A Little Bit Culty Ma Will See You Now: Chasing Nirvana with Priya Hutner (Part 1)
Jan 19, 2026
Priya Hutner, a writer and former long-term member of Kashi Ashram, shares her captivating journey through a seemingly serene spiritual community led by Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati. She reveals how the initial allure of service and enlightenment transitioned into experiences of spiritual abuse, humiliation disguised as ego-death, and strict control over life within the ashram. Priya discusses the impact of daily rituals, the complexity of collective living, and her eventual awakening to the dynamics that shaped her life. Her memoir, "Chasing Nirvana," promises deeper insights into this compelling narrative.
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Youth Pulled Into Communal Ashram Life
- Priya Hutner describes being drawn in as a teen after her parents joined Joya/Ma and moving into communal ashrams in New York and Florida.
- She recounts teenage freedom, early partying, and later returning to the ashram pregnant at 17 to have her child there.
Ma's Rebrand From Joya To Guru
- Priya recalls Ma's bold, Brooklyn-accented persona combined with deep meditation abilities and a rebranded guru identity.
- Ma's origin story included breathwork, a vision of Christ, and later guidance from Nim Corley Baba to 'feed everyone.'
Rebranding As A Shield And Recruitment Tool
- The community repeatedly rebranded from Hindu-leaning ritual to an 'interfaith community' when criticized as a cult.
- Rebranding served to broaden appeal and deflect external accusations while retaining core control dynamics.
