1meditation

This post is here so that anyone searching for information about the https://1meditation.com/ group will find important information. What they don't tell you on the 1meditation site is that this group is a dangerous cult.

On one of their pages they state "This has been realised by hundreds of men and women using this meditation all over the world during a time of over 40 years". 'This meditation' has been taught by the cult known as Lifewave and before that known as SOTM.

The Lifewave cult ceased to exist in 1986 because people found out that the cult leader, John Yarr, had been abusing his followers and their children. John Yarr fled from Sussex to Leeds. He started a new cult which is called 1meditation or The Path.

They have had meetings at Global Tribe (a café and shop run by Bev and Mario), Hyde Park Book Club and the Friends Meeting House in Roundhay. In other cities in England too and in Australia and Colombia. People go to these meetings because they want to find out about meditation. They are not told about John Yarr and the history.

Once they have developed a loyalty to the group they are exploited. Please read some of the other posts and pages on this blog. Start with my introduction to John Yarr and his cult. You can read about what some of his most loyal followers of the past say about him now. My recent posts include words by people like Mari-Ann Barrett who was one of his first followers.

Another thing they don't tell you is the precise nature of 'this state of being' (Enlightenment). They may tell you if asked that it is something that cannot be comprehended by the mind. That's not true. When you find out what it is you might not be so willing to attain it. Neither is it true that only people in their group can find this state of being.

You don't need their initiation. If you want to meditate on the Inner Light and Sound there are ways to do that without them squeezing your eyeballs. If you are in too deep with their group don't feel that they can harm you. They can't curse you although they may say that they can. Don't feel that you will miss out on your chance for spiritual development if you leave their group. Lots of people left Lifewave, continued meditating, and got what they were hoping for - without John Yarr or Ishvara or whatever he is calling himself these days. He hasn't learned his lesson.

1meditation

view from an early disciple

This is another document written by someone in Lifewave. It was written by one of the four women who were in the Divine Light Mission with John Yarr. She might be Mari-Ann Barrett, who contributed so much to the series of articles published in the Portsmouth Evening News. Or she might be Caroline Roberts, Jan or Liz.

"HERBERT JOHN YARR ......THE MYTH (June 2000)

By an ex-Lifewave member.

Herbert John Yarr has been teaching meditation on light and sound for the last 25 years. From 1975-86 he formed the organisation called Lifewave. This folded due to allegations and disclosures about his personal behaviour, ranging from sexual abuse to harassment and intimidation.

Whilst he remained fairly low key for a couple of years he eventually began teaching again and formed a new group which was known to followers as "The path".

My interest in writing this letter is to pass on some relevant facts about his history in order to reassure anyone who at this time may be wanting to leave his "Path" but is afraid to do so for fear of recriminations and\ or the loss of the opportunity for spiritual growth.

Firstly it is important to know that what he teaches is not original. There are many accounts of meditation on light and sound throughout the scriptures - his own initiation into it came from being a follower of Divine Light Mission in 1974

Before this time he had spent several years as an army corporal . He had a private interest in occult matters particularly the art of mind control which he often boasted of using in most unethical ways. His friends and collegues at the time also knew him well for all his bragging about his sexual conquests (he boasted of having slept with a different woman every night for a year), and aptly named him Dirty Dingus Mc Gee. His nickname was Dingus for the next few years until he decided to rename himself with a more fitting title (Ishvara). Translated, this means Lord of The Universe.

With hindsight it is clear to see that at the time of meeting up with those of us who were to become his first followers, the unusually self obsessed and controlling aspects that made up his personality were fertile ground for his transcendence to the new Messiah.

In 1975 his following was small (4 actually), but even at that stage he was already developing sexual relationships with those female devotees of whom I was one.

Although inspired greatly by our own belief in his elevated position we did in those first few years , through our own effort, and long hours spent meditating, experience states of bliss and spiritual awakenings. Only after several years did Yarr see the benefit of linking peoples spiritual revelations to his` Grace` to enhance his own position of power, thus creating the myth.

Unfortunately many of the truths about Yarr have become cloudy and mystified over time and of course conveniently withheld from his followers.

