So, the picture I’m getting from this is that if I start a cult I should have the followers fast for a suitably long time, and then present them with some profound revelation along with a meal. And if they don’t want to fast, the second-best thing is to have them repeatedly come to the same place and be told profound revelations that will positively influence their lives.
That’s what I meant it as :-) Sleep deprivation and tricks with food are commonplace. (To the point where the Hare Krishnas being slightly famous for really good food is a bit of a surprise. They’re still into the sleep deprivation, though.)
Training by the U.S. Army and by Tom Brown Jr. both involve a lot of sleep deprivation. The Army doesn’t use it in any systematic way that I can tell; they just think it’s good training because they expect sleep deprivation during combat. I think TBJ does it to cause hallucination and general weak-willedness.
So, the picture I’m getting from this is that if I start a cult I should have the followers fast for a suitably long time, and then present them with some profound revelation along with a meal. And if they don’t want to fast, the second-best thing is to have them repeatedly come to the same place and be told profound revelations that will positively influence their lives.
You have successfully predicted the past, yes. Many do this.
Considering that many also predict the past unsuccessfully, I shall take this as a solid, though unexceptional, endorsement.
That’s what I meant it as :-) Sleep deprivation and tricks with food are commonplace. (To the point where the Hare Krishnas being slightly famous for really good food is a bit of a surprise. They’re still into the sleep deprivation, though.)
Training by the U.S. Army and by Tom Brown Jr. both involve a lot of sleep deprivation. The Army doesn’t use it in any systematic way that I can tell; they just think it’s good training because they expect sleep deprivation during combat. I think TBJ does it to cause hallucination and general weak-willedness.