As prepared by a former member with family members involved in Dahn Hak. Cult expert Steve Hassan checked the accuracy of the applied BITE model with several former members. More information is on file.
All opinions expressed in this document are that of the former member in question.
Need to internalize the group's doctrine as "Truth"
Yes, there is a lot of this; they are the ones that will save the world by healing people:
MISSION: To assist people to recover original perfect health and evolve consciousness; To assist people, with this heightened awareness, to heal our society and the Earth; To overcome the limitations of materialism and to open a new culture of spirituality in the world.
Goal: To have 100,000,000 healers by 2010.
Healing Society is socio-cultural activism which focuses on "Earth Love" and "Human Love" as its underlying philosophical foundation. This movement began over 20 years ago by Dr. Ilchi Lee. Healing Society seeks to bring to completion the health of the individual, society and the Earth through the process of discovering the True Self.
The major goals of Healing Society are to create a healthy Earth and a healthy Humanity. Its philosophy of "Peaceology," as conceived by Ilchi Lee, regards the Earth as the living maternal source of all human life and the homeland to which we must realize we all belong, not merely as an impersonal piece of rock in our solar system. This philosophy promotes the idea that we are "Earth-Humans" not separated from each other by nation, religion or race. Healing Society believes that many of the problems facing humanity today can be solved by approaching the solution with the awareness that we are "Earth-Humans". This enables us to overcome individual and nationalist self-interest by placing the Earth at the center of a new value system. As more and more individuals become awakened to this new value system of harmony and cooperation, we can create a critical mass of awakened individuals leading a shift in human consciousness; a new era of spirituality. Then, genuine peace can be possible.
Healing Society chooses Dahnhak and Brain Respiration as healing methods for the body, mind and spirit. Dahnhak and Brain Respiration are comprehensive training programs which were inspired by ancient wisdom, and were recreated for contemporary times by Ilchi Lee. These methods help individuals to recover their genuine health, to learn respect for ones neighbors, and to promote love for the world by meeting their True Selves.
Adopt "loaded" language
* characterized by "thought-terminating clichés".
Korean is used extensively; for example, the cosmic energy source is called "Chunjikyun", you count in Korean, you great each other in Korean, etc.
Only "good" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged
Yes, you are taught that "your mind is not you but yours" and you can control your thoughts and emotions. So if you 'feel' something negative--you are not in control of your mind, which is not acceptable.
Thought-stopping techniques
Controlling your thoughts and emotions is considered a discipline that you must master. You are also encouraged to do a lot of meditation, bows, chanting the "Chunbukyun" which is an 81 character prayer written and spoken in Chinese. On the surface, this doesn't necessarily seem negative-what happens after you've done some of these techniques is the interesting thing. That's when they approach you with manipulative techniques like breaking you down by saying that "your energy is bad", then you are 'sold' on some more 'healings' or a 'ceremony'-or something that will cost you money.
No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate
I have been scolded for 'asking too many questions' and to not question my head master as he knows what's best for me.
No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful
Dahnhak is definitely the 'right' way to spiritually grow and complete your soul. They also believe strongly in preparing for your death and doing work for your ancestors to free their spirits who may be stuck on this earth. There is a specific ceremony that they do to free ancestral souls which costs $10,000 or more per family line.
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The fact that a person’s name or group appears on our website
does not necessarily mean they are a destructive mind control cult.
They appear because we have received inquiries and have established
a file on the group.
The Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc. was established by cult expert Steve Hassan.
