Meeting For Survivors > >12th December 2008 > > > >Have you been abused by a person in a position of trust, such as a >teacher, doctor, therapist, clergy, social worker, dentist? Are you >finding hard to cope? Then please join us for our first Survivors >Support Group at Witness 32 - 36 Loman Street, London SE1 0EH on 12th >December 2008 between 2pm to 5pm.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RR Moderator -- I am almost certain Dr Thomas is a troll. What do you think? Gita -- devastating evidence. This dossier needs to go to the media -- together with legally authenticated statements from as many of Hansard's victims as you can find who are willing to face the uncomfortable processes involved in whistle blowing. All of this is long overdue. I wish you strength, insight and good
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Has anyone here heard of or come across a *guru* based in Glastonbury, UK called Michael O'Connell? Last time I heard of him he was running his house, Rosemullion, as a detox centre. Used run a vegan cafe on Glasto High Street called Ploughshares. I was drawn into his influence some years ago when in an emotionally vulnerable condition. Reading Lizzie Cochran's blog on Christopher Hansa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have heard nothing but good news about Goenka's Vipassana retreats. His organsiation appears to be authentically Buddhist and strictly non-coersive. My daughter, a senior producer with the BBC who has her head well and truly screwed on, is an Ashtanga yoga practitioner and has been recommended by her teacher to attend a Goenka retreat in order to deepen her practice.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I wrote to Pegasus UK. They wrote back saying Christopher Hansard is not one of their authors. Perhaps its a US division of the same company -- the price tag is in $s.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear RR Moderator, Nothing sinister -- just a joke in one sense -- she mentioned being able to *smell* abusive groups. In another a gesture towards getting the Sogyal thread moving.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Emma, What do your nostrils tell you about Rigpa and its pungent figurehead Sogyal Laker? Perhaps best to reply on that thread rather than this one.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hamdulilah Gita! May all who have suffered exploitation and abuse by charlatans live each day as Tigers. May they have the courage to speak and act to save others from the same fate May Christopher Hansard's addictions, illusions and self-deception be transformed into genuine insight May all beings be happy and have the causes of happiness. Metta, Pema
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Gita, [..]The number of so-called healers who exploit vulnerable, often desperate, sick people makes me both sad and angry. No excuses -- in some instances anger is both useful and justified. I don't condemn all *New Age* practitioners. [...] But the newage portmanteau includes many crackpots -- probably more charlatans than effectively trained and qualified practitioners. CH is certai
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

First -- thanks to Gita for her calm persistence and thorough investigation. She has taken over where I left off and this is a small miracle. Second --I've checked the link given by JB. It gets a gold medal for newage hogwash. Fortunately for us Brits its happening in Tucson, Arzona. If this Kalama woman does invite Hansard to join her *healing* charade, I'll ask my friend Angie who l
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In 1994 the Tibetan *lama*, family name Lakar, known os Sogyal Rinpoche, was sued by an American woman known as Janice Doe for sexual harrassment, coercion and physical abuse. The lawsuit was sttled out of court, with an undisclosed sum paid to the plaintiff. During the 14 years since this happened, Sogyal has built himself a money-spinning global empire. He certainly has charisma and chutzpah.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Gita, Hi Elizabeth, When I first started investigating CH in the mid 90s I contacted various people in the Tibetan diaspora with Bon connections. I wanted to find out if any Bon lamas were in NZ in the early 1960s. I eventually connected with a Bon lama who stated categorically that there were none in NZ at that time. I asked how he could be sure of this. He replied that Bon lamas are very th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy -- Tut Tut. Off in a huff? For info -- I am not *in* the Aro sangha. Chogyam and Dechen are personal friends. Chogyam and I were students with Choegyal Namhai Norbu during the late 70s nd 80s. The prejudice manifested by e-sangha is shameful. Who are they to judge what is and what isn't useful Buddhism? Are they fully realised beings? Are you? Sigh Pema
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi again Corboy, I must take issue with you about esangha. Probably there are many aspects of this board which are beyond reproach. However recently some people posting there have been conducting a vicious witch hunt against my respected friend and vajra brother Nkagpa Chogyam, otherwise known as Nkagchang Rinpoche. He and his wife Dechen are the "lineage holders" of Aro Buddhism, whic
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Corboy, Lets be clear about this: Emptiness is a Vajrayana term, not Dzogchen. Rigpa is the "state of primordial awarness" that Dzogchen practitioners aspire to. It corresponds closely with vipassana. Dzogchen is trendy these days, but rarely transmitted in a genuine context. Sogyal Lakar advertises himself as a Dzogchen teacher, whilst his actual teachings are graduated and lar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oh dear Emma, I've checked the links briefly. Seems like bog standard protector practice to me -- except that I've never known Mahakala as Black Coat before. I think you are over-reacting, which suggests that you know very little about Vajrayana symbolism and the reasons for doing wrathful deity practice. Because so much misunderstanding surrounds this in the west, it is commmonplace f