I lived with John Yarr for over 10 years in various houses, most of the time believing in him in the same way followers do now. I would have died for him and may have even killed for him. My life was utterly tied up with him and I could see no other life or world except his. Over the dozens of times I wanted to leave, because of the great despair and isolation I experienced, I felt utterly hopeless because there was seemingly nowhere to go. The world outside the organisation and the people in it were the 'Anti Christ' and the only life I could lead that wouldn't plunge me into darkest hell and damnation was his.

The worst harm he has done and continues to do is in the way in which he divides and rules. In order to maintain his position of power he spreads gossip amongst the followers about those with whom he is having secret affairs so they can end up feeling persecuted, isolated and bereft of enough credibility to be believed by anyone, were they to try to confront him.

Fortunately, (probably) because I was living so intimately with him I was able to finally see the situation more clearly and eventually confront him and moved out.

Despite the many times I have witnessed Yarr and his close followers perform ritualised curses on those who wanted to leave him, over the 10 years I lived with him and the 14 years since I left him nobody has ever fallen victim to any of his sick and cruel designs for them. He would of course attribute anything unfortunate that happened to them or their families as his work.

There is too much about my time with him to write here, but having talked recently to some of his current followers, some having been near to suicide and having been reminded of his tyranical ways, I really want to reassure anyone that this man , in his own right, without the power you give him, is simply a very complex and disturbed man capable of many a temper tantrum and who, when confronted displays great cowardice and fear.

Curses and threats only have a chance of working if we believe in them. It is ourselves that give meaning to them.and it is in this way that Yarr literally 'plays on peoples fears'.

Unfortunately Yarr's intimidations don't only take the shape of secret rituals. In the time I knew him there were several incidents of attempted assaults by groups of (usually male) followers on direct instruction from Yarr. These were often on vulnerable young women and on some occasions police protection was sought. This is, of course criminal behaviour and if reported is taken extremely seriously. However in many instances in the past the persecuted individual has been too afraid to lay any charges. Anyone wishing to leave him at this time can be reassured that because of recent events (April - September 2000) Mr. Yarr is most likely to be on his best behaviour at the moment.

Yarr has a huge amount of philosophical and spiritual clarity and can present himself as a powerfully charismatic man, I know this, but unfortunately because of his stunted and detatched emotional state, wherein he actually believes himself to be beyond the concepts of right and wrong, he is capable of great cruelty.

There are people even now who left his organisation 15 years ago who still have psychological scars from their time with him. The thrust of his teaching is based on detachment. This is of course a valuable concept. However when it is not balanced with a wholesome emotional development it becomes a very polarised and potentially cold and cut off condition.

I know from my time with him that even when he had a couple of breakdowns, around 84-86, he was totally unable to gain insight into the issues causing them. His answer is to meditate and to meditate more. (Although even he at that time was unable to follow his own advice).

I am very sorry for anyone whose lives seem to have been taken over by Yarr - in their real and honest desire to find spiritual truths, but I have found that without him as part of the equation there is no less of a possibility of knowing those truths.

Please take a good look at this man. The facts, the history,, the people who have known him well. See the consistency of his abusive behaviour, the lives he has hurt, the marriages he has broken up, the number of people needing psychological support and the families he has torn apart and worst of all the power he has over you.

I wish you well in retrieving what is rightfully yours and seeing that without what you give him he is no more powerful in your life than you want him to be.

And I wish you all the best in your spiritual aspirations. None of any of our efforts in that direction have been wasted."

John Yarr

view from a former Adept

In 2019 I posted a document on this blog. I found it on a forum. I didn't know who had written it but now I have found out. It was written by someone called AK, one of the Adepts in Lifewave. It was written in 1986. There is another document by him, written in 2000. I thought it is interesting so I have copied it and put it here.

"SOME REFLECTIONS ON LIFEWAVE AND JOHN YARR 14 YEARS ON. (June 2000)

by AK, May 2000

In Sept 1986 I wrote an article about Lifewave at the time of its dissolution and photocopies of my handwritten article were circulated at that time to many initiates and members of the organisation.

A few weeks earlier, in August 1986, I had written a letter to John Yarr (circulated too at the time but not now in my possession) which was, for me, the beginning of a process of helping to expose some truths about him which were not widely known: the letter led to a meeting between him and about eight adepts (including myself) in which we confronted him collectively with our concerns and allegations: the outline of these accusations and his reply are covered in my article.

