I’m so sorry to hear that you are also a survivor of “Gary”. I have spoken to several victims, but I know that there are others out there as well. Please let me know if I can support you somehow.

Warren,
I was also a victim of this “Gary”. I heard rumors about other victims and a specific story about a woman he abused as they travelled with Sifu Wong several years ago. Anthony’s brave article helped me understand and see how bad it has been. Even though I wanted to just forget it, being silent serves de abuser. I don’t know Anthony, but I know we are talking about the same person who does not even use his real name but an alias.

Shame the abuser, not the victims, nor those who help them (us).

No worries. I miss tons of notifications too. Too many platforms, too many things pulling at my attention. Argh.

I’m sorry you’ve had your own cult experiences. But honestly, I don’t think anyone is immune—unless they’ve already escaped one. So maybe you’re fully inoculated now?

I hate to see you give up qigong, but I totally get it. When I left Sifu Wrong, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I ended up focusing on qigong and tai chi sets I’d learned from other teachers. And honestly, it was liberating.

There’s something magical about exploring this stuff on your own terms, with no fucks given. And the cool thing is we’ve now got way more science backing the benefits of qigong and tai chi. You don’t have to rely on teachers anymore.

You know where to find me if you ever want to talk more about this stuff. I’m happy to help if I can, not as a teacher, just as a friend and former classmate.

I didn’t even reply to this when you wrote it 2 years ago. What’s up with that? I don’t think I get notifications.

Anyway, I just have now had various cult experiences over many years and am disturbed and fascinated by the whole thing. At this point I feel entirely done with cults and groups and maybe even qigong for now. Maybe it’s an extreme reaction but I feel like I need a thorough detox from all that stuff.

Hi Warren.

I appreciate you taking the time to write me, but you have it completely backwards. It’s not I who needs to ask for forgiveness–it’s Sifu Wong.

You say he “sees things clearer than ordinary folks.” But that’s just your own cognitive dissonance. For whatever reasons, you desperately need to see him as wise, and so you bend reality to fit that belief. That need is so strong it overrides the actual facts of what happened.

I’ve personally witnessed countless instances where Sifu Wong did not “see things clearly.” In fact, I’ve seen him make stunningly bad decisions. And for years, I ignored the warning signs—just like you’re doing now—because I needed to see him the way you do.

There are probably only a dozen people on the planet who know Sifu Wong as well as I do. Why do you think you can somehow guilt me back into a toxic relationship? Why do you think you know him better than me?

Have you traveled with him? Have you washed his clothing? Have you been to his house? Have you helped him when he was sick and vomiting all night?

Oh wait, that’s right – You probably still believe the lie that he never gets sick! The fact that I’ve seen him sick doesn’t fit your narrative. So you will, once again, just dismiss the facts because of the cognitive dissonance they cause in you.

You’re making a choice to remain blind. At any point, you can stop seeing what you want to see and start seeing what’s actually there. That’s within your power.

Also, let’s not pretend your message isn’t judgmental. You frame it as concern, but you’re passing judgment—even going so far as to imply that I’m cursed. Seriously? What nonsense. Honestly, who the fuck do you think you are?

I believe in the expressive power of cursing, but I don’t believe in curses or hexes. Even if I did, how do you explain the fact that I’ve built a thriving community, helped tens of thousands (yes, that many) of people, written a bestselling book, and perhaps most importantly – help the abuse victims to recover and heal.

But let me guess—Sifu Wong said I’m cursed or something equally ridiculous, and you ate it up?

If Sifu Wong still cares about me, then why has he been spreading outrageous lies about me for years? Why hasn’t he reached out to me, even once? Even if it were true that I was the one that needed to ask for forgiveness (it’s not), why hasn’t the wise and compassionate Sifu Wong reached to me even once? I’ll tell you why – because his ego is too big, and he is incapable of admitting that he was wrong.

And let’s talk about what you don’t mention: the facts. Not once do you acknowledge the reality of what happened—the abuse. Instead, you brush it aside with Buddhist doublespeak about karma, emptiness, and “seeing past ourselves.” That’s not wisdom. That’s spiritual bypassing. It’s a way to stay comfortable, stay obedient, stay small. It’s the opposite of what the Buddha actually taught.

