How to Become a Cult Leader

• An Eternal Now

  9 Jul 11, 09:31

  Nothing related to Buddhism, but it's very interesting! Haha

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBK5aKOr2Fw

• Susanteo2011

  9 Jul 11, 20:57

   

  the Pope can teach best..............on how to be a cult leader.........

• Leogirldreamer

  18 Jul 11, 22:50

  A real life story here and a very successful cult. http://shcstory.com/web_article41.html
• shanfan

  18 Jul 11, 22:53

  Cults are Mormons, Jehova Witness, Seven Day Adventist, Scientology...... and the five in one religion.  

• Leogirldreamer

  18 Jul 11, 23:00

  �胜彦竟敢冒充阿弥陀佛�欺骗大家，真是�其胆大妄为��说他是西方��世界的大白莲花童�，大白莲花童�就 是阿弥陀佛。但是�胜彦竟然�知�西方��世界在哪里��在书中说，西方��世界在色界天，因为无色界天无身 体，欲界天有欲，所以他�现��世界是在色界天。�胜彦啊�胜彦，你对佛教实在是了解的太少了，广东��“蒙查 查� �其实，�北�时的曇鸾大师早就说过：西方��世界��在无色界天，�在欲界天，也�在色界天。因为色界 天是没有地的，从欲界天的第三层往上就都是在虚空中了，色界天完全是在虚空中，而��世界是有地的。所以，西 方��世界�对�是在三界内�从这里我们也�以知�，�说他28层天都去过也是唬�的。什么《诸天的阶梯》，那 都是些�牛的文章。从这里我们也�以知�，按照�胜彦的唬�的说法，��梦去过的地方充其�也就是在“色界 天�，�自认为是到了“西方��世界�，也就是说，�胜彦�打自招地承认自己没有出三界，没有走出六�轮回。那些 想达到明心�性了生脱死的人跟�唬�学，能学的出��？现在还认为�唬�是明师�？ �登达�（上师）说：没有摩诃�莲池，没有大白莲花童�，真佛宗没有传承。�登达�（上师）说的很对，我们� �供一个��。�胜彦说摩诃�莲池是在西方��世界的常寂光土，大�文化出过一本“真佛宗的100问�里�有写 。 常寂光土，是佛法身所在之处，是常寂光。西方��世界能�的�有三土，凡圣�居土，方便有余土和实报庄严土。 西方��世界里�最殊胜最特别的是凡圣�居土，是凡夫�以往生的地方，我们这个世界能达到方便有余土和实报庄 严土水平的人�常少。常寂光土里哪有什么摩诃�莲池和�八大莲花童�，也根本没有什么500中莲花和�莲花童 �。�唬�对西方��世界的四土蒙查查，�选了一个最高的常寂光土，去瞎蒙一下，结果把牛皮�破。 我们还有一个��，就是�唬�的《真佛�》- 真佛宗的�典。�对《真佛�》有解说，�述著了一本《真佛�解 说》。�说，�是西方��世界摩诃�莲池的大白莲花童�，�八大莲花童�其中�七�是从他心中化生出�的，一 共�男�女，男女�有从白到黑��颜色，女的颜色浅一些（加起�是�八）。。。。。。一一大莲花有500中莲花 童�，一一中莲花有500�莲花童�。。。。。。我们�看看《佛说无�寿�》（曹�康僧铠本），阿弥陀佛的48 愿，第四愿：“设我得佛，国中天人，形色��，有好丑者，��正觉。�第二�一愿：“设我得佛，国中天人，�悉� 满三�二大人相者，��正觉。�众所周知，西方��世界是没有女人的，并且，�个人的形体大�和颜色相貌都是一 样的，都是佛的三�二相，紫磨金身。而�唬��说有女身，而且一�是女的，�人的颜色大�都�一样。�唬�说 的完全与佛��符，与阿弥陀佛的48愿�符�所以，西方��世界里根本就没有什么摩诃�莲池，没有大白莲花童 �，没有�八大莲花童�和什么中�莲花童�。�唬�说，大白莲花童�的�历是阿弥陀佛是大日如�等等都是胡说 八���胜彦说自己是大白莲花童�，是阿弥陀佛，更是天大的谎言���现在大家彻底�清楚了�，大家�以放心 地退出真佛宗了。以�的莲戒“上师�说的是对的：�去西方��世界一定�念“阿弥陀佛�，摩诃�莲池是没有的，念 �唬�的“师尊心咒�是没有�用的� 现在的�是原形毕露了，�的本��目是个乩童和三� 作家，�堕��了一个骗�，一个邪教教主，一个妖魔鬼怪。所谓的“真佛宗�其实是�佛宗，其“悉地�是�的，其“密 法�是�的，《真佛�》是伪�，所谓的“师尊心咒�也是�的。�传的所有的法，所有的�顶都是�的。。。。。。� 时所有的“相应�，也是�的。�说的，���相应了，那都是�的。还有�说的他自己开悟了，���开悟了，都是 �的。还有什么���是什么颜色的（大）莲花童�等等都是�的。这都是�胜彦拿�骗钱骗色，拿�把人骗入地狱 的� �胜彦说他姓�，他全家姓�，��那佛也姓�，毗��那佛也有个�字，所以他就是佛。��那佛是姓��？“�� 那，毗��那�是梵文的音译，用这些汉字是译音。汉人中姓�的人就是��那佛，毗��那佛？�胜彦这�是在谤佛 �？��胜彦的这�开示，这�说法是佛法�？肯定�是。�是在谤法��竟然低能到如此地步�愚痴到这�地步� ��那佛，毗��那佛因为有个�字他也�以拿��文章，确实是�个精神病。�胜彦颠倒到这�程度，信徒们竟然 看�出�。 Buddhism also have cults like the True Buddha School. Full article on the website below. http://shcstory.com/web_article41.html
• Leogirldreamer

