‘A Critical Enquiry of ‘Padma Gonpo Rinpoche’

Well as the saying goes, ‘actions speak louder than words’. It would appear the boasts made by Mr.Corin White, that his supposed ‘Lama Padma Gonpo’ (’PG’) had translated the Tibetan text, featured previously here on another post, has turned out to be hot-air of the deceiving kind. Despite being invited to post his translation here, both the self-styled ‘Rinpoche’, and his devoted ’students’, appear unable to respond. Moreover, in a dogged spirit ‘Stonewall Jackson’ would probably have endorsed, they continue to ignore the central questions, regarding ‘PG’s’ exotic background. Considering that revealing silence, it is not unreasonable to question, if they simply cannot provide any independent, or corroborative evidence, to verify the claims made the ‘Menasha Lama’? Those involved in the dubiously termed ‘Dagpa-Bon’ (or should that be Con?) are seemingly so entranced with their experiences and ‘beliefs’, that they prefer to reject such inconvenient scrutiny? This bunker-like mentality is reminiscent of the Flat Earth Society, clearly there would appear to be a distinct lack of critical faculties operating, that process seems to have been negated in favour of unthinking obedience, and automata-like fundamentalism. No matter, the effort to expose the truth continues, of course the matter could be very simply, and courteously settled, if ‘Padma Gonpo’ could present information, that would definitively corroborate his claims. Until he does so the concerns remain, and the determination to expose; what some question as constituting a cynical exploitation of Tibetan Bon, shall remain undimmed.

Mr. Corin White states that his supposed ‘Rinpoche’ (alias ‘Padma Gonpo’) was able to translate the Tibetan text posted on one the blog. According to Mr.White:

“he did translate it…..but Padma Gonpo Rinpoche (sic) had nowhere to post his translation”

So let’s make it easy for ‘PG’. he is invited here publicly to translate the following passage, which if he is able to, shall be published on this blog.

“rgyud gser gyi rus sbal las / rnam pa thams cad mkhyen pa’i ston pa de thugs rje che mnga’ ‘gro ba’i don bya’i phyir skye med ngang las skye ba’i cho ‘phrul bstan nam mkha’ lta bu’i bon sku mtshon bral las gzugs skur bzhengs nas ‘gro don mthar dbyung phyir ye sangs yul du shes rab blo rtsal bskyed ‘og min gnas su ‘gro don bon lung mnos phywa yi grong khyer chen por blo rtsal sbyangs ‘od gsal gnas su shes bya’i sgrib pa sbyangs ‘dul ba’i dus bab gzigs dgongs thugs la bzhag yab kyi rtar bab yum gyi lhums su zhugs zla dgu ngo bcur skye ba bzhes tshul bstan zhes so”

Given the apparent ease with which he seemingly translated this, according that is to the inflamed remarks of Mr.White, one imagines the provision of his translation should be swift, hope so as there are a number of fluent Tibetan speakers, who are rather interested to note ‘Padma Gonpo’s’ results.

As the handful of ‘Padma Gonpo’ students seem to value rationale, one imagines they will have no difficulty in sharing a reasonable curiosity, regarding the claims made by their ‘teacher’. If, as they seem to believe, that they are following a genuine ‘Rinpoche’, and an authentic tradition, they will surely have no objection to scrutiny.

1). Paul McDowell, known possibly as ‘Padma Gonpo’ (and reportedly also as ‘Lama Paul’) has stated that he studied under “Yongedn Urgyen Dondrup (the transliterated Tibetan name is actually Yongden, not as written by ‘PG’) in Yokohama, Japan in 1968“.

In order to corroborate this claim would ‘Padma Gonpo‘, or his students, care to make available contact details for this supposed teacher, or any of his family. Having approached the Office of Tibet in Japan, Tibetan Centres, and a number of contacts there, no such individual has been identified. All that is required are details, surely these can be provided?

2) According to their group:
 

“Rinpoche (sic) was “verified” during the fourteen months preceding Tibetan New Year 1975 and received the Bön’s highest recognition. He received coronation as a Bönku Rigdzen during the Tibetan New year celebration, “Losar.”

What does ‘verified’ mean here? Is ‘PG’ claiming to have received an authentic and traditional ordination, a prestigious ceremony in Tibetan religious practice, that follows a number of conventions, including the award being conferred by a prominent Lama, or Head of a Monastery. If so would he, or his students, care to name the individual who bestowed this recognition? Surely someone carried out this seemingly prestigious ceremony and can thus be approached to verify these claims.

