Ole Nydahl is a Fraud and Diamond Way is a cult

[Hannah Bea Williams]

Reasons why Diamond Way is a cult...

1. The charismatic leader (Ole Nydahl) surrounded by groupies and Ole Clones. This is known as a cult of personality. He also has no authentic credentials, and is not qualified to hold the title of Lama. Ole only started using the title of Lama a few years after the 16th Karmapa's death, while claiming that the 16th Karmapa granted him such a title.

2. The manipulation of information. Books Ole Nydahl doesn't agree with or are critical of him are banned from the centres. Members are also discouraged from seeking teachings from any other source.

3. Abuse of members lower in the hierarchy by those higher up. This emotional (and sometimes physical) abuse is explained away as 'purification' and members are told it is simply their karma.

4. Questions or criticisms from members are dismissed and suppressed. The member is then made to feel guilty and told it is their fault. They are called 'spiritually weak'.

5. Diamond Way has it's own words and language, to separate members from the public. Words are also given new meanings. New members are also given fancy new Tibetan names to make them feel important and separate them from their old life.

6. There is one rule for those lower in the hierarchy, and another for those at the top. For instance, DW teaches that adultery is wrong (in common with authentic Buddhism), but at the same time, Ole Nydahl is known to have had affairs with several of his students, and had a mistress called Caty Hartung as well as his wife, Hannah.

7. The true beliefs of the group are kept secret from members until they are sufficiently brainwashed, and before that are lied to, just as Diamond Way lies to the public about it's true beliefs. Members only get to the really weird stuff once they get higher up in the hierarchy. Those higher up in this heirachy lie to both those lower down and to the public at large about their true beliefs. Their excuse for this is to simply say people are "not ready". (sounds like not sufficiently brainwashed to me!)

8. Everything in Diamond Way has a price, and the money flows to the top of the hierarchy. There is also huge pressure to donate money, whether you can afford it or not. Members are milked for everything they have, while Ole Nydahl lives a life of luxury, flying round the world and having everything paid for him.

9. DW uses brainwashing techniques. Their 'meditation' rituals are in fact more like self-hypnotism, and are intended to increase suggestibility and slowly remove the members from reality and critical thinking.

10. Former members are harassed, slandered and told to shut up about their experiences. I have had death threats, abusive e-mails and phone calls etc calling me "spiritually weak", "mentally ill", and "a criminal" among other things. Calling me a criminal is particularly ironic considering Ole Nydahl himself spent time in prison for drug smuggling and dealing. I am just glad I never signed up to the cult's magazine despite pressure to do so, or they would have had my home address too!

[skydancer]

Wow! Thankyou for posting that! Nothing like personal experience. The name itself "Diamond Cutter" put up a red flag. Then I read your post was my instincts were confirmed. This can help many others steer clear of the exploitive cult.

I also am relieved your personal information is secure.

Thanks again! Skydancer

[Peter]

Hi Skydancer.

Hannah's email above is identical to one posted by "P Ngurin" last week - so it's now not at all clear just who's "personal experience" is being detailed here.

Posting once could be a useful service, but posting the same information multiple times suggests that there's one or more people operating with an agenda, which brings the validity of the information into question. There's a forum forum.rickross.com which specifically deals with complaints about alleged cults, might be worth Hannah and PNgurin following up there where the board members have experience about this sort of thing.

The participants of this board were getting most adept at spotting "false flag" advertisments where one person pretended to be multiple people all praising each other's posts. Unfortunately the new format of the board doesn't let us see the poster's IP address. I wonder if Shawn can work out how many people are really participating here...

Best Wishes,
Peter

[lightmystic]

Maybe you're just insulting the Diamond way because you're spiritually weak.

Oct 18, 2008 13:18:42 GMT -5 @Hannah Bea Williams said:

Reasons why Diamond Way is a cult...

1. The charismatic leader (Ole Nydahl) surrounded by groupies and Ole Clones. This is known as a cult of personality. He also has no authentic credentials, and is not qualified to hold the title of Lama. Ole only started using the title of Lama a few years after the 16th Karmapa's death, while claiming that the 16th Karmapa granted him such a title.

2. The manipulation of information. Books Ole Nydahl doesn't agree with or are critical of him are banned from the centres. Members are also discouraged from seeking teachings from any other source.