  19 Jul 11, 12:38

  To be a cult leader, you must be an eloquant speaker and can imagine things. Like Lu Sheng Yen, his family has a history of mental illness. His younger brother jumped to death due to this. It's in Lu Sheng Yen DNA and so he writes his fantasies in his books. 上�说到�唬��梦去过的地方充其�也就是在“色界天�。其实，色界天是没有五欲的，�对没有淫欲，并且�样是�有男人没有女人的�所以，�说的“摩诃�莲池�有一�男人一�女人，那是在三界的欲界内，连色界天都没有到���欲界的范围是包括地狱，我们这个世界和六层欲界天。�胜彦到底是�梦还是�精神病患者一样由于幻视幻�幻觉去了个什么鬼地方？�的弟弟是个精神病，�有精神病的家属�，�的弟弟患精神病自�身亡（�还说他治好了无数精神病，连自己弟弟都治�好，真佛宗里就有�少精神病或精神有问题的人）。所谓的“摩诃�莲池�，完全是�编造出�的。 �胜彦还敢冒充地���和阎罗王�欺骗大家。�在近年有本书里说，阎罗王的脸一�就显出是地���的脸，阎罗王就是地���，而地���就是他�胜彦。�曾说，你到地狱里去看到的地���是他�胜彦，看到的阎罗王也是他�胜彦。�最早说他的本尊之一是地���，��说他和地���是兄弟，���说地���的脸就是他�胜彦的脸，也就是说他就是地���。所以，真佛宗造的地���的脸相是用�的脸相�真佛宗里的人个个都是那么的胆大妄为�地���是冥界教主，在幽冥界是最大的，�殿阎罗在其之下。�胜彦在2008年的汶�大地震�有一场拙劣的表演，�对汶�大地震的那些亡�作了一次超度。�在作超度时，�然精神病�作，目瞪�呆，然�手脚剧烈乱动，所谓的什么打手�。。。。。。结�之�对信徒们说，是地狱中的黑天使�了，�了几�个，�给他超度，那些亡�已�入地狱了，�先把黑天使消�，自己�失了几�个星光体的莲花童�，然��把地狱的墙蹬破，把亡�从地狱里超度出�。。。。。。�说他以�作超度都是很容易的，这次原�也以为是�事一桩，没想到竟然这么难，他自己的元气也大��失。。。。。。接下去当天晚上还�和阎罗王谈判，结果谈判失败，因为破�了冥律，地狱也被�劈开了��了，什么地���帮忙说情也没用，�赔��失。��是白度�帮忙负责修�地狱，自己�失的星光体莲花童�，本��一个一个去修出�，��孔雀明王帮忙�以一下�修出。。。。。。。�胜彦这场拙劣的表演，当场看到的信徒觉得很�惊，�胜彦是在�什么神�？真佛报��作了详细报�，�在以�的法会上一次一次说，大家就都知�了，信徒们都信以为真，认为�超度功夫了得，�以把地狱破�掉，把亡�度出�。。。。。。但是，这是真的�？？？����胜彦�是说他就是地���，就是阎罗王�？那�是自己在跟自己斗�？自己���自己作超度�？自己跟自己谈判失败�？。。。。。。这�是�唬�的一场欺骗��时说明�的这次超度是�的，�样��，�所有的超度都是�的，一骗一切骗。（�胜彦连他自己的弟弟都没超度出�，�的弟弟早就死了，�到现在也没把他超度出�。�近年有说，他在阴间的弟弟，在阴间找到了一��美洲的鬼妹�女朋�，很高兴，夜里跑�告诉�。） http://bbs.omnitalk.org/politics/messages/93712.html
• Leogirldreamer

