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A Death on Diamond Mountain: A True Story of Obsession, Madness, and the Path to Enlightenment
An investigative reporter explores an infamous case where an obsessive and unorthodox search for enlightenment went terribly wrong.
When thirty-eight-year-old Ian Thorson died from dehydration and dysentery on a remote Arizona mountaintop in 2012, The New York Times reported the story under the "Mysterious Buddhist Retreat in the Desert Ends in a Grisly Death." Scott Carney, a journalist and anthropologist who lived in India for six years, was struck by how Thorson’s death echoed other incidents that reflected the little-talked-about connection between intensive meditation and mental instability.
Using these tragedies as a springboard, Carney explores how those who go to extremes to achieve divine revelations—and undertake it in illusory ways—can tangle with madness. He also delves into the unorthodox interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism that attracted Thorson and the bizarre teachings of its chief Thorson’s wife, Lama Christie McNally, and her previous husband, Geshe Michael Roach, the supreme spiritual leader of Diamond Mountain University, where Thorson died.
Carney unravels how the cultlike practices of McNally and Roach and the questionable circumstances surrounding Thorson’s death illuminate a uniquely American tendency to mix and match eastern religious traditions like LEGO pieces in a quest to reach an enlightened, perfected state, no matter the cost.
Aided by Thorson’s private papers, along with cutting-edge neurological research that reveals the profound impact of intensive meditation on the brain and stories of miracles and black magic, sexualized rituals, and tantric rites from former Diamond Mountain acolytes, A Death on Diamond Mountain is a gripping work of investigative journalism that reveals how the path to enlightenment can be riddled with danger.
When thirty-eight-year-old Ian Thorson died from dehydration and dysentery on a remote Arizona mountaintop in 2012, The New York Times reported the story under the "Mysterious Buddhist Retreat in the Desert Ends in a Grisly Death." Scott Carney, a journalist and anthropologist who lived in India for six years, was struck by how Thorson’s death echoed other incidents that reflected the little-talked-about connection between intensive meditation and mental instability.
Using these tragedies as a springboard, Carney explores how those who go to extremes to achieve divine revelations—and undertake it in illusory ways—can tangle with madness. He also delves into the unorthodox interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism that attracted Thorson and the bizarre teachings of its chief Thorson’s wife, Lama Christie McNally, and her previous husband, Geshe Michael Roach, the supreme spiritual leader of Diamond Mountain University, where Thorson died.
Carney unravels how the cultlike practices of McNally and Roach and the questionable circumstances surrounding Thorson’s death illuminate a uniquely American tendency to mix and match eastern religious traditions like LEGO pieces in a quest to reach an enlightened, perfected state, no matter the cost.
Aided by Thorson’s private papers, along with cutting-edge neurological research that reveals the profound impact of intensive meditation on the brain and stories of miracles and black magic, sexualized rituals, and tantric rites from former Diamond Mountain acolytes, A Death on Diamond Mountain is a gripping work of investigative journalism that reveals how the path to enlightenment can be riddled with danger.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2015
49 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
Scott Carney
19 books384 followersScott Carney is an investigative journalist and anthropologist whose stories blend narrative non-fiction with ethnography. He has been a contributing editor at Wired and his work also appears in Mother Jones, Foreign Policy, Playboy, Details, Discover, Outside, and Fast Company. He regularly appears on variety of radio and television stations from NPR to National Geographic TV. In 2010 he won the Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism for the story “Meet the Parents” which tracked an international kidnapping-to-adoption ring . His first book, “The Red Market: On the Trail of the World’s Organ Brokers, Bone Thieves, Blood Farmers and Child Traffickers” was published by William Morrow in 2011 and won the 2012 Clarion Award for best non-fiction book. He first traveled to India while he was a student at Kenyon College in 1998 and over the course of several years inside and outside the classroom he learned Hindi. In 2004 he received a MA in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All told, he has spent more than half a decade in South Asia. He lives in Long Beach, CA.
Source: http://www.scottcarney.com/
Source: http://www.scottcarney.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 26, 2017
In A Death on Diamond Mountain, Scott Carney has crafted an excellent examination of an untimely death, cult-like Buddhist practices, madness along the spiritual journey, and the dangers of extreme religious practices like multi-year, silent meditation retreats and fasting.
He also provides not only extensive backgrounds for all of the main actors in this tragedy, but also a dissection of the birth of Eastern philosophy in the West, including many different religions and belief systems.
This is the first non-fiction book that I've ever read that discusses potential negative effects of meditation.
In this eye-opening analysis, Carney talks about potential research bias in meditation studies. He mentions researchers habitually attributing consistently positive results to meditation and reporting any negative results as pre-existing conditions in the practitioners rather than a side effect of the practice itself.
I think that this is an indication that moderation in all things, including meditation, may be the best way forward. I was unaware of the potential, catastrophic consequences of abusing traditional spiritual methods.
The sad thing is that the tragedy detailed in this book could have been prevented.
The death of Ian Thornson reads like a soap opera.
Carney has written these dysfunctional yet charismatic people with such skill that their personalities almost leap off the page.
I pitied Ian's mother while reading about her struggles to extract her son from what she felt sure was a cult. Then, when his spiritual search eventually killed him, I can't imagine the pain that she went through.
I'm certain that any mother would be proud for her child to exhibit the sort of spiritual drive that Ian had, however, the extremes that he took it too were obviously unhealthy. Again, it appears that moderation is the key to success.
Readers who enjoy non-fictional survival stories like Into the Wild may enjoy A Death on Diamond Mountain.
This book could also appeal to readers who enjoy learning about Buddhist philosophy or meditation methods. It is a shining example of how not to proceed on the spiritual path.
Thanks for reading!
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
He also provides not only extensive backgrounds for all of the main actors in this tragedy, but also a dissection of the birth of Eastern philosophy in the West, including many different religions and belief systems.
This is the first non-fiction book that I've ever read that discusses potential negative effects of meditation.
In this eye-opening analysis, Carney talks about potential research bias in meditation studies. He mentions researchers habitually attributing consistently positive results to meditation and reporting any negative results as pre-existing conditions in the practitioners rather than a side effect of the practice itself.
I think that this is an indication that moderation in all things, including meditation, may be the best way forward. I was unaware of the potential, catastrophic consequences of abusing traditional spiritual methods.
The sad thing is that the tragedy detailed in this book could have been prevented.
The death of Ian Thornson reads like a soap opera.
Carney has written these dysfunctional yet charismatic people with such skill that their personalities almost leap off the page.
I pitied Ian's mother while reading about her struggles to extract her son from what she felt sure was a cult. Then, when his spiritual search eventually killed him, I can't imagine the pain that she went through.
I'm certain that any mother would be proud for her child to exhibit the sort of spiritual drive that Ian had, however, the extremes that he took it too were obviously unhealthy. Again, it appears that moderation is the key to success.
Readers who enjoy non-fictional survival stories like Into the Wild may enjoy A Death on Diamond Mountain.
This book could also appeal to readers who enjoy learning about Buddhist philosophy or meditation methods. It is a shining example of how not to proceed on the spiritual path.
Thanks for reading!
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
August 27, 2024
2.75/5
Nie jest to najgorszy reportaż jaki czytałam, ale mam wrażenie, że autorowi zabrakło materiału do opisania i aby zapełnić strony, nadużywał dygresji i pobocznych historii, które są luźno związane z tym co rzeczywiście stało się na Diamentowej Górze. Przyznam szczerze, że gdyby odrzucić boczne historie to sam tekst byłby o połowę krótszy i, być może, bardziej treściwy i mniej męczący.
Nie jest to najgorszy reportaż jaki czytałam, ale mam wrażenie, że autorowi zabrakło materiału do opisania i aby zapełnić strony, nadużywał dygresji i pobocznych historii, które są luźno związane z tym co rzeczywiście stało się na Diamentowej Górze. Przyznam szczerze, że gdyby odrzucić boczne historie to sam tekst byłby o połowę krótszy i, być może, bardziej treściwy i mniej męczący.
December 30, 2014
Scott Carney's 'A Death on Diamond Mountain: A True Story of Obsession, Madness, and the Path to Enlightenment" is, as the summary points out, "an exploration of how those who go to extremes to achieve divine revelations—and undertake it in illusory ways—can tangle with madness." As a psychology student, I found the author's research to be quite fascinating. I can almost empathize with Mr. Thorson as there was a point in my life where I searched for answers and may have crossed the 'boundaries of normalcy' once or twice, but never to the levels of those in this book. I also like how Mr. Carney discussed the fad of mixing and matching religious traditions in order to 'reach a more enlightened state'. I've noticed this myself with some of the 'nouveau fad' religions that often spring up around the nation.
