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stripping the gurus - Brahma Kumaris Info

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AFTER THE ORDEAL 471<br />

For first-hand accounts as to <strong>the</strong> difficulties involved in disentangling<br />

oneself from spiritual and emotional commitments to<br />

enlightenment at <strong>the</strong> feet of any “great sage,” plus personal descriptions<br />

of <strong>the</strong> power games and manipulation which are alleged<br />

to occur within <strong>the</strong> ashram environment, I have found <strong>the</strong> following<br />

books to be excellent:<br />

• Michael Downing (2001), Shoes Outside <strong>the</strong> Door—San<br />

Francisco Zen Center, Richard Baker (this book is worth<br />

reading for <strong>the</strong> keen wit alone)<br />

• Stephen Butterfield (1994), The Double Mirror—Chögyam<br />

Trungpa<br />

• Peter Marin (1995), “Spiritual Obedience,” in Freedom &<br />

Its Discontents—Chögyam Trungpa<br />

• Satya Bharti Franklin (1992), The Promise of Paradise—<br />

Rajneesh<br />

• Hugh Milne (1986), Bhagwan: The God That Failed—Rajneesh<br />

• Kate Strelley (1987), The Ultimate Game—Rajneesh<br />

• Andre van der Braak (2003), Enlightenment Blues—<br />

Andrew Cohen<br />

• Luna Tarlo (1997), The Mo<strong>the</strong>r of God—Andrew Cohen<br />

• Martha Sherrill (2000), The Buddha from Brooklyn—<br />

Jetsunma<br />

• Barbara and Betty Underwood (1979), Hostage to Heaven—<br />

<strong>the</strong> Moonies<br />

• Deborah Layton (1998), Seductive Poison—Jim Jones<br />

• John Hubner and Lindsey Gruson (1990), Monkey on a<br />

Stick—<strong>the</strong> Hare Krishnas, exposed as <strong>the</strong> reportedly murderous,<br />

drug-running, wife-beating, child-molesting apocalyptic<br />

“cult” we were always reflexively warned to avoid.<br />

Yet, we chose instead to liberally tolerate and defend <strong>the</strong>m<br />

as an “alternative religion,” which should not be discriminated<br />

against simply for being “different.”<br />

“Live and let live,” right?<br />

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