Is Sahaja Yoga a cult?

[Anonymous]

There is a meditation group in my neighborhood. The organizers are also the parents of DC's good friend. They are trying to encourage DC to go. Some of the things I've read so far have been mixed. Wondering if I should tell DC to decline

[Anonymous]

Cult expert Jean-Marie Abgrall has written that Sahaja Yoga exhibits the classic characteristics of a cult in the way it conditions its members.[10] These include having a god-like leader, disrupting existing relationships, and promising security and specific benefits while demanding loyalty and financial support.[10] Abgrall writes that the true activities of the cult are hidden behind the projection of a positive image and an explicit statement that "Sahaja yoga is not a cult".[10]

Judith Coney has written that members "disguised some of their beliefs" from the outside world.[3]: 214  Coney writes people who had left the movement welcomed the chance to talk to her as an independent researcher, but that some were fearful of reprisals if they did so, and others found their experiences too painful to revisit.[3]: 214  Most were unwilling to talk to her "on the record".[3]: 214 

In 2001, The Independent reported the allegation made by some ex-members, that Sahaja Yoga is a cult which aims to control the minds of its members.[34] Ex-members said that the organisation insists all family ties are broken and all communication with them cease, that crying children can be seen as being possessed by demons, that negative and positive vibrations need "clearing", and that being a member of the group is very expensive.[34] In 2005, The Record reported that some critics who feel that the group is a cult have started their own websites.[35]

In 2005 the Belgian State organisation IACSSO (Informatie- en Adviescentrum inzake de Schadelijke Sektarische Organisaties) issued an advisory against Sahaja Yoga.[36] The advisory categorizes Sahaja Yoga as a synretic cult ("syncretische cultus") based on the Hindu tradition, and warns that the recruitment techniques used by Sahaja Yoga pose a risk to the public in general and young people in particular.[9] Sahaja Yoga Belgium sued IACSSO and preliminary rulings were found in their favour, adjudging that Sahaja Yoga was "not a cult".[37] However, on appeal in 2011 these preliminary rulings were overturned and in a final judgement it was found that Sahaja Yoga had been unable to refute IACSSO's statements.[36]

In 2013, De Morgen reported that the Belgian Department of State Security monitors how often politicians are contacted and lobbied by organizations. The list of organizations includes Sahaja Yoga.[38]

In 2001, The Evening Standard reported that Sahaja Yoga has been "described as a dangerous cult" and "has a dissident website created by former members". The reporter, John Crace, wrote about an event he attended and noted that a Sahaja Yoga representative asked him to feel free to talk to whomever he wanted. He remarked, "Either their openness is a PR charm offensive, or they genuinely have nothing to hide." He proposed that "one of the key definitions of a cult is the rigour with which it strives to recruit new members" and concluded that there was no aggressive recruitment squeeze.[39]

David V. Barrett wrote that some former members say that they were expelled from the movement because they "resisted influence that Mataji had over their lives". According to Barrett, the movement's founder's degree of control over members' lives has given rise to concerns.[33] The Austrian Ministry for Environment, Youth and Family states that "Sahaja Yoga" regards Nirmala Srivastava as an authority who cannot be questioned.[40]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahaja_Yoga

[Anonymous]

Tell her not to go— it’s a cult. Im Hindu, by the way, but don’t really practice. Meditation, like yoga, can be done at home by oneself with a video or audio to guide you. I wouldn’t want my child to be in a deep meditative state with adults. How old is she?

[Anonymous]

i joined sahaja yoga few years ago and have had lot of improvement in mental and physical health. it’s free and they have online meditation with volunteers who lead it… in fact, i have learned to lead one myself! it’s really good! nothing about it is cult-like coz i haven’t given any money or even donation yet… and i have already experienced a good meditation with the incorporation of all religions (hinduism, islam, christianity, judaism, lao tze’s, socrates’ teachings)

[Anonymous]

The claims of Abgrall being and expert are contested by other experts in the field who do not see SY as a dangerous cult.

