WHAT’S NEW HERE
Olivia Hoblitzelle has published a spiritual memoir that includes her narrative about her break with Siddha Yoga. The link on Amazon.com is HERE.
SYDA answers the Nov. 2023 complaint of sexual abuse. Read their response (complete and total denial, no surprise there) HERE.
An anonymous contributor identifying as a victim of Muktananda’s sexual abuse reacts to the SYDA Fdtn. response:
I am experiencing a lot of anger and sadness around the response of complete denial to the complaint. Such harm was done to us and to have it all denied in writing by a lawyer just sets the whole thing off for me again. I guess I was hoping there would be an admission of what happened. I’m not really sure what I was hoping for or thinking, and I do completely understand they are doing legal posturing, and yet, my emotional self just feels lost and her rights and value as a person dismissed. I gave myself, body mind and heart for over 3 decades of my life and this is what I’m getting back in return. I loved so deeply and with such purity and abandon. I feel so betrayed. Again.
***** November 24, 2023: Complaint filed in court against SYDA by several women who report sexual assault. Read the complaint HERE.
January 2020. The facts from one of the only survivors of Muktananda’s pedophilia to go public.
Dorel (formerly Namrata) LaVie has chosen to make public her claim that she was sexually abused by Swami Muktananda when she was 16 years old. Dorel worked for many years after 1982 in the privacy of Gurumayi’s home. She claims that she personally knew at least 20 other girls and women who were abused. I (Dan Shaw) have spoken only to 3 of these women, including Dorel, but have been told of many others. Dorel staged a one-woman protest on New Year’s Day at the Oakland Ashram, 2020. Her sign read: “Muktananda raped me in 1982 when I was 16 years old. #Time’sUp #MeToo.” One of Dorel’s statements from the Facebook group “Muktananda Was A Pedophile, Gurumayi Covers It Up” can be read HERE.
Dorel has started a private Facebook group. If you wish to join, you must send her a request. No hackers and decoys and trolls please. You may request to join by doing so at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/629061321194878
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Feb. 2023
The Role of Shame in Cults, From Recruitment to Recovery. This essay by Daniel Shaw was presented to the American Psychoanalytic Association at their annual conference in New York City on Feb. 1, 2023.
March 2022
Siddha Yogis Tell the Truth
For many years, devotees have hesitated or not felt safe to tell their stories of sexual or other* harm they experienced within Siddha Yoga. Now is the time for those voices to be heard in a way that honors their experience.
We are a group of former devotees who want to create a safe place for survivors to tell these stories, to support those speaking, and to carefully protect their identities.
*physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual.
Our project is called Siddha Yogis Tell the Truth.
We stand for: Truth. Transparency. Acknowledgement.
Here’s our commitment to you. We will:
• Provide a safe, caring place for you to tell your story of sexual or other harm at a Siddha Yoga ashram, center or tour stop.
• Stand in solidarity with you as you decide if, and how, your story should be shared.
Siddha Yogis Tell the Truth has retained Carol Merchasin, a retired lawyer, to talk to anyone who comes forward via our mailbox, SYtellthetruth@gmail.com. We will maintain a strict protocol of confidentiality—see below.
Carol has extensive experience in trauma-informed interviews of survivors of misconduct in spiritual communities, having previously led sexual abuse inquiries into the Shambhala, FPMT, and Sivananda communities, among others. Her work has been recognized by the New York Times, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the BBC.
If you feel you were harmed or abused within the Siddha Yoga community, please consider reaching out to SYtellthetruth@gmail.com. And, please help us spread the word: if you know of someone who was harmed or abused, please pass this along to them. Also, if you can, please post this announcement broadly on social media; you may need to copy and paste.
______________________________
Our Care and Confidentiality Protocol
Nothing about you, without you.
Before sharing anything with Carol, you can ask her as many questions as you like about how a conversation with her would work; we want you to be 100% comfortable.
You, and you alone, will decide:
1. If you want your name to be shared with anyone else.
2. What you want to talk about, and for how long.
3. If Carol should take any further steps, as a result of what you share.
Carol will:
1. Listen with empathy, care and understanding.
2. Draw on her experience conducting many similar interviews with survivors of abuse.
3. Gently ask questions to understand your experience more correctly.
A French ex-SY is writing about his experiences. Apri 2021
October 2020. HBO’s The Vow is about NXIVM. I was told by Kristen Keefe, one of the people who left NXIVM and who appears in the documentary, that Keith Raniere used to visit the South Fallsburg Siddha Yoga ashram regularly, and that he studied Gurumayi and emulated her. Raniere is now in jail, awaiting what is likely to be a life sentence for the crimes he committed as the leader of his self-empowerment community. Click HERE for info on The Vow.
