Sahaj Marg's "Mecca"??

Translation of an article by Elodie:  "La Mecque du Sahaj Marg", on her blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg.


May 3, 2015.

 
Sahaj Marg's Mecca?

Will Kamlesh Patel change Sahaj Marg? Is he very different from Chari? His recent speeches and recent events show us that unfortunately this is not the case.


Friday, Avril 17th, 2015, Fatehgarh, Kamlesh bhai said, “The Hierarchy wants to convey that the time has come for the Mission to grow rapidly.”
 
Saturday, Avril 18th, 2015, Lucknow, he recalled Master Chariji’s advice for growing the Mission – “Every abhyasi brings one new abhyasi every year.”

In his first public speaking, Kamlesh Patel called for unity. He then strongly emphasized discipline. Today, he re-launches the proselyte project of the Mission.

If one believes the Whispers (From the Brighter World), these psychic messages from the "hierarchy" of the (alleged) previous masters of Sahaj Marg, SRCM is growing and needs to accelerate the movement. Hence the increase in the powers of the preceptors by Patel, hence the creation of this new heartfulness.org website to lure people on a spiritual search, and hence the relaunching of proselytizing.

Kanha project - in pursuit of extravagant projects

In 1999, Chari inaugurated the Babuji Memorial Ashram at Manapakkam, the first "jewel" of Sahaj Marg, the first major sumptuous project of the Mission.

April 26, 2015, on the eve of the celebration of Babuji's anniversary in Lucknow, Patel attended the erection of a statue of Babuji at the building under construction at Kanha Shanti Vanam. A statue of 13 tons and almost 10 meters high, a hundred sheets of metal cast in a mold from a gold alloy of five metals.

The video of the installation of the statue

The statue of Babuji will from now on sit above a bright star-shaped building, which will itself be the focus of a future building in the shape of a heart, to portray the aerial view of the esoteric symbol published in  whispers (From the Brighter World) .

Sketch of the architectural project

This project Patel called the "Mecca of Sahaj Marg" (April 10, 2015) was born "with a handful of extremely dedicated abhyasis, thirty kilometers south of the new international airport in Hyderabad," because the "Mission's growth has also signified that we were financially able to tackle larger (more important?) projects. "

Nothing is Too Beautiful to Celebrate the Greatness of This Spiritual Path 

"The Masters of the past united cast their gaze on this grand work which is being built at Hyderabad.  There will be the "high place" of Sahaj Marg, where great things will be accomplished under the impulse of the current Master, Kamlesh Patel." 

"(...) Nothing is to beautiful to celebrate the greatness of this spiritual path as it will be perceived in the future. Precedents have thus marked this world; why could Sahaj Marg not accomplish this also, in the framework that is its own! (...) Large buildings around the world tell of this humanity, and this in its various forms (...). Yes, this site will be visited and appreciated, it will be highly charged, and that by God's grace (...)." (Whisper of  March 31, 2015)

Thus, "our masters have created a future for us; a future where we will be safe, free to practice and grow in these beautiful places, spiritually charged." Says Patel. As if the followers of Sahaj Marg were neither safe nor free to practice today. 

Codenamed "Kanha Shanti Vanam"

Remember what we learned from Alexis last November, that this project matured by Chari since 2008 from a living place with an ashram and living space for the abhyasis, a colony based on 4 charities created in 2010 with the acquisition of 200 to 300 ha (hectares) by this handful of a dozen (or so?) extremely dedicated abhyasis, most of which are large investors and entrepreneurs.

Let us not forget that the mission's foreign capital comes by over 50% from three people: two computer designer and pharmaceutical Indian American start-up, and (a Russian?) oligarch from Transnistria. 

Hyderabad, the Flagship of the SRCM (English)

Settlement (colonial?)  Projects Sahaj Marg 

By pursuing Chari's draft, Patel subscribes definitely to the continuity of his predecessor.  His program can be summarized as: Unity, Discipline and proselytism, more than ever inspired by the mediums.

Elodie

Bulletin No: 2015.42 – Tuesday April 28, 2015 :  

(…) Our beloved Chariji Maharaj had a special project close to his heart. Not many people knew about it, except towards the end. Actually, at its inception, probably only he and Mr Varma, the engineer, knew. The initial idea was to create a special grand memorial to his dear Master, Babuji Maharaj. He had already created a gem, the Babuji Memorial Ashram in Manapakkam, and at the time he was like a child, confiding he was not able to believe that this had been possible. Then time flew and new developments emerged. The idea of a beautiful samadhi for Babuji in Shahjahanpur developed along its own lines. The limiting factor there was space. The Mission grew in leaps and bounds and there was a greater need to have larger spaces for abhyasis to gather and also to live. 

