Hi Vera City; I think that book sounds interesting.
I do think it is also important to point out that the author of this book is not a psychologist or a mental health professional, and the category he defines "malignant narcissist" is not a recognized category in the DSM IV. (There is a category "narcissistic personality disorder") having said this, I think non experts can still have intriguing and sometimes helpful ways of putting things.
It does seem that as a fundamental fact, power can cause people to act less well than they should. And lack of feedback because you are considered Godlike and infallible is imo very bad for anybody.

I think Corboy once quoted a Stanford?? cookie study which showed that manners got worse with perceived power?

[forum.culteducation.com]

Heard about this in a book entitled The No Asshole Rule.

People can change for the worse if cosseted for years at a time by an entourage.

What made the Stanford experiment radical was that behavior deteriorated persons randomly assigned to the leadership role - and in just a couple of hours.

So imagine the impact of pampering on someone who has aggressively and persistently sought leadership role.

Quote
yasmin wrote:
It does seem that as a fundamental fact, power
can cause people to act less well than they
should. And lack of feedback because you are
considered Godlike and infallible is imo very bad
for anybody.

Quote
corboy wrote:
People can change for the worse if cosseted for years at a time by an entourage.

Not pushing the book or it's author, but the concept of "Acquired Situational Narcissism"*. I am putting this out there as one possible explanation for the Chris Butler cult. At any rate, it answered some questions for me. Maybe it will help family members, other exers, newbies, and children who were born into ISKCON or the SOI (Science of Identity) group. In my opinion, it would be beneficial to seriously look at the illness of narcissism in their gurus.

The main idea is the possibility of acquiring a severe or "malignant" type of narcissism by setting oneself up as a self-appointed guru as Butler has (along with Mr. Dey and Ms. Hoshijo). The word malignant is used as an adjective and not a DSM IV category. The term "malignant narcissism" was coined by Eric Fromm, a social psychologist, psychoanalyst. The term malignant is added to the term narcissist to indicate that individuals with this disorder have a powerful form of narcissism that has made them ill in the forms of paranoid and anti-social traits, of which Butler has many (from the accounts of exers and critics posting on this forum).

Either a dormant or unexpressed narcissistic tendency comes out or is developed due to extraordinary circumstances such as celebrity or guruhood. In both cases people become quickly surrounded by an entourage that gives false feedback. "Acquired Situational Narcissism"* takes a unique form within a guru-centric society that has mixed with our celebrity-maddened western culture. (This would make for a great research project.)

Without exception, Butler's early followers described a definite change in their guru that began in the early 1970's. This change is what prompted some followers to leave the cult. They tell stories that illustrate Butler's personality changing from being "mellow" to tyrannical; from being open and accessible to being misanthropic and paranoid; from living like a humble sadhu (ascetic) to a petulant materialist screaming for his mangoes; from a tiny shack in the jungle without electricity to a mansion with aluminum foil lined walls and industrial air and water filtration systems. I have always wondered about this. What changed?

From his adolescence Chris became aware of his charismatic powers over others and developed a sort of 'guruphilia' (an addiction to being a guru). Butler began to see his own image magnified in the glances, tears, smiles, and genuflection of his followers. Later, he learned how easy it was to conceal his despotism behind senior devotees who pass out grace or punishment while he avoids taking responsibility for the lives he impairs. In a protective bubble of affluence and isolation, his inaccessibility hides the truth of his fallibility.

Some blame the changes in his personality on his meddling into Hawaiian politics or marrying Wai Lana. They say that his Chinese wife, characterized as another "Yoko Ono" broke up the essentially harmless and merry band of followers; surfers and vegetarians dedicated to a more humane, ecological, and spiritual lifestyle. With E.F. Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" in one hand and the Krishna Book in the other, they sought a utopian culture whose motto was "Simple Living, High Thinking". This slogan is based on the Hindi expression (sada jivana ucca vicara). Seeking the ideals of the 1960’s counter culture without the pitfalls of drugs and promiscuity, how did it change, for many, into a harmful cult?

Some say that after so many acid trips young Chris developed delusions based on his interest in eastern philosophy. True, but he was not initially a punitive despot. In the early days, if anyone left the cult it was because they were tired of playing around or wanted to have a normal sex life, relax with a beer or a burger, go back to college on the mainland, start a business, or simply grow up. Later followers left because they were threatened with spiritual death, suffered extreme psychological abuse, lost a spouse due to full time devotion to Butler or an affair with another devotee, had extreme work/"service" loads, unhealthy living conditions, and excessive tithing.

