Thanks, rrmoderator, corby!
I do think there is a valuable lesson that can be learned here, though. It shows in addition to all the other information learned about this group, that the leader does not tolerate criticism and will use her "student's" private disclosures against them. This is almost like blackmail. The message is to say in the group, or at least not oppose it, or have whatever "dirt" the leader has on you plastered all over the internet. By dabcult's own admission, the Guru asked him to post what he did. She might not have done it herself, but it's the next closest thing. Clearly she was able to manipulate dabcult into doing her dirty-work for her. I'd imagine the youtube video she put up was likewise a "suggestion" from one of her followers.
Anybody considering joining her group and reading this thread should consider carefully whether they want to risk entrusting their private information to somebody who has a history of disclosing it publicly. From what i'm seeing on youtube, it's not just Diddly she's bashing. It's multiple people. She also spoke of a male member and insinuated that because he left, it must be because he was drinking and doing drugs again.
I'm watching some of her more recent youtube videos and there is always this guy with her (seems to be the same from earlier in the thread). I'll
link to the video since it doesn't name anybody so you can know what I'm talking about. He's talking in the background. I imagine it's her closest follower. His role in the videos seems to be to provide legitimacy to everything he says by agreeing constantly. She certainly doesn't seem to like Rick Ross. According to her, his entire motivation for going on an anti-cult "tirade" as she puts it, is because he's Jewish and doesn't like any other religions. She also claims there are no Judaism-based groups listed on Rick Ross, which I know not to be true. She also calls him a "con man" and insinuates that he has a financial motivation in fighting cults (since fighting cults is liable to get you sued, it's not exactly a profitable business). She also says he's on medication and has been evaluated by a shrink who says he's "arrogant" and "hostile". I don't know enough about Rick Ross to say whether that's true or not but I highly doubt a psychologist would say something like that in public. Perhaps it was one chosen by a cult during a court case. Then I could understand it, but if that's the case, I can totally understand the hostility. Oh. Now she's citing Scientology front, "Religious Freedom Watch".
She keeps insisting that nobody pays her that much money and that she woudln't even be able to afford food on what she gets as donations, but
on her website she states as a condition for initiation: "Any taking Diksha SHOULD be sending in Monthly Donations as a way of honoring what is being given by Guru and as a way to aide in keeping a Community in place... Every spiritual tradition has this admonition of paying tithes - most say 10 % of your salary but here there is simply the admonition to give what you can... Look at what you have and then make a commitment as to what is appropriate... This aides in not taking things for granted and for keeping the flow in place....". Ten percent of one's salary is not a small donation.
She insists again and again that people can leave at any time but keeps making statements that the vast majority will fail or somehow get back to their own ways. Even in writing. The same website from above, in the
requirements for initiation also state: "If you leave this path once there is a bond with Guru - ALL the Karma that has been Transmuted by Guru will return to you... AND you will face the karmic consequences of reneging on the commitments made..."
Back to the video. She does admit that students are told not to read other material because they will be "in confusion". She again implies that "9 out of 10" who leave will be back where they started with all their problems. She claims that she doesn't "force" anybody to say anything. Perhaps not, but she did manipulate dabcult into posting what he did about diddly and I highly doubt that's a one-off.
25:07 Guru G states "
I am under no obligation to keep anything quiet. I did not sign a non-disclosure agreement with you so I could disclose anything I wanted and there would be absolutely nothing you could do about it. But i'm not that type of a person." Well. It didn't take her long to break that little rule of hers. Apparently she
is that kind of person. Not only did she publish letters about a former member, she had a poster here publish private details of her sex life.
27:16 Guru G states: "These people come, scared shitless. I take them in, work with them, get them stabilized, and this is the thanks I get." I wonder from this statement where she is getting her recruits. It
sounds like she picks those who are vulnerable. She's now claiming that she doesn't ask anybody to leave their families. I wonder if she ever implies that their lack of celibacy might be a roadblock to the road of enlightenment. According to dabcult, her practices have changed recently on that regard, but her claims that she would urge a follower to choose family responsibilities over "enlightment" would seem to conflict with what we've heard from Diddly. She's now implying those who have criticisms are in "denial" and afraid to face their own "truths".
I'll continue this tomorrow form 39:00 since I have stuff to do, but the video does seem to contain quite a few red flags so far.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2013 11:17PM by psyborgue.