches outlined below in terms of assessing and updating our safeguarding and grievance procedures, and responding to the concerns raised by the allegations regarding Dagri Rinpoche.

1. Approach of providing spiritual advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche to students of Dagri Rinpoche, based on the lamrim practice of guru devotion.

2. Approach of assessing and addressing any allegations in the context of worldly conventions.
This involves following normal procedures for investigating any allegations. FPMT International Office takes accusations of abuse very seriously, and are actively reviewing the existing procedures we have in place for managing allegations, grievances, and disputes, assessing any gaps that we may have, and improvements we can make.

Since our last update on May 24, 2019, we have followed these steps:

• We have continued to communicate with some of the alleged victims and also with numerous students and others, and are carefully reviewing all input and suggestions received.
• We have added some additional links and pathways to our Safeguarding and Problem Solving and our Ethical Policy pages on fpmt.org.
• We have become a member of a UK safeguarding charity called Thirtyone:eight and are reviewing their templates, audit tools, and resources on safeguarding to assess any gaps in our current procedures and to identify areas for improvement.
• We are exploring what options are available to commission a suitable professional body to conduct an independent review of our current polices and procedures, to identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
• We are assessing what options are available to allow us to increase awareness of, and ensure priority is given to, safeguarding and implementation of a clear grievance procedure in the FPMT network of centers, projects, and services around the world.

FPMT International Office remains committed to continue to improve our policies and procedures to ensure we have robust systems in place for protecting against abuse, and to provide a safe environment for teachers to teach and be supported. We continue to require and assist FPMT center, service, and project directors to stay up to date with, and implement, our policies and guidelines.

Earlier updates, and advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, concerning Dagri Rinpoche are available here.

FPMT International Office has received considerable correspondence regarding the alleged misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche and the decision to suspend Dagri Rinpoche from the FPMT Tibetan Teachers List. (See the timeline below for details.)

International Office acknowledges the very real suffering experienced by the women who have made allegations of misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche, and understand how difficult it is to speak out publically about this. We appreciate their courage in speaking out.

We also want to recognize Dagri Rinpoche’s service to the FPMT organization as a teacher for more than fifteen years. We have received no complaints about his actions over the past eight years.

International Office remains committed to helping local FPMT centers, projects, and services in creating a supportive and respectful environment for the students who study and practice there, and for the teachers who teach there. We continue to emphasize the FPMT Ethical Policy as a way to ensure these positive conditions.

The FPMT Ethical Policy is available for all to read on the FPMT website, and has been since it was first created in 2000. Allegations of misconduct are received with an open mind and a warm heart. In response to any complaint, the FPMT organization follows the guidelines described in Problem Solving within the FPMT Organization. We understand the importance of supporting and protecting teachers, and students, while any allegations are investigated.

Since 2011 (see our timeline below), International Office, relying on input from professionals and stakeholders, created and updated guidelines to support interactions between teachers, students, and staff, as a supplement to the FPMT Ethical Policy. Clauses within the Ethical Policy itself also have been updated on several occasions in order to capture and insist upon improved understanding of best practice.

In addition, the FPMT Ethical Policy and problem solving guidelines are regularly taken up and discussed at FPMT regional and national meetings, and at meetings of ordained FPMT Sangha. This is to keep the importance of abiding by the Ethical Policy in the minds of all in positions of authority within the FPMT organization.

There has been a lot of misunderstanding as to what the FPMT organization has done after becoming aware of Jakaira Perez Valdivia’s allegation. In order to clarify, and to prevent further misunderstanding, here is our timeline:

2010

• International Office was alerted by a student who had said she was inappropriately touched by Dagri Rinpoche in 2010 during an FPMT event. At that time, we contacted the student directly to learn more. The student—who wished, and continues to wish, to remain unnamed—decided to not make any public allegation nor take the matter further, and so it was not possible to make a formal investigation at that time. *

2011

• International Office was alerted by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama about an allegation of sexual assault made by a Western nun (Jakaira Perez Valdivia) against Dagri Rinpoche. The alleged assault did not take place at an FPMT center, and the communication from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the first we had heard about it. Therefore, FPMT International Office felt that the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the appropriate body to investigate the allegation.
• The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama informed us that they had investigated the allegation and that it was resolved. They informed us that Dagri Rinpoche understood the seriousness of the allegations and committed to avoiding situations that could give rise to similar allegations in the future.
• Based on the outcome of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s investigation, International Office decided that Dagri Rinpoche should remain on the list of FPMT Tibetan teachers. We talked directly with Dagri Rinpoche to ensure that he understood the seriousness of this allegation.
• We alerted FPMT regional and national coordinators, who organize teacher tours, of the allegation of misconduct and the outcome of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s investigation. We asked the coordinators to alert centers that had invited or were planning to invite Dagri Rinpoche of this information.

