Moderator, please take a look at this thread and its links. If the links are not dead, they are leading readers to cultic sites.
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

I don't know anything about this group, but I did just check out the page. A couple of things leapt out at me. 1) The only photo I could find of the "Respected Teacher" he was wearing sun glasses indoors while sitting as if for meditation. Odd choice. 2) He claims to teach Buddhist meditation (Tibetan) and has a lot of Chinese/Daoist influence (which is great) but offers cha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This industry is a shit-show riddled with mlm-style or cultlike dynamics, online program funnels, new-age jargon and crappy personal development techniques you can google. Some coaches are alright - they actually have certifications and experience that support their methods - but some are very unqualified and ridiculously inexperienced, or flat out using methods that can cause co-dependency,
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

I'm not averse to blessed objects - it depends on who is doing the blessing and how and why and what I've got to do with the process. It is wise to bring your own water bottle to such events! I would never fault anyone for refusing an offering of any kind - tea, water, whatever. Amma also has a shade of corruption over her. From ramblingdays.com "Inevitably, Amma and h
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

The cult I was indoctrinated into was very eclectic, and aside from the Guru's books, CDs and videos, there was mandatory reading from Theosophical Texts. There was strong encouragement to stick to the prescribed reading list, lol. There was a prescribed regimen - an esoteric mashup - of Qigong exercises/breathing/meditation, Yogic breathing/meditation/healing, watered down (and very selecti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What a nightmare!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sahara71 There's a lot going on here, and unfortunately seems like different worlds of undue influence and trauma bonding are intersecting in this group. For a deeper dive into conspiracy theory and new age/wellness intersection, consider the Conspirituality Podcast and Matthew Remski's writings a great education. Grief and loss in the time of COVID is complex, and your friend
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is true, and there is no harm praying for someone's wellbeing, offering incense or a candle or simply thinking of them in a compassionate way. It is difficult enough for people who take initiative to book an appointment with their practitioner, show up, and are receptive to change to co-create the conditions for healing. Serious practitioners would never waste their precious time
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Okay, here goes! Lol. I find the influence of lunar cycles fascinating, and cosmology has a rich history in agriculture, folklore and magic that carries on in modern times, although our modern world tends not to have to rely on it so much. It is my opinion, from a spiritual/personal development perspective, that if you are putting some effort into regulating your health, emotions, finances, w
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Facet - congratulations on the success of your recovery. I help teach mindfulness meditation, and one of my friends is a sober companion, interventionist and meditator (and sober for more than 10 years) - we often work together learning from each other how best to teach meditation to persons in recovery. It has been my experience that sober folk are keen to meditate, but it must be very carefully
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Firstly, how the heck did tracicherise find out about this post about her church on a culteducation forum, and secondly, it does not comfort me that the moderator allows such abusive/aggressive rebuttals to be posted.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Meditation has always come with a "warning label", but Westerners ignore it or are taught improperly by poor teachers. If we follow the basic buddhist mindfulness instructions, it is a very boring practice - or a 'basmati rice' practice, as my teacher put it - very plain. Day in-day out - same basmati rice. In order to make it flashy and flavourful enough to be sold in the We
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Respectfully, there are a few red flags for me in that Hyperian quotation, including the "founder's" backstory and some of the details you provided. If you're open to advice, since his videos give you a weird vibe why not take a break for a month or two from the group and notice how you feel? Sit with your suspicions a bit.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An ascensionist creeped one of my meditation groups, where I said something like "the human body is designed for deterioration" (I may have been talking about Buddhist contemplation of death practices) and she started to slowly shake her head "no" (side-to-side). I asked what she objected to, and she told me that she will ascend with her physical body intact. Like, whoa. I did
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Allalong, just a note about Pema Chodron on your list. I, too, have enjoyed a couple of her books, but I like to dig into the teachers' lineage before going too far down a path with a "popular"/reknowned author and teacher. Especially important if the work resonates with you, if you are citing quotes or engaging more deeply in their practices. She had an abusive and disgraceful tea
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Wow - Bricolage sounds like what my cult guru created but he called it "synthesis". Such a great word.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

allalong, I am glad my experience is able to support you in some way. I'll address a couple of the questions you asked. Q: This sounds perfect for me. May I ask how you found a teacher? A: I had heard about a teacher who was a young, male, charismatic zen buddhist/yoga teacher many years ago from a friend. It was not what I was looking for that at the time. Many years, like, 8 years l
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

allalong, I am glad my experience is able to support you in some way. I'll address a couple of the questions you asked. Regarding meditation, there are many types of > meditation and you need to ask and know what the > purpose is/what the effect is and don't take the > teacher's word for it. The most basic mindfulness > meditation from the Buddha's satipa
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Allalong, I just replied to another post of yours, and I didn't realize the extent of your suffering. Rachel Bernstein has a great podcast and has helped many people to recover from cults and other systems of control. There are therapists who specialize in this work, and maybe you can gain some clarity or insight from some of her interviews. Possibly even reach out to her, or find a referral
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Allalong, this is a great question that I wish more people would ask themselves. I have gone down more than a few rabbit holes searching for practices and techniques that make sense, delivered by trustworthy people. it's not easy to navigate those waters when you're searching for connection, healing, understanding, etc. I have a few ideas to consider. Ask yourself what need you are
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups