"Believing such stories means disbelieving in myself. From her childhood Carolyn had been steeped in Catholic faith and educated in scientific skepticism; now it seemed the Institute could help her harmonize these two seemingly contradictory ways of perceiving the world. The guru spoiled them, they say, calling them his spiritual son and daughter, and soon invited them to come live in Pennsylvania. According to Karen and George, no legal action resulted. Later, many of the women broke out in head-to-toe swelling and rashes from what had in fact been poison ivy roots. Spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, Pandit Tigunait is the successor of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. "Before [these women] started saying these things, I also had a very good feeling that these people were wonderful people and they would never lie and they were trustworthy people. Trained to meditate and educated in the scriptures from early childhood, he was able to translate and interpret any of the 20,000 verses from the Vedas by the age of 13, according to a biographical pamphlet put out by the Meditation Center. "Anyone who lives a public life can go through such remarks;& you have heard about all that blackmailing" of famous, rich athletes, he explains to me in the spring of 1989 at the Honesdale ashram. She would start with handling the appointments and then she would make his plane reservations, scheduling lecture tours. In many ways, the Institute's austere structure is designed to appeal to the personality that yearns for what psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton calls a "totalist" environment, where virtually every aspect of one's life is subject to external control. The daughter of an alcoholic, she longed for guidance from a spiritual authority figure. As the couple started making arrangements to move to England, they received another blow. Most of the women who say they were abused by Swami Rama express feelings of fear, frustration, and betrayal. She recalls that he said they would become very close, their bodies would come together, and then they would part. Or maybe he needs to have sex just to release energy so he can meditate better. She walked around New York City for hours, until it was time for her bus to return to Honesdale. Long-term residents must get administration approval for any overnight absences; permission may be denied if their destination is judged inappropriate. University of California System Bans Fully Online Degrees. Explore our integrative health services & therapeutic treatments to help restore your natural state of well-being. In such a situation, she says, the whole system becomes sick and no one can see the light: "There's no truth allowed; it's a no-talk rule.". I might doubt my own perception, I might doubt my own eyes, but I cannot doubt that strength which has given me everything.". Ayurvedic treatments, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and integrative health services at PureRejuv Wellness Center. I informed him that I had interviewed women who sought him out because they respected him and trusted him to be interested in the truth. Brian sued Swami Rama, and eventually the guru settled out of court for the full amount. A Swami, or monk, is supposed to be "one who is master of oneself: senses, body, mind." 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. Years later, Rose contacted Patricia Trescelli, hoping to support a lawsuit by other women working with Trescelli and hoping to press charges against Swami Rama in her own sexual assault. Williams, however, did not sue Nuernberger himself; she sued the clinic where he worked, alleging that the clinic "knew or should have known" that Nuernberger was engaging in harmful sexual activity while treating her. To judge by their price tags, these and other Institute programs must bring in a considerable income. Brian says he refused to tell Rose's story in such an atmosphere. In order to believe in his perfection, they must rationalize behavior that others would judge to be tyrannical, cruel, or self-indulgent. Discover our new online platform for community, courses, and content. Himalayan Institute Humanitarian is a 501(c)(3) public charity supporting the educational and charitable projects of the Himalayan Institute. We are happy to bring you a combination of Zoom, In-person, and Hybrid options. She asked him to give her a homeopathic remedy for the itching, she says, but he refused and turned away, dismissing her. ALL NEW! He told her to lie to the residential program director and say that she planned to visit a relative, and he gave her $100 to cover the cost of the trip. God knows whether it was true or not, and even if it was true, this is a normal phenomenon. Donate Help Our Cause US$20.00 In the spring of 1983, Swami Rama began to court her again, she says: He told her that she would help him prepare a book of sacred poetry he was writing, and he assured her repeatedly that he would take her to India the following autumn. Although the jury entered a judgment against Nuernberger, it also found that the clinic was not liable for his actions, so Williams failed to recover damages. 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. See the article in its original context from. 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. He told her he was writing a book of poetry for her, and he offered to find her a husband. 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. Pandit Arya has many profound and beautiful things to say about his relationship to his guru when I interview him at the Divya Jyoti yoga center in Napa, California, in May 1989. I told her what I'd heard, and that I wasn't sure the rumor was true-as a beginning student of yoga and meditation at the Institute's East West Books in New York City, I was reluctant to believe it myself. Each time the Institute's top professionals have been confronted with complaints that Swami Rama is abusing his position, institutional mechanisms of denial have come to the guru's aid. Quick Links. Residents staff the Institute's administration, bookstores, and other small businesses, including Himalayan Publishers and Distributors and an elementary school. At some point, we ran into Swami Rama in a hallway. In 1969, Pandit Arya met Swami Rama, who gave him "one of the highest meditation initiations," in which he experienced himself "as a being of light." But Trescelli says she had to discourage her. Early the next morning, she says, he announced to her that she was going to leave; he never set up the promised program. Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. He rapidly attracted a following that included many graduate and professional students. 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. But it is also common in the thought-control techniques of totalitarian states. In recent years, the harm caused to women by "sex in the forbidden zone" has been recognized in their codes of ethics by most universities and professional associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. "A lot of people have confused the siddhis-the powers to control body, emotions, and mind-with spirituality. 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. The women's fears have aborted projects intended to expose possible exploitation to a wider audience. But after they started saying all these things, I never trusted them anymore. 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. That is, an on-going pattern of power abuse within the guru/student relationship. Carolyn says she spent years blaming herself and trying to rationalize away what she now regards as sexual abuse. https://himalayaninstitute.start.page || Yoga. Himalayan Institute | Honesdale PA 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. At bottom, however, she believed her feelings didn't matter. In private sessions, ex-disciples say, Swami Rama has arranged marriages and instructed disciples to break off relationships. Rajmani explains the basic goals of the Institute's tradition of yoga: "The most important part of the practice is nonattachment." He explains that Nuernberger was just a graduate student, inexperienced and lacking in professional judgment, when the incident with Marston occurred: "At a time when he was learning to be a therapist and thought that someone is asking for you to reach out, you reach out and you touch them and you let them see your feelings, and I think that was very bad." Meanwhile, the couple says, they discovered more evidence of illicit activity. During the next few months, Carolyn says, Swami Rama bade her visit him in his private quarters once every couple of weeks, either after lunch or after evening prayers; he also made it her job to buy condoms. Two other women left the Institute shortly afterwards. Dr. Ballentine says he has good reason to think that Marston "was very anxious for [Nuernberger] to go further, and he didn't. But Mr. Schneider told the jury that evidence indicated the relationship was consensual. Ag Innovation Center Business Plan. HIT ranked under Top Commerce Colleges in All India by The Week 2022. Study Online himalayan institute of modern arts & learning (HIMAL) Giving back through life-changing experiences. They know, usually without being told, that if they break the taboo of silence they will be blamed for destroying their spiritual families and the "higher" good those families purportedly do in the world. Terry* and Brian* say they were recruited into the Himalayan Institute's inner circle for their wealth and social connections. In his enlightened state, they believe, he could never commit any selfish acts, which would create new karmic burdens. 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. Swami Rama's claims to this spiritual background have been questioned by some of his former students. Meditation. As the other disciples looked on with envy, Swami Rama called her aside for a final, intimate word: She should work on herself, he reportedly told her-lose some weight and learn to admire herself. she wondered. 