Sunday, September 27, 2009

Epitome of Sahaj Marg

Taken with gratitude, "in toto" without changes, additions or alterations from: NaqshMuMRa Nexus.

Comments by 4d-don in Red Italics

Much more information on that site including a "controversial" Letter from Babuji Feb. 14, 1963 (St. Valentine' s day, (love?)

See also: Transcript of Interview (part 4) with Dinaysh Kumar Saxena
Interview (Part 1, 2, 3, 4) with Dinaysh Kumar Saxena
See also the previous article: Lalaji, His Family and Their Followers

This is an article by Dinaysh Kumar Saxena, grandson of Lalaji and current Dean of NaqshMuMRa Sufi Order, a lineage that reaches to the 6th century, and the Prophet Mohammed (570-632 ACE - After the Common Era) , and no mention by Lalaji of The Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM -Shahjahanpur-1945) , Sahaj Marg, succession orders to Babuji,... or Chariji.

Lalaji passed away in 1931. SRCM and Sahaj Marg originated and were founded and registered in 1945.
SRCM (California-1997) was registered in the USA in 1997 after the Board of Directors of the SRCM (Shahjahanpur-1945) refused Chari the Presidency of the Society founded by Babuji in 1945 claiming that his "succession letter" was a forgery.


IMPORTANT... IMPORTANT... IMPORTANT...


See also: Epitome of Sahaj Marg on Alexis' blog in Europe: La Fabuleuse Epopéé du Sahaj Marg.

 

Epitome of Sahajmarg

There is only one God and, naturally, there is only one way to reach Him. The people have given many names to that stage. A particular institution named “Shri Ram Chandra Mission” has given birth to a new denomination to reach Him, “Sahaj Marg”. “Sahaj” and “Marg” (path) are two separate words. According to my limited knowledge, the word “Sahaj” is synonymous of “Aatma” (soul or sensitivity), i.e. connected some thing to the “Spirituality “. It means some particular school of spirituality, other than ‘Ramchandra School of Spirituality’, Headquarter at Fatehgarh (U.P.), India. However, very recently, it has been registered as a trademark of ‘Shri Ram Chandra Mission’. “The Mission is founded by Mahatma Shri Ram Chandra of Shahajahanpur and shall be called, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, after the name of his Master Samarth Guru Mahatma Shri Ram Chandra Ji Maharaaj of Fatehgarh (U.P.), the founder of Sahaj Marg System of attaining Spiritual perfection”. The said statement is the opening paragraph of its ‘Constitution and Bye-laws’ of the society, registered under the ‘Societies and Registration Act XXI of 1860’. The same statement has been repeated, in his work under the title of “Sahaj Marg system of yogic Saadhana” for Ph D awarded by Agra University in the year of 1970 (AD), Dr. Prem Sagar has written that “ Samarth Guru Mahatma Ramchandra Ji of Fatehgarh (U.P.) is a Aadiguru of Sahaj Marg System”. The statements do not seem to be true, because its nomenclature came in to existence in the year 1945 (AD), i.e. 14 years after his (Samarthguru Mahatma Ramchandra Ji Maharaj’s) physical demise in 1931 (of 14 years). In fact, the said Mahatma Ramchandra Ji (Laalaaji Maharaaj) of Fatehgarh (UP) India was a Naqushbandia (Sufi) Shaykh (Spiritual-Master). He had been admitted into the tradition without the formal conversion into Islam by his Pir-o-Murshad (Spiritual-Master), Hazrat Maulana Fazl Ahemad Khan Saahib (peace be upon him) of Qusba Raipur, Kaimganj, District Farrukhabad (U.P.). It is who brought the Sufism, out of the four-walls of Islam, making it accessible to everyone, irrespective of any caste and religion. According to him, (the) Sufism means mysticism as applied to natural sciences and thus a new lineage sprung up as NaqshMuMRa from the hierarchy of Laalaaji Saahib, but of course, adding no denomination of any particular religion.


The word, “Sahaj Marg” is, since a new term, in the realm of theology, the intellectuals, irrespective of the fact whether they are the “Abhyaasies” of ‘Sahaj Marg' itself or not but they want to know about its truth to the maximum extent. They also want to know, whether it is an offshoot of Sufism or Rajyoga. To know the truth about all these anxieties require, not the blind faith or intense loyalty. Mahatma Ram Chandra Ji (Baabuji) Maharaaj himself, has so adroitly resorted to expedient to do the best one can, and declared, Samarth Guru Mahatma Ram Chandra Ji Maharaaj of Fatehgarh (U.P.) was the founder of Sahaj Marg System, as already mentioned above. Whereas the fact is that the word, “Sahaj Marg” is totally absent from the vocabulary in Rev. Laalaaji’s writings.

In a reply dated February 14, 1963 to one of his friends named Shri Bhagwan Bharose Vaidya of Fatehgarh (UP), Rev. Baabuji’s statement has much relevancy here. “Times have undergone radical changes but to my greatest regret I find our brothers sleeping yet. The Mohammedan Systems have all breathed their last and this, Sahaj Marg; the only ONE has now emerged out in their place. Its teachings and methods widely differ from those of the old Systems in many respects. One having a developed vision and being sensitive to some extent at least, can easily mark well the difference between the two. The method of training and the nature of Faez are all purely hinduised and they are free from all superfluous things introduced into the ways of transmission under those Systems. The Spiritual connections of all Mohammedan Sansthas- Naqshbandi, Chishti and all have been cut off”.

Whereas, Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj has clearly mentioned in His Last Will (Wasihat Naamaa) recorded on 23 October 1930 (AD) - “As far as my intellect has activated this aajiz fakir, (self-annihilated one) has examined carefully the philosophy; the various faiths and the schools of thought. In the end, I have found the beliefs and the path shown by the Holy Masters of this hierarchy, on which the steady hold with, carries hope to stay lively, up to the last breath”.

Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj of Fatehgarh (UP) was the first non-Muslim Saint of “Naqushbandia, Mujaddadadiya, and Mazahariya system of Sufism. He having well connected ”nisbat” (the subtlest Divine thread) with its ancestry through his Spiritual Master Hazrat Maulana Fazl Ahemad Khan Saahib Raipuri, Kaimganji which has a certain well defined handling. He was, of course, against the rituals (meaningless social customs), but not the theological-ceremonies like ;(1) the disciple- making ceremony called Bay’t- placing the palm of once hand on the (that) hand of his Spiritual- Master, merely to have been the sign of sealing an agreement of allegiance. When a man or woman repented of his sins and had made up his mind to lead a life of righteous- ness and piety he/she had to perform Bay’t. The sprit seems to be for men/women to have direct communion with God, through the whole chain of the Spiritual Masters, so much so that all the intermediaries whose existence having been acknowledged are lost sight of, in the communion of men/women with God. (2) Ijazat/Khilafat, are determined on the question of Fana and Baqa, etc.

The ‘Sahaj Marg’ is schism of the ‘Ramchandra School of Spirituality’, renamed as NaqshMuMRa, occurred because of its manner, style and the vocabulary of Sufism. The split in socio-spiritual sects is not a strange phenomenon. Many religions, after the demise of their founders, dwindled either into insignificance or into use to split into innumerable branches. Here also the divine will cause the spread of the whole ‘Society’ after Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj, everywhere, through its numerous branches and under different leadership. In fact, the philosophy and tenets have not undergone any major changes at the hands of different leaders, except the ‘Shri Ram Chandra Mission’.

There is an emphasis upon the living Guru. The founders held that Guru of the time alone could reveal the inner secrets, remove doubts and thus lead to salvation. In course of time, the essential truth about the “True Guru” was lost sight of and the faith degenerated into the cult of personality- worship.

There were two types of devotees turned –up before him (Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj) viz, (a) for esoteric (any thing that is inner) (b) were exoteric. Although, people of both the categories had come to learn the ‘Ramchandra School of Spirituality’ (now known as NaqshMuMRa). But the persons of division- (b) were those who were kept under review and the people of division (a), i.e.” esoteric” which had performed well enough to be admitted in the “inner” circle, selected for ‘Bay’t’ and the ceremony of the same was also solemnized sacredly.

Before unveiling the fact about Rev. Baabuji of Shahjahanpur, as to which category he belonged to, whether (a) or (b) let me explain a nuances between ‘esoterism’ and the ‘mysticism’. Esotericism largely overlaps with “hidden knowledge”. Some overlap exists as well between esotericism and mysticism. However, many mystical traditions do not attempt to introduce additional Spiritual knowledge, but rather seek to focus the believer’s attention. A mystic is thus not necessarily an esotericist.

