Carolyn rationalized: Swamiji was her guru, so even though the prospect of having sex with him seemed morally wrong and physically revolting, he must be doing it for her own good. Ex-members say he has counseled patients in the Combined Therapy Program, although he lost is license to practice psychology in Minnesota in 1979. Immerse yourself in a life-changing course of study and get certified in the authentic teachings of yoga and meditation. 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.". Early the next morning, she says, he announced to her that she was going to leave; he never set up the promised program. she remembers him demanding. She thanked me, but assured me I had no reason for concern. When another married couple who were their friends and fellow students left the ashram suddenly, Karen wrote to them asking why. During this spiel, she says, he put his hand on her buttocks, but she told him she wasn't buying it. Since its inception in 1971, the Himalayan Institute has been at the leading edge of personal and social transformation. They are crazy. We partner with rural communities to provide health services, public libraries, and sustainable employment opportunities. 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. The Himalayan Institute is a good a good model on how to do a resort perfect. Our various programms address all aspects of a meditator's life because all of life has an effect on meditation. 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. Residents staff the Institute's administration, bookstores, and other small businesses, including Himalayan Publishers and Distributors and an elementary school. Otherwise& there would be no need for this person to propagate this whole story.". Teaching since 1971, the Himalayan Institute offers a wide variety of wellness supplies. Yet the women never seemed to complain about such treatment, Megan says. When he was finished, Rose told them, Swami Rama left her room, saying he's be back the next day. Several former students of Swami Rama granted interviews to Patricia Ann Darling, Ph. Our humanitarian projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration. 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. 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?" Dr. Ballentine, who says he studied psychology at the Sorbonne and completed his training in psychiatry at Louisiana State University, defends Nuernberger. She began to believe that this man who might have been spiritual at one time was now suffering from feelings he couldn't control. He also sent out a letter resigning from the board. He says he spends most evenings with the guru until midnight or 2 a.m., and that he knows better than anyone who is with Swami Rama late at night and who isn't. Himalayan Meditation Institute is dedicated to providing authentic and transformative training in the art and science of meditation. Himalayan Institute Online Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. Before leaving, Megan says, she tried to confront Swami Rama publicly-but he went into seclusion, claiming illness. That one gesture unleashed a storm of long-suppressed emotions. ALL NEW! A leader in the field of yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic health, the Himalayan Institute is dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian . Carolyn says the "goofy" letters never got answered. She says Swami Rama began telling her that he had never had sex, that he was dreaming about her at night, and that he was experiencing novel physical sensations because of her. At about the same time, Carolyn was accepted into the residential program at East West Books Chicago, the Institute's downtown branch. Numerous former students say they left the Institute because they were sexually exploited by Swami Rama or knew someone who was. He is also supposed to have graduated from a homeopathic medical school in India, and studied at Hamburg University, the University of Utrecht, and Oxford University. She believes Swami Rama was trying to buy her collusion, as he had bought the collusion of the Institute's staff and many residents. Join us for studies in the true meaning of yogaincluding asana, meditation, mantra, tantra, sacred scripture, and the art of joyful living. But one by one, Trescelli says, the women backed down and decided not to pursue legal action. To my relief, I could detect no flash of recognition, guilt, fear, or anger in Carolyn's eyes. Anyway, he said that our relationship would be exclusive, I'd be like a spiritual courtesan. We inspire, educate, and. But something, which is truth, cannot be falsified by having one hundred witnesses. 7,616 were here. 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. Carolyn says he called her out to Glenview for a special appointment, at which he invited her to come live and work at his new ashram in Honesdale-and told her he would waive the usual residential program fees. February 27, 2023. Swami Rama frequently invited them to parties in his private quarters, where they say he entertained them with funny stories and racy gossip. Later, many of the women broke out in head-to-toe swelling and rashes from what had in fact been poison ivy roots. "Nirvana is one," Carolyn says she told him. Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. Brian says he felt betrayed, but the knowledge that Swami Rama had financially exploited him made it easier for the couple to cut their ties to the Institute. She says he told her to finish her college degree at the University of Scranton while remaining at the Institute. The jury awarded $275,000 in compensatory damages and $1.6 million in punitive damages to the woman. Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. Swami Rama, whose legal name is Brij Keshore Kumar, was born in 1925 in Uttar Pradesh, according to his official biography, parts of which appeared in the March/April 1990 issue of Yoga Journal. Himalayan Institute locations 3.6 Honesdale, PA Show all locations What's being discussed at Himalayan Institute? 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.". Choose from 8 signature wellness retreats to help you restore balance and achieve optimum health and healing. Nor does Dr. Ballentine mention that in 1977 Nuernberger was formally reprimanded by the Minnesota Board of Psychology for unethical practices stemming from his relationship with a third woman patient. She was dreamy! Ayurvedic treatments, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and integrative health services at PureRejuv Wellness Center. University of California System Bans Fully Online Degrees. Megan went through a brief but painful and confusing time during which she doubted her own feelings and perceptions. Like incest victims, women who say they have been sexually abused by their gurus are sworn to silence by their abusers. The Meditation Center became affiliated with the Himalayan Institute, and eventually Pandit Arya achieved his dream of having his own ashram in India, when Swami Rama made him president of his Rishikesh ashram. 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." She recalls that he said they would become very close, their bodies would come together, and then they would part. She was thrilled; it was commonly believed at the Institute that the fastest way to reach enlightenment was to spend as much time as possible in the presence of the guru. Impact of Accreditation Sanctions on Enrollment. But sexual contact between a guru and his disciples is not regulated by any professional association of religious hierarchy. Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. Carolyn says she knew that Swami Rama often promised his disciples he would take them to India or appoint them to important positions within the Institute-promises that rarely materialized. She couldn't make sense out of his behavior, because she found it impossible to believe that it was really about sex-and she repeatedly told him so. The man, she says, informed her of Swami Rama's long history of alleged sexual misconduct. Meanwhile, Swami Rama had appointed her as registrar of the graduate program, replacing a long-time woman disciple who was being kicked out of the Institute for no apparent reason. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Brian sued Swami Rama, and eventually the guru settled out of court for the full amount. He must see something special in me.'" God knows whether it was true or not, and even if it was true, this is a normal phenomenon. 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. Himalayan Institute Online. Is it not better to follow someone who has charted the path?". Pandit Arya radiates calm as he speaks. He and Pandit Rajmani say that a guru is "that which dispels darkness." Community, Courses, and Content. State licensing boards may take away a professional's license to practice if he (or she) is found guilty of "inappropriate sexual contact," which may include everything from verbal sexual innuendos to a long-term sexual liaison with a client or patient. Megan says she squelched an urge to speak out, instead deciding, like most of the Institute's residents, to suspend judgment so she could "understand and learn" from this "great master." Anyone can read what you share. 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. But she says his attitude toward her underwent a dramatic change; he began to make her a target for his anger, issuing contradictory orders and then screaming at her for her incompetence in front of the other secretaries and disciples and gossiping about her behind her back. Back the next day a wide variety of wellness supplies. ' hand! Yourself in a life-changing course of study and get certified in the art and science of.... Ex-Members say he entertained them with funny stories and racy gossip granted interviews to Ann. The leading edge of personal and social transformation guru and his disciples is not regulated by professional... 'S be back the next day his disciples is not regulated by any association... No reason for concern saying he 's be back the next day leaving, Megan says Combined! 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