I checked out a bit of the SRF Walrus site and found it very interesting. It makes me think how terrific the internet is for this sort of thing. That sort of info would be IMPOSSIBLE for an average person to access without the internet. I for one, knew literally nothing about the monks, and their lives in that place. It was also terrific to read about what is going on with Daya Mata and her
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For those who are interested, here is Robbins audio "holiday message". It sounds like a "normal" holiday message, and its quite short, but i counted about 25 influence techniques he uses in this very short speech. If anyone wants to play a fun, "spot the Thought Reform technique" game, if you listen to the audio, write down some of the techniques you hear him
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I think it goes without saying that these forums are just a bunch of personal opinions. But people are going to interpret them as they see fit. Some guy was PMing me a while back saying that he thought RickRoss was all of these different Identities on this board, etc, etc. So some people are going to believe whatever nutty stuff they want to believe. Personally, i am an Agnostic at this p
Forum: Destructive Churches

There are two main things to watch out for. 1) Some dance/arts instructors are OBSESSIVE MANIACS, who's entire life is dedicated to their art/business. They try to draw kids into this world, as they BELIEVE that total obsession is what it takes to become a professional. (there is truth to that). Also, this gives them greater revenue having hard core students. 2) Sexual abuse: there is
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I just saw this guy named Darren Weeks on a financial TV news show, talking about how he has franchised RichDad's cashflow game. What is totally pathetic, is that the "journalists" are so credulous, and have done NO RESEARCH, and they don't ask these guys ANY tough questions. The journalists are like mindless talking heads. Why not have a robot ask lame questions? Th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I actually explored some of the Swedenborgian stuff long ago. I went to a few meetings at a church during my exploration days. Basically, Swedenborg was another "mystic", who dreamed up an entire Kosmos in his imagination, and then all these other folks believe all this stuff from his imagination is objective reality. Sort of like if you took Dante literally. I didn't fin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for bringing up that classic horseshit about the Guru taking on the illnesses and bad Karma of their followers. I THINK Yogananda referred to that as well at some point in his stuff. Again, that can be put through the Baloney Detector, and one sees that it cannot pass. Isn't there an easier explanation? Instead of saying that the Guru is a Divine Superhuman, and is taking on th
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just saw an interview on TV with a guy who is a manic-depressive. He said when he is in mania, he feels like "he has God and the Devil warring inside of him". That reminds me of the Yogananda quote below. Also, if you think about Yogananda, up all night "writing" with the "help" of young women, etc. (maybe he was writing as well). Writing books about his "
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There are many methods, but why not try the Carl Sagan Baloney Detection Kit? Right away, one sees the fallacy. Its an "argument from authority". That is, all of these sources say its good, so it must be good. Well, what if these sources are biased, deluded, wrong, or getting commission referrals from Amazon.com? Also, there is no independent confirmation of the stories in Yo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for the info on the embalming. Great stuff. This has the making of a expose' on Yogananda, telling the real story. I recalled the info about his immutable body from what i read in the past. I recall that they gave it a very hard sell. Meanwhile, they knew damn well he had been embalmed, and that was what caused his body to appear to be preserved. So that is a blatant lie being
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is true that Yogananda was quite chubby in photos. I am sure the faithful have some sort of excuse for that. Just like the nutty "proof" that his body rotted slower than a mere mortal when he "left his body", that is, when he DIED like the rest of us mere mortals will. Also, i can't recall, did Yogananda make claims to be able to perform "miracles" him
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I was tricked by reading "Autobiography of a Yogi" when I was a lot younger, and naive. Then I read most of Yogananda's other books as well, and even signed up for the correspondence Kriya Yoga course, and went to a few meditation meetings. The meditation practice really did nothing for me, and the meetings did nothing as well. I just found them incredibly boring. I did order som
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That movie is a HOAX DOC created by followers of Ramtha.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I have to do a bit of a mea culpa on the Bucky Fuller and Werner Erhard connection. I just really didn't know that much about it, and i still don't. I found this link though. There are some ugly things about Bucky, no question. But personally, i have just read his books, and i found them to very unique, and very interesting. Carl Sagan was also a bit of a troubled man, but i st
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It looks like Werner Erhard had some links with Esalen.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I think Esalen is the link to most of these people. Bucky Fuller never had any money, so he took all sorts of teaching appointments all over the place. He was at Esalen a number of times. (halfway down) Also, i THINK that article stated that all the money from the Bucky and Werner seminar was going to go to Bucky, right? Like i said, Bucky always needed money just to pay his bills, s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Its my view that Erhard and Kiyoscamu just wanted to use some of Bucky's "credibility" to give themselves some legitimacy. Bucky worked with countless hundreds of people. Its also seems reasonable to me that Bucky was fairly naive in certain ways, and Erhard would have found it easy to play with him in the short-term. I can tell you, after reading most of Bucky's books, d
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

