Recommended reading on the history of tantra: Indian Esoteric Buddhism: A Social History by Ron Davidson History of the Tantric Religion by NN Bhattacharyya Tantrism by Benjamin Walker
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Karma-mudra, please start a thread on June Campbell, or on abuse of disciples by lamas, with June C. as an example, or anything that would allow us to continue the discussion on that topic. Here we have to stick to Sogyal as the topic of this thread. Chaill--I'll PM you. It's remarkable how many people go through life with blinders on. You'd think more of Sogyal's audie
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, this is a very interesting post, Karma-Mudra. Perhaps you could turn it into the Opening Post of a new thread? Perhaps on the psychology of sexual exploitation in Tibetan Buddhism? I notice you have a lot of information about that. Welcome back, by the way. : )
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Who said monks are "allowed by the Buddha to have sexual intercourse"? They don't give a suttric reference, do they? Because there isn't one. They're just making it up out of thin air. Or from some "revealed" text (terma), based on a myth. Oh, wait, I get it--it says the teaching goes back to Vajradhara. Vajradhara was an emanation that the Buddha supposedl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sogyal isn't like some of the other lamas (through drawing distinctions can get tricky), in that he's an outright charlatan. I don't know what he was taught as a tulku, supposedly he had good teachers. People who have known him closely say he's just not very bright, and that he set out with the intention to get everything Chogyam Trungpa had, the fame, the money, the women. He
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm not sure what your point is, Stoic. But these rules were contributed by the Dalai Lama to the Berzin Archives as part of contemporary vows and practice. I mean, a large part of the problem we're dealing with is a tradition that's archaic, and hasn't been reformed.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The problem is that many gurus tell their students that the guru is an enlightened master, i.e. a demi-god. Students need to know that the master is an ordinary person, and is not to be revered. Respected, yes, if he proves himself worthy of respect. I think there needs to be a major adjustment in how some teachers (or the tradition) present themselves, and in the expectations or projections stud
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBlue Dakini I share your perspective Misstyk, but have to add a note of caution. I do not think that legal action is a viable proposition at the present time. The woman identified as Janine in Behind the Thangkas is keen to launch legal action, but knows she cannot do it until another contemporaneous member of Sogyal's harem breaks ranks and is willing to corroborate her testimony. As o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Good points, Stoic. In her book, Campbell says the parents of the girl were told she died of a heart attack. You're implying she may have disappeared simply because Kalu set her away, then created a fiction around June that the teen had died, in order to scare her? It's possible, but we'll never know without getting more info from June. I don't recall any other details about
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBlue DakiniI call on ALL women who have suffered rape, sexual abuse, violence and coercion in a spritual/religious environment to get a grip on their common sense and go to the police or other legal authorities. Testify -- protest and be willing to stand up in court. Especially re Sogyal Lakar who is one of the most persistent offenders. Hear, hear! I would only add that in order for women
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy, could you explain why you posted about June Campbell's experience? How does that tie in with Sogyal? The circumstances under which Kalu Rinpoche took "consorts" (he was a senior lama, if not the head or abbot of a monastery, plus I think he was outwardly celibate, I'm not 100% sure about that), which was in a highly secretive way, and those in which Sogyal exploits wo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBlue Dakini Also -- its worth noting that Osel Hita Torres (Lama Thubten Yeshe's reincarnation) left Sera monastery and disrobed for the same reasons as Kalu did. O.H. Torres was sexually abused in his monastery? Could you give us more information about that? I know his mother visited him a few times in the monastery, but there was no mention of abuse. She had other complaints, but a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To rephrase my question to keep it strictly on-topic: How can the dozens, if not hundreds, of Sogyal victims file in criminal court on claims of abuse? We saw what happened to the "Janice Doe" case. Abuse, violation of fiduciary trust, and the like are unprovable, in spite of the testimony of other women. This is why I'm asking how victims of Catholic clergy managed. I think
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for a thoughtful and sensible post, Stoic. Food for thought. I agree that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and therefore there needs to be a warning label on this tradition. I'm encouraged by the appearance on the scene of an important reincarnation who is speaking out about a corrupt and abusive system, and has already enacted reforms in one of his main centers in Europe. On
