Hello Nativeflower : Cult recovery is a unique and long process. Your family is well intentioned when they tell you to 'stop obsessing'. They simply cannot understand your internal experience. The whole experience is probably so painful for them, they may just want to leave it as if a closed book of family history. You are fortunate. Thank heavens your family was aware enoug
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Right Dervish, Or else the leader, or assigned mentor, will tell the 'complainer' that they are too stressed, or not compassionate for other's learning processes, just surrender, trust the process, you're too attached to worldly functionings or the Illusion, when you are detached from 'maya' and more enlightened, these little challenges will not annoy you so.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes, glam, that 2nd step is the hardest. It means looking inside oneself to find out WHY the need for so much external validation. Why the need for a smiling nod of approval from whomever (guru, teacher, psychic, groupthink, etc) to justify one's existence. How many times I'd heard that the cults' dysfunction "does not come from (name your guru), it comes from the lack of
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Swami Muktananda and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi were friends. In the seventies sometime they had a meeting with some of their followers in attendance - was much publicized in both groups. Then a bunch of their followers were busy jumping from one group to the other. After that, they stopped meeting together (publicly) because "it caused too much confusion among the devotees. Jumping between
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Swami Muktananda. Now run by GuruMai; she beat out her brother for the leadership when Muktananda died. GuruMai wears cute hats.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yep, The founder claims to have studied with Guru Dev (the master of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi). Many folks from the TM Movement went to the Art of Living. Many are still part of both groups. Some fully jumped ship to the Art of Living. Yes, r.e. the living guru who is accessible. Often hold retreats at Lake Tahoe, Calif. I think he does not claim to be a 'master', but I'm
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks Cosmo : So, I stand corrected - big time! Tx! As I never watch television - get my news in print and on the 'net, I'm NOT aware of Dyer's present presentation. Yes, I was thinking of the 'old Dyer', was not aware of his present dramatic shift. Guess I've missed some depressing entertainment. Thank you for clarifiying. Your case is made well. Remi
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

In response to your self editing : Have you yet read "Cults In Our Midst" by Margaret Singer? It's " a must" on many levels. - excellent about cult thought reform and recovery; will help you understand your experience & background - she also writes, in the intro, about her various law suits and threats to herself and family. OK, I'm no attorney,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

OK, so Dyer is definately a charismatic presenter, and has made a fortune in the process. Does he use any thought reform methods? IMHO, I don't see where Dyer really represents a cult. If Dyer conducted true LGATs, they would be controlled and secretive, not broadcast on T.V. Dyer appears to me to be a charismatic presenter and cheerleader, using standard motiational speak. Howe
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Gold Dust : Tx for your contributions. Yes, good to be speaking out! Likewise, I know of one murder, a number of suicides, a number of cult-induced schizophrenics living now on SSI, innumerable bankruptices, lawsuits and counter suits, harrassment, not to menton the untold familes destroyed, rapes, buried pedophilia, SEC violations on and on .... from my personal exposure to a couple of gr
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is still so much yet to be discovered. for enjoyable and interesting read, by a keen intellect: "Travels" by Michael Chricton He purposely waited until he was famous to publish this book - hoping that people would then take it seriously. Of course, no such luck.
Forum: Destructive Churches

r.e. the rudeness in reaction to auto problems : Guess the person just needed to take another advanced meditation course, or learn a new technique to become free of Maya / The Illusion. Just keep going deeper, into the Self (capital "S"), vs the selfish nature of one. If they dontated 10% of all their income, that would also free them up from the negative karma that caused the cola
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Chopra was originally w/ the TM movement, his first book "Return of the Rishi" was written while he was still w/ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (MMY as we'd called him). Chopra and MMY had a disagreement as to the distribution of the funds from Chopra's future writings. MMY wanted all funds cont'd with the TM Movement. MMY was "bringing out to the world" various Ayurve
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Gold Dust! Good point about variety of groupthink and psychologically abusive situations. Arthur Deikman, MD, psychiatry faculty at UCSF med school and graduate of Harvard writes extensively about the various degrees of cult behavior in ANY organization. There can seem to be a fine line between group conformity (e.g. formal dress at the Nobel Prize ceremony) and cultic manipulation. Fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotesupermonkey Free thinkers do not get involved with cults Don't we wish it was so black and white? According to AFF, the premier nonsecterian, academic & professional group that resarches cults and thought reforms, the 'average' cult member (if there is such) is of higher than intelligence than the population mean. No one 'joins' saying "Hey - si
Forum: Destructive Churches