The growth of the Mission also meant that we were financially able to tackle larger projects. Then came the acquisition and development of a huge area by a small band of extremely dedicated abhyasis, thirty kilometres to the south of the new international airport in Hyderabad. Chariji Maharaj chose this place for an unparalleled memorial.

His path had some years back crossed that of a very talented sculptor, Mr Prajapati, who resided in Jaipur, and he started commissioning statues from him to embellish the ashram in Manapakkam. Then came the plan for a huge statue at Kanha, to sit on top of the building dedicated to the new culture created by Babuji. This building is in the form of the heart-shaped esoteric symbol and it can be seen from aircraft flying in and out of Hyderabad. The total height is limited by the Airport Authority regulations at fifty-two feet. Over time it has become clearer that people from all over will flock to this memorial and it will become a well-known centre of light; it is so spectacular. 

On Sunday the 26th of April the statue of Babuji Maharaj was finally installed, under the supervision of beloved Kamlesh bhai. On its own, it stands at thirty feet, and it is a true work of art.

The face is so expressive and serene, and the fine hand-beaten work is lifelike in its detail. It is made of an alloy of five metals, and approximately one hundred sheets of metal cast from moulds made from the clay original were welded seamlessly together. The statue weighs thirteen tons. 

As we waited the night before, the extremely fine atmosphere of this place nurtured us. It is amazingly light. We were all left speechless at the grandeur of the design of the whole thing, and the dedication of the band of workers who are making the dream of the Masters come true. It feels as if Chariji Maharaj is overjoyed to see this.

We can only be grateful at the manner in which our Masters have created a future for us; a future where we can be safe, free to practice and to grow in such beautiful, spiritually-charged places.  

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Sahaj Marg 2014 Celebrations

Taken and translated from an article by Élodie: "Les Célébrations 2014 du Sahaj Marg", on her blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg


4d-Don's Comments: Ka-ching, Ka-ching (the sound of MONEY) ...  When there's a party at SRCM (Sahaj Marg), it's to sell iconography and material STUFF  (real estate, gasoline (travel, spiritual tourism), books, jewelry, trinkets, photos, food, shelter,  etc... etc... , and to hand out "titles" (positions)  in exchange.

Sahaj Marg is not a "natural path", it is not a "Raja Yoga",  but it is SPIRITUALISM (medium's messages from the spirits of the dead), sold under the name of  "SPIRIT-uality" !!  Their "Whispers" is written by an anonymous French Lady Medium (AFLM).  


The "carbon footprint" on the environment  gets larger at the SRCM,  as the spirituality at Sahaj Marg becomes more "SPIRITUALISM" ... all to find a GOD which is EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, and EVERYWHEN (the E-Trinity) !! 


December 14, 2013


Sahaj Marg 2014 Celebrations

Kamlesh Patel informs us in a circular published in SRCM Sahaj Sandesh of December 1st,  that Abhyasis of the world can go to three international celebrations in 2014:
 
-  Lalaji's Anniversary at Tiruppur, from February 1st-4th  
-  Babuji's Anniversary at Tiruppur, from April 29th to May 1st  
-  The Anniversary of Chari's new Ashram at Tiruvallur (46 km from Chennai), July 23rd to 25th
 
Chari has agreed to give his permission, and according to the tone of Patel, all must rejoice:
  
“Rev. Master has kindly consented (…).We are indeed fortunate that Rev. Master has been very kind to us to let us host 3 International Celebrations in a Single Year.”


The SRCM revives an abandoned tradition. Chari had limited in recent years the number of international celebrations to one, his birthday.  But Chari is still alive, everything continues to happen near Chennai. There is no question of moving away from the guru and organize anything abroad, as was the case until 2005 (France, Denmark, etc..).
 
The warning of Patel at the end of this invitation is interesting and revealing, not so much by what he said as in what is implied in these few sentences. He invites the Abhyasis to take in consideration their professional, financial and family life and their holiday situation, before deciding to participate in these events. 


“It is but natural for all abhyasis to have an inner desire to attend all the birthday celebrations and be in the presence of our Beloved Master. While such a desire or longing is natural, abhyasis must also take into consideration several factors like Holidays & also their Professional, Financial and Family situations before deciding on their participation.” 

As I understand it, some Abhyasis are in such idolatry they would do anything to be in the presence of the Master, even jeopardizing or sacrificing their professional, financial and family life.

Patel also reminds the supervisory staff of the organization that the final decision whether or not to attend the celebrations should be left to the Abhyasis as the last resort.  