These allegations amounted to an accusation of serious criminal activity which he had not been able to answer satisfactorily. While the police were approached at the time, the victims were not in a position to give statements and the case has only now been gathered by the police (April 2000) with sufficiently robust evidence to lead to his arrest and appearance at Chichester Magistrates Court.

Without prejudicing the case it is not possible to describe the allegations in detail, but they were broadly known by many adepts and many others who made enquiries in 1986. Undoubtedly they were for me and many others the 'final straw' in displacing his image in my mind as the perfect master, and in causing me to have to question the whole ethical base of his authority, both organisationally and spiritually. I was struck then and remain astounded by his inability to be honest and humble enough to acknowledge how badly and persistently he had hurt and let people down: I felt this lack of empathy coupled with sexual perversion and emotional cowardice were all intolerable in a man claiming his position and wisdom.

Looking back now I consider that he was responsible for the following effects on people that I am aware of , with whom I have either talked or heard about from someone who has, (and my estimate in brackets for the number of people I am aware of having been affected in the UK ):

• Vindictive gossip and rumour mongering, spreading lies and disrespectful stories (dozens)
• Unethical and abusive therapeutic practices - examinations, manipulations,etc (dozens)
• Psychiatric events and ilnesses (selfharming attempts, depressions, admissions), (five-ten)
• Marriage breakups including false prophecies about husbands' deaths etc (6)
• False promises of marriage to himself (several, possibly more than a dozen)
• Abuse of his position of power and trust with women for his sexual needs (dozens)
• Threats of intimidation and damnation to people leaving his organisation (dozens)
• Malicious occult practices visualising or wishing ritualised harm to people (four)

In addition to all this has been his obsessive use of pornographic magazines and videos (several times a week over years), and the likelihood that he has not meditated himself much, if at all, for years.

Having seen for myself the true nature and impact of his shadow side and his lack of respect for people who had given their lives and love to him and the reflection of this throughout his organisation, including my own ways of thinking, made me absolutely sure in 1986 that I could not be part of any structure supporting him. It would be basically unethical as I had to recognise how my naivety and gullible eagerness had added to his power and the collective abuse of many vulnerable individuals.

I felt he had totally betrayed my trust and irrevocably compromised my integrity as his follower and teacher so I lost my loyalty to him and to Lifewave as an organisation, having been completely committed and devoted for a number of years. Needless to say I found this a difficult and confusing time. I was disappointed but not completely surprised by the extent of denial of the accusations and support for himself that he managed to muster to enable him to carry on after the dissolution of Lifewave. Those older initiates who knew of the allegations but who did not help expose him or kept supporting him may not have known enough, had a warped sense of values or imagined that the realities of the meditation somehow made it all allright: I still think they have much to answer for.

From meeting with and talking to 'ex-members' over the last few years I do not now think there is or was one experience nor one truth about Lifewave: everyone has a different story to tell about it both spiritually and organisationally. People also had very different experiences of joining and leaving, from having found it after years of spiritual practices to coming along with a partner or a group of friends, from being 'sent away' to leaving at the time of Lifewave's disbanding in 1986. Some people had fairly benign experiences of the lifestyle changes, while for others the path led to major sacrifices and losses and considerable trauma.

My own particular experience of Lifewave had been relatively free of trauma: I found the meditation profoundly inspiring and liberating. I loved the sense of belonging to a community of like-minds and fellow devotees, and learnt a great deal about philosophy, psychology and complementary medicine amongst many other subjects. I also found John Yarr very charismatic and inspiring, often apparently very caring, with an incisive mind and an apparently encyclopaedic knowledge. These qualities are what made confronting him and myself with the truth about his other side and the ending of Lifewave initially confusing and difficult: belief in his grace and fear of his power over me took months, even years to dismantle.

As for making sense of spirituality after Lifewave, I have found my path has been much less clear, and dominated by knowing what I do not want or cannot support, rather than knowing where to place my devotions and energies. Having a guru, belonging to a group, or following any path with a map certainly simplifies many complications in life. Without these it is easy to become cynical of the whole 'spiritual' trip, the self-rightiousness and introspection, the gap between theory and ideals and practical reality. I have also been tempted to dismiss all teaching and gurus. But I now see these as structures which help some people grow at some stages in their lives (as worked for me), but which may well need to be removed to allow another phase of growth (as also happened for me). Behind all this I find there is a constant whisper from my soul in many situations reminding me of my source and 'home', and a real strength from the knowledge of meditation.

