Dr. Rajesh Bhola
India
Jun 08, 2013
India
Jun 08, 2013
We
do not have to believe in any ‘god men’ to believe in love and
compassion for all beings. We do not have to believe in rituals to
believe in exchanging gifts with friends and family, bringing people
together, elevating them, teaching them how to lead a good life and
cushioning them if they fall. However, members of a cult feel it is
necessary to follow specific guidelines. Remember the "hook?" The most
compelling acts of cult life are the intense and virtually daily
rituals, or "therapeutic" practices.
The
methods vary, but some time is spent every day practicing one or more
techniques. What is happening here is the direct induction, promotion,
and manipulation of different trance states. After the appropriate
induction, as well as the post-hypnotic suggestions, you will come out
of the practice "feeling good" - as if something has been accomplished.
The fact of the matter is that any problems that you've had have been
repressed further into the unconscious, and not dealt with in any
effective manner. Part of this repression is through the skillful use of
language. It is from the process of repression of psychological or emotional problems that the physiological problems later develop.
There is also a good bit of time spent on group rituals, including
"sensitivity" sessions, psychodramas and role playing, guided fantasies,
"witnessing," and other emotional confessional activities. All this
causes a long-term negative effect on both the health and the emotions. The
followers are made to believe that their group and their teacher is
right, and everyone else is wrong. All start calling the leader with a
particular name - ‘guruji’, ‘bhai sahebji’, ‘ammaji’. This is called
a "yes-set," and is designed to get you to continue to agree with them.
It isn't the philosophy you're agreeing with at all – yet your mind has
become used to answering "yes". This, they will say, is the "truth"
coming out. Only they have the answers and only they are the "saviours
of the world." It is only through them that you will achieve true
liberation, enlightenment, clarity of thought.
Kindly
ask one question to yourself before joining any such pseudo group. How
much freedom do you have if you're attached to a group and its
philosophy? Many people get involved with cults because they are
searching for a fast road to "enlightenment," or because they lack any
real discipline in their life, or think that they are spiritually or
emotionally lacking or because they feel that their leader can fetch
them anything they want. You need to ask yourself whether what you're
experiencing from the group is truly a spiritual experience.
A
true transcendental experience is beyond the common emotions found in
most religious techniques. These techniques, which are used by many
pseudo-religious cults, are:
First, it is necessary to take a particular body position.
This position is supposed to enhance the flow of "spiritual energy." It
does nothing more than create a physical state for the speedy induction
of a trance. Second, there is always loud music, along with ‘dholaks’ and ‘chimtas’.
It has a certain beat, timing and drive, which has an effect on our
brain wave frequency and/or heart rate (percussion and bass tones).
Almost all religious music is within the same ranges. Third, body
movements and swaying motions are used to assist in the trance states.
Fourth, at some point there is a grasping or clapping of hands, which
assists in the induction of a trance state. Fifth, a leader or an
experienced follower, who is skilled in the use of voice modulation,
promotes the (trance) state. Sixth, directed and controlled breathing is
promoted. This tends to be high in the chest and quite fast, not
allowing for deep breathing. Deep breathing gives the individual
physical and mental control. The fast high breath also brings about
hyperventilation, thus causing lightheadedness - and possibly even
fainting. This is then passed off as some sort of "mystical" or
"spiritual" experience. Finally, specific instructions are given on
what is to be expected in the experience in the trance state, with a
wild shaking of the head. It then appears that the group has a
"connection" with some sort of spiritual realm. From that point, further
instructions are given. These instructions are nothing more than
post-hypnotic suggestions. All this is passed off as a religious
experience. By this time, you’re hooked! Then, due to embarrassment,
fear, low self-esteem, a sense of insecurity and/or inferiority, the
need to belong, and even the need to please, you will do what you’re
told and even try to get others involved. With every person you can’t
convince, you will assume that s/he is “lost” and wrong, and you’re
right. With every person you can convince, you will become more
convinced that you’re right. As a cult member you will learn to say
yes to everything the ‘god man’ says; you will start touching his feet,
use words to eulogize him, and surrender unquestionably to his dictates.
You will start believing that "either you smile at me, or you don't like me.”
Often, cults have high profile members.
These persons are paraded in front of new members, making the group
appear more appealing. Cults need to maintain a certain mind-set in
order to survive. Humans have a strong affiliation need; we are conformers. Cults rely on this, and this is what keeps them alive.
Wherever
man goes, the inner experience of suffering of some sort goes with him.
No man can get away from himself. Therefore, if man is to find
fulfillment, or know how to reason rightly, man must finally face the
reality of his life, face what he is and what he is not. He must face
what he can and cannot do, and humbly and soberly try to be how nature
wills him to be. The soul feasts with joyous ecstasy on the sweet
memories of the pious life that it has lived upon the earth, and not on
the rich repasts consecrated by the living on its behalf. In the world
of the dead, merit alone counts, worth alone wins. Rich rituals and
burnt offerings brighten not the path to paradise. Let almighty give us
wisdom to see that the world our fathers lived in is not the same world
that we live in today. It has moved onward and progressed and changed.
Its problems have changed, and its mode of life has changed beyond
recognition. Let us pray to Almighty to see that true religion is based
upon the human heart, and righteousness alone is that true religion.
There have been some serious mental, emotional and physical effects of cult life. Physiological changes include:
extreme weight gain or loss, repeated yawning creating awkward sounds,
some serious digestion problems, as well as abnormal emotional problems.
Sexual dysfunction has also been seen. Psychological problems that have been reported are:
feelings of fear, guilt, hostility and serious depression, as well as
violent outbursts and self-destructive or suicidal tendencies - leading
even to death. The most disturbing are the bizarre disturbances
of awareness, perception and memory, a basic lack of trust even of close
family relatives, cynical behaviour, and a tendency to doubt everybody.
In some cases, due to intense rituals like ‘tonas’ and ‘totkas’ being
repeated, the followers start believing in morbid and weird things that
have no rational or scientific basis; the mind gets highly conditioned,
and the person feels that what he or she is doing is clearly right.
Dr. Rajesh Bhola
is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause
of children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and
multiple disabilities for more than 20 years.
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