New assault allegations in report

Shambhala, the Buddhist organization founded in Boulder during the 1970s, released a report Tuesday detailing — but not substantiating — new allegations of sexual assault and child abuse within the organization, along with an internal failure to adequately address that abuse.

The report was prepared by An Olive Branch, an organization hired by Shambhala in July that aims to help spiritual communities deal with harm and abuse. Its three-part report follows a year of turmoil within Shambhala as it grapples with allegations of abuse by its spiritual leader.

“These reports are shining light on long-standing systems of harm and abuse within Shambhala,” the Buddhist organization’s interim board said in a statement attached to the report. “We have an opportunity to demonstrate how a community can see itself clearly, learn from its mistakes and act decisively to better itself.”

Allegations of abuse within Shambhala — now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia — first were brought to light last year by Buddhist Project Sunshine, which published anonymous allegations of sexual abuse by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the organization’s leader, and other highranking teachers.

In July, Mipham acknowledged he had caused “harm” in relationships and would step aside from his leadership position.

Shambhala then retained the Canadian law firm Wickwire Holm to conduct a third-party investigation. The firm, in a report released last month, found two credible claims of sexual abuse and a pattern of inappropriate behavior by Mipham, but its investigation was criticized for being too narrow in scope by former Shambhala members.

At the urging of senior teachers, Mipham announced last month he would not return to teaching and administrative roles within Shambhala for the “foreseeable future.” He is in India at his wife’s family monastery and has continued to communicate with some of his students through his secretary. Plans for future leadership changes have not been announced by Shambhala.

The scope of An Olive Branch’s work for Shambhala was broader than Wickwire Holm’s investigation.