gdp's Comments

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Sat, 26 Sep 2015 22:58:00 +0000

Clear cut examples that GMR's method didn't even work for him: 1) Oprah pitch https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/09/2... 2) TED pitch https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/09/2... 3) Breakfast wish https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/09/0... 4) Dehli belly https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/09/0...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 04:32:21 +0000

Regrettably, many people from this 2nd retreat are helping GMR spread his mistaken views of karma.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 03:16:50 +0000

Some older students (including the angels from the first retreat) left him. Some would-be students have been warned away by discussions here.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 03:12:43 +0000

The owner decided to make the videos private. Google searches.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Thu, 6 Aug 2015 23:15:00 +0000

Good to see you commenting again, but your assessment seems pretty harsh, unless you have personal knowledge.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Mon, 8 Jun 2015 02:36:19 +0000

Come together: the naked truth https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/06/0...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Tue, 12 May 2015 21:27:47 +0000

A man of miracles https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/05/1...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 19:43:10 +0000

The oracle of Phoenix https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/04/2...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Thu, 19 Mar 2015 05:00:22 +0000

I assume the conversation on your chosen topic has not been very fruitful for either of us--which is regrettable. On the topic of his worldview, of karma in particular, GMR proposes "coffee meditation" as the method to hasten a desired karmic outcome, for example a perfect partner. Is such teaching "helpful and correct"? The method wasn't particularly helpful for GMR, Christie, or many tantra couples--according to Christie's account: “a huge number of break-ups”. If the "Diamond Cutter method" could "remove diseases", from gout to cancer, why wasn't it helpful in ridding him of diarrhoea on trips to India https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2014/06/1...? Why was Andin in crippling debt despite his massive merit of partially paying off Sera Mey's debts? Is his method for getting karmic results in this lifetime supported by scriptures or commentaries? Unless you re-engage in conversation on this new topic of karma and emptiness, I won't bother typing out my reply. In any case, I wish you the best on your path and hope that you will help lead others away from the wrong the path. Remski's new article on DM tragedy https://yogainternational.com/article/view/spirit...

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:56:51 +0000

We had been responding to each other's comments within a few days, but my reply to your trang-nge comment was 5 weeks ago and is still unanswered; but I'm glad it's not intentional, you may want to sort the posts by Last Activity. BTW, that reply should not be misconstrued as idle gossip, my intention was to address the topic at hand, and understand how it is practiced by tradition vs at DM. As far as I can tell, guru yoga and samaya may create a staggerlingly lopsided power dynamic that can be unhealthy/problematic, at least in the Western cultural context, and especially when practiced by unskillful Western newbies. As the DL has wisely pointed out: "The problem with the practice of seeing everything the guru does as perfect is that it very easily turns to poison for both the guru and the disciple. Therefore, whenever I teach this practice, I always advocate that the tradition of “every action seen as perfect” not be stressed. Should the guru manifest un-dharmic qualities or give teachings contradicting dharma, the instruction on seeing the spiritual master as perfect must give way to reason and dharma wisdom. I could think to myself, “They all see me as a Buddha, and therefore will accept anything I tell them.” Too much faith and imputed purity of perception can quite easily turn things rotten." http://www.lionsroar.com/teachers-not-gods But GMR seemed to not have foreseen such dangers, even when practiced in a private one-on-one setting. In fact, he seemed to encourage such unbalanced view when he claimed divinity, and wrote in another letter that the women in the first retreat were all angels/female Buddhas. I'll take to heart your reminder of not getting caught up in the scandal and gossips. I feel that the info in this forum has created a clearer, but somewhat skewed, view of GMR and DM. Though I'm on the path, there are plenty who are or would like to be, and I wouldn't hesitate to alert them that they're possibly being mislead down the wrong path: the "proofs" of success through karmic management all have huge holes. Unfortunately, it does not seem possible to challenge his karma presentation without mentioning background stories. My outsider's perspective may be very wrong, and as always, I'd appreciate any feedback from you and other students.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:06:06 +0000

I have always had an interest in various religions, but someone close to me is Buddhist, so I'm a little more drawn to Buddhism, maybe I am Buddhist-curious? I have a hard time understanding the DL's and TNH's talks, so imagine my delight when I first read about GMR, finally a learned monk who speaks fluent English. A few years ago, I almost went to one of his talks, a Buddhist monk in the diamond business sounded interesting enough, but I didn't go at the last minute, for once in my life, laziness saved me. Given his credentials, in all likelihood I'd have been drawn into his world. More than likely I would have received refuge vows, and who knows, perhaps even ordination vows from him. As for motivation, I have enough respect for the dharma to be sufficiently concerned about his version of Buddhist philosophy (karma presentation) and history (Christian influence through St. Thomas). I hope that gives you a better idea of who you're conversing with. BTW, if you 're no longer interested in discussing with me the topic of your choosing, I'd appreciate it if you would say something to that effect rather than disengaging mid conversation (the equivalent of hanging up).

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Sat, 7 Mar 2015 14:49:26 +0000

Not sure if you didn't see my question regarding guru yoga.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Fri, 6 Mar 2015 01:38:36 +0000

Care to comment on guru yoga and/or samaya?

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Fri, 6 Mar 2015 01:34:12 +0000

3 of the 4 women who were in the first retreat with him have disassociated themselves.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 07:00:06 +0000

Birdman, what have been going on since the end of retreat? How active is the place? I assume there're only caretakers as the students are gone? Are there occasional gatherings among DM students? How often have they rented out the place?

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 06:03:10 +0000

Unforgiven https://michaelroachfiles.wordpress.com/2015/02/2... feedback from current and former students, please?

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:56:53 +0000

Uncoupling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jg6N57p378 Coupling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k54qo9ru8c&t... Lama knows best!

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Tue, 3 Feb 2015 05:59:44 +0000

A typical student probably would not have access to or interest in "trang-nge" or "Lekshe Nyingpo", but would have seen fellow students prostrating at the lama's feet. Such visuals can work in subtle but powerful ways on the student's mind. What seems strange, at least to an outsider like me, is that the roles among DM couples were not well-defined and even reversed: GMR was Christie's lama, and she was his, this mutual role reversal was again repeated between Ian and Christie. Each person viewing their partner as divine is not a part of the tradition (*am I right?* just as lamas do not prostrate to students), and a deference to each other's judgment seems to be more dangerous: "My divine partner probably knows what's best."

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Tue, 3 Feb 2015 05:56:18 +0000

Thanks, Kev. Please send my regards to Ekan if you run into her.

elephant journal: Yoga, Sustainability, Politics, Spirituality. : The Michael Roach Bubble.

Sun, 1 Feb 2015 06:07:04 +0000

Hey Kev, are you comfortable with disclosing how soon you're supposed to view the lama as a divine being? It seems like GMR pushes that pretty early and hard, but I don't have primary knowledge, and so may be wrong.