3. Abuse of members lower in the hierarchy by those higher up. This emotional (and sometimes physical) abuse is explained away as 'purification' and members are told it is simply their karma.

4. Questions or criticisms from members are dismissed and suppressed. The member is then made to feel guilty and told it is their fault. They are called 'spiritually weak'.

5. Diamond Way has it's own words and language, to separate members from the public. Words are also given new meanings. New members are also given fancy new Tibetan names to make them feel important and separate them from their old life.

6. There is one rule for those lower in the hierarchy, and another for those at the top. For instance, DW teaches that adultery is wrong (in common with authentic Buddhism), but at the same time, Ole Nydahl is known to have had affairs with several of his students, and had a mistress called Caty Hartung as well as his wife, Hannah.

7. The true beliefs of the group are kept secret from members until they are sufficiently brainwashed, and before that are lied to, just as Diamond Way lies to the public about it's true beliefs. Members only get to the really weird stuff once they get higher up in the hierarchy. Those higher up in this heirachy lie to both those lower down and to the public at large about their true beliefs. Their excuse for this is to simply say people are "not ready". (sounds like not sufficiently brainwashed to me!)

8. Everything in Diamond Way has a price, and the money flows to the top of the hierarchy. There is also huge pressure to donate money, whether you can afford it or not. Members are milked for everything they have, while Ole Nydahl lives a life of luxury, flying round the world and having everything paid for him.

9. DW uses brainwashing techniques. Their 'meditation' rituals are in fact more like self-hypnotism, and are intended to increase suggestibility and slowly remove the members from reality and critical thinking.

10. Former members are harassed, slandered and told to shut up about their experiences. I have had death threats, abusive e-mails and phone calls etc calling me "spiritually weak", "mentally ill", and "a criminal" among other things. Calling me a criminal is particularly ironic considering Ole Nydahl himself spent time in prison for drug smuggling and dealing. I am just glad I never signed up to the cult's magazine despite pressure to do so, or they would have had my home address too!

[sam]

Hannah,

You are absolutely correct. I’ve attended the DW centre in Holborn.

Yes Diamond way is a cult, I've had extremely painful experiences with them. It took me the larger part of a year to recover from them.

I confirm every point you made. (And well written too). I classify them as dangerous and even evil.

They sell alcohol, (without a drinks license) in the centre despite the Buddhist precept which negates the drinking of alcohol. Yet Ole recommends they go out drinking!!

I've known a few people part with their money and regret it.

Buddhism seems to be getting freely hijacked these days.

Regards
Sam

[luisperu]

I saw Ole in Lima. He has a stong motivation to stop Alah in Europe. It is like a slogan, but in South America doesnt stick. Cristianity has changed since times of inquisition, Why not muslims ?.
He is not a humble person. Someone asked him to lower the price of powha retirement to get more people. He answered if you have money are more educated and could understand his message. (He doesnt think in drug dealers money )
He is sure ,that the fact to has been born in Europe make a person more spiritual than africans.
He is a vain person, but product of meditation alongs his live ,he had some qualities proper from meditation or maybe some good tricks.
Im Buddhist, and the diamond group make a good effort to translate and spread good buddha knowdlege ( a good point), but my friend Ole is not a wise people, and could lead people away the path.
Well there is another things to make you think ...........
I saw two argentinian girls in his twenties had a tongue kiss with him in front of everyone in the phowa
One of the is his translator was touching his leg while we meditated.
Well ,is you are young and want to have sex with every girl in diamond way go ahead , if they let you. There are no guarantee that its happens....
But if you are a family guy, think in your daugther. Cause i wish you ,you can see her grow in freedom enviromment without a personality cult to Lama Ole or another . Then when she grow up is her problem.
In other words " I dont want to raise a daughter to be fresh meat for the guru"

Like in other cults i saw some goods persons looking the right way, but ..............