Since Lifewave I have been particularly helped and inspired by nature, the world of the senses and by movement and dance as expressions of spirit: finding ways of grounding my energy through my body has helped me make sense (literally) of the realisations and connection with light and sound which I had gained through meditation and Lifewave. Learning about female ways of knowing and allowing and receiving not straining and pushing for spiritual truths, and trusting power with others rather than power over others, have also been important. I have learned much from being part of groups and organisations that are aware of the dangers of hierarchies and explicitly explore alternative methods or rituals using circles and networks, and consciously pay attention to the 'people on the edge' whose views are usually as revealing as those of the leaders or people at the 'centre'. Some of all this I have been taught by people with disabilities through my work: they have given me some profound spiritual teachings, especially that every human interaction is two-way not one-way.

I am certainly glad that I am free of the fearful intolerance, arrogant fanaticism and intimidation that I learnt from Lifewave (and sometimes copied from John Yarr) and I am glad to find that I can be myself more fully now, the same and different as every one else, enlightened or not!

So I have no conclusions to share, but some observations: however difficult and shaming it was to have gone through an experience like Lifewave and to attempt to understand someone as complex and confusing as John Yarr and the devotion he inspired in people like me, I do think I have learned much from both going into it all and coming out of it, though I regret all the hurt he and the organisation caused. Talking about it all is a good way of piecing the jigsaw together. I would like to give people who are still involved with John Yarr personally or his path the information they need about his dark and shady side: they can then make up their own minds and not feel they are damned for all eternity by the Lord of the Universe if they recognise that he has damaged many people's lives and may yet be convicted of serious crimes. I would also like him to fully face the consequences of what he has done and his responsibilities, and be prevented from causing further harm.

More than all this, I want to keep a love of the truth and of sacred teachings and realisations alive in my life and in the lives of people I have contact with, so that we help each other sharpen our minds and open our hearts and, learning from the mistakes of the past, keep true to our deepest wisdom and aspiration in each new day."

John Yarr

Cult cost my peace of mind

18/04/1987 Portsmouth Evening News

most of this text is difficult to read so there is a digital version below the image

see here for the other stories about John Yarr in the Portsmouth Evening News

Your Letters

Cult cost my peace of mind

- and my home

I HAVE just read the articles about John Yarr in The News. I knew Mari-Anne from my involvement in the organization and I am very relieved that, after so long, some of the facts are coming to light and people can be told the full extent of this manipulative and arrogant group of people who called themselves Lifewave (and now, I see, SAST)

They hid themselves behind a front of the highest spiritual values and moral purity, yet I have spent the last nine months recovering from my own nightmare involvement with the cult which cost me my peace of mind, my home, and my marriage.

I was "initiated" into Lifewave with my husband in 1978. Later, we became aware that things were not quite right, that there was a sort of hierarchy, a political aspect to the organization with hints of scandals, intrigues, and cover-ups, but there was a strict ban by Yarr on all gossip in the organization.

We began to mistrust many of the teachers we had loved. Yarr still had us under his spell, though, and we would do what he said through fear of rejection, mostly.

My husband and I felt under a constant pressure when all we wanted was to live a normal life using certain values which Lifewave propounded as morally good and sound.

I wished to have children, as I felt that it was natural, yet every time the subject came up with Yarr he tried to dissuade me or make me feel guilty or selfish, making it clear that it could only hinder my progress for many years.

Consequently, I was torn and confused. I felt, too, a lack of privacy. I happened to live near to Yarr and he used to call round when I was alone and chat to me. Once he asked me lots of questions about my sex life and asked me if I fancied him.

My house was used like a hotel with people constantly being asked to stay or to spend many days in meditation. I would have to feed these people twice a day. I felt unable to refuse because that refusal would look like selfishness and ego in the Teacher's eyes and again we were warned of the dangers of materialism.

We felt bound hand and foot, as though our every move was being watched and judged. All this time we were trying to run a business and keep our livelihood going and our mortgage paid.