“The Prefects or Functionaries of the Mission must not put any pressure on abhyasis' participation and must allow it to be a natural "Heart Based Call" from the abhyasis' side. There should be a sense of joy when abhyasis come forward on their own accord and attend the celebrations, the final choice being left to the abhyasis.”

As I understand it: some executives are too zealous to ingratiate themselves to the Master by putting pressure on the abhyasis, so much so, that they (the "disciples") find no joy in participating in these events against their will.

The public who attends these celebrations, is it composed of people who are forced to participate, and of fanatical idolaters?

This double recommendation sounds like a warning to the Abhyasis, the preceptors,  and the staff of the Mission, an exhortation to use a little more restraint, symptomatic of the excesses observed for several years at the Mission. 

Elodie

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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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Babuji (of Sahaj Marg) Claimed to Modernize Spirituality

Taken and translated from an article by Élodie: "Babuji Prétendait Modernizer la Spiritualité", on her blog: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg



October 26, 2012 

Babuji Claimed to Modernize Spirituality

 Once again, reading the latest article by Michael really made me think. His extensive knowledge of Sahaj Marg and the quality of his analysis command respect. At my humble level, I give you here some of the ideas that inspired me. Do not hesitate to come and discuss with me. 

Babuji took advantage of all the experience accumulated by the ancient spiritual wisdom when he created the Sahaj Marg.  This spiritual method was to be the fruit of modernity and of an Indian culture which opens on the outside world.

Babuji describes the Sahaj Marg as a system that allows everyone in their everyday life to a quick access to spiritual realization.  In other words, this was to be the only method which was supposed to allow fusion with the divine during the spiritual seeker's lifetime, without giving up his daily life.Sufis, Buddhist monks or Hindu sanyasins withdraw from the ordinary world to devote their lives to the spiritual quest.  They adopt an austere and reclusive lifestyle, a monastic, hermetic and ascetic  lifestyle.  They give up everything to devote their lives to spirituality, it is a full-time commitment.  Contrarily, Babuji claims that there is no need to renounce anything, Grihasta (householder's lifestyle) can achieve the goal without changing one's daily lives.

For Sufis, Buddhist monks or Hindu sanyasins, time does not exists. The quest is infinite, it transcends their lives, and continue to reappear in subsequent reincarnated lives. Instead, Babuji insists on the urgency of spiritual realization, demonstrating (showing proof to)  not only his linear conception of time, but its modernist acceleration.

For Sufis, Buddhist monks or Hindu sanyasins, what is important is the spiritual quest, the journey, the spiritual journey.  Instead, Babuji says there is nothing more important than the goal of attaining  divine fusion.  The only thing that counts is the goal and of little importance are the means to achieve it, while in conventional wisdom, the means are the end. 

A goal readily available to all,  three un-natural ideas which have an appeal to seduce to modern minds:

* where the ancient spiritual wisdom focuses on the spiritual path, Sahaj Marg offers a goal, to result to achieve
* where the ancient spiritual wisdom is in an infinite time, Sahaj Marg counters with the urgency of achieving
* where ancient spiritual wisdom reserves the spiritual quest to those who devote their time and their lives, Sahaj Marg claims the speed of reaching the goal, for all. 

Forgotten are the values ​​of renunciation, asceticism, the slow and contemplative journey,  Babuji offers a modern method, the only valid one.  How does he do it?  He accelerates the slow process of Raja-Yoga obscuring the first six steps thanks to the intervention of an outside and intrusive All Powerful Master.  (or more often a preceptor).

We now know the unfortunate consequences of this (r)evolution. They are terrible and have done a lot of damage.  Had Babuji ever imagined?  Was he aware of everything it engendered?  To Chari and Patel, the question does not arise, they know.

Remember the letter of Babuji in 1963 where he denigrates and denies totally the Sufism of Lalaji (published by Dinaysh, the grandson of Lalaji)

“The Mohamadan systems have all breathed their last and this, 'The Sahaj Marga' 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 feels there suddenly emerging all the self-sufficiency of a somewhat arrogant and presumptuous Babuji.

Babuji claimed to modernize spirituality, he popularized (vulgarized) it, but he also weakened it and atrophied it. 

Élodie

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 Comment on Elodie's blog (Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg) 

Anonymous Said....

This grihasta life recommended by Babuji... is it not a life of denial if remembering the Divine Master has to be constant?

Who can claim to be with his wife and children as a grihastha when his heart, mind, attention, focus, desire, aspiration, is constantly away and permanently busy with someone/thing else? Only a corpse would remain.

Therefore, renouncing the world is there too in Babuji's Sahaj Marg, but this fact is hidden behind the smokescreen of the family life standard.

Renouncing the world is the universal path of self-sacrifice, which can't be avoided when full dedication to God is targeted. This is true whatever the culture, country, historical period, people, and method.

