Tag Archives: Mediation

Letter Received: “Compensation Claims against Satyananda Ashram”

This letter was received today and the writer asked that we share it. We were particularly struck by this statement in the article linked below:

Peter O’Brien, legal representative for the six victims seeking damages, questioned the effectiveness of the response. “People chanting around a fire was never, ever going to go anywhere near a healing process for these people,” he said.

The “Leaving Shiva Yoga” web site has certainly helped with my healing and so does being a member of the Facebook group.

I have dealt with legal proceedings for abuse in the past. The women and men who have been traumatized by actions of Shiva Yoga management/leadership may decide that subsequent legal action may be beneficial to their healing. It certainly helped with my healing in a past abuse situation when the perpetrators were forced by their own liability insurance companies to settle with me.

Here is the article about abuse at another Ashram where the victims are suing for damages.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/satyananda-ashram-sex-abuse-victims-want-1-million-in-compensation-20141210-123zz2.html

I know the situation is not identical to the Shiva Yoga situation, but it does include the name of their attorney who might be a resource to the Shiva Yoga former Ashramites. There are several similarities to the present Shiva Yoga situation which are obvious.

The lawsuit mentioned in the article is very recent, December 2014. It appears that the lawsuit has helped force the Ashram management to publicly admit the truth about the lack of appropriate support of the victim, and lack of appropriate recognition of the effects/existence of the abuse.

I hope this is helpful to the victims on their healing paths. I honor, love and am keeping the welfare of all of the victims of the Shiva Yoga situation in the forefront of my consciousness.

Anon

The results of “Mediation”

We were informed today by an ex-Shiva Yoga community member who took part in the mediation process that Callum Campbell apparently presented his findings to the Shiva Yoga management committee within the last few weeks.

Further, Callum Campbell is no longer allowed to communicate with the people who participated and the person who contacted us was told that in order to discuss the matter further they must contact the Shiva Yoga Management Committee.

Considering that the “Management Committee” is now simply a group of Kruckman’s most hardcore devotees, to approach them in search of answers is the same as going to Kruckman himself.

As predicted, Shiva Yoga‘s way of handling the fact that so many people have been hurt by the organisation and its leaders is to do and say NOTHING and carry on with the show.

Disgraceful.

 

 

Debate

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During a large impromptu email debate yesterday in response to Shiva Yoga’s offer of mediation, the general consensus emerged that mediation was putting the cart before the horse. Some important points were raised, in particular:

1) None of the facts are actually known yet, to name a few:

  • How many women were involved, and what exactly has taken place?
  • How long has this been going on?
  • What were the so-called tantric practices and how were women initiated into them?
  • What were the criteria for entry into these practices, and how were the women asked to participate?
  • Who else at the ashram knew that these practices were taking place?
  • Have any Australian laws been broken?

2) Mediation is seen as seeking resolution between two equal parties, whereas the relationship between the guru and the disciple is not at all an equal relationship (the furthest from), so the potential abuse of power here is not addressed.

3) If there is a conflict of interest between the ashram boards Duty of Care towards the women and the guru’s wishes, how do they manage this? How can the individual board members be trusted not to view this as a unique opportunity to demonstrate their surrender and devotion to the Guru?

Any real investigation into these questions will begin to show the “tantric practices” claim for what it is, as we state here.

Independent Mediator

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Today Shiva Yoga sent out the following email (below). For those confused about what mediation is we recommend reading this page, and in particular note this:

“Mediation is a structured negotiation process in which an independent person, known as a mediator, assists the parties to identify and assess options and negotiate an agreement to resolve their dispute. Mediation is an alternative to a judge imposing a decision on the parties.”

And:

“If the matter is not fully settled there may be discussion about what needs to be done to prepare for trial and the file will return to the judge. The mediator will notify the judge of the outcome but not the content of the mediation. Even when a matter does not settle clarification of the issues often occurs. Mediating a dispute does not mean there will be a delay in it being heard by a judge.”

But essentially, mediation is meant to try to resolve the issue by discussion rather than by a legal battle or legal investigation into criminal wrong doing.

Shiva Ashram’s email below:

Dear Ashram community member,

For the benefit of the Ashram community, the Shiva Yoga Management Committee has engaged an independent mediator, Callum Campbell (CV is attached). We have asked him to conduct a Mediation Process regarding any issues referred to in our “Statement to the Community” issued on 22/12/2014. This email is asking for expressions of interest to participate in this Mediation Process.

To register your interest to participate, please call 1300 633 428. Registrations will close on Tuesday 27 January 2014 at 6pm EST.

We would like to reassure you that this process is entirely voluntary and will be handled with the utmost confidence. Specifically, all your communications will be within the independent facilitator’s office or with the independent facilitator directly and you will not be identified to Shiva Yoga Inc. or your participation shared with anyone, unless specifically requested by you.

Upon receipt of all relevant information, Mr Campbell will then report back to the Management Committee with recommendations as to how best address the issues raised. Please forward this email to any person for whom you believe it may be relevant.

We are very committed to this process and once again we thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

Sincerely, Stephen & Vani

on behalf of the Management Committee, Shiva Yoga Inc.

Mediator Profile Callum Campbell