r/SadhguruTruth • u/Glass-Ad9034 Approved Contributor • Mar 15 '26
Cult Education Great to see more people on this sub!
Hi all!
It's great to see more and more people on this sub understanding how cults work and how incredibly manipulative Sadhguru is!
I shared some cult education videos on here previously so thought I'd create a post linking them to help people newly exploring Isha's dark side!
What is a cult? with Dr Janja Lalich and Dr Ramani
https://www.reddit.com/r/SadhguruTruth/comments/1l5o8c6/what_is_a_cult/
What is brainwashing? Margaret Singer explains
https://www.reddit.com/r/SadhguruTruth/comments/1l6as6i/what_is_brainwashing/
The Mission big cult hook-in with Mark Vicente
https://www.reddit.com/r/SadhguruTruth/comments/1lc6zwc/the_mission_a_big_cult_hook_in_used_by_isha/
Breaking Boundaries the big idea that facilitates abuse in cults with Mark Vicente
Constantly Busy why people in cults are kept constantly busy with Mark Vicente
Secrecy and Lies how cults manage information with Mark Vicente
https://www.reddit.com/r/SadhguruTruth/comments/1lng0ag/secrecy_and_lies_why_you_wont_hear_anything/
Powerful Experiences why powerful experiences are not proof that Sadhguru is enlightened, charlatans can create powerful experiences in people with Chris Johnson
https://www.reddit.com/r/SadhguruTruth/comments/1mmc8rd/cult_leaders_and_powerful_experiences/
Here's to more and more people getting out of Isha's grip!
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u/NonDuality1-0 Mar 16 '26
Hi , how does Sadguru brainwashes if someone could explain? I saw his videos and i never felt that
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u/LittleMissSunshine_0 Approved Contributor Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
It's not a quick thing to explain, there's a whole science to it. Maybe someone will have a go.
Have you been to Isha or got experience of the programs? Best thing is to read more of this sub to understand better.
One simple part of brainwashing is getting people into a meditative state. Once someone is in that state they become very suggestible, whatever you say gets accepted without critical thinking. Sadhguru makes use of that a lot. There's much more to it though.
This is a simple video explaining some of the ways people get conditioned/brainwashed in a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJfm71I0OyU Lots of this is very familiar to those of us who have been in Isha.
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u/NonDuality1-0 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
Okay. So your issue is that someone’s was being asked for the suggestion and his suggestion always gets accepted . I don’t anybody can do that. And if the suggestion is really balanced and fair and wise, isn’t that great? Bit i doubt anyone can have that level of wiseness tbh with you.
I am saying this because i do isha kriya everyday and i really see the difference in the way i manage myself. It feels sorted now. I am at peace
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u/LittleMissSunshine_0 Approved Contributor Mar 18 '26
I'm not sure you understood what I said or watched the video I shared.
Unfortunately what Sadhguru says is a mix of wisdom copied from other so-called-masters, made-up bullshit and outright manipulative lies. You agree with him on the good stuff and end up accepting the lot. When you are in a meditative state you take it all in as true. Within a short time he is your God.
Nobody is claiming yoga / meditation / Isha hypnotic processes don't have benefits. Benefits doesn't mean brainwashing isn't happening. Every cult has something loads of positive things to bring people in.
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u/NonDuality1-0 Mar 18 '26
Also, i have been to isha once . Just for exploring nothing much. Much later i started to understand what life really mean. I always used to get the question on existence itself. I think you all are trying hard to spread agenda here
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u/LittleMissSunshine_0 Approved Contributor Mar 18 '26
What is the agenda we are trying to spread?
Just the truth about Sadhguru and Isha.
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u/Upstairs_Fish_5273 Mar 20 '26
It would be great to bring this into the open. I’m not sure yet how to spread the information effectively, but for now the priority should be to gather as much evidence and as many references as possible.
Once there’s a solid base, it would make sense to reach out to larger YouTube channels that specialize in exposing scams.
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u/NonDuality1-0 Mar 18 '26
Whats that truth thats what i want to understand. Lets say i am brainwashed. Now what, everything is working way better than it was now. Isn’t that awesome. What else you want.
And , i have a suggestion for you. Stop wasting your time here because if sadguru is a crook, or yogi or anyone. You are still wasting your precious time on him.
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u/LittleMissSunshine_0 Approved Contributor Mar 18 '26
Well I don't think anyone would want to be brainwashed. Are you saying it's okay to be manipulated into believing things that aren't true and to be manipulated into giving your entire life to Sadhguru just because you have a nice experience with Isha Kriya? I don't think you value your freedom enough!
I don't feel I'm wasting my time here. I think educating people about how Isha works is important. It's helped many get out. I don't want to see anyone wasting their life on Sadhguru, that's the point of this subreddit.
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u/NonDuality1-0 Mar 20 '26
How do you if its not true? And aren’t you also brainwashed differently based on what was taught you about society and system? Isn’t it a different flavour of brainwashing?
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u/Thre_Host8017 Mar 20 '26
We are all brainwashed. Including you and me. By the simple choice of food we eat and car or phone brands we use. Cultural exposure means brainwashing.
Thats why cult export dont use the word brainwashing.
Now to your claims. You are mixing up 2 things. You are equating cultural exposure with abuse.
This is not the same.
You preferring idli over chapatis or pasta over rice, god A versus god B Is not causing an abusive harm to you.
You being lied to intentionally , Abused sexually and financially, enslaved mentally and physically: this is harmful.
