“To disparage/insult women, whose nature is wisdom, is the fourteenth” ཤེས་རབ་རང་བཞིན་བུད་མེད་ལ། ། སྨོད་པར་བྱེད་པ་བཅུ་བཞི་པ། ། — from Vajrayāna-mūlā-patti-saṅgrahaby Aśvaghoṣa
“In other words, the results of genuine ‘crazy wisdom’ are always positive and visible. When a teacher uses an extreme approach that is rooted in compassion, the result is spiritual growth, not trauma. Trauma is a sure sign that the ‘crazy wisdom’ behaviour was missing the wisdom to see what would truly benefit the student, the compassion that puts the student’s interest first, or both…Above all, if someone is being harmed, the safety of the victim comes first. This is not a Buddhist principle. This is a basic human value and should never be violated….In these circumstances, it is not a breach of samaya to bring painful information to light. Naming destructive behaviours is a necessary step to protect those who are being harmed or who are in danger of being harmed in the future, and to safeguard the health of the community.” —-Mingyur Rinpoche (2017)
“The [Benchen letter signed by Tenpa Lama ] banning Tomlin from Benchen for her reports about Sangye Nyenpa (in February 2020 without any discussion or investigation) uses hyperbolic language that is so extreme and polemical, positioning a single independent female scholar as “a threat to Buddha Dharma”, and claiming that she “offended thousands of their followers feelings”, that it is not only openly hostile and vindictive, but borders on the hysterical/comical. It is clear example of institutional malpractice and unaccountability for multiple concerns about misconduct towards women by a Buddhist male teacher. Weaponising blanket statements of group solidarity about unquantifiable “feelings of unnamed followers” to attack a lone, independent female survivor. Also, Buddhists are supposed to be practising love, patience, compassion and not allowing their personal feelings or dislikes to take precedence over truth and justice. The Benchen letter (even if true) thus encourages the opposite of Buddhist practice and encourages the teacher’s followers to act in ordinary, worldly ways.”
Introduction
Due to recent matters, clearly causing more harm to myself and others (who are defaming me), it is now necessary and in the public interest to start releasing screenshots of some the communications I had with Sangye Nyenpa (who presents himself publicly as a celibate, pure monk) from 2018-2019. I already sent these to Benchen monastery and centres, to the Khyentse Foundation and other relevant third parties before in 2020. And was keeping them in case of any future legal actions or false accusations, such as accusing me of lying about it.
There are hundreds of messages (verbal and written) over the span of one year, which I actively welcomed and engaged with. On many occasions, Sangye Nyenpa would send me sexual, romantic and pornographic messages from his wechat account. The vast majority of messages were shared were verbal chats about the translations I was doing, asking him questions, and arrangements about where and when we would meet or the schedule of his teachings and so on. He was very communicative, friendly, warm, humorous, and helpful generally, and generously gave me lots of time as a translator.
As I reported in 2020 after getting no response to internal communications, initially, I was very happy and excited by the relation, I had just finished my postgraduate in Europe and wanted to use that study to continue translating and publishing texts to an academic level. I trusted and believed SN’s declarations of romantic love and desire, because he would swear to Tara, Buddha, Vajrayogini and his guru Karmapa that he was not lying, and that he had fallen in love with me, and that I was the only woman he loved and was special to him. In addition, he was being very helpful and supportive of the translations work.
However, when I later discovered (from other women like Ma Tara Palmo, and from Karen a long time student of Tai Situpa who stays at Sherab Ling) that he had done the same to many other women (such as Karen’s daughter), and I was being used and abused and that it was all a deception to get me to send sexy photos of myself and engage in sexual talk and subtle body unions, I felt heartbroken and deeply betrayed by not just a man, but a Vajrayana guru I had trusted and felt devotion and respect for. It was hard to fathom how a monk and someone so revered in the tradition was not only blatantly lying to me privately, but to others, and treating women privately as “pieces of meat” to be hooked, consumed and then trashed when no longer needed. There seemed to be no real love or compassion present.
