Quotecorboy Again and again the story is being reduced to the argument “well…the girls are older than 18 and they know what they are doing…THEY are the ones who want him…so all is fine…that`s how it is in Tibetan Buddhism…” If this is how it is in Tibetan Buddhism, then TB is not a legitimate religion. Clergy are bound by strict ethical requirements and fiduciary trust law. Some say Tibetan lam
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RE: the perception that Buddhism isn't given to wars and conflicts-- I've been reading "The Story of Tibet", which is based on a series of conversations with the Dalai Lama, and in it he freely discusses the armed conflicts that used to go on between different monasteries, and he says that when the Chinese invaded Tibet during the 13th Dalai Lama's tenure, soldiers fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

lol ! There's a thread on Madi Nolan on RR? I know Madi. She used to be a housewife in Seattle until she began taking classes in how to develop psychic abilities. The she made up a yarn about being raised in Tibet and re-invented herself. But by the time I moved out of Seattle about 10 years ago, according to her literature, she had moved on to teaching Native American lore, having set up
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'd like to make a few comments about the discussion with karam-mudra. Hers isn't the first report I've come across by a woman accusing Nydahl of using hypnosis not only to gain personal sexual access but to make the woman offer herself to the Karmapa. (K-M didn't say this explicitly, but this is what it sounds like. This is what another woman has reported as well.) I thi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have a question about Wannabefree's experience, in which her lama/teacher, who has a degree in psychology, implemented on her a procedure to do what in the Tibetan tradition is referred to as "destroying the ego", without her permission, without her even knowing. Someone told me that this sort of thing formed the basis of some of the group "self-improvement" organizat
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's incredible, outrageous, really, that in the 21st Century someone would resort to the threat of witch-burning in order to silence someone! How little times have changed since the Middle Ages! And that threat came from a Buddhist? Someone dedicated (theoretically) to compassion and truth? But I guess that's nothhing unusual; one woman who has spoken out publicly many times about
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What happened to Joan of Arc is that she was made a saint! haha! Somehow, I don't think that's what your detractor had in mind when he/she said that.... ; )
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesuenam The same goes for the clash between Ole as an idol or Ole as a teacher of Buddhism, and with his idea to combine capitalist consumerism with Buddhism - for me these are both mutually exclusive. As Corboy says, this forum seems to be one of the few places where such issues can be freely discussed, so what is important is to be explicit about the issues and let people make their own mi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Some people are heavily invested in the tantric practices, and view you as someone bent on spoiling their party. Others simply can't handle any kind of negativity and feel the need to preach. What surprises me is how many people forget that Buddhism is about kindness and compassion, and are quick to attack anyone who raises issues relating to the harm that Buddhism has caused. The same
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteopenmindedscepticLorin Roche's website features interesting insights regarding the dangers of meditation. An excerpt from his site: QuoteThe denial doesn't always work – often you just get people who are dead inside, and kind of drift around chanting and pretending to be spiritual. But sometimes there is a good match of inner and outer, and the denial serves to redirect t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Somewhere on this thread I read that the US State Department had a warning out on Sai Baba, for pedophelia. Good for the State Department. I wish the State Dept. would put a warning out on Tibetan lamas as chronic sexual predators, or Tibetan Buddhism in general as a sex cult.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is very important information. I've been participating on Buddhist discussion forums, and from time to time, someone will post that their meditation is causing anxiety, or other uncomfortable symptoms. Everyone always advises them to keep at it, it's just a phase, or it's all in their mind, or some such nonsense. I'm the only one who cautions them that meditation isn'
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, Oma. I understand your request completely, and here is the source: www.suanmokkh.org/archive/rtspch1.htm This is a collection of the Buddha's teachings on right speech from different sources, rolled into one document. The quote below is from point #5, a discourse with disciple Potaliya: "Points of Praise and Blame Concerning Sammavaca" To summarize: he says there ar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicCarnal acts with reviled women are necessary, however, for procreation. Not sure how procreation is relevant to monks. I would amend that to say, "Carnal acts with reviled women are necessary to reach enlightenment, in Tantric Buddhism". That's the kicker. The monks are told for years, decades even, that women are to be reviled. Then suddenly, if they've reached
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you for a thoughtful reply, Steve. I hadn't expected Shamar to name names, but his view comes across as one-sided and really a little anti-Western, or perhaps narrowly focussed on Western culture as being at the center of what he feels is the problem in introducing tantric techniques to the West. He could have made a broad, general reference to Tibetan teachers not behaving responsib
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSteveLpool But I found that the longer I studied a detail I discovered flaws or inconsistencies which brought me to the conclusion that my first analysis was coloured by my initial enthusiasm which, in turn, distorted my ability to think critically. For me there was far too much belief and trust taking place within the students towards the teachers and not enough critical thinking. It w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteWannabefree From my experience not all Tibetan Buddhist agree with the abuses, however they are aware of them and are held to secrecy and held from warning people by wrong speech. There are good and reputable people in society that hold their silence because of they Tibetan Buddhist rules they are bound by. I've probably posted this before, but it bears repeating: warning people
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Trungpa said it was "ego" that lead people to demonstrate against Reagan's Central America policies??!! This shows how profoundly ignorant Tibetans are. (Perhaps it also reveals how heavily-invested in the status quo the spiritual elite was in Tibet's theocracy. Criticism of or protest against the regime were met with loss of tongue, limb or even life.) There was genocide goi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotegrainne uaile. Now I am busy trying to get it back on my blog that I reopened after closing it because he felt "it could be resentment and bad karma." I am busy trying to research TB because people are getting hurt. Who cares if it is resentment and bad karma? I will take the chance if I can reach anyone and stop them from being hurt. This is the standard line teachers/lamas use
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotecorboy(Somber) It is to greatly to be feared that even the high lamas and tulkus and rinpoches may be at risk of being 'used children'. So it echoes the culture of normalized child abuse and normalized denial we have discovered to exist in the Catholic methods of priest formation and in too many cases, deformation. I have no doubt that some of the lamas have unresolved chil
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotecorboyMissyk, thanks for telling us this. I didnt know this about Harvey or about Sogyal. Am beginning to believe that the more PR and hype surrounds a particular teacher, the greater the risks. Well, I suppose the fame emboldens such people, and makes them feel like they can get away with anything. But it also gives them access to a lot more potential victims, who, because of the PR, le
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