A former follower of Swami Shankarananda, aka Russel Kruckman, speaks out. See his statement HERE. 8/2020
A novel by ex-Siddha Yoga author, Robert G. Schneider: “The Guru’s Touch”. Fiction that rings very true. July 2017.
In Stories, a letter from a tenant of a very bad landlady: Gurumayi. June 2017
In Stories, a father, using the name Philip Morrris, describes the loss of his mother and his son’s grandmother to Siddha Yoga. July 2015
Ex-Siddha Yoga Swami Shankarananda: People from the Shiva Yoga community have founded a website in an effort to present the facts about Shankarananda’s sexual abuses. The site is at www.leavingshivayoga.guru
My Mom. A son writes of his mother’s destructive involvement with Siddha Yoga. (12/1/2014)
A new testimonial – April 2014
Dan Shaw’s book Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation, published by Routledge.
Video of John Friend, madly in love with self.
Texas Monthly article about John Friend, “Downward Dog” by Mimi Swartz., 5/2012
Washington Post article on John Friend, the protege of Gurumayi. Many more speak out of his abuses. Story here, or try this link to the Wash. Post website.
New York Times story about sexual abuse in yoga communities – quoting Joan Radha Bridges’ experience in Siddha Yoga. 2/28/2012.
How Swami Muktananda’s Sexual Abuse of My Wife Impacted Our Marriage. Received on 12/30/2011.
Joan Radha Bridges has added a donation button to her Shadow of the Guru website. Please consider helping Joan, a courageous victim of abuse by Swami Muktananda, to advance her project to bring the issue of guru abuse to a wider public. Go to www.shadowoftheguru.com.
Paul’s Story – 11/2011. Paul shares his experience of the upheaval in Oakland when Chandra and Michael Dinga discovered Muktananda’s sexual predations.
Salon.com piece on Eat Pray Love – quotes from Marta Szabo, Joan Radha Bridges and Dan Shaw 8/15/2010. Link to SYDA’s response at the bottom of the article.
SYDA’s Tax Exempt Status – articles discussing the controversies around SYDA’s tax exempt status in So. Fallsburg, NY. 3/21/2010
An UPDATE to Joan Radha Bridges story of sexual abuse by Muktananda. 12/2009
Hooray! The Search feature is now updated and working properly. 11/27/09
New Spanish Translation of Joan Radha Bridge’s personal story – press HERE.
The Shadow of the Guru, an online video and DVD made by Joan Radha Bridges, (see her Siddha Yoga story HERE) with interviews with former members of various abusive spiritual groups. 4/22/08.
The Guru Looked Good – a memoir of life in Siddha Yoga by Marta Szabo that SYDA would not want you to read.
New personal story: Gorakh’s stories from Ganeshpuri
New Personal Story – Cathy Cahill Towle, May 2006.
Pursuing SYDA – article by Will Harper in Eastbay Express, Oakland, CA, 1/14/04
Free online copy of Charles Lindholm’s excellent book on group psychology, cults, and spirituality, Charisma. Press HERE to go to the website.
Caitlin S. (Aug. 2003) speaks of her experience growing up in So. Fallsburg ashram.
A website for former members of Swami Shankarananda’s group. Press HERE. For more info about this former Siddha Yoga Swami, press HERE. (5/03).
A new (April 2003) version of the essay “Traumatic Abuse in Cults” by Daniel Shaw. Press HERE.
The story of Alison Cliatt, written in April, 2003; her experience of abuse in Siddha Yoga by Correspondence Course author Ram Butler. Press HERE.
The Larger Perspective : An anonymous insider from Siddha Yoga’s early days reveals further corruption and abuse in Siddha Yoga (April, 2003).
Joan Radha Bridges tells the story of her sexual molestation by Swami Muktananda. Radha has agreed to allow the story to be read publicly on this site. Press HERE to read her story.
Pamela Cooper-White: Testimony against Ananda Church regarding abuse of women by church leaders.
Swami Abhayananda Letter to Pendragon 1999 Le premier article publié exposant les abus de Muktananda s’intitulait La Vie Secrète de Swami Muktananda par William Rodarmor, The CoEvolutionQuaterly ; hiver 1983. Swami Abhayananda, c’est-à-dire Stan Trout, y était cité. Voici ce qu’il a à dire 16 ans plus tard. FRENCH
The Secret Life of Swami Muktananda – French article by William Rodarmor, The CoEvolution Quarterly; Winter 1983. FRENCH
The Long-Term Impact of Early Sexual Trauma by Mary Gail Frawley-O’Dea, PHD. (13 Jun 02) (the file is in adobe pdf format & you will need the free reader, here) (Sep 02).
