Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Epic Tale of Sahaj Marg

Translation of an article by Alexis on his blog: "La Fabuleuse Épopée du Sahaj Marg", and on  Elodie's blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg.

April 22, 2014  

The Epic Tale of Sahaj Marg
 

Alexis' [HISTORY] folder, updated April 21, 2014:
 

[The Epic Tale of Sahaj Marg]
 

1945-2014: The Sahaj marg is 70 years old ...

It has spread across the globe. Decultured, deterritorialized and standardized, it has resisted rather badly the general evolution towards globalization and individualism. The official story from Lalaji to Babuji and Chari ... and soon Patel, is a vast historical fresco of more than a century, linear and fluid but completely phantasmagorical.

This phantasmic legend actually conceals multiple religious backgrounds, a spiritualism (spiritism?)  tainted with paranoia and permanent succession conflicts.  A history which is really not linear and fluid, but a jerky (bumpy? twitchy?)  and violent history ...
 

The Epic Tale of Sahaj Marg 
  
At the end of the nineteenth century, Lalaji (Shri Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh)  met a Sufi master. Together they founded a syncretic teaching between Hinduism and Sufism, in northern India. In 1945, on (the alleged) posthumous order of Lalaji, Babuji (Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur)  founded the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the method of Sahaj Marg. Once cleared of any Sufi references, it spread to southern India. Arrived in 1964, Rajagopalachari makes a meteoric rise in the Mission. In 1982, Babuji, sick and aging, denies Chari and against all odds nominates his son to succeed him.

Immediately after his death, Rajagopalachari tries to impose himself as the leader with the support of his Western disciples, while supporters of Babuji's son continue to develop Sahaj Marg from its historic stronghold in Shahjahanpur, in the north of IndiaIn 1999, Rajagopalachari (Chari) returned to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Babuji, inaugurating the sumptuous Manapakkam ashram near Chennai. With his troops of Western followers and the financial power they give him, he returned in triumph to his country.  But to succeed in this feat, he widely adapted and modified Babuji's spiritual product. He exploited without limit the lowest instincts of his troops. He became an autocratic guru, but the resistances were multiplying ...
 

[The Sources of the legend]
 

First, a Syncretistic Teaching from Hinduism and Sufism (1891-1930)
  
At the end of the nineteenth century, 1891 to be exact, a young Hindu named Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh (Lalaji) met the master of an Indian Sufi lineage. This encounter between a Hindu and a Muslim is nothing exceptional in this region of northern India (Uttar Pradesh), being densely populated and heavily Muslim. Their friendship is much more surprising in this politically sensitive time when religious tensions between communities are exacerbated.

Hazrat Maulana Shah or Fazal Ahmad Khan Raipur (1857-1907), known simply as  Hujur, was the spiritual guide of the Tariqa Mazahariya. This branch of the Sufi Brotherhood of Naqshbandiya created by Mirza Mazhar Zanzana (1701-1781), is permanently implanted in Uttar Pradesh. There is already a kind of syncretism between the main Sufi brotherhoods and some traditional Indian and Hindu teachings. Hujur already taught equally to Muslims and Hindus. But he went even further in this direction with his disciple, Lalaji. Together, they highlighted the equivalence between Sufi and Hindu spirituality and realize a new synthesis. Their goal, completely against the grain of recent history dominated by isolationism against the British invader, was to abolish interfaith boundaries. The fruit of their work established that the primary responsibility for the spiritual evolution of the aspirant rested in the hands of his master, as long as he came into daily contact with his guru through meditation. The master would then pour divine energy into the heart of his disciple by releasing his impure thoughts. One finds some of  the basics of Santmat as taught by Kabir in the fifteenth century, as elements of the eleven principles of Naqshbandiya which already advocate silent meditation on the heart and the "constant remembrance" of the divine presence.


Following Hujur, Lalaji became the first Hindu spiritual Master of the Tariqa Mazahariya, without ever converting to Islam. His teaching is based increasingly on the Santmat of Kabir and his successors over time. Thus, many of his disciples founded the current of Ramashram Satsang, a sort of syncretism between Sufism and Santmat, which is now spreading in northern India.


In 1930, a year before his death, Lalaji appointed his own son, Jag Mohan Narain, to succeed him as head of the order, contrary to the wishes of Hujur to see the leadership access go to the nephew of Lalaji, Brij Mohan Lal Dadaji. It thus creates for the first time in a hereditary lineage of (Hindu) Sufism, which is called Tariqa Ramchandriya.


NaqshMuMRa (the Tariqa Ramchandriya, of the Sufi descendants of Lalaji), the Golden Sufi Center (Sufi Tariqa following the nephew of Lalaji), Ramashram satsang and
Akhil Bhartiya Santmat satsang (two syncretism between Sufism and Santmat) are still spiritual movements which claim a direct legacy (ligitimacy?)  from Lalaji and his family.
 

Some Links (French)  
- [Lalaji] - [His teaching] - [His family] - [Movements and disciples]
 


[The Birth of a Myth]

Sahaj Marga, a Refinement of Raja Yoga? (1931-1973) 

In 1945, not far from Fategarh, Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji) self-proclaims himself as the unique spiritual successor of Lalaji.

Different long-deceased personalities such as Lalaji, and Sufis such as: Baqi Billah and Hujur, and Hindus such as: Swami Vivekananda, RamaKrishna and even Buddha himself, come to him in dreams which he calls "intercommunications".  They (allegedly) asked Babuji to create the teachings of Sahaj Marga (Easy Way or the Easy Path ) and he founded the organization called: Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM ) in Shahjahanpur.


