But nothing, certainly, that convinced the courts. The SRF lessons, too, seemed like over-boiled potatoes, offering basic nourishment but stripped of certain essential vitamins, compared with the fiery spiritual sustenance of Yoganandas unedited words. For the last year and a half, she said, a private investigator has been interviewing all her friends and acquaintances. Anyone considering yoga classes with teachers and/or schools registered by the Yoga Alliance might want to exercise a bit of caution, before beginning any of their exercises. June 1st to October 1st, 2021, Experience a deeper connection with your Divine Potential through selfless-service in Anandas Karma Yoga Ashram Program. "He strongly disapproved of Ananda, which is what caused the rift between us," Bertolucci said. A Forest Management Plan has been prepared and is in use for Ananda Village. Louise Royston couldnt realize what presentation would be the most effective in terms of reaching peoples actual understanding, satisfying their immediate needs, holding their interest, and answering their latent doubts before those doubts even arose. Far more likely, he would endorse Jesus statement: He that is not against us, is for us. (Luke 9:50). The early Christians were forced to practice their religion secretly, in fear for their lives. The prominent lawyer litigated and won the landmark appellate court decision, Molko v. Holy Spirit Association (1988) 46 Cal.3d 1092. There is also the sprawling ashram he established in Virginia called Yogaville, which includes a $2 million dollar temple and its own airport (the swami liked to fly and had his own plane). Palo Alto resident Anne-Marie Bertolucci may have won her case against the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, but her victory has come at a high price. One or the other trend will eventually define the organization. This was not a puff piece and Sarkar comes off as little more than a sociopath, hardly covered in a life of peace. And not apparently respected by Hindus. The story of Tara Matas influence, and of SRFs relentless persecution of Ananda, is told in Swami Kriyanandas book, A Place Called Ananda: The Trial by Fire That Forged One of the Most Successful Communities in the World Today. However, there are those reporters who seem to be more interested in presenting a pretty picture for their community, than exposing the truth about cults. The story of how he completed that commission is spiritually inspiring, heroic, often humorous, and will be of interest to devotees of all paths who are seeking a new definition of religion for this dawning Age of Energy-Awareness. Beyond a certain point, however, restraint became improperI am referring to the point at which SRF removed its kid gloves and began trying to bankrupt Ananda with its crippling lawsuit. Readers can view the book online at: http://crystalclarity.com/kriyananda/.). Swami Satchidananda, Yogi Bhajan and Bhagwhan Shree Rajneesh are three examples of such migrating God men who marketed their supernatural powers in the United States. Why dont they even bother to visit us? we wondered, amazed by SRFs lack of concern for the truth of their claims. But where the church impinged upon my devotional life, I was increasingly uncomfortable. Millions will die., On one occasion he cried: You dont know what a terrible cataclysm is coming!. (See http://www.livingwisdomschool.org.). Reflecting on the case, I can imagine that Paramhansa Yogananda intended it to be so. Have some news reporters become cult apologists or stooges? I meditated twice daily with unwavering consistency, and I increasingly felt Paramhansa Yoganandas guidance and inspiration in my life. What a shame, I felt, that generations of disciples would be deprived of knowing Yoganandas teachings in all their original power and earthiness, simply because the organization over-valued its image. Ananda needs no special place for its existence; it could thrive in the middle of New York City. There is nothing said about the troubled history of this controversial church, that Time Magazine named the Cult of Greed.. And then there is the lucrative faith healing business, which supports apparent posers such as the popular Benny Hinn. She also alleged that J. Donald Walters--known to devotees as Swami Kriyananda--made unwanted sexual advances toward her when she turned to him for help. In fact, SRFs legal arguments sometimes approached the ludicrous. He would have to study the Bible in secret, and meet clandestinely with like-minded friends. Together, let us serve.. The answer came instantly, as an intuitive voice, accompanied by a sense of bustling motherliness: I am not concerned about your faults. Drive past the bigger flower shops in Rice Village and find this tiny, unassuming storefront. SRF claims that Ananda is not a legitimate branch of the Masters work, that Kriyananda is an interloper, that the Kriya Yoga initiation offered by Ananda is not legitimate, and that Ananda is just a bunch of hippies living in primitive conditions, and that the whole thing is destined to fail. There is one other ray of light at the end of the tunnel for Bertolucci: she is hoping to get back together with the husband she left in 1992 to join Ananda. The first such community was Ananda Village, founded in Northern California, in the foothills of Nevada City, in 1969. But I was deeply committed to helping defend Ananda against SRFs institutional bullying, which now threatened to destroy not only our community, but our access to our Gurus teachings. I remember once praying to the Divine Mother and asking for Her forgiveness, after I had committed some small error. Those of us who lived at Ananda found it incredible that SRF would stick to the same old, patently absurd claimsthat Swami Kriyananda touted himself as a guru, that Ananda was trying to pass itself off as part of SRF, etc.when we all knew them to be untrue. You will learn about SRFs draconian lawsuit against Ananda in which it attempted to gain sole ownership of the Masters name, writings, and likeness, and how, in the judges own words, they attempted unsuccessfully to put that organization