Then we were asked to go and teach in India for six months and, on our return, we could expect to be given our "Adeptship."

We duly went and, in the meantime, our house continued to be used as a hotel (even though we continued to pay the mortgage ourselves!). Also, our brand new car was smashed up while in use by Yarr's household. The insurance claim was neglected so we never got much compensation.

On our return from India, it became clear to us that something was wrong in Lifewave. No one spoke to us about the trip or about our prayers. The business had failed through neglect and lack of time and money. Our lives were not our own any more. All this had become too much for me and my husband.

We realized how unhappy we had become. We felt as though we had failed due to the stress of this lifestyle and the distractions of trying to please the demanding Mr. Yarr.

So we lost our home, and my husband broke down, becoming very suspicious, nervous, and distressed. He felt victimized, unloved, and untrusted by Yarr and his Adepts.

Yarr had always asked to see me a lot on the grounds of claiming my health needed attention and that my spine was not good. He gave me continual weekly treatments with acupuncture, homeopathy, and massage yet he hardly ever asked to see my husband who was just as loyally devoted.

My husband finally left the organization; he just couldn't cope with the stress any longer. I was then faced with a "Gestapo-like" interrogation at the hands of two of the Adepts.

They made me feel guilty over my natural desire to stay with my husband and make the marriage work. They said I had to choose between him or Yarr. They said either I stayed with Yarr or went with my husband in which case they would regard my loyalty as suspect.

I was by this time in no fit state to make any decision. I was broken, with no fight left in me, and utterly confused. The Adepts just sat there, cold and detached, while I sobbed and felt utterly desolate

Is it surprising that I feel duped and cheated and bitter now that the truth is finally out?

I have just recovered from a period of shattered confidence and anxiety attacks which this chain of events caused. My health is at last back to normal and I am building a new life.

I feel very much for Mari-Anne and many others like her who suffered far more than I did at the hands of these fanatics, and I wish no one else to ever suffer the kind of psychological torture we suffered under Yarr.

An older and wiser ex-member of Lifewave.

Congratulations, Frances Hardy

1 AM writing to congratulate Frances Hardy on her excellent expose of John Yarr, self-styled Messiah and founder of the now-defunct Lifewave.

As an ex-member of the organization, I can vouch for her revelations of the intimidation and endless brainwashing forced upon us. Many of us were afraid to leave through fear of reprisals and tales of what might happen and so had to endure the emotional pain it caused.

It is how quite apparent that this con man used the guise of truth and spirituality to enable him to satisfy his personal ends. Any good that he claims to have done was purely coincidental and was achieved through the hard work of the people with him.

This evil man must never be let loose on the unsuspecting public again - AJ.P., Chichester.

CULT 'GOD' IN HIDING

08/04/1987 Portsmouth Evening News

most of this text is difficult to read so there is a digital version below the image

see here for the other stories about John Yarr in the Portsmouth Evening News

The News

City Final

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

CULT 'GOD' IN HIDING

'Master' in sex scandal claims

NEWS EXCLUSIVE by FRANCES HARDY

THE SELF-STYLED God of the Lifewave religious cult has fled his luxury West Sussex home and gone into hiding, amid a string of sex allegations.

The 2,000-member organization founded in Portsmouth by John Yarr has collapsed amid allegations that Yarr - who termed himself Ishvara, or the Perfect Master - kept a "harem" of female devotees and abused his power to molest attractive women recruits.

Yarr demanded celibacy of his unmarried disciples, but hypocritically indulged his own voracious sexual appetites in a string of clandestine affairs.

Countless women devotees fell under his spell between 1974 and 1986, followers say. For 12 years the former film processor at Marconi, Portsmouth, hoodwinked them all, vowing loyalty and devotion to each one. And in a grotesque abuse of trust, he used his power as the "Messiah" to lure women and sexually assault them. Under hypnosis it is claimed he persuaded women devotees to recount lurid details of their sexual experiences.

And under the guise of teaching them yoga and meditation techniques and freeing them from sexual inhibitions, former members revealed, he would molest attractive female recruits.

The downfall of Yarr's empire was brought about by his own disciples. His sinister abuse and manipulation of his power came to me to light when one by one his lovers realized they had been deceived. Followers who had been steadfastly loyal to their god for 12 years, have now deserted him en masse. Yarr has fled from and sold the £150,000 home at Slindon, near Arundel, he bought with cult members' gifts three years ago.

