Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: Misstyk ()
Date: September 15, 2015 08:59AM

Mi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, I have heard of Ole Nydahl. But I don´t
> think that Ole is unique in the ways of cultism,
> to the tibeten buddhist community. I have
> unfortunately in my search, been to other buddhist
> centers. ( Read other link ) And they are just as
> bad.
>
> Scapegoating, contradictions, non-buddhist ways
> ect ect

As for Ole, the 16th Karmapa never should have shown him the esoteric teachings. While students are supposed to thoroughly check out the teacher, to decide if he is trustworthy and worthy of respect, the teachers are also supposed to evaluate each student, to decide if he or she is ready to receive certain teachings. Shamar Rinpoche, one of the top authorities under the karmapa, was in his late teens when Ole arrived in Sikkim, asking for the tantric teachings. He said it was clear that Ole was interested mainly in the sexual aspect, not the compassion. He was too wrapped up in the sex, without a grounding in selflessness, compassion, and other core values.

Honestly, I don't know why the 16th Karmapa and Kalu Rinpoche went to the West to spread vajrayana. I think Ole convinced them that it would be popular in the West, but what an irresponsible thing to do! But I suppose they didn't care. And they, themselves, certainly had a lot to learn about compassion, kindness, and non-attachment to material things, including sex. It's a corrupt tradition; historians of Buddhism say it was corrupt from its conception in medieval India.

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Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: dharma_dude ()
Date: October 17, 2015 02:49PM

I have been part of DW for 5 years and only recently having “left”. I have taken my own path in search of a new teacher and centre due to Ole and the zero confidence I have in him being real combined with my profession taking me away from any real DW centre.

I have always had that feeling in my stomach that things were not right with DW. I would like to say, from my own experience,

everyone I have come across has generally been nice with me and I haven't personally experienced any bullying however, I would say I observed some extreme amounts of weird behavior that really raised my suspicions with a lot of these people. Ole cannot do anything wrong. If one questions Ole, it means something is wrong with you! Not Ole. "If you just trust Ole, you dont need to worry or care!" I would describe it as people looking at Ole like a god. Like their personal saviour.


I have been to numerous Mahamudra Courses, where prices are quite high for the course. A large % of profit goes to the lama. That I know. All the lectures, at various points in time throughout, seemed to be just like an old man rambling on about random things (what has Islam got to do with mahamdura? Or the burning of Alexandria Library?). Ole’s Mahamudra courses concist of reciting the verses and a general wishy washy attempt to explain it. Maybe I’m wrong on that last point, but it’s my personal experience.

Nydahls position with women and sex never sat well with me. I’m not a prude and I am open to all things consensual however like what has been mentioned here in early pages, where a teacher or someone with influence directly engages in sexual relationships with students, there is just a massive imbalance in power and control, in favour or the most senior. So for me, that was something I talked about with people in DW and what I always got was that I am stuck in these “concepts”. Well I don’t accept that. It’s a cop out to me. Nydahl is now married to a voluptuous Venezuelan woman now, of course half his age, perhaps less. She is with him all the time. I assume she now commands some kind of salary out of the DW coffers. It is rather pathetic looking to me. I don't see a real love there of mutual respect of each others dreams... but oh, I'm trapped in some social "concept" agagin! argh!

