Someone asked me if I had been on the receiving end of any acts of violence by Daists.

My answer:

To my knowledge, Daists haven't resorted to violence against anybody except other Daists, usually men against women. But of course, violence is always a possibility with any cult, and the threat of mortal violence is implicit in the fact that the Adidam security people carry loaded revolvers.

Daists have consistently, over the years, engaged in a kind of mental violence, in which they will belittle their critics and practice character assassination against anyone who dares to speak out against them. I remember one Daist who launched a vicious personal attack, on the Ken Wilber Forum, against Boyd Matson, the reporter who did the NBC Today Show piece.

Apparently he thought that by smearing Matson's reputation you could undermine the words of the witnesses who came forward on that show!

Similarly, Dasters have been known to attack anyone in their midst, or any insider who decides to leave the group, with a torrent of verbal abuse -- as if the same brainwashing technique that Frank uses on devotees can be turned against anyone who dares to speak out.

Daist Inquisitors

I was peripherally involved with Daism beginning in 1975. In February 1980 I moved to Lake County and plunged into community life, working as a typesetter at the Dawn Horse Press and assisting with the construction of "The Manner of Flowers" -- Frank's new house. One of the reasons I got so deeply involved at that time was to find out more about the group than you could learn living on the fringes. By late 1982 I had found out all I needed to know, and I disconnected myself from Daism, never to return.

One of the "high points" of my short career as a Daist was when I was taken into a room and verbally harassed by three men -- Angelo Druda, Bill Stranger, and David Todd. It was a classic fascist interrogation, three men bullying one. One man would ask you a question, and when you started to answer, another man would start shouting accusations at you. Then the third would join in, as you tried to respond to the second. While it was happening I kept thinking, "wow, it really is a cult!"

The reason for the inquisition was quite interesting -- I had been at a group devotional meeting the night before, in which Dr. Charles Seage, the leader of the meeting, had opened the meeting by saying he hadn't had time to prepare, so why didn't we just do a short prayer and go home? I stood up and reminded Seage that "Bubba" (Adi Da) had just returned from Hawaii and was leaning on us to increase our practice, so wouldn't the Master want us to go ahead with the meeting as planned? Seage went into a fit and attacked me for questioning his authority. The next day I got the third degree from the Three Stooges, as described above. [This incident is described in greater detail in The Magician (part seventeen).]

The Prayer of Changes

Daists, following their master's lead, like to resort to "the prayer of changes" in relation to those who see through (i.e., "attack") their sham religion. One might think, "oh, that's cool, they are probably asking the Divine for the best and truest outcome!" But in fact, they are not. They use the prayer to will very particular outcomes, much like voodoo or minor sorcery.

Someone recently posted that Frank and his intimates engage in ritual psychic attacks on F's "enemies". I have no doubt this is true.

Willing things to happen is what Frank is all about. IMHO he has invented and constructed his religion through a muscular act of will on multiple levels of the mind and body -- Adidam is not the spontaneous revelation of spiritual community or "God, Truth, and Reality".

Early on Frank got into minor siddhas (yogic powers), and he has continued to push in that direction, becoming somewhat adept at manipulating mindforms in the field of psychic awareness that includes himself and other people. In the process he developed a yogic ego -- an enlarged self-sense that feeds on the adulation of weaker human beings.

Over the years Frank has become extremely skillful in the use of intimidation, coercion, and manipulation -- and once you have capitulated to his "power" (and signed "vows"), he will ruthlessly exploit and drain you. Once you are used up he will discard you like the rind of an orange.

Liberation? Daism has nothing to do with liberation.

Dealing with Frank's negative energy

In my view you really need to know where your ground is when you take on Frank. If you are criticizing him from the p.o.v. of resentment, rather than truth, you will almost certainly get taken out by his ability to reflect and amplify negative energy.

Fortunately, to oppose Frank all you need to do is stand on the best of his early teachings!

I have a snippet of old video tape (which I may transcribe at some point) where he rips apart the whole idea of a unique avatar, and puts down "these gurus who start thinking they are the one and only messiah". It's just a marvelous and accurate critique of the madman he later became!

...So if I want to deal with F's negative energy-attacks, I just hold up a copy of The Method of the Siddhas, like you would hold up a cross or a clove of garlic to a vampire -- it works!

peace n' love,