My Daughter Joined a Cult

 Sunday Reading My Daughter Joined a Cult

This blog is in response to Yesha Bhatt ma'am's Sunday Reading task. In this blog, I will discuss my thoughts on the screening of this series.

My Daughter joined a Cult” by Discovery Plus: 

This docu-series was just published and is based on true happenings involving the fake baba Nityananda. Swami Nityananda has established the 'Republic of Kailaasa' on an island off the coast of Ecuador in South America. The series is dived into three parts, 1) He took my daughters 2)Crime After Crime? 3)A well-Planned Escape?  around 30 or 40 minutes. Directed by filmmaker-journalist Naman Saraiya. 

The process of Brainwashing – (Indian followers – White followers): 

The process of brainwashing has been used throughout history to force individuals to change their beliefs and behaviours. In recent years, the term has been used to describe the actions of terrorist groups who use indoctrination and mind control techniques to brainwash their recruits.

The brainwashing process usually involves four steps:

1. Isolation

2. Confusion

3. Persuasion

4. reinforcement

Isolation is used to weaken a person’s resolve and prevent them from thinking critically. The brainwasher will cut the individual off from their support network of family and friends and will subject them to long periods of isolation.

Confusion is created by bombarding the individual with contradictory information and ideas. They will be given false information and told to question everything they know to be true.

Persuasion is the step where the brainwasher tries to convert the individual to their way of thinking. They will use emotional manipulation and blackmail to get the individual to conform to their ideology.

Reinforcement is used to cement the new beliefs and behaviours. The individual will be rewarded for displays of loyalty and punished for any sign of defiance.

The brainwashing process can be extremely effective, especially if the individual is young and impressionable. In some cases, the techniques used are so powerful that the individual will completely forget their previous life and beliefs.

Concept of ‘Bhakta’ – (Blind followers)

Blind or uninformed faith is often not commended in Hinduism. The path of true spirituality, instead, is seen as a process of learning, contemplation and experience. As Swami Vivekananda said, "Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal."

The concept of the Bhakta, or devotee, is central to Hinduism. A Bhakta is someone who commits themselves fully to God, or Ishvara. This commitment can be expressed in many ways, such as through devotion, service, love, or worship.

Bhakti yoga is the practice of devotion to God. It is often combined with other yoga practices, such as Jnana yoga (the path of knowledge) or Karma yoga (the path of selfless action). The aim of Bhakti yoga is to purify the heart and mind, and to develop a deep connection with God.

There are many different ways to practice Bhakti yoga. Some common methods include chanting God’s names, singing devotional songs, reading sacred texts, and performing rituals. Praying, meditating, and serving others are also common expressions of Bhakti yoga.

No matter what form it takes, Bhakti yoga always includes an element of surrender. This means letting go of our ego, our desires, and our need for control. When we surrender to God, we open ourselves up to His love and grace. We also become more compassionate and loving towards others.

The path of Bhakti yoga is not for everyone. It requires a great deal of faith, dedication, and commitment. But for those who are called to it, Bhakti yoga can be a deeply rewarding and transformative experience.

Colonization – through torture and brainwashing – Condition of Ashram people

The victims are lured to the Ashram with promises of a utopian lifestyle, but once they arrive, they are subjected to a regime of abuse. They are isolated from the outside world, forced to perform back-breaking labor, and subjected to constant propaganda.

The Ashram is a dark and twisted place, a far cry from the promised utopia. It is a place where people are tortured and brainwashed, where they are forced to live in squalor and subjected to constant abuse. The Ashram is a cult, and its members are nothing more than slaves. If you find yourself in the Ashram, the only way out is to expose the truth and bring the Ashram down.

The Ashram’s leader, a man known only as “The Master,” or Guru/Baba is a ruthless dictator who uses fear and intimidation to control his followers. The Ashram’s members are in a constant state of fear, living in a state of perpetual paranoia.

The conditions in the Ashram are deplorable. The members are malnourished and living in squalid conditions. They are constantly berated and humiliated by the staff. The Ashram is a cult, and its members are nothing more than slaves. The only way to escape is to escape is to escape is to expose the truth and bring the Ashram down.