Osho, Prem Rawat, and the Long Road Out: Sarito Carroll and Don Johnson

In this deeply personal conversation, former Prem Rawat instructor and President of Elan Vital, Don Johnson, speaks with Sarito Carol, author of In the Shadow of Enlightenment, about their experiences inside two different cults: one led by Prem Rawat movement and the other by Osho/Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Although their paths were very different, the themes are strikingly similar: spiritual idealism, devotion to charismatic leaders, institutional silence around abuse, psychological conditioning, trauma, shame, and the long process of reclaiming personal truth after leaving high-control groups. Sarito shares her experience growing up inside the Osho commune as a child and the backlash she faced after publicly speaking out about abuse within the community. Don reflects on his decade inside the Prem Rawat cult, his eventual disillusionment, and the courage it took to begin speaking publicly after years of silence. Together, they explore: Why do people stay in cults for so long The emotional cost of speaking out Spiritual bypassing and institutional protection PTSD and delayed healing Reclaiming autonomy and inner authority Separating genuine spirituality from guru worship and manipulation This is not simply a conversation about Osho or Prem Rawat. It is a broader conversation about power, belief, trauma, awakening, and what it means to reclaim your life after surrendering it to a system or leader. Sarito Carol’s book In the Shadow of Enlightenment is available on Amazon. More about her work: http://www.saritocarroll.com/ #CultRecovery #Osho #PremRawat