erner Erhard sponsored visits to the United States by two gurus: Baba Muktananda was recorded as visiting two Tibetan gurus, the XIV Karmapa and Chogyam Trungpa. We learned that Muktananda incorporated est methods into his Siddha Yoga intensives. Gurumayi, Muktananda's successor also uses this stuff. Former Muktananda disciples described this stuff in a listser
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Gosh! Even such a worthless book as this would get the rap as a cult is astonishing! Why even waste time on it? In this world, I guess there will never be a scarcity of people wanting to be called guru. Important thing is to follow your heart, be humble and sincere. There is a power greater than our own little minds. If we follow our limited mind, we can easily fall into dangerous traps.
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QuoteElizabeth Gilbert took to Facebook on Thursday to express what she was most thankful for after a “rough year” – months after revealing she had left her husband to pursue a relationship with her female best friend. The Eat, Pray, Love author, who announced her new relationship with Rayya Elias two months after separating from husband José Nunes, wrote that she was “grateful that I seem
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Elizabeth Gilbert, of Eat Pray, Love as of September 2016 Earlier posts about this subject
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Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective Small excerpt QuoteIn this volume, Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation, Daniel Shaw presents a way of understanding the traumatic impact of narcissism as it is engendered developmentally, and as it is enacted relationally. Focusing on the dynamics of narcissism in interpersonal relations, Shaw describes the relati
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yet more. Find out where your yoga teachers studied earlier in their careers. If they were involved with Gurumayi or Muktananda and are not 1) up front about this and 2) honestly and fully described the abuses of power and that they renounce that and more, be cautious. If they try to hide their past affilitions with Muktananda or Gurumayi or rationalize the abuses of money sex and power .. you ha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"I had bought the book Eat, Pray, Love a week ago and today looked through the part about the ashram, and found references to the hamsa and Om Namah Shivaya mantras, which are part of Siddha Yoga. This morning I had to push away unwanted memories of lines from the Guru Gita." (from a discussion thread quoted below from Oprah community forums) Thank you for that link to Joan Rad
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteRajneesh's early talks (reproduced in the earliest Indian books and booklets) and later works are filled not just with some useful wisdom but also laced with ridiculously inaccurate, broad-sweeping generalizations about religion, society and human nature, and a quirky mix of self-effacing, feigned "humility" with self-inflated boasting. For instance, by his own account, he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Visitors and especially celebrities are spared the dark underbellies of Siddha Yoga and all other cults, which are well hidden behind the wealth and (stealth of time-tested strategies of silence. Newcomers always get the prime accommodations until they are hooked firmly by the Guru." Joan Radha Bridges--former disciple of Muktananda So much for the claim that all problems arise
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another article from Rituals of Disenchantment QuoteThe film, like the Elizabeth Gilbert memoir on which it is based, doesn't name the real-life ashram or guru, and Gilbert has never revealed the guru's identity. Readers of the book are instead treated to breathless but abstract passages like this: "Then I listened to the Guru speak in person for the first time, and her word
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Text of New York Post article Corboy note: It seems pretty clear from the testimony of many, not only Szabo and Shaw, but statements from many other persons, that some powerful experiences were elicited by tech used both by Muktananda and Gurumayi, and Stuart Resnick on his so called spiritual life page, did state the Muk was friends with Werner Erhard and had learned to use EST technology i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Additional buzz, courtesy of The Spearhead and those who commented.Warning, these are angry men who have been kicked in the nuts during horrible divorces and relationships. Still, highly interesting reading. One commenter supplied this link. I do not know if it is on legal record, but if it is, it is ........interesting. QuoteNEW JERSEY: Eat, Pray, Love….divorce – Elizabeth Gilbert on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Eat, Pray, Dumped--timelines and sources OK, according to this article, while still married, in 1998 the Coopers were interviewed as a couple by Ira Glass on This American Life'. This gives us a specific year during which they were still married. And, 1998 corresponds to the period when Gurumayi was still in public view overseeing SYDA yoga--she didnt go off the radar until 2004.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, the cult of Liz. How fitting. I've been saying she's got a cultlike following and it is way too creepy. Out of curiosity I did a quick Google search as you suggested and found this article: At the end Gilbert admits she's not so much into meditation these days. QuoteFans of "Eat, Pray, Love" may be surprised to learn that this woman who spent months in
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I agree, that she has become more. They are calling it the Cult Of Liz. Search Google for: "cult of Liz" elizabeth gilbert
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Anticult, I wish I could be more optimistic about what you just wrote about exposing Elizabeth Gilbert and the cult she was involved in. She isn't just a writer. She's a "personality" who is now revered as some kind of heroine. She has contacts and fans, including Oprah. Gilbert's publisher invested a lot of money in her trip and wants to continue to make money. I c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Siddha Yoga Inc wrote a response to the Salon story, and read the comments. They are flooded with pro-Siddha comments from Siddha followers. Its sad to think of the possible thousands of credulous people lured into Siddha Yoga through the Eat Pray Love deception. Thanks again, OPRAH. James Ray - OPRAH The Secret - OPRAH Eat Pray Love Siddha Yoga - OPRAH. The list could go on for d
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Eat, Pray, Love Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 The "Eat, Pray, Love" guru's troubling past Accusations of financial misconduct, sex abuse scandals: The dark history of Elizabeth Gilbert's yoga mentor Siddha Yoga Right: Gurumayi Chidvilasananda "What they probably won't know is that the unnamed guru is a hugely controversial figure who has disappeared from p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

