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. In three months, Carolyn says, she gained 20 pounds. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The original creator of the neti pot, the Himalayan Institute has been offering traditional and modern products for health and spirituality since 1971. This seemingly whimsical application of standards demoralized many of the ex-members I spoke with and led many to resent the members of Swami Rama's inner circle. Everyone said you had to surrender to the guru, so she would simply have to follow through with whatever he ordered her to do. 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. The Himalayan Institute is a good a good model on how to do a resort perfect. Our community is held together by dedicated students of the Himalayan Tradition, who value the principles of universal respect and collective responsibility. 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. 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.". But the purified ego is a means in discriminating real Self from not-self-real Self from mere self. Despite this, our rural empowerment programs continue to thrive and grow as we work towards our goal of fighting poverty, illiteracy, and inequality through education, health care, and job creation. She walked around New York City for hours, until it was time for her bus to return to Honesdale. Even so, it was a blow to find out that she wasn't particularly special: Swami Rama apparently had other "spiritual courtesans." In the mythology of the ashram, the guru is the all-powerful, all-knowing father and the disciples are his spiritual children. In some states, a patient has the right to sue her doctor or psychotherapist for malpractice even if she originally consented to sex, because people under psychological or medical treatment are considered too vulnerable and dependent to give free and full consent. In the presence of others, we spoke only of positive or spiritual matters, in the deliberately modulated tones all the residents used. 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. The Swami Rama died in 1996 at the age of 69. Yet the Institute's success comes at a high cost for many of those involved. At a young age, Swami Rama is supposed to have been appointed Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham, an exalted spiritual post. Treat yourself to a massage, meditate in the peaceful meditation shrine, or relax in one of the many attractive community spaces available on campus. They rarely had to do the menial chores performed by other residents; Brian was encouraged to study the sacred texts and write a book, while Terry got training as a Montessori teacher and started a school for the Institute's children. ", Shortly after Pandit Rajmani introduced her to Swami Rama, Megan says, the guru called her into his private quarters and told her that they'd been together in a past life, that he'd waited to meet her again in this lifetime, and that now they were reunited. Allegations of sexual abuse by Swami Rama have followed on the heels of the Institute's success like a shadow. Rose said that she struggled, but the guru physically overpowered her, throwing himself on top of her on the bed and forcing her to perform oral sex. "Even if I found out-how can I find out? When Swami Rama returned from India two months later, Carolyn resumed working as his appointments secretary during the day, and, she says, as his sexual servant on some nights. She listened calmly as I admitted that I'd worried she might be a victim. Ultimately, the woman had revealed the liaison to her husband. It is sad for him, and for those who cared and were so deeply hurt by him, that his behavior has been allowed to continue with such devastating results to people just looking for help." Only recently has she acknowledged her anger at Swami Rama. Sanctions on an institution can cause students to look elsewhere for higher education. Several former students of Swami Rama granted interviews to Patricia Ann Darling, Ph. Carolyn,* an old friend, called me collect. In May, Swami Rama visited the area again. Himalayan Institute | Honesdale PA Because I do not want to find out. He says that Swami Rama has been his guru since he was a child in India, and that he came to the U.S. at Swami Rama's request to head up the Honesdale ashram. They introduced her to the guru, and she remembers he made a fuss over her, slapping her cheek lightly and calling her a good girl. 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. Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. In the United States, far from the strong cultural morality of the guru's country of origin, it is not regulated at all. Despite the questions about his background, there is no denying that Swami Rama made a terrific impact on western thinking when he served as a research subject at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas. Pandit Tigunait holds two doctorates: one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad, India, and one in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Community, Courses, and Content. 