He must also vow that he will not harm any living being. Carolyn says she told him no, it "just didn't feel right." toshiba tv screen goes black after a few minutes. Donate Help Our Cause US$20.00 Gurus were supposed to have conquered their desires, but in the spiritual literature they were often portrayed as contradictory, tricking their disciples into enlightenment. She opted to forego pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology because the Institute's program allowed her to earn a degree in a related field while studying Eastern philosophy and meditation with Pandit Rajmani, who had initiated her in Chicago. 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.". Megan*, a former graduate student in the Eastern Studies program, wrote a letter to the Jesuit administration of the University of Scranton saying that Swami Rama was subjecting women students to sexual exploitation. Relationships are the first test of spirituality. A guru has the wisdom of experience and the ancient teachings, so he can provide guidance, Dr. Ballantine says, but students should "judge every [practice] on the basis of your own experience." But within the Institute, she says, everyone else seemed to accept the guru's sexually suggestive behavior and humiliation of women. Allegations of such abuse have been made against modern yoga gurus such as Bikram . A week later, Megan blew the lid off Swami Rama's private life, confirming what Carolyn already knew in her heart. 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." In retrospect, Megan says, she believes that Swami Rama was indifferent to the problems that his behavior might cause the Institute, but was using such scandals to purge it of anyone who questioned his authority. 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. They resided in their own house in Honesdale, unencumbered by the strict rules of the residential program. She said no: She had been on a work crew Swami Rama had ordered to week poison ivy roots for his new garden, and she was covered with oozing blisters. Swami Rama is supposed to have freed himself from the bonds of karma. Dr. Ballentine says it is "presumptuous" to judge whether or not someone is perfected. This was not true! He warns against relying too heavily on the inner voice: "When we look for the guru within, we only end up finding our own samskaras-vagaries of the unconscious mind are mistaken for directions from the superconscious. 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. Outside of work, Sawana has been married to her wonderful husband since 2008 and together they have 3 beautiful sons. Publications Health Products Explore high-quality, unique, practice-enhancing products made for yogis everywhere. Join us for studies in the true meaning of yogaincluding asana, meditation, mantra, tantra, sacred scripture, and the art of joyful living. 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. Carolyn says she spent years blaming herself and trying to rationalize away what she now regards as sexual abuse. Since 1972, Himalayan Institute Excursions have offered purpose-driven journeys to discover the fulfillment your soul is seeking. Even so, it was a blow to find out that she wasn't particularly special: Swami Rama apparently had other "spiritual courtesans." First, Robert Tuttle of The Reason Files 2 is reporting the same thing I am hearing from multiple sources. A spiritual center should pay close to $1.9 million to a woman who says she was sexually assaulted 30 times by the center's leader, a jury decided on Thursday. 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. He and Pandit Rajmani say that a guru is "that which dispels darkness." "Unpurified ego is an evil which obstructs one's own progress. Humanitarian, Swami Rama, Teacher. The institute has branches in the United States, Europe, and India. 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. Our humanitarian projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration. But the publicity surrounding the Menninger Foundation experiments gained Swami Rama an enviable "scientific" credibility in the eyes of the general public. 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. $1.9 Million Awarded In Swami Sexual Case, https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/06/us/1.9-million-awarded-in-swami-sexual-case.html. To my relief, I could detect no flash of recognition, guilt, fear, or anger in Carolyn's eyes. She would start with handling the appointments and then she would make his plane reservations, scheduling lecture tours. Early the next morning, she says, he announced to her that she was going to leave; he never set up the promised program. 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. 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. Rather than being a saint, according to Green, Swami Rama is an advanced yogi and "a mortal with some ego problems.". 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. Whether youre retracing the footsteps of sages through pilgrimage in the Himalayas, or immersing yourself in the most incredible spaces the US has to offer, you will experience the life-changing power of yoga in action. 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. Swami Rama is held by his disciples to be a kind of god: He makes up the rules of the game, he can change them at will, and he cannot be judged by them. That day Rose returned to New York City, and within 48 hours she had quit her job and gone to stay with a friend in Texas. Pandit Rajmani cannot entertain the notion that the women's stories could be true. Most of the Institute's programs are open to the general public. Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. "A lot of people have confused the siddhis-the powers to control body, emotions, and mind-with spirituality. The original creator of the neti pot, the Himalayan Institute has been offering traditional and modern products for health and spirituality since 1971. [2] [ She remembers that Swami Rama received love letters from several women; one of two of them even mentioned "your child." 