According to S. Radhakrishnan, a teacher is one who “contributes to the transmission of intellectual heritage and our technical skills and to training our people”. A teacher is a man of intellectual knowledge. A Guru, on the other hand, besides being informed soul is also self- realized soul. Whereas a teacher merely gives the pupil information, the Guru leads one to the higher stage of consciousness leading to the destruction of avidya. One does not have to search for a Guru. Swami Ranganathananda upholds that “when the need for the knowledge which the Guru possesses comes so also will the Guru come”. Implying thereby, that whenever we genuinely crave for Him we will meet Him. Kabir, Swami Dayananda, Swami Vivekananda et al met their mentors just by some strange in explicable coincidence.

His holiness the Dalai Lama interprets the term ‘Guru’ in two ways. According to him, “on the one hand, the Guru is the human teacher we interact with; on the other hand, the Guru is our own inner wisdom, our own fundamental clarity of mind”. He is some one who is an exemplar, who gives one the confidence that perfection is possible, and whom one wants to emulate. Guru is regarded as the one who personifies the trinity- Brahama, Vishnu and Mahesha. He is the living example of the creator, the sustainer and the destroyer of the universe

An unprejudiced and a careful reader, after meditating the whole writing from A to Z will agree with me that Rev. Baabuji of Shahjahanpur belonged to the category (b) as mentioned above. So far the literature of ‘Shri Ram Chandra Mission’ is concerned, there is no date of “Bay’t” or in any other way, he took “Deekshaa” from his Guru (Spiritual Master) is available.

It was the regular practice of Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj of Fatehgarh (U.P.) to maintain his diary up-to-date. He never failed to mention the name of his disciple; he performed the ceremony of “Bay’t, on that very day. All the diaries, available in his record and the whole literature published by the “Shri Ram Chandra Mission” scrutinized most carefully but the date of Rev. Baabuji’s “Bay’t” ceremony found nowhere. The work is still in progress. If the date of his Bay’t/Deekshaa (Rev. Baabuji) becomes available in any record it would be published immediately. His role as disciple remain limited to see the ‘dreams’ and to send the copies of the whole months collection with his covering letter, regularly and punctually to his “Master”, Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj, who used to send the précised reply to Baabuji.

The extract of Rev. Baabuji Maharaj’s diary dated 17 September 1931 (i.e. more than one month later the physical demise of Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj) – “Saw a saint in a dream. He was seated on a bed and you were seated to the left. The Saint asked for my hand to initiate me. Thinking that I had already been initiated, I hesitated. Somehow, to fulfill his desire I extended my hand and he put his hand on mine and did what is done at the time of initiation. At that time I realized that some very high point had been awakened; and this condition prevailed for many days”.
As Babuji addressed his Journal to Lalaji, his (supposed) Master, does this not indicate that Babuji, in his dream, was intitiated by "another saint" who was seated beside Lalaji and Lalaji was "seated to the left" ?? (and Babuji does not seem to know "what is done at the time of initiation" (or does not want to tell?? But Dinaysh knows and tells ... is it a secret or not?) Which Saint initiated Babuji in his dreams? Babuji often dreamed of the Prophet and other Muslim saints, was it the Prophet, Muhammed (peace be upon him) or Hazrat Baqibillah Barong Saahib Rahamat Ullah Alahi? (see below)
Another extract from Rev. Baabuji’s diary (soon after the physical demise of his Spiritual Master) - … “There was excessive restlessness, and the eyes were closed, when I felt all of a sudden that the image of the Master existed in every particle of the body. There was not even a particle in which the Guru was not present”. The Publisher of the book ‘Thus speaks Shri Ram Chandra (Baabuji)’ has interpreted- “It was on 14th August 1931 that his Guru entered Mahaa Samaadhi and on 15th he felt that his Guru had transmitted him every thing of His. It was a state of complete mergence of His Guru”.

Dr. Mohammad Hanif, in his work, under the title, “Naqushbandia System of Sufism” (Ph.D. awarded by Agra University in the year 1964), has given description of Zikr-e-Rabitah in his Thesis.” The Saalik (Abhyasi), either imagines or gazes the face of his Master and in due course of time he gets absorption in the personality of the teacher, i.e. dissolving of his own personal characteristics and accrues characteristics of his teacher. Attention of the teacher is necessary, without which all efforts and the exercises are useless. The one solitary look or glance of the teacher is far better than all the prayers performed during once whole life”.

It is evident from the book, “The Autobiography of Ram Chandra” (Baabuji), Vol. I (1899-1932) published by Publication Department, Sri Ram Chandra Mission, Shahajahanpur, U.P., 242001, India (Third Edition : 1993), on its page, 14, chapter III, Rev. Baabuji has written ”As mentioned before, I reached the feet of the Master on 3rd June 1922 to receive Transmission from him for the first time. I started meditation not on Divine light as is prescribed in the Sri Ram Chandra Mission, but on my Master’s form seeing him in my heart. This was quite spontaneous and automatic, and went on with it”.

Apart from the above he further "I sincerely took up the method of meditation after I passed the S.S.L.C. and Matriculation examination. Within six months, I saw in meditation that the whole of my heart filled with soothing light, and a plant full of light was emitting light from all its branches and leaves. I continued practice. Six months later, I noticed a peculiar thing in my heart that my heart was reciting the word ‘Om’. This we call Ajapa. How does it start? If the Master infuses His Divine power, it starts immediately".

However, “Sahajmarg” is entirely different from the teachings of Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj. It seems to be Rev. Baabuji’s own creation. This is evident from the book-“Practice of Sahajmarg”, written by Hon. P.Rajagopalachari, at its Page No. 3. “Meditation means to think continuously about one thing, and we are supposed to take as the object of meditation that which we wish to achieve. Moreover, here because we are involved in realization, God realization, self-realization, there fore the object has an abstract goal, called the ultimate self. Therefore, we cannot have any name or form for meditation. Nor can we have any qualities or attributes of Divinity. How ever, Master felt that for most people it would be impossible to meditate on the abstract. So, in Sahajmarg, our master has taken as the object of meditation, what He thought, what he knows, what he has experienced to be subtlest thing that we can have for meditation without making it gross or with a form or with a name, and that is Divine light in the heart. Therefore, this has to be very clearly understood that in Sahajmarg, the object of meditation is Divine light in the heart and nothing else. As I already told you, meditation means to think continuously of the same thing. What we do is to sit comfortably with our eyes closed, and have the thought that our heart is filled with Divine light,”

The act of supposition is directly concerned with the ‘Mind’ i.e., the seat of consciousness. It is rather impossible to suppose about a particular thing or condition about which, one is not intelligible to him or one is well conversant with it. While describing the practice of Sahajmarg meditation they stress on “Divine light” only. It appears to be the synonymic of “Tajalli” in the Dictionary of Sufism, which means; the illumination of Zaat (The Reality). “The Reality” as such is darkness. There are two extremes of the spectrum of light, which ends in darkness. Darkness is light in reality, which the retina of the light is incapable of appreciating. Maulana Rumi says in his Masnawi- “Tajalli, if you say, is the light of Zaat (The Reality) within darkness lays the fountain of eternal life”. In terms of Sufism, God appears to the devotee in the form, most eagerly sought for, by him. Hazrat Musa was in search of fire in a desert on his way back to Egypt; God therefore appeared to him in a “burning bush”. If one seeks Him in a image, the image appears to fulfill his desires; thus there should be no disappointment even in idol worship or “Zikr-e-Rabitah”. In his own case of Rev. Baabuji (Mahatma Ram Chandra Ji) of Shahjahanpur (U.P.) he started meditating on his “Master’s form, seeing Him (Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj) in his heart, but he (Baabuji) recommended for the people joining Shri Ram Chandra Mission, to do the same on “Divine Light”. What is “Divine Light”? He did not explain about it, anywhere. Perhaps, it may be within the meaning of “Hranyagarbha”, the conception of which has been given by the Vedic-age Hrishies (sages). Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj has once described, in a letter to some of his disciple, about a practice called- “Zikr-e-Nasira” and “Mahemuda”. In short, it is converging both the eyes on the tip of the nose, and then gradually carrying the point of convergence up to the middle of eyebrows. In Hindus, the point called the third eye of Lord Shiva. When the exercitant (Abhyasi) reaches to the perfection, he sees a star (called Suvaida or Praatibh) in the dark recesses of his heart. In reality, this is the star which can be called the “Divine Light” or “reality at dawn”.

