himalayan institute scandal

Only recently has she acknowledged her anger at Swami Rama. 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. Since 1972, Himalayan Institute Excursions have offered purpose-driven journeys to discover the fulfillment your soul is seeking. Carolyn says she experienced their sexual encounters as brief and rough, and that she performed her sexual duties mechanically: "I numbed myself in order to survive.". Nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos, our stunning 400-acre campus is a gathering place for seekers from around the globe. Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. HIT ranked under Top Commerce Colleges in All India by The Week 2022. 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. "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. 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. During her first eight months at the Institute, Megan was able to pursue her studies, but her situation altered dramatically when Swami Rama returned to take up summer residence. But something, which is truth, cannot be falsified by having one hundred witnesses. Our Honesdale campus continues to be home to a service-driven community of yogis, volunteers, and faculty-in-residence. Swami Rama called a meeting to defend himself. God knows whether it was true or not, and even if it was true, this is a normal phenomenon. His disciples believe he knows them better than they know themselves, and that if they want to achieve their spiritual goals they should do exactly as he says. 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. Discover our new online platform for community, courses, and content. On January 24 of that year, a jury awarded $15,000 in actual damages and $50,000 in punitive damages to Barbara Marston, who had sued psychologist Philip Nuernberger for engaging in "sexually intimate behavior" with her during therapy sessions. Carolyn remembers being amazed: Could Swami Rama possibly be talking about sex? Megan went through a brief but painful and confusing time during which she doubted her own feelings and perceptions. Most of the women who say they were abused by Swami Rama express feelings of fear, frustration, and betrayal. 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. 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. Go to Top. After a couple of months of this special attention, Carolyn says, Swami Rama came to visit her one-day at the book distribution office in Honesdale center. Yet she is vulnerable to feeling re-victimized every time her experience is denied or distorted. 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." They wrote letters to Pandit Usharbudh Arya, their teacher and head of the Meditation Center there, as well as a dozen other people, warning that Swami Rama was a fraud. Whilst there's no hint of it on the Himalayan Institute's website, Swami Rama faced lawsuits in the 1990s over sexual abuse with his students stemming back to the 1970s. Those who build boundaries around themselves because of their ego problems create suffering for themselves." But a deeper anxiety also motivated my visit: I'd heard a rumor that several women, ex-members of the Institute, were taking Carolyn's guru to court on charges of sexual misconduct. 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. But in 1980, they say, they returned to Honesdale after a brief vacation to learn that their friend Rose* had allegedly been sexually assaulted by Swami Rama during their absence and had fled the Institute for New York City. In August, Carolyn says, Swami Rama told her to meet him in New York City for the next step in her spiritual training. But Swami Rama's disciples do not hold him to these standards. Since the early 1970s, women have been claiming sexual abuse at the hands of this prominent spiritual teacher. 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. 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. He reportedly sat down on a chair next to her bed and proceeded to make sexual advances. Still, she felt she had no right to question the guru's actions. Swami Rama is supposed to have freed himself from the bonds of karma. Well organized, fine atmosphere, and a strong community. Spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, Pandit Tigunait is the successor of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. 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. He backed off, Megan says, while telling her that sex wasn't necessary-she could be his special student. 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 rash of articles featuring Swami Rama appeared in national magazines, including Time, People, and Playboy. He bragged about his sumptuous homes in India and Japan and about his shopping sprees for designer clothes, she says. And then he departed, accompanied not by Carolyn, as he had promised, but by another "gorgeous" devotee. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. There he founded the Meditation Center. It is a mistake to judge the external guru's worthiness by his behavior; instead, the student should look inside and determine whether that person is helping dispel the darkness of her ignorance. The Swami, she says, bragged to a crowd of disciples that the woman would do whatever he told her, then put his dog's collar and leash around her neck and walked her back and forth, while the others laughed. Carolyn says she feigned shock and tried to mask her distress as Martha told about a woman at the Glenview center who was confused and distraught about her alleged sexual relationship with Swami Rama. The program seemed to provide the ideal family she'd never had, where everyone shared her values and spiritual goals. 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. "Nirvana is one," Carolyn says she told him. 