In 1992, a mass of people descended upon Barton Springs, legs swinging in unison, their hands interlocked. Flaunting long hair and tan, slender frames, they made for an attractive congregation, but all eyes were on the man leading the assemblage. Sporting a tight-fitting Speedo, black eyeliner, and a steely gaze, he went by many names—Andreas, Michel, or simply The Teacher. At his beckoning, they collectively jumped into the cool water with a splash.

For onlookers, the group spectacle was unsettling. But it was only a small glimpse into the Buddhafield, a spiritual cult that had migrated to South Austin from Hollywood. Created by Michel in the ’80s, it promised its hundred followers salvation through exercises like “cleansing” therapy sessions and meditation. Even more, Michel claimed to have a direct connection with God, which he referred to as “The Knowing.”

But all wasn’t as it seemed. As the years passed, male members began to realize that the hypnotic “cleansing” sessions run by Michel were actually fronts for sexual exploitation. The Teacher’s manipulation only worsened as fleeing members were told they’d die without his paternal support. “It got to the point where I didn’t care,” an ex-follower says in Holy Hell, a 2016 documentary about the Buddhafield. “I might be dead in a year, but it’s better than being here for another second.”

With his cult crumbling, Michel fled to Hawaii in 2007 with a handful of his most loyal supporters. These days, the guru goes by Reyji (“god-king”) and teaches yoga in Lanikai Beach. While he’s disbanded the Buddhafield and no longer lives in Austin, he left an indelible mark here: One World Theatre, which the Buddhafield built by hand, still stands (though the venue fails to mention any affiliation with the group on its website).