Before proceeding further, I interrupt the flow of subject in the run, let me unveil another fact that Rev. Baabuji, except once, as mentioned above, took the transmission from his Guru through out his life time and rest of his spiritual training done during the “dreams”, i.e. during his sleeping state. Subsequently he began to record them and forward the same to Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj who used to reply him precisely giving some instructions to follow up. However, at many occasions he did not obey his instructions.

(we learn here from Dinaysh that Babuji received Transmissiion from Lalaji "ONCE...)
This is evident from a letter written by Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj, dated 12th Februrary, 1931, published in the book written by him titled- “Truth Eternal”.

“Your letter received. Dear Raghubar Dayal Ji and I had gone to Orai. We have returned yesterday. The conditions you have written about all merit thanks giving. This is the blessing of the condition of Fana (is the non- cognizance of one’s attributes as one’s own ;) after which if God willing, the Blessing of the condition of Baqa (is the recognition of the same as the attribute of God) will be granted to you from the same Shrine. As is the stage and condition of Fana, in the same proportion, the condition of Baqa is liable to bestow. What can be written about the interpretation of the dreams? Our aim is to get the result. I have understood well the symbols and considered enough. I have saved the time by reading much in details. Rest is all well. I will be in Mainpuri from the 15 to the 17 February. From there, I have to go to Etah where there will be a meeting from 20th to 22 February.”

Note: - The above-mentioned letter of Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj addressed to Rev. Baabuji in response to his covering letter along with the date wise dreams seen during the month of January 1931. Hint about the August Shrine, which Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj had given in his letter was for Hazrat Baqibillah Barong Saahib Rahamat Ullah Alahi. The situation of the Shrine is at Qutub Road near Ieedgaah of Nabi Karim, Delhi.

However, he (Baabuji) never went there physically. In his diary dated July 26, 1931, he writes- “Dreamt that I went into meditation, and I was at the shrine of a Saint Baaqi Billah and was doing meditation, when a condition of intense emotion prevailed over me and a faint cry came out of my mouth. Again I submit that the points which have awakened these days have unlimited purity, delicacy and subtlety, but slight weakness is felt at that point. Really, ascent in this condition is impossible without satsang, and grace of the Guru. This point is so delicate and light that it can not be expressed”.

It is not only Rev. Baabuji of Shahjahanpur (UP), who was the disciple without accepting formally initiating by his Spiritual Master, but there are more such examples like Kabir and Eklavye. However, there motto was not to capture the ‘Seat’ of their respective Masters.

What made Baabuji to teach the people , he himself did? What was the necessity of introduction of a new hierarchy of “Sahajmarg”, naming H.H. Mahatma Ramchandra Ji (Laalaaji) Maharaaj its “Aadi Guru?” Why Shri P. Rajagopalachari, the President S.R.C.M., WHQ Chennai writes, “My Master always strongly maintained that Laalaaji Maharaaj had no Guru.”

Some confused and so-called Masters of wisdom or the self-declared Masters, propagate that Mahatma Ramchandra Ji (Laalaaji) Maharaaj of Fatehgarh (UP) India was a discernment of Mohammedan- Sufi. Whereas the truth is that, they understood neither Islam nor the Hinduism and to avoid the quest, they use to say, “Laalaaji had no Guru (Spiritual trainer)”. The root cause of all these manipulations is their religious narrow mindedness.

A letter dated 09.12.1930, written by Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj, addressed to Shri Madan Mohan Laal, who was then the center-in-charge of Shahjahanpur, is meaningful in this context. “… Because of your transfer from Shahjahanpur, there is a likelihood of the function being spoiled. So on my own behalf and on that of my elders, I invite the attention of Br. Pandit Rameshwar Prasad to agree to take up this work in hand during your absence. May God give him courage and perseverance. That dear one will, perhaps, establish a condition of honor after casting off that small portion of boyhood, which is very negligible in him now, due to the demands of his age. God may help him. Brother Ram Chandra undoubtedly has ability and agility in this respect, but I am sorry that due to restrictions of his father, narrowness of heart and space, and intricacies of his home, my sagacity did not permit me for the time being to throw the responsibility on him. …”

The theory of Emanation is a discussion of the origin of things. It forms the province of Greater Mysteries; the other province called Lesser Mysteries is related to the mystical side of Sufism. The material superstructure of Sufism has a Neo-Platonic basis; the mystical side, the Lesser Mysteries, is an original attempt at the elucidation of the mysteries of life and is purely Islamic in origin.

Mr. E.G. Browne says, Ibnul-Farid, like Muhiyyuddin ibn ‘Arabi had no connection with Persia and so Dhun-nun Misri; and hence Sufism is not a manifestation of Persian or Aryan thought. Too many of those who have worked on Sufism have treated it as an essentially Aryan movement.

Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj has observed at many places in his writings-

“So long as one’s individual light stays behind, the reflected image of name and form will survive. However, an image is after all images. The present personality is certainly an embodiment of some other personality, who had existed earlier. If somebody could imagine himself as the embodiment of his father and the father being, again an embodiment of his grandfather and so on. And, thus slipping into the past up to such an extent that he starts feeling that the same image is ending and that he understands the extremity of a link by witch it is attached to the trunk and nothing else, then it may be possible that such point is ultimately his point of origin.”

“O God! This devoted follower has also undergone through many lives as different personalities and embodiments of other ones and has ultimately reached to a level of a selfless form of an image of truth. I am trying to live according to your hopes and expectations and am trying to carry out my responsibilities well. You are the knower of every heart. So I leave it up to you judge as to how capable your devout is in fulfilling his role and how true is the role played by him and how otherwise it is. If he is the image of any one, at what level of truth is he in. I firmly believe that you, with your benevolence and mercy have taken care of this body from the day it came on to this world and spread the first ray of light of truth even when I was in my devoted mother’s lap. I had the good fortune of being in the warmth of that divine light for seven years of my life.”

By emphasizing on the above (just before in bold letters) he wants to throw light on two most quoted terms in Sufism, i.e. ‘Fana’ and ‘Baqa’. Fana means to consider one’s self as existing in the form of his Spiritual Master; and annihilate his own self in Him. In Fana, the Abhyasi looses consciousness of himself; hence, here is the scarcity of cognition and not the cognition of scarcity. With the Sufi Fana is the non- cognizance of one’s attributes as one’s own; and Baqa is the recognition of the same as the attribute of God. In other words, so long as you are present in your own sight, God disappears, and when He is present in your sight, you disappear. For example, when you are concentrated on words, you lose sight of ink, and when you are concentrated on ink, you lose sight of words.

Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj often used to recite a couplet of Maulaanaa Jalaluddin Rumi, which means, “Close your lips, close your eyes and close your ears. Laugh at me, if you do not see the secret of the Truth”. This relates to a Grate Saint and a Philosopher named who had prescribed a five years’ course of silence on his disciples, before they were admitted to his mystic path. The word mystic is derived from mu, to close. The secret rites and lessons of the Greek mysteries were things about which the mouth was kept shut. According to Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj, purification, devotion and dedication are the three main stages for realization. Repentance, abstinence, renunciation, voluntary poverty and trust in God are the methods of purification. He often used to say that to welcome voluntarily the Illat (sickness), Quillat (poverty) and Zillat (insult), are the three signs of progress in this Holy Path. These three ‘benedictions’ of Rev. Laalaaji Maharaaj, are confined within the four walls of ‘Laalaaji Nilayam’ only, which is His abode of religious fraternity, where He lived for more then two decades and presently where His grandson and his small family lives with simplicity and austerity of which He was epitome and He Himself lived a very hard life.

This is without any prejudice and with all apologies, from all those, who so ever they may be. This also disposes of all the queries about the subject, of numerous kinds, sent through any source, treating ‘Laalaaji Nilayam’ of Fatehgarh (UP), India as a nucleus of The Ramchandra School of Spirituality. This concludes with so many thanks to all those who, whether they praise or abuse me.

Humble self,
Dinaysh Kumar Saxena,
‘Laalaaji Nilayam’ (Samaadhi Waalon kaa Ghar), o1/45-A Talaiya Lane, Mahatma Ramchandra Marg, Fatehgarh, (UP) 209601 India.

