Ipswich Buddhist Centre’s earns a 1.0-star rating from 4 reviews, showing that the majority of visitors are dissatisfied with spiritual engagement and learning.
- All
- Reviews only
- Complaints only
- Resolved
- Unresolved
- Replied by the business
- Unreplied
- With attachments
Keywords
leader apologized apology cult abuse cult behaviour sangharakshita sexual abuse scandal triratna buddhist community buddhist centres buddhist way of life friendship meditation retreats positive experiences pure awareness meditation self-awareness spiritual practice spiritual teaching attempts bad mouthedCult behaviour, bad-mouthing, dishonesty, anti-relationship, not recommended for those who pursue romantic relationships
I have a duty to report the Triratna Buddhist Community as a cult like movement.
They are reported in the press for a sexual abuse scandal involving its leader Sangharak[censored]a. The Guardian article says that social services are involved and that the leader of the movement has apologized, and another news agency did a piece on the Padmaloka Retreat Centre, referring to allegations of abuse there by Sangharak[censored]a.
I was involved in the movement at the Ipswich Buddhist Centre and they tried to gag me when I spoke up about my concerns about cult behaviour and sexual abuse in their wider movement.
I was threatened with a lawsuit and losses if I did not be quiet. They lied about me later and gave me bad references (I worked for their associated gift shop).
Now the truth of their abuse is out I can now talk, and there is the defence of qualified privilege as well as statements made to prevent harm or danger.
The movement is a cult like sect with a history of abuse and scandal, the proof is evident. Their leader has also apologized and their main website has acknowledged the confession.
I asked for an apology several times in 2015 and 2016, and instead some of them mouthed me off behind my back making untrue derogatory insulting comments. The name was Buddhasiha.
Buddhasiha was involved in speaking ill about one of the ex-employees of the Ipswich Evolution store named Free Spirit.
He claimed that they were involved in serious criminal activity and had tried to blackmail the business in order to cause it losses. That was false.
Buddhasiha spoke ill of him because he raised ethical concerns about how the store operated, its recruitment policies and its attitudes toward those who are heterosexual.
He has refused to apologize, even though that would have involved a simple 10 minute trip to a notary office.
Beware
Google FWBO Files and Triratna Controversy, and Ipswich Buddhist Centre Wordpress (a whistleblowing website)
Here are links to the scandal:-
https://ipswichbuddhistcentre.wordpress.com/the-truth-about-the-ipswich-buddhist-centre/
https://ipswichbuddhistcentre.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/ipswich-buddhist-centre-experience/
https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2017/02/19/whitewash-dishonesty-culture-of-abuse-in-the-triratna-buddhist-order-tbo/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-37432719
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/19/buddhist-sexual-abuse-triratna-dennis-lingwood
https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/statement-urgyen-sangharakshita
Anyone attending the Ipswich Buddhist Centre, may at first enjoy the meditations, but there is always a danger in the background that if you try and leave the Centre, it becomes cult-like, and that is when the abuse starts.
Such abuse may include sexual discrimination, bad -mouthing you so you cannot get work elsewhere, threatening to sue you, or paying lawyers to bully you into silence.
The meditation in itself is sound, but getting more involved with the Centre or working for the movement is risky to one’s wellbeing. Some of the people in the movement are not honest and are of questionable integrity, something which stems from the sexual abuse issues in the 60’s which still plague the movement today.
cult behaviour, sexual discrimination scandal, anti-relationship, not recommended for those who pursue romantic relationships
I have a duty to report the Triratna Buddhist Community as a cult like movement.
They are reported in the press for a sexual abuse scandal involving its leader Sangharak[censored]a. The article says that social services are involved and that the leader of the movement has apologized.
See links below:-
I was involved in the movement at the Ipswich Buddhist Centre and they tried to gag me when I spoke up about my concerns about cult behaviour and sexual abuse in their wider movement.
I was threatened with a lawsuit and losses if I did not be quiet. They lied about me later and gave me bad references (I worked for their associated gift shop).
Now the truth of their abuse is out I can now talk, and there is the defence of qualified privilege as well as statements made to prevent harm or danger.
Here is my experience in detail on a whistleblowing website:-
https://ipswichbuddhistcentre.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/ipswich-buddhist-centre-experience/
https://ipswichbuddhistcentre.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/legal-disclaimers-reporting-abuse-at-the-ipswich-buddhist-centre/
The movement is a cult like sect with a history of abuse and scandal, the proof is evident. Their leader has also apologized and their main website has acknowledged the confession.
I asked for an apology several times in 2015 and 2016, and instead some of them mouthed me off behind my back making untrue derogatory insulting comments. The name was Buddhasiha.
Beware
Google FWBO Files and Triratna Controversy, and Ipswich Buddhist Centre Wordpress (a whistelblowing website)
buddhist cult, bad mouthing people behind their back, bad integrity, anti-relationship, caution advised
Caution is advised with this Buddhist cult who have branches all over the UK and the world.