Overall, Mr. Carney's book provides fascinating insights into some of the cultlike practices that many of these groups use, and how they can be dangerous for those involved. I would recommend this book to those interested in investigative journalism or to those who are interested in studying cults. I won this book from the Goodreads.com website in exchange for a review.
Overall, Mr. Carney's book provides fascinating insights into some of the cultlike practices that many of these groups use, and how they can be dangerous for those involved. I would recommend this book to those interested in investigative journalism or to those who are interested in studying cults. I won this book from the Goodreads.com website in exchange for a review.
April 25, 2015
This book is an excellent counterweight to assertions by so many that meditation and Buddhist teachings are always beneficial and uplifting. It's a religion, and like any other religion its tenants are ripe with opportunities for enigmatic sociopaths to start cults. The story of Ian Thorson is a wake up call and a warning: no safe or sane interpretation of religious texts requires one to divorce themselves from friends, sibling, or even one's own children. Any religion which encourages self-harm is unsafe. And lastly, it must be heartbreaking to watch this devolution from the outside as a friend or family member.
September 13, 2015
I'm not as taken with this as everyone else seems to be. The central story easily held my interest, as did most of the supporting historical detail, but I am not sure I would recommend this as a reading experience to most people I know.
Scott Carney did an admirable job of carefully researching the experiences of two remarkably interesting men, both struggling with how to channel their passions and searching for enlightenment, and both edging into extremism. One of these men, Ian Thorson, perished of dehydration during a drama-filled silent meditation retreat. This event gives purpose to the narrative -- we are meant to wonder how Thorson came to retreat willingly into such dangerous circumstances with his wife/guru, and what spiritual and psychological forces contributed to his demise. However, I actually found the character of Geshe Michael Roach, the charismatic, intelligent, and more-than-a-little shady leader of the Diamond Mountain community the more compelling. Roach founded his own religious movement that elides certain core tenets of Buddhist practice that are inconvenient to his love of glittery diamonds and pretty young women. Ian Thorson fell deeply into the thrall of this movement, enraptured by the possibility that he could simultaneously fulfill his yearning for spiritual enlightenment, his physical desires, and his family's expectations for him to fall at least vaguely in line with his WASP-adjacent upbringing and the vocational success of his Stanford classmates. Results: Plenty of drama, soul-searching, and one tragically preventable death.
Like any religion, Buddhism is fallible. Its ancient sacred texts contain obscure passages that are incompatible with our modern worldview or moral understanding. They are prone, like any texts, to misinterpretation or overinterpretation, and can be deeply problematic for individuals struggling with mental illness. Thus, this religion counts extremists among its adherents, and some of those extremists are violent to themselves and to others. Also, a much larger number of those adherents engage in practices that are not violent, but appear deeply strange, absurd, or titillating to those outside their exclusive circles. Like any religion: your results may vary.
This story is certainly worth telling, and it is particularly interesting to me, as I have recently been studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in a yoga and meditation class. In my class, I listen to an experienced teacher expound upon a translation, winding an interpretation outwards from a tightly coiled Sanskrit sentence, intended to distill a core meaning into the fewest possible syllables. My teacher is intensely aware of how her word choices affect our ability to take in the lesson, mindful also of the variety of interpretations that have resulted over the centuries and open about how she makes her own selections within a larger tradition of teachings. This book makes me all the more grateful to have a teacher who is cautious, thoughtful, and flexible enough to respond mindfully and helpfully to the unique struggles of her students. May all who seek to examine their mind-stuff and find inner peace be as fortunate.
And now, why only three stars? I found the poor writing and lazy editing inexcusably distracting. I am acutely aware of my own stylistic struggles in my writing, which makes me more critical when I see lapses from professionals. I would not pick up another book by this author, because I cannot abide the linguistic assault of awkward sentences. I found myself noticing inconsistency of verb tense, confusion of pronoun references, repetition of the same metaphor to communicate the exact same point within the same stretch of fifty pages, abandonment of organizing thesis statements, unfortunate tonal choices (especially in the footnotes -- was that humor? sarcasm?), and just plain awkward phrasing. I don't like having to double-take on sentences this often, and I find it surprising that Gotham Books allowed so many of these problems into the final product. What a shame.
Scott Carney did an admirable job of carefully researching the experiences of two remarkably interesting men, both struggling with how to channel their passions and searching for enlightenment, and both edging into extremism. One of these men, Ian Thorson, perished of dehydration during a drama-filled silent meditation retreat. This event gives purpose to the narrative -- we are meant to wonder how Thorson came to retreat willingly into such dangerous circumstances with his wife/guru, and what spiritual and psychological forces contributed to his demise. However, I actually found the character of Geshe Michael Roach, the charismatic, intelligent, and more-than-a-little shady leader of the Diamond Mountain community the more compelling. Roach founded his own religious movement that elides certain core tenets of Buddhist practice that are inconvenient to his love of glittery diamonds and pretty young women. Ian Thorson fell deeply into the thrall of this movement, enraptured by the possibility that he could simultaneously fulfill his yearning for spiritual enlightenment, his physical desires, and his family's expectations for him to fall at least vaguely in line with his WASP-adjacent upbringing and the vocational success of his Stanford classmates. Results: Plenty of drama, soul-searching, and one tragically preventable death.
Like any religion, Buddhism is fallible. Its ancient sacred texts contain obscure passages that are incompatible with our modern worldview or moral understanding. They are prone, like any texts, to misinterpretation or overinterpretation, and can be deeply problematic for individuals struggling with mental illness. Thus, this religion counts extremists among its adherents, and some of those extremists are violent to themselves and to others. Also, a much larger number of those adherents engage in practices that are not violent, but appear deeply strange, absurd, or titillating to those outside their exclusive circles. Like any religion: your results may vary.
This story is certainly worth telling, and it is particularly interesting to me, as I have recently been studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in a yoga and meditation class. In my class, I listen to an experienced teacher expound upon a translation, winding an interpretation outwards from a tightly coiled Sanskrit sentence, intended to distill a core meaning into the fewest possible syllables. My teacher is intensely aware of how her word choices affect our ability to take in the lesson, mindful also of the variety of interpretations that have resulted over the centuries and open about how she makes her own selections within a larger tradition of teachings. This book makes me all the more grateful to have a teacher who is cautious, thoughtful, and flexible enough to respond mindfully and helpfully to the unique struggles of her students. May all who seek to examine their mind-stuff and find inner peace be as fortunate.
And now, why only three stars? I found the poor writing and lazy editing inexcusably distracting. I am acutely aware of my own stylistic struggles in my writing, which makes me more critical when I see lapses from professionals. I would not pick up another book by this author, because I cannot abide the linguistic assault of awkward sentences. I found myself noticing inconsistency of verb tense, confusion of pronoun references, repetition of the same metaphor to communicate the exact same point within the same stretch of fifty pages, abandonment of organizing thesis statements, unfortunate tonal choices (especially in the footnotes -- was that humor? sarcasm?), and just plain awkward phrasing. I don't like having to double-take on sentences this often, and I find it surprising that Gotham Books allowed so many of these problems into the final product. What a shame.
December 19, 2015
I didn't particularly care for the author's writing style. He failed at narrative non-fiction and instead came off with a poor balance of approachable writer and detached, unbiased reporter. Pick one and do it well.
I also do not think that the author did a thorough enough job of distinguishing the difference between the Buddhism that the Dalai Lama teaches and the Buddhism that went so wrong for Ian Thorson. The entire religion could easily be condemned by those for whom this book is their only reference.
As for the actual content, the life story was sparse, though some of the sidebars were informative and interesting. The author doesn't come to any great conclusions or theories about "spiritual sickness" which he was claiming to wish to understand at the beginning of the project. It almost seems as if the thesis statement goes unanswered. Disappointing.
I also do not think that the author did a thorough enough job of distinguishing the difference between the Buddhism that the Dalai Lama teaches and the Buddhism that went so wrong for Ian Thorson. The entire religion could easily be condemned by those for whom this book is their only reference.
As for the actual content, the life story was sparse, though some of the sidebars were informative and interesting. The author doesn't come to any great conclusions or theories about "spiritual sickness" which he was claiming to wish to understand at the beginning of the project. It almost seems as if the thesis statement goes unanswered. Disappointing.
