Lectures & Events
Wednesday, September 9th - 12pm EST
Potential Risks of Involvement with Buddhist Sects
Abstract: Meditation is widely recommended for wellbeing and Buddhist ideas are woven into psychological therapies such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy. However the potential risks and contraindications of different forms of meditation and contemplation are rarely acknowledged in spiritual and wellbeing settings. Adverse effects of the practices may go unnoticed or may even be spiritualised as signs of progress along a spiritual path. There are a growing number of testimonies of psychological pressure and psychological abuse via the groups teachings. Most of these testimonies have not yet reached the attention of the general public or are dismissed. Karma and equanimity teachings have at times been used to victim-blame and invalidate the impact of abusive experiences within these groups. Suffering, rather than being seen through a trauma informed lens, is often viewed as incorrect view, a deluded mind, attachment to self or self-cherishing. This presents a variety of challenges in help seeking and whistleblowing.
Cost is $40, sliding scale available. Use code EBRISKS for 60% off before August 15th.
This lecture has been approved for 1 APA CE credit
Dr. Michelle Haslam, DClinPsych, PhD, BSc is a senior clinical psychologist working in private healthcare in the UK. She qualified in 2014 and has worked in a variety of adult mental health settings, mostly within the National Health Service and more recently in private healthcare. Michelle was previously involved with two Buddhist sects, The New Kadampa Tradition and Triratna, in the UK and is a survivor of spiritual abuse within these contexts. She now raises awareness of the potential risks of adverse effects, psychological and spiritual abuse in meditation and Buddhist settings.
Cheetah House is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cheetah House maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Questions:
email cheetahhouse.org@gmail.com to learn more.
Thursday, September 17th - 11am EST
Letters to My Former Self: Sofia May
Sofia May is a former assistant to Lama Tsultrim Allione and the whistleblower of Allione’s high control Buddhist Center, Tara Mandala. Sofia is one of the key witnesses in Be Scofield’s exposé about Allione’s coercive control, the only survivor to come forward with their real name thus far and is the whistleblower for this cult. She has shared her story on prestigious platforms, such as: A Little Bit Culty, Cults to Consciousness, LA radio program “Mystic Pete Chronicles KLXU,” and is scheduled to share her story on more platforms and publications in the future. Sofia is also an award-winning New York city raised stand-up comedian, based in Berlin, Germany. On the tails of her rave-reviewed, award-winning, sell-out debut solo “9/11 Birds and the Bees” at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025, Sofia is returning to the 2026 Fringe with a vengeance in a brutally incisive stand-up hour about her time assisting Allione at Tara Mandala called, “The Buddha Wears Prada.”
You can find Sofia’s whistleblowing material, touring schedule, and tickets to the Fringe at https://sofiamaycomedy.com/ and follow her comedic journey and whistleblowing rampage on instagram @sofiamaycomedy.
In her time working as Allione's assistant she experienced harrowing psychological and emotional abuse, in addition to exploitation of her work, and physically deteriorating conditions (including food deprivation and being forbidden from taking days off). Lama Tsultrim Allione is the founder and lead teacher/spiritual advisor of Tara Mandala Buddhist retreat center, which practices traditional Tibetan Buddhism. In this talk Sofia will speak of her harrowing experiences as Allione's assistant and how the tenants of Tibetan Buddhism thoroughly enabled Allione's abuse.
Cost is $40 with scale available. Use code EBMAY for 60% off by August 23rd.