I've been doing some research, and I've discovered that in the book "Story of Tibet", which is based on extensive interviews with the Dalai Lama by Thomas Laird, he says that practicing tantra with a consort was part of a very degenerate period in Tibet's history, and that it is wrong to practice this way. He states that unequivocally. However, at roughly the same,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've read it. I think it's an important contribution toward understanding TB. I haven't been able to find corroboration of some of the practices that they say are still going on, i.e. are not historical but contemporary. Naturally, it's a difficult field to penetrate, to find out what the practices really are. And unfortunately, most women who have suffered abuse, or who hav
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's an article journalist Mary Finnigan published recently about Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche's revelation of sexual abuse and a murder attempt he suffered as a child in the monastic environment:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't think Shamar approves of Ole. And Shamar couldn't have given Ole the title of "Lama", as Shamar was only a teenager when Ole was studying with the Karmapa, and I'm pretty sure he said himself on his website that Ole hadn't completed the required retreat to earn the designation "lama". Elsewhere in this thread, someone says that Ole gave himself the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's common in Tibetan Buddhism that the details of what goes on in tantric initiations is secret, no one is to speak about it. However, for a teacher to hide the fact that he gives tantric initiations at all, that, I think, is unusual. I thought that Shamar Rinpoche had a statement on his website saying Ole never completed the requirements to qualify as a teacher ("lama") or R
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

William Broad just dropped a bomb today in the NY Times science section about why there are so many sex scandals among yoga instructors, and cites Swami Muktananda and Satchitananda, as well as a Western yoga instructor. He traces yoga's roots back to tantra. This is what my research has turned up, as well. The yoga postures were originally designed to prepare the body for tantra. Yoga,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, seriously? From the very start, I wanted to ask if your husband was Russian. Now we know. This sort of thing has always been big in Russia. Mysticism, the purity of the land, Mother Russia, Siberia as a magical and potentially utopian place, this and more runs deep in the Russian soul. There's such an inner longing for this (that individuals may not even be aware of until something t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteLineageholderHi, I don't think you understand how Tantra is practised in the NKT. There is no sexual union. Anyone who engages in sexual activity claiming it to be Tantric practice is probably heavily deluded. It certainly doesn't happen in NKT. This isn't what superscot says, if I understand him correctly. And it's not what a couple of teen members of NKT have said, w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotesuperscotIt's just my opinion, but I think the NKT just put HYT out there every 2 years at the summer festival in Manjushri centre to draw crowds and make money...the sex is a side effect, but the main issue there is mass conversion and empire building. People collect these 'initiations' like Pokemon cards! Maybe they have a chip about being isolated from mainstream Tibetan s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteLineageholder$20,000 to progress on the path to enlightenment sounds like a good deal to me. People spend more than this on houses and cars that they have to leave behind with no lasting benefit. No money spent studying Dharma is ever wasted, unless, of course, you don't believe in the path to enlightenment or the benefit of these things in future lives, in which case a discussion on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I haven't seen this issue raised, but maybe I missed something in all these 19 pages. I've come across several people in Buddhist forums who were in their teens, and were already practicing the Highest Yoga Tantra practices in NKT, the sexual practices. One gushed enthusiastically about how he'd only been in NKT for a year, was still a newbie, but was already doing these highest p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteAlexander NevskyDublin, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dublin. Let’s don’t forget. Seriously unfinished business of Mr. Ole Nydahl. To Nevsky and Curran: what happened in Dublin? Did I miss something, farther back on this thread? If so, please give me the page reference. If not, please fill us in on what this is about. People were excluded from the center--is this mainly due to the usual cult dyn
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hmm, you're right, grainne. Sounds like you know the source of this quote better than I do. I remember a discussion in which he denied a member's statement that the celibacy is fake, and that TB has tantra as its highest, secret practices. This lama denied the accusations vehemently (as monks and lamas are instructed to do). He said the sexual practices are very rarely taught, but
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just found this, posted by a Western lama in a discussion forum: "The reason why the conduct of Tibetan monk is kept secret from lay people is so that lay people will not criticize monks. Part of the reason behind this is that all Tibetan monks are Vajrayana monks, and so if their conduct seems to be not in keeping with Hinayana vows, they might get into trouble. Vajrayana monks ar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

P.S. Those hell realms as very real are taught in both beginning and advanced texts, the Lamrim (beginners') and the Kalachakra (advanced).
