"Some people say the technique works wonders, but what's actually helping them is the preaching they're doing." Wow - thank you for posting this! It explains a lot of the appeal of conspiracy theories, too.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For further reading: Juguntar - As a young revolutionary leader, Aurobindo used physical education gatherings as a covert means of training boys to fight for India's Independance For India’s revolutionaries Gyms & akharas were a cover for politics The Jugantar movement started by Sri Aurobindo Ghosh used the guise of a fitness club to take in young teenagers and tu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ha. What is taught as 'Yoga' today, is a system of postures that, with the exception of padma asana - lotus posture, are not depicted in any truly ancient source. You can't find any sculptures or rock writings that depict downward dog, or sun salutation. Many of the pictures were adapted directly from 19th Century and early 20th Century European gymnastics. Group gymnasti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Meditation Can Backfire, Worsening Mental Health Problems PsyPost
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I Smell a Rat
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Those unpredictable mood/personality switches are classic for abusive partners, bosses, and cult leaders. Look up trauma bonding, the work of psychologist Alexandra Stein and fear without a solution. This so called "crazy wisdom' is an excuse to keep people insecure, and unable to leave or critique. You get mood states ranging from bliss to surreal clarity to terror -- but in n
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Spend time in stores and churches frequented by parents and young children. Look at the kids -- unless tranced on screens, the youngsters are bursting with vitality, eager to move, play, explore. It's torture to force kids that age to sit still for lengthy religious services. In sane religions, it's set up so parents can easily slip out during services and give youngsters play
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The social scene created by gurus has an effect on us, too. There's an instant intimacy. We share that same quest, that curiosity, hope, that same open-ness. There's an intense bonding, verbal and non verbal amongst the sangha. We want to become and remain part of that. We are social creatures in a lonely world. This social scene is full of people seeking healing.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"There are alot of ways he differs from a cult because he advocates for seekers to be doubters and only rely on direct experience, but on the other hand he sees his budda field and the seekers unconditional surrender as being essential to waking up. How do these things add up?" Lots of cult leaders tell newbies to rely on direct experience. They say so because these people are confid
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Years ago, I eagerly picked up the Bhagavad Gita. Because of the book's exalted reputation, I expected inspiration to become a better person. Instead, to my growing dismay, I felt that the Gita read like a Nazi motivational manual. Arjuns is a man of courage, wisdom and compassion, horrified at the prospect of war, who does not want to kill the people he loves, Arjuna is horror stricken a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hear, hear. Mr Rick Ross,moderator can be contacted here: Advice: Trolls often start by slowly testing, poking at boundaries boundaries. We get used to their presence, as we do a small pebble in the shoe. The troll increases the annoyance level, and we adjust. We keep adjusting, the troll becomes a bully. The previously safe space becomes unsafe. We visit less often. If
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"The Feds are Criminalizing Sex" Latest news coverage of legal woes of One Taste commercialized sex business Quote. The feds are “criminalizing sex” and looking to put people “in prison for funsies” by prosecuting the two glamorous leaders of embattled “sexual wellness” empire OneTaste, their lawyers claimed Wednesday. “I would say the government is trying to criminalize s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ole Nydahl is a Fraud wrote QuoteFor the death-wish nonsense, you would hear DW people regularly wishing death upon people or whole groups (Muslims, gays, etc.) which Ole Nydahl has decreed are not worthy of human rights with his hate speech lectures. This stuff is black magic. Sorcery. It's a long way from the Metta Sutra: "May all beings be happy, safe, free from harm --
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I have reported these not-helpful posts to the owner of the CEI message board.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ON2LF wrote: Must say, its brilliant to utilize unverifiable stories such as epiphany on a park bench or the cockroach. Why? Because these tie in to every day situations that scare us. Corboy ponders: Many of us fear becoming that person who lives on the park bench. To become homeless is to join the ranks of the living dead. Folks dont even look you in the eye. Its the most terr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Lets hope they give attention to the Butlerite children's boarding school in Baguio, in the Philippines. Survivors of the Yogi Bhajan 3HO (fake Sikh) boarding school in India have spoken out, as have those harmed in the ISKCON boarding schools. Some of the survivors of the Baguio facility did share their ordeals here - they need more publicity - and restitution. Earlier posts on C
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

See what we've learned by having a peek at the tenor of Basilisk's previous posts. Anytime something about an individual seems dodgy, feel free to look at their profile and previous post history on te CEI message board.
Forum: Destructive Churches

Petitor brings up an interesting matter. When wondering about someone's intent, read that person's posts in aggregate:
Forum: Destructive Churches

Free introductory mediation classes are an easy way to recruit trustful seekers. Herein lies a hazard. Problem is many unethical persons publicize free introductory mediation, say all the right things. The social scene around mediation is hazardous. * There's heavy emphasis on trust without verification * Critical thinking and doing background checks are scorned as negative think
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Ole's senior students knew his downside and hid it from new students so as (their excuse) not discredit the Dharma. In other words, they lied.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Brachas!
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You sound wise and have a delightful, droll sense of humor. Do not relinquish up either of those! Astoundingly wise for a teacher to advise 12 Step work. Ouspensky, from various reports, exhibited classic alcoholic behaviors by the time he died. Gurdjieff reportedly pressured people to drink heavily - despotic and despicable. Mold illness is only too real. Upstairs neighbor got sick fr
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

/kundalini learner1314 I've been reading up about him a bit recently, and I've known about him from when I was much younger as certain people I knew did go for the solstice camp and were proud practitioners of kundalini yoga (we're from halfway around the world). One thing I've realised is, much as there is talk about him being a Yogi of Kundalini Yoga (and one of t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

One of the earliest exposes of the fraudulence of Bhajan and his teaching by Trilochan Singh a Sikh scholar is newly reprinted. Sikhism and Tantric Yoga by Trilochan Singh Under the Yoga Mat: The Dark History of Yogi Bhajan’s Kundalini Yoga Paperback – July 15, 2023 by Els Coenen (Author), GuruNischan (Author) 4.3 out of 5 stars 15 QuoteLet’s face and share the pain. T
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy note: The genuine Sikhs do not practice or teach yoga. Today, the living guru of genuine Sikhs is NOT a human being but the book of their sacred writings the Granth Guru Sahib. You may meet nice sincere members of Yogu Bhajan's group. You may get stress benefit from their yoga classes. Their guru Yogi Bhajan molested and beat women. He laughed at the credulity of his Weste
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This Woman's Viral Story Of How She Unwittingly Joined A Yoga Cult Is An Important Warning "People keep asking how I got sucked into a yoga cult led by a white woman in a turban named Katie..."
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Life gets anxious when everything is due to personal karma, receptivity to Spirit -- everything gets hyper personal, you're hyper-responsible. This is the same emotional landscape of those of us who grow up as Adult Children of Alcoholics or were children in custody of mentally ill care providers.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

April 5, 2024 OneTaste Isn’t An ‘Orgasm’ Sex Cult -But A ‘Wellness’ Company Like SoulCycle, Crossfit, Attorney Claims Despite Bombshell Grooming Allegations
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Exactly. None of us is born wanting to be exploited. We are social creatures. We are wired to need, to expect, to seek connection with each other. When human psychological and spiritual growth is thwarted/disrupted, we are like tree roots seeking moisture. A tree needs water or it dies. Our roots strain towards water -- even when that water flows from a source that is intermi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Welcome to the CEI message board, Jamie. Other people expressed concerns about this group in a discussion here: If you get any questionable messages please feel free to send Mr Rick Ross, moderator of this message board, a private message (PM) here:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"