Healing from Spiritual Abuse Resources

This is a small collection of helpful books, online articles, videos, and teachers that we’ve found to be healing and supportive, as well as enlightening about the subject of ethical behavior within Dharma groups. We hope that you will find something that touches and enriches you. And please share your suggestions in the comments section.

Fallout: Recovering from Abuse in Tibetan Buddhism covers most of the issues faced by people leaving a Tibetan Buddhist Cult.

‘Written with spiritual insight, emotional literacy, and common sense, this down-to-earth, wise, and healing book should be read by anyone who is thinking of joining, is part of, or thinking of leaving a religious group, whether it is Buddhist or not.’ Geoffrey Beatson, psychotherapist.

Free Books – download here.

Ford, Wendy_ Recovery from Abusive Groups
Herman_Trauma-and-Recovery

Groups

https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ (recommended.) They mostly work with people who have come out of Christian cults, but many of the issues you will face are the same no matter what the cult)

https://familysurvivaltrust.org/

Therapists

http://www.alexandrastein.com/

Checklists

If you’re not sure if you were in an abusive group or not, try these checklists:
SPIRITUALLY_ABUSIVE_SYSTEMS
Emotional_Abuse_Checklist
Group_Psych_Abuse_Scale

Websites

Healing after your teacher crosses a line

https://tricycle.org/magazine/after-your-teacher-crosses-line/

The Five Stages Of Grief – https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.grief.html

Trauma Bonding

– https://www.abuseandrelationships.org/Content/Survivors/trauma_bonding.html

Communal Abuse & Relationships –https://www.abuseandrelationships.org/Content/Communal%20Abuse/communal_abuse.html

Traumatic Bonding Survivors – https://victimsofpsychopaths.wordpress.com/traumatic-bonding/

Teachers not Gods

Resistence, Surrender and Karma

How Will You See The Guru?

Trauma Bonding

Emotional Attachments in Abusive Relationships: A Test of Traumatic Bonding Theory

Confronting Abuse: Be Proactive

Guideline for Spiritually Abused Persons

The Open Minds Foundation A website with articles and other resources concerning undue coercion and manipulation.

reFocus A support and referral organization for former members of high demand groups, relationships and cults

Religious Trauma Syndrome

Journey Free – a group dedicated to helping people transition out of harmful religions, recover from trauma, and rebuild their lives

Ted Talks

Brene Brown – The Power Of Vulnerability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

Brene Brown – Listening To Shame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0

Facebook

Beating Trauma

https://www.facebook.com/pg/BeatingTrauma/

Abuse in Buddhism: Education, Solutions and Support

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696112073746470

Books

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World – Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Abrams

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Joy-Lasting-Happiness-Changing/dp/0399185046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499980552&sr=8-1&keywords=the+book+of+joy

Beyond Religion – His Holiness the Dalai Lama

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Religion-Ethics-Whole-World/dp/054784428X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499976005&sr=8-1&keywords=beyond+religion+dalai+lama

Confession of a Buddhist Atheist – Stephen Batchelor (Not at all like the title. Actually a good historical study on Buddhism, as well as very interesting details from his attendance at the conference in ‘93 with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)

https://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499979865&sr=8-1&keywords=confessions+of+a+buddhist+atheist

Loving Kindness – Sharon Salzberg

https://www.amazon.com/Lovingkindness-Revolutionary-Happiness-Shambhala-Classics/dp/157062903X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499968130&sr=8-1&keywords=loving+kindness+sharon+salzberg

The Joy Diet – Martha Beck

https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Diet-Daily-Practices-Happier/dp/0609609904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499968952&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Joy+Diet

The Mindful Path To Self Compassion – Christopher Germer, PhD

https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Path-Self-Compassion-Yourself-Destructive/dp/1593859759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499969049&sr=8-1&keywords=Mindful+Self+Compassion

Freedom Mind