I don’t care what anybody says or thinks. Every single person has a different relationship with the divine. It does not matter what deity or religion one relates to. I respect everybody and I try really hard to understand how some people think everything is bogus. Souls are at a different level of evolution. We must have the humility to accept this. And each person has different spiritual abi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am not sure I understand the situation. You are still living in that situation and need someone to help you get out?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I am not sure I mentioned this before. I stayed at an Ashram ages ago. The program was very full on. We also had to do Arotik at 5 AM. The leader of the center was quite nice and non fanatical. The atmosphere was friendly except of course the few difficult personalies and the here and there clashes. There was this young attractive woman in her mid 20’s. Very calm within, surrendered, serious,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Henr Jolicoeur exposes cults.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Today I remembered something Butler said in a lecture. I am going to paraphrase as I don’t remember Word for Word. “People come to our meditation classes and gatherings and wonder how come we offer them for free. It costs nothing but then once you get serious about spiritual life, you will have to give away EVERYTHING. (or maybe he said it will cost your everything)”. This cult has taken e
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Facet, I personally am at a very different place now. I have gone way too deep into everything and sometimes talking about all the things I do in here is boring to me. I do it only because I want to shed light on the spiritual traps, the abuse.... It will help whoever it is supposed to. When I look at my own journey, I see that the soul’s evolution is like an Avalanche that noone can stop.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I know that many people consider this to be mythology. However Krishna supposedly appeared on this planet 5000 years ago. He is an avatar of lord Vishnu. He has always existed and is unborn. I know it is all quite far out but I am just repeating what I have learned. It is not like he just appeared out of the blue thousands of years before Christ. This is when he had the conversation with Arjun
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I just found this letter from ACB. It broke my heart because Beharilal das is one of the few people who commited suicide in SoI. I copied the relevent part. I wish he would have listened to his Diksha guru. Maybe his fate would be different. Not sure what pushed him to end his life. I just know that when a person ends their lives, they blame it mostly on offenses. I suspect that most suicid
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have been speaking at length about the partialities in the Butler group on the thread dedicated to him and the cult. However because it is such an important subject, I feel it is important I make a post about it. People think that because of what has been said here, that group is absolutely hellish for everybody. First of all I must say that after researching other cult leaders I believe t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Whirwind, no hard feelings. It is all good. I may have many faults but dishonesty is not one of them. I am as transparent as it gets. As I said it before, I am just giving a very soft version of my fringe experiences. Also since I am the only one who witnessed and lived them, I cannot prove it. And I do not really need to prove anything. It is not like I am selling a product. I have not re
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I wish you healing from the hurt and abuse you experienced in Iskcon. I am sorry you totally took what I said the wrong way. I suggested you start a blog or a new post on that specific topic. I specifically came to this forum to expose SoI, to heal from the spiritual trauma and find people from my own group, which I did. I did not come in here to argue about off topic subjects. If I have
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I guess it just gets chaotic we starr getting into the philosophy and argue about it. We all seem to have different views and there are apparently different versions.... We have covered the fact that SoI is practicing a diluted version of Vaishnavism. I think the most important issues with SoI have been exposed in this forum. The subject started in 2004. We cannot make up new stories. Until s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Whirlwind seems to be quite clear on his position. He sees the wrong things that Iskcon is doing. He is also defending the Founder who brought the philosphy to the East. Krishna Consciousness is not made of a body of people. It is not something a person joins or leaves. It is just a more intimate, personal relationship with “God” (for those who believe). I have only written a mild versio
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My friend you are quite fixated on the name of this forum. It is very much a SUPPORT GROUP. A place where we can openly discuss our negative and traumatic experiences. People are free to think what they want really. Including atheism. You stepped in the process willingly. You were thrown into it. I also dove in deep and quick. It was a choice. Those who were forced into it by parents or bo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Wirlwind, I have been out of this conversation for a while. You say that you are trying to explain the mystical forces that drove you to K Consciousness. I am not sure I read one single exemple of supernatural events on your journey other than you were an atheist before you were introduced to the maha mantra... I have no doubts that you have your own fringe experiences. So yes I feel we ar
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Whirlwind, you keep saying ACB said this and that. I am not eve sure my post counts for anything at this point. I am explaining how this path entered my life. Maybe you should read it again. I was not looking for a guru. Just big answers to big questions. Do you think that every single person who gets attracted to the path has read all of ABC books? That they enter the path of Bhakti yoga total
