Hi Maria77,

Between the lines, I picked-up on your fear or apprehension concerning violating the terms of your NDA. I've certainly felt similar fears and I know many others, if not nearly everyone in the cult, have as well. Some former followers warn other former followers to be very careful, if not fearful, as if they even need to be warned.

Typically, NDAs are used to protect trade secrets, research and other information that may relate to competitive advantage. In Prem Rawat's case, however, with the exception of the proprietary techniques, which are themselves relatively common, what could those trade secrets or other types of information possibly be? Everything the cult does lies (no pun intended) somewhere between average and what's minimally expected of a professional organization, so I doubt there's anything technically or in any other way exceptional behind it. So what's so important that it needs to be kept secret and why so many NDAs?

Insofar as Prem Rawat is concerned, beginning with the fact that many in his inner circle of followers had to be "X-rated" to prevent them from divulging his personal behavior that they witnessed, the mention of NDAs that I've heard of has almost always been in the context of concealing his behavior. (More recently, there have been hints of concealing financial dealings.)

The cloud of fear that permeats this cult is obvious to anyone who's experienced it or looked for signs of it. And what about the notion of a cult peace movement having enemies? Where does all that fear come from? Perhaps it all goes back to the heading on ex-premie.org:

Again, where does all that fear come from? The fear of:

• describing to another person something disturbing about Prem's behavior or any aspect of that cult.

• what might happen if a person breaks an NDA.

• retribution.

• being sued.

• openly criticizing Prem Rawat or expressing or even acknowledging a doubt.

• allowing yourself to even be exposed to uncomfortable or shocking truths about Prem Rawat.

• what might happen if you stop practicing Knowledge.

• breaking that inner connection to Prem Rawat, the one rife with dialogue and even prayers.

• being stigmatized, ostracized, shunned or branded.

• (all the way back to) what might happen to a follower who leaves the ashram to go back into "the world."

• being banned from serving my Lord if I didn't pass a test.  

Prem Rawat's words, not mine, and just a few of his many dark admonitions.

Any premie who's been around awhile who won't admit to such dark thoughts from time to time is lying. What the hell is going on! What's all that about? I thought this was all about peace! What can possibly engender so much fear, the kind of fear that Will and his associate (neutral San Ysidro conference facilitaors) observed when, according to Michael Dettmers, Will said:

How ironic that for the corrupt followers (not all of them), practicing Knowledge, i.e., withdrawing into oneself, turns into some sort of mental construct used to wall oneself off from one's own behavior, especially when it's knowingly wrong, immoral or unethical. Knowledge: a scoundrel's last place of refuge. Insulated from guilt and shame, assuming they're capable of those feelings, by the "sword of His Knowledge and the shield of his grace."

Indeed, fear, compartmentalization, suppression, denial and lies are all hidden hallmarks - the destructive underbelly - of life in that cult. Are these the "fruits" by which ye/we shall know him? (He's the one who also said we will know him by his fruits.)

My point, if I even have one, is this: how convenient that all the fear engendered by Prem Rawat that spreads explicitly or implicitly like a virus from infected follower to infected follower serves no purpose other than to prevent the truth about his behavior from reaching the public and to keep his followers locked in place. Behavior that, in my opinion, is diametrically opposed to his message of peace.

Indeed, the fear is so rampant that those speaking out are the last people who need to be warned or cautioned to "be careful," as if they aren't already concerned enough about it... as if thay hadn't come from that environment. I'm sure there are posters on this forum who harbor shadows of that fear to this very day.

Why can't the followers who would vehemently disagree with everything I'm saying and emphatically declare it all to be about love and peace, the ones who can't bring themselves to confront the truth about Prem Rawat's behavior, acknowledge their own fear of breaking that connection or (like the three monkeys) even allow themselves to be exposed to it? Again, that kind of fear only serves the interests of their master: it paralyzes them, keeps them trapped, keeps them from talking and conceals his behavior.

I could spend all day going on and on about this. Why? Once the fog of my cult indoctrination, fear being a part of it, wore off, I was able to look back with a clear head and see that I was badly abused by Prem Rawat and many of his closest acolytes. Now I look back on it with utter disgust and revulsion.

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I'm sorry, Maria 77. Please don't think I'm patronizing you or anyone else with what everyone already knows. And I know I didn't even attempt to answer your questions. Your fear or at least your apprehension concerning violating the terms of your NDA is certainly justified. It's just that I wanted to say something to let you know how much I appreciate your contributions here. Obviously a lot.

As others have said, please proceed with caution and sound legal advice in the appropriate jurisdictions. I'm not a lawyer but my common sense tells me that truth is not defamation.

Bob