Thanks jorgem for sharing such details, both for us voyeurs and for the concerned. The whole thing sounds so stressful and pressured to perform. I imagine if someone is really tied up and repressed inside, there might be an aspect of relief to just let go and dance or whatever. For my own curiosity more than anything : What does it mean that there were 'reviewers' at the Inten
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My understanding is that many former followers of Rajneesh/ Osho joined the Miracle of Love. I also understand that the Rajneesh Community in Oregon eventually dissolved because of rampant AIDS. In a prior posting above, someone mentioned a (former?) high level MOLr w/ schizoid-like symptoms. Both HIV and Syphyllis can attack the Central Nervous System and cause serious mental disturbance
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you get to NYC, check out the current musical "Wicked". It's GREAT political satire, and also about cult phenomenon. Two college roommates visit the Wizard for help. One figures out what he's a farce; she becomes blacklisted as the "Wicked Witch". The other well heeled roommate plays the party line and is "The Good Witch." Dorothy and entrouge drop
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Due to harrassement and pseudo-threats from MOL, presumably because these online postings, I've changed my phone #, filed a sheriff report, and am filing a restraining order to assure my own protection.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi all, Interesting conversation / speculations (as always). "The Power of Now" was recommended to me by so many folks, but I kept falling asleep when reading it. I actually enjoyed the CDs while commuting though. Some of it bizarre, but some helpful reminders too. T. mentioned some sources of material on one of the CDs, comparing various philosophies, etc, but I don't remem
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An Open Letter to Former MOLrs and their loved ones : I have been blessed / cursed to learn ‘everything I never wanted to know about thought reform and cults’ in the previous year. This has been a wonderfully growth-producing experience for myself! The stories which many of you have openly shared with me are both tragic, and inspirational. Your courage is laudable. I believe (and hop
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

An Open Letter to the Miracle of Love and their affiliates: You may cease your harassment of myself, and others, through electronic and other means. To my knowledge, there is not a coordinated effort to ‘bring MOL down’ so to speak. It is understood that as long as humanity has pain and loneliness, there will be those who profess to fill such voids by self-serving means. The rights to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is totally appropriate for AFF to have sections 'for clergy' etc. Many many folks in society turn first to their pastors, rabbis, priest in times of trouble. Such clergy may have no background in cults, and not any resources to assist those with loved one in cults, or cult 'walk aways', etc. It is totally appropriate for them to have a resource to assist them to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To Whom It May Concern: I posted about MOL, initially in response to someone else’s heartfelt query for a loved one. As I’ve never been in MOL, I have NO direct experience. I only had an exBF involved, and I’d met a few MOLrs through him a number of years ago. I don’t even remember the names of those I’d met. Since my initial posting, folks have been sending me private messages about this
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is not much written about those who were born or raised in cults. All the cult books I've read, when addressing leaving a cult they write about reclaiming your precult persona. Those raised in cults do not have a precult persona! Some psychologist-authors about cult phenomenon have written theoretically about the experience of children raised in cults. But nothing that I could ge
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This was sent to me by a former MOLr, for public posting. He requested to remain anonymous: Thank you, Toni, for your willingness to post this for me. The fear of attack from MOL is still so strong. The thought reform process in the Miracle of Love is slow and insidious. There is a difference between a person who merely takes the Intensive, vs. one who actually joins MOL. Those who becom
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

SLS : Your posting about Kalindi/ Carol preying on those from possibly-enmeshed familial backgrounds is interesting. Naturally, the greater focus would be on the wealthy, if nothing else to support K's lavish wardrobe! :wink: (sorry I couldn't resist the dig) THE MAJOR developmental task of early adulthood is individuation! Those who bond with another individual or group p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