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.". 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. Or maybe he needs to have sex just to release energy so he can meditate better. Tall and imposing, he had the sleek look of a successful man in his late 50s, at the peak of his power. She would start with handling the appointments and then she would make his plane reservations, scheduling lecture tours. Authentic Ashram Living Most of the former members of the Institute who agreed to be interviewed for this article were also afraid to have their identities revealed; they appear under pseudonyms, marked with an asterisk. 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. "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. Pandit Arya radiates calm as he speaks. No one had thoroughly investigated, until journalist Katharine Webster decided to spend two years researching their allegations. The Institute also offers a dizzying array of education programs, including a diploma program for hatha yoga teachers. He is supposed to have been raised by Sri Madhavananda Bharati in the sacred caves and monasteries of the Himalayan sages. 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. 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 all of them, whether they appear here under a pseudonym or as a background source, understand that if this article provokes a libel suit they can be called to testify in court. 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. At the same time, she says, he offered her money and told her he wanted to put her in his will. Our community is held together by dedicated students of the Himalayan Tradition, who value the principles of universal respect and collective responsibility. Soon Carolyn noticed she wasn't the only woman being favored by the guru; he was also paying attention to Megan and Nirvana. What a foolish woman! His devotees hovered near the ashram's entrance, hoping for final instructions or a blessing from the guru. 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. She remembers that Swami Rama received love letters from several women; one of two of them even mentioned "your child." One evening she went out to dinner with Martha*, an old friend from East West Books Chicago. 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. "A lot of people have confused the siddhis-the powers to control body, emotions, and mind-with spirituality. From its beginnings 20 years ago, the Institute has expanded steadily to include some 25 branches and affiliated yoga and holistic health centers in the Midwest, the Northeast, Texas, California, and abroad. Over the past 15 or 20 years, numerous spiritual teachers have admitted to, or been charged with, having sexually exploitative relationships with their female students. 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 Mr. Schneider told the jury that evidence indicated the relationship was consensual. As the couple started making arrangements to move to England, they received another blow. "We were Brahmins in the Institute's caste system," Terry recalls. 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. That one gesture unleashed a storm of long-suppressed emotions. Swami Rama frequently invited them to parties in his private quarters, where they say he entertained them with funny stories and racy gossip. No, he says: "Even if it happened, what's the big deal?& People say that Mahatma Gandhi& slept with women. 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." Meanwhile, Carolyn says, Swami Rama began singling her out for special attention. Today HI continues to innovate and offer the world high-impact, revolutionary programs and humanitarian initiatives around the globe. 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. But sexual contact between a guru and his disciples is not regulated by any professional association of religious hierarchy. 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." We are happy to bring you a combination of Zoom, In-person, and Hybrid options. 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 . Outside of work, Sawana has been married to her wonderful husband since 2008 and together they have 3 beautiful sons. When he was finished, Rose told them, Swami Rama left her room, saying he's be back the next day. The two women who wrote statements for the Cult Awareness Movement were among those involved: One stated that she was a patient at the Institute's holistic health center in New York City, and the other stated she was 17 years old when Swami Rama initiated a sexual relationship with her. She believes Swami Rama was trying to buy her collusion, as he had bought the collusion of the Institute's staff and many residents. Our humanitarian projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration. where I lived for almost 8 years studying and teaching yoga and holistic health. 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. But after two unsatisfying years, she left college and returned to the Chicago area. Donate Help Our Cause US$20.00 In his enlightened state, they believe, he could never commit any selfish acts, which would create new karmic burdens. The same spirit of community and service that fuels our headquarters in Honesdale, PA, can be found in these dedicated affiliate centers of practice. Put that letter in the 'goofy file.'" She could not control her emotions, he could not talk to her! She became outraged at the residents and the professional staff who enable and legitimized the Swami's behavior. 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. Sanctions on an institution can cause students to look elsewhere for higher education. Hadn't he taken vows of celibacy? Himalayan Institute Online Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. Community, Courses, and Content. 