CultNEWS101 Articles: 6/9/2025 (Conference, Interventions, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayana University, India, Transcendental Meditation)

Conference, Interventions, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayana University, India, Transcendental Meditation

Info-Secte / Info-Cult and International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) will host the next upcoming annual conference in Montreal, Canada: July 2-5, 2025

A Collaborative Approach to Addressing a Loved One's Cult-related Involvement (Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly, Doni Whitsett, Rosanne Henry)
Abstract: This presentation reflects the growing awareness in the anti-cult community that it often "takes a village"to respond appropriately and effectively to cult involvement and that each discipline brings different and essential expertise to bear on the issue. This talk will explore the vital elements of our collaborative approach (mental health professionals, former members, and exit counselors) using examples to illustrate these elements.A case presentation with a round table discussion from various perspectives, including interventionists,mental health professionals, research, and sociology.

Mr. Kelly has also facilitated ICSA workshops for ex-members and families (1996-2018),  has lectured extensively on cult-related topics and has been a cult intervention specialist (thought reform consultant/exit counselor, mediator) since 1989. He is the co-author of "Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants," and has presented 50 programs about hypnosis, inner-experience, trance induction techniques, communicating with cult members, conversion, cult intervention, exit counseling,intervention assessment, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consultation, easter ngroups, transcendental meditation and workshops for educators, families, former members and mental health professionals at ICSA workshops/conferences. Mr Kelly received the Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) from ICSA.

Mr Patrick Ryan is a graduate of Maharishi International University (Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Eastern religious systems) and has been a cult intervention specialist (thought reform consultant/exit counselor, mediator) since 1984. He was the founder and former head of TM-EX, the organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. He was the editor of AFF News, a news publication for former cult members (1995-1998), has contributed to the Cult Observer, AFF's book, Recovery From Cults, is co-author of "Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants," and has presented 50 programs about hypnosis, inner-experience, trance induction techniques, communicating with cult members, conversion, cult intervention, exit counseling, intervention assessment, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consultation, easter ngroups, transcendental meditation and workshops for educators, families, former members and mentalhealth professionals at ICSA workshops/conferences. Mr. Ryan received the AFF Achievement Award (1997) from AFF, the Leo J. Ryan "Distinguished Service Award" (1999) from the Leo J. Ryan Foundation, and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2011) from ICSA.

Rosanne Henry, MA, LPC, emeritus director of ICSA, is a psychotherapist practicing in Littleton, Colorado.For more than thirty years she has been active in the cult-education movement, working closely with the former Cult Awareness Network and ICSA. She served on the Board of Directors of ICSA from 2004 to2018 and was Chair of ICSA's Mental Health Committee. She cofacilitated ICSA's recovery workshops for25 years. In her private practice, Rosanne specializes in the treatment of cult survivors and their families.She is a former member of Kashi Ranch. In 2010, Ms. Henry received ICSA's Margaret T. Singer Award(shared with the other Colorado workshop facilitators). She is also coauthor (with Carol Giambalvo) of "The Colorado Model" (ICSA Today, 1[1], 2010); coauthor (with Leona Furnari) of "Lessons Learned FromSGAs About Recovery and Resiliency" (ICSA Today, 2[3], 2011); and co-editor (with Lorna Goldberg, WilliamGoldberg, and Michael Langone) of ICSA's Cult Recovery: A Clinician's Guide to Working With Former Members and Their Families, published in 2017.

Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW, is a Clinical Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Workwhere she teaches various courses in practice, behavior, mental health, and human sexuality. She has been working with cult-involved clients and their families for over 20 years and gives lectures to students and professionals on this topic. She has presented at national and international conferences in Madrid,Poland, Canada, and in Australia, where she helped organize two conferences in Brisbane. Her talks have included The Psychobiology of Trauma and Child Maltreatment (2005, Madrid) and Why Cults Are Harmful: A Neurobiological View of Interpersonal Trauma (2012, Montreal). Her publications include The Psychobiology of Trauma and Child Maltreatment (Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2006), A SelfPsychological Approach to the Cult Phenomenon (Journal of Social Work, 1992), Cults and Families(Families in Society, Vol. 84, No. 4, 2003), which she coauthored with Dr. Stephen Kent, and Why cults are harmful: Neurobiological speculations on interpersonal trauma. ICSA Today, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2014. Dr.Whitsett also has a specialty in Sexuality and was awarded a Fulbright Specialist Scholarship in 2016 to study, teach, and do research on this topic in China.

