Links on this page are all useful for research, resources and recovery but use discretion. Cult critics are not of one mind and may disagree in personal approach to philosophy, religion, healing, and how harmful any one cult may be.
What is truth? What is true?
Here's some advice I give my clients who ask me what is "true" or truth during successful exit interventions:
If you want answers to the big questions about life and its meaning, questions like: What is truth? Who am I? Where am I going? What happens after death and before birth? Why am I alive? How do I become a success?
Any run of the mill cult leader will gladly supply you with delicious, experience-producing hints and directions to his books, workshops, and initiations!
If you seek to grow in wisdom, learn to ask better questions, refine your approach to philosophy, and do not rely too heavily or initially on personal experience(s). Stop and think. Seek outside advice from qualified sources
I mentioned Professor A. Bharati (1923-1991) in my essay Gurus Up The Ladder. He taught religious studies at Syracuse University in his final years. He was a legitmate guru in the Goswami tradition who taught in Indian villages as well as at colleges in India, Japan, and Americia. As you can learn from his fine autobiography, The Ochre Robe (1980), he was an Austrian caucasian who converted to Hinduism at age 14. By all accounts he was a brilliant teacher and many students approached him over the years to study under him as their guru. He required them to study Sanskrit for several years first and then approach him. Guess how many came back? Right--a rare few. His point was that you cannot adopt or enter a tradition foreign to your culture without first knowing the language, the behavior and the history well. You might also avoid fake gurus that way.