AUGUST 11, 2010 in the NEW YORK POST A big article by Sara Stewart _________________________________ Eat pray zilch By SARA STEWART Last Updated: 2:28 PM, August 10, 2010 Posted: 1:06 AM, August 10, 2010 “If you’re lucky enough, you will find a living Guru. This is what pilgrims have been coming to India to seek for ages.” — Elizabeth Gilbert, “Eat Pray Love” “Eat. Pray. F
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Marto Szabo is all over this, with lots of links to how this story is breaking right now. ------quote------------ THE GURU LOOKED GOOD ~ a personal memoir by Marta Szabo This book describes my ten-plus years on staff in Gurumayi's Siddha Yoga ashrams, the same ashram written of by Elizabeth Gilbert in her book Eat, Pray, Love.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Have a read of this planted "article" which is literally a shill-job for Siddha Yoga using Eat Pray Love, but also using anti-marketing. Because of all the terrible PR Siddha went through with the scandals, they started a new strategy. It might be called Anti-Marketing. Gurumayi pretends to be in hiding. Siddha Yoga pretends to not want publicity, so they hire writers to write articl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Since Elizabeth Gilbert is a writer, its VERY likely she would have mentioned Siddha Yoga, and perhaps even Gurumayi in her writings BEFORE she took her EatPrayLove trip. Maybe in a blog post, comment, Usenet, or anywhere. Some searching around could find the proof online somewhere. If it can be proven that in fact Elizabeth Gilbert was into Siddha Yoga before her trip, then it can be expose
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That is fascinating information about Elizabeth Gilbert being with Siddha Yoga before she wrote her book, since 2002. If that is accurate, then Elizabeth Gilbert has also written a deceptive, doctored memoir, just like James Frey. From the perspective of the Siddha Yoga group, it makes perfect sense. A published writer joins Siddha Yoga through her boyfriend or whatever, and is then given the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

She Stoops to Conquer--Women, Enlightenment and Floors Elizabeth Gilbert Byron Katie
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In the article on the Commercial Appeal website, there are photos of some landmarks and local healers in the areas mentioned in Gilbert's book. QuoteSpiritual healer Ketut Liyer of Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, is featured in "Eat, Pray, Love." He says hundreds of foreign tourists have visited him since then. QuoteVilla Borghese was one of Elizabeth Gilbert's favorite sites in R
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Commercial Appeal QuoteInspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling journey, fans eating, praying, loving in her footstepsBy Beth J. Harpaz / Associated Press Posted August 15, 2010 at midnight QuoteIn Bali, they're seeking guidance from a spiritual healer. In Rome, they're lapping up gelato. And in India, they're visiting temples. Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert's
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It seems Rhonda Byrne is ready to attract more $$$ into her life. She's got a new book out called The Power. Here's the summary: "The Secret revealed the law of attraction. Now, Rhonda Byrne reveals the greatest force in the universe. This is the handbook to the greatest power in the Universe The Power to have anything you want. In "The Power," Rhonda takes the law
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

So far, put Elizabeth Gilbert and SYDA in the Google slot and punch the search button. See whatcha get. This article below from the Rituals of Disenchantment blog is interesting. So many very good things have not remained in cyberspace that the full text of this article and its comments will be reproduced. The owner of the blog, Seekher wrote in one comment QuoteThanks for your comme
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

She did get an advance, which in itself I have no problem with. Writers get them all the time; it's the publisher's investment in a product they hope will be profitable. In that sense, Elizabeth Gilbert delivered. Capitalism. Before long, another book like this will come out, because people are that desperate and they need a new fix.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello all! This is my first post! I found this site a few days after finishing Elizabeth's Gilbert's book Eat Pray Love; I was curious about her guru, did som e googling, and voila! Even while reading the book it was obvious to me that there was something fishy about this group. I've got a fairly reliable bullshit detector! Since finding this forum I've been reading a few
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"