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBlue Dakini I am investigating reactions from the Kagyu hierachy -- I suspect they are very worried. According to one post on Kalu Rinpoche's Facebook page, he got support from Tai Situ, one of the top Kagyu authorities, to remove the lamas from his main center in France, and to bring in a new crew, who, he says, disciples can feel safe studying with. The fact that he has at least Ta
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Have you checked out the "Abusive and Controlling Relationships" category? Your post would get more attention there, I'm sure.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is a post on one of Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche's blog sites that details his plans to revamp the monastic education to better prepare students for the real world should they opt out of the monastic system upon reaching their majority, and to provide a safe environment for novices. This sounds like an effort worth supporting. He may catch a lot of flack when the entrenched power structur
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche's confessional video is starting to make its way around the internet already. It's remarkable how many people still cling to their fairy-tale view of monastic life, in spite of this insider's frank portrayal. I consider this video to be a major breakthrough. Maybe it will inspire others to speak out, or a journalistic expose of some sort.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Dialogue Ireland site has clearly been targeted by Rigpa people. I finally called them on it. How to ensure ethical behavior, whether via a board of directors, contract, or some other means, is a worthwhile discussion. I think the only way to send a strong message, and also ensure compliance, is by drawing up a strict contract. You can be sure that word would spread throughout India like
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you for finding and posting this (I'm still searching for it among the Kalu posts). When did he disrobe? A Kalu Rinpoche incarnation was in my town a couple of months ago. This may have been close-minded of me, but I decided in the end not to attend. The center that the former Kalu founded tends to be full of the adoring types who regard verbal abuse of students as legitimate &quo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Recently some corroborating statements in the media regarding child abuse in Tibetan Monasteries have come out. In the film, "My Reincarnation", about Namkhai Norbu and his son, Yeshi, Yeshi tells us that the reason his father declined to send him to a monastery for his education was that his father was beaten regularly, even as a privileged tulku, and he didn't want his son to en
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Teacher code of ethics at Sprit Rock Center:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Blue Dakini, if you think TB should be saved, corboy's suggestions are a good way to do it. With credible boards of directors who put in place strict rules of conduct and require all teachers, whether visiting lamas, or staff teachers, to sign a contract that says something along the lines of "physical contact with students will result in termination of this contract" would be a bi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That looks like quite the opus ("behind the thangkas"). Is that your work? Congratulations! Bless you, for your efforts. I wonder how "charlatan lama" would be defined. The problem is not only with charlatans (for example: would Chogyam Trungpa qualify?), but with legit lamas behaving illegitimately. That problem needs to be addressed, too. One step at a time, I guess.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Good heavens!! The situation is now completely out of control over there at DI. The Sogyal thread was closed just as I found it and got ready to post. Why would they close the thread just as Victoria Barlow joined the discussion, I wonder? Now another thread has been hijacked by "Giulia", and I tend to suspect Bella is a guy, judging by her answers. Such a shame; DI strikes me as po
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteBlue DakiniFor a taste of the level of character assassination, false accusation and poisonous personal attack that I have endured as a result of being a primary whistle blower, please check recent comment on Dialogue Ireland. Could you provide a link to that? I didn't know they had a comment section or forum. I'd love to check that out. Keep on keepin' on, BlueDakini! K
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Videos removed due to copyright infringement.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Regarding Amnesty International's position, or lack thereof, on the Shugden matter, I'd like to point out that AI's mission is to investigate instances of violence perpetrated by governments against citizens. The only exception to this rule they've ever made is with regards to the Shining Path insurgency movement in Peru. The Central Tibetan Administration probably doesn
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, corboy. One can also contact the newspaper's archive dept. directly. I was going to try that first.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThomasKentOh, newspapers pull articles off after a while. Maybe nobody's reading them. Maybe they need the server space. Maybe the case was dismissed. There are many reasons, but in general newspapers only keep lead articles up for at all long. Thank you, this is helpful to know.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"