At a secret meeting in the Midlands last month, infiltrated by The News, the sect was officially dissolved. But John Yarr was nowhere in evidence.

Yarr, a 39-year-old Irishman, is being guarded by a caucus of still-loyal followers at a secret hideaway at Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Only a handful of disciples know where he is - and they are refusing to disclose his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, disaffected cult members fear he could resurface as a "spiritual teacher" once the furore over his sexual misdemeanours dies down.

Even as the meeting, called formally to disband Lifewave, was taking place, a group of faithful Yarr disciples were setting up a splinter group called Seekers After Spiritual Truth, (S.A.S.T.)

Although he claimed to espouse the simple, celibate life, Yarr was in fact a greedy, vain and self-obsessed sexual pervert, say former followers.

While his followers adhered to a strictly monogamous sexual code, Yarr furtively indulged his own sexual appetite with his mistresses.

He flew into jealous rages when members of his "harem" grew attached to other men. He ordered henchmen to "curse" disloyal devotees.

Six of Yarr's "adepts" (spiritual teachers) have had nervous breakdowns and many are receiving psychiatric treatment. One has attempted suicide and one is still living as a recluse.

[picture]ABOVE, neo-Tudor splendour in the heart of the West Sussex countryside: the £150,000 house in which "God" lived.

[picture]JOHN YARR the man thousands called "God." Devotees were each issued with this photograph as a devotional aid.

In a series of exclusive interviews with former followers, News reporter Frances Hardy reveals the sordid truth behind the fallen idol. See Page 6.

Dream world of a neurotic 'Messiah'

10/04/1987 Portsmouth Evening News

most of this text is difficult to read so there is a digital version below the image

see here for the other stories about John Yarr in the Portsmouth Evening News

News Investigation

Dream world of a neurotic 'Messiah'

THE EARTHLY empire of John Yarr, "God" of the Lifewave religious cult, has crumbled.

Yarr's exposure and ruin were brought about by his own disciples, who have accused him of molesting female recruits and keeping a string of mistresses, while demanding celibacy of his unmarried disciples.

Today in the third of an exclusive series of News interviews, reporter Frances Hardy reveals the humble origins of the "God" who lived in a secluded West Sussex village.

JOHN Yarr lived in a Walter Mitty world where fact and fantasy mingled.

He told followers he had trained for the S.A.S. In fact he had been a corporal in the Royal Signals.

Yarr was born and brought up in a modest Belfast house. His father worked for the council and his mother stayed at home bringing up Yarr and his younger sister. Devotees were fed with stories of how he won a scholarship, but was unable to take it up because the family was poor.

At secondary school he shone in art and was an articulate and charismatic personality.

EXCLUSIVE By Frances Hardy

After school he had jobs as a carpenter before joining the Army, where he stayed for ten years.

In Portsmouth he worked for Marconi as a film processor

A Portsmouth Lifewave member who knew Yarr well said: "His stories got wilder as the years went on.

"Most of them were utter Blarney. "He used to talk as if he was commanding troops in the Army. In fact he was a corporal.

"He lived in a dream world and he actually believed in it."

Yet women fell for Yarr, a short and unprepossessing man who is now approaching 40 and losing his hair.

Devotees who are appalled and sickened by his actions, describe his personality as "mesmeric", "powerful", "impressive" and "hypnotic".

Dangerous

Said a longterm Lifewave member who did not wish to be named: "He is a great actor. If he is caught out he will turn on the tears like a little child.

There is a side of him which is completely neurotic. The dangerous side of him is that he will appear charismatic and charming."

Yarr wrote in a pamphlet devoted to himself and his spiritual teachings: "Because I have never been born I will never die.

Yet followers say he is plagued by fears of death and ageing.

"He is a hypochondriac. He is obsessed with getting old.

"He is a pathetic character."

Obsession

Yarr's other obsession is women.

While his loyal followers were enduring a celibate life he indulged his insatiable sexual appetite with a string of mistresses.

"He loved to have women adore him. He would not tolerate it if they looked at other men."

Attractive women progressed with uncanny speed in the spiritual hierarchy. Those selected to become his "adepts" or spiritual teachers often also became his lovers and were invariably beautiful and intelligent.

