lets keep the tone helpful. People who feel they've had happy experiences with LGATs have lots of LGAT sponsored social venues and cyber forums where they can get validation and peer support. But persons who feel concerned about the lack of informed consent, and feel shaken and psychologically stressed and depleted by such LGATs have few social venues where they can exchange info with
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This morning (8.10.2004) someone reported on Craigslist.org spirituality forum that this person had contacted her. So 'Miraj' is still out there, still at large, still recruiting. Report him if he contacts you, or any of your friends. He seems to especially target women in the healing arts, particularly Reiki practitioners. ----------------Craigslist Post------------------------
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

the perils of going to India are that you can meet someone who intuits your vanity and tells you what you want to hear, rather than what you need to hear. Genuine gurus only tell us what we need to hear. I heard someone quote a Sanskrit proverb: 'A greedy guru and an impatient disciple are both suspended over the pit of hell.' That same person said, (my paraphrase from me
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Many people, without realizing it, may be influenced by fantasies about enlightenment. (Some great descriptions of issues and misperceptions can be found in Brad Warner's book 'Hardcore Zen.' Cheri Huber's 'Perils and Pitfalls of Practice is also excellent.) There are some misleading hopes and fantasies floating around concerning enlightenment. These fantasies may s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

but that does not mean it is a desirable, or even acceptable state of health. Mind control is not desirable or acceptable either. One has to set firm guidelines in the case of very young children, but we are supposed to respect human dignity and use age appropriate methods of conscious education as soon as possible, methods that foster alertness and autonomy. Just because marketing and
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, Luna's book is unique. Lots of parents have given accounts of how awful it is to lose your child to a guru. But this is so far the only book written by a parent who lost her son because he became a guru. The thing not mentioned in this book is how vulnerable we become when we desire enlightenment, become 'seekers' and are not aware that we have unconscious fantasies tha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

hooked on his personality isnt a teacher. A real teacher vanishes into his or her job--you go away remembering more about what they taught than about the peculiar whims of the teacher. I recommend that you get a copy of Len Oakes' book, Prophetic Charisma. Oakes surveyed 20 charismatic leaders of various groups, and found that beneath the diversity of belief systems, they were rem
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

If someone you loved was seriously ill in the hospital, would you speak with them in this manner? People are here because they've paid a price in pain. Teasing conveys a lack of respect. It is also distracting. If you have concerns, you're welcome to discuss them with Rick Ross at his e-mail address rickross@culte
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'Needling'and sarcasm bring down the tone and create an unhelpful atmosphere. Posts like that will not be let through.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

raise the index of suspicion. If I were to pay hundreds of dollars for a psychic reading, I'd want pin point accuracy. Something many psychics do is a the technique of cold reading. Lets keep the tone helpful and not take pokes at each other. Teasing, taking pokes, and 'wink-wink' seems humorous on the surface, but can come across as aggression to many of us.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

is go to the main page for the Ross Institute and do some background reading on the characteristics that distinguish a dysfunctional/cultic group from one that is functional and healthy. This article 'Evaluating Spiritual and Utopian Groups' by Arthur J Deikman MD is excellent. Then go to your New Testament and read Paul's descriptions of the gift of the Holy Spirit - which
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

that the guru's personality, needs and emotional life become the measure of all things in the group and everyone else's inner life is eclipsed. (depending on the group, you can substitute 'pastor' 'minister' 'leader' etc for 'guru') To use the language of psychotherapy, in a dysfunctional cultic group, the leader monopolizes all the adoratio
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Eventually, after many years I realized that love, *trust* intimacy and forgiveness arise in response to certain conditions. They cannot be willed or produced on demand. And, they most certainly cannot be produced in response to bullying and abuse! IF a group or person demands love from you but has created an environment full of uncertainty, fear and anxiety you're being put in a 
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

no, I never heard of Lozanov's work until now. This is all excellent stuff. That music you refer to--the composer's name is spelled Pachelbel. There is one piece often attributed to Pachelbel but often confused with another composition by Albernoni. Both compositions would be just the thing to manipulate emotions--they're heartbreaking. And, its probably no coincidence th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

you'll have to ask the author of the Psychology Today article. But it appears Mack's exposure to EST and Grof's breathwork pre-dated his interest in UFOlogy.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

