I can speak about the situation in Bulgaria.
Quote
rrmoderator
valontin:
You say that Diamond Way is a "very democratic cult" and "the finances are transparent."
How is that?
As I said before in Bulgaria we are registered according the law of religion. I don't have very much interest in book-keeping, but I know that we have an accountant and book-keeping is according the Bulgarian law. It is important to have finances clear for the members and for the society.
As far as I know Diamondway centers are officially registered in most of the countries. Karma Kagyu Diamondway Bulgaria is open for everybody to join and to leave, there is no special ceremony for that. Diamondway Bulgaria is not sending money on regular basis to no other Diamondway organization i the world. For the last 10 years there was one exclusion. We (DW buddhists in Bulgaria) have collected about 20 000 Euro and helped to buy
Europe Center., which is place for all.
This is the website of the German orgaizationQuote
Is there a democratically elected board that is voted upon by the general membership and serves fixed terms per constitutional bylaws?
Please be very specific and explain this in detail.
Yes there is democratically elected board . The board consists of 5 people. In September this year 2 members of the board were changed.
Quote
A democratic government has a constitution, bylaws, elections and so on. Give us the details.
Yes we have bylaw, and the board was democratically elected from all about 150 people.
Quote
If "the finances are transparent" there should be an annual financial report that discloses in detail all salaries, compensation and expenses paid out from group funds. Many such reports are independently audited.
There is official financial report, (I don't know if it is audited, but it is according Bulgarian book-keeping laws), there are no salaries and compensations. Nobody in DW Bulgaria is receiving money. We work voluntarily. Also it is not obligatory to work for the organization.
Generally Local centers are not sending money for the central organization in Sofia.
Quote
Can you produce such a report so that the finances of Diamond Way can be seen transparently?
Yes probably I can do that for the Bulgarian organization.
Generally we are trying to keep the organization to the minimum possible level. As I said there is no hierarchy, we are more colleagues and friends united by common goal. Of course not every Buddhist is fully realized Buddha, so maybe there are some people with other ideas and views, but the goal is enlightenment for the benefit of others.