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corboy
And he died in 1951.

However, since RM has died, those who maintain the Ramana Maharshi ashram do get income from those visiting both the ashram and the old guru's tomb--the place has become one of the imporant places of pilgrimage in India.

The poor gentleman is no longer around to speak for himself.t.

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dandelion blossom
This organisation is a cult. I was one of Ramana's (formerly Rachel) clients for 4 years and then moved there and was involved intensely for a year before I finally left. She did the 'Cutting the ties that bind' work developed by Phyllis Krystal. She was a devotee of Sai Baba for years before apparently being told by him that she was a spiritual teacher in her own right? All her devotees (11 at present I believe) are also her old clients, and so she knows all the ins and outs of their psyches and uses this knowledge to manipulate, emotionally blackmail and control them. She splits everyone up and seperates people from their families, friends and discourages you from confiding in or spending time with partners and even your children.
Members have donated over £150,000 to put down as a deposit on a farmhouse and 22 acres in Rossendale and the members spend most of their time baking cakes and selling them to raise money to pay for the mortgage, Ramana's 'vegan farm' (!) and her and her family's bills. They sell it as a centre where "you can learn to be yourSelf", "be more loving", meet Ramana who is a "self realised being and all loving" etc...They raise atleast £1000 per month. They have also run workshops in the past - 'The Ramana Awareness Programme' - a sort of self-development model which uses several prominent mind control techniques and is a way of recruiting new members.
Ramana considers herself to be 'God' and to have no ego. She 'reflects' your thoughts, feelings and conditioning as well as your 'real self'. In practice this means that Ramana can say or do anything and then later say she was merely 'reflecting' the individual or groups energy, emotions or thoughts etc. There is no room for personal intuition, thinking or beliefs. You are told what you are thinking or feeling and how to dress, where to work, who to date, how to bring up your children, if and when you should visit outsiders, what house to live in etc....Any questioning is considered to be that person 'trying to be in control or 'interrogating God' etc.
Members live nearby in shared houses, but spend most of their time fundraising or doing 'tasks' at Ramana's land. She is married with 4 children and they do seem to believe she really is their Guru?
When I did some research into cults, I soon realised that she uses every mind control technique as listed on The Cult Information website and others I have since come across. It would take me way to long to list specific examples but I am open to questions.
If you are a friend or relative of anyone involved, I would love to hear from you or even someone who have been to workshops or met one of those involved. I just feel very frustrated as I have loved ones who are still there.

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candyscent
Hi i was also involved in the ramana trust and defintley believe it is a cult. I realised after i left recently that mind control was being used with everyone. I and another member were phyically assaulted and screamed at. On leaving i did some research on cult and realised that people were treated badly against their will and vulverable. I feel something needs to be done about this orgainsation as they no longer go by the name of the ramana trust and are working with other people and wanting volunteers. Children are involved in this situation which gives more concern to why it needs to be stopped. Also to answer the above regarding sai baba most of the members and myself have been to india and done work at sai baba,s ashram. And ramana being a sai baba devotee up until two years ago.
I hope this is useful.