The Heart of the Secret: A Personal & Scholarly Encounter with Shakta Tantrism in Siddha Yoga; by Sarah Caldwell, 10/01, Nova Religio, The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions. (the file is in adobe pdf format & you will need the free reader, here) (Sep 02)
The following is from the Doctoral Thesis in Clinical Psychology of Daniel Kriegman, PhD, written in 1980 and entitled: “A Psycho-social Study of Religious Cults From the Perspective of Self Psychology.” Dr. Kriegman is a psychoanalyst in private practice in Boston, MA, and can be reached by e-mail at dankriegman@gmail.com.” (the file is in adobe pdf format & you will need the free reader, here). (Sep 02)
O Guru in French (Jul 02)
O Guru in Italian. (Jan 02)
New Story: I was in SY 17 years. (Nov 01)
A group of ex members of the Nityananda Institute have published a web site called Leaving-Nityananda-Institute.org. It does an excellent job of identifying problems with this group. (Dec 00)
Definition of a Cult (Sep 00)
NON-MAINSTREAM RELIGION — Commentator David Foster spent years as a member of a non-mainstream religious group. He reflects on the group’s unusual beliefs and how they sacrificed their identities to the leader, whom they called “Mother.” (You will need Real Player installed to listen to this NPR report from All Things Considered, 12 Jan 99. www.real.com) (Sep 00)
A photo of George Afif and actress Angelina Jolie at the 2000 Academy Awards. (May 00)
Search the Site: HERE (Apr 00)
The Family was a group started in Australia and had a property in South Fallsburg. Sarah Moore (Hamilton-Byrne), a survivor of that group, tells in this excerpt of Unseen, Unheard, Unknown (now out of print but
Amazon.com will search for a used copy) of her contact with Muktananda. Anne Hamilton-Byrne (known as Ma Yoga Shakti in Siddha Yoga), the founder of The Family, was instrumental in helping Swami Tejomayananda and Swami Abhayananda (Stan Trout) leave Siddha Yoga. LSD was frequently used by the group. Abhayananda reports he knew nothing of the abuse or other problems there. Read excerpt here. (Apr 00)
“Five Step Guideline For Speakers. When you are sharing your experiences in a talk, it is important to establish a clear intention for telling your experience.” So states a handout for speakers as designed by SY. It is unclear when this was written but may be several years old. It gives a good example of how the “experience talk” was really a way to control the speaker and the desired outcome. (Jan 00)
Who Speaks for Siddha Yoga? A Book Review of The Meditation Revolution – A panel discussion hosted by the American Academy of Religion, Boston, Massachusetts, (22 Nov 99). Links to the tapes of the conference are here. Listen to Douglas R. Brooks, one of the authors, explain to Gerald J. Larson, who wrote the forward, how the text was changed after the forward was written. (Dec 99)
New dutch, french and german translations (Nov 99)
Update from Swami Abhayananda – Stan Trout (Oct 99)
When I was a child, I unquestioningly took on the values, likes, and aversions of my parents and my family. (Oct 99)
My name is Paul, and I formally left Siddha Yoga in February 1998. (May 99)
Crimes of the Soul – by Jill Newmark, Marian Jones and Dennis Gersten, Psychology Today – (March, April 1998) The link between gurus and their followers and the sometimes dangerous consequences of their relationships. Includes related articles why people follow gurus and how Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung made themselves idols for their patients. This article uses SIDDHA YOGA as one example. (Feb 99)
New LSY Story: Gurumayi is no longer my Guru. I renounce Siddha Yoga (Jan 99)
New Leaving Siddha Yoga Story: My Siddha Yoga experience spans the years from 1976 until Baba’s death in 1982. (July 98)
New Leaving Siddha Yoga Story: “It was with a great sense of relief and excitement that I happened upon your website today.” (May 98)
An Indian, who is an Ex-Siddha Yoga devotee, comments on Conversations with “Swami” Shankarananda. Go HERE (13 Jan 98)
Conversations with Ex-Siddha Yoga Swami Shankarananda. He doesn’t know why Muktananda was having sex, and doesn’t seem to care. (11 Jan 98)
Summer 1998 Update for South Fallsburgh: Less contact with the guru than ever before. Go HERE (11 Jan 98)
New articles:
A personal account of a meeting with the authors of The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power by Hal Blacker from What is Enlightenment? Magazine
Quotes from the Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power by Kramer & Alstad 1993
New Leaving Siddha Yoga Story: “I have no horror
stories to tell about my time in SY, no specific incidents of personal physical abuse, but do feel spiritually betrayed.” (Jan 98)