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Lalaji, His Family & Their Followers

Taken and translated from and article by Alexis on Elodie's blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg

Comments and Insertions by 4d-don are in "Red Italics"

Friday, September 25, 2009

Lalaji, His Family & Their Followers

Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh Lalaji (4/02/1873- (14/08/1931) met his Master Hujur in 1891 and spent 16 years in his company. Hujur gave him full powers on October 11, 1896 but Lalaji didn't start teaching until 1911, his grandson tells us. His works are compiled in two volumes called: "The Complete Works of Ram Chandra Maharaj Lalaji. The second volume, published in July 2001 and printed in 7,000 copies, concerns his Sufi and Santmat experiences. Fascinating but virtually untraceable, would the subject be taboo at the SRCM? (SRCM (Shahjahanpur) and SRCM (California-1997)

The list of movements formed around his teaching is fairly long. His grandson (Dinaysh) lists five: NaqshMuMra, Ramashram Satsang, Akhil Bhartiya Santmat Satsang, Golden Sufi Center and of course the Sahaj Marg. To this list we can also add the group of Saral Hari Marg Harnarayan of Dr Saxena (1908-2003) or Dr. Chandra Gupta, who also claims the legacy of Lalaji. Their relationship with the Sahaj Marg is indirect, only because Babuji said that it was Lalaji who gave the order to create this movement.

Lalaji had one hundred to two hundred followers. Among those who have reached the central region or have approached the closest, from the spiritual point of view, some of them have circulated his teaching in the current of Ramashram Satsang, mainly in northern India, Sikandrabad, Gazhiabad, Shyam Nagar, Jaipur or even in Mathura. Deriving from Lalaji their power is rooted in the Naqshbandiya Sufi order, but he later re-integrated the Santmat (or bhaktimat) current.

Thus, the disciple of Lalaji, Ranajit Saheb, operated from Shyam Nagar and Thakur Ram Singhji (1898-1971), who also frequented the nephew of Lalaji (Radha Mohan), operated from Jaipur. Dr Chaturbhuj (3/11/1883-24/09/1957), the most famous of them was initially charged by Lalaji to help spread his teaching in 1919, from Etah in 1923 and then to Mathura in 1951. Dr Krishna Lalji (15/10/1894-18/05/1970) from Sikandrabad, according to him, was in turn appointed by Lalaji as his successor in 1921. We note in passing that Babuji had attended the Ramashram Satsangh of Mathura and of Sikandrabad between 1931 and 1944, where he probably created competitors and enemies.

Today, the Ramashram Satsang of Jaipur is headed by the son of Thakur Ram Singhji, Narayan Singh, who has chosen to use the method of the great Yogi Aurobindo. The Ramashram Satsang of Mathura is headed by the son of Dr. Chaturbhuj, Hemendra Kumar. It is then this site that has been on the Web for a long time. (http://www.ramashramsatsang.org/), as is the Ramashram Satsang of Sikandrabad is on the Web only since February 2008. (http://www.spiritual-meditation.org/).

The father of Lalaji, Harbaksh Rai Chaudhary, had a second son who was equally famous. Raghubal Dayal Chachaji (7/10/1875-7/06/1947) has also followed the teaching of Sufi Master Hujur. His family is located in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) where he had three son: Brij Mohanlal Dadaji (1898-1955), Radha Mohanlal Guruji (? - 1966) and Jyotendra Mohanlal. Brij Mohan was the favorite of Hujur, who saw him as Lalaji's successor as the head of the Sufi Brotherhood of Mazhariya, even if eventually, Lalaji preferred his own son.

A disciple of Brij Mohan, Yashpal (5/12/1918-3/04/2000), created the movement Akhil Bhartiya Santmat Satsang in 1969 at Anangpur (ABSS on www.abssatsang.org). For his part, Radha Mohan is at the creation of the Golden Sufi Center in California with Irina Tweedie and Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (http://www.goldensufi.org/). Radha Mohan is the 35th in the lineage of this Sufi Order. With his wife Sushila Devi, they had three son, Virendra, Satendra and "Baboo" Narendra Nath Saxena. She named her 2nd son Satendra to succeed his father.

As for Lalaji, he had two sons and eight daughters. His eldest son, Harish Chandra, died at two or three months. Only the second, Jagmohan Narain (2/11/01-28/08/44) is known to us, Lalaji having preferred his nephew Brij Mohan for his successor to head the new order of Mazhariya Ramchandriya (NaqshMuMRa). Too young to succeed him immediately, it was his uncle Chachaji who took the reins of NaqshMuMRa before him. Jagmohan himself had two son, Akilesh (28/06/41-15/05/74) and Dinaysh or Dinesh Kumar Saxena (born 28/10/44), who in turn succeeded one another in the order of NaqshMuMRa. Akilesh Kumar was not three years old at the death of his father and died before 33 years of age, but this did not prevent him from creating a periodical entitled "adhyaatma dhaara.

Dinaysh Kumar Saxena, a railway employee, retired since 2002 and who is soon to be 65 years old, is the present Master of NaqshMuMRa and is still residing at Fatehgarh. With his son, Himanshu Vikram, he created "NaqshMuMRa Nexus", a website where he mentions the movements that he believes are related to the teaching of his grandfather (http://www.laalaajinilayam.googlepages. com /). Included in this list is Sahaj Marg, the same way as Dinaysh is listed as preceptor of Sahaj Marg. And a blog created by Himanshu Vikram shows us pictures of Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari and Dinaysh gathered together in 2006 (http://www.laalaajinilayam.blogspot.com/).

On a website created last February 26, 2009 (http://www.adhyaatmadhaaraa.org/) Dinaysh tells us that he has created a charitable organization, the Laalaaji Nilayam Charitable Trust (LNCT). Its goal is to raise funds to rehabilitate the "holy places" that have marked the life of Lalaji and organize tourism pilgrimages. It is therefore planned to renovate the house of Lalaji (laalaaji Nilayam) and to increase its receiving capacity, to erect a life-size statue of Lalaji and to acquire many other places of worship.

As much as the previous movements seem to have no direct link to Sahaj Marg, as much the collusion between the grandson of Lalaji and Rajagopalachari is great. And Dinaysh makes it clear that this is the Shri Ram Chandra Mission Manapakkam (Chennai) and not that of Shahjahanpur (Babuji's family). The link is established between Dinaysh and Rajagopalachari, and in no case with the descendants of Babuji, Umesh Kumar and Navneet Saxena, who he ignores.

Yet in 2009, Dinaysh publishes a letter by Babuji dated February 14, 1963 where it clearly expresses his feeling that the Indian Sufism is completely obsolete and replaced by the Sahaj Marg. This is one way to highlight the division imposed by Babuji between the movements from Lalaji and his Sahaj Marg. So what is the connection between Rajagopalachari and Dinaysh? For what purpose did he deliberately chose to publish this letter? (see Dinaysh's "Epitome for Sahaj Marg" next on this blog)

And who will tomorrow be at the head of NaqshMuMRa and Laalaaji Nilayam Charitable Trust (LNCT)? Apparently, the descendants of the brother of Lalaji are "a priori" excluded. Then, on the basis of blood ties established by Lalaji, will it be the son of Akilesh, Vinay (born 17/07/65) or Samir Kumar (born 30/07/70)? Or will it resort to the son of Dinaysh, Himanshu Vikram (born 30/06/80), or one of his two sisters, although are women excluded "a priori"?

According Shashwat Pandey, who has interviewed him in 2009, Dinaysh would be in fear. His son, Himanshu Vikram, is working in Chennai for HTC Global Services, headed by a close associate of Rajagopalachari. (HTC Global Services is the management company for SRCM (California-1997) The Shri Ram Chandra Mission SRCM (California-1997) has probably invested funds in the LNCT for shares in the house and Lalaji Ashram at Fatehgarh. Has Dinaysh become a puppet in the hands of Rajagopalachari? However, in 2008, he asserted his independence before some old disciples of Babuji ... (see the next article on this blog ... a statement by Dinaysh Kumar Saxena, Dean of NaqshMuMRa Sufi Order. See also: Interview with Dinaysh Kumar Saxena on Freedom From Sahaj Marg (discussion board) and the Transcript to part 4 of that interview (on this blog) )

Finally, it is perhaps Rajagopalachari who wants possession of the official inheritance of Lalaji so that Sahaj Marg takes the lead at NaqshMuMRa.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

SRCM (California-1997)! For North America, Austerity or Expansion?

Article by Alexis taken and translated from Elodie's Blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg

Remember, people of MOLENA, Georgia, and Monroe, New Jersey: You heard it first HERE.