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. The program seemed to provide the ideal family she'd never had, where everyone shared her values and spiritual goals. Similarly, gurus in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions are supposed to be examples of self-mastery and right living. Go to Top. Hadn't he taken vows of celibacy? Pandit Arya radiates calm as he speaks. Community, Courses, and Content. Things are moving quickly now in the sex scandal involving the three oldest sons of Steven Anderson of Tempe, Arizona's favorite SPLC hate group Faithful Word Baptist Church. She thanked me, but assured me I had no reason for concern. 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. Pandit Tigunait holds two doctorates: one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad, India, and one in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. 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." Our various programms address all aspects of a meditator's life because all of life has an effect on meditation. Several months later, the two couples met up again. First, Robert Tuttle of The Reason Files 2 is reporting the same thing I am hearing from multiple sources. She specializes in Myotherapy, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Swedish Relaxation, Sports Therapy, and Hot Stone Massage. Still, she felt she had no right to question the guru's actions. [2] [ She renewed her acquaintance with her former meditation teachers and started taking classes in Glenview, Illinois, at the Institute's original headquarters. Outside of work, Sawana has been married to her wonderful husband since 2008 and together they have 3 beautiful sons. In the United States, far from the strong cultural morality of the guru's country of origin, it is not regulated at all. Pandit Rajmani says he also has concrete reasons to know that Swami Rama could not be sleeping with his disciples. According to ex-members, Swami Rama often acts in ways his disciples find humiliating, but they tell each other he is humbling their stubborn egos to help them reach enlightenment faster. Mission Membership is an invitation to put your spiritual values into action by supporting our shared commitment to service while deepening your study and practice in the living Himalayan Tradition. But as she spent more time around Swami Rama and his inner circle, Megan says, the guru subjected her to a barrage of sexual harassment. But their encounters were exactly the same as before, she says-emotionally impersonal and sexually mechanical. During this spiel, she says, he put his hand on her buttocks, but she told him she wasn't buying it. After teaching, studying, and traveling throughout India and Europe, he came to the University of Minnesota in the 1960s, where he taught Sanskrit and Indian religions. When the manipulation started to involve her meditation and spiritual practices, she says, she decided to confide in one man who had been at the Institute for a long time and who was planning to leave. Pandit Arya reportedly alternated between disbelieving and believing the growing number of his female students who told him that Swami Rama had sexually harassed or abused them. Our Honesdale campus continues to be home to a service-driven community of yogis, volunteers, and faculty-in-residence. Shortly after they started studying with Pandit Usharbudh Arya at the Meditation Center in Minneapolis, he introduced them to his guru, Swami Rama. Similarly, a woman who had been repeatedly abused by Sri Swami Rama of The Himalayan Institute when she was 19 years old was awarded $1.9 million. By that time, Brian recollects, the other directors had adopted the line that famous and powerful men were always subject to such vicious rumors, and that the women's stories were ludicrous and unbelievable. Ultimately, the woman had revealed the liaison to her husband. As an enlightened being, he is thought to be beyond the judgment of ordinary mortals, their laws and morality. Join us for studies in the true meaning of yogaincluding asana, meditation, mantra, tantra, sacred scripture, and the art of joyful living. Soon Carolyn noticed she wasn't the only woman being favored by the guru; he was also paying attention to Megan and Nirvana. She believes Swami Rama was trying to buy her collusion, as he had bought the collusion of the Institute's staff and many residents. Meanwhile Janet,* a Honesdale woman who worked as the couple's babysitter and housekeeper at the time, says she received threatening phone calls at Brian and Terry's house, asking if she was alone with the children. Wisdom must show itself in action and lovingness." Both women and men say they blamed themselves and their own spiritual obtuseness when they repeatedly failed to discern and follow the shifting rules. She recalls that he would repeat a series of affirmations and commands in a hypnotic monotone: She had done very well organizing the book distribution operation, Carolyn says he would tell her. Live online programs, on-demand courses, and hundreds of yoga and meditation classes. Yet she is vulnerable to feeling re-victimized every time her experience is denied or distorted. 