Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989, Page 37
he “can't stop now.” And so the need to talk is stronger than the need for sleep. “This is the
first time in a long time that he has felt free to express himself. All the other times he's felt
too guilty.” Curt noted that Ken might be entering the stage when many cultists “snap.” The
snapping point is usually preceded by a strong drive to talk (“hyper-talk”). “Ifs a good sign,”
he said.
Ken debates, then relates. Inside Ken's room, Sandy and Ken discussed India. Ken began
defending India as a spiritual and progressive country, while Sandy, Brian, and Curt (who
had just re-entered the room) pointed out that conditions are as bad as ever there. After
about 10 minutes or so, Brian and Sandy shifted the conversation toward a discussion of
how cult recruiting and sales techniques are similar. Sandy suggested similarities between
Ken's experiences in ISKCON and his own experience in a Bible cult. Curt read an article in
which ISKCON criticized the Berkeley (California) temple (led by guru Hansadutta) for
various excesses, including possession of guns. Curt criticized ISKCON's belated
acknowledgment of the Berkeley temple's excesses. “This is scapegoating. Once the cops
busted this temple, all of a sudden all of ISKCON is quick to denounce this temple as an
aberration.” Ken defended ISKCON. Yes this is despicable, but ISKCON itself is to be
commended for its official disapproval of these excesses. Responding to Curt's confrontation
of his unquestioning acceptance of the “official” ISKCON line, Ken admitted that to question
the official line is equal to blasphemy. Curt thanked him for being honest about it, adding
that “you know, what you're stressing to us now ...is the very same thing everybody thinks
about. Everybody feels it, everybody.” Ken hesitantly admitted to occasional “blasphemy,”
as Greg and Curt attempted to reframe his self- condemnation. They noted how human it is
to have critical thoughts about bad practices, and they pointed out how this is true for all
cultists, in all cults. Ken agreed, but continued to ague that critical thinking is a sign of
imperfection, of the need to spiritually purify the Self. Curt then read a testimonial (entitled
“Letter of Appreciation and Apology to my Deprogrammers”) from Mary, another Krishna he
deprogrammed. Mary described how she was instructed by ISKCON to resist the
deprogramming. Resistance consisted of going along with the deprogrammers until you can
get free by: (a) defeating them with logic, (b) leaving the deprogramming site, (c) if steps
(a) and (b) fail, cut the deprogrammers' tongues, and/or (d) kill them and/or yourself. Ken
began to relate his feelings about his own current predicament. At first he was very upset,
and even now he felt afraid, but maybe this was for the best. He admitted that he was “so
wound up on Ham Krishna,” but that he had always had doubts. Curt reminded Ken not to
“bullshit” him, yet on the other hand he seemed to acknowledge Ken's disclosure by
reminding him that “to be human” is to doubt, and that doubting isn't the same as indulging
in all your senses (i.e., the two are not the same, as ISKCON says). The conversation
digressed from that point, as Curt first talked briefly about his history of drug abuse, and
then participated with Ken and the deprogrammers in an equally brief discussion about
some movies. This conversation was highlighted by Greg's Jack Nicholson imitation. Curt
put an end to the side conversations by remarking “Uh, we're trying to get it to look like a
deprogramming is going on in here.” The conversation refocused on criticizing ISKCON
doctrine, but with lots of humor interlaced. Curt asked Ken what he had mad in the papers
about Mary, whose involvement with and exit from ISKCON achieved considerable notoriety.
Ken replied that she did not sound very intelligent. Greg returned with a challenge to
ISKCON's denigration of women. “Just like any other woman eh?” Curt continued to read
Mary's account of her deprogramming as Ken questioned parts he had difficulty following.
He did not seem to be criticizing, but rather was just trying to follow the story. Bobbi asked
Ken how he first learned that Mary was “rescued.” Ken laughed at Bobbi's choice of terms.
“I never heard it called that before.”
An early “confession.” Ken began to discuss how he would go out to buy newspapers for
his guru and would read some of them himself, even though this was against ISKCON rules.
