Comments on: The Buddha of Ruralia

By: Ravin

Ravin — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 23:44:08 +0000

I used to hear tensions about the locals and the West Coast types who come to teach in the University. i had a friend who lived in fairfield and went to MUM. she said there were tensions with the 'townies.'

yeah, I went to college with one of the 'townies' and she was always telling me about the tensions with the Maharishi's people.

By: razib_the_atheist

razib_the_atheist — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:50:21 +0000

I used to hear tensions about the locals and the West Coast types who come to teach in the University.

i had a friend who lived in fairfield and went to MUM. she said there were tensions with the 'townies.'

By: MD

MD — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:48:38 +0000

Okay, so I'm wrong about the tensions, and the oddness, I think, if you go by this article in the suntimes.

By: MD

MD — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:44:50 +0000

For some reason this reminds me of the Maharishi University in Fairfield Iowa…..okay, the University seems to be a legit, if strange, place so it’s not really the same thing. Quick search of SM, didn’t see anything. Did I miss any story about the University? Has anyone been? All my time in Iowa and I never visited…..I used to hear tensions about the locals and the West Coast types who come to teach in the University.

By: razib_the_atheist

razib_the_atheist — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:35:00 +0000

Amid this expansion came the sensational trial and conviction in 2002 of a group member for the repeated rape of his daughter. Central to the manÂ’s defense was his claim that he had been brainwashed and broken-down during his two decades of involvement with Samanta Roy. Several former members took the stand to allege a ghoulsÂ’ gallery of abusive practices in the group.

sex abuse seems to be a common wedge into these sectarian-cultic groups. there are many members of 'mainstream' religious groups that engage in sexual abuse and other criminal activities, but since the groups don't have an adversarial relationship with the public and legal authorities, and they don't presume to control group member behavior, they don't get the same critique and examination. also, the secretive nature of these groups probably exacerbates the problems since everyone knows everyone and everyone might have an incentive to keep secrets going for the 'good of all.'

By: Ennis

Ennis — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:26:20 +0000

You realize that protestantism had its origin in similar discussions – Martin Luther had his epiphany while sitting on the toilet as well.

By: dhaavak

dhaavak — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:19:49 +0000

Samanta Roy called himself Brother Rama and had conversations with the prophet Elijah while sitting on the toilet:

in my early meanderings into the deep woods in sub-zero temperatures, cut off from modern facilities and a regular supply of clean water, my bodily functions failed my expectations. once returned from these adventures and ruminating the state of affairs in the civilized confines of my tiled refuge, i confess to having called out to the gods when attempting a return to regularity. in doing so, i think i have shared samanta's epiphany (in a non-christian context of course).

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 18:08:26 +0000

The 3HO organization of American Sikhs is a more benevolent version of this, with big businesses in breakfast cereal and private security.

Economically, this misuse of a price floor is a classic example of a market distortion applied in ways legislators didn't anticipate, to harass a small player rather than protect it. Similarly some states are aiming to force Wal-Mart to raise prices. It's anti-consumer even while it's pro-employee, and employees are themselves consumers.