Don't Ask. Don't Tell.

Originally posted 6/14/09

Updated today.

Now that the First Amendment rights of every ex-member of the Spiritual Rights Foundation has been upheld, I went back to Steve Sanchez's book "Spiritual Perversion". Steve's book is an accurate account of what happened behind the scenes at the Spiritual Rights Foundation. It is so accurate, I felt like I was re-living all those insane years at the cult.

Of course a lot of what Steve wrote was inspirational for me. Without his groundbreaking book, I would not have mustered the courage to create this blog and begin the process of relating my side of the SRF story.

At the Spiritual Rights Foundation, as in many cults, the inner workings and daily interactions between leader and member and even between peers is considered sacred, inspired and holy. So much so, that we were told to not repeat anything that was said - especially to those outside the cult. We even had to sign a document to that effect.

This document (the "agreement statement") said, in effect, that no student or minister of the Academy for Psychic Studies may speak of any event involving any person or leader, the techniques presented, the color of the walls, the horrendous odor of the back rooms, or the appearance of the leaders (who splashed their repulsive countenances online and in the newspaper anyway) FOR ALL ETERNITY.

That someone could be held to non-disclosure is OK up to a certain point. I have signed dozens of non-disclosure statements for various reasons. None were like the kind we signed at the Spiritual Rights Foundation.

Normal non-disclosure statements are limited in scope by either the kind of information to be held secret, in time or both. But the SRF/Academy for Psychic Studies statement tried to cover any event, any leader for all time.

Steve Sanchez wrote in "Spiritual Perversion" a piece about his own hesitation about signing such an oppressive and unlawful agreement. One of the founders of the Academy for Psychic Studies even flatly refused to sign because of it's one-sided nature.

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Steve describes the following:

Rev. Bill wrote a long “agreement statement’ which that went on and on and on about the sanctity of SRF and the dire consequences for any individual who broke their vow of confidentiality to the Church. He said that as ministers we were sworn to never repeat what we hear inside the walls of SRF because it is the same as a priest receiving a confessional from a Church member. He made everyone sign it, but Rev. Harpreet wouldn’t sign it.

We were all profoundly in awe of this document and what it implied. If we didn’t sign it, we knew we would be shunned and probably kicked out of SRF. I didn’t want to sign it, but it seemed unthinkable not to.

I was in a horrendous dilemma about this signing the document, but I didn’t want to show this. Part of me just wanted to sign it to show my loyalty and be ‘in’. But I also felt a nagging, painful stress doubt and rage in my heart and head. I was haunted by the fear I was being screwed and making a horrible mistake. After delaying, I signed it.

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I delayed signing it as well. Actually I went for several years without having signed any kind of non-disclosure. The reason I was uneasy about it was simple: the "agreement" was so oppressive in it's nature (an ETERNAL contract would not be enforceable), with consequences so dire it looked like I was about to sign away my testicles.

After some amount of time (years) they finally figured out I didn't put my mark on the dotted line and made me sign it anyway. By then, I realized the statement was worthless, in a legal sense and unenforceable. You can't have a private agreement to hold someone to confidentiality through eternity. It just does not make sense.

But what about it made sense? As explained to me, the document was intended to maintain the sanctity of the "psychic readings" by keeping them confidential and that state and federal law supported said confidentiality by defining the reading as a "religious confession".

OK. Confidentiality in a "religious confession" is reasonable - but that duty of confidentiality within a confession is between "priest and penitent". Let's say someone dropped into the SRF "healing clinic" for a brief reading. Let's also say you were assigned to read that person. Your duty of confidentiality was to the person you were reading and no one else.

In actuality, all the things said in the readings conducted at the Academy for Psychic Studies were freely discussed among the gathered faithful for ridicule, humiliation and disdain.

If you were a member of the public, whether getting your reading for the first time or even your 10th time, your "confidential" reading would be spread around the Academy for Psychic Studies as fast as a rumor spreads through a trailer park. Your "spiritual faults" will be laid bare for all to hear, your troubles spread around from person to person. And it's not so we can rally around you to help ease your pain.

Instead, we gathered to laugh like we are listening to a celebrity roast and ridicule you with any of a number of insults. If you returned, we would know how to pounce on you and we used the information disclosed from your "confidential" reading to love bomb and deceive you. Without exception, $150 dollar classes were recommended to those who received a reading. Of course, even more $60 readings were suggested.

