#MeToo in the Sangha: A Divided Community {Panel Discussion}

it seems that even Buddhist communities are not immune to the social media circus that befalls us these days. Angry retorts, deleted comments, blocks and definitely everything but right speech is flying everywhere.

With the latest news coming forward regarding Noah Levine and the Against the Stream sangha, it seems tensions are high and the community is divided.

It seems mostly to reside on one side of the other, with Noah or against Noah. And while you have one group calling for more evidence and the another group angry, hurt and confused, it seems that even Buddhist communities are not immune to the social media circus that befalls us these days. Angry retorts, deleted comments, blocks and definitely everything but right speech is flying everywhere.

On top of this, layering the anger and fury is the story of Sakyong Mipham and all that is coming out about what has gone on in the Shambhala community. Stories of him biting people, sexual abuse and using his status to convince women to disrobe are just a few accounts that have been told.

Almost every day there is another story breaking in our culture. Rock Gods and music icons, film producers, media moguls—all are being brought into the light.

Yet in a community that has a main purpose of mindfulness, a purpose of connection, of ethics—here we are now, a community divided. The Tattooed Buddha sat down a few months ago to discuss reactions to these accounts and everything that has happened afterward. Here we are again.

At The Tattooed Buddha we believe in the power of mindful dialogue. We believe in supporting and connecting each other. We hope that in this dialogue, healing can begin. We hope that by bringing the issues into the light, by speaking our voices with compassion, by allowing our utter humaness to be out on the table, somehow we can find a way to understand and make change.

We hope you will join us in the dialogue.

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