Members who adhered rigidly to the celibacy law are infuriated by Yarr's hypocrisy.

Said Marek Liponoga, a 24-year-old psychologist: "I obeyed the celibacy rule for three years and it nearly killed me.

"I couldn't have cared less if John Yarr had had a harem. What I am angry about is his hypocrisy."

---

'MISSIONARY' ZEAL

LIFEWAVE spread worldwide from its small beginnings in Portsmouth.

In its heyday the organization had several thousand followers worldwide. Teaching "adepts" were sent on missionary expeditions to the Third World to recruit among the poor of India, Tanzania and South America.

A group was set up in the Breda, Holland and another in Geneva, Switzerland.

Yarr's first followers rented a house in Stubbington, and the organization quickly spread throughout the south. Centres were established in Chichester, Southampton, Winchester, Brighton, Bristol, and Farnham

Yarr's teachers touted for members among the well-heeled and intelligent youngsters at Southampton University. Many young professionals fell under his spell.

Yarr's still-loyal supporters are based in Leeds where the organization has its administrative head- quarters.

Centres were also set up in the Philippines, U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand and Germany.

---

Hypocrite who still inspires loyalty

A GROUP of former Lifewave members are still supporting John Yarr as a spiritual teacher, although they stress they deplore his behaviour.

Several Yarr supporters have declined to speak to The News, but one, Bristol lecturer Geoff Mullett, agreed to defend Ishvara.

"I am sure there would be hardly anyone who would deny he has power. I will say categorically that my enlightenment came from John (Yarr).

"What we do not know is whether it is possible to become enlightened without him," said Mr. Mullett (37), a Lifewave member for ten years.

Asked to define enlightenment he said: "It is very difficult unless you have actually experienced spirituality to describe it."

Asked to define Yarr's power, he said: "He has helped people through illness, turned them off drugs and cured someone of dyslexia."

Mr. Mullett, a teetotaller and vegetarian since he joined Lifewave, said: "The organization taught me the value of inner strength and inner knowledge which lasts a lot longer than materialism."

What next?

Asked about Yarr's alleged greed, he said: "People used to donate gifts to him as you would want to do to the Royal Family if you were an ardent Royalist.

"It got to the point when he was like the child who has everything. People were saying. 'What the heck can we give him next?"

"That is why he had lots of gadgetry."

Yarr had quietly helped devotees through financial crises, giving thousands of pounds away, said Mr. Mullett.

"He paid for new cars for some adepts, but he did not advertise the fact."

The Lifewave laws on celibacy before marriage and fidelity to one lifelong marriage partner were "just common sense", said Mr. Mullett.

Asked about Yarr's sexual activities, Mr. Mullett said: "He preached one thing and practised another. It did not alter what he gave us spiritually.

"He has undone a lot of good and that has let us down."

Mr. Mullett said Yarr had fled Slindon with adepts Dennis Simmonds and Simon Bowes because they had endured attacks from vengeful Lifewave members.

"Stones were thrown through the windows and people were demanding money. They left for peace and quiet."

He declined to say where John Yarr is hiding.

Yarr-the 'god' with all mod cons

09/04/1987 Portsmouth Evening News

most of this text is difficult to read so there is a digital version below the image

see here for the other stories about John Yarr in the Portsmouth Evening News

News Investigation

Yarr - the 'god'

with all

mod cons

"GOD" lived lavishly in a luxury house in the heart of the West Sussex countryside. Such was John Yarr's arrogance, he even called his £150,000 home in the exclusive village of Slindon, "Shambala" - the Tibetan word for House of the Gods.

Guarded by two Lifewave "minders", Simon Bowes and Dennis Simmonds, the small Irishman, who called himself Ishvara: The Perfect Master, lived like a recluse.

His four-bedroomed neo-Tudor home was protected by ultra-sonic burglar alarms and he kept a Dobermann Pinscher.

Even next-door neighbours in the select and picturesque village did not know his name. But they watched, intrigued, as a succession of guests came and went.

EXCLUSIVE

By France's Hardy

Said neighbour Mrs. Lynn Beadle: "They were very secretive. If you asked anything about their personal life it was as if a shutter came down.