If Babuji's teaching is followed absolutely, it will result in renouncing the world for constant remembrance, service and dedication, while the corpse, being the slave of desires in a social network, will continue to play whatever others want it to play.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

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Un-Sound Principles of SRCM (And Sahaj Marg)

Taken from Michael's Blog: "Inner Circle of SRCM".  Michael is an ex-preceptor (under Chari), and ex-member of the US Publishing Committee of SRCM.

I copy this article (with permission): "Un-Sound Principles of SRCM" in its entirety because of its importance and because Michael does not allow "comments" on his blogs and some readers might want to express some opinions or share their experience with someone.

("Skai Journey" is Michael's personal blog).  For more in-depth insights into Michael's experience with Sahaj Marg, Chari and SRCM, see Michael's two blogs. (click on links above)

Un-Sound Principles of SRCM

I've received many enquiries from current and former disciples of SRCM recently. Many agonize over their predicaments, questioning the hierarchy or are simply spiritually unhappy. Some struggle with difficult decisions to either join a splinter group or leave SRCM all together. I have always offered to assist in what ever way I can, asking nothing in return.  I have found myself repeating a common theme in most of these correspondences. As a result I have decided to summarize some of my statements made privately below:

I believe that the practice of Sahaj Marg, and the entire system established by its Founder, to be based upon spiritually flawed and dangerous principles. Other than completely discarding the core principles and practices of the system, there is no possible outcome other than that which we see unfolding today. 

More specifically:


1. The Prayer is comprised of affirmations which are spiritually harmful and are fundamentally un-natural.  The prayer affirms that the one reciting the prayer is inadequate, having not achieved some unspecified but often mentioned Goal. This Goal, as the prayer states is only achievable through an elusive "Master".  

• The prayer makes a dangerous affirmation of ones separateness from the Divine: While humility is essential in spirituality, this prayer affirms the disciple's spiritual  inadequacy - claiming them to be "slaves of wishes putting bar to advancement". This affirmation is completely counter to spiritual principles which I have come to believe are core spiritual truths. True Spirituality re-affirms ones divinity in order to redirect any thoughts AWAY from  spiritual inadequacy and separateness from Creator. The SRCM prayer is a series of affirmations which do the opposite!

• The statement "Thou are the only God and Power to bring us up to that stage" yet again affirms the disciple's spiritual inadequacy.  It states ones dependence EXCLUSIVELY on another living human "Master" to reach some spiritual goal. It establishes a human authority with no peers, no checks and balances. This affirmation causes a disciple to question their own inner spiritual discrimination, and become completely dependent on a single and exclusive external force. This, in and of itself, puts the disciple at risk of ceasing their own spiritual Journey and giving their power needed for that journey to another person.  

• The SRCM prayer, along with one of the accompanying 10 maxims, insists that the disciple urgently strive to reach some ultimate spiritual goal and "rest not until it has been achieved". This is completely counter to the ancient spiritual truth that, The Journey Is Infinite! This ancient spiritual truth states that the only true goal, is to embark on one's infinite spiritual journey, which can be done by anyone at any time. Likewise one can choose to dis-embark on their Infinite Spiritual Journey and seek a finite goal instead, however, in true Natural Spirituality, THERE IS NO GOAL, THERE IS ONLY THE JOURNEY!

2. Meditation on light or the form of the master in the heart puts the disciple at risk of letting  external and potentially unwanted forces into their inner being. While the standard practice makes a vague suggestion to meditating on divine light in the heart, it is mentioned by preceptors and in the various literatures since the Founder's days,  that meditating on a "true" masters form in the heart is "more effective".

• Heart meditation is powerful. Any intent, consistently established when doing heart meditation can result in its very manifestation if done repeatedly. Any intent that reinforces spiritual inadequacy will only be reinforced and can also be manifested within the disciple with repeated practice. 

• Allowing external influences (light from outside oneself or the form of an external master) into the heart risks inviting in things that are possibly not compatible to ones very existence. It is critical, while on the Spiritual Journey that one establish and maintain protective boundaries. Heart meditation should affirm what is already in the heart, and not indiscriminately allow external and untrustworthy forces in. This damages one's essential spiritual boundaries which must  be upheld in order to protect oneself from unwanted external forces. Damage to spiritual boundaries puts the disciple at risk of being spiritually traumatized by external spiritual influences and predators, of which there are many within the SRCM organization.

3. Evening Cleaning meditation further affirms that one is "unclean" and unworthy. True Spirituality reaffirms ones direct connection with the divine. It affirms that one IS divine. Cleaning occurs naturally as a result of ones direct relationship with Creator through the resulting the experiences on the Infinite Journey. Making "cleaning" a conscious practice only further separates one from the divine and the Journey itself.

