Hi Susan. I agree with you about Marolyn being more vulnerable than predatory. I don't personally know her, and nothing that I say here or anywhere could be anything but my personal take on what I saw of her. Of course, as a premie I was very affected by her apparent devotion to M and dedication to knowledge as well, and although it was never said, there was some sort of special feeling about her and the family too (worship of them too, really). To be near them was almost as good as being close to Him, and I watched with the same envy and longing when they took their seats at the events I was at, just like everybody else! "Why couldn't that be ME!?" And sometimes, "why couldn't I have been one of his children!". (They always say, be careful what you ask for, you may get it!). And when Marolyn stood up to "give satsang", well, I swooned with the best of them!
Now, of course, as an ex-premie, I feel a LOT of grace to have been spared all that! And what I do see now in Marolyn is a very vulnerable woman who happened to be placed in a rather unusual position, at a time when the mad search for enlightenment was on big-time in the U.S. I think it's quite possible she was very immature, so the age factor might not be nearly as important as the self-esteem factor (as is clearly the case with Mary Kay Letourneau as well). There are plenty of 150-pound three-year olds running around in the world!
I'm sure it would be illuminating to know what kind of home Marolyn came from. Speaking from my own experience, I know that a messed-up childhood can wreak havoc on a woman's self-image and her ability (or not) to relate to men in a healthy way. I think she and Mary Kay Letourneau are tragic cases of "False Self" survival, and the only hope of ever recovering from that is the willingness to face the illusion for what it is and get the help you need to restore your own true values.
Ok, OK, I have an interest (and some experience with) psychology and the 12 step program for ACOA!
"Nuf said!
~shelagh, on the trail of reclamation 
