Sep 14, 2012

'Esoteric healer' Serge Benhayon plans College of Universal Medicine in Goonellabah

Josh Robertson
CourierMail
September 14, 2012

SERGE Benhayon, the former bankrupt tennis coach turned multimillionaire "esoteric healer", plans to open a college where he is chairman for life so his teachings can't be "bastardised".

Mr Benhayon, who has been accused of running a new-age cult that offers "six levels of initiation", has registered his College of Universal Medicine as a tax-exempt charity and is seeking $750,000 in donations.

His supporters include St Andrew's Hospital chest surgeon Samuel Kim, who says therapies including "esoteric breast massage . . . work in great partnership with traditional medicine".

But an academic who researches alternative medicine groups said Universal Medicine's "prophetic aspect and its over-reliance on a personality rather than a transparent set of techniques" were concerning.

University of Queensland Associate Professor of Sociology Alex Broom said a "key attraction" of such groups was their ability to help people make lifestyle changes, such as around diet, which could be beneficial.

"(But) any whole system of healing that is overly personality-driven risks edging towards a kind of totalitarianism," he said.

"For (some), they can be very harmful, unravelling their relationships, costing their savings and ultimately not fulfilling the promise of healing."

Mr Benhayon agreed Universal Medicine was "a good business", with its reincarnation workshops particularly popular.
He conceded the Therapeutic Goods Authority forced it to withdraw unscientific claims about products sold on its website.

When pressed for the health aspect addressed by the "esoteric breast massage" offered at UniMed's Brisbane clinic, Mr Benhayon told The Courier-Mail: "Disconnection to their bodies".

It treated "disconnection to themselves and the fact that a lot of women have complained that for them the breasts were more to breast-feed their babies, more for men to sexualise, but they'd never really endorsed their own bodies as being beautiful", Mr Benhayon said.

Universal Medicine material describes Mr Benhayon doing "EDG readings" of students' advancement on his "path of initiation".

"As usual, Serge's/the hierarchy's predictions will come true," it says.

Cult Counselling Australia director Raphael Aron said his organisation had a researcher working full-time on the group after counselling former clients who were concerned about its influence on their children.

He said Mr Benhayon "seems to be toning down his belief that he is the reincarnation of Leonardo Da Vinci which doesn't wash well with other people".

Mr Benhayon said he was surprised a cult exit group had treated his ex-students.

"I don't know how to brainwash people."

Universal Medicine, which claims about 2000 students worldwide, grossed $36,000 in a single "relationship workshop" last year. But families of followers blame Universal Medicine for the breakdown of 42 marriages from Brisbane to Britain.

The College of Universal Land, to be built on Goonellabah land Mr Benhayon owns, will be non-profit, but its constitution allows directors' companies to sell it services and products.

"The idea of the college is to eventually inherit all that I've got . . . I will hand over all the rights to the books and everything I've done," he said.

Being chairman for life meant he "would be able to retain the integrity of the work so it doesn't get bastardised", he said.

Originally published as 'Cult leader' plans college for 'healing'



https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/archive/news/esoteric-healer-serge-benhayon-plans-college-of-universal-medicine-in-goonellabah/story-fndo1qgd-1226474375480?sv=c1a7ffb5491dbe6c5066905e00ad7822

No comments: