No. Some people define a cult as a group that tries to get you involved so that your life is under the authority of a central figure. This does not remotely describe the way that MSIA works. People are free to come and go in MSIA and to live their lives as they wish. We encourage people to test the teachings inside themselves and see if they work or not. No one involved with MSIA should "leave their brains at the door" when they participate, and one of MSIA's primary tenets is to use everything for your advancement, learning, and growth and to have the wit to drop that which does not work for you. The real teachings of MSIA take place inwardly, and the primary activities of MSIA are doing spiritual exercises and studying the Soul Awareness Discourses. These can take place if you are in Antarctica or in Los Angeles, and they are done at your own direction.

The idea of calling a spiritual group (or even a non-spiritual group) a "cult" has become very popular. One religious scholar said that a cult is a group that another group doesn't like. Most, if not all, religious faiths in the world--whether established for thousands of years or just started last week--have been called cults by someone at some point. This has been especially true for newer religious groups like MSIA, which fall under what scholars call "new religious movements." MSIA strongly supports the idea of religious freedom: people should have the right to practice their faith and beliefs as they see fit.

MSIA teaches to take care of yourself so you can take care of others and not to hurt yourself or others. If MSIA does not work for someone, we wish them the best on their spiritual path.