Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 55
Annual membership payments for dues to the national organization, meeting space,
religious regalia, books, and tapes, can reportedly amount to 10% of take home pay.
Teaching that ―loving is giving and expecting nothing in return,‖ the movement collected
some $1.8 million in dues last year — $600,000 from Asia a Japanese woman gave
$57,000 — down 11% from the preceding year, and has some $13 million in assets. The
authors of the recent Sun Media [of Canada] exposé [which this report summarizes] say
they paid about $2,000 during the nine months they were associated with the group,
undercover. (Bridgette McCann in Edmonton Sun and Sun Media, Internet, 10/7,8, 10/03
Kevin Connor, Sun Media, 10/11/03)
Rajneesh
Spreading Ideas in Nepal
Swami Anand Arun, a 59-year-old civil engineer and disciple of the late Osho Rajneesh,
who has established a number of prosperous centers in Nepal devoted to the teachings of
the late guru, now plans to focus on starting centers in India. Regarding reports of
Rajneesh‘s extravagant lifestyle, free sex in his Ashrams, and criminal activities of some of
his disciples in the U.S., Arun says: ―People thought he was corrupting us. But then, it‘s the
lot of every master. Even Jesus was accused of corrupting the morals of the youth.‖
(Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Internet, 1/6/04)
Reiki
Members Allegedly Harass Fellow Exxon Lab Employees
A former Exxon Mobil Corp. employee is suing supervisors at the Baytown, TX, facility whom
he alleges harassed and fired workers who rejected efforts to recruit them for a Reiki ―cult.‖
Technician William McCracken, 63, complains of religious discrimination in the activities of
the defendants who, he says, ―adhered to certain spiritual, religious teachings (of the cult
leader) and a ‗new age‘ belief system, including a practice known as Reiki.‖ (One of many
Reiki Web sites defined it as ―a method of natural healing based on the application of
Universal Life Force Energy.‖)
McCracken says a co-worker was fired after she refused to let a supervisor, allegedly the
cult leader, treat her cervical cancer. He alleges another colleague was terminated for
refusing to attend meetings at the supervisor‘s home. ―Favorable treatment‖ for Reiki
followers was the norm, and others were treated ―unfavorably,‖ he said. (Harvey Rice,
Houston Chronicle, Internet, 12/18/03)
Repressed Memories
Brain May Be Able to Bury Unwanted Memories
A team of researchers says in the January issue of Science that unwanted memories can
be expunged from the brain through the action of a particular circuit that is activated when
a person tries to forget something. The findings support the theory that memories can be
repressed and buried in the subconscious. Dr. David Spiegel, a professor of psychiatry at
the Stanford University School of Medicine, said the study supported the idea that people
can suppress traumatic memories and regain them later. (Anahad O‘Connor, New York
Times, 1/9/04)
Sikh
Canadian Leader Excommunicated
―The Body of Sikh Holy Men in Punjab‖ has excommunicated British Columbia-based
Harnek Singh Grewal, controversial leader of the Nanaksar sect, which has
congregations in Canada, the U.S., England, and India, for allegedly drinking liquor and
Annual membership payments for dues to the national organization, meeting space,
religious regalia, books, and tapes, can reportedly amount to 10% of take home pay.
Teaching that ―loving is giving and expecting nothing in return,‖ the movement collected
some $1.8 million in dues last year — $600,000 from Asia a Japanese woman gave
$57,000 — down 11% from the preceding year, and has some $13 million in assets. The
authors of the recent Sun Media [of Canada] exposé [which this report summarizes] say
they paid about $2,000 during the nine months they were associated with the group,
undercover. (Bridgette McCann in Edmonton Sun and Sun Media, Internet, 10/7,8, 10/03
Kevin Connor, Sun Media, 10/11/03)
Rajneesh
Spreading Ideas in Nepal
Swami Anand Arun, a 59-year-old civil engineer and disciple of the late Osho Rajneesh,
who has established a number of prosperous centers in Nepal devoted to the teachings of
the late guru, now plans to focus on starting centers in India. Regarding reports of
Rajneesh‘s extravagant lifestyle, free sex in his Ashrams, and criminal activities of some of
his disciples in the U.S., Arun says: ―People thought he was corrupting us. But then, it‘s the
lot of every master. Even Jesus was accused of corrupting the morals of the youth.‖
(Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Internet, 1/6/04)
Reiki
Members Allegedly Harass Fellow Exxon Lab Employees
A former Exxon Mobil Corp. employee is suing supervisors at the Baytown, TX, facility whom
he alleges harassed and fired workers who rejected efforts to recruit them for a Reiki ―cult.‖
Technician William McCracken, 63, complains of religious discrimination in the activities of
the defendants who, he says, ―adhered to certain spiritual, religious teachings (of the cult
leader) and a ‗new age‘ belief system, including a practice known as Reiki.‖ (One of many
Reiki Web sites defined it as ―a method of natural healing based on the application of
Universal Life Force Energy.‖)
McCracken says a co-worker was fired after she refused to let a supervisor, allegedly the
cult leader, treat her cervical cancer. He alleges another colleague was terminated for
refusing to attend meetings at the supervisor‘s home. ―Favorable treatment‖ for Reiki
followers was the norm, and others were treated ―unfavorably,‖ he said. (Harvey Rice,
Houston Chronicle, Internet, 12/18/03)
Repressed Memories
Brain May Be Able to Bury Unwanted Memories
A team of researchers says in the January issue of Science that unwanted memories can
be expunged from the brain through the action of a particular circuit that is activated when
a person tries to forget something. The findings support the theory that memories can be
repressed and buried in the subconscious. Dr. David Spiegel, a professor of psychiatry at
the Stanford University School of Medicine, said the study supported the idea that people
can suppress traumatic memories and regain them later. (Anahad O‘Connor, New York
Times, 1/9/04)
Sikh
Canadian Leader Excommunicated
―The Body of Sikh Holy Men in Punjab‖ has excommunicated British Columbia-based
Harnek Singh Grewal, controversial leader of the Nanaksar sect, which has
congregations in Canada, the U.S., England, and India, for allegedly drinking liquor and