September 12, 2015
This was a solid book. It read well, and was very thoroughly researched (there's an entire section after it ends that details sources). Astounding to see the effects of Eastern religion when taken up by some Westerners, and just how religion our philosophy can be manipulated to fit one's ends. Did Geshe Michael Roach really think what they're doing or saying is true or right? Is that the real delusion?
I had the opportunity to hear Carney speak at an event (where I bought the book), and it was really interesting to read in light of hearing about his experience first-hand. Very glad to have read this. Highly recommended.
I had the opportunity to hear Carney speak at an event (where I bought the book), and it was really interesting to read in light of hearing about his experience first-hand. Very glad to have read this. Highly recommended.
June 24, 2021
I couldn't put this riveting read down, finishing about 90% of it in one sitting. As a Buddhist, this clarified for me several places where Westerners like myself tend to misinterpret Buddhist scripture, and how and why so many facets of our culture can trip up practitioners with unexpected risks. It was also yet another cautionary tale about mad gurus and their quest for money, sex, and power. I'm just sad that it took a young man's life. It has definitely reminded me to be mindful of spiritual bypassing in my own life and practice. If your practice doesn't help you to become a more peaceful and easy person to be around, for yourself and for others, then what's the point?
June 26, 2025
White ppl proving Edward Said right part 13580694
July 3, 2015
Reading this book was an education for me for many reasons. Not the least of which was learning that Protestant Evangelicals do not have a corner on: twisting the tenets of our faith into shapes dangerous for human consumption, being vicious toward those journeying with us, bizarre behaviors and choosing death by our own hand over admitting we may be wrong in following the path we are on. My understanding of Buddhism has been expanded in directions that were unanticipated. I was aware of the discipline required to obtain enlightenment and it is not very different from the Christian Disciplines practiced for centuries by the devoted of that faith.
Scott Carney has been a Spiritual seeker for most of his life. He traveled in India, Tibet and Nepal for three years wishing to learn more about Buddhism. He eventually became the leader of a study abroad program centered in Bodh Gaya, India, for students interested in Buddhism. During the final event of one such study group, one of the students wrote in her journal, “I am a Bodhisattva,” walked to the roof of a dormitory and jumped to her death. The repercussions of that action were the stimulus that helped him to research the death of Ian Thorson, which occurred under similar circumstances a decade later in the desert of Arizona.
In telling the story of how Ian Thorson, a son of privilege and Stanford Graduate who came to become deeply interested in Buddhism while he traveled Europe and India after college graduation, Mr. Carvey reveals how that interest progressed into a deadly obsession. He details Mr. Thorson’s life from youth to death including how his hunger for Enlightenment lead him to become involved with Geshe Michael Roach, a Gelug Buddhist Lama whose teachings have put him at odds with most of the other leading Buddhist Lamas (teachers) in the world and his closest assistant, Christie McNally. Mr. Carney’s conclusions are supported by dates, names (where appropriate) and events that make plain the “how” of Ian’s death, but the “why” of such a death are left to the reader to decipher. The book does not get bogged down in the details and, while Buddhists believe enlightenment can occur at any moment, one avenue of the Buddhist processes (of apparently many) that can lead to enlightenment is more specifically discussed.
There is nothing offensive or violent in the book. The matters addressed in this study require a level of concentration and a breadth of knowledge typically found in those possessing a level of development beyond adolescence. My interest in the book grew as the details coalesced to a fine point but the book is not as engrossing as I found similar works (such as Wild, Unbroken, Man’s Search for Meaning Or Surprised by Joy) to be.
Scott Carney has been a Spiritual seeker for most of his life. He traveled in India, Tibet and Nepal for three years wishing to learn more about Buddhism. He eventually became the leader of a study abroad program centered in Bodh Gaya, India, for students interested in Buddhism. During the final event of one such study group, one of the students wrote in her journal, “I am a Bodhisattva,” walked to the roof of a dormitory and jumped to her death. The repercussions of that action were the stimulus that helped him to research the death of Ian Thorson, which occurred under similar circumstances a decade later in the desert of Arizona.
In telling the story of how Ian Thorson, a son of privilege and Stanford Graduate who came to become deeply interested in Buddhism while he traveled Europe and India after college graduation, Mr. Carvey reveals how that interest progressed into a deadly obsession. He details Mr. Thorson’s life from youth to death including how his hunger for Enlightenment lead him to become involved with Geshe Michael Roach, a Gelug Buddhist Lama whose teachings have put him at odds with most of the other leading Buddhist Lamas (teachers) in the world and his closest assistant, Christie McNally. Mr. Carney’s conclusions are supported by dates, names (where appropriate) and events that make plain the “how” of Ian’s death, but the “why” of such a death are left to the reader to decipher. The book does not get bogged down in the details and, while Buddhists believe enlightenment can occur at any moment, one avenue of the Buddhist processes (of apparently many) that can lead to enlightenment is more specifically discussed.
There is nothing offensive or violent in the book. The matters addressed in this study require a level of concentration and a breadth of knowledge typically found in those possessing a level of development beyond adolescence. My interest in the book grew as the details coalesced to a fine point but the book is not as engrossing as I found similar works (such as Wild, Unbroken, Man’s Search for Meaning Or Surprised by Joy) to be.
April 18, 2015
I would not have picked up this book, if it weren't for an interview with the author on NPR, a fragment of which I caught while driving. The title suggests another sensationalist re-telling of a murder, of which there are a dime a dozen. In fact, there is some of it here, but it is just a starting point to a much broader expose of our quest for things spiritual, of Tibetan Buddhism, of Tantra, of the thin line between "enlightenment" and psychosis. It is storytelling at its best, and once I started this book, it was nearly impossible to put it down.
Having been a member of a cult-like group of "spiritual seekers" (many years ago, briefly and reluctantly), I have been fascinated by cults and our, often self-destructive, desire to transcend what we take to be reality, to get out from Plato's cave of shadows. Our pursuit is more like obsession, a competitive drive to "achieve" something, to get to an altered state of consciousness and never leave. Perhaps that is why some strains of Buddhism emphasize never-ending "inching closer" to enlightenment, without reaching it. If we treat it as a "must have", subjecting our mind and body to extreme conditions, what is it that we glimpse after a while: a more "real" reality, or a psychotic breakdown? And if there is a non-personal consciousness that "we" can join while still alive, why do we have to go through all these physical and mental contortions to glimpse it now, if we will enter it after death anyway? (BTW, those are not questions being asked in the book - these are just ones that came to me while reading.)
This is a fascinating read, and there are only two reasons why I am not giving it 5 stars. One, I believe that there is too much hay being made out of the sad demise of Ian Thorson. (Made me wonder: would this have made such a splash, if the protagonists were not young and beautiful?) After reading this book I looked up the stories of Heaven's Gate and the People's Temple (Jim Jones). Compared to these calamities, not to mention the mayhem created every day by religious fanatics, this was just a tragic set of circumstances, stemming largely from poor choices of two adults. There are no villains in this story, which leads me to my reason number two: the author's effort to portray Michael Roach in bad light. These efforts border on the ridiculous, as with the story about wasps in author's room. (I mean, really?? He does deny making a direct connection between those insects and Roach, but there is no avoiding the impression that this is just a pro forma denial.)
Overall, a marvelous book, well worth your time - highly recommended.
Having been a member of a cult-like group of "spiritual seekers" (many years ago, briefly and reluctantly), I have been fascinated by cults and our, often self-destructive, desire to transcend what we take to be reality, to get out from Plato's cave of shadows. Our pursuit is more like obsession, a competitive drive to "achieve" something, to get to an altered state of consciousness and never leave. Perhaps that is why some strains of Buddhism emphasize never-ending "inching closer" to enlightenment, without reaching it. If we treat it as a "must have", subjecting our mind and body to extreme conditions, what is it that we glimpse after a while: a more "real" reality, or a psychotic breakdown? And if there is a non-personal consciousness that "we" can join while still alive, why do we have to go through all these physical and mental contortions to glimpse it now, if we will enter it after death anyway? (BTW, those are not questions being asked in the book - these are just ones that came to me while reading.)
This is a fascinating read, and there are only two reasons why I am not giving it 5 stars. One, I believe that there is too much hay being made out of the sad demise of Ian Thorson. (Made me wonder: would this have made such a splash, if the protagonists were not young and beautiful?) After reading this book I looked up the stories of Heaven's Gate and the People's Temple (Jim Jones). Compared to these calamities, not to mention the mayhem created every day by religious fanatics, this was just a tragic set of circumstances, stemming largely from poor choices of two adults. There are no villains in this story, which leads me to my reason number two: the author's effort to portray Michael Roach in bad light. These efforts border on the ridiculous, as with the story about wasps in author's room. (I mean, really?? He does deny making a direct connection between those insects and Roach, but there is no avoiding the impression that this is just a pro forma denial.)
