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  1. #1
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    Default When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    There is a restaurant nearby campus (and where I live) that is generally acknowledged to be run by cultists. You can kinda tell when you go in there. The food is vegetarian/ vegan, and actually very good. I've been warned by many people to "watch out" if I eat there though, because of the whole cult thing. Apparently they try to recruit or something. They've always seemed like eerily smilely, sari-wearing friendly people to me, and I never thought much about it. They all live in a place just down the road from me.

    I have a friend who eats there all the time though. He makes mention of what the waitresses say to him about their live philosophies, and I'm starting to worry he's getting brainwashed. It's a little funny, but also I wonder if I should warn him or something. He spent a whole evening going on and on about this one conversation he had with this waitress about Don Quiote (I can't spell his name, but you know, the windmill guy) and this crazy life lesson. Like, the whole evening he kept bringing it up, and relating stuff I said back to that story.

    Ok, I don't know if I'm just being Jealous Girlfriend about it, but for real, these people are known as creepy cultists. What should I do?

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    God/dess MrChristopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Are they Hare Krishna? I know they tend to have places near campuses offering cheap and/or free veggie meals, but you generally have to listen to their hoohah.

    They do make excellent food, though.
    waffles are just pancakes with little squares on them.

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    Featured Member teeth_of_the_hydra's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Yeah I was going to ask if they were Hare Krishna too.

    The good thing about Hare Krishnas is that they generally don't demand all your money. Well, maybe some branches/sects somewhere do, but my friendly Krishna neighbors in Hawaii tended toward modesty in moneygrubbing.

    The bad thing about Hare Krishnas is they don't demand all your money. They also tend to approach potential converts with patience, friendliness, and a disarming lack of dogmatism. If I may refer to my Hawaiian neighbors again, they were pretty focused on making the philosophies of the Bhagavad Gita (and the Upanishads? The Ramayana? I can't remember the names of all the relevant texts now) work with your personal beliefs. Very different than the standard Christian cult approach of IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW ME YOU ARE TOTALLY GOING TO HELL. This gentle innocuousness makes H.K.ism, in a way, that much more insidious. They're weird but not CRAZY the way that many people think cults will be, and your average openminded postmodern left-wing liberal college kid may find them very charming.

    However, it's still pretty tough to be a devout Hare Krishna in this day and age, what with the no drinking/ drugs/ sex/ tobacco/ chocolate/ garlic/ onions/ hot peppers/ eggs/ meat/ possibly dairy (?). So on the bright side, if your friend has any hedonistic tendencies, he'll probably turn the other way once he find out what Krishna consciousness entails.

    My advice? Let it go for a bit longer. Tell him if you're concerned, but don't lay it on too thick, because he could be simply and harmlessly curious (I was) and it could pass in a few days or weeks (It did with me. No garlic? This ain't the church for me). In a meantime, do a little bit of research. Maybe go into the cafe yourself and ask for some of their literature. With a healthy shield of skepticism, you won't get sucked in (if they are in fact a cult. If they're not, you can set your mind to rest) and you will learn something. Feel it out, see how creepy they make you feel, browse their materials, keep an eye peeled for unsettling things like solicitations for money and mention of aliens, mass marriage, mass suicide, currently living prophets, or the afterlife.

    If after a short time it looks like your friend is getting more deeply entangled with the creepies, report back to this thread and we will develop a game plan. Good luck, Miss Moon.
    Last edited by teeth_of_the_hydra; 03-20-2007 at 02:02 PM. Reason: thought of more unsettling things to list

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    God/dess MrChristopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    ^No garlic or onions? Wtf, do you know why? I've never heard that aspect of it. I'm gonna go hit up Google.
    waffles are just pancakes with little squares on them.

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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    H.K.s are no more a cult than any other religion. I've actually been to catholic ceremonies that had more of a cult vibe going on.

    But they look odd and it's not really an accepted religion now.

    I'm familiar with them and most of them are groovy folks who happen to pick that as their spiritual outlet. But of course, there's always a few nutsos. However, most of them are just people into eastern religion. Lots of younger, hippish types gravitate towards their temples. The Beatles were into it for awhile I believe.

