Whatisacult: Based upon your response it seems: 1. NKT is a totalitarian organization with no meaningful accountability to the general membership through democratically elected government. 2. There is no meaningful financial transparency and wherever the money goes it is not detailed in any specific formal reporting and/or annual disclosure. 3. Whatever "feedback" is given,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well it is the responsibilty of the people in charge to ensure that they themselves & the people they give jobs are not acting like this yes. Thats why Im looking for a clear understanding so I myself could summarise the essential points. I dont have any job in the organisation but I believe once a document like that is made, everyone would study it including the current leader. Maybe they wo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

See This is the group Whatisacult is associated with according to another post. New Kadampa had generated some controversy. See Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader. 1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. 2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. 3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

See New Kadampa had generated some controversy. See Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader. 1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. 2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. 3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement. 4. Unreasonable fear a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Whilst reading these sites Ive seen a lot of suffering people & horrible stories about leaving sects cults groups. I feel like there is something going on with people & religion, especially new religious movements. This is another topic I cant grasp & part of my own spiritual path. Im getting feelings that something is needed that I cant find online. What Im talking about is there is
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yippee I finally got on! request to ex nkt people Im a member of the New Kadampa Tradition and want to discuss with ex NKT people. I find the tradition works for me & Im able to accomplish the goals I want to accomplish so I could just carry on enjoying myself but that would be selfish. The Buddhist teachings are not written by the NKT. Ive checked each book & found identical translatio
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Note: I happen to practice within one of the Buddhist traditions. I have no authority of any kind --- and do not want it. What follows is an attempt to offer, however clumsily, an interpretation framwork that originates within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition by which the health of a troubled Mahayana Buddist practice commuity can be assessed. I hope this is not seen as proslytizing, for I
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Eric, thank you for your post and thoughts. I didn't follow the discussion any more and didn't read your post until now. I can only agree with your points. Sadly the Unholy Row BBC documentary is not available any more in the internet, so you had the good luck to get the key points of the controversial setting of NKT by this documentary. As far as I can see it included only on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Shimon, In pre-Chinese Tibet it was widely accepted that one should be ultra cautious in one's committment to a spiritual master. In many cases one was advised to observe a possible guru for 12 years before making the profound, life-changing step of entrusting your whole being to another person. In turn, the lama was careful about who s/he took on as a student. Accepting responsibility f
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Humans4Freedom. Please don't give up on Vajrayana Buddhism. It acts like a magnet for people with power-relationship problems, but believe it or not there are some honourable, authentic teachers around -- although they appear to be rare and getting rarer these days. I suggest you Google: The Dzogchen Community -- Choegyal Namkhai Norbu Taramandala -- Lama Tsultrim Allione The Foundati
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is an earlier thread on the New Kadampa Tradition. Earlier threads get hidden from view when more recent new topics get added. The search button is in the upper right hand corner of the website window. Make sure to put 'all dates' when you search and you will find some amazing things--this message board has been going for 7 years. Thank you to Rick and to the many gre
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have heard very bad things about Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (New Kadampa Tradition)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Please be careful not to solicit anyone regarding any religious tradition on this board, which is against the rules.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterettingIt's always good to ask questions. Even the Buddha taught to that to question is good. There are many Buddhist Groups. FPMT I feel is a good one. I've taken many teachings with HH the Dalai Lama and he is an excellent teacher. You appear to be correct. I see, for instance, that FPMT has an extensive and authentic looking home study program. That would be good for peopl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's always good to ask questions. Even the Buddha taught to that to question is good. There are many Buddhist Groups. FPMT I feel is a good one. I've taken many teachings with HH the Dalai Lama and he is an excellent teacher.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Actually, in my opinion it is the most important question. The claim to enlightenment is what sets up the authoritarian relationship in the first place and is often an excuse for bad behaviour or for manipulation of others. As far as I can tell, Bhudda never spoke about enlightenment. He spoke about being awake. Enlightenment seems like a gimmick and it is often used to sexually abuse people and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

One can find ways to discuss the internal affairs of a troubled organization, even if one is an outsider. But discussions of enlightenment are, in that context a distraction. One can discuss enlightenment forever and never reach a conclusion, and this will serve to distract from any searching examination of the troubled organization. For continuing education, here is an article is by a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tenzin, I have been studying and practising Mahayana Buddhism for a while now and also have a background in dealing with cults. So, with that said, I am sad to see how the NKT and DW are so succesfully exploiting people, especially those in the west, who have an interest in the Dharma. I had not seen the documentary "Unholy Row" until last night and must thank you for posting the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Jah: This message board and thread is not for religious discussions about beliefs, but rather to discuss the behavior of some groups and leaders. Read the rules of the message board again, which you agreed to before posting here. Generally, it is not "enlightened" to abuse and/or exploit people. Bad behavior does not denote "enlightenment."
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have a couple of questions here. Firstly, how is "enlightenment" defined? Secondly, how would anyone be expected to know if someone else was enlightened?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi there, just to let you know since some weeks the BBC documentary about the NKT "An Unholy Row" is available in the internet. The 30 minutes documentary includes interviews with Kelsang Gyatso*, his present successor, Kelsang Khyenrab, HH the Dalai Lama, Geshe Tashi Tsering, a precise analysis by Stephen Batchelor about the structure and potential problems of NKT and interviews wit
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Pema, sorry if I offended you. I can see you had already 100 posts here and it is quite likely that I was too quick with my judgement and projected something onto you, which was not true. For this I honestly apologize! Still the points to put down a scholar due to his beliefs as not reliable is not a good manner. The reasoning sound exactly as I know it from NKT. About students of Tsu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

pema: It isn't useful to attack someone personally as you have done on this thread. Whether someone converted to one religion or another isn't relevant to the topic.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tenzin Peljor, I am certainly not an NKT follower. My main teacher these days is Lama Tsultrim Allione and I am also linked with Cheogyal Namkhai Norbu. Opposite end of the TB spectrum from the NKT. I want no part whatsoever in TB protector wars. I was equally critical of the Dzogchen Community attitude during the first bout of Shudenitis as I was of the NKT chanting Shugden puja outside the Dal
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Pema, I guess you are a NKT follower. Among NKT and NKT follower's tactics are to denounce or slander anybody which does not confirm the pov of the organisation. Even the NKT secretary's NKT 'truth' - site didn't hesitate to slander David N. Kay's research on NKT (which is well accepted and often quoted among scholars, and has two pretty good reviews) as &
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tenzin Peljor -- if the Prof Williams you are referring to is Paul Williams of Bristol University, UK -- I would not attach too much significance to his view. He teaches Tibetan Buddhism but a few years ago converted to Roman Catholicism -- apparently after trying for a long time to get to grips with basic meditation. I have also been told that his Tibetan language skills are somewhat limited.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Just to let you know there is an explanation on the background on the Shugden dispute and NKT's involvement by Prof. Williams, who has been quoted quite often in different research I encountered. He kindly allowed be to offer it to the public. I felt it as being very enlightening. Maybe it is also helpful to others. for those interested see: A quick note on Dorje Shugden (rDo rje shugs
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, I am a Tibetan practitioner and am happy to share my views with you. First of all, there is a long and controversial history with this group. Because of the tolerant nature of most Buddhist organizations, and especially the Tibetan lineages, not many people will speak about this because of the controversy. I for one, did attend for a short time, one of their centers. I found them to be fi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotedspak08Dear Tenzin, The Dorje Shugden issue itself is a huge debate, one .... If yes, I would first like to take up the question of pure view.... Dear Dspak, with respect to Shugden, the point why I mentioned these points is to make clear that there is quite a different perspective on this, not only by Tibetans and Western Buddhists following Tibetan Buddhism but also by neutral aca
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoterrmoderatorPlease avoid drifting off into a theological debate. This thread is about NKT and its leadership, i.e. the behavior and dynamics of that group and how it might be harmful. Please stay focused on the subject of the thread and do not sidetrack into another discussion that is off topic. Hi rrmoderator. ok. I will try to keep that in mind. However, I think to change Buddhi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"