Regarding the Desteni forum thread where a Jewish person expressed concern over the group's fascination with Bernard Poolman's imaginary escapades in "the dimensions" with the dead Adolf Hitler in his text, "I Am Hitler", and the anti-semitic rhetoric in his video, "The Jew in Every Man is a Zionist": that person was swiftly banned from their forum for even
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteDesteniWhyI believe it was age descrimination as I'm in my late forties and they prefer early 20's. One myth about Desteni that should be done away with is the idea that it mainly involves people in their early 20s. There are several older people ... Many of them seem to be ex-New Agers who having become disillusioned have been fooled by Poolman's rejec
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSimulacronXThere are maybe simply no recruits at all as yet, and this significant flaw is being hidden in the typical amateurish and shoddy manner à la Desteni. There are recruits. Don't ask me how I know, but there are.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteStoicWhatever figurehead Poolman is modelling himself on is just a convenient image of domination and control. There are snippets of magick--as in Crowley type beliefs---- there but no Satanism ala Anton La Vey. Sunette Spies "portalled" Anton LaVey, Satan, the Devil, Lucifer and Aleister Crowley. As well as, amongst others, of course, a vibrator, Audrey Hepburn, an AK-47 rif
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another odd thread on the Desteni forum... "New and Jew" where someone who says they're Jewish asks about the Desteni fascination with Hitler and Poolman's anti-Jewish comments in his "The Jew in Every Man is a Zionist" video. Amazing to read the convoluted excuses for Poolman's bigotry, where his words are treated as arcane wisdom with layers and layers o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

They might also be concerned about listing names of new recruits because these people might be approached by critics of Desteni warning them off. Going back to the question of Donald Herman, here's his current website: On this page: he discusses Desteni Productions (DP) and Bernard Poolman (BP), which he says is not his real name. He writes about BP: "I had a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Desteni "income plan" is up and running. They are already recruiting. There is very little doubt that it is a pyramid scheme. Anyone can report pyramid schemes whether they've been involved in them or not. The more people who do so the more likely reports will be acted upon. It should be noted that it is not Poolman who handles the Desteni finances. Anyone requiring
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, ForeverNoMatterWhat, so this relates to the situation which has been noted before where there are individuals hovering around any discussion of Desteni who are out to cause confusion.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteForeverNoMatterWhatOf course. It was a sarcastic reference to masonry. Is that a sort of private joke between you and Daryll Thomas..? Who is "Scott" and what is the significance of the address in NJ?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteForeverNoMatterWhatWhy don't one of you make the inquiry? No-one has said they haven't. Here's Poolman's own peculiar take on pyramid schemes: "Pyramid Schemes" -- QuoteForeverNoMatterWhatThe latter link I posted was interesting as there was a reference to Donald Herman apparently not being an Afrikaans speaker. It may have been that the poster a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, Stoic, for the detailed background info on pyramid selling schemes. Would you say there is a case for reporting Poolman/Desteni to the authorities in South Africa? Would it be taken seriously and investigated?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An information graphic that describes a pyramid scheme Pyramid Schemes: What Are Pyramid Schemes and How Do They Work How to Report a Fraud or Scam
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stoic, I would like to ask you another quite basic question. Please can you clarify precisely why or how the "Desteni income plan" is a pyramid scheme and not multilevel marketing, and why it is therefore illegal? It is worth having a closer look into the question of pyramid schemes in SA and posting any more useful links. It needs to be determined exactly which organisation in S
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, Stoic. Do you think Poolman could get away with passing off the "Desteni income plan" as something other than a pyramid selling scheme, and somehow make it appear legal? Pyramid selling schemes are illegal in South Africa. According to the southafrica.info page ForeverNoMatterWhat provided a link to a few posts ago -- : "The government is intent on cracking down on th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This video appeared today: "Desteni Income Plan & Acts of God" -- The document at this link describes how the "Desteni income plan" works in detail: So, this get-rich-quick scheme is presumably NOT a pyramid selling scheme and is completely legal? Or is it bordering on the illegal? It seems to me that Poolman is trying to make a certain amount of money within a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for your comments and the link to that article, ForeverNoMatterWhat. I for one appreciate your point of view. Anyone taking part in these discussions needs to be aware that all is not what it seems. It has become an established fact that in and around any internet discussion which involves criticism of Bernard Poolman, Sunette Spies and the Desteni group, certain individuals may ta
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