Overall, a marvelous book, well worth your time - highly recommended.
November 15, 2019
3,5/5. Brak przypisów odsyłających bezpośrednio do źródeł w takiej publikacji powinien być karany - pomimo obszernej bibliografii wpływa to na moje zaufanie do autora. To dobry, ale męczący reportaż - ważny na pewno w kontekście modnego „rozwoju osobistego” i bezrefleksyjnej fascynacji Zachodu wschodnimi technikami. Joga, medytacja, deprywacja sensoryczna - te i wiele innych aktywności mogą być nie tylko drogą do poprawy samopoczucia, ale także niebezpiecznym dla psychiki narzędziem, bez odpowiedniej kontroli i przewodnictwa mogącym prowadzić do poważnych zaburzeń psychicznych. Problemem jest nie tylko (jak w skrajnych przypadkach) przynależność do sekty i związane z tym konsekwencje, ale przede wszystkim efekty zmian zachodzących w mózgu na wskutek medytacji. Carney demitologizuje buddyzm i przypomina, że tylko dla kompletnych laików jest to religia (czy też filozofia, w zależności od przyjętej definicji) pozbawiona negatywnych aspektów, wypaczeń, nadużyć i patologii, czarnych stron w historii i aktów przemocy. „Śmierć...” rozprawia się z zachodnią recepcją buddyzmu i omawiając działalność Michaela Roacha dotyka problemu samozwańczych guru, którzy pod płaszczykiem duchowego rozwoju w stylu „ulecz swoje życie i zostań milionerem dzięki jodze” zbudowali imperia biznesowe: charyzmatyczni liderzy obiecują szybkie oświecenie w wersji instant, uczą osiągania ekstazy religijnej i konsekwentnie wypaczają klasyczny buddyzm, nierzadko szkodząc swoim wyznawcom (książka opisuje skrajny, zakończony zgonem przypadek - bynajmniej nie jedyny).
Chociaż wiemy, czym są sekty, nie umiemy ich rozpoznawać: wiele z nich działa legalnie, przywódcy cieszą się społecznym autorytetem, a ich książki można kupić w największych sieciach sprzedaży. Współczesny odbiorca idealizuje buddyzm, zakładając jego całkowitą nieszkodliwość i brak możliwości realnego wpływu na zdrowie i życie. Nie zdaje sobie być może sprawy, że każda religia dysponuje potężnymi narzędziami, które mają moc oddziaływania na fizyczność i zdrowie psychiczne.
Reportaż Carneya nie próbuje zniechęcać do buddyzmu jako takiego: uświadamia po prostu jak ważne są weryfikowanie kompetencji swoich nauczycieli i zdrowy krytycyzm. I przypomina, że drogi na skróty do zbawienia czy oświecenia mogą prowadzić przez jamy z wężami. Warto, żeby przeczytał to sobie każdy, kto dał się uwieść uzdrawiającym życie poradnikom, coachingowi podlanemu wschodnią filozofią, modzie na rozwój osobisty opartej na duchowym doskonaleniu za pomocą egzotycznych technik.
Chociaż wiemy, czym są sekty, nie umiemy ich rozpoznawać: wiele z nich działa legalnie, przywódcy cieszą się społecznym autorytetem, a ich książki można kupić w największych sieciach sprzedaży. Współczesny odbiorca idealizuje buddyzm, zakładając jego całkowitą nieszkodliwość i brak możliwości realnego wpływu na zdrowie i życie. Nie zdaje sobie być może sprawy, że każda religia dysponuje potężnymi narzędziami, które mają moc oddziaływania na fizyczność i zdrowie psychiczne.
Reportaż Carneya nie próbuje zniechęcać do buddyzmu jako takiego: uświadamia po prostu jak ważne są weryfikowanie kompetencji swoich nauczycieli i zdrowy krytycyzm. I przypomina, że drogi na skróty do zbawienia czy oświecenia mogą prowadzić przez jamy z wężami. Warto, żeby przeczytał to sobie każdy, kto dał się uwieść uzdrawiającym życie poradnikom, coachingowi podlanemu wschodnią filozofią, modzie na rozwój osobisty opartej na duchowym doskonaleniu za pomocą egzotycznych technik.
August 31, 2015
Well-researched tale of a Buddhist offshoot crew (I'm willing to call this "cult lite") that does multi-year silent meditation stints in the Arizona desert, resulting in the death-by-dehydration of one particularly unbalanced devotee. A comparison in the book was made to an "Eastern version" of Krakauer's Into the Wild, and that feels very on point.
So, overall, it's basically a cautionary tale against the overly casual blending of East and West, which can result in some strange composite of Hindu/Buddhist/Confucian physical and spiritual practices in some air-conditioned yoga studio where folks aren't guided by leaders who really really understand what they're doing. Where really intense spiritual rites are used, you've gotta have trustworthy guidance from someone who can make sure you don't go off the deep end. Also, can't hurt to interrogate that concept of "divine revelation" a bit, whenever the new mystic is claiming new directions and exceptions to the "universal" edicts of whatever tradition.
The content, even if not communicated to its full thrilling potential, is disturbing and nutty. See, e.g., successful diamond businessman/ Buddhist master (although spurned by the Dalai Lama) Geshe Michael Roach, who decides to bring his Buddhist blend to the yuppie, wealthy American masses -- among other things by finding a nice exception for the celibacy vow before and during the first AZ silent meditation retreat so he could have lots of tantric sex with Lama Christie McNally (acting as the goddess Vajrayogini), the result being "sweaty spiritual mess," about "as hot as watching a balding fifty-ish man hold back his climax with a twentysomething woman." Our doomed protagonist Ian Thorson wound up with Lama Christie after she and Geshe Michael split up (so much for those vows to never stray more than 15 feet from each other), and Geshe Michael continues to peddle his thoughts on karma to make the uber-wealthy in NY and CA feel especially good about the fortunes they enjoy. Silly, silly humans.
So, overall, it's basically a cautionary tale against the overly casual blending of East and West, which can result in some strange composite of Hindu/Buddhist/Confucian physical and spiritual practices in some air-conditioned yoga studio where folks aren't guided by leaders who really really understand what they're doing. Where really intense spiritual rites are used, you've gotta have trustworthy guidance from someone who can make sure you don't go off the deep end. Also, can't hurt to interrogate that concept of "divine revelation" a bit, whenever the new mystic is claiming new directions and exceptions to the "universal" edicts of whatever tradition.
The content, even if not communicated to its full thrilling potential, is disturbing and nutty. See, e.g., successful diamond businessman/ Buddhist master (although spurned by the Dalai Lama) Geshe Michael Roach, who decides to bring his Buddhist blend to the yuppie, wealthy American masses -- among other things by finding a nice exception for the celibacy vow before and during the first AZ silent meditation retreat so he could have lots of tantric sex with Lama Christie McNally (acting as the goddess Vajrayogini), the result being "sweaty spiritual mess," about "as hot as watching a balding fifty-ish man hold back his climax with a twentysomething woman." Our doomed protagonist Ian Thorson wound up with Lama Christie after she and Geshe Michael split up (so much for those vows to never stray more than 15 feet from each other), and Geshe Michael continues to peddle his thoughts on karma to make the uber-wealthy in NY and CA feel especially good about the fortunes they enjoy. Silly, silly humans.
February 5, 2016
As described, this sounded really interesting, but I found the telling of it to be disappointing. All about the main character's search for enlightenment through a bastardized version of buddhism, by the time I was done with this I felt anything but enlightened in trying to make sense of these people's choices. The story itself was often interrupted with side discussions of related events and esoteric descriptions of things that I struggled with relating back to the actual story. The cast of characters on Diamond Mountain certainly sounded like a cult, and if the focus had been more on that and less on buddhism, this may have worked better for me, but in the end I found this book unsatisfying.
March 6, 2016
Having a very shallow understanding of Budhism, this book laid some of its basics out nicely for me, as well as the origins and reasons for its growth in the west. However, while an attempt was made, I don't think the author did a great job of showing the differences in such a situation as this, in which the teaching has gone off the wire, and the actual tenets of the religion. I did find it quite interesting the way that Americans take a teaching and skew it to their own cultural way of thinking- the taking of a practice that Tibetans consider a many- lifetimes- if-ever road to enlightenment and making it into a let's- do-this-thing mini session. It answered only in part the reason I read the book, to settle a debate with my daughter over the practice of yoga in the us.