The movement has featured in the UK press after their leader Sangharak[censored]a formally apologized and confessed to past abuses:-
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/19/buddhist-sexual-abuse-triratna-dennis-lingwood
https://thebuddhistcentre.com/news/statement-urgyen-sangharakshita
Their leader stated on the page above:-
Update: 8th February 2017
Sangharak[censored]a has confirmed that his apology extends to anyone he has harmed in any way at all, including those who were Buddhists at the time if not now, and their non-Buddhist family and friends. He further wishes to make it clear that his statement was a confession. As the acknowledgment of having breached the Buddhist ethical precepts, Buddhist confession can most fully be made to other Buddhists. His statement was therefore addressed to Buddhists, whether within or without Triratna, for the reason that the confession of evil is part of the spiritual context which he shares with other Buddhists.
I am still awaiting an apology from the Ipswich Buddhist Centre. I was involved with them for 4 years. I left to pursue my own path, including heterosexual romantic relationships, which they disapproved of.
All attempts in the past to get an apology has led nowhere, and they bad mouthed me in 2015, implying I was an attention seeker and being involved in an 'episode', in a bad faith attempt to portray me as the one in the wrong.
Recent events have shown the movement is starting to apologize and take responsibility. I also want my apology.
Here is the letter I wrote to the Ipswich Buddhist Centre, shared for public interest reasons:-
Dear All,
As you can now see, taking 10 years to formally apologize to someone for abuse is disadvantageous to the party involved in the abuse, worse so when the same parties worsen their situation by being dishonest in an unsuccessful attempt to help a criminally fraudulent company cause me losses and my death (the same company that some of your Order members bad mouthed me to has now been implicated in inciting death threats, a very serious matter indeed).
It is most embarrassing for you all no doubt that the UK Courts refused to entertain the case citing abuse of process issues and problems with witness testimony (much of it was proven to be false and made in bad faith, just like yours). It is also no doubt very embarassing that there is proven evidence that you lend complicit support to companies involved in criminal fraud and other forms of abuse, and that you condone the behaviour, and express sympathy when their abuses fail. This embarrassment is undoubtedly compounded by the BBC Inside Out program and Bhante’s confession.
As I explained to you in 2015, helping those who would conspire to harm me would be very karmically disadvantageous and detrimental indeed, and here are the end results:-
https://ipswich-buddhist-centre.pissedconsumer.com/bad-integrity-cult-behaviour-controlling-behaviour-bad-mouthing-201705301053733.html
The Ipswich Buddhist Centre — Cult behaviour, bad-mouthing, dishonesty, anti-relationship, not recommended for those who pursue romantic relationships
Ipswich Buddhist Centre — cult behaviour, sexual discrimination scandal, anti-relationship, not recommended for those who pursue romantic relationships
Ipswich Buddhist Centre — buddhist cult, bad mouthing people behind their back, bad integrity, anti-relationship, caution advised
Buddhasiha Ipswich Evolution Store — telling lies about people behind their back, refusal to apologize
The above postings (with 25+ more in the pipeline (including some extensive commentary on Buddhasiha’s and Saddharaja’s unfitness to lead retreats and calling for their resignations from the Order) have been made to ensure that you have to live with the karma of your abuse and disrespect toward myself for you have now learned that the karmic buck of the original abuse rests with yourselves (making you fully responsible for your own detriment I might add)
You will find none of the postings can be removed (bar one with a notary letter, but you did not want to write a notary letter, so why should I and plus I could never be coerced by a lawyer to lie in a notary letter, the last company that tried lost GBP 25, 000 in legal fees and were stuck with the true PC review).
Thus it is clearly a karmic lesson for you all in that ignoring a problem does not make it go away, nor does insulting those who reflect back to you the dysfunctions in your movement, as expanded upon here:-
https://ipswichbuddhistcentre.wordpress.com/the-truth-about-the-ipswich-buddhist-centre/
You could ignore them, but then people will see that you do not apologize and draw their own conclusions.
It would appear that the karma of bad mouthing me is severe, especially when it involves direct dishonesty with no interest in correcting yourselves, as is the karma of trying to interfere with my relationships, and then ‘punishing me’ in 2008 by bad mouthing and causing me losses, because I left your Sangha to pursue a romantic relationship and because I would not stay in Ipswich.
There is also proof your movement does this often and other bloggers have the same opinion:-
https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/2017/02/19/whitewash-dishonesty-culture-of-abuse-in-the-triratna-buddhist-order-tbo/
(see paragraphs 3-5 and attached)
There are also extracts from a book on Buddhist ethics which points out why downfall is the only end outcome of abusing a Spiritual Master, and also serves as a strong moral and ethical argument as to why yourselves are responsible for your detriment.
Now you will find you cannot ignore the matter as in around 6 weeks from now, the IBC will find Page 1 of Google rammed full of the indelible complaints and in the midst of a scandal and will remain like that for some years.
As to why the IBC are at the centre of the scandal, it is clearly because Buddhasiha was the one behind the heterosexual abuse, and the rest of the IBC rallied around to help and to support the abuse.