Babuji actually met Lalaji three times in all ... that's it. The rest is the result of  "intercommunicatons" which begin after the death of Lalaji in 1931 then stop,  to resume in April, 1944. Meanwhile, he attended various movements issued from the teachings of  Lalaji, such as the Ramashram  satsang of Dr. Chaturbhuj in Etah and that of Shri Krishna Lal Sikandrabad. He also dreamed that he went to Kanpur, the seat of the family of Raghubal Chachaji Dayal, the brother of Lalaji and Brij Mohan Lal, the father of Dadaji. According to his journal, Babuji thought that he was surrounded by enemies and competitors. They have (allegedly) even tried to poison and murder him. Reality or paranoia?


The parents of young Babuji were initially offended by the Muslims (Sufis ?)  he frequented. Himself later, with his book "Efficacy of Rajayoga in the Light of Sahaj Marg", which he published in 1947, he made a strategic refocusing of his teaching around the raja-yoga and Lalaji, thus eliminating any reference to Sufism. It is true that independence and partition were at the heart of the current Indian news at that time. Later, in 1963, (see Letter of Babuji, Feb. 15, 1963)  he even expressed the opinion that "Sahaj Marga" had replaced the various Sufi orders he considers outdated ("... have breathe their last"?).


Claiming to be a refinement of Raja-Yoga, the spiritual teachings of Sahaj Marg eliminates the difficult early stages of meditation, making it easier and more practical for our times. The Ten Commandments (allegedly)  issued by Lalaji to Babuji state that the practice also includes a prayer before sunrise, and at sunset, the repentance for sins committed. One must remember to have a heart filled with love and devotion, and the goal is to achieve unity with God.


Babuji began his spiritual teaching in Uttar Pradesh, where Kasturi Chaturvedi became his ally,  and whom he later will call: "the Saint of Sahaj Marga".  His fame quickly spread beyond northern India and to the whole country.  Men of the south such as Raghavendra Rao of the southwest (Raichur , Karnataka), Dr KC Varadachari from the southeast (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh) and Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari from further south (Chennai, Tamil Nadu).


The meeting between Babuji and Dr. Varadachari quickly turned into a deep friendship. Recipient of the famous Vivekananda Chair at the University of Madras, the professor of philosophy created the Sahaj Marg Research Institute in 1965 and thus contributed to the dissemination of Sahaj Marg to the general public.


Babuji appointed preceptors to serve as the transmission channel between him and his disciples. In the late sixties, some of them go abroad and start to spread Sahaj Marg.  Babuji made ​​his first trip to the West in 1972, accompanied by Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari (Chari). And the Shri Ram Chandra Mission grew.


In 1970, Dr. Varadachari warned Babuji of the risk of drifts (commercialization?)  in the teachings due to its rapid expansion, but he died the following year. Babuji is also older and tired, he was 75 years old in 1974 when he was hospitalized at Lucknow. The previous year, Kasturi Chaturvedi, Raghavendra Rao and Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari had offered to assist him in his spiritual work. Kasturi would look after the north,  Rao, the south,
and Rajagopalachari, all the outside of India but Babuji refused and continued tirelessly traveling. 

Some Links (French)
 - [Babuji] - [A VERY Special Personality?] - [His teaching] - [His family] - [His many disciples] 


[The Battles of the Chiefs] 

Sahaj Marg, the Issues of Power (1974-1984)

Babuji first prepared his great friend, Dr. Varadachari, as his own succession.  But he died before him (Babuji), on January 30, 1971, leaving him in a lurch.  He then approached Rajagopalachari who became his disciple in 1964, naming him the Secretary of the Mission in 1970, and everything seemed to be going well between them. But suddenly, in 1982, everything changed.  Babuji sends him (Chari)  some severe criticism in a letter dated April 6, and appoints another secretary in his place on June 28.


In September 82, very sick and weak, Babuji writes from Paris about some plot to take over the assets of the Mission.  He accuses Rajagopalachari of trying to poison him repeatedly for eight years.  Finally, he adds that he (Chari)  is presenting himself to Western disciples as the future president of the Mission, he (Babuji) secretly appoints his own son to succeed him.  Reality, paranoia or senility?


In Paris, Babuji is sick. He is delirius and can't walk alone. The doctor who accompanies him confirms that due to his health, he should never have taken this journey. The French, André Poray seizes the opportunity to steal the show. In his corner, Rajagopalachari, susceptible, is  brooding and becomes silent and aggressive.


Babuji dies on April 19, 1983. At the meeting held on July 10th, two contenders emerge. The eldest son of Babuji, Prakash Chandra, nominates his son, Sharad Saxena; while Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari has a letter of nomination dated 23 March, 1974.  The Working Committee tables its decision until the the next February.


February 84, Rajagopalachari, on the occasion of  Lalaji's birthday, goes to Shahjahanpur, but it is made clear that he is not welcome and must withdraw from the ashram. The Committee therefore meets without his presence.  At its meeting of February 6th and 7th, the new Secretary General SA Sarnad proposes that the committee be chaired by the elder, P.C. Chaturvedi. Both applications, Sharad's  and Rajagopalachari's and are rejected as forgeries. The committee said that
Rajagopalachari's letter was postmarked at an earlier date than that contained within, and that Babuji had previously filed a complaint regarding the theft of four blank letterheads of the SRCM. Sarnad then presented to the committee the secret letter of appointment dated April 16, 1982, evoked by Babuji and designating another of his son, Umesh Chandra Saxena. The Committee examines and validates Umesh Chandra as President. Sarnad is responsible for issuing a circular to announce that this appointment is to be ratified at the General Assembly before 982 members (quorum?), on February 8, 1984.