According to Bernard Poolman, a new global economic system to eradicate poverty is being implemented by his Desteni company. Of course, Desteni can't possibly make economic or political changes anywhere other than on the front porch of the Desteni farm, and it is all just an internet scam to recruit more disciples, but their efforts towards this appears to involve them taking part in fra
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ThePoolman: thanks for your input here. I haven't gone quiet and neither am I steering away from the topic, I just have other things to do. Desteni will say things against ex-followers because they probably have something like the Scientology 'fair game' policy. Their techniques are centred on gaining the most intimate personal details (on the false pretence of helping peopl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteNomad_KGranted, the state these people seem to be in after receiving shaktipat or diksha appears to bear some resemblance to the way some people tend to act when high on drugs, but to immediately jump to conclusions based on a superficial impression alone would be far too easy. Yes, but having put the question three times in this thread (once to Swami G herself) as to what is actually goi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteCresil1HumanOSTSandman, that was sort of a ass way of interrupting it, I'd have to say 'your the most grounded', but it's also clear you either dismiss ALOT, or haven't experienced anything but what's been 'set-up' for you. - Cresil Cresil, please can you explain what it is I interrupted in an "ass way"? And what do I either dism
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stoic brought up an interesting point about Poolman's avatar. Because of its fantastical cartoon-style imagery it will tend to appeal to people inspired by video games and sci-fi. Apocalyptic sci-fi and many video games contain elements of metaphysics, allegory, religious mythology. They can be very absorbing forms of entertainment presenting alternative universes in which the audience or re
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteJohn A. LoburQuote: sandman Surely it is obvious that mystical, spiritual or religious experiences are both beyond critical thought and outside of intellectual pursuits. Is it? It is my observation that in contemporary culture, mystical, spiritual or religious experiences are not generally given much credence in the works of intellectuals or critical thinkers. QuoteJohn A. LoburH
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quoteindiasparkhttp://www.livingcure.com/about.html Ganga Karmokar aka Swami G Creepy videos I'd say they were just tacky. QuoteJohn A. LoburHow can something both seem to be the case and obviously be the case at the same time? By seeming to be obvious. That which is obvious might only seemingly be so. Surely it is obvious that mystical, spiritual or religious experie
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteCresil1HumanOSTI highly suggest doing more research before making comments relating to their 'movement's' actions from one or two years ago. I have in fact done extensive research on Desteni for the past two years, some of it's in this thread from the start, and am up to date. I do realize Sunette is now referred to as "the resonances" and she got closed down
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotewanderingcrowJeepers, creepers, Sandman now Poolman will be taking notes!! He evidently didn't read the manual. Well by gosh, he should be taking notes, I don't think he managed to decipher the manual. He can forget about YouTube for a start, it's for lamers and wannabes. So is Facebook. Poolman should get his "I Am Hitler" book published via Lulu.com, which w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSwamiGYou don't understand Shaktipat and so it MUST be either drugs or hypnosis ? SwamiG, with respect, I would genuinely be interested to hear your description of the transmission of Shaktipat. From the point of view of someone who gives it, precisely how does it work? For the receiver, does it not involve, for example, the imbibing of ganga or certain mental or emotional p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteCresil1HumanOSTThe Desteni logic reply to that would be that your very limited with-in your own observation. You 'will never' allow yourself to reach out. They probably would say something like that, but it may be they don't all acknowledge Poolman's role in their group. They perhaps see Desteni as an experimental "interdimensional" exploration amongst equal
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotejames1951I would rather Mr Poolman be a conman. SO what if he makes a few bucks from those who fall for his con. But if he really believes the gibberish he espouses, he could do even more damage to those he is using. Unfortunately ity seems some of his followers are already in too deep. That is quite an interesting point. I'm not sure what difference it makes. Some of the followers ar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteSidha7001To who it may concern: As far as the rest, I am sorry you don't understand shaktipat and the validity of it. Hi Sidha7001, I for one would be interested to hear your explanation of shaktipat and the validity of it. Particularly if it can be explained without using religious terminology. I understand that might not be so straightforward but it seems to me that is what c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

He's also very fond of adolescent boys. A lot of these people set up cults around themselves simply so that they can get away with certain practices that would otherwise either land them in jail or alienate them socially. If you want servants to do your bidding, easy access to the type of human beings you'd like to sexually exploit, money and power, use whatever hook you can find that w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"