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Congratulations Corboy -- that is one of the best analyses of dharma centre behaviour and ethics I have ever seen! And I have seen and written many. I wrote along similar lines but was distracted by a phone call before I posted it. When I went back to it, rickross had timed out and my message vanished into cyber space. I was going to re-write it today (Thur) but after reading your contribution th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Totally true David -- but it opens a can of worms nevertheless. 1. Is it appropriate for charismatic spiritual teachers to have sexual relationships with their students? There has been much debate around this issue and the consensus seems to be that in general it is not likely to be beneficial to the student/acolyte/devotee/disciple. A sexual/emotional relationship between a spiritual teacher/do
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi David, You may be correct in your assumption re *Emma's* true identity, but it would be misleading to suggest that Ole Nydhal is innocent of all charges of serial adultery and in some cases persistent sexual pursuit. I concede that he is not in the same abusive/obsessive category as Sogyal Lakar -- but I would point out that his womansing tendency is well known throughout the western Ti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Not just wealth -- as you say, power is a factor as well but these two are nearly always in sync. Ole Nydhal has never explained to many people's satisfaction why he supports the Sharmapa in this messy quarrel. Probably enough on this -- we are straying off topic. It would be good for more people to share their views about Diamondway and its controversial leader.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi again Dr T, Its not an urban, rural or any other kind of myth. Both HH K16 and HH Dudjom Rinpoche knew the Chinese were going to take over Tibet some time before it actually happened. They planned ahead and systematically sent their treasure out of Tibet into India over a period of years. They set up alternative living arrangements -- Dudjom in Darjeeling, Big K in Sikkim. Head honcho lineag
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Dr T, Your perspective on Ole's sex life is probably more accurate than mine -- but it seems a tad juvenile don't you think to be still loose with the zipper past age 50? Somewhat addicted to conquest? And does anyone know how Hannah felt about his serial adultery? I suspect she suffered a lot. I disagree profoundly with his view that trad Tib Budh retreats are a waste of time. I sp
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Emma, Sorry to hear that Hannah Nydahl is dead. She was a lovely woman. How she managed to put up with Ole all those years is beyond my comprehension. The story you tell about your experiences in Diamondway is oh so familiar. The same cultish pressures are applied with an even bigger range of overt and subtle inducements in Rigpa, the appalling Sogyal Lakar's (aka Rinpoche) huge global c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A very thoughtful post Yeshe, but it is an echo rather than a fresh perspective. We have been down the route of gentle persuasion, consideration and moderation. It has not produced an effective result. I am less willing now to adopt a liberal attitude towards the people abused by Christopher Hansard. They need backbone, rather than tolerance and understanding. Of course it would be very painful f
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I also find myself closer to agreement with Jeff Bowe re the attitudes adopted by the people who posted here about the abuse they suffered from CH and others in his *practice*. IMHO the view is corrct but Jeff's timing and resfusal to back off when I politely requested him to do so were wholly counter-productive. A relevant anecdote: I was once standing with a dharma friend from way back a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dr Thomas -- hat is precisely what I have been trying to do for the past 18 months....gather witness statements that have credibility in either media or legal contexts. For reasons beyond my comprehension there appears to be a ring fence around CH. People who have suffered various levels of abuse by him have been willing to share their experiences here. But when it comes to the nitty gritty of fa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dr Thomas -- your comments are interesting. I will clear my mailbox so you can if you wish send me a private message. You need 10 posts here before you can use the private messaging system. Others -- I started this thread with the aim of encouraging women who have suffered sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse from Christopher Hansard to speak to the media about their experiences either an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Bravo James....
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oh dear Elizabeth...I admire your eloquence but methinks you throw the baby out with the bathwater. For sure many people in the developed world are suffering from the Shangri-la delusion. For sure there were barbaric punishments in *old* Tibet. For sure HHDL's trajectory would have been very different if the Red Army had not invaded Tibet, massacred 6 million Tibetans and starved an equal nu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In response to Dorje -- I started this thread in the hope of dealing with Christopher Hansard effectively -- so that he could no longer practice in any way which exposed unsuspecting people to his wickedness. My appeal was via the only skill I have -- journalism. I requested people who posted about their experiences here to speak to me or other journalists. I repeated time after time that exposu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"