  20 Jul 11, 12:29

  Lu Sheng Yen the founder of True buddha School wants all his followers to visualise him sitting on top of their head during all dharma practise. Despite of this, many long time followers end up with diabetes, cancer and tumors. They took over lu sheng yen negative karma and developed all these bad illness. Instead of being blessed, many have to go for operations, some died. One of Lu sheng yen dharma lecturer died of throat cancer after chanting at funeral for only half a year. This is written and reported in the TBS's news online. Those not reported can be found out by asking around. Most brothers end up with diabetes, including senior monks while sisters end up with cervical cancer or tumors in ovaries. It's sad to see followers of True Buddha School being blessed with all types of illness even though they pray and chant diligently. Because they are following a cult and not knowing it.
• shanfan

  20 Jul 11, 12:33

  In Buddhism, is that religion which include the 5 major religions a cult?    I really don't believe religions should be that way they claimed.   I was invited over and over again by their worshippers, I rejected.

• mancha

  20 Jul 11, 12:34

  Hallmark of a cult is the one-way-ticket. You can join but cannot leave.

• Leogirldreamer

  20 Jul 11, 12:45

  Cannot leave a cult is a great misconception. It should be very difficult to leave but there will still be strong willed people who fight for their freedom to leave. Mormons, Scientology eg have former members who could leave to tell their stories. You can find their website.
• mancha

  20 Jul 11, 12:53

  If you can join of your own free will and leave on your own free will, what is the problem then?

• shanfan

  20 Jul 11, 12:56

  Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:

  Cannot leave a cult is a great misconception. It should be very difficult to leave but there will still be strong willed people who fight for their freedom to leave.

  Mormons, Scientology eg have former members who could leave to tell their stories. You can find their website.

   

  Cannot leave a cult is a great misconception. It should be very difficult to leave but there will still be strong willed people who fight for their freedom to leave.     -- Agree

• Leogirldreamer

  20 Jul 11, 13:00

  The word cult pejoratively refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.[1] The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices. The narrower, derogatory sense of the word is a product of the 20th century, especially since the 1980s, and is considered subjective. It is also a result of the anti-cult movement which uses the word in reference to groups seen as authoritarian, exploitative and that are believed to use dangerous rituals or mind control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult The keyword for a cult is MIND CONTROL.
• mancha

  20 Jul 11, 13:04

  Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:

  The word cult pejoratively refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.[1] The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices. The narrower, derogatory sense of the word is a product of the 20th century, especially since the 1980s, and is considered subjective. It is also a result of the anti-cult movement which uses the word in reference to groups seen as authoritarian, exploitative and that are believed to use dangerous rituals or mind control.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

  The keyword for a cult is MIND CONTROL.

  The keyword for a cult is MIND CONTROL. - Agree

   

• shanfan

  20 Jul 11, 13:08

  Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:

  The word cult pejoratively refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.[1] The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices. The narrower, derogatory sense of the word is a product of the 20th century, especially since the 1980s, and is considered subjective. It is also a result of the anti-cult movement which uses the word in reference to groups seen as authoritarian, exploitative and that are believed to use dangerous rituals or mind control.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

  The keyword for a cult is MIND CONTROL.