December 12, 2014
I received A Death on Diamond Mountain from Goodreads, which is a very well-researched story of good intentions gone wrong, very wrong. In the process of trying to find the best in themselves, to achieve the ultimate emptiness of being, these people brought out the worst in themselves and caused harm to others. It is especially poignant because of how recently the events portrayed in the book took place. As odd as some of the people seemed as their stories were told, the creepiest part to me by far was the epilogue, which retells some of the author's personal experiences related to the saga he reported. The whole thing is fairly mind-blowing.
April 5, 2015
As someone who spent nearly 13 years deeply involved with American-flavored Tibetan Buddhism, I found this to be a very interesting read. It's the story of an earnest spiritual seeker who becomes involved in a community lead by the iconoclastic American Geshe Michael Roach and for whom, unfortunately, the outcome of the conscientious practice of a reality-denying philosophy was death. I would recommend to anyone with a similar past involvement as mine, and also to those still practicing.
August 1, 2017
Very much the Spinal Tap documentary on Buddhism. Just as hilarious and mocking.
Start with a Funny:
"medical director of Privat Hospital in new Delhi, says that his facility admits about a hundred delusional Westerners a year, many of whom had been practicing yoga around the clock...people come to us with acute psychotic symptoms." And so the quest for enlightenment begins.
I put this under my: Religious Crap Section (shelves) on Goodreads. The book was Great! But all of those involved in this world of Tibet Buddhism are horrific morons. They are so bad even the Dalai Lama is afraid to get to close to them - that's how bad they were.
So the big question is: Is this a fair representation of Buddhism?
It seems fair to say - when things go bad, Buddhists are the first to throw their free-spirited goddess worshiping Guru-Lama's under the bus (or the yoga mat!). Or to start subdividing the teaching into endless sects of Western Buddhism, Eastern Buddhism, Real Tibet Buddhism vs. liberal NEW Buddhism. Of course all sects of Buddhism despise each other and endlessly mock one another (especially when someone makes a factual statement). Everytime I chat with a Buddhist they are quick to tell me everything I know about Buddhism is wrong - it's rather comical. Blah blah blah enlightenment emptiness Karma Chakra eightfold path.
So what was this book about? Buddhist Enlightenment Campers end up Dead from own stupidity in Arizona Mountain Cave...or "How Meditation can kill you" after it makes you really dumb and dehydrated. Better yet: Don't go into a cave with a buddhist, or you'll end up starving to death and possibly being stabbed by your Lama pretending to be a Hindu Deity of death. It's best just to ignore Hinduism and Buddhism altogether.
Speaking of Deities, demi-gods and hungry ghosts (and whatever the hell a Hell-being is? Mr. Dalai Lama babbles about these things a bunch)
"Ian kept a small tangka picture of the goddess Vajrayogini in front of him while he meditated...quickest way to enlightenment was through the goddesses aid...Vajrayogini stood before him with the body of a 16 year old girl wearing a brilliant garland of severed heads...She bled from her vagina, but was also obviously sexually aroused. Her eyes blazed fiery red, and blood dripped from the fangs in her mouth...they licked up the blood with their forked tongues, but there was still more of him (Ian) left over. So he invited demons into the vision and let them feast as well...Ian offered himself freely." And people thought the Bible was weird???
"Vajrayogini sustains herself on a diet of violence and death."
So what was all that propaganda about Peaceful Buddhism and joyful enlightenment? At least when you pray to Jesus, you know exactly what you are getting. (Son of God, King of Kings. Lamb Slain For the Sins of the World) I don't recall Jesus wearing any severed heads.
Anyway,
I learned a lot of valuable things about Buddhist teachings in this book (the author did a great job holding back the mockery and humor - BUT I SAW IT, and laughed! He probably laughed too - but then fellow journalists might not take him as seriously. But I don't care. I look forward to Scott Carney's next book.
_______________________________________
I underlined a 100 things in this tale that i thought were essential to the problem at hand. Here are some:
Ian Thorson "The (christian?) monks prayed, and then worked maintaining the monastery, ate, and then prayed some more, Where was the fun in that?...the experience taught me to 'fear fanaticism' and look upon religion with renewed skepticism and increased caution".
It's bizarre that Ian later spent most of his life doing exactly that and worse. But somehow found it Cool when he was praying to an earthly emanation of the goddess Vajrayogini.
Sometimes Ian tried to see himself as the goddess??? Dude, that's just messed up right there. At least pretend to be Thor or loki. Although Ian's buddy Lama Guru teacher was known for getting his freak on in women's underwear. Hmmm...? Buddhism isn't exactly what it says on the brochure.
People keep stating how Buddhism is a peaceful belief system and all about Love and Beauty (that's just Dog crap it seems. Don't step in it). Here's a fun Buddhist Karma law:
"Breaking other, higher vows, such as talking bad about a dharma teacher, could earn a student a stint in Buddhist hell where demons might roast the vow breaker on a spit for hundreds of consecutive lives until the karma gets cleaned."
They sure don't teach that in your beginner Yoga class (or on the Dalai Lama concert tours.)
Some of the best parts of this book are the footnotes and historical comments dug up. Like:
The Suicide Sutra - A Buddhist Parable. (existing in two Pali texts.)
..."during the Buddha's time many students committed suicide (but it's not his fault - his teachings were unclear they say." Well alright then. I guess this isn't Hot Yoga with a sweaty Bimbo instructor after all.
________________________________________
Okay, what i'm about to say is REAL. I can't even make this crap up:
Breatharianism: that it is possible to become so attuned to the movement of energy throughout the world that you can live on air alone...End of story: the damage was real and it took months before she could eat properly again.
And the bits about people desperately trying to levitate, mostly bouncing from a Yoga pose (and others paying money to MASTERS that teach them to levitate) was awesome. Buddhism is way more crazy Zany fun than other religions.
And just for a reality check: "No conclusive scientific evidence charts the existence of energy pathways..." (page 205) That's just incase you were heading out the door to get your Chakra worked on.
A big problem I have with Buddhist practices is: "It was the last moment any of the retreatants would see their families for a thousand days. They knew the world would go on without them, that they would lose friends and abandon lovers." Doesn't sound like a very responsible belief system. Not much different than Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha walking away from his wife and child to find selfish enlightenment for a few years. At least North American kids no bloody well that their drunk fathers are down the street in the pub. Best not to make a religion out of it though.
So much more to say about Buddhist retreat centers (money pits), sexual abuse and general debauchery, and just really bad historical facts and myths all thrown about in the name of Tibetan scholarship. But I recommend anyone interested read this book for themselves.
A funny bit for the ending: Involves the Dalai Lama His Royal highness. (makes me giggle just typing that.)
Michael Roach (Ian's Guru teacher) wanted an endorsement from the Dalai Lama himself. Mr. D. Lama's office sent Guru Roach a letter:
"If you have reached the path of seeing, as you claim in your letter, you should then be able to show extraordinary powers and perform miracles like the Suddhas of the past. Only then will the followers of Tibetan Buddhists be able to believe and accept your claims. (Secretary to D. Lama.)
So what miracle did the Dalai Lama do? Hopefully it wasn't that famous one were a Legendary Buddhist teacher Pee'd off a roof and then magically brought it back up into... "Yuck!" Miracle or not? I'd find a new religion or belief system.
Start with a Funny:
"medical director of Privat Hospital in new Delhi, says that his facility admits about a hundred delusional Westerners a year, many of whom had been practicing yoga around the clock...people come to us with acute psychotic symptoms." And so the quest for enlightenment begins.
I put this under my: Religious Crap Section (shelves) on Goodreads. The book was Great! But all of those involved in this world of Tibet Buddhism are horrific morons. They are so bad even the Dalai Lama is afraid to get to close to them - that's how bad they were.
So the big question is: Is this a fair representation of Buddhism?
It seems fair to say - when things go bad, Buddhists are the first to throw their free-spirited goddess worshiping Guru-Lama's under the bus (or the yoga mat!). Or to start subdividing the teaching into endless sects of Western Buddhism, Eastern Buddhism, Real Tibet Buddhism vs. liberal NEW Buddhism. Of course all sects of Buddhism despise each other and endlessly mock one another (especially when someone makes a factual statement). Everytime I chat with a Buddhist they are quick to tell me everything I know about Buddhism is wrong - it's rather comical. Blah blah blah enlightenment emptiness Karma Chakra eightfold path.