At the small village of Dole, France, (in Western Jura, near Burgundy) where the European Headquarters for the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) used to be before the atmosphere "soured" between the residents of the small village and the "Mission", and the SRCM moved it's European headquarters to Vrads Sande (castle) in Denmark. This conflict allegedly erupted because of the "cult-like obedience" to the Master demanded by Sahaj Marg, the interference of the MISSION in community politics, and the verbal attacks by the current Master on the traditional religions of the area (Christianity). That "soured atmosphere" allegedly culminated with the bussing in of "residents" at election time, threatening and attempting to change the mayor (also the banker) of the small village, and not adhering to community development plans in the "expansion" of their Augerans Castle (that was previously owned by the Peugeot (automobiles) Corporation), and offers to take over the "education" of the village children. (see: Value Based Spiritual Education (VBSE) curriculum and related articles)

(All these allegations are gleaned from (french) local newspaper articles.)


For more of the history of Sahaj Marg or Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) in Europe,
or to contact ex-members in Europe:


History of the Augerans Castle Headquarters for Europe of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM California-1997)

Alexis' Blog:
Le Projet Sahaj Marg
Elodie's blog: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg



Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Austerity or expansion?

October 2008, the SRCM (California-1997) Center in Chicago acquires a new home. April 2009, Chari gives the "go ahead" for a new ashram in New Jersey. July opening of the Sahaj Marg Center in Cleveland and the green light Chari on the resumption of the expansion of North American Ashrams.

Obviously, the financial austerity introduced by Chari less than a year knows some sprains. If your plans are still blocked, be aware that this is not the same for everyone. Some have more luck than others! Unless the windfall caused by the sale of Whispers No. 2 has unlocked everything. The austerity in SRCM, would it already be a distant memory?

Molena Ashram is the headquarters of the SRCM USA (80 miles south of Atlanta, GA), it covers 13 hectares (32 acres). Its extension was already scheduled for September 2008 speech before Chari's austerity speech from Dubai. The Expansion Committee included 2 work phases. The first was to begin in October 2008 and end in April 30, 2009. It involved the creation of a 2nd extra wing with a meditation hall of nearly 300 m² (3000 sq ft), an extension to the dining hall, bedrooms and toilets and a new cottage. The second phase was to create a large meditation hall outside, instead of the tent which hosted large gatherings.

All this was blocked in late 2008!

This was not the only project, the extension of the ashram at Sunderland-Pioneer Valley (MA) was also in the cards, as well as the acquisition of a center for New Jersey and the purchase of land in California. Remember that each ashram is managed by a Management Committee (AMC) and the Beavercreek, Dayton (OH) did not seem to have any special needs.

In addition to its 3 ashrams, North America had available on a full-time basis localities (rented or owned) for the 3 Canadian Centers Toronto, Vancouver and Nelson. Thus, since July 2006, the Toronto Center rents a room for 60 to 90 people who come to meditate for about 1,500 € (2,300 USD), rent fully supported by one hundred active abhyasis since local groups have to bear the all of their expenses. Previously, an alderman had lent them a room for free since July 2004, as the SRCM is a "non-profit organization".

All projects were blocked ... except October 5th, 2008, the Chicago Center (IL) became the purchaser of a locality of more than 200 m² (2400 sq ft) in Warrenville for a group of about 60 abhyasis and approximately 15 children.

In April 2009, Chari gave permission for the future acquisition of premises near the Center in Cranbury, New Jersey. On July 5, 2009, the Cleveland Center (OH) held the first satsangh in its new location, bringing to 5 the number of North American locals, held full-time by the SRCM. The Center held a regional gathering from 11 to 13 September to inaugurate its new building. This is one of the two historical centers opened by Babuji in the United States in 1972, along with Stonington, Massachusetts.

Also in July, Chari has given permission to begin the first phase of work in Molena. The search for land to expand the area of the Sunderland ashram was re-started. Indeed, the Ashram serves both abhyasis in the northern United States than those in southern Canada. A fundraising campaign for the ashrams started in September.

Cranbury is not that a proposal for the acquisition of a simple room, it's actually a project for an ashram for New Jersey, 80 miles southeast of Manhattan. The building permit should be obtained in late September early October, before the final purchase. This is an area of one hectare (2.7 acres) in Middlesex County in Monroe. It could accommodate 150 people, with parking for 50 vehicles, a kitchen, storage room and a cottage for the keeper. The launch is already planned for late winter.

In short, for the SRCM (California-1997), North American ashrams owned 3 and 3 centers before the permanent austerity speech of Chari a year ago. It already has 5 centers, and soon 4 ashrams, and expansion projects are underway in two of them.

That's austerity !


Don's comments:

(One can certainly ask. Where does all the money for all these "expansions" of the SRCM(California-1997) into North America, Europe and around the world come from? Donations? Does it not sound like a "missionaries" invasion from the "Indian Missions"? Funded by ??? Chari's "Corporate" friends? Is SRCM(California-1997 simply a "marketing" scheme? )


Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sahaj Marg's "Stupid Freedom" or Egregores?

Comments on an article taken from the Sahaj Marg Newletter for North America:
Echoes from North America.


The Blind leading the Blind. Both fall off the cliff and into the Precipice
!



Comments from 4d-don
in red italics


Diana Waycott, SRCM (California-1997) Regional Co-ordinator, West Region

Whispers from the Brighter World has brought to light aspects of our spiritual practice that heretofore were hidden to us. (It was just made up by the "anonymous French Lady Medium") One of these aspects is the concept of an égrégore. This term is defined in Whispers from the Brighter World, Vol. 1:

An égrégore is a kind of group mind (a kind of ?? See Frank's - ex SRCM's zonal-in-charge for the Netherlands analysis of "Groupthink" at Sahaj Marg.) which is created (How is it created? Magically? or "through a command from a "leader"? When does the "egregore" become "autonomous"?) when people consciously come together for a common purpose. (What is the real purpose of the Chari Clan? (Spiritualism? Nationalism? Business?). The leadership of SRCM (California-1997) who will attempt to control the "autonomous" egregore, are now in court with Babuji's family for control of the MISSION. Will your "egregore" unite them? NO! So far, Chari's "egregore" has done nothing but "divide".) Therefore it has the characteristic of having an effectiveness greater than the mere sum of its individual members. (That effect can be for "good or bad" or "positive or negative" for the group, or for their families, their friends, the so-called "enemies of spirituality" (according to Chari), or society at large. Look at the examples of other religions who have used egregores (or "archangels") in history, and the atrocities committed by normally "sane" people, under the control of such "autonomous" egregores. Research it!! Before you un-wittingly set the egregore loose on your "friends, family, and your children".) It can also refer to the psychic and astral entity of a group. (Tell the truth! Or do your research more deeply! An egregore is an "autonomous" psychic entity!! You will not "control it". Study crowds or mobs in a "protest" and historical events such as crusades, revolutions, terrorism (9-11), wars, sports, hunts (animal, human), etc... and see the "autonomous" aspects of egregores or "groupthink", and the "good or bad" that is created by such "egregores" or "groupthink".

Whatever happened to: "At Sahaj Marg we seek only the ULTIMATE?" Are you now seeking the "lowest common denominator" of GROUPTHINK, the collective mind of all and anyone who joins your group for any and all reasons and purposes? What is your experience with "egregores"? What is your experience in filtering out "deviants" and/or "manipulators" of people, who now use Sahaj Marg, and other neo-religions, as their "market", with all kinds of other "therapies" for sale, such as astrology, psycho-genealogy, numerology, Emotional Free Therapy (EFT), etc.)


Prior to the release of this book, we all certainly felt the benefit of being together at gatherings of abhyasis. (marketing to the "mob" mentality makes the "crowd" easier to control. Are abhyasis now into "sensuality", or the "feeling the benefit" of events (any event), and not the ULTIMATE?) Now, as I read Babuji’s message (below), (the message is, in reality, from an un-professional, "anonymous French Lady Medium" who claims to channel messages from the deceased Spirit of Babuji and other un-named SPIRITS of the deceased.

We should now see "egregores" in the explanation and in the "promotional material" that states what Sahaj Marg really is. Will we? Will the preceptors now tell the new recruits about "egregores"... before they become "involved"?)
I feel that he is telling us more about the extent or the reality, on a spiritual level that such a group can have. (Sahaj marg is not seeking the ULTIMATE anymore, but is now into the POWERS and the "Principalities". It is now just a RELIGION!! Same old, same old! (story)... Not as Babuji wanted for his "mission".