I then withdrew my assent to it, hoping that by reporting it his monastery, and family, would bring some change, resolution and reparation. However, no one wanted to know the truth, and a letter was issued by Tenpa Lama (a lay administrator of the monastery) banning me from Benchen monasteries and centres, no discussion, mediation or investigation. Sangye Nyenpa himself disappeared and cut off all contact for six months. That is when the online bullying, impersonation, harassment, lies, defamation of myself and those connected to me started. My then Facebook account, Adele Zangmo was suddenly disabledm and I was unable to retrieve it losing all the personal photos I had uploaded. I was more shocked by the total deception, and calling those other women liars, crazy or bad (who were telling the truth like me, and also felt harmed by him) rather than the fact he had lied to me and to other women, and called them bad or crazy, when they seemed to be telling the truth like me.
So, here for the first time publicly I reveal a very small sample of snapshot evidence of communications between Sangye Nyenpa and myself from 2018-2019 (which were sent to Benchen, Khyentse Foundation and others privately in 2020) but were never investigated by the EBU, Khyentse Foundation or Benchen. There are many photos and messages I still have not shared, such as private and intimate images of SN, but they are available as evidence if people continue to pursue false accusations of lying, and hypocritical “holier-than-thou” legal cases designed to bully, harass and waste my time, money and energy further.
Why am I sharing these now after eight years? Because even though I have tried to move on and make new and genuine connections, I am still being bullied, harassed, punished, defamed and harmed by the same people , and by those (like Carlo Luyckx) who refuse (without valid reason) to believe any of it is true. Also, life is short but false rumours and accusations can almost destroy a person’s life and livelihood, as it has done mine, long after a person dies. One can only wonder how many other women have suffered the same in silence, and whom it has led to completely abandon the Buddha Dharma and quest for awakening.
I have no ill-will towards Sangye Nyenpa, and have compassion for him and his unheatlhy obsession with me (and others’ reports about him), but it has been over eight years now. So it would be beneficial for him, for me and for everyone else and Dharma if he, his enablers, and followers would just “let it go” and stop the ongoing bullying, defamation and harassment. And allow me to make new Dharma connections with new teachers and attend Dharma teachings and events without fearing for my personal safety and well-being and having those connections actively and wilfully destroyed as revenge for reporting his conduct.
What do they want to cover up and ignore and why? What do they hope to achieve? To actively prevent me attending teachings or having any connection with Buddha Dharma and not attain full awakening, and worse even rejoice when that happens? If so, that shows a complete lack of love, compassion and bodhicitta. In fact, if Sangye Nyenpa really wanted people to stop bullying and harassing me online and in person, he could have asked them to refrain from doing such harmful actions in his name. But as far as am aware he never has asked them and may even have actively encouraged it.
In any case, how strange that some people who enable this conduct will happily cite un verified, anonymous, hateful, false, misogynist, derogatory online (and banned) content to attack and defend total lies about me. Yet, they need my silence/absence or endless verifiable proof from the named lone woman survivor who is trying to share personal and honest direct testimony. I also swear to Vajrayogini this is the truth, and she definitely knows I am!
Ignoring and openly dismissing multiple women’s concerns: The meeting of 12th Tai Situpa, Mingyur Rinpoche, Gyalton Rinpoche and Sangye Nyenpa in Nepal 2026
As I wrote about here, one of the main Vajrayana downfalls is denigrating women (as individuals, or as a group). addition, the reccent VIP guest treatement of Sangye Nyenpa by 12th Tai Situpa and Mingyur Rinpoche, at the Tergar monastery and Benchen monastery events last week, in connection with HE 12th Tai Situpa’s month long tour in Nepal, so soon after a false, defamatory and vexatious court case was filed (in my absence) by two associates of Gyalton Rinpoche. A vexatious and unnecessary legal action, that misled a Delhi court into thinking that his India teachings continued after April into May 2026, and use the “emergency order” not only to character assassinate me in my absence in the presence of an Indian judge, but also to bar me from any future Palpung or Gyalton Rinpoche teachings, seems like too much of a coincidence to be accidental.
In any case, Sangye Nyenpa’s VIP presence at these events clearly shows that women’s voices, experiences and concerns are not being respected or heard in such communities, and worse even being made a mockery of. Also, as I wrote about here, that Mingyur Rinpoche’s prior article on the importance of exposing persistent teacher misconduct, only applied on paper, and not in practice when it comes to a teacher in his own lineage.
It also clearly showed that the deliberate and cruel attempt to completely sever and destroy my connection with Gyalton Rinpoche, was connected to Sangye Nyenpa and his enablers. As if they needed to pull rank and show Gyalton Rinpoche that they are more important and senior etc. Almost like a group of juvenile teenagers jockeying for position among a small group to prove their ” power” and loyalty. But not proving their loyalty/samaya with women they have taken as secret consorts or given Vajrayana empowerments, only to the “senior” and “superior” monks/tulku men.
