In the first part of this eye-opening documentary, American Andrew Cohen gains enlightenment on a trip to India. Quickly dozens of people leave their lives to follow this new guru to California. Families and marriages are torn apart as people surrender every hour of their lives to Andrew's demands. Why did so many ordinary men and women give themselves up so readily to this emerging cult?

Andrew Cohen now had a devoted group of followers. But his determination to test their faith soon grew more and more destructive. His devotees reported psychological abuse, including simulated amputations, while others were forced to remain in freezing cold water to the point of hypothermia as punishment. Why were these ordinary people so willing to suffer these extremes to please one man?

After 25 years, frictions grew within Andrew Cohen’s cult and cracks began to appear. Questions started to be asked concerning the group’s charismatic leader. It seemed the years of control and psychological abuse were about to take their toll. But when the entire organization eventually imploded, it was more dramatic than anyone could have anticipated.