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. Two women wrote statements, which said they had discovered that Swami Rama was attempting to "seduce" both of them contemporaneously. Yet the women never seemed to complain about such treatment, Megan says. The teachings contained in the sacred texts cannot play any meaningful part in judging who is a good guru and who is not: "How could they? The Greens' experiments caused a furor in the scientific community because they gave powerful support to autogenic biofeedback research, which 10 years earlier had begun demonstrating that body functions which had formerly been considered involuntary could be controlled. Sex with a guru is a form of spiritual incest. According to the stipulation he signed with the Board's Ethics Review Panel, Nuernberger admitted that he terminated a counseling relationship with "Victoria S." during the third session in order to enter into a "personal relationship - such relationship to include sexual contact.". Carolyn felt important, entitled to be there because she was one of his secretaries. And she would help him write books. Carolyn and others say Megan caused a scandal in the Honesdale ashram by breaking the silence surrounding Swami Rama's sexual behavior. 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.". Ayurvedic treatments, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and integrative health services at PureRejuv Wellness Center. Publications Health Products Explore high-quality, unique, practice-enhancing products made for yogis everywhere. The original creator of the neti pot, the Himalayan Institute has been offering traditional and modern products for health and spirituality since 1971. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Ayurveda According to Marston's attorney, Philip W. Getts, his client never recovered the $50,000 in punitive damages Nuernberger owed her, because Pennsylvania is one of the few states that does not allow the court to garnish wages. Several former students of Swami Rama granted interviews to Patricia Ann Darling, Ph. Put that letter in the 'goofy file.'" As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. One of them, along with the other women from the tour group, attended the wedding of Swami Rama's son, although the guru is officially supposed to have been celibate since taking his Swami's vows. Our commitment to service both at home and abroad incorporates our global humanitarian impact through projects in Africa and India as well as a commitment to sustainable partnerships with the local community at our world headquarters in Honesdale. Himalayan Institute locations 3.6 Honesdale, PA Show all locations What's being discussed at Himalayan Institute? In the presence of others, we spoke only of positive or spiritual matters, in the deliberately modulated tones all the residents used. ", 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. Rose spent the next six months moving from place to place, terrified that the Institute network would track her down. Impact of Accreditation Sanctions on Enrollment. Swami Rama is supposed to have freed himself from the bonds of karma. Authentic Ashram Living And Carolyn's residential Program supervisor told her that the scandal was "a big test for all of us and a cleansing for the Institute-we'll see who stays.". After a bit, she was inclined to dismiss his behavior as a joke or a "test.". The victim's confusion and loss of trust are compounded when her community refuses to acknowledge her suffering. Gurus were supposed to have conquered their desires, but in the spiritual literature they were often portrayed as contradictory, tricking their disciples into enlightenment. Together we ate superb vegetarian meals in the Institute's dining commons and chanted evening prayers. That one gesture unleashed a storm of long-suppressed emotions. 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." Because that's my whole life& My relationship with [Swami Rama] is purely divine and spiritual-there cannot be impurity in it, and there is no room for such thoughts. Both came from prominent Midwestern families; each had an alcoholic parent, and they now believe they were seeking not only spiritual growth, but also a strong parental figure. I ask him. Swami Rama called a meeting to defend himself. But still, she was afraid to leave the community she'd been part of for so long and reenter a world that had practically forgotten her existence. 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. But Carolyn says she stifled her doubts about the guru, transforming them into doubts about her own selfishness: "Because I'd rationalized that he was teaching me a lesson, I believed he must be teaching other women the same lesson, and I shouldn't begrudge his attention to other students.". We partner with rural communities to provide health services, public libraries, and sustainable employment opportunities. Teaching since 1971, the Himalayan Institute offers a wide variety of wellness supplies. Since the early 1970s, women have been claiming sexual abuse at the hands of this prominent spiritual teacher. 