Secondly, would ’PG’ provide independent authoritative documentation, or verifiable instances, which can identify so-called Bönku Rigdzen as being an award given within Tibetan Bon?

3). Given that Bon is in essence a Tibetan tradition, of immense complexity and unfathomable depth, one wonders in what language medium ‘Padma Gonpo’ (alias Mr.McDowell?) was tutored to be awarded such a seemingly prestigious title? Does he have a fluency in Tibetan? Was PG able to read and translate Bon texts?

4). It is claimed that ‘PG’ also received:

“Tibetan Nyingma Lamiac Ordination at Urgyen Same (sic-the correct Tibetan title is Samye) Choling, Montignac-Lascaux France, during the years 1982 - 1985 at the hand of H.H. Dujom (sic-the correct transliteration of this Tibetan name is Dudjom). Rinpoche”.

It is reasonable to conclude that such centres have a record of such important ordinations, and that details of individuals, who have achieved such a status, are maintained. Otherwise any individual could make such claims without any corroboration. The current head of this centre is H.H. Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche who speaks English fluently, perhaps ’Padma Gonpo’ could call upon this Tibetan to verify his claims? Alternatively perhaps ’PG’ has some official documentation, or photographic record of his apparent ordination at that centre? Will he make such documentation available?

5) ‘Padma Gonpo’ claims to have studied at a monastery, which he states was Dorje Ling, at a place which he wrongly cites as “Madori Ku“, Yokohama Japan. There is a Midori-ku in Yokohama Unfortunately this centre is rather difficult to locate and identify, and several efforts to verify its existence have proved futile. Would ‘PG’ care to furnish more details about this place, such as postal address, email, or a telephone number. A simple communication could clarify matters.

6) The self-styled ‘Rinpoche’ also states that he:

“….spent a year in Tibet traveling (sic) to the various monasteries and villages giving teachings and providing traditional Bon services”.

Can he back up this assertion with any details, to corroborate his account. What monasteries did he visit, and supposedly ‘teach’ at? Which villages did he travel to bestowing his ‘wisdom‘? What year did this happen? Can he name anyone from these monasteries, that presumably would still recall such a visit? What language did he use to give these teachings? Does he speak Tibetan? In offering “traditional Bon services” how did he communicate with local Tibetans?

If the claims made by ‘Padma Gonpo’ are valid, then he will have no difficulties in being able to provide information to address these questions. Moreover, if he is indeed a ‘Rinpoche’, he would value openness, transparency and integrity, and be happy to cooperate in validating his claims with verifiable information. Those who respect Tibetan culture look forward to these queries being addressed.

One of the misappropriated concepts, which appear to have been ‘borrowed’ by self-styled ‘Padma Gonpo’ (PG) is the notion, of what genuine Tibetan Bon refers to as Bonku. According to an eminent authority, whom I consulted, Paul McDowell’s (if that individual is indeed posing as PG) use of Bonku “is a total travesty of the ‘metaphysics’“. It would seem that PG, and his dwindling band of acolytes, wrongly equate Bonku with some sort of attainable and earthly condition, like a Tibetan ‘tulku’ ( an enlightened being that reincarnates to serve humanity)

From any intelligent reading and research, the subject of Bonku is revealed to be something very different indeed:

“Actually Bonku (Bon-sku) in Bon always contrasts with the form bodies (gzugs sku), which are of two kinds, Dzogku (Rdzogs-sku) and Tulku (Sprul-sku), the latter being the manifestation body visible to worldlings. Bonku is identified with Total Good (Kun-tu-bzang-po) in Bon just as Chöku (Chos-sku) is identified with Total Good (Kun-tu-bzang-po) in the Nyingma school.”

As noted by the aforementioned academic source I called upon, Paul McDowell and his bogus ’Ngag-Bon’ creation, seem to consider :
“Bonku are cosmonauts bouncing around the universe at will. The Bonku as such never manifests. Has nothing to do with visible form or movement from one place to another. The Bonku as such never manifests.”

