Gary Olsen's "Master Path" - anybody familiar? (contradictions, body, married)

[deepcynic]

Again, I have to thank allan for providing grist for the mill.

[earthman]

How is a Masterpath convention?---saw this from a blog post Message List
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saw this from a blog search,


Today I'll be working a double shift (16 hours), which isn't so bad
except that Master Path is here.

For those of you who aren't cult activists, I will explain.

Last year I worked at the Courtyard, which is another Marriott
property across the street from the one I work at now. About 3 months
after I started there, I started hearing about this bi-annual
convention called Master Path, which, I discovered, was a group of
religious weirdos who show up there twice a year to go their
conference across the street. I was working graveyard there, so my
interaction with them was limited, but I did notice that they all
spoke with a sort of dazed, serene tone in their voice, and that they
opened their eyes real wide to look at you.

After that I decided to do some research, and found their website,
masterpath.org, which includes a picture of the Living Master of
Master Path (Sri Gary Olsen), and extremely ambiguous doctrines, such
as,

"Divine Love would have to be the cornerstone of any perfect Path;
the crown jewels, those of wisdom and freedom and the crowning glory,
could only be the true attainment of complete mastery, sainthood, the
irrefutable realization of God."

And over-generalized and sometimes offensive statements like,

"Every true seeker has experienced the heartbreaking effects of
devoting oneself to a teaching or guru who does not represent the
highest or, through lesser consciousness, is exploitive, pseudo,
cultish, or self-serving."

and

"It is true there are many Godly people in the worldly temples, but
the Lord will not be found there."

Is it just me or did that just denounce just about everyone's
religion? Anyway, it goes on to get crazier and crazier and you can
read that at your leisure. I decided to go a step further and order
their free introductory materials, which includes the Master Path
bible and an audio tape recording of one of Sri Gary's lectures.

The bible is pretty much more of the same ambiguous general
statements about higher selves and stuff, except for the "FAQ" where
they list the question "Is Master Path a cult?" TOTAL FILIBUSTER.
They never deny it ANYWHERE in the answer.

Good thing I have the definition right here:

In religion and sociology, a cult is a group of people (often a new
religious movement) devoted to beliefs and goals which may be
contradictory to those held by the majority of society. Its marginal
status may come about either due to its novel belief system or due to
idiosyncratic practices that cause the surrounding culture to regard
it as far outside the mainstream. (wikipedia.org)

and also...

Cult: A group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or
dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically
manipulative techniques of persuasion and control . . . designed to
advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible
detriment of members, their families, or the community. (West, L. J.,
& Langone, M. D. (1985). Cultism: A conference for scholars and
policy makers. Summary of proceedings of the Wingspread conference on
cultism, September 9–11. Weston, MA: American Family Foundation.)

You be the judge.

The audiotape started off with about a minute and half of people
chanting OM en masse, and then a woman gets on, let's out a long,
orgasmic sigh and shouts "WELCOME!" in that same sanguine voice they
all use. She introduces Sri Gary, who comes on and starts doing his
motivational speaking.

He starts off pretty benign, but by the first half of the tape he's
chanting and mumbling nonsense and speaking in tongues, and during a
particularly passionate moment he denounces Christianity because
SEMEN was involved in the birth of Christ. He repeats this about nine
or ten times, always emphasising the word SEMEN with unbridled
enthusiasm.

We didn't even get to the end of the tape because we couldn't stop
laughing.

There is an amazing set of articles written by ex-followers right
here. I suggest the one on Albuquerque, personally. Here are some
highlights in case you don't plan on reading it yourself:

Gary Olsen's techniques are subtle, but so very convincing. I have
always considered myself to be intelligent and aware and open-minded.
And Gary and his wife Joy are very convincing. That is, they were
until they started saying things like, the only love that is true is
the love for Garji (i.e. Sri Gary), that all paths lead to the Master
Path and that Gary Olsen is the only true and living Master. That's
when the bells started going off.

...

I wanted to work for the Master Path and gain greater esteem from Sri
Gary. I also wanted a relationship with a fellow devotee and to have
it sanctioned by Sri Gary. However, again I was told that the only
relationship that I should be concerned about was my relationship
with "Garji." If a relationship other than that one should happen, it
would be seen as a gift and thus be sanctioned by him. But I should
clear my mind of such thoughts and return my thoughts to Garji.

...

