Dahnhak a Cult? Ilchee Lee Day in San Francisco?

SF mayor Gavin Newsom is in a bit of hot water after declaring Sept 7 “Ilchee Lee Day” in San Francisco. Ilchee Lee , a.k.a. Lee Seung-heon , is the founder of Dahn World (or Dahn Yoga), a Taoist practice that focuses on developing the mind. Unfortunately, two SF media blogs — here and here — accuse Dahn Yoga of being a cult. Lee is the Korean leader of Dahn, a yoga and holistic health organization that sells workshops and retreats teaching a technique called “brain respiration.” News reports and cult-watchers have called Ilchee a cult leader, saying his organization has used the concept of “brain eduction” to lure victims into spending their savings on pricey classes and retreats. According to a New York Post report, one patron’s family f...