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. In private sessions, ex-disciples say, Swami Rama has arranged marriages and instructed disciples to break off relationships. Explore our integrative health services & therapeutic treatments to help restore your natural state of well-being. Is it not better to follow someone who has charted the path?". But to accept a tuition-free second year, or even to leave the Institute quietly, Megan says, would have meant giving tacit approval to the continuing exploitation. She walked around New York City for hours, until it was time for her bus to return to Honesdale. Choose from 8 signature wellness retreats to help you restore balance and achieve optimum health and healing. Patricia Trescelli, and attorney with Parker, Chapin, Flattau, and Klimpel, agreed to consult with the women concerning possible legal action on a pro bono basis. Following on the heels of Karen's and her friend's revelations, several other women and men left the Meditation Center in Minneapolis. Irwin Schneider, the lawyer for the Himalayan Institute, conceded that it was morally wrong for the Swami Rama to have sex with the woman from North Carolina, a 19-year-old student at the time. Read More 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. Himalayan Institute of Technology Ranking and Awards. Burnett is a postdoctoral fellow in Houston's department of education leadership and . Teaching since 1971, the Himalayan Institute offers a wide variety of wellness supplies. "By their fruits you shall know them," he says, paraphrasing the Bible. As Rutter explains in his book, a sexual relationship between a man in a position of power-doctor, psychologist, mentor, or priest-and a woman who is dependent on him-as patient, student, client, or troubled soul-almost always involves an element of coercion and a betrayal of trust. Together we ate superb vegetarian meals in the Institute's dining commons and chanted evening prayers. Dr. Ballentine, who says he studied psychology at the Sorbonne and completed his training in psychiatry at Louisiana State University, defends Nuernberger. Unfortunately, there is some mystery surrounding its founder, Swami Rama, and possible connection with drug abuse and sexual indecency. Soon Carolyn noticed she wasn't the only woman being favored by the guru; he was also paying attention to Megan and Nirvana. Pandit Tigunait holds two doctorates: one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad, India, and one in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Today HI continues to innovate and offer the world high-impact, revolutionary programs and humanitarian initiatives around the globe. Elmer and Alyce Green observed that Swami Rama could produce different brain waves at will, including theta and delta (sleep) waves, while remaining aware of his environment. 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. In 1966, he founded the original Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Kanpur, India; this was followed by an institute in Glenview, Illinois in 1971; it is now headquartered in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, purchased in 1977. We inspire, educate, and. In a few months time she would handle his bank account, income taxes, everything. The 10-campus system closes a loophole that could have let undergraduates piece together a degree. 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. When the couple confided their resulting marital troubles to Karen and George, Karen confirmed her friend's experience by revealing that she, too, had had a supposedly exclusive and spiritual sexual relationship with Swami Rama before her marriage. 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. Most rapists threaten women with physical violence. Carolyn and others say Megan caused a scandal in the Honesdale ashram by breaking the silence surrounding Swami Rama's sexual behavior. The program seemed to provide the ideal family she'd never had, where everyone shared her values and spiritual goals. Instead they deny the experience of the "unenlightened" women who are the guru's victims. He must see something special in me.'" February 27, 2023. she remembers him demanding. He would call her to his office for a private audience, and as she hung anxiously on his words he would paint a flattering picture of her future with the Institute. Pandit Arya radiates calm as he speaks. 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. Carolyn went away to college at the end of that year, as her parents expected. The Himalayan Institute is a good a good model on how to do a resort perfect. She was feeling so disgusted with her body and afraid of the guru's humiliating comments that one night she couldn't face going to his room, she says. He rapidly attracted a following that included many graduate and professional students. The Catholic Church may discipline a priest who has sex with a parishioner, not only because it violates his vow of celibacy, but because his parishioners must be able to confide in him without worrying that he will exploit their trust for his own gratification. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Dr. Ballentine, the Institute's president and director of the Combined Therapy Program, explains that human beings have the potential to do "all kinds of things, like move our bodies at will from one place to another, or be aware of what people are thinking on the other side of the earth, or inner states of consciousness that take us to the future and the past." He says it is a relationship that goes beyond religions, the purest relationship possible, "the relationship of water flowing from a hill and filling a hollow at the bottom-the hollow has nothing to give in return, but only to accept that grace in gratitude. 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. They are crazy. Bikram Choudhury, one of several yoga gurus accused of sexual abuse, [1] assisting a yoga pupil in his own style. She believes Swami Rama was trying to buy her collusion, as he had bought the collusion of the Institute's staff and many residents. The lawsuit I heard rumors about in New York City never materialized. Enrich your practice through the wisdom of the Himalayan Tradition, found in our online community and digital library, with new content added every week. Spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, Pandit Tigunait is the successor of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. 