The Enigmatic Journey of Jaime Gomez: Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Buddhafield Cult

Summary

Jaime Gomez, the infamous founder of the Buddhafield cult, used parlor tricks and mental manipulation to control his followers and evade taxes.

In 2006, a former prominent member exposed Gomez, leading to numerous individuals abandoning the cult and revealing its sinister reality. Although facing accusations of abuse and harassment, Gomez has managed to evade any legal consequences, allowing him to persistently run the cult, supposedly currently based in Hawaii.

The third episode of the Netflix documentary series, How to Become a Cult Leader, focuses on the infamous founder of Buddhafield, Jaime Gomez. Originally from Venezuela, Gomez relocated to Hollywood with aspirations of becoming an actor. However, when his acting career failed to take off, he resorted to manipulating and influencing young individuals in the 1980s, ultimately forming the cult known as Buddhafield. Narrated by Peter Dinklage, the series reveals that Gomez utilized psychological tricks and manipulation tactics to gain control over his followers. Described as a deceitful individual, Gomez was also involved in tax evasion and engaged in sexually predatory behavior.

In 2006, Gomez suffered a significant setback to his abusive rise to power when a former high-ranking member of Buddhafield became a whistleblower. Through a revelatory email, this ex-cult member exposed the dark truths about Gomez, resulting in many individuals severing ties with the cult. The episode of How to Become a Cult Leader concludes with Radhia Gleis, a former devotee of Gomez, stating that no one ultimately achieved enlightenment. However, the documentary series does not reveal what happened to Gomez following the exposure. Unlike Charles Manson's arrest and Jim Jones's self-inflicted death, the Californian cult leader behind Buddhafield continued to live a life of freedom.

Jaime Gomez Is Still Alive Today & Has Faced No Criminal Charges

Many former members of Buddhafield have come forward since the late 2000s with testimonies of ritualistic abuse they experienced while under the leadership of Jaime Gomez. The 2016 documentary "Holy Hell" exposed shocking revelations about Gomez's cult, as director Will Allen explored the 22 years he spent involved with Buddhafield. Despite these testimonies, Gomez has not faced any legal consequences and continues to maintain control over certain followers. This was evident when they attempted to spy on and boycott the premiere of "Holy Hell" at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. "Holy Hell" is considered to be one of the most terrifying cult documentaries, which made Gomez so uncomfortable that he allegedly instructed his loyal followers to physically threaten the whistleblowers featured in the film. CNN reported that Gomez responded to Will Allen's documentary with an official statement in 2016, claiming that it was a work of fiction meant to create drama, fear, and persecution. With the recent release of "How to Become a Cult Leader," which brings attention to Gomez's abusive leadership, it is possible that he may take action against Netflix.

The Buddhafield Cult Reportedly Still Operates Today In Hawaii

According to How to Be a Cult Leader, Jaime Gomez relocated his operations from Hollywood to Austin, Texas. However, due to the exposure of his cult's activities in the mainstream media, he conveniently moved to Hawaii, where the Buddahfield cult supposedly continues to thrive. In 2016, Holy Hell director Will Allen provided some hope in an interview with Vulture. He mentioned that after his documentary was screened at the Honolulu Film Festival, around 20 to 40 individuals, who were all recruited in Hawaii, decided to leave Buddhafield. Despite this, Gomez remains a free man as the police have not yet arrested him due to lack of concrete evidence.