Hi Corboy -- wise words but I doubt if Soggy would heed them. He is enormously obese He already has type 2 diabetes He is known by some ex dakinis as *weeny peeny* -- apparently there's (er) barely any difference to the ol' JT whether it stands to attention or othewise. In the light of your payoff line perhaps we should encourage him into even greater self-indulgence -- in the ferve
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Please be very wary of anything propagated by the Trimondis. They are fanatics and have bees in their bonnets about the Kalachakra which have not even the faintest scintilla of authenticity in daily life. They totally misunderstand the nature of esoteric ritual and have somehow onflated this with a *dark powers* conspiracy. It is a load of old tosh which they re-hash from time to time.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy YES! Re The Waiting Game -- I endorse every word of this common sense. I will try to make it available to the Rigpa people one way or another.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks Corboy. Everyone at Rigpa should read the material you have posted here. BTW -- Andrew Harvey did not assist Sogyal -- he wrote The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. As mentioned in this thread -- Christine Longaker had the idea, Patrick Gaffney assembled the material and Harvey wrote the book. Soggy is barely literate. He's a good actor and can memorise his lines nowadays, although i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My private message box is now operational
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Below is the personal testimony of one of Sogyal’s close personal assistants who ran one of Riga’s European centres for several years, before leaving after becoming increasingly disenchanted by Sogyal’s actions. It was posted on Dialogue Ireland (see url in my previous post) In the mid 80’s, during my seven years with Rigpa and 4 years as founding director of a national Rigpa branch, I had slo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have been reviewing some testimonies from former participants at Rigpa France. One in particular speaks about cultish manipulation and pressures. For example: Difficult to have a healthy relationship with Sogyal because he is viewed as and treated as a god You are not allowed to doubt Sogyal frequently extremely late for teachings -- several hours was not unusual. Very disrespectful to parti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've just discovered another source of information about Sogyal and Rigpa. gives an account of an incident in 1998 involving a man jumping to his death from a window while staying at the Rgpa centre in Ireland. Also on Dialogue Ireland is a briefing paper giving comprehensive info on Soggy's sins and misdemeanoours. Poodle -- I know my private message box is full. I've tried to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Its OK Poodle -- you ramble some good points. I can't respond at length at the moment but will post here again soon -- hopefully with a constructive update.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Poodle, Please will you be specific about the nature of your doubts? Doubt around the truth behind the allegations about Sogyal's abusive behaviour? Doubts about the authenticity of S's claims to be a qualified lama? Doubts about Rigpa as a healthy environment? I share your surprise that Sogyal has got away with so much for so long -- but as I have already stated, I have reason
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For a nauseating peek at Soggy at his most obsequious go to Excerpts from a video made during the inauguration of Sogyal's 10 million Euro ego trip -- the grandiose new temple at Lerab Ling in France. HHDL performs with characteristic dignity and grace, in stark contrast to Sogyal's squirms and sickly grins.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Er yes -- *crazy wisom* is the most exploited and misunderstood concept on the Buddhist landscape. Its origins are in deep antiquity. It was used to describe the 84 mahasiddhas who were the formative influence on Tantra -- both Hindu and Buddhist. These guys really were wild. See Masters of Mahamudra by Keith Dowman. Wild like one who only ate fish guts. Others who practised all manner of austeri
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi helpme2times and thanks for digging this out of the archives. It is an agency item which first appeared in 1994 when Sogyal was sued by an American woman known as Janice Doe. The suite was settled out of court, with a substantial sum paid to the plaintiff. One might imagine that this experience would cause Sogyal to change his ways. He has done no such thing. Quite the opposite in fact. I rece
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An update on Sogyal. I have been entering factually accurate, corroborated information on Sogyal onto his entry on www.wikipedia.org Winthin hours it is deleted. This indicates to me that his poodles are hot on the trail -- and more significantly, that they are in deep denial. I have recently been reading interview material with several ex Rigpa people in France. Their statements corroborate simi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello Student_Researcher, Have you come across: Christopher Hansard Sogyal Lakar/aka Rinpoche Mohan Singh/aka Michael Lyons Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (dead) and his *regent* Thomas Rich aka Osel Tendzin (also dead from HIV/Aids) The San Francisco Zen Centre Shri Bhagavan Rajneesh aka Osho Traveller in Space by June Campbell? Eg: It is estimated that 98% of all diasporaTibetan lamas wheth
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Jeff -- I suggest you contact John Kelly at Thus magazine. Its in blog format at the moment so Google it and you'll be there. John knows about Hansard, knows he's a fraud and a thoroughly disreputable person. With some adjustments, I think its likely that your latest item here would work for Thus. You would need to set it up from scratch tho, rather than assuming familiarity.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Emma, Not much more than you see above. A man who used to be closely associated with Rigpa told me he hung out with Andrew Harvey while Harvey was writing the book. Many other ex Sogyal inner circle people have told me he is incapable of composing a coherent sentence in English. Most people who know Sogyal know that he does not have the breadth and depth of knowledge of European culture to b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

