By Marion Dapsance Anthropologist In the minds of Westerners, Buddhism is “secular spirituality”, a “science of the spirit”, in short: something perfectly rational. A few years ago, I began reading books on meditation, before wanting […]
Controversies: New Kadampa Tradition, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso // Dorje Shugden // Rigpa, Sogyal Rinpoche // Tsem Tulku, Kechara // Ole Nydahl, Diamond Way // Sangharakshita, Triratna // Shambhala, Sakyong :: Tibet & Dalai Lama :: Dharmakaya, Zen & More
Category: Buddhism
Reflecting on my Time in Rigpa and with Sogyal Rinpoche
GUEST POST Dear friends, I too was in Rigpa for a long time and had different experiences, also difficult ones that were similar to some of the things already expressed in this blog. That was […]
FWBO / Triratna – Sangharakshita – Cases of Sexual Abuse
…ultimately, the way a group reacts to allegations of misconduct may be a better indicator of its underlying dysfunction than the content of the allegations themselves. – Christopher Hamacher The BBC reported on September 26, […]
The Dalai Lama’s Advice to Buddhists in the West
Q: Your Holiness, what advice might you give those of us who are working to develop Buddhist communities and organizations in the West? A: As I often tell my Buddhist friends, if we want to keep […]
You’re interested in going to a Buddhist center in your city for the first time. What advice can be given?
Lion’s Roar posted an entry I’m interested in going to a Buddhist center in my city for the first time. Any advice? On a rather quick reading I found it a bit incomplete recollecting my and others’ people […]
Esoteric Teaching of Wat Phra Dhammakaya by Mano Mettanando Laohavanich
Those interested to cultivate a deeper understanding of the Dhammakaya Movement, Wat Phra Dhammakaya (Thai: วัดพระธรรมกาย), can read the academic paper, “Esoteric Teaching of Wat Phra Dhammakaya” by Mano Mettanando Laohavanich published in the Journal of Buddhist […]
Human Rights Press Award for Reuters Investigates “The Long Arm of China” | Dalai Lama | Shugden
The English Online Grand Prize of the The Human Rights Press Awards 2015 went to David Lague, Paul Mooney, Benjamin Kang Lim, Sui-Lee Wee and Stephanie Nebehay, a cohort of China experts working at Reuters. Joyce […]
Kadampa Ordination – A Misguided Approach
Shugden won’t protect NKT monastics, NKT monastics have to study, observe and protect their vows themselves. You can find below the content of The New Ordination Handbook of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). My claim is: With the […]
Did the Shugden group, ISC, give up protesting against the DalaiLama? Its a bit more complex …
After The Guardian and Reuters reported about the disbandment of the International Shugden Community (ISC), I expressed some reservations in a blog entry (see Some Final Remarks). Unlike many claims made online and in print – for […]
A Warning Letter from Lama Ole Nydahl: Don’t Mix Tantric Methods and Teachers
Dearest Diamond Way students and friends, A few words of timely advice: I understand that many of you, who haven’t had the Phowa practice yet, are now looking to receive this timeless experience. Recently, at […]
How Rebirth Takes Place, Tulkus, Recognizing Reincarnations – HH the 14th Dalai Lama
Reincarnation A very clear statement by the Dalai Lama on voluntary reincarnation (tulku) in general, and on his own future incarnation as the 15th Dalai Lama from 2011. Translated from the original Tibetan http://www.dalailama.com Introduction […]
The Cessation of the International Shugden Community / Dalai Lama protests
I guess you read or heard it already, the International Shugden Community (ISC) announced their “dissolving”. What is a bit mysterious is the why and if this is meant seriously. I want to share […]
Sogyal Rinpoche & Rigpa – An interview with the former director of Rigpa France Olivier Raurich
Translation of an interview with the former director of Rigpa France Olivier Raurich which appeared in the French magazine “Marianne”¹ Q: When did you become interested in Buddhism and how did you encounter Sogyal Rinpoche? […]
Dorje Tsering: Where We Failed Him
Originally posted on Drifts & Drafts:
Dorje Tsering succumbed to his injuries on the third day of his stay in the hospital’s critical care unit. He was 16 years old. He looked younger, much younger,…
When it is more than abuse – Experiences within the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT)
By Peter Graham Dryburgh The hurt and harm of spiritual abuse is rarely inflicted upon people with the intention to wound anyone. – Major Scott Nicloy When we think of abuse in the year 2016, […]
The Secular vs. the Spiritual: Is India Squandering Its Top Export: The Buddha?
Secular values are the values that citizens share regardless of their religious differences; secular policies are policies to which citizens can be expected to give rational consent regardless of their religious commitments. – Jay Garfield […]
Did Geshe Kelsang Gyatso lie when he claimed that he didn’t receive teachings from H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama?
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) (or “Kadampa Buddhism” / “Modern Buddhism”), makes a big fuss about Guru Yoga, using this teaching to demand utmost obedience from his followers in […]
Reuters’ Special Report about the Shugden controversy and the joint effort of China’s Communist Party & the New Kadampa Tradition to discredit the Dalai Lama
Here is the new special report by Reuters, “China co-opts a Buddhist sect in global effort to smear Dalai Lama“, about the globalized Dorje Shugden controversy and how the Shugden movement gets “clandestine support from [China’s] […]
The psychological pitfalls of integrating an Eastern spirituality into a modern Western context. (Spiritual by-passing)
By Coline R. Moore (This was originally written as an essay submitted for a counselling qualification and thus is a bit academic – however some people might find it useful.) The disciple is unworthy; modestly […]
Who needs facts when we have the Internet?
Guest Post by Sandy Clarke Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal. There are those who do not realise that one day […]
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s »Modern Buddhism« – Who are the Kadampas? – Geshe Tashi clears the distortion of four Kadampa deities
This is part 3 of many to follow. Geshe Tashi Tsering explains what Kadampa is and what the four Kadampa deities are which Kelsang Gyatso distorted, replacing Miyowa with Shugden. These videos are aimed as an […]
