I agree, but if much of the activity and abuse is secret, it's difficult to make teachers answerable to our "accountability structures". Frankly, I think the issuing of visas to lamas should be temporarily suspended until a thorough study of their methods, motives, and history with students can be assessed, but that's not going to happen. After meeting with Western dharma
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicIMO, a better way of putting it would be: no longer identifying so closely with the emotional passions of the ego. Its about no longer being so driven by emotion, ie. knowing when I am being driven by emotion but having a choice about whether or not I act on the emotion. . Sounds like basic mindfulness: a good skill. I think there are useful elements in the teachings, but as I said
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

All good advice, and good clarification, thanks. (But...isn't Buddhism in general, or Tibetan Buddhism at least, fundamentally about conquering the ego? (I'm not referring to a specific technique here, but to the stated goal of practice.) This is one thing that has me concerned, lately. I don't think it's necessary to conquer the ego in order to devote oneself to helping o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You seem to be conflating all my concerns into one, but they are separate, so there's been a misunderstanding. I don't expect anyone to drop their own concerns and attend to mine. I'm just looking for a dharma center with a good teacher. I'm not looking for a one-one-one relationship, but I'm concerned for people who have fallen into what has turned out to be a trap lea
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Back to some of my original questions, Stoic: How common is the one-on-one work? I've read about many cases where a lama is teaching in a dharma center, and covertly approaches several women one by one, telling each one that they need to practice tantric sex with him in order to "further their practice". I've never known this to occur in my experience, but...I don't hav
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoic'I was excellent at meditation, hence excellent at being suggestible and indoctrinated. They don't tell you this before you meditate.' I am sorry that you had such a rough time. Any decent meditation teacher would make crystal clear the risks involved in undertaking meditation before you start, it shouldn't be something you have to find out the hard way. Any de
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello, again, Wannabefree. I just read an article on this website, "Thought Reform Programs and the Production of Psychiatric Casualties", that there have been lawsuits filed against leaders running thought reform programs. If you have medical and therapists' records, you might have grounds for a suit--certainly sounds like it. When Western dharma center leaders travelled to D
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've ordered "The Guru Papers", thanks. More questions: was this a Tibetan monk, or a Western monk? Why/how did you get into a one-on-one study situation with him? You're lucky you weren't coerced/manipulated into sex, as other women have been, but it's hard to say which is worse, since you've been struggling with the aftereffects of your experience for year
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Iwannabefree: could you tell me more about this case? I've been studying cases of "lama abuse"--mostly sexual abuse, so yours is a new type of case for me. You say the monk didn't want to be your guru, he wanted to be a counselor. There is no counselor role in the Tibetan tradition; was this in some other context? Were you in a sangha, or were you studying one-on-one with
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To pursue the question about doubts about the Dalai Lama: When the Dalai Lama comes to the U.S. it's clear that he puts on a jolly Santa Claus-type persona. I believe that this is because he knows that China is watching his every more, his every word, his every sneeze. The easiest way for him to deal with this pressure is to go into warm-and-fuzzy, slightly airheaded, harmless mode. If
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy, Let's put into context the fact that HHDL was virtually unknown in 1980. He was little known outside of Tibetan studies and related circles because the US would not allow him into the country. 1980 was his first visit to the US, after President Carter abrogated the US defense treaty with Taiwan in 1979 and gave diplomatic recognition to mainland China. Until then, the US Congre
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There are rumors circulating about the DL, but nothing confirmed. What is it that your friends and hotel contacts observed? A little more info would be helpful.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"