"Oh! the Bliss!!" , "Whee! we all belong to an autonomous egregore, and obey an "anomymous French lady medium" who writes our BIBLE. or ... "No "stupid freedom" in Sahaj Marg!! ")
Personally, I am encouraged that such a bond ("autonomous") does exist between us and furthermore that its effectiveness extends beyond the mere physical limits that we can only perceive as humans. (Does it extend to the MIND or to the SPIRIT? Will you now as a group, attack the "temples, churches, ashrams" of other religions or "spiritual groups", as was allegedly recently done by your group (SRCM (California-1997) at the Babuji Memorial Ashram? Will your egregore, being autonomous, control your actions as it does the members of other "religious groups". Will you be "free" with (as Chari says), your "stupid freedom", to say NO!!, and stand "alone" as a true "spiritual" seeker, or commit the atrocity with the GROUP under the control of an autonomous "egregore" or groupthink.

Now wait and see what your egregore does with the rebellion of "youth", or the disrespect of the "misfit", and wait and see how it attacks and destroys the dreams of the "un-co-operative" mate, in assistance with the unwitting abhyasis, under the guise of "cleaning" the desires of their "mate". To destroy the communal dreams of a couple or a family, is to destroy the "relationship". How will you protect the dreams, the hopes, the desires of your mate, your family, friends, and their children from your autonomous "egregore"? How will you stop the greedy, the deviant, the ruthless, the violent, in the "GROUP" from effecting the "egregore"?)


Therefore when we come together, we not only strengthen ourselves, we strengthen others (in our group and outside) and we strengthen our spiritual path in the context of the world, letting God’s love radiate out (That is not true. Under the control of an autonomous egregore, you will do as the GROUP does and that historically has been "tragic".) This October’s gathering at our Molena Ashram is our next opportunity to strengthen this. (does that not sound "naive" and a little "dishonest" ? or SPIRITUALIST... giving yourself over to an "autonomous psychic entity", an "egregore", under the name of "Raja Yoga" or SPIRITUALITY? Even the Catholics don't do that anymore, because we (the people) removed that POWER from the pyramidal Vatican in the 12th Century, thanks to enlightened people like Thomas Aquinas (1225-74), Roger Bacon, and Rene Descartes, and later, thanks to the Protestant Reformers (Martin Luther (1483-1546 and John Calvin (1509-64) et al . Sahaj Marg is a loop back to the Dark Ages of Magic and Spiritualism before the Age of REASON.)

A specific force emanates from these days, which man cannot assess. (We, "man", can assess these "forces", but you don't seem to be able to, and hence you seek the drowsy navel-gazing safety of a GROUP-think (egregores are of the "mind" as is hypnosis, and half-sleep or day-dreaming state).

It seems that some habituated abhyasis prefer a spiritualist "opiate" state, and would desert their family and friends, the poor, their own social environment, as well as the "green environment" of their area, as well as the ideals of their national egregore: their "stupid freedom" as your Master calls your "freedom". (not his) )
. As any participants, he benefits from it, but this fact goes well beyond by developing our Mission égrégore. (autonomous!! The benefits will be for the "egregore" or the "leader" who tries to "control" the GROUP. NOT for Society or Mankind. DO you want all other religions to start using "egregores" (archangels) again and wage "holy wars"? ... As Freud would say: "The MONSTER is of the ID.") These days, which bring our brothers closer surge of heart, have an incomparable positive impact. (Or negative! The Egregore is "autonomous"!! The use of "egregores" is called SPIRITUALISM ... not SPIRITUALITY! Who Dares oppose the EGREGORE?? Who in Sahaj Marg is still FREE to oppose the Master? Who will defend our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from the Sahaj Marg "gay bashing" Egregore? Who will protect the children from the "egregoric manipulation" of deviants from within the "sisters and brothers" of the group? How will infiltrators with "different purposes" (selling or promoting "alternative therapies") be kept out of the "egregore" or the "groupthink"? If many in the GROUP (including the Founder and family members) are emotional, depressed, suicidal, will the "groupthink" or the egregore make others emotionally ill? Are the emotional states also "transmitted" by the SYSTEM of Sahaj Marg? How many diagnosis of "mental illness" in Sahaj Marg? Could it be systemic? The "EGREGORE" or the GROUPTHINK?

When one has an egregore, one has "rituals". One is to pray for "favourable egregore", as decreed by Chari. Now you have prayers for a "favourable egregore" and a prayer for "peace" even though the FOUNDER of Sahaj Marg stated explicitly that Sahaj Marg is not to obtain PEACE.

Since the population of the globe is reaching "cancerous" rate and that "India and China" is responsible for almost one half of that. One can take a lesson from the Catholics of the 1950's, (the beginning of the INFORMATION AGE for the masses) who, after having been "decreed" by the POPE to not use "artificial birth control" , but to only use the "rhythm method, said: "NO" ... and that was the end of the Vatican' s control of the masses through their "egregore". No more "breeding for the sake of the RELIGION" so as to increase the "numbers" by arranging marriages, and getting the "adherents" to BREED ... as with Sahaj Marg ! When will Sahaj Marg Become "environmentally (planetary) conscious" and limit their "cancerous growth" in other countries? We don't need more "BREEDERS" here!!



Do your RESEARCH... See other articles on Egregores on this site (for links and references):

Why Does Sahaj Marg use Egregores? A Freemason Perspective!!
What is an Egregore? Is it part of Raja Yoga?
Abhyasis Pray so as to create a "favourable egregore". (Chari!)
Chari-ty creates a "gay bashing" Egregore"!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Babuji's Story, According To Narayana's ISRC!

Excerpts from Institute of Sri Ramchandra Consciousness (ISRC), The Story of Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur). Which story is true, ISRC or SRCM (California - 1997)). It seems that the Chari version of "history" (or "his story") is a "whitewash", a "cleaning" or a fabrication and a manipulation of the true HISTORY of SRCM, and their "lineage". It is not in agreement with Lalaji's legitimate lineage, nor is it in agreement with the other "schisms" of the SRCM itself (ISRC, and the SRCM (Shahjahanpur) of Babuji's Family)

For the true history of Sahaj Marg, and The Shri Ram Chandra Mission see:

The Sahaj Marg Project
The History of The Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM)
Freedom From Sahaj Marg (legal documents, interviews, song, etc..)



See: Story of Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur on ISRC:

http://www.sriramchandra.org/Master/BabujiMaharajStory.htm

Babuji seems to have dabbled in "mesmerism" (hypnotism)!!

During his school days he had a friend who with mesmerism used to treat people suffering from diseases. He started thinking about this process and came to the basic point that it is concentration and movement of energy for some work pregnant with that thought. Some time later a relative of his also claimed himself to be a mesmerist. But he did not want to teach Sri Ramchandra unless he did some personal service as per the old ways generally adopted by gurus.


Babuji Seems to have dabbled in "faith healing" (or mesmerism, hypnotism)


During that period Sri Idris Ahmed, the Head Master of Govt. High School, Shahjahanpur where he was studying suffered from severe pain of colic. He was totally restless and groaning due to pain and requested Sri Ramchandraji to help him if he can. He caught hold of his thumbs with his hands putting his thumb over his and passed the suggestion that "you are alright now" for a minute. The head master felt relief from pain immediately and he went to sleep. Thereafter the head master referred all the cases of suffering students in the school to him for relief that they were getting. Such was his will even by then.


Baubji (and his wife) seems to have been "short tempered"
!

He was married at the age of 19 (1918) at Mathura the birthplace of Lord Sri Krishna. His wife Smt. Bhagwati, however, was short tempered. But his attitude to accept every thing as a divine gift enabled him who is also equally short tempered to tone down his irritable nature and learned tolerance in her company. This helped him enormously in his spiritual life.

and later....

Mean while his married life was one of constant irritation to him. His wife who was short tempered was worsening his short temper. He reported the matter to his Master who asked whether he was losing senses while being angry. He observed that while the ill temper continued and while he was angry many times, never did the rage made him lose control over the senses. This Master told him that senses do not have any control over him and he has moderated them to the required extent.


Baubji seems to have contemplated "suicide" over a work place incident:

He felt so bad that he even told his respected father that he would resign from the office or else commit suicide. His father told him to resign immediately if he felt so. However, he continued the service and with the help of the Munsif was able to learn the work fast in a few months and was comfortable. Despite this attitude of his colleague which had driven him to such an extent as to make him think of suicide also, his treatment towards him was as cordial as ever.

Later....

Despite this attitude of his colleague which had driven him to such an extent as to make him think of suicide also, his treatment towards him was as cordial as ever.