[ashjoel1980]

Hello All!
I just want to say thank you to all the people that are expossing Diamond way My partners sister is a diamond way Buddhist and i have been to the Center im Minneapolis where my Partners sister lives they have always been kind and nice people i would never have a bad thing to say about my partners sister she is a great woman however there has been presure to join and become apart of this orginization i felt the need to inform myself on this group before going to anymore of the "public Meditations" and I AM GLAD I DID! my partner is currently trying to convince his sister to leave the group and I for sure will not be returning there
Take Care
Joel

[scared]

I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by writing to this forum. My husband is a follower of Diamond Way under Ole Nydal. Although he has changed considerably for the better (his long term affair with a younger woman nearly ruined our marriage) I'm still worried. Not only about our marriage, but also about my husbands future as he gets deeper into DW, and my future when he and his DW colleagues realize that I am participating in this forum.

During the most stressful part of our marital discord my husband went to Ole for advice, carrying a picture of his girlfriend, and a picture of me as had been requested. Ole spent only a few minutes with him (I was waiting in the guest area as I was not permitted to join my husband in this consultation). Ole looked at the pictures and told him to "get rid of the wife". Ole is clearly not the right example for a monogamous relationship. Fortunately, my husband did not follow this advice.

My husband is time consumingly involved in practicing Buddhism (that's good) and going to every possible event where he can study/meditate (also good) and serve the organisation (leading meditaitons, cooking, cleaning, donating money - hmmmm!). He is so enamored by Ole he is a walking book of quotations with a logic that is (in his mind) indisputable.

We've watched Ole's video's together. I find Ole's racists comments very disturbing. My husband explains this away saying Ole makes these comments to weed out the people who don't belong in DW. Does that mean non-whites like me are not welcomed as members??? It scares me that my husband worships a man who believes that people in third world countries- especially Africans have earned the circumstances in which they exist as victims of genocide, racism, poverty... (I heard him say this in a video).

I've accompanied my husband to several of Ole's lectures. I've found them very confusing and wonder why his followers make excuses for Ole's nebulous teachings. If you don't understand, you are at fault for not participating in the studies from Basic to Buddha. Every wrong can be explained away by some kind of theory of non-existence. My husband is a good man. I thank God for therapy because if we had to depend on DW we wouldn't even be trying to stay together.

My husband has been involved with DW for several years. I was hoping to ride out the wave but the tide is not changing. I pray that this is not a cult like many people say, and hope that my fears are unfounded. Until my gut tells me something else I'm sleeping with my eyes open.

Read more: spiritualteachers.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=announcements&thread=1592&page=1#21553#ixzz1Tu8UGvgQ

[acewall]

you seem well balanced...
but as i dont know this Ole(but know fraud having been in your situation)it will take me a moment to read-up
on this 'bloke' who is guiding your husband.

Personally, relationship is the best manner inwhich to evolve an understanding of what life is about, as well as finding out,
who we are Not!

I am heading-out with my Partner right at this moment
but will return later in the day.

[acewall]

OK, ask yourself this...
"why am I putting-up with such nonsence?"
When you have found the answer,
post again.

[scaredof]

Hi Acewall,

Why do I put up with this? Can't do anything about Ole but I still love my husband. He was a loving husband before his affair. He says he never stopped loving me and wants the relationship to work. We have the same wish. It's not so easy to give up on two decades of marriage. I believe he's sincere and don't want to interfer with anything that he really thinks is helping him. My constant questioning has already caused additional turmoil.

Okay, DW can also be helping him to get out of the marriage and maybe that's better for both of us. Right now I want to allow time for us to heal. It maybe our only chance to stay together.

[acewall]

time to rid oneself of pain can be slow or fast...

:)Learning how to manage oneself during communication is what psychotherapy is all about.

If I only do meditation and no therapy for myself,
there is a very real danger that one of my legs
will grow longer than the other. (an visa versa)

We need both psychotherapy and meditation
as our personal tools of trade, if we are to become
well~balanced within a relationship of two strong minds.

You have mail

[scaredof]

Hi Acewall,
thanks again for this answer. We were just about to give up on therapy although it has been a tremendous help so far. I'm rethinking it and we're going to talk it out.

Meditation is right now my strongest support because I can meditate anywhere, anytime, and yes, one of my legs is already longer than the other. I think it's the same for my husband. I'm working to find my balance. I definitley need time and I'm not pushing myself to be fast.