Hindustan Times Haryana: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to the proposal for setting up Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayana University

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to the proposal for setting up Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayana University, Ayodhya, and two other private universities in the state, including Bhakti Vedanta University, Mathura, and Ajay Kumar Garg University, Ghaziabad. The establishment of the university in Ayodhya is proposed by the sponsoring institution Maharishi Ramayan Vidyapeeth Trust, Delhi on 20.2569 acres of land in Ayodhya Nagar area. In Continuation of this proposal, a letter of intent has already been issued on May 18, 2023. Now for the establishment of the university, the name of the university will be included in the schedule of the Act by bringing the Uttar Pradesh Private University (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.The establishment of the university in Mathura is proposed by the International Society forKrishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on 50.8870 acres of land in village Azhai Khurd in Chhata tehsil. A high-level panel had recommended the issuance of a letter of intent in October 2024.

The establishment of the university in Ghaziabad is proposed by the Indian Institute of Society on 26.2656 acres of land in Dasna village. The high-level committee found the proposal suitable for the letter of intent on November 10, 2023. Higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay said these decisions have been taken in full compliance with the procedures prescribed under the Uttar Pradesh Private University Act, 2019 and its related Rules-2021. Through these universities, diversity, innovation and global level educational facilities will be developed in the field of higher education in the state.

Global Peace Initiative: Celebrating our Royal and Divine Raj Rajeshwari Ma on Vimeo

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CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

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CultNEWS101 Articles: 2/5/2025 (Asaram Bapu, Cult Documentaries, NXIVM, Zizians, Legal)

Asaram Bapu, Cult Documentaries, NXIVM, Zizians, Legal

India Today: Watch: New docuseries on Asaram Bapu throws spotlight on India's 'darkest scandal'

"A new docuseries, Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu, is currently streaming on Discovery +. The series explores the controversial case surrounding the self-proclaimed Godman.

Disgraced Godman Asaram Bapu, who is out on interim bail in a rape case involving a minor, has a new docuseries out on the controversial case. Called Cult of Fear: Asaram Bapu, the series will explore how the case unravelled in front of the media and then the court.

The teaser was shared on Discovery Plus' social media handle with a description that read, "Uncover the alleged crimes, deceit, violence and manipulations of a once-revered spiritual leader, Asaram. Gather insight through his current and former followers, and the truth behind being his devotees."

Asaram Bapu was convicted by a POCSO court in Jodhpur and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a minor in his ashram. He was serving a life sentence in Central Jail, Jodhpur, and was released on an interim bail in January this year.

The Rajasthan High Court granted interim bail to the 86-year-old Godman, who is serving life imprisonment for raping a minor at his ashram in 2013.

Parade: These Are the 17 Most Compelling Cult Documentaries and Docuseries Available to Stream Now

" ... [A] powerful subgenre all about dangerous cults and extreme religions exists. While the idea of a cult may seem far-fetched or even unthinkable to some, cults actually do exist. In fact, they are not a thing of the past; cults exist even now.

NXIVM is a prime example—as recently as 2018, India Oxenberg was still engulfed in the Keith Raniere-led cult before getting out. And believe it or not, people are still members of NXIVM today."

NY Post: The case of the radical 'Zizian' vegan trans cult and the shooting death of border patrol agent

" ... Authorities are investigating the connection between murders across the country to the "Zizians" — a cult of highly-educated trans vegan "rationalists."

Jack "Ziz" LaSota has allegedly influenced his followers to kill.

The transgender leader of the group, who has posted about "transhumanism" and other topics. Some followers say LaSota is dead, but that seems to be a plot to avoid authorities. LaSota used the name "Andrea Phelps."

Two Zizians who are accused of attacking Curtis Lind in Solano County, Calif., because they were squatting on his property. Lind, who lost an eye in the attack, shot and killed Borhanian, but was going to testify against Leatham and another accused assailant and "Ziz" follower, Suri Dao."

Gizmodo: Suspects in Recent Murders Are Two Young Computer Nerds That Reportedly Have Ties to a Techno-Cult

"Taylor said the group [Zizians] believes in timeless decision theory, a Rationalist belief suggesting that human decisions and their effects are mathematically quantifiable.

The Zizians also apparently believe that because there are two hemispheres in the brain, individuals can split their consciousness between two personalities by waking one side at a time, Taylor said. She said veganism and animal rights are also central to the ideology. A bio for an Instagram account that appears to belong to Youngblut reads, 'talk to me about being vegan and ai alignment.'"

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CultNEWS101 Articles: 2/4/2025 (Clergy Seual Abuse, India, Kumbh Festival, Sextortion)

Clergy Seual Abuse, India, Kumbh Festival, Sextortion

NCR: US watchdog launches database on Catholic priests accused of sex abuse of minors in the Philippines

A United States-based watchdog on Wednesday launched an online database on more than 80 Roman Catholic priests who have been accused of sexually abusing minors in the Philippines and said the silence of Filipino bishops on the crimes amounted to a cover-up.

The Philippines is the third-largest Roman Catholic nation in the world, and public discussions of sexual assaults by members of the clergy, who are revered especially in rural regions, has long been generally muted.

None of the 82 members of the clergy, including seven bishops, who have been included in the new online database on clergy sexual abuses by the group BishopAccountability.org had been convicted in any Philippine court.

The database featured their faces, names and details of their alleged sexual assaults on minors, some of which dated back more than two decades ago. The nonprofit said that it had also set up such online databases on Catholic clergy abuses in the U.S., Argentina, Chile and Ireland.

Anne Barrett Doyle, a director of BishopAccountability.org, said that the long silence of bishops in the Philippines encouraged such sexual assaults by members of the clergy. She asked Philippine prosecutors to investigate church officials, who failed to report abuses."

RNS: Police say at least 30 people have died in a stampede at the massive Maha Kumbh festival in India

"Indian authorities took more than 16 hours to release casualty figures, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the loss of lives, calling the incident "extremely sad" and extending his condolences.

At least 30 people were killed and many more injured in a stampede at the world's largest religious gathering early Wednesday, police said, as millions of pilgrims rushed to dip in sacred waters during the Maha Kumbh festival in northern India.

Police officer Vaibhav Krishna in Prayagraj city said another 60 injured were rushed to hospitals.

Wednesday was a sacred day in the six-week Hindu festival, and authorities expected a record 100 million devotees to engage in a ritual bath at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Hindus believe that a dip at the holy site can cleanse them of past sins and end the process of reincarnation."

CNN: He lost his son to suicide after a 'sextortion' scam. The alleged scammer was just extradited to the US

 
South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey was overwhelmed with rage when he first saw the man he believes caused his son's suicide.

The suspect was extradited from Nigeria to the US over the weekend on charges that he targeted 17-year-old Gavin Guffey in a sexual extortion, or "sextortion" scheme, that led to the teen's death.

The Nigerian appeared in court in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday, where Brandon Guffey laid eyes on him after more than two years of fighting for justice for his son.

"Rage is the best way to describe how I felt," Guffey told CNN. "I think I cracked molars just gritting my teeth so hard."

The man, Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal, 24, did not make eye contact with him, Guffey said. Lawal kept his head bowed and appeared to avoid looking in his family's direction, he said.

As part of a sextortion scheme, Lawal allegedly masqueraded as a young woman on social media and sent Gavin nude photos. He asked for similar images of himself, and once Gavin shared the photos, the suspect threatened to publicize them if he didn't pay, the Justice Department said.

He's pleaded not guilty to charges of child exploitation resulting in death, distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking, interstate threats with intent to extort and aiding/abetting, according to court records.

At Monday's hearing Guffey wore a black T-shirt with the love symbol <3. It represents the last text message Gavin sent loved ones on July 27, 2022, minutes before he shot himself in a bathroom at the family home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

"I'm a roller coaster of emotions right now. I served in the house with a representative who lost his mother and sister in the Dylann Roof shootings down in Charleston. And those families were able to look at Dylann Roof and say, we forgive you,'" Guffey said.

"I want to ask … 'how do you have forgiveness in your heart?' Because I just don't have it. I have anger and vengeance. And every time I see my family's pain over this, it just infuriates me more."

The scammer threatened other family members after Gavin Guffey's death
The FBI arrested Lawal in Lagos last week following an extradition hearing. CNN has reached out to his court-appointed attorney for comment.

Guffey had to sign paperwork confirming he would not push for the death penalty to ensure that the Nigerian government approved the extradition, he said.

Last week, he was shocked to get a call from federal investigators notifying him that the extradition had been approved and they were on their way to pick up Lawal. Investigators confirmed his arrival in Columbia on Saturday.

"It was a surprise. I knew that they had been working on the process, but extradition was not something that commonly happens with Nigeria," Guffey said. "There was still that anticipation and fear until his feet were actually on US soil."

At a press conference, investigators declined to provide details on how they tracked the suspect to Nigeria or whether there were other suspects involved. Some of the court documents in the case are sealed."

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John Lennon wrote a song full of expletives called ‘Maharishi’. Then he had to tone it down

The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
At the screening of his documentary, ‘The Beatles and India’, Ajoy Bose showed how the band’s visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram helped export Indian classical music to the West.

Ashutosh Anil Gudi

The Print

14 December, 2024

New Delhi: John Lennon was so distraught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s betrayal that he wrote a song full of expletives directed at his former spiritual guru who introduced the West to ‘transcendental meditation’.

