Mathieu Ricard is the son of a prominent French Philosopher. I have never heard anyone say he is a fake "lama". The word lama means, in INdia, simply a monk. In the west, it means someone, a man or woman, with or without monastic vows, who has completed a traditional 3-year retreat.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for clearing up some of those issues. I knew Dhyani Ywahoo when I first moved to Boston and took meditation and cyrstal classes with her, and that was in 1982. She has always been a kind-hearted woman who supports the feminist community, the sangha, and her First Nation elders. Likewise, she was recognized by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche who has been working tirelessly for the past fifty
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Congratulations! It took me three years to leave, after having spent there for a total of 7 years! You are wise. yes, SGI is a cult of "postitive-thinking" and that is a cult in itself, selling millions of books, healthcare products, etc. around the world. Read Barbara Ehrenreich's book “Bright-Sided. How Positive Thinking is Undermining America." Nichiren Daishonin must b
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuotedasutariI feel that I must weigh in my opinion as a current SGI-Member, and I hope my views can be heard without burning me at the stake as a member. When I started to see the comments of ex-SGI members on this website and other, I was in shock. This is because the behavior and feeling they seemed to be conveying seemed to be nothing like the organization I was a part of, in very key ways
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Isabella, Hi, I think it's important to remember that Buddhist philosophy is very real, and very powerful. In my opinion, there is no philosophy like Buddhism, and all the amazing things the Buddha taught are now being embraced, and proven! by scientists from many fields. The fact is that NSA and SGI really are not practicing the Buddhism of the Buddha, and so if you want, you can fin
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello Tsukimoto, Thanks for sharing! Yeah, your comments bring it all back, shaming people into practice, now that's a revolutionary idea...NOT! : Are you Japanese? I assume so, because of your name. Your English is perfect! What does your family think? Or are they not members either? Luckily, I have forgotten most of the stuff they told us, but your comments brought it all back. I do
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Isnt it weird, Sparky, that it is just us??? Okay, read my forum, Rev. Ike: The Toilet Ministries, if you want to hear about my experience working for the King of Sling! :) PS, Taiten On!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

HI Tsukimoto! Wow, that's a fascinating exposition! Everything you described is exactly what I remember! I think you have a short story here, I mean a real fiction novel, centered around the phone call when they invite you to a disarmament meeting! That is so sad it's downright freaky! After I left SGI and NSC NSA I waited 7 years and didn't do anything–who would, after what
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Sparky, Thanks for your comments. I wonder if your wife practiced for a long time? And how did she resolve issues of her faith? It is sad that many people who leave an organization like SGI then assume that all Buddhist philosophies are the same. That is very sad. I stopped ballet in 1984 because I had hip disease. I am not better today, because I also now have degenerative disk disease
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hello, Everyone I wanted to share that yes, I was a member, for 7 years. I finally left SGI and Nichiren Shoshu in 1986. I was a member in both Boston, and in Montreal, and Quebec city, Canada, where I lived for two years. I will make it really short: any spiritual practice that encourages numbers (quantity) over quality, is mis-guided. NSA and NSC had lots of little training regimens for t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Shakti, All I am asking is for proof. That is simple. As I mentioned last month, I spent four hours looking at every link on this site and MANY others, and never saw or found ANY. What I Did find were rantings of people who were very enraged, and said things I know are not true. Because of those comments, I asked for proof—and there isn't any, yet. What I do see, on this site, and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Starfish wrote: He was in fact an ordained Tibetan Lama, not a monk. I don't know why you keep putting this false information on the web. First of all the FBI doesn't investigate sexual crimes. Secondly, if there was an arrest there would be real evidence to that. There isn't only ramblings by someone who posts varied false information and links everywhere. To say this won'
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

HI Electrolyte, Again, I dont deny that this guy is questionable, but only because I heard of is interaction with a woman i know and respect, who I have known for many years. Also, none in the Tibetan coummunity would deny that he is a questionable person. But I have to ask this, where is the information? I am not talking about pictures, but it is interesting that no one has any pictures o
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

After an exhaustive search on the web, I am still unable to find any real information re an arrest, much less that a warrant has been issued and that the FBI is involved. Unless people come forward and have this man arrested then all of this is just for what? It makes the claims seem spurious. I did find a link where someone has made many attempts to create an issue. and this person
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteElectrolyteRangdrol, Obviously he is not a simple monk. Do not insult the intelligence of the many people he has violated. This man is a full grown man that coerced many young women/Teenagers into a whole scenario where he is someone he isn't in a world he created. Not a simple monk! Not a monk at all! Hi Electrolyte, Well, this is what I was complaining about. The line say
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi I totally believe you. I do not discount your account. I know one practitioner who shared her experience about Mohan. I am sorry that you had to be involved with that man at all. I totally believe that we must bring these people out into the limelight and expose them for what they are doing. My question was this: why is it that there are no credible postings on this guy, and his supposed a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Ex-NewRager said: "My issue with new age isn't whether or not it's real but the fact that 99% of it offers absolutely nothing of value to anyone." I agree with some of your comments about "new age" movement, but it helps to identify the particular group or leaders we are talking about, when we sharing our negative experiences. My I fear is far too many peop
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Gulab Jamon I also looked at that website you point out. That website is a pro zionist website, which bills itself as the Global News Service of the Jewish People. As such, it is NOT a news service, it is a blog. In addition, just because Palin's church, —and there is no hard proof that they said that—believe that Jesus is coming to save his people, does not mean that she is anti-Jewish.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Hi Folks, I want to respect people's experiences, but unfortunately, when I look at these sites, I am not finding any real valid proof that this guy is or was ever arrested. In fact, it seems that some people are just copying and pasting without checking out the sources. I have heard of this guy, Mohan, but he was never a Tibetan practitioner, just a con man. If he claimed he was a Ti
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It is totally wrong for your mother to believe that a woman cannot attain enlightenment! That is so sad. If your mother didn't know that then maybe she didn't know Buddhism either. I can understand her frustration. For a Buddhist to say that a woman cannot attain enlightenment is not true, according to Buddhist teachings. I've been to KL Buddhist centers and mostly they are Chinese
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Sparky, Yeah, the office is still in Boston, as far as I know. Did you check the links out in my forum, the things he says, gosh, it's so sad, really. But you know many a major religion tells there people the same ridiculous things, like the Catholic church, in which I was raised. Scary. Where may I ask are you from? Cause the Rev hung out in New York, and also in Florida. Maybe even
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I wanted to share my experience as an employee of Reverend Ike, in the main office in Boston, Massachusetts. Rev. Ike was/is a popular African American minister in the 1960s who popularized his love of money and the “money tie”. I looked on this forum to share info, but I don’t find anything at all about Reverend Ike! I think I know why. His church members are largely older African Americans a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Wangdrag, Thanks for sharing your experience. I am a Vajrayana practitioner and I have started seeing cultish behaviour in several groups and was once an SGI member, so I am happy that practicing Buddhists are being honest and upfront about confronting these behaviours—for lack of better word—in an open space. I did request information about Diamond Way several months ago and I received
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, I am a Tibetan practitioner and am happy to share my views with you. First of all, there is a long and controversial history with this group. Because of the tolerant nature of most Buddhist organizations, and especially the Tibetan lineages, not many people will speak about this because of the controversy. I for one, did attend for a short time, one of their centers. I found them to be fi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dear Shimon, I just wanted to take a moment and share my opinion re your post of last year. There are some comments that I don't agree with and that are not commonly held Buddhist beliefs: First of all, I am simply saying it so that people understand that these are not, in general, accurate. Your quote, in its entirety of 6/6/2007: "Back to the Dalai Lama. After my discussio
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"