Glam : Interesting r.e the Strategic Rejection. From what I've read, and corboy's postings above, high demand groups will reject individuals just as they are beginning to think for themselves.. e.g. becoming healthy, and thus a threat to the groupthink conformity. A healthy link is the biggest threat to a dysfunctional controlling chain. To be rejected as such is incredibly pain
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is all tooo true! (ouchie) but I'd rather be telling the truth! :D
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi C & R : How goes it with yourself and your children? Holidays can be rough. Have you seen the DVD "Devil's Playground"? About Amish kids who decide whether to leave or remain. Excellent depiction, IMHO, of the issues involved. Local libraries, schools, adult ed programs, etc also have classes on effective parenting. Obviously you did not learn such from your
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I write this in the interest of helping others to recognize when the same is happening to them and to their loved one. I did not 'get it' while in the relationship - was all just a mass of painful confusion called 'love'. Yes, the sexual "Lack of attachment to an unnatural monogamous relationship" is one of the ways of preventing true intimacy / connection with an
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You'll be missed here! Tx for your gentle and carefully written input. You've been important in my healing, that's for sure! Wishing you health, happiness and true health - on ALL levels. The rest of us will warn others about the "Emerald City" (LGAT) for now. Blessings on your holy-daze and into the New Year! Arrivederci (literal translation: "until we s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Affairs in order with the MOL attorney's help of course.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For those who are financially tied to "your MOLr", I'd suggest you review the protection of your financial assets. My ex was in MOL, wealthy, single, and did NOT have a will. Easy prey for them. I used to be on his case about having a will for his children. As I realized how destructive MOL was, and unprotected his funds.. I literally had to yell at him about this issue - th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sorry, not giving out phone numbers. I would not even be able to help you at all, as I don't watch TV Evangelists nor follow that world at all. If you post the name of John Doe on this board, perhaps SOMEONE (not me, for sure) would be able to help you. Your identity is anonymous here anyway. What's the fear about putting up his name with a question? You're not accusing hi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The whole thing was so confusing.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This might help solway, or others who are concerned about both their loved one in MOL, and their own sanity for the 'terribly wonderful - wonderfully terrible' relationship. YOU ARE NOT CRAZY! The wooing, recruitment, and manipulations build upon each other so slowly. Like the image of the frog in a pan of cold water, with the temperature gradully increasing so slowly, the frog stay
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

only two affairs? (excuse my sarcasm, pleease) The situation is so painful. Guess I've been around all of this for far too long. Sadly have become calous to the methods and stories. Yes, lived through heartbreak, unbelievably painful, because of cultic manipulations. You name it, I've seen it. (sigh) You might want to check out another category of groups on this message board
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, to answer your question, ti would help to have the name of the person you're seeking info. about. Christian Evangalists, who are well dressed and live lavish lives, are an accepted part of the USA scene. sigh.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Complaints to the Better Business Bureau have minimal impact. To get more stirred up, if that is your intention, I'd suggest that you also: * Lodge a formal complaint with the Attorney General of the appropriate state. * Also formal complaint to : Charles Grassley, United States Senate Committee on Finance Washington, DC 20510-6200
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

For a depiction of the experience.. wonderfully terrible, or terribly wonderful... of being in a realtionship based on thought & emotional manipulation (MOL or otherwise), I just watched the following video. I suggest you watch it. Video "Surviving Picasso" Acknowledges with compassion for a confused boy-man, the incredible skilled seduction, the woman nearly going crazy
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There are attorneys specialized with cult issues. You could probably receive referrals for such from either Rick Ross, www.factnet.org, AFF - www.csj.org , freedomofmind.com , or some of the other cult education websites. There is a history of some fairly substantical settlements for psychological damage, and financial abuse, from cultic groups. There are some articles about such elsew
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"