No, Sogyal did not write The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Christine Longaker had the idea, Patrick Gaffney assembled the material and Andrew Harvey wrote the book.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I guess Sogyal can read Tibetan and by now, after more than 30 years as a showman, I guess he can cope with cue cards. S claims he received teachings from the great lamas you mention, but has never been able to provide substantive proof of this. It is also well known that the late Dudjom R was not at all happy about Sogyal continuing to *teach* after S refused to obey a request by Dudjom R and ot
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I too feel the need to put in a good word for CH's former fiancee. She has worked tirelessly for many months to open up debate and present evidence against -- as you say Elizabeth -- one of the most oleagenous persuasive liars one would be likely to encounter in the civilsed world. She willingly admits the error of her ways when she initially defended CH, following the revelations made in th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This thread has not taken off as I'd hoped -- but the action is at Where you can read many insightful posts if you happen to be fluent in French. Latest news on Sogyal is that he is *in retreat* in Australia. This is excellent -- seems we might be getting through because the last time he went into *retreat* was when the Janice Doe lawsuit went public in 1994. He had to cancel an appearanc
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Since autumn last year I have been in touch with a young woman who was thinking of starting legal proceedings against Sogyal -- but as happens in circumstances involving sex and spirituality -- she has decided not to proceed. She has, however, provided updated evidence of Sogyal's spoiled brat lifestyle. Evidence which not only corroborates testimonies given by women involved with him aroun
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Is this a threat Christopher? If so, who to and what for?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Starfish, I beg to differ. Ole Nydhal is controversial in many respects, but his behaviour is moderate in comparison with Mohan. The latter ranks among the likes of Christopher Hansard and Sogyal Lakar -- a depraved sex, power and money grabbing charlatan who thanks to the UK legal system is being brought to justice. My wish for 2009 is that Hansard and Sogyal are taken out of circulation in
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Gita, Forgive my profound cynicism, but IMHO the reason why Hodder are still promoting CH is because his books SELL. I have recently been told that the person who blew my Pema cover to CH was his literary agent. (I am barely internet literate and do not know how to disguise my email address). Agent who earns fees from CH and publisher which earns profits are the least likely interested parti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Victims of Christopher Hansard -- how are you steering your lives today? At a level of strong personal integrity, guided by a functional moral compass? Or are you see-sawing between doubt and cowardice? Clinging to some vague notion that what you experienced included the L word? That it was something more than blatant exploitation? If you live in or near London and have any diginity left in your
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am not silent Dorje, nor are you. Nor is Lizzie Cochran, nor is Gita. Elizabeth Newton is vocal in NZ. Bteween us we will succeed.
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"

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"

There have been 251 hits on this thread -- but no postings apart from mine. Have YOU a story to tell about Sogyal and/or his organisation Rigpa? Did you leave Rigpa because you were unhappy about the way it operates? Were you one of the people who left the Lerab Ling 3 year retreat because of doubts about its authenticity? Were YOU sexually exploited/abused by Sogyal? If the answer to any of thes
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"