Senior Tibetan Lama Faces Allegations of Sexual Assault

May 9, 2019

A Senior Tibetan lama based in the seat of Tibetan exile, Dharamshala in India is facing allegations of sexual assualt from a former student. The monk is now facing molestation charges following a controversial incident on an Air India flight from Delhi to Dharamshala earlier this month.

Dagri Rinpoche, 65 was detained by Gaggal police on arrival at the Gaggal airport from New Delhi on May 3 after a female co-passenger filed a police complaint. The senior Lama was accused by a female co-passenger that he molested her on board during the flight on Air India. While the investigations are going on, the elderly Rinpoche is now said to be on bail.

Following this incident, a former student of the Tibetan lama came out on social media sharing her encounter with the him. Jakaira Perez Valdivia from Spain has spoken in a video posted on YouTube where she accuses the Rinpoche of molesting her at his residence in Namgyal Monastery back in 2008.

According to Jakaira, she knew of many other women who had been molested by Dagri Rinpoche and she urged them to come forward to tell their stories.

Dagri Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1958. He grew up during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 – 1976. After his escape from Tibet in 1982 he completed his 17 years of study of Buddhist philosophy and received the Geshe Lharampa degree.

12 responses to “Senior Tibetan Lama Faces Allegations of Sexual Assault”

lobsang

May 9, 2019

rinpoche la buddha never accept the luxuries life with the political wheel! sorry I don’t believe Rinpoche or tulku or lamas and doing contractors of religion for the benefit with sexual assault, so hunting season is over

Reply
GNguyen

May 9, 2019

Another sex scandal covered up by the Dalai Lama’s office? What a shame!

Reply
1. Tenzin dekyi
  
  May 15, 2019
  
  He is just an acused and not yet found guilty till date hence we can’t force our judgement on him.
  
  Reply
Van Dorjee Nyima

May 9, 2019

@blogger, why you tagged with Namgyal Monastry. Rinpoche is not from Namgyal Monastry. It’s important to know clear informations. Don’t make assumptions.
Otherwise that would be controversial.

Reply
ramesh

May 10, 2019

lama jee ek din tum phansi par zarore jayengey

Reply
ramesh

May 11, 2019

lama jee ek din tum log phansi par zarore charogey bas ek saboot chahiye

Reply
1. Tenzin chokey
  
  October 26, 2022
  
  I would love that, and kindly share Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok , former speaker in Tibetan parliament is caused of sexual harassment in 2009 and followed by 2 other claims of the same until 2009. Since the victims are now in America, I am still seeking help in finding justice. At the same time We are encouraging more victims to come out in public since Acharya Yeshi phuntsok sexual assault and harassment is not unknown to many in our community in Delhi and Daramsala. And since our community is not so open when comes to opening up with sexual assault, victims choose to keep quite rather than pointing someone like him in high position and in monk robe specially. We are still seeking justice. From America, New York. Kindly reach me if anyone can help to file a case against Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, former speaker of Tibetan Parliament, Daramsala for his sexual assault . My name is Tenzin Chokey and I and other victims in America are direct and indirectly victims of this man in robe.
  
  Reply
SabrinaS

May 12, 2019

It is so shameful for a lama of his status to be so lusty whilst holding his monk vows. Not only lustful but to the extent of harming another to fulfill his desires. With broken major vows and samaya, what kind of blessings are there in his teachings and initiations given? Taking advantage of the trusts of the women and children, he abused them, leaving them with sufferings which as a lama should help them to eliminate. Well, it is obvious that the clout that the Tibetan Leaders hold in India is no longer of use as the Indian police are taking actions rather than help swept it under the carpet. Soon the refugees may just be kicked out if they do not convert to Indian citizenship. Karmic retribution for the wrongs they had incited against the Dorje Shugden practitioners and also in taking advantage of the sponsor’s generosity without gratitude. Kudos to Ms. Jakaira Perez for the courage to come out with the truth. May other victims step forward to convict the perpetrator for his crimes done.

Reply
SonamA

May 12, 2019

Adelaide Foster is countering Dagri Rinpoche’s video and saying he is not telling the truth. Her video is in Tibetan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzsnbyHTej0

Reply
Tenzin dekyi

May 15, 2019

My own personal opinion that it is too early to judge rinpoche.. I truly feel that people of today react very promptly for anything released on social media. The case has been lodged but hasn’t proved rinpoche guilty.his just an accused, the negative comments are defaming the image of individual. Before the judgement passed by the court we shouldn’t judge the person. Than cursing now and regretting later! I urge please “Respond and not React” .

Reply
亞洲佛教團體“馬來西亞金剛乘佛教總會（VBCM）”對帕立仁波切盲目支持 – 帕立仁波切：性侵慣犯

May 17, 2019

[…] http://www.tibetanjournal.com/senior-tibetan-lama-faces-allegations-of-sexual-assault/ […]

Reply
Deborah Lockwood

May 19, 2019

I thought that a person was innocent until proven guilty. It sounds to me as if Dorje Shugden followers are jumping on this to cause discord. It may be a case of ” he said, she said,” but I know Dagri Rinpoche and would be surprised if the allegations are true. There are quite a few cultural elements at play here and both sides of the cultural coin need to be addressed–Asian male-dominated values versus western values and the metoo movement. After 40 years in the Dharma in the US, India, Nepal and Tibet, and served as a translator, I have seen and heard a lot. I have seen lapsed monks & tulkus do disrespectful & hurtful things and ambitious westerner women wanting to be the ‘consort.’ I have also encountered immense confusion and mis-communication on both sides which will require open honest and dialogue rather than wild accusations and mud-slinging.

Reply