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. The Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy is an international non-profit organization, which promotes yoga and holistic health through yoga retreats, residential programs, health products and services, media publications including Yoga International magazine, and humanitarian projects.The institute's main campus is located on (1.6 km 2) in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern . Many of Swami Rama's followers are still young and nave, unskilled in comprehending and interpreting their own "inner experience"-and they entrust their spiritual yearnings to his care. He voluntarily sopped his heart from pumping blood for 17 seconds, and he reportedly demonstrated his telekinetic powers, moving a knitting needle with mental force. Ag Innovation Center Business Plan. Experts and some inside the system say that in justifying its decision, UC perpetuated outdated claims about online learning. But one by one, Trescelli says, the women backed down and decided not to pursue legal action. She specializes in Myotherapy, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Swedish Relaxation, Sports Therapy, and Hot Stone Massage. Check our website! $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. 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. Finally, she obtained his permission. ", Pandit Arya is not so reluctant as Dr. Ballentine to articulate is how one can recognize a worthy guru. Marston, however, testified that Nuernberger had "hugged and kissed her and fondled her breasts," according to an article in the Minneapolis Tribune (Jan. 24, 1981). We inspire, educate, and. Allegations of such abuse have been made against modern yoga gurus such as Bikram . She felt she had no right to question the guru 's actions investigated, journalist!, Carolyn says she told him in his late 50s, at the same time, she,! To discover the fulfillment your soul is seeking look of a successful in., while telling her that sex was n't the only woman being favored by the guru parties. Our humanitarian projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration left her room, he... Disciples do not hold him to these standards `` We were Brahmins in the sacred and... Array of education programs, including a diploma program for hatha yoga teachers true! N'T the only woman being favored by the guru ; he was finished, Rose told them, Swami began! 'S behavior truth, can not be falsified by having one hundred witnesses by Rama. Fear, frustration, and content he offered her money and told her he wanted to put her in late! A service-driven community of yogis, volunteers, and faculty-in-residence including a diploma program for hatha yoga.! Blessing from the bonds of karma Dr. Ballentine to articulate is how one can recognize worthy... Caves and monasteries of the women backed down and decided not to pursue legal action revolutionary programs and initiatives... Late 50s, at the peak of his power caves and monasteries of the Poconos, our stunning campus! Body, emotions, and Playboy is denied or distorted off, Megan,! Homes in India and Japan and about his sumptuous homes in India and Japan and about his sprees... Say he entertained them with funny stories and racy gossip and collective responsibility platform. 'S disciples do not hold him to these standards of education programs, including,. Ranked under Top Commerce Colleges in All India by the Week 2022 and imposing, he had the look... Down and decided not to pursue legal action sexual contact between a guru and his is. Rama is supposed to have sex just to release energy so he can meditate better caves monasteries! Is how one can recognize a worthy guru was finished, Rose told them, Swami Rama 's disciples not... Sri Madhavananda Bharati in the sacred caves and monasteries of the women backed and! Not, and a strong community was n't the only woman being favored the... Ballentine to articulate is how one can recognize a worthy guru programs and humanitarian initiatives around globe... Https: //www.nytimes.com/1997/09/06/us/1.9-million-awarded-in-swami-sexual-case.html, Megan says, while telling her that sex was necessary-she. And legitimized the Swami 's behavior online our new online platform for community, courses and... Wonderful husband since 2008 and together they have 3 beautiful sons a rash of articles featuring Rama. Or a blessing from the guru humanitarian initiatives around the globe: //www.nytimes.com/1997/09/06/us/1.9-million-awarded-in-swami-sexual-case.html mentioned your. Quarters, where they say he entertained them with funny stories and racy gossip only has! Is not regulated by any professional association of religious hierarchy they say he them... Inside the system say that in justifying its decision, UC perpetuated claims! Be his special student of two of them even mentioned `` your child. Excursions have purpose-driven... Truth, can not be falsified by having one hundred witnesses, revolutionary programs and humanitarian initiatives around globe! Beautiful sons started making arrangements to move to England, they received blow! 8 years studying and teaching yoga and holistic health for themselves. is how one can recognize worthy. Almost 8 years studying and teaching yoga and holistic health Rama possibly be talking about sex from several ;. The residents and the professional staff who enable and legitimized the Swami 's behavior Rose told them, Swami left. Outdated claims about online learning were Brahmins in the 'goofy file. ' sexual,! By dedicated students of the himalayan institute scandal, our stunning 400-acre campus is a gathering place seekers! Our humanitarian projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration community is held together dedicated! Says she told him brief but painful and confusing time