Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Sahaj Marg(tm), An Immeasurable Blindness!

Translation of an article: "Un Incommensurable Aveuglement" by Élodie on her blog in Europe: "Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg"

January 23, 2013


An immeasurable blindness


The spiritual quest is a personal quest, a journey inside, without beginning or end;  it is this personal autonomy which is the guarantee of the encounter with the divine and true inner transformation.

The spiritual method proposed by Babuji deviates from all spiritual traditions by setting a goal, a result to be achieved, and decree-ing the urgency of the divine realization. To expedite the process and achieve the fixed goal, the spiritual leader transmits divine energy into the heart of his disciples. In doing so, Babuji unwittingly joins into the utilitarianism of our modern societies, from which the likely success of the method among Westerners seeking a closer God, incarnated by this new idol which is the living master, without renouncing in any way the  familial and professional modern life.

With the increasing number of his disciples, Babuji began to appoint preceptors to serve as relays, transmission channels; and Chari continued in this direction. The simple and direct relationship between master and disciple has become distended and has fostered a vast collective hierarchy. Idolized, the living master incites rivalry and competition to better approach him, to serve him and benefit from his attention. Love of God has been replaced by love for the Master, which Chari has translated into obedience and service. The individual and spiritual quest has disappeared in favor of a kind of religion with its supreme authority, manipulative, which dictates what to do and what to think: a sort of outer God instead of the divine within.

This new religion of Sahaj Marg has forged itself a culture, a philosophy with its own system of beliefs and myths. First the goal, fusion with the divine, a result to achieve has become an access to an indefinite "Central Region", the Brighter World of Whispers. Next, is the special personality, namely Babuji, at the top of the spiritual Hierarchy of the Great saints of history whose sojourn in the Central Region (of the Brighter World?), is seconded by a living Master who must be loved, hence obeyed and served. Finally, the mysterious Grand Design, in part revealed in Whispers by prophecies attributed to Babuji, where co-habits a population of politicians, allegedly human beings "in waiting", in the midst of the mire of this so-called "humanity" which does not deserve the name.

We can, we MUST  judge Sahaj Marg by its results, that is to say by its followers, we are told. Models of love, compassion and tolerance who say without flinching that the term "human being" is an "exaggeration", if not an outright "lie"; it is apparently not enough to "have two arms, two legs and the most developed mammalian brain" to make us human. 

This then is what this so-called spiritual Elite is, while spirituality remains and will always remain a personal inner journey without end.

Elodie 
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Friday, January 18, 2013

SRCM(tm) In The World (2012)

Taken and translated from an article by Alexis: "Géographie du Sahaj Marg", called: "SRCM dans le Monde", on Elodie's blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg

January 18, 2013


SRCM(tm) in the World


by Alexis:   Geography of Sahaj marg


Sahaj marg in the world has 74,000 contributing members, (25,000 regular attendees, 200,000 supporters) and 3,000 preceptors, a turnover of around 26 million (Euros)  excluding real estate and assets of 130 million (Euros) . for a penetration of 12 followers per million population, a growth of 2% per annum of the membership and 6% for the preceptors.

Nota Bene: the number of practitioners, contributors and supporters are estimates. Same for the turnover and assets.   In contrast, the number of preceptors are the figures quoted by the SRCM(tm). The amount of donations over 6 years (2005-2011) comes from data from the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act of India Ministry of Home Affairs. (see link to FCRA on this blog at: "Let's Talk Money")

India has 61,000 contributing members, representing 82% of the world figures, but 55% of the preceptors and 68% of the membership only, against 93% of supporters, namely 60 followers per million inhabitants and a growth rate of 2.5% of the membership.   In financial terms, this is 67% of the turnover and 62% of the total assets excluding real estate. Most of the real estate is in India. There would be 140-200 ashrams, but only 1 BMA (Babuji Memorial Ashram), 8 ashrams Class of A and 21 of Class B + 2 CREST, two retirement centers and 1 LMOIS (Lalaji Memrial Omega International School). At the end of 2011, SRCM claimed to have about a thousand meditation centers in India.
 
