The thread on SwamiG's public Facebook page is back up! Perhaps they didn't like being called out on the takedown a couple of nights ago. They may also may have made it public again only to add Siddhananda's clarification. For full transparency, I am copying the thread in here. Peter L. Sutphen is the psychologist. Bonus points for him for weighing in in this way, as an apparently objective, reasonable and expert voice. Important to note too that Facebook account holders can selectively delete comments, so who knows if something has been deleted and what it was.
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(On Swami G's Facebook page, as of 1:40 pm Tuesday 7/2)
Peter L. Sutphen I just read her letters. They don't sound "sick" at all. For whatever reasons she decided to leave you as a teacher. Why all the reaction from your side? She's not defaming you. She experienced you in a certain way that she could not ultimately adequately cope with so she left. Why is that such a problem? Why does her leaving have to be some "dark mind spinning out of control"? Honestly, I'm not looking for a fight or to get beat up by you, but you seem to be the one with the problem with here leaving. Why can't she leave? She joined out of her freewill and she left out of her freewill.
Sunday at 11:41am · Like · 1
Guru Swami G You haven't read all of the things she is posting all over the net. Really if you had a client that was saying these things to you am sure you would view it in a different manner.
Sunday at 11:57am · Like · 4
Sachi Ananda Peter - actually Guru SwamiG had no problem with this former student leaving the path when this happened a few months ago. However, it is this former student who will not leave her alone, continuing to harass and defame not only her but also her students. Yes, any of her students can leave as no one is chained to be her student. But it's not okay to spread lies and make threats to her and her students.
Sunday at 12:25pm · Like · 5
Suvrat Ananda Peter, It sounds like you are not up to speed with the all the lies, hatred and venomous defamatory remarks that Holly is currently making.... These letters serve to expose that what Holly is saying all over the net is untrue and a bunch of lies and they do that quite well.
Sunday at 12:40pm · Edited · Like · 3
John Alexander Lobur Peter, the former student is publicly accusing the teacher of running a cult, and accusing her, among many other things, of attempting to separate and isolate students from their families.
Sunday at 12:52pm via mobile · Like · 1
Ron Fried Hello Peter,
As it is already pointed out, anyone can leave this path freely and in fact, if one has that request, it is honored quickly, they are wished well, and their membership is deleted. It is also hoped that they go on with their life and certainly not harass should they want to get in contact for whatever reason.
As I understand you to be a psychologist, I am amazed that you have read the letters and find them to be normal and balanced as it appears to be anything but that to me- she appears to be all over the map.
Also, she has been defaming, harassing, and threatening- That is not what I consider to be leaving.
Sunday at 1:25pm · Like · 1
Peter L. Sutphen Ron, I read the letters posted here, that seem rather tame. She was talking about "cult" dynamics which are present to a greater or lesser degree in any organization. Maybe I missed it, but I'll read the letters again.
Sunday at 1:30pm · Like
Peter L. Sutphen Okay, just read the letters over again and from my perspective they don't seem that bad in sense of being defamatory . She was having a conflict with the teaching style of Guru Swami G. Look, I've been in spiritual groups before and when someone says something "bad" about the guru, people in the group can go a little "nuts." I think it functions defensively to keep them away from their own conflicts they have with the guru. Can any of you involved with Guru Swami G honestly say that you are utterly baffled by Holly's comments and have absolutely no idea what she is talking about?
Sunday at 1:37pm · Like
John Alexander Lobur It's not baffling, Peter, but the "fear" she refers to has more to do with not wanting to deal with a lack of sugar coating than anything else. Abuse and hurt feelings are two different things, and, well, the teachers method (which has been reiterated time and again from the beginning) is that of ego affront, so the potential is always there.
Sunday at 1:57pm via mobile · Like · 1
John Alexander Lobur In my opinion very hurt feelings can create powerful stories to justify them. As for the rest you push through your fear of asking your teacher difficult questions and you get straight answers, ones that come with a lot of detail and patience. The door is always open to leave with blessing and goodwill.
