I was intensely curious to know what this former SRF traveling teacher was doing, founding a community. (See http://www.livingwisdomschool.org.). Like countlessothers in the 1960s, I had sought meaning through drugsand had been sadly disappointedthough the fire of my search for understanding burned as brightly as ever. Ms. Roberts doesnt appear to do much research before listing yoga teachers? Nothing, beyond a few petty exhibits which, if viewed from the skewed perspective of organizational bias, might remotely be construed as persuasive. If the blueprint for Masters work has been sewn in the ether, as he said, we can only assume that the essence of that blueprint, as of his teachings, is love. I treasured the many letters I received from Brother Bhaktananda, but when the letters began to be signed Mother Center, my interest waned. But such statements only raise more questions. I have seen hundreds of children being educated in living wisdom, discovering that life has a deep meaning and a joyful purpose, and that positive values are the surest path to happiness. That SRFtheyre too churchy! as Yogacharya Oliver Black laughingly observed. I was wrong. I recall a conversation with Brother Turiyananda, following a Sunday service at the SRF Lake Shrine. She is considering moving from Palo Alto to put this chapter of her life firmly behind her, she said. Palo Alto resident Anne-Marie Bertolucci may have won her case against the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, but her victory has come at a high price. I had no doubt whatever that SRFs ministers were continuing to serve Paramhansa Yoganandas work as vibrant examples of inner transformation, and as instruments for Gods guidance and inspiration to others. The same was true of my rare encounters with Daya Mata. However, there are those reporters who seem to be more interested in presenting a pretty picture for their community, than exposing the truth about cults. I had just moved to Ananda Village and had begun working at Pubble, the communitys publishing house. Learn more, Dates: Apply now. But the background history of some YA board members is rather disturbing. It is a fore-mirroring of the millions who, as Paramhansa Yogananda himself predicted, will be drawn to this path. Lacking experience, her approach was based on another theory altogether. This Australian article puffs on almost like an ad campaign, complete with a price quote per school term and a mention for a booklet by Hubbard called The Way to Happiness. Their motto appears to be; Make nice, be happy and ignore reality. What have I gained personally from Ananda? The reporter for the Ithaca Times says the Twelve Tribes are a unorthodox religious groupthat worships Jesus.. One yoga website seems to do little if any meaningful research before recommending classes or styles to potential yoga beginners. Ananda had a small legal office in the community, which was staffed by Sheila Rush, an Ananda member who was an attorney, and Keshava Taylor, who had been at Ananda almost since the beginning. Ananda Sangha began with the founding of Ananda Village in 1968, near Nevada City, California, USA, by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. In a defining moment, someone in the SRF organization was inspired to produce, as evidence of Anandas passing-off, an exhibit in which the Ananda symbol, which portrays a bird soaring heavenward over a mountain top, then descending in a graceful arc to bring blessings to mankind, was claimed to resemble the SRF lotus symbol, when turned upside down. As we hiked the trail over the hill to his house, I felt increasingly tense, wondering if I would measure up to the great mans standards. Last weekend, a 20-foot-tall steel sculpture quietly appeared downtown, only a block from Market Square. Even today, SRF continues to prove by its actions that it will not rest until it has accomplished this end. Thankfully this is apparently a very small minority. This was particularly true of Yoganandas writings and printed talks, which to my writers ear and eye, appeared to have been subjected to an editorial handthat was overly concerned with propriety, as if it were more important to portray the Master as a good grammarian than to convey his vibrations. Manifest contractive, cold-hearted attitudes based on ruthless organizational pettiness and jealousy? She said last week that she probably would not have had the strength to continue with her case if she had been the only one. Ananda was required to deliver every scrap of printed matter that it had ever produced, so that SRF could sift it for proof that we had passed ourselves off as them, or that we had somehow misrepresented our Gurus teachings. The problem was only that by the end of the second year we had almost no students left.. For twenty-five years, I have observed hundreds of devoted disciples at Ananda, toiling happily to spread his message of inner communion