CultNEWS101 Articles: 7/11/2024
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Patrick Ryan
Jul 11, 2024, 3:01:43 AMJul 11
to cultn...@googlegroups.com
India, Legal, Narayan Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, TwinRay, Scientology
"Religious preacher Narayan Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, who had organised the 'satsang sabha' (religious congregation) which ended in a massive stampede claiming hundreds of lives including women and children, while leaving scores injured in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday afternoon, is not new to controversy.
According to local sources, Suraj Pal or 'Bhole Baba', as he is called by his followers, hails from Bahadur Nagari village in the Patiyali area of Kasganj district. He left his job in the state police to become a preacher around two decades ago. The Baba also enjoys following in other states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and Haryana as well.
According to local sources, Bhole Baba claims to have had a divine vision after leaving his job in the police force, which inspired him to start organizing large religious gatherings ('sabhas') that attract huge congregations of followers. He holds these 'satsangs' every Tuesday and recently conducted a similar event in Mainpuri district a week before the tragic incident in Hathras.
Bhole Baba had courted controversy during the pandemic period when he sought permission for a such a Satsang Sabha in Farrukhabad district in May 2022 to be attended by only 50 people. However, the congregation grew to over 50,000."
“'The devil doesn’t always show up with red, pointy horns, it shows up as everything you’ve ever wanted.'
That’s how a Bay area woman who chooses to go by Sarai recalls the owners of The Haven, Akasha Sananandaji and Miananda Shekinah Ma Kryst, who shuttered the storefront doors on Sunday for good following months of media coverage about followers such as Sarai calling them out as a cult. Sarai and other former followers have alleged financial and emotional exploitation as well as being offered psychedelic drugs at retreats to help them reach an elevated spiritual state.
The 10,000-square-foot store space, once home to Earthly Goods, is in a prominent Craftsman building in the heart of downtown, sharing a block with the Varsity Theatre, Ashland Springs Hotel and the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. The building owner says it’s up for lease in August.
Closing up the storefront, which has sold an array of expensive elixirs, crystals and clothing at 142 E. Main St., may curb in-store operations overseen by Sanandaji and Shekinah Ma Kryst, also known as the owners of religious nonprofit TwinRay Illuminations, but online sales are expected to continue, management told Ashland.news.
The Haven store, open since 2022, was only one part of the mission of Sanandaji and Miananda Shekinah Ma Kryst.
“It felt like … we were part of this movement — this really powerful, spiritual movement that we were going to save humanity,” Sarai told Ashland.news.
Sarai said Sanandaji talked a lot about working toward bringing in what he called the “Golden Age.”
“It was all about, ‘We’re creating the Golden Age,’” she said.
“It’s very sophisticated manipulation,” she added.
Sarai said she has lost more than $80,000 in retirement savings while seeking to become a member of TwinRay’s “Golden Ascendantship Program,” the name for the mentoring-for-a-price program to become one of the couples’ 12 close followers, or what Sarai refers to as “devotees.”
Sarai sent Ashland.news more than 20 receipts for services TwinRay provided, including one for $7,777 for a TwinRay retreat in Mount Shasta, astrology classes for $333, “alchemical water” for $111 each.
Sanandaji and Miananda Shekinah Kryst, also known as Shekinah Ma, have been the subject of community discussion for some time since the store’s opening in September 2022. Their notoriety has only grown as accusations of former followers have emerged, including in April when Guru Magazine published a story by cult journalist Be Scofield, the author of “Hunting Lucifer: One Reporter’s Search for Cults and Demons.” Her original reporting led to the new HBO series on the Love Has Won cult. Her work is cited by the New York Times, Rolling Stone, People, Netflix and more, according to Guru Magazine."
Miami New Times: Miami Real Estate Mogul, Scientologist Lists $42M Mansion on Cryptocurrency Platform
"It is one of the most luxurious properties ever to be tokenized on a blockchain and listed for sale."
"Welcome to Miami: potentially the only place on Earth where cryptocurrency, Scientology, and luxury real estate collide in spectacular fashion.
Back in April, financial influencer and prominent Scientologist Grant Cardone put his sprawling Golden Beach mansion on the market for $42 million. The 13,000-square-foot waterfront home, which features seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, boasts lavish amenities such as a movie theater, spa, six-car garage, saltwater infinity pool, and private beachfront access offering panoramic ocean views. It was designed by acclaimed interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard and has been featured in Architectural Digest."
News, Education, Intervention, Recovery
Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.
CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources.
Cults101.org resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics.
Selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not mean that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly agree with the content. We provide information from many points of view in order to promote dialogue.
Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultinte...@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Ashlen Hilliard (ashlen.hilli...@gmail.com)
Joe Kelly (joeke...@gmail.com)
Patrick Ryan (pryan...@gmail.com)
If you do not wish to be subscribed to this list, or you think you are being maliciously subscribed to the list, or have any other questions, send them to: pryan...@gmail.com or send an email to: cultnews101...@googlegroups.com.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages