A Harrogate resident has raised concerns after discovering a yoga event in the town tonight is being run by an organisation that has been described as a cult.
The free to attend Sahaja Yoga Music, Dance and Meditation event takes place at the Crown Hotel this evening.
The event is organised by Sahaja Yoga, whose website says it is a ‘world-wide movement for peace and self-awakening’.
But a woman who booked to attend became suspicious after researching the organisation and got in touch with the Stray Ferret to alert local people.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said alarm bells started ringing when she discovered all yoga classes run by the organisation are completely free of charge.
She said:
“Naturally, I asked myself ‘what is the catch?’
“Usually, these things are taster sessions to encourage you to take up a block of paid classes or something as part of a wider PR campaign on behalf of a brand.
“But then I watched one of their recorded videos where two stoic women got on stage to talk to a room of seated people about their Indian-born leader Shri Mataji, someone who had supposedly achieved “self-realisation” and wanted to share it with the world.
“They began sharing their stories talking about this person as if they were a god, and that the only way people would see the truth is if they followed her.
“Now there’s nothing wrong with spirituality, but the way they were talking it dawned on me, this sounds like a cult.”
Cult allegations
The Sahaja Yoga organisation has faced long-term allegations of being a cult.
In an article by the Independent in 2001, several ex-followers of the movement recounted their experiences on the inside.
One man claimed Sahaja Yoga “insisted he break off all family ties” and that followers became “zealous disciples” who followed instructions.
Another ex-disciple said he “wasted” six years of his life after becoming involved with Sahaja Yoga at the age of 19.
A Wikipedia page also lists cult allegations against the organisation.
Charitable status
Despite the claims, Sahaja Yoga, which is officially called Life Eternal Trust UK, was registered by the Charity Commission in August 1985.
The commission’s site says the organisation’s activities include “disseminating the knowledge which promotes and actualises physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, balance and wellbeing; in particular the techniques of Sahaja Yoga meditation and the teachings of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi”.
The commission website says the organisation has 220 volunteers.
The organisation was established in 1970 by Indian-born Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, who died in 2011.
According to its UK website, its classes involve “simple meditation techniques, with guided meditation to help reduce stress and achieve the peace of true meditation”.
The website, which refers to Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi as “the all-compassionate Divine Mother”, adds:
“Shri Mataji established a living integration of all the great religious traditions, thereby laying a firm and lasting foundation for cross-cultural unity, universal love and world peace.”
Hotel ‘does not represent or endorse views’
The Stray Ferret contacted the Crown Hotel to ask whether it was aware of the allegations. We also forwarded the resident’s concerns.
A spokesperson said in response:
“The Crown Hotel Harrogate is the event venue for Journey into Silence on April 30, which was booked independently by event organiser Sahaja Yoga Meditation, as a part of its ongoing tour across the UK.
“The Crown Hotel does not represent, endorse or support the views of any organisations hiring its event spaces.”
We also put the allegations to Sahaja Yoga UK and offered it the opportunity to respond. The Stray Ferret did not receive a response by the time of publication.
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