Islam. I don’t subscribe to being a fan of the religion nor other religions however I try to maintain a view that everyone has the potential, some more confused than others. Regardless of sex, skin colour, appearance, birth place, religion, sexual orientation etc. To paint all Muslims as blood thirsty jihadists looking to enslave all the lovely European Buddhist girls is just ridiculous. But I also unwillingly accepted the usual DW rhetoric when this subject was raised in-house. What turned the page for me was seeing many of, at the time, my DW friends posting hateful and racist threads on Facebook and links to small propaganda news blogs about Islam. Like I said I don’t like the religion and what it advocates, that’s my own personal view, I have the same view on all the Abrahamic religions but I don’t hate anyone at all. I’ve met lovely people from all three. But the way I saw all these people swallowing Ole’s anti-Islamic, anti-refugee comments without even questioning or researching facts really was the catalyst for leaving. Only within the last couple of months an official letter from Ole was circulated amongst his centres with an update on his travel in Spain en-route to Karma Guen… where he closed off his letter with the following… “from Benalmedena on the southern coast of Spain. We watch out – but haven’t yet found any invaders to help back into the sea. Yours, Lama Ole”. I’m sorry, but no “liberated” or “enlightened” lama would find those words coming out of their mouth. The simple defensive comments by people that “oh it’s their karma they are there in those Islamic countries” are not for me.

Travelling teachers. I really have a poor opinion on this and the system of travelling teachers in DW. The quality of travelling teachers for me were generally poor. They are all fanatic Nydahl people who blindly follow are regurgitate what he says. Teachings were usually on the topic such as “females in Buddhism” and “student teacher relationship” etc etc (I remember listening to some lectures by an excellent kagyu Khenpo once in KIBI and thinking "I have no idea about all these dharma teachings... what about space? beer? more space? and sky-diving? Isn't this what Buddhism is about?" sure, a humourous point, but when I realized how shallow DW teaching are, I knew I wanted to know more and go deeper! Khenpo gave some great teachings that week).Anyway, it's always the same stuff which revolved around “Ole says…” No real quality dharma teachings which I don’t expect much more than that anyway now. I usually felt I should go to these weekend lectures at approx. $15-20 per lecture at 3 per day over a weekend, just to be social and for the need that I felt (at my own peril) I should be there. Numerous times I left lectures thinking that was all a waste of time and there was no real dharma in the lecture at all. The system exists to keep some form of influence across the centres.

I have personally experienced DW “Veterans” discouraging study of other dharma texts, other teachers etc. I do not know how prevalent this is across the entire DW community but it seems to be quite so. I find this really limiting.

Ole’s side kick, Tomek Lehnart came to town for a “tour” and with a week course. Really, who is this guy? All his lectures were about trust the lama, how great the lama is etc. etc. and backs that up with fantastic stories of crossing borders, engaging with Colombian guerrillas (I would love to know which guerrillas exactly!) and so on. I reflected on this at the time and it just felt like creating this aura about Ole being like a super hero and trying to maintain this.
The captive audience was astonishing. I would like to know how much his salary is for being Ogle’s right hand man being able to travel all over, giving ZERO dharma teachings and being treated like royalty. IT would be interesting to know the salary packages for the group closest to Ole.

I guess, if you feel anything is not right with a teacher at the start, you can be sure that something is not right. For me, I hold not serious ill will toward DW or Ole. There are some very good people within various centres around the world. DW is really weird to me and I feel the teachings DW offer are watered down and I am not sure how DW will go once Ole passes on.

And if Ole really is a Lama? I don’t know and really I no longer care. I'm sure the title of Lama was used just to seem more relevant to the public and to be able to "sell it" better. For me, I will never open to a teacher with hateful views such as his, displaying his ego so openly. In 2014 I met a sakya teacher who impressed me a lot and following research and a very good reference I have set my sights on a new path in another tradition where dharma is the forefront.

Is DW a cult? Probably. Not in the poisoned Kool-Aid sense, but it definitely ticks a lot of the boxes.

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Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: Mi ()
Date: November 15, 2015 01:28AM

Don´t make generalizations. Make rational conclusions. What is a rational conclusion and a generalization ? isn't it fair to say that if you have been to more than one buddhist center with the same scapegoating, bullying, lying and racist tendencies as Oles center, you should conclude something ?

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Said he was jet lagged then went to the bar
Posted by: corboy ()
Date: January 11, 2018 04:24AM

Joe Orso: Lama Ole: Buddhist teacher or charlatan?

