The Icon Show: List of Allegations

(Oct. 9, 2000 from message #400 Shyamtruth email group)

Back to Open Letter to All Shyams

We who have signed this statement want to clearly express that we are using this letter and attachment to collectively express our hurt, dismay and outrage at what has transpired over many years. Shyam's actions have caused unnecessary grief, hardship and confusion for hundreds of people. These are among the issues must clearly be addressed in a spirit of free and open inquiry.

1) The trust placed in guru by us was abused by Shyam Srivastava as he initiated sexual relationships with many female devotees, for a period of at least 20 years and probably longer. These women and girls were ordered not to reveal these liaisons because he claimed it would damage both him and the ashram.

2) Shyam abused the trust and faith of children who were placed in his spiritual and physical care, by allegedly sexually molesting a young girl as young as 11 years old.

3) Shyam Srivastava used, what in hindsight, is a flawed teaching method, to psychologically and verbally abuse many of the devotees who came to him seeking enlightened thinking and living. The teaching method was used to silence free, open dissenting dialogue in order to dictate and control all interactions, as he set forth to inculcate his personal views and agenda.

4) Shyam has in the name of Godliness collected large sums of money over the years through tuition, outright requests for generous donations, solicitation of money for land purchases and financial support for trips, both around India and internationally. All, or the vast majority of this financial cornucopia, has never been declared to any taxation department, whether Indian or any other country, where laws of taxation may have applied. Many of these funds have found there way into various offshore tax havens under a variety of names.

A call for action:

1) Sexual improprieties must end now. Not only with children but with any devotee of any age.

2) Shyam should come forward and publicly admit his wrong doing and the impropriety of his acts, taking full personal responsibility for his actions with no attempt to shift blame or responsibility to the women.

3) He should, through his representatives, undertake to fund awareness raising programs in Kullu and at all IMI centers to teach about abuse, sexual and otherwise, perpetrated by authority figures. This could include making literature available, allowing workshops and bringing in independent experts in this field to conduct seminars.

4) Shyam Srivastava should relinquish his role as Guru or de facto head of "Shyam Space" and the International Meditation Institute, so as to allow healing and reconciliation to take place.

Created by Gisele Beaupre