Is the Isha Foundation a cult organisation?

The definition of cult is now a days a derogatory one. So the question is - really about the badness about the organization.

Those who are fully immersed in the organization typically do one or more of the following:

• 1. Spend an hour to three hours doing daily yoga practices
• 2. Due to #1(above), they are very healthy, efficient and become positive contributors to their own household, workplace and their communities. So, they will end up volunteering for Isha or with their preferred non-profit
• 3. Those who have experienced the benefits of #1 and #2, will directly or indirectly influence others around them to learn and benefit from yoga practices like themselves. Who wants to see their family, relatives and friends suffer from ailments?

This is the gist of Isha from my experience. Depending on your definition, you can decide if Isha is a cult.

Just a side note -> If anyone inside the Isha organization wants to walk-out of the ashram, they can do so at any time of the day. In a real western christian cult - the perimeter is seriously guarded! Just an fyi.

More than a decade ago, I read few online hit pieces and thought Isha was a cult.

Back in 2013, I started with Isha Surya Kriya and few other yoga practices. I did not know a thing about the organization or Sadhguru. I went for the Yoga programs.

I was able to get out of 40+ year old health issues that traditional medicine could not help me to cure. Then I got curious about Sadhguru and started reading about him. I have seen few specific individuals saying Sadhguru was a fraud, murderer and scammer etc., Over the years the people who were writing these hit pieces were evolving and changing but I noticed, Sadhguru seems to be operating out of his own vision and plan.

Over the years, I noticed people across many countries, belonging to various faiths and backgrounds have started benefiting from Yoga Practices and Social Outreach Programs.

The total number of people who don’t like Isha or Sadhguru seems to have leveled off. Also NO NEW allegations are being written. The same material from last 25 years is being re-cycled by new writers. After many decades, Sadhguru recently released all the property purchase and registration documents to address relentless media questions. It looks like there are lot of media people interested in allegations but not a single person is willing to investigate and prove a single thing.

Some bloggers are writing ton of garbage on WordPress and Quora. People who are turning to Sadhguru are busy with their daily practices, taking care of their life, participating in volunteer/social outreach programs. All these millions of people are not paying attention to what is being written abut Isha or Sadhguru.

My guess is - this trend will continue….