  
  Yes.    I know of one religion not cult also using mind control.   hahah.

• Leogirldreamer

  20 Jul 11, 13:29

  Besides Mind Control, threats psychology are also often used. I am not familiar with other cults such as Scientology , Mormons, except to based them on what i read online but i am quite familiar with the True Buddha School which incidentally is being termed as " New Age Religion " by the experts. In other words, it is a "cult". The experts also called it a "controversial school". Lu Sheng Yen used many Mind Control and threats Psychology in his teachings. He convinced his followers that he is the Amitabhva Buddha, the former reincarnated Kong Hai Japanese famous monk, one of the Qing Dynasty emporer and many other forms. You can read it in his books and articles. Although Lu Sheng Yen claimed to have many teachers in his various lineages, he never put up their photos in any of his temples, not even the 17th Karmapa. He is just name dropping and using it to fool the ignorant. He didn't bother to respect any of his so called teachers but HE expects his follower to die for him and to listen to every word that he says with 100% belief. This is Mind Control. The word was first used in the early 17th century denoting homage paid to a divinity and derived from French culte or Latin cultus ‘worship,’ from cult- ‘inhabited, cultivated, worshiped,’ from the verb colere 'care, cultivation'.[citation needed] The popular, derogatory sense of the word has no currency in academic studies of religions, where "cults" are subsumed under the neutral label of the "new religious movement", while academic sociology has partly adopted the popular meaning of the word.[2][3][4]
• Leogirldreamer

  1 Aug 11, 13:00

  Another method to be a cult leader....praise your followers until their ego is bloated and they will follow the cult leader for more ego boosting praises. 真佛宗里相当一部分上师是�射箭的，有的人是猜�出，有的人是知��没有开悟，知��是�的。这些人是知 ��的底牌的，知��的所作所为，知�没有人在诽谤�，�方晴，�儿教授师，张秀霞，�雅�等等的事全都 是真的，知��胜彦�上是人�下是鬼。。。。。。�是自己跟的时间太久了，一辈�被�了，当�刚明白时就 没有勇气走出�，现在就更没勇气走出�了。况且，自己有上师的地�，日�很好过（走出��，生活�而没� �了），自己的所作所为也已���污了，也是�帮�胜彦一起骗�能拿到供养的，自己也没感到有什么报应， 对因果报应��就�信了。。。。。。但是，�知�因果报应�毫�爽，活�时是花报，死�是果报，果报比花 报大许多许多�。密教还特别有个金刚地狱，一般的地狱�完苦还能出�，金刚地狱是出��的，佛��都没法 救，�有自己的上师修�佛��能救。自己的上师也下地狱的�，就没人救了。而且如果自己的上师下地狱的 �，自己也会跟下去，也跟�下地狱。�常�怕。所以密教�是�以�便学的，更��以�便玩弄的。还是�早 些觉悟，早些走出�。是�的就没有三昧耶戒，但是跟在��走，就会�为魔�魔孙，也被控制�胜彦的天魔所 管。任何人如果想走出�而走�出的�，�以念楞严咒，此咒�破魔。网上�查《楞严�》，《楞严咒》（有短 咒）。《楞严�》上有讲到五�阴魔，本事�常大，比起五�阴魔�，�胜彦是�儿科，幼稚园。这里顺便�一 下，所有的邪师，邪教都是�对《楞严�》的，2011年1月15日周六（�真佛报831期）�说，“有一個��，�夜�瓜，�在有甚麼西瓜？�天�有西瓜。冬 天有瓜嗎？冬瓜？哇�常智（釋蓮花常智上師）好�明，難怪是長�，一答就�了。� 常智上師或者是太�明 了，或者也和�一样是痴呆。冬瓜是�末秋�上市的，之所以�冬瓜是因为皮上有一层白霜（大家去网上一查就 知�）。常智瞎蒙�回答：冬天里有冬瓜，�胜彦说答对了，还称赞一下。就是说�也认为冬瓜是冬天里出产 的。。。。。。错了�以改，但是一周�，1月22日周六，����常智上师是�湾雷�寺的镇寺之�，懂许多 佛法，和六祖是�乡，长的�六祖。。。。。。�的�马和���以达到如此�心的地步。真佛宗里的一套主� 手法是：信徒���，���信徒，�方都飘飘然，自己抬高自己。这里至少说明两个问题：1. �胜彦是武大郎 开店，�但自己低，伙计们也低，都是�常智这��天有西瓜冬天有冬瓜的人；2. �胜彦说你答对了的时候，你 �万�想一想你到底有没有答对？是真对还是�对？ 说到这里�能有人�问，怎么�胜彦这么一钱�值？戳穿西洋镜�，�确实是一钱�值。�胜彦还神�兮兮地说 他�世是六祖。大家看看他���个精神病？�将�是越�越 （欢迎转载所有文章。请�阅www.shcstory.com）
• I No Stupid