Early family intrigues in Babuji' s Family Life:

After his father's demise one of his uncles distantly related wanted to be in-charge of the management of his estate, so that he may have a chance of deriving all possible advantage by fair or foul means. He and his brother did not agree and thus the uncle became an opponent. For years together he remained so, creating difficulties to Sri Ramchandraji at every step by underhand means till his death in 1956. He went on with his activities setting up causes for worry, harassment and loss to him. He provoked persons against the Master and tried to drag him to court on many issues. He even resorted to gangsterism in order to harm him in every possible way. Though Master had means and resources to pay his uncle in his own coin, he bore everything patiently and calmly remaining ever on the defensive side with no intention to retaliate. These things should have made any one feel miserable at the loss. But the spiritual genius in him withstood all these for the Divine work ahead, waiting for him.

And later...

This was much appreciated by Lord Krishna who blessed him and his family with spiritual and material prosperity for generations to come.

The Blessings of Lord Krishna to "him and his family" ??

His family life continued satisfactorily. He was blessed with 6 sons and 3 daughters. However 2 sons and one daughter died during infancy. His wife Smt. Bhagwati passed away in the year 1949. His second son Sri Dinesh, however, committed suicide in the year 1958.


Read the whole story of Babuji's and K.C. Varadachari's intrigues since the foundation of SRCM, at ISRC




For Testimonials from ex-abhyasis (and Preceptors or priests)



Inner Circle of SRCM (Michael USA)
Micheal's (ex-preceptor's personal blog (USA)
The Pitfalls of Spirituality (Frank, Ex Zone-In-Charge, Netherlands)
Pour Que Vive le Sahaj Marg (Elodie, France)
Le projet Sahaj Marg (Alexis, Europe)
Freedom From Sahaj Marg (Cult of India) (Ex member, Shashwat, India)
Beware of Sahaj Marg (SRCM) (Ex-member, Jai Hind, Australia)
Analyse de la SRCM (Christian, ex abhyasi for 18 yrs, Europe)
SRCM=Danger (Alexis, Europe)
Decodage du Discours du Sahaj Marg et de la SRCM (Anthropologist's view, Canada, French)
Le Sahaj Marg a Detruit Ma Famille (Vincent, diviorced male partner of abhyasi, Belgium, Europe)
Writings on the Wall (Sameer, ex-member, now emotionally ill, India)
Tell me Truth India (Babuji's Family (Navneet), India ... see comments)

Many more testimonials, interviews, etc... at:


Interviews, Testimonials, Research Index (see Testimonials Index bottom of right margin)
Freedom From Sahaj Marg (legal documents, interviews, etc...)

Discussions (on all blogs) on these discussion sites:


(Orkut.com) Freedom from SRCM (Sahaj Marg) (India)
Pour Que Vive le Sahaj Marg (mostly French & some English)


Babuji, His Descendants, and the SRCM (Shahjahanpur)

Taken and Translated From Elodie's Blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg
This is an article by Alexis.



The descendants of Babuji and the SRCM of Shahjahanpur


Shri Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji 30/04/1899-19/04/1983) had five children, three boys named Prakash, Umesh Kumar and Sarvesh Saxena, and two girls named Smt Maya Indira and Smt Chaya Saxena.

4-d Don's comment: According to the breakaway Institute of Sri Ramchandra Consciousness (ISRC) of Narayana, Dr Varadachari's son, Dr K.C. Varadachari was Guru in-waiting and heir-apparent of SRCM before Chari came on the scene. Dr. Varadachari died Jan. 31, 1971.)

"His (Babuji's) family life continued satisfactorily. He was blessed with 6 sons and 3 daughters. However 2 sons and one daughter died during infancy. His wife Smt. Bhagwati passed away in the year 1949. His second son Sri Dinesh, however, committed suicide in the year 1958. (Chari joined the mission in 1964 according to SRCM (California-1997) )"

Babuji includes his young (elder) son Prakash in the list of the founding members of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, when he files its statutes in 1945. In 1980, Umesh goes on tour in the U.S. with two full preceptors of his father, Raghavendra Rao and Ramachandra Reddy, without any delegation of Babuji. On April 16, 1982, he (Babuji) secretly designates his son Umesh as his successorin a letter addressed to him. Yet, everyone agrees in claiming that the children of Babuji did not participate in the collective weekly meditations and have never shown any sign of interest in things spiritual until the early 1980's.

Babuji dies April 19, 1983. At the working committee which meets without delay, the following July, Prakash presents his own son, Sharad as successor to Babuji. This request was rejected by the committee which accepts, however, Umesh and his secret letter of nomination in February 1984. The family opens a legal battle against Rajagopalachari who also claims the succession, on the subject of the Presidency of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission and the properties that are attached.

They recall the statutes of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, which stipulate that its headquarters is in Shahjahanpur and the president inherits its position from the line of succession, which they translate as "blood line". They add that the purported letter of appointment of Rajagopalachari is a fake because it is backdated, and makes no reference to Lalaji, which Babuji never would have done, and the phrase "President of the Sahaj Marg system" which means nothing, and that the Canadian Donald Sabourin, the so-called witness to this appointment, could not have attended on that date.

Around 1984, the state of Uttar Pradesh introduces the legal requirement for the organizations declared as the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, to hold elections and elect their president. After the vote, SP Srivastava is elected. According to the son of Umesh Chandra Saxena, Srivastava was appointed chairman of the working committee and BD Mahajan, the secretary, so as to avoid an explosion of the movement, because of statements by Kasturi in favor of Rajagopalachari. The ashram undergoes a first failed attempt to a takeover by force in 1988, by the clan Rajagopalachari.

In 1994, Umesh Chandra is elected President in place of SP Srivastava, and KV Reddy becomes secretary of the Mission. In 1997, another attempt to take back the power from the ashram fails. Umesh is walking armed in the ashram. In 1998, one of his preceptors, who went to the United States to represent him, opens a website titled 'sahajmarg.org'. This gives rise to a another quarrel with the clan of Rajagopalachari. The American Arbitration Commission on domain names delivers an opinion in favor of the clan of Umesh in 2000, but the site was abandoned due to pressure from the clan of Rajagopalachari.

Umesh Chandra Saxena dies November 3, 2003. His son Navneet Kumar Saxena is appointed the next president, KV Reddy is confirmed in his post of secretary. The Rajagopalachari clan tries unsuccessfully to seize the ashram again, four days later, November 7. So, at once, no one is allowed to enter into the ashram easily, even under express recommendation. Until it was finally taken over April 2, 2006 by the Rajagopalachari clan, who places at its head Sarvesh, the brother of Umesh. The trial continues today, from appeal to appeal, but Navneet has decided to speak on the web also in January 2007, first on blogs and then by creating his own website 'srcmshahjahanpur.org'. This time, the Indian arbitration panel ruled in favor of Rajagopalachari clan, in July, 2007.

Today in late 2009, Prakash and Umesh have died. Prakash's wife attends satsanghs led by Kasturi in Lucknow. Sarvesh, who is on the list of preceptors of Rajagopalachari, opens the Ashram at Shahjahanpur to all those who wish to attend. Navneet's brother, Puneet and his mother have recorded their testimonies against the methods of the Rajagopalachari clan in videos shot by Shashwat Pandey. And we are still waiting for the outcome of the trial ...

Alexis



Shashwat Said:

There is one minor correction in this summary, K.V Reddy was made overseas secretory of the mission in 1980, and Chari was removed from the post of secretory of Indian affairs in 1982 and replaced by B.D Mahajan.

S.P Shrivastava now runs a parallel organization from Lakheempur Khiri, a small town near Lucknow, U.P. and refuses to give any interview on record.

First two points are relevant enough to be put in the summary.

Regards
Shashwat





Saturday, September 05, 2009

Sahaj Marg's Pithoragarh Ashram! Spirituality or Spiritualism and Nationalism?

Taken from Echoes of India Vol. 1, Issue 4 (July 2008) Article called: "Another Himalayan Gateway: Pithoragarh"


4d-don's Comments in
red italics.

The valley district in which Pithoragarh (population 41,157 - in 2001) is located, called "Little Kashmir", is the main town of a region that borders both Nepal and Tibet. (hence its geographical value to "nationalist" businessmen). Pithoragarh, till recently, was part of Almora district, in Uttar Pradesh. It was given the status of a separate district on February 1,1960.