What else was different? Original followers lived, hung out, surfed, and chanted with Butler. Currently, the majority of his followers have never met him in person. Instead they rely on 30 year old photos, books, videos and on the testimony and legends propagated by older devotees and their children who once had direct access to the guru. For a child growing up in a world where one man is venerated so completely with no alternative views, it is nearly impossible to distinguish truth from reality. The very people who perpetuate the cult are simultaneously victims of Mr Butler's narcissism.

Now here is the really scary part. The followers who suffered the abuses and stayed on are now the preservers and propagators of the cult. The ones with the most damaged critical thinking skills are now the leaders. They are "nice" people, look normal, know how to dress and talk, and know how to draw you into the cult by degrees. They may even hold down good jobs and benefit others with their work. Butler doesn't need to do a thing except produce a "fatwa" to his senior disciples when business is slow. All these nice people are doing a good job of hiding the layers and layers of deceptions without really being conscious of the harm done (least of which is losing one's time and money in the service of a fraud). Of course there are others who are very aware of what they are doing and laugh behind the sincere one's backs. But then a few narcissists have been recruited too.

Quote
Wikipedia
Acquired situational narcissism

* Acquired situational narcissism (ASN) is a form of narcissism that develops in late adolescence or adulthood, brought on by wealth, fame and the other trappings of celebrity. It was coined by Robert B. Millman, professor of psychiatry at the Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University.

ASN differs from conventional narcissism in that it develops after childhood and is triggered and supported by the celebrity-obsessed society. Fans, assistants and tabloid media all play into the idea that the person really is vastly more important than other people, triggering a narcissistic problem that might have been only a tendency, or latent, and helping it to become a full-blown personality disorder. "Millman says that what happens to celebrities is that they get so used to people looking at them that they stop looking back at other people."

In its presentation and symptoms, it is indistinguishable from narcissistic personality disorder, differing only in its late onset and its support by large numbers of others. "The lack of social norms, controls, and of people telling them how life really is, also makes these people believe they're invulnerable".

See also: NY Times _ Acquired Situational Narcissism

Until and unless proven otherwise, this is my opinion based on reports and writings from ex followers, newspaper articles, Willis Butler's book "Barbara", and transcripts of Butler's own speeches and writings.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2014 02:53PM by Vera City.

Speaking of cookies. There's a story about Butler holding court with a small gathering of some of his top disciples. He passed out a large cookie to a woman. She was married at the time to a future Maui politician. She was working on some project for him. Getting a cookie was like getting spiritual gold. It was holy "prasadam" from the master, imbued with the ability to advance one spiritually.

Guru Butler teased her lovingly and then told her to eat the whole thing in one bite. She started to take a bite but it was too big. Everyone was laughing. Then he started to gently chastise her about something he was not pleased with and prompted her to push the whole cookie in her mouth as a pig would do. He told her that she had opened her big mouth about something to the wrong person (or maybe talked to a reporter). She stood there stuffing the whole thing in her mouth. She complied but was obviously embarrassed and humiliated. The witness who told me this story was mortified for her but kept silent. Everyone else was laughing along with Butler, including her husband who could not defend her. The couple later divorced after her husband had an affair with another disciple.

The thought going around the room was that the guru and Krishna must really love her to get this "divine" chastisement, rather than look at it for what it really was; bullying, manipulative, and abusive behavior. They were all playthings for Mr. Big Narcissist.

If that cookie held such spiritual power why didn't her husband appreciate his wife more after that? Or did Butler order him to change wives for political advancement?

Hmm...did Butler's behavior change before or after he moved into the new mansion?

This shift from a shared lifestyle with followers to a more reclusive guru and with access becoming more difficult is a recurring theme.

L. Ron Hubbard

Da Free John (Adi Da), a quite notorious guru, started with storefronts, then had a commune in Northern California, then moved with his close disciples to a remote, South Pacific island.


MMY retreated to a handsome compound in the Netherlands and was described as, in his later years, living a reclusive life.

[www.google.com]

Interesting that that mansion had "aluminum foil lined walls and industrial air and water filtration systems. "

Rajneesh reportedly was so sensitive to odors that visitors had to pass a "sniff test"

[www.google.com]

The Cult Test, Questions 61 to 70 - Orange PapersDec 27, 2013 ... And the Rajneeshees raved that Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was ... or have a
darshan with him, had to line up and submit to the "sniff test", ...
www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult_q6.html - 41k - Cached - Similar pages


Osho Darshans and the Sniff Test | sannyasnewsAug 3, 2013 ... To observers the so called sniff test (against any perfume or other ... Do not go
nearer to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) than a metre.
sannyasnews.org/now/archives/2885 - 278k - Cached - Similar pages

Quote
corboy Wrote:
Hmm...did Butler's behavior change before or after
he moved into the new mansion?

