IS DAVID BODDY'S NEW 'MEDITATION GROUP' A CULT?
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:10 pm
Questions are being asked following the announcement that David Boddy MA DipJ FIoD, the current Headmaster of St. James Senior Boys School and the incoming chairman of the Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools, is launching a new ‘Meditation Group’ “inspired by a gathering of like-minded people who are seeking peace within themselves and who wish to deepen their experience of Oneness” according to his website at http://www.silenceonsundays.com/
He insists that the new group, named ‘Silence on Sundays’ “...is not an organisation. Nor is it under the direction or associated with any other organisation”. Presumably this also means that the group is not regulated by the Charity Commission. However, the group is being administered by Ian Wood of the “Foundation for Harmonious Living”, which is a commercial operation that offers consultations and seminars in Ayurveda for £70 per hour. See: http://www.foundation-for-harmonious-living.com/
Operating from his multi-million pound home by the River Thames, Boddy invites those interested to ask themselves:
Do I feel the need for more inner rest and peace?
Am I open to trying something new and fresh?
Would I be prepared to practise quietly in silence for long periods and then be happy to share my discoveries with a group of like-minded people?
He says that “There will be opportunities later on to spend longer periods in silence at retreats for those who might wish it.” but he doesn't give further details.
Boddy claims that their will be no money to pay for involvement in the group explaining: “And why is there no charge? Because silence belongs to us all and comes free. Like ourselves.”
The website goes on to mention that Boddy “has studied philosophy and meditation for many years at the School of Economic Science in London”.
Secret Cult, a 1984 book by Peter Hounam and Andrew Hogg, alleged that the School of Economic Science was a secretive cult 'penetrating the corridors of power’.
The London Evening Standard described the SES as “a harsh and highly secretive religious Cult with extraordinary influence over its members”.
In 2005, following complaints from a number of former St James Schools pupils on a discussion forum and elsewhere, the Governors of the St James Schools initiated an Inquiry into allegations of mistreatment of children, mostly during the period 1975 to 1985. The Inquiry concluded that there had been 'mental and physical mistreatment' of children, including 'criminal assaults' by some teachers, who were members of the School of Economic Science.
In 2006 the London Evening Standard again reported that:
“Pupils were systematically beaten by teachers at a group of “cult” independent schools, an inquiry has revealed. Children at one of the St James Independent Schools, then in Kensington, were targeted between 1975 and 1985 by teachers “unable to control tempers”. A barrister has found boys were punched, kicked and “thrown around”. Police say no investigation would be launched without individuals coming forward.”
With the forum's then rapid growth, and following the inquiry, Channel 4 News investigated the St James Schools and SES in 2006: http://reference.ses-forums.org/?p=18
The actress Clara Salaman has published a novel "based on her own experiences growing up at the secretive St James School of The School Of Economic Science".
See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... ra-salaman
Today, according to the St. James Independent Schools website, around a third of the staff at the Senior Boys School, including the Headmaster, have themselves studied at The School of Economic Science and 10% of the children at St James come from families with connections to the SoES.
See: http://www.stjamesschools.co.uk/seniorb ... us-history
Exactly why David Boddy is launching his “Meditation Group” at this point in time remains to be seen.
He insists that the new group, named ‘Silence on Sundays’ “...is not an organisation. Nor is it under the direction or associated with any other organisation”. Presumably this also means that the group is not regulated by the Charity Commission. However, the group is being administered by Ian Wood of the “Foundation for Harmonious Living”, which is a commercial operation that offers consultations and seminars in Ayurveda for £70 per hour. See: http://www.foundation-for-harmonious-living.com/
Operating from his multi-million pound home by the River Thames, Boddy invites those interested to ask themselves:
Do I feel the need for more inner rest and peace?
Am I open to trying something new and fresh?
Would I be prepared to practise quietly in silence for long periods and then be happy to share my discoveries with a group of like-minded people?
He says that “There will be opportunities later on to spend longer periods in silence at retreats for those who might wish it.” but he doesn't give further details.
Boddy claims that their will be no money to pay for involvement in the group explaining: “And why is there no charge? Because silence belongs to us all and comes free. Like ourselves.”
The website goes on to mention that Boddy “has studied philosophy and meditation for many years at the School of Economic Science in London”.
Secret Cult, a 1984 book by Peter Hounam and Andrew Hogg, alleged that the School of Economic Science was a secretive cult 'penetrating the corridors of power’.
The London Evening Standard described the SES as “a harsh and highly secretive religious Cult with extraordinary influence over its members”.
In 2005, following complaints from a number of former St James Schools pupils on a discussion forum and elsewhere, the Governors of the St James Schools initiated an Inquiry into allegations of mistreatment of children, mostly during the period 1975 to 1985. The Inquiry concluded that there had been 'mental and physical mistreatment' of children, including 'criminal assaults' by some teachers, who were members of the School of Economic Science.
In 2006 the London Evening Standard again reported that:
“Pupils were systematically beaten by teachers at a group of “cult” independent schools, an inquiry has revealed. Children at one of the St James Independent Schools, then in Kensington, were targeted between 1975 and 1985 by teachers “unable to control tempers”. A barrister has found boys were punched, kicked and “thrown around”. Police say no investigation would be launched without individuals coming forward.”
With the forum's then rapid growth, and following the inquiry, Channel 4 News investigated the St James Schools and SES in 2006: http://reference.ses-forums.org/?p=18
The actress Clara Salaman has published a novel "based on her own experiences growing up at the secretive St James School of The School Of Economic Science".
See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... ra-salaman
Today, according to the St. James Independent Schools website, around a third of the staff at the Senior Boys School, including the Headmaster, have themselves studied at The School of Economic Science and 10% of the children at St James come from families with connections to the SoES.
See: http://www.stjamesschools.co.uk/seniorb ... us-history
Exactly why David Boddy is launching his “Meditation Group” at this point in time remains to be seen.