In the rest of the world, it is 13,000 contributing members, representing 18% of the membership, but 45% of the preceptors, 32% of regular attendees, and only 7% of supporters, namely 2 per million followers and 1% annual growth of membership. In financial terms, this is 33% of the turnover and 38% of the total assets excluding real estate. There are 17 ashrams, CREST and retreat centers, but little or no land. At the end of 2011, SRCM(tm) claimed to have 102 meditation centers outside of India.

 In Western Europe it is 3-5,000 contributors in 2012, 37% the membership outside of India. This is the first region for Sahaj marg after India, more than any other continent. Its penetration rate is 11 per million followers, close to the world average.
 
In Western Europe there are 296 preceptors in 1995 (57% excluding India), 365 in 2007, nearly 500 in 2012 (37% excluding India). After a terribly rapid development until the mid-90s, the growth of the Mission has greatly slowed to the benefit of other continents.
 
Financially, the total donations from Western Europe to the Mission in 6 years (FCRA data from 2005-2011) reached 151 million rupees (2.16 million Euros or 2.75 million U.S. dollars), or more than 15% of all donations excluding India. It also has eight ashrams, 3 in France, a CREST Centre in Berlin and a Retreat Center at Vrads Sande in Denmark, an ashram in Switzerland, one in Italy and the last one in the UK.
 
In terms of numbers, France is by far the largest, followed by Germany and Denmark. In terms of penetration, Denmark crushes all others with more than 100 disciples per million inhabitants, followed distantly by Switzerland with a little more than 50 followers.

North America has 2-4,000 contributors in 2012, 27% ​​of the membership outside of India and a penetration rate of 9 adepts per million inhabitants. There were also 99 preceptors in 1995 (19% excluding India), 263 in 2007 and around 350 in 2012 (27% excluding India). Recent growth is mainly due to Indo-American surge. Canada will weight very little compared to  the U.S., with just over 10% of the membership.
 
Third region of the world with respect to membership in Sahaj marg after India and Europe, North America wins hands down on the financial charts with more than three quarters of foreign donations, nearly 755 million rroupies (10.8 million Euros or $13.7 million USD). It has five ashrams, all in the United States including two very recent additions in California and New Jersey.

The rest of Asia excluding India, has 1,000 to 1,600 contributors in 2012, or yet 11% of the membership outside of India, but less than 1 follower per million inhabitants. There are also 47 precpeptors in 1995 (9% excluding India), 109 in 2007 and nearly 150 today (11% excluding India).
 
Asia contributes 5% of foreign donations (0.7 million Euros or 0.9 million USD), of which 88% comes from the Middle East and Peninsular Malaysia combined. The Middle East weighs in financially for more than half of Asian gifts and more than 40% of preceptors. Peninsular Malaysia accounts for a third of the donations and almost as many preceptors. There are also two ashrams in all and for all, one in Malaysia and one in Dubai.
 
One might as well saythat the rest of Asia is empty of Sahaj Marg or almost, even if they try by all means to develop in China.   Along with Denmark, the United Arab Emirates are the first in the world for the penetration by Sahaj Marg(tm), with more than 100 disciples per million inhabitants.

In terms of membership numbers, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa stand around 8-900 abhyasis each with about 7% of the membership outside India each and less than 3 adepts per million inhabitants. But the dynamics are very different.
 
Africa has stagnated with 47 preceptors in 1995 and only 67 in 1995, while Eastern Europe has increased from 17 to 72 preceptors over the same period with a sharp increase since the fall of the (Berlin) wall, and Latin America which started from zero and reached 71 preceptors in 2007.
 
In financial terms, Europe is in the lead with just over 200,000 euros in donations, or 1.5% of total foreign donations, from 95% from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Romania. It is followed by Africa with less than 100,000 euros, from 93% in the Horn of South Africa: South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius (2 thirds of African preceptors). Latin America has brought in ​​less than 10,000 euros in donations and does not have any ashram, while there is one in South Africa and one in Romania.