This region as many other parts of the world will soon realize the "spiritual" as well as the survival value of "water". Tourism, even "spiritual tourism", does not "add" to the water supply!! Religious developers, don't pave our earthly Paradise, and don't develop in our Natural environment, more "God-seekers" portals to a man-made fantasy called the "Brighter World", destroying Nature as a "tribute" to the folly that comes from the fanatical MIND of the religious and their flawed theology. (ie... "God is MALE" and now, there are "portals" to get to the "Brighter World" where the faithful must "MEET", disregarding their "carbon footprint" and at great cost to the local environment)

Where once there was Nature, there is now the so-called "Natural Path" of the city businessmen, with its "un-natural" structure, and its un-natural spiritualism, that was originally called the "easy path" by the Founder in his Autobiography. The "quick and easy", and all "natural", MacDonald's fast food of Spirituality. The natural path comes into the "natural environment" and brings "numbers" of spiritual Tourists who will leave behind physical "garbage", intellectual corruption (their theology and philosophy), and their emotional mess (the divisions in the Mission and the dis-respect of other religions and other people: i.e. the bloggers), and not much SPIRITUALITY but a lot of SPRITUALISM for sale ... Please, build your Ashrams and your mythical dimensional "portals" in the cities, so you and your "fans" won't have to drive far, so as to "take off" on your imaginary communal trip to your fantasy Brighter World. Or is it imaginary? How cultish has Sahaj Marg become? How cultish will it become in the future, after Chari?? Learn to "disobey" now!! Your leadership is beginning to sound like some other apocalyptic "cults".

Those of us who isolate ourselves from the world of cities, and live in or near the natural "environment" (mountains) do not want the corrupt solutions of those gurus of religion and industry, who make such a mess of life on the outside, in the industrialized cities. Leave the simple folks and their "simple nature" in PEACE and take your crowds back to your industrialized "cities" ... Please don't build your Ashrams of absentee landlords, in our "natural" world as you leave behind only material, emotional and intellectual "garbage" and not much spiritual depth. (egregores, groupthink, becoming a "living dead", getting messages from the dead, court cases, violence, disrespect of other "religions", etc..) We don't need the tourism that will bring those crowds to our little towns in the name of being spiritual, natural and/or peaceful. They (crowds) are neither!! Crowds (numbers) create "problems"!! Water (shortage) and garbage (sewage, pollution, social and religious problems, etc) are just the most obvious to the "locals".

See this notice here: (Charity money well spent...eh? NOT!! )

The so-called: Natural Path (Sahaj Marg) does not seem to be attuned with Nature and its "life-giving" as well as destructive force. First there was a flood in 2008, at their LMOIS (school) and at Babuji's Memorial Ashram (which Chari's group allegedly took violently from Babuji's family (see here with photos) and appeals for "Charity".)

And now this notice:

IMPORTANT NOTICE
We deeply regret to inform you that due to total lack of rains in the hills this year, there is a very acute water shortage in Satkhol. As a result, Rev. Master has instructed us to cancel all the permissions given for the rest of this year. Satkhol ashram remains closed for all visitors until further notice.

Satkhol Registration Team


As Pithoragarh is 150 km from Satkhol, see guidelines for visiting Ashram:


Another Himalayan Gateway!!



Chari said:


"I have called an ashram a centre of light. There is an old
tradition that God permits, when He (The ONE, as Vivekananda called the CREATIVE, is not a Male) thinks (the ONE does not "THINK" as it is beyond MIND) the time is ripe, certain doors to be opened to the brighter world. (and if one is 5 feet to the right or to the left of the "certain doors", the dimensional "portal", one apparently can't get into the "heavenly", Brighter, or blissful world??). One can suppose that before the Ashram was built, there was no "door" or "portal" at that location.

The first
door is, of course, (of course?? lol lol First the megalomaniacs make up a fantasy and then they "believe their fantasy"... lol lol ) the great personality who comes to establish these doors. (now there are "doors" to open ?? Established by a "great personality", such as Babuji or Chari? Himself? How "humble" !! Sahaj Marg is getting weirder by the minute!! Ah the folly of the MIND!! ) He (capitalized as if a personality made of carbon, was the equal of the ONE Creator or the ALL!) gives the teaching. He gives the message ("He" gives the message to an anonymous French lady Medium? I don't think so!! His (Babuji's) messages are in his books! These "whispers" appear to be made up by the MIND of the MEDIUM, not the SPIRIT. There is not enough "depth"! ). He gives the call. (myth, fantasy, spiritualism. There is no "call"!! Get REAL as in the "central region of" REALITY!! Is it not "dawn" yet? (pun on "REALITY at DAWN", a book by Babuji. Maybe we should change that to: "REALITY at DON!") And to make people come and assemble at one spot from where they can take off, ("take off", eh?? Give me a break!! How "cultish"!!) we create ashrams. (and churches, temples, rituals, fantasies, mysteries, etc... to entice or intimidate the "locals"?? Fear and temptation?? ) In a very real sense, it is the gateway into the brighter world. (not "real" at all... this is a story, an illusion from the "mind" of Chari) provided it is used properly." (and properly will be how Chari will make it up (on the spur of the moment), and tell (or sell) you later in a book, for a price!! The game is "selling books" and FEELINGS!! or "sensations" of being "insured or protected beyond the grave" ... hence Sahaj Marg, like all religions is into "sensuality". Religions offers a deal with the ONE (and/or the ALL) where one party, the ONE, has not agreed, and has certainly not "signed"). The contract or deal (beyond the grave) claimed by Sahaj Marg and SRCM (California-1997) (and Chari) is "useless"!! It would not even stand in the courts of mortal MEN, unless there was "corruption" ... The ONE does not play in the silly fantasies and the games of MEN, not even "capitalist nationalist businessmen", who can attract funding to build "structures" of Matter at a great cost to society and at a greater cost to the "environment" of the planet. For what? A gateway to the "Brighter World"?? Silly!! What are they hiding?? Every place is a "gateway" to "elsewhere"! Call it "Brighter" or not!

The Catholics and the Muslims and most religions do the same: they build hospitals, schools, and churches for marriages, funerals, and then for day-cares, retreats, etc... (for free of course ... NOT!!)

So let's see: When the abhyasis get the "message", and they get "the call", they will all go and "assemble" at the "door" and "take-off" to the "Brighter World"!!!

Now, if you believe that, please tell your REAL "friends and family", so they will know where you are going, and tell them why: so you can "take off" for the Brighter World!! Does this not begin to sound like the apocalyptic: "Heaven's Gate" cult and/or the empire-building: "Solar Temple" cult (see also here (wikipedia) ? It is not very Raja Yoga or any other "system" of meditation!! Sahaj Marg is sounding more like "SPIRITUALISM" and like most "Cults of Personalities" ;-O

Thus spoke our Master (Chari) when he inaugurated the Pithoragarh ashram on December 19, 2004. (see full speech) (see photos and see the water, sewerage potential problems.)

The ashram is situated at an altitude of 5400 feet (up-stream) in Pithoragarh district 150 kilometres north east of Satkhol ashram. Designed by Master himself, the ashram (does not) looks like a pearl in an oyster nestling among the sub-Himalayan hills with Nepal on the east and Tibet on the north. Besides the meditation hall that accommodates five hundred, there are also other facilities like Master's cottage, (another "cottage" for the Master!! Ah! the simple life at SRCM (California-1997). How many cottages does Chari now have? Are they used by the poor and the homeless when Chari is not there? Or are they left "empty"? Built with Chari-ty dollars? Charity for the Indian "well-to-do"! Chari is like a "POPE". Who will pay for all these Ashrams and cottages? One is reminded of Pope Leo X (1475-1521), who's extravaganzas (birthday parties) brought about the Protestant Reformation!! ), a kitchen and a room.

Pithoragarh will be a tribute to the folly of medieval (feudal) religious thinking that lingered until the 21st century, just before the "transformation" ... The Question begs: Why an Ashram THERE? That spot looked a lot more "Natural" before the Ashram!! And we could all visit it (a few at a time) any time we wanted. Now one has to be SAHAJ MARG to feel the man-made structures that are there, all designed by the MIND of MAN! In the name of, and for the sake of the name of ONE, Please Leave some of the Natural world "natural"... please!! As a species, we don't have to develop EVERY PLACE!! We can leave some "home" for other species! How about an ashram home for the "homeless"!!


See Expansion plans for Molena Ashram at: Molena Ashram! Austerity of Expansion?


From Molena, Georgia city data for the (SRCM California-1997) Ashram, Head Office for the USA)


Drinking water stations with addresses in Molena and their reported violations in the past:


SHRI RAM CHANDRA MISSION (Population served: 25, Groundwater):
Past monitoring violations:
  • Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) - Between JUL-2000 and SEP-2000, Contaminant: Coliform (TCR). Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (DEC-18-2000), St Violation/Reminder Notice (DEC-18-2000), St Public Notif received (FEB-23-2001)
  • 2 routine major monitoring violations
  • 2 regular monitoring violations