"We only knew them by Christian names or nicknames. Some were very friendly, others stand-offish.

Yarr was obsessive about keeping his own identity secret. The select caucus of men and women devotees who shared his house let nobody outside Lifewave know their relationship. with the man they worshipped.

Yarr, who demanded ten per cent. of his devotees' incomes, bought the house with money given him by Lifewave members.

Greedy

He was also showered with gifts of jewels from followers worldwide, and he asked for precious stones from his disciples which he claimed helped with his healing arts.

Said Mari-Ann Barrett, who was among the chosen devotees who shared the Slindon home with Yarr: "He lived lavishly. He was always out buying some new piece of gadgetry. He became more and more greedy.

Writer John Milan, a Lifewave member for two years, said: "Originally people would make donations to John Yarr. Later he said he would only take 10 per cent. and give the rest to the organization.

"He used to get living expenses and around £200 a week pocket money. He had a box of jewellery rubies and diamonds which he would take great pleasure in showing people."

Liar

Yarr sold his Slindon home in December last year and fled with his henchmen Simmonds and Bowes, leaving no forwarding address.

An inveterate liar, Yarr had told the family who bought his house that he was a chiropractor (practitioner who manipulates the spine to cure illness). He said he lived there with his son and daughter. The new owners moved in and found nothing to indicate that "God" had dwelt in the house. Only a few incense sticks and shells were left as evidence of Yarr's empire. He even took with him the sign that read Shambala...

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THE SELF-STYLED god of the religious cult Lifewave has fled his luxury West Sussex home and gone into hiding. The organization he founded has collapsed amid revelations that John Yarr, who called himself the Messiah, hypocritically kept his own "harem" of lovers while demanding celibacy of his unmarried recruits.

Day two of an exclusive series of Interviews looks at the earthly home of "God" in the select village of Slindon.

[picture]"GOD'S" MINDERS...Simon Bowes (left) and Dennis Simmonds

The Perfect Master's trick

JOHN YARR'S spiritual empire was founded on an elaborate con trick. He convinced his disciples that he was the Perfect Master and only he could lead followers on the divine journey to spiritual enlightenment.

Many devotees paid £500 for "enlightenment" believing Ishvara was the only being capable of conferring this spiritual state. One boy was made an "adept" (spiritual teacher) of the organization when he was seven years old. At 18 he now admits that he did not understand the concept of enlightenment and pretended to possess spiritual powers to please Yarr.

Now their "heavenly king" is dethroned, the vast majority of Lifewave members believe he doesn't hold exclusive worldwide rights to enlightenment. But a cluster of "hardliners" shielding Yarr, still believe he is the supreme spiritual teacher and that they were enlightened through his power.

Lifewave funds stood at £170,000 when the organization was formally dissolved at the meeting in the Midlands last week. The money is all to be refunded to ex-members of the now defunct organisation.

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[picture]The evil John Yarr and (above) his former lair, a luxurious £150,000 house in Slindon.

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Despair of his disciples

THE PRESSURE of Lifewave's demands on its disciples left some suicidal and others mentally scarred.

A doctor, who treated members of the sect and was himself a follower of Yarr for six years, said: "The lifestyle suited only a very small proportion of members

"The celibate existence- the fact that relationships were frowned upon gave rise to a great deal of sexual frustration."

The doctor, who declined to be named for professional reasons, said: "For many the organization gave companionship, a goal and purpose. It was an ideal they gave their lives to.

"But there was pressure on people to conform. They were told where to live and who to live with. They had to hold down jobs, attend meetings and meditate for two hours a day. The lifestyle dissolved certain tensions and pressures, but created others.

Intimidation and fear

"There was a great feeling of being watched. You had to be seen to be doing the right things. There was a constant unspoken fear."

Those who stepped out of line or questioned the word of autocratic "adepts" were "sent away".

"Heavies" were sent round to threaten people who left, said the doctor. "Those who left were subjected to intimidation and fear."

Some were even "cursed".

"If you were cursed by someone you believed was the Lord of Creation it would have a traumatic effect." One woman who was cursed is still in hiding, afraid to reveal her whereabouts.

"Six people have attempted suicide. I certainly know of one person who had fits which were resolved when she left the movement.

"Another person endured stomach pains; another spent years suffering from insomnia and panic attacks."