Chasing Enlightenment

They called themselves the Students of Light. Their leader claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Some claim he had supernatural powers, while others call him an abusive cult leader. Hear the group’s story on Chasing Enlightenment, premiering October 4. Visit http://chasingenlightenment.net for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 1970s, a small religious sect called the Students of Light quietly moved into the core of Toronto’s rundown Junction neighbourhood. Some former members have called the group a dangerous cult, accusing its leadership of mind control, brainwashing, and abuse.Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many former Students of Light tell similar stories about why they first joined. One, a woman named Treva Olson, claims the group turned her into a mindless, brainwashed follower. That is, until her family kidnapped her and had her forcibly “deprogrammed” by a famous anti-cult activist. Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Hanas has been called everything from a spiritual master to an evil, manipulative man. Former followers claim he began as a humble religious leader, but some say he eventually exerted more and more control over their lives, sometimes with disastrous results. Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Hanas delegated some power to his “core group” of followers. One was a woman who claimed to channel the voices of beings from other dimensions through her body. Another, John’s eventual wife, would become almost as revered within the group as John himself.Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some who spent their childhoods in the Students of Light say their upbringing left lasting scars. There’s also one second-generation member whose story cast a minor spotlight on the group in recent years, after she accused John Hanas’ former right-hand man of sexually abusing her as a teenager.Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Students of Light remain active in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. Current members believe they can communicate with John Hanas from beyond the grave. Some former members now reject the group’s brand of spirituality, while others live in fear of possible spiritual retaliation from the group. Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, we interview former Student of Light Joseph C. about what he heard on Season 1 of Chasing Enlightenment. Does he still view John Hanas as a benevolent man with supernatural powers? And does he still think that former Students of Light who speak publicly risk becoming targets of spiritual retaliation?Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric is a Junction resident who contacted us to share his story. He wasn’t a Student of Light, but he knew several members personally as a teenager and young adult, including one woman he dated while in university. While Eric had a few slightly strange experiences with group members, he has an overall very positive view of all the people he knew in the group.Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of the Students of Light is closely tied up with the history of Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. In this bonus episode, local historian Neil Ross helps us dig a bit deeper into the area’s colourful history.Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cynthia Watson was one of the most memorable former Students of Light who contributed to Season 1 of Chasing Enlightenment. In this bonus episode, we chat about her reactions to the podcast and about some parts of her story we didn't have time to cover on our regular episodes.Visit chasingenlightenment.net for more information about this episode, including full credits and sources. Support our show at paypal.me/chasingenlightenment or patreon.com/chasingenlightenment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.