Feedback for the Life Foundation (International)

What we as former members, volunteers, students, participants, teachers and supporters have seen and experienced in Life Foundations communities worldwide is:

• Members are often tired, sometimes confused and have difficulties with focussing and concentrating. (Dru Yoga student/ helper, 4 years)
• People are not treated equally. Some have more power than others. (DY student, 2 years)
• Members change while living with Life Foundation, their personality and character seem to become more superficial. Their talents sometimes seem to vanish into the background. (Volunteer worker, 4 years)
• What I see at the LF is that people try to give up there ego and everything (for which I do have lots of respect), but if it goes wrong, mentally or physically, then they are left to themselves and they are told that they are responsible for themselves. But how can you take control and responsibility, when you have already given it away? (Pathfinder student, 3 years)
• What I notice at the LF is that people are so impressed by someone else that they forget how beautiful, unique and talented they are themselves, and how important it is that they should take good care of themselves. (Volunteer worker)
• Some LF tutors are presented as counsellors on the courses. Course participants are invited to meet them on a one to one basis and disclose their personal problems. The tutor will then suggest LF products and courses that they think will help that person. At the end of the course, the tutors have to report back to Mansukh or another elder with a summary of what they have sold and how many people they persuaded to book on courses. In the past, if they have not done well enough, they have been severely berated. The pressure to succeed is huge and ones place in the hierarchy and level of acceptance in the community is largely based on this. (Member 10+ years)
• In the LF I have worked and prayed with some lovely, kind, genuine people and watched them over many years, compromise their values and struggle to accommodate the pressure of the massive workload, losing sight of why they are really there. (Former member 17 yrs)
• What I see is that Mansukh is spoiled by everyone, he is treated like a little prince or a God. Members drink from the same cup as him, they put food in his mouth, carry his bag and are all very quiet and submissive when he speaks. (Volunteer worker, 4 years)
• What I do not understand is why, within a peace-organisation that has World Peace as their purpose, conflicts with members cannot be solved in peace and good harmony. In my opinion ex-members should not be left behind with negative experiences from an organisation that likes to be an example for others when it comes to living peacefully together. The directors do not take any responsibility, and always blame others for the disharmony. (DY student)
• I have experienced that the Life foundation is very, very eager to get my money (Supporter / donor)
• I was shocked at times, to hear personal details about course participants that should have been confidential, being discussed amongst members. I am sure that course participants assume that when they talk to a tutor or elder in the LF, that what they share will be kept in confidence. One would assume that since these members are presented as elders and experienced tutors and counsellors, that such a basic principle would be adhered to. What I learned, was that since they are not accountable to anyone (eg. a professional registering body), they have not been trained and have no respect for these basic principles. LF members who disclosed personal and at times, distressing information to Mansukh in confidence also had no guarantee that it would be kept private. Personal details have been used against members as a way of discrediting them after they have left the LF. (Member 10+years)
• I could not cope with the hierarchical system, I felt treated like a child. (Dru Yoga Teacher, 7 years)
• When I decided not to join the community as a member, suddenly their behaviour towards me changed. I was no longer the beautiful light being to them, but in their eyes, I became a person with ego-problems. (Volunteer worker, 3 years)
• They have this beautiful smile when they teach and talk to you, but when they turn away their faces become distressed. (Dru Yoga student, 3 years)
• What about the ego's of the Guru's of the LF? Why are some of them always so dominant and strict and always wanting to take control over everyone, giving orders constantly. (Pathfinder student)
• Some real good, professional, confident and dedicated people are turned into insecure, low self esteem & traumatised beings by ‘mind games’. Mansukh deliberately creates chaos, conflict and confusion by constantly changing his mind, giving them projects which he has no intention of seeing to completion and creating competition among the members. I soon discovered that despite constant group feedback & discussions on improving management systems, no real change ever occurred over the years. It is my observation that Mansukh has no intention of creating efficiency and or effectiveness in the organisation, as this would give members time & space for themselves, to meditate, to think discriminately & question. So, often he keeps them busy with unnecessary work, to sheer exhaustion. For a so called spiritual ‘Guru’ who claims to want world peace & teaches yoga as a de-traumatising technique, it was real sad to see many good souls traumatised, disempowered and become so completely dependant on him. ‘Boost them for public presentations & knock them when inside the ashram, all for their own spiritual growth!’ Of course he does not take any responsibility, ‘it’s their karma’ or ‘their trauma is from their past lives’ (Member 10 yrs)
