Obviously many people are enamored with what amounts to an irritating repetition of small talk, but the nag must package their self and their product as something high and lofty. A hook (see the movie) is needed and its companion trendy sales pitch which deceptively (or not) leads to self-absorption--the antithesis of Self/Soul absorption.

Again, by definition, the Spirit/Soul is incorporeal, but boy do the nags sell the body image under the guise of "spirituality." Picture, personality and price tag are the "obvious" give away. The hooks are personal empowerment, money, materialism, a beautiful body and even sex; i.e., "modern yoga." The sales pitch is universalism and (a phony) spirituality which, to the discerning, is simply a cloak for fundamentalism and especially cultism. One of the most recent nags Sri Sri Ravishankar, for example, claims (falsely, of course): "The unenlightened are those who say I belong to this particular place, or I am from that culture." All the nags use this universal hook (when convenient) to draw in the crowds by denouncing all those who follow a specific religion. Of course, what the charismatic cult figures do not admit outright or what many fail to recognize is, each of these specific cult figures are just that complete with their own "unique" organizations. This deception takes place under the guise of universalism which is actually another word for monotheistic fundamentalism.

The Cult Executive Officers/Organizations are of course not unique--though this enticing hook is frequently used. An extraordinary number of these CEO's are simply repackaging the Hindu religion. For fear of losing customers as well as going against their universal sales pitch, naturally, the CEO's will not disclose the Hindu connection. Sri Sri (like all the others), for example, will proudly (at times) recommended for all to follow their religion, and yet when asked what is his religion, the answer is not only none (or, equally deluded, all) but also to not even be teaching religion. So, what is the point of even bringing up religion/spirituality? Of course, the CEO's are suffering from megalomania and actually feel they are beyond all religion. Such a deluded individual also robs the beginning student of a comprehensive and effective religious path to which one is said to have gone beyond. The deluded student is often made to believe they are simply, because they say so, "at the top of the spiritual mountain."

Another "blatant" example of the dishonesty and duplicity of the CEO's is in their very organizational formation. These specific (but they refer to their self as universal) organizations claim non-profit status. Since their focus is on so-called "spirituality," and often paying lip-service to religions, their non-profit status was obtained by proving adherence to a specific religion; e.g., Hinduism. However, it certainly seems that after the legal paper-work is complete, the CEO's never mention their Hindu origins. There is no non-profit status for "spirituality" or "new-age." One has to wonder, on hospital information forms, etc., what is put on the blank next to religion? It is also interesting to note how the new-age universalists play fast and loose with the word "God." Are these consciously displaced Hindu CEO's Christians? Sage Hindus and their Pandits, Yogis and Swamis are not Monotheists, nor do Hindus pray to God any more than a Christian worships Siva, Vishnu or Devi, for example.

Similar to dedicated lay people and clergy within any religion, Hindus should, of course, be teaching Hindu Dharma and standing up for its profound wisdom. Hindus should be instructing those who wish to learn this great religion. It is truly Hindus who are at fault for the misrepresentations of Hindu/Yoga Dharma. There is even a so-called "Hindu University" which not only teaches phony yoga but also officially aligns itself with the spurious Yoga Alliance. It must be recognized that the beliefs behind such misrepresentations often come from deluded Hindu fundamentalists, who, like the monotheists, truly believe in (their) One God who is The Creator of everything.

Many Hindus, for example, have been duped into believing that Vishnu/Krishna is the One God from whom all (including other Divine forms) manifest. It is easy for those of this mindset to make universalist statements, for when they hear the word "God," in their mind, they are thinking Vishnu/Krishna. In the case of the universalists, other Divine Beings and other religions are respected in as much as they are "really" manifestations (Avatars) of the One God/Vishnu. The "pure" fundamentalist is more honest but certainly potentially more dangerous, for the fundamentalist believes in the "True One God" and all others come from that which is evil. Of course, both the fundamentalist/universalist are equally deluded but a necessary part in our human evolution. One extreme is often an understandable knee-jerk reaction to the other. Recognizing the role of the fundamentalist and universalist, centered balance is ultimately found in the /. With centered balance, there is a place for fundamentals and universals without bottoming out, so to speak, in the extremes.

The popular "spiritual gurus" of today, with their universalist message, come mainly from the Vaishnava Hindu background. Of course there are also fundamentalist/universalist Saiva Hindus. The so-called "universal" approach of the f/u's has led to an "anything goes or nothing goes philosophy." Sadly, humorous however is that generally "anything goes" (all is one, etc.) except when it comes to registering trade marks, making sure they are well paid as well as denouncing (while paradoxically using the trite phrase "do not judge") adherence to a specific religion! One now belongs to the "new universal organization," that is, until the next fad comes along. Selective division is the M.O. of the f/u's.