Being a self-styled ’Rinpoche’ and presumably well versed in ancient Bon texts; and one imagines, fluent in Tibetan, perhaps ’Padma Gonpo’ would care to translate the following text by Shardza Rinpoche, in his Bon history, quotes from the Golden Tortoise Tantra:

“rgyud gser gyi rus sbal las / rnam pa thams cad mkhyen pa’i ston pa de thugs rje che mnga’ ‘gro ba’i don bya’i phyir skye med ngang las skye ba’i cho ‘phrul bstan nam mkha’ lta bu’i bon sku mtshon bral las gzugs skur bzhengs nas ‘gro don mthar dbyung phyir ye sangs yul du shes rab blo rtsal bskyed ‘og min gnas su ‘gro don bon lung mnos [35] phywa yi grong khyer chen por blo rtsal sbyangs ‘od gsal gnas su shes bya’i sgrib pa sbyangs ‘dul ba’i dus bab gzigs dgongs thugs la bzhag yab kyi rtar bab yum gyi lhums su zhugs zla dgu ngo bcur skye ba bzhes tshul bstan zhes so”

My genuine appreciation to that Bon scholar, who knows who he is, for the detailed input on this subject.

According to some recent information I received from a contact in Wisconsin, it seems that in Paul McDowell’s previous incarnation, he went by the name of ‘Lama Paul’, and it’s reported offered ‘teachings’ out of a boarding house. Unfortunately, it seems his activities attracted increasing suspicion, and he was reportedly ejected by the owners, although it is alleged, not before a number of local people had apparently been fleeced by the ‘Lama’. Are such reports accurate? Can it be that this self-proclaimed ‘Padma Gonpo’ is little more than a fake, whose path is one of deception rather than the unique wisdom of the genuine Tibetan Bon tradition? There are a number of troubling questions about this individual which remain unanswered, the effort to expose the truth continues. If, by any chance ‘Padma Gonpo’, or any of his ‘acolytes’ are reading this, I would request that as a gesture of respect for Tibet and its Bon culture, you remove from your website/myspace sites any and all references which claim you and your ’system’ are associated with, pre-date or are derived from Tibetan Bon, and that it is made clear that you have not received authentic training in the Bon tradition.

I want to express my appreciation to those folks who emailed in their concerns about the claims made by so-called ‘Padma Gonpo’ (PG), it would appear that this is about self-promotion and profit, if the $250 charge, for a planned ‘healing workshop’  is an indication. Meanwhile, a deafening silence from Paul McDowell, alias ‘PG’? To anyone who is thinking of investing any credibility into this individual, take advice for the words of Buddha, when he spoke about using intelligent discrimination to examine phenomena. While those few acolytes of PG, are urged to put into practice, what some of their MySpace pages trumpet, namely non-attachment. Distance yourselves from any emotional or mental ties you may have with this individual and apply some objective and rational enquiry into his background and claims. Ask yourselves, do you feel comfortable with being associated, with what appears to be a cynical exploitation, and misrepresentation of Tibetan culture? If you are truly interested in the Tibetan Bon tradition you should seek an authentic source of teaching.

It appears the identity of so-called ‘Padma Gonpo’, has ben determined. Rather like Batman, film-maker, does Paul McDowell, have an ability to transform, in this case it would seem, into super-advanced ‘Bon’ adept? Minus the special-powers, genuine lineage, training and enlightenment of course.

The most basic enquiry concerning this matter is to establish some facts, about the ‘individual’ calling himself ‘Padma Gonpo’. Firstly, here are the claims, emailed by ‘Padma Gonpo’ to the author (1st and 9th January 2007)  These first ‘details’ were included in an unsigned email (dated 01/01/08):

“Padma Gonpo began bon (sic) study under Yongedn (sic) Urgyen Dondrup in Yokohama Japan in 1968. Rinpoche was “verified” during the fourteen months preceding Tibetan New Year 1975 and received the Bön’s highest recognition. He received coronation as a Bönku Rigdzen during the Tibetan New year celebration, …….he received Tibetan Nyingma Lamiac Ordination at Urgyen Same (sic) Choling, Montignac-Lascaux France during the years 1982 - 1985 at the hand of H.H. Dujom Rinpoche (Rigdzen Nuden Dorje). As for Ethnic background, Rinpoche is American, but raised in Japan and had spent a year in Tibet traveling to the various monasteries and villages giving teachings and providing traditional Bon services……”

Having received this response I made some detailed enquiries to a number of long-standing contacts I have in Japan. The response is very interesting and raised some questions. Firstly: I approached the Tibetan Community inside Japan and the Office of Tibet to seek confirmation and details of “Yongedn (sic) Urgyen Dondrup”. This ‘individual’ has not been recognized nor any details been made available, rather curous that such a small community of Tibetans should be so seemingly ignorant of a fellow Tibetan, particulary one who is claimed to be a Tibetan religious teacher. To anyone familiar with the exotic and absurd claims made by Christopher Hansard-see http://christopherhansard.blogspot.com/ this will sound all too familiar, a mysterious ‘Tibetan’ teacher in a remote location, whose idenity cannot be verified by the very community who would know such a figure!

