Information about Findhorn, Myss and Satya Sai Baba can be found at this website. and (long and quite a fascinating read, with many informative photographs) Thanks to Mr Shepherd's website, though I disagree with him about some matters, I am deeply grateful for his mentioning the scholarly detective work of Dr Barbara Warren. Dr Warren traced the history of two India
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is an interesting library of articles here. I disagree with the author's beliefs about the nature of HIV and why the HIV pandemic has become so severe. This said, a number of the articles led me to some interesting books and research leads. Items 10 to 14 and 22 and 23 are worth a peek.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Please ignore item posted above. I goofed and thought this would start a new thread and I landed it here by mistake. Take good care C
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This person has some quirky perspectives-for one thing, I totally disagree with his opinions concerning the HIV pandemic. But a number of the articles have led me to some very high quality books and research leads.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This article is from the TM-Free website. I am giving the URL because in the comments section, in a discussion of the old TM retreats, several persons describe the effects of low calorie diets and of...fasting. Unless a licensed physician or nurse practitioner directs you to fast in order to prepare for lab tests, certain medical procedures and surgery, or it is medically supervised fo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am just a member of the forum--ordinary private citizen. . Mr Ross is the best person to check with if you want referrals to persons qualified as exit counselors/therapist for trauma. A note about acupuncture. Some acupuncture protocols act as powerfully as a heavy tranquillizer. If improperly used, those types of acupuncture protocols can actually hamper recovery from trauma or g
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A new cluster of interesting newslinks has been posted on November 5th and 6th, next door, providing commentary from the NDN community who rightfully dislike seeing its ceremonies stolen & commericalized by non NDN entrepreneurs/uese: This commericalization extends even to folks in the Netherlands. To the Netherlands--Plea From an American You have already inherited a splendid h
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

From Freedoms description, the group that she were loyal to failed to reciprocate her loyalty by failing to care for her after she was attacked and needed medical attention. Instead, from Freedom's description, at the very time she needed to have her loyalty to the group reciprocated, by getting specialized medical care for a time urgent medical, psychological, sexual trauma, the group s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Medical Issues Let us look at Freedom to Choose's account. quote]Also one major thing was that when I was working for the group abroad seven years ago, I was raped, not by another member or anything, but the aweful part was that after it happened I went to the group leaders of my area. They were basicly my family there, because I was living abroad by myself (I was a 22 year old gir
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Note: I happen to practice within one of the Buddhist traditions. I have no authority of any kind --- and do not want it. What follows is an attempt to offer, however clumsily, an interpretation framwork that originates within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition by which the health of a troubled Mahayana Buddist practice commuity can be assessed. I hope this is not seen as proslytizing, for I
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Real Deal writes: QuoteYour comment above seems to dismiss the fact that there was some sexual misconduct because you didn’t experience it “first hand.” What about the people who did? Exactly. Concern for the well being of one's fellow seekers has to be part of genuine spiriutal practice. Even if you do not experience harm first hand, if you keep hearing consistent reports that oth
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

An Example of How Professionalism and Boundaries can Become Compromised This was being discussed in comments sections from an anonymous source in another venue. What is described below is a situation where there is a risk of a meditation group becoming socially and psychologically inbred. 1) One should not combine the role of meditation teacher and therapist 2) A person who is a thera
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