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. Dr. Ballentine says he has good reason to think that Marston "was very anxious for [Nuernberger] to go further, and he didn't. Before leaving, Megan says, she tried to confront Swami Rama publicly-but he went into seclusion, claiming illness. During this spiel, she says, he put his hand on her buttocks, but she told him she wasn't buying it. Authentic Ashram Living 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. Perfect. Shortly after Marston filed her suit in 1978, Nuernberger moved to Honesdale, where he is currently a member of the Institute's teaching staff. She took a meditation class at the alternative high school program she attended, and one evening her teachers invited her to a lecture by their guru, Swami Rama, who was visiting the Chicago area. But the victims of what Jungian analyst Peter Rutter, M.D., has termed "sex in the forbidden zone" (in his book of the same name) submit to sexual advances because of a powerful psychological threat. She recalls that she blushed as she forced out the words: "I think you have been sleeping with other women." Residents staff the Institute's administration, bookstores, and other small businesses, including Himalayan Publishers and Distributors and an elementary school. A few weeks later she moved to Honesdale. At bottom, however, she believed her feelings didn't matter. Study Online Or, in the words of Rudolph Ballentine, M.D., president of the Himalayan Institute and Swami Rama's designated successor, "to take the wisdom of the ancients and couch it in terms that are intelligible to modern man.". Select a topic to see what people are saying about different issues Mission and values Explore company values, community, the relevance of the mission and moving on. * "Nirvana was up at his cabin, walking his dog at 5:30 in the morning, and Megan was with him day and night." RFP & Business Plan for Dairy Processing Investor/Operator. Relax, restore, and nourish yourself with a wellness retreat. Brian, who was a member of the Institute board of directors and a major financial contributor, says he confronted Swami Rama shortly after Rose contacted him and told him what had happened-but the guru said Rose had seduced him. In today's Academic Minute, the University of Houston's Christopher Burnett determines how bad the damage can be. 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." She never received a response. A short time later, Swami Rama let her go as his secretary-because, she says he told her, she didn't really want the job. 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. A producer for "60 Minutes" was reportedly unable to complete her documentary on Swami Rama when the women involved backed out and refused to appear on camera. 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. Ex-members say he also bends the rules and bestows privileges on his favorites, who may in turn enforce rules, which they do not follow. On one occasion, she says, Swami Rama ordered all the women disciples to weed out some roots around his new cabin, telling them they were rooting out their samskaras. "Believing such stories means disbelieving in myself. At the same time as he dismissed her, Swami Rama also gave her a Sanskrit name. 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. Since its inception in 1971, the Himalayan Institute has been at the leading edge of personal and social transformation. University of California System Bans Fully Online Degrees. Brian sued Swami Rama, and eventually the guru settled out of court for the full amount. HIT ranked 39 th under Best Hotel Management Colleges in All India by The Week 2022.; HIT ranked 23rd under Top Private Hotel Management Colleges in All India and 11 th in North Zone by The Week 2022.; HIT is ranked as one of the most preferred Hotel Management Colleges . Host to HI Mission Programs, seminars as well as private events, we offer five fully equipped practice spaces and comfortable, modern guest amenities. His response: "Listen, there are certain things which are based on witnesses-those are facts. And that was the first time I realized what all that stuff meant-the other women, the 'goofy' file, and the rumors about the lawsuit. But the Institute does not teach the mastery of such powers in its programs, instead focusing on yoga practices with more immediate practical application. A world leader in yoga, meditation, and holistic health, we are dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. Each of the women I interviewed described how he would discern her particular needs and self-doubts and manipulate her spiritual beliefs or naivet in order to exploit her sexually-he has an uncanny ability to suit his approach to each victim, they say. Our various programms address all aspects of a meditator's life because all of life has an effect on meditation. ", 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. When she questioned him, Megan says, he became angry and dismissed the women's suffering, saying that a little poison ivy could be good for them. ", Pandit Arya is not so reluctant as Dr. Ballentine to articulate is how one can recognize a worthy guru. There she learned Swami Rama's style of "super-conscious" meditation, which she describes as a basic, impersonal training in mental concentration. 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. Rose told Brian and Terry that she was afraid to seek help from the family members who'd invited her to the Institute-they were unquestioningly loyal to Swami Rama-and she knew no one else there. His American followers hear the spiritual teachings from his mouth, with his interpretation, and they rarely have the exposure to a variety of gurus, which would teach them to be skeptical of their own guru. Instead, he told the other board members that he believed Rose, and that they should investigate the incident for themselves. He is held accountable only to the higher spiritual laws, which he is uniquely able to comprehend. Meanwhile, Carolyn says, Swami Rama began singling her out for special attention. All of them had something to offer, but no spiritual path inspired her to make an exclusive commitment. Brian and Terry say her family members at the Institute harassed her by mail and by telephone, with accusations that she had "a habit of inducing this sort of behavior from men.".

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