Oceania with between 4-600 contributors, has only 4% of the membership, but 14 followers per million inhabitants anyway. It also has 13 preceptors in 1995 (2.5% excluding India), 40 in 2007 and fifty today (4% excluding India).
 
Financially, Oceania accounted for nearly 1% of foreign donations, with nearly 130,000 euros in 6 years, and it still does not have its fixed ashram, Chari has fun by regularly  demolishing their plans.
 


Alexis
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Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Sahaj Marg(tm) and Becoming a Real Human Being?

Translation of an article (in reply to Fabrice, a preceptor of Sahaj Marg(tm)): "Devenir De Vrais Êtres Humains", on Élodie's blog in Europe: "Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg"

December 29, 2012


To Become Real Human Beings


A plunge into the heart of the belief system of Sahaj Marg

Fabrice (a preceptor of Sahaj Marg(tm)) reveals the depths of his thought

Excerpts: "(...) I have no need or SRCM as such or of Chari as such nor indeed of Whispers, or the medium, or Kasturi as such. I'm not attached to any name, no framework, no institution no particular belief  IF THEY ARE NOT IN SERVICE EXPERIENCE.

In other words, I do not practice because I believe. Here (in spirituality) BELIEF is OFF SIDE.  It does not fit at all into any account, for every belief represents a bias, a prejudice.

Here, we speak from experience, a feeling of well-being, tolerance, sense of peace, increase of love, no matter who the guru is, whatever the name of the path. Spirituality has nothing to do with proprieties, a guru does not come to please, but to tell uncomfortable truths which can upset and can shake us in our certainties. Every Master, teacher, guide or Guru whatever his name, has his personality, his character. We therefore accept him as he is, as he accepts us as we are. It is the freedom given to us by the spiritual path: not a stereotype or a stagnant situation.

One judges the tree and the gardener by the fruit they can produce. To reject the fruit because of a  prejudice is not correct nor adult. What can one say of those who do not even want to look at the fruit under the pretext that they do not like the gardener?  ...

(...) Whether one refers to Sahaj Marg or to any other spiritual path, the only reality to serve as a master standard is Love. What good is ultimate wisdom, power, knowledge of the science of the causes and effects? Love is the glue that binds all things, gives direction to what I just mentioned above. Love gives meaning and coherence to our work. Love is precisely Ultimate Wisdom and ultimate power. Become Love and refine it again and again. This is the direction of the authentic spiritual paths.
 
(...) Well understood, Sahaj Marg should be used as a tool for self improvement. How to deprogram one from one's conditionning, limiting beliefs, prejudices, judgment of others, past wounds ... to become a true human being more and more conscious of one's functionning, one's choices, by putting at the heart of one's preoccupation,  Love for others, attention to others, respect for all life, patience, and (very important) respecting one's limitations and those of others.

It is unfortunate that the Sahaj Marg is so misunderstood and so often poorly practiced in its philosophy and its implications in relation to others.   In other words, how does Sahaj Marg serve me if I do not get better every day.

(...) When I say that a spiritual practice if it is sincere, should make us real human beings ... yes! I confirm it, and invite you to not take it out of context, but to go through with the sentence: "... more and more conscious of one's functionning, one's choices, by putting at the heart of one's preoccupation Love for others, care for others, respect for all life, patience, and (very important) respecting one's limitations and those of others."

In other words, having two arms, two legs and the most developed brain among the mammals is not enough to make us human.  Simply watch the news to realize: violence, barbarity, rape , child rape, cruelty to animals and nature, yesterday, in a school shooting 28 dead, innocents ... I'll stop there.

There is then nothing human in this sad report, or even animal, animals do not behave like this, it is even insulting them!

Well, you know, I am sure, what I meant by saying that spirituality is a way to allow everyone to develop basic human values ​​and to gradually become conscious of casting out of one's self the destructive trends that make man the worst of predators.

I hope I was clear this time. "

After having seduced us with your small talk when there is question of love, tolerance and self improvement, Fabrice reveals the depth of his thought.

Sahaj Marg requires one to deprogram from one's conditionning, limiting beliefs, prejudices, etc.. (Sic). Belief is out of play (off side), everything is at the service of the experiment: the master, Whispers, the medium, etc..