• While spiritual cleansing is a natural event that occurs in life,  the daily reinforcing of ones "unclean-ness" risks the perpetuation of a disciples inner sense of inadequacy.

• This perpetuation of spiritual inadequacy is further complicated by the belief within the SRCM that one must rely on a preceptor or the "master" to do the real deep cleaning to remove long standing samskaras/grossness. This encourages the formation of a lasting barrier for the disciple's direct relationship with Creator and the natural "cleansing" that occurs from that direct relationship, not to mention making claim that the inner condition of the disciple is gross!

4. The Spiritual Hierarchy established in SRCM encourages Spiritual Materialism. It commoditizes spiritual attainments, achievements and positions in the hierarchy. SRCM from its inception has created both organizational hierarchies and spiritual hierarchies which separate the haves and have nots. This further divides the "masses" from the chosen few in the inner circle.

• Organizational Hierarchy members enjoy physical access to the "Master". Given that the practice reinforces ones dependence on the master, these members appear to the "masses" as having more advantageous  access to spiritual benefits.  

• SRCM identifies members who allegedly have achieved the Brahaman Mandal or Central Region. Some are referred to as "Full Preceptors", receive certificates to attest to their spiritual achievements, others are simply stated to exist in a higher "region" than the masses. Spirituality is further commoditized as disciples request "Sittings" from these preceptors in order to receive cleaning and have divine grace bestowed upon them. 

• While the practice reinforces rank and file disciples inadequacies and creates urgent need to achieve spiritual progress, they are surrounded by members who have been "blessed" with organizational or spiritual gifts. This creates divisions,  jealousies and commoditizes spirituality, exactly what we see happening in the various splinter groups and within the main SRCM organization today.

Summary:

The very core practices of Sahaj Marg can be directly attributed as the ROOT CAUSE of the problems facing SRCM today: A highly divisive and divided organization caused by festering spiritual materialism, and disciples within the ranks who struggle with self esteem while being constantly reminded that their spiritual progress is inadequate, etc. etc...

On one hand, the Sahaj Marg practice, through repetitive suggestions in meditation and prayer affirmations, tears down the protective barriers around the soul, allowing the possibility of external forces to due harm. On the other hand, the one boundary which DOES get reinforced through disciples constant affirmations, is the barrier that separates the disciple from Creator. According to SRCM myth, this barrier exists until the disciple achieves some elusive goal. A goal only accessible through the exclusive association with a Master, who for the most part remains inaccessible from the common disciples. 

The practice of Sahaj Marg this is in fact quite the opposite of a Natural Path. Quite frankly this is not spirituality at all. It is, however, a formula for creating a power based Cult - Which, by the way is exactly what SRCM and its various splinter groups are.

Of course, a privileged few see benefits, and some within the rank and file are able to skirt the hazards and avoid inflicting significant trauma upon themselves. Some find benefit from meditating on light in the heart. Some find a sense of belonging to something far more powerful than themselves. Most if not all are motivated by ego, remaining "slaves" of the wish to achieve the spiritual goal created by the SRCM founder.  In addition, the SRCM hierarchy constantly reminds disciples that they are "not progressing" while channeling messages from the dead which serve only to validate their authority. These behaviors are the blatant symptoms resulting from the very flaws I have outlined above.

I apologize for offending so many with these words. What I state above comes from a sincere place,  based on over 40 years actively pursuing my Spiritual Journey - more than 10 of those years as a disciple and preceptor of the SRCM.  My heart  affirms within me that what I say above is the TRUTH. The guidance I have been blessed with upon my departure from SRCM, now over 20 years ago, has revealed a true NATURAL PATH. I can say without a doubt that it bears nothing in common with the Sahaj Marg practice or the SRCM.


Michael

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012

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Sahaj Marg(tm) and SRCM Dictatorship - A Guide on How to Circumvent Democracy!!

From an original French article by Alexis: "Comment Contourner La Démocratie", translated by 4d-Don.

See French article: "Un Guide Pour Créer Une SRCM Locale", on Elodie's Blog in Europe: "Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg". The document in Question: A Guide for Creating a Local Organization can be seen at:

Registering a Local Organization: *
http://www.sahajmarg.org/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=57279&folderId=628266&name=DLFE-12905.pdf

* A password is now required to read the above file ... Hmmm!! Dictatorship (unlike democracy) seems to need to remain "secret" ... Maybe our national "Charities Taxation Agency" would find this interesting ... (for study and preparing a response (before the fact) ;-)


SRCM-Canada Board of Directors (2012):
http://www.sahajmarg.org/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=57279&folderId=743115&name=DLFE-14315.pdf



From the original (1945) SRCM Constitution of SRCM: (Appendix A, Resolution 1)
http://www.geocities.ws/cult_sahaj_marg/original.pdf

"This although looks like a sort of dictatorship on the part of the Founder (henceforth to be called the President) ... "




How to Circumvent Democracy (Dictatorship?)

A Guide for Creating a Local Organization


Creating a local structure becomes necessary when the number of abhyasis increases, and when it perhaps becomes necessary to buy and/or lease property (ashrams and meditation centers), and to open bank accounts to collect the organization's "voluntary contributions".

But the democratic character of all the different types of organizations offered by all the States on the planet really adapts itself quite badly with the operation of a spiritualist and totally un-democratic mission such as the SRCM of Chari.

Reconciling the two can be compared to the work of a watch-maker.

Hence, the implementation by the SRCM of a guide to create an ad hoc local structure.

This internal 19-page memo, dated 2008, recapitulates the main questions to be asked so as to determine the most relevant type of organization, the key steps to respect, and it also offers some models of pre-written statutes.

Usually in a democracy, the general assembly of the adherent members of an organization is plenipotentiary. Chari's (and this note's) main objective is to remove all the general assembly's power.

SRCM is based on the adhesion of its members, but it is directed (guided?) by a leader. No election of its directors is predicated. The President, because of his role as the spiritual guide, is the supreme authority. His authoritarianism can not be questioned. Unfortunately, it must also conform to the laws of the home country, wherein lies the difficulty in selecting the best type of organization.

The President must definitely keep a general control of the organization, but with limited responsability and if possible, the least legal risks. The organization must allow the transfer of financial surpluses to other structures in and outside the country. The President must also be able to set a maximum limit of withdrawal from the bank accounts of the local structure for its expenses.


“The Mission in India is a membership-based organization but it is leader-driven. It does not provide for elected officers or elected working committees/supervisory commissions. There are officers and there is an advisory body but these are appointed by the President. The President (by the nature of his role as a spiritual guide) is supreme and his authority cannot be questioned. All this is of course in compliance with the laws of the land where the Mission is active.

(…)

It is also common practice for surpluses to be transferred to the Mission or an entity designated by the Mission so that they may be applied in another country where local voluntary contributions are not enough to support the local organization. Thus contributions may flow both ways into and out of a given country.

(…)

Is it a body corporate, and is the liability of the founders/owners limited? What are the legal risks that the President and the office-bearers face under law?

(…)

Can we provide safeguards within the constitutional documentation?"



The statutes of the local organization must allow the recognition of the supreme authority of the Master, an omnipotent President, and of a foreign nationality.

In this case, the recommended managerial scheme is composed of three levels: the Board, the Executive Comittee and the membership. The Board includes Chari and his successor as the President, as well as the region-in-charge, both designated by Chari. The Executive Committee includes a vice-president (or a "center-in-charge"), a Treasurer and a Secretary, all selected by Chari who also retains, by the way, a veto power over all their decisions. The members constitute the lowest level, these are the abhyasis.

This managerial scheme therefore corresponds to the ideal organizational structure imagined by Chari. The countries where such organizational structure is possible are called by the SRCM: Catetegory A (or Option A). Unfortunately, most countries do not allow such a denial of democracy. Whereby, the scenarios (or Options) B and C in which one must avoid (overturn, hijack) and/or go around the statutes to allow one to arrive at the same result.

(...)

“The supreme authority of the local legal entity must be our Master in his capacity as President, SRCM India. This is implemented in countries where the law so allows (“Category A Countries”) by defining the highest ranking position in the organization, the office of the President, as being occupied by the then current President of SRCM India.

(…)

The President, being our Master, must also be in a position to exercise overall authority over the organization including the right to veto decisions of the management council or other governing body.

(…)

It is our approach to adopt a membership-based form of organization where possible.

However, laws governing membership-based organizations in many countries do not permit any other body or person to have greater control over the affairs of an organization than its general members in assembly. While this is reasonable as a principle it poses some hurdles for a spiritual organization such as ours which cannot give way to procedures such as voting and election of officers. Thus, Master’s position as President although set forth in the Governing Documents, may not be secure because the general membership typically has the power to amend the Governing Documents. For this reason, it may also be difficult to enshrine the President’s veto rights in the Governing Documents. Furthermore, there are countries where foreign nationals or non-residents cannot be founders or members or officers (“Category B Countries”). Despite such restrictions we may approach this with the object that every effort must be made to reflect Master's real authority in the organizational rules and operational structure to the extent possible and in accordance with the law.

(...)

While Master must be the supreme authority, it is prudent that a separate body remains responsible (under law and the rules of the organization) for day-to-day affairs since this is likely to buffer Master from the immediate risk of any liabilities that may arise under contract or law due to the acts or omissions of functionaries. Where Master is the President of the membership-based organization, we can have a supervisory body and an executive body as depicted in the figure below.

(…)

A list of key officers (Step 1b – See Section 5 on Management) must be prepared and kept ready for Master’s review and approval while the type of legal entity is considered and decided upon. It is preferable that more than one name be proposed for key positions such as the Chief Financial Officer and Compliance Officer. A record of their background, work experience and photographs may also be kept on file. The volunteers who agree to act as officers must be clear that there are no restrictions under contract or otherwise on their ability to serve as officers of our organization.”



Having treated with the case of the easiest countries, those in Category A, one has to begin to trick and/or to cheat the law (or the spirit of the law). SRCM therefore proposes an Option B for countries where it is not possible for Chari to hold the presidency. Unlike the previous Option (A), the first level no longer exists. The "center-in-charge" is now the president by force of circumstance, and is also a member of the management committee, along with the treasurer and the secretary.

In this case, they will play with the lowest level, that of the members, the active abhyasis. To do this, SRCM distinguishes them from the preceptors (designated by Chari), from among which he will appoint "delegated member", the only ones entitled to vote. All other active members are called "general members", and they do not have the right to vote (unless the President decides otherwise), they are not counted in the quorum, and they have no more than an advisory role. The President may also determine whether a member is "active" or not. In the U.S., SRCM applies this scheme (Option) of 2 groups to the letter; one group of non-voting "general members" and one group of voting "delegate members" ...

Finally, Chari must be able to exercise his veto power over the "Management Committee". So they will have to play with the founding documents of incorporation of the organization. They are often of two types: the founding statutes on the one hand, and the subsidiary operational document, on the other hand. And only in the latter will be indicated the actual category of the un-democratic structure of the operation. This is the type of scheme that was chosen in France, with the founding statutes of the association as per law 1901, on the one hand, and a totally dictatorial rules of procedure, of the other hand. (see on this (France) subject) :

French:
http://lorganisationsrcmsm.blogspot.fr/2007/11/16.html

English:
http://organizationsrcmsm.blogspot.ca/2007/12/organization-of-shri-ram-chandra.html



"(...)

“Option B :

Where the laws do not permit Master to occupy the office of President, the need for two separate bodies within the governing structure is dispensed with. So we can have a single Managing Committee (consisting of the three main functionaries at the least and any additional members if the law so requires).

In such a case we still need to provide for a manner in which Master can secure the direction in which the organization proceeds. This may be done by providing for the power of the President, SRCM India to designate a class of voting members from the general membership. Alternately it may also be provided that this class of members, the Delegate Members, will need to be prefects certified by the President, SRCM in order to be so chosen.

(…)

“Prefects” means spiritual trainers of the Sahaj Marg system of meditation as authorized and certified by the President, SRCM India.

General Membership. Active practitioners of the Sahaj Marg system of meditation, practising under the guidance of the spiritual Master being the President [replace with - President, SRCM India – for Category B Country] SRCM may be admitted as “General Members” by Prefects. Active practitioners are those who: (i) regularly practice morning meditation, evening cleaning, nightly prayer; (ii) are given regular individual sittings by Prefects; (iii) regularly participate in group meditations; and (iv) show interest in progressing spiritually in the Sahaj Marg system. The President may, from time to time, determine whether a practitioner is active or non-active. It being understood that this is a spiritual determination the decision of the President on this matter shall be final and not open for examination or review by the [Board of Directors/Executive Committee/Committee of Management] or the members (in general meeting or otherwise) or any office bearers.

Delegate Members. General Members may be designated and appointed as “Delegate Members” by the President at his discretion. On such appointment Delegate Members shall be entitled to vote at annual general meetings and special meetings.

For the purpose of abundant clarity, General Members shall not have voting rights and shall not (unless the President otherwise directs) be included for the purposes of notices or constitution of quorum in connection with meetings of the members (including annual general meetings and special meetings); Preceptors shall have no legal status or entitlements in the Mission other than the duty to facilitate the admission of General Members; the issuance of an identity card to any practitioner shall in no way be construed as a proof of membership in the Mission; the authoritative record of General Membership and Delegate Membership shall be the Register of Members; the President may at any time instruct the Vice President to re-designate a Delegate Member as a General Member in the Register of Members and such a member shall lose his Delegate Member status with effect from the date of such instruction by the President.