2012

• Jakaira Perez Valdivia emailed International Office, asking us to provide her with an apology from Dagri Rinpoche as she had heard that Dagri Rinpoche was defaming her in FPMT centers. We looked into the matter and were able to respond that we found no evidence that Dagri Rinpoche had spoken negatively about her and that he had considered the matter closed since the meeting with the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

2018

• International Office reminded FPMT regional and national coordinators of the outcome of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s investigation into Dagri Rinpoche in 2011, as part of our ongoing safeguarding process.

2019

• As of the beginning of May 2019, International Office had received no other complaints about the conduct of Dagri Rinpoche, nor heard any public allegations of misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche.
• On May 3, an American woman filed a police complaint in India, alleging that Dagri Rinpoche sexually harassed her during a flight from Delhi to Gaggal. The Indian police began an investigation. We verified this directly with the police station involved.
• In response to the May 3 allegation, International Office suspended Dagri Rinpoche from the FPMT Tibetan Teachers List.
• On May 14, International Office posted the public statement “Update Regarding Dagri Rinpoche.”
• On May 14, International Office posted “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Advice to Students of Dagri Rinpoche.” (This letter is advice specifically for students of Dagri Rinpoche, to help them.)
• We were informed that a Korean woman had made an allegation against Dagri Rinpoche on Facebook. On May 15, that woman, Youngsun Shin, reached out to us directly to inform us of her allegation of inappropriate physical contact by Dagri Rinpoche in Dharamsala in 2008.  We are in correspondence with Youngsun Shin.
• On May 24, International Office created the page “Updates Regarding Dagri Rinpoche,” where updates and links on this issue will be shared.
• On May 24, International Office posted “Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Additional Advice to Students of Dagri Rinpoche.” (This is a second letter of advice specifically for students of Dagri Rinpoche.)

Next Steps

While we await the results of the Indian police investigation, we are continuing a correspondence with Jakaira Perez Valdivia.  We are also seeking professional assistance, and committed to continue to improve our current policies and procedures.

* In our original timeline which was posted in May 2019 we entered the dates for the timeline using the best information available to us at the time. An update was done to this timeline in July 2021 based on additional information sent to us in June 2021 with a correction of the date from 2013 to 2010 for when one complaint was reported to us.

Dagri Rinpoche has for many years been one of the Tibetan teachers on FPMT’s Tibetan Teachers List.

The Indian police last week received a formal complaint from a woman who was on a commercial airline flight with Dagri Rinpoche in India, accusing Dagri Rinpoche of inappropriate behaviour during the flight. Furthermore, another woman recently made allegations about misconduct by Dagri Rinpoche 10 years ago, which she shared via a YouTube video.

FPMT International Office understands that best practice is to suspend a teacher from teaching while an investigation is ongoing, in order to protect students, and the teacher. The investigation into what happened on the flight is currently being conducted by the Indian police.

We have therefore temporarily suspended Dagri Rinpoche from the FPMT Tibetan Teachers List with immediate effect, pending the conclusion of the police investigation. This means that Dagri Rinpoche may not teach, or be invited to teach, in any FPMT center during this suspension.  FPMT teacher suspension does not indicate an assumption of guilt.

Dagri Rinpoche sent International Office this personal statement regarding the allegations.

Regarding the allegations made on YouTube, we have reached out directly to the woman who posted the video. In 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Private Office informed us that they had received an allegation by this woman against Dagri Rinpoche. The Private Office informed us that they had investigated the allegations, and that they had resolved the matter with the woman. They informed us that Dagri Rinpoche understood the seriousness of the allegations and committed to avoid situations which could give rise to similar allegations in the future. 

Therefore, we maintained Dagri Rinpoche’s listing on the FPMT Tibetan Teachers List. However, we took our responsibility to students seriously, and alerted FPMT regional and national coordinators about the matter, asking them to inform any center which had invited or was planning to invite Dagri Rinpoche, so that they could consider their invitation in light of this information. We also took the opportunity to review FPMT policies and processes to see if any further amendments were needed to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and centers.

We sent a reminder about this to the coordinators last year, as we were told that talk was circulating about Dagri Rinpoche.

We have received no complaints about Dagri Rinpoche since 2011. 

Our recent decision to suspend Dagri Rinpoche is consistent with the emphasis which the FPMT organization places on ethical behavior.

FPMT policies and guidelines are instituted to help individuals in positions of authority to uphold a safe, respectful environment in their local center, project, or service. These include:

• Abiding within the Law
• FPMT Ethical Policy
• Grievance procedure guideline
• Teacher Policy and guidelines, which help ensure that Dharma teachings are provided only by those who are qualified to teach Dharma (FPMT registered teachers)

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given this advice for Dagri Rinpoche’s students on how to relate to this situation from a Dharma perspective.

Find new updates and advice here.