Sacred Spaces, Silent Suffering: Sexual Abuse in Vajrayāna Buddhist Contexts

Abstract

This piece analyzes factors that have contributed to the problem of sexual abuse in Vajrayāna contexts, including the doctrinal injunction to maintain pure perception, which can be used to silence critical judgment, and the hierarchical nature of Vajrayāna guru-disciple relationships. Written from the insider perspective of two Vajrayāna Buddhist nuns, this essay names the harm of sexual abuse while also acknowledging the tension many survivors of sexual abuse in Buddhist communities feel between loyalty to their spiritual community and their own quest for personal justice. At the same time as this piece addresses the problem of sexual abuse clearly, bolstered by ample evidence of such abuse in Malaysia and Bhutan, the authors suggest resources within Vajrayāna Buddhism that can break the silence around this issue. Ultimately, the piece argues that the Buddhist injunction to pursue non-harm and respect for all beings can be marshalled to build a brighter future for all beings.