tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333563966423440746.post3013995103128381890..comments2022-07-11T12:26:08.674+00:00Comments on BRITISH BUDDHISM: Problems and Controversies: Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333563966423440746.post-4204894200413673382015-01-24T13:22:51.106+00:002015-01-24T13:22:51.106+00:00Interesting that these people still play an active...Interesting that these people still play an active role in the European Buddhist Union, flying the UK Network of Buddhist Organizations flag of convenience. Therein, while the NBO deny they claim any representative status, other members perceive them as representatives of UK Buddhists. The NBO is a cabal, up of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue, usually unbeknownst to persons outside their group. Cabals are sometimes secret societies composed of a few designing persons, and at other times are manifestations of emergent behavior in society or governance on the part of a community of persons who have well established public affiliation or kinship. The term can also be used to refer to the designs of such persons or to the practical consequences of their emergent behavior, and also holds a general meaning of intrigue and conspiracy. The use of this term usually carries strong connotations of shadowy corners, back rooms and insidious influencConstantinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03915813002790646443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7333563966423440746.post-33960862441319350802015-01-24T12:56:17.125+00:002015-01-24T12:56:17.125+00:00I seem to remember Andrew Skilton from Aryatara (a...I seem to remember Andrew Skilton from Aryatara (a community/centre in Purley near Croydon, England) in 1977. We were painting a reception room with Padmaraja - in that May/June I recall.<br /><br />It took me almost as long as he, to realise that serious ethical transgressions have historically afflicted the FWBO/TBC at its heart. I believed in Sangharakshita, only to discover, painfully slowly, that he was a cold-hearted sexual predator: with a taste for very young heterosexual men – some of whose lives he damaged. <br /><br />Moreover, he must have known about the “fierce friendship” or "feedback"– aka psychological bullying – fiasco, which instilled long-term feelings of betrayal of trust among some mitras queuing up for ordination – including myself.<br /><br />Since finally leaving the FWBO/TBC in 2000, I have been an avid follower and supporter of the Vipassana Trust (SN Goenka’s teaching outlet). The consideration and courtesy I have been shown by those at the heart of the Trust, contrasts strongly with the psychological and emotional abuse I suffered at the hands of some members of Sangharakshita’s order; especially in the 1980’s – and NOT at the Croydon centre!<br /><br />It is a duty of those of us with an inside, long-term knowledge of the inner – not public – culture of the FWBO/TBC, to warn the general public of the dangers they face, in becoming involved in an organisation, and the 'order' at its core, that has consistently failed to FULLY face up to its own past collective behaviour.<br /><br />Please look elsewhere for Buddhism and meditation classes and courses; trust my word on this.<br /><br />An ex-veteran-mitraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com