Polluting Buddhism: The politics, envy, and greed of Kelsang Gyatso and NKT (Lies have consequences Book 2)

The leading polluter of Buddhism, Kelsang Gyatso, a Tibetan monk for fifty years, broke away from mainstream Buddhism and his lineage in 1991 to form a cult, proclaiming that Tibetan Buddhism was impure and degenerate and to export to the West a sectarian devil named Shugden. The cult, known as the New Kadampa Tradition or NKT, has thrived financially – now with prime real estate around the world and a net worth of hundreds of millions of dollars – by misrepresenting itself as genuine Tibetan Kadampa Buddhism, taking advantage of the Dalai Lama’s honored reputation, commercializing vulgar Tantra programs, and marketing unlicensed psychotherapy, marriage counseling, and child care. Gyatso’s so-called monks and nuns receive a small fraction of the training and vows of traditional Buddhist clergy. All books about Buddhism are banned inside NKT other than those few written by Gyatso. Likewise, all revered Buddhist teachers are banned. Overtaken by Dalai Lama envy, Gyatso began attacking the Dalai Lama in 1996 alongside China’s government, which overthrew Tibet in the 1950s, with worldwide political protest rallies and calling him evil and a lying dictator to discredit his beloved reputation and status with the Tibetan people. In 1997, Shugden-worshiping allies of the cult murdered three of the Dalai Lama’s close associates at his residence according to police in India. Gyatso and NKT also damaged the lives and spiritual pursuits of thousands of its members, including hundreds of whom found the courage to escape from sexual, psychological, emotional, and spiritual abuse. The cult regularly defamed hundreds of academic researchers, leading Buddhist organizations and leaders, media, and its Survivors critical of the cult’s notorious abuse and vengeance. For his egregious transgressions, Gyatso was severed from Tibetan Buddhism in 1996 by his Tibetan monastery, stating that he is "Possessed by a terrible demon.” This book is dedicated to Gyatso/NKT Survivors.Thomas N. Tiedt began his study of Buddhism fifty years ago and found its teachings meaningful for his deeper understanding of his life’s purpose to help others. He eventually attended a center linked to the New Kadampa Tradition for a few years before learning the dark truth about Gyatso and his cult. This book reviews what Tiedt learned over the last eighteen years. His findings are corroborated by leading Buddhist leaders and monasteries, Tibetan history, academic researchers, the media, and hundreds of the Survivors. He published essays about Gyatso and NKT since 2008. Read more