The MasterPath, like all other cults, is destructive of personality
and self-identity. Gary Olsen, the MasterPath leader, states in his
writing "Truth and the Seeker #6": "The chela (student) must realize
that the Master is taking care of him. He must surrender himself
again and again…"

In my study of the MasterPath's material I find again and again that
Olsen doesn't want children to be who they are. He wants to remake
them in his image, since he is "The Master." They are not encouraged
to question "The Master" for his judgments are far beyond "human
standards."

Under the guise of "spiritual exercises," the MasterPath uses classic
hypnotic induction techniques. The people on "the Path" find
themselves believing Olsen without realizing what has happened to
them. And in the process of creating these new personalities, phobias
are implanted.

Again Olsen states: "Leaving the MasterPathis the worst thing any
chela could do … without the Master's protection, he runs into all
sorts of troubles which would not have happened had he remained with
the MasterPath." Critical thinking is suspended and the chela is left
with pure subjectivity.

Need I say more?

So, here are some experiences I've had with them recently:

Last year I was checking someone out next door and when she presented
her driver's license, there was a picture of Sri Gary in her wallet
where some people put pictures of Jesus or their children's school
picture.

Their other calling card is to announce themselves as a follower of
Master Path at every opportunity. For example, I've had people call
down and say "I'm with Master Path, and..." or "Could I speak to
Master Path guest _____?"

This is my first Master Path convention at this hotel, where the
actual conference is being held and where 90% of the followers are
staying. All this week I've had people calling to make this
(obviously scripted) statement: "I'm going to be at your hotel with
the Master Path, and I'm chemically sensitive. I need a room with no
bleaches, santizers, fragrances, or deodorizers used in the room."

The hotel had to specially order about 1500 pounds of organic brown
rice because followers of the Master Path are on a brown rice fast
and cannot eat anything else, and I had to program a special meal of
rice and carrots into the cashier machine for room service. This is
weird enough, but what's weirder is that I keep having people call
down and ask for the "Master Path meal" as if it was something that
we always offered. "I'll take 3 Master Path meals and an iced tea..."

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE

This morning one of them hung their skirt from the fire sprinkler,
the one that says "DO NOT HANG FROM" with a big picture of a hanger
and a line through it. The fire alarm got tripped, and the sprinklers
went off in that room for about an hour because nobody knew where the
shut-off valve was, which flooded everything from the fifth floor
down, including my little cave here.

Where I'm the only one working with a full house.

And a waterfall in the lobby.

And 300 rooms of Master Path calling down to order their brown rice,
even as the fire alarm raged in the background.

[deepcynic]

Nice! I have to go to one of these things.

[earthman]

Originally Posted by deepcynic

Nice! I have to go to one of these things.

seriously sounds like a bunch of new-age nonsense

[Violet11]

After reading almost all of the posts here about Master Path, I thought I'd go ahead and throw in my two cents. I'm not and have never been a student of Gary Olsen - and never will be! But I did have the opportunity to read/skim through a lot of their materials when I worked in a printing shop several years back. Some of Gary's female followers would come in to the shop regularly to get copies of the group's books printed and bound. Before I criticize, let me just say that I've always been open to different religions and spirituality in general, so believe me when I say I'm not judgemental about "new age" stuff or even the concept of a guru. I learned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation years ago, so I do believe we can learn from people who've tapped into something that benefits us physically and spiritually without losing individuality.

That said, my impression of Master Path is that it's definitely a cult. The women who came in were very secretive and only wanted to deal with one particular person at the shop. Little did they know that their secrecy only served to pique everyone else's curiousity when otherwise we probably would never have bothered to look at what we were printing. You know, it's just human nature. It becomes the trainwreck that you shouldn't look at but can't help yourself.

Anyway, with my first glance at the books, I saw the picture of "Sri Gary Olsen" and my immediate reaction was "WTF"!!?? Reading several pages just confirmed my suspicion that these people were probably off their rockers. I remember Gary referencing himself as "Son of God" in some of the passages and thought to myself "Wow, this guy is another David Koresh". Yes, some of the other concepts in the books were reasonable and basically benign. But most of it struck me as total nonsense, and the more I read it became clear that Gary was a megalomaniac.

There were a lot of red flags in the reading materials, but one of the things that struck me as most cult-like was that these women followers who came in all looked like clones. It was a little Stepford-esque. They all had long hair and they all looked like they hit the tanning booths often. I thought it was a weird look for a cult. I wonder if God likes tan people more or if tanning somehow advances people's souls. HAHA!! Needless to say, I've found this group fascinating ever since and look them up online from time to time to see if they've committed mass suicide or anything yet. Sorry if that sounds callous.

