Join Stacie Stukin, an arts and culture journalist, and Phillip Deslippe, a Ph.D. candidate and former 3HO member, as they unravel the dark history of the 3HO community's boarding schools. They shed light on the abusive practices tied to Yogi Bhajan's leadership and the enduring impact of silence surrounding generational trauma. With personal testimonies, they discuss the complexities of reparations and the emotional struggles of survivors, emphasizing the critical need for awareness and healing in the wake of such profound neglect.
Yogi Bhajan's portrayal as an infallible leader fostered a harmful dynamic, undermining parental authority and normalizing abuse within the 3HO community.
The boarding schools under 3HO were hotspots of neglect and abuse, with a culture of secrecy allowing systemic harm to flourish.
Survivors of 3HO face significant challenges in healing, compounded by infighting among ex-members and the lack of adequate reparations support.
Deep dives
The Legacy of Yogi Bhajan
Yogi Bhajan, who founded the 3HO community, presented himself as an infallible leader, which had profound implications for his followers. Many members were raised to revere him as a grandfather figure, leading to a complex dynamic where parents would send their children away, believing Yogi Bhajan could provide a better upbringing. This created a hierarchical structure that undermined parental authority and fostered an environment where abuse and neglect became normalized. The organization encouraged distance from parents, exacerbating the disconnection that allowed for continued systemic abuse.
The Culture of Abuse in Boarding Schools
The boarding schools established under 3HO were rife with neglect and abuse, with reports indicating that some children were knowingly subjected to harsh conditions. Despite Yogi Bhajan himself warning parents that the schools would be 'a living hell,' many still chose to send their children, often believing it would toughen them up. The culture within these institutions, characterized by secrecy and lack of accountability, meant that abuse was seldom reported to outside authorities, perpetuating a cycle of harm. This systemic failure resulted in numerous former students struggling with psychological trauma and difficulties reintegrating into society.
The Challenge of Seeking Reparations
The reparations process for survivors of abuse within the 3HO community was marked by disappointment and frustration, as many expected a supportive and trauma-informed approach. Instead, the program placed limits on settlements and failed to address many non-monetary requests aimed at accountability and transparency. As a result, numerous individuals felt re-traumatized and underwhelmed by the outcomes, often characterizing the reparations as a way for 3HO to absolve itself of further accountability. This has led to a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction among survivors, as the reparations program did not live up to the promises of healing and restoration.
Infighting and Competition Among Survivors
Infighting among former members of 3HO has complicated the healing process for many, as they navigate competition and dissenting views within their community. Those who left the organization often grapple with feelings of guilt regarding their past actions, which can create barriers to fully addressing their trauma. This internal conflict is exacerbated by the residual effects of hierarchical competition instilled during their time in the group. The competition for recognition and validation as survivors can detract from the necessary focus on healing and rebuilding their lives.
Navigating Healing and Life After Cultic Experiences
Individuals leaving cultic systems, such as 3HO, face immense challenges in reclaiming their lives and identities, often struggling with attachment issues and self-worth. The absence of healthy parental relationships during their formative years leaves many unsure of how to establish secure connections with others. Survivors must also relearn basic life skills and navigate relationships while confronting fears instilled by their former communities. Effective healing often requires support from trauma-informed therapists and peer networks, allowing survivors to process their experiences and rediscover their autonomy.
Returning guests, Stacie Stukin and Phillip Deslippe are joining the show once again to speak about their newest investigative piece on the troublesome boarding schools of the 3HO community.
Stacie Stukin is an arts and culture journalist from Los Angeles. She was a contributing editor at Yoga Journal and has also written about yoga for the Los Angeles Times and Time Magazine. Over the years, she’s had the opportunity to write about Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, including a majorly impactful article for Los Angeles Magazine about the sexual misconduct allegations against Yogi Bhajan and the subsequent reckoning within the 3HO community.
Philip Deslippe is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and holds an MA from the University of Iowa. He has written articles for several academic journals including the Journal of Yoga Studies and Tricycle magazine. Philip was himself a member of 3HO for about a decade after taking a Kundalini Yoga class at his undergraduate college in the mid-1990s. He left in 2008 and went on to conduct research into the origins of Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini Yoga that culminated in the ground-breaking 2012 article "From Maharaj to Mahan Tantric" for Sikh Formations.
In this revealing conversation, Stacie & Phillip delve into the disturbing practices within the 3HO community, particularly focusing on the abusive and neglectful conditions at the boarding schools in India. Philip provides a detailed history of Yogi Bhajan's rise to power and the hierarchical structure he created, which facilitated widespread abuse and control. Stacie shares harrowing accounts from former members, highlighting the long-lasting impact of the community's toxic environment.
The discussion also covers the recent reparations program for survivors of abuse within 3HO. While the program aimed to provide settlements and institutional changes, many claimants found it re-traumatizing and inadequate.
Read Stacie & Phillip's "3HO's Boarding Schools Were A Living Hell":
https://www.baaznews.org/p/3hos-boarding-schools-abuse-yogi-bhajan
Find more info on Stacie and her work here:
https://www.staciestukin.com/
Find more info on Phillip and his work here:
https://philipdeslippe.com/
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