This was only one of Ken's supposed transgressions. Ken disclosed more, including a story
he “can't stop now.” And so the need to talk is stronger than the need for sleep. “This is the
first time in a long time that he has felt free to express himself. All the other times he's felt
too guilty.” Curt noted that Ken might be entering the stage when many cultists “snap.” The
snapping point is usually preceded by a strong drive to talk (“hyper-talk”). “Ifs a good sign,”
he said.
Ken debates, then relates. Inside Ken's room, Sandy and Ken discussed India. Ken began
defending India as a spiritual and progressive country, while Sandy, Brian, and Curt (who
had just re-entered the room) pointed out that conditions are as bad as ever there. After
about 10 minutes or so, Brian and Sandy shifted the conversation toward a discussion of
how cult recruiting and sales techniques are similar. Sandy suggested similarities between
Ken's experiences in ISKCON and his own experience in a Bible cult. Curt read an article in
which ISKCON criticized the Berkeley (California) temple (led by guru Hansadutta) for
various excesses, including possession of guns. Curt criticized ISKCON's belated
acknowledgment of the Berkeley temple's excesses. “This is scapegoating. Once the cops
busted this temple, all of a sudden all of ISKCON is quick to denounce this temple as an
aberration.” Ken defended ISKCON. Yes this is despicable, but ISKCON itself is to be
commended for its official disapproval of these excesses. Responding to Curt's confrontation
of his unquestioning acceptance of the “official” ISKCON line, Ken admitted that to question
the official line is equal to blasphemy. Curt thanked him for being honest about it, adding
that “you know, what you're stressing to us now ...is the very same thing everybody thinks
about. Everybody feels it, everybody.” Ken hesitantly admitted to occasional “blasphemy,”
as Greg and Curt attempted to reframe his self- condemnation. They noted how human it is
to have critical thoughts about bad practices, and they pointed out how this is true for all
cultists, in all cults. Ken agreed, but continued to ague that critical thinking is a sign of
imperfection, of the need to spiritually purify the Self. Curt then read a testimonial (entitled
“Letter of Appreciation and Apology to my Deprogrammers”) from Mary, another Krishna he
deprogrammed. Mary described how she was instructed by ISKCON to resist the
deprogramming. Resistance consisted of going along with the deprogrammers until you can
get free by: (a) defeating them with logic, (b) leaving the deprogramming site, (c) if steps
(a) and (b) fail, cut the deprogrammers' tongues, and/or (d) kill them and/or yourself. Ken
began to relate his feelings about his own current predicament. At first he was very upset,
and even now he felt afraid, but maybe this was for the best. He admitted that he was “so
wound up on Ham Krishna,” but that he had always had doubts. Curt reminded Ken not to
“bullshit” him, yet on the other hand he seemed to acknowledge Ken's disclosure by
reminding him that “to be human” is to doubt, and that doubting isn't the same as indulging
in all your senses (i.e., the two are not the same, as ISKCON says). The conversation
digressed from that point, as Curt first talked briefly about his history of drug abuse, and
then participated with Ken and the deprogrammers in an equally brief discussion about
some movies. This conversation was highlighted by Greg's Jack Nicholson imitation. Curt
put an end to the side conversations by remarking “Uh, we're trying to get it to look like a
deprogramming is going on in here.” The conversation refocused on criticizing ISKCON
doctrine, but with lots of humor interlaced. Curt asked Ken what he had mad in the papers
about Mary, whose involvement with and exit from ISKCON achieved considerable notoriety.
Ken replied that she did not sound very intelligent. Greg returned with a challenge to
ISKCON's denigration of women. “Just like any other woman eh?” Curt continued to read
Mary's account of her deprogramming as Ken questioned parts he had difficulty following.
He did not seem to be criticizing, but rather was just trying to follow the story. Bobbi asked
Ken how he first learned that Mary was “rescued.” Ken laughed at Bobbi's choice of terms.
“I never heard it called that before.”
An early “confession.” Ken began to discuss how he would go out to buy newspapers for
his guru and would read some of them himself, even though this was against ISKCON rules.
This was only one of Ken's supposed transgressions. Ken disclosed more, including a story
