Regarding a group or organization that Americans have just joined, one of the scariest words they could hear is that it a “cult.” This happened to Jeffery Robins, a retired management consultant in a Washington, DC, suburb. For six months he had been a member of a Dahn Yoga Center with classes in Brain Education, a system of body-mind and energy-circulation methods for reducing stress and improving overall health. Having entered with intestinal problems, he stretched, breathed, vibrated, tapped, relaxed and meditated until he regained his health and thus got his life back on track. Then a friend emailed him that Dahn Yoga was a cult and its founder Ilchi Lee the cult leader.

Jeffery started reading his friend’s email full of claims about this Ilchi Lee cult and Dahn Yoga cult, and then suddenly he stopped. He simply did not believe this secondary negative information. Why? Because he had months of authentic positive information now in his brain and based on his own experience – namely, successful physical and emotional healing, observation of his many classmates also being healed, and his knowing that the teachers in the organization are committed to his holistic health and personal growth.

Why do Americans call a group or organization a cult? Our culture has been called the “cult of the individual,” and loves the famous bumper-sticker slogan “question authority.” So it is not surprising that accusations that an Ilchi Lee cult or Dahn Yoga cult exists, given the Korean-rooted holistic health principles and practices and the strong teacher-student style of the yoga centers. 

Let’s look at the hard evidence about the claim of an Ilchi Lee cult or Dahn Yoga cult. Physicians, physical therapists and other professionals, who have seen substantial improvement in their patients who have participated in Brain Education programs, have endorsed Lee’s body-and-brain-fitness programs and techniques. The United Nations has recognized the Korean Institute of Brain Science, founded and presided over by Lee, to promote brain science, education and health. These are not people and organizations that would praise Ilchi Lee, if a cult leader and scam artist.

Fourteen of Lee’s 31 books have been translated into English from Korean or originally authored in English. These books use terms that carry not-always-easy-to-understand connotations. While he is a thought leader and philosopher (musing on human “oneness” with the earth, making a case for “spiritual healing,” focusing on “completion of the soul,” and the like), some English readers have felt that Ilchi Lee is a cult-like leader, a guru who expects devotion, and even a scam artist. Likewise, Dahn Yoga Centers the organization that he founded in 1985 — and now has more than 600 outlets in eight nations — has been labeled the Dahn Yoga cult. These characterizations are definitely not accurate. 

Lee founded the Korea Institute of Brain Science (KIBS) in South Korea in 2002, and serves as its president. KIBS is working with the International Brain Education Association to do scientific research on the results that people worldwide have found in practicing Brain Education. Lee has spent many years working with leaders of Korean business as a peer, coaching and training them in Brain Education. He founded and serves as president of the University of Brain Education in South Korea, which is researching and teaching about how Brain Education can be utilized to advance health, well-being, and global peace.

Several thought leaders in America – such as Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle – have espoused similar concepts. Lee encourages every individual to make his own choices and be empowered to live a life of health, well-being, actualization, and independence.

There is no Ilchi Lee Cult and no Dahn Yoga cult

Looking at the facts, in contrast to the talk, it is clear that Lee is a change agent in the area of brain education and holistic health, and there is no Ilchi Lee cult and not Dahn Yoga cult.

I believe in humanity. We are an incredible species. We’re still just a
child creature, and we’re still being nasty to each other. All children go
through these phases. We’re growing up; we’re moving into adolescence
now. When we grow up—man, we’re going to be something!
–Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek

It is easy to get discouraged in today’s
world. There are many human problems that dominate our
headlines and preoccupy our minds. It can seem like the world
is getting increasingly worse. There is no doubt that we need to
change our ways or risk serious consequences.

I think, however, that all our troubles can turn around in an
instant. All of the negativity we face is just a manifestation of our
inner world, and just as a mood or a thought can change instantly,
so can the world.

-Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

Page 101

Vibration Level State of Consciousness, Experience:
700–1,000 Enlightenment Ineffable, pure consciousness
600 Peace Bliss, Illumination
540 Joy Serenity, Transfiguration
500 Love Reverence, Revelation
400 Reason Understanding, Abstraction
350 Acceptance Forgiveness, Transcendence
310 Willingness Optimism, Intention
250 Neutrality Trust, Revelation
200 Courage Affirmation, Empowerment
175 Pride Scorn, Inflation
150 Anger Hate, Aggression
125 Desire Craving, Enslavement
100 Fear Anxiety, Withdrawal
75 Grief Regret, Despondency
50 Apathy Despair, Abdication
30 Guilt Blame, Destruction
20 Shame Humiliation, Elimination

-Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

(from Power vs. Force)

I would contend that this method of evaluation works because
the subconscious brain possesses abilities to evaluate the
relative vibrations of consciousness far more accurately than
even than the most well-developed thinking mind. The rational
mind can make evaluations with some level of accuracy, if given
proper information about an object. But the intuitive mind can
sense the relative truthfulness of these things immediately. This
ability is evidence of amazing internal wisdom, which the thinking
brain can never hope to attain, even after years of experience
and study. And this wealth of intuitive knowledge is all right
there waiting for you to use it.

-Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

Page 97-99

This untapped part of our brain, the intuitive brain, is
a central part of what can be uncovered through Brain Wave
Vibration. By tapping into this wisdom, you allow your brain
to transmit it to all parts of your body for healing and complete
happiness. Just as our intuitive brain responds to the vibration
level of objects outside ourselves, our bodies respond even more
dramatically to the content of our own thoughts.

As I see it, your brain is already designed to help you find
health, happiness, and peace. All you have to do is let it.

-Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

page 99

But how do you know you have set the right goal? Joseph
Campbell is famous for saying, “Follow your bliss.” I think this
applies here. If your goal makes you genuinely happy over the
long term, it is probably in accord with your true self and therefore
will be genuinely satisfying to you. Since the true self thrives
on service to others, rather than to self, you will probably find
some goal that will do amazing feats to heal and transform humanity
and the world.

The brain has the remarkable power to produce results according
to its master’s intention. That is why it is important to
use the brain only for causes that are productive, creative, and
peaceful. If the brain only works for the ego’s satisfaction, no
matter how productive or creative it might be, it will make your
life miserable—you will never have peace. That is why setting
the right goal becomes crucial.

Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

Page 78

In Eastern thought, there is the saying, “Where the mind goes,
energy follows.” In other words, energy travels exactly where
your mind wants it to go. Everything we accomplish in this
world begins with a conscious thought.

This is not as esoteric or magical as it might seem; it is just
the common sense way that things happen. For example, if you
admire a tall building in the middle of the city, you can be certain
that it all began in the mind of the architect working in tandem
with the investors, contractors, and workers who brought
it into being. As all these minds came together, energy began to
flow toward the fulfillment of the vision. In that way, imagination
became reality. Every space mission, every classic piece of
art, every saintly act began as a thought in someone’s mind.

Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

Page 78

You can think of your life as being a little like knitting. When
you first begin, there is no shape to it, but you keep knitting with
some goal in mind—to make a sweater, a sock, or whatever.
Every stitch is like a thought that you add to the overall shape of
your life. Eventually, thoughts lead to action and the form will
emerge, if you can only keep your intent in mind. If you have
no clear vision, however, you will end up with a random pile of
knotted yarn.

Everything I have achieved in my life happened one stitch at
a time. I began with just one single student, and every step that
followed was like a carefully placed stitch. Eventually, my plan
began to emerge as a whole, just like a sweater takes form.

page 79

The key is to keep the big picture always in mind, even when
it seems so far away. In my life, I have faced many moments that
could have destroyed me. I could have gotten lost in the details
of those events and become swept away by the emotions that accompany
them. I have come to realize, however, that life situations,
no matter how difficult, are only temporary.

You must remember that life is not a romantic movie. When
you take a big step forward in life, it is not likely that anyone will
be there to say, “Congratulations! You are so brave! Here is your
reward.” If you have someone that supportive in your life, that’s
great, but don’t count on it. In fact, life sometimes dishes up exactly
the opposite.

Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

page 79-80

I remember arriving for the first time in the United States
many years ago. I landed at John F. Kennedy International
Airport, hardly speaking a word of English, coming to experience
a culture that was completely foreign to me. I planned to
meet a student of mine that was struggling to keep a center open
there, so I had packed a few thousand dollars in my suitcase to
assist him.

Shortly after I had retrieved my bag from the baggage claim,
I placed it on a cart and began to look for my student. All of a
sudden, a man was standing right in front of me with his face
close to mine, shouting something I didn’t understand. All I
knew how to say was, “What?! What?!” Before I knew what was
happening, I looked behind me and saw another man running
down the corridor with my bag in his hand. Before I could think
of what to do, both men had disappeared into the crowd.

Ilchi Lee, Brain Wave Vibration

Page 80