Readers will have noted that it is claimed that ‘Padma Gonpo Rinpoche (sic) was “verified” although significantly we are not informed who presided over and conferred “Bon’s highest recognition”. Like Hansard’s bogus account, this is all too vague, key details are omitted, for fear of scrutiny perhaps?

Now I turned my attention to his supposed training and ordination in France. Due to my long involvement in Tibet, having campaigned, written and researched since 1988, I have a wide network of friends and colleagues across the Tibet scene. It was easy for me to approach a number of people in France to enquire about ‘Padma Gonpo’ and his apparent time at Urgyen Same (sic) Choling, Montignac-Lascaux. No one has heard of this ‘individual’ nor has the centre itself been able to confirm such a person received any training or ordination. Curious that once again we seem to find ourselves in the absence of detail and confirmation regarding this ‘individual’!

Determined to extract details I again contacted ‘Padma Gonpo’ and on the 9th January received the following response, this time the emailer identified themselves.

“Greetings Mr. (name withheld).
 

Your email was forwarded to me (Padma Gonpo) to answer, and as such regretfully has taken a little time to answer. The Monastery that I studied at in Madori Ku, (sic) Yokohama Japan was called Dorje Ling. I would be happy to discuss my “qualifications” with an ordained Lama or other teacher under ordination vows.

Your discussion of our website and assumptions about our intentions were also revealed. We share concerns about many of the organizations you have on the listings on that website and work to educate the members of those organizations that cite Tibetan traditions as being part of their influence.  I wish you well in your endevors and sincerely hope that you find what you seek. Padma Gonpo”

Do a Google search for Dorje Ling Madori Ku Yokohama and the result is ZERO. This could be due to the fact that ‘Padma Gonpo’ has mispelled the place name that he supposely studied at. It should be Midori-ku! No matter a search still draws a big fat blank. I emailed a contact who is fluent in Japanese, they carried out a Google in Japanese of Dorje Ling/ Tibet/ Tibetan Buddhism in Midori-ku/Yokohama. Guess what? it too returned no search results. Interesting how such key figures and centres should prove so difficult to confirm! There is of course an easy and effective solution, perhaps ‘Padma Gonpo’ would care to provide contact details of these individual and religious centres?

Unfortunately, as will be observed from ‘his’ email above, there seems to be a certain reluctance to disclose information, unless shared with an ordained Lama, one presumes therefore any request for email or telephone details to confirm the claims made by ‘Padma Gonpo’ will receive a similar resistance. An email was sent to him on the 4th January:

“Dear Sir/Madam,

Further to your helpful reply. You mention one Yongden Urgyen Dondrup as being a Bon tutor of Padma Gonpo. When you say ‘verified’ what do you mean exactly? I ask as you do not state clearly which, recognized Bon tradition Padma Gonpo follows. Moreover I am curious as to which Tibetan lama conferred his ‘coronation’ and at which Tibetan monastery? Will you kindly confirm which Bon tradition Yongden Urgyen Dondrup belongs to. Any information would be most welcome.”

Predictably these specific questions have not been graced by a detailed response. It seems, rather like Christopher Hansard, ‘Padma Gonpo’ is a master of concealment and evasion? The questions shall of course not simply evaporate, indeed there are an increasing number of concerns regarding ‘Padma Gonpo’ and so-called ‘Dagpa Bon’ not least of all are we witnessing another cultural vulture at work, who is happy to exploit Tibetan culture for personal gain?

Mr.Paul McDowell is based it would appear in Wisconsin, USA. He is also registered as the administrator for a curious website, which would seem to be misrepresenting the native religion of Tibet, called Bon, for what appear crass commercial objectives? In short, as with the notorious charlatan, Christopher Hansard, see http://achristopherhansard.com/ who exploited the same Tibetan tradition, we must ask ourselves if we are in the presence of yet another fake guru, whose goal, rather than compassionate and selfless benefit to all, is hard currency?