Hi moderator You say that I spin things very fancifully and apologetically. It may just be that we think in different ways. Your thinking comes across as very black and white, whereas I see it all as shades of grey. So I recognise that some people may have left Lifewave feeling deeply hurt, but others were greatly helped by their time in Lifewave, despite the problems of the group. It wasn
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Would I recommend Lifewave? The Lifewave I was a member of is no more. I have no idea what it's current form is like. I would certainly recommend the meditation, while also realising that it may not suit everyone. It works for me. Do I think that Lifewave is good? I suppose the same answer as above. I gained what I wanted from Lifewave, but I also recognise that many people did not.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Regarding the Guruphiliac discussion on Lifewave, Acorn's comments are pretty accurate but they are not the whole story. Despite all the nonsense we experienced, I have many good memories of my years in Lifewave. It wasn't all bad, and John Yarr was not all bad either. Like all of us, he was a complex personality, and at his best he could be full of kindness and compassion, very sol
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi moderator I have no interest in blaming or shaming anyone. You persist in labelling the followers of a teacher as victims. I can only speak for myself, but I do not consider myself as a victim. I made choices, and with hindsight some of those choices were not wise. Never mind. At the time I did not know any better. And overall the benefits I gained from my years in Lifewave far outweighed w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I think we will have to agree to disagree. The nature of a group centred around a spiritual teacher is that authority is vested in the teacher. In Lifewave there was no election of leaders, no bylaws, no published financial budgets and no procedures of governance. The teacher is responsible for his or her behaviour, but then everyone is responsible for his or her behaviour, including all t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was not intending to blame the victim. I do not see myself or others in Lifewave as victims. We chose to accept certain things and we have to accept responsibility for our choices. It takes two to tango - trying to pin all the blame onto the teacher is to deny our own part in the process. Thanks for your contribution, Corboy. Much of the process you describe sounds very familiar. I will look
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi guys I am not wishing to preach or convert anyone to whatever I may believe. However, it is difficult to separate the behaviour of any teacher and his/her followers from the experiences and beliefs of those within such a group. It is too easy to simply blame the teacher for using beliefs and teachings to manipulate and exploit people. The followers of any such teacher have to accept res
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi moderator I was not intending to make any claims. I was simply describing my own experiences, which at the time I erroneously attributed to the power of the teacher. Such experiences do occur in meditation, and are not simply the result of being in a state of trance. Any meaningful discussion on cults and spiritual groups has to allow for the fact that many people in such groups do e
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

We have to remember that it is not the mind that meditates. Consciousness meditates,and this meditation is more effective when the mind is still. The astral and mental planes are higher than the physical in that they are composed of more subtle substance, but they are still part of our everyday experience. Just as we experience the physical plane through the physical body, so we experience the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

As you say, the Theosophists/Alice Bailey discuss various planes, some relating to the human experience in form (physical/emotional/mental), some relating to higher states of consciousness (Buddhic/Atmic/Monadic/Divine). Other traditions also describe the various planes but perhaps using different terms. Yes, the idea is to get to higher and higher planes. Speaking for myself, I could never s
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi guys I was involved with Lifewave from the end of 1978 until it collapsed in late 1986. If you have any specific questions then I am happy to share what I remember. In response to comments made, the beliefs of Lifewave were not really based on Hinduism. We have to distinguish between Hinduism as a religion, and the philosophy and practice of Yoga. Both are associated with India, but we c
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families