Newspapers will rarely question anything that describes something as dangerous.

It is obviously wise to be cautious, but as far as SY goes people have mis-interpreted other people's behaviour being the result of practicing it, and there has been a lot of over reaction and fear mongering due to lack of discrimination and cultural naivety.


quote=Anonymous]Cult expert Jean-Marie Abgrall has written that Sahaja Yoga exhibits the classic characteristics of a cult in the way it conditions its members.[10] These include having a god-like leader, disrupting existing relationships, and promising security and specific benefits while demanding loyalty and financial support.[10] Abgrall writes that the true activities of the cult are hidden behind the projection of a positive image and an explicit statement that "Sahaja yoga is not a cult".[10]

Judith Coney has written that members "disguised some of their beliefs" from the outside world.[3]: 214  Coney writes people who had left the movement welcomed the chance to talk to her as an independent researcher, but that some were fearful of reprisals if they did so, and others found their experiences too painful to revisit.[3]: 214  Most were unwilling to talk to her "on the record".[3]: 214 

In 2001, The Independent reported the allegation made by some ex-members, that Sahaja Yoga is a cult which aims to control the minds of its members.[34] Ex-members said that the organisation insists all family ties are broken and all communication with them cease, that crying children can be seen as being possessed by demons, that negative and positive vibrations need "clearing", and that being a member of the group is very expensive.[34] In 2005, The Record reported that some critics who feel that the group is a cult have started their own websites.[35]

In 2005 the Belgian State organisation IACSSO (Informatie- en Adviescentrum inzake de Schadelijke Sektarische Organisaties) issued an advisory against Sahaja Yoga.[36] The advisory categorizes Sahaja Yoga as a synretic cult ("syncretische cultus") based on the Hindu tradition, and warns that the recruitment techniques used by Sahaja Yoga pose a risk to the public in general and young people in particular.[9] Sahaja Yoga Belgium sued IACSSO and preliminary rulings were found in their favour, adjudging that Sahaja Yoga was "not a cult".[37] However, on appeal in 2011 these preliminary rulings were overturned and in a final judgement it was found that Sahaja Yoga had been unable to refute IACSSO's statements.[36]

In 2013, De Morgen reported that the Belgian Department of State Security monitors how often politicians are contacted and lobbied by organizations. The list of organizations includes Sahaja Yoga.[38]

In 2001, The Evening Standard reported that Sahaja Yoga has been "described as a dangerous cult" and "has a dissident website created by former members". The reporter, John Crace, wrote about an event he attended and noted that a Sahaja Yoga representative asked him to feel free to talk to whomever he wanted. He remarked, "Either their openness is a PR charm offensive, or they genuinely have nothing to hide." He proposed that "one of the key definitions of a cult is the rigour with which it strives to recruit new members" and concluded that there was no aggressive recruitment squeeze.[39]

David V. Barrett wrote that some former members say that they were expelled from the movement because they "resisted influence that Mataji had over their lives". According to Barrett, the movement's founder's degree of control over members' lives has given rise to concerns.[33] The Austrian Ministry for Environment, Youth and Family states that "Sahaja Yoga" regards Nirmala Srivastava as an authority who cannot be questioned.[40]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahaja_Yoga

[Anonymous]

The claims of Abgrall being and expert are contested by other experts in the field who do not see SY as a dangerous cult.

Newspapers will rarely question anything that describes something as dangerous.

It is obviously wise to be cautious, but as far as SY goes people have mis-interpreted other people's behaviour being the result of practicing it, and there has been a lot of over reaction and fear mongering due to lack of lack of honesty about personal motives and because of cultural naivety.

Sahaja yoga essentially makes use of vedic archetypal references in order to illicit the sympathetic response of the nervous system to allow the autonomous nervous system to function unhindered by the cycle of thoughts and emotions that prevent the individual from feeling peaceful and calm at all times.