Then proponents of Rajagopalachari, Kasturi and the Canadian preceptor, Donald Sabourin, claim to have been witnesses to his (Chari)  appointment. The son of Dr. Varadachari, KC Narayana added that Babuji had announced in 1979 that he (Narayana) would have to work closely with Rajagopalachari after his death.   It is also said that Babuji had declared in 1980 in Munich that he would leave him (Chari) the power. And everyone agrees that the children of Babuji did not participate regularly in weekly group meditations and never showed any sign of interest in spiritual matters.


But Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, this southern man, smoking American cigarettes and very westernized, is not at appreciated by all the senior preceptors.  In 1981, two of them, Raghavendra Rao and Ramachandra Reddy, conduct an unofficial tour of the United States in the company of  Umesh Chandra Saxena, who was not even a preceptor.  Critics also say that Rajagopalachari was removed by Babuji from all responsibilities and they add that he accompanied Babuji
on his last tour in France, without his (Babuji's) agreement  saying to Danish followers that he would be president, even before the death of Babuji.

So
Rajagopalachari's letter of appointment, is it a fake?  Did Babuji dismiss Rajagopalachari of all his functions? Does he rightly accuse him (Chari) of the worst atrocities in his letters from Paris, or  is it the result of delirium and/or senility ? Why did his family start by nominating Sharad in July, 1983 before availing themselves of Umesh Chandra's secret letter of appointment? These questions will probably remain forever unanswered.

Pointing to his son, Babuji stated that he would become president of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission Shahjahanpur and spiritual representative in line of succession. In his letter of accusation, he stated that he would be assisted in his task by K.C. Narayana, S.P. Srivastava and two other disciples. But Umesh Chandra temporarily gives way (the presidency)  to Srivastava, the newly elected (and not appointed) president, so as to avoid any dislocation of the organization. So the latter sits at Shahjahanpur, and takes on the task of the publication of  Babuji's Journal. (Chari's clan had published Babuji's Journal which contained only 20% of Babuji's daily diary.  Srivastava's publication contains 80% of the original diary, including some controversial material.)


Rajagopalachari secedes, sets up another committee in Hyderabad which appoints him President and he sits at the ashram of Chennai in southern India, and travels the world in search of support.  Narayana remains faithful to Babuji's 1979 request, and betrays the September 82 request, and he rallies to  Rajagopalachari and refuses to assist Umesh Chandra.  It is then the turn of Sarnad to join the clan of Rajagopalachari, thus interrupting the diffusion of the circular of appointment of Umesh. Rajagopalachari, in turn, contacts the preceptors appointed by Babuji, ordering them to recognize him as President, otherwise he dismisses them of their function.


In Europe, some disciples of Babuji completely lost, follow André Poray while begins a long legal battle between Umesh Chandra Saxena and Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, for the presidency of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the control of the ashram of Shahjahanpur. 


Some Links (French)
 - [A "not very spiritual" succession] - [The parties involved] - [Kasturi] - [Varadachari and Narayana] - [Babuji's Family] ... 


[Internationalization and Industrialization]

Sahaj Marg to Conquer the World?  (1984-2004)

  
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, affectionately nicknamed Chari or Chariji by his disciples, is seeking a legitimacy which he lacks. He is familiar with Western culture and masters it perfectly. A graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, he spent two years in Yugoslavia and then started working as a chemical engineering. Quickly, he joined the large Indian industrial conglomerate TTK Krishnamachari & Co, where he directed its subsidiary Indian Textile Paper Tube until his retirement in 1985.  His work had taken him across the world on numerous occasions, representing his country at an international conference in Switzerland on ISO standards (among others). A clever entrepreneur, he knows how to lead men and manage his affairs.

Constantly traveling, he visits all the continents, making the West his bridgehead.  He woos his disciples and they are quickly overwhelmed by this man.  They find him charismatic and with a strange look, both penetrating and disturbing, in other words, fascinating. They follow him everywhere, flock to his feet, asking his opinion on everything and anything and they display his portrait at home. The seeds of the Cult of Personality are all there, it will be cleverly exploited to enhance his power of attraction and the dependance of his disciples, who become followers and gradually are enslaved.


He changed the spiritual practice, its definition and history to better suit his needs.  Once the practice is codified and ritualized, the legends established and the spiritual product well standardized, the brand Sahaj Marg™ is filed with the U.S. Agency Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent & Trademark Office) July 29, 1997.  To top it all the statutes of the SRCM, a new Californian society are deposited in stride.


Rajagopalachari named preceptors with a vengeance, not on their spiritual profile but according to their ambition and their careerism. He then practiced unbridled proselytizing, asking them to constantly recruit new followers. According to Babuji, the goal was to reach a critical mass necessary for the changeover (falling into?)  of humanity into spirituality. So he galvanized his troops of preceptors after 
previously guilting them for their lack of results. They must get more numbers, increasing the numbers, just the number. Preceptors then sink into anxiety of displeasing the master, of never doing enough to earn his affection. A permanent malaise that is carefully maintained.