This shift from a shared lifestyle with followers
to a more reclusive guru and with access becoming
more difficult is a recurring theme.

It appears to me that it was a gradual change, over time. It started to happen before he completely withdrew into his beach front property in Kailua. He went from a hut in the jungle to an upstairs apartment in a suburban house, to high rise apartments in Honolulu, to a wealthy follower's home in Malibu, until he eventually landed in his multimillion dollar retreat owned by a disciple.

According to witnesses the behavior became pronounced after his failed album, failed newspapers, failed video show "Jagad Guru Speaks", and failed Independents for Godly Government campaign.

Former disciples report that the narcissistic behaviors also increased after the death of Mr. Dey, AC Bhaktivedanta, when he declared himself the new "self effulgent" Acharya (Guru of the World). He self published a paper called the "Haribol Special" around 1977 (a rambling, multi-page, psychotic explanation of Butler's superiority over ISKCON's appointed gurus). This is when he placed himself on equal footing with the Gaudiya Vaishnava line of succession going back to the alleged incarnation of g0dhead Lord Chaitanya. If Butler were a Christian he would have declared himself the Second Coming.

The behavior accelerated with his marriage to Wai Lana (early 1980's?). Memos to senior disciples (which were passed on to all initiated followers) began to harp on the lack of care and donations for poor, neglected guru and his consort. Followers were threatened with "spiritual death" for not tithing a certain amount. Workers on projects started to be fined huge amounts for various "offences" against guru. Voluminous handbooks on the care and feeding of the guru appeared.

Not one follower in public life admits to the depth of the service and involvement with Butler. He is the shadow government behind his devotees.

The fact that he is now doing a lot of new initiations is significant. Butler has many of his followers placed in media outlets and government positions in Hawaii, California, and Arizona, and perhaps in the Philippines and EU. That is why this forum is so important. Potential followers and their families need to know the truth that many of Butler's own disciples do not know. Like in a third world dictatorship, all the critics leave or are vilified and banished.

Butler truly is "A Very Gentle Force" as his album describes. You just need to know in to what you are being forced. The cookie story illustrated this very well. The sad news is that people who have been abused and had their potentials crumbled continue to follow and support this fraud.

This is my opinion. Many of the documents supporting these opinions are posted on this forum.

Advice from Corboy:

Someone who is your true love will survive vetting by a private investigator

Butlerites may attempt opportunistic/strategic marriages with non Butlerites who happen to have excellent personal or family connections in media, politics, finance.

So this is one reason among many for persons who are well placed or whose sons or daughters are well placed to do background checks on anyone who seems eager to marry them.

Look what happened to Maria Shriver after Arnold Schwarzeneggar married her.

She had that Kennedy connection. A connection that valuable will attract opportunists.

As Sam Fussell put it in his own body building memoir, Muscle, Arnold, through bodybuilding got what he wanted, "big balled muscles and a permanent pass to the Kennedy compound."

And Fussell wrote this ten to fifteen years before AAAAnnnold became Gubernator of the State of California.

Two high powered people. And Maria did a lot to make Arnold S electable.

And look what she got in return for her loyalty.

At least Aaaarnold was merely an egotist whose cult centered upon himself.

He wasnt running a world wide venture such as SIF.

And look how horribly Maria Shriver was betrayed, and after her years of hard work and loyalty.

So...to anyone out there who has valuable financial, social and political connections, via personal success, family connections, fame in other areas...
or who has and loves sons or daughters who will have such advantages.

Hire a private investigator to see whether someone genuinely loves you or your kid. Or that person is a mere fortune hunter playing a game of personal ambition -- to serve self or to serve the ambition of a guru who wants total power and zero accountablity.


The great love stories of humanity give us heroes and heroines who demonstrate true worth, greatness of spirit, honest human hearts.