Shri Mataji herself has said in one of her early public lectures that she only ever saw herself as a woman who knew how the ancient practice of Yoga worked and never wanted to be worshipped as a gooddess or incarnation but eventually allowed people to because so many people wanted to.

It works in the principle that the vagus nerve is closely related to the birthing process and is the nerve that makes us feel comforted and redeemed.

As a tradition SY has been described in many spiritual text and followed in various forms for millenia.


quote=Anonymous]Cult expert Jean-Marie Abgrall has written that Sahaja Yoga exhibits the classic characteristics of a cult in the way it conditions its members.[10] These include having a god-like leader, disrupting existing relationships, and promising security and specific benefits while demanding loyalty and financial support.[10] Abgrall writes that the true activities of the cult are hidden behind the projection of a positive image and an explicit statement that "Sahaja yoga is not a cult".[10]

Judith Coney has written that members "disguised some of their beliefs" from the outside world.[3]: 214  Coney writes people who had left the movement welcomed the chance to talk to her as an independent researcher, but that some were fearful of reprisals if they did so, and others found their experiences too painful to revisit.[3]: 214  Most were unwilling to talk to her "on the record".[3]: 214 

In 2001, The Independent reported the allegation made by some ex-members, that Sahaja Yoga is a cult which aims to control the minds of its members.[34] Ex-members said that the organisation insists all family ties are broken and all communication with them cease, that crying children can be seen as being possessed by demons, that negative and positive vibrations need "clearing", and that being a member of the group is very expensive.[34] In 2005, The Record reported that some critics who feel that the group is a cult have started their own websites.[35]

In 2005 the Belgian State organisation IACSSO (Informatie- en Adviescentrum inzake de Schadelijke Sektarische Organisaties) issued an advisory against Sahaja Yoga.[36] The advisory categorizes Sahaja Yoga as a synretic cult ("syncretische cultus") based on the Hindu tradition, and warns that the recruitment techniques used by Sahaja Yoga pose a risk to the public in general and young people in particular.[9] Sahaja Yoga Belgium sued IACSSO and preliminary rulings were found in their favour, adjudging that Sahaja Yoga was "not a cult".[37] However, on appeal in 2011 these preliminary rulings were overturned and in a final judgement it was found that Sahaja Yoga had been unable to refute IACSSO's statements.[36]

In 2013, De Morgen reported that the Belgian Department of State Security monitors how often politicians are contacted and lobbied by organizations. The list of organizations includes Sahaja Yoga.[38]

In 2001, The Evening Standard reported that Sahaja Yoga has been "described as a dangerous cult" and "has a dissident website created by former members". The reporter, John Crace, wrote about an event he attended and noted that a Sahaja Yoga representative asked him to feel free to talk to whomever he wanted. He remarked, "Either their openness is a PR charm offensive, or they genuinely have nothing to hide." He proposed that "one of the key definitions of a cult is the rigour with which it strives to recruit new members" and concluded that there was no aggressive recruitment squeeze.[39]

David V. Barrett wrote that some former members say that they were expelled from the movement because they "resisted influence that Mataji had over their lives". According to Barrett, the movement's founder's degree of control over members' lives has given rise to concerns.[33] The Austrian Ministry for Environment, Youth and Family states that "Sahaja Yoga" regards Nirmala Srivastava as an authority who cannot be questioned.[40]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahaja_Yoga

[Anonymous]

It's a dangerous cult capable of destroying your personal and married life

[Anonymous]

It's a sort of jihadist movement where female members cherish their ego and jealousy and slowly start mistreating their husbands,in laws and kids. They humiliate,mistreat and misbehave to prove that they are blessed by Nirmala Devi and they are just doing right thing by guiding the world. If you do not do what they say, they get domestically violent and hurl abused. Stay way from such sick cult.

[Anonymous]

Not so good experience with this cult as members are egoistic and always find ways to show others down. Always keep fighting to show supremacy over each other. The more you get deep, the more you get negatively impacted by this group. Won't recommend it. Rather spend time on yourself and you will feel good about yourself. It will never give you what members claim