mikanike23, have you tried to find a psychologist/therapist who specializes in trauma and/or depersonalization?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tibetan Buddhist monasteries accept children from 7 years of age and up as novices to receive a Buddhist education and eventually become monks. Once admitted to the monastery, the boys are not allowed to leave and return to lay life until they are 21, which is considered the age at which the are able to make responsible decisions about their lives. If they try to escape and return to their famil
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotecorboy(quote)So the two individuals you mention knowingly conspired to write the book and launch a career for Sogyal and themselves?(unquote) Now, now. Lets keep the focus on Sogyal, where it belongs. First, thanks to Blue Dakini for posting about the Canadian program, and I'm glad negotiations are in progress to bring it to the US. Corboy, I know one of the women who gave testim
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Congratulations, Wannabefree! I've heard of Somatic Experiencing; experienced trauma therapists say it's the greatest. I'm so happy for you. :D Has everyone heard the news, that the DL has resigned his function as political leader of the Government-In-Exile? Some speculate that this is due, in part, to his health difficulties. He wants to have a successor in place before he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

RE: removing critical articles from the internet, I found reference to an article in the Boston Globe, I think, about a court case involving a monk (or lama?) in Boston, titled something like "Tibetan Monk Rapes Local Woman". But when I clicked on the link, the article was gone. Was probably several years old anyway, or older. Who makes those decisions, to remove an article? The se
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To his credit, HHDL has spoken out against the "crazy yogi" type, saying that behavior not in accordance with the dharma and the precepts is wrong. That was a few years ago, and my impression was he was speaking about Trungpa, but it could have been anyone. Thank you for posting these links, Corboy. I hadn't heard of the Merwin affair. I, too, have noticed that articles and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Right on, that's exactly how I deal with accusations of "wrong speech". We have a moral obligation to warn people of danger. Furthermore, "wrong speech" can be relative; what is "wrong speech" to some (entrenched power structures, for example) is very much "right speech" to victims of injustice and violence. Silence only allows the abuse to continue,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Good work, Corboy. I'd say that, first of all, the Dalai Lama seems to be oblivious to the widespread extent of the abuse problem. When Western dharma center leaders met with him in the 1990's to discuss the problem (this was, in part, in the wake of so many scandals and a lawsuit relating to Sogyal Rinpoche), the DL actually invited Sogyal to participate, to give him an opportunity t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stoic, Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche, whose article you provided a link to, on the one hand tries to navigate the cultural differences between students and teachers, but on the other hand, he's quite the apologist for teachers who initiate affairs with students. He seems to have removed from his newly-reorganized website two essays relating to Western women's complaints of sexual coercion
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"