Or, if you're unfortunate....HIV. This is an example of crazy tantric thinking....Trungpa drank copious amounts of alcohol, but because he 'said the magic words' over it, it was supposedly transformed into a 'pure substance'. So , he dies of cirrhosis, amongst other things. the explanation that is given is...'he couldn't have been practising purely' (
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stephen Butterfield, who did ngondro and the other practices for yoga tantra under Chogyam Trungpa's tutelage summed it up in his memoir, The Double Mirror Butterfield and others were greatly attracted to Trungpa via his book, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. But the result when living in Trungpa's rank ordered world, with its ever higher levels of rank, practice, was, as Bu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It really sounds as if Highest Yoga Tantra is being touted as 'only for the intelligent/ highly realised etc etc' This really does smack of the emperor's new clothes! In that story, the emperor was taken in by a charlatan who convinced him he was wearing cloth of finest silk, but actually there was nothing there. That's how I felt in the HYT empowerment. Anyhow, I'm ou
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

to correct myself: "I am sorry but I get about 40 emails a day" should be read: "at times I get about 40 emails day" because its not always like this ...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotesuperscotDear Tenzin Peljor - la, Thank you for sending the PDF of the vows. I can't help roaring with laughter when after I emailed you and asked whether the deities of Tibetan Buddhism, ie Chenrezi, Manjushri et al were seen as actual deities to be worshipped or aspects of mind to be understood, I had no reply from you. On emailing you again to say that I have thought over it
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSo it's not just the NKT who cannot take honest debate, but Tibetan Buddhism in general? Or am I mistaken? Friends and readers, you can find the answer to this question by reading Turtle Feet by Nikolai Grozni. He took vows as a Geluk monk in the DD's own lineage. He learned Tibetan, took private lessons in logic and was proficient enough to attend classes at the Buddhist In
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Tenzin Peljor - la, Thank you for sending the PDF of the vows. I can't help roaring with laughter when after I emailed you and asked whether the deities of Tibetan Buddhism, ie Chenrezi, Manjushri et al were seen as actual deities to be worshipped or aspects of mind to be understood, I had no reply from you. On emailing you again to say that I have thought over it and decided t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Earlier in this thread it was mentioned (several times) that the Yahoo Group "New Kadampa Survivors" doesn't allow positive comments about NKT. I don't find that to be true at all. I have spent countless hours reading the forum posts, and plenty of positive memories are discussed. In fact, the confusion the ex-NKT people feel at having both positive and negative feelings of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The New Kadampa Tradition - A friend of mine almost fell for these crooks...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The New Kadampa Tradition A friend of mine almost fell for these crooks...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The New Kadampa Tradition A friend of mine almost fell for these crooks...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteLineageholderYou will notice that they do not deny that such abuses have taken place, nor have their said (as implied by your words) ' it was clear that the followers of that deity had committed acts of violence and perhaps assassination.' No such statement was made by AI. AI responded to the allegations of the NKT via Dorje Shugden Supporter Community, and a handful of Tibet
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oh that didn't take long. Obviously there wasn't anything on Wikipedia worth altering today. Personally, I don't mind Geshe Kelsang's books and stuff. They're ok at face value, but it's the social culture inside the organisation, the shallow expansion with little substance behind the basic teachings and the aggressive legal posturing that lets it down.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Thomas, With respect, I feel your post contains some misunderstandings about the NKT. It's not true that the NKT is 'isolationist' because Geshe Kelsang and his students have been rejected by certain Tibetan Buddhist Teachers and traditions. For example, when the NKT joined the Network of Buddhist Organizations (NBO), many Tibetan Buddhist groups chose to leave because NKT
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Thomas, the Wikipedia entries have been taken over by NKT editors around April 2008 before the NKT via Western Shugden Society started their new campaign against the Dalai Lama. I wrote something about this here: The AI statement can be found here:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

7) His stories of association with HH 16th Karmapa I know to be true. He appears to have a close association with Tai Situ Rinpoche. Not all lamas in the kayo tradition seem enthusiastic about him, but they would 'out' him if he was a fake lama. THe ranking kayo Lama in Sydney, Lama Trijang, a much respected student of Chatral Rinpoche, did not attend his teachings but did not discourag
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You're right Thomas, sectarianism has no place in today's world. The NKT are so isolated now that when Gesh Kelsang dies, it will likely be a free for all with loads of factions putting forward their own ideas. Still looking around...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have some comment to make on the NKT. There are two true marks that distinguish a cult in my opinion. The first is that they teach you to mistrust or distance yourself from your parents. In Buddhism that is completely wrong. This is a part of mistrusting and isolating from people outside the cult. It is not clear that the NKT tries to turn followers against parents, but it is isolationi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As regards Ole Nydahl; As a well known very long-term student (though actually Nyingmapa), I helped Lama Ole on his first visit to Australia and later watched the Diamond Way centres develop. When looking at lamas like this, I always remember the teachings of streamwinner, once returner, non-returner and arahant within Theravada. Someone can be a non-returner, very highly spiritually reali
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've sent you an email ... love t Yes; keep looking around!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oh how wonderful to be able to make all the vows! I'd so love to do that too. I'm full of admiration for you! I'll be looking at the commentary and would be very happy with the PDF. The next step is to find a tradition which will support me in the process, so I'll be looking around.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesuperscot My big admission is that I am presently an ordained person. I don't want to undo my vows but I feel like a fraud, even though I have no problems keeping them. I live alone in a remote area away from worldly life and find it so easy to practice in the silence here. Even though I might not be seen as a properly ordained person, I read my vows daily and keep to them. The Dharm
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oh yes Tenzin, a beautiful translation. My big admission is that I am presently an ordained person. I don't want to undo my vows but I feel like a fraud, even though I have no problems keeping them. I live alone in a remote area away from worldly life and find it so easy to practice in the silence here. Even though I might not be seen as a properly ordained person, I read my vows daily a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotesuperscotThanks Corboy and Tenzin Peljor, I'm starting right back at the beginning with the Dhammapada. After my experiences I feel like a fraud though and wonder if I'd be welcome at a mainstream centre even though I've never practiced Shugden. I just ignored it and got on with the Chenrezig and Manjushri instead! Kind thoughts to you all! As far as I know there is no
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks Corboy and Tenzin Peljor, I'm starting right back at the beginning with the Dhammapada. After my experiences I feel like a fraud though and wonder if I'd be welcome at a mainstream centre even though I've never practiced Shugden. I just ignored it and got on with the Chenrezig and Manjushri instead! Kind thoughts to you all!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesuperscot I'm just looking for a sounding board as I start to remove myself from this and get back into genuine mainstream Buddhism. I think this is the best you can do. I am happy to see someone who has that clarity about this subject matter. Congratulations and Good Luck!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Fear is one of the afflictive emotions. A Buddhist center is supposed to support ones practice, not make it more difficult by aggravating and implanting afflictive emotions. We have enough of our own without a badly run Buddhist center heaping additional turbulence into our lives. When in doubt, go to the Pali sources and trust your belly-wisdom.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Everyone, I'm a newbie, a member of the NKT and am in the process of distancing myself from it. I have been a Buddhist all my adult life, in 2 other traditions. Moving around a lot due to work, I tended to find the nearest Buddhist group of any type near my home. The NKT is my nearest group now and having spent a year or two there, I'm having big doubts. People seem friendly enough
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Sulmaya, thank you very much! I appreciate your openness and honest and frank reply! With respect to be able to compare and to judge different systems, within religious systems ISCON, Diamond way and FWBO are similar to NKT in being controversial and at least the latter two are also similar to NKT by claiming to study only in that school of though is sufficient, there is discouragement t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Tenzin, Many thanks for your reply. I do not feel in the slightest attacked by you, please do not worry. It seems we are coming from two very different pasts and situations, which will make it difficult for me to agree or disagree with most of your points. For example, you have been a monk within the NKT, wanting to learn as much as you could about your vows, etc. I have never been th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"