Sunday at 2:01pm via mobile · Like
Siddhananda OO Some of the things Holly says have some basis in truth, but have been twisted into something that has a dark motive in it (this part is completely false).. the information that came to her was innocent, without a motive to hurt or take advantage or anything else within it.. the spin she puts on every piece of it makes what she is saying unrecognizable and Guru into being dark, dishonest and mean spirited in nature. It is this darkness that is being challenged..
Sunday at 2:13pm · Like · 6
John Alexander Lobur The Guru posted this long ago... It's by Chogyam Trugpa and sheds a lot of light on the dynamic of the path.
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www.guruswamig.com]
Sunday at 2:26pm via mobile · Like · 1
Ron Fried Peter-
I don't think any psychologist can read these letters and conclude there is any sort of balanced behavior. It indicates the unstable basis from where her rant and defamatory comments are coming from. I am including the link (below) of the 3 letters that are being talked about. She is making statements such as - I am going to chop you up, she has legions of demons, she loves abusing and being abused etc:
Regarding the defamatory comments, this has nothing to do with dynamics of other paths you have seen- Holly has filled the net with innuendoes and false accusations, stating such things as we asked to leave our families to come to Florida, Guru Swami G had an eating disorder and could't stop eating, Guru Swami G is mocking and condemning people for being on prescription medication, stating non existent happenings as taking place, etc.
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www.facebook.com]
Sunday at 3:11pm · Like · 1
John Alexander Lobur He's read them, Ron. I don't think she made the dreams up or that theyre a sign of psychosis. I've had some very vivid dreams myself.
Sunday at 3:25pm via mobile · Edited · Like
Candi Parshall Peter and anyone else questioning. I literally just left Guru G's path today. There was not fear or craziness. No long insulting letter to Guru G as there has never been anything unreasonable or inappropriate from this Guru and ashram. Reason for leaving is simple, there is a pulling for a break. Hopefully for ego to get trampled somehow outside this path. Guru G has not trampled it and giving this break to see if anything falls. Was wished well and feel that if it is in the future to come back this Guru may allow that as she hasnt closed that door. Benefited greatly from Guru G's path and grateful for all she has given. Ommmmmm, Candi
Sunday at 4:09pm · Like · 5
John Alexander Lobur Namaste Candi... Wishing you the very best!
Sunday at 4:15pm via mobile · Like · 2
Ron Fried The way i viewed it Holly had just left the path in a huge rant, threatening law suits, then sends these letters- letter 3 is an apology and letter of appreciation for what was given. This is not appropriate to be going into dreams of demons, and trying to kill someone, and laughing in that manor. It gives the flavor of one possessed by the devil. Nonetheless, the apology is accepted yet for those familiar with what has taken place a short time afterwards and now shows there is no sincerity in the gratitude or apology.
Sunday at 4:18pm · Like · 2
Ron Fried One would have to be informed of what has taken place and currently happening in order to appreciate the situation fully. Candi, may you find what you seek and may that be worthwhile, appreciated your posts. Ron Fried
Sunday at 4:18pm · Like · 4
Amber Tellez Namast~ It’s not only attacks but the extent of the deception and duplicity perpetrated all of those years while on this path that is the thing that is most disturbing to me. I mean, some people make a few nasty remarks when they leave. It’s unpleasan...See More
Sunday at 4:32pm · Like · 4
Amber Tellez Namaste Candi. Sorry to see you go, wishing you all of the best in your journey and hope to see you back!
Sunday at 4:41pm · Like · 3
Vicki Reithel namaste Peter, i for one do not like to see this Path and Guru being used as a target. Such old tired labels thrown about when fear or ignorance are in play. This path is not a skip through the park, and never was it presented that way.... in fact quit...See More
Sunday at 7:09pm · Like · 6
Siddhananda OO to clarify my last comment, what was being said is that some of Holly's statements have some basis in fact such as: yes, Guruji did go to india and that is where she found her Guru, yes i did go to Seattle, yes i am remaining here and do live with Guruji -- there are some factual statements such as these in her writing. The darkness and stories she has spun around these small statements of fact are absolutely false and i am in no way substantiating them not in any shape or form. I want to be very clear about this, that i am not supporting Holly or confirming her dark, twisted stories about Guru and the ashram in the least... so, one can hear this or not, but this is the truth...
4 hours ago