The strategy of seduction used by Rajagopalachari on Westerners and his management methods have been proven effective if one believes the figures advanced by one and the other. Lalaji had 100-200 followers, Babuji had approximately 3,000 and 180 preceptors. Rajagopalachari takes that number to 20,000 in 1991, from 50 to 55,000 by 1995-97, and 75,000 in 2000 with about 1,500 preceptors. Many centers are open in Denmark, France and Switzerland, Canada and the United States, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore or Dubai.


With his Western success, Rajagopalachari therefore returned to India in 1999 as All Powerful, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Babuji. On April 30th, he inaugurated the Babuji Memorial Ashram in Manappakam in a suburb of Chennai, a five-acre ashram that can accommodate 13,000 people inside its meditation hall.


For its part, the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur, has not experienced the same success. Elected in 84 and again in 90, Srivastava has published the second part of  Babuji's Autobiography  (May 1944-June 1955) in three volumes which appear in 1987-89.  In 1994, Umesh Chandra Saxena is elected instead of Srivastava but soon he is no longer unanimous. He does not work, uses the money from the Mission to support the lifestyle of his family and invites crooked politicians at some rowdy celebrations.


Raghavendra Rao and Srivastava distance themselves, and André Poray is in France.

The defections have not spared the clan of Rajagopalachari. KC Narayana, who had taken the head of the Sahaj Marg Research Institute founded by his father, abandons his post in 1991 to found the Institute of Sri Ramchandra Consciousness (ISRC) in Hyderabad. He blames Rajagopalachari for letting develop the Cult of Personality and refuses to recognize him as the spiritual representative of Babuji.  Kasturi Chaturvedi claimed much the same thing in a memorable speech on April 30, 95 to the followers of Rajagopalachari assembled at Chennai. Having never played an administrative role, she still takes a little more distance and retires to Lucknow.


In reality, Rajagopalachari was never completely absent from his country, but he was confined to his stronghold (fiefdom?)  in South Chennai.  For his legitimacy, on the list of his preceptors are celebrities like Kasturi and the grandson of Lalaji, Dinesh Kumar Saxena, with or without their consent.  He develops valuable relationships with Indian heavyweights. He integrates his own working committee with members of the judiciary, law enforcement officials and contractors (developers).


With his interior (India) support and the money that comes from his western troops, he does not hesitate to regain by force, the ashrams run by his opponents. Thus, from 1984 to 1985, his henchmen seized the ashrams at Visakhapatnam, Nellore and Vadodara. In 1988, it was the turn of the Allahabad Ashram, then in 1991, Delhi and Moradabad, and a first aborted attempt at Shahjahanpur, even in 1997.


If one believes some interested persons, the return of Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari to India was a smashing success and was crowned by a sound victory over his rival organization, the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahjahanpur.  In 2003, he announced that the number of his disciples was multiplied by three in three years. 75,000 in 2000, it would have reached 200 to 300,000 from 2003-04.
 

Some Links (French) 
 - [Chari] - [Standardized Trade Marked (tm) Spiritualism] - [Numerical and geographical Importance



[From Apogee to Decline?]
 

Sahaj MARG(tm), a Spiritualist and Apocalyptic Multinational (2005-14)   

The Dusk of a Multinational Which Has Reached its Apogee

Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari easily attracts more than 50,000 people during the great annual ceremonies he organizes to celebrate his birthday. These are the regular churchgoers (followers), the contributors and the supporters. With this approach, we obtain a wide range of 71,000 to 260,000 supporters and practitioners worldwide. All this with a little over 3,000 preceptors ...


The Sahaj Marg™ of Rajagopalachari is also a small property development, real estate and financial empire.  In 1997,
when it had 55,000 followers, Umesh Chandra Saxena estimated its assets to some 200 million Euros.  If the property has followed the same trend as the numbers today it would near the billion.  Dozens of ashrams, retreat centers, a research and  institute, international school, international brand, etc. ... The organization that manages this multinational of great opacity is composed of five foundations created between 1994 and 2012 in Switzerland, the United States, India, Dubai and Hong Kong; to which are added a parent association (SRCM) and twenty satellite national associations, two societies for the management of the Omega School and a trust for the sale of publications.

Intoxicated by his power, Rajagopalachari uses and abuses without limits. In 2003, his henchmen try again to seize the Shahjahanpur ashram, only four days after the death of Umesh Chandra Saxena. They renewed their attempt successfully on April 2, 2006 and also seize the Raichur ashram after the death of Raghavendra Rao. Rajagopalachari went himself to Shahjahanpur in October 2007 to mark his symbolic victory.  Self-proclaimed as the only living master of Sahaj Marg tm in the world, he imposes his will on the alternate currents as well as on his own followers.


Pushing all limits, he no longer requires his followers to only obey and serve.  In 2005, using only their confidence in him, he launched a sale campaign  of € 250 per follower for a book whose contents were not even disclosed.  In 2007, the subscription proceeded to USD $ 1,200 for an equally secret gift (from the Master) ... Forget the 10 commandments of Babuji, the book "Whispers from the Brighter World" becomes the new Bible of Sahaj Marg tm. Produced by the  spiritualism between an (anonymous) French (lady) medium and a long-deceased Babuji, this new religion promises to humanity a World Apocalypse. It also promises the best of his followers that their children will be a new race, an elite responsible for regenerating a new spiritual world to come.  (the Anonymous French Lady Medium (AFLM)  is also claimed to channel Lalaji, Chari's mother, Chari's wife, and other un-named elevated souls, including some un-named "beings of light"!!)