By Joe Orso For the Tribune Nov 15, 200

[lacrossetribune.com]

Quote

In our region there are some very kind people who are Diamond Way Buddhists, which made me hesitate writing this column.

And it should be said that Nydahl is connected to a lineage in Tibetan Buddhism.

As Matthew T. Kapstein, Numata visiting professor of Buddhist studies at The University of Chicago Divinity School, e-mailed me: “Ole has a genuine relation with the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, so he’s not quite a charlatan. However, he has his own interpretation and style, which do not accord closely with traditional practice among the Kagyu.“

But while I hesitated writing, since Buddhism is a minority religion here, I decided it would be valuable to clarify that at least some people question the authenticity of Nydahl’s Diamond Way.

Quote

In the past several years, I have found it a common experience that whenever Nydahl’s Diamond Way Buddhism, which has a La Crosse center, comes up in conversation with other Buddhist practitioners, people question its validity. And some of these people have described Nydahl as a charlatan.

Unfortunately, his visit here supported this view — at least for me.

While some of what came out of his mouth fell within the framework of Buddhism — like words about suffering and emptiness — his ideas were more confusing than enlightening, and by the end of his lecture he was losing something like an audience member a minute.

To be fair, Nydahl was aware of his poor performance, which included pounding coffee, taking pills and leaving the stage for a bathroom break. He blamed it on jet lag, although he still found enough energy to join his students at a downtown bar afterwards.

But even if he was just having a bad night, there is a more deeply disturbing aspect to the Nydahl phenomenon.

When I asked him the next day about claims that he has sexual encounters with his students, he didn’t deny this.

“There’s no teacher-student relationship involved in that,” he said by phone. “They’re Diamond Way Buddhists, but they’re not my students in that moment. They’re equal partners.”

While I know I might be accused of puritan values, I firmly believe that such student-teacher relationships are predatory, and no clever logic can change that.

And to add to his recklessness, Nydahl ended our conversation describing Islam as “criminal.“

Some comments followed the article.

One person wrote:

Quote

Manfred Jul 29, 2012 7:53am

His behavior is really naughty. Once i went to his lecture. He came very late, telling he was in traffic jam on german Autobahn. i just came the same way. There was no traffic jam. Then he just sat down taking some food. All people just had to watch him taking food.- He also had (still has?) the habit to have intercourse with the female students in different cities. Naiv girls think: Oh, the master wants s.. with me (little girl).- He is a good exemple that people get worse when only the mind has got some realisation, but not the heart and the will. So realisation will be used for the self.

Here are some comments from a Lama Ole loyalist.

If any drug had this effect on the mind, the FDA would ban it immediately.

Quote

Tom67 May 4, 2015 1:25pm

Very poor and superficial article.
Rob Aug 28, 2012 5:23am

Every person in our Western Free Societies have the birth-right of Freedom-Of-Choice... But no no no, first there is forced-marriage them there is sharia law...
These people with their dark age belives force their daughters into a marriage that these women do not want. These people trade women, their own daughters as if they were camels, treat them as if they were livestock. This is unacceptable in our western countries! Luckily now in some of our western countries forced-marriage is a crime now. But it did not become crime because we westerners noticed this fault in our system to allow these practices to happen, it is a crime now because inspit of those women who had the birth-right of freedom of choice were forced into a marriage by their families, but they had the courage and and strength to stand up and lobby against it. And they lucky we heard them and did something about it in their favour...
Well then there is shaira law which is a tribal law that should have never accepted in our western societies. This is agains our western laws because it denies the freedom of the individual. Women married to some unshaved guys whom these women did not want to be with,cannot freely say: that's it, I'm out of it. They have to cleverly explain why they do not want to be with those men. She does not want to be pounded by that guy, but she cannot even say: 'I do not want him', I' just don't feel like it'... She has to cleverly explain her self and submit a request to some limited men in sense of shaira law who will decide about her future. Can you imagine how much mental anguish and pain she goes though, while waiting the answer and hoping it will be favorable to her, this guy is pounding her, breathing in her ear, his beard in ber mouth, he sweat on her, places his load in her, etc., and she's just hoping to be over soon, thinking only of tomorrow, hoping that those undereducated men, bound by three stiff ideas will decide in her favour. After that she will feel greatfull, because she wasn't subject to genital mutilatio or lost her nose, ears and thus finally she is free... Freedom was her birth right in our western societies, but the stiff ideas and believes her parents brought with them forced her into this battle for achieving her freedom...
So people come to your sense and take your compassion and wisdom out of your packet to see that these are unacceptable in our free modern societies.... It's not Ok, but if they will practice these back home, well nothing we can do about it, we cannot invade them in the name of Free-Love: Operation Desert Love... However we can do something about it in the west and protect our free western societies. If you have the view of all sentient beings have a Buddha-nature and they all have the potential to become a Buddha for the benefit of all beings than you cannot be racist, but you must see that as long as people express their egoistic ways, they will harm others. Ever more of them will force us to adopt their ways at some point in the future. In that time it will be too late. So just as pedophiles cannot roam the streets freely to protect our children and societies, these people with such a harmful believes have to be rejected from our societies to protect out freedom.
Rob Aug 27, 2012 5:44am

One final line you need to pay attention to: You know, the lineage of the former political leader of Tibet, for hundreds of years has been systematically taking over and forcefully establish power over the other schools of Tibet, they threw over the King of Tibet as to establish their own political power, they invited foreign armies into Tibet to support their suppression. Don't you think that was bad karma and was the cause for the destruction of Tibet and it is a bit odd to read his books about happiness, etc. and thus complain about another lama's behavior? So before you make any judgement about Lama Ole's behavior just read about these first. Also you can read about what the Vajrayana approach is all about? Here there is no suppression of emotions and feelings, but understanding and transforming them. The problem is not in the outer world, but in one's mind. This way you can enjoy whatever you want, just you have to become aware of them. The high lamas in Tibetan Buddhism have wives, children, family so this means they had sex too. It is just the freedom and beauty of the Wester societies that we do not have to marry anymore to be able to have sex. So why a wester lama, Lama Ole should be any different? A Lama has just as much right to have a partner as anyone else? Where do you or people find their partners? Wherever you/they are; at work, in school, in the gym, in the circle of your/their friends, etc..! What about the secretaries who are dating their bosses, is that right? So Lama Ole finds partners where he is. No woman is forces to be with him, it is their own choice and all of them are adults. So you see maybe you should put your energies into meditation just as much as all Lama Ole's students do, who are doing Ngöndro and the special Guru Yoga meditation of bringing one's mind to spontaneous joy. This meditation was given to Lama Ole by his teacher, the first reincarnate Lama of Tibet. However, if this is a bit to much for you, how about fighting child slavery and chiles prostitution, and/or human trafficing, etc? If you cannot become a realized master after a few hours of meditation and fully behave as a Buddha, then do not expect it from others. All the students of Lama Ole do their best... Lama Ole is the holder of the Genuine Unbroken Line of Transmission of the Kagyü Lineage... Once you realized the true nature of mind you do not feel anything personal anymore, you will see the dream nature of life, so then you can do anything you like, except harming others.... Enjoying life and having sex, and telling people what to be aware of is no way any negative. Being out-spoken and to protect people from the negativity of others that will create even more negativity in the future is no way the fault of a lama. Buddha did the same: he pointed out what brings pain and what brings pressure into people's lives and into this world. This is our job to protect women and our free societies from the harm of followers of criminal doctrines... Honor killig? What kind of a parents are those who kill their daughters just because they do not dress as the parents' ancient barbaric culture dictates? Actually you do the same if somebody or a company rips you off; you will tell all about it to your friends... Of course your motivation is not 100% pure because that is the result of negative emotions, such as being hurt and wanting to afflict the harm you received back to the one you feel you were harmed by... However you do the same, to protect your friends, so complaining about an outspoken lama is not ethical, because you have the same nature... If your children do not behave in a way you think is the best, you will teach them, even smack them or shout at them, so saying that the people from cultures with ancient barbaric views are not accaptabe in our free societies is not any different from the way people teach their children. The actual point is that people have karmas, so-called seeds in their minds as a result of their emotions and former actions, what they will express, put into action, so if you can see that you can tell what the future will bring. If you meditate many years or learn about how to behave meaningfully than you have good chance to change to a better berson, but however if people keep reading he same books with all the negativity that is in them, and treat their families the same negative ways and also meet the same kind of people, they are doing the same negativity; it will not change just to be reenforced... This is just the way it is. If it were not like that, or a change of place would do the trick, than there would be no honor-killing, and no home grown bombings, suiced bombings. Lama Ole is not any way the problem of this world, he is a great benefactor, (he even took shower on the beach just because he had ants in his shower at home). He is just happy, says what he wants, gets all the women and thousands of people look up to him, he benefits them all and connects them to timeless enlightening teachings. He brings people to Buddha dharma. He is someone from whom you can learn a lot if you wanted so. Of course not to become an exact copy, but to understand to true nature of your mind. He is not someone to be followed, but some who supports you on your way to become a Buddha...
Rob Aug 26, 2012 6:45am

