A good place to learn more about Sahaja Yoga is here:
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's all about the bottom line. Sahaja Yoga always claims to be free and that "no money is ever taken." But Mataji (the cult leader) has amassed a fortune and she, along with her husband and daughters, lives luxuriously on income raised through lucrative "India tours," mass weddings, pujas and "voluntary" contributions provided by her followers. These day
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

These cult people are getting good at hiding the fact that they work for a larger organization. Scary stuff...though the cows look happy... Thanks for posting that, barabara. Nice detective work!
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

This guy's been spamming Yahoo sites looking for new customers. The best part is the WARNING page. Anybody heard of Mr. Hughes? Apparently his seminars got washed away by Katrina. (All were supposed to take place in New Orleans.) You wouldn't think that'd happen to a guy with such powerful connections to the divine. Those guys usually brag that they can control th
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

Some people believe the vibrations Sahaja Yogis say they feel on their fingertips and on the palm of their hands are real even long after they've been out of the cult. They believe they feel a cool breeze, which they claim to be a divine wind of spiritual connection (or "realization"). They also think they can feel "catches" on the "chakras" of other people. S
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Bumstein, I can't tell you what to do about your friend. You say you are dear friends. Maybe if you're that close, you can be very blunt with your friend and say you are concerned that s/he is in a cult. You can print out pages from the links I gave you. Beyond that, there may not be anything you can do but to be there in the end, as a dear friend, if/when your friend sees that
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There is no safe amount of time to stay in SY. It sucks you in slowly and deliberatly. 20 years ago I thought I'd check it out for a few weeks. I wound up trapped in that cult for 10 years. A colossal waste of time and money.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A destructive cult led by a greedy old Indian lady who claims to be God. Devotees worship her, wash her feet and drink the footwash water. Brainwashed members believe they've been given their enlightenment through kundalini opening--something the guru claims to give "en masse." Good links to check out are: The leader of this cult, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, has mad
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yikes. Expensive indeed. Glad you're out of there (and warning others). As one who wasted way too many years in a cult called Sahaja Yoga, I am now forever wary of anything having to do with meditation/yoga. But if you feel you learned something useful from the experience, I don't see why you can't just do the practices on your own. In any case Dahnhak sounds like the no
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

So maybe it's your musicianship they're really after, Mr. Musician who Mostly plays Jewish music. I say MAKE THEM PAY. Big time. It's high time musicians started making demands on people who would have them volunteer their services for free. You are probably every bit as popular as some well-spoken preachers/gurus/head honchos. Tell them exactly how much it will cost them
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Leopardgirl, your (former) cult sounds like my (former) cult. I know it's a different one, but lately I've been wondering if all newbie gurus study from the same How To Be A Guru book. The cult I was in was relatively small too. Maybe about 200 members in all of North America. A couple hundred in Europe. A scattered group in India. I was one of the early members (in the early
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The other day I was waiting for a train out of New York City. It was really late at night, and I sat down in a row of chairs in the waiting area alternately dozing and making small talk with a guy that sat down diagonal from me. Eventually a couple sat down on the row of chairs connected to the guy's row of seats. The female fell asleep, but the male wanted to talk. He had heard me say
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

As cynical and skeptical as I've become, I do believe there is something to the view that certain sensitive people can feel something episodic about to happen. Certainly there are dogs now trained to react when they sense their master is about to have an epileptic episode. What do these animals sense that humans don't? When my children were babies I would wake up in the night, mome
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For ExKrishna, if you're interested: Yeah, it's called TASY, but the writers there are not just ex-Sahaja Yogis. There are a small number of others who write there simply because they've been through similar experiences, had friends or loved ones who got caught up in a cult, or are currently practicing SY or some other form of meditation/spirituality. Stop by and visit i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Brave woman, leaving the cult! I know how hard it can be. I wasted 10 years in Sahaja Yoga, a cult, ironically, led by a woman who insists that all other women (but not her, because she's "God") be submissive and subserviant. Sucks big time. I'd like to find out what's next for cult Sahaja Yoga. I've heard that its leader, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, has mouth c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Unfortunately, I'm pressed for time, but I do find the topic somewhat fascinating. I need more time to think about what you've written and, maybe reread it too, but I think I have something I want to say on the topic. Just not right now. Stay tuned. And thanks for the brainfood.
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