He wanted to call it ‘Maharishi’.

“The rest of The Beatles convinced him to rename the song to Sexy Sadie and tone it down,” said filmmaker Ajoy Bose at the screening of his 2021 documentary, The Beatles and India earlier this month at New Delhi’s India International Centre. “It had to be re-written, but it still carries the same sentiments; the lament that the Maharishi had everyone fooled.”

Bose, in his documentary, explores the cultural bridge between India and the West, which The Beatles along with Pandit Ravi Shankar and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi built together. They even visited the Maharishi’s Rishikesh ashram in 1968—but soon had a falling out over allegations that the Maharishi molested multiple women devotees including Mia Farrow.

The Maharishi also attempted to exploit The Beatles, referring to himself as their ‘spiritual teacher’ in a recording of his lectures. He also made a promise to the American Broadcasting Corporation that the group would be appearing in a television special without their consent.

The documentary shows how The Beatles’ visit to the ashram helped export not just Indian spirituality and yoga to the West, but also classical music. George Harrison incorporated the sitar in his music, in turn inspiring many artists and bands such as Donovan and The Mamas & The Papas.

“The Beatles were a very important part of my growing up in the ’60s. I was even commissioned to write a book on them by Penguin Random House because they wanted a fan account of them instead of an expert account. Writing my book and making this film had me really rediscover my favourite band,” Bose said. It’s a fascination he shares with the rest of the world.

The Beatles will never go out of style—and as Bose put it, “It goes beyond their music.”

Maharishi’s curse

The Maharishi’s cult status and the adulation from the West became a hotbed of intrigue. In Parliament, the Opposition alleged that the godman and his guests were in cahoots with the CIA to destabilise India. There was another rumour doing the rounds–that the Maharishi had cursed The Beatles, warning them that they would break up if they did not practice transcendental meditation.

Two years later, this came true. Bose, however, dismissed an audience member’s question on whether there was any truth to it.

“I think, for The Beatles, the time had already come before the curse. They were really all not together, and they had started fading away fast, and after 1967, everyone wanted to get out while only Paul wanted to stay,” he said.

He was impressed by their professionalism and commitment to their fans.

“They didn’t let their internal dynamics compromise their music.”

The infamous fallout between the godman and the idols made headlines all over the world. But it didn’t end there. French author Come Carpentier, who attended the screening, pointed out that over the years, there were attempts to mend the bridge, which Bose’s documentary also captures.

“There was a greater reconciliation because there was something higher than whatever transpired between The Beatles and the Maharishi,” he said.

“The Beatles essentially said that even though we made a mistake, this is what changed our lives and that is much better than whatever may have been said about the Maharishi.”

“This is the nature of India, and that is reflected very well in this film,” said Carpentier. “The legend of India remains no matter what is said about any guru, because there is something much higher about India than any individual’s behaviour, which is always affected by weaknesses such as those of the Maharishi,” he added.

Past and present, superimposed

The documentary is not rooted in the past. Through the film, Bose juxtaposes archival footage of The Beatles during their 1968 visit with present-day images of the locations.

A black–and–white scene shows the ‘Beatles Ashram’ in Rishikesh in ruins, followed by footage of John Lenon walking in the same landscape.

Bose explained that it was a superimposition of archival footage with recent images.

“We, in fact, had a special guy to do that. He had drawn this whole thing out, how exactly to do it. The editing team’s magic is behind this execution,” Bose said.

Incidentally, the ashram is slated for an overhaul to make it a tourist attraction.

Although The Beatles may have left the Maharishi and his ashram behind, Bose’s documentary shows that their romance with India ensured the country’s spiritual legacy found its rhythm in the global consciousness.

(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)

https://theprint.in/feature/around-town/john-lennon-wrote-song-expletives-maharishi/2402941/

Finding lost Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh woods

Raju Gusain

First Post
December 8, 2024

Six years back, when a forest ranger was walking with an American author inside the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram in Rishikesh, they found the bungalow where the world-famous musical band, the Beatles, stayed during their 1968 Rishikesh.

The building where the world-famous musical band, the Beatles, stayed during their 1968 Rishikesh tour remained in complete neglect and unidentified for many decades. It was in 2018; the bungalow was traced, and now it has turned into a major attraction for tourists and Beatles fans.


George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr travelled to Rishikesh to learn meditation from their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in 1968. They stayed in the spiritual camp of Maharishi, and there was little information about the bungalow where the music stars dwelled and composed many of their iconic songs. Mahesh Yogi took 15 acres of land on lease for setting up his camp from the forest department in 1961, but he had to abandon the campus and hand it over to the government after a court order in 1999. Now the former ashram of Maharishi is managed by the Rajaji Tiger Reserve of the Uttarakhand forest department.