Actually who cares what Lama Ole does? He is a Great Lama for so many many people around the world, but his way is not for everyone, so it is quite alright if not everyone chooses him. Once you realized the true mature of your mind, you will see the illusion of the real existing self and the illusion of life and how all beings live in such a confusion, so you will use the tools you think is needed to move them out of that illusion. Buddha Shakyamuni taught diffrent people with different properties differently, so what else do you want. Lama Ole has great insight, siddhi and knows people's minds to be able to benfit them as the best. Lama Ole has been traveling around the world for 40+ years to show people their minds and benefit them just as a Wish-Fulfilling Jewel. However if you want to judge him, you may want to do some research to find out which lama is more relaibale, which can be trusted and says what he/she does. How about the ones who sold themselves for money and political powers? How about the ones who created the split in the Kagyü lineage and presenting the fake lineage lama who has no qenuine trasmission and cannot even speak English and considered as a spy and in allagation of money laundering. The greatest tulku of this world who cannot freely do his activity what he had built up through countless life times and came back to benefit beings, but limited in many way...? Come on? Who can you really trust? How about the University Professors who hold students' advancement back from their class just becasue they belong to a diffrent schools or kick the student out of the class because they simpatize with the idea of free Tibet by wearing such a t-shirt, thus these professors support the political supression, because of political deals made between their countries... Lama Ole is someone who people can trust and do not have to be politically correct, whatever he says is true. You just need awareness and read some about the histroy of certain belives that brought great distruction and pain to the world and people and they are still doing it today. There is always Karma (cause and effect), so the job of a lam is to point it out, this is also why Buddha also taught. People just have to change and our fee societies cannot accept such negative behaviour and take us down. The reason we encouter such negative people with their negaive belives, because of our negativity. A Lama's job is to point these out. People of course do not like to hear the truth, especially not about themselves. This is not Lama Ole's fault, it is the fault of people's egos. You people should find something esle to complain about, I'm sure there are plenty of issues around the world to do so, but if you want to get closer to understand the true nature of your mind, find a lama who can shows you that. Lama Ole is one of those lamas.
Rob Aug 25, 2012 7:15am