Because of poor teachers and complacent Hindus, we have all kinds of other non-sense and perversion in the name of yoga such as: Yoga Booty Ballet, Hot Yoga, Hot nude Yoga, Ruff Yoga (for your dogs), blah, blah, blah... . Along with other sacred Hindu/Sanskrit words like "Guru," "Mantra" "Aum" and "Pandit," "yoga" is also grossly misrepresented on T.V. and various forms of advertising. One of the most recent Madison Avenue examples of the perversion of Hatha Yoga is found in a commercial for Cadilac cars. A young, sexy women is driving a sleek, fast new Cadilac--enter the caption: "When yoga is not enough." Even unethical Christians and Jews have pilfered (Hatha) Yoga from the Hindus. Of course these religions are old hands at stealing from others, and (not coincidentally) one can find many of the "new-age yogis" (nay's)coming from these religions.

Unable to internally perceive, the nay simply replaces one form of deception with another. Leaving, for example, the Christian doctrine of simply accepting the theology on faith, the nay blindly accepts the so-called "science of Yoga" without a true understanding of either "science" or the facts of Yoga. Whether realized or not, nays repeat their dogmatic assertions learned from equally blind but charismatic "yoga gurus." The following are just a few of the dogmatic views of the nays: I am spiritual but not religious; Yoga is science and not religion; Yoga is a lifestyle and not religion; Yoga is universal; Yoga is for everybody; I do not follow any religion; I follow all religions; I follow Dharma and not religion; Nobody owns Yoga (*see below). The problem with such false claims is "obviously" the inflated ego. There are even examples of nays who have gone (back) into being a Christian fundamentalist. The new Praise Moves (.com) is an example of the inherent ego problem.

It is illuminating to note that, by definition, Universalism/Universalist is theological and means: The doctrine that all men will eventually be saved. In the study of world religions, this term is applied to both the Jewish and Christian religions. To a degree, what the nags and the CEO's are doing to the Yogas of Hinduism is not unlike what arrogant missionaries have done to indigenous peoples throughout history. Taking a cue from their mentors, lacking commitment and/or the honesty to ethically leave one religion and commit to another, the nay's casually say no to one religion and simply steal from another. It is not a coincidence that other forms of divorce are popular in the new-age.

The CEO's have spawned a whole host of phony "yoga teachers." Though many of these individuals and groups believe their intentions are good, if one is not a Hindu or related cult/sect (by birth or conversion), one cannot be an authentic teacher of any aspect of Yoga. This common sense value would be true of any of the great religious/spiritual paths/religions and their clergy. It is actually very easy to discern a phony yoga teacher. A true teacher of any aspect of Yoga will be a Hindu (or related cult/sect) and will have a Sanskrit name. Though there is much more involved than a name (change), there are no real Hatha Yoga (or any other form of Yoga) teachers with Christian (or other non-Hindu religions) names like John, David, Georg, Frank, Rodney, Patrica, Sharon, etc. It needs also to be remembered that "yoga" is a general term within Hindu Dharma. For clarity and correctness, one speaks of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga or the Classical Yoga of Hindu Dharma.

Why are so many afraid (or for other reasons) to admit they are Hindu and/or studying Hindu Dharma? Are they simply megalomaniacs? Picture, personality and price tag prevail. In denouncing "organized religion," these cult figure-heads have established their own highly structured organizations. Of course the deceit is evident in that they are pilfering from an already established religious tradition: Hinduism. An ethical person would not participate in this kind of theft. If one does not recognize the "obvious" truth of existing religious/spiritual teachings, like the Hindu/Yogas, a truly creative "spiritual" person would come up with something entirely new! The following are a few examples of the core CEO's and their organizational/personal duplicitous quotes:

program of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is the single most effective meditation technique available to gain deep relaxation, eliminate stress, promote good health, increase creativity and intelligence, and attain inner happiness and fulfillment. [Is it not interesting that, on the one hand, such groups claim a (phony) oneness and yet advertise their (pilfered) technique as "the most effective?"] When pushed into admission, the Maharishi (like the rest of the con artists) will have to admit that what is passed off as "yoga and meditation" is Hinduism. As the author of yogadangers.com, said: "Maharishi relented and confessed that by being initiated, you basically became a Hindu." (Duh?)

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: His mission is to go beyond religion... He does not teach religion. He teaches Sudarshan Kriya(TM) and Sri Sri Yoga.

Deepak Chopra can be found at chopra.com--need one say more? More than willing to sell their self, he and Sri Sri are both ex-TMers who have started their own personality cults.