Groupthink and Egregores at SRCM (California - 1997)

According to Frank, ex-preceptor and Zonal-In-Charge (ZIC) of the Netherlands for Chari's group, the SRCM(California-1997), Groupthink is alive and well in Sahaj Marg and at the SRCM(California-1997). (See Frank's blog: The Pitfalls of Spirituality, Obedience and Groupthink, The Sahaj Marg Example). Now we know from "insiders" about Groupthink, and from Chari himself, about the "ritual" of the use of "egregores" in Sahaj Marg. (see the articles on egregores on this blog)


Add to that the "strongly recommended" (by Chari) rituals of "repetitious reading" (7 or 8 times) of the "whispers" messages, channeled by an anonymous French Lady Medium from the spirits of the deceased, so as to erase the samskaras, (impressions of one's actions on one's soul), and the recommended "obedience" and "surrender" in the Sahaj Marg material, and we have the makings of a "Spiritualist Cult of a Personality.

And this CULT of a PERSONALITY, which uses the brainwashing rituals (which in Sahaj Marg is called "brain or mind cleaning?") of the constant REPETITION of messages channeled from the spirits of the deceased, as well as GROUPTHINK and EGREGORES, claims to be "ritual free". The disciples are then expected to "obey" and "surrender" and become "as living dead". In "Salient Features of Sahaj Marg"(SMRI Series 3)Page 52-53,the relationship with the disciple's families and friends are to "appear severed" (see section heading: "relationship")



Comments inserted by 4d-don in (red italics)



What is Groupthink? How is it defined?


From: The Trouble With Physics, by Lee Smolin, {Section IV , Learning From Experience, Chapter 16, How Do You Fight Sociology? (page 286)}


Yale psychologist Irving Janis, who coined the term (Groupthink) in the 1970's defines groupthink as "a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members striving for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action." According to this definition, Groupthink occurs only when cohesiveness is high. It requires that members share a strong "we-feeling" of solidarity and a desire to maintain relationships within the group at all costs. When collegues operate in a groupthink mode, they automatically apply the "preserve group harmony" test to every decision they face.


Here is a description of groupthink excerpted from an Oregon University Website dealing with communication:


Groupthink members see themselves as part of an in-group working against an out-group opposed to their goals. You can tell if a group suffers from groupthink if it:

1. overestimates its invulnerability or high moral stance, (Sahaj Marg Founder and leaders claim to have the "ONLY" path to GOD)

2. collectively rationalizes the decisions it makes, (and in Sahaj Marg, the decisions are made for them by the "inner circle" of the sectarian faction of SRCM (California - 1997)

3. demonizes or stereotypes outgroups and their leaders, (See here for Chari's actions of demonizing the Sahaj Marg "out-group" in his book: He! The Hookah and I)

4. has a culture of uniformity where individuals censor themselves and others so that the facade of unanimity is maintained, ( in the written material and speeches, weekly visit to PRECEPTOR (priest), and numerous regional, national, and global seminars re-inforce GROUPTHINK, (and groupdress, groupdiet, groupspeech)

5. contains members who take it upon themselves to protect the group leader by keeping information, theirs and other group members', from the leader. (and as in the Mafia, the Sahaj Marg "lunatic fringe" attack the "out-group" with threats of violence (murder), legal action, etc...)


We need to do much more than throw around words like "GROUPTHINK".



We need to define Spirituality, Spiritualism, Religion, Cult, etc... They should at the very least be defined as part of our "Charitable Tax-exempt" legislation.

If we don't, we will continue to naively subsidize all and any "harmful sects" with our tax dollars, and hence actively participate (through our servants, the bureaucrats, and the "political representatives") in the divisions in our societies. These divisions are brought about by these "men of sin" with their traditional and neo-"RELIGIONS" and/or CULTS of PERSONALITIES, be they of living, recently-deceased or long-time-deceased "Special Personalities", Icons/Idols, Messiahs, Saviours, or Gods, and/or semi-Gods.

Genuine charity could continue to be tax-exempt in the future, but not RELIGION and other such ISMS who use these religious "charitable status" so as to proselytize and "grow the business" of their sectarian RELIGIONS and CULTS (build churches, temples, schools, hospitals, retreats, etc... ) along with having their own personal businesses expenses covered and hence, increase their personal followings and/or access to commercial "markets" in other countries.

If such "religions and cults" are allowed to exist in our societies, they should fund themselves, as well as adhere to "bills of responsibility" (to complement the citizens' hard-earned "bills of rights"), so as to be allowed to continue to be licensed and carry on their "business" of religion inside our national borders. I don't want them to be subsidized by my TAXES anymore. If anything, they should be taxed more so as to cover the cost of mitigating the societal damage caused by the religious "turmoil" and "divisions" which they create in the broader society. Turmoil such as marginalizing ex-members of their groups and members of the out-groups, their family and friends, and generally creating divisions, factions, violence and even WAR!!