Who was Sangharakshita? 

If anyone from LBC is able to respond to this comment in detail, it would be much appreciated. I find it very dificult to engage with the Triratna movement, and to hear talks about Sangharakshita, because of the accusations of sexual misconduct against him. In some talks I have seen this glossed over, or an emphasis placed on the periods in which he was abstinent, as though this defend sagainst the misconduct. Even if the Triratna stance is that there was no sexual 'abuse' per se, and it was simply sexual relationships between a leader and his students, most of us would consider this to be a moral boundary which is unacceptable to cross for those in positions of power. A teacher in a school, a doctor, a priest, would all be held to the same ethical standard: you can not have sexual relationships with those you care for or teach, because of the fundamental imbalance in power and the risk of coercion. Of the doctors who HAVE been struck off for this kind of behaviour, no one ever argues that they should continue practicing, because they recognise the immortality and the danger associated with it. I would like to ask how you are able to hold Sangharakshita in such high regard despite this moral failing and the accusation of abuse of power? I would also like to ask whether holding this single man in such high reverance is really in line with core buddist teachings anyway? Gautama Buddha is the figurehead, and even he asked us to question what he says, and not to mistake the hand pointing to the moon as the moon itself. Sometimes it feels as if Sangarakshita is being made into an idol - spoken about fondly, placed at the front of your shrine, recommended as teaching material. Is this not just another kind of unhelpful attachment which should be let go of? If the budda nature comes from within, I'm finding it hard to understand the attachment to the Triratna label and this man as it's leader.

Sanghrakshita played an important role in bringing Buddhism to India again and inspired Dr Ambedkar to adopt Buddhism