Editing Buddhafield (religious movement)

{{Short description|American religious movement}}
{{About|the American cult|the concept in Buddhism|Pure land|the British Buddhist organization|Triratna Buddhist Community}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox religion
| name                = Buddhafield
| type                = [[New religious movement]], cult
| area                = United States
| founder             = Jaime Gomez (also known as Michel Rostan)
| other_names        = Aloha Yoga Kula
| founded_date        = 1980s
| founded_place       = West Hollywood, California
}}
'''Buddhafield''' is a religious movement in the United States. It began in the 1980s in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], and continues in [[Hawaii]] today, often recruiting through yoga studios. The group has been described as a [[cult]] by some former members.

== About ==
The leader of Buddhafield is a man previously known as Michel, Andreas, The Teacher, or Reyji, born Jaime Gomez.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Matthew |date=2016-05-27 |title=Life Inside This Cult Was Beautiful, Until It Wasn't |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/holy-hell-cult-documentary_n_5744c96ae4b055bb11708e51 |access-date=2019-06-18 |work=[[HuffPost]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Wang2016">{{Cite magazine |last=Wang |first=Evelyn |date=2016-05-27 |title=This Is What It's Like to Spend Almost Half Your Life in a Cult |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a45261/holy-hell-buddhafield-documentary-will-allen-interview/ |access-date=2019-06-18 |magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He was once known to wear nothing but [[swim briefs]] and eyeliner.<ref name="O'Neill2016">{{Cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Ann |date=2016-09-08 |title=The search for a Speedo-wearing guru |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/us/holy-hell-buddhafield-searching-for-michel/index.html |access-date=2019-06-18 |work=[[CNN News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He is featured in the documentary film [[Holy Hell (2016 film)|''Holy Hell'']] directed by Will Allen. He is also featured on the [[Netflix]] series ''[[How to Become a Cult Leader]]'' (season 1 episode 3 entitled "Reform Their Minds").

=== Beliefs ===
Buddhafield largely espouses [[New Age]] ideas. Jaime Gomez thinks of himself as God, and encourages his followers to think of themselves as God as well.<ref name="Valentini2016">{{Cite magazine |last=Valentini |first=Valentina |date=2016-01-19 |title=Inside Sundance's Holy Hell, With Exclusive Photographs of Cult Life at Buddhafield |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/photos/2016/01/holy-hell-buddhafield-photographs |access-date=2019-06-18 |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Buddhafield uses the Sanskrit word [[shakti]] (meaning "power") for Gomez's alleged power transference to his followers using his finger.<ref name="HolyHell" /> Gomez also cites the [[Bhagavad Gita]] as a source.<ref name="HolyHell" /> Gomez demanded his followers remain [[Celibacy|celibate]] despite himself allegedly having sexual intercourse with various followers. Drugs and alcohol were also banned from use while in the group.<ref name="Yuan2016">{{Cite news |last=Yuan |first=Jada |date=2016-09-02 |title=The Totally Insane Story of Holy Hell Director Will Allen's Escape From a Cult |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/09/holy-hell-director-will-allen-cult-escape-story.html |access-date=2019-06-18 |work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Buddhafield followers change names while in the group.<ref name="HolyHell" /> ''Holy Hell'' director Will Allen explained that "A lot of the principles of the East vs. West that we were doing—surrendering to the guru, dropping your ego, taking your shoes off before you walk into a room and leave the world behind—we didn't think of it as giving our power, we thought of it as empowering."<ref name="Wang2016" /> Three to five hour ballet practices two to three days each week were often a part of the group's activities, with members even missing their jobs for practice.<ref name="HolyHell" /><ref name="Yuan2016" /><ref name="Valentini2016" /> The resulting performance was never shown to anyone outside of Buddhafield.<ref name="HolyHell" />

=== Post-Waco changes ===
Gomez voiced his anxieties to his then-follower Will Allen after the [[Waco siege]].<ref name="HolyHell">''Holy Hell'', directed by Will Allen (2016).</ref> Allen pinpoints this as the moment when Gomez's paranoia began.<ref name="HolyHell" /> Gomez left his followers for six months to find a new location for the group.<ref name="HolyHell" /> Gomez also began to undergo increasing amounts of plastic surgery around this time, as well as recommending his female followers undergo similar procedures.<ref name="HolyHell" /><ref name="Yuan2016" /> Gomez also attempted to get followers to report on each others' perceived transgressions.<ref name="Wang2016" /> He kept one follower from seeing her father before he died, and encouraged another to get an abortion, claiming religious reasons.<ref name="Yuan2016" />

== Allegations ==
Many allegations have been made against Jaime Gomez, most notably sexual abuse of his male followers.<ref name="O'Neill2016" /> His victims have said that they had their confessions in their weekly [[hypnotherapy]] sessions used against them.<ref name="HolyHell" /><ref name="Yuan2016" /> Gomez also used the [[AIDS crisis]] to instill fear in his [[gay]] male followers to frighten them into staying.<ref name="Yuan2016" /> The group has been described as a cult by some former members.<ref name="Yuan2016" />

Former members such as Chris Johnston, Julian Goldstein, Radhia Gleis, and Alessandra Burenin claim they were [[Brainwashing|brainwashed]] by Jaime Gomez. Allen and other former Buddhafield members claim that they were not allowed to obtain information from outside sources, with Gomez bristling at one member purchasing a television.<ref name="Yuan2016" /><ref name="HolyHell" />

Gomez shunned such ex-followers and denied the allegations.<ref name="HolyHell" />

== Reaction to film ==
Jaime Gomez has allegedly sent followers to ''Holy Hell''{{'s}} [[Sundance Film Festival]] debut screenings to "physically threaten" ex-followers featured in the film.<ref name="Yuan2016" /> One of Gomez's bodyguards allegedly threatened a cast member after Sundance.<ref name="Yuan2016" />

Gomez's official statement is as follows:<ref name="Yuan2016" />

{{Blockquote|text=It is heartbreaking to see how history has been rewritten. ''[[Holy Hell (film)|Holy Hell]]'' is not a documentary, rather, it is a work of fiction designed to create drama, fear and persecution; that is what sells. I am saddened by this attempt to obscure the message of universal love and spiritual awakening. It is devastating to see these friends, who were once so filled with love for the world, become so angry. I wish them only the best, and hold each one close to my heart. If any of my actions were a catalyst for their disharmony, I am truly sorry.&nbsp;May all beings find peace, Michel.}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]
[[Category:New Age organizations]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1980s]]