So anyway, I understand where people are coming from when they're searching for enlightenment, etc. and from reading some of these posts, I find that probably some of the newer members are genuine in their defense of Master Path and are probably not under a cult "spell"....yet. Key word YET! So no offense to anyone in Master Path, I'm just sharing my observations. Yes, I believe Master Path is a cult. But I also think you have the right to be in a cult if you want. If you put yourself in the position you have, I'm sure you know you're taking the risk by involving yourself with someone who purports to be a "Master", "Son of God" and what not. Go for it, and good luck!

I am still curious if the women in the group are indeed required to have long hair and go tanning - and if so, why?

All the best -

Violet

[deepcynic]

Interesting insight Violet.

This coincides with my conversations with MP insiders and is great to see it from someone from the outside.

As to the tanned thing, that may come from the numerous vacations with the "Master" to a resort in Mexico.

[Shuffler]

The thing I can't get over is the guy has absolutely zero credibility. All indications are that he's a 'self proclaimed' master. If that doesn't make the red 'abort' light shine brightly in your head, then you are not mentating properly.

A thinking person would question this guy's claimed 'mastership'. Somebody who attains such a role has typically studied for years under the close supervision of known 'masters' and aren't afraid to hide it and rather would be honored and proud to share it.

What a buzzkill it'd be to know that 'the master' is a false prophet, milking money and hope while he works on his tan, golf handicap and smokes the finest herb out there in Kalifornia. And every day, pretty girls doing their daily meditation in front of his creepy photos...he must get a 'rise' out that, eh?

I don't think it's so much a cult as it is a clever way to make the customers (chelas) feel like they're part of something really special by incorporating a lot of new age mumbo jumbo & ritual into the meetings.

The wonders of Google bring me to this post by an ex-MP follower:

"I too am looking for a True Surat Shabd Yoga Master. I was on the MasterPath for 2 years. Left about 4 years ago. I've been suffering consiterabally, before and since Sri Gary Olsen dismissed me for not taking initation after 2 years.

It feels like my body is burning all the time, there's this magnetic feeling in my head that seems to be facilitating this burning feeling. It's unbearable, the pain is indescribable.

This suffering I'm describing started happening to me about one year on Gary Olsen's Path. It's the reason I was too afraid to take 2nd initation from him, at the mandatory 2 year point. Since then, the burning, searing pain hasn't stopped. I don't know what caused this to happen. What this magnetic like force I'm feeling actually is?.. why it's so unbearabally painful?.. why it never goes away?...

Is there anyone who can help me?"

WTF??!!

And then a couple other posts:

"You are right to seriously question Gary Olsen as he is a fraud. Check out this link and scroll down to see 19 examples of Olsen directly plagiarizing Charan Singh...http://vclass.mtsac.edu:930/phil/classnotes9.htm"

and

"can someone please assist me in searching for a true bonified Living Master of the Audible Life Stream? Preferably in the Sawan Singh Ji lineage. I am from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania here in USA. I have been second guessing my original choice to study under the Living Master Sri Gary Olsen of the Master Path here in America."

He's just ripping off ECKANKAR...the information is out there.

[deepcynic]

Shuffler, I cannot remember if I have thanked you for starting this thread, I am remiss if I have not until now.

Thank you!

I love a person that has gone through hell with MP and 'Sri Gary Olsen, the Master'. It is my belief that your thread has opened some eyes and may keep others from buying into this absolute line of crap!

Thank you!

I would have thought that anyone that buys this scam to be deserving of what comes to them through this cult because they were naive enough to succumb. But, I now know how seductive it is, and how destructive it is.

Thank you!

People that are good hearted, caring and truly seeking some sort of spirituality have been duped by this abomination and that makes it very sad when you come to realize that Gary is just a megalomaniacal opportunist.

[Shuffler]

This thread should give pause to those who either know somebody or are themselves considering following this 'path' and self-anointed 'guru'.

The more I dig up on the web, the negative far outweighs the positive, and my conclusion is that Olsen, Klemp, Twitchell and their ilk are nothing more than opportunists. Those who leave 'The Path' and/or speak out against it and question its validity are simply threats to their bottom line.

Looking at other variants, are Buddhists in it for the money? Hafiz? The Dalai Lama? The great Hindu philosophers? For every legitimate practice/following, there will always be those hiding around the corner waiting to exploit it for their own personal gain.

With Kalifornia bankrupt and an Obama tax on the wealthy coming, I wonder what Gary is thinking about...higher monthly membership fees and a relocation? Or maybe just take the money and disappear?

[deepcynic]

My guess is that he will soon take a powder. Like his apologist allan apparently has.