The Meditation Center became affiliated with the Himalayan Institute, and eventually Pandit Arya achieved his dream of having his own ashram in India, when Swami Rama made him president of his Rishikesh ashram. Following on the wave of favorable publicity, Swami Rama founded the Himalayan Institute in Illinois in 1971. Carolyn had sought a consultation with Pandit Rajmani, who told her that Megan was either lying because she was "on an ego trip," or fantasizing a sexual encounter that had never taken place. Rose spent the next six months moving from place to place, terrified that the Institute network would track her down. During that time, neither of them would see any other, and she should never tell anyone. In a few months time she would handle his bank account, income taxes, everything. Irwin Schneider, the lawyer for the Himalayan Institute, conceded that it was morally wrong for the Swami Rama to have sex with the woman from North Carolina, a 19-year-old student at the time. Instead they deny the experience of the "unenlightened" women who are the guru's victims. A system that encourages such vulnerable individuals to give up their own "egotistical" judgment to the arbitrary whims of one person is one of the key features of a totalist organization, or "cult.". Himalayan Institute of Technology Ranking and Awards. A rash of articles featuring Swami Rama appeared in national magazines, including Time, People, and Playboy. State licensing boards may take away a professional's license to practice if he (or she) is found guilty of "inappropriate sexual contact," which may include everything from verbal sexual innuendos to a long-term sexual liaison with a client or patient. Gurus were supposed to have conquered their desires, but in the spiritual literature they were often portrayed as contradictory, tricking their disciples into enlightenment. Finally I found an opportunity to broach the topic of the lawsuit with Carolyn. Dr. Ballentine, who says he studied psychology at the Sorbonne and completed his training in psychiatry at Louisiana State University, defends Nuernberger. A short time later, Swami Rama let her go as his secretary-because, she says he told her, she didn't really want the job. In recent years, the harm caused to women by "sex in the forbidden zone" has been recognized in their codes of ethics by most universities and professional associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. Only recently has she acknowledged her anger at Swami Rama. She could not control her emotions, he could not talk to her! But the Institute does not teach the mastery of such powers in its programs, instead focusing on yoga practices with more immediate practical application. Discover our new online platform for community, courses, and content. When Swami Rama returned from India two months later, Carolyn resumed working as his appointments secretary during the day, and, she says, as his sexual servant on some nights. Some were afraid of Institute retaliation; most were afraid of hurting their families, who in some cases do not know about the abuses the women suffered; still others were worried that their professional reputations would be harmed. She walked around New York City for hours, until it was time for her bus to return to Honesdale. The institute has branches in the United States, Europe, and India. You're bound to get mixed up. Its mission, according to the Articles of Incorporation, was "to make known to the members and people in general the real, synthetic, and harmonious view of world religions and philosophy in terms of modern scientific achievements and undertake researches for all around ethical, social, economical, and spiritual development of humanity to attain world peace, international integration, understanding, and spiritual awakening of the human race." Those who build boundaries around themselves because of their ego problems create suffering for themselves." Pandit Tigunait holds two doctorates: one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad, India, and one in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Yet she is vulnerable to feeling re-victimized every time her experience is denied or distorted. Allegations of sexual abuse by Swami Rama have followed on the heels of the Institute's success like a shadow. Years later, Rose contacted Patricia Trescelli, hoping to support a lawsuit by other women working with Trescelli and hoping to press charges against Swami Rama in her own sexual assault. When they have contacted their friends and former colleagues at the Institute, they have been discounted as liars or labeled "emotionally disturbed." He bragged about his sumptuous homes in India and Japan and about his shopping sprees for designer clothes, she says. And there is a statement, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'" Wisdom must show itself in action and lovingness." The jury called the abuse "spiritual incest . Shortly after Marston filed her suit in 1978, Nuernberger moved to Honesdale, where he is currently a member of the Institute's teaching staff. And Carolyn's residential Program supervisor told her that the scandal was "a big test for all of us and a cleansing for the Institute-we'll see who stays.". But all of them, whether they appear here under a pseudonym or as a background source, understand that if this article provokes a libel suit they can be called to testify in court. Megan says her feelings told her that something was amiss, but because of the social environment, she began to entertain the notion that the Swami's motives might not be what they appeared to be, and that his attempts at a con job might be a spiritual test. Is it not better to follow someone who has charted the path?". And that was the first time I realized what all that stuff meant-the other women, the 'goofy' file, and the rumors about the lawsuit. A world leader in yoga, meditation, and holistic health, we are dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. Nor does Dr. Ballentine mention that in 1977 Nuernberger was formally reprimanded by the Minnesota Board of Psychology for unethical practices stemming from his relationship with a third woman patient. They resided in their own house in Honesdale, unencumbered by the strict rules of the residential program. The daughter of an alcoholic, she longed for guidance from a spiritual authority figure. I told her what I'd heard, and that I wasn't sure the rumor was true-as a beginning student of yoga and meditation at the Institute's East West Books in New York City, I was reluctant to believe it myself. After a sleepless night, she said she snuck out at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. and drove to Brian and Terry's empty house in Honesdale. But to accept a tuition-free second year, or even to leave the Institute quietly, Megan says, would have meant giving tacit approval to the continuing exploitation. Carolyn says she spent years blaming herself and trying to rationalize away what she now regards as sexual abuse. The Swami, she says, bragged to a crowd of disciples that the woman would do whatever he told her, then put his dog's collar and leash around her neck and walked her back and forth, while the others laughed. She specializes in Myotherapy, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Swedish Relaxation, Sports Therapy, and Hot Stone Massage. Terry* and Brian* say they were recruited into the Himalayan Institute's inner circle for their wealth and social connections. Carolyn says he called her out to Glenview for a special appointment, at which he invited her to come live and work at his new ashram in Honesdale-and told her he would waive the usual residential program fees. Carolyn says she knew that Swami Rama often promised his disciples he would take them to India or appoint them to important positions within the Institute-promises that rarely materialized. Study Online But their encounters were exactly the same as before, she says-emotionally impersonal and sexually mechanical. Our members consist of a vibrant residential community of practitioners, karma yogis (service-driven seekers), and faculty-in-residence as well as a global community of seekers, committed to living their spiritual values. Himalayan Institute Humanitarian is a 501(c)(3) public charity supporting the educational and charitable projects of the Himalayan Institute. Ex-members say he has counseled patients in the Combined Therapy Program, although he lost is license to practice psychology in Minnesota in 1979. India Himalayan Institute India Our program model in India has been designed to focus on three initiatives: providing educational programs for children to help them rise above poverty level, preserving ancient culture and wisdom, and providing support for villagers dealing with natural disasters. Himalayan Institute locations 3.6 Honesdale, PA Show all locations What's being discussed at Himalayan Institute? And that did not undermine Mahatma Gandhi's work!& No, this would not be shattering, certainly not. Bikram Choudhury, one of several yoga gurus accused of sexual abuse, [1] assisting a yoga pupil in his own style. The Himalayan Institute and its varied activities and programs exemplify the spiritual heritage of mankind that unites East and West, spirituality and science, ancient wisdom and modern technology. Allegations of such abuse have been made against modern yoga gurus such as Bikram . No one had thoroughly investigated, until journalist Katharine Webster decided to spend two years researching their allegations. Himalayan Institute Online Our new online platform for community, courses, and content. She said no: She had been on a work crew Swami Rama had ordered to week poison ivy roots for his new garden, and she was covered with oozing blisters. Carolyn rationalized: Swamiji was her guru, so even though the prospect of having sex with him seemed morally wrong and physically revolting, he must be doing it for her own good. Two months after Swami Rama left for India, Carolyn went to Chicago to visit her family for Christmas. In mid-autumn, the day came for Swami Rama's annual trip to India. When she shared her news with the other residents at East West Books, they told her she should feel honored: She had been chosen, while long-time devotees had been