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Sciense of Identity teaches Krishna Consciousness. They do not teach Scientology. We have the picture of AC Bhaktivedanta on the altar. He is considered our grandfather spiritual teacher. We read his books and follow the same regulative principles. My ex guru is a disciple of ACB. Many of his senior disciples were intiated by ACB. So I am not lightly using the word K Consciousness just
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Whirlwind what are you even talking about? I have never been involved with Iskcon per se. I was involved with an OFFSHOOT of Iskcon. Did you miss the word offshoot? Now you are attacking me personally. Like you have nothing better to do? Make your own post defending Iskcon rather than criticizing me for exposing my own group: Science of Identity. If you have missed it, my group and my guru h
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Not sure how my post turned into an “Iskcon is not trying to recruit” thread. Whirlwind your spiritual journey and relationship with God is yours and yours alone. We are all extremely unique beings and sometimes when you spend years with a group, we lose sight of that personal relationship. We just become part of the devotee flock and under the microscope 24/7. And our relationship to the div
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Whirlwind, I have grown much more in every way being away from the group. I could neve go back to such settings and dealing with people all the time. It takes a very harmonious and loving community in order to nurture me. I certainly did not find this in my Iskcon oofshoot community. It was full o& fear and drama. At the end of the day, the holy names are the essence of the process. And
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Facet I respect your opinions. My experiences cannot be explained by physics. I keep the very intense and supernatural ones to myself. They are private. I am not one who lightly believes everything and I myself always look for things that do not make sense. Things that people believe blindly... However personal experiences are a different story. We are just too different in our views. I c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Facet it is not just sexual abuse. He is like all those other false gurus taking financial advantage... I have huge respect for the guys who spoke up. I think they will be marked for life. I cannot imagine the manipulation power it takes to lure straight guys to enter into his game. This tells me he is very dangerous.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

On the internet you can for sure find things. But almost nothing in here. That shows me that his followers are either scared or too devoted. To claim to be an Avatar of God gives one permission on whole different level. Of course those who believe that are also very naive. They have fallen in a deep hole. That stuff is worthy of a documentary like holly hell.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I was horrified to hear the testimonies of few men about the founder of Bhakti Marga. I cannot believe there is almost nothing on him written here. That almost none of his “devotees” is speaking up. Just a few people including some men who were lured by him. He is also one of those money grabbing gurus and there. I sure hope noone ends at his Ashram. This guy is next level horrible. But
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another theory that keeps disciples very loyal and grateful the guru is the fact that they are “supposedly” taking on their Karma. If anyone was to take on soleley my heavy Karma, their backs would break in one day what to speak of thousands and thousands of people’s Karma. Many disciples sill suffer from very rough material and physical conditions. This is another thing the people must take
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Now that I am not afraid to judge, I see that there are many things in the Vedas that are as detrimental as the Abrahamic religions. The whole mad elephant offense that gives protection to any fishy “guru”. The whole fear of offenses in general that stops people from discerning or calling others out. Suggesting suicide in case you are offensive to Guru... And the process is truly demanding i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Now that I am throw back into the SoI vortex, I might as well share the testimonial of a girl from possibly Ukraine or Russia. Apparently Mr. B is still using the same style. My guess is that she experienced it when the virtual gatherings started. Which is not very long ago. “For some time in my life i stayed in the group who worshipped Chris Butler. I was very new in spirituality a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

By the way I forgot to mention this article by a loyal SoI memeber. He is bashing this site and the people who exposed the cult using their weaknesses. Like there is never anything shady about them. The level of arrogance and denial it takes to think they are white as snow is beyond my understanding.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ian, I personally have not yet figured out what kind of a Cosmic Joke we are thrown into and what forces are behind it all. Whatever team has created this duality realm has now arranged for all of these “lies” to come up. Using people such as yourself. Nothing happens on this earth reality show by accident. Everything is scripted. You could have easily put your hurt under the rug and carry on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I meant my relationship with God was transformed into a Bipolar /Schizophrenic one due to the Yoyo teachings of the Guru. It was an analogy. As well as the fear based group dynamics. Like on one side they tell you God appreciates the smallest act and on the other side they tell you, you are not doing enough... I think a psychosis is easier to handle than a “mental” spiritual group.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"