According to the story Terry and Brian say Rose later told them, late one night Swami Rama tapped at the door of her room and then walked in on her. Although the jury entered a judgment against Nuernberger, it also found that the clinic was not liable for his actions, so Williams failed to recover damages. The Swami Rama died in 1996 at the age of 69. Although she told an institute official about the assaults and the institute was aware of similar complaints by other women, the complaint said, the center did nothing to stop them. Karen, the woman whose claims were ridiculed at the meeting where Swami Rama and the other directors responded to Brian's charges, was one of the first ex-members to confront top Institute administrators. Residents are expected to donate a large portion of their labor, and they must sacrifice personal freedoms and privacy. Ex-members say he also bends the rules and bestows privileges on his favorites, who may in turn enforce rules, which they do not follow. Why did Carolyn say these things? The original creator of the neti pot, the Himalayan Institute has been offering traditional and modern products for health and spirituality since 1971. Some stay longer, for a few weeks or months in the Self-Transformation retreat program. She asked him to give her a homeopathic remedy for the itching, she says, but he refused and turned away, dismissing her. The next day, she says, Swami Rama called her to his office and asked her if anyone had said anything to her. "I thought: 'Maybe it's the only way he can break through some stubborn barrier in my ego. Pandit Arya reportedly alternated between disbelieving and believing the growing number of his female students who told him that Swami Rama had sexually harassed or abused them. Mission Membership is an invitation to put your spiritual values into action by supporting our shared commitment to service while deepening your study and practice in the living Himalayan Tradition. Authentic Ashram Living As the other disciples looked on with envy, Swami Rama called her aside for a final, intimate word: She should work on herself, he reportedly told her-lose some weight and learn to admire herself. At the meeting, Brian says, Dr. Ballentine presented letters from another woman, Karen,* who also claimed to have been sexually exploited by Swami Rama. The Himalayan Institute publishes over 60 titles on yoga, spirituality, and holistic health, including the best-selling Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Rama and Yoga: Mastering the Basics by Sandra Anderson and Rolf Sovik. I like to believe that somewhere inside of him, he is the good person I believed him to be. A system that encourages such vulnerable individuals to give up their own "egotistical" judgment to the arbitrary whims of one person is one of the key features of a totalist organization, or "cult.". Many disciples come from alcoholic and dysfunctional families where they have learned how to deny emotional abuse directed against them or their siblings, in order to believe that their parents really love them and are acting in their best interests. Dr. Ballentine, the Institute's president and director of the Combined Therapy Program, explains that human beings have the potential to do "all kinds of things, like move our bodies at will from one place to another, or be aware of what people are thinking on the other side of the earth, or inner states of consciousness that take us to the future and the past." His students believe he is able to read minds and manipulate physical reality with his advanced yogic powers; thus they believe he can heal sickness with the power of the "superconscious" mind. Megan remembers asking him why he was trying all this on her. But ultimately he chose to believe Swami Rama. Years later, Carolyn told me that four years of discipleship under Swami Rama had taught her to be a successful liar. Because I do not want to find out. He backed off, Megan says, while telling her that sex wasn't necessary-she could be his special student. He says it is a relationship that goes beyond religions, the purest relationship possible, "the relationship of water flowing from a hill and filling a hollow at the bottom-the hollow has nothing to give in return, but only to accept that grace in gratitude. The teachings contained in the sacred texts cannot play any meaningful part in judging who is a good guru and who is not: "How could they? In 1966, he founded the original Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Kanpur, India; this was followed by an institute in Glenview, Illinois in 1971; it is now headquartered in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, purchased in 1977. Marston, however, testified that Nuernberger had "hugged and kissed her and fondled her breasts," according to an article in the Minneapolis Tribune (Jan. 24, 1981). Companies Himalayan Institute Tell us how to improve this page Rose, they explain, was not a disciple of Swami Rama, but had been invited by family members in the Institute's administration to come to Honesdale for medical treatment. Wisdom must show itself in action and lovingness." Swami Rama was the founder of the Himalayan Institute. Back; Cameroon; India; Mexico; Tibetan Settlements; Get