Newsgroups can be a frustrating process. Most ISP’s only hold the messages for about 5 days or so. Not all messages get sent to all the ISP’s and may display late or not at all on each person’s newsserver. For now, the best way to see all the messages and to post easily, is directly via dejanews. If you use this link: HERE you will go directly to dejanews with a listing of all messages sorted by date. You can register there and then post messages directly to the newsgroup. (2 Dec 97)
The Rest of the Story is a new section to the website. It includes some of the other people who started under the direction of Muktananda. Some of them have simply ignored him, others worship him. They either admit to his sexual activities and then minimize them or simply ignore it all. In any event, as they continue to support the lie, they support the abuse. (29 Nov 97)
Homophobia in Siddha Yoga: Paradise Lost by Sally Chew, Out Magazine – December/January 1998. (26 Nov 97)
What happened to the counter? (2 Nov 97)
Ex-Siddha Yoga Swami comes forward; admits Muktananda was having sex and that the swamis covered up for him. (3 Sep 97)
Comments & Responses (through 31 Aug 97)
The History of Siddha Yoga; by Pendragon Sep 1997
Will SY start charging for free programs? (1 Sep 97)
Comments & Responses (through 5 Jul 97)
See how far reaching the web site has been. Here is a list of Countries and States that have accessed the web site. ( Jul 97)
LETTRE OUVERTE SUR LE SIDDHA YOGA: Press HERE for a French Translation of the Open Letter.(30 Jun 97)
Where is what Muktananda said about Homosexuality! (28 Jun 97)
HOMOPHOBIA in the Siddha Yoga ASHRAM. OUT Magazine is investigating the effects of Cults on Gays and Lesbians. They would like to talk to you if you have any information about this. Press HERE for further information on how to contact them. (22 Jun 97)
Comments & Responses (through 6 May 97)
Letter to the Editor: BODY MIND SPIRIT; Regarding Interview with Phylicia Rashad and the PRASAD Project. (6 Jun 97)
Australian Legal Information Institute – Freedom of Information Act: Siddha Yoga / See how SY tried to keep Nityananda out of Australia
Comments & Responses (through 17 Apr 97)
Contacting the Leaving Siddha Yoga Web Site (20 Apr 97)
Update on the AOL archives (20 Apr 97)
Agitators at the Ashram New Zealand Herald; An article critical of SYDA, includes an interview with an ex swami. (March 8, 1997)
Comments & Responses (through 7 Apr 97)
Heaven’s Gate, A Warning to us All (29 Mar 97)
“We read your memo regarding the Siddha Yoga group. Can definitely understand your point of view.” Read HERE for response from Hinduism Today (24 Mar 97)
Comments & Responses (through 30 Mar 97)
In the April 1997 issue of Hinduism Today, Swami Chidvilasananda gives the monthly “Minister’s Message”. Read HERE for my letter to the editor. (23 Mar 97)
Is Meditation for Everyone? This is a short piece from the alt.support.ex-cult newsgroup (22 Mar 97)
Comments & Responses (through 22 Mar 97)
Ex Siddha Yoga Swami Vivekananda claims he saw Muktananda having sex This is an excerpt from Master Charles (formally Swami Vivekananda) new autobiography, “The Bliss of Freedom”, Comment by Pendragon (20 Mar 97)
Comments & Responses (through 18 Mar 97)
“After 14 years of revering someone as “perfected” and “god-realised”, I finally owned up to myself that it all seems a sham to me.” (Mar 97)
Response to Where do I go from here? by Dan Shaw and Chelsea. (Mar 97)
Where do I go from here?, a short essay responding to requests for spiritual referrals. (2 Mar 97)
Updated Story (19 Feb 97)
The Emperor’s Tantric Robes – An Interview with June Campbell on Codes of Secrecy and Silence, Tricycle – The Buddhist Review; Winter 1996. This an excerpt from that article that has many parallels to similar sexual abuse in SY.
Welcome to the Watchers, the SY devotees who watch and report back on the web site. They read it so you do not have to. (9 Feb 97)
Damage Control ala SY. (7 Feb 97)
Comments & Responses (through 29 Jan 97)
“The Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse: Betrayal by the Parental Figure” an article by Pendragon, January 1997. This is written to explain why the women, who have claimed to have been sexually abused by Muktananda, might wish to remain anonymous
“Leaving the Ashram” an article by Jean Callahan, Common Boundary, July-August 1992 issue. This is an excerpt from that article.
See how far reaching the web site has been. Here is a list of Countries and States that have accessed the web site. (20 Jan 97)
A new story: “When I was in Siddha Yoga, I would have laughed at the idea that any devotees, including myself, were “brainwashed” or in a “cult.” In the past few years, that has all changed for me as I came to terms with my own Siddha Yoga experience.”. (14 Jan 97)
SYDA has just announced the real reason why darshan has been cancelled. Read HERE for more details on the 12 Jan 96 announcement. (Jan 97)
Darshan with Chidvilasananda has been cancelled. Read HERE for more details on the 8 Dec 96 Audio Broadcast. (13 Dec 96)Comments & Responses by readers. (through 24 Dec 96)