Religion, a great way of getting laid.
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 11:49 pm
Former members of a Buddhist community claim they suffered years of abuse at a retreat in the 1970s and 80s.
The men say they were persuaded to engage in sexual activity with Dennis Lingwood, former head of the Triratna Buddhist movement based in Norfolk.
One man said the experience left him with a sense of "sadness and futility".
The group said Mr Lingwood, now 91, had "acknowledged" his past "sexual relationships" with some of the people he taught.
Mark Dunlop, 66, of Norwich, joined the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in the 1970s, based at Surlingham, near Norwich.
He said Mr Lingwood, known as Sangharakshita, was leader of the group at the time and persuaded him to join.
He said Mr Lingwood encouraged him to submit to sexual activity with him to help "make spiritual progress".
"I told him I hated it. He said well you need to keep persevering, you mustn't give up," said Mr Dunlop.
"It was abuse of trust really, because I was a very sincere, perhaps naïve young man wanting to practise Buddhism."
He said he would like an apology from the group, which later became the Triratna group that is still in operation, but had yet to receive one.
The BBC has spoken to three men who say they were pressured into having a sexual relationship with Mr Lingwood under the guise of spiritual friendship.
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