You need not agree with whatever has already been written here. Quoteit is hard to read all of the thousands of previous posts, i was wondering if there is any kind person who can point me to do some reading online, not through books, but online on the computer so i can read any criticisms of gurdjieff and his teachings. If you want to reach your goal, you will have to be willing to sit dow
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This was written earlier about how to tell whether a life coach is OK: Quote by the way, EVERY LEGIT person who works in any field of one-to-one consulting, like career consulting, says the #1 rule is to NEVER SIGN A "COACHING CONTRACT". And NEVER PAY IN ADVANCE. EVER. .....You pay a market rate, which for a top person might be the same as a psychologist, which can be up to
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Golden Oldie It is common to say, 'Take what you like and leave the rest, why be so negative?' Our correspondant Amiryeti gives a good reply to this.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you have a small, easily concealed rosary, a picture of your patron saint, a cross or medal you have around your neck, hold on to that. If you're from one of the reformed traditions, a pocket sized New Testament can be slipped into your pocket. Find a prayer or bit of scripture-simpler the better--and recite it. St Pauls list of spiritual armour would be good. Dont do the homework. Get
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Two new posts on New Age Frauds and Plastic Shamans Is the Robert Greene on the above list the same one who wrote the 48 Laws of Power?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Other people have been pressured at work to do Landmark (if these do not work as links, copy and paste them into your web browser. You can also go to the search button (upper right) and do 'all dates' (this message board is 7 years old) and put 'Landmark' and 'psychosis' into the slot and see what you get. Dont do this if you dont want to. And do
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

If anyone wants to order that pdf, they should make sure their above ground identities are kept private and secure.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Shit, whats with candy coating the Shoah? Sounds like losing the moon to me.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A 2006 discussion of deaths. Unfortunately the geocities website has been taken down. Another list is given here on another site. The Fallacy of 'Core Shamanism' From the New Age Frauds and Plastic Shamans forum: Much of this originated from the malign influence of Carlos Castaneda. Castaneda did not do sweat lodges. But his story about using jimson weed/datura s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Dont know if MG claims himself to be a Sufi, but there is some poetry that may apply to him and those like him. From the Egyptian poet El-Bedree El-Hijazee*, quoted by EW Lane, in his chapter on Saints in Arab Society in the Time of the Thousand and One Nights, Dover Publications 2004, (The modern spelling of this poet's name is "Hasan al-Badri al-Hijazi "--he died in the ea
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The other problem is that if any attempt is made to protect citizens by imposing any sort of outside accountablity upon spiritual entrepreneurs/LGATs, guess what? They'll find a way to make it seem that this is an insulting, oppressive attempt to take away the freedom of citizens to choose for themselves. My favorite image is that of the crooked card dealer who is running a game using
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A change to Janaki's blog Interested persons who want to read the material formerly posted there will now have to obtain it by requesting a copy of it on pdf.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To QD: Hi, homie. You have asked a very good question. QuoteMy only addition to the ongoing conversation about ALL of these millionaire hucksters is to admonish people to not ignore the very curious reticence of law enforcement and the governments of a number of countries to bring these phonies to the courts, if only for tax evasion. Just how deep do these roots run? What if these death
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Buffman, here is one way to identify hypnotherapists who are likely to be a good bet. 1) Hypnotherapy is not the only they know how to do. The best ones are licensed practitioners of medicine or psychotherapy. THat means they are trained, not only in hypnotherapy, but also on how to assess you and diagnose whether you have a condition for which hypnotherapy is helpful..but also whether you ha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Back to the Eighties--Golden Oldies Sit back, relax and listen to 'Another One Bites the Dust' [80s-disco-music.blogspot.com]
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Real Secret: Additional Resources for Journalists and Concerned Citizens Well, here are additional resources The Anticult, in addition to mentioning Cialdini's book, mentioned another one Brainwash: The Secret History of Mind Control (Hardcover) ~ Dominic Streatfeild (Author) We had a discussion on the RR.com forum years back on Manipulating the Room Environment.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Things to Make and Do Do a google of sweat lodge (exact phrase) and the name of any New Age or 'Spiritual' teacher. See what you get. As in "sweat lodge" and Byron Katie. "shamanism" and (fill in the blank) or "Native American Spirituality" and (fill in the blank) Or "firewalk" or "fire walk" and (fill in the blank
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Additional perspectives from a Pagan website A Few Quick Notes--October 16th Pagan News of Note--October 16 Finally Jason gives us this-dont know if this is rumor or not: QuoteSpeaking of Oprah, that titan of promoting the New Age flavor-of-the-month will be having a rather unexpected guest on her show in November. That’s right, not a dream! Not an imaginary story! Form
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"