(Curious about why Dr. John Mack chose to endanger his professional crediblity by becoming a UFO-logist, I ran a google search and found this article. It appears that John Mack was exposed to Erhard Seminars Training and a variety of other mind bending New Age interventions.) Psychology Today March/April 1994 >\ The Harvard professor & the UFOs by Neimark, Ji
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Chinmayanda died some years ago. Did you have any direct experience with his group? (Note: there may be another person named Chinmayananda who is quite alive and is currently active as a politician in India. So if you run a Google, your search may churn up information on two different people. If so, you'll have to find ways to adjust your search terms to focus on the person you're s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

here is another book--its called People Farm, by Steve Susoyev. There's some stuff about it on this thread Given what you've been through, you may find People Farm a huge eye opener. There was a wilderness facility where people lived in Spartan conditions (food however was excellent!) and basically became toys for the leader and his consort to play with. Then they'd go place
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

the book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad.' That book became a best seller. I bought a copy a long time ago. It had some good points, but eventually I felt more and more grim and depressed while reading it. I decided such emotions were more likely to lead to bad financial decision making. Here are some outsider comments on Mr Kiyosaki's book John T Reed's Analysis of Robert Kiyosak
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

a fellow named Andre van der Braak spent 11 years as disciple to guru described as harsh by many people. He describes all this in his memoir Enlightenment Blues:My Years With an American Guru According to van der Braak, at one point his Guru became pissed off at how ego fixated his disciples were, so he sent them off to do rebirthing sessions. I cant remember how many such sessions van der B
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

its a classic--you can use it to excuse anything. If you want to understand how charismatic leaders 'tick' get and read 'Prophetic Charisma' by Len Oakes. He studied 20 charismatic cult leaders, after having spent time as a disciple of one. Oakes described how one of these leaders handled a health department inspector--he dazzled the guy with BS, knocked him off balan
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

People Farm is probably the closest way an outsider can stand aside at a very safe distance, and experience the desperation and vulnerability persons who are seduced into a psychotherapy cult and how they can be trained to function as extensions of the leader, even to the point of degrading each other and committing crimes. The book also describes the endless hustling and scheming that went on
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It doesnt matter what your own state of mind is. There is plenty of evidence about the harm done by certain unsafe LGATs. Meanwhile, give your sister the URL for this thread on how controversialLGATs produce their effects by manipulating the room environment. Your sister will have to come to her own conclusions. At least she'll know information is out there, even if she does not r
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you want to see what your friend was up against, read the material on this thread which is entitled 'Manipulating the Room's Environment.' Lots of info from persons who used to work forLGATs and who set up the rooms, plus from participants who reported how very tightly scripted social interactions were inside those rooms.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It sounds as though you were in a discreet, under-the-radar group. These can be hard to identify, and you're often recruited through a trusted friend or relative. And if you're a member of a travelling group with a hectic schedule structured around frequent rituals/art performances, you're kept busy, tired, and all the constant travelling keeps you dependant on both the group and l
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Exactly. That point is covered in several posts on this thread. One of the posts contains a URL for a statement issued by a council of Native American Elders who spoke against the commercialization of shamanism. So much has already been stolen from indigenous peoples. The very least we can do is honor their traditions by respecting their sacred places and keeping our distance so that the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Selective Recruitment, Gaslighting and Strategic Rejection as Mental Manipulation A discussion of this subject developed on this thread entitled 'Do Not Expect Gratitude and several correspondants began describing their experiences of this form of abuse. Access the thread here scroll down to the post by 'Leopardgirl'spost dated 7-12-04. Starting with that post and the o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It may be that Selective Recruitment (when child molesters do it, its called 'grooming the victim') and Strategic Rejection are often perpetrated in tandem. In certain cultic relationships and groups, they fit together, like a pair of clam shells. And form an airtight seal when they snap shut. Strategic rejection can range from amateurish to fiendish. Amateurish strategic rej
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Professor Janja Lalich She was in a political cult, left it, did her graduate studies with Dr. Margaret Singer. Her past experience led her to study high-demand groups and belief systems. Good luck in your studies.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi LG: I was reading some material on a thread dedicated to faux Gurdjieff groups and began to suspect that certain small group leaders enhance their power just as much by knowing whom to kick out from the group, as whom to recruit into the group. First, an adroit spiritual counterfeiter may operate in a manner similar to serial pedophiles. THere are people who are very skillful at identif
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"