It is human nature the pick on others and always look at what fault we can find in others, so to speak put them down to feel ourselves better...
The nature of women is to choose the better party, they just want to have sex with Rock Stars just because they are Rock Stars... Men always choosen by the women, so the men has to become someone whom they want... Women think different than men, so how could a man understand why they choose the ones they do?
All beings what to have sex anyway, so it is not Lama Ole's fault...
You can read the life story of Drukpa Kunley to get a better picture of how Yogi Lamas behave... of course a monk is different... this is just how it is...
Siddhi and realization of mind does not come from books, but through meditation and openness to one's teacher. You can read the life stories of Great Kagyu Masters or Yeshe Tsogyel to get a better picture...
Enlightenment does not come easy, especially if you only want the thng in your life that pleases you, but reject what show you the mirror to your ego. Looking into the mirror is not pleasent, it disturbes one's mind, but this is the practice of a Vajrayana Practitioner... The Vajrayana Lama is there for you to you a mirror and and help you to stand up when you cannot take what you see in the mirror any longer, thus give you blessing so you can carry on with your practice, but it only works if you have openness to your teacher... If Lama Ole is not your root lama than forget to understand him, find someone else...
DW Buddhist does not harm or hurt anyone, only the egos... which one is better a sucide bomber, a child molesting priest, an angry hateful preacher or a yogi lama who points to what you need to be aware of, is for you to make up your mind about... but never forget that you only feel good or bad about anything in life what corresponds to your own concetps... ...everyone argues in this world, because everyone have different concepts... so fine a way to go beyond concepts, thus see your true nature of your own mind, which comes only from meditation and through the blessing of your lama... the lama has realized the true nature of mind that is why he/she can pass it on, but you can never judge the lama's realization from your disturbed state of mind... ...examine your own mind before you do others'... ...how do you do that? with the help of a lama. what lama? the lama whom you have connection from former lifetimes and from the one you can open up to...

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Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: Misstyk ()
Date: January 11, 2018 10:18AM

Thanks for reviving and updating this thread. I couldn't make it through the wall of text at the end, but regarding a someone at Chicago Divinity School saying Nydahl has "a genuine relation with the Kagyu School", what does that mean? He took some teachings from the 16th Karmapa and Kalu Rinpoche. That does not qualify him to teach, and to call himself "lama". Years of intensive study, plus a 3 year meditation retreat are required for that.

Furthermore, Shamar Rinpoche (RIP) had put up a long essay on his website at one point, denouncing Nydahl as not teaching Buddhism, and not even having a good understanding of basic principles of Buddhism, but teaching mainly tantra, especially sex. Ole threatened to sue him (Shamar also posted this), so he had to take his earlier post down. However, he left a very uncomplimentary post up about Ole. I don't know if it's still there.

So it's clear that he does NOT have the respect of senior lamas in the Kagyu School. They do not consider him to be a legitimate teacher. His only support from the Kagyu side comes from the "alternative" Karmapa, not the officially-recognized one. Ole makes sure to keep the "other" Karmapa happy, by manipulating his female followers into sex with the Karmapa, according to one of them who posted in this thread, "Karam Mudra", who sued Ole in court.

One wonders about the background and motives of the professor at the Chicago Divinity School, in making such a misleading statement about Ole's legitimacy as a teacher in the Kagyu tradition.

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german prosecution office investigates Ole Nydahl-Hate Speech?
Posted by: corboy ()
Date: August 14, 2018 08:19PM

german prosecution office investigates Ole Nydahl for incitement to hatred

Quote

german prosecution office investigates Ole Nydahl for incitement to hatred
The public prosecutor's office in Kempten has initiated investigations against the Buddhist Lama Ole Nydahl. He is said to have repeatedly rushed against Islam and praised right-wing political movements.

The reason for the investigation against Buddhist Lama Ole Nydahl is the statement of the representative of Diamond Way Buddhism in front of more than 1,000 spectators: "Others had Hitler and Stalin, we have Islam. It's all the same."

