Rama posted a good article on
BHAKTI YOGA SHACK of KAUAI BRAINWASH YOGA SHACKI just found this hilarious parody How to be
Ultra Spiritual (funny) - with JP Sears and thought about Butler using the children of cult members to recruit people into his cult via the
Bhakti Yoga Shack on Kauai.
How to be Ultra Spiritual (funny) - with JP SearsBy any other name, it is still a destructive cult. Just insert the word/tag cloud of the following buzz words or thought stopping phrases: Essence. Yoga lifestyle.life purpose. Who are you? eternal nature. chanting God’s names.holy names.unconditional love.mind switches off.relationship with the Divine. identity.Jagad Guru.God.balance. being. bhakti yoga.not the body. breathing. chant. community. connection. dance. essence. freedom. fulfillment. God. happiness harmony. heal. heart. identity. japa. joy. kirtan. living. love. mantra meditation. mind. music. natural. peace. purify. purpose. relationship. seeking. self. shelter. spiritual.Bhakti Yoga. spirituality.supreme. transcendental. Vedas. wisdom. yoga.hearing and chanting. Gauranga breathing. science of identity.Supreme Person.spiritual master.bliss. transcendental sound vibration.yoga wisdom. spiritual sound vibrations.bonafide spiritual master. Disciplic succession.Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda.eat pray love. live kirtan music.yoga classes.kirtan meditation.ancient wisdom.karma.kirtan yoga.long line of masters."
On their website, the
Bhakti Yoga Shack people do claim to be followers of Butler.
Quote
Radha dasi and Gopal das are long time students of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa who is a world renowned Yoga Master coming in a long line of spiritual teachers dating back over 500yrs. This full immersion kitan yoga retreat is an amazing opportunity to obtain a greater understanding of Yoga Philosophy from those that are living the practice of Yoga as taught by Sri Krishna Bhagavan in the ancient yoga texts of The Bhagavad- Gita the original source and founder of yoga.
Seriously, I am all for lovely times together with friends, doing things humans love to do; music, dance, singing, exercise, good food, sharing cultural & religious rituals ~ What's not to like!?
Nothing wrong with attending seminars and retreats in a tropical paradise to learn, relax, and refresh. That's great. But I do not like these activities to be tied into a recruitment thing. I don't want to hang out with people who won't like me if I don't think their guru is g0d's sweetheart in the spiritual sky. I don't want to be in someone
Ponzi enlightenment scheme. I don't want to be manipulated into making ambitious devotees look good as they scramble for guru's attention. I don't want to be the person at the bottom of the pyramid to elevate some guy at the top.
I don't want to join a cult. But no cult is going to advertise,
"Hey! We are a cult here! Come join us!"Before committing to any serious involvement with a Butler recruitment arm, I would encourage you to ask the following simple questions. Contrast the answers with a
serious study on how cults operate. These questions also apply to any serious journalist looking into Tulsi Gabbard's background. I am sure others can think of more questions specific to this cult. It doesn't even matter if they answer your questions honestly. Just observing the reaction is telling.
SAVE THESE QUESTIONS:
1) Do you consider of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda infallible? Is he superior to all other teachers in your view? Does Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda have the exclusive means to knowing “truth” and that no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible?
2) Are there magical, mystical, or miraculous stories about Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda’s abilities and origin? Have you personally witnessed any of these accounts?
3) In what way is Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda accountable for his actions and directives? Do you feel that he is never mistaken? Do you doubt your own ability to judge the outcome of his actions and directives even when they turn out poorly?
4) Are you allowed to question the actions or teachings of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda? Have you ever felt guilty for doubting your guru's authority or veracity? Do you feel bad or question your self worth if you think some directive is off or mistaken?
5) If I criticize or question your guru, will I be considered a demon? Do you blame the followers before you would even consider questioning Jagad Guru?
6) What is the end goal for all of this practice and teaching? In order to advance in my yoga practice, will I be required to give more and more of my free time and money to your guru?
7) Are there secret teachings given to only the initiated?
8) How do you view other spiritual paths and teachers?
9) As a serious follower, how much of your income are you required to donate to Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda?
10) Have you or your family given businesses, inheritances, or large amounts of money to Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda?
11) Are there a meaningful financial disclosures regarding Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda organization's (e.g. SIF, SOI, SIFCare) budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement? Have you ever been given money to donate to a project or political campaign by a Jagad Guru follower?
12) Does your group encourage family communication, community interaction, and existing friendships with non-followers and not feel concerned or threatened? Is such interaction limited for fear of contamination?
13) If someone wants to leave your group, are there any legitimate reasons for doing so or are they regarded as negative, wrong, or even evil?
14) As children, were you allowed to freely hang out with other kids from different religions and cultures? Or did you only hang out with kids not of your group only to convince them of your beliefs?
15) Did you grow up isolated from mainstream society? Were you raised to fear the world outside of your group?
16) Were you only encouraged to associate with friends or family members that demonstrate an interest in your group and Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda? Within the group itself, was there a hierarchy of people you could or could not associate with?
17) Were you ever discouraged or prevented from seeing non-SOI believing friends or relatives?
18) Were you allowed to read books and see movies that presented other world views? Or were you required to listen to Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda tapes all the time.
19) Did you grow up fearful of “karmis” or people outside of your group?
20) Were you encouraged to keep secrets, omit truths because you were told that outsiders just could not understand? Were you told to keep your real beliefs, the identity of or the whereabouts of your guru a secret? Have you ever lied to protect your guru or member of your group?
Potentially unsafe groups or leaders "come off very nice at first, they go for vulnerable people who are looking for answers, lonely, what you'd call 'normal people.' They're very good at what they do and can get people to believe anything. You might think you'd never get taken in, but don't bet on it. "
-- Margaret Singer, Ph.D.