Its been a while since I last posted here, a long while, good to see the thread still progressing and expanding. I am not going to pick up on any particular posts, rather add what I see as relevant information. Freedom of expression, speach, its something that has been fought for over the years and I find it interesting that some recent internet posts commenting on Ole Nydahl in a negative manner
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello everyone, I did post a few months ago about Buddhist weddings being conducted by ON during one of his many annual phowa's last year, there were, for a short time, a lot of images from these weddings on flickr but they did not stay there long. 5 or 6 couples took part in these weddings and from the images I saw the main attraction seemed to be being wedded by ON, a clear sign of adorat
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote: On a rational level I agree, but DWB has a very strong identity which creates a sense of belonging, as if members believe they can share in this secret magical power. There is much talk with DWB members about powerfields and other such mystical obfuscations, and the idea that one can buy into that shows just how a deluded individual can become a cult leader. I transgress from the l
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Buddhist Marriage??????
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Recently heard direct from a disciple of Ole he following quote: "If you commit suicide you will be reborn an African" I kid you not, straight out of the horses mouth and so glaringly ignorant that it could only come from one consumed by the party line
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, I want to retrace steps to my last post, the self righteousness of DW from its core to the so called global centers. Has anyone else any experience or comment of DW followers (2 - 3 years local center membership) going to local schools to teach about Buddhism. I would like to point out to all visiting these posts that while Ole and DW seem fit to wage a war of words (words laced with int
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Gun shot is one of others that can be dug up on Flickr recording a visit to Israel, Ole is seen wearing an; Anti Terrosist Squad T shirt in 1 shot. As for the brand issue, a true devotee has not encountered any glimpse of enlightenment until they have the Phowa T shirt or blessed wall hanging that has been lovingly passed down by the faithful, oh and of course the calendar every year. My n
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ignorance Thank you Steve. That is the one word which sums up what I have seen coming out of the DWB group local to me (on a one to one level with members, not speculation). Ignorance and blind faith, the same characteristics that help to form extremists whatever the creed and this is where DWB led by Ole is scary, so many ignorantly believe, cultivate and defend his views while rising up agai
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I would have to question that view. If a person who is dedicated to a cause wishes that those close to them or their offspring samples the same cause / belief then the decision making process is influenced before it may begin. A consenting and free thinking adult has the capability to make their own minds up, a child however by the nature of the growing human mind is a different story. A dependan
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Many of you who have posted here have clearly devoted a great deal of your life to learning about and encompassing Buddhism into your lives. From your wealth of experience would you be able to comment on your thoughts on the issue of local DW centres 'teaching' the art of DW based meditation to minors, bearing in mind that most members of the centre are still themselves students and so
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you all for the recent posts, I feel they have been both informative and objective. Self examination is definitely a rare commodity in the DW center local to me that my partner attends, so much so that attempts to engage in debate about DW practices are totally blanked out. I have seen that as part of a culture of denial that there can be anything wrong with either DW teachings as per the o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Happy New Year to everyone I have been catching snap shots from recent live streaming which have included a rant about the evil of Minarets, they (you know) offensive needles pointing into the sky that protrude from a circular base that represents a battle formation. Some of this description was clearly taken directly from the recent Swiss right wing advertisements, the rest was totally based
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Can anyone here shed more light on the power of the core center in Germany, does it guarantee loans to other groups such as that in London who obviously need finance for their aspirations??? As Ole is a life time chairman of the board I imagine he is involved in every commercial aspect, review, approval, lobbying for funds???? Anybody with more info in this regard?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

As this thread grows we see more and more truth about DW coming to the surface. Read the article posted by bkalnoky on 24.11.2009, note number of ON followers and again a stab at another religion. In the local DW center there is the usual nucleus of people who are currently posting anti muslim threads to one an other on FB (I know because my partner is participating). The recent vote to ban minar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote: "such delusions of grandeur are dangerous in that, unlike megalomania or narcissism, the sufferer has no insight into just how far removed from reality they have become, and so represent the ultimate form of psychosis." I am living with a DW member who has over the past 18 months become so far removed from reality that they cannot even register the sometimes painful truths
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is not just the habit of being politically incorrect, the beliefs of Ole stem from intolerence and if you read between the lines of his published work and broadcastings on You Tube (only publically available forum to get access to what the man says) you can see how he himself is certainly not tolerant of anyone who doesnt see his way and this then gets transmitted to his devoted followers. I
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In answer to Tashi, we all experience things in different ways, we all absorb information differently. I am not making up anything I say, not long ago I had not even heard of Diamond way and now without a choice in the matter it effects my everyday life. Constant requests for money and reminders to pay subscription fees and a pyramid fashion campaign towards obtaining property for retreat cent
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Rich coming from one who puts a price on everything he gives his students who form cells that have no freedom to discuss anything but his teachings and right wing dictat
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Having gone round the houses with a DW member who says there is no policy on raising funds especially towards property (retreats) I find this interesting: Apart from the satisfaction of contributing to the solidity of Diamond Way Buddhism in the Midwest and US, and sense of value and ownership, there are a few perks of being a paying center member. For example: • Full access to the lending li
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The first and only time I encountered Ole Nydahl was when he was parading his 17th Karmapa around Europe, during a 'public' blessing or whatever DW terms it to be Ole Nydahl stood up and interrupted the proceedings to remonstrate with a person in the audience who was using a video camera, the instruction from Nydahl was clear, you cannot record this event. Now the summer is here DW i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

One has to also raise the question; is it right for a 'charity' to be fronting a drive to obtain property. The local center (to me) is really being pushed to find and obtain a property this summer even though they have no real means other than obtaining a large home loan to secure funding. Then, once the property is obtained, and more often than not DW properties are freehold detached p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is not only Ole who gets reimbursed, Official written DW policy dictates that all costs borne by a travelling teacher must be met by the hosting center, that is air fares, local transport, food, lodging must be provided by the hosting center which in reality means all the subscribing or donating members of the local / host center. At least in one way DW retains some aspect of Tibetan Budhism,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dave, Good to see you are back, perhaps you can tell us all who (at the end of the day) is the owner of the DW Europe Center, its prime real estate in Berlin and the many other centers around the world that are proudly proclaimed as belonging to DW. Property has to be owned by an entity in Mainstream Europe, be it an individual, couple or company. I' m interested because I know that DW ce
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Your Potential - by Lama Ole Nydahl Every time I hear him talk all I hear are riddles, muddled English and this type of rubbish, it pains me, really it does that people can be so attracted to such nonsense in the name of funding a sweet life for a small group of elitist Tibetans, a Danish right wing simpleton and his associated Eastern European con artists who seduce vulnerabl women with thei
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy, you touch on the material sacrifices required of individuals by cults, in this case we have been discussing the Diamond Way, as I have discussed earlier the DW requirement for material (commercial) committment is an issue which is close to my heart, I am seeing first hand the pressures applied to members to donate and below is one fine example: What is the 108 CLUB? It is a saving s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We have talked previously of DW existing as a cult of personality, I heard something interesting last week which centered around the birthday of Ole Nydahl, check out the following: (See March 15) I guess the second link is just simple fun really but I know several centers were partaking in meditation throughout 19.03 to celebrate the birthday Cult of Personality whether directed by
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you Suenam, you have hit the nail square on the head with that last post. Righteousness is the word I would use and that sums up how hard it is to debate with members of DW without seeming to be 'attacking', 'anti', 'non buddhist', etc. Words from Shamar Rinpoche should however be beyond the righteous tendancies????
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Objectiveness is what I am looking for here, everywhere from close to home to out here DW seems void of any objective view
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"