to a world in desperate need. Is thiswhat the Master wanted? Discover Yogananda Through His Out-of-Print Works. I visualized some exasperated monastic, thoroughly fed up after years of scraping the barrel for nonexistent evidence, exclaiming under his breath, To heck with itif they want evidence, Ill manufacture it!. The organization vaunted itself on keeping things SRF clean. For my money, it was a bit too clean. Daya Mata had said that she would never be able to die until this Ananda matter is resolved. In other words, until Kriyananda and Ananda were once and for all put out of business. We are, in fact, fighting to save SRF from itselffrom the grip of sectarianism and self-serving institutionalism that betray Paramhansa Yoganandas spirithis compassion, kindness, tolerance, and his unflagging zeal to spread the message of Self-realization freely to all. Thus, our teacher and divine friend, Swami Kriyananda founded the global movement called Ananda Sangha Worldwide. Numerous yoga studios have opened up almost everywhere, from major metropolitan areas to large towns. Ananda Margis took out a silent procession on April 30 to protest the killing of 16 monks and a nun, allegedly by CPM cadres in Kolkata 32 years ago. A close look at the resumes of YA board members reveals some interesting connections. After all, whats an ashram without its own credit union? Sister Savitri, Daya Matas secretary for 20 years, reveals the increasingly rigid spirit of intolerance and sectarianism within the SRF leadership. Far more likely, he would endorse Jesus statement: He that is not against us, is for us. (Luke 9:50). You can visit Ananda Village, join classes and immersion programs in person, or you can take a wide variety of classes at a distance through Online with Ananda. The article reads almost like an infomercial with a plug for the groups website at the end. Unfortunately, some mental health professionals may see this as an opportunity to express their personal beliefs. Sarkar the founder and God-Man of Ananda Marga who died in 1990 did some time in an Indian prison. I ask the reader, therefore, to hold this image of SRF steadfastly in mind as I describe how my understanding of the organization and its leaders gradually evolved. But I was deeply committed to helping defend Ananda against SRFs institutional bullying, which now threatened to destroy not only our community, but our access to our Gurus teachings. Therefore, it stands to reason that we speak for the Master. But can anyone honestly believe that Paramhansa Yogananda would countenance the destruction of an entire community of deeply sincere devotees, or the forced subjection of thousands to SRFs doctrinal control? The time is short, he repeatedly told his audiences. Mary Lynn Tucker, Co-chair of the Outreach Committee, studied yoga with Swami Satchidananda and lives near the ashram the guru created named Yogaville.. For 39 years, Nayaswami Asha faithfully recorded the life of a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. Guests from our Ananda communities worldwide: India, Europe, throughout the U.S. A variety of multimedia presentations from around the world. I dont think Divine Mother even notices our faults, is how Seva Wiberg, a senior Ananda member, once put it to me. Many Westerners are enthralled with the practice and hope that yoga will help them to shed pounds and firm up. Her ordeal began in 1991, when a handout from Ananda caught her eye. Take a Program Online Online with Ananda Ananda has never been exclusively concerned with its own self-preservation, for even if SRF succeeded in destroying us, we would rise again like the green grass in spring. I recall my first formal meeting with Swami Kriyananda. The two sides seemed to resemble SRF and Ananda: SRF, focused on the needs of the all-important organization, to the increasing neglect of the concerns of the individualand Ananda, with its emphasis on individual growth and inner communion. Meanwhile, my inner life was anything but dormant. When Kriyananda was here [in SRF], Brother Turiyananda once remarked sadly to Daya Mata, laughter rang in the halls. It existed one hundred percent on the planeof spiritual aspiration. This news page is about groups, organizations or movements, which may have been called "cults" and/or "cult-like" in some way, shape or form. I neednt have worried When we arrived, we found Swamiji playing The Vatican Rag, a recording by MIT professor Tom Lehrer, and laughing heartily: First you get down on your knees Surrounded by 72 acres ofbeautiful meditation gardensand forest, it provides an ideal setting for a rejuvenating, inner experience. Some of them testified against me.". A spiritual dynamo, Ananta was eventually ordained as a minister and authorized by Swami Kriyananda to give initiation in Kriya Yoga. Its title pretty much describes what you'll see: " Miss . Authorities in Calcutta are warning residents to beware