The irony is, I am a far better man—and frankly, a better Buddhist—than I ever was when I was stuck in the cult of Shaolin Wahnam. I’ve grown in every way that matters: as a teacher, as a human, as someone who actually practices the Four Noble Truths instead of using them as an excuse for enabling harm.

I wish you well on your journey. If you ever wake up and leave the cult, I’ll be here to teach you qigong–and Buddhism–without all the bullshit. And I mean that sincerely.

–Anthony

Dear Sifu Anthony,

It’s been over a decade since you posted this blog and I still sometimes hope you’ll ask for Sifu’s forgiveness.

I admired you for many years if I’m being perfectly honest. You overcame so many obstacles and, after Sifu, I used to watch you do Kung Fu the most. I also felt a certain kinship with you because of your closeness to Guan Yin.

The thing about Guan Yin is that, as you know, she appears as Avalokiteshvara outside of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism. And the thing about Avalokiteshvara is that a small Buddha Amitabha appears on his crown. This is to show his faith in his teacher, even now that he’s gone beyond sorrow himself.

You have your own mind and your own thoughts, and it’s unlikely that you’ll read this, much less reconsider everything that’s happened. I hope you do, though.

I hope you look at Sifu purely and remember that he sees things more clearly than ordinary folks. He isn’t ignorant regarding karma or emptiness, and he really cares. He takes a longer view than most, which I’m sure you’ll appreciate as someone who’s familiar with the Four Noble Truths.

What I’m really saying is that I don’t want this action to curse your future. Rather, I hope you find your way home while Sifu is still alive. Keep your connection with him as it’s so very precious, and you have such close karma with him.

Lastly, I really don’t want anything I’ve said to come across as judgement. How could I possibly judge you when you’ve helped so many people? I just wonder if wisdom sometimes means getting past ourselves. That isn’t easy for ordinary people or Kung Fu masters, but our future happiness depends on it.

Best regards,

Warren

P.S.

I had to ask Sifu for forgiveness once. I was wrapped up in myself and my own views, and I treated him with disrespect. He helped my purify with the skill and wisdom he brings to these situations, and he forgave me. I know he hasn’t forgotten about you, and I know he still cares.

What good is the tree if you allow termites to dwell within? The strength and value of any organisation is determined by how it treats its most vulnerable members. If the leader is willing to sacrifice the wellbeing and safety of some of their members for the sake of appearances or to avoid causing turbulence to the organisation’s structure, then they have truly poisoned their well and everyone that drinks from it. Everything about respecting one’s shifu/elders regardless of circumstances reeks of egocentricity and self indulgence, the complete antithesis of Buddhism. If one is truly seeking enlightenment and transcendence, then one must strip away pride. Betrayal is a label people place when pride is present. If there is no pride, then there is no betrayal. There is only right and wrong, to act virtuously in service of others without expectations of reward or to act in ways that harm others (respectfully).

Sexual abuse, rape, any sort of abuse or action where one or more people are hurt physically, emotionally or spiritually, is a textbook example of wrong. To defend someone who acted in this way is wrong. To defend someone who defends abusers is wrong. To act in any way that condones abuse is wrong.

If your teacher and/or organisation teaches you otherwise, and you choose to follow their teachings even after this article and my response, then at least be honest with yourself about why you are there in the first place. Because it certainly isn’t to follow the teachings of Buddha, or to seek enlightenment. Enlightenment is not possible when one holds on to the very toxic and very Earthly tendencies towards pride, lust, greed and wilful ignorance.

So grateful to read and learn from your experience, how you stepped against abuse, breaking through rigid hierarchical obstacles to follow a sincere spirit. A true and honest warrior and master you are, Sir.

I appreciate the effort, Johnny, but don’t get your hopes up. Charles was a friend and we even shared a room during a course in Malaysia. It’s been nearly a decade and, to my knowledge, he still hasn’t snapped out of it.

youre brainwashed bro, snap out of it