The IBC may consider suing but it and the wider movement probably would not want the messy PR consequences (deliberate dishonesty in a lawsuit is fraud and can result in prison sentences) and we also now know that the Court is on my side and not on the side of those who abuse people, hence I stand by my earlier opinion that you are now in zugzwang (namely that you have lost the dispute) and you may be well advised to take the loss in good sport and to take on board the lessons.
The core problem is that your leader is morally and ethically compromised beyond repair and the sooner you deal with that, the better.
Bhante’s karma, unfortunately, . will bring about the end of your movement. I sense after his death, your movement will become weak and divided. The bigger problem you have is the sheer number of people that think what he did was okay, and by thinking that, their behaviours become dysfunctional, and that’s where the abuse starts. You also have a problem that the bulk of the senior order also slept with Bhante and have been ethically compromised also.
You also have just 24 hours remaining to send me your apology PDF letters.
I would be within my rights to state online that you have declined to apologize should I not have received them by the end of tomorrow.
I have also CCd the East Anglian Daily Times and the Guardian in the public interest so they can see if you want to apologize or not.
Kind Regards
Free Spirit
Is Ipswich Buddhist Centre Legit?
Ipswich Buddhist Centre earns a trustworthiness rating of 91%
Highly recommended, but caution will not hurt.
We found clear and detailed contact information for Ipswich Buddhist Centre. The company provides a physical address, phone number, and email, as well as 2 social media accounts. This demonstrates a commitment to customer service and transparency, which is a positive sign for building trust with customers.
Ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk has a valid SSL certificate, which indicates that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the browser and the "https" prefix in the URL to confirm that the website is using SSL.
Ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk has been deemed safe to visit, as it is protected by a cloud-based cybersecurity solution that uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to help protect networks from online threats.
Ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk you are considering visiting, which is associated with Ipswich Buddhist Centre, is very old. Longevity often suggests that a website has consistently provided valuable content, products, or services over the years and has maintained a stable user base and a sustained online presence. This could be an indication of a very positive reputation.
This website offers payment methods that provide the option for customers to get their money back, which could be a positive indicator of the company's commitment to customer satisfaction.
However ComplaintsBoard has detected that:
- Ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk has relatively low traffic compared to other websites, it could be due to a niche focus, but could also indicate a potential lack of traffic and popularity. The ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk may offer a niche product or service that is only of interest to a smaller audience.
cult behaviour, control, various abuses of nationwide triratna movement reported in uk press, risk of abuse, caution advised.
My experience of the Ipswich Buddhist Center (then the FWBO) included some long spells of stable friendship, many meditation retreats, the chance to deepen my own practice and to explore the Buddhist way of life so there was a lot of positive as well as the negative (described later). The FWBO had retreat centres all over the UK so I was able to do several...
Read full review of Ipswich Buddhist Centre and 21 commentsIpswich Buddhist Centre Reviews 0
If you represent Ipswich Buddhist Centre, take charge of your business profile by claiming it and stay informed about any new reviews or complaints submitted.
Overview of Ipswich Buddhist Centre complaint handling
-
Ipswich Buddhist Centre Contacts
-
Ipswich Buddhist Centre phone numbers+44 14 7321 1516+44 14 7321 1516Click up if you have successfully reached Ipswich Buddhist Centre by calling +44 14 7321 1516 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Ipswich Buddhist Centre by calling +44 14 7321 1516 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Ipswich Buddhist Centre by calling +44 14 7321 1516 phone number 1 1 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Ipswich Buddhist Centre by calling +44 14 7321 1516 phone number
-
Ipswich Buddhist Centre emailsenquiries@ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk100%Confidence score: 100%Supportpublicity@ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk79%Confidence score: 79%communicationcommunityaction@ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk77%Confidence score: 77%chairman@ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk75%Confidence score: 75%executiveyoungbuddhists@ipswichbuddhistcentre.org.uk74%Confidence score: 74%
-
Ipswich Buddhist Centre address4 Friars Bridge Road, Ipswich, England, Suffolk, IP11RR, United Kingdom
-
Ipswich Buddhist Centre social media
-
Checked and verified by Laura This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn moreNov 05, 2024
Most discussed complaints
cult behaviour, control, various abuses of nationwide triratna movement reported in uk press, risk of abuse, caution advised.Recent comments about Ipswich Buddhist Centre company
buddhist cult, bad mouthing people behind their back, bad integrity, anti-relationship, caution advised
Bible Study Tools
9 reviews
TrueLDS
2 reviews
Isha Institute of Inner-sciences
4 reviews
The Deen Center
1 review
thoughts-about-god.com
1 review
Our Commitment
We make sure all complaints and reviews are from real people sharing genuine experiences.
We offer easy tools for businesses and reviewers to solve issues together. Learn how it works.
We support and promote the right for reviewers to express their opinions and ideas freely without censorship or restrictions, as long as it's respectful and within our Terms and Conditions, of course ;)
Our rating system is open and honest, ensuring unbiased evaluations for all businesses on the platform. Learn more.
Personal details of reviewers are strictly confidential and hidden from everyone.
Our website is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and absolutely free for everyone to use.