Dahn Hak – Cult or not?

Part: 1 2

Tonight an Investigation into a Korean organization with dozens of yoga centers in the New York area. The group promises healing and peace. But some say it’s a high priced, dangerous cult. Reporter Joe Bergantino from our sister station WBZ in Boston investigates what this group is all about and what you should know before you sign up.

“I can’t believe she’s gone.”

Veronica Siverls Dunham is talking about her sister Julia, a 41-year-old professor who taught at Queensborough Community College. Her mission was to become a master of Dahn Hak, a group that says it teaches yoga and holistic health at 147 centers around the country, including at least 26 in New York and New Jersey.

But our investigation reveals there’s a lot more to Dahn Hak than just yoga.

“When she talked about the Dahn Hak Institute, she talked about being of service, she talked about getting rid of her worldly possessions and spending a year or so in Korea,” said Robert Siverls, Julia’s brother.

According to a fellow hiker, to become a master, one thing Julia had to do was hike up Casner Mountain in Arizona, with 25 pounds of rocks in her backpack. That same hiker says there were only three bottles of water for all five hikers making the all day trek.

Julia collapsed several times under the hot desert sun, but continued on at the urging of the group. She died on the mountain of dehydration .

Allen Siverl, Julia’s brother said, “To expose someone to the degree that they can ultimately die is madness.”

Julia’s family, also from New York, has filed an $84 million wrongful death lawsuit against Dahn Hak, accusing the group of engaging in brainwashing and lacing Julia’s food with drugs.
[...]

What happened to Julia Siverls shines a spotlight on an organization that some experts say fits the model of a destructive cult, that’s torn apart families and has cost some members thousands of dollars.
[...]

Steven Alan Hassan, cult counselor and mind control expert is a Nationally Certified Counselor and licensed Mental Health Counselor and has developed a breakthrough approach to help loved ones rescue cult mind control victims.
Freedom of Mind Center

Mind control expert Steve Hassan says Dahn Hak uses its yoga centers to lure people in. He’s formed his opinion after studying the group and for a fee, counseling former members.

“This is a totalitarian, authoritarian Korean cult that wants you to stop thinking and become a clone,” Hassan said.

Ari Laquidara said, “My experience is that this is a fantastic organization for holistic healing and wellness, we have some great programs.”

Laquidara runs a Dahn center in Massachusetts.

“It’s a way of life for me that I’ve chosen, that I love,” he said.

Ben Lucal had a different experience and left Dahn Hak after being a member for two months.

“Dahn Hak tries to sell you that they are giving you a healing technique that you will be able to take out into the world and help people. But what they are giving you is a life of bringing more people into the group,” Lucal said. - Source: Dahn Hak: Rewarding Yoga Or A Korean Cult? WCBS TV, USA, Feb. 7, 2006

Mind-control experts say it is a destructive cult that uses the centers to lure members and convince them to give up time and money. They say members have left behind families, considered divorcing their spouses, or changed careers to focus on the group.

Last month, Siverls’ family filed an $84 million lawsuit blaming Dahnhak for her death, accusing the group of forcing her to continue the hike and engaging in brainwashing that included lacing her food with drugs.

“They told us she died peacefully,” said her sister, Veronica Siverls-Dunham of Salisbury Mills, N.Y. “Then we got the police report. Give me a break. She was in pain, burning up. I protect my baby sister, and it’s my job to not let this just disappear. This must not be allowed to happen to anyone else.” - Source: Dahnhak sued after member dies trying to master art, The Journal News, USA, Aug. 7, 2005

Part: 1 2

Dahn Hak – Pseudoscience
Dahn Hak – Research Resources

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