File this under category Uh oh. Is Dahn Yoga a cult and is it infiltrating NYC’s public schools??
In our world of yoga(dork) news we’ve reached the conclusion that this malarkey is hardly relevant. Or is it?! When you call it “yoga” you know we’re gonna have something to say. Some of you may be familiar with the organization known as Dahn Yoga, or maybe you read our coverage on the wacked out lawsuits that emerged earlier this year from 26 of its former members claiming “psychological manipulation”, brainwashing and “bizarre rituals” (it’s been one of YD’s most frequently commented posts even now). To say this cult-like organization is creepy is a gross understatement. Were we aware that the group’s founder 57-year-old Seung Huen “Ilchi” Lee, the guru accused of sexual assault, was the man behind NYC school’s “Brain Education” program? Nope!
Apparently the Department of Education didn’t know either and has already shelled out close to $400,000 over the past 3 years for the “Power Brain Education” program in 44 schools, says the NYPost, and may have continued on pumping the dough if not for the Post‘s inquiry of the “BE” and Lee connection. There are all sorts of kooky allegations in relation to Dahn, and Ilchi Lee, like the one where Julia Siverls, “a fit, 41-year-old CUNY professor” collapsed and died during an endurance hike in 2005 after being drugged and forced to hike in the Arizona desert with 40 pounds of rocks on her back with little water. What? The case was settled out of court last year. There’s lots more.
So you can imagine some parents are quite miffed to hear their kids are being fed the teachings of an accused cruel and unusual brainwashing cult-leader! And that’s just the teachers. Oh we kid! Seriously, a Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall” moment right? oh nevermind. Anyway, Dahn officials claim there’s no link between Lee and “Brain Education” and conveniently omit the fact that the program is branded with his name and Lee himself visited PS 65 in the Bronx this year to personally teach those young malleable minds. And so, BE is be-gone. The only problem? The kids seemed to like it.
We’re too bugged out to delve into the heart of Dahn, so we don’t pose as experts on the subject. And we support yoga in schools! However, if you ask us this is still super creeptastic…see the video below for yourself. Did anyone watch “V” last week and note an eerie correlation in the calm measured tone? You can’t have our brains! *shiver*
[NYPost]
Hi,
Yoga is beneficial for the health in ways that modern science is just beginning to understand. Even though it has beenapplied with therapeutic intention for thousand of years, Yoga Therapy is only just now emerging as a discipline initself.
More health care practitioners are starting to include yogic techniques in their approach to healing — andmore yoga teachers give a therapeutic intention to their teaching. People who have never tried yoga before are startingto consider including Yoga in their treatment plan.
As science begins to document the importance of understanding the interrelation of all existing things, it looks to Yogawith an intrigued eye, for Yoga speaks Unity in every word. As yoga techniques are researched and new data is gathered,it becomes easier for science and the medical establishment to understand and accept the benefits of Yoga Therapy.Yet there is still not one consensual definition of the discipline.
In order to arrive to an adequate definition and tocome up with proper standards for Yoga Therapy, it is crucial at this early stage to properly address some delicateprofessional and ethical issues. At the same time it is important to educatethegeneralpublic about Yoga Therapy’sbenefits and careful use.
so this article will really helpful to me..
BE is actually a pretty good program, very little dogma, mostly common sense, exercise, community building. Unfortunately, Dahn is a cult and Ilchi Lee its secretly rich, deceitful, abusive leader. There should really be some kind of transition for the students and teachers involved with BE into a different but similar program that can actually be trusted.
This is Dahn price list
1 month $170 member ship
3 months $450
6 months $820
1 year $1450
Gold membership $5,000
Silver(plus) membership $4,000
Silver Membership $ 3,000
IA $295(one day) 2 days($395)
Shim Sung $395
PBM(Power Brain Management) $900
Healing Chakra $295
BEL(Brain Education Leadership) $3,900
Dahn Mu DO
Blue belt Corse$3,300
Red belt Corse $3,300
Healer master Course (Healer Course + Dahn Mu Do) $9,500
BMC(Brain Management Course)$4,900
MIT (Master In Training)$2,800
Tao Holistic Healing $8,600(Mago Garden)
Chun Myung$ 10,000(Mago Garden)
Dae Shin Myung$100,000 (Mago Garden)
BBC (Owner Education Fee) $10,000
BBC(Education Fee+ Franchise License Fee) $30,000
The video of the BE program shows types of techniques that I have had applied to me by trained hypnotherapists & NLP Practitioners and that, having been trained in these disciplines, I have applied on myself and others with great success in clarifying our mental states with well being.
As with any techniques that affect our programming …so to speak …this is a powerful tool that can empower us with a clear receptive mind.
In the hands of any practitioner …such tools may result in harm to those meant to be served. When it comes to our children …this is of tremendous concern when such tools are misused or improperly applied.
It’s so important to check in with our kids daily …how was school …what did you do … and really know how do they feel.
A child who is benefiting from such brain enhancing skills will generally be more calm, able to process schoolwork more efficiently and is open to new challenges in an inquisitive way.
These same tools have been used also to control the minds of the masses …e.g., Adolf Hitler was a master of mind control techniques. I don’t believe he was formally trained in these techniques, but rather came by them naturally since these abilities to persuade others are innate within each of us.
Cult behavior is the external ritual behavior of one’s beliefs. This behavior can lead to closer connection with one’s divinity or may result in aberrant behavior. The heart clarity of the person applying these powerful techniques influences the benefits derived. In the hands of a person who is in a state of unawareness or shadow …this tool is subject to misuse. There are few saints among us who do not have shadow.
A child caught up in cultist behavior will be more rigid in response to new challenges …and will generally need to adhere to strict patterns of behavior. Fear of change & need for control is hallmark.
Once again …a child who is benefiting from such brain enhancing skills will generally be more calm, able to process schoolwork more efficiently and is open to new challenges in an inquisitive way.
As a Parent …I am responsible for regular interaction with my children to ensure their welfare. Such powerful brain enhancing techniques should not be thrown out in frenzy of possible scandal. For the tremendous service such powerful techniques are now being scientifically verifed as to efficacy. Yes there will be possible abuses in any life situation. Let’s not throw the Baby out with the Bathwater.
In the hands of any practitioner …such tools may result in harm to those meant to be served. When it comes to our children …this is of tremendous concern when such tools are misused or improperly applied.
It’s so important to check in with our kids daily …how was school …what did you do … and really know how do they feel.
A child who is benefiting from such brain enhancing skills will generally be more calm, able to process schoolwork more efficiently and is open to new challenges in an inquisitive way.
What price do I place on the welfare of my child ???
What is the cost of other school programs …and what are their benefits?
I would look at school “nutrition” programs first & foremost. This has the greatest impact on the health of our children. A poorly nourished mind in terms of vitalizing food is a poorly receptive mind to the powerful changes brain enhancing disciplines are known to provide.
Their are many yoga trainings i cannot afford to attend …but i would like to.
I avail myself of self practice or i go to community resources that are donation based. Life is choices.
Certainly there are other programs that are more cost effective that incorporate these brain enhancing technologies.
Yoga is the union of all my life’s lessons into harmony with ALL LIFE.
This is a time when all our combined knowledge is coming to fruition. Perhaps it more cultist to stick to one form of previously “defined” yoga and rigidly exclude all else.
NAMASTE
Thanks …Yoga Dork …
This is such a wonderful article and has helped me to clarify ways I may be of greatest service.
NAMASTE