 With his heritage and his power over men, Chari also went in search of external recognition which he lacked to get some respectability. To do this, he flirted with the United Nations humanitarian and educational themes. On the Humanitarian side, he opened some Indian ashrams to provide free care or distribute food, the "centers of light". On the Education side, from a paper prepared by the Research Institute he disseminated the spiritual values ​​of Sahaj Marg (VBSE) in a hundred Indian schools. In 2005 he founded his own school, the Lalaji Memorial Omega International School (LMOIS).

The same year, the organization partnered with the Department of Public Information of the UN (DPI). In 2009, SRCM organized a written national composition competition in all Indian schools in collaboration with the Information Centre of the United Nations for India and Bhutan (UNIC), on the occasion of International Youth Day, August 12. This action, taken by the SRCM only since 1989, has mobilized nearly 75,000 children and young participants aged 10 to 24 in 2008.


For Chari, all is smiles! Sahaj Marg and SRCM are at their peak.  All smiles, but the decline is showing its face ...


From Dubai in October 2008, Chari suddenly decreed financial austerity and froze all future projects. In January 2009, he declared that a cancer was gnawing at Sahaj Margtm from the inside and that the organization was in danger of disintegration. The lack of discipline reigns everywhere, there are divisions between communities and between centers, there are dissidents who ignore the Mission. In short, he has nightmares where he sees the SRCM disintegrating into "240 small missions". His designated successor, Ajay Kumar Bhatter resigned in 2010. Cornered, in 2011, Chari appointed a new successor (Staten Island (New York) Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical importer, Kamlesh Desibhai Patel)  and announced his resignation to his advantage on August 15, 2012 at a huge special bhandara (party) ...


Reality, paranoia or senility? Financial crisis, moral crisis, ego crisis? There is, in any event, an atmosphere of the "end of a reign" ...


Indeed, Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari is aging, at his turn. He celebrated his 85th birthday in 2012, and designated a successor to stifle internal conflicts. But this is not provided as a cordial agreement atop the hierarchy. Everything is fine as long as he is there, but tomorrow? His opportunistic
lieutenants are biding their time. His only son P.R. Krishna, the wealthy heir and his grandchildren Barghav and Madhuri, his latest appointed successor, Kamlesh Desaibhay Patel, Santosh Khanjee the "eminence grise" or even A.P. Durai, U.S. Bajpai and his henchmen, all prepare for battle.

Among the followers too, all is not well. In 2005, he eventually triggered some reactions by always asking for more money. A book sold for 250 €  and room auctions were held during group meditation sessions at international gatherings at Vrads Sande in Denmark and Lignano in Italy; this is too much. The following January, unable to speak freely internally, a desperate Swiss follower opened  a web blog titled: "Long Life Sahaj Marg, stripped of the excesses of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission", (Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg); it is soon followed by others. The myths he (Chari) built are exposed, one after the other.


In January 2007, Navneet Kumar Saxena arrives in his turn to the web. Grandson of Babuji and now president of of the Mission at Shahjahanpur, he informs that the legal battle waged by his father against Rajagopalachari is not always closed,  and accuses him (Chari), with official supporting documents. When he throws in the towel and is silent, it is the turn of another grandson of Babuji, Sharad Chandra Saxena, to take over.


Disciples of  Raghavendra Rao and Kasturi Chaturvedi open blogs and accuse them too. Dinesh Kumar Saxena, grandson of Lalaji, creates a website; KC Narayana, son of Dr. Varadachari, customizes his; SP Srivastava creates an association (in Europe) ... In France and Canada, people who followed Kasturi or André Poray reveal on the web that there are everywhere independent communities of disciples faithful to the teaching of Babuji, still very much alive today.


Chari has emerged as the undisputed boss of Sahaj Marg tm,  and has grown beyond all expectations. Market shares of Sahaj Marg tm are huge but they will soon be up for grabs. Everyone is stirred up and will say and do anything. As the person who remained anonymous
and who uttered accusations of rape, incest and pedophilia without anyone knowing exactly which leader of Sahaj Marg was incriminated.  As a delirious Anonymous French (lady?) Medium (AFLM) in the gardens of Babuji Memorial Ashram without anyone stopping her, demolishing a couple's relationship in passing and not hesitating to establish herself as the spiritual representative of Babuji, while predicting for 2010 a nuclear Apocalypse between China and Europe, where the UK would (allegedly) be totally destroyed ...  (it did not happen... of course)

This is only the beginning, and it is far from over! In this poisonous and apocalyptic atmosphere, all the wildest scenarios are possible. The only certainty is that the SRCM and Sahaj Marg tm have absolutely nothing to do near and/or far with spirituality, that is if this was ever the case ... one day, long ago!!  
 

Some Links (French) 
 - [Multinational] - [The importance] - [Whispers] - [Omega school] - [VBSE] - [United Nations] - [The contenders for the succession]  


Alexis 


See Also (complete document): 
VBSE  (article) 
VBSE  (Teaching Curriculum at LMOIS)


.
 


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hilarious with narcissist and delusional overtones. Please take care of your health.

Michael said...

Alexis,

This represents a tremendous amount of research. Impressive! The only actual inaccuracy I can find from my personal experience, is the fact that PR smoked Dunhill cigarettes, which are British not American.

