Hey Everyone, I've not read this thread fully, so apologies if I repeat something, or am mistaken in some way also. I was involved with NKT decades ago, for a time. Then left. More recently, when I decided I couldn't be bothered teaching Vedanta anymore, I stepped back from it, with love. I happened to go on two Buddhist retreats sometime after, and found myself reaquainting wit
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Reflections and a reading list by a former NKT devotee. Buddhist Bullshit
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Religion: Anglesey dad fears Buddhist group brainwashed son September 28th, 2023 Corboy note: After the Covid shut down, NKT and other such groups are out there today looking for new fresh bodies. NKT posts fliers for meditation classes. Do background research on the history, the leader and financials of any group offering meditation classes, especially if they are free. It cos
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Religion: Anglesey dad fears Buddhist group brainwashed son
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Is this the same Kelsang Gyatso who started New Kadampa Traditions? If so, NKT's books are published by 'Heart of Tharapa" In the various Tibetan Buddhist sects, it is common for dedicated practitioners to study with different teachers, sometimes teachers from a variety of sects, not just their own sect. By contrast, members of New Kadampa are expected to study only New Ka
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm curious as to why the UK seems to be dominated by the "chain store" approach to Tibetan Buddhism. It seems that it's mostly international and UK-wide Buddhist organizations that set up sanghas, all of which have cult issues, and most of which are of questionable legitimacy, from what I understand. (Please feel free to correct me, or expand on this, as you see fit.) Diam
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"the teachings say to thoroughly check out the teacher" There are a few problems with the classic advice Misstyk quotes on character checking a teacher. This is not a criticism of Misstyk, who has given solid information about patterns of abuse in Vajrayana. What follows is my misgivings about this classic advice given in Vajrayana sources. And which has even been passed on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Testimony of former bodyguard of NKT head Kelsang Gyatso: Dispute closes NKT’s Bexhill Buddhist centre An extraordinary power struggle is tearing apart a Buddhist community in England. While scouring the headlines for stories that might fit on Wildmind’s blog under the “news” category, I came across the intriguing headline “Dispute closes Buddhist centre,” discussing problems at the Maitre
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Questions in UK Parliament regarding NKT/ New Kadampa sect and two other controversial Buddhist New Religious movements: In the early 2000s, a number of questions were raised in the UK House of Commons, questions which concerned allegations of ‘cultish behaviour’ in the New Kadampa Tradition. These questions and their responses are recorded here. PQs 147208,147209 Mr. Leech: To ask the Sec
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ongoing project to record the experiences of former members of the UK-based controversial New Kadampa/NKT Buddhist sect.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Re: Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (New Kadampa Tradition) new Posted by: Misstyk Date: January 28, 2012 01:02PM I haven't seen this issue raised, but maybe I missed something in all these 19 pages. I've come across several people in Buddhist forums who were in their teens, and were already practicing the Highest Yoga Tantra practices in NKT, the sexual practices. One gushed enthusiastica
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote Thomas M October 5, 2012 at 12:14 am | Permalink | Reply There is no freedom in samsara. you are making the mistake of taking a mundane view at a supra-mundane set of ideas. It’s like someone in the Sahara trying to read about how to survive in a blizzard, of course it doesn’t make sense to you. There are numerous other common errors in this article as well. (If anyone is intereste
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is no shortage of Buddhist 'money making machines'. This grant is imporant. Follow the Money, Honey The first page notes Tricycle Foundation and Magazine Zen Master Rama (now deceased) After his death by sucide, ZMR left behind a large grant to be used for Buddhist purposes. This funds a lot of reputable Buddhist projects. Given that Rama died a suicide,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Historical and Current Problems and Controversies Affecting the Development of Buddhism in Britain, Europe and the West Bullying & Intimidation: The New Face of Buddhism in the West What do you make of a Buddhist group that threatens to sue anyone who dares to say anything critical about it? Enter, the New Kadampa Tradition In July 1996, the UK¡¯s Guardian newspaper reported that
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteTDA says: June 6, 2013 at 7:09 am An old favorite of mine is ” Has studied Buddhism for several years” , a standard line of many NKT teachers advertising blurb”several”.? Probably the most insipid line there could be- they don’t put a couple or a few but they mean the same thing as ‘ several’ in this case. I heard of one poor girl who was new to the NKT , ordained and was teaching wi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"It is therefore very difficult to pin point certain things in NKT because there is so much duplicity and double speech that makes it hard to pin point all details. " Your Guru only cares about himself, he doesn’t care about his students.I saw how he tested those students who questioned him and it wasn’t pretty.He is a narcissist. I pray you find a teacher one day who truly cares abo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