The Mission shall keep in written form or any form capable of being converted into written form a current register of members (“Register of Members”) of the Mission containing the name, address, and occupation of each member, together with the date on which the person became a member and the class of each member. The Register of Members shall be maintained and updated by the Vice President under directions from the President, shall be kept at the principal office of the Mission and shall be subject to the rights of inspection required by law.

Members Are Not Agents. The management of the Mission is vested in the Board and its authorized officers acting with the approval of the President. No Member, acting solely in the capacity of a Member, is an agent of the Mission nor can any Member in such capacity bind nor execute any instrument on behalf of the Mission.


(…)

Governing documents refer to the documents by which an organization is run. They are usually prepared and executed by the founders of the organization and thereafter by members of the organization. They are referred to variously as charter documents, constitutional documents or statutes. In many countries there are two sets of charter documents (a) a founding document (such as a memorandum of association in UK or a declaration in France) (b) a subsidiary operational document (such as articles of association in UK or internal regulations in France).

Typically, the subsidiary document is meant to be more flexible and detailed and the bar for amending it is much lower than with a founding document. In other countries and/or for certain types of organizations, there is a single governing document such as a charter (#1091, #1089; #1090, #1072, #1074) in the former Soviet Republics or a trust deed in the UK, India and other commonwealth countries. Many of the suggestions in this note relate to the Governing body"


Unfortunately there still remains many countries where the election rules are too strict, or where other aspects of democratic principles are particularly disturbing. Whereby, the Option C proposed by the SRCM, where it is simply intended to separate ownership of the assets from the other activities of the Mission.

In this case, one must create an additional structure, foundation type, solely under the name of Chari for holding and managing the assets of the Mission. This Mission then makes available (to him) the assets of the local organization, which is too democratic in the eyes of Chari.

Note that following the release of this internal memo in 2008, there were very few non-profit associations among the recent local organizations created, with the exception of SRCM UK, Ireland, Nepal or the States of Jammu and Kashmir in India ... (and Canada?).

Conversely, a Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation (SMSF), a non-profit organization was registered with the Department of Economic Development in Dubai on May 31, 2004. After the foundation of SMSF Dubai, a new Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation was officially created on March 5, 2012 in Singapore. Similarly in Hong Kong, the new bridgehead of the development of the Mission in China.


"(...)

"Option C:

An option to be considered in countries that are particular about elections and other democratic aspects of an organization, is to separate the asset holding functions from other activities in the following manner:

Where it is structurally difficult to avoid elections and other aspects of democratic functioning in the membership organization the properties of the Mission may be held by a foundation, trust, institution or other similar single founder organization. This organization may then make available its premises to the membership organization for its activities.”


After this long decryption of the internal memorandum of SRCM, the conclusion is not more simple: Chari and his spiritualist organization do not agree particularly well with modern democratic principles and they do not hide it. Their sole purpose is to circumvent them, to give all powers to Chari, without limitation.

The idealized relationship of Master to disciple collapses, there is only power of appointment, designation and therefore segregation or veto ...

One would be tempted to imagine that this is because of the special role of a spiritual teacher, who is the one and only possible dictatorial guide in this religion or in this Spiritualist Group. But the attention paid to the material in this paper proves the property (right to use and abuse) of the assets of the Mission is as important as the all-powerful master. Infallible (as the Pope), Chari would be happy to lead a single-member foundation to manage all these assets. The only thing is that he does not want to incur any legal risks. He seems ready to raise (create) and take all the powers, but he is not ready to take responsibility ...


Source: * Guidance note - Registering a local organization - 19 pages - SRCM, 12/08/2008

http://www.sahajmarg.org/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=57279&folderId=628266&name=DLFE-12905.pdf



Note by 4d-don:

In Canada, directors of a non-profit organization (including Charities) are responsible for the claims and the contracts of the society.

Sahaj Marg is SPIRITUALISM (Anonymous Medium, egregore, messages (or whispers) from the spirits of the dead are sold as SPIRITUALITY ... A Scam?? Their major fund-raiser is the annual release of a series of "spiritualist" Whispers from the Brighter World.

Where is this "certification board" which guarantees that these spritualist messages channeled from the "spirits" by an anonymous French Lady Medium are actually from a "divine source", or from a "Brighter" world? Do the compilation and sale of these "WHISPERS" really constitute "charity"?? Do the sale of these Whispers really deserve to be "tax exempt" according to our national "Standards and Regulations" for charities?

See here: Improper and Evil Practice - Stoppage of. Note on page 14, section 11: "... cause and Standards of Spiritualism"... )
http://www.geocities.ws/cult_sahaj_marg/fake.pdf .

That is not Raja Yoga, nor is it spirituality!!

Whispers from the Brighter World can be called SPIRITUALISM and can also be called a scam and a fraud ?? ... but according to most, it is not Spirituality!!
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