An independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations within Shambhala International, commissioned by the organization's governing Kalapa Council in July 2018, months before that council resigned amid the allegations. The Halifax law firm Wickwire Holm conducted the investigation, and Shambhala's Interim Board released its findings on 3 February 2019. The investigators were contacted by 100 people, 75 of whom engaged in follow-up conversations, 42 describing concerns related to potential sexual misconduct. The firm received ten reports of sexual misconduct against Shambhala's Sakyong (its senior teacher and lineage holder) and twenty against other Shambhala leaders. The report found it more likely than not that the Sakyong had sought sexual contact with female students across a pattern documented from 1995 until at least 2005, describing a significant power imbalance given his position. It did not substantiate separate allegations that the Sakyong and other senior leaders had gang raped a household employee or raped teenage girls.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Tier 1: an independent law firm's commissioned investigation, published in full by the commissioning organization at its own shambhala.org domain. Every figure here (100 contacted, 75 follow-up, 42 sexual misconduct concerns, ten reports against the Sakyong, twenty against other leaders, the 1995 to 2005 pattern, the two claims not substantiated) is corroborated across two independent convergent accounts, Tricycle magazine's 23 March 2019 report and a Denver ABC affiliate's contemporaneous coverage. NotesShambhala's Sakyong is a living person who has faced no criminal charge and whom this report only partially substantiates (two credible allegations found more likely than not; more serious allegations explicitly not substantiated). No fact or article citing this source names him; he is referred to throughout by his title, consistent with the axis's established bar for a living, unconvicted individual.
Citation
AuthorWickwire Holm
PublisherShambhala International, Interim Board
Publication Year2019
URLhttps://code-of-conduct.shambhala.org/reports/
Source TypeReport
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Shambhala International directly: "sexual misconduct allegations within Shambhala International, commissioned by the organization's governing Kalapa Council in July 2018, months before that council resigned amid the allegations."
Claims Backed By This Source (40 claims)
This source backs 40 claims across the atlas. As facts: 31 well-attested. As cited relationships: 3 holds, 2 connected. Plus 4 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Articles, 13 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 connected, 2 general references.
- Abuse Inquiries and Response Policies, 10 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Organizations, 8 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 connected, 1 general references.
Well-attested
31Abuse Inquiries and Response Policies
General References
4Abuse Inquiries and Response Policies
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.