Misstyk is right. A lot of financial - and emotional-- vested interests
are at stake.
If anyone is struggling with years of misgiving about Sogyal and Rigpa, do
all you can to find your real friends.
And no, no, no, you were not stupid, you were not foolish. Rigpa is an entire
wrap-around world. You have a sense of fellowship, a shared worldview. You
have an entire social network that is worldwide.
Almost no one comes to the Dharma because they are happy and in control. People
get interested in the Dharma because they've encountered suffering and are
shaken up, disoriented, looking for guidance.
If you were told at the beginning that 'The author of this book is unable to
benefit from the teachings and his inner circle supply him with young
and lovely women to give him 'Lama Care'" --
You'd not have gotten involved. But, you were not told this about Sogyal.
You were probably told to ignore the rumors and concentrate on deepening
your practice.
And Rigpa incorporates many, many useful things you've benefited from.
What results from your honest "whole hearted practice" is real and not a
lie.
Sogyal and his publicity machine can be separated from the useful features
of the practice.
What is wrong is that Ripga's teacher and its organization are used to
funnel your loving trust and your money toward leader who is
exploitative and whose predations have gone on for years - with no
disciplinary action from the Vajrayana Buddhist establishment.
Many, many people have become involved with Vajrayana and have brought MONEY
to Vajrayana by first having read The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.
Does the Vajrayana Buddhist establishment have any incentive to encourage
people to examine the many years of scandal emanating from Sogyal's establishment?
Eh?
If you've come to the Dharma by reading and trusting The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, this book and the bloke with his name on its cover has an important place in your life.
Some of the jobs and livelihoods affected by
any Rigpa scandal. As Deep Throat said during the Watergate scandal,
Follow the Money
* Tourist industries in areas where Sogyal holds large retreats.
* Income from Sogyal's talks (subscriptions to podcasts, purchases of tapes,
CD's
* Income from The Tibetan Book of Death and Dying
* Office staff employed part or full time by Rigpa (office support, public
relations, coordination of retreats and courses
* Rigpa centers and people who work there
* Rigpa monasteries -- where do you go if you face that Soggy is a predator and
Rigpa enabled this years long predation?
In most towns and cities housing prices have skyrocked in the past 5 years.
Facing this and digesting the disorientation and heartbreak of recognizing
a beloved teacher has been a predator is agonizing.
Find other former Rigpa members and give mutual support if you
decide to leave.
In his memoir, The Novice
[www.google.com]
Stephan Schettini gives a detailed and sensitive
description of how he struggled five years with doubt before he admitted
that he himself was being inauthentic as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. It took
him a good while to adjust to secular life but he did it. Others have done
it too.
are at stake.
If anyone is struggling with years of misgiving about Sogyal and Rigpa, do
all you can to find your real friends.
And no, no, no, you were not stupid, you were not foolish. Rigpa is an entire
wrap-around world. You have a sense of fellowship, a shared worldview. You
have an entire social network that is worldwide.
Almost no one comes to the Dharma because they are happy and in control. People
get interested in the Dharma because they've encountered suffering and are
shaken up, disoriented, looking for guidance.
If you were told at the beginning that 'The author of this book is unable to
benefit from the teachings and his inner circle supply him with young
and lovely women to give him 'Lama Care'" --
You'd not have gotten involved. But, you were not told this about Sogyal.
You were probably told to ignore the rumors and concentrate on deepening
your practice.
And Rigpa incorporates many, many useful things you've benefited from.
What results from your honest "whole hearted practice" is real and not a
lie.
Sogyal and his publicity machine can be separated from the useful features
of the practice.
What is wrong is that Ripga's teacher and its organization are used to
funnel your loving trust and your money toward leader who is
exploitative and whose predations have gone on for years - with no
disciplinary action from the Vajrayana Buddhist establishment.
Many, many people have become involved with Vajrayana and have brought MONEY
to Vajrayana by first having read The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.
Does the Vajrayana Buddhist establishment have any incentive to encourage
people to examine the many years of scandal emanating from Sogyal's establishment?
Eh?
If you've come to the Dharma by reading and trusting The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, this book and the bloke with his name on its cover has an important place in your life.
Some of the jobs and livelihoods affected by
any Rigpa scandal. As Deep Throat said during the Watergate scandal,
Follow the Money
* Tourist industries in areas where Sogyal holds large retreats.
* Income from Sogyal's talks (subscriptions to podcasts, purchases of tapes,
CD's
* Income from The Tibetan Book of Death and Dying
* Office staff employed part or full time by Rigpa (office support, public
relations, coordination of retreats and courses
* Rigpa centers and people who work there
* Rigpa monasteries -- where do you go if you face that Soggy is a predator and
Rigpa enabled this years long predation?
In most towns and cities housing prices have skyrocked in the past 5 years.
Facing this and digesting the disorientation and heartbreak of recognizing
a beloved teacher has been a predator is agonizing.
Find other former Rigpa members and give mutual support if you
decide to leave.
In his memoir, The Novice
[www.google.com]
Stephan Schettini gives a detailed and sensitive
description of how he struggled five years with doubt before he admitted
that he himself was being inauthentic as a Tibetan Buddhist monk. It took
him a good while to adjust to secular life but he did it. Others have done
it too.