Most of the public walked out - but not because of any disclosure of their "confidential" reading. It was more like the middle-aged ladies and hippie-chick wannabes of the cult followed them around so closely, the visitors wondered if they were being watched like thieves.  But whether you walked or stayed, you would be treated the same: like an ignorant, uneducated, unenlightened, easy mark.

Psychic Readings at the Academy for Psychic Studies are just like "Three Card Monty" where everyone who plays eventually loses it all right in front of people who are laughing behind your back.

But that was nothing compared to what the ministers and students went through.

Whenever a minister or student received a reading, the entire contents of that reading were promptly communicated to SRF leadership for appropriate response.

Usually that appropriate response was a demand for more time working for free at the Bethel Island farm, performing a "love project" (another way to work for free), or putting in endless hours of "volunteer" labor on other endeavors. "Reform through labor" was a suggested way to help one emerge from the doghouse. Just work your ass off at the leaders' farm for free, for the leaders business for free, for the "church" for free, hell, work for anything SRF for free and you may have a chance at redemption in ten years or so.

But the faithful few see this demand as a helpful thing, intended for their own spiritual growth and unfoldment. They faithfully discuss the personal, intimate details of every "psychic reading" with any member of the Spiritual Rights Foundation while laughing their ass off or while describing the shortcomings of the person they read with a healthy, healing dose of disdain.

Even though, in California, a minister of a church can indeed conduct "pastoral counseling" without having to obtain a license, that ability is somewhat limited and the minister's duty to follow the law, accepted therapeutic practice and above all: confidentiality remains.


Ministers at SRF are told they are healing and helping their flock process emotions, but only at a price: 60 or more dollars an hour and 120 bucks for each class.  Make 'em pay was the motto.  Put business first was the command.  Get them in for readings and more classes was the dictate.


It's all in the name of making a million dollars a year for the leaders.

I wonder: how can the Spiritual Rights Foundation expect to attract new members if they see their new prospects the way the leaders see the existing members - as piggy banks and disposable diapers.

But don't let me stop you from getting a psychic reading from the Spiritual Rights Foundation. Let them do their thing and see whatever it is they see.

When you get to the part where you can ask them to address your questions and give them feedback on the reading, think of this:

DON'T ASK. DON'T TELL.

Don't even bring home the little pamphlet they give you.

Psychic Suicide

Provender said...

Horrific. Sometimes it amazes me that people can recover after experiences in these controlling groups. Some do. Some don't. That picture of the teddy bear is going to stick in my mind for a long time. It is a too-accurate representation of what these power-hungry manipulators do to people.

December 23, 2009 8:10 PM 

Janehellen said...

This awful cult groups shuldnt be allowed to exist. I was there to, close to suicide. I thought that jumping of Golden Gate should do it, but fortunatelly I was to confused and in to bad shape to even get there after leaving SRF.

December 23, 2009 11:29 PM 

The people at the Spiritual Rights Foundation are a pretty close-knit community of the few who are the "spiritual elite", small in number. Not so much out of choice but more of necessity. SRF is such a secretive and foreboding place, there simply wasn't anyone else you can talk to outside the cult. In fact, the "contract" we were forced to sign forbade contact with psychologists, therapists or practically any mental health or medical professional.

The result of that restriction had a profound effect on the congregation.

Of course, there is the story of our friend "Santa". Santa followed the meditative teachings faithfully. He was also known to have some "issues" in his life that led to some odd behavior at first then finally to a full-blown psychotic episode in the SRF headquarters. He was not referred to emergency psychiatric care but was thrown out on to the street and left pounding on the gate.

But that is only one story.

One man named Larry was a successful general contractor and had a thriving construction business. He joined the Spiritual Rights Foundation's elite Clairvoyant Training Program. After admission, the taunts, the cheating and a lot of general exploitation began. Larry spent a lot of money on SRF. Larry spent a good deal of time at SRF. He even employed several SRF members in his construction company.

Despite Larry spending so much money and providing jobs for many of the SRF members, he was treated like a doormat and played like a fiddle.

There are several tales of Larry being demeaned and spoken of in terrible ways. The people doing the talking were the leaders of SRF. For what purpose is anyone's guess. How the result came about is unquestionable, though.

After a few years of this abuse, Larry sat down in his home in the Berkeley Hills shoved a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Larry blew his brains out.

While Larry's is the only suicide I know of, there are several who speak of suicidal thoughts and actual suicide attempts. None could find the strength or will to contact a mental health professional or even call a suicide prevention hotline.

Why?

Because that kind of contact was prohibited.