cuelo/cuelero has a range of meanings. In Mexican slang, calling someone a "cuelero" means calling that person an arsehole/asshole. NKT = New Kadampa Tradition. It has been discussed on this message board. Others have concerns and are discussing it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotemeh I was reminded that I almost got hooked into another Buddhist cult a number of years ago - New Kadampa Tradition. They were such an obvious personality-cult and had a clear proscription about reading from other traditions that even I recognized the signs. Apparently, I need to be hit over the head with a 2x4 (or possibly 6x6). Interestingly, I didn't find any postings on this entire
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was reminded that I almost got hooked into another Buddhist cult a number of years ago - New Kadampa Tradition. They were such an obvious personality-cult and had a clear proscription about reading from other traditions that even I recognized the signs. Apparently, I need to be hit over the head with a 2x4 (or possibly 6x6). Interestingly, I didn't find any postings on this entire site abo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The amount of crazyness is quite beyond common sense. NKT managed to get even researcher involved in their business, and a comment is made about the honesty of the subjects as they, ‘have all taken vows for life to abstain from lying and only speak the truth’. Uhh. for details see: NKT monks beat retreat over wind farm – from Tharpaland to Schloss Sommerswalde
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteTenzin PeljorThank you. I cannot take "lineage holder" seriously, that's why I tend to ignore what the person writes in the details. Thank you Tenzin. Good for you. Yet you manage to shun these fools so politely. Well done and well said every time! I have enjoyed reading your well-informed, measured responses to these wilfully blind, fanatical NKT idiots. You are a p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you. I cannot take "lineage holder" seriously, that's why I tend to ignore what the person writes in the details. Recently someone from the New Kadampa Survivors found out more lies and the facts: The Western Shugden Society was set up on 26 Jun 2008 as a ‘Private Limited’ by guarantee with assets, it was registered to a specific address (Studio 177 56 Tavistock Pl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteLineageholder Firstly, the Western Shugden Society is not related to the NKT ha ha ha....good one...as if... Here are some of the facts which prove this assertion is utter rubbish: (quoted from ) WSS Press Speaker: Kelsang Pema - personal assistant to Gyatso for more than 8 years Front man at 'WSS protests': Khyenrab - Deputy Spiritual Director of the NKT and G
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

oh je, 'lineageholder" its always the same: everything which doesn't agree with NKT pov is necessarily biased ;-) What to do? The NKT holds the truth, everybody else must be wrong.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotejohan946hi.......................................................................... Anyone have info on Geshe Kelsang Gyatso or on the New Kadampa Tradition? I recently started attending meditation classes given by one of his followers and after a brief google search I'm having doubts about this group. Thanks. There are 23 pages about NKT and the Geshe, right here. Help your
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

hi.......................................................................... Anyone have info on Geshe Kelsang Gyatso or on the New Kadampa Tradition? I recently started attending meditation classes given by one of his followers and after a brief google search I'm having doubts about this group. Thanks.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

@Lineageholder You seem to imlpy that the NKT is without fault. I remember back in the mid-90s that several leading NKT members created an astroturfing (i.e. fake grass roots) "human rights group" called the Freedom Foundation with which to pillory the Dalai Lama with spurious human rights abuse claims. They produced fake "independent" reports by a certain "Frank Delan
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear TP, It should be noted that your 'summary' is biased against the NKT and Dorje Shugden practitioners generally. 1. It contains an old version of a Wikipedia article that contained selective quotes from David Kay's Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in Britain: Transplantation, Development and Adaptation, a report that is many years old now and whose conclusions are dated to say th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I made a summery page which summerizes the key points of the controversy surrounding the New Kadampa Tradition, and where there are links for further information: At A Glance: The Setting of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) / Kadampa Buddhism, Dorje Shugden, and Western Shugden Society Happy New Year!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote20nkt12In the interests of fairness I feel moved to add an update to a few posts I made on this forum in January 2012. Ironically, just a few weeks after posting my views I decided to walk away from the NKT, and I now practice within the Theravada tradition. It's certainly true that the demands and expectations on me piled up noticeably after I had signed on for the Foundation Pro
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"