    And as for no onions/garlic...well, I know lots of jews and muslims who won't eat certain foods. Just part of their beliefs.

    I'm a hardcore aetheist, but I don't see them as a cult, or at least the ones I'm familiar with.

    Oh yeah, they don't actually make you listen to their readings if you want free food. Lots of people would show up right when the food was ready and then mysteriously disappear after eating, lol.

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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    They're not H.K. They worship this one guy- he's some Hindu Weight Lifter who was famous back in the day in India. They all live with him in this house, and walk around in colourful (non Hare Krishna) Indian clothing. I've been in the cafe- it's full of pictures and stats of the weightlifting guy...the whole place is a shrine to him, really.

    They do live closeby, so my neighbour friend and I spy on them wandering around with saris (and parkas...it's still Ottawa). They look very high to me, and it seems like mass marriage or something. That's all I've gathered for now though. Whenever I've been to the cafe for lunch, they also seem kinda high.

    They may not be any worse than Hare Krishnas, but they are something unique (and IMO, weirder...anything that revolves around worshipping one living weirdo seems sketch to me).

    I'll just wait and see what happens I guess. This guy- ok, my kinda boyfriend, he has problems and stuff...he is all sensitive and I worry that this would seduce him. He's into Continental philosophy, and the Analytic philosopher in me worries that's crazy enough.

    gosh, I really hope he never reads this site

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    Featured Member LilSweetVixen's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Bhagwan Rajneesh?

    "You have demonic genius" -Naomi Wolf
    "I very much resent it when people - maybe with good intentions or from a progressive point of view - keep telling me, 'It's their culture' ... It's like saying the culture of Massachusetts is burning witches." -Azar Nafisi


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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Oh my god, yeah that's him. I never paid much attention to the pictures. Ok, I guess he's dead.

    I found this stuff after googling him...also, some of his followers poisoned 900 people with salmonella in the past.


    At its peak, they had about 200,000 members and 600 centers around the world. They were targeted by many anti-cult groups as an evil, mind control cult. One source, in a masterful stroke of religious disinformation, claimed that "Bhagwan" means "Master of the Vagina." He has been called the "sex guru."

    Beliefs and Practices

    Osho developed new forms of active meditation. The best known is Dynamic Meditation which often starts with strenuous physical activity followed by silence and celebration. These were expected to lead the individual to overcome repression, lower their personal inhibitions, develop a "state of emptiness", and attain enlightenment. The person then would have "no past, no future, no attachment, no mind, no ego, no self." Prior to 1985, the disciples wore red robes, and a necklace of 108 beads which had an attached picture of Rajneesh. Osho assigned a new name to each of the disciples. Men were given the title "Swami"; women were called "Ma". Although most members lived a frugal, simple lifestyle, Rajneesh himself lived in luxury. His collection 27 Rolls Royces, given to him by his followers, was well known. (Some sources say he had as many as 100 cars). Anti-cult groups claimed that he urged his disciples to sever their connection to their families of origin. It is true that he felt that the institution of the family was out of date and that it should be replaced with alternative forms of community and ways of caring for children. However, he actually encouraged individual disciples to make peace with their families. Many became disciples themselves, including Osho's own parents.

    He taught a form of Monism, that God was in everything and everyone. There is no division between "God" and "not-God". People, even at their worse, are divine. He recognized Jesus Christ as having attained enlightenment, and believed that he survived his crucifixion and moved to India where he died at the age of 112. Osho was noted for reading very offensive jokes; some were anti-Semitic; others were anti-Roman Catholicism; others insulted just about every ethnic and religious group in the world. He explained that the purpose of these jokes was to shock people and to encourage them to examine their identification with and attachment to their ethnic or religious beliefs. His contention was that national, religious, gender and racial divisions are destructive


    Yeah, no wonder classmates have said "stay away from that crazy cult restaurant". Shit. By the way, the above information came from a website IN SUPPORT of that crazy fucker.

  9. #9
    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    lol, just in RE of hare kristinas- one of the dancers at my club is very much hare, she was brought up on a commune, and is easily the aweosmeonest most grounded chick ive met in this industry. she doesnt eat meat, or dairy, and has only just tried seafood for the first time. i dont think she really practices all the much now, what with being a stripper and all, but it was interesting hearing her stories.


    as for the weightlifter dude? it doesnt sound all that bad... no worse form these stupid fucking bible belters in the states giving up tonnes of money to make a MC rich preaching god stuff?