So what was this book about? Buddhist Enlightenment Campers end up Dead from own stupidity in Arizona Mountain Cave...or "How Meditation can kill you" after it makes you really dumb and dehydrated. Better yet: Don't go into a cave with a buddhist, or you'll end up starving to death and possibly being stabbed by your Lama pretending to be a Hindu Deity of death. It's best just to ignore Hinduism and Buddhism altogether.
Speaking of Deities, demi-gods and hungry ghosts (and whatever the hell a Hell-being is? Mr. Dalai Lama babbles about these things a bunch)
"Ian kept a small tangka picture of the goddess Vajrayogini in front of him while he meditated...quickest way to enlightenment was through the goddesses aid...Vajrayogini stood before him with the body of a 16 year old girl wearing a brilliant garland of severed heads...She bled from her vagina, but was also obviously sexually aroused. Her eyes blazed fiery red, and blood dripped from the fangs in her mouth...they licked up the blood with their forked tongues, but there was still more of him (Ian) left over. So he invited demons into the vision and let them feast as well...Ian offered himself freely." And people thought the Bible was weird???
"Vajrayogini sustains herself on a diet of violence and death."
So what was all that propaganda about Peaceful Buddhism and joyful enlightenment? At least when you pray to Jesus, you know exactly what you are getting. (Son of God, King of Kings. Lamb Slain For the Sins of the World) I don't recall Jesus wearing any severed heads.
Anyway,
I learned a lot of valuable things about Buddhist teachings in this book (the author did a great job holding back the mockery and humor - BUT I SAW IT, and laughed! He probably laughed too - but then fellow journalists might not take him as seriously. But I don't care. I look forward to Scott Carney's next book.
_______________________________________
I underlined a 100 things in this tale that i thought were essential to the problem at hand. Here are some:
Ian Thorson "The (christian?) monks prayed, and then worked maintaining the monastery, ate, and then prayed some more, Where was the fun in that?...the experience taught me to 'fear fanaticism' and look upon religion with renewed skepticism and increased caution".
It's bizarre that Ian later spent most of his life doing exactly that and worse. But somehow found it Cool when he was praying to an earthly emanation of the goddess Vajrayogini.
Sometimes Ian tried to see himself as the goddess??? Dude, that's just messed up right there. At least pretend to be Thor or loki. Although Ian's buddy Lama Guru teacher was known for getting his freak on in women's underwear. Hmmm...? Buddhism isn't exactly what it says on the brochure.
People keep stating how Buddhism is a peaceful belief system and all about Love and Beauty (that's just Dog crap it seems. Don't step in it). Here's a fun Buddhist Karma law:
"Breaking other, higher vows, such as talking bad about a dharma teacher, could earn a student a stint in Buddhist hell where demons might roast the vow breaker on a spit for hundreds of consecutive lives until the karma gets cleaned."
They sure don't teach that in your beginner Yoga class (or on the Dalai Lama concert tours.)
Some of the best parts of this book are the footnotes and historical comments dug up. Like:
The Suicide Sutra - A Buddhist Parable. (existing in two Pali texts.)
..."during the Buddha's time many students committed suicide (but it's not his fault - his teachings were unclear they say." Well alright then. I guess this isn't Hot Yoga with a sweaty Bimbo instructor after all.
________________________________________
Okay, what i'm about to say is REAL. I can't even make this crap up:
Breatharianism: that it is possible to become so attuned to the movement of energy throughout the world that you can live on air alone...End of story: the damage was real and it took months before she could eat properly again.
And the bits about people desperately trying to levitate, mostly bouncing from a Yoga pose (and others paying money to MASTERS that teach them to levitate) was awesome. Buddhism is way more crazy Zany fun than other religions.
And just for a reality check: "No conclusive scientific evidence charts the existence of energy pathways..." (page 205) That's just incase you were heading out the door to get your Chakra worked on.
A big problem I have with Buddhist practices is: "It was the last moment any of the retreatants would see their families for a thousand days. They knew the world would go on without them, that they would lose friends and abandon lovers." Doesn't sound like a very responsible belief system. Not much different than Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha walking away from his wife and child to find selfish enlightenment for a few years. At least North American kids no bloody well that their drunk fathers are down the street in the pub. Best not to make a religion out of it though.
So much more to say about Buddhist retreat centers (money pits), sexual abuse and general debauchery, and just really bad historical facts and myths all thrown about in the name of Tibetan scholarship. But I recommend anyone interested read this book for themselves.
A funny bit for the ending: Involves the Dalai Lama His Royal highness. (makes me giggle just typing that.)
Michael Roach (Ian's Guru teacher) wanted an endorsement from the Dalai Lama himself. Mr. D. Lama's office sent Guru Roach a letter:
"If you have reached the path of seeing, as you claim in your letter, you should then be able to show extraordinary powers and perform miracles like the Suddhas of the past. Only then will the followers of Tibetan Buddhists be able to believe and accept your claims. (Secretary to D. Lama.)
So what miracle did the Dalai Lama do? Hopefully it wasn't that famous one were a Legendary Buddhist teacher Pee'd off a roof and then magically brought it back up into... "Yuck!" Miracle or not? I'd find a new religion or belief system.
January 18, 2015
I won A Death on Diamond Mountain by Scott Carney in a Goodreads giveaway and began reading it on January 6th, 2015. I thought this was one of the more thoroughly researched and investigated works of non-fiction that I have ever read. From the very beginning I was pulled into the lives of those who participated in these Buddhist retreats in search of enlightenment. It took me a while to get through the book as in many instances I would back up and re-read passages and look up words. I wondered what these people looked like and researched the pics on my own just for the visual. I was drawn into their story and repulsed at the same time as I was entranced learning about what and how they were living.
I began my interest with the basics like learning about the power of meditation and yoga relative to relaxation and turning off your mind of its constant chatter. I was curious about what went wrong with Buddhism. I thought it was peaceful and quite different than the story of what happened on Diamond Mountain to Ian Thorson. That is what compelled me to enter the contest and read this story. I am glad I did. As I read the story, I felt his mother's fears and Ian's quest.
What causes an individual to give himself so completely that they cease to exist in their human form. Does he exist elsewhere? I wonder... It's not the route I would take. This is a bit extreme for my taste. It seems that Ian & Christie took quite a journey on that path to enlightenment to not achieve the goal.
I also hadn't realized the violence associated with Buddhism and that there are very few remaining from what there was years ago. About 1/2 way through the story, there was much history thrown in but in particular, the author states that "in 1959, People's Liberation Army invaded Tibet and forced the Dalai Lama and a retinue of hundreds of monks into exile in India". Is it that all religions have violent histories?
Back to Ian, he is the individual who fascinated me the most. His determination to follow and be a part of this cult. From his following to his marriage to his death and the story he left behind is incredible. His mother watched her son disappear before her eyes. His search for complete emptiness was achieved. Roach was a real character that drove me crazy. I hated him. I thought he was an ass and I couldn't believe he had so many followers. I do tend to think that frequently about cult leaders. Amazing and totally enthralling these people are and unfortunately I still read about them even though they really shouldn't be worth my time other than to learn how to avoid them. I just don't get it but it sure is interesting.
Ian was brainwashed and I don't think the deprogramming took because, well you know. There was a section where Ian got away for a small stint and was with another woman and I blinked and he had a child with Anna. His son's name is Deva and the two were not together when she gave birth. When he ended up with Christie it was surprising to me because she was Roach's girl as a reincarnated god then she is with Ian. Lama Christie was with him when he did and it was mentioned in the story the question... what if she would have hit the beacon for help a day sooner and saved his life? I wonder... There is also the time she stabbed him a few times while she was under her meditative spell. He didn't try to stop the knife because he said he trusted her and she said that the only thought she had at the time was "I must not harm him" and that thought probably saved his life. I would be afraid of her.
So, that's pretty much the story and my review of what I read. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it really made me think. I read a lot of fiction that I breeze through and read in a few days. This one required some pretty deep thought and it was welcome. Well written, intelligent and informative. Thank you.
I am further interested in his other work particularly, The Red Market which I do plan on reading at some point.
Mary
I began my interest with the basics like learning about the power of meditation and yoga relative to relaxation and turning off your mind of its constant chatter. I was curious about what went wrong with Buddhism. I thought it was peaceful and quite different than the story of what happened on Diamond Mountain to Ian Thorson. That is what compelled me to enter the contest and read this story. I am glad I did. As I read the story, I felt his mother's fears and Ian's quest.
