KAZI FAMILY VALUES

My wife and I have read some of the things you have written and wonder whether you can help us. For over 30 years we were students of Sonam Kazi and, for a time, his wife, Tsede Kazi. Their Gurus include Dudjom Rimpoche and Chatral Rimpoche, and the previous incarnation of their daughter, Jetsun.

The short story is that after all that time, in November of 2001, we came to see the pattern of abuses that lay behind (what we had believed were) their "tests" of our faith. We would not mind sharing the long story, and the exchange of letters and emails that serve to chronicle it, but what happened in our group is consistent with what has been discussed on your website, and in your writings.

We have tried to talk with the Kazis and with many of our fellow students, sent letters and emails to Chatral Rimpoche, who is still alive, and to the Dalai Lama, who is a friend of Mr. Kazi and for whom Mr. Kazi was translator. We did receive acknowledgement from the Dalai Lama's personal secretary, but no specific action has been taken on our behalf, or on the behalf of those still under the Kazis' sway. (I include that exchange at the end of this note-a bit of the longer story) The Kazis deny any wrongdoing and insist we give up our questioning.

We feel that the only way to have our experience benefit anyone is to seek more discussion. Although many of us are uncomfortable about exposing ourselves, we see that if the spiritual authorities refuse to speak out, we should turn to the legal authorities, and perhaps the press.

We have heard of the successful removal of Sogyal Rimpoche and were wondering if there is a way you know that we can contact the people involved in his prosecution?

Can there be a unified statement from the many like us who have found themselves with corrupt gurus, that would serve to warn others, both students and teachers?

Your response will be much appreciated.

Sincerely.

Anonymous and Anonymous

Dear Tenzin Geyche Tethong

Mr. Sonam Kazi has told a few of his students that you recently inquired as to his health. He is gratified to have heard from you, and we were told it lifted his spirits. I called him and, for the first time since the end of 2001, he talked to me. He asked if I was against him, said that receiving your inquiry confirms that "the world knows" he has done nothing wrong, and ended the conversation.

It is publicized now that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be having a conference on the Dharma in New York City in September.

Is there any way to add the concerns of our letters to the agenda?
Can the issue of misuse of trust, and abuse of faith be addressed?

Mr. Kazi is said to be failing with Alzheimer's disease. He is no longer a sexual threat to women and remains available only to the few students he has not yet alienated or exhausted. He is able to discriminate between those who flatter him and those who don't. He is not teaching, not seeking new students. He tells others that we, who are "against" him, are hell-bound because we question him.

Mrs. Kazi continues to teach and presents herself as the regent of the late, Jetsun Lochen Chonyi Zangmo. Mr. and Mrs. Kazi's daughter, recognized as the yangsi of Chonyi Zangmo, has remained completely reclusive and silent for all these years and, even now, offers no help. Both she and Mrs. Kazi deny any complicity, or even any connection, with Mr. Kazi's actions. At the same time they claim it is they that have suffered because he flaunted his indiscretions with his women students and abandoned them, an admission of their awareness of what he was doing.

We now see that despite being aware of Mr. Kazi's sexual abuses toward his students, neither Mrs. Kazi nor her daughter, Jetsun Rinpoche, has ever made any tangible effort to warn or protect students from his misuse of authority. Even though for over 30 years they have accepted "black offerings" that came from those abused students, now, when asked to comfort them in their time of great need, those same abused students are turned away by Mrs. Kazi and her daughter with scornful admonitions to accept the entire fault, themselves, for being abused; they are blaming the victims.

The Kazis have left a trail of confusion while claiming all they do is in the name of the Dharma. The secrecy they insist upon has resulted in the cult-like dependency of their students. It was only when we began to speak with each other that this pattern was broken. Until now, outside comment has not been available, outside inquiry has been discouraged. We were taught that absolute faith precluded the questions we are asking now.

Should the present students of the Kazis be made aware of their abuses of power in the name of Dharma? As the Kazis continue to ignore this, should we seek a more public forum for our concerns?

In South Africa, Truth and Reconciliation succeeded in shepherding a transition from oppression to freedom, thanks to the influence and respect of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is certainly seen in the same honored light as those men. On the other hand, the Catholic Church had to be forced into openness and dialogue by outside pressure and remains under suspicion as an institution.

Could there be "truth and reconciliation" here under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama?

Has His Holiness the Dalai Lama seen our letters?

This letter is written with the input of all of us who have signed below. We ask for any guidance you and he might offer. We consider how to best use what we have learned to minimize the chances of our experience happening again to other students.

Sincerely

Anonymous, Anonymous + 5 others

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding Mr. Sonam T. Kazi. I apologize for not responding earlier.

I have the brought the matter briefly to the attention of His Holiness. His Holiness‚s stand is as if what He said in the teacher‚s conference few years back. I do not think there is any point in trying to specifically do something at this point but generally if there is any misconduct, inappropriate behavior in the part of the teacher, he should be pointed out and if necessary to the public.

With best wishes,

Tenzin Geyche Tethong
*******************************
Office of H. H. the Dalai Lama
Thekchen Choeling
P.O. Mcleod Ganj 176219
Dharamsala, H.P. INDIA

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