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So in place of Joe's comment addiction is physical and a cult isn't, I would write something like 'physical addiction has many differences from cult addiction'.
Agreed, that's probably a better way of saying it, as there are probably other characteristics of addiction that apply, although addiction can be both physical and psychological. But there is one key difference that looms large for me. Clearly, there are both phycial and psychological addictions, and cult doesn't qualify as a physical one. But even as to psychological addiction, the difference I see (at least from my own experience), is that if you stop engaging in the cult and you see it for what it is, you don't really have any urge (either physical or psychological) to go back to it.
With "addiction" that isn't usually the case, and many people get support for the rest of their lives ("one day at a time" as they say in 12-step), to stay away from something that has a huge controlling influence on them. I don't see that with cults.
They describe living in a secret world in which they (the non-premie partner) is second place to Maharaj in the relationship; in which the premie will go off to see M dropping all obligations and responsibilities to do so (sound familiar?); even in which the premie partner will secretly donate $$ from the couple's joint bank account to Maharaji, without the non-premie partner's permission.
Yeah, that's probably another similarity, the lying and deception that seems to be so much a part of addiction. I frankly think premies do this in their lives most of the time. They have learned to hide that they are premies to most people, they don't talk about it, and they keep it secret unless the situation is "right," in the sense that they are either with other premies, or somebody they think is "open" to it. So, it's kind of like hiding a drinking habit until you are in a bar, with friends who don't judge you, or other alcoholics. But on second thought, ex-premies probably do it too, but more out of embarrassment, but then, it isn't something they see as part of theit identities anymore.
Do you tell the spouses of premies to not be "co-dependent?" 
Also, the point that once you get out of the cult you are free for good (whereas once you break a physical addiction people often go back) is not a clear-cut difference. Again, take gambling - once you break a gambling addiction, it is very easy to go back, just like to alcohol or drugs.
Mike, I don't understand your point here. I agree that gambling can be an addiction, but the difference is that gambling will probably almost always be attractive, while the cult won't be. People go back to gambling, and might do it even though they know it's bad for them, but they don't go back to cults, because for a cult to give you anything, you have to believe in it. With other addictions, you can actually know rationally that it's deadly and still do it, whether for physical or psychological reasons. I don't think a cult is really like that.
But I think your larger point is well taken and there are more similarities than I mentioned. I have never been addicted to a substance (with the possible exception of caffeine -- "coffee is God" ), but I really do think I have an addiction to exercise, probably more on a psychological level than a physical one. I really do crave it, and I can get a bit out of sorts if I don't have it on a regular basis.
I really got into running in my final 2-3 years as a premie. It was very meditative for me, very calming, and made me feel more self-reliant and have more self-esteem. I don't know if it was one of the things that got me away from the cult, but I think it helped. Substituting one (better) addiction for another? Maybe. I am told if you go to an AA meeting people drink coffee and smoke cigarettes like fiends.
The other major thing was having friends who weren't premies who were very patient with me, letting me give them "satsang" without argument or disagreement, and then reinforcing me as an individual with a lot of support. It slowly reinforced in me what I was like before I was a premie, and put me in touch with that again. I guesss in the addiction context, that was my support group, kind of my AA meeting.
Modified by Joe at Thu, Feb 24, 2005, 13:12:47
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