I dare wonder if part of what makes these Tibetan and other gurus seductive is not just their promise of power, but also how many of them convey a vibe of childish playfulness and in some cases, a childish pathos and vulnerability. Many of us go into the guru scene seeking healing, yes. But it may not be appreciated how many of us may, without realizing it, seek to redeem ourselves by heal
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

happytown Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "Until then, when your guru chairs a board meeting > and it becomes obvious that he has no clue about > an issue, as a prudent member of that board you > shouldn’t hesitate to supply him with the > information he needs. At the same time, as a > Vajrayana student, you must skilfully remind >
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Until then, when your guru chairs a board meeting and it becomes obvious that he has no clue about an issue, as a prudent member of that board you shouldn’t hesitate to supply him with the information he needs. At the same time, as a Vajrayana student, you must skilfully remind yourself the guru only looks clueless to you because of your own impure perception, and that by appearing to need
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That's an offensive pdf. It's implication I guess it that you can't set things in stone. But err... y'kinda can. Just don't molest people who can't make a consensual decision because you've convinced them they need you.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Is nobody moderating this forum? This is a duplicate, please delete (or tell me how to)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Imagine the outcry if the Western press were to report every Muslim bombing and massacre under the heading ‘Islam!’" This misses the point of it being a systemic problem, not a practice of some fringe extreme, a fact only further confirmed by this article.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Misstyk- I double posted by mistake and this thread is the not-updated version. Can you move your comment to the other thread? And then this one can be deleted?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

DKR is a well known Tibetan Buddhist lama, nicknamed 'The Assassin' by his students. He has directed movies like "The Cup" (1999) and was the subject of the very interesting 2004 documentary "Words of My Perfect Teacher" (link at the bottom) Below are his astonishing comments from August 2017 regarding Sogyal Rinpoche: ***************************************
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Actually someone posted 'Words of my Perfect Teacher' on youtube. It took me two seconds to find! It is here:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

DKR is a well known Tibetan Buddhist lama, nicknamed 'The Assassin' by his students. He has directed movies like "The Cup" and was the subject of the hard-to-find-for-free but very interesting documentary "Words of My Perfect Teacher" Below are his comments from August 2017 regarding Sogyal Rinpoche: *************************************************************
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More information here to help people make an informed decision. "Unethical hypnosis in destructive cults"
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is very sad. After looking at how Mooji's 'invitation' seems to just be using 'yes-sets' and trance induction, I came across this article about the danger of amateur hypnosis: I don't have all the information and I'm not making any allegations. The information is useful for those who do know to decide for themselves. I accept I am biased and susp
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Reported yesterday, I'm told that a member of Mooji's group living in their centre has taken their own life this week. Very sad. No details yet but hope to get some soon and I really hope this bursts the bubble. But experience tells me probably not.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks Pattyduke, I agree one should definitely not join a cult! :) Unfortunately those people who live in what mooji people call their "close sangha family" are in no position to "take what resonates and discard the rest" as you say.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"I just now ordered a copy. the price does not seem high for a 500 page book." I agree- I just bought five books already this month and haven't finished one yet. Still got the Guru Papers to start!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I hear they make a lot of money from the gift shop and that they are very careful that people don't put on their visa applications that they are doing volunteer work, even though he has a small army of westerners working for him for two months there each year.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you, happytown for getting the word out. I just now ordered a copy. the price does not seem high for a 500 page book. Readers, pay attention to the Amazon reviews for this item. It is gonna stir up a discussion. A capsule summary of Christina Chandler, author of Enthralled: The Guru Cult of Tibetan Buddhism. QuoteChristine A. Chandler,.... Chandler spent nearly thirty years
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

New book out- link here Can't find any reviews online really. Does anyone know if it's good? Janja Lalich is sharing it on her Facebook page. It's too easy to click 'buy' on the kindle store so I'm making sure it's worth it first these days.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Arundasi, can you investigate that more? I don't think he charges when in India, although maybe that's just when they are in rishikesh. I checked on this and the standard party line is that "they couldn't find a venue big enough to house them in Tiru", although there are rumblings of vague political issues that aren't very clear. The same issues are apparently hap
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks that's very helpful! It's so frustrating, just how people could fall for this. I feel so stupid for the all tricks three gurus/groups pulled on me, and now to see this in action is anguishing, while it now seems so obvious what a big game this all is. Some good friends enthralled by this nonsense.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

So Mooji is apparently branding his process as something called "The Invitation" now. At first, I couldn't really see what the difference was between his talks/guided meditations and this new product. But on closer inspection he appears to have just introduced 'yes-sets' (actually they start as 'no-sets' and then turn into 'yes-sets') into the conv
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Mooji has apparently chosen not to go to India for the first time in many years this year. No information given, but I'm reading more and more news reports that even in India (see article below about Mooji and other Western gurus) the tide is turning. "“What’s common to , other than their outlook on rule-free spirituality, are their thick passports, and their even bigger travel budge
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Happytown wrote: QuoteThe games these groups play require a 'stable' mind that will justify, rationalise and normalise what is unjustifiable, irrational and unacceptable. And there is no way to see it when you're in it, and the ability to see it gets weaker and weaker with time unless the cognitive dissonances and abuses increase to twenty-stupid (e.g. a growing number of Gold R
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I actually had to scroll up and check I hadn't written this myself :) What am I realising is that having an extreme reaction to psychological manipulation is much healthier in the end than most peoples reactions. The games these groups play require a 'stable' mind that will justify, rationalise and normalise what is unjustifiable, irrational and unacceptable. And there is no way
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

If you wanted to do an analysis of the psychological pressures being placed on people (note the public shaming of the lieutenant at the beginning) then this video really shows it the best I've seen so far: Note the extreme tension at the beginning and then how it is slowly lifted into euphoria and people professing their devotion. It's quite hard to see this kind of video now
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is a quote by David Godman, the writer of so many books on Papaji, Mooji's "guru". Many of which you can no doubt purchase in Mooji's gift shop. "David Godman said... Anonymous, and others In the years I spent with Papaji I never once heard him say that any of his own devotees were 'jnanis'. Though he declared that many people had experienced 'e
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In 2011 his ashram referred to as "the land of Mooji and Radha": But how many who live there now have even heard of her? Not many I bet.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is a great distinction made in Joan Ross and Michael Langone's book: Cults,What parents Should Know, between Harmful and Adaptive Conversion: Adaptive Conversion - The convert is motivated primarily by internally generated searching. - The new belief system is at least relatively open and tolerant of other views. - The convert’s critical faculties remain intact or are enhanced.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Horowitz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > please, do you know if Mooji is married now and > have a children and a wife in Ashram. Have you > heard anything in Ashram in Portugal during your > visit. l would like to know more about his > personal life.... > > Horowitz I have been told that this woman: named Radha (given that na
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Agreed. The important thing to note is whether the process of "heart opening up" etc is in some way specific to the group and the person, or whether it is a natural by-product of intense relaxation caused by (either well placed or misplaced) faith and trust and a sense of safety. Because such an intense and euphoric relaxation experience can then leave one open to be less questioni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"