Discussion with Lama Sarah Harding

Lama Sarah recommends participants read this article that discusses “Clergy Sexual Misconduct and the Misuse of Power” from the organization An Olive Branch. 

In the midst of the profound and highly beneficial teachings of Buddhism, inevitably at some point we are likely to encounter the confusing experience that dharma teachers are still human, with blind spots and sometimes harmful behaviors. This can be especially challenging in the context of Vajrayana where there is the skillful means of viewing one’s teacher as a Buddha. While this view can help us move out of the limitations of a narrow mindset and open to the spaciousness of awakened being, it can be distressing and even derail our practice if the teacher exhibits harmful behavior.

Needless to say, this is a very challenging topic, and it can be helpful to talk about these difficult situations with longtime practitioners in the Tibetan lineage. Lama Sarah Harding met Kalu Rinpoche in the early 1970s and participated in the first three-year retreat for Westerners in France. She has since taught at many dharma centers, was a longtime faculty member at Naropa University, and is one of the foremost translators of Tibetan Buddhist dharma texts. Lama Sarah has very kindly agreed to join us via Zoom on Saturday morning, September 30, to discuss these topics, and especially how to work with them as practitioners.

Registration is not required. This event will be held in person at the Portland Center as well as on Zoom. The Zoom link will be available on this event page 15 minutes before the event begins. Please refresh the page if the button does not appear.