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is a fragment from teachings on Buddhist Cosmology on Do a search for "hell realms" on the site. "...eight hot realms, and eight cold, joyless realms (hells), with each of the hot realms having 4 neighboring joyless realms on each of its sides. The hot joyless realms are located below Bodh Gaya, India, and the cold joyless realms are located below Tibet." There
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've heard that's a very good book. That "possible rape of young males" would explain the occasional comments from men on Buddhist forums about having been abused by their teacher long ago. I don't see why "starfish" was demanding substantiation of the OP's list. Even back when the thread was started, the predations of people on the list were well-docum
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, Karma-mudra. Nice to see you. Happy New Year. Take care of yourself--you've been through a lot. Yes, it's sad all the pain and suffering that is caused by unethical teachers. So often the disciples are warned not to speak badly of the Dharma, because it's a root downfall to cause others to turn away from it. And yet, many teachers themselves have caused people to aban
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBlue DakiniI too think Yangsi Kalu is very good news. At the moment he is sowing wild oats. I think he needs to do that after his grotesque experiences in the monastery but I hope it does not continue for too long. He certainly earned considerable respect for sorting out the French dharma centres. He has a huge following worldwide -- so much responsibility and so much expectation rests on hi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, Indie. I hope you don't mind my asking, this is a serious inquiry. You took your friends to meet Sogyal. Two of your friends were in a committed relationship with each other. Somehow, Sogyal managed to seduce the woman. I'm trying to understand the psychology that allows such things to happen. I understand about how spiritual leaders are able to prey on emotionally needy member
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A little more inforation on young Kalu Rinpoche has been forthcoming. Apparently Tai Situ Rinpoche has invited him to visit and talk three times, and K.R. has declined. K.R. had been living with his family in Bhutan until his father died. Then his mentor, Bokar Rinpoche, offered him the option of staying with his family, or moving to Bokar Rinpoche's monastery. Kalu R. was 9 at the time.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteMisstykHere's a little more info on one of the people on Blue Dakini's charlatan list--Catharine Burroughs, aka Jetsunma Akon Lhamo. Seems she has another alias: Alyce Zeoli. Under this name she brought a lawsuit against a disenchanted former follower, who was twittering anonymous death wishes against her. The judge decided against her. So we don't know for sure which is
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's a little more info on one of the people on Blue Dakini's charlatan list--Catharine Burroughs, aka Jetsunma Akon Lhamo. Seems she has another alias: Alyce Zeoli. Under this name she brought a lawsuit against a disenchanted former follower, who was twittering anonymous death wishes against her. The judge decided against her. So we don't know for sure which is her legal n
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteJakim Boaz 2- They do no practice much compassion nor loving kindness. wich is one of the most teaching of the Buddha. Hi, Jakim, welcome to the forum. These are qualities I look for in a lama and a Buddhist center, along with ethics. These are key qualities. If we use these as our criteria, we will find that very few teachers in Tibetan Buddhism measure up. And as you say, independent thi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteKatree I received a call from him this week and have notified the authorities. He is really a sick, evil man. Could you share with us, Katree, what authorities you called and what you notified them of, exactly? What was the charge or the crime you reported?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's good to see this thread, discussing hypnosis and mind control used by spiritual leaders and frauds. The fact that this is a known tactic (at least, here on RR) helps give credibility to women who say they've been hypnotized into sex with their guru or lama. QuotePrasadam DasThis guy sounds totally bogus! Someone should report him to the proper authorities. Any genuine spiritual
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We are all watchdogs against cultism here on RR, aren't we? Chaill's name seems quite appropriate. Welcome to the club, Chaill. : ) Ethnocentrism is an easy ploy for gaining followers and thereby increasing one's power. That's how Hitler got where he did. I've seen this m.o. employed in other parts of the world by people with megalomaniacal ambition. It's a dange
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In a film about Chogyam Trungpa to be released next year, his students say he believed the dharma should be taught through abuse. Most of the Tibetan gurus believe this; "destroying the ego" is part of the program. Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche, the Bhutanese filmmaker, justifies this by chirping cheerfully: "When there's no ego left, there's nothing there to abuse"!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Now that was a valuable post, the quote from "Pema". So the reason Rigpa people and students defend him so vociferously is that they truly believe he's behaving ethically. Because he's changed his m.o., and is better at hiding his extracurricular activities. I used to work in a university. After sexual harassment policies were enacted, the professors became more subtle. T
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Dakini's Warm Breath, by Judith Simmer-Brown Commentary on the Kalachakra Tantra, by Geshe Ngawang Darghey "Passionate Enlightenment" is excellent for a view of what tantra was like before patriarchal culture took control of it. Thanks for the reminder. : )
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