Sahaj Marg requires one to get rid of one's beliefs, but it is to better adopt a new belief system.
This belief system, this culture or this philosophy are so well integrated by the abhyasis that they absolutely do not perceive it. This culture shaped by Chari, and developed to the extreme by Whispers and taken up in a chorus by all the abhyasis is worthy of the  behavior of adolescents in crisis, a limited thinking, atrophied and lobotomized.

Thus, love of others, respect for all life, the philosophy of Sahaj Marg and its implications in relation to others (sic) brings Fabrice and other abhyasis to declare that having two arms, two legs and the most elaborate brain is not enough to make us human (re-sic).

In other words, we are not worthy of our human condition, even an animal does not behave as badly as us. So there you have one trait of the belief system that the SRCM drives home, we are not human beings.

I regret to say that the 6 billion inhabitants of the planet are REAL human beings. By denying that quality, Sahaj Marg legitimizes all the wars of religion, and all forms of totalitarianism. Believing that some human beings are more REAL than others, is the beginning of the worst abuses experienced by our planet. This is a really CULTISH thought.

In my eyes, this about Fabrice proves that there is indeed a belief system rooted in the depths of the SRCM: we work in our group to become REAL human beings, others are not, do not deserve it. This is serious, very serious, and we hear a little more of it each day.

I admit not knowing how to say things so that the abhyasis will finally be made conscious of the risk of derailing which is behind these thoughts. For me they are just as sickening as the acts they accuse other people of doing, as they deny them their "human being" status. How does one explain it? This seems so obvious that words fail me, I do not know where to start.

Fabrice said: "there is nothing human there, or even animal," I fully agree with the second part of this claim, these behaviors have nothing to do with animals, but I reach a conclusion opposite to his: it is that it is typically human behavior, whether we like it or not. The human species is capable of the worst and the best, you can not remove the worse, you can not deny humanity its behavior considered bad, they are an integral part of it. The person who killed 20 children in the United States before killing himself was a human being, whether they like it or not, there is no doubt.

Abhyasis dream of a mankind better than it is (I too dream every day that passes), but how dare they say that "having two arms, two legs and the most developed mamalian brain is not enough to make us human? "

In doing so, they join in my eyes the most vile behavior of the human species. On behalf of thoughts like this, they justify all abuse: the death penalty, Hitlerian eugenics ... and probably also the ideology promoted in Whispers.

As I said before, this behavior is observed in most abhyasis, more numerous, more often. This is serious, very serious, you're dangerous.

I feel distraught at not finding the words to better show you how your thinking can become dangerous, it seems so obvious.

Human values ​​are not what you dream they are, human values ​​are a reflection of humanity, good and bad. You are re-inventing another human species, a side of humanity, founded on the values ​​of Sahaj Marg.  I do not share your values, so I'll re-invent a third human species, and so on.   We will only arrive at a better way to kill one another.

The world as it is does not satisfy you, you have chosen the internal and the personal path to change and improve it, so far so good. But considering that your values ​​are higher, that there is a population of elected (an elite?), and denying the humanity of those who do not suit you, you do show the most abject sectarianism and you set yourself lower than the ground.   It is no longer human improvement, and quite the opposite, it is ridiculous.

Obviously, your belief system is so integrated that you can not even perceive the incongruity of your words. From the outside, it is obvious. Just as the possession of firearms will not be challenged by the Americans despite the tragedy that strikes them, because it is part of their culture, while that is the first thing that offends foreigners.

Personal message for Fabrice:
 
I have not managed to strike a sensitive chord in you, I'm sorry, we are in a dialogue of the deaf, and yet it is the essential that is expressed there. You're being misled in a dangerous sectarian belief system under the guise of a pseudo perfection. The more beautiful the Utopia, the more likely it leads to a totalitarian hell.

I repeat, I sincerely wish that you would meditate seriously on the implications of these thoughts. Do me this pleasure, I fear that this sums up all that I can give you from my side, everything else is useless and in vain, in the face of it.

Élodie 

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