of the gurus and swamis who say they have supernatural powers and can effect mystical or magical cures. I had simply prayed with total zeal, and I had frequently found God answering my prayers through these inspiring people. SRF lost motion after motion, yet it continued to pour millions of its members money into its fruitless legal campaign to destroy Ananda. NEW! The interview took place at the SRF church in Richmond, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Contact the Meditation Retreat at 530-478-7557 or email mailto: meditationretreat@ananda.org. Since she left Ananda, her husband has been very supportive, she said. In the company of other truth seekers it will be easier for you to meditate and to think of God., What is the need for all the luxury with which people surround themselves? That was three years ago, and, although the jury ruled in her favor last week, Bertolucci's ordeal is still far from over. Yoga has become a popular form of exercise and something of a sensational craze in recent years. However, Lisa McPherson didnt seem to find her way to happiness and instead died after a breakdown, while under the care of her friends at Scientology. I would come to understand that saints who havent yet fully realized God are like spiritual elder brothers and sisters, holding a light to guide our way. Somehow the Sydney reporter didnt bother to include that little titbit. This was true of each SRF gathering I ever attended. It was designed to keep the student associated with SRF for as many years as possible. May 5, 2021. Most are perfectly safe places to exercise and get in shape, but some are worrisome. These controversial sources are hardly what medical doctors would typically rely upon to form any clinical opinion. How could I not feel inspiration there. But at least in India some attention is being paid to this issue. On Monday, four Ananda Margis were convicted of killing then railway minister L N Mishra on January 2, 1975. And eventually that cannot be ignored, even in Ithaca, Kingston or Sydney. Over the years, I noticed that those who fell into unrepentant criticism of others tended to leave Anandapossibly because they found it difficult to bear the company of positive, cheerful people, or possibly because the Divine Mother simply removed them. He says, Much of my life is guided and directed by [dreams].. Ananda Meditation Retreat offers Personal Retreat and Mentored Personal Retreat stays, as well as Silent Group Retreats, Women's Retreats and more! This all seems to provide proof positive of another not so spiritual reality; If a cult leader wants to keep a cult going after he or she is gone, do some estate planning. "You really find out who your friends are," she said. Elsewhere, I have told two storiesof my own inspiring encounters with her. Members of the Ananda community operate the Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto, where children are taught values from an early age, in harmony with the guidelines that Paramhansa Yogananda recommended. Some journalists write hard-hitting news stories about destructive cults, which have often led to further action. A 1976 fire burned almost the entire fledgling Ananda community to a crisp. Lacking regular contact with SRF friends and ministers, I had already begun to feel distanced from SRF, and the increasingly impersonal nature of my contacts with the organization left me cold. Why, I wondered with mild exasperation, did the first lesson discuss friendship? The Masters openness, his tolerance, his compassion, and his tireless service stand in marked contrast to the obsessively sectarian attitudes that mark the present behavior of SRFs leaders. Ananda needs no special place for its existence; it could thrive in the middle of New York City. Controversial organizations such as 3HO and Integral Yoga International (IYI) may practice yoga, but they also promote a student/guru arrangement and religious belief system with an authoritarian figure at the top. Some yoga groups and teachers are essentially interested in proselytizing. Under the guidance and blessing of Swami Kriyananda (1926-2013) and our great guru Yogananda, we have developed communities, schools, businesses, music and the arts, and retreat centers throughout the world where spiritual friendships, meditation, yoga, and selfless service thrive. They consider themselves freer for their possessions, and dont see how their possessions in turn have possessed them!. When Brother Anandamoy violently criticized Swami Kriyananda to a group of Ananda members, for example, Swami Kriyananda wrote him a letter in which he said (I am paraphrasing): I thank you for your criticisms, because they impel me to bless you even more than ever. As for mocking the SRF organization, the truth is, SRFs own statements and behavior made invention superfluous, even if we had been so inclined. Children here are safe from the negative outside influences