The Kumaré Effect, Personal Change, and the 27th Law of Power

Ever see that documentary Kumaré by Vikram Gandhi? It’s about him trying to prove a few things about religious experience and spirituality and he ends up fabricating a whole religion complete with very real and very deceived followers.

Vikram said that he “Didn’t really have a problem with spirituality, just spiritual leaders.” He states in his own words from the documentary Kumaré, “I wanted to prove to others who were looking for answers that no one is more spiritual than anyone else… That spiritual leaders are just illusions and we are the ones who decide who and what is real.” So Vikram grew his beard out, grew his hair long, started sleeping outside like a Hindu swami, wearing white or orange robes, and speaking with that thick Indian accent that his grandma had. He made up completely bogus rituals, nonsense chants, fake yoga moves, and comically superficial meditation exercises. If Vikram could help people with a fake religion and get the same results as a “real” religion, would that not prove his point? He started calling himself Kumaré and even though he and his religion were totally fake, he started to head up a very real following of disciples who were absolutely certain that Kumaré was legit.

Eventually, Vikram started to form intense emotional bonds with his students. He gave them life advice, helped them lose weight, find peace, and kill off their bad habits and thoughts. The documentary is rife with scenes of Kumaré disciples declaring the greatness of Kumaré, extolling him for his genuine concern for their wellbeing and how he has changed their lives forever. Vikram’s fake religion is so effective at helping people he starts to wonder if it is real himself. He even starts to feel mystical encounters within his own bogus rituals. Crazy shit, huh?

I won’t ruin how the documentary ends; you should go watch it yourself on netflix. As I watched though I couldn’t help but think about how it pertains to topics that we deal with in TRP like Machiavellianism and the 27th Law (play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following). While Vikram is leading his flock into made up meditation exercises they feel the tangible benefit of tranquility and channel these good feelings into losing weight and being kind to people. I saw the same thing happen to people in the church of my parents when I was younger. The same basic phenomenon happens everywhere in every religion. People are led into rituals, readings, prayers, songs, or some religious discipline and feel a tangible sense of peace just like Vikram’s students. I call this the Kumaré Effect and its use is not limited to religion.

I believe that holding frame and using game basically produces something akin to the Kumaré Effect and this effect is extremely powerful. It allowed a recent college grad to change the lives of his would-be disciples and I believe that this same system is at work in game, sales, and many of the areas of our life that are transactional in nature. Call it whatever you want to.

For the recently unplugged I want you to know that true life change is possible and the power to change lies in you, not some system or religion or exercise. The Kumaré Effect illustrates this perfectly (though I’m not against yoga or meditation). You can lift, eat right, and become a charismatic alpha.

Also, concerning the 27th Law, the Kumaré Effect undoubtedly is at work whenever people are convinced about aspects of your character. I think it works even better on women, as you see in the documentary. Its execution relies on rituals, language, and props. Whenever you are pulling someone into your frame, use props, good wording, and rituals to help convince people. Whether you are trying to deceive or benevolently lead someone it will always work the same way. Play the part. In my blue pill days I would protest about why people wouldn't follow me or listen to me. It’s because I was so unconvincing and only had my word to back me up. I was skinny, white, frail, and had a high voice. Even though I might have had incredible insights, it wouldn't matter. People don’t follow cleverly devised statements of fact; they follow strong frames that are rife with emotion, confidence, and theatrics. Even though these theatrics could easily be made up bullshit like the blue light meditation from Kumaré, dramatized and ritualized behaviors can powerfully influence the psyche.

I’ll leave the practical application to you. For me, it means loving fun, dressing well, being jacked, and surrounding myself with enjoyable people.

PS I’m new to TRP and would love to hear some more analyses on these types of things. I gladly open the forum for you guys to break this down some more.