My Nonprofit Reviews

If I could give 0 stars, I would have. I am going to tell you my personal experience only. I came into this place at a vulnerable time, as it seems do others. I was sold enlightenment through the use a gemstone that helps my astrology chart. I was told that I needed it in order to rectify the bad. And as I was being sold the stone, in the form of a ring, I was told that I didn't need to get it checked because the stones were great quality and you 'should not question the guru', meaning him. I didn't question at the time. I participated in activities at the ashram, which included watching people (namely the women) be treated like slaves with performing EVERY single duty in the house. I bring attention to this because all of them were always working and appeared like they never slept (dark circles under eyes, weary, etc). I even saw the leader of this place make one of the girls come pick up his snot rag when it was literally 2 inches from his hand and give it to him. Eventually all of this authoritarian behavior was a red flag, and I realized he was just taking away everyone's free will, so I left. After leaving I wanted to sell the stones to get my money back... when i went to several jewelers I was told the stones were not worth anything. He sold me a 'yellow sapphire' that turned out to be a citrine. Major difference in price. And he sold me a super low quality ruby. I paid $5500 for both rings, which turned out to only cost $500 for the gold. At this point, I looked for him on facebook since we were friends, but he and his wife had both blocked me. There was nothing I could do, since he did not give a receipt for the rings. Which I found out later was typical practice for this place. They operate as a non-profit, but were planning on buying a house in Coto de Caza, which I thought seemed extravagant since there seemed to be no need for it. I was later told that multiple members in the ashram were donating him and his wife hundreds of thousands of dollars, which they were using for his wife's designer purse habit, and prospects of this expensive estate in Coto. Do yourself a favor, and don't bother going in. If you are already going in, just leave. You'll save yourself money and the headache of being taken advantage of.