New testimonial – April 2014
Video of John Friend – dude’s madly in love with himself.
Texas Monthly article about John Friend, by Mimi Swartz, 5/2012
Pursuing SYDA – article by Will Harper in Eastbay Express, Oakland, Ca. 1/14/04
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)
Pamela Cooper-White: Testimony against the Ananda Church of Self Realization, on the abuse of women by church leaders.
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 Kriegman@aol.com.” (the file is in adobe pdf format & you will need the free reader, here). (Sep 02)
Spiritual Balm, at Only $23.95 – By Alex Kuczynski, New York Times – (21 Oct 01). Critical of many groups, including Siddha Yoga, use of the 9-11 incident to sell items and services. Siddha Yoga defends itself, saying there is nothing wrong. So why did they take the questioned web page down from their bookstore?
“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)
Crimes of the Soul – by Jill Neiwmark, 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. (this link will open in a new window).
Less Contact with Chidvilasananda then ever before: Summer 1998 – South Fallsburgh (11 Jan 98)
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
Homophobia in Siddha Yoga: Paradise Lost by Sally Chew, Out Magazine – December/January 1998. (26 Nov 97)
Ex-Siddha Yoga Swami comes forward; admits Muktananda was having sex and that the swamis covered up for him. (3 Sep 97)
The History of Siddha Yoga; by Pendragon Sep 1997
Letter to the Editor: BODY MIND SPIRIT Magazine: regarding an interview with Phylicia Rashad and the PRASAD project. by Pendragon 6 June 97
Agitators at the Ashram New Zealand Herald; An article critical of SYDA, includes an interview with an ex swami. March 8, 1997
Is Meditation for Everyone? A short essay from alt.support.ex-cult Newsgroup 22 Mar 97
Ex Siddha Yoga Swami Vivekananda claims he saw Muktananda having sex; by Pendragon 20 Mar 97
Where do I go from here?, a short essay responding to requests for spiritual referrals; by Pendragon 2 Mar 97. Response by Dissent and Chelsea Mar 97
The Emperor’s Tantric Robes – An Interview with June Campbell on Codes of Secrecy and Silence, Tricycle – The Buddhist Review; Winter 1996.This is an excerpt from that article. It has many parallels to the sexual abuse in SY.
The Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse: Betrayal by the Parental Figure This is an essay that explores why a teen or an adult woman might choose to keep their anonymity after being sexual abused in SY. by Pendragon, January 1997.
Leaving the Ashram article by Jean Callahan, Common Boundary, July-August 1992 issue. This is an excerpt from that article.
Face to Face; Confronting The Guru-Disciple Relationship article by Ihla F. Nation, Gnosis Magazine; Spring 1996.
“Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective” by Daniel Shaw. Published in Cutlic Studies Review, 2003. This essay uses SYDA (Siddha Yoga) as an example of an abusive cult. Will open in new window.
O Guru, Guru, Guru article by Lis Harris, New Yorker; November 14, 1994. This is the single most important published piece that explains the problems of Siddha Yoga. When this issue was printed, the ashram bought as many copies of it as they could find, in Sullivan County. They were all burned. Why? Who were they really trying to protect? Many public libraries around the US have had their copies of this issue destroyed.
4/23/86 letter from Center’s Office addressed to Center Leaders. The secret and official way Center Leaders were to handle uneasy questions about Swami Nityananda. Includes scripted answers to possible questions. “THIS INFORMATION IS NOT TO BE POSTED, REPRODUCED OR HANDED OUT”
3/23/86 message from SYDA in response to Swami Nityananda’s wanting to return. It includes several statements including a long statement by Swami Chidvilasananda.
The Secret Life of Swami Muktananda article by William Rodarmor, The CoEvolution Quarterly; Winter 1983.
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