The incident took place some six years back when a forest ranger was walking with an American author inside the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram in Rishikesh. The American was meditation teacher and film producer Prudence Anne Villiers Farrow, who had stayed with the Beatles in the Ashram in 1968. The forest staff casually asked, “Do you remember the house where you had stayed with the Beatles?”

The reply of the guest made forest ranger Rajendra Nautiyal jump with joy. Prudence Farrow plainly said, “The building was located near the back gate, and it was U-shaped.” These two clues were good enough to identify the building. Prudence and Nautiyal hurriedly walked toward the back gate. Carefully walking through the wild bushes as they reached the spot, Prudence Farrow verified, “Yes, this is the building!” Had Prudence not toured India in 2018, the landmark building would have remained unidentified forever.

Beatles Bungalow
The scene must have shocked Prudence. The seven-room bungalow with a veranda was covered with wild bushes. The building, which was a hub of vibrant activities with the Fab Four’s arrival, was vandalised, like the other 200-odd structures at the Chaurasi Kutiya Ashram. With broken doors and windows narrating a sad story! Miscreants had taken away all the valuables and bathroom fittings. The building was in a dilapidated condition.Ringo stayed in the Maharishi Ashram for 10 days, Paul McCartney for five weeks, and John Lennon and George Harrison each for eight weeks. They stayed in the bungalow and composed 48 songs. The stay was one of the most creative periods of their career! Many of their compositions featured in their famous ‘The White Album’ and ‘Let it be.’

A happy Rajendra Nautiya says, “With the tour of Prudence Farrow, the mystery over the place where the Fab Four had stayed during their 1968 tour got solved. Now this building is known as the Beatles Bungalow.”

After the identification, the bushes were cleared and garbage/waste removed. Now, everyday tourists in large numbers go there to have a look at the building that was named as ‘Rishikesh Hilton’ in 1968 by the western media. A building that remained forgotten for a long time. Two rooms are linked to two famous Beatles songs. To tease Prudence Farrow, who used to meditate for long hours, John Lennon composed the song ‘Dear Prudence’ song. Lennon suffered from insomnia in the Ashram, and this inspired him to write, ‘I’m So Tired.’

The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram takes the visitors on an epic journey highlighting the legacy of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the famous trip of the Beatles. As the forest department took control in 1999, they put a ban on public movement in the campus. Miscreants found a golden opportunity and looted all the valuables from the campus. They vandalised all the buildings, and presently Chaurasi Kutiya is a hub of about 200 damaged buildings.

From 1999, the bad days of the Chaurasi Kutiya started. It continued till 2015, when the Uttarakhand government decided to reopen the former spiritual camp of Maharishi for the tourists. The move evoked a warm response from the tourists, and last year 1.19 lakh Indians and over eleven thousand foreign tourists visited the place now famous as the Beatles Ashram. Local guide Alok Upreti says, “The foreign tourists are thrilled by seeing the Beatles bungalow. They are surprised to find that the famous band member stayed in ordinary rooms.”

Now the Uttarakhand government is planning a major redevelopment plan at the Ashram. In a cabinet decision, held last year in August, the Uttarakhand government announced hiring a Gujarat-based firm to draft a master plan to develop Chaurasi Kutiya as an international destination.

After the Beatles tour, major infrastructure development activities took place on the front side of the Chaurasi Kutiya. The construction of 121 igloo-type structures was one of them. Least development work took place on the back side of the Ashram. The bungalow where the Beatles stayed was first used as staff rooms and later as a school. Blackboards still exist in the rooms where George, John, Paul, and Ringo had stayed.

The Uttarakhand forest department should be thankful to Prudence Farrow for adding a major attraction to Chaurasi Kutiya.

https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/finding-lost-beatles-ashram-in-rishikesh-woods-13842706.html#goog_rewarded

CultNEWS101 Articles: 12/6/2024 (Ashleigh Freckleton, Kripalu Maharaj, India, Legal, Guru's, Kripalu Maharaj)

Ashleigh Freckleton, Kripalu Maharaj, India, Legal, Guru's, Kripalu Maharaj

Mamamia: Three years before she was a contestant on The Bachelor, Ashleigh Freckleton survived a cult."

There was a period in 2018 when Ashleigh Freckleton felt split in two.

There was the lucid, rational Ashleigh who was alarmed by what was unfolding around her, who knew the yoga school she'd joined was something far more dangerous, manipulative, and abusive than it claimed. Then there was the Ashleigh who'd been coerced and brainwashed into justifying it all, into unpicking her suspicions, one by one.

