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Lorna Goldberg |Intergenerational Transmission of Cult Trauma
Members were anxious about avoiding trouble and
creating bad karma to avoid judgment from others. This
kept members centered on attaining the impossible
goal of enlightenment, shifting their focus outward
away from self-awareness, critical thinking, and self-
acceptance. The cult’s black-and-white thinking was
delivered in a judgmental manner, and parents felt
pressured to teach their children to conform to cult
rules. This attitude led children to harsh self-judgment
and to externalize judgmental thinking towards others.
The Cult’s Harsh Moral Code Induced Anika’s and
David’s Hyperactive Monitoring of Voice and Anxiety
The need to conform to the strict rules of the cult created
intense anxiety for both Anika and David, becoming
the default setting of their nervous systems. The need
for adherence to the cult’s strict code caused them to
self-monitor each thought and action. This monitoring
was pragmatic because members were constantly
under observation and evaluation, and there was
always a concern about being reported to the leader.
Even during the inward-facing practices of meditation
and chanting, Anika’s hypervigilance caused her to
remain aware of how she appeared outwardly, knowing
that the leader might be watching via a closed-circuit
camera to see how still she sat and how attentively she
performed the practice.
Members also worried about creating bad karma by not
adhering to the rules. They feared being reincarnated
with a less fortunate human birth or even as a lower,
non-human life form. Anika and David were, therefore,
outwardly focused and would be ashamed to be seen as
deficient. Anika worried about so many things: Was she
in trouble? Who were her friends? Did she please the
leader? Was she adequately demonstrating her yearning
for the cult’s goals? Was she showing self-discipline in
her practices? Did she do her service well? As a result,
she became chronically stressed. Similarly, as a child,
David was concerned about reincarnation and worried
he would be reincarnated as a worm if he did not follow
the rules. He was flooded with guilt and emotional pain
if he was not being “productive.” When anxiety became
intense, Anika and David might chant or meditate to
dissociate. By doing so, they tricked themselves into
thinking they were “above” emotions, or they would
rationalize that there were no problematic emotions to
deal with in the first place.
Cult Control: A Hierarchical System
Cult followers believed the leader was a perfect human
being who could awaken the kundalini. They felt
special and superior compared to those outside the
cult because they served a “perfect master” and had an
awakened kundalini. They believed they were uniquely
blessed, mystically endowed, and stood apart from
the rest of humanity. They believed the leader had
bestowed upon them “divine grace,” which would make
their lives easier, happier, and wealthier than those of
those “out in the world” who lacked this grace.
The cult had a potent hierarchy within which followers
strove to advance by attempting to present themselves
as devoted followers. Proximity to the leader led to a
higher status and was energetically pursued by many.
Achieving a higher status led to prized rewards and
the perception of advancing towards “Enlightenment.”
These rewards included
• More attention from and time with the leader
• Gifts from the leader, including expensive jewelry
and other luxury items
• Invitations to private meetings with the leader
• Receiving “blessed” leftover food from the leader’s
meal
• Receiving an item of the leader’s unwanted clothing
• Being hosted by those close to the leader
• Assignment to a nicer room, closer to the leader’s
suite of rooms
• Invitations to eat in a private dining area
• Access to a nicer car from the carpool shared by
members
Although never explicitly acknowledged, status was
granted to long-term resident members based on
complete submission to the leader, skill in an area
needed by the cult or that could make the cult money,
tireless work without complaint, decades of selfless
service, conforming completely to cult rules, significant
monetary donations to the cult, female gender, or
physical attractiveness. For visitors, a higher status
was granted based on wealth, fame, or social status.
Hollywood types were particularly honored.
According to Anika, members anxiously concentrated
on enhancing their status within the hierarchy to avoid
feelings of failure and self-loathing. They prioritized
Lorna Goldberg |Intergenerational Transmission of Cult Trauma
Members were anxious about avoiding trouble and
creating bad karma to avoid judgment from others. This
kept members centered on attaining the impossible
goal of enlightenment, shifting their focus outward
away from self-awareness, critical thinking, and self-
acceptance. The cult’s black-and-white thinking was
delivered in a judgmental manner, and parents felt
pressured to teach their children to conform to cult
rules. This attitude led children to harsh self-judgment
and to externalize judgmental thinking towards others.
The Cult’s Harsh Moral Code Induced Anika’s and
David’s Hyperactive Monitoring of Voice and Anxiety
The need to conform to the strict rules of the cult created
intense anxiety for both Anika and David, becoming
the default setting of their nervous systems. The need
for adherence to the cult’s strict code caused them to
self-monitor each thought and action. This monitoring
was pragmatic because members were constantly
under observation and evaluation, and there was
always a concern about being reported to the leader.
Even during the inward-facing practices of meditation
and chanting, Anika’s hypervigilance caused her to
remain aware of how she appeared outwardly, knowing
that the leader might be watching via a closed-circuit
camera to see how still she sat and how attentively she
performed the practice.
Members also worried about creating bad karma by not
adhering to the rules. They feared being reincarnated
with a less fortunate human birth or even as a lower,
non-human life form. Anika and David were, therefore,
outwardly focused and would be ashamed to be seen as
deficient. Anika worried about so many things: Was she
in trouble? Who were her friends? Did she please the
leader? Was she adequately demonstrating her yearning
for the cult’s goals? Was she showing self-discipline in
her practices? Did she do her service well? As a result,
she became chronically stressed. Similarly, as a child,
David was concerned about reincarnation and worried
he would be reincarnated as a worm if he did not follow
the rules. He was flooded with guilt and emotional pain
if he was not being “productive.” When anxiety became
intense, Anika and David might chant or meditate to
dissociate. By doing so, they tricked themselves into
thinking they were “above” emotions, or they would
rationalize that there were no problematic emotions to
deal with in the first place.
Cult Control: A Hierarchical System
Cult followers believed the leader was a perfect human
being who could awaken the kundalini. They felt
special and superior compared to those outside the
cult because they served a “perfect master” and had an
awakened kundalini. They believed they were uniquely
blessed, mystically endowed, and stood apart from
the rest of humanity. They believed the leader had
bestowed upon them “divine grace,” which would make
their lives easier, happier, and wealthier than those of
those “out in the world” who lacked this grace.
The cult had a potent hierarchy within which followers
strove to advance by attempting to present themselves
as devoted followers. Proximity to the leader led to a
higher status and was energetically pursued by many.
Achieving a higher status led to prized rewards and
the perception of advancing towards “Enlightenment.”
These rewards included
• More attention from and time with the leader
• Gifts from the leader, including expensive jewelry
and other luxury items
• Invitations to private meetings with the leader
• Receiving “blessed” leftover food from the leader’s
meal
• Receiving an item of the leader’s unwanted clothing
• Being hosted by those close to the leader
• Assignment to a nicer room, closer to the leader’s
suite of rooms
• Invitations to eat in a private dining area
• Access to a nicer car from the carpool shared by
members
Although never explicitly acknowledged, status was
granted to long-term resident members based on
complete submission to the leader, skill in an area
needed by the cult or that could make the cult money,
tireless work without complaint, decades of selfless
service, conforming completely to cult rules, significant
monetary donations to the cult, female gender, or
physical attractiveness. For visitors, a higher status
was granted based on wealth, fame, or social status.
Hollywood types were particularly honored.
According to Anika, members anxiously concentrated
on enhancing their status within the hierarchy to avoid
feelings of failure and self-loathing. They prioritized