Another area not so emphasized in this account, with the exception of the Whispers book legacy, is the early establishment of the "Publishing Committee", of which I was a member of in the early days. PR established this committee at the very beginning to create a legacy of writings. Most of these early books were simply transcriptions of his talks. He did very little actual writing, however, the sheer volume of books produced very quickly overwhelmed the original SRCM library which would take up no more than a third of a meter on a bookshelf.

In 2006, more than a decade after my departure from SRCM, I took up the task of documenting my historical experiences as accurately and as dispassionately as possible, from my introduction to SRCM in 1979 through my departure in 1990.

I spent some cursory effort to explore the SRCM history. Your historical research is far more extensive than anything I could have attempted - And your documentation of the evolution of SRCM since 1984 to the current day is extremely thorough and enlightening.

Some would say that SRCM is a third class cult - minor in comparison to the cults of Sung Yung Moon, Ching Hai, to name a few. I would argue however that your efforts to document SRCM's history is important, as it demonstrates the age old process that creates spiritual/religious organizations and their resulting transformation into cults, which are used influence and control the masses. This process can be found in every religious and spiritual organization. A similar process is used in politics to establish governments. Religious organizations have always been the right hand of politics. This process is the very foundation of how power is established in the world and how populations are controlled and manipulated.

Christianity's history has a parallel to SRCM. Decades after Jesus lived and died, a volume of written work was created to establish a legacy. 200 years after his death, the Roman government recognizes the potential power the Christian belief system can impose on the masses and establishes the Roman Catholic Church. Committees were created determine what literature was officially adopted. Armies of scribes were dispatched to "translate" texts, insuring that consistency with the official story is kept in order. Opposition to the Mother Church resulted in splinter groups which created a patchwork of Churches. Sound familiar?

The SRCM history is a recent example of this process. Fresh in our collective memories, we can all witness this process of how political, religious and spiritual organizations are formed to become the fabric of Hierarchies and Power. They are formed for the sole purpose of centralizing power to control the population. It is a tried and true formula that is repeated again and again throughout history.

My conclusion: The moment an organization is created in the name of spirituality, spirituality is immediately lost. True Spirituality cannot be contained in any organization.

Thank you Alexis for your continuing efforts!

With Love,

Michael



Anonymous said...

Why are you hurting the feelings of those who cherish these ideals with your own 'personal' beliefs? Maybe you enjoy hurting others.

4d-Don said...

Hi Anonymous...

Of all the places you could be at this time, why do you chose to be at the site of ones who in FREEDOM, express their "own personal beliefs"?

Why do you (apparently) hurt yourself with their "freedom" of expression (of speech) as they express the TRUTH as they see it, using the words of your leaders, those who speak the beliefs which you profess? Do you have a persecution complex? If so, then you should thank those who make you suffer with their "TRUTH", and the expression of their own "personal beliefs"

Go in peace and express yourself as you freely wish on your own site ... We are not at your site, telling you how to think, speak or act.


We simply "BELIEVE" that anyone who puts any faith in "spiritualism" are being childish and gullible in this belief in "spiritualism" (the so-called messages allegedly channeled through an anonymous medium by the spirits (ghosts?) of the dead).

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

You, the addicts to Cults of Personalities, claiming to be "spiritual" but who are in fact "spiritualists" (believers in ghosts and spirits), are the ones preaching at the rest of the world, claiming to have another "UNIQUE" and "special" path to ONE-ness, while you are not even "ONE" among yourselves ... look at the many schisms in the various factions of Sahaj Marg ... just like the other divisive religions.

You talk the talk but you don't walk the walk ... You are much like the self-appointed and self-titled Masters of Sahaj Marg ...

The intolerance of your Masters has been transmitted to you and now, you are also intolerant of others ... us!! And, as you say, we are only expressing our "PERSONAL BELIEFS"... You have become tyrants!!

If you want to change, and to discuss the accuracy and the veracity of the statements on this site, you can do so like everyone else by trying to use logic and reason... not emotionalism!!

Express your truth and leave others do the same ... Wouldn't it be a terribly boring world if we were all the same? ... If all humans were like YOU, yet another of the many self-deluded "illuminated", the "holier than thou"!!

Don ...

Anonymous said...

Alexis,

You are absolutely right and entitled to your views. I personally come on here because I find it a good update of what's going on in the Mission. Plus we're all adults, and capable of making our own minds up. There is nothing wrong with healthy discourse.

I would state my own views, but I don't think they are of any particular importance.

Sorry to hear that you both have had such a negative experience of Sahaj Marg, though I hope you found some benefit from it during your time in it. I myself will continue my practice as it is the most beautiful thing in my life.

Keep up the good work,

Patrick

4d-Don said...


Hi Patrick ...

Glad to hear that we are a source of info for you ...


Although I sometimes emote: "Oh! My God!", and even though some of the gods of the past still have such mild oaths (egads?? lol) stated in their name (i.e. "By Jove!"), in my "heart of hearts", in the essence of my being, I still look to find REALITY and not simply to accept sensuality or emotionalism created through rush-inducing or sense-stimulating" repetions (rituals?) of pattern from our individual and/or collective past religious beliefs ... our spiritualist habits!

Rituals based on "spiritualism" (messages from "spirits" channeled via Mediums, specially anonymous mediums)
are not based in anything which is to be seriously taken as "truth" or factual REALITY ... They are part of myth or legend ... anecdotes!

So although I don't stop myself from sometimes mentioning "the heart" as a place where love resides, I know better .... in REALITY!! And I believe that most of us do!