• I felt there was no room for me at all. People did not acknowledge me as a person, they did not care about my wisdom and talents. I have so much to give but they were only interested in exploiting me. (DY Teacher, 12 years)
• What I find at LF is that the teachers are very good at bringing the best out of their students, giving them all the warmth and love people need so much, but they neglect themselves and each other. (Pathfinder student)
• I didn't make any very close friends as this was discouraged. Instead we were advised to confide in our elders. (Member)
• I often wonder what it is they really do for World Peace, I actually cannot think of anything important. (Life Conference participant)
• They kept promoting their one to one consultations, for which, of course, we had to pay a lot of extra money. (Dru Summer congress participant)
• Parents find it a struggle to meet the needs of their children. Their value is judged by what they can contribute to the organisation. Parenting is not considered as any kind of contribution to the organisation and what it purports to be working toward (ie world peace, or whatever). Being a parent is considered to be your own private business that has no intrinsic value beyond this. Parents end up having the choice of side-lining their family to get really involved, or being considered a slacker and ending up doing a lot of washing up / cleaning etc. plus you're considered less of a spiritual person. Many parents have been advised that if they look after God then god will look after their children ie. don't worry about what's happening while you're so busy helping us. Maybe this is true, but is looking after the life foundation, god? It is a painful feeling to look back on how you might have spent your child's childhood years after the event. (Ex-member 15 years)
• What I notice at LF is that lots of members and volunteers have a traumatic background of some kind. I worry about them and wonder whether LF is the best place for them to live and work. I am afraid that it is actually the worst place for them, for unfortunately, it is very easy to manipulate and exploit them. (Volunteer worker, 5 years)
• I could not understand why members and directors were so negative about ex-members that had left or why nobody talked about those who left. Are they not teaching us to love everyone, and that we are all one, all brothers and sisters ? (Volunteer worker)
• I was really really shocked when a member said to me: "I have surrendered completely to my Guru. If Mansukh uses violence, then there is a reason for it, so I cannot be against that violence". (Dru Yoga teacher)
• I have spent all my money and spare time in courses in the last few years but now I feel fooled. This is not a peace organisation for sure, I will never ever go back there again. (Participant)
• They all know that Mansukh has used violence, he even held a teaching about it in a gathering with all his members. Now everyone thinks he is a God who knows what karma to put his devotees through. I think they have all gone mad or are severely brainwashed. (Volunteer)
• Suddenly the magic was gone. I felt they could not enchant me like they did before. Their meditation skills did not work for me any longer. It was like I could see through them and their practices. (Dru Summer congress participant)
• Working closely with the life family, I noted that, the enormous effort the ‘gurus’, teachers & members had to make to appear joyful, centred & inspiring at the public events, courses, & conferences was so draining for them that after the events, they often became ill. On stage they projected a happy united family but behind the scenes they were positively nasty & denigrating to each other. The public peaceful front is rather a ‘good show’. One could see how superficial, shallow and distant new members, who once were your good friends, became in time living in the community. An arrogant, self-righteous attitude replaced the once genuine caring & loving individuals. Of course when they needed your skills, money or help, they would shower ego-boosting praises again. (DY student, Volunteer 3 years)
• I normally have lots of energy to do anything that comes onto my path but since I went to the LF in Wales everything went wrong, my energy level dropped dramatically, I could not sleep properly, my head was spinning. I felt that they took my female energy for my own use. I felt that I was dependent on them without knowing it and that they still had an influence on me when I went home. My chakras were totally messed up. I had to go to a special therapist to heal. (Dru meditation student)
• In my conversations with teachers of the LF, I experienced a lot of frozen ideas and stiffness. They were not at all open to my experiences and questions. They often just said that I should read the Bhagavad Gita better and more often. (DY student 4 years)
• At one point, I realised that they were no longer an example to me because of their arrogant behaviour towards others. I hope I will never have such an attitude towards my students. (DY student 2 years)
• I had a unique experience. It happened in DC when Mansukh and all of the "higher ups" where in town staying at my friends house. I was new to the group and the experience. Mansukh came to my office to use my work phone as it had a conference call feature and it allowed Mansukh and Andrew to use the line at the same time. After the call, Mansukh asked everyone to leave my office and spoke to me privately. He asked me what I wanted in life. I told him I wanted to get married and have children. He told me that this was my ego and desire talking and that if I wanted to follow the path I would have to let go of those thoughts and that he could be my family and help me fulfil this desire. Just the beginning of manipulation and control.