The Spiritual Rights Foundation operates a "Psychic Help Line" charging $4.95 for the first minute and $1.95 for each additional minute. Some of those calls were from people who spoke of suicide.

As one who kept answering the "Help Line" I fielded my share of those kind of calls. I did refer a couple of them to the national suicide hot line. Later, I suggested that we keep that hot line number near the "Help Line" so persons better served by mental health professionals may receive the help they really need.

That not only got shot down, it was ridiculed with the taunt that I was more interested in getting someone else in the caller's head than helping them "blow that picture".

I did hear of one person at SRF who was admitted to emergency psychiatric care. Apparently that referral was made by way of a relative - not anyone at SRF. After some months of treatment, that person returned to SRF.

And of course, there is Santa.

Of all the companies and organizations (religious and non-religious) I have been associated with, suicidality was a pretty rare thing and when recognized, was immediately addressed with medical and mental health care. I remember one event at a retail store I worked at as a young man. A salesperson called his colleague to say: "I'm sitting here with a bottle of Scotch and my gun on the table. The gun is telling me to shoot myself." The mental health emergency team was immediately contacted and he got the treatment he needed. His life was saved.

Nationally, the rate of suicide is about 0.01% of the population. Factor in suicide attempts and ideation and I'll bet it's at or below 1%. So for a small group like SRF, suicidal thinking or suicide attempts should be rare indeed.

However, I have heard from many who escaped the Spiritual Rights Foundation that the experience there led to thoughts of suicide and attempts at suicide. More so than I have ever encountered at even the most dysfunctional company, club or street gang.

From that small number of the elite, the number of those who have contemplated, attempted or even succeeded in suicide is truly mind-boggling. I won't say how many but the number of those who disclosed they have thought about or attempted suicide is one hell of a lot more than one.

Proportionally, I would bet you a dozen Krispy Kremes that the suicidality at the Spiritual Rights Foundation (and suicidality means thinking, attempting or accomplishing suicide) is far higher than anyone would expect in a group that small or in a group of any size.

The time, place and means of suicidality varied. But it all boiled down to just one issue. A evil and horrid issue: the constant harassment, the vile and animalistic verbal assaults on your thoughts and daily life, the relentless drive for control over your being, your money and your family.

I have never encountered so many from such a small, "elite" group who share such a dark experience.

I have never encountered an organization so disdainful of those who follow it.

I have never encountered an organization who would stand silent and sacrifice the lives of those who support it to continue the vile greed that sustains it.


Those who survived their experience with the Spiritual Rights Foundation are survivors in the purest and truest sense of the word. Not only did they live to start again but they survived long enough to have that second chance at life.

Unfortunately, Larry doesn't have that chance. As for his widow, after Larry's death Bill Duby offered a pitiful sum to take Larry's construction company right out from under her. I am told the offer came only a few days after Larry's suicide - apparently in order to use that horrible event to bargain from the position of strength. Still in shock, she accepted.

So, think of that before you attend that free healing clinic or get a psychic reading at the Spiritual Rights Foundation. After a few years, you may wind up looking down the barrel of a shotgun.

And your widow may as well...

Drinking with the Woman at the Well

I would have added a caption here but it's just too obvious...

I like to keep abreast of what is happening at the Spiritual Rights Foundation. Even up to listening in on their broadcasts, reading the web site and just plain asking around. After my exposé on the nuttiest church service I ever heard, not only has there been no more church services broadcast on the net, all live internet broadcasts by the Spiritual Rights Foundation have been suspended.

Spirit Talk radio (the live talk show broadcast at midnight) on Live 365 has been offline for a while now. The church services are no longer broadcast. The live Total Prosperity radio show on KEST radio continues and The Paranormal Connection TV talk show (recorded) is on the Comcast Cable Public Access Channel, however.

Update: The Paranormal Connection has mercifully vanished from the San Jose Public Access Channel (called CreaTV). This collection of vomitus has lived on borrowed time for the last two years. It has now been ejected from public view. I hope it stays off the air forever.

I'd like to take credit for that development, but it may be because the equipment broke down or there is some other event preventing live broadcasts.

Naaah. I'll take credit for that. I mean, why would the Spiritual Rights Foundation want to give me even more fodder for the cannon?  Besides, they are a fucking CULT and as such are prone to placing responsibility everywhere but where it belongs - themselves.

[note: SRF and their lawyer used the above statement in their failed attempt to sue me. Their argument was I personally pulled the plug on SRF's crappy radio and TV shows. So, how is it that I have complete control over THEIR broadcast activities?

