A second accuser filed a complaint, alleging sexual abuse by Master Choying Rabjam, also known as Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, or Choga. Khenpo Choga is a Buddhist teacher at the Dzogchen Shri Singha Retreat Center near Eugene, Oregon. These allegations add to an ongoing legal battle surrounding Khenpo Choga, the center's teacher.
Last April, the Daily Beast published an investigative article documenting accusations made against Choga by Rachel Montgomery, a longtime student at his Buddhist center in Eugene, Oregon. This article was followed in May by a television interview with Montgomery by KVAL News, which further detailed her years of rape and abuse at the hands of Buddhist teachers.
The report was seen by a family in Eugene, who showed it to their son and daughter-in-law, both of whom had also studied at the Dzogchen Shri Sangha Retreat Center. That couple, Rikkianne Chatfield and her husband Josh, saw the report, leading Rikkianne to open up about her own memories.
“It led me to have a cascade of questions and doubts that I didn't allow myself to have before,” she explained. (KVAL News)
The revelation she made to her husband about her own experiences under Choga's tutelage marked a turning point in their lives.
“It was obvious to me that I had to support her and be there for her. Something horrible happened to her and it’s really hard for her to tell me,” Josh recalls. (KVAL News)
Rikkianne's account echoes Montgomery's allegations regarding Choga's grooming, coercive control and sexual assault. She described private lessons that escalated into years of abuse, highlighting the pervasive psychological manipulation that kept her trapped in a toxic environment.
“I remember thinking it was a test of my devotion,” she said. “It’s a test of my dedication to my practice, and in a way, this type of thinking actually led me to endure more abuse because I didn’t want to give up my practice.” I really enjoyed my practice and the teachings. " She added, "The amount of mental gymnastics that students have to do to justify their behavior is really something you can't put into words unless you experience it for yourself. » (KVAL News)
Both Chatfield and Montgomery say their speaking out was hampered by fear and a distorted sense of loyalty instilled by Choga. Chatfield's eventual removal from the community, facilitated by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed him to reevaluate years of normalized abuse.
The legal repercussions were profound. Montgomery and Chatfield are plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against eight defendants associated with the center, alleging their complicity in the abuse. While five defendants have denied the accusations, three have yet to respond officially.
Despite efforts to hold him accountable, Khenpo Choga was removed from the civil suit due to difficulties in serving him with legal notice after his move to Taiwan. The Lane County Sheriff's Office acknowledged probable cause existed for his arrest based on Chatfield's criminal report, but cited insufficient evidence to file charges.
The Lane County Prosecutor's Office clarified: “Under the law, consent is a binary concept, regardless of any coercive religious context. » This legal challenge highlights broader questions about consent and coercion within religious hierarchies.
Montgomery, reflecting on her legal and personal journey, expressed mixed feelings: “Seeing Rikkianne come forward was like finishing a sentence I had started. I hope others find their voice too. » His hope goes beyond personal vindication to achieve systemic reckoning within the community.
Representatives for Dzogchen Shri Singha declined to comment when contacted by KATU News. The website of the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation, which was founded to support Choga, still mentions him on its lineage page. The site does not list any in-person activities in Oregon, but details a recent retreat in Taiwan, led by Choga. They give no warning about the ongoing legal proceedings against Choga or the civil case involving leading members of the U.S.-based organization.
According to a 2020 report, the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation has five centers in the Northwest: in Eugene and Portland, Oregon; Seattle and Port Townsend, Washington; and Boise, Oregon. Idaho. There is also a center in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Carol Merchasin, an attorney who specializes in cases of sexual misconduct within religious and spiritual communities, said last year that these cases were not unique. It's common for victims of abuse in spiritual and religious communities to have difficulty understanding what happened. “I hope his voice is heard. I hope she will be satisfied that a court has heard her, and I hope that these organizations will be held to account. » (Daily Beast)
See more
Breaking the Silence: Multiple Sexual Assault Accusations at Local Buddhist Retreat (KATU News)
Guru accused of 'mystical' baby plot in US rape case (Daily Beast)
Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche (Tibetan Buddhism of the Dzogchen lineage)
Meditation Retreat and Pilgrimage in Taiwan 2024 (Dzogchen Lineage Tibetan Buddhism)
Oregon Becomes Center for Lama Virus Adaptations (Northwest Dharma Association)
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The article Second woman accuses Dzogchen Buddhist teacher of rape in Oregon appeared first on Buddhist News Global.
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