My dream last night: While slumbering, I climbed up the gnarled Heaven-tree to find the sweet and restful nest I often go to in my dreams. Suddenly a thick branch diverged and, while supported on the strong arm, I came upon a vista with a marvelous view that stretched into a valley and beyond. Out of curiosity, I decided to go into the valley to see what I could find. Soon after walking on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes zizlz… ...the word "smarmy"
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The greatest Love of All is within.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Traveller, Yes, James Swartz is a dark human capable of evil and he's done evil acts. I endured terrible abuse by him. As a result, I have a no-guru policy. NO GURU. I respect other people's spiritual quests and philosophies, but for myself I cannot have a relationship where there is a power differential. The greatest Love of All is within.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello Sahara71, Thanks for your interesting scenario! I love playing with it. If some dumbass guru...say like James Swartz...tried to pull that basic math crapola on me, I would refer said guru to this instructional website about the base 10 number system: And self-promoting gurus are usually dumb like that. However, if a dumbass guru tried to pull that stunt on a vulnerable 14 yea
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think what Rick and the ASI panel are attempting to do is admirable. They are trying to serve the community. They are well meaning people who want to open up the discussion for truth telling, strategies, and solutions. They have an ideal of what a spiritual community looks like. It's what we all want: opportunity to learn excellent teachings from trustworthy teachers within a body that is
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Panel Discussion included Rick Archer, Jac O'Keeffe, Mariana Caplan, Craig Holliday, and Miranda Macpherson. They start out the discussion noting the audience has both teachers and students, and that issues of ethical parameters in spiritual communities are prescient. Rick Archer: "How many here in the audience have actually served in the capacity of spiritual teacher in some w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello Good People, In the late 1970s and early 80s when I was a teenager, I fell into the clutches of an unethical and abusive "guru" who used undue influence, drugs, and mind control to lure me into his cult. His name is James Swartz. Back then we called him Rama--today he calls himself Ramji. When I met Rama I was not looking for spirituality...I wasn't a "seeker&quo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Great link Corboy...thank you!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi zizlz, ...yes, power food to the ego of the "teacher". This is why I only teach "karma yoga" yoga classes and never accept money. I realized early on that there was a persona to fulfill and many yoga teachers were getting into it. This idea of elevated status or having coveted knowledge...which in most cases with people is bunk! I focus on offering what I know...s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Sahara71, I agree with you. During his experiment, Vikram Gandhi did exploit the trust of those people. On that point I felt uneasy watching this film...questions of ethics came to mind... It's very interesting to see just how deeply people trusted this guru. In fact they blindly trusted--without researching him or questioning anything. This film showed how susceptible we humans
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello Good People, I love, love, love this film: It's good to have some laughter amid the astonishing and sad revelations that our society is abound with people wanting to control other people...predators and prey. There are a lot of good documentary films about cults and gurus. Most can be found on Netflix. Anyone can be a guru and obtain followers...what do you think?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

And he's creepy. Just look at him
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey Trav, Aaravindha Himadra appears to be another false guru...what a joke. I looked up "Aaravindha Himadra Bullshit" on Google...this is what came up: This guy is one of many. Insecure people who want to control others. Seems there are many of these con artists in the world. People should be aware of this schlock and know how to avoid it. I mean really? "
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy: Attunement is not exciting. It is like Gods still small voice. Heather: Yes, God's still small voice is not exciting. Grounding, uplifting, guiding, eternal, illuminating--yes. Exciting--no. I've had to weed out Swartz's enlightenment concepts and spiritual "training" that he programmed into my brain and teach myself, while in meditation, to go into the deep
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sadly I believe Corboy is correct. People who promote spirituality (or themselves being a source of knowledge) on the web, are watered down versions of someone else's revelation or an established lineage/tradition. I think it's difficult to find any institution, group, or individual with a platform that doesn't have a self serving agenda. Why should anyone be required to pay
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

zizlz said: "James said something similar at the seminar I attended. Something like: you should listen to me and dismiss any critical thoughts arising in you. This opens students up to being programmed, if indeed they dismiss their own critical thinking." I'm pretty sure I remember Swartz telling me to dismiss thoughts as well... When I first met James Swartz at a party fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Wisdom words from the Man In Black: Hurt
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Last bit... and BTW...expect more and more and more trolls from Swartz. I'm sure he has an arsenal of trolls lined up and ready to go!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Good powerful stuff Earthquake. Your fight is valiant. I hope and pray others like you will come to the forefront and speak the truth about Swartz. I've looked at all the comments on this thread. A pattern is obvious. Swartz sends out his trolls and apologists--he does it in bursts. Perhaps this is a strategy to try to out-voice the objectors on this thread. Perhaps it is an attempt t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Peace in the new year. May we all stand in God's perfect light and in our searches may we marry knowledge and wisdom with truth, love, morality, kindness, and compassion. Spiritus Sanctus vivificans vite --Hildegard von Bingen Spiritus Sanctus vivificans vita, movens omnia, et radix est in omni creatura, ac omnia de immunditia abluit, tergens crimina, ac ungit vulnera, et si
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I suggest people watch the Leah Remini docuseries called Scientology and the Aftermath. Leah was deeply entrenched in the Scientology cult for years. She was brought up in the church. Mike Rinder was a senior executive of the church. Mike Rinder quite likely had been regarded suspiciously, feared, and possibly loathed by survivors of Scientology because he was instrumental in abusive act
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here are some of my own personal opinions... I'm pretty sure all three gates of hell are open to James Swartz--he can enter at his leisure. Additionally I don't believe anyone is unsaveable. It's possible one day Swartz will do the necessary work to save himself? Most importantly, I hope and pray Isabella will find her freedom. I don't know her, but I surmise she may
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Correction on one of my previous comments... I wrote: a.) Disparage Traveller99 and criticize his/her writing so as to trigger Trav into a desperate and negative response. It should read: a.) Disparage Devon Adler (author of the Heather book) and criticize her writing to trigger Trav and others into a negative response. It's been a long time since I've looked at the Heath
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I speak only from my own personal experience. When I was 16 years old, and James Swartz raped me, he told me that he was not "the doer". He told me I was not the doer. When he sent his wife Marlena, and Jessica, and me (in training) out to strip for money...he told us we were not the doer. We could have our cake and eat it too. "Sin intelligently" if you will... Th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The last post from AreYouKidding was intended to: a.) Disparage Traveller99 and criticize his/her writing so as to trigger Trav into a desperate and negative response. b.) Cause division within the growing and supportive network against James Swartz and his false teachings. c.) Cause people within the network of people criticizing Swartz to doubt their perceptions and facts regarding Swartz&
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

James Swartz denies he raped me. Of course he does, most perpetrators of sexual violence deny their crime. Bill Cosby also denied sexually assaulting his victims. People didn’t want to believe that the “greatest father in television” would do such harmful and deplorable acts. His image wouldn’t permit the atrocious reality. Cosby continued his denials even to the end, when Andrea Constand face
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hey Folks, I'm going away for a while, so I won't be able to respond if anyone directs a comment my way. Blessings over the holidays... H
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Aenas: I don't know what the heck you're talking about.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

regarding my previous, previous, previous post... I wrote "sobs"...this was a typo...I meant "sods"
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"