12/18/21, 5:41 PM De "universidad del yoga" a secta sexual | Internacional https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/09/07/5b926417268e3e42248b4646.html 1/9 It's news Covid Third dose Pablo Sierra Vaccine Miguel Angel Rodriguez Angel Teruel Transport strike Alberto Ruiz-Gallardó MONICA G. PRIETO @monicagprieto Updated Friday, 7 September 2018 - 13:53 From "yoga university" to sexual sect ASIA View 7 comments On its website, the Yoga Agama center is defined as "a spiritual university whose essential principles are to bring the authentic roots of yoga to life through courses, workshops and retreats in facilities around the world." However, for many of his students at his school on the Thai island of Phangan, the experience comes closer to being subdued by a sex cult led by a misogynist guru who promoted sex as a "form of healing" for 15 years. That was the experience of at least 31 students who have denounced the abuses that the founder of the center, Swami Vivekananda Saraswati, has exercised since it was founded. In an investigation by the website Medium, which revealed the scandal at the end of July , the complainants described a cult environment where sex with teachers was promoted, rapes were protected, feminism was criminalized and the use of condoms was discouraged. The guru Swami, whose real name is Narcis Tarcau, would have escaped to Cambodia on July 31, as confirmed by the Immigration Department of the Thai Police to Coconuts Bangkok, a local blog. On its Facebook page, the Agama center reported at the end of that month that Swami had made the "decision to renounce all his teaching and administrative responsibilities." Tarcau, of Romanian origin, defined himself as a "brilliant exponent of a unique and modern way of thinking about yoga" with which to achieve "a high state of spiritual realization". He is a disciple of another Romanian yoga guru, Gregorian Bivolaru , sentenced to six years in prison for having sex with a minor. The name of Bivolaru, who promoted having sex with 1,000 virgins to achieve enlightenment, appears on the Europol most wanted list for human trafficking, but that did not stop Tarcau from feverishly defending him to the point of accusing whoever he was criticized of "being under The guru and several teachers of the Agama Yoga school in Thailand flee after allegations of rape and sexual abuse by 31 former students of the center Cambodia expels some of the foreigners arrested for "pornographic dances" International Plus Translated to: English Show original Options ▼ 12/18/21, 5:41 PM De "universidad del yoga" a secta sexual | Internacional https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/09/07/5b926417268e3e42248b4646.html 2/9 defending him, to the point of accusing whoever he was. criticized of being under demonic influence" and facing "infernal consequences." Guru Swami shared a murky background with his mentor that did not seem to bother his associates or the Thai authorities. According to Coconuts Bangkok, she was commissioned by Bivolaru to open a yoga center in Denmark that she abandoned in 1998 amid allegations of inappropriate behavior. Tarcau searched India , where he left after having his visa revoked: according to Romanian sources, he was accused of sexual abuse. From there he traveled to Thailand in 2003, where he soon found his particular paradise. "Most saw him as a god" , explained to Coconuts Bangkok Flavia Tibucheski, a former student of the center who worked in the administration of the same until 2016. "The most veteran teachers fully trusted him," added the young woman, referring to the teaching staff who are accused of collusion and, in some cases, rape. Two other reported teachers have disappeared from Thailand in recent weeks. "It is part of the yoga tradition: the guru is the father, and the students act like his children: they follow him, speak as he speaks, and think as he thinks." Even though the guru continually spoke of sex as a healing therapy. To the Brazilian Tibucheski, Tarcau insisted on practicing a genital tantric massage to "unblock her chakras." Many of the women denounce that the female staff of the center and even the doctor of the same prescribed sex with Tarcau to "heal". CONSTANT HARASSMENT "They told us that feminism is a lot of lies, and that we should obey our man and do what he tells us," Ava, the pseudonym of another Romanian victim, explained to the same publication. "The sexual harassment was constant and the teachers fed it." Furthermore, he promoted sex without a condom because "the exchange of physical secretions is hampered" and healthy yogis are "resistant to infection." The allegations have been confirmed by an investigation by The Guardian newspaper, which has collected the testimonies of 14 women and two men according to which the Agama Yoga Agama Yoga about 4 years ago about 4 years ago International Plus 12/18/21, 5:41 PM De "universidad del yoga" a secta sexual | Internacional https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/09/07/5b926417268e3e42248b4646.html 3/9 which has collected the testimonies of 14 women and two men according to which the center facilitated during its 15-year history rapes, sexual assaults and misogynistic teachings, "brainwashing" women. hundred of young people to have sex with Swami to "reach a state of enlightenment". Three of the victims cited by The Guardian report rape, while the rest detailed abuses committed in the guru's private practice ranging from vaginal