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. -- Swami Rama, "Living With the Himalayan Masters". Still, she felt she had no right to question the guru's actions. "A lot of people have confused the siddhis-the powers to control body, emotions, and mind-with spirituality. In her lawsuit, the plaintiff said the swami sexually assaulted her 30 times while she was attending the institute in the spring and summer of 1993. Swami Rama's claims to this spiritual background have been questioned by some of his former students. A report has been made to law enforcement, and I'm guessing . The Institute's program is no longer accredited by the University of Scranton. Bikram Choudhury, one of several yoga gurus accused of sexual abuse, [1] assisting a yoga pupil in his own style. To my relief, I could detect no flash of recognition, guilt, fear, or anger in Carolyn's eyes. Rather than being a saint, according to Green, Swami Rama is an advanced yogi and "a mortal with some ego problems.". 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. Ayurvedic treatments, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and integrative health services at PureRejuv Wellness Center. But the University of Scranton didn't offer a degree program in Carolyn's area of study, so she saw a way to rationalize leaving the Institute while still saving face; she could still be considered a good disciple if she cold get the guru's blessing to go away to college. He promised her he'd set up a complete, personalized yoga program for her there-a prescribed diet, special yoga postures and meditation practices-as well as a game plan for her higher education and future career. Discover our new online platform for community, courses, and content. Ag Innovation Center Business Plan. Anyway, he said that our relationship would be exclusive, I'd be like a spiritual courtesan. Lecturing and teaching worldwide for more than a quarter of a century, he is the author of fourteen books, including his autobiography Touched by Fire: The Ongoing Journey of a Spiritual Seeker, the best-selling At the Eleventh Hour: The Biography of Swami Rama of the Himalayas and a regular contributor to Yoga International. Publications Health Products Explore high-quality, unique, practice-enhancing products made for yogis everywhere. Himalayan glaciers are melting twice as fast since 2000 as they were in the 25 years before due to human-caused climate change, a 2019 paper published in the journal Science Advances found. 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. Now Megan says that in a different atmosphere, she would have immediately recognized Swami Rama's behavior as sexual harassment or "sadistic manipulation." Some were afraid of Institute retaliation; most were afraid of hurting their families, who in some cases do not know about the abuses the women suffered; still others were worried that their professional reputations would be harmed. She would start with handling the appointments and then she would make his plane reservations, scheduling lecture tours. Community, Courses, and Content. The Institute also offers instruction to counselors and psychotherapists in the application of yoga and meditation techniques to therapy. He must see something special in me.'" Swami Rama was the founder of the Himalayan Institute. She became outraged at the residents and the professional staff who enable and legitimized the Swami's behavior. Arya, however, says that much of Darling's information is inaccurate. He cannot disbelieve his guru. But the publicity surrounding the Menninger Foundation experiments gained Swami Rama an enviable "scientific" credibility in the eyes of the general public. Megan says her feelings told her that something was amiss, but because of the social environment, she began to entertain the notion that the Swami's motives might not be what they appeared to be, and that his attempts at a con job might be a spiritual test. RFP & Business Plan for Dairy Processing Investor/Operator. Experts and some inside the system say that in justifying its decision, UC perpetuated outdated claims about online learning. The same spirit of community and service that fuels our headquarters in Honesdale, PA, can be found in these dedicated affiliate centers of practice. Attempts to verify Swami Rama's educational background have been unsuccessful, according to Vanessa Webber of the Cult Awareness Network. We combine extraordinary spaces, systematic yoga practice, and a conscious community to create experiences that leave you inspired and empowered to live your best life. Here is her report. The core of HIs service mission relies on a community of volunteers and karma yogis, and the generosity of its members and donors to fulfill its mission. In a few months time she would handle his bank account, income taxes, everything. A Swami, or monk, is supposed to be "one who is master of oneself: senses, body, mind." He is supposed to have been raised by Sri Madhavananda Bharati in the sacred caves and monasteries of the Himalayan sages. Now Carolyn is more articulate: "When I finally start listening to myself, and I tell him I know he's sleeping with other women-and this is the man I came to, to help me learn how to listen to my inner voice, and then he tells me not to listen to it just as I'm starting to get some confidence in it-that's when I realized, this isn't yoga, this isn't truth, this is abuse.". Well organized, fine atmosphere, and a strong community. Rose spent the next six months moving from place to place, terrified that the Institute network would track her down. The original creator of the neti pot, the Himalayan Institute has been offering traditional and modern products for health and spirituality since 1971. 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