• I wonder whether some of the teachers are properly trained as yoga teachers at all since they cannot even demonstrate the postures correctly. How are we supposed to teach their yoga when they do not even teach properly themselves? (DY student 3 years)
• Once, I witnessed a member jump up and hurry to do some work when Mansukh arrived. She seemed nervous, as if she felt guilty for having a little break to eat something. (Volunteer worker)
• Mansukh made a really nasty comment about his wife Radhika (Jane), whilst she was on stage singing for him and hundreds of people. (Life Conference participant)
• They were making jokes about sex and adultery. I couldn’t understand what was so funny. Is it because they are frustrated about sex because they are supposed to be celibate? (Life Conference participant)
• Manny Patel would often say that he has very little time on this earth and is putting pressure on his ‘devotees’ because they have to ‘get to a certain spiritual point in order for him to take them with him’. That he cannot help people spiritually unless they move in the ashram. That he has to be harsh on the members because he loves them and wants them to ‘go with him’ when the time comes. He has been saying he has very little time on this earth for more than 20yrs and he is still here!! Does anyone ask him, where he is going to take them & why is he so conditional? To newcomers, he reassures that they do not have to move into the ashram, then once he has gained their trust & faith, the subtle conditioning/mind manipulation starts. Over the years I have seen how he tells people what they want to hear and gradually ‘suck’ them in. In recently years, his well trained ‘gurus’ use the same tactics (Ex-devotee 10 years)
• When Mansukh walked out of the Conference room with the world peace flame, people really got hysterical. Some were crying, others wanted to get in front. I felt that I was suddenly part of a mass hysterics. This scared me and I asked myself ‘What the …. did I get myself into!?’ (Life Conference Participant)
• Where are the examples of members who really had a great education at the LF and now live a wonderful spiritual life after so many years of hard work and practice. It seems like no-one ever ‘passes the exam’. (Pathfinder student, 3 years)
• People say that some members of LF have the power to put a ‘spell’ on you when you leave them and that they will use black magic on you. But I am not afraid because I know that the source of love and light is so much bigger than any negativity. One look at nature, a forest or the sea, is enough to know that. (Volunteer worker, 4 years)
• What I experienced at the LF gives me a glimpse, I feel, of what it would be like to live in a country where you have no voice, no rights, nor the opportunity to develop the things that are important to you. And where you are watched carefully in case you might do anything against the rules. Since leaving the LF, I feel happy and free again. (Volunteer worker)
• Often the hard working members suffered from sleep depravation & inadequate nutrition. Instant energy boosters were sought in high sugar foods. Food was abundant when Mansukh Patel was around or visited the ashrams but insufficient otherwise. Members would often squabble about someone having eaten their food. Whilst teaching the public healthy peaceful living, Mr Patel neglects his own family members. Often he stated that he ‘eats only a couple of crackers a day & he is working at his ‘highest optimum’. I have observed members take up 7 day, water only fasts after such ‘teachings’ from the ‘Guru’. Reward of such practices was ‘personal’ time with Mansukh (likes slim women). Eating disorders are rife among the members. Behind the scenes, the ‘Gurus’ are well fed and looked after with prompt breakfasts & dinners prepared by ‘devotees/personal assistant’ (food for their Hindu idols, if anyone should ask). (Pathfinder student /helper, 7 years)
• I think Mansukh Patel is a genius. He knows exactly what people need, what to say, when and how to say it. He has the incredible talent to enchant people, maybe even hypnotise them. That makes him dangerous, very dangerous. (Conference participant)
• An incident happened at my friends house where everyone was spending the night. Mansukh, Savitri, Louise, Andrew and others were there. I had found an eagle feather and wanted to give it to Mansukh as a gift. I had wrapped it up in a red cloth and proceeded down the stairs to the room he was staying in. Savitri was like a bull dog at the door and completely bit my head off (energetically as well as verbally) for knocking on the 'guru's' door without permission. I was absolutely shocked at the level of bitterness from her and from that day on never trusted her. What was even more shocking was when she realized what I was doing, giving a gift to the guru, she instantly turned on the sweetness. She did later apologize to me. However, after that experience I realized she was a fake. When I explained my disappointment in her actions, and how could someone who was so enlightened get so annoyed, the LF family said, “Oh she is over extended and wants things to go smoothly”. What I wish to tell everyone reading this is when the fire in the belly lights, listen to it softly. That is where your truth lies. Your body never lies to you about the truth. Even if you can't identify it, listen to the feeling. It is where your protection lives in your soul and body. (Ex supporter)
• I was disturbed to realise that the LF members who are in the role of counsellor on the courses have no professional training or ongoing supervision. Although they may have good intentions, they are not insured as counsellors and are not registered with a professional counselling body. Personal details of course members were often handwritten after the ‘counselling session’ and not treated in confidence. On more than one occasion, I read information about course participants that had been left lying on a desk in the office. These details were gathered so that tutors could give teachings based around the groups problems. The course participants would then think that something divine was happening when the tutor ‘miraculously’ talked about their personal problems. (Member 14 years)
• My experience of Life Foundation is that it’s all about cash, or cheques, or credit cards. Money. (…Is the root of all evil today: Pink Floyd) (Ex Supporter)
• It is not the lovely people who work and live there, it is Mansukh that I do not trust anymore, he gives me the creeps ! (Pathfinder/ helper, 5 years)
• Spiritual practises and visualisations can be extremely powerful and at times, long buried and distressing experiences can be uncovered. Once, when a new and inexperienced tutor was leading a course group through a deep visualisation, one of the participants uncovered a hidden trauma and broke down in tears. She left the room to avoid disrupting the session. Afterwards, this lady reported that none of the LF members present had the ability to support her or even just be with her. Eventually she had to seek professional counselling. (Member, 12 years)
• For me one reason to be anonymous is: I would like them to remember me as a friend who loves them, so if they ever decide to leave and they need help they will know I am there for them. (DY student / helper, 4 years)
• I am afraid of what they might do to me when they find out what I have written. Now or in the future. You never know how long the organisation lasts and goes on with there practices. They could get more criminal as well. (Volunteer)
• About the anonymity: It's because in the past, ex-members have been threatened verbally and physically and have felt unsafe if they disclose their names. If LF have names it is highly likely that they would contact those people and threaten them with legal action. (Member, 12 years)