Ashleigh, who many will recognise from the current season of The Bachelor Australia, joined the school while living in London. She was 25, alone in a new city, recovering from a relationship breakdown, and searching for a purpose.

A deeply spiritual person, raised in the Catholic faith, she was contemplating studying yoga in India when a well-meaning friend recommended a yoga school with branches across Europe. (The group will remain unnamed in this article.)

"This friend was so charismatic, and he was the first person I'd spoken to about spirituality who wasn't afraid to use the word God, who wasn't afraid to talk about all different types of faith, and synchronicity, and fate and destiny and life path, and all these sorts of things. I was like, 'This is my calling. This is the first person I've ever met, that understands me,'" Ashleigh told Mamamia.

"Eventually, he said, 'Look, rather than going to India, come to Romania and live for a month amongst all the yogis. It's one of the only true schools that teaches real yoga with a real guide.'"

After taking classes online for several months, Ashleigh flew to Romania in August 2018.

There was a period in 2018 when Ashleigh Freckleton felt split in two.

There was the lucid, rational Ashleigh who was alarmed by what was unfolding around her, who knew the yoga school she'd joined was something far more dangerous, manipulative, and abusive than it claimed. Then there was the Ashleigh who'd been coerced and brainwashed into justifying it all, into unpicking her suspicions, one by one.

Ashleigh, who many will recognise from the current season of The Bachelor Australia, joined the school while living in London. She was 25, alone in a new city, recovering from a relationship breakdown, and searching for a purpose.

A deeply spiritual person, raised in the Catholic faith, she was contemplating studying yoga in India when a well-meaning friend recommended a yoga school with branches across Europe. (The group will remain unnamed in this article.)"

Devdiscourse News Desk: Police Apprehend Driver and Conductor in Kripalu Maharaj Daughter's Tragic Road Incident

"The driver and conductor responsible for the accident involving the car of Dr. Vishakha Tripathi, daughter of spiritual leader Kripalu Maharaj, have been detained. The accident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway while the victims were traveling to Delhi. A case has been registered under multiple legal sections.

The driver and conductor linked to a fatal accident involving the car of Dr. Vishakha Tripathi, eldest daughter of spiritual leader Kripalu Maharaj, were arrested, police confirmed Tuesday.

The tragic road collision on the Yamuna Expressway claimed Dr. Tripathi's life and left others critically injured. The accused, residents of Firozabad, had initially fled the accident scene, said Dankaur SHO Munendra Kumar.

While Bablu was arrested on Monday, Sonu was tracked down early Tuesday for questioning. The victims were en route to Delhi, intending to travel to Singapore. Legal charges have been filed, and distressing footage of the wreckage has surfaced online."

The Belated Writer: Gurification

"Back in the 1990s, my then therapist pointed out that I had a tendency to 'gurify' certain people, i.e. to see them as far wiser, more spiritually aware and generally better human beings than I was, even when this turned out not to be the case. At that time I'd just started my psychotherapy training and had been to see Mother Meera, an Indian guru or, if you believe it, a divine avatar or incarnation – there are quite a lot of those in India. I paid several visits to Mother Meera in Germany, where she still lives, and not long after that I made a life-changing trip to India. There I visited the ashrams of two living gurus/divine avatars, Ammachi (Mata Amritananda Mayi), who is known for hugging people, and Satya Sai Baba, instantly recognisable by his Afro hair and orange gown, which on Christmas Day he exchanged for a white one – make of that what you will. Sai Baba has since died but Ammachi is still hugging people. I also spent time in two ashrams dedicated to teachers who are no longer alive, Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Aurobindo, whose ashram is a shrine to him and his consort, known as The Mother.

These weren't the first beings described as gurus that I'd come across. Back in the seventies I knew people who were involved in the Divine Light Mission led by Guru Maharaj Ji and later I learnt Transcendental Meditation as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This is really very little different from any other mantra meditation except that you have to pay a lot to learn it and some practitioners go in for 'yogic flying': bouncing about the room in a cross-legged position. The flying is said to have huge benefits for the practitioner and the world, but I have to take their word for that. I was never advanced enough to try it. In the late seventies and throughout the eighties I was involved in what was then called the 'growth movement' and took part in different therapy groups where many of the participants were followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later Osho). For those who remember, they were the ones who called themselves sannyasins and wore orange or dark red. A few still do and many have kept the Sanskrit names they were given, but many have also become disenchanted or drifted away. The leaders of a series of groups I attended were at that time devotees of Baba Muktananda. I once went to their flat in Amsterdam for a course that consisted of chanting, meditation and video presentations by Muktananda himself. People spoke about his extraordinary power to call forth deep devotion and awaken spiritual energies. At that time I didn't experience much of it, but I could see from his photograph that he was an enormously charismatic and attractive man.

Despite becoming involved with Theravada Buddhism, which unlike Tibetan Buddhism doesn't see the power of the teacher as central, I still longed to find someone whose presence would enable me to enter new realms of experience. Like many people, I was led to Mother Meera by Andrew Harvey's book Hidden Journey. I longed to be turned upside-down and inside-out the way he was. Or part of me longed for it. Another part would have been shit-scared if anything so dramatic had happened. It didn't, but at a time of upset and upheaval in my life I was more than usually open to the atmosphere that surrounded her, and a sense of its peace and beauty definitely reach me. If Harvey and her other devotees were to be believed (he is no longer a devotee), she too seemed to be a divine incarnation and she apparently speaks about herself as such, referring to the rest of us as 'human beings'. At the time I was prepared to entertain the possibility. I'm less so now; I believe we all have the divine within us and are all ordinary human beings, even though it's clear that in some people certain energies that I would call spiritual have been awakened to an extraordinary degree."

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CultNEWS101 Articles: 12/4/2024 (Jagatguru Kripalu Maharaj, India, Obituary)

Jagatguru Kripalu Maharaj, India, Obituary

EVT Bharat: Spiritual Guru Kripalu Maharaj's Elder Daughter [Vishakha Tripathi] Dies In Road Accident On Yamuna Expressway

"Mathura: Dr Vishakha Tripathi, the elder daughter of Indian spiritual guru Jagatguru Kripalu Maharaj, died and her two other sisters were seriously injured in a road accident on Sunday, the police said. The accident took place while she, along with her younger sisters, Shyama, 69, and Krishna Tripathi, 67, were heading from Mathura to Noida on Sunday morning, the police added. Soon after the accident, a police team reached the spot and admitted the injured to Kailash Hospital in Noida where Vishakha breathed her last while undergoing treatment. According to sources, the three sisters had planned to go to Singapore for personal work, therefore, they were going to Delhi by car to board the flight. At that time, a speeding Canter hit back-to-back two cars on Yamuna Expressway, sources added.

According to officials, the 75-year-old Vishakha Tripathi's body will reach Vrindavan late on Sunday evening, and the last rite will be performed on the banks of the Yamuna River. Dr Vishakha Tripathi was the president of the Prem Mandir of Vrindavan and the Mangadi Mandir of Pratapgarh. Soon after receiving the information, the officials from Vrindavan Prem Mandir left for Noida. After the death of Jagatguru Kripalu Maharaj, Dr Vishakha Tripathi became the president of Prem Mandir of Vrindavan and Mangadi Mandir of Pratapgarh."

India News Press Trust of India: Spiritual Leader Kripalu Maharaj's Daughter, 75, Dies In Road Accident: Cops

The daughter of spiritual leader Kripalu Maharaj was killed on Sunday after a truck rammed into her car here, police said.

Vishakha Tripathi (75) along with her two sisters and five others was travelling to Delhi from Vrindavan via Yamuna Expressway, in two cars. From there, they were to travel to Singapore, police said.

On Sunday morning, a canter driver hit both cars in the Dankaur area. Eight people including Maharaj's three daughters were seriously injured in the accident, a police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that the victims were admitted to hospitals in Noida and Delhi for treatment, where Vishakha Tripathi died. Seven other people, including the sisters, Krishna Tripathi and Shyama Tripathi, were seriously injured and are undergoing treatment.

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat in a condolence message said that it is with great sorrow that it has to be informed that the President of Bhakti Dham, Dr Vishakha Tripathi has unfortunately passed away and her last rites will be performed in Vrindavan.

Rishika X Cult: The God Con — When the Mark is Ready, the Con Man Appears

"There is a popular saying in the spiritual world: When a student is ready, the teacher appears. I would amend this saying to reflect today's Western obsession with Eastern "gurus": When the mark is ready, the con man (or woman) appears.

In hindsight, I see exactly how easy it is for less-than-holy men and women to pose as gurus and perpetrate the God Con upon people who are sincerely searching for "the divine."

A person's desire to find God, or the truth, or self-realization, or whatever, sets the perfect stage for conmen and women to swoop in and take over our lives. Spiritual seekers are, as a rule, lost, vulnerable, and desperate. Yet, they don't realize this fact, and they forge ahead with only positive feelings about their quest.

Often seekers' quests go unfulfilled for years or decades — until one day a magical person enters their lives with all the answers. A "guru." The fake gurus (and that is most of the ones targeting Westerners) can smell their innocence, their desperation, their desires — and they use it all against them to create a spiritual lure and set a trap.

