I have been quite immersed in the world of spirituality, new age topics, gurus, etc for a few decades. As a part of this scene, I have always been interested in the phenomenon of cults. Recently I have started to investigate the religious cult trip a bit more as I have continued to come across cults, people trying to get me to join cults, arguing with me about cults, etc.

I have put up a new web page to expedite such research for myself and others - www.ionet.net/~tslade/cults.htm

Spiritual teaching is good. And I have to admit I have watched "The Secret" a few times. Nothing wrong with having positive thoughts about money. Still, there is much potential for people to build little (or large) empires or followings around themselves and make huge fortunes under the pretense of being an enlightened teacher.

I checked out this guy's website right away. As usual, there is the "store" section, where you can buy expensive DVDs of his teachings. (The link to "the guru's" website is not working. It is www.sivababa.org) I haven't looked into the "Grace Light" thing yet, but this sounds similar to the wacky "Oneness Blessing" that has been making the rounds. (I have a page on my website about my experience with this)

My cults page has many links that can help to research and understand the guru trip. One of the most interesting websites I have found is Sarlo's Guru Rating Service - www.globalserve.net/~sarlo/Ratings.htm (Siva Baba is rated "Bogus") Another very interesting website to help balance out the BS is Guruphiliac - guruphiliac.blogspot.com

Yoga is good, meditation is good, teaching about these things and other spiritual matters is good, having some abundance is good. But I think we need to be very careful in evaluating people who claim to be enlightened, and claim to have the way (usually the best way, sometimes the only way) to enlighten us - for a fee.

Just my 2 cents.....

talks, he is very interesting, almost mesmerizing, i don't really grok a lot of the imported Hindu practice, but i like the articulate way he speaks, he has a certain panache, i recall going to a Satsong years ago with a Baba Hari Das, this guru never talked, he had some American followers, he came to Santa Cruz, and so a lot of hippie kids were attracted to him, of course some of these kids were from rich families, so it was kinda trendy to be into Satsong, and sing, and chant with the group that formed around Hari Das,who just wrote his answers on a chalk board.And although i liked the weekend Satsong, and the chanting and breathing exercises they did, i was not into joining the group, it just was not for me, not that i felt that it was bogus, just that some of the people seemed kinda not really all that friendly, like if you were not part of their scene, they just did not see you.Sure you could chant and sing with them, but you were like untouchable.I felt and saw this also with followers of OSHO, oh those people dressed in warm colors, of orange and mauve.

Appreciating the dialogue on this. Thanks for prompting it Jennifer. I agree it can be interesting to take a look at different people who claim certain lineages and mastery.

I tend to lean to the skeptical side. Recently read a good book in this area: "The Spiritual Tourist" by Mick Brown.

I agree with TerrySlade to read up on various perspectives of so-called gurus and cults. Looks like a a great list of links, thanks Terry. I believe I've surfed your sites before and found a lot of good info on Ashtanga yoga.

Now for a tongue-in-cheek twist - I practice ashtanga and found this podcast very funny: "Is Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga a cult?": 

http://visionsofcody.net/2008/06/voc-podcast-episode-22.html

ps - check out the George Harrison track at the end of the podcast, especially the end of the song. 

peace. /a

Hi Jennifer,

Did you see this interesting post, comments and Siva Baba video clip on Huffington today?

Sounds like the Tamil Siddha lineage sees July 17th as a very important start date to a shift in global consciousness.

The birthday of the master of Ashtanga yoga - Sri K Pattabhi Jois - is also celebrated on that Guru Purnima Full Moon day - nice to look forward to.

shanti ~

/a