out of business by bankrupting it through protracted litigation. Many Westerners are enthralled with the practice and hope that yoga will help them to shed pounds and firm up. Follow the link to this page. Therefore, it stands to reason that we speak for the Master. But can anyone honestly believe that Paramhansa Yogananda would countenance the destruction of an entire community of deeply sincere devotees, or the forced subjection of thousands to SRFs doctrinal control? They were talking about their activities as Christian devotees. The group Ananda Marga first initiated Steven Landau, Chairman of the YA Newsletter Committee. Trying to reconcile the two sides of SRF that I had experiencedthe profound spiritual blessings, and the incredible narrowness among its highest leadersI could only wonder in awe at the superhuman measure of Gods patient love. I found its ministers never less than inspiring. So it seems that there may be more to the diet doctors regime than meets the eye. 50 years: past, present, and futureexpressed by different Ananda communities and ministers from around the world. Kriyananda never remotely claimed to be a guru, nor did he ever expect us to treat him like one. The interview took place at the SRF church in Richmond, in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his talks, Rev. You will get to serve with like-minded friends in a spiritual environment, study Yoga philosophy and participate intwice-daily sadhanas featuring Ananda Yoga, Ananda Meditation and Energization Exercises. Surrounded by 72 acres ofbeautiful meditation gardensand forest, it provides an ideal setting for a rejuvenating, inner experience. The community welcomes visitors and is open to the public. I stumbled upon Ananda websites, and only feel goodness from mission as I understand it. And it certainly is questionable that any mental health professional would base an opinion on such specious and subjective and sources. We invite you on an extraordinary pilgrimage experience at Ananda Village in California. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Far from leaving me bereft, the realization that even saints can make mistakes, eventually inspired me. Are you affiliated with them?, Despite twenty years of clear evidence to the contrary, SRF was still trying to prove the old myth that Ananda was trading on its good name. On the weekends, I regularly spent the entire day walking in nature and praying to Yogananda while I pursued my hobby of photography. After all, whats an ashram without its own credit union? Reading another book, Stealing JesusHow Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity, I discovered that there have been two main currents in the history of religiona religion of law and a religion of love. Author Bruce Bawer documents the history of these two streams of thought, going back to the gnostics of ancient Rome and their fundamentalist brethren. But after Bertolucci filed her lawsuit in 1994, seven other women came forward to say that Walters sexually "used" them. It's far from traditional, and it has a long history of controversy. Ironically, the meditation class was to help her with stress reduction, she said. I never spoke privately with her, nor did I ever receive her verbal guidance, yet she always conveyed the Masters inspiration. Their debts are a source of unending worry to them. This world is a mixed bag, poorly accommodating to the tidy, black-or-white divisive tendencies of the human mind. I guess youll just have to accept me as I am, I prayed. Swami Satchidananda, a guru and purported cult leader died last year and moved on to his next life, that is for those who believe in reincarnation. One of their most outspoken leaders was a man who had lived at Ananda for twelve years, during which he steadfastly refused to pay rent or participate in community activities, including performing any serviceful work. Certainly these articles will not be nominated for Pulitzers. Many of the fundamentalists declared their beliefs openly, in hopes of achieving liberation through martyrdom. When Swami Kriyananda was a young monk the Guru told him on many occasions, You have a great work to do.. I settled into an apartment in Mill Valley and kept up my association with SRF, tithing regularly and performing small service projects, such as translating letters from SRFs members in Germany. Nothing, beyond a few petty exhibits which, if viewed from the skewed perspective of organizational bias, might remotely be construed as persuasive. But the leader they now call Yoneq lives in luxury, travelling between his homes in France, the United States and South America. Fulfilling Yogananda's Vision of World Brotherhood Colonies. I now live in the Ananda community in Mountain View, California, which is located in a complex of seventy-two apartments. NASA astronaut and scientist Brian OLeary reportedly stopped in at the ashram of Sai Baba, a controversial Indian guru with a history of sex abuse allegations, to learn about peace, reported the Hindustan Times. Ananda Village, founded in 1968, is a place where spiritual seekers come together to practice simple living and high thinking. The gurus property holdings alone are worth millions. Thus, our teacher and divine friend, Swami Kriyananda founded the global movement called Ananda Sangha Worldwide. Nor, when I visited the community for the first time in September 1974, or at any time thereafter, did anyone at Ananda ever make the slightest attempt to trick me into thinking that Ananda was connected with SRF. I was intensely curious to know what this former SRF traveling teacher was doing, founding a community. After the verdict was handed down in her favor on Thursday, Bertolucci told the Weekly that she has been afraid to go to her local coffee shop recently because of all the publicity surrounding the. In nearly every case, these were individuals who had failed at Anandawho had either rebelled against Swami Kriyanandas guidance (which was always offered, never imposed), or who had chosen to distance themselves from the community long before they left. 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