Dalai Lama’s office rubbishes UK daily's '1 million USD fee for a public appearance' claim/ENG

2018. január 25./Phayul.com/TibetPress

eredeti cikk

By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 26: The private office of the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Thursday rubbished claims by a UK daily in a report that alleged the Tibetan leader's office received 1 million USD for a public appearance in an event held in Albany, New York in 2009.

A report dated Jan. 24 by UK based Daily Mail claimed that the Dalai Lama was “paid $1 million to travel to America to endorse a controversial 'sex cult' that brainwashes and brands women.” An official statement issued online by the Dalai Lama’s office stated that the article, “contains incorrect statements and untrue allegations.”

The statement read, “We wish to categorically state that His Holiness the Dalai Lama never takes an honorarium or fee of any sort, nor does he require that any payment be made to charities or organizations, as a condition of his making a personal appearance.

“Therefore, the reported allegation has no basis. Neither His Holiness the Dalai Lama nor the Dalai Lama Foundation ever received the alleged $1 million in connection with His Holiness’s appearance in Albany.”

The article reported that the presence of leaders from the alleged “cult” organisation NXIVM which describes it self as a “multi-level marketing company”, and offering of khatak, the white scarf symbolising auspiciousness in the Tibetan culture to NXIVM founder Keith Raniere was “was seen as a significant 'endorsement' by senior NXIVM members”.

However, the Tibetan leader’s office asserted that there was no endorsement on the part of the Dalai Lama who was instead reported to have called on the media to investigate the allegations made about the NXIVM organization and its founder, and was quite clear that the truth should be exposed.

The article further alleged that former emissary to US of the Dalai Lama Trust, Ven. Tenzin Dhonden had a “secret deal” to bring the Dalai Lama to appear for the public event, that was eventually cancelled publicly by the Tibetan leader.

Tenzin Dhonden remains suspended from his duty as secretary and trustee of the Dalai Lama Trust, a charitable trust chaired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, amidst investigation into alleged ‘extraction of unjustified payments’ in November 2017.