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. But for a man of Pandit Arya's background and beliefs, the relationship with one's guru is more momentous than any merely temporal bond. Who? Now Megan says that in a different atmosphere, she would have immediately recognized Swami Rama's behavior as sexual harassment or "sadistic manipulation." Megan recalls that in one of her first encounters with Swami Rama, she watched as he humiliated a quiet, withdrawn woman resident. "The real guru is within," Dr. Ballentine says, "that still small voice within you." She was afraid to stay in her room, which had no lock on the door, or to use the hall telephone, because all calls had to be routed through the main switchboard. Join us in serving a tradition that has served the world selflessly for untold ages. Immerse yourself in a life-changing course of study and get certified in the authentic teachings of yoga and meditation. Dr. Ballentine, who says he studied psychology at the Sorbonne and completed his training in psychiatry at Louisiana State University, defends Nuernberger. He reportedly smokes cigarettes, watches television for hours every day, and gossips, but his disciples rationalize this non-abstinent behavior: "Oh, Swamiji just smokes to bring himself down to the earth plane," or, "The TV is on incessantly just to give the student one more distraction to challenge his ability to maintain yogic balance," or, "all the stories Swamiji tells about other people are just to give the disciple the opportunity to develop objectivity and not get caught up in the meaningless gossip.". Carolyn went away to college at the end of that year, as her parents expected. Up to that point I had felt like he was a guru, that he cared about me at least, but no, he was just using me.". After a sleepless night, she said she snuck out at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. and drove to Brian and Terry's empty house in Honesdale. The Institute also offers instruction to counselors and psychotherapists in the application of yoga and meditation techniques to therapy. The Himalayan Institute publishes over 60 titles on yoga, spirituality, and holistic health, including the best-selling Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Rama and Yoga: Mastering the Basics by Sandra Anderson and Rolf Sovik. And he abruptly dismissed her. In mid-autumn, the day came for Swami Rama's annual trip to India. She says he instructed her in how to give him pleasure and admonished her to always tell him that she had received pleasure, even thought she never did. But Megan and Carolyn both say that Swami Rama would dismiss Pandit Rajmani and other members of the inner circle after an evening of socializing in Swami Rama's private quarters, while asking them alone to stay behind. Healthy lifestyle products to support your yoga and spiritual practice. She began talking about Swami Rama's exploitative behavior with anyone who would listen, especially women who she thought were being victimized. Dr. Ballentine says it is "presumptuous" to judge whether or not someone is perfected. But during the next three weeks, she says, she saw the Swami mistreating his disciples, especially the women, on a daily basis-yelling at them, ridiculing them, ordering them around, and occasionally kicking a woman in the buttocks when she was on her hands and knees weeding. A saint is a person who does what he says." Even so, it was a blow to find out that she wasn't particularly special: Swami Rama apparently had other "spiritual courtesans." Finally, she obtained his permission. One evening she went out to dinner with Martha*, an old friend from East West Books Chicago. 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. He must also vow that he will not harm any living being. Tall and imposing, he had the sleek look of a successful man in his late 50s, at the peak of his power. Burnett is a postdoctoral fellow in Houston's department of education leadership and . And I feared that Carolyn-young beautiful, idealistic, and worshipful of Swami Rama, the Institute's founder and spiritual leader-could be vulnerable to such exploitation. Carolyn says she told him no, it "just didn't feel right." Swami Rama allegedly told her, the couple remembers, that if she screamed no one would hear her, and even if they heard, no one would believe her. He cannot disbelieve his guru. Of all the Institute's swamis and teachers, Pandit Arya is by far the most scholarly. On the contrary, they sought opportunities to serve the guru's every whim, or even to be abused by him: Megan remembers one woman saying she wished the guru would kick her. Numerous former students say they left the Institute because they were sexually exploited by Swami Rama or knew someone who was. He also has the integrity to admit that if they were true, it would be very terrible, and a violation of the teaching that says one should treat all women as daughters. "I thought: 'Maybe it's the only way he can break through some stubborn barrier in my ego. Its mission, according to the Articles of Incorporation, was "to make known to the members and people in general the real, synthetic, and harmonious view of world religions and philosophy in terms of modern scientific achievements and undertake researches for all around ethical, social, economical, and spiritual development of humanity to attain world peace, international integration, understanding, and spiritual awakening of the human race."
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