Involved. The Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy is an international non-profit organization, which promotes yoga and holistic health through yoga retreats, residential programs, health products and services, media publications including Yoga International magazine, and humanitarian projects.The institute's main campus is located on (1.6 km 2) in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern . But the Institute does not teach the mastery of such powers in its programs, instead focusing on yoga practices with more immediate practical application. Rajmani explains the basic goals of the Institute's tradition of yoga: "The most important part of the practice is nonattachment." A guru has the wisdom of experience and the ancient teachings, so he can provide guidance, Dr. Ballantine says, but students should "judge every [practice] on the basis of your own experience." I mean, he's giving you the teachings and you're going to use the teachings to evaluate him? Himalayan Meditation Institute is dedicated to providing authentic and transformative training in the art and science of meditation. The FBI has confirmed the existence of a file documenting the agency's investigation, but at the time of publication the file had not yet been released under the Freedom of Information Act. And that did not undermine Mahatma Gandhi's work!& No, this would not be shattering, certainly not. Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. He and Pandit Rajmani say that a guru is "that which dispels darkness." Read More "Anyone who lives a public life can go through such remarks;& you have heard about all that blackmailing" of famous, rich athletes, he explains to me in the spring of 1989 at the Honesdale ashram. In the United States, far from the strong cultural morality of the guru's country of origin, it is not regulated at all. In August, Carolyn says, Swami Rama told her to meet him in New York City for the next step in her spiritual training. In many ways, the Institute's austere structure is designed to appeal to the personality that yearns for what psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton calls a "totalist" environment, where virtually every aspect of one's life is subject to external control. Brian says he refused to tell Rose's story in such an atmosphere. The two couples referred to this statement in a petition to the FBI: they asked the FBI to investigate the threat letter and argued that Swami Rama could be deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service as an undesirable alien on four grounds: possession of narcotics, sexual immorality, fraudulent financial dealings, and "affliction with [a] psychopathic personality." On the contrary, they sought opportunities to serve the guru's every whim, or even to be abused by him: Megan remembers one woman saying she wished the guru would kick her. She began talking about Swami Rama's exploitative behavior with anyone who would listen, especially women who she thought were being victimized. The Combined Therapy program and the outpatient branches of the Institute for Holistic Medicine combine Western medicine, homeopathy, Eastern medicine, psychotherapy, nutrition, yoga, and meditation to treat people with a variety of physical and emotional problems. I might doubt my own perception, I might doubt my own eyes, but I cannot doubt that strength which has given me everything.". Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. I informed him that I had interviewed women who sought him out because they respected him and trusted him to be interested in the truth. A system that rewards a particular behavior or person and then arbitrarily ignores or punishes that same behavior or person can quickly lead even healthy individuals to develop profound anxiety and uncertainty-the antithesis of self-confidence. Such a relationship, instead of giving the woman the healing or validation she seeks, reinforces her feeling that the only thing of value she has to offer a man with worldly power is her body. Our commitment to service both at home and abroad incorporates our global humanitarian impact through projects in Africa and India as well as a commitment to sustainable partnerships with the local community at our world headquarters in Honesdale. When she asked him what she should do with the love letters, she says, Swami Rama would laugh and say, "Oh, these goofy women! Study Online After a sleepless night, she said she snuck out at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. and drove to Brian and Terry's empty house in Honesdale. As Rutter explains in his book, a sexual relationship between a man in a position of power-doctor, psychologist, mentor, or priest-and a woman who is dependent on him-as patient, student, client, or troubled soul-almost always involves an element of coercion and a betrayal of trust. Become more involved with the projects of the ashram-seminars, residents, the patient program-in time she would be in charge of the whole thing. The man, she says, informed her of Swami Rama's long history of alleged sexual misconduct. Anyway, he said that our relationship would be exclusive, I'd be like a spiritual courtesan. A world leader in yoga, meditation, and holistic health, we are dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. Swami Rama, she says, would extol his own sexual abilities but tell her she was bad at making love. Then he started giving her practices without any spiritual meaning, she says, and telling her she wasn't doing them right. But all of them, whether they appear here under a pseudonym or as a background source, understand that if this article provokes a libel suit they can be called to testify in court. Elmer and Alyce Green observed that Swami Rama could produce different brain waves at will, including theta and delta (sleep) waves, while remaining aware of his environment. A pearl necklace that Brian had bought from Swami Rama as an "investment" was appraised at roughly one-third of the $100,000 he had paid for it. "Believing such stories means disbelieving in myself. Quick Links. February 27, 2023. Unfortunately, there is some mystery surrounding its founder, Swami Rama, and possible connection with drug abuse and sexual indecency. We partner with rural communities to provide health services, public libraries, and sustainable employment opportunities. Most of the former members of the Institute who agreed to be interviewed for this article were also afraid to have their identities revealed; they appear under pseudonyms, marked with an asterisk. Education Advocacy But the publicity surrounding the Menninger Foundation experiments gained Swami Rama an enviable "scientific" credibility in the eyes of the general public. Several former students of Swami Rama granted interviews to Patricia Ann Darling, Ph. In 1969, Pandit Arya met Swami Rama, who gave him "one of the highest meditation initiations," in which he experienced himself "as a being of light." A world leader in yoga, meditation, and holistic health, the Himalayan Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. Perfect. By 1977, the Institute was able to purchase the Honesdale ashram, a former Catholic seminary in the rural Pocono Mountains, which now houses more than 100 residents and guests. toshiba tv screen goes black after a few minutes. When the manipulation started to involve her meditation and spiritual practices, she says, she decided to confide in one man who had been at the Institute for a long time and who was planning to leave. Pandit Tigunait holds two doctorates: one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad, India, and one in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. In a few months time she would handle his bank account, income taxes, everything. I ask him. Similarly, a woman who had been repeatedly abused by Sri Swami Rama of The Himalayan Institute when she was 19 years old was awarded $1.9 million. A world leader in the field of yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic health, the Himalayan Institute is a non-profit international organization dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. The chapter on the Meditation Center in Patricia Darling's dissertation details the growth of the center and the subsequent disillusionment of many of Pandit Arya's students with his new guru. In March 1978, she says, Swami Rama came to Glenview and initiated her. Under New York State law, according to Trescelli, a woman who does not get a medical exam or report the incident to police within a limited period of time has little chance of obtaining a conviction. Outside of work, Sawana has been married to her wonderful husband since 2008 and together they have 3 beautiful sons. Halfway through their meal, Carolyn remembers, Martha hesitantly said, "I know this will sound like a weird question, but has Swamiji ever asked you to have sex with him?" Whilst there's no hint of it on the Himalayan Institute's website, Swami Rama faced lawsuits in the 1990s over sexual abuse with his students stemming back to the 1970s. Meanwhile, Carolyn says, Swami Rama began singling her out for special attention. Swami Rama has a reputation among his followers as an incredible psychologist who uses his insights to help others. But the victims of what Jungian analyst Peter Rutter, M.D., has termed "sex in the forbidden zone" (in his book of the same name) submit to sexual advances because of a powerful psychological threat. Swamis, he explains, are renunciates who take vows of abstinence which include giving up sex, wine, and red meat, as well as other stimulants to the physical senses. After teaching, studying, and traveling throughout India and Europe, he came to the University of Minnesota in the 1960s, where he taught Sanskrit and Indian religions. He said, "We must build a center of life which will be an important bridge between East . We inspire, educate, and. Sex with a guru is a form of spiritual incest. She would live with him in the house he was buying. For a time, she says, she considered getting a pistol to carry to work. What a foolish woman! By 1977, the Institute was able to purchase the Honesdale ashram, a former Catholic seminary in the rural Pocono Mountains, which now houses more than 100 residents and guests. In private sessions, ex-disciples say, Swami Rama has arranged marriages and instructed disciples to break off relationships. she remembers him demanding. 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