Tibetan Buddhism (mainstream)
Mainstream Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug, Kagyu, Sakya, Nyingma) is a moderate-low CLCI tradition. The guru-devotion (samaya) emphasis has produced documented teacher-abuse cases (notably Sogyal Rinpoche, Sakyong Mipham); the Dalai Lama's 2017 statement and post-2018 reforms have shifted norms.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — guru-devotion (samaya) tradition creates documented vulnerability to abuse; reform underway.
In context
Tibetan Buddhism's tantric path emphasises an unbroken samaya commitment to one's guru, creating a risk of exploitation when teachers abuse their authority. The 2017 collapse of Sogyal Rinpoche's Rigpa following the open letter from eight long-term students, the Sakyong Mipham misconduct revelations at Shambhala, and the Dalai Lama's calls for reform have produced significant institutional change in Western Tibetan centres.
Key control doctrines
- Guru-devotion (samaya)
- Tantric empowerments (wang)
- Lineage transmission via reincarnated tulkus
Notable public ex-members
- Mary Finnigan
- Rebecca Newman
- Multiple Project Sunshine survivors
Legal cases & controversies
- Sogyal Rinpoche / Rigpa Lewis Silkin investigation (2018)
- Shambhala / Sakyong Mipham misconduct revelations (2018)
Timeline
- 8th c.Padmasambhava brings Buddhism to Tibet
- 195914th Dalai Lama exiled to India
- 2017Open letter from 8 students forces Sogyal Rinpoche's resignation
- 2018Sakyong Mipham steps back at Shambhala after Project Sunshine reports
Sources
- Mary Finnigan & Rob Hogendoorn, 'Sex and Violence in Tibetan Buddhism' (2019)
- Rigpa 2017 investigation report (Lewis Silkin)
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.