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    God/dess Sirona's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    NM...



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    God/dess Paris's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    The Rajneesh-ies are terrorists. It was in Oregon that they poisoned local area restaurants. When they were arrested for the crime it was discovered that they were plotting other terrorist activities.

    They weren't peaceful, that's for damn sure. I was in high school when all that crap went down, but they were basically acting as a group to find Americans to marry foreign terrorists, so as to bring those foreigners into our country.

    They lured people in with the sex orgies and drugs. Then "forced" the converts to work 20 hour work days with very little food or water (basically enslaved their recruits). Mean while, the Bagwhan was becoming very wealthy and was being investigated by local and federal authorities for drug and weapons trafficking as well as a plot to murder the Attorney General of Oregon.

    The Rajneeshees committed the first act of bio terrorism on American soil. This is a dangerous cult, and you should give your friend the facts. The most recent situation a cult member was sentenced to prison on Jan 30, 2006 for a terror plot.


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    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    ^^ holy shit thats scary paris!

  13. #13
    mermaidnz
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    and

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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Quote Originally Posted by mermaidnz View Post
    ^^ holy shit thats scary paris!
    It would be a lot more scary if they were smart and sober. They are crazy as the Manson Family, but they don't have their mastermind any more. He ran away to India (or Pakistan, I can't remember which), and was not allowed to return to the US. He died like 10 or 15 years ago. They don't really have any brains left of their operations.

    Everyone who was smart and charismatic ended up arrested or deported. So basically this group is only a threat to the chronically insecure, much in the same way an inner city gang works. Not a terrorist threat like they were back in the 80's.


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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    MAN. I am never eating there again. And I am telling tthe friend what those kooky people are all about. Thanks for the info people.

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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Here's an article dated November 2004 about Ma Anand Sheela. Her and Osama Bin Laden may be soul mates. Appearently she has lost her motivation to take over the world now in her later years.

    The Red Menace


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    God/dess VegasPrincess's Avatar
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Dude, that is some freaky fucking shit. And all this talk about Veganism is making me want a big steak
    Sexy Jasmine after getting fucked over at work:

    God loves strippers and when guys do things like that its an automatic ticket to HELL!


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  18. #18
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    yes, molly, tell the friend ASAP. but, honestly, that friend will probably not listen. i spek from experience:
    two cousins of mine were/are in a cult. one was removed (kidnapped by our family) and un-brainwashed, while the other never was able to be pulled out of it. any trust fund he would have gotten he'd have given right to the cult to my grandfather never let him have it- even says on the trust, "when he turns 25 or when he has severed all ties with xyz cult."

    once someone is in, they are VERY rarely pulled back out to normal society. it's scary for sure but be prepared, your friend might tell you that that's a whole lot of bad PR and that they are very nice people. so be prepared to lose him to it, or lose the friendship over it, whch is what happened btwn my one cousin's former fiancee and him. so.. yea.. approach it with wisely chosen words and sentiment!

    Love it!

  19. #19
    aussiepunkshocker
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    Default Re: When a friend is being seduced by a cult...

    Cool, lol. At Sante Fe one of the bouncers was a Hare Krishna, he was really cool too!

    I used to work with a girl whos aunt had run off to live on one Bhagwan Rajneeshs communes - there were the ones who were known as The Orange People wernt they? Her aunt sounded cool though, but she did end up leaving. I dont know much about them other than that.


    Quote Originally Posted by mermaidnz View Post
    lol, just in RE of hare kristinas- one of the dancers at my club is very much hare, she was brought up on a commune, and is easily the aweosmeonest most grounded chick ive met in this industry. she doesnt eat meat, or dairy, and has only just tried seafood for the first time. i dont think she really practices all the much now, what with being a stripper and all, but it was interesting hearing her stories.


    as for the weightlifter dude? it doesnt sound all that bad... no worse form these stupid fucking bible belters in the states giving up tonnes of money to make a MC rich preaching god stuff?

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