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Police Apprehend Driver and Conductor in Kripalu Maharaj Daughter's Tragic Road Incident

Devdiscourse News Desk
November 26, 2924

The driver and conductor responsible for the accident involving the car of Dr. Vishakha Tripathi, daughter of spiritual leader Kripalu Maharaj, have been detained. The accident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway while the victims were traveling to Delhi. A case has been registered under multiple legal sections.

The driver and conductor linked to a fatal accident involving the car of Dr. Vishakha Tripathi, eldest daughter of spiritual leader Kripalu Maharaj, were arrested, police confirmed Tuesday.

The tragic road collision on the Yamuna Expressway claimed Dr. Tripathi's life and left others critically injured. The accused, residents of Firozabad, had initially fled the accident scene, said Dankaur SHO Munendra Kumar.

While Bablu was arrested on Monday, Sonu was tracked down early Tuesday for questioning. The victims were en route to Delhi, intending to travel to Singapore. Legal charges have been filed, and distressing footage of the wreckage has surfaced online.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3171773-police-apprehend-driver-and-conductor-in-kripalu-maharaj-daughters-tragic-road-incident

Unknown truck driver booked after death of Kripalu Maharaj’s daughter

By - Dipika Kirola

November 26, 2024

Unknown truck driver booked after death of Kripalu Maharaj’s daughter.

Greater Noida: Police have registered an FIR in the death of Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj’s elder daughter Vishakha Tripathi who was killed in a vehicular collision in Dankaur while en route to Delhi in early hours on Sunday.

The FIR has been registered based on the complaint from her car’s driver, Praveen Mundbhari, who suggested potential foul play.

“We left from Vrindavan towards Delhi accompanied by three additional vehicles. At approximately 3:30 am on the Yamuna Expressway, the convoy halted on the roadside, 7 kms before Greater Noida. Subsequently, a truck approached at considerable high speed and struck the vehicles. All the three cars were badly damaged, and the truck driver absconded post-incident,” Praveen mentioned in his complaint.

“It can be suspected that the truck driver deliberately hit the car and fled away to carry out a pre-planned murder,” Praveen mentioned in his complaint.

SHO Dankaur Munendra Kumar said that on the basis of complaint, an FIR under BNS sections 106 (1) (causing death by negligence), 281 (rash or negligent driving or riding on public roads), 125(a)(b) (any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others) and 324 (2) (causing wrongful damage or loss to individuals

or the public).

Police said that the truck helper, Bablu, driver Sonu, both residents of Farrukhabad have been identified.

“The helper of the truck has been arrested and efforts are being made to arrest the driver. Further investigation is underway. All the claims made by the complainants will be verified,” police said.

The three daughters of Kripalu Maharaj were travelling from Mathura to Delhi Airport in two vehicles during the early hours of Sunday. Near Dankaur, a speeding tanker collided with their vehicle from behind. The incident resulted in the demise of Vishakha Tripathi (78), while sisters Shyama Tripathi and Krishna Tripathi sustained grievous injuries. Seven additional individuals were also wounded in the collision.

Last Rites of Dr. Vishakha Tripathi, Daughter of Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj, Scheduled in Vrindavan

Filmibeat

November 26, 2024

The last rites of Dr Vishakha Tripathi, daughter of Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj, will be held in Vrindavan on Monday. Her body arrived at Prem Mandir, where followers gathered for a final viewing. Over 3,000 people came to pay their respects. Her sister, Dr Shyama Tripathi, was also present despite being injured.

Dr Vishakha Tripathi and her sisters were involved in an accident in Dankaur. They were hit by a canter on the expressway. All three sisters and five followers were taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, Dr Vishakha did not survive. Her body was brought to Prem Mandir at 4:00 PM.

Her body was placed next to the statues of her parents, Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj and Padma Devi. Many mourners expressed their grief. The hall echoed with chants of "Radhe Radhe." Her last journey will begin at 6:00 AM on 28 November. The rites will take place by the Yamuna River.

From Tuesday, the public can visit for the last darshan. Ajay Tripathi, a spokesperson for Prem Mandir, said many followers from abroad are expected to arrive. The temple will remain open for visitors during this time.

The driver of the convoy suspects foul play in the accident. A case has been filed based on Praveen's complaint. He claims the canter driver was unaware of hitting parked cars. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to trace the canter's path.

The canter driver, Sonu, has been arrested in Firozabad. Police are questioning him about the incident. Praveen accuses him of deliberately causing the crash. Investigations are ongoing to uncover more details about this tragic event.

https://www.filmibeat.com/videos/last-rites-dr-vishakha-tripathi-vrindavan-011-267374.html