A second accuser has stepped forward 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 located near Eugene, Oregon. The 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 against Choga by Rachel Montgomery, a longtime student of his Buddhist center in Eugene, Oregon. This was followed in May a televised interview of Montgomery by KVAL News, which further detailed her years of rape and abuse at the hands of the 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 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.

“That really that led to me having a cascade of questions and doubts that I didn’t allow myself to have before,” she explained. (KVAL News)

Her revelation to her husband about her own experiences under Choga’s tutelage marked a turning point in their lives.

“It was just clear to me to support her and be there for her. Something horrible has happened to her and it’s really hard for her to tell me obviously,” Josh recalled. (KVAL News)

Rikkianne’s account echoes Montgomery’s allegations of grooming, coercive control, and sexual assault by Choga. She described private teachings that escalated into years of abuse, highlighting the pervasive psychological manipulation that kept her ensnared in a toxic environment.

“I remember thinking to myself this is a test of my devotion,” she said. “This is a test of my dedication to my practice, and in a way that type of thinking actually led me to endure more abuse because I didn’t want to give up my practice. I loved my practice and the teachings very dearly.” She added, “The amount of mental gymnastics that the students have to do in order to justify his behavior is it’s really something that you can’t put into words unless you experience it for yourself.” (KVAL News)

Both Chatfield and Montgomery assert that speaking out was hindered by fear and a distorted sense of loyalty instilled by Choga. Chatfield’s eventual exit from the community, facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption, allowed her to reevaluate years of normalized abuse.

The legal repercussions have been profound. Montgomery and Chatfield are plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against eight defendants associated with the center, alleging complicity in the abuse. While five defendants have denied the accusations, three have yet to respond formally.

Despite efforts to hold him accountable, Khenpo Choga was removed from the civil lawsuit due to difficulties serving him legal notice after he moved to Taiwan. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged probable cause for his arrest based on Chatfield’s criminal report but cited insufficient evidence to pursue charges.

Lane County District Attorney’s Office elaborated, stating, “Under the law, consent is a binary concept, irrespective of any coercive religious context.” This legal challenge underscores broader questions about consent and coercion within religious hierarchies.

Montgomery, reflecting on the ongoing legal and personal journey, expressed mixed emotions: “Seeing Rikkianne come forward was like completing a sentence I started. I hope others find their voice too.” Her hope extends beyond personal vindication to a systemic reckoning within the community.

Representatives from Dzogchen Shri Singha declined to comment when approached by KATU News. The website of the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation, which was founded to support Choga, still lists him on their lineage page. The site does not list any in-person activities in Oregon, but does detail a recent retreat to Taiwan, led by Choga. They give no warning about ongoing legal proceedings against Choga or the civil case involving leading members of the US-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 in Boise, Idaho. There is also a center in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Carol Merchasin, a lawyer who specializes in cases involving sexual misconduct in religious and spiritual communities, said last year that these cases are not unique. It is common for victims of abuse in spiritual and religious to have difficulty realizing what has happened. “I hope that her voice is heard. I hope that she feels satisfaction that a court of law heard her voice, and I hope that these organizations are held to some kind of accountability.” (Daily Beast)

See more

Breaking the Silence: Multiple accusations of sexual assault at local Buddhist retreat (KATU News)
Guru Accused of ‘Mystical’ Baby Plot in U.S. Rape Case (Daily Beast)
Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche (Dzogchen Lineage Tibetan Buddhism)
The Meditation Retreat and Pilgrimage Tour in Taiwan 2024 (Dzogchen Lineage Tibetan Buddhism)
Oregon Becomes Hub of Lama’s Virus Adaptations (Northwest Dharma Association)

Related news reports from BDG

Dzogchen Buddhist Teacher and Center in Oregon Sued Over Rape Allegation
Healing Our Sanghas: New Website Seeks Discussion of Karmapa Abuse Allegations
Alarm Bells Sounded Over Child Abuse in Thailand’s Buddhist Temples
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche Steps Down from Teaching as Misconduct and Abuse Allegations Continue to Emerge
Dalai Lama Speaks on Abuse by Dharma Teachers After Meeting Alleged Victims
China’s Most Senior Buddhist Monk Denies Allegations of Sexual Abuse

Related features from BDG

Enlightenment and Abuse in Buddhist Sanghas
How Sexual Misconduct Shatters Spiritual Communities: Lessons for Buddhists
Buddhistdoor View: Abuse Allegations and the Buddhist Dispensation
An Olive Branch: Reaching Out to Those Affected by Abuse in Buddhist Sanghas