**Someone who is your true love will be truthful and not be serving a deceitful agenda.

Someone who is your truthful love will survive vetting by a private investigator***

it would be interesting to have a PI investigate mr. Butler. as he has broken no known laws or if he has it would be kept under the "gurus" cloak. Mr Butler has been and continues to manipulate his followers. How this occurs in the present times is baffling to me. Fear like all religions is a powerful tool that is used. The fact that he is on an Island wayyy out in the pacific helps him to keep a tight grip on his followers. If he would come back to the continent of america, he would have many more eyes and his flock would have more access to the truth. I believe he will never leave Hawaii ever again. Unless he attempts to create a New Vrindavan (like they are working on and creating and maintaining in the Philippines) which he would never do. He would have to go to some backwoods state in the US and ... it is just implausible. the level of superstition surrounding him his foreign born servants, several of them from Australia and the Philippines is fascinating. Who is mr butlers #2 who is his #3 these people are the ones who should be revealed. There was some excellent reporting by several of you and most of it was wiped clean when the Rick Ross forum shifted sites... but I believe that his "younger" servants .. the Australian and Philippine born followers are not so much leaders but stalwart followers of this man. I love that guy who posts the videos on Youtube he is fearless, and I commend his effort. How do we get more investigative reporting done on this cult... expose' .. just some ramblings. But that Island environment feeds the illusion, clouds the truth... harbors the superstition...of a man god... the "enlightened one" the one true spiritual leader/master who knows god... who speaks to god... that would not fly in other parts of the world...but on that remote pacific island... the followers act as if they are not in the 21st century... they act as if they are prehistoric man hooting and banging drums every time it rains... it is a sad story, and in the end when Mr. Butler kicks the bucket the statues and pillars of their illusion will crumble. The madness will need to be fed. but the guru is dead it will not be pretty.

Thank you Vera. Ah yes the Cookie Story: "The thought going around the room was that the guru and Krishna must really love her to get this "divine" chastisement, rather than look at it for what it really was; bullying, manipulative, and abusive behavior. They were all playthings for Mr. Big Narcissist. " End quote.

Yes, Mr. Big Narcissist.

And as Corboy pointed out, "Someone who is your truthful love will survive vetting by a private investigator".

So in that vein, one must do their own background investigations into just who and what is Butler. Along with his new congressional side-kick, Tulsi Gabbard. Butler has a long leash, you see. Extends all the way to Capitol Hill.

Indeed.

Quote: "A Nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague." End quote.

These words, by Cicero, were written hundreds of years ago, yet they are more relevant today than ever before. The words will help you to look clearly at those who are doing one thing, while telling you that they are doing the exact opposite. This statement above is a good description of what Chris Butler's cult, along with his new puppet in Congres, Tulsi Gabbard, have done to the masses of those people who have foolishly allowed them into their lives in order to control, to manipulate and in the end, to destroy your will, if not your mind. It is most important that you wake up to what you are being told to believe, when all the evidence clearly shows the opposite is true. Do your own research into this nefarious group, which purports to be a not-for profit "religious" group but is in fact a secretive cult, geared to keeping one person in the lap of luxury and keeping another member of the inner circle, one Tulsi Gabbard, in the seat of the U.S. Congress no less.
They are using all the means at their disposal to keep you subservient and asleep. You have to use your free will & rely on your own investigations. They do not want you, in the long term, but they cannot afford to lose you right now. They need you to put everything in place for them, so that they can continue to enjoy the fruits of your hard work and sacrifice. Wake up and see that they are both just playing a part, they are not honest people and in the end you will all be left emotionally if not financially crippled, if you continue to believe what they tell you.

For those in the cult, there is still time to get out. There is help. For those that are starting to do their own inquiries, read up on what is really behind this manipulative and destructive cult. They are traitors.

We hear so much about finding true love.

It is our cultural archetype.

But the experience of finding one's true love, whether it be a human lover, or a guru or avatar --

That is a a subjective experience, a mood.

As we have learned to our sorrow, moods can be manipulated.

So..the question for Valentines Day and today on President's Day is to learn to ask this:

Is your true love a truthful love?


Can tell you that my mother was convinced she'd found her true love.

Turned out this fellow was a liar.

And Mom turned into a liar when she chose to uphold her myth about him at expense of how she suffered on his behalf.

So this is the take home lesson in love, relationships, religion.

Dont long for your true love.

Long for your truthful love.

And..about Butlers more recent devotees being from the Philippines, etc

Immigrants are vulnerable. They want to acculaturate, find networks of support. Thats what our own grandparents and great grandparents had to do when they arrived here in the US.

And persons in economically disadvantaged countries are understandably eager to get assistance and employment opportunties from anyone who can offer access to work permits in the US.

Another advantage with immigrants is that they often do not have ability to read expose websites such as ours.

For an analogy, we can look at a long time organization, Fellowship of Friends (aka Oregon House, Renaissance, The Ark, Apollo) run by Robert Burton, listed in the archive/groups section on this site, reportedly does outreach to Russians and Russian immigrants.

[www.google.com]

[www.google.com]

[www.google.com]