[sun]

Want to offer my experience.
I was deeply and profoundly involved in Diamond Way Buddhism for about three years. I left the cult (and I really think now he and his mixed-up teachings are a dangerous fraud, not deliberate, malicious or knowingly misleading, in fact I think good intention is there, but because of his arrogance, lack of humility, sexual prowlings, add up to an explosive mix).
I think Lama Ole actually believes his own rhetoric; he's not intending to lead people astray, he thinks he's a spiritual teacher doing his best to spread the dharma, but because he has not done the work necessary to be a genuine spiritual illuminator and leader, he is confused by his own arrogance --- which is refuelled by the devotion of his students. He is powerfully charismatic, a very attractive man, he would have been successful in any walk of life; but when the shit hits the fan, as it did for me at one of his retreats, he simply did not have the spiritual insight, the genuine empathy, the compelling compassion, to reach outside of his own program (provided glib answers ungrounded in anything truly felt or observed).
I have a unique perspective as I know what a genuine Buddhist master is like: I had the benefit of working with one closely prior to my DW days, someone who had meditated for 20 years, who had the recognition and traditional mantle-passing of his tradition.
Lama Ole has no such history of serious practise (never even did the basic three-year training), and apparently the 16th Karmapa expressly stated in front of a group that he could NOT use the title Lama. (Im sure a google search will turn that record up relatively easily, who was involved in that exchange etc; I know it was a Lama that recorded this conversation/statement but I cannot recall who).
So I came into the picture pretty naive, fortunate enough to have had such an authentic experience, practise and guidance with my former teacher behind me. I didn't see/was blind to any warning signs. Anything dodgy (and there was PLENTY) I justified and turned around. Like, on a retreat, during an informal afternoon gathering, he approached a young woman (by far the prettiest, and one of the younger women there, she was early 20's) and said (this is close to a direct quote) "you're my type. You should join me some time accompanying me on a tour". Now this girl was there with her partner. She was there with her boyfriend/fiance for christs sake, and Ole's hitting on her. Where the hell is that supposed to leave the boyfriend standing??? What happens to the boyfriends practise of dharma or devotion to teacher? I remember going to her and saying "you are so honoured. It's a real honour. You should do it". I was of the perception at the time that a liason with the Lama would have been the highest teaching or transmission. He ABSOLUTELY DOES uses his authority, his status to initiate sexual liason. My deepest hope and dream was to be one of his chosen women, and I know for a fact that so many of my fellow female practitioners held the same flame. He is immensely charismatic. But he is a shit spiritual teacher. In my hour of great need, when I needed spiritual guidance, wisdom, groundedness, perspective, he was absolutely unable to deliver. In fact his glib stock-issue responses added fuel to my out of control fire. He promotes a scene of free love.
Since leaving the scene I have experienced genuine spiritual confusion, profound and agonising. i was reluctant to direct any blame toward the teacher (this is warned against in traditions of Buddhism, the student must look to themselves). But years after the event I am starting to think that the environment that Ole creates/directs was not conducive. Ok so the Diamond Way folk would say it's "my karma" (saying this with a slightly arrogant tone: as I said it myself!! as if having the slightest clue as to what was being said, assuming a kind of special knowledge due to being fed the line that "this is the highest teaching, you can only have contact with these teachings if you have had significant contact in past lives"), the inplicatin being that I'm not ready, these are the highest level teachings, my karma is requiring purification..etc etc etc. Garbage I would NEVER have hear from my former (authentic) teacher who always sought to empower me rather than disempower or sort into a kind of hierarchy.
So from a former member... I think this stuff is just gunpowder waiting to go off. Also free love is part of the scene, so for the lady whose concerned that her husband is involved, just know that he could very very easily, in my opinion, be swept into a sparky romance at a retreat where everything seems to have its own rules away from regular life.
But also the practitioners are very sincere, and it can promote very positive changes in ones life. Its a fine line. I think for anyone of an ungrounded disposition it is fireworks not to be messed with.

[sun]

Also, regarding Ole Nydahl's use of the Lama title, here is a quote from Wikipedia:
Quote:
Ole Nydahl has been criticised for using the title of Lama, despite having not completed the usual 3-year retreat required to take on such a title. Lama Namsen Rinpoche, a lama of the Karma Kagyu lineage, states that the 16th Karmapa during a meeting in 1977 told Ole Nydahl "You are not a Lama. You have met many Lamas, but you are not one of them. What you can do is tell others about Dharma, but you can't act like a Lama".