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Don’t Believe the Lies About the Raped Nepali Nun (Are Western Buddhists Fucking Stupid, Or What?)

11 Comments Posted by on August 11, 2011

A lot has happened since I first posted this. For more on this subject also see these follow-up posts:

…………………..

On July 19th, the Nepal Buddhist Federation issued a press release concerning the horrifying case of a Buddhist nun from Nepal who was gang raped while traveling in India. The Press Release was in response to claims made in the Times of India that the rape victim was to be expelled from her nunnery because of the attack.
The Nepal Buddhist Federation statement makes it absolutely clear that the rape victim is still a nun and will be returned to her nunnery as soon as she is physically able to do so (she is hospitalized and still recovering from the attack).

The following are three direct quotes from the NBF statement (full text here):

1. “Nepal Buddhist Federation has never said that she is expelled from the nunnery.”

2. “The members of the NBF personally met her and her relatives in the hospital where her condition is still very unstable. NBF also met the authorities of the Karma Samtenling Nunnery at Pharbing, which she left a year ago when she went to India to pursue further studies. She is not expelled from the nunnery.”

3. “NBF in collaboration with our allied Association Tamang Lama Gedung Sangh and the concerned nunnery is taking steps to accommodate her back into the nunnery when she recovers and discharged from the hospital. NBF will do everything in its power to help restore the dignity of the nun and continue to fight for justice.”

A number of Buddhist bloggers have seized upon this story with a great deal of hysterical self-righteous outrage, but without stopping to look into the facts. What is it about some Buddhists that they are so eager to believe the worst about the Dharma and the Sangha?

The original story in the Times of India (link) claims that “15 Buddhist organisations said that as a result [of being raped], she had lost ‘her religion’ and could be no longer regarded as fit to be a nun.”

The article, does not provide any official statement from even a single Buddhist organization, let alone 15! There are quotes from one official of the NBF (the only “Buddhist Organization” actually named in the article), and if one looks at what he says, it is clear that he at no point says that the victim will be expelled from her nunnery. And in the official statement from the NBF it is made clear that the official quoted in the article was not speaking on behalf of the NBF (nor is it stated directly in the article that he was speaking in an official capacity: this was merely insinuated by the Times of India “journalist”).

Although the Times of India “journalist” could not be bothered to substantiate his false allegations against Nepalese Buddhists with proper sourcing, he (surprise!) did mange to get a proper quote from a Catholic priest who was only too happy to comment on this non-story.

Anyone with a modicum of critical reading and thinking skills should have seen through this transparent smear campaign instantly. Instead, Buddhist themselves have moronically repeated these lies over and over again on blogs and online discussion forums.

meh.

Buddhism, comparative religions

11 responses to “Don’t Believe the Lies About the Raped Nepali Nun (Are Western Buddhists Fucking Stupid, Or What?)”

  1. Matt Frazer August 14, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    How do you know they were false claims? Because NBF clarification said so? Yes, there is no way to tell either way, so why post this blog if you can’t verify your information???

    Reply
  2. Matt Frazer August 14, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    Actually we have raised over $800 for the nun. What have you done? Everything you “acuse” us stupid Buddhists of doing, you have done with this blog, except help in any tangable fashion. And you are still getting all your information from second hand sources. We have first hand ones. How is your response any more than the flip side of the coin you are condeming? Again, what have you done to help the nun?

    Reply
    • Apuleius Platonicus August 14, 2011 at 5:08 pm

      Since you mention your “charitable” work, Matt, I was wondering if you would care to share some information about the Yeshe Tsogyal Foundation. When was it created, where is it registered as a charitable organization, who is on its board of directors, what is its budget, that sort of thing.

      Reply
      • Kullervo August 16, 2011 at 11:49 am

        I looked up the “Yeshe Tsoygel Foundation” with the IRS, with GuideStar, and with the Oregon Department of Justice, but there’s not a lot of information available other than contact info (781 Cherry Ave, c/o Lucy Kingsley, Eugene , OR 97404). But that makes sense, since it’s probably a religious organization, and thus it wouldn’t be required to file any public documents like an IRS Form 990 (which is the return that non-religious tax-exempt charitable organizations have to file) or register with the state as a charitable organization.

  3. Matt Frazer August 13, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    One thing I do agree with you on is that there is an element in Times of India intent on a smear campaign against Buddhism. But what is sad is this is possible because no prominant Lamas have come forward to issue any statements to the contrary. Why is that?

    Reply
    • Apuleius Platonicus August 13, 2011 at 5:06 pm

      Both the Nepal Buddhist Federation and Ani Lhamu Karma’s nunnery have publicly committed themselves to returning her to the nunnery as soon as she is capable of doing so (after recovering from the attack). This position was made absolutely clear nearly a month ago. But Matt Frazer is not satisfied. Who cares? Who is Matt Frazer? Just some sicko who sees this horrible situation as a way to make a name for himself.

      Reply
  4. Matt Frazer August 13, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Here is a reality check for you to dispell you notions of a warm embracing reponse: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=33575

    This would be a fact. Other fact: The men who are the offenders of this crime, are coming very close to getting off free due to the pressure of the bus union. Why not dig a little deeper before you accuse people of stupidty and make this situation brighter than it is in reality? The reality is that publicity from “Stupid Buddhists” made the NBF retract there statements. Political pressure made the hospital admit her. And it will be media pressure created by us “stupid Buddhists” that help keep the 5 men in jail. And how do I know these thing, because I am in contact with people on the ground there! Unlike you.

    Reply
  5. Matt Frazer August 13, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    Of course the NBF statement that you are using as the basis for your whole arguement will read well. IT IS A RETRACTION. Why the need for a retraction, if original statments were not damning??? Are you F’n Stupid or What? And you are doing the same thing you are accusing “Stupid Buddhists” of doing, relying on second hand sources. And a retraction at that.

    Reply
    • Apuleius Platonicus August 13, 2011 at 4:15 pm

      Matt, you claim that this is a retraction. That is untrue. There is no previous official statement from the NBF that is being “retracted” here. In fact, this statement constitutes the only official declaration that the NBF has made concerning this whole sad affair.

      Reply

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