Texas guru found guilty on 20 counts of molesting young girls

[somone]

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hindu-guru-found-guilty-on-20-counts-of-1298973.html

Hindu guru found guilty on 20 counts of molesting young girls
By Eric Dexheimer

A Hays County jury on Friday found the spiritual guru of Barsana Dham guilty of molesting two young girls who grew up at the Hindu ashram south of Austin in the mid-1990s.

Prakashanand Saraswati, known to his devotees as Shree Swamiji, was convicted of all 20 counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact.

The charges were based on allegations of two women, Shyama Rose and Vesla Tonnessen Kazimer, now 30 and 27 years old, respectively, whose families lived at the 200-acre ashram off RM 1826 in Driftwood. They said the guru kissed and fondled them on numerous occasions over the course of several years, beginning when they were as young as 12. A third woman, Kate Tonnessen, now 31, also claimed the holy man had kissed and groped her during the same period...

Over the course of the trial, prosecutors depicted Prakashanand, now 82, as a religious leader who used his stature and position of trust to prey on young devotees. When he began fondling her when she was 12, Rose said: "It just felt so wrong. He was my first kiss by a man ever. The first time anyone touched my breasts, it was Prakashanand." In the few instances in which they told an adult of the incidents, the women said, they were instructed that the touching had a higher purpose. "I was told it was a test and if I failed it I would go to hell," Rose said. The other women said they were told the guru was gracing them...

[Vehl]

1. What a sicko! most of the "famous" gurus who charge money = con men

I hope he gets the punishment he deserves!!.My heart goes out to those girls :(

Furthermore I also wish that people would stop following such "gurus" blindly. Always keep in mind that in the Dharmic religions(Hinduism, Buddhism); especially in Hinduism..Gurus do not(are not supposed to) seek converts or money.However there has been no shortage of such "gurus" who "preach" their wisdom to the world...often roping in gullible people. The core philosophy of Hinduism says that a Guru should not answer unless he is asked a question by another person.In other words, a Guru should only guide person...not fill the person's mind with his own version of "truth".Truth is to be discovered by one's own self. Sadly one sees no shortage of Gurus nowadays having "seminars" and "lectures"..."Ashrams" and "retreats"...raking in money and sometimes even abusing their devotees. A damn disgrace. :(

[gateley]

2. I'm reminded of a book I read called Monkey on a Stick, about the Hare Krishna

movement in America. The two head American guys were visited by the head guy from India and he was furious to find they were having orgies, had a fridge stocked full of champagne, stuff like that.

Not all "holy men" are like that, but far too many see what a great gig it is to set yourself up as a Teacher and rake in the money and the sex.

[Vehl]

7. I agree

Not all "holy men" are like that, but far too many see what a great gig it is to set yourself up as a Teacher and rake in the money and the sex.

Well said!

To be frank, even though Hinduism does not have any central authority/texts; most Hindus are quite embarrassed about the actions of the Hare-Krishnas. For example...Hindu schools of thought have widely differing worldviews/philosophies yet they do not abuse each other..because of the over-arching belief that all truths are equally valid.

However, the Hare krishnas claim that the followers of Advaida Hindu schools of thought are "mayavadins"..a derogatory term...along with some choice admonishments. imho the Hare Krishnas hardly resemble any other Hindu philosophy I know of...at least when it comes to their practices.

[readmoreoften]

3. I wouldn't jump to this conclusion. Everyone else at the Ashram finds these charges bizarre

and no other women who were young girls at the Ashram said they ever saw or heard about inappropriate behavior. This is also a region where folks are happy to try to shut down non-Christian religions. (I know, I live here.)

It's possible that it is true. It's also very possible that it is bias-motivated BS.

If its true, it's terrible. If it's not, it's terrible.

[Exultant Democracy]

4. Either way he is still in all probability little more than a snake oil salesman.

[Vehl]

8. I agree that I have to wait for more evidence

I was merely making a general comment; based on my observation of some "swamis" who try to swindle their devotees.
Swamis like those only tarnish the name of the real swamis.

[hobbit709]

10. Molesting is molesting no matter which religion

My wife went through years of therapy because her mother pretended nothing was going on.

[Hardrada]

5. Isn't this the last chapter of "Candy?"

Paramahansa Yogananda, parlez-vous?

[speltwon]

6. If he did it, the song "Sexy Sadie" comes to mind

The Beatles weren't claiming sexual molestation iirc just sleazy practices by a guru

[somone]

9. UPDATE: Hindu guru disappears, sentenced to 20 14-year prison terms

http://www.newstreamz.com/2011/03/09/hindu-guru-sentenced-to-20-14-year-prison-terms/

Prakashandand Saraswati, an 82-year-old Hindu guru, was sentenced to twenty 14-year prison terms and a $200,000 fine by a Hays County jury Tuesday.

Saraswati, also known as Swamiji, remains missing after being convicted last week of 20 counts of sexual indecency with a child. A warrant is out for his arrest.

Authorities first noticed Swamiji was missing when he failed to appear at his punishment hearing on Monday. The hearing was cut short and resumed Tuesday, when he failed to appear again. Two witnesses during Tuesday’s hearing said they last saw Swamiji on Sunday evening in Austin.

Swamiji was arrested in 2008, a year after Shyama Rose and Vesla Tonnenssen filed complaints against him saying he kissed them and touched their breasts on hundreds of occasions between 1993 and 1996, while the women were minors and living at Barsana Dham Temple in Hays County. A third woman, Kate Tonnenssen, made the same accusation, though she has no legal standing due to statute of limitations law...