They estimate he is taking in $200 million a year TAX-FREE. Because it is a "religion" he does not have to disclose where the money is going, or how much is coming in. They came up with receipts that show him blowing 30-40 grand a day in Italy, with no business purpose related to his religion. He paid lots of things in CASH. He was giving family members huge amounts of CASH. No w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Watching a terrific doc on this conman evangelist Benny Hinn. There is a link to the Ross site on the bottom. Also, some links to a thesis on him. This doc exposes his blatant manipulations and schtick. They use hidden cameras, and expose what is really going on with this guy. They show the heartbreak of a poor young girl who cannot walk, and is turned away from the stage. They
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It seems to me that those are the same people who profit from using the GWP stuff, so they are trying to do some internet propaganda. There are no actual names, just an anonymous Yahoo email address. They say "health care worker" as that terminology carries a certain credibility. But there is no credibility without accountability. Someone could email them from an anonymous email add
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I saw an interview with Philip Kaufman, the director of the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), and he stated part of the movie was related to things like "est" and "finding yourself" that were so popular at the time. The idea seems to be that your spouse goes off, and get "infected" with this invisible thing, and "changes" into a different
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I just saw the old film "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" (1956). Great old film. It made me think of all these cults and LGATS. Your friends and loved ones get into them, and then they "change". They look the same on the outside, but their thoughts, feelings and behaviors are different. They become like a Group Mind, they are highly organized, and they want to "con
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

When you meet people that are obviously mentally ill, and potentially dangerous, just WALK AWAY from them. She needs a psychiatrist, but you can't force someone into treatment, until its often too late. Coz
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The idea that the Finance-Capitalists are parasites, he probably got from Bucky Fuller, as that's what he said."Fin-Cap" were going to wreck the world, according to Bucky. But now Kiyoscamu sees he can make a bundle by "training" people how to make 5 grand in 5 minutes from home. He doesn't talk about losing 5 grand in 5 minutes though. These poor folks are goin
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi PSI: Just be careful you don't "overreact". That is, we all bring our anger and hurt from our Cultic past to this, and could easily overreact. I would just keep it simple. Your religious/spiritual beliefs are personal and private, and have no place in the workplace. Period. I work with all sorts of people who belong to various cults, and wacko things. In "real life&
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ok, so a copy of Tolle audiobook "Stillness Speaks" arrived from the eternal library waiting list. This thing is absolutely hysterical. First, I thought my CD player was broken, as there is a HUGE pause of SILENCE at the top....................................... Too funny. Next, he talks in a German accent, with a British accent mixed in. Sort of a German with a British accent
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I just scanned another sickening ScamDad book called "Retire Young, Retire Rich". This book is a travesty. Seriously. Firstly, its laden with many disclaimers, in seperate boxes, so one can imagine that they have had legal problems, and are attempting to block those troubles. There are so many absurd and vague claims in this book, one doesn't know where to begin. Near the e
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

They will probably explain his stroke as the result of the evil eye, or the evil in the world, etc. Here is an article that mentions Rick Ross as complimenting Bergs business skills!
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

I would guess you would need to get the 1995 hardcover edition of the book. There is not that much on Landmark. Just general info. Perhaps try the public or university libraries. I got mine from a used bookstore. Also try ABE books.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

More of these goofy Rich Dad books arrived from the library after a long waiting list. Sadly lots of people seem to want to read them. In his book, "Rich Dad's Guide To Investing" he tells us that he wants to become a Billionaire. He goes on about how the American public education system needs to be privatized, like health care is privatized in the US. So he wants to become
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"