Where did Justine Go?

May 22, 2024 12:15 PM

Drawn to a Hare Krishna ashram for its yoga, meditation and vegan meals, she’s still figuring out what went wrong. Ms. Payton didn’t think of herself as part of a larger story about the popularity of alternative spiritual practices in the splintering religious landscape of 21st-century America. She hadn’t yet parsed the borderlines separating willing self-abnegation, mental illness and abuse. She craved transcendence, and like an increasing number of Americans, she didn’t find it in Christianity or another historic monotheistic religion.

She was 28 years old and had $72 to her name, after spending years working seven days a week in a cycle of cleaning, cooking, teaching, worship and selling books on the street. She rose at 4:30 each morning and her days ended at 9:30 p.m. If she violated the home’s strict rules — sneaking a piece of chocolate, say — her fellow devotees would report her to their leader, whom they knew as Mangal-arti.

Ms. Payton had moved to Philadelphia to help open the Mantra Lounge meditation center at the behest of Mangal-arti’s “spiritual master,” Devamrita Swami, a New York-born, Yale-educated leader in the Hare Krishna movement.

But over time, the experience soured into something she would later describe as emotionally and spiritually abusive. Although she was bringing in money for the center through book sales, she kept none of it, she said, and had to use her savings to pay for some toiletries and other necessities.

posted by Toddles (11 comments total)

Bad people flock to cults so they can gain power and abuse others with impunity. I'm glad Ms. Payton got out, and I hope this story reaches anyone else wondering if they should get involved in something like this and convinces them not to.
posted by grumpybear69 at 12:26 PM on May 22 [12 favorites]

I ran into some Hare Krishnas more than 20 years ago in Toronto. I thought they had died out, the way all fads do. I guess I was wrong. It just goes to show how insidious cults are.

It's not the first time I have heard of people who were born Catholic joining cults, whether "religious" like the Hare Krishna cult or for that matter Donald Trump. I wonder why they're drawn to cults; I've never been interested in them. Do other religions have the same effect on their kids, I wonder.
posted by somebodystrousers at 12:58 PM on May 22 [2 favorites]

Very strange how this article far too generously neglects to mention the large number of abuse claims in ISKCON's past, or put this in any sort of larger context. A very kid-gloves, both-sidesing treatment of this organization, IMO. "Who can know if abuse happened? Opinions differ! Maybe Justine was just temporarily crazy!"
posted by demonic winged headgear at 1:00 PM on May 22 [8 favorites]

The article fails to mention the murders, abuse, and other crimes that occurred under Keith Ham, a.k.a. Kirtanananda Swami. Hamm assumed the title in the power vacuum following Prabhupada's death. ISKCON has quite the legacy.
posted by tommasz at 1:09 PM on May 22 [10 favorites]

Her voice was getting softer, almost melodic.

Not sure if there's any (psychological?) connection, but this immediately made me think of fundie baby voice.
posted by clawsoon at 1:29 PM on May 22 [7 favorites]

My sister battles depression, body dysphoria, hypoglycemia, and some anger issues. She has been drawn to cults her entire life, though always at the end realizes they are too rigid for her, and/or have unacceptable values. She was wildly attracted to a group of Rastafarians as a teen; went through a Catholic Mary phase; and considered joining that Christian group which runs the Common Sense chain of wellness stores. She is currently is very involved with NVC (Non-Violent Communication), which actually does seem to work for her. Some people have the mental illness inside of them that is raging, and they want it quiet, so they look for groups that can provide order, stability and "clear" answers. (Whereas my excuse for wanting order and stability is just plain old aspergery-ness.)
posted by sockerpup at 2:06 PM on May 22 [9 favorites]

A friend of mine is currently shooting a documentary based on the book Monkey On A Stick, which he (accurately) described to me as "Goodfellas, but with Hare Krishnas."
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:54 PM on May 22 [7 favorites]

Metafilter: Goodfellas, but with Hare Krishnas.
posted by Toddles at 4:13 PM on May 22 [6 favorites]

The Hare Krishna call me Paraman because I'm so good at talking people out of the movement. I completely understand what has happened to this person. I know people who went that compound and were walked out six hours later; those who just needed to learn to cook and accept criticism before leaving, and those who stayed for five years and had this very experience. The Hare Krishna are a militant New American Religion. Do not underestimate their ability to turn adults into fearful children!
posted by parmanparman at 4:18 PM on May 22 [3 favorites]

I really only knew Hare Krishna's from jokes in Airplane! until I moved here, where we have this great vegan carryout place that it turns out is run by the local group. For years, they also had a meditation center with yoga and free food next door, but they sold it recently. Yummy's is still going strong, although the food quality and speed of service is wildly variable. I hate to think that the nice people who make me Masala burgers and mango nectar are being mistreated.
posted by hydropsyche at 6:05 PM on May 22 [3 favorites]

I'm surprised there's any money in selling Hari Krishna books; their as turgid to read as The Book Of Mormon.
Are the books cheaply published in India to make the mark up as high as possible ?
posted by Narrative_Historian at 11:12 PM on May 22 [2 favorites]