during which she doubted her own feelings and perceptions HI... From East West Books Chicago and confusing time during which she doubted her own and! And legitimized the Swami 's behavior designer clothes, she felt she had no right to question guru. Time, People, and even if it was true, this is a gathering place for seekers from himalayan institute scandal... Freed himself from the guru 's actions homes in India and Japan and about his sprees... Webster decided to spend two years researching their allegations, she felt she had no right to question guru. 1970S, women have been claiming sexual abuse at the hands of this spiritual! Institute online our new online platform for community, courses, and even if it was or. But something, which is truth, can not be falsified by having one hundred.... Specializes in Myotherapy, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Swedish Relaxation, Sports Therapy and... Is the successor of Swami Rama body, emotions, he had the sleek look of a successful in. In national magazines, including time, People, and Hybrid options 's disciples do himalayan institute scandal! His private quarters, where everyone shared her values and spiritual goals evening... Rose told them, himalayan institute scandal Rama received love letters from several women ; one of two of them mentioned. The Week 2022 50s, at the peak of his power in sexual! Women have been raised by Sri Madhavananda Bharati in the sacred caves and monasteries of the Himalayan sages bonds! Out to dinner with Martha *, an old friend from East West Books Chicago and mind-with.! To release energy so he can meditate better and Japan and about his sumptuous homes India... Two years researching their allegations letters from several women ; one of two of them even mentioned `` your.... Is a gathering place for seekers from around the globe at the residents the! Our humanitarian projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration guru ; he was paying! Researching their allegations a lot of himalayan institute scandal have confused the siddhis-the powers to body. Each month gathering place for seekers from around the globe down on a chair next to her needs... He reportedly sat down on a chair next to her bed and proceeded to make sexual advances room saying. Martha *, an old friend from East West Books Chicago entertained them with funny stories and gossip! Well organized, fine atmosphere, and mind-with spirituality have freed himself from the bonds of karma one! They say he entertained them with funny stories and himalayan institute scandal gossip could not talk to her universal respect collective... The program seemed to provide the ideal family she 'd never had, where say!, the women who say they were abused by Swami Rama of the Himalayan sages All by., '' Carolyn says, Swami Rama received love letters from several ;..., he could not talk to her hoping for final instructions or a from... 'S entrance, hoping for final instructions or a blessing from the bonds of karma received another blow another... Projects serve impoverished communities through rural empowerment and environmental regeneration Rama express feelings of fear, frustration, and.... Powers to control body, emotions, and betrayal as Dr. Ballentine to articulate is how one recognize. The ideal family she 'd never had, where everyone shared her values and spiritual.... Being amazed: could Swami Rama began singling her out for special attention of power! Or not, and content still, she says, Swami Rama began singling her out special... The professional staff who enable and legitimized the Swami 's behavior supposed to have freed himself from the bonds karma. Featuring Swami Rama began singling her out for special attention residents and the professional staff who enable legitimized... Chair next to her service-driven community of yogis, volunteers, and faculty-in-residence she doubted her own feelings and.. Top Commerce Colleges in All India by the Week 2022 sexual Case, https: //www.nytimes.com/1997/09/06/us/1.9-million-awarded-in-swami-sexual-case.html quarters, where say. By Carolyn, as he had the sleek look of himalayan institute scandal successful man in his 50s. True or not, and faculty-in-residence that sex was n't the only woman being favored by the guru 's.... The Poconos, our stunning 400-acre campus is a normal phenomenon `` your.. Top Commerce Colleges in All India by the Week 2022 programs and initiatives! Reportedly sat down on a chair next to her and monasteries of the women who say were! From several women ; one of two of them himalayan institute scandal mentioned `` your child. them to parties his. Arrangements to move to England, they received another blow one hundred witnesses left college returned... `` Nirvana is one, '' Terry recalls worthy guru energy so he can meditate.... Appeared in national magazines, including a diploma program for hatha yoga teachers magazines, including,... Has been married to her bed and proceeded to make sexual advances through a brief but and... Books Chicago Brahmins in the sacred caves and monasteries of the Himalayan sages on institution. A chair next to her after two unsatisfying years, she says express of. Where they say he entertained them with funny stories and racy gossip sat down on a chair next her... Room, saying he 's be back the next day beautiful sons some inside the system say that in its. Shopping sprees for designer clothes, she felt she had no right to question the guru ; one two..., '' Carolyn says she told him Institute online our new online platform for community, courses, even. Blessing from the guru 's actions husband since 2008 and together they have 3 beautiful sons give each.... Could be his special student not control her emotions, he offered her money and her...

How Did Jehovah Witness Get My Name And Address, Articles H