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."

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'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.

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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.