What causes an individual to give himself so completely that they cease to exist in their human form. Does he exist elsewhere? I wonder... It's not the route I would take. This is a bit extreme for my taste. It seems that Ian & Christie took quite a journey on that path to enlightenment to not achieve the goal.
I also hadn't realized the violence associated with Buddhism and that there are very few remaining from what there was years ago. About 1/2 way through the story, there was much history thrown in but in particular, the author states that "in 1959, People's Liberation Army invaded Tibet and forced the Dalai Lama and a retinue of hundreds of monks into exile in India". Is it that all religions have violent histories?
Back to Ian, he is the individual who fascinated me the most. His determination to follow and be a part of this cult. From his following to his marriage to his death and the story he left behind is incredible. His mother watched her son disappear before her eyes. His search for complete emptiness was achieved. Roach was a real character that drove me crazy. I hated him. I thought he was an ass and I couldn't believe he had so many followers. I do tend to think that frequently about cult leaders. Amazing and totally enthralling these people are and unfortunately I still read about them even though they really shouldn't be worth my time other than to learn how to avoid them. I just don't get it but it sure is interesting.
Ian was brainwashed and I don't think the deprogramming took because, well you know. There was a section where Ian got away for a small stint and was with another woman and I blinked and he had a child with Anna. His son's name is Deva and the two were not together when she gave birth. When he ended up with Christie it was surprising to me because she was Roach's girl as a reincarnated god then she is with Ian. Lama Christie was with him when he did and it was mentioned in the story the question... what if she would have hit the beacon for help a day sooner and saved his life? I wonder... There is also the time she stabbed him a few times while she was under her meditative spell. He didn't try to stop the knife because he said he trusted her and she said that the only thought she had at the time was "I must not harm him" and that thought probably saved his life. I would be afraid of her.
So, that's pretty much the story and my review of what I read. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it really made me think. I read a lot of fiction that I breeze through and read in a few days. This one required some pretty deep thought and it was welcome. Well written, intelligent and informative. Thank you.
I am further interested in his other work particularly, The Red Market which I do plan on reading at some point.
Mary
July 15, 2019
There are fanatics out there, beware.
While I've always been interested in how and why people get immersed in cults, especially given the inevitability of the cult life, I am fascinated that it boils down to 1 or 2 charismatic individuals.
As with any book of nonfiction, there may be another angle to see things differently, but Mr. Carney did a good job of summarizing the way things happened (I believe).
While I enjoyed What Doesn't Kill Us (another Scott Carney title), this read was staggeringly tough to get through. Not for Mr. Carney's writing style, but due to the heavy Buddhist history and content.
I'm hoping The Red Market by Scott Carney is stellar.
While I've always been interested in how and why people get immersed in cults, especially given the inevitability of the cult life, I am fascinated that it boils down to 1 or 2 charismatic individuals.
As with any book of nonfiction, there may be another angle to see things differently, but Mr. Carney did a good job of summarizing the way things happened (I believe).
While I enjoyed What Doesn't Kill Us (another Scott Carney title), this read was staggeringly tough to get through. Not for Mr. Carney's writing style, but due to the heavy Buddhist history and content.
I'm hoping The Red Market by Scott Carney is stellar.
March 31, 2015
Writing
Last year I read and reviewed Carney's The Red Market about trade in humans and their various body parts. It was great, but I think this is the book that has cemented him as a must-read author for me. His reporting style here is very similar to Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven. He takes on a specific case of an inexcusable death and uses it to examine the entirety of Tibetan Buddhism, focusing in on one particular guru and the cult that sprung up around him. It's incredibly detailed and accessible to all readers, including those who are unfamiliar with the concepts of Buddhism. As detailed as he is with his explanations of the religion, its history, and its practices, he also manages to keep the pace active and the reader involved in the story.
My one other note about the writing is that it's obvious that Carney has done his research and spoken to a variety of sources. In addition to references, he includes detailed notes on each chapter describing who he spoke to and where the information came from. It's incredibly helpful from a documentation standpoint, and also serves to provide an interested reader with a jumping off point for further study.
Entertainment Value
Cults in general fascinate me, but all of the cults I've read about have largely centered around a Judeo-Christian worldview (Jim Jones, who started as a church, the FLDS church, etc). I was thrilled to have a chance to see a cult that centers around something so completely different, but that works in the same ways. I couldn't believe how such disparate religions could become cult followings so similarly. At the same time, it made sense, particularly when paired with Carney's observation that cults tend to form in any religion when mystical experiences take precedence over religious traditions.
Overall
I thoroughly enjoyed my read of this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in cults, Tibetan Buddhism, religious extremism, or even true crime. Carney is an author who is now officially on my radar and who I'll be watching for in the future.
Thanks to Roshe and Gotham Books for providing me with a copy to review.
Last year I read and reviewed Carney's The Red Market about trade in humans and their various body parts. It was great, but I think this is the book that has cemented him as a must-read author for me. His reporting style here is very similar to Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven. He takes on a specific case of an inexcusable death and uses it to examine the entirety of Tibetan Buddhism, focusing in on one particular guru and the cult that sprung up around him. It's incredibly detailed and accessible to all readers, including those who are unfamiliar with the concepts of Buddhism. As detailed as he is with his explanations of the religion, its history, and its practices, he also manages to keep the pace active and the reader involved in the story.
My one other note about the writing is that it's obvious that Carney has done his research and spoken to a variety of sources. In addition to references, he includes detailed notes on each chapter describing who he spoke to and where the information came from. It's incredibly helpful from a documentation standpoint, and also serves to provide an interested reader with a jumping off point for further study.
Entertainment Value
Cults in general fascinate me, but all of the cults I've read about have largely centered around a Judeo-Christian worldview (Jim Jones, who started as a church, the FLDS church, etc). I was thrilled to have a chance to see a cult that centers around something so completely different, but that works in the same ways. I couldn't believe how such disparate religions could become cult followings so similarly. At the same time, it made sense, particularly when paired with Carney's observation that cults tend to form in any religion when mystical experiences take precedence over religious traditions.
Overall
I thoroughly enjoyed my read of this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in cults, Tibetan Buddhism, religious extremism, or even true crime. Carney is an author who is now officially on my radar and who I'll be watching for in the future.
Thanks to Roshe and Gotham Books for providing me with a copy to review.
February 12, 2022
This is a good book on the rise and fall of Geshe Michael Roach and his sangha community in Arizona. However, it is very biased. The author makes it quite clear that he is setting out to dispel the romantic ideas about Tibetan/Vajrayana Buddhism. He believes that Vajrayana Buddhism is dangerous, that the meditative practices it espouses can exacerbate practitioners' pre-existing mental illness, and he cites examples of this - his personal experience as well as many unrelated examples of unstable individuals who became enthralled with Eastern mysticism with tragic results. As a result the whole thing reads as a bit of a "stay away" cautionary tale.
As a Tibetan Buddhist myself, I do believe it would be better if many of the rosy stereotypes about it should be done away with; that said, I still believe Mr. Carney is a bit overly zealous and single-pointed in his condemnation. Having attended many Buddhist centers and events, I have seen my fair share of broken individuals suffering from severe depression or mental illness, who have sought out Buddhism as a path to help relieve their suffering. But I have met just as many (if not more) mentally disturbed individuals who took refuge in the Abrahamic faiths they were brought up in, which unfortunately do not offer any worthwhile methods or practices to relieve suffering other than relying upon a non-existent external god. I believe that such a philosophy is even more detrimental to people suffering from, say, schizophrenia or severe depression.
Personal rant aside, I do recommend the book as a cautionary tale - not about Buddhism, but about the importance of doing thorough investigation of Buddhist teachers before you decide to follow them.
As a Tibetan Buddhist myself, I do believe it would be better if many of the rosy stereotypes about it should be done away with; that said, I still believe Mr. Carney is a bit overly zealous and single-pointed in his condemnation. Having attended many Buddhist centers and events, I have seen my fair share of broken individuals suffering from severe depression or mental illness, who have sought out Buddhism as a path to help relieve their suffering. But I have met just as many (if not more) mentally disturbed individuals who took refuge in the Abrahamic faiths they were brought up in, which unfortunately do not offer any worthwhile methods or practices to relieve suffering other than relying upon a non-existent external god. I believe that such a philosophy is even more detrimental to people suffering from, say, schizophrenia or severe depression.