denied the privilege. Most of the former members of the Institute who agreed to be interviewed for this article were also afraid to have their identities revealed; they appear under pseudonyms, marked with an asterisk. But the University of Scranton didn't offer a degree program in Carolyn's area of study, so she saw a way to rationalize leaving the Institute while still saving face; she could still be considered a good disciple if she cold get the guru's blessing to go away to college. Well organized, fine atmosphere, and a strong community. Halfway through their meal, Carolyn remembers, Martha hesitantly said, "I know this will sound like a weird question, but has Swamiji ever asked you to have sex with him?" But the purified ego is a means in discriminating real Self from not-self-real Self from mere self. During this spiel, she says, he put his hand on her buttocks, but she told him she wasn't buying it. In today's Academic Minute, the University of Houston's Christopher Burnett determines how bad the damage can be. Ag Innovation Center Business Plan. At bottom, however, she believed her feelings didn't matter. Carolyn says she told him no, it "just didn't feel right." "The person wanted something, and the other person did not agree to fulfill their desires," he says. She was dreamy! Become more involved with the projects of the ashram-seminars, residents, the patient program-in time she would be in charge of the whole thing. Minneapolis was the site of another Institute-related scandal in 1981. Rose said that she struggled, but the guru physically overpowered her, throwing himself on top of her on the bed and forcing her to perform oral sex. In my interviews with current and former members of the Institute, I heard an almost unvarying litany of beliefs about Swami Rama's abilities. She took a meditation class at the alternative high school program she attended, and one evening her teachers invited her to a lecture by their guru, Swami Rama, who was visiting the Chicago area. So far, none of their attempts to communicate their experiences has been met by official Institute willingness to investigate their charges. God knows whether it was true or not, and even if it was true, this is a normal phenomenon. When he told her to visit him at night again, Carolyn says she did not have enough self-confidence to say no, but she hoped that this time he would treat her differently, with more sensitivity and respect. One evening she went out to dinner with Martha*, an old friend from East West Books Chicago. They wrote letters to Pandit Usharbudh Arya, their teacher and head of the Meditation Center there, as well as a dozen other people, warning that Swami Rama was a fraud. Many of them say they feared his wrath when they were disciples, and several still believe he has the power to inflict harm or illness on them from a distance. When Carolyn had to work, I attended classes in Hatha yoga or read. In his enlightened state, they believe, he could never commit any selfish acts, which would create new karmic burdens. And she was afraid to leave in her old car because a freezing rainstorm had covered all the roads with ice. When the couple confided their resulting marital troubles to Karen and George, Karen confirmed her friend's experience by revealing that she, too, had had a supposedly exclusive and spiritual sexual relationship with Swami Rama before her marriage. But it is also common in the thought-control techniques of totalitarian states. Burnett is a postdoctoral fellow in Houston's department of education leadership and . The same spirit of community and service that fuels our headquarters in Honesdale, PA, can be found in these dedicated affiliate centers of practice. She began talking about Swami Rama's exploitative behavior with anyone who would listen, especially women who she thought were being victimized. He is also head of the Institute's Holistic Studies (formerly Eastern Studies) program and has written a number of scholarly books on yoga philosophy. The next day, she says, Swami Rama called her to his office and asked her if anyone had said anything to her. Quick Links. I might doubt my own perception, I might doubt my own eyes, but I cannot doubt that strength which has given me everything.". Brian sued Swami Rama, and eventually the guru settled out of court for the full amount. Swami Rama was the founder of the Himalayan Institute. Pandit Rajmani says he also has concrete reasons to know that Swami Rama could not be sleeping with his disciples. Our various programms address all aspects of a meditator's life because all of life has an effect on meditation. Rajmani explains the basic goals of the Institute's tradition of yoga: "The most important part of the practice is nonattachment." Similarly, a woman who had been repeatedly abused by Sri Swami Rama of The Himalayan Institute when she was 19 years old was awarded $1.9 million. Lecturing and teaching worldwide for more than a quarter of a century, he is the author of fourteen books, including his autobiography Touched by Fire: The Ongoing Journey of a Spiritual Seeker, the best-selling At the Eleventh Hour: The Biography of Swami