of drugs, gangs, and violence. At the time, there was a small new-age bookstore in Palo Alto that was run by a Sufi group. They had been arranged in their present format by a devoted disciple of Masters who, though a wonderful soul, had had no experience with the public or, for that matter, with teaching others. Surely the theory of meditation could be learned just as efficiently, if not more so, while practicing it. Mahalo for your in depth and neutral portrayal of Srf and ananda. Satchidananda left behind a core group of faithful followers at Yogaville and a few in Manhattan too. He told me the story of his meeting with the great Indian saint, Swami Ramdas. Researching a yoga school or class before enrolling is certainly wise. (Paramhansa Yogananda said that Mr. Black was second in spiritual stature among his male disciples, after Rajarsi Janakananda.). Call 503-626-3403 (Ananda Temple) with questions or to arrange a visit. Even these people, however, may be interested to note that, of persons reputed to have prophetic vision, every single one has predicted terrible sufferings for humanity in the years to come. It seems that there would be no proper place for such a practice amongst ethical psychiatrists, who should remain objective and not project their personal beliefs into the lives of their patients. Om Peace Amen. It seems that some people once interested in Sai Baba have lost their interest. There certainly seems to be plenty of gullibility on this side of the globe. They didnt do their research and/or chose to ignore it. I have never broken that pledge. Includes a free 101-page PDF collection. Her reasoning, sound enough in itself, was that in this way the student would gain the most, spiritually, not from the lessons, only, but from the added benefits of pilgrimage to Masters colonies, advice by correspondence, and, above all, by inner attunement with the line of gurus. It is made up of disciples of Paramhansa . When I saw the exhibit, I nearly expired with laughter. The early Christians were forced to practice their religion secretly, in fear for their lives. The other sidethe Gnosticsbelieved that God could be known as a living presence in this life, through inner communion. "I felt it would be a way of warning other people, especially young women.". Drive past the bigger flower shops in Rice Village and find this tiny, unassuming storefront. Bombay is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala.The film tells the story of an inter-religious family in Bombay before and during the Bombay riots, which took place between December 1992 and January 1993 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid led to religious tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After the verdict was handed down in her favor on Thursday, Bertolucci told the Weekly that she has been afraid to go to her local coffee shop recently because of all the publicity surrounding the. Swami Kriyananda asked several members of the staff to meet with him to discuss the marketing of one of his books. The spirit of his great book, Autobiography of a Yogi, argues resoundingly against it. In fact, SRFs legal arguments sometimes approached the ludicrous. One of their most outspoken leaders was a man who had lived at Ananda for twelve years, during which he steadfastly refused to pay rent or participate in community activities, including performing any serviceful work. God Bless Beloved Paramahansa Yogananda Thank you for protecting Ananda Society and giving Swami Kryananda the strength and wisdom to be victorious in his virtues, Bless Srf I send you Love peace and blessings I hope you have changed back to the attitude of good will to absolutely all, I met Kryananda in a dream 2 years ago now on his guru discipleship anniversary it lasted ages he was a divine friend all-sorts happend in this dream miracles meeting angels so much cant tell all but I awoke and felt as though I had been with him for the entire day or at least 5 hours. This code can be a useful tool in gauging the behavior of yoga teachers, how they treat their pupils and conduct classes. Noted attorney and anti-cult activist Ford Green of San Anselmo, California has been nominated for a Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundations Lawyer of the Year award. The County anticipates adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project because all impacts can be mitigated to a level that is less than significant. For 50 years Ananda Village has exemplified the spiritual ideals of Paramhansa Yoganandas World Brotherhood Colonies. That works better for me.. I think I speak for others when I say that I entered this path full of joyful expectationthat God can be known as the joyful Spirit residing in each one of us. Three recent stories about well-known groups often called cults, expose what looks like a penchant for puff pieces.
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