Personal rant aside, I do recommend the book as a cautionary tale - not about Buddhism, but about the importance of doing thorough investigation of Buddhist teachers before you decide to follow them.
April 14, 2015
I got interested in this topic when Michael Roach and Christie were first interviewed for their "unconventional" relationship and the Dalai Lama asked him to hand back his robes. I further followed the story when Ian Thorson died, which was very tragic. I'm glad this story got a full, comprehensive treatment in a book.
Carney mostly focuses Thorson, the least-known about the three (and the one who died) because he didn't have a public presence, and I thought that was a compassionate and thoughtful way to approach the subject. Carney carefully lays out the problems Westerners often encounter with meditation and serious Trantic teachings, which are difficult to understand and do have a history of potentially driving people crazy, even Tibetan monks and well-established lamas. He also addresses the psychological problems that may have pre-existed or been caused by Thorson's journey, which were exploited by the cult Roach ran. The author also dares to say that historically and medically, meditation is not actually good for everyone, something that rarely gets attention in the medical community.
Highly recommended, even for the casual reader.
Carney mostly focuses Thorson, the least-known about the three (and the one who died) because he didn't have a public presence, and I thought that was a compassionate and thoughtful way to approach the subject. Carney carefully lays out the problems Westerners often encounter with meditation and serious Trantic teachings, which are difficult to understand and do have a history of potentially driving people crazy, even Tibetan monks and well-established lamas. He also addresses the psychological problems that may have pre-existed or been caused by Thorson's journey, which were exploited by the cult Roach ran. The author also dares to say that historically and medically, meditation is not actually good for everyone, something that rarely gets attention in the medical community.
Highly recommended, even for the casual reader.
Read
February 9, 2016Death on Diamond Mountain by Scott Carney is an interesting book that is well researched and presents facts in a compelling and enlightening manner. My biggest criticism of the book is that the title seems to be a misnomer. While the title indicates that it tells the story of Ian Thorson, who died from dehydration and dysentery on a remote Arizona mountain in 2012 while searching for enlightenment, this does not seem to be the main focus of the book. Thorson's story is told, but it does not seem to be the primary emphasis of the book. The book also tells the story of Michael Roach and Christie McNally in equal or even more detail. However, the title certainly does not distract from the contents of the book. The author is a journalist and anthropologist who lived in India for six years and who can both tell a story well and relate facts without being boring. You will leave this book knowing much more about Buddhism, meditation, and the affects that obsession can sometimes have on a follower. I recommend it for those readers who enjoy learning more about religion and/or meditation; you will get great insight into ehese and you will read some interesting stories as well.
June 3, 2015
This was a fascinating exploration of cult dynamics and fanaticism in the guise of what may be a more "socially acceptable" cult environment. It's completely possible everyone involved have the best of intentions--but still, the situation devolved into negligence, death, and scandal.
If you've ever been a religious "seeker", like me, you'll find Ian Thorson's story both interesting and terrifying. Carney does a great job mixing belief with skepticism, open-mindedness with investigative journalism, and religious beauty with fanatical horror. He does a good job not inserting himself too much into the story, even though he was first intrigued by the case because of his own student's suicide and even though there was a point where he felt like he was a target of the people at Diamond Mountain. He examines the whole case with professional separateness, not afraid to question his own assertions and add into dissenting views.
There are a lot of footnotes. I don't blame you if you skip them, but you'll miss some interesting insights.
If you've ever been a religious "seeker", like me, you'll find Ian Thorson's story both interesting and terrifying. Carney does a great job mixing belief with skepticism, open-mindedness with investigative journalism, and religious beauty with fanatical horror. He does a good job not inserting himself too much into the story, even though he was first intrigued by the case because of his own student's suicide and even though there was a point where he felt like he was a target of the people at Diamond Mountain. He examines the whole case with professional separateness, not afraid to question his own assertions and add into dissenting views.
There are a lot of footnotes. I don't blame you if you skip them, but you'll miss some interesting insights.
May 10, 2015
This was pretty interesting and read very fast, but I think I kept expecting something MORE to happen. It was pretty anticlimactic, in the end, and that would have been okay if I hadn't felt like the author was building to... something. He hints early on (or so I thought) that Thorson's death is either suicide or murder, and while you could sort of make a case for both or either, it would be a great, great stretch.
I have very little interest in the finer points of Tibetan Buddhism; I just like to read about people be crazy. So I skimmed some of the historical/religious background, and that all these people were so devoted to Buddhism made either think they must be in it for the money and the chicks (Roach) or the power and specialness (McNally; oh, how I love Buddhist practitioners with ridiculous sounding names like Lama Christie McNally) or just because they were kind of crazy (Thorson), because it's hard for me to imagine any normal, belief-type reason.
The idea of a three-year silent retreat except for a speech every six months gave me the creeps.
I have very little interest in the finer points of Tibetan Buddhism; I just like to read about people be crazy. So I skimmed some of the historical/religious background, and that all these people were so devoted to Buddhism made either think they must be in it for the money and the chicks (Roach) or the power and specialness (McNally; oh, how I love Buddhist practitioners with ridiculous sounding names like Lama Christie McNally) or just because they were kind of crazy (Thorson), because it's hard for me to imagine any normal, belief-type reason.
The idea of a three-year silent retreat except for a speech every six months gave me the creeps.
February 4, 2017
Let's call this three and half stars. This is a story about how things go wrong in a religious community. There are as many flavors of this story as there are religious communities. This one goes so wrong a young man loses his life. It is, as these stories are, also the story of people just making bad decisions. I was struck by how little I thought the people involved really learned from those mistakes. I have a feeling if the young man survived he wouldn't have really learned anything either.
Three stars because it's competently written, but treading ground I'm fairly familiar with. For better books on the subject of eastern religious groups in the west see Michael Downing's 'Shoes Outside the Door: Devotion and Excess at the San Francisco Zen Center. For a book combining true crime, minority religion and critique of religious community see John Krakauer's 'Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith'.
Still an interesting read even though it isn't in the top tier of books of this type.
Three stars because it's competently written, but treading ground I'm fairly familiar with. For better books on the subject of eastern religious groups in the west see Michael Downing's 'Shoes Outside the Door: Devotion and Excess at the San Francisco Zen Center. For a book combining true crime, minority religion and critique of religious community see John Krakauer's 'Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith'.
Still an interesting read even though it isn't in the top tier of books of this type.
August 13, 2016
The story of how any religion can be distorted to the point that it does harm is a good one. Unfortunately, the telling of this story did not hold my interest well enough for me to finish the book.
The author just got too bogged down in the detailed history of Budhism and its offshoot sects and cults. Rather than pull me in to the tale of a young man swept up by charismatic leaders, I grew weary of the dense passages about different spiritual practices.
My ultimate undoing was when I realized that I wasn't learning much about the day to day of the characters involved. Maybe things picked up, but 100 pages or so in, I'd lost interest in every character. Even the mother of the young man who died became more cardboard as her attempts to rescue her son intensified.
The author just got too bogged down in the detailed history of Budhism and its offshoot sects and cults. Rather than pull me in to the tale of a young man swept up by charismatic leaders, I grew weary of the dense passages about different spiritual practices.
My ultimate undoing was when I realized that I wasn't learning much about the day to day of the characters involved. Maybe things picked up, but 100 pages or so in, I'd lost interest in every character. Even the mother of the young man who died became more cardboard as her attempts to rescue her son intensified.
May 10, 2016
Intriguing tale of--- some young Americans enthrallment with Buddhism, forms and background of Buddhism, and one young mans unfortunate adherence to a demanding cult. The cult story, although the word cult is not used, is central to the book. Why not a cult? You have the ingredients--charismatic leader who convinces others he has the path to enlightenment, hoards of young folk women especially who are anxious to follow him, the gradual understanding on his part that -- gosh these women can be easily convinced that a shortcut to enlightenment is by experiencing sex with him. Etc. and then we have a woman who finds a young male adherent and reverses the pattern and it does not end well. Keeps one reading anyway
July 16, 2015
This is a different kind of "true crime" book-- Carney places the story of Ian Thorson's life in the larger context of Tibetan Buddhism, or maybe more accurately, the American New Age version of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the history of the Apache tribe of Arizona. At times this feels like it slows down the action-- do I really need to read page after page about the history of the Apaches to understand that Diamond Mountain's desert locale was harsh? But overall it works, and lends a deeper understanding to the questionable beliefs and practices that ultimately led to Thorson's unfortuate death.
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