I know (as most of us do) that the heart is a pump for blood, and not the REAL seat of some mythic, religion-invented soul".

I also know, in REALITY, that the heart is not "the only or unique place" where love dwells in the human body. I now accept the true, or the "REAL" role of the central nervous system and specifically the "brain", in the expression of this temporal "consciousness".

... and spirits (as in "spiritualism") are not part of REALITY ... yet!!

Let those who want to promote "spiritualism", show their evidence. Let them PROVE IT or wait in silence to decide later when REAL evidence is available to prove the existence of "the soul", and/or spirits, beings of light, entities from "out there", etc ....

Some seek REALITY while some (others?) are apparently content with what simply "feels good" ... or, what has become a "habit"!! A Ritual! Even if that "feeling" is based on "myth" ... egregoric myth ...

It's (the Sahaj Marg spiritualist messages from the so-called "Brighter World" ...or, The Sahaj Marg Bible) a spiritualist myth which could change as the group changes. As one Medium dies and another takes over the "beta" function.

Don ...

P.S. I still say I "pray" ... but my prayer is more an attempt to commune (communicate?) with the CREATIVE, and it is not a "plea" or "begging" to a "person". It's more like communicating intellectually (inside) with the Universe ... the CREATIVE, a process, and not a CREATOR!! Not a "person" or "a spirit" as in "spiritualism" and "ENTITIES", but maybe "SPIRIT" as in "spirituality".

Anonymous said...

Hi Don, Michael, and Alexis and hello to the anonymous brain-washed, and to Patrick!

Alexis, What a great job of reporting on the cult of sahaj marg! I am impressed too. Thanks for writing.

Michael, thank you my friend. Don thank you, I really can't thank you all enough.

As for the brain-washed and for Patrick, I feel sorry that you are stuck in the fantasy and the game that they play.

I believe that you too will break free from the illusion they have created. When you do, there will be people who will help you recover. I believe you wouldn't be tuning in to this site if you were free of doubts. I believe deep down you must know that this is an extremely tiny group of people who love money and power and control. If you enjoy being pushed down, if you enjoy being dominated and controlled - then keep playing their "holier than though" game. Stay in your "position" whatever that may be. Whether it's sahaj marg, sung young moon, yogi nanda or the Catholic Church, IMO they are all hierarchies with different levels - and to me Bull shit. (There is so much bullshit out there.)

It takes more strength to Be who you are and not get caught up in an ego trap, like srcm.

Life is short and I am glad my eyes are open. No longer to be derailed from my journey.

There's a great song by one of my favorite singer/song writer's, Natalie Merchant called, "SevenYears." She sees the truth about her guru after following and being devoted for seven years. It's exactly how I feel about Rajagopalachari. Great lyrics.

So this is for you old man: "I may forget you but not forgive."

Michael has a tremendous amount of integrity for seeing the truth and moving on. I am sure PR would have loved for him to keep quiet till he could give back the title.

He likes preceptors to pretend and play along. There are plenty of those in that group. It's like high school clicks.

Keep us posted, let us know when he kicks the bucket. The world will be lighter, less one dirty, sick "poser."
Thanks for letting me rant.

"I'm a free bitch baby!"

4d-Don said...

Thanks "Free Bitch Baby"...

lol lol

Good rant, and like you, I thank Michael and also: Alexis, Elodie, and Christian (aka: "cri cri"), and many others (preceptors and common abhyasis) for their integrity ...and input!

We, "the reeds bent by the wind", may not have been so vocal without the input of these outspoken "Reporters" ... and "Whistle blowers".

Sahaj Marg(tm) has its "Snowden" ... SRCM has its "Working Man's Heroes" also ...

Life (consciousness) is so INTELLIGENT!! And so JUST!

Thank you all, for the input ...

Don ...

Anonymous said...

Don!

Glad I made you laugh!!

Thanks again, sorry I forgot to include all the other people that you mentioned - thanks for reminding me. I am grateful for all of them too!

Last night I googled Natural Path Meditation and found their updated website. Have you seen it?

They have a movie clip of a young man from Brooklyn who found his "spiritual path" seven months ago. He said he was a yoga teacher and they showed him doing all these poses. He was a musician and I forget what else.

It looks like a commercial for Sahaj Marg. I wondered if the guy was an actor and paid to do the commercial. (I sure hope he got some cash for it. We all know PR has a ton of cash.) There are some long time members in the video too. I think the reason this clip disturbs me is that it does not matter if the young man from Brooklyn is a paid actor or not - whatever way you look at it, PR exploits people. The reason he exploits people is so that he can gain money and power. The whole program is to benefit the guru.

You might find the new site here:
www.sahajmarg.org

Then again you might not care or have time to check it out.

They have the older stuff sort of hidden. Guess they had to come up with a fresh look so they could trap a younger, cooler audience.

The thing is, its the same stale organization, and the same stale hierarchy it's always been. Nothing has changed.

If the young man is just being himself and is naïve and thinks he has found something special- I hope he braces himself for what comes next.

Has the old man kicked the bucket yet?

Just asking cause I am waiting for the main event. We will see them run...once the newer, meaner, dirtier, guru takes his throne.

-- Free Bitch Baby


4d-Don said...

Hi "Free Bitch Baby" ...

Thanks for that link and the comment ...