Repeated derogatory remarks about Islam

At a summer course at the Europe Center of Diamond Way Buddhists in Immenstadt (district of Oberallgäu), 77-year-old Nydahl is also said to have expressed himself disparagingly about Islam and praised right-wing political movements on several occasions. Susanne Fritzsche, spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Kempten, told the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (Bayerischer Rundfunk) that the statements are "currently being "checked for their relevance under criminal law".

For more go here:

[dharmawheel.net]

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Research Project in Germany
Posted by: corboy ()
Date: January 21, 2019 01:11AM

Many thanks to Anon27 who has posted this information on the Peter Young discussion thread.

[forum.culteducation.com]

Quote

This is a very interesting project many survivors of abuse in Buddhist communities, including survivors of PY and Pathgate, are contributing to:

Dr. Miriam Anders from the LMU University in Munich, Germany is conducting a three year research, financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Part of the research is also to examine possible harm individuals have experienced in Buddhist communities or by Buddhist leaders via cultish / manipulative structures, sexual abuse, spiritual or emotional abuse, violence etc.

If you want to support this research or if you know people who are effected by harm within Buddhist communities or by Buddhist teachers and who are open to support a research project, please kindly forward this email or information to them.

Here is a link to some testimonies already submitted:
[www.en.transtibmed.ethnologie.uni-muenchen.de]

***************************************

RESEARCH ON ABUSE IN BUDDHIST COMMUNITIES

In August 2018, a three-year research project started at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich under the leadership of Dr. Miriam Anders, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The objective of the project is preservation of the knowledge conveyed in Tibetan medicine as well as its foundations within Buddhist philosophy. It covers three areas:

• translations of interviews with physicians of Tibetan medicine
• health and resources of seminar participants in Buddhist centers
• knowledge transfer, education and training

Within the framework of this research project, health and mental health of Buddhist seminar and meditation group participants will be investigated. Furthermore, interviews will be conducted with people affected of manipulation, exploitation or abuse in that context. Details are available at [www.en.transtibmed.ethnologie.uni-muenchen.de].

For links to fill in questionnaires in German or English language, please contact the email address: Miriam.Anders@campus.lmu.de. There will be more questionnaires available for a period of three years. Additionally, interviews will be conducted at different locations (Vienna, Munich, Kathmandu etc.). Any appointments for theses interviews may be arranged with the same email address.

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Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: Mi ()
Date: May 27, 2019 01:27AM

Originally to WikiLeaks as a note to a whole section about Lama Ole Nydahl and “ his” cult.

You have some writting about Lama Ole Nydahl on your sight. Somebody explaining their impression of Ole Nydahl, saying that they by no means think that all Tibetan Buddhism is a cult, just because they think Ole Nydahl and his group seem to be cultish. I know differently, with evidence. The same things this person discribes about Ole Nydahl and his group goes again in all Tibetan Buddhism and with almost all Rinpoches, Lamas and their groups, all the way to the top. The same abuse of women and others in various ways, bending the texst and dharma to fit the Gurus needs, rasicm/ anti muslim propaganda, loyalt to the Lama/ Rinpoche, triangulation, spreading rumors of members that have been abused and scapegoating. The last bits here are importent.

I would know all of this, if anybody would know. And if I could stand farward, I would be explicit in the details. I have many years of experience with Tibetans and Tiben Buddhism, so you would have your evidence. But you can also take a look all over the internet!!

One of the places were cultism is worst is Denmark. ” Maybe” beacuse of political correctness, and the cultural lack of ability to think for yourself. So New Age cultism has infiltrated much of system through and through.

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Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: Kawa Lhundrub ()
Date: June 19, 2019 10:14PM

Some updates regarding Ole Nydahl:

Ole suffers from Alzheimer´s in the middling stage. That is why there are almost no public videos of him for the past 3 years. Also I heard from one source within the organisation that he is basically manipulated by people from his close entourage, who write letters for him (more on that below). After passing of his wife Hannah and his falling out with his long time helper and lover, Catrin Hartung, he married again I think it was in 2014, at that time he made a ridiculous claim, that his new wife (some 40 years younger than him) Alexandra will prolong his lifespan by 30 years. They got divorced only several years later - in 2017. Good for her, I guess. He has a new girlfried, but it makes me wonder whether she genuinely loves him or is in it just for the fame and money. So it is as they say - he who soars high, falls down low.