finger penetration to violent groping or sexual acts in front of them. In addition, Tarcau encouraged young women to have up to five sexual partners per week. Many of the abuses have been denounced by former students in the criticism of the center on web pages. "I wanted to learn about yoga and tantra," explained a former TripAdvisor user. "After getting away from it, I began to see Agama as a sexual cult. It's one of those things that you don't easily realize because it was well hidden ... but everyone was looking at me like a piece of meat. They told me repeatedly that they were Unprotected sex with many people would heal my trauma, that I had to follow a strict diet, vomit every morning before breakfast, which is okay to produce brain fog. They also offered me genital massages and told me it would heal. " The guru used his cult leader position and manipulative skills to maintain his hold on women, threatening them with "negative karma" for the rest of their lives if they denounced him. Many of them spent years at the facility despite their mixed feelings. Thousands of students passed through the center each year: an estimated three-quarters were women. "It was like a cult, as if he had bewitched us. People had blind faith in him and in his spiritual powers, " explained one of the victims to The Guardian. Abuses could affect all classes, but female students in advanced courses were often the main victims. ONLINE NOTICES The comments of different travel websites raised suspicions. "Please do your research before visiting Agama Yoga in Ko Phangan . I know many girls traumatized by sexual harassment from their teachers. They use manipulative techniques to obtain sex and even keep it without consent during tantric massages. You can read the comments on TripAdvisor. They are very clear about what happens there, "warned a user identified as Mahashakti on the Lonely Planet website three years ago. Some of the comments are chilling: "Terrifying cult: The sistamatic abuse of trust by teachers led to my best friends having very questionable sexual encounters with team members and swani. In my opinion, this is not it. a safe place for women, "estimated a user identified as Josh M on TripAdvisor. "It's scary," wrote Debra S. "I went to a class. I had an unpleasant feeling. After spending time with two male teachers, I discovered that you must have sex with teachers in order to get started." "I have visited Agama and am not surprised by allegations of sexual abuse by 31 women International Plus 12/18/21, 5:41 PM De "universidad del yoga" a secta sexual | Internacional https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/09/07/5b926417268e3e42248b4646.html 4/9 The director of El Mundo selects the news of greatest interest to you. I have visited Agama and am not surprised by allegations of sexual abuse by 31 women against the leader and the escaped teachers. The Yoga Alliance revoked this school's certificate. The school acts as a sex cult using its yoga program for lower level to recruit supporters. Be very careful, "explained another user identified as Xavier Kamadeva. "This cult has a leader and multiple teachers accused of rape using mind manipulation tactics that leave women incapacitated until they wake up to be raped. They teach that women deserve rape and that they are to blame. They are homophobic and sexist. Watch out. "Melanie A. NO ARRESTS The Thai police, who visited the facilities on April 4 without making any arrests, assure that there have been no formal accusations , which prevents action. It is estimated that the victims have returned to their countries of origin and many of the abuses date back years, which makes it difficult for the South Asian country to do justice since the violations prescribe six months after they are committed. According to the website Medium, Agama Yoga has ceased its activities after the escape of the founder and several of his teachers, also accused of sexual abuse. The director, Ananda Maha, held a meeting with the community to explain the scandal, according to students from the center. According to one of the attendees, the meeting was "a great cover. Nothing was admitted. There was no compassion for the victims . He said that what 31 women have denounced in writing will not be investigated," neither by an internal or external committee. explained in statements collected by local media. "As for the many women who have reported sexual abuse, Maha said it was all her own perception, due to the injuries they carried." According to Medium, a source mentioned that Maha, Swami's former lover, "ignored every abuse" over the years. In a statement delivered to The Guardian, Agama Yoga accuses "criminals" of being involved in the campaign against its reputation and recalls that "spreading lies is a crime in Thailand." According to the criteria of Know more See links of interest Recibir Newsletter Kim Jong-un's incredible International Plus 12/18/21, 5:41 PM De "universidad del yoga" a secta sexual | Internacional https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2018/09/07/5b926417268e3e42248b4646.html 5/9 incredible latest bans on North Korea's people #1 estesmiemail 09/07/2018 20:45 hours In most cases, there are exceptions, wanting to be "cool" pays dearly. This "news" has been repeating since the Beatles' Guru took their hair (1968), and nothing, people err that err, well, nothing, keep jumping into the ravine of modernity of the "cool". See7comments International Plus