KKK is definately a hate group. It is clear that the KKK hates anyone who is not white, conservative, a believer in God, a speaker of English, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yeah, KKK's a hate group.
Forum: Hate Groups

alphaalpha, you wrote: Quotemy own family member is under the influence of a 'guru' who is able to manipulate, channel subtle energies. The experiences that these people go through are real. But how can you be sure? How do you know the guru is able to do this? I don't doubt the experiences are real. I had some (subtle) experiences myself and I've always considered my
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

that the kundalini, chakras, naddis, etc is nothing more than a myth? Could it be that no one actually has the power to control energy centers in other human beings, because exergy centers are nonexistant? I understand that these are ancient beliefs we are talking about, but has anything actually been proven (under scientific conditions)? Sahaja Yogis claim to be able to feel, within the
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

All this is really fascinating. Alas, there was no Internet 20 years ago when I got snared by Sahaja Yoga. Even so, Shri Mataji lied to her cult followers, over and over. She's still lying to this day. She would tell us terrible things about the guru who used to call himself Bhogwhan Shri Rajneesh (now Osho). She would say he's a false guru, totally evil and a sexual pervert. Th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks, Kittypaw. I'd forgotten how wonderful it feels to be free. And, believe it or not, even though I've been out of that idiotic cult for 10 years, I still think I'm going through a healing process. Recently I learned via an Internet forum that a woman I knew when I was in SY will now be sending her three teenage daughters to the SY school in India. I also know that there h
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Amazing. I hadn't seen this thread before today, but reading it sent a shiver down my spine. The cult I was in (Sahaja Yoga) has a guru (Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, a name which I am now loathe to call her, because she represents none of those 4 words: holy, mother, pure divine) who fits many of the descriptions here to the letter! Reptillian eyes, often heavy lidded, etc. And sometimes he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

People ought to know how powerful words can be. But, after participating in a variety of forums over the course of a few years, I have come to the conclusion that only a fraction of on-line community writers have even the slightest idea of how they sound when they write. A recent example is the exchanges that took place at this forum on the thread about Sims Online/BSDM. Members of the B
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

THE Ravi Shankar? The musician? Sitar player? Father of Norah Jones? Is the head of a cult now? Or is it a different guy?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote~~~~read my profile lately? ... ~grins at her hidden sarcasm~ No, you haven't proven yourself interesting enough for me to bother. Also, you're just mean spirited. You bring the the level of discussion down lower than I choose to descend. But thanks for caring. I wish you well.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteFrom the sounds of your post...Word Girl , your concerns or "challenges" are not with "sexual perversions".....parenting skills/parenthood , perhaps. Shi, it seems like you're either anxious to pick a fight with someone (anyone), or you're trying to score some (any) point. I'm really not into head games. (Yeah, yeah, smile, smile, wink, wink). But
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The reason I was concerned about the Sims Online/BSDM connection is not because I'm unaware of what my children can find on the Internet, but because Sims started off as an innocent computer game (for children). Years ago, when my kids were playing the game using the software, I even enjoyed playing a game of it now & then (Sim City and Sim Town). It WAS educational--learning how to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To those who think I'm the typical negligant mom, the kids are fine. They have a friend sleeping over. They've played video games, fooz ball, DVDs, etc. Everybody's keeping warm & happy. It's freezing here (just outside of NYC, in NJ), but we have a mellow fire going in the family room. Sims online was just a passing fad with the children (whew!) I suppose they&#
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Somebody better put my mind at ease right now because I'm about to have a panic attack. This Sims Online is an S&M game? My 14 year old daughter plays this game and I NEVER look to see what's going on. I think my 10 year old son plays it too! WTF? Both of these kids are very innocent. I'm not kidding myself here. I know them well enough to know what they're up
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I spent 10 years in a cult. I eased my way out about 10 years ago. It wasn't all that traumatic for me. Maybe this isn't typical, but what finally forced my departure was simply LIFE. By the time I started having serious misgivings about Cult Sahaja Yoga, I had a three year old daughter and infant triplets. I had no family nearby to help out, and I hired an Iranian woman (a fring
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups