Cult Recovery: A Razor's Edge

Being 12 years into my own recovery from Transcendental Meditation, and having worked with some 2000+ other former cult members, I've come to the conclusion that recovery from cult abuse is a lot trickier than simply repudiating one's group and walking away.

At the outset, I'd like to say that the majority of people who walk away from a cult do so without any outside help. Whether one should seek help or not depends largely on how long one was involved, the intensity of the involvement, and one's own pre-existing emotional vulnerabilities. For most people, simply coming to the realization that they've been conned is enough motivation to walk away.

But for thousands of other former cult members, walking away is a messy process.

Some float in and out of their old group — or join a new, similar group. They may miss the intensity, the sense of belonging, or fail to rebalance their lives outside of the cult. (I hope to write more on this last point in the next few days.) They may throw themselves into another all-encompassing activity such as workaholism, intense emotional relationships, alcohol or drugs, gambling, or other compulsive preoccupations. (Continuing to meditate after leaving the group can contribute to "floating" for some people. See "Trance & Meditation Addiction" and "How to Stop Meditating Step by Step.")

And for some, myself included, they may actually throw themselves unhealthily into saving the world from their cult. Thirteen years ago when I first left TM, I was advised by Steve Hassan and Jajna Lalich, two well-known anti-cult activists, to wait at least a year before becoming active in TM and cult activism. They indicated they thought it best I process my feelings about my cult involvement fully before working with others to leave Transcendental Meditation.

Unfortunately, I didn't listen. Throwing myself into activism too early prolonged the emotional roller coaster leaving my cult caused. It was some years before I could express my feelings — anger, a sense of betrayal, grief, guilt, shame, and more — without becoming overwhelmed.

For me and others I've worked with, these emotional difficulties can appear to fulfill the cults' warnings that life will be hell if you leave — whether through "unstressing," "bad karma," or "mental illness."

And there is significant danger that, in a vulnerable state, former cult members will be taken advantage of by another con man or woman. Or even create a new cultic relationship with benign groups, such as anti-cult movements. It is all too easy to substitute the black/white, all-or-nothing thinking of a group like TM for black/white thinking of an anti-cult group. It can be difficult to maintain a perspective that includes both the good and the bad aspects of one's cult experience. In essence, this leads one to cut out a vast chunk of one's life — the period of cult involvement. (A tell-tale symptom: having difficulty remembering details about one's life in the cult.)

It's even possible to develop an unhealthy relationship with a counselor or therapist, substituting a new dependency on one's therapist for the dependency one experienced with the cult.

Involving oneself with any group or professional, look for evidence that they encourage independent thinking. Expect, even demand, that your therapist redirects your feelings toward yourself. The new group or professional should redirect your gratitude toward the work you are doing and your accomplishments in therapy — rather than toward the therapist's skill or insight. The focus should be on the work, not the professional or group. Seek out professionals who encourage self-empowerment and developing your own innate strengths — rather than substituting their opinions and advice for that of your former cult. It takes more work to develop your own truth about your cult involvement, but it's the only real path to reclaiming your life for yourself.

For many deeply involved individuals, leaving a cult is like walking a razor's edge. In my experience, people who are experiencing significant troubles in their lives — such as difficulty holding jobs, financial difficulties, depression, disturbing cult-related dreams, PTSD — are well advised to look for professional help from licensed professionals with experience in cults. People who have the courage to ask for help recover most easily and gracefully.

John M. Knapp, LMSW
http://KnappFamilyCounseling.com/cultstmf.com

Yes, We Are Still No Religion!

In addition to the calendar of celebrations for Hindu Deities, I received this in the mail today:

Following message has come from His Majesty Raja Nader Raam

“Maharishi-ji desires silence to continue for another 3 days.

“During these days everyone would listen as convenient after programme and during free time to Kartikeya, Shiva and Vishnu Sahasranams. Kuber-ji would kindly have these chantings on a continuous basis on the internal internet channel following puja to Guru Dev. Prakash-ji has the recitations and will make them available. In special cases, if necessary, it will be OK to give out copies of these tapes.

“Blessed Silence

“Jai Guru Dev”

Maharishi Invincibility Laboratories

3 January 2008

As part of a global programme to establish and maintain food purity and of the highest quality, Dr John Fagan, recently crowned Raja with Global Responsibility for Food Purity and Safety and for Healthy Invincibility, has structured a plan to set up a global network of Maharishi Invincibility Laboratories (MIL). The purpose of Maharishi Invincibility Laboratories is to use scientific testing methods to rigorously and systematically verify food purity and quantify the nutritional value of foods.

It is planned to put in place both sophisticated, laboratory-based testing using the most advanced technology as well as simple and inexpensive testing methods for wider and larger scale use. Initial testing will be for common food and water contaminants such as pesticides. In addition, Maharishi Invincibility Laboratories will conduct research to verify and quantify the higher quality of food produced by Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture compared to conventional organic husbandry methods.

Pure food is essential for good health and clarity of mind, and the supreme value of food purity is required to enliven total Natural Law in the life of the individual and society, bringing perfect health and enlightenment to the individual, perfect balance, harmony, and invincibility to every nation and permanent peace to our world.

Whereas chemical approaches in agriculture produce foods containing damaging poisons, organic agriculture produces foods without toxic chemicals and is free from harmful effects. Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture produces food that is not only free from harmful effects, but that also has that supreme value of purity which allows it to nourish all aspects of life.

Copyright © 2007 TM News, UK; www.tmnews.net

Yeah, but can they get the rat dung out of the rasayanas?

Funds raised for first Maharishi Peace Palace in England

2 January 2008

More than half a million pounds have been raised towards the cost of building Britain's first Peace Palace at Maharishi Garden Village at Rendlesham in Suffolk.

The Peace Palace will have programme facilities for Sidhas and Meditators, meeting rooms and 22 bedrooms for residential courses (with potential for 13 additional rooms at a later date), a Maharishi Ayur Veda Health Centre and an organic restaurant.

There were several meetings with the planners over the summer and autumn of 2007 to finalise the design, and a formal planning application will soon be with the local council. It is anticipated that construction will begin in the spring of 2008 when the final funds have been raised.

(c) TM News

Fairfield and the Iowa Caucuses

Front page of the January 3, 2008 Wall Street Journal:

In This Farm Town, Gurus Transcend Party Politics

Dr. Benson and the Faith Factor

I remember when Dr. Benson was one of the performing acts in the TMO circus. Of course, then, it was called an SCI Symposium. Dr. Benson was brilliant. I remember enjoying his very extensive talk. And I remember that he wasn't interested in being one of Mahesh's "acts" (like Orm-Johnson and Hagelin, et al.). It must also be noted that Dr. Benson specifically did not learn TM so that it would not interfere with his opinions or prejudice his research, I do not believe that this is something that the people who have turned out the 600+ TM "scientific studies" are able to legitimately affirm as part of their research protocol.

Then, of course, heresy of heresies, Dr. Benson took Mahesh up on his suggestion to study TM. I'm sure the current take on this by the TMO is extensively edited. But it was indeed Mahesh who recommended that Dr. Benson study the results of TM.

Dr. Benson did just this. And for the benefit of many Dr. Benson formulated the Relaxation Response. Actually, Dr. Benson formulated a simple, natural method to elicit the relaxation response, deep but conscious rest.

The text The Relaxation Response is still a best seller and can be learned quite successfully and inexpensively from the text or from many health care facilities in the US and Canada.

I recommend, for example, http://www.vhl.org/newsletter/vhl1997/97dafait.htm as an interesting source for seeing what the basics are all about and how faith and belief influence our daily lives. As well, please take a look at the Benson-Henry Instutite for Mind Body Medicine (http://www.mbmi.org/home/).

Best wishes to all of our readers for a healthy and prosperous New Year, one free from cult thought and cult mind control.

Sudarsha and the Editors of TM-Free

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