Keith Raniere, cult guru linked to Tenzin "Sex in the Sangha" Dondhen prosecuted

[Ringo Starr]

U.S. NEWS
Self-help guru was really a cult leader, who pressured women into sex, prosecutor said
Opening statement paints dark picture of Keith Raniere, former leader of an upstate New York group called NXIVM.
Image: Keith Raniere
Keith Raniere, founder of NXIVM, entering a Dalai Lama event at the Palace Theater in downtown Albany on May 6, 2009.Jane Rosenberg / Patrick Dodson
May 8, 2019, 2:30 AM GMT+8
By Associated Press
A self-help guru groomed women for sex, subjecting them to "shame and humiliation" and threatening to expose their "deepest, darkest secrets" if they didn't comply with his wishes, a federal prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Hajjar presented opening statements at the sex-trafficking trial of Keith Raniere, the former leader of an upstate New York group called NXIVM that's been likened to a cult.

The prosecutor alleged that Raniere had sex with a 15-year-old girl and took nude photos of her; she also described how some female followers were branded with Raniere's initials.

Authorities have said the branding was done using a cautery pen without anesthesia by a doctor who is now under investigation by state health officials. Eight "Jane Does" in that case have refused to answer questions, saying through their lawyers "the branding was a voluntary free expression of personal beliefs."

image: Keith Raniere -- ONE TIME USE ONLY -- DO NOT USE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM PHOTO DESKKeith Raniere, founder of NXIVM, entering a Dalai Lama event at the Palace Theater in downtown Albany on May 6, 2009.Patrick Dodson
But Raniere's trial is expected to feature testimony from women who claim they were forced to have sex with Raniere. Five of Raniere's co-defendants, including TV actress Allison Mack , have pleaded guilty

Raniere denies criminal wrongdoing; his lawyers say his relationships were consensual.

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In court papers, defense lawyers have said the alleged victims were never abused. The women were instead described as "independent, smart, curious adults" in search of "happiness, fulfillment and meaning."

But legions of NXIVM defectors and detractors have called the self-help rhetoric a brainwashing device that has destroyed lives.

Promotional material for the now-disbanded NXIVM once hailed Raniere as a "scientist, mathematician, philosopher, entrepreneur, educator, inventor and author" who has "devoted his life to developing new tools for human empowerment, expression and ethics."

"The defendant pretended to be a guru," Hajjar said, "but he was a criminal."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/self-help-guru-was-really-cult-leader-who-pressured-women-n1002896

https://artvoice.com/2017/10/31/sara-bronfmans-lover-lama-tenzin-suspended-dalai-lama-corruption-claims/

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/tenzin-dhonden-dalai-lamas-gatekeeper-personal-emissary-peace-replaced-executive-secretary/

[Drolma]

Dalai Lama is not the king, he is not above everything. Even though the sex predator and cult leader Keith Raniere was endorsed and has received the blessings from the Dalai Lama, he still has his own karma he has to deal with. He has to be responsible for the crime he has committed.

All the lamas who have abused their students should be very worried and afraid now. Why? Because look at Keith Raniere, he has to face his consequence at the end of the day. His karma is catching up on him. He may not be a Buddhist but karma applies to every single sentient being in the world.

More irresponsible Buddhist teachers are exposed of their bad behaviours, how they abuse their students. The victims have waited for so many years before exposing them, this shows how much pain they have suffered and how traumatised they are before they have a clearer mind to want to make these bad Buddhist teachers to pay for the price of the crimes they have committed.

[Alex]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama should not have granted audience to these kinds of people where their conducts are questionable. An appearance with His Holiness the Dalai Lama will let them gain the trust of the public because His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a huge peace icon in the world. Most people will think that since His Holiness is willing to grant them audience, then they must be good people.

However, little did they know that the Tibetan government is selling His Holiness's appearance to people who can pay them big bucks. There are many not nice people around His Holiness that is using His Holiness to gain benefits for themselves.

People like Sogyal and Sakyong Mipham were found guilty of sexually abusing the women around them. However, because of their "closeness" with the Dalai Lama, they did not face the consequences that they deserve. Just like Dagri Rinpoche who recently got arrested for molesting an Indian woman on a plane. After that, many women that were molested by Dagri Rinpoche and the public attacked her instead of protecting this poor woman who was tormented by Dagri Rinpoche 10 years ago. Just because Dagri Rinpoche is close with His Holiness.