Buddhist
Rigpa (Sogyal Rinpoche, post-2017)
28/40· HighConfidence: High
Western Tibetan Buddhist organisation founded by Sogyal Rinpoche (1979). The 2017 open letter from eight long-term students forced Sogyal's resignation. Lewis Silkin investigation (2018) confirmed sexual and physical abuse.
CLCI radar
High Control
BITE breakdown
Behavior Control7/10
Information Control6/10
Thought Control7/10
Emotional Control7/10
Modifiers (+1)
+1 for documented Sogyal Rinpoche sexual abuse (2017+ open letter, Lewis Silkin investigation).
Founded
1979
Members
Tens of thousands lifetime
Active in
Europe, USA, Global
In context
Rigpa was a major Western Tibetan Buddhist organisation. Sogyal's 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying' (1992) was a global bestseller. After the 2017 open letter and 2018 Lewis Silkin report, Sogyal stepped down; he died in 2019. Continuation under reformed governance.
Notable public ex-members
- Mary Finnigan
- Multiple 2017 open-letter signatories
Legal cases & controversies
- 2017 open letter
- 2018 Lewis Silkin report
Timeline
- 1979Rigpa founded by Sogyal Rinpoche
- 2017Open letter from eight long-term students
- 2018Lewis Silkin investigation report
- 2019Sogyal dies
Sources
- Lewis Silkin investigation report (2018)
- Mary Finnigan & Rob Hogendoorn book (2019)
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.
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Disclaimer. This profile is an educational summary based on publicly available reports. Many members of this group do not experience the patterns described. Individual congregations and chapters vary widely. If you or someone you know needs support, contact a licensed therapist or the International Cultic Studies Association.