Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989, Page 74
discussed this manipulation of guilt Ken was incredulous once again: “I find it hard to
believe I was caught up in this.” Dara, Greg, and Ken then talked about the process of
reentry. Dara noted that for her it was gradual. For example, she did not eat meat until 6
months later. Greg, however, noted that he had asked for a hamburger right away. There
was some kidding of Greg for having been “ravenous” for meat afterwards. I noted to
myself how subtly both possibilities were thus presented to Ken.
Ken predicted that re-entry would be more gradual for him. His prediction would later come
true. He reflected on his eating patterns during the deprogramming. On the first day, he ate
only fruit on the second day he ate spaghetti with onion and garlic on the third day he ate
bread even though “it was made by karmis.” Greg asked Ken if the onions and garlic acted
as an aphrodisiac, the way ISKCON had predicted. Ken laughed, “No,” and he admitted how
good last nights mushroom pizza had tasted. They talked about vegetarianism. Greg
reported a claim by some researchers that the amount of nutrition one gets from a
vegetarian diet is in part dependent on the culture. If you are accustomed to a vegetarian
diet, you can get the nutrition. If these diets are not customary, your body will take some
time to get used to the switch from meat to vegetables.
I wrote in my notes that the talk continued to seem balanced somewhat evenly between
deprogrammer and deprogrammee. They talked about ISKCON's demand for obedience,
and the child-like reinforcers that are used (e.g., gurus giving out cookies to “good”
devotees, or the threat that Krishna will “kick you” if you misbehave).
Dara's style: My impressions 1. With Dara's arrival, the deprogramming had taken a
somewhat different emotional tone. While Curt, Sandy, and Greg had been confrontational
at times, they never became personally confrontational. Ken was now more clearly “bonded”
with the deprogrammers (including, if only by association, Dara), so he was probably more
sensitive to disapproving remarks. Dara continued to confront Ken when he responded to
questions with Krishna terminology, even if he was critical of ISKCON. She interpreted Ken's
use of ISKCON terminology as vestiges of brainwashing. Interestingly, Greg (who in some
ways was emotionally closest to Ken) joined in the confrontation, reminding Ken of how he
had only the night before used the Krishna term “agitawd” to describe sexual arousal Ken
became defensive again, denying that his use of Krishna terminology indicated lingering
brainwashing. He felt expunged of any signs or symptoms of mind control. Changing the
topic, Ken talked about how ISKCON kept him from getting close to people. “Even if they
were really nice, I would think they were in maya ...I would have to keep my distance. Yet
there are a lot of devotees in the movement that I can't stand.” They discussed how
ISKCON “understanding” was superficial. A devotee might mimic empathy, “It‟s OK, I
understand. You were just overcome by the mode of passion.” Ken noted how this was not
real understanding at all.
Dara and Ken. The discourse returned to how historical facts and current realities do not
confirm ISKCON doctrine and predictions. Ken gave examples of instances in which his
questions about history were viewed negatively by his superiors. Once, for example, he
asked his teachers how today's primitive culture of India could have developed from the
advanced Hindu-based civilization of 5,000 years ago. Dara interrupted Ken's story: “They
must have hated you for asking questions like that. What a great question!” Ken continued.
They answered by telling him to stop being on a mental platform. He was told to “stop
trying to challenge” his guru. Dara talked about the ISKCON belief that Christ went to India
and came under the influence of Krishnas, which is supposed to explain Christ's status as a
pure devotee (on par with Prabhupada). Critics of ISKCON believe the elevation of Christ to
“pure devotee” status is merely a convenience to make the Hare Krishna movement more
palatable to Western, Christian culture. ISKCON uses the “Aquarian Gospel” to support this
contention. However, Dara quoted a passage from the “Aquarian Gospel” in which Christ is
supposed to have called Krishna worshippers “bodies [people] without spirit ..temples
discussed this manipulation of guilt Ken was incredulous once again: “I find it hard to
believe I was caught up in this.” Dara, Greg, and Ken then talked about the process of
reentry. Dara noted that for her it was gradual. For example, she did not eat meat until 6
months later. Greg, however, noted that he had asked for a hamburger right away. There
was some kidding of Greg for having been “ravenous” for meat afterwards. I noted to
myself how subtly both possibilities were thus presented to Ken.
Ken predicted that re-entry would be more gradual for him. His prediction would later come
true. He reflected on his eating patterns during the deprogramming. On the first day, he ate
only fruit on the second day he ate spaghetti with onion and garlic on the third day he ate
bread even though “it was made by karmis.” Greg asked Ken if the onions and garlic acted
as an aphrodisiac, the way ISKCON had predicted. Ken laughed, “No,” and he admitted how
good last nights mushroom pizza had tasted. They talked about vegetarianism. Greg
reported a claim by some researchers that the amount of nutrition one gets from a
vegetarian diet is in part dependent on the culture. If you are accustomed to a vegetarian
diet, you can get the nutrition. If these diets are not customary, your body will take some
time to get used to the switch from meat to vegetables.
I wrote in my notes that the talk continued to seem balanced somewhat evenly between
deprogrammer and deprogrammee. They talked about ISKCON's demand for obedience,
and the child-like reinforcers that are used (e.g., gurus giving out cookies to “good”
devotees, or the threat that Krishna will “kick you” if you misbehave).
Dara's style: My impressions 1. With Dara's arrival, the deprogramming had taken a
somewhat different emotional tone. While Curt, Sandy, and Greg had been confrontational
at times, they never became personally confrontational. Ken was now more clearly “bonded”
with the deprogrammers (including, if only by association, Dara), so he was probably more
sensitive to disapproving remarks. Dara continued to confront Ken when he responded to
questions with Krishna terminology, even if he was critical of ISKCON. She interpreted Ken's
use of ISKCON terminology as vestiges of brainwashing. Interestingly, Greg (who in some
ways was emotionally closest to Ken) joined in the confrontation, reminding Ken of how he
had only the night before used the Krishna term “agitawd” to describe sexual arousal Ken
became defensive again, denying that his use of Krishna terminology indicated lingering
brainwashing. He felt expunged of any signs or symptoms of mind control. Changing the
topic, Ken talked about how ISKCON kept him from getting close to people. “Even if they
were really nice, I would think they were in maya ...I would have to keep my distance. Yet
there are a lot of devotees in the movement that I can't stand.” They discussed how
ISKCON “understanding” was superficial. A devotee might mimic empathy, “It‟s OK, I
understand. You were just overcome by the mode of passion.” Ken noted how this was not
real understanding at all.
Dara and Ken. The discourse returned to how historical facts and current realities do not
confirm ISKCON doctrine and predictions. Ken gave examples of instances in which his
questions about history were viewed negatively by his superiors. Once, for example, he
asked his teachers how today's primitive culture of India could have developed from the
advanced Hindu-based civilization of 5,000 years ago. Dara interrupted Ken's story: “They
must have hated you for asking questions like that. What a great question!” Ken continued.
They answered by telling him to stop being on a mental platform. He was told to “stop
trying to challenge” his guru. Dara talked about the ISKCON belief that Christ went to India
and came under the influence of Krishnas, which is supposed to explain Christ's status as a
pure devotee (on par with Prabhupada). Critics of ISKCON believe the elevation of Christ to
“pure devotee” status is merely a convenience to make the Hare Krishna movement more
palatable to Western, Christian culture. ISKCON uses the “Aquarian Gospel” to support this
contention. However, Dara quoted a passage from the “Aquarian Gospel” in which Christ is
supposed to have called Krishna worshippers “bodies [people] without spirit ..temples