  2 Aug 11, 01:10

  Cult is derived from cultivation - the cultivation of one's mind (mind control?), sublime submissiveness to an ideology, worship or veneration.

   

  The term is used (originally) to denote deviant practices in religion.  And what is deviant is of course subjective.  The orthodox school will say other schools are deviants.  All religions are plagued by cults because all it takes is just one charismatic and maverick man or woman to come up with a different idea and drum support usually by promises or fear or mystic power, and there will always be gullible people who swallow baits, hooks, sinkers and all.

   

  To be a cult leader one must stand out as different, persuasive, suave, charismatic and of course idiosyncratic and egoistic.  There must be an ideology (doctrines) to begin with coupled with the aforementioned characteristics.  Cult usually starts as a small group of 'like-minded' people and grew as it becomes more attractive (with promises), or subtle or forceful coercion, and finally financial power.  The facts that cults fall out of mainstream recognition, vilified or banned add to its attractiveness.  Members of the cult are usually loyal to the leader or swore allegiance to the group.  Not only that, they believed the leader can do no wrong!  Once the original leader or founder dies, the cult may risk dissipation.  On the other hand, cults can become mainstream schools.  It is all in number - mega.  As an example, City Harvest Church grew from an individual founder (Kong Hee) who decided not to be part of any ‘mainstream’ Christian denomination.  It calls itself non-denominational meaning independent with its own doctrines, approach and management control.

   

  Buddhism is no different.  The various schools or sects were definitely founded by cult leaders and not by experiential realization!

• An Eternal Now

  2 Aug 11, 12:34

  Many schools of buddhism are definitelty founded by people with deep experiential realizations
• Leogirldreamer

  2 Aug 11, 15:22

  Cult a. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. 4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cult
• I No Stupid

  2 Aug 11, 16:36

  Originally posted by An Eternal Now:

  Many schools of buddhism are definitelty founded by people with deep experiential realizations

  Really?  If they are people with deep experiential realizations, they will realized that they were renovating the Path with their own tiles which Buddha had originally laid.

• 2009novice

  2 Aug 11, 17:39

  若��谤者，说无舌疮�报

  若��谤三�者，说盲�喑哑报

  若�轻法慢教者，说永处��报

  若�污梵诬僧者，说永在畜生报

  若��我贡高者，说�使下贱报

  若�两舌斗乱者，说无舌百舌报

  若�邪�者，说边地�生报

  Amituofo

• Dawnfirstlight

  2 Aug 11, 18:37

  Originally posted by 2009novice:

  若��谤者，说无舌疮�报

  若��谤三�者，说盲�喑哑报

  若�轻法慢教者，说永处��报

  若�污梵诬僧者，说永在畜生报

  若��我贡高者，说�使下贱报

  若�两舌斗乱者，说无舌百舌报

  若�邪�者，说边地�生报

  Amituofo

  说得好�我们多写�文�

• 2009novice

  3 Aug 11, 00:09

  Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:

  说得好�我们多写�文�

  
  �敢当。。。 我看你知��义所在

  知我者莫若Dawn

• I No Stupid

  3 Aug 11, 11:05

  In earlier post I mentioned this:

  To be a cult leader one must stand out as different, persuasive, suave, charismatic and of course idiosyncratic and egoistic.  There must be an ideology (doctrines) to begin with coupled with the aforementioned characteristics.

  I have to add that in many instances of religious cult, the leaders are not only charismatic but also religious or spiritual.  Their motivations are just to be different, to breakaway, to start anew, to propogate their own agenda or doctrines.