Rama of the Himalayas and a regular contributor to Yoga International. His early American followers had been spiritual seekers of the counterculture who found their guru at his ashram on the banks of the sacred Ganges in Rishikesh, India. By 1977, the Institute was able to purchase the Honesdale ashram, a former Catholic seminary in the rural Pocono Mountains, which now houses more than 100 residents and guests. A leader in the field of yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic health, the Himalayan Institute is a non-profit international organization dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. The two couples referred to this statement in a petition to the FBI: they asked the FBI to investigate the threat letter and argued that Swami Rama could be deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service as an undesirable alien on four grounds: possession of narcotics, sexual immorality, fraudulent financial dealings, and "affliction with [a] psychopathic personality." Today HI continues to innovate and offer the world high-impact, revolutionary programs and humanitarian initiatives around the globe. Pandit Rajmani Tigunait is the resident spiritual director of the Honesdale ashram, as well as a member of the Institute's teaching staff. She recalls that he said they would become very close, their bodies would come together, and then they would part. Himalayan Institute Buffalo Yoga | Meditation | Wellness Yoga classes and seminars for March - April are now open for registration. Despite this, our rural empowerment programs continue to thrive and grow as we work towards our goal of fighting poverty, illiteracy, and inequality through education, health care, and job creation. One spring evening a couple of weeks later, she says, Swami Rama called her aside to ask why she'd been avoiding him, and she tried to tell him she'd discovered his lies. Join us for studies in the true meaning of yogaincluding asana, meditation, mantra, tantra, sacred scripture, and the art of joyful living. After he had, as she describes it, "had sex on my body," she took a blanket into the other room and slept on the floor. Terry, who is now a practicing psychotherapist, says she believes Swami Rama's behavior is compulsive-he can't help it." But Carolyn says she stifled her doubts about the guru, transforming them into doubts about her own selfishness: "Because I'd rationalized that he was teaching me a lesson, I believed he must be teaching other women the same lesson, and I shouldn't begrudge his attention to other students.". Since its inception in 1971, the Himalayan Institute has been at the leading edge of personal and social transformation. We partner with rural communities to provide health services, public libraries, and sustainable employment opportunities. Discover our new online platform for community, courses, and content. In retrospect, Megan says, she believes that Swami Rama was indifferent to the problems that his behavior might cause the Institute, but was using such scandals to purge it of anyone who questioned his authority. Expert wellness consultations direct to your home. Ayurveda What a foolish woman! Maybe it's an honor that this great yogi asked me of all his students to serve him in this way. Yet the Institute's success comes at a high cost for many of those involved. She renewed her acquaintance with her former meditation teachers and started taking classes in Glenview, Illinois, at the Institute's original headquarters. Swami Rama called a meeting to defend himself. Carolyn says the "goofy" letters never got answered. But still, she was afraid to leave the community she'd been part of for so long and reenter a world that had practically forgotten her existence. "Even if I found out-how can I find out? A producer for "60 Minutes" was reportedly unable to complete her documentary on Swami Rama when the women involved backed out and refused to appear on camera. Companies Himalayan Institute Tell us how to improve this page Each of the women I interviewed described how he would discern her particular needs and self-doubts and manipulate her spiritual beliefs or naivet in order to exploit her sexually-he has an uncanny ability to suit his approach to each victim, they say. The two women who wrote statements for the Cult Awareness Movement were among those involved: One stated that she was a patient at the Institute's holistic health center in New York City, and the other stated she was 17 years old when Swami Rama initiated a sexual relationship with her. Community, Courses, and Content. His disciples generally agree that the only reason his soul still inhabits a physical body is because he wants to help others achieve liberation from maya, the realm of illusion. Brian says he refused to tell Rose's story in such an atmosphere. But the victims of what Jungian analyst Peter Rutter, M.D., has termed "sex in the forbidden zone" (in his book of the same name) submit to sexual advances because of a powerful psychological threat. "By their fruits you shall know them," he says, paraphrasing the Bible. Arya, however, says that much of Darling's information is inaccurate.