Fallout

Fallout is the memoir of one woman’s journey from ignorance of the reports of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by Sogyal Rinpoche, spiritual teacher of the Rigpa Tibetan Buddhist community, to the realisation of the depth of the trauma suffered by survivors, and how certain beliefs and assumptions enables such abuse. It’s also a tribute to the healing power of the What Now? virtual support group, and the compassion, wisdom, and resilience of its members. 

Tahlia shares some of the insights and knowledge she gained during her role as one of the facilitators of the group, the challenges she and others faced, and the realisations she came to in light of her discoveries. The book is a personal record of psychological processing, showing the consequences of spiritual abuse for an ordinary member of an abusive, high-demand religious group.

Fallout is a cautionary tale for students and potential students of any guru-centred spiritual group. For Buddhist teachers, it not only exposes the destructive results of guru abuse but also provides valuable insight into areas of the teachings which can easily be misunderstood and misused and so need to be carefully taught and applied.