I will try and keep you up-dated as the NEWS reach me ... I am aware of "Natural Path Meditation" new site and their promotion of the new, easy and Natural "Sahaj Marg(tm)", but thanks for posting it (and adding your comments) for the readers who may not know.

Here's an old "Acadian" (Cajun?) saying:

You gotta laugh, b'cause it's not funny!!

This reminds me of an old Canadian (British Columbia) Journalist. This is the name of "her" (now defunct) daily radio NEWS program:

"Here are the NEWS"!! (Plural intended ... lol lol)

Don ...

Anonymous said...

He's not an actor, I know the bloke. He's a really nice guy. I don't think there's anything wrong with an updated website. Thanks for your comments, though I do find it bizarre how much you hate Sahaj Marg! There are a lot worse things out there. Patrick

4d-Don said...

Hi Patrick...

You must mean, "he's not a (good) actor". He was rejected as President of SRCM (1945 Shahjahanpur) by the Board of Directors.

Yes, there is "as bad" ("worse"??) out there, but not as bad in my life (in my surroundings). That type of religious con-men who self-appoint themselves when they are rejected by their "cult" is quite common ... Look at the "christian" televangelist phenomenon in the USA...

Sahaj Marg is the Indian equivalent of the televangelist cult of a PERSON ... Chari is not a "saint" or a "messiah" ... He's a retired CEO, a businessman who spent his life making money and manipulating his fellow man (POWER?).

And "spiritualism" (messages from the spirit of the dead as told by (anonymous) Mediums) is not "spirituality"... Nor is it Raja Yoga (Sahaj Marg according to Babuji is Raja Yoga but starts at step #7 of the "eightfold" path... (seriously??) Read those seven mis-steps and see that You are not practicing Raja Yoga...

You are all becoming liars and charlatans for the sake of being in a gang with a "bloke" .... Is it not time to grow up ...

Stop lying for the sake of "building a favourable egregore" ... The use Egregores is not "spirituality" but "spiritualism" with all its "rituals". Your egregore is changing in front of you and you can't stop it from changing. You don't have the "power" in your own life... the "collective" mental entity which is an egregore has the power and it is "autonomous" ... you don't control it. You will follow and obey, that's all!! Until you leave it!!

We don't "hate" Sahaj Marg ... We think that SPIRITUALISM is a SCAM and we are exposing it as much as we can. And we will continue. Sahaj Marg is now SPIRITUALISM!!

So thanks for your comments and stop using "hate" as your focus...

One rejects the sin, not the sinner.
One rejects the crime, not the criminal...

And according to those (many) who knew Babuji, this "self-appointed" of SRCM is not Babuji's successor, nor Lalaji's successor ... Those are LIES!!

Do NOT LIE for the sake of entering a MYTHIC Brighter World ... You are already in the WORLD, and you are helping to making it one of SCAM and hate and lies...

Sort of like your MASTER?? We oppose that!! We don't belong to a gang and do not defend an "ism" for the sake of a fictitious reward in some other "mythic" land. While they offer you a "fantasy", in some "other world", they are controlling your life and migrating to your country ... they need and want your land. Wake up!! Don't sell your life and your country so cheaply ... Spiritualism!! REALLY! IN REALITY?? You are to obey as a "serf", and get new willing converts for Chari's clan ... of spiritualist businessmen!!

Thanks for the comment ... Glad we can be of help to you ... and yours!!

Don

Anonymous said...

Hi Don!

Can't help but wonder why Patrick is so busy watching the blog and trying to defend the scam artist, PR? I hope PR is sharing some of his money for his trouble, because Patrick won't get anything else from this group.

As for the "bloke" in the video - too bad he is not a paid actor. The reason I say this is because otherwise he is just a 7 month into the practice abyhasi they are exploiting, who is unaware how close to darkness he really is. Give him some time and if he has any scruples or integrity, he will depart. That's if he has the ability to own up to the truth.

I find it unfortunate that SRCM is so good at spotting people who are disillusioned and looking for "something more."

That's how every cult finds their people.

I don't hate anyone. I'm just not a big fan of people who are self absorbed and think they are better than other people and I do not like charlatans. So PR why don't you come out from behind your curtain and be honest before you die? There's still time to ask everyone for forgiveness.

-- Free Bitch Baby


4d-Don said...

Hi Free Bitch Baby...

Anthropocentrism does not give up easily.

Individuals still have to somehow justify what they do with (and why they believe in) "fantasy", specially when the "explanation" given to them by many traditional religious "groups" (the spiritualists) does not fulfill one's thirst and need for "reason" ... the TRUTH!

And most of us can't leave "reason" behind because we want our offsprings, our children to have an "equal opportunity in life. If one's child still believes in Santa Claus when he/she reaches puberty, then one has done one's child a dis-service and it will make him/her the potential target of every scammers in our society ... and they are many (as we can see in Sahaj Marg(tm) and in other "spiritualist" religions or cults).

There is no explaining stupidity or gullibility... One can only speak to "reason" in the knowledge that the explanations of "reason" will be there when one is ready to stop fooling one's self ... One has to be patient and wait for stupidity and gullibility to evolve into the wisdom which comes with "experience".

Much like us, when the "serfs" of Sahaj Marg(tm) leave such spiritualist "cults", they will know of what they speak... They will have "experience" because they once wanted to believe in fantasies and like us, they were once "fooled" ...

The end is in sight for such adult "gullibility" from our ignorant and/or childish anthropocentric past. We, as a society will "grow up".

Thanks for your input...

Don ...