At any rate, we pummeled them in our legal defense and sent them back to the gates of hell where they belong.]

No one is really fighting back with a counter-message to this blog, though. But a pro-SRF blog has appeared. It's small (and I hope it stays that way). Take a look at it. In fact, why not comment on it?

Woman At The Well Ministries (you'll have to Google it as I cannot link you there directly).

Here's my take on the Woman at the Well: I know the person who is writing it. She is basically good and decent. And like all of us, she fell in with a really bad crowd. You know - that crowd in the big Victorian house on Ellsworth Street. I hold nothing against her. She is speaking her mind as I am here and that is a great testament to the freedoms we have here in the USA. But, since the right of free expression extends to the freedom to dissent, let's take a look at her writings.

One standout paragraph is this one:
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Tonight I listened to my friend struggling with watching our mutual friend isolate themselves more and more, finding long-time friends too irritating to spend time with. Our friend was losing their spiritual awareness; becoming more selfish and self-centered, and LONELY without even knowing it. This is the subtle trap of following the foolishness of the personality. One day we wake up and wonder, "Where has Love gone?"

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Of course, many of us woke up one day and wondered "Where has my bank account gone? Where has my spouse gone? Where has my child gone?" Oh, right. They went where love went. Especially the bank account. Too many of us have lost spouses and children to SRF. It's a rant I want to express later. But now, how about the above paragraph?

Let's say you were leaving a bad situation. Maybe something like a destructive cult. Maybe this cult cost you your marriage (by encouraging, even forcing divorce), compromised your child's love and faith in you (as a result of special attention given by the cult leadership - you can figure that out for yourself) and cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Would you want to put some distance between you and them?

Wouldn't you want to have a healthy separation from your old, dysfunctional life? Wouldn't that help you in your own healing? I mean, recovering alcoholics don't associate with unrepentant alcoholics and those on parole are prohibited from associating with criminals. The purpose is to keep those who are re-claiming a healthy, productive and functional life from slipping back into bad habits.

Sounds to me that this "friend" was losing their slavish devotion to the cult and is creating that healthy separation so they can reclaim their life. They say it's a lonely thing. I say it's an independent thing. I say it's a strong thing. I say it's a brave thing. I say it's the way to get your life back.

Those who knew you as who you once were tend to want to continue to see you in that light. The drinking buddies tend to want you slamming shots and your partners in crime want you to help steal a car. It's a pretty well known phenomenon. Ask an AA sponsor (hmmm, I guess you can't as they are anonymous) or a parole officer.

It's also that High School clique thinking: if you don't stick with us, you'll suck. For someone approaching the magical age of 40, you'd think they were past all that. But as the Spiritual Rights Foundation thrives on gossip, rumor and sophomoric behavior (sounds a lot like life in a trailer park, doesn't it?) this person seems to be right there.

Besides, the bottom line is: if your "friend" won't spend time speaking with you, how do you know how that person feels?

Oh, yeah. It's clique think.

There's more. Read this gem from the same blog:
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What did Rev. Bill teach me and my friend? That you offer a healing to those who irritate you. You ask your worst enemy for a reading. Why? You NEED that person. The irritation you feel in their presence is not the other person. Let me repeat that:

The irritation you feel is NOT the other person.

It is energy blocking the connection between you and your body. Its evidence is the division and corruption of the communication between human souls. It is what separates us from Heaven.

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We have gatherings at our house with our fellow recovering cultists regularly. Those gatherings allow us to create community outside the context of SRF and that is great.

And I know that this blog, my wife's blog, the knowledge that people are reading our blogs and, in fact, my very existence is irritating to the Spiritual Rights Foundation and the author of the pro-SRF blog. Since I have reported on the SRF activities and comment freely (to the extent that Google-ing Spiritual Rights Foundation, the Academy for Psychic Studies, Angela Silva or Robin Dumolin brings up this blog with the rest of the SRF-related bodily discharge), how can I not be considered a thorn in their side?

So, in the spirit of my pledge, I am making an offer: come and say hello. Sit with me. Have a cup of coffee and some good eats. Stay as long as you like. Say whatever you want. Do as you please. Come get a healing and give a healing.

If you really want to honor your teacher, why don't you come unblock the communication between your body and soul? You NEED me.

The coffee pot is on. The healing is free.

And the irritation you feel is not the other person.

Let me repeat that: The irritation you feel is NOT the other person.