Ole´s close aid, Jan Weber, who is a lawyer is in hot pursuit of Ole´s critics in Germany. Recently there were 2 lawsuits for defamation taking place. One was against prof. Peter Riedl (I believe it is still ongoing), the other one was against German monk Tenzin Paljor. There were several others, that ended up by settlements outside of court. Weber is great at catching people on formalities such as citations etc. So much for Ole´s voiced support of freedom of speech.
The penalty required of defendants by Diamondway is 50000 euro. Tenzin Peljor is member of DBU (Deutsche Buddhistische Union) as is the Diamondway group. Here Diamondway is in breach of DBU statute, which states that no two members should engage in legal dispute without prior attempt at mediation. However German Diamondway does not care since they employ several lawyers (besides Weber) and they basicaly bullied the board of DBU into submission, that is this misconduct on a part of Diamondway organisation will be overlooked.
The irony of this is beyond any words. It is just as Ole claimed about Muslims. He said that once there is enough of them they will bully the society. Well now it is Diamondway that has the numbers and they bully other Buddhists.

Furthermore it seems that Ole, or the people around him are tightening their grip and control over the organization even more than before. Becuase of that, there was some sort of split in his Czech sangha which resulted in him (Ole) kicking out 5 of 11 of his traveling teachers as well as closing some of his centers. It is hard to get any sense on what happened there, because the leadership of the group censored the information about the situation and now only "official" version as given by the traveling teachers who retained their posts can be obtained. In this same vein he sent several letters, where he berates his Czech students in vague terms, not making it clear what transpired and what is their transgression in his view. Similar letter was issued to Russian groups for some other vague misbehaviours (in the view of Leadeship). In recent years Ole has also increasingly made it clear that his students should not seek education or engagement with Tibetan Medicine. Now we could argue about merits or demerits of Tibetan Medicine, but that is for entirely other discussion. The reasoning behind discouragement from being involved in any way with Tibetan Medicine on part of Ole is that he sees TM as another outlet that could challenge his monopoly on the information regarding Buddhism (or rhather his own interpretation of Buddhism). Just yesterday Ole issued another letter where he requests his students who are lecturers (a.k.a traveling teachers) within his group not to share information on Buddhism coming from sources outside of his own teachings and teachings approved by him.

Last but not the least, unfortunately, Ole continues with his extreme right wing rethorics, which has already drawn some attention of German legal authorities. This will be interesting development, although he will probably be extracted from any trial by his lawyers. Also because of this, the above mentioned DBU is currently reviewing Diamondway membership status and they are considering termination.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2019 10:20PM by Kawa Lhundrub.

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Re: Ole Nydahl and Diamond Way Buddhism
Posted by: Misstyk ()
Date: June 21, 2019 11:20PM

Thank you for this important information and update on Ole Nydahl!

I can't help but wonder why this lawyer, Jan Weber, is interested in defending Ole. I suppose he or she is paid well, but the question arises: is the lawyer part of the cult?

It doesn't sound like his Alzheimer's is too advanced, if he's still able to pursue lawsuits, and is still in charge of his centers.

His desperate attempts to prevent his followers from reading non-DW TB material, basically to prevent them from finding out he's a fake, sounds like a little boy trying to plug the leaks in a failing dike. In the end, everything will fall to ruin, because Ole will be gone, and whoever rises to power (if the organization doesn't completely collapse at that point) won't have the energy to do what it takes to maintain the charade.

Kawa Lhundrub, I hope you will continue to keep us informed. Thank you, again.

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