There are plenty of websites that ‘define’ what a cult is.  By just about every measure Surya Ma’s organization is without doubt a cult!  But before writing more about Ms West’s 'business' (see below) let us look at another ‘sect’ that has been in the news a lot lately.

Over the past few weeks we have all got a glimpse in the media of what life is like inside the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or FLDS.  This isthe sect allegedly run by Warren Jeffs who at the time of writing is on trial for allegedly being an accomplice to rape.  Let us look at some news articles, old and new, to see what life can be like inside the secretive world of sects/cults.

Firstly, The Rick A Ross Institute for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements has an article on its website originally printed in the Khaleej Times on Feb 18^th 2004.  Here is a short excerpt from the article entitled,

“In the land of no first kiss, Warren Jeffs rules Taleban-style.”  

“Getting a wife requires being useful, pliant and ready to serve. And forwarding entire pay checks - in addition to the regular tithe - to church coffers, said Pamela Black, who lives in Hildale, Utah, essentially a borough of Colorado City, and just across the state line from Arizona.  Then, maybe his holiness will be kind enough to put the suitor on a list for getting his first or second or third wife.”  (Click this link to read the full article)

On another website this time NPR.org there is an article entitled, “Warren Jeffs and the FLDS”

Here is a short excerpt from that article.

“According to former followers, the prophet is considered to be God's mouthpiece on earth. It is believed that God speaks directly to Warren Jeffs to reveal His will.  And through the prophet, God directs which male members are worthy of entry into heaven (females are invited into heaven by satisfied husbands). Jeffs is also the only person who can perform marriages and it is through him that wives are assigned to their husbands. Pleasing the prophet can result in loyal members being rewarded with one or more wives. Wives are considered to "belong" to their husbands for eternity.” (Click on this link to read the full article)

On another website this time cnn.com/us there is an up to date article about the Warren Jeffs the FLDS sect leader who is on trial for allegedly being an accomplice to rape.  This time the headline is, “Followers Testify for their Prophet” Here is a short excerpt from that article.

“The young woman's testimony differed sharply from accounts from the three prosecution witnesses -- a reluctant child bride and two of her sisters.  Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday against Jeffs, who is accused of being an accomplice to rape for allegedly coercing the 14-year-old follower into a marriage she did not want.  They also played a tape of another church leader's sermon warning that authorities were targeting the sect and describing each case as a "battle." (Click on this link to read the full article)

Now I make no comment about the validity of the news articles or Mr Jeffs or the FLDS.  However there seem to be similarities between what the news articles are saying about Mr Jeffs sect and Ms West’s cult.  Let us examine a few phrases.

“Requires being useful, pliant and ready to serve. And forwarding entire pay checks - in addition to the regular tithe - to church coffers.”

Ms West likes her ‘students’ to tithe regular sums to her additionally, when I was there as her business manager for 6 months, people were regularly bullied into giving large sums of money to the latest good cause some were even pressured into taking out loans on their homes.  Of course the good causes never came to fruition nor were they meant to they were just banners for Ms West to raise money under for herself.

Check out this letter from an ex facilitator Judy Morris (click on this link) where she talks about people mortgaging their homes because they were told, “They would be closer to God!”

Check out this harrowing letter from ex teacher Ingrid Smith who blames Surya Ma (West had another alias then – Devra Ji) for nearly financially ruining her and also alleges that West assaulted her 6 year old son.  (Click on this link to read letter)

And when the money does not flow fast enough Surya Ma, AKA ex bankrupt Deborah West, really gets tough with her flock.  Check out this email (click on this link) sent to me by Surya Ma’s recently departed office manager Rebecca West (no relation).  Or listen to this audio file from an ex student who alleges he was robbed of $30,000 by Surya Ma (click on this link). 

There are many more statements from ex students and employees who allege the similar incidents go to the “Surya Ma Downloads” pages on this website.

Here is another excerpt from one of the articles:-

“According to former followers, the prophet is considered to be God's mouthpiece on earth. It is believed that God speaks directly to Warren Jeffs to reveal His will.  And through the prophet, God directs etc.

If you look at Ms West’s, sorry Surya Ma’s website, you will see various claims made about her being God’s prophet, the jewel of jewel’s etc.  None of it has any bearing in reality!  Ms West allegedly flunked the last stages of high school because she was pregnant with her first child.  She did not get a university education but who needs one when you can award yourself PhD’s and D.D’s - why work for it?

However this grifter can put on a good show (with the right mood music) and can command an audience.  A big part of her success comes about because her worshippers, the spiritually confused, want someone (else) to worship (not believing they are themselves worthy) and she gives them what they want. 

The other ingredients are a good understanding of tried and tested brain washing techniques, a lot of experience in ‘energy work” and knowledge of human psychology.  Add all this together and you have a cheap copy of the wizard of OZ (behind the curtain) creating the illusory world of Surya Ma.  Here is a statement from one of her 'facilitators' who has been brave enough to apologize for her part in the 'conditioning' process.  (Click the link to read the statement)

In spite of being subject to her rants and temper tantrums (behaviour not mentioned on her website!) most seem willing, at least for a while, to believe her story about the end of the world coming in 2012 and how you can escape the it by buying your way onto her space ship?

The bottom line is that you are, like all the other employees and students, just like 'Duracell batteries.'  You are there to give up your 'blood and gold' for the good of the prophet in this case the Surya Ma.  You do it by working for long hours often for no pay, Savor, I believe they call it.  Check out the  numerous statements by ex employees on this website. 

And when you are called upon to 'give,' if necessary, you will be bullied, coerced, manipulated, into giving away your life savings, your home, your marriage and anything else the ‘divine being’ decides she wants from you.   I know I worked there for 6 months but don't take my word for it read the following newspaper article and see what the latest big victim alleges!  Click this link.

Now let us examine another couple of phrases extracted from the news articles featured above this time:-

“The young woman's testimony differed sharply from accounts from the three prosecution witnesses.” And “They also played a tape of another church leader's sermon warning that authorities were targeting the sect and describing each case as a "battle."

Honesty is the least valued quality in Ms West’s cult.  Although ‘students’ are notionally studying spirituality it is Ms West who decides what is truth and what is not!  In reality each time someone leaves or is expelled from the cult the remaining members close ranks around Surya Ma and support her version of events against their former colleagues even if that means lying and providing her with false witness statements or giving false testimony in court on her behalf.

Indeed after visiting me at my home and failing to persuade me, threaten me and intimidate me into pulling out of legal action against her for breach of contract etc Ms West (AKA Surya Ma) went straight back to her compound and instructed all the employees to write false statements about me or be fired!  I know this because several of the employees told me some retracted their statements after leaving Surya Ma’s employ!

But do not take my word for it read a statement written for me by West’s ex personal secretary of 19 months Barbara Costantino wherein she states that West regularly lies about the circumstances around employee’s departure to cover her tracks.  (Click this link to read the statement)

Or read this extract from a harrowing email from West’s recently departed office manager Rebecca West (no relation) where she refers to a witness, Geoff Reynolds, who allegedly witnessed an assault by Surya Ma on another employee but then when asked to give a statement for the victim allegedly chose to ‘forget it’ allegedly saying that his duty was to ‘represent’ his employer.  Here is the extract:-

“My meeting yesterday with the Finance Controller was to discuss my unemployment issues as he had agreed to put me into a lay-off status, but has since reported to the State that I voluntarily quit! He recently treated a former employee as laid-off after Devra threw a book at her and then fired her.  The companies owe large sums of money for WC, and ST, and Fed payroll taxes and was the reason he secretly laid-off Wendy Stuart, without confirming this choice with Devra first. He was attempting to protect his CPA license and as of last night pretends not to remember that we both saw her get hit by Devra with a large, heavy three-ring binder and fired on the spot!

I also told him for the fourth time yesterday evening, that in addition to her cruel verbal abuse, I had been slugged by Devra, three times in the back. I told him that I would be going to the State Unemployment Office with the truth and asked him, as my co-worker, if he would tell the truth regarding our working conditions.  He said that it is his responsibility to represent his employer and he will not tell the truth unless specifically asked for the sake of keeping his job.”  

In fairness to Mr Reynolds he has allegedly loaned $300,000 to Ms West so what chance does truth have?  (Click on this link to read the entire email)

So you see truth is virtually nonexistent from someone who claims to be God’s representative on earth?  For those who are confused with the choice of believing the fantasy on Ms West’s site (Surya Ma’s site) or the reality as depicted here the answer is simple. 

Ms West is a fraud who makes her living out of deceiving the innocent.  ‘Students’ and employees are sucked into the cult by her glossy propaganda and before they realise what is going on too late, like flies struggling in a web, all they can do is wait to be harvested.  And when it is all over they can rely on their so called ex friends, students and employees to turn up in court on Ms West’s behalf to tell a jury that, "No the victim is delusional or mistaken, your honor!"

This is the daunting task ahead of an ex employee Dr Patricia MD recently allegedly badly beaten by Surya Ma.  (Ms West has a weakness for physically abusing women I know I have witnessed it!)  This time read the newspaper article that recently appeared in the Whitefish Pilot on July 12^th 2007.  (Click this link)

And a more recent article in the Bigfork Eagle click on this link.

Please note that in the latter article, Mr Reynolds comments on behalf of his employer, to the effect that I, John Watson, and others are spreading false allegations!  And I guess the current court cases are rumours too?  Of course they would have you believe that they are the only purveyors of truth and that all the countless victims down the many years are all making it up!  Hell we must not scare off the new intake must we?

Here is a victim from the 70’s and 80’s read his email by clicking on this link.  Ms West has come a long way from allegedly growing drugs, and bankruptcy in her jewelry business to becoming a self appointed deity!

The one thing we can sure about when Dr Patricia turns up in court in Novemeber is that all the witnesses for the defendant, the false prophet Surya Ma, will be telling totally different stories to that of the victim!  And Ms West, the ‘Master' of deceit will be behind pulling all the strings and writing all the scripts!  This is how cult’s work!

Go to The Rick A Ross Institute for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements and ask him to include Surya Ma's  cult on his list.  Click here for a link to his site.

Additionally, to really bring attention to Ms West and her cult, email Nancy Grace at CNN and ask her to follow up the Warren Jeffs story with one about the 'prophet' Surya Ma. 

Here is the link to her site.  With four lawsuits currently on the books against Ms West an IRS investigation in progress and no doubt more to come this story promises to be a news anchors dream come true.

Copyright 2007. John Watson. All rights reserved.