In fact, as far-fetched as it might sound, it almost has a pre-meditated energy to it. As if the whole connection with Gyalton Rinpoche was continued and I was intoxicated to act in certain ways, in order to promote a narrative of myself as the “villain” or “sex pest”, as the anonymous cyberbullying blogger they bizarrely “cited as evidence” calls it.
Thus destroying my pure-hearted connection with Gyalton Rinpoche and the people around him, and removing all focus from Sangye Nyenpa (and the multiple reports against him by other women) onto my conduct and relation with Gyalton Rinpoche. A sincere connection that I had consented to, and engaged in and whom I followed with devotion and an open heart and mind, as well as voluntarily completing academic level research, transcriptions and translations on.
Is it possible the whole court case in Delhi was pre-meditated as a character assassination to coincide with the Nepal teachings and Sangye Nyenpa events at which Tai Situpa and Gyalton Rinpoche treated him as their VIP guest?
Yet, how can men transmit the power of Vajrayogini or Tara, while violating women’s bodies and minds, and Vajrayana principles in relation to not denigrating or abusing women and consorts (even if they are secret/subtle level unions)?
SNR did not just threaten to commit suicide if I revealed his misogynist misconduct to people he knew, he also told me that he had constant nightmares where his head was being cut off and drowning in swamps of mud, and he thought Buddha Dharma would be better off when he is dead (see m0re on the suicide threats below)
This also raised major alarm bells. So why arepeople still enabling it even after those alarm bells were rang? This cannot be healthy for him or those following him. Awful to hear but also shows you that the punishment for these men and their enablers comes from having to live with what they have done and the lies and smear campaigns they have told other people to cover their wrongdoing and “demonise” the female victims.
A SMALL SAMPLE OF EVIDENCE
These are a very small sample from hundreds of written and verbal messages (my messages are in green, SN in white). Some are pornographic (but I have blurred or covered parts of their bodies for the sake of public decency).
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Sangye Nyenpa’s correspondence amicably and helpfully collaborating on translations together in Nepal (March -September 2019)
Overall, most of the messages initially were helpful, supportive and kind. Sangye Nyenpa openly praises and congratulates me on my work and how he will help and support it. We spent many hours together privately (with other monks nearby) in person and on messages, working through the Zhentong commentary he had given, and other smaller texts.
Messages Sangye Nyenpa sent Tomlin about 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche, 12th Tai Situpa and Thrangu Rinpoche
In September-October 2018 (and then in January 2019) only a few weeks after SN gave me his phone number directly in a book he gave me when I first met him to get some oral transmissions and do some translations, SN started telling me many defamatory and negative things about 17th Karmapa, 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche and Thrangu Rinpoche and Tai Situpa:
- Did not trust 17th Karmapa and did not see him as the same as 16th Karmapa
- That Thrangu Rinpoche was a “lousy teacher” for 17 Karmapa and cheated sponsors and families out of money
- That 12th Tai Situpa was not close to the 17th Karmapa and sees his root guru as 16th Karmapa
- That he (SN) was not close to nor did he have any Dharma connection with 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche and felt aggrieved the 17th Karmapa did not praise him as he did 12th Gyaltsab Rinpoche during their time at Rumtek during the 14th Zhamarpa issue.
Examples of sexual and romantic messages from Sangye Nyenpa to Adele Tomlin during and after the Kagyu Marme Monlam 2019 evening (21st-23rd January 2019) where he dishonestly states he never sent similar messages or had feelings for any other woman, and has “no Dharma connection with Gyaltsab Rinpoche”
Shortly after we met, the messages got more romantic, flirty and sexual with his encouragement and participation. Although SN and I exhanged daily messages, my frusration and concerns were increasing because I was hearing from other women that they had similar experiences and had been discarded and felt harmed by his conduct. Yet, he had told me I was the only one and first etc.
When I told SN about these other reports he told me the women were liars, mad or bad and would often swear he was telling the truth to Buddha, Tara, Vajrayogini and the deities and on his guru, Karmapa. He even swore on the life of both his parents that he had never been “sexually or romantically involved with any women at all” prior to me. That he was not being dishonest to me and that he had never sent such messages etc. to any other woman.
Because of his senior status, even though I knew it was highly unlikely, I am not that naive but I believed him and trusted him and so continued the relation. Only to later have him betray that trust, and find out these women had not lied.
When I challenged him on it several times, particularly during a visit to Sikkim in December 2018 to attend one of his events, there I was so outraged by the deception and level of disrespect, I demanded he prostrate to me three times to show he respected me, which he agreed to do (and he was crying and apologising to me).
It then got worse at the Kagyu Marme Monlam, while I was getting ready to go there, I suddenly got an anonymous FB message (which I now realise was him) with a woman’s name claiming she had been harmed by him. I then messaged SN about it, who then sent me many messages, and I got pulled into a lengthy argument about it, to the extent I almost missed the Marme Monlam, led by Gyaltsab Rinpoche (and with a live speech by 17th Karmapa).
Even worse, when I reached the end of my patience with the deception and what was clear misogyny and disrespectful conduct towards myself and other women, he even emotionally blackmailed me he would release my photos if I ever exposed his conduct, and threatened suicide on a few occasions (see messages below).
Then there were the messages about other Karma Kagyu teachers and the Karmapa he sent in October 2018
In one verbal message when I asked SN why I became sexually intoxicated around him when we were doing translations together, and asked for advice on it and how to stop it, or if he thinks it is bad or not appropriate, he clearly stated that he does not think it is bad, but more about people being around and hearing or seeing it. This is an example of how tantric techniques were used to make me act in certain ways, which he was actively aware of and connected to, but did not think it bad. If he had thought it inappropriate, he could have easily said so as we met in person many times, and he never did. So I was intoxicated and groomed into this conduct and taught to see it as acceptable and normal within the guru-student context, which I did because it was very blissful, despite the lies and deception. I had similar experiences when I was alonne translating for the Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche too, who introduced me to the nature of bliss when I was translating Kalacakra texts with him alone in my apartment.
Emotional blackmail
When I told Sangye Nyenpa that I will expose his deception, misconduct and slander of other teachers if he does not stop, he then threatens to share some intimate photos of myself topless/ in a bikini/underwear, which I had shared with him at his persistent request and declarations of love:
The objective/AI analysis of the insitutional failures to investigate the reports about Sangye Nyenpa, and more recently the bullying and harassment in Europe 2025
Everyone must understand the truth about SN’s violence against women, and we must not tolerate abuse of women by high-ranking monks! No matter who the perpetrator is, they must be severely punished!
Stay strong.
You are speaking TRUTH to power….And those who wear the ring (of ego) instead of melting it …. will not take your words well.
Prayers and best wishes.
Gata Gate ParaGate ParaSamGate Bodhi Svaha
Stefano Farris
K. Sherab bZangpo
There are indeed numerous, consistent reports regarding the erratic and dishonest behavior surrounding Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, a Bhutanese lama who appears to have far more influence than he deserves. It has long been apparent to insiders within the Tibetan Buddhist scene that he exhibits severe instability and interpersonal toxicity, entirely unbecoming of a qualified lama. What remains deeply disturbing is how vociferously the Karma Kagyu establishment continues to shield him, despite a terrible reputation that dates back to at least 2011, a full 15 years of documented malpractice and obviously bizarre behavior. Beyond a naturally deep voice and a notable capacity for textual memorization, there is little evidence of actual realization or adherence to the very ethics and values he preaches.
Looking closely at this entire situation exposes a deeply corrupted institutional network centered around Sherab Ling and Benchen Monasteries. This apparatus utilizes international ‘strike teams’ and coordinated campaigns of harassment to silence critics. These operations are covertly orchestrated by figures like Damien Jampa against independent scholars and translators, along with his ‘Syndicate’ of international allies, as clearly outlined by Adele Tomlin.
This dynamic extends from highly manipulative, abusive actors like Ngawang Trinley (NT) and his brother Helios Hildt, down to a specific faction of enabling Western Karma Kagyu students and ex-monastics from Sherab Ling, including Justin Kirkwood, James Bradwell, Evan Yerburgh, and others who emerged from the murky swamp of that specific scene in the 2010s, such as Sean Griffin, Eugene Romaniuk, and Matthias Staber. This ‘Syndicate’, which operates on systemic intimidation, cult-like groupthink, brutal sabotage, callous social exclusion, and shadowy tactics, must eventually face absolute accountability for their actions.