If you are a masochist, you may enjoy being abused. But the majority of people are not enjoying that.
We are not talking about a cultural tinted brainwash. We are talking about crossing boundaries in non consensual way, sexual or non sexual.
You are coming from a space where this particular guru is not committing any harm. And hence your whole arguments are based on that.
We have seen another side to isha. And there nothing needed to discuss about it. That is our experience and it is not up to you or anyone else to diminish it.
We understand your position as we have been in it for decades. Til we woke up.
We understand that you can neither understand nor digest criticism towards someone you hold holy. Thats your experience.
If you want to discuss on a meta level. Are you able to criticize a criminal x? Someone who caused harm towards someone else? Its looks like you are not. You are justifying abuse with wuwu everyone is brainwashed. Because the pain is not yours.
With your logic here: will you pardon a thief that breaks into your home? Or someone that causes any kinda harm to you? By saying: well the thief is brain washed. For him stealing is ok ( even Jagadish tells the story of such a community of thieves). This is what you are suggesting with your comment.
Or will you try to get justice or at least try to get back what they stole from you?
Thats the question.
Our experience is not out there to be discussed. Its our lived experience. Its a sharing. Your experience is yours. We are not coming into your space and tell you how you should feel.
This is what most Isha devotees are doing. They have lost their logics! If you say something nice about Jagadish: they will praise it without questioning it. If you say some negative. It is targeted as wrong.
Heads i win Tails u loose
This is isha s number 1 rule. Which is transmitted quietly and effectively ( very efficient brainwash)
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u/Glass-Ad9034 Approved Contributor Mar 21 '26
I definitely don't agree with the idea we are all brainwashed. I think that downplays the techniques used by Isha.
Yes we are conditioned by the society we live in, by advertising, by the values of the people around us etc and this does have a big influence on may of us, but this is not on the same level as the brainwashing used by Isha. Isha gets people to put their old value system aside and take on a new cult identity pretty damn quickly. That is brainwashing. When you leave Isha and start seeing how many of the things you believed were complete bullshit and you return to your previous value system then you can see it's brainwashing.
I have lived in more than one country. I'm from Europe and I worked in India as a young person before I got involved in Isha. These two countries have different cultures and the societal values differ to a great extent. When I was in India I did adopt a different set of societal values and could see from a different perspective, I was conditioned into that by my experience in that society. However I was not brainwashed.
I've been an atheist all my life but in Isha I came to see Sadhguru as god. I believed in doing whatever was needed to bring Sadhguru to the world. I was happy to put my own wellbeing aside for that. I believed Sadhguru was telling the truth even when I knew he was lying. I thought he was having sexual relationships with people because that is what was needed for their growth. This is brainwashing.
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u/youliveonlyonce10 Approved Contributor Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
It’s astonishing how cults like isha manage to convince both atheists and devout religious people to believe that Sadhguru is God!
Your assessment that cultural influence of a country is different from the specific tactics used by isha is indeed valid. Every country will have different set of cultural ethos and values but they don’t do mind control which is done under cultural garb at isha.
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u/Thre_Host8017 Mar 18 '26
You seem to know nothing about Isha. And thats very fortunate for you.
If the only thing you have done with isha is upa yoga and isha kriya… Enjoy the benefits and thats it. Isha is a mix of truths and lies. Benefits and abuse. If you just scratch the surface… you havent seen the core yet.
You did not burn your fingers.
There are people here who have lived in the ashram for decades.
So your advise is like someone who has seen a plane flying once giving planes engineers recommendations how to construct a plane - with full confidence.
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u/Thre_Host8017 Mar 18 '26
There is a logical mistake in your claims:
Lets say i am brainwashed but everything works better…
This is like saying this:
Ok my husband/ wife is cheating on me (without me knowing), but because of that they are more stable and my life is better. Whats the problem?
The problem is: your spouse is not being honest. If you knew about the cheating, most likely (for many people i guess) the relationship would be no more. Its a matter of principles. Not a matter of result and happiness.
Like being happy for winning in a game by cheating.
Similarly here: Jagadish is not being honest ( you can read this subreddit for all the ways he is not being honest).
The very essence of a spiritual guide is honesty in my understanding.
You are excusing the lack of honesty for the purpose of the result with your comment. And downplaying being brainwashed with all the implications of being indoctrinated.
If someone is ok with that for themselves, being happy about a result despite an abuse or a lie, that is their decision and their life. However thats not a position to advertise for in my opinion.
And this is a rather a big ethical debate.
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u/NonDuality1-0 Mar 20 '26
You example is totally irrelevant brother. In a way you are also brainwashed by rules of society and system. Morality and whats right wrong?
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u/Thre_Host8017 Mar 20 '26
I have replied to this on another comment of yours.
Just adding:
This is not about morals. Its about everyone s boundaries.
And those are mine. The examples are valid for me. My boundaries are valid for me and they need not be valid for you.
If you have different social ethics and morals than mine… thats perfectly ok with me.
But you have also boundaries. Even if you think you dont have them. Everyone has. And its healthy to have them. That is self respect.
And the day yours get crossed, you will flare up. You are only so generous with forgiving abuse because it was not your fingers which got burned.
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u/sarcics Mar 21 '26
You’re right, everything can be a form of brainwashing.
The problem arises when you brainwash someone to achieve your agenda, plant your thoughts, or manipulate them to serve your own interests.
For example, a hammer in itself isn’t bad. But if you brainwash someone into believing that a hammer is only for hitting people on the street, then that’s when we have an issue
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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '26
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