tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4350200877908872012024-03-13T22:11:06.588-07:00THE GURU LOOKED GOOD ~ a personal memoir by Marta SzaboThis book describes my ten-plus years on staff in Gurumayi's Siddha Yoga ashrams, the same ashram written of by Elizabeth Gilbert in her book Eat, Pray, Love. My book has a different flavor from hers, was written several years before hers appeared, and is available in paperback and e-book.MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-21090052063323252272014-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:002014-03-02T10:14:01.978-08:00Amma, Busted<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot wait to read this new memoir by <a href="http://gailtredwell.com/">Gail Tredwell</a>, Holy Hell. It recounts her 20 years as Amma's personal assistant -- hurray for all those who destroy these ridiculous guru myths. </span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-10239620448158058722013-10-02T08:55:00.000-07:002013-10-02T08:55:02.707-07:00HERE WE GO AGAIN<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jad Adams is bringing out a new, well researched biography of Gandhi, <i>Naked Truth</i>. In it he describes Gandhi's warped sexuality, which included forcing teenage girls to sleep naked with him. To anyone familiar with Muktananda's habits, it rings many bells. Here's a link to an article by Jad Adams, detailing some of what he discovered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/thrill-of-the-chaste-the-truth-about-gandhis-sex-life-1937411.html</span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-30545852329382609382013-05-06T04:21:00.001-07:002013-05-06T04:21:06.384-07:00Great Discussion on Yoga & Power<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"If a cult-of-personality is dependent upon widespread propaganda and deception, then, the problem with yoga is not just the teachers that fall susceptible to the lure of power. Rather, the problem is that people believe the lie that yoga is somehow categorically different than all other systems. The reason people believe this lie is because the charismatic leaders discourage critical thinking in favor of submission and acceptance, which is reinforced by the benefits that come from being in the good graces and high favor of the leader. Further, because the followers have raised the leaders to such a high position, thoughtlessness now permeates a community that could be vibrantly creative, a community that could significantly contribute to the world in general." ~ Jennifer Richard</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://yogaforsmartpeople.com/i-love-the-way-you-lie-to-me/?fb_action_ids=10100721826879942&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210100721826879942%22%3A441130439304931%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210100721826879942%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map">I LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE TO ME</a> by Jennifer RichardMartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-32625480852310183122013-04-29T10:34:00.003-07:002013-04-29T10:34:25.108-07:00The Imposters Now On Amazon<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Yes, the website-to-end-all-websites, Amazon, now lists my book. Which is very nice. I hope you will want to buy a copy and read it. And if you prefer your books digital, the e-book will be appearing shortly. But the paperback is so beautiful! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To purchase from Amazon:</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Imposters-Marta-Szabo/dp/1300595280/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367256526&sr=1-2&keywords=marta+szabo" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Click Here </a><br />
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<br />MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-44875900363175770502013-04-18T07:34:00.000-07:002013-04-18T07:34:01.737-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, the second memoir, <i>The Imposters</i>, is out! It ends six months before <i>The Guru Looked Good </i>begins and, in a way, is very much part of that same story. </div>
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I hope you will read it. You can get a paperback copy here: <b style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://bit.ly/10UQAWO">The Imposters</a></b></div>
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It will be available as an e-book within a few weeks, and also on Amazon. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you!</span><br />
MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-32486003234522949412013-02-24T06:14:00.000-08:002013-02-24T06:14:00.830-08:00THE IMPOSTERS, an update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE IMPOSTERS is scheduled for worldwide release on April 8! Hurray! If you are a supporter, please come on over to the book's Facebook page and give it a "like." We are rolling this baby OUT! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the link: <a href="http://facebook.com/theimpostersmemoir">THE IMPOSTERS ON FACEBOOK</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With many thanks!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marta</span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-74525373986109012762013-01-10T08:46:00.003-08:002013-01-10T08:46:49.725-08:00NEW MEMOIR on its way!<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Dear Friends,</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have written a second memoir, THE IMPOSTERS. It covers the seven or so years leading up to The Guru Looked Good, ending just six months before The Guru begins. It's another cult-like story, though on a very different scale. It's a "domestic cult" -- with only a handful of members, one of whom is a child. It takes place in Manhattan, Athens, Greece and London during the eighties. THE IMPOSTERS is in production now and I hope to have it ready for reading by March. </span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-81685254210462924162012-09-26T16:43:00.000-07:002012-09-26T16:43:01.253-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi friends, a few days ago something happened with a sari. You might enjoy the story. Sari's don't figure much in my life these days, but there it was. The story is called REVISIT and you can read it here: <a href="http://experiments-in-memoir.blogspot.com/">Experiments in Memoir</a>. </span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-3441077040445815452012-05-18T06:01:00.002-07:002012-05-18T06:02:57.164-07:00Radio Interview on The Merry MonkI really like this radio interview -- scroll down a bit and skip the first 5 minutes. Then there's alot of good stuff about what it was like in Siddha Yoga, cults in general, family, art... Hats off to Erik Guzman of the Merry Monk for initiating the whole venture <a href="http://themerrymonk.com/?p=4151">http://themerrymonk.com/?p=4151</a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-66507473419001393282011-10-23T09:42:00.000-07:002011-11-06T06:35:05.359-08:00There's Always More<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sometimes a little more of the ashram story surfaces inside of other stories. Like what happened yesterday: </span><a href="http://experiments-in-memoir.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Experiments in Memoir</a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> -- the post for October 23</span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-47194996160469053662011-06-20T11:19:00.000-07:002011-06-20T11:19:21.051-07:00THE GURU LOOKED GOOD, now an E-BookNow you can get the whole book for $4.99 and read it on any Kindle-friendly gizmo. <a href="http://amzn.to/iK7oEg">Buy the Digital Book</a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-82681760692831832962011-06-20T11:17:00.000-07:002011-06-20T11:17:18.044-07:00COMING TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SOON!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I will be in the Bay Area in mid-July just for a few days. I would love to meet up with anyone who is interested in talking about writing memoir, cult experiences, Authentic Writing, The Guru Looked Good, or anything peripherally related! Please be in touch if you are interested and we’ll go from there. </div>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-26954863296647982902011-04-29T07:05:00.000-07:002011-04-29T07:05:24.214-07:00I LOST YOUR EMAILDuring the last week, someone wrote me an email that I really wanted to respond to. I think the initials of the writer were LW. It seems that I have mistakenly deleted the email -- horrors. I am hoping you will see this note and write again. I appreciated your thoughts and questions and would like to write back. Thanks! MartaMartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-75608205324544146272011-04-23T05:28:00.000-07:002011-04-23T05:28:03.089-07:00FASCINATINGFor anyone who was deeply involved with Siddha Yoga, or any such group, I highly recommend this well written article, published in February of this year, from The New Yorker. The subject is Scientology. Yet so much is recognizable.<br />
<a href="http://nyr.kr/hgtqZW">The article</a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-73815178064337560712011-02-25T13:54:00.000-08:002011-02-25T13:54:10.415-08:00ENLIGHTENMENT? NO SUCH THING<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I no longer believe in this thing called “enlightenment” or “liberated beings.” Perhaps there are people who break through something mysterious and become different from the rest of us. Why would such a person mention it to anyone? Why would they be interested in drawing attention to themselves? If someone were to become enlightened, I believe they would become the most invisible person imaginable, smart enough to be indistinguishable from the rest of us. Like water.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Because when someone claims a special status on the enlightenment scale, it sets up a hierarchy completely in opposition to their claim. It immediately establishes that you are lacking and they are not. For this reason, a person who is enlightened (if such a state exists) wouldn’t tell you. They would simply continue their life – and allow you to continue yours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Excerpt from my review of <i><a href="http://americanguru.net/news-and-reviews/">American Guru</a> </i>by William Yenner, published in the <a href="http://www.icsahome.com/">Cultic Studies Review </a></span><br />
