What is a cult

[Guest guest]

ckeniley wrote:

 

Re: FINAL PROOF AMMA IS NOT A CULT

 

Modern american cult -ure is a cult of materialism.

 

 

Dear ckenily and All ~ this is another thread I was kind of staying out of,

but I feel I just have to add something. Someone who stated that Amma's

following could be viewed as a cult, but probably wasn't, used a dictionary

definition of the word "cult." I find this definition insufficient.

 

I had a friend who was in a cult for a number of years, and was scarred for

life as a result.

If a cult is viewed as a system of beliefs and rituals, virtually anything

could be viewed as a cult ~ patriotism, all religions, clubs and organizations,

etc. What my friend endured in this cult was significantly more that this

definition. And these markers are used by anti-cult advocates and people who

have been in cults. They include a complete separation from family and friends

(meaning NO contact); complete isolation from the everyday culture (again,

meaning NO contact); brainwashing (one has to be careful here, because we could

see televison as a brainwashing mechanism, though I more see it as a

propaganda vehicle), but where the brainwashing is accompanied by one or more

of the

following: sleep deprivation, temporary isolation from the group, except

during brainwashing sessions, food deprivation, and there may even be forms of

punishment or torture included. Because the leader is charismatic, and the

individual becomes essentially trapped, the followers go into the situation as

sincere seekers, but are caught up in the charisma, in the techniques I have

mentioned, and in "group think." And even if someone wanted to leave, in a

true cult, they are not allowed to. There may also be rape of older women and

sexual abuse of girls. Hence the need for desparate parents to "kidnap" their

children, hire deprogrammers, etc. And often, the programming has been so

effective, the person goes back to the cult anyway.

 

I don't think anyone could see any of these things as any part of Amma's

teachings or what She does. Certainly, there are times, such as in the aftermath

of the tsunami, when devotees may have less food because there is a need for

others, and they may have less sleep because the need to help others is so

immediate. But these situations are temporary. Amma does not ask or require

anyone to follow Her. The words She speaks are the very Truth of the greatest

religious traditions in the history of humankind, and the essence of what She

imparts can be pared down to one word, "Love." People are free to come and go,

even longterm desciples. I remember when Gayatri left, some time after she

had been made a Swamini. I was shocked, missed her, wondered what happened,

but it was her private choice, and no one tried to stop her.

 

I can't think of anything else to say ... but I hope this makes it clearer

that a cult is something very much more than a set of beliefs and/or rituals.

(Please, in all humility, I am not meaning to disparage anything anyone has

said, just to shed some light, based on what I know and my experience with my

friend.) Jai Ma ~ Linda