FYI : I have received numerous private messages from non-custodial parents who are concerned about their children, various ages, being raised inside of MOL by the custodial parents. Also, other messages have referred to legal concerns, that knowledge of sexual secrets revealed in the Intensives and elsewhere in MOL are being used as leverage against them in legal matters. However, there is
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A former high level MOLr affirmed to me that phone calls yelling at defectors are typical of MOL. This does not surprise me. Since posting this information, I've been receiving harassing / screaming phone calls from the same man... when there are words, they are w/ a German accent. My caller ID sometimes says "Blocked Call". and sometimes it says "The Restart Room&quo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Oi! So much I could add ... bizarre personal stories, growing up w/ all this, aspects of it ALL my life! (my family in TM) ugh! The resulting, deaths, suicides, schizophrenics, bankruptcies, sad. I thought this thread was about "Centerpointe Awakening?" Lots of TM folks go guru-hopping. Very few of my old buddies from TM days, who have also left the TM movement, are curre
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Give this online activity. I was curious. Living nearby an Intensive locale, and never 'swinging by' when one was in session. So : On the third evening of the Intensive near my home, I drove by about 9 p.m. It struck me as WEIRD that all so black w/ all the church windows, only the side rooms have lights on ... (it's designed to be a sunlight filled church, and there'
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Those who were born or raised in a cult have a different experience than those who were recruited. Our childhood had normalized the groupthink. Our parents repeatedly told us that we were special for being so infinitely fortunate to be raised (and usually neglected) with the cult's teachings. For those raised in such a group.. true 'thought reform' or 'reform of thought&
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Corboy -- You know about 'Rounding'?? wow! You ARE up on all of this! I have to admit, Rounding did feel great! For those others.. rounding means alternating a series of yoga asanas w/ pranayama (breathing exercise) and meditation then siddhis ('advanced' mental technique$$). One round takes 1/5- 2 hr, I don't quite remember. So folks do 2-3 rounds in the mor
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi! I was about to respond to Yellowbeard about the similarity between Krya Yoga and TM, when I read Corboy's detailed analysis. Krya came before TM in this country. Yogananda called his method the 'Highway to Enlightenment'. Maharishi calls TM the 'Rocket Jet to Enlightenment'. Maharishi said that Krya was the fastest path available in the West until TM came a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

And more that was sent my way...... Aren't I the Lucky one?! :) Personally, i'm all for individual freedom, and have no judgement about mutually consenting adults for whatever... it's none of MY business. But I have issues with coercion, and deception to others outside the group, or in recruitment. The following ties in very well with the board about "Large Group Aw
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This was sent to me, and the person asked to remain anonymous while I post it. So, while I have NO experience with the GMP, I am passing this along. Seems folks now send things to me, to have them posted publicly. It is interesting to note how much fear there is among folks to come forward about this group. It is sad that the fear of judgement, or blackmail, of I-don't-know-what keeps
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Recovery from Cults; Help for Victims of Psychological and Spritual Abuse" edited by Michael D. Langone. A bit dry and academic at times.. but overall EXCELLENT book! Certain passages might be particular poignant, and might help the MOL Survivors to reflect upon the manipulation history they are processing. from Chpt. 11 "Guidelines for Therapists" by Lorna Goldberg p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hello All : I accidently stumlbed into MOL’s meditation space in my community. As I'd written earlier, I live in an area where I'm MOL-surrounded. First entered, and it clearly was a place normally intended for some meditation group. The room’s color scheme was all red, Buddhist meditation pillows, other seats w/ backrests, cheap Asian-style carpets, and one wall of mirrors
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Of course exit counselors charge a fee! But at least they do not deceive about the service they are providing, nor about the risks/benefits, chances of success, or likely longterm prognosis. IMHO, what keeps most folks in cults is the sense of connection to the group -- the artificial intimacy, whether it is sexual or not -- the sense of at-oneness with a group who is elite, doing a noble wor
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Do you REALLY believe that? Should the Columbine parents have turned a blind eye to the firearms in their teens' bedrooms? Parents are legally obligated to provide their children and are responsible for their actions until the age of 18. Yes, there are a huge range of parenting styles. But it would seem to me, that if parents have the ability to pay a couple of thousand dollars for a o
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is a long thread about Miracle of Love on the discussion boards of FactNet. See : Some of the material duplicates what is here. Some is different.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What does Zarathustra have to do with modern cultism?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, there are a number of groups that believe that to be the case. And if He did come back... would it make a difference to the rest of us at all anyway? I'm not up on my Bible studies, but don't most Judeo-Christian teachings talk about a coming Messiah? or the second coming? The Mormons teach that Jesus came and taught on the North American continent. Sai Baba is supposedly
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

OK... you all could appreciate the warped humor in this true story.... I was hospitalized after a terrible car accident, 17 shattered bones. An old friend phoned, thoughtfully, to do "Reiki" (a form of psychic healing stuff) for me over the phone line. I understood he was trying to be kind, so I listened politely. You can imagine the plaster casts, lower body packed in ice, I.V.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Pammy... Yes, very helpful! Check out the major cult recovery web sites, many have listings of various recovery therapists who conduct groups, or you can phone them to get referrals. www.csj.org (this web site) www.factnet.org www.freedomofmind.com
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families