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<br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" />MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-33328157153979673312010-12-13T05:03:00.001-08:002010-12-13T05:06:12.928-08:00SOME LIVE TV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tAZ80xe70V0/TQYaJDJSDlI/AAAAAAAAAGI/ZJmAjJLBhKQ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tAZ80xe70V0/TQYaJDJSDlI/AAAAAAAAAGI/ZJmAjJLBhKQ/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Just realized I never posted the link here for the Good Day New York interview. It gets into some good material about Siddha Yoga and the cult experience in general. <a href="http://bit.ly/d5SOyr">http://bit.ly/d5SOyr</a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-78827240111216496942010-10-29T09:28:00.000-07:002010-10-29T09:28:33.789-07:00DIFFERENT STORIES, BUT OVERLAPS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is interesting to me how many readers of the new story that I am putting up at <a href="http://memoir-in-progress.blogspot.com/">Memoir in Progress</a> are making connections between that experience and their experiences in Siddha Yoga. Yes, I know. These cults are all the same – whether they be families, corporations, political parties, meditation paths – whether they have a million members or two. Still, I am appreciating how readers who don’t expect to see distinct parallels are finding them. It’s a very very different environment in this new memoir, and yet still people are picking up things they recognize. </div>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-58135262294299684732010-10-23T12:24:00.000-07:002010-10-23T12:24:26.063-07:00RADIO CLIP<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's a short clip from an interview on "51%, The Women's Perspective" that aired recently on WAMC, the public radio station in the Hudson Valley. Gets into some interesting stuff! </span><a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/663/1704349/51..The.Women%E2%80%99s.Perspective/51.Show..1107">http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/663/1704349/51..The.Women%E2%80%99s.Perspective/51.Show..1107</a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-1464528667383245492010-10-01T04:36:00.000-07:002010-10-01T04:36:55.667-07:00On The RadioI like this 10-minute interview clip, just aired yesterday on WAMC, the NPR station out of Albany, NY, on Susan Barnet's show, <a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/663/1704349/51..The.Women%E2%80%99s.Perspective/51.Show..1107"><i>51%: The Women's Perspective</i></a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-19551692610418879302010-08-27T06:50:00.000-07:002010-08-27T06:50:51.203-07:00A GREAT STORY TO READ<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just posted a story called <i>For the Love of God</i>, written by Carol Welch, at <a href="http://authenticwritingstories.blogspot.com/">Authentic Writing Stories</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I mention it because I think those of us who were in Siddha Yoga and are now looking at it from a distance will see so much here that we can relate to.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And it's a great piece of memoir. Enjoy!</div>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-77449046442022055752010-08-26T08:05:00.000-07:002010-08-26T08:05:12.515-07:00Call-In Number for Radio ShowHi, I'll be on The Merry Monk radio show 11:30-noon, today, Thursday, August 26.<br />
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If you want to call in with questions, please do! Here's the number: <span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> 1.888.547.8383</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">m </span></span>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-66161010287694486762010-08-17T03:25:00.000-07:002010-08-17T03:25:31.071-07:00HERE'S THE CLIPHere's the clip from yesterday's live TV moment, discussing Siddha Yoga, Eat Pray Love, and The Guru Looked Good: <a href="http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/entertainment/the-guru-looked-good-author-20100816">clip</a>MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-18484993722701348232010-08-15T04:51:00.001-07:002010-08-15T04:51:53.051-07:00SYDA exposed anewIt's been a long time since we've had a really strong expose piece on SYDA. <a href="http://bit.ly/9JLW5O">Salon.Com </a>provides today.MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-48289085974831960982010-08-13T17:27:00.000-07:002010-08-13T17:28:50.238-07:00Good Day New YorkI'll be on Good Day New York (Fox News, Channel 5 out of NYC) live this coming Monday, August 16 at 9:30am, talking about <i>The Guru Looked Good </i>and its version of Siddha Yoga as compared to that of <i>Eat Pray Love</i>. Hope you can tune in!MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435020087790887201.post-71479100442933633752010-08-13T12:06:00.000-07:002010-08-13T12:06:45.514-07:00Good ReportingRoger Friedman writes a very savvy blog, <a href="http://bit.ly/d0cyaa">ShowBiz411</a> -- and today does a great piece about Gurumayi, Siddha Yoga, Eat, Pray, Love, Julia Roberts -- and The Guru Looked Good! Thanks, Roger!MartaSzabohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07554422492794060801noreply@blogger.com2